Flocks of visitors at the dump

The area around the Kerawalapitiya waste disposal plant and garbage dump has become a favourite stop for a large number of migratory birds that take wing to warmer climes to escape the harsh winters in parts of Europe and beyond.

Ornithologists, bird watchers and photographers who visited the area in the past few weeks have recorded over 40 different species of birds, some migrants, others resident, with much excitement generated as several birds hitherto unrecorded in Sri Lanka are among visitors this year.

Among the migrant birds that can be spotted at Kerawalapitiya are several kinds of wagtails, sandpipers, starlings etc. While resident birds such as egrets, cormorants, herons are among those in abundance at the site.

The Sunday Times photojournalist Indika Handuwala who visited the area this week took in some of the sights at Kerawalapitya.