GREATER FLAMINGOS IN DUBAI....

I was in Dubai with my family in December 2014 and one of highlights of the trip was the chance to see the greater Flamingos in numbers at Ras Al Khor bird Sanctuary.

 Mallard

 Eurasian Collard Dove

 White eared Bulbul

 Indian Silverbill

Reef Heron

YALA AND BUNDALA TRIP IN NOVEMBER 2014......

I went to Yala with 3 friends of mine in the 3rd week of November. En route we visited Bundala for half a day in the evening and stayed the night out side the park.The following day we stayed in WARAHANA bungalow and returned on the 3rd day. I was able to take some good pictures .

These Elephants were in Bundala.

We were lucky to spot this migrant rapture " The Osprey"

A white bellied sea eagle in flight

The Croc jumped in may be for the sound of our vehicle

Another migrant the

- Red-necked Phalarope 

Brown Shrike

Eurasian Thicknee

The Eurasian Curlew

The pin tail snipe

The great Thicknee

The Indian Darter

Another Elephant scratching the body with the assistance of a tree

This Sambur came to the open in Yala early morning probably after getting injured by a Leopard as there were fresh wounds in the legs.

This was a cub and the mother was next to him but was covered by the shrub

Whooly necked Stork

Second siting for the day.

The 2nd day morning in Yala. We found this  edgy Leopard with the cub, may be a few months old.

Majestic

Yellow Wattled Lapwing

This is what evey one looks for

Brown fish owl

This Jackal was sun bathing

Baya Weaver bird with it's great achievement ,the famous nest.

Patiently waiting

Sun Bathing

A Ringed Plover , another Migrant

A very colourful Indian Roller

This was a treat to watch. We were in a position to watch this Leopard for a long time.

A changeble Hawk Eagle gobbling down  the prey

THE MOST GLAMOROUS AND COLOURFUL PAGEANT THE " ESELA PERAHERA."... . . . . . . . .

Esala Perahera
(the procession of Esala) is the grand festival with elegant costumes held in July or August inKandy, Sri Lanka. It has become a unique symbol of Sri Lanka. It is a Buddhist festival consisting of dances and colourfully decorated elephants. There are fire-dances, whip-dances, Kandyan dances and various other cultural dances. The elephants are usually adorned with lavish garments. The festival ends with the traditional diya-kepeema ritual, a water cutting ceremony which is held at the Mahaweli River at Getambe, Kandy.

I got the opportunity see the 1st "Kumbal" perahera on the 31st July 2014 with my family and relations. First we managed to see the Majestic tusker "NEDUNGAMUWA ETHA" who was one of the two tuskers chosen to carry the casket carrying the most sacred tooth relics of the Lord Buddha in this year's perahera worshiping   with Lotus flowers in his trunk and then kneeling down  in front of the  Maligawa before climbing the steps and going inside to  get ready .

Dressing the tusker takes hours and hard work but he is  as patient as one can be... 

VISIT TO YALA IN JULY 2014

In the 4th week of July 2014 I got the chance to go to Yala again with my family and two other families closely related. Although we did not see any Leopards and the park was bone dry (Never seen this dry during this time of the year before ) , we managed to see more than a couple of Bears and captured some nice pictures.