Memorable Trips to Wilpattu in 2019

I made a trip to Wilpattu almost after 2 years with a friend of mine. We started around 1.30 am on a Saturday and by 4.45am were at the gate and by that time our guy Asinka had already parked his Jeep to be the first one and we entered the park at 6.10.We did a full day trip and again a morning trip on Sunday and left after lunch.The highlight was the chance I got to photograph a Bear well for the first time after 15 years of going to Wilpattu on a regular basis for more than 12 times.
The bonus was the opportunity to photograph the very illusive Three Toed Kingfisher which was found close to the entrance inside a thicket.

It was 4.45 am when we came to the entrance

Shikra

 Grey Headed Fish Eagle was a resident on this tree

 Black capped Bulbuls

Pea hens drinking water

In Harmony

Eagles Eye...

A barking deer

Mother;s love

 This young female Leopard gave us a show for almost 40 minutes  and then went and drank water around 4.30

SECOND VISIT TO YALA IN 2019........

I made another trip to yala in the 2nd week of July , less than a month after  my first visit for the year 2019. This time around I went with my family, my cousin ( who comes from Dubai every year and does a trip with us) and a family of her friends.The first day we stayed at Jetwing Yala and did the afternoon safari and after doing the morning safari the following day we went to Avani hotel in Kalutara and stayed the night to return on Sunday.It was a good trip all in all having quality family life as well as being able to capture some good photos.

On the way to Jetwing Yala..

The Hotel

Doing the first visit in the afternoon

Around 2.50pm a few minutes after coming to the park, this female came out of no where and chased a small herd of deer who were  in front of our jeep  at a junction on the main road. After failing the attack it sat here may be to get the breath back ..

Crested Tree Swift

Eurasian Hoopoe

On the 2nd day morning though we entered the park at 6am, we went all over without any luck and then suddenly came across this one named STRAWBERRY  at around 9 am.

Hotel Avani, Kalutara

Seen from the lagoon