Indian Pond Heron

Pond herons are stocky with a short neck, short thick bill, a buff or brownish back and a colored or streaked fore-neck and breast. The Indian pond heron is one of six species of pond heron. It is found in eastern Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. 

Indian pond heron in non-breeding plumage in Udawalawe NP. 

Non-breeding plumage in Yala NP. 

Their dull colors become more flashy when they fly and reveal their white wings. In breeding season they look quite different, they get a dark reddish/brown back that contrasts with a yellowish head, neck and breast. Some get reddish legs.  

Breeding plumage at Kandy Lake. 

The distribution map shows them in the northern half of Sri Lanka, but I believe we some them in  southern Sri Lanka as well, including Udawalawe National Park and Yala National Park. 

Sri Lankan Red-Wattled Lapwing

The red-wattled lapwing (Vanellus indicus) is found in Southern Asia, from southeastern Turkey to south China, down to Sri Lanka, the Malay Peninsula and northern Sumatra. There are four subspecies. One of those subspecies (V. i. lankae) is endemic to Sri Lanka. 

Red-wattled lapwing in Udawalawe NP.

They are wading birds, about 14 inches long. The wings and back are light brown with a purple to green sheen; 

Note the purplish sheen on the outer edge of the wing, that then goes to a slightly greenish sheen. 

the head and bib on the front and back of the neck are black; and the area between those two colors is white, as is the belly and the tail. 

There is a black stripe toward the end of the tail, and a black-tipped bill. What really stands out is the rest of the bill, which is red, and the red, fleshy wattle in front of each eye. 

It has yellow legs. The Sri Lankan subspecies is smaller and darker than the others. 

They were relatively common in areas with water. We saw quite a few of them, but all but one of my pictures was taken in Udawalawe National Park. It is one of those birds that we just stopped taking pictures of, but that I wish I'd taken more pictures of.

The wattle is not as extensive as the wattle on the yellow-wattled lapwing. 

Indian Rock Python

We encountered a couple of Indian rock pythons in Matare, Sri Lanka, at the home of man that exhibits snakes as a side-line to make money. 

The man put the python around my neck and it was seriously heavy and thick. I would guess that it was at least 50 pounds. Even without any constriction I could feel my neck being squeezed by the bulk of the body. They have a very interesting peach/orange colored head. 

The Indian rock python is also known as the black-tailed python and Indian python. It is found in tropical areas of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is usually whitish or yellowish with blotched patters varying from shades of tan to dark brown. It usually grows to about 9.8 feet, but has been found as long as 15 feet and 110 pounds. 

He put it on the ground so that we could see its natural length and shape. 

They are timid and rarely attack. They usually move in a straight line and are excellent swimmers. They kill prey by constriction. 

He put a smaller one around Judy's neck. 

Note the peach/orange head. 

Kaa, in The Jungle Book, was a large and elderly Indian rock python. 

Indian Russell's Viper

Russell's viper (Daboia russelii) is a venomous snake found in Asia throughout the Indian Subcontinent, much of Southeast Asia, southern China and Taiwan. It is one of the snakes causing the most deaths in the areas they are found because of their aggressive behavior, tendency to be in highly populated areas and they are fairly common. There are two subspecies. We saw the Indian Russell's viper (D. r. russelii), the nominate subspecies, found in the Indian Subcontinent and Sri Lanka. 

Indian Russell's viper

It can grow up to 5.5 feet long, but island populations tend to be smaller. The head is flattened, triangular and distinct from the neck. The snout is blunt, rounded and raised. The body is stout. It is deep yellow, tan or brown ground color, with three series of dark brown spots that run the length of the body. Each spot has a black ring around it, the outer border of which is intensified with a rim of white or yellow. Dorsal spots may grow together, while side spots may break apart. The head has a pair of distinct dark patches, one on each temple, together with a pinkish, salmon or brownish V or X marking that forms an apex towards the snout. Behind the eye is a dark streak, outlined in white, pink or buff. 

We saw the Indian Russell's viper at a home in Matare, Sri Lanka, the owner of which keeps snakes and shows them to tourists for a fee. He captured this viper after he was called by someone who found it near their home. The mouth is injured and does not look normal, I don't recall if that was from the capture. It was quite aggressive, having no problems opening its mouth in a threatening manner towards us. 

Indian Boar

The wild boar (Sus scrofa), also known as the Eurasian wild pig or wild pig, is native to Eurasia, North Africa and the Greater Sunda Islands that include Sumatra, Borneo and Java. There are 16 subspecies in four regional groups. The Indian regional grouping only includes two subspecies: S. s. davidi, the Central Asian boar, found in Pakistan, India and southeastern Iran; and and S. s. cristatus, the Indian boar, found in India, Nepal, Myanmar, western Thailand and Sri Lanka. This regional grouping has sparse or absent underwool, long manes and prominent bands on the snout and mouth. The Indian boar is long maned, brindled black (irregular shapes), and compared to the nominate subspecies, is more lightly built, has a larger and more pointed head, has smaller and more pointed ears, and the plane of its forehead is straight.     

Indian boar in Bundala NP with a painted stork in foreground. 

We saw them in Yala National Park and Bundala National Park. Wikipedia shows one with its mane standing up and it is very striking. Unfortunately, we did not see any with the manes standing up. 

This photo, from Wikipedia, shows the Indian boar with its mane standing up. It is very distinctive. 

This Indian boar is in Yala NP.

I have seen feral wild pigs in Florida, but these are the first actual wild boar I've seen. 

In Yala NP.

Sri Lankan Yellow-Billed Babbler

The yellow-billed babbler (Argya affinis) is endemic to southern India and Sri Lanka. It has gray/brown upperparts, a gray throat and breast with some mottling and a pale buff belly. The head and nape are gray. The nominate race (A. a. affinis) is found in southern India and the Sri Lankan race (A. a. taprobanus) is a drab pale gray. The eye is bluish white. 

Yellow billed babbler in Polonarruwa.

In the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens near Kandy.

It is found in Sri Lanka in the lowlands and hills, avoiding heavy forests. We saw it in Polonnaruwa and near Kandy in the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. 

White-Breasted Waterhen

The white-breasted waterhen is found in South Asia and Southeast Asia and is a member of the rail and crake family. They are mainly dark gray on the upperparts and flanks, with a white face, neck and breast. The lower belly and undertail are cinnamon colored. The bill and legs are yellow and it has a red mark at the base of the upper bill. 

A photo from Wikipedia to show what it looks like. 

It is chewing on a green blade of grass.

We saw only one, at Bundala National Park in southern Sri Lanka. It was bobbing in and out of trees and brush at some distance and I didn't get any good photos.