WILPATTU VISIT IN DECEMBER 2023

 I went to Wilpattu in December 2 nd week for 2 days with a fellow wildlife photographer making it the last visit for this year. Although we missed the action near a carcass as the Kuruttu Pandiya female had moved it back into the nearby bush the previous day, we got the head-on walk towards us for a good 3 minutes and then drinking water scene only to ourselves.

All in all it was a fruitful trip as we managed to enjoy 2  full days of safari almost un-interrupted though many intermittent showers were predicted.

This is Chandu an offspring of Nelumvila big boy.

For the 2nd consecutive year, this black capped kingfisher is seen in the same vicinity at Kumbuk oya.

Green bee-eater

Majestic pose,,,

Oriental skylark

Pacific golden plover

Male jungle fowl

Pintail snipe

Indian Thick-knee

Little ringed plover

Common greenshank

This one got on to the road and walked towards us casually and was intimidating

Lesser adjutant stork

Though I would have preferred a better photo of the Orange headed thrush, this was a lifer for me.

White bellied sea eagle

To get these still photos of the jackal is a rarity

Common sandpiper

In flight

Changeable hawk eagle

Osprey

A grey headed fish eagle with a fish

Chestnut headed bee- eater

This is how the Kuruttu pandiya female was when we confronted.

And then it started walking on the road towards us.

sniffing the leaves in an unusual fashion..

It also stopped to drink water for a few seconds 

disappearing inside where the carcass was probably

emerald dove

Serpent eagle

A young sambar

This bear was roaming in side without coming out to the open