Overview
Tissamaharama (or short Tissa) is located in southwestern Sri Lanka, close to the famous Yala National Park.
Various artifical lakes, wetlands and paddyfields host a variety of birds.
Birds
Notable Species
The endemic Sri Lanka Woodshrike can be found around Tissa. The wetlands harbour ducks, herons and egrets, rails, terns and many more species. Spot-billed Pelican is found in small numbers. Black Bittern occurs in winter, Yellow Bittern and Cinnamon Bittern can be found around the year.
Rarities
Black-necked Stork and Lesser Adjutant can sometimes be seen. Slaty-legged Crake is a regular winter visitor but rarely seen.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Indian Peafowl, Lesser Whistling Duck, Garganey, Little Grebe, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill, Black-headed Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Yellow Bittern, Black Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Indian Pond Heron, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Eastern Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Spot-billed Pelican, Darter, Little Cormorant, Shikra, Brahminy Kite, White-breasted Waterhen, Grey-headed Swamphen, Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhen, Watercock, Slaty-breasted Rail, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Black-winged Stilt, Red-wattled Lapwing, Pin-tailed Snipe, Common Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Gull-billed Tern, Whiskered Tern, White-winged Tern, Common Pigeon, Green Imperial Pigeon, Spotted Dove, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Grey-bellied Cuckoo, Asian Koel, Greater Coucal, Asian Palm Swift, Crested Treeswift, Little Swift, Indian Roller, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Asian Green Bee-eater, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Brown-headed Barbet, Red-backed Flameback, Ashy Woodswallow, Indian Pitta, Sri Lanka Woodshrike, Black-headed Cuckooshrike, Common Iora, Small Minivet, Brown Shrike, Black-hooded Oriole, Indian Paradise-Flycatcher, Indian Jungle Crow, House Crow, Barn Swallow, Red-vented Bulbul, White-browed Bulbul, Plain Prinia, Grey-breasted Prinia, Ashy Prinia, Common Tailorbird, Tawny-bellied Babbler, Yellow-billed Babbler, Yellow-eyed Babbler, Common Myna, Rosy Starling, Oriental Magpie Robin, Jerdon's Leafbird, Pale-billed Flowerpecker, Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Purple Sunbird, House Sparrow, White-rumped Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Black-headed Munia, Paddyfield Pipit
Other Wildlife
Indian Star Tortoise occurs in the paddyfields and marshes. Land Monitor and Water Monitor can also be seen.
Site Information
History and Use
Tissamaharama used to be the capital of the Kingdom of Ruhuna a long time ago. Many of the artifical lakes are more than 2000 years old and were build as a part of an irrigation system. Today Tissa is mainly a starting point for safaris to Yala and trips to the temples of Kataragama.
Areas of Interest
Wirawila Lake is west of Tissa and one of the biggest lakes. Spot-billed Pelican can easily be seen here. To the north of Wirawila lake lies the smaller Pannegamuwa lake. You can watch the birds directly from the road here.
Tissa lake itself has only few birds. Better is a smaller lake just west of Tissa Lake. You can reach it from Tissa Road via a small road near Suhada Garage. Park when you reach the lake and walk along the dam to the east. Black Bittern can be common here.
Yoda lake to the east harbours similar birds than the other lakes.
Access and Facilities
Tissamaharama can be reached by public bus from the coast (from Hambantonta) or from the mountains (with changing at Wellawaya). Around Tissa a car or an autorikshaw are the best way to reach the lakes and marshes.
There are several lodges and hotels in Tissa as it is the starting point for safaris to Yala National Park. It's worth to book ahead for the better ones.
