During my recent visits to Horton Plains National Park, the Black-winged Kite has become a regular feature of the landscape. These elegant raptors, often perched on the distant Maha Rathmal trees, can typically be spotted from the car park or near Kalu Palama. However, this time brought a delightful surprise โ we observed one gracefully hovering near the Mahaeliya Bungalow. Even better, a pair of these kites was present, with one landing on a Maha Rathmal tree close to the road, just before the Sri Pada viewpoint, offering us an excellent opportunity to capture a stunning habitat shot.
Interestingly, the raptor population in Horton Plains seems to be on the rise. Alongside the Black-winged Kite, Steppe Buzzards, Brahminy Kites, Serpent Eagles, and the majestic Black Eagle are now frequent sightings. While this is thrilling for bird enthusiasts, it poses a significant challenge for the parkโs lizard populations, which now face predation pressures from these growing numbers of raptors. Combined with the increasing crow population, the balance of the ecosystem faces a new test from these formidable aerial hunters.