A morning jeep safari in Uda Walawe gave us another chance to see some by now familiar species well, not before we got stuck in a huge mud pool though.
Our driver managed to get us close enough to some firm ground so that we could step off the jeep and await another vehicle to rescue us. As we continued, two Golden Jackals came into view ahead of us, they disappeared around the corner and although we slowly stalked them in the vehicle, they had disappeared.
At a viewpoint we had Jungle Crow begging for food and a very young baby rat-like animal was found crawling across the ground. Our jeep driver found a small box and collected it to move it into the relative safety of cover where hopefully its parent would find it before the heat of the day dehydrated it or the crow took it.
A much-wished for Plum-headed Parakeet bid us farewell from Uda Walawe as we left for Yala National Park. A quick detour to our Jeep-driver's house to see Sri Lanka Scops-owl which roosts in the eaves of his home. Lucky man - to have the owl, and the opportunity to increase his tips!
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| Blyth's Pipit |
Our driver managed to get us close enough to some firm ground so that we could step off the jeep and await another vehicle to rescue us. As we continued, two Golden Jackals came into view ahead of us, they disappeared around the corner and although we slowly stalked them in the vehicle, they had disappeared.
At a viewpoint we had Jungle Crow begging for food and a very young baby rat-like animal was found crawling across the ground. Our jeep driver found a small box and collected it to move it into the relative safety of cover where hopefully its parent would find it before the heat of the day dehydrated it or the crow took it.
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| Plum-headed Parakeet |
The signs as we neared our next base announced the Park as a "Leopard Paradise", but it is also home to many other animals including Sloth Bear, Spotted Deer, Black-naped Hare, the beautifully dramatic Malabar Pied Hornbill, and some of the most stunning landscapes we encountered on our trip.
We arrived in Yala for our drive around 3 pm and Hoopoe, Barred Buttonquail and many other birds were sand bathing along the dusty tracks. We had a lovely time simply watching them do what they do naturally.
We arrived in Yala for our drive around 3 pm and Hoopoe, Barred Buttonquail and many other birds were sand bathing along the dusty tracks. We had a lovely time simply watching them do what they do naturally.
There then followed the most amazing experience - only made possible by the sharp eyes of a certain Mr Alfrey. As we rounded a corner, there were several pipits and other small birds on the ground. The jeep stopped and immediately Peter called "Ortolan Bunting". The rest of us got onto the bird which was almost close enough for us to have completely overlooked. The more skilled birders and photographers amongst us snapped away, describing the key diagnostics whilst the rest of us tried to keep up. Much discussion around range and distribution, the colour of the coverts etc., etc., needless to say, after much discussion and referring to Collins, it was decided we probably had a Grey-necked Bunting - which was later confirmed.
By this time the rest of us were ready to move on, which we duly did. In case you are thinking that the Grey-necked Bunting was not quite "the most amazing experience" you would be right.
For the delay which we had for this bird caused us to lose all the other jeeps around us. As we drove along in glorious isolation, an animal appeared from a bend in the track and we had a Sloth Bear walking towards us! As we sat in utter disbelief watching it move towards us, we could barely believe it [excuse the pun]. It seemed totally unaware of our presence, or if it was, it certainly didn't care. The white claws were easily visible as it took each step towards us. When the Bear got to a more open area where it wanted to cross, it simply broke into a trot and ran across a grassy area to
our right and disappeared.
What a fantastic encounter.
A video I took, edited by Chris Townsend of Wise Birding Holidays is available here.
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| Hoopoe Dust-bathing |
By this time the rest of us were ready to move on, which we duly did. In case you are thinking that the Grey-necked Bunting was not quite "the most amazing experience" you would be right.
For the delay which we had for this bird caused us to lose all the other jeeps around us. As we drove along in glorious isolation, an animal appeared from a bend in the track and we had a Sloth Bear walking towards us! As we sat in utter disbelief watching it move towards us, we could barely believe it [excuse the pun]. It seemed totally unaware of our presence, or if it was, it certainly didn't care. The white claws were easily visible as it took each step towards us. When the Bear got to a more open area where it wanted to cross, it simply broke into a trot and ran across a grassy area to
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| Sloth Bear |
What a fantastic encounter.
A video I took, edited by Chris Townsend of Wise Birding Holidays is available here.
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