The Next Morning.....

We decided to take the next morning easy, since, unlike in Yala where there is plenty of leopard, Udawalawe does not offer the same opportunity. We therefore decided that we would have breakfast at about 7.00 a.m. and set off on our morning round at about 7.30 a.m. This trip was more of a birding trip!!! We drove toward Timbiriyamankada where there is a waterhole. There we were audience to a great spectacle of a crested hawk eagle catching a serpent. It was an amazing battle between the two of them. The serpent had his body wrapped around the eagle's leg and the eagle kept pecking the serpent aiming at his head. At one point the serpent and the eagle were eyeballing each other. You could almost feel the anxiety of the serpent as it knew that that was the end for him. The snake attacked too and ended up with a feather in its mouth. While all this was occuring a couple of crows were mobbing the eagle so much so it took off with the serpent wrapped around its leg to probably enjoy its brunch away from the crows and our prying eyes. We proceeded further and encountered 2 adult elephant and 2 baby elephants drinking at a waterhole. They seemed rather thirsty as they drank for quite some time giving plenty of photo opportunity for whoever was interested.

Some miscalculation in the quantity of food ended up in us having to go to the park entrance and to the Udawalawe town. While the other vehicle proceeded to town we enjoyed a cup of tea at one of the shops. One hour later we started our journey back to the bungalow to enjoy yet another river bath and lunch. Since this took up a considerable amount of time we did not have time for an afternoon snooze. We had only a half an hour break before we set off on the evening round. The evening round did not produce that many great opportunities only a few elephant. We headed back home to a sumptious dinner and turned in for the night.

The next morning was our departure day. Some decided that they would stay at the bungalow - that included me - some decided to do a round to a particular place called Weheramankada to look for the Rufous woodpecker. The party of three had only left 5 minutes and the Rufous woodpecker made its appearance at our doorstep on two occasions. They came back not having had much luck. If only they had stayed behind like us they would have seen this bird. Another river bath was in order. We packed had breakfast and left our bungalow to return home.