LAST VISIT TO SINHARAJA FOR 2023.....

 I went to Sinharaja for a day's visit in the last week of December on my own. Although I tried to get a couple of friends to join me, for various reasons, no one could come and I made use of  the opportunity and it was  a fruitful visit as I was able to  clearly photograph the secretive and illusive Sri Lanka scaly thrush for the first time after trying for several years. 

Endemic Sri Lanka blue magpie

Dark fronted babler

 Endemic Female  Sri Lanka jungle fowl

Endemic Brown capped babbler

Yellow browed bulbul

somewhat rare  endemic legge's flowerpecker

Black bulbul

Endemic Sri Lanka Crested Drongo

 Endemic White faced starling: This was the first time I could get a decent photograph 

Sri Lanka frog mouth

Migrant drongo cuckoo

Endemic  Sharp -snouted shrub frog

Endemic Female  Sri Lankan kangaroo lizard

Male

Endemic Chest-nut backed owlet

Green pit viper

Endemic spot winged thrush

Endemic yellow- fronted barbet

Endemic Sri Lanka laughing thrush

Black naped monarch

This was the icing on the cake. I have made more than a few effort trying to photograph this beautiful Endemic SRI LANKA SCALY THRUSH  for a very long time. Although I got a record shot in a foggy morning in Ohiya where the sightings are almost guaranteed, finally I got my chance and it was  quite worthwhile 

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