Still with the background of the war as a worry we were off on our first safari drive. An early start saw us picked up in the jeep and driven the short distance to the park entrance. After completing all the administration we were into the park just before sun rise. There is no real twilight in the tropics, it becomes light quickly in the morning and the birds are in full song almost immediately, the best light conditions last, then, until just after 9:00 am, after which the sun is high in the sky and everything starts to become a little harsh.
Peafowl, stay off the ground at night, taking to the shelter of the trees. As the sun comes up they can be see on the branches taking in the sun. This a Peahen.
And then the Peacock with the resplendent tail feather. I have converted to black and white for a different take on this beautiful bird.
As the sun came up a Changeable Hawk Eagle, again taking advantage of the height position.
Love the Crest
The dead trees were providing perches for the many bird species. I thought when I took this, that I was photographing a Rose-ringed Parakeet, but when I processed it later I realised it was in fact an Alexandrine Parakeet. There is red in the wing and a pink wash behind the eye and around the neck
As you drive along the tracks, Bee-eaters swoop across in front from prominent perches, this makes them quite easy to photograph. This is a Blue-tailed Bee-eater, a winter visitor to the park, and one I hadn't seen on previous trips
The Little Green Bee-eater is the commonest around the park.
And as you can see easily approachable.
A Sri Lankan endemic bird, the Sri Lankan Green Pigeon, a stunning looking bird, even though it is a pigeon.
Our drive took us to a wide open wetland with a larger expanse of water. We made our way around the pools and gullies to start with, coming across this Indian Pond Heron, showing off nicely in the morning light.
Another migrant to the island, a Grey-bellied Cuckoo, found across India, but a winter migrant here in Sri Lanka.
Along the side of the road was a small brown bird, they would make their way through the grass and when you thought they were going to get run over they would take off almost vertically, this is Jerdon's Bushlark.
Barn Swallows were grouped together amongst the tall grasses.
In one of the gullies created by the water was a Pied Kingfisher. The light not good to start with.
But we were able to move to a better aspect and better light. Larger than the Common Kingfisher, it is known for its hovering behaviour when hunting.
A Blue-tailed Bee-eater perched on sticks amongst the grass in the misty morning light.
There were plenty of shallow pools with waders like Greenshank and Redshank feeding along the edges. In amongst them though were some specialties such as this Marsh Sandpiper.
It was a magical place, made more so by the lovely light. Another Blue-tailed Bee-eater low on the grass.
Then standing quite majestically a Grey-headed Fish Eagle.
A Painted Stork and Mugger Crocodile.
From the tall Stork to the relatively small Kentish Plover.
A familiar call saw a Kingfisher fly to one of the sticks close to the water's edge. Whilst the same species they eyes do look larger and more accentuated on these ones.
And a Black-winged Stilt
While there was also a good collection of the larger herons. The Great Egret
And the more familiar Grey Heron.
Winter plumaged Whiskered Terns flew around the open water.
There were sand bars and small islands in the main water and on these there were Crocodiles, although the Painted Stork wasn't too concerned.
Crocodiles in the water.
Not sure what this one was up to, it looked like some kind of display with the tail.
This one between three and four metres with a good mouth of teeth.
Its almost as if the Pond Heron is trying to tip toe past without disturbing the Crocodile.
The Crocodiles were warming up in the sunshine, the mouths open to allow the warmth to get through to the softer palate.
The Kingfishers were flying back and forth and at one point hovered in front of us.
Before returning to a more conventional fishing method.
Two Pied Kingfishers on the bank.
Above us a Brahminy Kite dropped in to a nearby tree.
We finally moved on passing Spot-billed Pelicans keeping an eye on a fisherman on the lake.
While Yellow Wagtails were catching insects amongst the mud and grass.
Leaving the lake we drove through scrub once more, this time a pair of Rose-ringed Parakeets.
We came across more water and again another sunbathing Crocodile.
A closer look at those formidable jaws.
As we sat watching the Crocodile a female Kingfisher flew into the top of a bush right alongside the jeep. The views of Kingfisher here were just amazing.
On the same pool another Black-winged Stilt.
We were starting to make our way back out of the park, the light was going and the amount of bird song was dropping off. In the dry scrub there were large flocks of Rosy Starlings, these are migrants here passing through on passage as they head north into Asia.
As we made our way to the park entrance two Golden Jackal were walking down the path towards us. Unfortunately they were disturbed by another jeep and turned off the track, but I was able to catch them as they walked around a water hole.
There are no Foxes in Sri Lanka, the Golden Jackal the only wild dog. They are called after the golden appearance of their fur.
Just before we left the park we stopped for some great views of the Green Imperial Pigeon.
As we left the park I noticed a grey bird sitting on a wire fence, I asked the driver to stop and it turned out to be a Long-tailed Shrike.
It had been a wonderful morning, all the worries of the night completely wiped away as we emersed in the wildlife and the birds. We had one more drive in the afternoon, mor of which later.
