Wild About Travel offers a range of tours to see the spectacular wildlife and culture of India, Sri
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Finishing with a day of r and r at Ging Oya. Had a kayak journey down the Ging Oya River his morning. Just 15 mins and we were at the coast. Had a snakes swimming by and a water monitor lizard plus plenty of birds. It was baking hot by 9am.
Around Ella. We walked to Ella Gap - quite a climb and shrouded in mist when we reach the top. Lovely views on they way up with Sri Lanka Hanging Parrots keeping us entertained. Had a journey on the train from Ella to Badulla, over the famous Nine Arches Bridge.
On the Ella in the hills. This is the sunrise from our balcony Homestay. Great start to the day.
From Habarana, near Sigiriya where we were lucky enough to see giant flying squirrel and grey slender loris, we headed to Gal Oya National Park and a two-night stay at Gal Oya Lodge. The lodge and surrounds are beautiful. The jeep safari inside the park was relatively quiet but still we saw Grey-headed fish eagle and white-bellied sea eagles, brown fish owl and a lovely herd of elephants crossing the lake with adults helping the youngsters swim across. I’ll post photos from night walk later.
We have been based for two days at The Other Corner at Habarana, near Sigiriya. Yesterday we visited Ritigala, archaeological site, an extensive monastic complex set in a gorgeous forest sanctuary. Today we climbed Sigiriya Rock.
A few days behind on posts. Had some amazing experiences.
At Wilpattu we had fantastic night drive with views our first Fishing Cat and a very obliging Grey Slender Loris. Jungle cat, Small Indian Civet, Black-napped Hare and Indian Nightjar were very appreciated bonuses. This photo of the Fishing Cat is off the view finder of my camera.
One evening based from Wilpattu Tree House we had a very successful night drive. Close up view of Fishing Cat and an even closer Grey Slender Loris we’re star attractions. We had a Jungle Cat, Small Indian Civet and Indian Nightjar too. I’ll post photos of the fishing cat soon.
Had three amazing days at Wilpattu National Park staying in the tree canopy at Wilpattu Tree House hideaway. These photos are off my phone. Better wildlife images and video clips to follow. Highlights were the Sloth Bear stunning green and Blue-tailed Beeeaters posing by the tracks, a Brown Fish Owl fishing and others perched, plus a White-bellied Sea Eagle bathing. Much, much more besides.
Yesterday at Alba Gorge in El Valle de Benasque ( Posets Maladeta NP)
Seen some lovely plants.
And yesterday at spectacular Sierra de Guara UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rock pairings ancient, but small!
Yesterday in Alquezar
A couple of days back we were enjoying the rather fine Canyon De Anisclo. Stunning!
Arrived yesterday in Zaragoza, Spain. Today we have driven to the Pyrenees, stopping at Alberta de Albore wetland and Castillo de Loarre on the way. Lesser Kestrel, white Storks and Nightingales galore - all lovely. Just relaxing at very rural and and rather beautiful O Chardinet D’a Formiga at Charo, near Ainsa.
Mammal of the week - Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, Panama
First morning in Panama and Kath and Mick were in for a real surprise: a 3-toed Sloth moving oh-so-slowly through the trees showed off the beautiful orange and black markings on its back. Only males have this pattern - the brighter the pattern, the stronger the male. This one’s a stunner!
Photo copyright Kath Claydon
Mammal of the week - White-headed Capuchin, Panama
Don’t know what we’d done to make him look so grumpy! A boat ride around the islands in Gatun Lake, Panama, is a good way to get close views of White-headed Capuchins.
Photo copyright Kath Claydon
Mammal of the week - Tent-making Bats, Panama
Check out the palm trees - Tent-making Bats bite through the base of a leaf stalk so it droops down to form a “tent” to give them a quiet day-time shelter.
Photo copyright Mick Claydon
Mammal of the week - Toque Macaque, Sri Lanka
Mischievous and entertaining, Toque Macaques always seem to be having a ‘bad hair day’. This reddish-brown-coloured Old World monkey is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Photo copyright Keith Barnes
Place of the week - Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
It is fine to leave those more nimble to climb Sigirya Rock World Heritage Site! Instead you can spend hours wandering through woodland at the foot of the outcrop.
Scenic photo copyright Kath Claydon
Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill copyright Keith Barnes
Bird of the week - White-bellied Woodpecker, South India
Big, bold and noisy this is the only “black” woodpecker to be found in southern India. Listen for the very loud hammering on dead wood.
Photo copyright Roger Wasley
Banded Peacock Butterfly, Panama
At Canopy Lodge for a split-second it may look like a Red Admiral - but no, it was a Banded Peacock butterfly in the lodge grounds.
Photo copyright Kath Claydon
Bird of the week - Masked Trogon, Ecuador
A very obliging Masked Trogon which seemed oblivious of us getting ever closer with a camera.
Photo copyright Mick Claydon
Bird of the week - Greater Adjutant
Not a hit in the beauty stakes, but a rare bird in Asia… The endangered Greater Adjutant stork is restricted in India to a to a few breeding populations. Assam, in North East India is the best area place to see them.
Photo copyright Roger Wasley
Bird of the week - Great Potoo, Panama
Eye, eye… a Great Potoo keeps watch from its daytime roost in the Darien.
Photo copyright Roger Wasley
Place of the week - Kaudulla NP, Sri Lanka
Kaudulla, an hour’s drive from Sigiriya, is part of the ‘elephant corridor’ between a string of protected areas, all of which can hold good numbers of elephants depending on local conditions. A great experience is a jeep drive in Kaudulla along the main track, parallel to a narrow stream which was a magnet for a variety of wildlife but particularly birds of prey. This Crested Serpent Eagle was waiting patiently beside the stream here. Perhaps looking for a snake or lizard?
Scenic photo copyright Kath Claydon. Crested Serpent Eagle photo copyright Mick Claydon
Bird of the week - Legge's Hawk Eagle, South India and Sri Lanka
This powerful, medium-sized eagle is found in mountain forests of southern India and Sri Lanka.
Photo copyright Roger Wasley
Mammal of the week - Red Howler, Ecuador
“Listen - what’s that noise? Sounds like a storm is coming?” No, it’s the Red Howler Monkeys waking up and proclaiming their territory! It got louder and louder as more troops joined in, filling the air with their roars. What a way to start the day!
Photo copyright Jacquie Bridges
Rusted Clearwing Butterfly, Panama
These glassy-winged butterflies look so fragile but are really quite robust. They are common along the famous Pipeline Road.
Photo copyright Kath Claydon
Banni grasslands - Gujarat, West India
Some Maldhari children spend their day tending the wandering camel herds.
Photo copyright Kath Claydon
Bird of the week - Yellow-browed Bulbul, South India and Sri Lanka
Not just a yellow brow - all the under parts and around the eye are a bright buttery yellow contrasting beautifully with olive-green upper parts.
Photo copyright Roger Wasley
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