Most visitors to Udawalawe National Park come here to see elephants – and you would have to be very unlucky not to come across some. However, this narrow focus has led to far too many safari vehicles relentlessly chasing the poor elephants around, in pursuit of the perfect Instagram picture. We were quite appalled by the insensitive behaviour of some tourists and drivers and asked our own driver to take us into more remote areas of the park – irrespective of the likelihood of encountering elephants. (As it happened, we did see a number of them.) However, we were equally happy to observe other wildlife, in particular the many birds that call Udawalawe their home.
This short piece presents a selection of them. At the very top is a Crested Hawk-Eagle. We managed to get quite close, but earned a disapproving glare as a result.
Malabar Pied Hornbills are quite common in the park. However, most of the time we came across one, the sun was the wrong way and we ended up with a photo of a dark shape. The shot below was an exception.
Hoopoes are a rarer find. The one in the next two photos is the same bird.
The shot below shows another Crested Hawk-Eagle. We watched it hunting – and failing to catch its prey.
This being Sri Lanka, jungle fowl, the country’s national bird, can often be spotted by the roadside.
Initially I thought the bird in the photo below was a Black Eagle, but I now believe that it is a Crested Serpent Eagle.
Painted Storks are ubiquitous in the park, particularly around the many lakes and ponds.
Enjoyed your photos, especially the top one of the Crested Hawk Eagle. Such a piercing gaze!
Thanks. Yes, the message certainly was ‘go away’!