Wildlife
Birdwatching at Morapitiya-Runakanda
Why birders know this forest
Morapitiya-Runakanda is a confirmed Key Biodiversity Area, and its listing is built on birds. The two species named are the Sri Lanka blue magpie and the green-billed coucal, both endemic to Sri Lanka and both assessed as Vulnerable. Like Sinharaja, which it once joined, the forest is lowland rainforest, the habitat many of Sri Lanka's endemic birds depend on.
The Serendib scops owl
The Serendib scops owl was described as a new species in 2004, after it was first located by its unfamiliar call in the Kitulgala rainforest. It has since been recorded at Runakanda Reserve in Morapitiya, and the Protected Area Irreplaceability database lists the reserve as of global importance for it. The owl is assessed as Endangered with a decreasing population, and it is heard far more often than seen.
Birds and wildlife around the cottage
You do not have to go deep into the forest to see wildlife. The photographs in our gallery include a darter drying its wings on a river rock, small birds in the canopy, butterflies and damselflies along the forest edge. Early morning and late afternoon are usually the liveliest times near the river and the trees around the cottage.
When to go and what to bring
The southwest monsoon brings heavy rain to this part of Sri Lanka from about May to September, which makes trails slippery and brings out leeches. Pack binoculars, a field guide to the birds of Sri Lanka, light rain gear and leech socks if you plan to walk. Birding groups such as the Biodiversity Conservation Society of Sri Lanka run field trips to Runakanda, and a local guide is the best way to find forest specialists.
Watching without disturbing
Keep to existing paths, keep noise low and give nesting and roosting birds plenty of room. Please avoid playing recorded calls to draw owls or other forest birds out; it disturbs them, and for a rare, declining species like the Serendib scops owl that matters. Tell the team about your birding plans when you request a stay so they can advise on what is practical for your dates.
In photographs
