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rajivwelikala
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« on: July 10, 2012, 12:16:48 AM » |
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I had the most amazing experience yesterday morning when i came face to face with the infamous Devil Bird or Forest Eagle Owl. Known as Ulama in sinhalese, is the scariest looking bird i have ever seen. This sighting was rarer than any leopard or bear sighting. In my 25 years of experience in the Jungles of Sri Lanka, this is the first time i have seen this bird. What was also amazing is that I had the luck to photograph this bird in the white sands of Wilpattu which i beleive no one has ever done.
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KasunDes
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« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2012, 12:24:59 AM » |
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Hello Rajiv,
whoooaaa...! what a sighting.... Once I have heard its noise but have never seen. Its voice is scary too.... locals are very much afraid of this bird.
Thanks for sharing this rare sighting.
BR,
Kasun
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Sheham
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« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2012, 01:28:00 AM » |
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Hi Rajiv
Nice picture, I have not seen this bird (yet) !
Sheham
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rajivwelikala
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« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2012, 01:46:45 AM » |
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Thanks guys
@ Sheham- Yes it took me 25 years of travelling in the jungles of Sri Lanka to finally come across this bird.
It is very very rare to find especially during daytime.
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Malika
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« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2012, 02:39:18 AM » |
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Hi Rajiv
Well done!
Thanks for sharing.
Malika
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Namal
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« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2012, 02:41:40 AM » |
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This is a fantastic sighting. Wilpattu is one of the best places to see and hear a forest eagle owl, but It's by no means common.
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Rish
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« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2012, 05:59:48 AM » |
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Well done Rajiv! Willey has not disappointed you  |
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Humans are the only species capable of protecting another - That's no coincidence, DO something!
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Danushka
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« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2012, 06:27:10 AM » |
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Nice pic machan, I like the other one best, the one where it sits among Kokmota looking in to the camera.. Appreciate if you can post that here for others to enjoy it's beauty |
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Ashan253
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« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2012, 07:11:35 AM » |
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very nice
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“"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet
and the wind longs to play with your hair."
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Wije
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« Reply #9 on: July 12, 2012, 12:27:27 AM » |
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Hello Rajiv,
Really amazing sight. I have only heard about 'Ulama' but not seen yet.
Thanks for sharing this rare incident.
Best Regards,
Wije
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rajivwelikala
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« Reply #10 on: July 12, 2012, 10:16:42 AM » |
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We were driving throught the dense forest road towards Iriyakkulam Villu at about 6.15 AM , when a large bird dropped a snake and flew through the canopy towards the open villu. We observed that what it dropped was a large snake. Thinking it was a serpent eagle we drove towards the villu. My driver Senevi is very careful when entering a villu area, he very slowly enters the open space, in order to not frighten any animal who might be there. So as usual he slowly entered iriyakkulam villu when he stopped and pointed at something. my heart began to race, thinking its a leopard i turned towards where he was directing. To my utter disbeleif it was a forest eagle owl. I was in shock and amazement. The light was not that great at that angle, but it was very close we i got some very good close ups of its face. After about two minutes the bird flew from the tree and into the open grasslands of the villu. I couldnt beleive it, a forest eagle owl who is so rare even to be found on a tree is now standing on the grasses of the villu. This was a good 50m away, but i managed to take some good shots of the bird from my 100-400mm lens with the beautiful back drop of the villu. After about 5 min the bird flew to a low hanging branch of a tree, but was disturbed by some grey langurs who were making a massive racket. later on my friend Namal Kamalgoda said that one of his friends had witnessed this owl species feeding on these monkeys, thus it is understandable that these primates were excited. The owl was not as ease and the branch was flimsy. The bird fell down to the white sands below. That is where i got the best shot of my encounter where the clearly ruffled bird was sitting on the signature white sands of wilpattu, and was bathed in golden morning light. This is an encounter which is rarer than any leopard sighting. In my 25 years of experience in the jungles of this country, this is the first time i had this encounter. I doubt that anyone will ever have such a privilege to photograph this bird on the sands and grasses of wilpattu. This is something which i will cherish for the rest of my life.
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rajivwelikala
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« Reply #11 on: July 12, 2012, 10:17:36 AM » |
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viraj
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« Reply #12 on: July 16, 2012, 03:43:36 AM » |
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Hi Rajiv,
Congratulation !
Thanks for sharing.
BR
viraj
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Keith2964
Newbie
Posts: 6
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« Reply #13 on: July 16, 2012, 02:25:25 PM » |
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Wow Rajiv
This is a fantastic sighting. Rare, rare indeed! Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Keith
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Kosala
Global Moderator
Hero Member
Posts: 763
Me for Nature, Nature for Me
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« Reply #14 on: July 17, 2012, 04:16:14 AM » |
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Hi Rajiw;
Awesome, Thx for sharing
Kosala
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Protect Nature, Protect Yourself, for Tomorrow
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