2010- January – February: Another Tour: Another Great Memory

 

On reflection, the January –February 2010 Tour is best separated into two parts. Part One being a tip to Kalpitiya to “frolic” with the Spinner Dolphins and a quick visit to the Anavilundawa Wetlands Sanctuary just North Of Chilaw . Part Two; being a road trip starting at Ratnapura and on to Kuda Oya – Uda Walawe National Park – Yala National Park – Balaharuwa Wewa – Dhebara ara Wewa and Lunugamvehera Dam. Not to mention a great overnight stay at  Bolgoda Lake and a few visits to Thalangama Lake & Wetlands Sanctuary in Bataramulla in between these trips.

                                                 KALPITIYA. (part one) Chasing Dolphins in the swell of the January seas is not an easy task. Keeping a balance, trying to focus and manage two cameras with two different lens is quite an ordeal. That effort “visited” my aging muscles the next morning! Nevertheless, the Dolphins did not disappoint.They arrived in their hundreds; frolicked under our boat, beside our  boat, and all around – as swift as the wind, gliding in and out of the sparkling water, dazzling in their brilliance, spinning and tumbling, ‘daring’ me to capture their performances.. A sight that never fails to enthral and each experience instils a lasting memory. The best time to marvel at these Dolphins is March – when, I am told, the seas are “flat” and very calm. The hospitality of Raehan (an amazing young photographer with a keen eye) and his Mum ensured we stayed at their cosy little cottage at Mampuri – on the Kalpitiya Peninsula. The versatile caretaker provided a most delicious meal of hot rice ( cooked with rampe’-pandang leaves ), fresh lagoon prawn curry and parippu – red lentils; cooked at his home over a log fire. The meal was twice as enjoyable as Eric and I dined in  on the verandah in a steady cool breeze. A brilliant full moon lit up the night and the gardens to the extent that there was no need to switch on the lights or the ceiling fan. A cold beer washed down the ‘home cooked meal’ just nicely. There was no need for conversation either as we absorbed the great evening in a marvellous place in silent appreciation.

 

Above: Anavilundawa Wetlands Sanctuary. Painted Storks, Black-headed Ibis, Grey Herons and Spoonbills

Anawilundawa Wetlands was a little quiet due to the time of the day that we went through (around 1.pm.). However, the water levels were good and for the first time I saw Spoonbills and Painted Stork in one of the three Villus. The place was as green and lush as ever. Pity we did not spend a few more hours walking the banks of the three villus.

Kuda Oya to Uda Walawe to Yala (part two)

An overnight stop with our dear friend Palitha on his tea estate, St Joachim, in Ratnapura kicked off our little road trip. This particular tea estate is brimming with Peacocks and it is quite a sight to see them wandering the front lawns early morning. The ‘friendship circle’ consisted of Ananda, Sepala, Harin, Chanaka, Raminal and Mahes. A lavish breakfast of string hoppers, red milk-rice, bananas and an assortment of curries saw a very satisfied group tumble into the vehicles for the trip to Kuda Oya (or- ‘KO” as we call it). KO  was green and lush too. At this time of the year the green paddy fields stretch to the horizon. Brightly coloured Minivets, Malabar Pied Hornbills, Serpent Eagles, Pompadour Pigeon, Sunbirds, White-browed fantails, Stork bill Kingfishers and their small ‘cousin’ the Common Kingfisher (just to name a few types of birds noted) graced our ‘lodge’ garden and the river banks below. KO never fails to “deliver” when it comes to bird watching/spotting. Short trips to Balaharuwa Wewa and Dhebara ara Wewa also expanded the sightings to include Malabar Pied Hornbills,  Grey Heron, Terns, Pelicans & Open-bill storks. The water levels in both wewas were high and it seemed good fishing was also being enjoyed by the local people. The usual, daily river baths prior to a hot lunch cooked in clay pots over an open fire always makes a stay at the ‘KO Lodge” a most relaxing time.

 

 

Uda Walawe was picturesque as ever. Above: Sheer stupidity! of some pilgrims who stop to feed the wild elephants that have learned to hang around the electric fence that borders the National Park(NP). A headache for the authorities and a tragedy in waiting. We noted eight elephants along the border fence. Looks like the  ‘word’ is spreading amongst the elephants.  Apart from the elephants we noted, Black Shouldered Kites, Hornbills, Woolly-necked Storks, Pipits, Pompadour Pigeon, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, and Grey Heron.  Uda Walawe boasts a new park entrance office about 600-700 metres inside from the old gate entrance. A superb breakfast at “Namal’s’ Cool Spot” across the road from the old entrance of hot string hoppers, Rohuwa  fish curry ( a fresh water lake fish), coconut sambol and a potato vegetable curry – washed down with steaming cups of ginger tea drew sighs of contentment from us all. Another great meal ‘on the road”. It was also good to note quite a few tourists visiting the park.

Below: Yala NP; full of water and green once again

Compared to last September’s drought (see my blog post September 2009 below)  Yala NP was in “full bloom”. All the waterholes, villus and pokunas were filled with water and bore water lilies and lotus. A reasonable leopard sighting in the late afternoon provided some great silhouette shots as it waited for the mother to bring in or call up the evening meal. The thrill of the day was a magnificent ‘alpha male’ leopard sighted on the way out of the park, at dusk. A huge specimen, strolled majestically, a mere 2-3 metres alongside our vehicle, took his time to cross the road behind us, stood a while and surveyed us ogling at him and then strode into the bush. It was light enough to enjoy the sighting but too dark for any clear pictures. A great sighting. We also had some good sightings of Brahminy Kites, Bee eaters, Coucals, Jungle Fowl, Wild Pig and Crocodile. Here too  tourists were visiting the park in significant numbers.

As all good things must come to an end “the lads’ and I enjoyed some great meals, river baths and had much laughter. About 700 images were recorded by myself and a few hundred amongst the others.

Above: Fisherman laying his nets at dusk – Dhebara ara Wewa