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Description
Habarana Lake is a shallow lake with parts that are overgrown with vegetation. The banks of the lake are wooded and there are several small-scale hotels around the lake that have gardens. From the dike on the north side of the lake you have a perfect view. The whole lake is interesting for birding, but it is the western tip of the lake that makes this a fantastic place for watching birds. In this part of the lake some huge old trees stand in the water. The lush vegetation under and on the trees is very attractive for birds. The old trees have also plenty of dead branches. Because many birds rest on the dead branches or use these branches as a lookout post, the birds are wonderful to observe and photograph.
Among the birds that are easy to see here are Stork-billed Kingfisher, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Grey-headed Fish-Eagle, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Oriental Darter, Brahminy Kite, Sri Lanka Green-Pigeon, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied-Hornbill, Brown-headed Barbet and Black-hooded Oriole. Harder to see, but regularly observed here are Golden-fronted Leafbird, Jerdon's Leafbird, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Brown Fish-Owl and Jerdon's Nightjar.
But many more birds can be observed, see the birdlist below. Birding is best in the late afternoon, when the light is perfect.
Details
Access
Habarana Lake is located immediately west of the town of Habarana. On the north side of the lake a dike with a wide path runs along the banks and you have a perfect view on the lake from the dike. You can enter this path from the east side from the main street in Habarana. But the best option is to park in front of hotel 'The Other Corner' and walk to the lake through the gardens of the hotel, because then you immediately arrive at the most attractive part of the lake. Click on the P in the map for directions or coordinates.
The eco-friendly resort The Other Corner is highly recommended in itself. Besides the fact that it has a perfect location and you can stay in nice bungalows, they participate in wildlife conservation and the staff is focused on nature and nature education. There are good and very friendly nature guides who are happy to help you and guide excursions on request (including night bird excursions). You can also get a free copy of a checklist of all the birds in the area. An additional advantage of staying there is that the hotel gardens of The Other Corner are also great for bird watching (in the gardens we observed Small Minivet, Indian Paradise-Flycatcher, Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill and Brown Fish-Owl). You are not obliged to use a guide or stay in the hotel to explore the gardens. The hotel welcomes all visitors to explore the garden. If you arrive for a day visit it is good to know that The Other Corner has an excellent restaurant.