NOTES ON FIELD TRIPS TO WILPATTU NATIONAL PARK

2.52pm entered the park with my guide podi Danushka.
3.02pm 2 Golden Jackal at Percy Bendi Wewa.
3.11pm 5 Spotted Deer at Thammnna Wala
3.12pm 1 Hard shell Terrapin at Thammanna Wala
3.18pm Vanda spathulata in bloom at Palu Kola Wala.
3.21pm 4 Hard Shell Terrapins basking in the sun at Palu Kola Wala
3.25pm 1 Spotted Deer between Palu Kola Wala and the Grave.
3.31pm 14 Spotted Deer and the ground orchid Geodorum densiflorum in bloom at Maradanmaduwa.

3.52pm 2 Spotted Deer at Humbas Wala.
4.04pm 1 Mugger Crocodile at Borupan Pitiya Wala.
4.10pm 24 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila.
4.13pm 11 Spotted Deer and two Little Terns at Thimbiri Wila
4.17pm 2 Ruddy Mongoose a Vanda spathulata in bloom at Kumbuk Wila uda para junction sand patch.
4.32pm 4 Spotted Deer at Nelum Wila.
4.49pm 17 Spotted Deer at Aalam Wila.
4.53pm 1 adult male Spotted Deer and Black-tailed Godwits at Panikkar Villu.
4.55pm “Puruk” in bloom between Panikkar Villu and Panikkar Junction.
5.46pm 2 male Tick ell’s Blue Flycatcher bathing in two muddy pools on the road close to each other between Humbas Wala and Ibba Wala.
5.50pm 1 female Leopard on the road just before the “Kukul Katu Plains”.  N 08 22.547 E 080 04.251
As we arrived at this location the leopard was on the road ahead of a parked vehicle. I parked behind this vehicle. After a while the leopard got up and walked to the left of the road and entered the jungle. As we moved forward Danushka spotted it again. I drove away from the leopard for some distance and turned the vehicle so that it would not get disturbed. When we arrived the leopard was in the same spot. Even though the light was quite poor I managed to get some photos adequate for identification. Around 6.02 pm a bungalow contractor’s vehicle arrived and the leopard moved in to the forest again. We reversed on to the open glade and as expected the leopard walked out in to the open about 30 meters close to the ground. After moving a short distance in this manner it started to lick something on the ground and started to roll over while keeping its eyes on us. By 6.12pm it was too dark for photography and as we had to get to the park entrance we left. Having examined its spot/rosette patterns I realize that this is my first sighting of this leopard. I estimated its age to be around 18 months. I named it Maradanmaduwa Female Cub 1 (MMFC 1). This is my 21st Leopard.

6.18pm 2 Sambar close to the Grave.
6.22pm 1 Black-naped Hare close to Kalagedi Bokkuwa.
6.31pm 1 Jackal between Percy Bendi Wewa and the park entrance.
6.35pm Left the park.
Wild Flowers Kapukinissa, Niyangala were in bloom. Wild orchids Vanda tesallata, Vanda spathulata and Geodorum densiflorum was in bloom but I did not observe any flowers of  Vanda testacea and Vanilla walkarae.

7/12
5.59am entered the park with my guide podi Danushka.
6.31am 1 Brown Fish Owl about 50 meters beyond Palu Kola Wala
6.38am 1 Spotted Deer at three cause ways Maradanmaduwa
6.39am 21 Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa.
6.55am 5 Spotted Deer at Ibba Wala
7.19am 9 Wild Boar at Thimbiri Wila.
7.20am 3 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila.
7.26am 1 Wild Boar and 9 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila.
7.28am 31 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila.
8.15am 14 Spotted Deer at Nelum Wila.
8.43am 2 Barking Deer between Kokkare Villu and Kuruttupandi Junction.
9.59am Crimson-backed Woodpecker at Kuruttupandi Junction.
10.03 troop of Gray Langur at Kurtuttupandi Villu.
10.11am 15 Spotted Deer and 1 Mugger Crocodile at Mahapatessa.
10.24am 3 Ruddy Mongoose at Kumbuk Wila.
10.28am 2 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila.
11.05am 1 Ruddy Mongoose at Thammanna Wala pitiya.
11.25am drove up to Palu Illanda Gaha Wewa and photographed the ruins. N 08 20.379 E 080 07.789

Photographed the Buddha Statutes and other ruins at this location.
11.29am 2 Spotted Deer at Palu Illanda Gaha Wewa.
11.48am butterfly, Red-spot Duke just before Thammanna Wala.
11.58am 1 Common Kukri Snake, road kill, at Thammanna Wala.
12.19pm 18 Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa Tank.
12.28pm 2 Sambar, adult female with a sub adult, between Thambi Oluwa and Kuda Boralu Wala.
1.35pm troop of Gray Langur between Kumbuk Wila and Borupan Junction.
1.56pm troop of Gray Langur at Maradanmaduwa.
2.53pm 1 Mugger Crocodile and 5 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Villu.
2.56pm 14 Spotted Deer at Nelum Wila.
3.10pm 6 Spotted Deer at Aalam Villu.
3.13pm 9 Black-tailed Godwits at Panikkar Villu.
3.18pm three species of wild flowers belonging to the genus Crotalaria, Rattle Box in bloom.

3.30pm 56 Spotted Deer and I Elephant at Tala Wila.
4.00pm 1 Elephant at Nelum Wila.
4.17pm 2 Elephants at Manikkapola Uttu.
4.23pm 2 Sambar between Ilanda Mottai and Manikkapola Uttu.
4.35pm 17 Spotted Deer at Mana Wila.
5.09pm 1 Sambar between Downall Pitiya and Illanda Mottai.
5.12pm 1 Spotted Deer between Illanda Mottai and Manikkapola Uttu.
5.19pm 1 Spotted Deer at Kuruttupandi Villu.
5.22pm 4 Spotted Deer at Kudapatessa.
6.27pm Left the park.
8/12

5.53am entered the park with mu guide podi Danushka.
6.58am 2 Spotted Deer at Weli Ela.
6.11am 4 Spotted Deer at the culvert before Thammanna Wala.
6.21am 1 Brown Fish Owl before Palu kola Wala.
6.26 2 Spotted Deer close to the Grave.
6.31am 16 Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa.
6.33am 1 adult male Wild Boar at Maradanmaduwa.
6.35am 10 Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa.
6.38am 7 Spotted Deer close to the culvert beyond Maradanmaduwa ‘Kukul Katu Plains”.
6.42am 1 Sloth Bear between Thambi Oluwa and kuda Boralu Wala. It crossed the road ahead of my arrival and walked in to the forest. There was no opportunity for me to photograph.
6.57am 2 Barking Deer at Walas Wala.
7.02am 1 Leopard between Borupan Junction and Kumbuk Wila. It was walking towards Kumbuk Wila, when we spotted it and entered the forest before we were able to get close enough for any photography.
7.27am 15 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila.
7.35am 21 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Villu pitiya and one Gray mongoose.
7.39am 30 Spotted Deer at Nelum Wila.
7.57am 1 Barking Deer close to Kumbuk Wila uda para sand patch.
8.05am 1 Barking Deer just beyond Walas Wala.
8.40am troop of 12 Nothern Purple-faced Leaf Monkey Semnopithecus vetulus philbricki between Palu Kola Wala and Kalagedi Bokkuwa, “Glade Ranawara”. I Giant Squirrel also in the same Palu Tree. The arrival of the Squirrel had no effect in behavior of the troop.

9.51am a young Cobra of about a foot in length was on the middle of the road close to the Grave with a partly swallowed snake in its mouth. Upon our arrival it moved off the road with its prey.
9.52am Vanda tessalata in bloom at Palu Kola Wala.
10.27am I Ruddy Mongoose between Thimbiri Wila and Borupan Wila.
10.31am 1 Lesser Adjutant at Borupan Wila.
10. 35am 1 Mugger Crocodile at Kumbuk Wila pitiya.
11.04am 4 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
11.09am 2 Spotted Deer and 2 Mugger Crocodiles at Mahapatessa.
11.41am “Sudu Nithol” wild flower in bloom between Kumutu Villu and Kanjuran Villu.
12.12pm 2 Spotted Deer at 2 Mugger Crocodile at Kali Villu.
12.34pm 2 Spotted Deer and 1 Lesser Adjutant at Manikkapola Uttu.
12.37pm 3 Spotted Deer at Ilanda Mottai.
12.46pm 1 sub adult Common Bronze-back snake at Illanda Mottai.
2.14pm 5 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Pitiya.
2.25pm 1 adult male Sambar antler at Manikkapola Uttu.
2.44pm 1 Mugger Crocodile at Mana Wila.
2.47am 1 Flap shell Terrapin at Herath Hamy Wala.
2.52pm 4 Spotted Deer and 1 Mugger Crocodile at Kattarambu Villu.
3.19pm wild ground orchid, Habenaria roxberghii (identified later with the help of Dr. Samantha Suranjan) in bloom at a few locations between Kattarambuwa pitiya and Kok Mottai. This orchid was considered endemic to India until it was discovered, in 2005, by Dr. Samantha Suranjan and Samantha Gunasekera, growing in the open grass fields of the lower hills of the intermediate zone in the Eastern and Uva provinces and added as a new species to the list of orchids in Sri Lanka. This is the first record of this species from the dry zone of the country.

4.00pm – 4.17pm Paradise Flycatchers, 2 white Males, 3 Chestnut Males, 1 Bi Coloured male and many females plunging in to the water across the water hole.
4.35pm 2 male Elephants feeding on the reeds at Manikkapola Uttu.

4.41pm 1 Leopard, KSPMC 1 at Manikkapola Uttu sandpatch. I observed that its left eye was black indicating and injury. It walked from the sand patch in the direction of Kuruttupandi Villu but stopped for a few minutes as it approached a bend and sat on its hind quarters permitting me to take a few photos as it turned back once to look at the vehicles following him. The leopard appeared to have been interested in some thing beyond the bend. After a while it started to walk again and I pulled over to a side to permit the other vehicles to follow the leopard. I later found out that it had walked for about a 200 meters but had entered the forest due to one vehicle approaching it too close.

5.11pm 3 Golden Jackal and 2 Black-tailed Godwits at Kokkare Villu.
5.17pm 1 Spotted Deer crossed the road between Kokkare Villu and Kumbuk Wila
5.25pm 4 Spotted Deer at Walas Wala.
5.32pm 2 Spotted Deer between Ibba Wala and Kuda Boralu Wala.

Having collected breakfast and lunch from Semasinghe arrived at the park entrance with Pradeep Jayathunga at 5.40am.
6.01am entered the park with our guide Dinesh.
6.06am 1 Barking Deer at Weli Ela.
6.08am 1 Female Barking Deer about 100 meters from Weli Ela.
6.10am the presence of heavy mist in the morning was quite apparent.

6.12am 1 White-necked Stork at Percy Bendi Wewa.
6.20am 1 White-necked Stork at Thammenna Wala
6.29am 1 Hard Shell Terrapin and a flock of Small Minivets at Palu Kola Wala.
6.32am Vanda Spathulata in bloom at Palu Kola Wala and many places thereafter.
6.37am Climbing Falax (Gini Kitiya) in bloom.

6.43am 10 Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa
6.49am 2 Spotted Deer at Thambi Oluwa.
Heen Hathawaria in bloom at many locations in the park.

7.23am 4 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila Pitiya.
7.35am Vanilla Walkarai in bloom at Borupan Pitiya and at Thimbiri Wila.
8.24am 2 Grey Langur at Kumbuk Wila.
8.45am troop of Grey Langur at Nelum Wila.
8.57am a pair of Crimson-backed Woodpecker in a small mixed feeding flock of birds accompanied by an Indian Palm Squirrel.  Upon our arrival the two woodpeckers flew on to an exposed tree trunk briefly and flew off in to the forest while making their weak shrill call.
9.05am 9 Spotted Deer and one sub adult Crested Hawk Eagle at Aalam Villu.
9.27am 1 Spotted Deer and 1 adult male Wild Boar at Tala Wila.
9.32am 8 Spotted Deer at Tala Wila uda para.
10.01am troop of Grey Langur between Panikkar Villu and Nelum Wila.
10.22am 1 Giant Squirrel   Kokkare uda para.
10.29am 1 Barking Deer between Kokkare Villu and Kudapatessa.
10.58am 3 Spotted Deer and a troop of Grey Langur between Kokkare Villu junction and Madan Gaha Wala.
11.11am 3 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila pitiya.
12.21pm 3 Sambar, one adult female and two sub adults at Kuda Boralu Wala.

12.30pm 7 Spotted Deer and 1 Grey-headed Fish Eagle at Maradanmaduwa Tank.
1.16pm 1 Soft Shell Terrain at Palu Kola Wala.
1.26pm 1 sub adult Crested Hawk Eagle. We spotted this eagle perched on a dead branch about 6 feet from the ground by the side of the road. It was not disturbed by our presence and was intently looking in to the grass below. After a few moments it pounced in to the grass with its talons. Even though what was caught was not visible it was quite clear from the actions of the eagle that it had some prey in its talons. After a minute or so the young bird picked up the prey with its beak.  It was a large skink.

2.03pm 4 Spotted Deer just beyond Maradanmaduwa.
2.19pm a first year Crested Hawk Eagle “plucking” an Indian Pond Heron. Upon our arrival the young eagle flew on to a Madan Tree with the dead bird dangling from its feet.
2.28pm troop of Grey Langur between Maradanmaduwa and Palukolawala.
2.30pm as we arrived at Borupan junction it started to rain.
2.45pm 5 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Villu.
3.11pm 12 Spotted Deer and 3 Lesser Adjutant at Manikkapola Uttu.
3.31pm Acampe praemorsa Orchid in bloom at Illanda Mottai. This is the first time that I had come across this orchid at Wilpattu.

3.51pm 3 Spotted Deer at Kudapatessa
3.59pm 4 Spotted at Mahapatessa.
4.04pm 9 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila.
4.35pm 14 Spotted Deer and 2 Elephants at Aalam Wila. The two elephants were quite agitated by our arrival and dashed in to the jungle.
4.41pm 15 Spotted Deer at Panikkar Villu.
4.55pm 64 Spotted Deer at Tala Wila.
5.15pm 1 Spotted Deer and 1 Black-naped Hare at Nelum Wila.
5.19pm 4 Spotted Deer and 1 Grey Heron at Kokkare Villu.
5.20pm 10 Spotted Der at Kokkare Villu
5.22pm 16 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Villu.
5.29pm 29 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila pitiya.
5.40pm 3 Spotted Deer at Boralu Wala.
5.52pm 10 adult Wild Boar just before Maradanmaduwa.
5.54pm3 Spotted Deer and 5 Wild Buffalo at Maradanmaduwa.
6.21pm 1 adult male Sambar antler and a Black-naped Hare about 100 meters from the park entrance.
We had no leopard sightings today. The rains started around 1.30pm and continued intermittently through out the rest of the day.
24.11
6.03am entered the park with Pradeep Jayathunga and guide Dinesh.
6.17am 2 Spotted Deer close to Thammanna Wala.
6.21am 1 Hard Shell Terrapin at Thammanna Wala.

