Bird Watching in Yala National Park

In addition, 90 water birds inhabit Yala National Park. Around 50% of them are migrants. Waterfowl (lesser whistling duck, garganey), cormorants (little cormorant, Indian cormorant), large waterbirds (grey heron, black-headed ibis, Eurasian spoonbill, Asian openbill, painted stork), medium-sized waders, and small waders are common waterbirds. Black-necked storks and lesser adjutants are the rare birds at Yala National Park. Migrant great white pelicans and resident spot-billed pelicans have also been recorded. Other waterbirds at Yala Lagoons include lesser flamingos, pelicans, purple herons, night herons, egrets, purple swamphen, and Oriental darters. Waterfowl migrate to the Yala lagoons during the northeast monsoon. Some of such species are northern pintail, white-winged tern, Eurasian curlew, whimbrel, godwits, and ruddy turnstone. The visiting species mingled with residing lesser whistling duck, yellow-wattled lapwing, red-wattled lapwing, and great stone-curlew. Rock pigeon, barred buttonquail, Indian peafowl, black stork, black-winged stilt, and greater flamingo are among the other bird species. Crested serpent eagle and white-bellied sea eagle are the raptors of the park. The forest birds are orange-breasted green pigeons, hornbills, Old World flycatchers, Asian paradise flycatchers, Asian barbets, and orioles.

The saltpans surrounding the Yala National Park, especially around the Palatupana entrance are great sites to spot sea birds.