Borneodaya: August 2019

Thursday 8 August 2019

UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK

UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK

The park is a sanctuary created for animals displaced by the construction of the reservoir. It covers an area of 30,821 hectares. It's most famous inhabitants are of course the elephants, which almost for certain you will see in your travels around the park. But here are a few others you will see in your journey around the park roads.

^^ Lake bed of Udawalawa ^^

^^ Lake bed of Udawalawe ^^

^^ Bull ^^

^^ Water buffalo ^^

^^Golden jackal ^^

^^ Nesting time ^^

^^ Langur monkey ^^

^^ Water monitor ^^

ELEPHANT TRANSIT HOME

This is an elephant rescue center where park rangers bring young baby elephants who have been abandoned or who's mothers have died from the park. currently there seem to be 50-60 babies of various ages.

^^ Elephant skeleton ^^

^^ Information center ^^

^^ the gang ^^

^^ Nice elephant edging of walkway ^^

^^ The fisher man ^^

MALABAR PIED HORNBILL

THE MALABAR PIED HORNBILL

I really don't know what it is about hornbills that fascinates me so much, but I think they are truly a marvel to behold. The female have white orbital skin, that's the area around the eye, the male is dark around the eye.

^^ Female ^^

^^ Male ^^

^^ Female ^^

^^ Female top- Male below ^^

^^ Check out the eyelashes ^^

^^ Male with food ^^

^^ Male ^^

Wednesday 7 August 2019

BIRDS OF SRI LANKA

BIRDS OF SRI LANKA

My final destination was Udawalawa, a small village near Udawalawa National Park, famous for it's herds of elephants and water buffalo. What a great area for birding. Upon arriving in the late afternoon I could hear many birds singing their song. My home stay was Falcons Nest, run by Amil and his extended family, a quiet place well off the main road. After getting acquainted and being shown my room I had a quick shower as I was anxious to get out to scout the area. Strolling around the area I could hear Asian koels, Barbets, Sunbirds and some Babblers. Sounded good to me, so went back for my meal and off to bed for an early rise in the morning. In the morning got up at 4:30 a.m. to the sounds of the Asian koels making their calls, plus another sound. Hornbills! Right across the street from me. Grabbed my camera and off I went, in more ways than one. My life revolved around my camera, getting up wandering off without breakfast or lunch , walking, standing, shooting for countless hours. Nothing was more important than to photograph the wild life. I became quite aware of school children passing me by, all of them giving me huge smiles and in their best English "good morning". They all looked so clean and fresh in their uniforms, I was delighted that they took the time to greet me. On my camera screen I showed some mothers and children what I was photographing to their joy and amazement.