6.25am one plant of Pancriatum Biflorum (Forest Spider Lily) in bloom at Palu Kola Wala.
6.30am 1 Indian Paradise Flycatcher at the “grave” close to three cause ways.
6.32am 2 Golden Jackal close to Maradanmaduwa.
6.36am 8 Wild Buffalo at three cause ways at Maradanmaduwa.
6.41am 2 Spotted Deer and 2 Sambar at Ibba Wala.
6.52am 2 Cotton Teal flying across Borupan Wila.
7.18am 25 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila.
7.41am 2 Grey Mongoose at Kokkare Villu.
7.43am 25 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Villu pitiya.
7.47am 7 Spotted Deer, all antlers at Kokkare Villu.
7.50am female Jungle Fowl with two tiny chicks (smaller than a day old chick of Domestic Chicken).
9.02am 1 Female Sambar between Kudapatessa and Kurutupandi junction.
9.34am 1 Spotted Deer and a White-bellied Sea Eagle flying low over Kumbuk Wila.
9.41am 4 Cotton Teal at Borupan Wila.
9.48am Pin-tailed Snipe at Borupan Pitiya.

10.03am 1 Elephant at Kumbuk Wila uda para.
10.07am 2 Ruddy Mongoose at Madan Gaha Wala.
10.11am 4 Spotted Deer on Kumbuk Wila uda para.
10.34am 9 Spotted Deer at Panikkar Villu.
10.37am 2 Spotted Deer at Panikkar Villu uda para.
11.01am 7 Spotted Deer at Tala Wila uda para
11.30am 1 Spotted Deer at Aalam Villu.
12.30pm 2 Sambar, an adult female with a fawn between Boralu Wala and Humbas Wala.
12.40pm Ceylon Lorikeet at “Kuda Boralu Wala”. Head for the first time in the park.
12.49pm 1 Gray Mongoose at Maradanmaduwa.
12.52pm Geodorum densiflorum, ground  Orchid in bloom at Maradanmaduwa.

1.40pm 9 Wild Buffalo seen earlier had moved to Palu Kola Wala.
1.59pm 1 Sambar close to the “Grave”
2.06pm 12 Spotted Deer at Mradanmaduwa , “Kukul Katu plains”.
2.45pm 39 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Pitiya.
2.47pm 8 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Pitiya.
2.58pm 10 Spotted Deer at Kuruttupandi Villu.
4.07pm 11 Spotted Deer at Mana Wila.
4.23pm 9 Spotted Deer and 1 Sambar at Illanda Mottai.

4.34pm 2 S potted Deer and 15 Malabar Pied Hornbills on the usual tree where they gather at dusk at Manikka Pola Uttu.
4.57pm 14 Spotted Deer and 3 Mugger Crocodile at Mahapatessa.
5.14pm 1 Black-naped Hare at Kumbuk Wila Pitiya.
5.20pm 1 Elephant at Kumbuk Wila.
6.15pm left the park.
No leopard sightings today as well. It started to rain around 10.30am and continued intermittently through out the day.

Arrived at the park entrance at 5.40am.
5.50am entered the park with my guide podi Danushka.
6.03am 2 Mugger Crocodiles, 2 Spotted Deer and one Grey-headed Fish Eagle at Percy Bendi Wewa. The water level has increased from my previous visit.
6.34am Vanda spathulata in bloom close to the Grave.
6.44am herd of 18 Wild Boar and 11 Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa.
7.00am 2 Sambar, adult female with a sub adult at Thambi Oluwa rocks.
7.10am 2 Spotted Deer just beyond Humbas Wala.
7.24am 11 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila.
7.25am Vanda Spathulata in bloom at Borupan Wila.
7.27am 7 more spotted Deer, 1 Mugger Crocodile and 2 Golden-baked Woodpecker at Borupan Wila.
7.31am 21 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila.
7.33am 1 Mugger Crocodile and 1 Lesser Adjutant at Thimbiri Wila.
7.35am 2 Ruddy Mongoose crossed the road at Kumbuk Wila uda para junction.
7.42am Vanilla Walkarai in bloom at Kumbuk Wila Pitiya.
7.47am 20 Spotted Deer, Toque Monkey feeding on ripe Thimbiri Fruits at Kumbuk Wila pitiya.
7.53am 16 Spotted Deer, 1 Mugger Crocodile at Mahapatessa.
7.57am 1 Barking Deer between Mahapatessa and Demata Wila close to the  “Ela Dan” tree.
7.59am 1 Mugger Crocodile at Demata Wila.
8.03am 1 Mugger Crocodile at Mahapatessa.
8.21am 1 Spotted Deer at Kurutupandi Villu.
8.43am 1 Lesser Adjutant at Kokkare Villu.
8.45am 18 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Villu.
8.46am 32 more Spotted Deer at Kokkare Villu.
9.33am 1 Mugger Crocodile and 1 Flap shell Terrapin at Borupan Pitiya Wala.

10.59am 1 Leopard at Aalam Wila. It was behind a bush but did not come out. I was not able to photograph or identify the animal.
11.44am 1 Grey Drongo at Panikkar Wila uda para.
12.04pm 7 Spotted Deer and I Elephant feeding in the villu at Tala Vila. 4 White-bellied Sea Eagles circling above the Villu.
12.34pm “Kaha Pethan” Bauhinia tomentosa in bloom between Aalam Wila and Nawaladi Uttu.

12.38pm 1 Hard Shell Terrapin at Eranapala Mottai
12.47pm 1 Lesser Adjutant at Kanjuran Villu.
12.53pm 2 Spotted Deer at Kumutu Wila
1.04pm 1 Sambar feeding on ripe “Kora Kaha” berries at Illanda Mottai

1.12pm Troop of Grey Langur about 100 meters from Mana Wila
1.17pm 2 Flap shell Terrapins
1.23pm 5 Spotted Deer at Kattarampu Villu
1.50pm Geodorum densiflorum orchid was in bloom at Kokmottai cause way.  N 8 31. 525 E 80 01. 407

2.51pm 1 Flap shell Terrapin in a pool of water on the road close to Nabbada Wila.
2.53pm 1 Flap shell Terrapin at Kattarampu Villu
3.16pm 2 Spotted Deer at Illanda Mottai
3.20pm Heavy shower from Illanda Mottai – Kumbuk Wila
3.49pm 9 Spotted Deer at Thmbiri Wila
3.58pm 24 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila
4.03pm 4 Spotted Deer at Borupan Pitiya
4.18pm 1 Black-naped Hare at Kumbuk Wila Pitiya.
4.48pm 1 Leopard, WWMC 1 stalking two Sambar at Thambi Oluwa. N 8 23.141, E 80 03.598
Having seen a sub adult Sambar to the left by the side of the road with its tail raised in excitement we approached carefully and spotted a leopard among the bushes on to our left about 25 meters from the sub adult Sambar. I turned off the engine immediately. The leopard was in an ambush position and was intently observing every movement of the young Sambar. Just as I though that it will spring forward the adult female Samabr, which was across the road, spotted the leopard hiding behind the bushes and started to walk towards it while repeatedly making its bellowing alarm call and stamping its front feet on the ground one at a time. This resulted in the leopard visibly giving up its hunt. The sub adult Sambar did not spot the leopard and was looking in a different direction but made a few alarm calls, which sounded higher in pitch than the deep booming calls of its mother. Had it not been for the adult Sambar the sub adult, in all probability, could have ended up being killed by the Leopard, as it had no clue of the predator that had approached it so close. After a while the leopard got up and walked in to the forest and the two Sambar trotted in the opposite direction. In a few minutes the leopard walked on to the road and started to walk towards Maradanmaduw. The young leopard was “sent marking” trees and bushes on the right hand side along the road every 10 meters or so and was not bothered by the 6-7 vehicles that was following at a distance of about 50 meters. After a while I allowed the vehicles behind me to go pass me and was told later that leopard trotted in the direction of the Maradanmaduwa Tank upon being approached too close by another jeep.

5.36pm 1 Samabr at Maradanmaduwa.
5.59pm 1 Male Sambar at Kalagedi Bokkuwa glade.
10.11
5.50am entered the park with my guide podi Danushka.
5.59am troop of Grey Langur about 100 meters from the park entrance.
6.32am 4 Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa
7.02am 1 Crested Honey Buzzard perched on a dead tree and 6 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila.
7.06am 1 Mugger Crocodile and 15 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila.
7.11am 2 more Spotted Deer and 1 Wild Boar at Thimbiri Wila.
7.28am 1 Lesser Adjutant, 1 Mugger Crocodile and 24 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
7.32am 2 Spotted Deer at Demata Wila.
7.39am troop of Grey Langur Mahapatessa.
7.44am 1 Ruddy Mongoose at Kudapatessa.
8.06am 8 Spotted Deer at Nelum Wila.
8.21am troop of Grey Langur at Aalam Wila.
8.27am 15 Spotted Deer at Panikkar Wila.
8.41am 4 Spotted Deer at Tala Wila uda para.
8. 43am 1 Elephant and 7 Spotted Deer across the villu at Tala Wila.
8.48am 58 Spotted Deer at Tala Wila
9.12am Vanda spathulata in bloom at Combansanchi Pooval. This orchid was in bloom in Kattakandal and Kok Mottai area as well.
9.46am 1 Wild Boar, Painted and 2 White-necked Stork.
9.57am troop of Grey Langur at Kokkare Villu junction at Kumbuk Wila uda para.
10.06am 4 Grey Langur running across Kumbuk Wila pitiya.
10.15am 2 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila.
10.21am 2 Gray Mongoose at Borupan Pitiya.
10.26am 1 Barking Deer at Borupan junction.
10.33am 3Sambar between Boralu Wala and Humbas Wala.
11.11am 26 Spotted Deer and two White-necked Stork at Maradanmaduwa Tank.
11.19am 2 Grey Mongoose at Maradanmaduwa.
11.21am 11 Spotted Deer at “Kukuk Katu plains at Maradanmaduwa.
11.33am Red Spot Duke butterfly seen at several locations in the park.
12.10pm 1 Leopard, CSPMC 2 at Tala Wila. N 08 22 781, E 79 56 757
Having arrived at Tala Wila I turned towards the Pomparrippu end of Tala Wila and spotted CSPMC 2 resting on a Madan Tree across an open glade about 100 meters from the road. The upside down “U” on the right side of its face making the identification quite simple.
It was looking in the direction where I counted a large herd of Spotted Deer in the morning. After about 15 minutes the leopard got off the tree and trotted towards a bush and flushed out many Deer that ran across the villu. Many Deer alarm calls were herd from the forest as well. However the leopard was not successful in making a kill. Thereafter it climbed another tree close to where the Spotted Deer was found and rested stretched out on an exposed branch. After about 30 minutes it came down the tree and walked in to the forest.

1.53pm 1 adult male Sambar feeding on Salveenia at Nelum Wila in heavy rain.
1.58pm 1 Golden Jackal at Kokkare Villu, 4 Spotted Deer Painted Stork and a Grey Heron.
2.20pm 1 Black-naped Hare nibbling on the fresh shoots of grass at the Kumbuk Wila pitiya.
2.30pm 5 Spotted Deer between Kumbuk Wila and Thimbiri Wila.
2.32pm 16 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila.
2.43pm 5 Spotted Deer at Kudapatessa.
2.49pm 1 Ruddy Mongoose at Kurutupandi Villu.
2.50pm a Red-winged Crested Cuckoo flew across the road just beyond Kurutupandi Villu.
2.54pm 5 Spotted Deer at Kokkare villu.
3.15pm 5 Spotted Deer at Aalam Wila.
4.11pm 8 Spotted-billed Pelicans perched at the waters edge at Kokkare Villu.
4.13pm 1 Brown Fish Owl and one Lesser Adjutant at Kokkare Villu.
4.14pm 9 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Villu.
4.24pm 1 Black-naped Hare and 8 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila.
4.44pm 7 Wild Boar between Thambi Oluwa and Maradanmaduwa.
4.55pm 1 Sloth Bear about 300 meters before Palu Kola Wala.

5.30pm left the park

Arrived at the park entrance around 7.30am with Dr. Samantha Suranjan (Sasu). Met the park warden, Mr. Manoj, who was known to Sasu, and the Deputy park warden Mr. Ratnayake.
9.30am entered the park with Guide podi Danushka.
9.32am Kukuruman bushes along the road were in bloom and gave out a very pleasant fragrance.
9.37am 12 newly hatched baby Mugger Crocodiles at Percy Bendi Wewa. They were resting under a bush at the edge of the water. The adult female was observed in the water nearby.
9.47am the Forest Spider Lily/Rain Flower was in bloom between Palu Kola Wala and Maradanmaduwa. They are very aptly known as Rain Flowers as they had bloomed with the first rains after the dry season at Wilpattu. 8.36157, 80.10603.

9.49am 7 Wild Buffalo at Three causeways at Maradanmaduwa.
11.34am 1 Salmon Arab butterfly at the tomb.
12.09pm 1 Giant Squirrel at Thammanna Wala
12.44pm 12 Spotted Deer, and the Ceylon Swamp Lily in bloom at Maha Wewa. 8.37748, 8012498

1.02pm 62 Wild Buffalo in two herds and 2 Golden Jackal at Maha Wewa
1.38pm 1 Wild Buffalo on Maha Wewa Maradanmaduwa road close to the Wilachchiya turn off. We had to remove many braches and tree that had been pulled down by elephants in order to proceed.
2.20pm 4 Spotted Deer on Maha Wewa Maradanmaduwa road.
2.32pm Less than 1km to Maradanmaduwa we had to turn back as a culvert is badly damaged.  8.39030, 80.09785.
3.01pm 1 Barking Deer at Maha Wewa.
4.09pm 3 Golden Jackal, 7 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila.
4.16pm 16 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila. 8.42691, 80.02033
4.24pm 8 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila 8.42177, 80.00795
4.31pm 1 Wild Boar, 15 Spotted Deer Mahapatessa 8.43109, 80.00415
4.38pm 1 Spotted Deer at Demata Wila 8.43636. 80,00801
4.42pm 1 Mugger Crocodile at Mahapatessa
4.46pm 1 White-bellied Sea Eagle, 1 Mugger Crocodile at Kudapatessa. 8.43134, 79.99335
4.51pm 1 Giant Squirrel at Kuruttupandi Villu 8.43770, 79.98192
5.06pm 1 Ruddy Mongoose at Manikkapola Uttu.

