Wednesday 4 January 2012

Rare Bird Alert: Yellow-rumped Flycatcher at Tanamalwila

I am happy to share the news of a sight record of a vagrant bird species to Sri Lanka—the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia.


I saw it on 3 January, 2012, at Tanamalwila, in the sylvan interiors of southeastern Sri Lanka on the tour that I am currently guiding with Hans Veltman and Irene ter Horst from the Netherlands. My visitors are on a 14-day Absolute Birding tour, which came through Inezia Tours, run by my friend Pieter van der Luit.

Hearing an unfamiliar bird call, I ventured off the track a short distance to search for its source. In no time, to my surprise, I found a handsome, male Yellow-rumped Flycatcher—my first lifer for the New Year.

As it happens so often in moments like this, I had no camera with me; hoping to concentrate on just watching birds, I had left it in the vehicle. Soon after showing the bird to my clients, and I dashed like the Road Runner fetch my camera. And dashed back. Come to think of it, I forgot to uttter "mee mee."

But anyway, after an agonizing ten minutes, I found the bird again and was able take the record shot above. We were on our way to Nuwara Eliya, and had some montane birding planned for later that day. So I didn’t spend a lot of time trying to photograph it the way I like. But I guess this will do for the time being.

Its call reminded me of the more familiar highland special Kashmir Flycatcher, which belongs to the same genus as the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher. And at Nuwara Eliya later that day, we also the Kashmir Flycatcher; thereby, bagging two Ficedula species on a single day’s birding in Sri Lanka. Who would have thought that was possible!

Directions

Reach Tanamalwila.

Then in the A2, drive about a kilometer towards Lunugamwehera until you come across a police road block. A dirt track, which leads to the Lunugamwehera National Park, branches off left just there. Take that one. After about 130 metres, that track bends first to the right, and after a few metres, again to the left. The bird was found in between these two bends. It was found on both sides of the track during various times of our observation. Although you can drive right up to the site, I suggest you park the vehicle in the restaurant (“Thuru Sevana Buffet”) on the opposite side to the turn off. The owners there are very nice people and tolerate bird watchers. It will be courteous to buy a drink for using their gardens parking, after you have bagged the bird.

Further reading

The site consists of a secondary forest contiguous with the impressive riverine forest found along the Kiridi Oya. Some of the noteworthy birds that I have found here over the years include the Marshall’s Iora, Orange-headed Thrush, White-naped Woodpecker, Rufous Woodpecker, Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher, Sirkeer Malkoha, Jungle Owlet, and now, the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher.

Yes, it is one of my patches, and a good one at that.
The site has a fair bit of mosquitoes, and if you have to venture into the jungle, note that the understory is thorny.

Happy New Year!

12 comments:

silent moments said...

Happy new year to you too !
Will definitely recognise the birdie if I ever get to see it for real. Thanks for the info.

Janith said...

So cool! :D What a way to begin the new year! :D

morg and rose said...

Congratulations Amila on your Yellow-rumped Flycatcher find. We continually monitor your blog as it brings back so many memories of the wonderful time we spent with you in Sri Lanka. Every Best Wish for the New Year and remember that if you win the toss in a Test Match on a good pitch it's usually a good idea to bat first !

Kirigalpoththa said...

Signs of splendid new year for you Amila :D

Amila Salgado said...

Patali, I am sure you will. It is pretty unmistakable. Thank you for being the first commenter in 2012!

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Janith, Thank you! I couldn't have asked for a better start for the new year. Well, it would have been great if I had seen it on 1 Jan--on my b'day!

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Morg and Rose, Thank you very much!
Starting that tour season with you two proved very lucky because it ended up being a great one for me!

It's shame we couldn't read the pitch with all the "experts" involved. I was very happy how things turned out in the last Test though!

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K, You bet!
Thank you.

Bushana said...

Amila
Wow... what a interesting gift you got for the new year!!! Congratulation!!!. As far as I am aware this is the second record of its occurring in Sri Lanka. Sight record made by Deepal Warakagoda and Steve Rooke at Yala block IV in March 1999 is the first record.

Amila Salgado said...

Bushana,
Thank a lot, mate!
I think you're right about this being the second sight record of it in Sri Lanka. Very good!

Chinthaka said...

Amila,

Good one. Congratulations.
Yes, this should be the second sighting for Sri Lanka.

Chinthaka

UDITHA WIJESENA said...

Amila,,,,,That's an excellent way to commence the year for birding..........

Amila Salgado said...

Chinthaka,
Thank you!
Good to know it from you too that it is the second record. Thanks for reconfirming it. Still on the road...

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Uditha,
Yes, couldn't have asked for a better start! Thank you!

Stuart Price said...

This is a scarce passage visitor to Japan, one I've yet to see although we get the similar Narcissus Flycatcher as a common simmer visitor.............

Amila Salgado said...

Stu,
I remember Nacissus Flycatcher from your pics. Quite a stunning bird, that one. Hope you will see one of these soon.

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