Udawalawa Bird Sanctuary
It is famed worldwide for its large population of elephants. This is one of the popular national parks in the island and providesdiverse habitat for many species of birds. It lies both in the Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces and includes the Udawalawareservoir and most of its catchment area as well. The park covers an area of 30,821 hectares and is supported by not only thelarge reservoir but one of the country's major rivers which flow through the same. The ecosystem of the park is predominantlyforest with large scattered areas of grasslands and thorny shrubs while tall forests exist mostly close to the river. There arebungalows for overnight stay inside the park and camping sites which have to be pre-booked through the Colombo office of the Department of Wildlife Conservation. There are also many privately owned bungalows and guest houses around the park.
How To Get There:
Colombo -Ratnapura -Pelmadulla -Kahawatta -Madampe -ColambageAra -Udawalawa Junction -turn left to Udawalawa (4 hours).
BIRDS:
Large Prinia, White-Browed Prinia, Ashy Prinia, Franklins Prinia, Yellow-Eyed Babbler, White-Throated Babbler, WhiteRumpedShama, Brown-Capped Babbler, Black-Fronted Babbler, Common & Marshall's Iora, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, BlueFacedMalkoha, White-Necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Blyth's Pipit, Crested Honey Buzzard, Crested Hawk Eagle,Crested Serpent Eagle, Black-Winged Kite, White-Bellied Sea Eagle, Grey-Headed Fish Eagle, Sirkeer, Hoopoe, Velvet-FrontedNuthatch, Pied Flycatcher Shrike, Black-Capped Bulbul, Barred Bustard Quail, Indian Pea Fowl, Alpine Swift, House Swift,Great Stone Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Orange-Headed Ground Thrush, Forest Eagle Owl, Brown Wood Owl, Brown FishOwl, Barn Owl, Little Scops Owl, Stork-Billed Kingfisher, Indian Pitta, Common Kingfisher, Openbill, Painted Stork, Spoonbill,Rosy Starling, Ceylon Jungle Fowl and many more.