5.44pm 18 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila.
5.47pm 5 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila Pitiya.
6.16pm 1 Sloth Bear feeding on the fallen Madan fruits at Palu Kola Wala.
8.15pm Painted Bat Aanawila Road Hunuwilagama.
27.10
5.52am entered the park with Sasu and podi Danushka.
6.01am 1 Brown Fish Owl at Weli Ela
6.05am 1 Mugger Crocodile and a Gray-headed Fish Eagle at Percy Bendi Wewa.
6.31am 7 Wild Buffalo at Maradanmaduwa
6.38am 1Indian Nightjar killed on the road by a speeding vehicle at Maradanmaduwa. The drivers should be extremely careful particularly when driving out of the park at dusk to drive at moderate speed to avoid accidents of this nature. Nightjars often perch on the road during dusk and can be mistaken for a small piece of log. These birds would only fly up when a vehicle is quite close. Thus it is quite important to observe the surface of roads for these birds and other nocturnal animals in order to avoid accidents.

6.41am 2 Sambar at Humbas Wala.
6.45am Barking Deer between Humbas Wala and Walas Wala
6.46am 1 Ruddy Mongoose at Boralu Wala.
6.53am 1 Giant Squirrel between Walas Wala and Boarupan Wila junction.
7.03am 1 Soft-shell Terrapin and 7 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila Pitiya.

7.11am 18 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila.

7.17am 11 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila.
7.34am 1 Ruddy Mongoose between Thimbiri Wila and Kumbuk Wila.
7.35am 4 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila.
8.01am 1 Mugger Crocodile Mahapatessa.
8.03am 2 Little Terns, 5 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa
8.27am 3 Spotted Deer at Nelum Wila 8.40710,79.98385
8.42am 2 Brahminy Kite at Panikkar Villu 8.39611,  79.95572
8.51am Ceylon Swamp Lily in bloom at Kombansanchi Pooval 8.38771, 79.95105
9.01am 7 Spotted Deer at Tala Wila 8.37940,79.94633
9.11am 2 Spotted Deer on Tala Wila Uda Para.
9.22am 1 Crested Hawk Eagle at Alma Wile 8.40172,79.95463
9. 41am 1 Large Salmon Arab at Nawaladi Uttu 8.42236, 79.95839
9.47am 1 Soft-shell Terrapin at Eranapala Mottai 8.43193, 79.96004
9.54am 1 Golden Jackal, 2 Lesser Adjutant Stork at Kanjuran Villu 8.45542,79.95746
9.59am 2 Spotted Deer just beyond Kanjuran Villu towards Mana Wila.
10.11am Many Whiskered and Gull-billed Terns at Kali Villu 8.48059, 79.93996
10.20am 2 Ceylon Jungle Fowl at Kuveni Palace 8.48441, 79.94048
10.28am 1 Spotted Deer at Mana Wila 8.48620, 79.98715
10.55am White-necked Stork at Herath Hamy Wala 8.49330 79.98952
11.02am 3 Malabar Pied Hornbill at Kattarambuwa Wila 8.51187, 79.99007
11.12am 1 Large Salmon Arab flying across Kattakandal Kulam Road 8.52448  80.01147
11.15am Forest Spider Lily in bloom at Kattakandal Kulam junction 8.52546, 80.01238

11.21am Kok Mottai archeological site 8.52864 80.01664
11.29am Geodorum, a species of ground orchid at Kok Mottai bridge. Even though the Genus can be identified the species could not be determined as it was not in bloom. 8.52533, 80.02345
12.20pm 1 Sambar, Lowland Kangaroo Lizard and Ceylon Swamp Lily and Bim Kohomba in bloom at Ochchappu Kallu 8.49936, 80.04557

1.02pm Crested Tree Swift where the remains of the stupa at Ochchappu Kallu 8.49712 80.04362
2.34pm Troop of Grey Langur at Nabbada Wila 8.51825 80.00070
2.45pm Thora Wila 2 Spotted Deer, 2 White-bellied Sea Eagle 8.50043, 80.00014
2.54pm 1 Ruddy Mongoose at Herath Hamy Wala
2.55pm 6 Spotted Deer at Mana Wila
3.12pm 3 Spotted Deer at Manikkapola Uttu sand patch.
3.27pm 8 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
3.41pm 8 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila.
3.44pm 4 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila.
3.47 2 Little Tern at Borupan Wila.
4.11pm 1 Leopard, WWMC 1 sleeping at the forest edge across the ‘Kukul katu plains’ at Maradanmaduwa. At 4.49pm the leopard got up and walked across the edge of the forest and entered the forest. 8.37492, 80.07072
4.45pm 7 Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa
5.16pm 4 Spotted Deer about 100meters from Percy Bendi Wewa.
5.38pm left the park.

Arrived at the park entrance around 5.40am.
5.49am entered the park with my guide Danushka.
5.52am 1 Barking Deer & 1 Black-naped Hare close to Weli Ela.
5.59am 1 Sambar at Percy Bendi Wewa. The water level has gone down but there is plenty of water compared to the same period in 2012.
6.04am 1 Leopard crossed the road about 200 meters from Percy Bendi Wewa at the turn off to Paaluvilandagaha Wewa. I was not able to photograph or identify the leopard.
6.11am 1 Spotted Deer at Thammanna Wala.
6.19am 1 Adult male Sloth Bear at Palukola Wala.
The bear walked ahead of the vehicle towards Maradanmduwa. I followed the animal, keeping a distance of about 50 feet to ensure that it is not disturbed. The bear was quite relaxed.  On a few occasions it entered the forest to emerge from another glade along the road, permitting me to get some good photos. On one occasion it walked very close to my vehicle and examined a termite hill. With its snout pushed in to an opening of the termite hill the bear blew in to it and sucked the insects out which created a noise similar to a horn.  I followed it from Palukola Wala almost up to the tomb stone, close to the three causewyas at Maradanmaduwa.

6.56am 1 Sloth Bear on the road just beyond the “Kukul Katu” plains at Maradanmaduwa. It was under a Madan Tree and was feeding on the ripe berries on the ground.
6.58am 6 Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa.
6.59am 3 more Spotted Deer just beyond Maradanmaduwa.
7.17am 1 Ruddy Mongoose between Walas Wala and Borupan Junction.
7.25am 2 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila Pitiya.
7.26am The reducing water level at Borupan Wila had attracted many species of water birds including, 2 Lesser Adjutant, 48 Painted Stork, White Ibis, Egrets, Openbill and Lesser Whistling Teal. 1 White-bellied Sea Eagle as well.
Vanda Spathulata as well as Vanilla Walkerai in bloom at Borupan Wila.
7.34am 250-300 Lesser Whistling Teal at Thimbiri Wila.
7.37am 7 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila.
7.41am 2 Barking Deer (one female and a male antler) between Kumbuk Wila and Mahapatessa.
7.59am 5 Spotted Deer, 2 Mugger Crocodile, 1 Pin-tailed Snipe at Mahapatessa.
8.52am 7 Spotted Deer and a troop of Grey Langur drinking at Borupan Wila.
9.02am 1 Ruddy Mongoose at Humbas Wala.
9.09am Troop of Grey Langur at Thambi Oluwa.
9.12am 15 Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa.
10.50am 2 Soft Shell Terrapin at Thammanna Wala.
11.05am BWMC 1 at Walas Wala. It was sleeping in the shade of a Thammanna Tree close to the concrete pool of water created by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
11.35am the leopard changed its place of resting on a few occasions to avoid the sun.
12.35am the leopard walked across the dried up Walas Wala in the Borupan Wila direction and settled on the white sand on the road. After about 5 minutes it stood up and “marked” by the side of the road. Thereafter it walked in to the forest.
12.52pm 12 Spotted Deer and 1 Barking Deer at Kumbuk Wila.
1.30pm after having lunch at Kumbuk Wila I arrived at Walas Wala to find BWMC 1 sleeping on the bund across the “Wala”.
2.25pm much to our amusement the sleeping leopard turned on to its back and rolled off the bund. It quickly got up and climbed back on to the bund.
3.30pm the leopard is still sleeping on the bund.
5.05pm another female leopard was spotted at the right hand side of the “wala”. It was quite shy and did not move out in to the open. I managed to get a few shots of this leopard. This is my first sighting of this leopard and I named it Walas Wala Female 2 (WWF 2).
5.17pm BWMC 1 stood up and walked towards WWF 2 and lied down close to it. Even though the two leopards were close to the each other the second leopard did not move in to the open.
5.35pm while watching the two leopards at Walas Wala another leopard walked from the Ibba Wala direction along the road towards Walas Wala but entered the forest. I was not able to photograph or identify this leopard. The excitement of the people in the jeeps parked behind me resulted in WWF 2 quickly moving in to the forest.
5.45pm BWMC 1 walked down from the bund got on to the road and walked in the direction of Borupan Junction. After walking for about 10 yards the young leopard entered the forest on the same side of the “Wala”. As the leopard entered the forest at this spot in the morning as well, I suspected that there could be a kill nearby.
6.28pm left the park.
7.35pm 1 Small Indian Civet at Hunuwilagama

13.10
5.50am entered the park with guide Danushka.
5.51am 1 Black-naped Hare at the park entrance.
5.55am 1 Barking Deer at Weli Ela.
5.57am 6 Spotted Deer at Percy Bendi Wewa.
6.06am 1 Barking Deer at Palukola Wala.
6.15am 1 Wild Buffalo at Maradanmauwa.
6.17am 1 Sloth Bear at Maradanmaduwa. It was under the same Madan tree where we spotted a bear yesterday. The tree was growing by the side of the road and the bear was busy feeding on the ripe berries fallen on the ground.
6.27am 1 Forest Eagle Owl at Humbas Wala. It was on the ground and flew up on to a bare branch  above the road permitting me to take a few photos before flying off in to the forest.

6.35am BWMC 1 was lying down just by the side of the water hole at Walas Wala.
6.50am the leopard got up and walked on to the bund.
9.10am the leopard walked along the bund and entered the forest in the direction of the kill.
9.19am 2 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila and 1 Black Drongo.
9.24am 1 adult male Wild boar at Thimibri Wila. It was across the water body and was wallowing in the mud at the edge of the water.
9.29am 3 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
9.55am 5 Spotted Deer and a troop of Grey Langur at Kokkare Villu.
9.59am 1 Golden Jackal at Kokkare Villu.
10. 25am arrived at Walas Wala again and found BWMC 1 lying by the side of the water hole. Most probably, having fed on the kill, it had come to drink.
10.30am the young leopard walked up to the water hole and started to drink for a bout 4 minutes. Thereafter it walked on to the bund and slept. I was parked at Walas Wala observing this leopard for six hours until I left at 4.30pm.
3.25pm a Ruddy Mongoose walked out of the forest from the right hand corner of the bund but was not able to see the sleeping leopard in the opposite corner of the short bund.  It continued to walk in the direction of the sleeping leopard. I kept on photographing the Mongoose. Even though the vehicles parked on the road were able to see the sleeping leopard the Mongoose was not able to see the predator as the bushes growing on the bund covered its view. The inquisitive mammal casually trotted passed the bushes along the bund and arrived a few feet in front of the sleeping leopard where it suddenly became aware of the predator. Upon seeing the leopard it froze for a moment with its tail hairs puffed up, turned back in one swift action and bolted at great speed in to the jungle. The leopard slept through the whole episode. I was quite surprised that this small mammal was not able to smell the leopard.

4.30pm left Walas Wala. The young leopard slept continuously for more than 6 hours from 10.30am until my departure.
4.48pm 1 Sloth Bear at Maradanmaduwa.
5.10pm 2 Barking Deer about 200 meters from the park entrance.
5.25pm left the park.

19.9
7.30am entered the park with my guide for the day Podi Danushka
7.33am 9 Spotted Deer at Weli Ela
7.37am troop of Grey Langur at Percy Bendi Wewa
7.38am 4 Spotted Deer at Percy Bendi Wewa
7.56am 1 Sub adult Crested Serpent Eagle at Palu Kola Wewa.
8.02am Kora Kaha and Gal Kela is in bloom and most Madan trees are full of ripe berries.
8.25am 1 Barking Deer between Walas Wala and Borupan Junction
8.26am 5 Spotted Deer at Borupan Junction.
8.37am 4 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila
8.42am 1 Lesser Adjutant at Thimbiri Wila
9.20am 1 Ruddy Mongoose at Kuruttupandi Villu junction
9.40am 3 Lesser Adjutant at Manik Rala Uraniya.
10.50am 1 Soft Shell Terrapin at Mahapatessa.
10.51am 1 Giant Squirrel between Mahapatessa and Kudapatessa.
Blue-tailed Bee Eaters have arrived at the park.
11.21am 2 Spotted Deer and 57 Little Grebe in one group at the center of Thimbiri Wila.
11.24am 1 Stork-billed Kingfisher and 177 Lesser Whistling Teal at Thimbiri Wila
11.43am 13 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Villu.
11.55am 1 Painted-lip Lizard at Kudapatessa.
12.04am 1 Mugger Crocodile at Eriyakulam Pooval
12.15am troop of Grey Langur drinking at Thimbiri Wila.
12.51am 2 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila.
1.10pm we arrived at Demata Wila, where a male leopard has been seen in the morning.
4.56pm 10 Spotted Deer and 1 Mugger Crocodile at Mahapatessa.
5.25pm 1 Ruddy Mongoose between Thimbiri  Wila and Borupan Wila
5.42pm 1 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila.
5.55pm 3 Sloth Bear, Mother and two cubs across Borupan Wila. As we watched the two cubs followed the mother and as she stopped would play with each other. The mother on a few occasions stood upright with her hind legs and fed on the ripe berries of Madan off the lower branches, the cubs instantly followed the mother’s behavior and stood up right to reach for the fruits.
6.40pm Left the park
9.02pm 1 Baby Python was spotted by a villager by the side of the road just opposite Dolosmahe. I caught the snake with the hope of releasing it in to the park tomorrow.

