NIGHT SAFARI IN DEBERAWEWA AND A VISIT TO YALA BLOCK V.......

 I went to Thissamaharama on  a Friday evening in August with my usual photography couple and did a night safari with a guide looking for the fishing cat, jungle cat and the barn owl. The following morning the main purpose was to check on a nesting of the white rumped woodpecker as my friend had not seen the bird before but unfortunately that did not materialise. after doing a round where we were able to see some birds . we went to Block v in the afternoon expecting to see the 2 cubs of Charlote but that also did not work out this time.

IN SERCH OF THE THREE TOED KINGFISHER NESTING.....

 After getting to know from a Instagram account about a nesting in Matugama, I went to a private forest patch marketed as ARANYA NATURE VILLAGE with a fellow photographer friend on a Friday evening  as we were told that accommodation has to be used .

The facilities were quite good and close to nature and the meals and the service was fabulous in that sense. The following morning we were at the extended unit of the dining area by 6 and the nest had been made just outside  in a pit on the ground which was about 5-6 feet deep.

By 6.40 for the first time both the parents flew from the forest side to nearby trees with fresh kills and after a few minutes, flew down to the pit where the nest had been made which is not visible. Though the light was poor and the flying shots were not possible we were able to take some good  photos till about 8.30 after which generally the feeding slow down it seems.

We did some walking around the land and managed to photograph some decent photos of a couple of other birds apart from the frogs and stuff in the night as well.  The trip was a super experience and much rewarding as well.

The resort was quite beautiful and eco friendly.

Dining area

One of the accommodation types

Another type 

Unusual 

The night stroll was quite exciting and productive

We came across this black naped monarch who was dosing off.

THIS WAS A SUPER FIND : A LAND SNAIL  IDENTIFIED AS CRYPTOZONA CHENUI , endemic and a highly vulnerable.

While waiting for the Three toed ...

 colourful Blue tiger moth caterpillar

This is the priceless encounter...

Endemic sri lanka golden backed frog

This was while we were on the way to the Velipenna highway 

Female orange minivet

lucky to see the female malabar trogan

Emerald dove

Tickle's blue flycatcher

Male crested tree swift

Black naped monarch