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Kali Villu, kudiramale, Nelum Wila, Panikkawila, Wilpattu, 2012, Adventure Drive, Birds, Dry Zone, February, National Park, Photograhy, Three Days, Wetlands, Wildlife

Author: mithila (25 Trips)

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It had been almost six years since I last visited Wilpattu. My last visit was in 2006, few weeks before the tragic incident of the landmine explosion which killed six visitors who where on safari. The park was pretty much out of bound since then until the end of the war in 2009. Even after it was re-opened I wasn’t able to plan a trip due to various constraints. This is when a firend at work invited me to join him in a three day trip to wilpattu. I couldn’t have been happier!

Day 01

We left home in the morning and reached Puttlam by 10 a.m. We did not forget to stop by the road and spend few minutes to enjoy the tranquility of the lagoon.

Serene beauty of Puttlam Lagoon

Chamindu Puta, Calm Lagoon and the Decorated Sky

The Mirror Effect and the Wind farm

Wind Mills Zoomed

By 11.30 we were at the park entrance. We met the safari jeep (Jagath) waiting for us at the park entrance. After the formalities and meeting with our tracker, again a Jagath , we straight away headed towards the  Panikkawila Bungalow . We reached the bungalow by 1.30 p.m

At Panikkawila Bungalow

The Bungalow is located overlooking Panikkawila

After lunch we set out on the first drive in the park. It was an overcast afternoon in Wilpattu. Lakes were quite full after recent rains. We did the circuit around the lakes and water bodies closer to Panikkawila (See  Google Earth Trail Map of the trip  - Red Track)

Even in the overcasr weather sightings were good. We managed to observe several species of birds and watch a serpant eagle at close range.

A godwit

Bee Eater

Serpent Eagle see at a close range

It gave a lot of shutter opportunities

Around 5.p.m. it started to rain and contrary to the popular belief rain did create some unique photo opportunities!

dark clouds gathered over a lakes

Minutes Later it was pouring down!

Rain Rain go away come again another day!

Rain does not seem to affect this one

The forest came to life just as the downpour stopped

The jungle fowl which was camera shy

It was almost dark when we returned to the bungalow. As we settled down, we heard some one walking in Panikkawila! It was a junbo who had come to the lake to feed on reeds and grass. It was not even 100m away from the bungalow. Even though we did not see it clearly, we assumed it to be a fair sized elephant.

The elephant was leisurely walking around and was feeding in the lake. After some time we all had forgotten it’s presence!

Day 02

Following morning we set out early  for the morning drive at 5.55 a.m . As we left the bungalow and went around Panikkawila, we saw the gentle giant who was feeding in the lake last night. It had gradually walked to the bank opposite to the bungalow through the night.

The giant who was feeding by the Bungalow the night before

Not too far away from Panikkawila we were lucky to witness beautiful sunrise over Nelum wila (Nallathanni Villu)

Beautiful Sunrise over Nelum Wila (Nallathanni Villu)

The lake & the life around it was in the process of waking up

First rays of the day painted the water in Orange with reeds creating a beautiful pattern

A closer frame certainly was less chaotic and more beautiful

Our route for this morning was around some of the waterbodies which we did not visit the previous day (See  Google Earth Trail Map of the trip  - Blue Track).

It was a beautiful morning at Wilpattu. The sky was clear and deep blue in colour. Water bodies were filled to the brim with reeds rising from water at most places. Surrounding was green and alive after rains in the previous night. All in all where ever we looked it was full of heavenly sights. It was an absolute pleasure to drive around in this magical world.

Greeting the rising sun

Good Morning!

Reeds Adding colour and creating patters

Lucky inhabitants of the magical world of Lakes

We came across this flowering Madu Tree

Blue Sky, tree line, water and white sand

Photographing the Busy Photographers

..and time for a family photograph!

We saw a number of bird species including a fish owl seen at a fairly close range.

Endemic Brown Capped Babler

A Sandpiper

Musician of the Paradise, a Bush Lark

A Tern (Whiskered Tern?)

The Fish Owl

A loser look

We continued to drive around one water body after another. Each one with its own unique character and color. Even at 9 a.m. photo opportunities were plenty.

Each water body had its own character and color

..and more often than not, these tiny but beautiful "kokmota" flowers added a beautiful touch to many frames

The bee eater and the "Kokmota" blanket

A curious onlooker - again see how "Kokmota" adds life and color to the frame

More beautiful landscapes

Both ways at the same time!