20.9
6.05am entered the park with guide Dinesh.
6.07 1 Brown Fish Owl at the park entrance.
6.57am 1 Ruddy Mongoose between Borupan Wila junction and Kumbuk Wila.
7.00am 2 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila Pitiya.
7.15am released the two baby pythons at Kumbuk Wila. 1 female Lowland Kangaroo Lizard
7.27am 5 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa
7.29am 1 Barking Deer at Kokkare Villu Weli Kanda.
7.33am 1 Ruddy Mongose between Kokkare Villu and Kurutupandi Villu.
8.37am 1 White-necked Stork at Vilanda Wala
9.11am Vanilla Walkeri in bloom at Kokkare Villu.
9.50am Vanilla Walkeri in bloom at Borupan Wila
10.13am Vanda testacea in bloom at Demata Wila.
10.19am the Ela Dan tree on the Demata Wila road is in fruit. These fruits are do not turn purple when ripe but become light green. They are sweeter than the normal Madan and are oval in shape.
10.27am 1 Giant Squirrel between Eriyakkulam Pooval  and Uraniya
10.35am 3 Lesser Adjutant at Manikrala Uraniya.
10.58am the wild flower Cadaba trifoliata in bloom between Kuruttupandi Villu and Manikkapola Uttu.
11.44am 1 Mugger Crocodile at Erenapala Mottai
12.10pm 8 Spotted Deer and around 440 Lesser Whistling Teal, 3 Cotton Teal at Panikkar Villu.
2.10pm 2 Elephants at Pomparrippu Pitiya.
2.43pm 7 Spotted Deer at Tala Wila.
3.15pm 1 Leopard between Kumbuk Wila and Thimbiri Wila. It was sleeping at the foot of a large Thelambu Tree inside the forest thus I was not able to ID or photograph.
3.27pm 1 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila.
3.46pm 3 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
3.47pm 1 Lesser Adjutant at Demata Wila.
3.57pm 12 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
6.35pm Left the park.
8.30pm a villager brought another baby Python to be handed over to me. It appeared to be from the same clutch.
21.9
5.57am entered the park with my guide Podi Danushka
6.02am 5 Spotted Deer in the glade between Weli Ela and Percy Bendi Wewa
6.07am 1 Barking Deer at the Culvert with a hump before Thammanna Wala
6.14am 1 Barking Deer between Thammanna Wala and Palu Kola Wewa.
6.18am 1 Baking Deer at Palu Kola Wewa
6.25am 3 Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa
6.27am 13 Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa “Kukul Ktu” plains.
6.42am 1 Adult male Wild Boar at Walas Wala
6.47am 1 Ruddy Mongoose and 1 Wild Buffalo at Borupan Wila
6.51am 1 lesser adjutant at Borupan Wila
6.57am 1 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa
7.00am 2 Spotted Deer at Kudapatessa.
7.09am 1 Leopard- KPMC 1 at Kuruttupandi Villu. It was sleeping on the sand dune at the edge of the forest across the villu.
7.24am a full-grown adult Wild Boar came out to the villu and the young leopard having instantly detected the boar took up a stalking position but did not attack.
7.34am the leopard dissapered behind the bushes in pursuit of the boar. The Boar did not appear to have observed the leopard and entered the forest as well.
8.02am 1 Blak-naped Hare at Kumbuk Wila
8.40am 1 Grey Mongoose between Thimbiri and Borupan Wila.
8.55am released the baby Python and had breakfast.
9.54am 1 Barking Deer at Kumbuk Wila
10.32am 10 Spotted Deer at Kudapatessa.
10.40 to 2.11pm I was parked at Kuruttupandi Villu expecting the leopard to arrive at the water hole without any success.
2.14pm 16 Wild Boar at Kudpatessa.
2.23pm 1 Spotted Deer and 1 Softshell Terrapin at Mahapatessa.
3.05pm 2 Lesser Adjutant at Borupan Wila.
3.19pm 5 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
4.11pm 1 Ruddy Mongoose climbed down a Palu Tree and ran in to the forest between Panikkar Villu junction and Panikkar Villu bungalow.
4.25pm 8 Spotted Deer at Tala Wila.
4.35pm 3 Golden Jackal at Panikkar Villu.
5.35pm 32 Wild Boar at Thimbiri Wila.
6.32pm left the park.

22.9
5.35am 2 Black-naped Hare at the park entrance.
5.54am entered the park with guide podi Danushka.
6.19am 2 Golden Jackal at the tomb.
6.21am 3 Spotted deer at Maradanmaduwa.
6.23am 1 Wild Buffalo at Maradanmaduwa.
6.24am 13 Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa.
6.45am 1 Wild Buffalo, 14 Spotted Deer and I lesser Adjutant at Borupan Wila.
The jasmine scented white wild flower “Wal Pichcha” in bloom at Kumbuk wila
7.12am 1 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
7.30am 1 Mugger Crocodile at Manikkapola Uttu.
7.40am 1 Ruddy Mongoose between Kumutu Villu and Kanjuan Villu
7.53am  wild flower “Dutu Sathutu” is in bloom at Kanjuran Villu.
8.21am 8 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
9.32am the wild orchid Vanda spathulata in bloom at Borupan Wila pitiya.
9.41am 3 Spotted Deer close to Vilanda Wala.
10.07am 1 Mugger Crocodile, 2 White-necked Stork, a small flock of Painted Stork and about 170 Lesser Whistling teal at Thimibiri Wila.
10.38am 7 Wild Boar at Kudapatessa.
10.58am 3 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Villu uda para.
11.33am 1 Mouse Deer (white-spotted Chevrotain) at Panikkar Villu. It was lying in the open by the road in the hot sun.  This was very unusual as these animals are usually extremely shy and would run for cover upon being sighted. After about 10 minutes it slowly moved in to the forest.
11.43am 3 Black-tailed Godwits at Panikkar Villu.
1.38pm 5Spotted Deer at Nelum Wila.
1.47pm 2 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila uda para.
3.08pm Fan-throat Lizard at Illanda Mottai sand patch.
3.20pm 3 Lesser Adjutant at Manikkapola Uttu.
3.55pm 1 Leopard, KPFC 1 at Kuruttupandi Villu. It was seated under a bush at the edge of the Villu. After a few minutes it and walked across to the small waterhole, drank for about 6 minutes and walked in to the jungle. Even though it is a female this animal had slight development of a due lap as well.
4.33pm 6 Spotted Deer between Kudapatessa and Mahapatessa
4.35am 7 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
4.46pm 6 more Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
5.31pm 1 Sloth Bear at Maradanmaduwa. The male Bear walked in to the open lakeshore at the tank and ran across the plains to reach across the wila.
5.42pm 1 Barking Deer at three causeways.
6.01pm 7 Spotted Deer, 1 Grey-headed Fish Eagle at Percy Bendi Wewa.
6.03am 1 Spotted Deer glade between Percy bendi Wewa and the park entrance.
6.15pm left the park.

28.8 
7.45am arrived at the park Entrance with Nanda Senanayake. My guide Dinesh had already arrived.
8.01am 1 Crested Honey Buzzard – Close to Weli Ela.
8.16am 1 Barking Deer, 1 Crested Honey Buzzard, Grey-headed Fish Eagle & Painted Stork.
8.24am 1 Giant Squirrel & Trop of Grey Langur at Thammanna Wala.
8.51am 1 Barking Deer, 40-50 Immature Painted Stork & 1 Lesser Adjutant.
8.55am 4 Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa Pitiya.
9.18am 1 Sambar crossed the road between Borupan Junction and Kumbuk Wila
9.37am 7 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila
10.09am 1 Barking Deer at Mila Wala
10.19am Troop of Grey Langur at Mila Wewa. The insects that build their black coloured earth nests “Geri Pas” on the trunks of mature trees are in fact a species of termite referred to “Geriya”. Observed a broken nest and photographed the insects. This substance, which looks like tiny beads of grain, is used in Ayurveda Medicine to treat broken limbs. Even the paths taken by these insects become black.
10.48am 14 Spotted Deer at Nelum Wila
10.54am 1 Forest Wagtail between Nelum Wila and Panikkar Wila
11.00am small flock of mixed foraging birds including Golden-backed Woodpecker, Brown-capped Babbler, White-rumped  Shama, Black-fronted Babbler & Black-naped Monarch accompanied by Indian Palm Squirrel. Between Nelum Wila and Panikkar Villu. Many immature Shama in the park as well.
11.13am 2 Spotted Deer between Aalam and Panikkar Wila.
11.25am 2 Barking Deer drinking at Kombansanchi Pooval.
11.30am 7 Spotted Deer, 8 Wild Boar, 2 White-necked Stork  & 1 Barking Deer at Tala Wila
11.41am Troop of Grey Langur between Kombansanchi Pooval and Panikkar Wila.
12.21pm 1 Painted-lip Lizard at Borupan Wila.
12.30pm 1 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila.
1.15pm 2 Painted-lip Lizards at Kumbuk Wila. They displayed to each other and attacked each other as well.
1.34am 4 Black-winged Chicks at Mahapatessa. The adults pursued a White-bellied Sea Eagle.
2.10pm 1 Python between Ilanda Mottai and Manikkapola Uttu.
2.16pm 7 Spotted Deer at Manikkapola Uttu.
2.28pm 1 Mugger Crocodile at Manikkapola Uttu water hole.
2.35pm 3 Spotted Deer at Kututtupandi Villu..
A mid day shower.
2.49pm 3 S Potted Deer at Kudapatessa
3.1pm 5 Spotted Deer and a troop of Grey Langur between Kokkare Junction and Kumbuk Wila.
3.39 1 Leopard, BWMC 1 at Borupn Wila. It was spotted across the “wila” and walked along the edge of the water body until it reached the sand patch to the left between Borupan and Thimbiri Wila where it slept until I left.
5.01pm 1 Elephant & heard of 21 Wild Buffalo at Kokkare Villu.
5.08pm 8 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila Pitiya.
5.09pm 1 Black-naped Hare at Kumbuk Wila.
5.24pm 2 Black-tailed Godwit Borupan Wila.
5.27pm 5 Spotted Deer at Borupan Pitiya
5.37pm 30 Spotted Deer at Borupan Pitiya.
5.43pm 1 Leopard at Kubapatessa across the Villu.
5.52pm 1 Leopard, CPMC 1 at Kuruttupandi Villu. I was quite surprised to see it here as it is about 8kn from Panikkar Villu area where it was known to frequent. The injury below its neck has healed completely.
6.04pm 1 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila.
7.20pm 1 Indian Palm Civet ran across the road at Hunuwilagama.

29.8
6.05am entered the park with Nanda Senanayake and guide Dinesh
6.06am 100m from the park entrance 2 Wild Boar.
6.24am 3 Spotted deer at Palu Kola Wala glade.
6.31am 1 Mugger Crocodile in a borrow that has been dug in to the bund. Even though this water body has been completely dried up for more than a month this crock has not left in search of water and is seen with half of its body out of the burrow. If disturbed it moves in to the burrow.
6.37am 1 Sambar at the tree causeways before Maradanmaduwa.
6.42am 2 Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa.
6.44am 2 Spotted Deer at Thambi Oluwa.
7.05am 12 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila.
7.15am 9 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila.
7.18am Grey Mongoose at Thimbiri Wila
7.23am 12 little grebe and 2 Mugger Crocodile at Mahapatessa.
7.34am 1 Flap shell Turtle at Mahapatessa.
7.38am 2 Spotted Deer at Kudapatessa.
7.44am 6 Spotted Deer at Kuruttupandi Villu.
7.58am 3 Spotted Deer at Kumutu Villu
9.28am 16 Spotted Deer at Tala Wila
10.18am 1 Barking Deer at Kombansanchi Pooval.
10.23am 3 Wild Boar at Panikkar Villu.
10.50am 1 Leopard, BWMC 1 at Borupan Wila. It was lying down under the shade of a small Thimibri Tree at the Thimibiri Wila end. Around 11.58am it moved in to the jungle.
1.18pm 1 Black-naped Hare at the Lunu Wewa bungalow. We stopped at this locality to have lunch.
1.38pm a pair of Common Mormons inn copula.
1.52pm 8 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila.
2.01pm 8 Wild Boar close to the Kumbuk Wila Uda Para turn off from Borupan Kumbuk Road. Wallowing in mud.
2.44pm 1 Spotted Deer between Borupan Junction and Borupan Wila.
3.30pm 1 Mugger Crocodile at Borupan Wila.
3.50pm 2 Ruddy Mongoose at Kokkare junction.
4.00pm 1 Elephant between Kokkare Villu and Kudapatessa.
4.02pm 1 Black-naped Hare at Kuruttupandi Villu.
4.07pm 4 Spotted Deer at Kuruttupandi Villu.
4.12pm 1 Ruddy Mongoose at kudapatessa.
4.20pm 1 Elephant and 21 buffalo at Kokkare Villu.
4.22pm 5 Spotted Deer and 2 Black-naped Hare at Kokkare Villu.
4.25pm 1 Grey Mongoose ay Kokkare Villu.
4.31pm 15 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila.
4.42pm 4 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila.
4.57pm 15 Spotted Deer and 1 Mugger Crocodile at Mahapatessa.
5.08pm 8 Spotted Deer at Kuruttupandi Villu.
5.32pm 18 Wild Boar, 5 Spotted Deer and 2 White-necked Stork at Thimbiri Wila.
5.59p 1 Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa.
6.15pm 3 Spotted Deer at Thammanna Wala glade.

30.8
6.05 entered the park with Nanda Senanayake and guide podi Danushka.
6.07am 1 Spotted Deer about 200 meters from the park entrance.
6.11am 1 Adult lone male Wild Boar and a Grey-headed Fish Eagle at Percy Bendi Wewa.
6.21am 2 Black-naped Hare at Thammanna Wala glade.
6. 32pm 2 Sambar between Palu Kola Wala and the Tomb Stone.
6.36am 1 adult sambar antler at the Tomb Stone.
6.37am Bustered Quail at the Tomb Stone.
6.44am 4 Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa Pitiya.
7.03am 1 Adult male Wild Boar at Sudu Muwa Wala.
7.12am 8 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila.
7.19am 7 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila Pitiya.
7.40am 34 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila Pitiya.
7.45am 1 Grey Mongoose at Mahapatessa.
7.47am 14 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
7.52am 3 Spotted Deer at Kudapatessa.
8.08am 2 Lesser Adjutant at Manikkapola Uttu.
8.12am 8 Spotted Der at Kumutu Villu.
8.19am 1 Ruddy Mongoose at Kanjuran Villu.
9.03am 8 Spotted Deer and 1 Lesser Adjutant at Aalam Villu.
9.08am 12 Spotted Deer at Panikkar Villu.
9.21am 8 Spotted Deer at Tala Wila.
9.31am 1 Ruddy Mongoose at Kombansanchi Pooval.
10.00am 1 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila.
10.01 1 Spotted Deer Between Kumbuk Wila and Thimbiri Wila.
10.27am troop of Grey Langur between Eriyakulam Pooval and Manikrala Uraniya.
10.42am 2 Ruddy Mongoose between Manikrala Uraniya and Mana Wila.
11.02 arrived at the Mana Wila bungalow.
3.43pm 17 Spotted Deer at Mana Wila.
4.09pm 1 Mugger Crocodile at Manikkapola Uttu.
4.15pm 2 Spotted Deer at Kumutu Villu.
4.19pm 2 Ruddy Mongoose between Kumutu Villu and Kanjuran Villu.
4.43pm 1 Spotted Deer at Kuruttupandi Villu.
4.50pm 1 Mugger Crocodile at Kudapatessa.
4.58pm 1 Grey Mongoose at Mahapatessa.
4.59pm 1 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
5.01pm 1 Barking Deer between Mahapatess and Thimbiri Wila.
5.03pm 4 Spotted Deer, 1 Mugger Crocodile, 2 White-necked Stork and 2 Painted Stork and Thimbiri Wila.
5.19pm 11 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila.
5.27pm 1 Mugger Crocodile, 2 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
5.45pm 5 Spotted Deer at Illanda Mottai.
5.56pm 2 Lesser Adjutant at Manikkapola Uttu.
5.59pm 8 Spotted Deer, 1 Sambar and 2 Wild Boar at Kumutu Villu.
6.33pm 23 Spotted Deer at Mana Wila.

