[Posted by Chuck Almdale]

Femi Faminu, who frequently birds with (and without) us at Malibu Lagoon and elsewhere, recently returned from a birding trip to the lovely isle of Sri Lanka, floating like a jewel in the Laccadive Sea at the southern tip of India, to which it’s now almost connected by a causeway, (unlike in the Mahabarata which I’m sure you’ve all read as it’s among the great classics of the world).

She saw 132 species of birds and a lot of other animals. I think her favorite encounter may have been with the Ceylon Logsuckers, a horde of which apparently tried to suck her skin off, but failed. [They’ve been reported to be able to debark a cinnabar tree in under a minute.] Then there were the poxy-looking mumpy langurs, a picky elephant, a leopard and foxes that fly (yes!). And much more.

Among her 132 species of birds were the Little, Medium and Great Egrets (collect the whole set!); Red-faced Malkoha, Lesser Adjutant; Besra, Brown Boobook, Indian Roller, Lesser Yellownape, Orange Minivet, Sri Lanka Drongo, Common Iora, Jungle Prinia, and…Paddyfield Pipit. Guess what the Paddyfield Pipit used to be called?

And – for the food aficionados – her breakfast spread appears to feature two hedgehogs among the large selection of delectables presented. And – another quiz – why does everyone seems to wear their green socks outside the legs of their trousers? Bizarre local custom?

Enjoyable and colorful as always.

If you go here https://www.youtube.com/@femif9792 you can see her many other films.

Just to refresh your memory, Rainforest Ecolodge is the big red dot. Kandy is where the Buddha’s tooth resides.

I suspect the Ceylon Logsuckers hang out at the “fish therapy” pool.

An aerial view: