HOTEL GROUNDS - DEBARAWEWA SUBURBS - AFTERNOON SAFARI TO YALA VIA THE KATARAGAMA ENTRANCE
WEATHER: hot and sunny all day.
Our garden walk produced a few nice birds the best of which, for me that is, were the three Orange-breasted Green Pigeons, they are stunning. We had good views of Jordan's leafbird, Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Asian Paradise Flycatcher and many common species.
For our morning excursion we went on an Owl Prowl in the suburbs of Debarawewa not far from the hotel. A Local guy helped us, he knew where to find most of the owls and he quickly led us to the first of four target species.
The Brown Fish Owl can be seen in the trees along the river and it took all of 5 minutes to find one. This bird was partially hidden and facing away from us, but it was a huge Brown Fish Owl. Both Storked-billed and White-throated Kingfishers were seen too, along with White-breatsed Waterhen and Indian Cormorant.
Brown Fish Owl
Indian Scops Owl
A few meters upriver and the local guide found an Indian Scops Owl, unfortunately, it flew off before anyone of the group (except for Peter) managed to see it. We piled back onto the bus and took a quick drive around to a private garden. We were led up onto to a flat roof and from there we had eye-level views of not one, but two Indian Scops Owls.
Jungle Owlet
Another quick drive and another private garden added our third owl of the day in the shape of a Jungle Owlet. This one was a bit tricky and hard to get onto, it was quite high up and refused to play ball. We all saw it well enough in the end.
The last owl of the morning was found in a side track between house, it also sat high up and with the sun behind it. It wasn't easy to see. We got the bird in the scope and everyone got to see, the Brown Hawk-Owl was our fourth owl of the day.
Brown Hawk-Owl
One other local speciality bird is a woodpecker, we were led to another garden just off the main road, an active nest hole was pointed out to us, we watched a pair of White-naped Woodpeckers bring in food for their chicks, what a spectacular bird and a great species to finish our morning's birding session.
a pair of White-naped Woodpeckers at their nest hole (male has the red crown)
At 1pm, just after lunch, we met again to board the bus, we drove for 30 minutes when we transferred to two open top jeeps, each with 8 seats on a raised upper-deck. We drove to Yala National Park taking the Kataragama gate for our entrance.
in our jeeps ready for the safari into Yala National Park
It was a little quiet at first being the hottest part of the day, but things soon picked up. We added Marshall's Iora at the entrance gate where we also watched several Indian Robins, Sunbirds, Bulbuls and Parakeets.
a typical track in Yala
Our choice of an afternoon visit seemed to have paid off with far fewer vehicles on the tracks and we kept on ticking new birds and new mammals. We saw two species of Mongoose, Ruddy and Brown, a few Crocodiles in the pools with Water Buffalo and lots of egrets and herons. Also Toque and Grey Languar Monkeys and lots of Spotted Deer.
a Mugger Crocodile - not to be messed with!
Great excitement ensused when a report came through of a Leopard sighting, we dashed off and drove for 10 minutes. A narrow track was clogged with vehicles, but only about 6 of them. Soon we were right next to a sleeping Leopard, it was just 3 or 4 meters from the side of the track, fast asleep. It was was huge, a male, and so was the excitement buzzing around, what a beast.
a very large male Leopard, slumped by the side of the track, fast asleep
We spent a while taking pictures but the animal did not stir, it was fast asleep, we left in turn. Wowza!! Ten minutes later we had even more excitement when the lead vehicle called us to say that had seen a second Leopard!! This time the animal was walking along, parallel to the track and then it crossed the track in front of them. Oh my god, two Leopards in one day, it was too much for Saman the guide!
Sirkeer Malkoah
We continued birding and mammal watching for another two-three hours adding more species to the list. We stayed until 6pm, the light began to fade and the bushes came alaive. Land and Water Monitors partrolled their territories, Grey Languar Monkeys came out, watcher Munias, Weavers, Malkoahs, Parakeets, Sunbirds, Bee-eaters, Shrikes, Woodshrikes, Peafowl & Junglefowl and Eagles.
Malabar Pied Hornbill
Changeable Hawk-eagle
On the way as it grew dark we found our only Elephant, it was deep in the marsh but we had reasonable views of it. Lots of Land Monitorts were on patrol, crossing the track ahead of us, and we had several sightings of Black-naped Hares.
It was a fantastic experience, everyone enjoyed themselves, a complete success, we headed home, a late dinner was taken at 7:45pm. The chat around the dinner table was all about the Leopards! I thought this was a bird-watching tour??