31.8
5.28am 1 Spotted Deer at Mana Wila.
5.48am 2 Spotted Deer at Manikkapola Uttu.
5.55am 5 Spotted Deer at Kuruttupandi Villu.
6.12am 6 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Villu.
6.13am 1 Elephant and 10 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Villu.
6.15am 30 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Villu.
6.17am 1 Giant Squirrel between Kokkare Villu and Kumbuk Wila.
6.21am 21 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila.
6.23am 1 Grey Mongoose between Kumbuk Wila and Thimbiri Wila.
6.25am 8 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila.
6.31am 13 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila.
6.36am 1 Otter crossed the road from Borupan Wila side towards the Borupan Pitiya. This is my first recording of this species in the park.
7.00am 6 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
7.18am 1 Leopard, BWF 1 drinking across Kumbuk Wila. It drank water for about 4 minutes after our arrival got up and walked to the edge of the forest and lied down.
7.38am 1 Leopard, BWMC 1 at the Thimbiri Wila end of Borupan Wila. It was seated among the reeds. Around 7.47 it got up and walked along the edge of the water body towards Borupan side and entered the forest.
7.40am 2 Grey Mongoose at Borupan Wila.
8.14am 5 Spotted Deer and 1 Black-naped Hare at Kumbuk Wila Uda Para.
8.53am An Indian Nightjar was sitting on one egg on the edge of the road at Borupan Wila.
8.56am Troop of Grey Langur at Thimbiri Wila.
8.59am 8 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
9.01am 1 Lesser Adjutant and a Troop of Grey Langur at Eriyakulam Pooval
9.16am Low-land Kangaroo Lizard at Mana Wila.
12.53pm 1 Spotted Deer at Kumutu Villu
3.32pm 1 Mugger Crocodile at Kudapatessa.
3.38pm 7 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
3.42pm 4 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila.
3.55pm 2 White-necked Stork at Thimbiri Wila.
4.03pm 1 Spotted Deer close to Kumbuk Wila uda Para Turn off.
4.36pm 1 Black-naped Hare at Kokkare Weli Kanda.
5.01pm 5 Spotted Deer and 2 Wild Boar at Kumutu Wila.
5.36pm 3 Spotted Deer between Mahapatessa to Eriyakulam Pooval
5.50pm 12 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila.
6.00pm 18 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila.
6.07pm 24-Spotted Deer Kumbuk Wila Pitiya

1.9
5.33am 10 Spotted Der at Mana Wila.
5.48am 1 Spotted Deer at Manikkapola Uttu.
8.49am 8 Wild Boar and 4 Spotted Deer at Manikkapola Uttu.
5.54am 11 Spotted Deer at Kuruttupandi Villu.
6.00am 2 Spotted Deer at Kudapatessa.
6.04am 1 Grey Mongoose at Mahapatessa.
6.06am 17 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
6.16am 21 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila.
6.18am 7 Spotted Deer and 21 Wild Buffalo at Thimbiri Wila.
6.25am 12 Wild Boar and 14 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila.
6.26am 4 Spotted Deer and 2 Golden Jackal at Borupan Wila.
6.43am 1 Ruddy Mongoose at Kumbuk Wila Uda Para.
7.16am 2 White-necked Stork at Vilanda Wala.
7.25am 1 Wild Boar between Borupan Junction and Kumbuk Wila.
7.34am 1 Wild Boar between Mahapatessa and Demata Wila.
7.47am 1 Lesser Adjutant and 7 Asiatic Golden Plover at Kudapatessa.
8.12am 1 Common Red Shank at Mahapatessa.
8.47am 9 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila.
9.04am 1 Barking Deer at Kokkare Junction.
9.10am 5 Spotted Deer at Manikkapola Uttu.
9.12am 1 Spotted Deer at Illanda Mottai.
11.47am 2 Spotted Deer between Percy Bendi Wewa and Weli Ela.

Entered the park with my guide Podi Danushka at 8.15am on the 18th
8.53am Between Palukola Wala and Kalagedi Bokkuwa close to the small rocky out crop to the left photographed a white Lillie type flower. This is the first time that I observed these flowers in the park.
9.11am 1 Ant Hill Gecko on the middle of the road at Maradanmaduwa.
9.40am a partly eaten Wild Boar carcass wedged on a tree at about 25 feet from the ground.
9.59am 4 Spotted Deer between Borupan Wila and Borupan Junction.
10.24am 5 Spotted Deer across Thimibiri Wila.
10.40am arrived at the Wild Boar kill to wait for the leopard.
11.53am 1 Ruddy Mongoose searched the foot of the tree where the carcass is seen and started to feed on a bone that was on the ground.
12.41pm 4 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila
12.49pm 2 Barking Deer resting across Thimbiri Wila
1.32pm 2 Spotted Deer at Thimibiri Wila
1.39pm 21 Wild Buffalo partly submerged in the water, 7 Spotted Deer and 1 Barking Deer at Mahapatessa.
1.44pm 1 Lesser Adjutant at Demata Wila
1.59pm 1 Mugger Crocodile at Mahapatessa
2.05pm 3 Lesser Sand Plover and 1 Wood Sand Piper at Kudapatessa.
2.26pm A  White-bellied Sea Eagle dived on a Little Cormorant that was flying just above the water surface at Kokkare Villu. The Cormorant dived in to the water but the eagle kept on circling above the water and caught the bird as it came up for air. The eagle there after flew off with its prey.
2.29pm 1 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Villu
2.51pm 7 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila
3.01pm arrived at the Wild Boar kill.
3.40pm 2 Spotted Deer on the Kokkare Uda Para.
3.46pm 1 Elephant at Nelum Wila
4.09pm 1 Spotted Deer, stag at Aalam Villu.
4.12pm 3 Spotted Deer between Aalam Villu and Panikkar Villu
 4.31pm 2 White-necked Storks at Tala Wila
5.11pm 2 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Villu
5.34pm 5 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa
5.40pm 2 Spotted Deer, antlers between Mahapatessa and Thimibiri Wila.

19.8
Entered the park with my guide Podi Danushka at 5.55am
6.21am 1 Golden Jackal at Maradanmaduwa
6.24am 1 Spotted Der at Thambi Oluwa
6.42am 10 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila
6.43am 1 Wild Boar at Borupan Pitiya
6.51am 2 White-necked Stork at Borupan Wila
6.56am 6 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila Pitiya
7.15am 1 Plane (Butterfly) observed feeding on Madan Flowers. Thereafter this fast flying butterfly settled on the leaf of a low bush permitting me to get some good photographs.
7.37am 1 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa
7.42am 4 Spotted Deer at Kudapatessa
8.02am the water plant Giant Ambulia in bloom at Kumutu Villu covering the whole water body.
8.13am 1 Lesser Adjutant Stork at Illanda Mottai
8.41am 2 Golden Jackal at Mahapatessa
8.53am 13 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila
9.31am Herd of 17 Wild Boar drinking water across Kumbuk Wila
10.26am 1 Dark Morph Crested Honey Buzzard at Borupan Wila
10.32am 1 Barking Deer at Sudu Muwa Wala
11.15am 1 Adult male Wild Boar drinking at Mila Wala
11.20am 1 Barking Deer between Mila Wala and Sudu Muwa Wala
11.25am 1 Ruddy Mongoose between Borupan Junction and Borupan Wila
11.33am 2 Malabar Pied Hornbill at Vilanda Wala
11.50am 2 Spotted Deer and 1 Grey Mongoose at Thimbiri Wila
12.29pm Red-spot Duke between Panikkar Villu junction and Nelum Wila
12.46pm 2 Spotted Deer at Aalam Villu
12.56pm 445 Lesser Whistling Teal at Panikkar Villu
1.30pm 3 Spotted Deer at Tala Wila
1.59pm 1 Red-spot Duke between Aalam Villu and Panikkar Villu. I finally managed to get some good photographs.
2.13pm 3 Spotted Deer between Aalam and Panikkar Villu.
2.28pm Troop of Grey Langurs drinking at Nelum Wila
2.54pm Red-spot Duke between Kuruttupandi Villu junction and Kudapatessa
2.58pm 21 Wild Buffalo and 1 Spotted Deer at Kudapatessa
3.04pm 11 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa
3.18pm 7 Spotted Deer and a troop of Grey Langur drinking across Kumbuk Wila
3.20pm 1 Barking Deer at Thimbiri Wila
3.52pm Troop of Grey langur at Kokkare Villu Uda Para.
3.55pm 1 Wild Boar between Kokkare Junction and Nelum Wila
4.40pm 1 Elephant at Kokkare Villu
5.15pm 1 Leopard between Kokkare Villu Weli Kanda and Kuda Patessa Junction. I was not able to photograph or identify the leopard.
5.41pm 3 Spotted Deer between Kudapatessa and Mahapatessa
5.43pm 3 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
5.49pm 6 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila Pitiya.
5.56pm 6 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila
6.13pm 2 Spotted Deer at Ibba Wala
6.45pm 1 Star Tortoise crossing the road, holding up traffic between Percy Bendi Wewa and Weli Eala

20.8
Entered the park with my guide Podi Danushka at 5.57am
6.03am 1 Brown Fish Owl at the glade between Weli El and Percy Bendi Wewa
6.35am 1 Sloth Bear at the Kuda Boralu Wala between Thambi Oluwa and Ibba Wala. It was digging up an anthill on the opposite side of the Boralu Wala. After a while it cross the road ahead of the vehicle and moved in to the forest.
7.19am 3 Spotted Deer between Borupan Junction and Borupan Wila
7.27am 12 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila
7.32am Proceeding from Borupan Wila towards Thimbiri Wila Vanilla walkerae (the leafless wild Orchid) in bloom across the glade just before Thimbiri Wila.
7.44am 12 Spotted Deer and 1 Grey Mongoose at Mahapatessa
7.47am 1 Mugger Crocodile at Mahapatessa
8.01am 1 Sub adult Golden Jackal between Kokkare Villu and Kuruttupandi Junction
8.04am 1 Brown Fish Owl at Kuruttupandi Villu.
8.19am 2 Black-tailed Godwits at Mahapatessa.
8.29am 1 Barking Deer between Kumbuk Wila and Mahapatessa.
9.10am 1 Leopard between Kumbuk Wila junction and Borupan Junction. It was BWMC 1. It was lying down about 25 feet inside the jungle. I parked on a side with adequate space for the other vehicles and decided to wait expecting the leopard to move out.
12.53pm 2 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila
4.23pm 4 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila
4.29pm 2 Mugger Crocodiles at Mahapatessa
4.31pm 4 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
4.32pm 2 Spotted Deer between Kudapatessa and Mahapatessa.
5.39pm Troop of Grey Langur at Borupan Wila.
6.35pm left the park

Having left Colombo after work on the 2nd arrived at Wilpattu around 9.45pm. On the way between Thabbowa and Saliya wewa observed one Elephant by the side of the road.
3.8
5.30am arrive at the park entrance. Podi Danushka, my guide for the day arrived around 5.45am.
5.59am entered the park.
6.15am 1 Barking Deer close to Thammanna Wala
6.20am 1 Giant Squirrel was making its alarm call. A Brown Fish Owl that was perched on a low branch flew off upon our arrival about 100 meters from Percy Bendi Wewa.
6.34am 8 Wild Buffalo at Maradanmaduwa
6.41am 1 Spotted Deer close to Ibba Wala
6.59am 1 adult male Wild Boar ran across the road between Borupan Junction and Kumbuk Wila
7.04am 14 White-necked Stork and 3 Lesser Adjutant Storks feeding along with about 15 White Ibis and some Egrets at Kumbuk Wila.
7.10am 42 Little Greeb gathered in one group at the center of Thimbiri Wila
7.40am 3 Spotted Deer between Borupan Junction and Kumbuk Wila
7.53am 6 Spotted Deer across the villu at Mahapatessa
7.58am 1 Lesser Adjutant at Demata Wila
8.11am 1 Mugger Crocodile at Mahapatessa
8.19am 1 Wild Boar calf still having the prominent yellow striped was walking ahead on the road. It walked ahead of the vehicle for about 20 meters and ran in to the forest. Adults were not seen around. As it was too young to be alone, thus appeared to be lost.
8.25am 12 Spotted Deer feeding across the villu at Kudapatessa.
8.26am a troop of Grey Langur on the near trees at Kudapatessa
8.31am 1 Lesser Adjutant Stork flew off as we arrived at Kuruttupandi Villu
9.11am 1 Female Ceylon Junglefowl with three immature birds (about half the size of the adult) on the Kokkare Villu Uda Para
9.17am 46 Wild Boar at Nelum Wila. As we arrived at the wila observed this large herd at the edge of the water body across the Wila.
9.31am 3 Barking Deer at Aalam Wila. One was drinking while the other two were observed between Panikkar Wila and Aalam Wila.
9.42am 1 Barking Deer on Panikkar Villu Uda Para
9.54am 1 Barking Deer at Tala Wila
10.14am 1 Barking Deer close to Nelum Wila
10.20am 4 Spotted Deer between Kokkare Villu junction and Madan Gaha Wala on Kumbuk Wila Uda Para
10.32am 21 Wild Buffalo and 2 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila
10.43am 1 Ruddy Mongoose at Walas Wala
10.50am troop of Grey Langur at Ibba Wala
11.04 1 Ruddy Mongoose at Palu Kola Wewa.
11.15am arrived at Thammanna Wala. The usual While-browed Bul Buls and black-capped Bul Buls kept arriving at the water continuously.  Except for a few quick drives I was parked at this water hole the rest of the day. As this is the only location where water is available in the area I expected many animals including the leopards to arrive here for water.
11.20am 2 Flapshell Turtles frequently crawled out of the water to sunbath. They would dash in to the water upon the arrival of most animals except birds.
11.47am 1 Painted-lip Lizard on a Palu Tree – Thammanna Wala
12.01pm 1 Barking Deer came to water
12.26pm 1 Ruddy Mongoose
1.05pm 1 Crocodile, 7 Spotted Deer and 1 Barking Deer at Percy Bendi Wewa.
1.10pm 1 small Crocodile at Thammanna Wala
2.27pm 1 Brown Fish Owl. The owl that was perched on a tree growing on the bund of this water hole flew down to the waters edge and was looking at some animal intently. After about one minute it suddenly pounced in to the water, feet first, with a splash and caught a large frog. Having photographed the sequence I observed that the owl had its eyes closed when it pounced in to the water.
4.31pm 1 sub adult male leopard Thammanna Wala Pitiya. It was KBMC 1. The leopard had been out in the open at the edge of the glade and had moved in to the forest with the arrival of the vehicles. After a bout 10 minutes it moved ahead of the vehicles made a low growl and ran across the road on to the opposite side. I had photographed this leopard on the 12th September 2012.
5.01pm 1 Ruddy Mongoose at Thammanna Wala Pitiya.
5.55pm a flock of about 8 Small Minivets flew over Percy Bendi Wewa.
6.27pm 1 Spotted Deer at the park entrance.
3.8
6.10am Entered the park
6.18am 3 Spotted Deer between Weli Ela and Percy Bendi Wewa
6.22am Troop of Grey Langur just before Percy Bendi Wewa
6.42am Troop of Grey Langur ½ km before Palu Kola Wewa
6.46am 1 Black-naped Hare at Palu Kola Wewa
6.53 1 Sambar Maradanmaduwa – Three causeways
6.58am 1 Golden Jackal, 2 White-necked Stork at Maradanmaduwa
7.05am 1 Rat Snake acrossed the road at Thambi Oluwa. As it was moving through the vegetation a Crested Serpent Eagle flew from the direction where the snake move in and perched on a low branch but did not attack the large snake.
7.27am 1 Wild Boar between Borupan Junction and Kumbuk Wila
7.32am 1 Orange-backed Woodpecker at the sand patch between Borupan Junction and Kumbuk Wila.
7.43am 12 Spotted Deer feeding around Mahapatessa
7.59am 2 Mugger Crocodile, 2 Spotted Deer and 1 Barking Deer at Mahapatessa
8.10am 2 Barking Deer between Kudapatessa and Kokkare Weli Kanda
8.14am 1 Ruddy Mongoose & 1 Barking Deer at Kokkare Weli Kanda
9.20am 12 Spotted Deer, 1 Lesser Adjutant and 2 White-necked Stork at Kumbuk Wila
9.45am Troop of Toque Monkey at between Borupan Junction and Borupan Wila
9.50am 21 Wild Buffalo at Borupan Wila
10.32am Arrived at Thammanna Wala to observe the animals arriving at the water hole to drink water
10.50am 3 Barking Deer
11.05 1 Baking Deer
11.10am 1 Spotted Deer antler walked cautiously and drank
11.20am 2 Barking Deer
11.55am 1 Spotted Deer at Percy Bendi Wewa
12.10pm 1 Barking Deer Percy Bendi Wewa on the Makalanmaduwa Road.
12.12pm 1 Spotted Deer at Percy Bendi Wewa
12.20pm Arrived at Thammanna Wala again.
12.32pm 1 Barking Deer came to drink
12.42 1 Barking Deer walked down the bund and drank
1.42pm 1 Barking Deer
3.33pm 1 Ruddy Mongoose with a short tail at Thammanna Wala
4.29pm 1 Barking Deer
4.35pm Danushka was informed of a leopard close to the glade beyond Kalagedi Bokkuwa. Having arrive we spotted the leopard about 20 feet inside the forest. It was KBMC 1. After about 5 minutes the young leopard moved in the direction of the glade. I reversed the vehicle and parked at a distance with the glade in full view. The leopard emerged from the forest briefly permitting me to take a few photographs and continued to walk to the right through the jungle. We observed that its belly was full thus expected it to walk to Thammanna Wala about a kilometer as it is the only water hole close to this locality.
5.28pm As expected KBMC 1 arrived at the water hole. It crossed the Maha Wewa road ahead of my vehicle. A male Ceylon Junglefowl that was drinking water flew on to a lower branch of a tree and started to make its alarm call. The leopard walked to the edge of the water where the Junglefowl had been and started to drink. It drank for 12 minutes permitting me to get some good photos. I spent approximately 6 hours yesterday and 7 hours today at this water hole waiting for a leopard and was pleased as my patience paid off.
5.51pm 2 Mugger Crocodile and a Common Kingfisher at Percy Bendi Wewa.
6.09pm 1 Barking Deer walked down the bund to drink water at Percy Bendi Wewa.

Left Colombo after work around 5.30pm on the 19th and arrived at Wilpattu by 10.05pm
The next day I was at the park entrance by 5.30am. My guide Danushka arrived by 5.45am.
20.7
5.57am entered the park. The Keeriya trees are in bloom
6.18am 1 Barking Deer between Kalagedi Bokkuwa and Palu Kola Wewa
6.23am 2 Spotted Deer at Palu Kola Wewa, which is completely, dry. Madan is just starting to fruit. Tiny green fruits were seen on all the trees.
6.25am 1 Mugger Crocodile at Palu Kola Wewa. Even though the water hole is devoid of water the Crocodile has dug a hole in to the bund across the water hole and was resting with only its upper body out of the hole.
6.43am 1 Sloth Bear at Maradanmaduwa
7.06am 1 White-necked Stork at Ibba Wala
7.16am 1 White-necked Stork at Walas Wala
7.19am 1 Male Sambar which has shed its antlers about 100m from Borupan Junction towards Borupan Wila.
7.24am 19 Wild Buffalo at Borupan Wila
7.40am 2 Spotted Deer, 1 Lesser Adjutant & 2 White-necked Stork at Kumbuk Wila.
7.43am 1 Brown Fish Owl perched on a Kumbuk tree branch just above the water at Kumbuk Wila.
7.46am 1 Giant Squirrel between Kumbuk Wila and Mahapatessa
7.47am 1 Barking Deer between Kumbuk Wila and Mahapatessa. Its antlers were covered with a velvet skin.
8.30am 1 Barking Deer at Kokkare Wila
8.50am 15 Spotted Deer, 32 Lesser Whistling Teal at Panikkar Wila
9.01am 1 Barking Deer and 1 Elephant  at Tala Wila
9.24am 11 Wild Boar at Tala Wila. The ribbon formation of purple wild flowers, which are in bloom around the Villu, is Dopatrium lobelioides.
9.27am 3 Spotted Deer at Tala Wila
9.44am 1 Sambar at Panikkar Wila
9.54am Red Spot Duke between Alam Wila and Kanjuram Villu
9.58am Gem Pits – Nawaladi Uttu
10.03am 1 Common Kingfisher at Eranapala Mottai
10.17am Kalla Mottai is completely dry.
10.30am 10 Spotted Deer at Kali Villu. As the water level has receded slightly vehicles can now manage to go on the edge of the Villu, which is partly under water.
10.40am Between Kali Villu and Mana Wila about 3 km from Kuveni Palace Kiri Kone in fruit.
11.02am 2 White-necked Stork at Herath Hamy Wala
11.20am Photographed Rath Mal at Nabada Wila which is covered with a sheet of white flowers of the water plant Giant Ambulia.
11.40am 2 Lesser Adjutant Stork at Thora Wila. I also observed that the small frogs at the edge of the water were not bothered by the vehicle approaching them, as they did not take any efforts to move away or conceal them selves.
11.51am 1 Barking Deer at Namada Wila
12.53pm 1 male Painted Lip Lizard at Ochchappukallu.
1.00pm to 2.23pm Spent at Ochchappukallu. Managed to photograph Bim Kohomba and the ruins, scenery with rocky out crops.
2.29pm Vanda tessalata in bloom at Ochchappukallu.
4.09pm A troop of Grey Langur at Mahapatessa.
4.21pm 10 Spotted Deer across Borupan Wila
4.25pm 1 Mugger Crocodile at Borupan Wila
4.31pm 15 Wild Buffalo & 4 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila
4.41pm 39 Little Grebe together in one flock at the center of Thimibiri Wila.
4.43pm 1 Spotted Deer and I Barking Deer as well.
5.18pm 2 Spotted Deer at Kuruttu Pandi Villu
5.46pm 2 Spotted Deer, 1 Painted and 2 White-necked Stork and a flock of 8 white Ibis at Kumbuk Wila.
21.7
5.54am Entered the park.
6.02am 1 Spotted Deer at Percy Bendi Wewa
6.51am 1 Spotted Deer, Crested Tree Swift at Borupan Wila
6.58am 2 Black-naped Hare at Thimbiri Wila
7.06am 2 Grey Mongoose at Kumbuk Wila
7.14am 1 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa
7.20am 60-70 Green Imperial Pigeon perched on the tress around Kudapatessa. They fly to and fro from tree to tree until one or two birds gather enough courage to come down to the edge of the villu to drink. Whereupon there will be a continuous stream of birds that will fly down to the same spot to drink.
7.53am 13 Sub adult male Ceylon Jungle Fowl and 2 Spotted deer at Kokkare Villu Uda Para. A short distance away a male Ceylon Jungle Fowl making an alarm call.
7.59am 1 Ruddy Mongoose at Kumbuk Wila
8.21am 1 Asian Elephant at Panikkar Wila
8.41am 4 Spotted Deer at Tala Wila
8.44am 2 Giant Squirrel at Tala Wila – Pomparippu Road.
9.03am 1 male Baron 2 Lowland Kangaroo Lizard at Tala Wila – Pomparippu Road.
9.12am Troop of Grey Langur at Kombansanchi Pooval
9.16am Ceylon Osbekia at Kombansanchi Pooval
9.59am 3 Spotted Deer between Kumbuk Wila and Borupan Wila junction.
10.06am 2 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila pitiya.
11.12am 3 Spotted Deer at Kudapatessa
11.17am 1 Peacock Royal and 1 Wild Boar at Kudapatessa.
11.19am Troop of Grey Langur and 1 Spotted deer at Kudapatessa
11.32am Troop of grey Langur and 8 adult Wild Boar Kumbuk Wila Uda Para.
11.38am 1 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Villu to Nelum Wila
12.10pm 1 Common Kingfisher at Kombansanchi Pooval
12.23pm 9 Spotted Deer and 21 wild Boar in two herds.
1.03pm 1 Ruddy Mongoose at Kumbuk Wila Uda Para
1.22pm 1 Barking Deer resting on the ground about 15 feet inside the jungle between Borupan Wila and Borupan Junction.
2.05pm parked at Thimbiri Wila in expectation of the leopard cubs to come out.
4.50pm 2 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa
5.04pm 1 Black-naped Hare at Kuruttu Pandi Villu.
 5.15pm 5 Wild Boar at Kokkare Villu Uda Para
6.12pm 9 Spotted Deer and 1 female partial albino Peahen at Borupan Wila
22.7

6.04am Entered the park.
6.12am 5 Spotted Deer at Percy Bendi Wewa
6.24am 1 Barking Deer at Palu Kola Wala pitiya.
6.55am 2 sub adult Crested Hawk Eagles at Walas Wala.
7.03am 16 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila.
7.17am 4 Spotted Deer at Borupan Wila
7.33am 1 Spotted Deer at Sudu Muwa Wala
7.53am 2 Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa
8.02am Vanda tessalata in bloom Demata Wila
8.19am 1 adult male Wild Boar at Kuruttu Pandi Villu.
9.35am 1 adult male Wild Boar at Maila Wala. I was parked at this water hole and around 09.45am one large adult Boar came to drink. It was quite cautious in approaching the water.  After drinking it rolled in mud at the edge of the water hole and left.
10.00am Pygmy Woodpecker called.
10.38am 6 Spotted Deer at Thimbiri Wila
10.50am 1 Grey Mongoose and a flock of about 15 Lesser Whistling Teal at Borupan Wila
10.55am 5 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila
10.58am Troop of Grey Langur at Kumbuk Wila Uda Para.
11.11am 6 Spotted Deer at Kokkare Villu Junction
11.31am 2 Wild Boar between Nelum Wila and Panikkar Villu junction.
12.07pm 1 Elephant and  1 Spotted Deer Tala Wila Pomparippu road. Upon hearing deer alarm calls we drove on to the Pomparippu Road.
12.11pm 1 Wild Boar at Tala Wila.
12.19pm Flock of 35 Lesser Whistling Teal at Panikkar Wila
3.15pm Troop of Grey Langur at Thammanna Wala. While one observed the surroundings one by one came down to drink.
4.02pm 1 Leopard at Thammanna Wala. While we watched it charged a female peahen and its three sub adult offspring but did not succeed in making a kill. I was not able to photograph or ID the leopard.
4.17pm 4 Spotted Deer at Percy Bendi Wewa.
4.27pm 1 Barking Deer 1 km beyond Percy Bendi Wewa.
4.45pm 1 Elephant at Hunuwilagama Tank. I left the park early with the expectation of observing and photographing the large gathering of about 100 elephants that had arrived at the tank the previous day.
5.25pm 10 Spotted Deer at Hunuwilagama Tank.
6.42pm A small family group of 5 Elephants emerged from the Jungle.
6.45pm Left the park.
Kiri Koon is in fruit throughout the park. The Keeriy trees are in bloom. Rutting calls of the Spotted Deer was heard on many locations of the park. Some water holes such as Ibba Wala, Walas Wala and Herath Hamy Wala are showing signs of drying up in less than two weeks. The water levels at Kali Villu as well as Mahapatessa holds excessive amount of water.

Left Colombo on the 21st after work around 6.30pm. One Elephant was seen around 10.15pm just passing the Army Camp on the Puttalam – Nochchiyagama Road and a small heard of about 4 Elephants at Thabbowa.
6.00am Entered the park with guide Saranga.
6.11am One Barking Deer & Two Spotted Deer about ½ Km from Percy Bendi Wewa
6.42am Two Spotted deer Between Ibba Wala and Humbas Wewa
7.03am Troop of Grey Langur – Between Borupan Junction & Borupan Wila
7.09am Nine Spotted Deer – Borupan Wila
8.36am One Barking Deer – Kanjuran Villu
9.35am One Spotted deer & One Mugger Crocodile – Mahapatessa
10.30am Four White-necked Stork – Borupan Wila
10.33am Two Spotted Deer – Borupan Wila – Borupan Junction.
11.41am Three Spotted Deer – Walas Wala
11.59am Three Spotted Deer – Thimbiri Wila
12.16pm One Asian Elephant – Nelum Wila
12.52pm 15 Wild Boar – Thala Wila
2.45pm Nest of Black-naped Monarch – Panikkar Wila. Both male and female was feeding the three chicks in the nest.  As I was photographing the male in the nest a Common Coucal was seen about 15 feet from the nest. The male darted to wards the intruder and started to mob until the bigger bird moved out of sight.
3.03pm Two Crested Serpent Eagle flew one after the other ahead of the vehicle between Panikkar Wila and Nelum Wila.
3.15pm One Elephant at Nelum Wila
3.43pm One Giant Squirrel at Kuruttu Pandi
4.04pm A pair of Kentish Plover (Resident race Seebomi) & One Mugger Crocodile at Kokkare Wila
4.45pm One Spotted Deer, Three Grey Mongoose, one adult and two sub adults  – Thimbiri Wila
5.26pm One Indian Three-toed Kingfisher flew along the road before darting in to the forest between Kudapatesa and Kudapatessa Junction.
5.42pm 15-20 Malabar Pied Hornbill at Kumbuk Wila. Some flew down to the edge of the water and picked up Salvenia in their beaks.
5.47pm One Ruddy Mongoose close to Borupan Junction.
6.10pm Two Sambar and four Spotted Deer – Kudapatessa
6.40pm Indian Nightjar nest observed at Panikkar Wila sand patch. One tiny down covered chick was seen. As I watched the adult flew close to thee chick, hopped close to it and fed. There after the chick moved under the adult.
Slept at the Panikkar Wila bungalow with Geethaka Goonawardena and his friends.
23.6
5.30am Left the bungalow.
5.46am 11 Wild Boar at Alam Wila
6.32am Ten Spotted Deer – Borupan Wila
6.38am Two Spotted Deer – Borupan Pitiya, close to Wilanda Wala.
6.41am One Mugger Crocodile – Borupan Pitiya Wala.
7.02am One Spotted Deer – Maradanmaduwa
7.19am One Sloth Bear – Maradanmaduwa. It was quite a bold animal and walked on the road even with vehicles following it. On a number of occasions it was disturbed by some vehicles moving too close.
7.38am One Spotted Deer – Maradanmaduwa
7.52am One Sambar – Thambi Oluwa Pitiya.
8.44am The Indian Nightjar adult and the chick had moved a few feet from where they were spotted the previous day evening. As we watched the adult walked further away from where they were seen followed by the chick.
9.45am One Large Oak Blue – Panikkar Wila while photographing wild Flowers.
10.32am One Leopard crossed the road ahead of us at Nelum Wila. It moved in to the jungle and was not possible to photograph or identify.
10.42am  Troop of Tufted Grey Langur - Kumbuk Wila Uda Para Thammenna Gaha junction
10.48am One Orange-backed Woodpecker – Kumbuk Wila Uda Para.
11.00am One male Barking Deer crossed the road at the Boralu Wala between Walas Wala and Humbas Wewa.
11.08am Troop of Tufted Grey Langur – Thambi Oluwa
11.36am Herd of seven Wild Boar, 6 Spotted Deer accompanies by a troop of Tufted Grey Langur. One Mugger Crocodile – Percy Bendi Wewa
11.43am One Ruddy Mongoose – Weli Ela
11.44am One Ruddy Mongoose ½ Km from the park entrance.
12.40pm Nine Wild Boar, One Crocodile – Percy Bendi Wewa
1.22pm One Barking Deer – Ibba Wala.
2.10pm Two Spotted Deer – Kumbuk Wila Uda Para.
2.18pm One Painted-lip Lizard – Kumbuk Wila Uda Para
3.44pm One Ruddy Mongoose – Kumbuk Wila – Borupan Junction
3.55pm One Mugger crocodile – Borupan Pitiya Wala.
4.09pm Two Crocodile – Mahapatessa
4.53pm One Ruddy Mongoose between Nelum Wila and Panikkar Wila
6.10pm One Elephant, One Spotted Deer, 11 Wild Boar, 45 Wild Buffalo and Painted Stork. – Maha Wewa
6.14pm Three Spotted Deer – Maha Wewa Road.

Left home around 3.30pm on the 8th, picked up Nanda Senanayake and was on my way to Anawila. Having passed Puttlam around the 22nd km post spotted a sub adult tusker of about 15 years with about 1.1/2 feet long tusks around 7.30pm. I stopped and reversed the vehicle to have a better view but had to make a quick exit as the tusker charged and nearly hit the vehicle.
9.6
5.25am Indian nightjar close to Anawila Bungalow.
6.01am Entered the park with Guide Danushka Udayanga.
6.07am One Wild Boar 2 km from the park entrance
6.10am Four Spotted Deer close to Percy Bendi Wewa
6.12am One Mugger Crocodile – Percy Bendi Wewa
6.26am One White-necked Stork – Palu Kola Wewa
6.52am One sub adult Sambar – Between Ibba Wala and Walas Wala
7.03am Troop of Tufted Grey Langur and a Crested Hawk Eagle Nest with a Juvenile – Walas Wala
7.12am One Ruddy Mongoose – Between Borupan junction and Borupan Wila.
7.15am One Asian Elephant feeding in the Wila. The carpets of "Kok Mota" have all dried up except for a few clumps close to the waters edge. – Borupan Wila
7.24am One Mugger crocodile – Thimbiri Wila
7.26am Eight White Ibis at Kumbuk Wila
7.33am One mugger Crocodile at Mahapatessa.
7.35am Orange-breasted Green Pigeon nest at Mahapatessa built on a Thimbiri Tree.
7.37am One Brown Mongoose and two Mugger Crocodile at Mahapatessa.
7.51am Troop of Tufted Grey Langur at Kutupandi.
8.14am Four Spotted Deer at Mahapatessa.
8.41am three Spotted Deer –  about 200meters from the Kumbuk Wila turn off down Kumbuk Wila Uda Para
8.50am Eight Spotted Deer at Madan Gaha Wala on Kumbuk Wila Uda Para
9.03am One Painted Lip Lizard Calotes ceylonensis  - Nelum Wila
9.12am Great Orange Tip – Between Panikkar Wila junction and Panikkar Wila.
9.23am Three Spotted Deer – Panikkar Wila to Combansanchi Pooval
9.37am Six Wild Boar across the water body at Thala Wila.
9.53am One Lesser Adjutant Stork – Panikkar Wila
10.01am Many Red-spot Duke settled on the road between Panikkar Wila and Nelum Wila.
10.16am Three Spotted Deer – Kokkare Wila Uda Para
10.19am Two Golden Jackal ( Mother and sub adult) Between Kokkare Wila and Kurutupandi.
10.35am One Female Tawny Raja – Kudapatessa
12.19pm One Mugger Crocodile at Kudapatessa.
12.27pm One mugger Crocodile – Kokkare Wila
12.31pm – 12.50pm One sub adult male leopard across the Kokkare Wila. It was lying in the open at the edge of the water. Photographed.
1.00pm Two Spotted Deer at Kurutupandi.
1.54pm Three Spotted Deer – Between Kumbuk Wila and Kokkare Wila.
2.28pm 5 Spotted Deer – Between Panikkar Wila and Alam Wila.
2.31pm 5 Spotted Deer at Alam Wila.
3.42pm One Spotted Deer - Kokkare Uda Para
3.56pm-5.40pm KPMC 1 – at Kudapatessa. It was lying on the edge of the water to the right where the road to Kurutupandi falls on to Kudapatessa. It was quite relaxed and was playfully trying to catch the frogs that would jump in to the water upon its approach. There after its attention was on a Little Cormorant that was fishing close by. The leopard would follow the movements of the bird each time it surfaced and watched it with a lot of interest. At one point when the bird was quite close the leopard got up and quickly moved on the edge towards the bird where the bird flew off. There after it lied down with its front paws submerged in the water and drank. At 5.40pm upon the other two vehicles leaving the leopard cautiously walked toward my vehicle and got on the road in front of the same and started to walk towards Kurutupandi junction. We followed it for about 100meters but had to turn back to reach the park entrance on time.
5.45pm One Spotted Deer –Mahapatessa
5.49pm One Ruddy Mongoose – Kumbuk Wila
5.50pm Four White-necked Stork – Kumbuk Wila
6.19pm One Sloth Bear on the road as we passed Palu Kola Wewa.
6.32pm Six Spotted Deer about one km from the park entrance.
6.34pm Two Elephants on he road at the park entrance blocking the vehicles leaving the park.  After a while they moved towards Hunuwilagama Tank and the vehicles exited the park.

Arrived at the park entrance at 5.50am. My Guide for the day Saranga was at the park entrance.
06.30am Entered the park.
06.31am Two Mugger Crocodile at Percy Bendi Wewa – One had its tail out of the water for a bout 5 minutes with the other being close by. It appeared to be a courtship display.
06.40am Two Spotted Deer – Kalagedi Bokkuwa glade.
06.46am One Mugger Crocodile – Palu Kola Wewa. The water level of this water body has reduced drastically from my previous visit in end March.
06.56am One Elephant at Maradanmaduwa three bridges. It was feeding with its head out of sight. Upon our arrival it trumpeted and moved in to the jungle. We were only able to see the rear of the animal.
07.00am Vanilla walkerae & Vanda spathulata in bloom – Maradanmaduwa
07.03am Banded Peacock.
07.15am One Sloth Bear at Maradanmaduwa. We had entered the forest passing the “Kukul Katu” plains at Maradanmaduwa. The Bear was about 15 feet from the edge of the road to my left. Upon our arrival it ran a few feet towards the forest but when I turned off the engine it stopped and started to walk on to the road again. As the animal appeared to be relaxed I started the engine to turn the vehicle to a side for photography, which spooked the animal. It darted in to the forest.
07.26am Glade Eye Bush Brown & Striped Albatross – Ibba Wala
07.40am Common Cerulean & Grey Pansy  – Borupan Junction.
07.47am One Elephant – Feeding at Borupan Wila.
07.50am Zebra Blue – Borupan Wila
07.58am Ceylon Lace Wing – Borupan
08.35am One Sloth Bear between Borupan Junction and Kumbuk wila. It was about 25 feet in side the jungle and was feeding on “Weera” fruits that were on the forest floor.
09.04am Four Spotted Deer & one Soft Shell Terrapin – Mahapatessa.
09.25am One sub adult male leopard lying down about 20 yards about 50meters from Mahapatessa to Kudapatessa. It was later identified as Kudapatessa Male Cub 1 (KPMC 1). 10.56am with the number of vehicles increasing it moved another 10 yards in to the forest and was hardly visible. 01.40pm the leopard climbed a tree of about 40 feet in height and remained on the tree for a bout 7 minutes. It did not appear that it was pursuing any prey. Having climbed down it settled down again at the same place. Except for a few quick rounds I was parked at this sight until 5.00pm expecting the leopard was move to the open but had no luck. I had observed this leopard climbing to the top most branches of a Madan Tree at Kudapatessa on when I observed it last on the 26th November 2011.
12.48pm one Mugger Crocodile at Kokkare Wila.
01.29pm one Common Red Shank – Mahapatessa
01.48pm two Spotted Deer at Kokkare Wila Uda Para close to Thammenna Gaha junction.
01.51pm one Sambar, antler & two Spotted Deer at Nelum Wila. The sambar was up to shoulder height in water feeding on the Lotus leaves.
02.14pm four Spotted Deer and one Wild Boar at Alam Wila.
02.24pm one male Red-backed Woodpecker with extensive white facial markings broad at Combansanchi Pooval. The upper parts of this bird were dull red as oppose to the shiny red observed on the southern Red-backed Woodpeckers.
02.30pm 17 Spotted Deer across the water body at Tala Wila.
02.43pm one Golden Jackal – Panikkar Wila.
02.55pm one Grey Mongoose at Nelum wila
04.26pm four Spotted Deer at Kokkare Wila
05.13pm one Sambar at Mahapatessa
06.03pm one Mugger Crocodile Palu Kola Wewa
06.16pm two Mugger Crocodile at Percy Bendi Wewa
12.5
Arrived at the park entrance at 05.40am. My guide for the day, Danuska arrived around 5.50am
06.05am entered the park.
06.08am two Mugger Crocodile at Percy Bendi Wewa
06.10am a large accipiter, possibly a Crested Goshawk flew across the road close to Palu Kola Wewa pursued by two Black-naped Monarch.
06.33am two Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa.
06.35am seven Spotted Deer about 200m from Maradanmaduwa
06.40am troop of Grey Langur about 100m from Borupan Junction.
06.44am one Indian plaintive Cuckoo at Borupan Wila.
07.19am one Mugger Crocodile at Mahapatessa
07.45am one Brown Fish Owl perched on a Thimbiri Tree at Mahapatessa.
08.25am Common Rose at Borupan wila.
08.43am nine Spotted Deer and 11 Wild Boar at Tala Wila.
09.21am one Ruddy Mongoose between Panikkar Wila and Nelum Wila.
09.46am one Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila.
09.52am one Mugger Crocodile at Mahapatessa.
10.04am one Giant Squirrel between Kudapatessa and Kuruttu Pandi.
10.20am 2 Spotted deer at Kuruttu Pandi.
10.27am three spotted deer antlers at Kudapatessa
11.05am three White-necked Stork, one White Ibis at Kumbuk Wila.
11.25am four Sambar at Humbas Wewa. An adult female with a fawn and two sub adults (one male and a female). Possibly the former off spring of this female.
12.10pm Painted Stork and few pairs of Spotted-billed pelican has started to build nests at Maradanmaduwa Tank.
12.37pm pair of Velvet-fronted Nut Hatch and Black-capped Bul Bul close to Ibba Wala.
12.57pm one Spotted Deer and one Ruddy Mongoose Borupan Wila.
01.09pm one Mugger Crocodile basking in the sun at Thimbiri Wila.
01.43pm two Barking Deer at Kumbuk Wila. I saw them crossing the road to wards the wila while we were stopped to have lunch. Having arrived at the location I observed both the animals feeding on the common floating fern, Salvinia.
02.05pm two Spotted Deer at Madan Gaha Wala on Kumbuk Wila Uda Para.
02.08pm three Spotted Deer on Kumbuk Wila Uda Para.
02.11pm 11 Spotted Deer at Kumbuk Wila Uda Para.
02.35pm hear of 21 Wild boar drinking on the extreme left at Alam Wila.
03.01pm a pair of Golden-backed Woodpecker at Combansanchi Pooval. I was able to observe the pair with my bins. The mantle of the male was reddish mantle where as the females was yellow/golden.
03.07pm 11 Spotted Deer at Tala Wila.
03.34pm one Spotted Deer at Alam Wila.
03.53pm 4 Spotted Deer at Alam Wila
04.11pm Tawny Raja & Black-fronted Babbler- Kokkare Wila Uda Para.
04.35pm nest of Black-winged Stilt and one Mugger Crocodile at Mahapatessa.
04.38pm six Spotted Deer between Mahapatessa and Kumbuk Wila
04.44pm Golden-backed Woodpecker at Kumbuk Wila. I was not able to observed the sex or the colour of the mantle.
04.48pm one Sambar, antler and Pompadour Green Pigeon at Thimbiri Wila.
05.03pm about 100m from Borupan junction a troop of Grey langur.
05.10pm the four Sambar seen during midday at Walas Wala seen again at Humbas Wewa.
05.21pm six Spotted Deer at Thambi Oluwa.
05.41pm five Spotted Deer at Maradanmaduwa.
05.50pm one Mugger Crocodile at Palu Kola Wewa
05.57pm one Sloth Bear between Palu Kola Wewa and Kalagedi Bokkuwa.  When we spotted the bear was sleeping in the open in a small glade. After a few minutes it sat up on its hunches, scratched its body for a while with its rear leg and walked in to the forest. It was adult male bear.
6.30pm arrived at the park entrance.
The forested areas of the park were quite noisy in the mornings and evenings with the incessant call made by the cicadas. The Vanilla walkerae, Vanda Spathulata and the Tesselata was in bloom. The “bim savan” Kok mota and the “Vishnu Kranthi” around and close to the water bodies were in bloom. Banded Peacock was seen in good numbers all over the park and a few Red Spot Duke seen as well.  “ Were” was in fruit and the yellow flowers of the “ Gal Keri” bushes were in bloom as well. The Ceylon obsequie was also in bloom. The water bodies such as Kokkare Wile and Mahapatessa are still filled up to the brim. Demata Wila and Eeryakkulam Pooval are still filled up to the mouth of the road.
All the migrants have left but I was quite surprised to observe about 6-7 Indian Plaintive Cuckoo still in the park.

