Elusive Wild

Elusive Wild Capturing the untamed beauty of Sri Lankan wildlife. From hidden rainforests to open plains, every frame tells a wild story.

A Tail Made for FlightThe Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) සැවුල්-පෙඳ දියසෑනා / බළල් සේරා lifts off lig...
26/02/2026

A Tail Made for Flight

The Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) සැවුල්-පෙඳ දියසෑනා / බළල් සේරා lifts off lightly above the wetlands of Mannar, its elongated tail streaming like a signature in the air. A species built for balance, grace, and open water.

📍 Location: Mannar, Sri Lanka
📷 Camera:

Rarity & Significance
• Uncommon resident and passage migrant in Sri Lanka
• Breeding plumage with the iconic long tail is seasonal and rarely photographed in flight
• Known for walking on floating vegetation using its elongated toes
• Capturing this clean airborne moment adds strong value to the record

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭With wings spread wide to the sun, the Little Cormorant pauses between dives, drying its feathe...
24/02/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭

With wings spread wide to the sun, the Little Cormorant pauses between dives, drying its feathers and surveying the wetlands in calm focus.

Little Cormorant
Phalacrocorax niger
Sinhala: පුංචි දියකාවා

📍 Location: Mannar, Sri Lanka
📷 Camera: Nikon Z5 II

Rarity & Significance
• Common resident across Sri Lanka’s wetlands
• Iconic wing-spreading posture, often misunderstood but essential for drying feathers
• A skilled diver and efficient fish hunter
• Clean, isolated perch adds strength and stillness to the composition



© Elusive Wild

☯ Nature’s Perfect BalanceA quiet moment where contrast tells a story, two wild donkeys standing in harmony, light and s...
23/02/2026

☯ Nature’s Perfect Balance

A quiet moment where contrast tells a story, two wild donkeys standing in harmony, light and shadow sharing the same space in the open plains of Mannar.

Species: Wild Donkey
Scientific name: Equus africanus asinus

📍 Location: Mannar, Sri Lanka
📷 Camera:



© Elusive Wild

Silent SentinelPerched with quiet authority, the Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) — කලු කවුඩා — watches over the scru...
22/02/2026

Silent Sentinel

Perched with quiet authority, the Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) — කලු කවුඩා — watches over the scrublands, ever alert and fearless despite its size.

📍 Location: Mannar, Sri Lanka
📷 Camera:

Rarity & Significance
• Common resident, but rarely captured in such a clean, composed perch
• Known for bold behavior, often mobbing much larger birds
• Excellent insect controller, vital to the local ecosystem



© Elusive Wild

Wetland TensionsA fleeting moment of chaos and balance — Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) clash mid-water, while Gulls (Family...
19/02/2026

Wetland Tensions

A fleeting moment of chaos and balance — Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) clash mid-water, while Gulls (Family: Laridae) circle above. In the foreground, a quiet contrast: a resting flock of Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) grounding the scene in calm.

📍 Location: Mannar, Sri Lanka
📷 Camera:

Rarity & Significance
• Dynamic multi-species interaction in a single frame
• Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) is a winter visitor to Sri Lanka
• Mannar wetlands support both resident and migratory birds
• Such layered behavior scenes are rarely captured together



© Elusive Wild | All Rights Reserved

Winter AssemblyA calm gathering in shallow waters — Black-tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa) — (කළු පෙඳ ගොහොදුවිත්තා) pause ...
19/02/2026

Winter Assembly

A calm gathering in shallow waters — Black-tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa) — (කළු පෙඳ ගොහොදුවිත්තා) pause mid-journey, resting and feeding as Mannar offers refuge from colder lands. Their synchronized stance and gentle spacing turn a simple wetland moment into quiet poetry.

📍 Location: Mannar, Sri Lanka
📷 Camera:

Rarity
• Winter visitor to Sri Lanka
• Relies heavily on healthy wetlands during migration
• A key indicator species of wetland ecosystem health



© Elusive Wild | All Rights Reserved

Silent SentinelPerched high against a clear blue sky, the Asian Openbill Stork (Anastomus oscitans) — (ආසියානු විවරතුඩුව...
17/02/2026

Silent Sentinel

Perched high against a clear blue sky, the Asian Openbill Stork (Anastomus oscitans) — (ආසියානු විවරතුඩුවා) stands still and watchful. Its unmistakable open bill tells a story of wetlands and mollusk-rich waters, a quiet specialist perfectly at home in Mannar’s coastal landscape.

📍 Location: Mannar, Sri Lanka
📷 Camera:

Rarity
• Uncommon but regular visitor to Mannar wetlands
• Distinctive bill adaptation rarely seen up close



© Elusive Wild | All Rights Reserved

Winter Gathering 🌊A lively winter scene with Brown-headed Gulls (මුහුදු කපුටා / බොර හිස් ගලුවියා) (Chroicocephalus brunn...
16/02/2026

Winter Gathering 🌊

A lively winter scene with Brown-headed Gulls (මුහුදු කපුටා / බොර හිස් ගලුවියා) (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) in their non-breeding plumage, filling the shallow waters with motion and sound. Some take to the air while others rest below, perfectly capturing the seasonal rhythm of Sri Lanka’s coastal wetlands. Photographed with .

📍 Location: Mannar, Sri Lanka

Rarity
• Seasonal migratory visitors to Sri Lanka
• Rare moment capturing both flight and rest in a single frame



© Elusive Wild | All Rights Reserved

When the Sky Meets the Flock 🌅A peaceful sunset over the Mannar wetlands, where multiple bird species share the same mom...
15/02/2026

When the Sky Meets the Flock 🌅

A peaceful sunset over the Mannar wetlands, where multiple bird species share the same moment. Some take flight across the glowing sky while others rest quietly on the water below, creating a layered scene of motion and stillness. A timeless reminder of Mannar’s importance as a sanctuary for birds, captured in warm evening light with .

📍 Location: Mannar, Sri Lanka

Rarity
• Diverse bird species gathering at sunset
• Rare balance of flight and stillness captured in a single frame



© Elusive Wild | All Rights Reserved

Love in Stillness 💕A quiet Valentine’s Day moment with a Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) standing gracefully in...
14/02/2026

Love in Stillness 💕

A quiet Valentine’s Day moment with a Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) standing gracefully in the shallow waters of Mannar. Poised on one leg, curved neck forming a gentle heart-like line, this solitary bird reflects the calm side of love found in nature. Sometimes, love doesn’t need a pair. Just balance, patience, and presence.

📍 Location: Mannar, Sri Lanka
📸 Captured with

Rarity
• Seasonal migratory species to Sri Lanka
• Rare solitary moment captured in perfect stillness



© Elusive Wild | All Rights Reserved

13/02/2026

Flamingos standing quietly in soft morning light, surrounded by stillness and peace.

© Elusive Wild

Nature’s Heart 💗A breathtaking moment with Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) in the shallow wetlands of Mannar, ...
12/02/2026

Nature’s Heart 💗

A breathtaking moment with Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) in the shallow wetlands of Mannar, where the flock naturally forms a perfect heart shape at the center. A reminder that even in the wild, harmony and beauty align in the most unexpected ways. Captured during golden light with .

📍 Location: Mannar, Sri Lanka

Rarity
• Seasonal migratory species to Sri Lanka
• Rare natural formation captured without disturbance



© Elusive Wild | All Rights Reserved

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