We returned to the bungalow by 10.30 a.m. and relaxed for couple of hours. Plan for the afternoon was a visit to Kudiramale point (K-Point).

As it was a some what of a long drive, we left the bungalow soon after lunch.

We drove through think forest mostly and occasionally around water bodies (See  Google Earth Trail Map of the trip  - Yellow Track). As it was early afternoon, there weren’t many sightings or photo opportunities. However we came across couple of bee eaters having a sand bath and were able to get couple of good shot.

The bee eater which was busy sand bathing

Passing Kali Willu and Marawila we reached Mannar road at a point close to Maila wila where there was a navy camp and a check point. The track beyond this point was appeared to be a newly cleared one on the right hand bank of the Mailawila where as the old road was on the other side.

The area around the track, all the way up to K-point, appeared to be disturbed by various road clearing activities. Finally we crossed the contorvertial “coastal Raod” and reached the parking area newly designated by Navy.

I have visited K-point couple of times before and undoubtedly the place and the last part of the road towards it from Mailawila has lost is “wildness” characteristics. For me it was a sad sight to see. I hope these unwarranted development activities will stop and the forest and the beach will recover to its former beauty over time.

Information - Good work by Navy (Click Image to Enlarge)

Unique Rock formations at Kudiramale

A closer look

The view of the sea from the cliff

While at Kudiramale we were lucky to witness an acrobatic display by two sea eagles. There were several sea eagles roaming in the sky and two of them would regualary chase each other, or fly in a synchorous fashion. Not sure wheher this was a mating behavior. It was certainly not a fight.

Synchronous Flying - White Bellied Sea eagles

Synchronous Flying - White Bellied Sea eagles

Ready for an Acrobatic maneuver

Wow!

Eagles also provided some great opprtuntties for flying shots. We kept on clicking and below are some reasonable frames we managed to capture.

Majestic White Bellied Sea eagle

Calling while Flying

Of course you have to do that while in flight

There were few Brahminy Kites as well - Managed to get a reasonable shot of this juvenile

Leaving the sea eagles behind, we started the return journey around 4.30 p.m. About 30 minutes later were stopped by a pair of mating mongoose.

Pair of Mating Mongoose

.

.	More than 15 minutes later, the pair moved in to the forest

 

On our way we came across three elephants (තුන්පත් රෑන) leisurely feeding in a lake at a fair distance from the jeep track. However as soon as they heard us coming they got out of water and ran straight in to the cover reminding us how untouched and wild wilpattu still is. You will never see such a response from elephants in Yala Block 1

 

By the time we reached Marawila we could see the beautiful sight of late afternoon sun beginning to set over the lake.

Passing Marawila we reached Kali willu where we took a short detour to see the place of Kuweni. When we came back to the jeep track we were lucky to witness a perfect sunset over Kali willu.

Coming out of dark clouds

Getting close to the tree tops

Almost Hidden

Gone for the day!

That was pretty much the last frame of the day. We hurried up a bit since we were a little late to reach the bungalow so there was no stopping there after.

Day 03

It was the last day of the trip. We woke up early and as usual set out just before the sun rise . The route we took was very similar to the circuit we did on the very first day (See  Google Earth Trail Map of the trip  - Green Track).

Undoubtedly the early morning drive brought a lot of photo opportunities!

The Light at the end of the tunnel

Rays falling on pure white sandy track

Web of the Spider who liked the sun bath every day

Heavenly spot light on a creepy site - Somewhere close to Maradanmaduwa on the main track

The Flowery Grass

.

We found this pair leisurely gracing in the reeds and thought it is an interesting frame

We found four bee eaters perched on a stick in an interesting formation. They were hunting from that, taking turns in flying out and returning with the catch. It was an interesting sight to see. We watched them for some time, until the bunch dispersed and only two were remaining.

There were four when we first saw the bunch

They took turns to fly out and hunt for insects

We watched them until only three where left on the stick

…and that was pretty much it. We returned to the bungalow and left after breakfast. On our way to the main entrance we met the same serpent eagle we saw on the first day, perched on a branch and an elephant who was in an extended feeding session in the lake in front.

The camera friendly serpent eagle

..and the elephant on an extended feeding session still eating at 11.30 a.m. !