Arrived at the park entrance at 6.30am. My guide Danushka was at the park office.
06.40am:  Entered the park. The presence of mist was not as heavy as on the last occasion.
06.49am:  Troop of Toque Monkey at Percy Bendi Wewa.
07.19am:  7 Spotted Deer including an antler – Maradanmaduwa.
07.44am:  1 Giant Squirrel – Walas Wala.
07.56am:  2 Lesser Adjutant storks and 4 Spotted Deer – Thimbiri Wila.
08.05am:  1 Grey Mongoose – Thimbiri Wila.
08.11am: 1 Mugger Crocodile – Mahapatessa.
08.16am: 2 Golden Jackal – Mahapatessa.
08.18am: Troop of Grey Langur – Mahapatessa.
09.08am: One leopard lying down close to the sand patch on the right on the Panikkar Villu Uda Para. After a few minutes the leopard got up and walked through the jungle towards my vehicle where I was able to get some photographs, and settled down on the road behind my vehicle. It was Combansanchi Pooval Male Cub 2 (CPMC 2). It had a fresh wound of about 2inches wide on the neck below the chin and two other smaller wounds on the same area as well. After about 10 minutes it moved into the forest strip between the road and Panikkar Villu.
09.20am:  4 Spotted Deer – Panikkar Villu.
12.18pm:  1 Barking Deer – Ibba Wala.
12.48pm:  11 Spotted Deer – Between Borupan Junction and Borupan Wila.
12.52am:  1 Mugger Crocodile, 1 subadult White Ibis & Grey Heron – Borupan Wila.
12.58pm:  1 Spotted Deer – Borupan Wila.
01.08pm:  1 Elephant – Kumbuk Wila.
01.34pm:  Having stopped for lunch at Kumbuk Wila, I was chatting with two other guides Wijekoon and Sunil about their sightings. There were a few other vehicles parked as well. While talking, I heard the “ko kok kok” alarm call of an Indian Peafowl that flew up with heavy flapping of its wings about 30-40 yards in the Borupan direction. I quickly got into the vehicle and drove about 20 meters and saw Borupan Wila Female 1 (BWF 1) crossing the road from the Kumbuk Wila side. A male Indian Peafowl, perhaps the one that was being pursued, was on a Kumbuk tree growing at the edge of the Wila.
02.50pm:  4 Spotted Deer – Nelum Wila.
02.57pm:  1 Ruddy Mongoose between Nelum Wila & Panikkar Villu.
03.14pm:  I was driving on the Panikkar Villu Uda Para and saw fresh pug marks on the road. We followed the pugs but the leopard had walked into the forest. There were alarm calls of Grey Langurs close to the sand patch but no leopard was sighted. I drove down to Panikkar Wila and spotted another leopard across the Villu close to where the bungalow is located. It was seated at the edge of the forest close to the beginning of the Alam Villu road. There were two other vehicles parked close to it on the road. I drove around but before I was able to arrive at the location, the leopard moved through the forest to the right and walked in my direction where I was able photograph it. It was Combansanchi Pooval Male Cub 2 (CPMC 2). The young leopard stopped and looked across the Villu in the direction where the Langurs were giving out alarm calls, and snarled. It then walked hurriedly and purposefully right across the Villu in full view and entered the forest where the road is submerged. It appeared as if this leopard was responding to the presence of another leopard; perhaps to the call of its mother. The neck injury does not seem to bother it at all as it appeared quite healthy.  The sighting lasted until 03.23pm.
03.40pm:  I entered the Panikkar Villu Uda Para from the Combansanchi side and was alerted by the alarm calls of the Grey Langurs. Combansanchi Pooval Male Cub 1 (CPMC 1) was seen on the open sand patch to the left of the road while Combansanchi Pooval Male Cub 2 (CPMC 2) was lying on the road ahead of me. The two leopards though not together, were about 50 meters from each other. I photographed both. Upon the arrival of another vehicle, CPMC 2 entered the forest but CPMC 1 was quite oblivious to the escalation of vehicles and the noise. It would look in the direction of the vehicles, roll over and sleep with its back to the road etc. At 4.35pm I left the leopard and drove towards Combansanchi Pooval.
04.56pm:  1 Softshell Terrapin – Tala Wila.
04.58pm:  28 Spotted Deer – Tala Wila.
05.30pm:  1 male Sambar – 100 meters from Kokkari Villu Thammenna Gaha junction. It was a large antler.
05.36pm:  10 Spotted Deer – Kumbuk Wila Uda Para.
06.14pm:  12 Spotted Deer – Maradanmaduwa.
06.37pm:  Left the park.

31st March
05.34am:  1 Black-naped Hare - park entrance.
05.50am:  I entered the park with my guide Danushka.
06.09am:  1 young male Sambar – Thammenna Wala.
06.23am:  5 Spotted Deer – Maradanmaduwa.
06.28am:  6 Spotted Deer - Thambi Oluwa.
06.48am:  1 Barking Deer - Kumbuk Wila Uda Para.
06.57am:  7 Spotted Deer – Nelum Wila.
07.01am:  1 Ruddy Mongoose – Nelum Wila & Panikkar Villu.
09.09am:  Troop of Grey Langur giving out loud alarm calls – Panikkar Wila Uda Para.
09.27am:  1 Barking Deer – Between Combansanchi Pooval & Tala Wila.
10.09am:  Troop of Grey Langur – Kumbuk Wila Uda Para close to Thammenna Gaha Junction.
10.33am:  1 Common Coucal with a Lowland Kangaroo Lizard Otocriptis nigristigma in its beak – between Thimbiri Wila & Mahapatessa.
10.37am:  1 Barking Deer – Kumbuk Wila Mahapatessa road.
10.58am:  7 Wild Boar – Borupan Wila.
11.01am:  1 Marsh Crocodile – Borupan culvert.
11.06am:  Troop of Grey Langur – Borupan Wila Junction.
11.10am:  1 Common Bronzeback Dendrelaphis tristis crossed the road at Walas Wala.
12.25pm:  1 Spotted Deer – Kumbuk Wila Uda Para.
01.31pm:  1 Mouse Deer – Between Panikkar Villu & Tala Wila.
01.45pm:  3 Spotted Deer – Tala Wila.
02.11pm:  1 Nawab, 1 Indian Sunbeam, male Tawny Raja – Panikkar Villu.
03.20pm:  We entered Panikkar Villu Uda Para and Danushka spotted a leopard on the sand patch to the right beyond the open sand patch. It was Combansanchi Pooval Male Cub 2 (CPMC 2). The view was restricted due to a few bushes but I photographed the leopard. Left the leopard and drove into Panikkar Wila. By the time I arrived at the sand patch again, there were a number of vehicles and some people were off their vehicle on the road just where the leopard was seen and one had a shotgun. It was a team from the DWLC.  They had apparently arrived to administer medication to the injured leopard. They were not successful in their pursuit and only succeeded in unnecessarily traumatizing three leopards in that locality at great risk to themselves, the other visitors and the leopards too. The whole operation was conducted in a most unprofessional manner. To the surprise of many, the DWLC team had even brought along with them a 2-3 year old boy who was off their vehicle while this operation was going on. They badly needed to realize that wild animals are not livestock or pets that need human intervention unless the injury or infirmity is caused by human actions such as gunshot wounds, snares etc.  In a national park like Wilpattu, one has to learn to be only an observer. Even though we may have the best of intentions in helping an injured animal, we need to understand and respect the law of the jungle, which is based on the age-old cardinal principle of survival of the fittest. Predators often get injured while hunting or in territorial battles, which lead to the stronger animals to succeed and pass on such strong genes upon reaching sexual maturity.
04.31pm:  4 Spotted Deer – Nelum Wila.
04.59pm:  1 Spotted Deer stag – Kumbuk Wila.
05.01pm:  1 Softshell Terrapin, 1 elephant – Thimbiri Wila.
05.04pm:  1 Marsh Crocodile, 5 Spotted Deer  – Thimbiri Wila.
05.32pm:  7 Spotted Deer – Three Causeways- Maradanmaduwa.
05.50pm:  1 Mugger Crocodile – Percy Bendi Wewa.
05.55pm:  1 Star Tortoise – ½ km from Percy Bendi Wewa.
06.05pm:  Left the park.

Arrived at the park entrance at 5.45am and entered the park with Saranga by 5.50am.
06.05am:  2 Spotted Deer – ½ km from the entrance.
06.22am:  1 female Sambar – 1/2km before Three Causeways.
06.33am:  8 Spotted Deer – Maradanmaduwa.
06.35am:  1 adult male Buffalo, 3 Spotted Deer – Maradanmaduwa.
06.38am:  1 Wild Boar – Maradanmaduwa.
06.50am:  1 Spotted Deer – Thambi Oluwa Pitiya.
07.00am:  1 Barking Deer – Borupan Junction.
07.34am:  3 Spotted Deer – Kumbuk Wila.
08.16am:  9 Spotted Deer – Nelum Wila.
09.05am:  2 Spotted Deer – Alam Villu.
10.05am:  1 Barking Deer – Kumbuk Wila Uda Para.
10.09am:  14 Wild Boar – Kumbuk Wila Uda Para – The herd came on to the road and walked ahead of the vehicle for about 50 meters prior to entering the forest. They were not disturbed by the presence of the vehicle following them.
10.13am:  1 Grey Mongoose – Madan Gaha Wala – Kumbuk Wila Uda Para.
11.23am:  1 Ruddy Mongoose – Between Kuda & Mahapatessa.
11.45am:  Troop of Grey Langur - Eeriyakulam Pooval – Making alarm calls. Drove in the water but did not see the cause of their excitement.
11.56am:  1 Spotted Deer – Kudapatessa.
12.18pm:  1 Ruddy Mongoose – Close to Panikkar Villu Junction.
01.43pm:  1 Red-wattled Lapwing – Observed submerged in a small pool of water. Possibly due to the heat.
02.19pm:  Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters observed digging nest holes in a number of places in the park.
02.22pm:  1 female Tawny Raja - Kumbuk Wila Uda Para – It was looking to ovi-deposit as it was sitting on some plants but did not do so. It would appear that the butterfly is looking for the host plant to lay its eggs.
02.31pm:  1 Banded Crake – Walas Wala.
03.02pm:  1 Green Garden Lizard Calotes calotes – Walas Wala.
03.08pm:  1 Wild Boar – Borupan Wila.
03.15pm:  2 Mugger Crocodiles – Thimbiri Wila.
03.17pm:  3 Lesser Adjutant storks – Thimbiri Wila.
03.33pm:  3 Spotted Deer – Kumbuk Wila.
03.41pm:  3 Spotted Deer – Thimbiri Wila & Mahapatessa.
03.43pm:  2 Mugger Crocodiles – Mahapatessa.
03.45pm:  1 Ruddy Mongoose – Mahapatessa.
06.03pm:  8 Spotted Deer – Maradanmaduwa.
Had to leave to Colombo without staying on Sunday 24th as the clutch was giving trouble.

24th March
04.32am:  1 Mouse Deer on the Wilpattu Road.
05.05am:  1 Jungle Cat – Karuwalagas Wewa. 

06.15am:  Entered the park with guide Saranga. The mist was quite heavy.
06.56am:  1 Sambar between Palukola Wewa and Maradanmaduwa.
07.03am:  12 Spotted Deer – Maradanmaduwa.
07.05am:  5 Wild Buffalo  - Maradanmaduwa.
07.18am:  1 Sambar – Humbas Wewa.
07.23am:  1 Leopard – Boralu Wala to the left of the road – It was walking on the road ahead of us and entered the forest. I was not able to photograph or identify the leopard.
09.18am:  1 Barking Deer between Alam Villu and Panikkar Villu.
09.20am:  1 Elephant  - Panikkar Villu.
09.27am:  The orchid Vanda spathulata in bloom – Panikkar Villu Uda Para.
10.05am:  1 Rat Snake – Tala Wila.
10.45am:  1 Orange-headed Ground Thrush, Indian Pitta, Forest Wagtail & Indian Paradise Flycatcher  between Panikkar Villu and Alam Villu. I was able to photograph the thrush.
12.40pm:  Having driven past the sand patch at Combansanchi Pooval, I arrived at the right angled bend. Combansanchi Pooval Male Cub 2 (CPMC 2) was seated on the right hand side block of the culvert. It was quite relaxed and slept for about 10 minutes while we were parked only about 20 feet away. It is such a trusting animal. At 1.05pm, it suddenly got off the culvert and trotted away from us in the Tala Wila direction and entered the forest to our left.
01.18pm:  1 Spotted Deer, 2 White-bellied Sea Eagles – Panikkar Villu.
02.23pm:  We were driving from the Combansanchi Pooval sand patch towards Panikkar Villu and came upon a leopard lying across the road not more than 100 meters beyond the sand patch. It got up to enter the forest upon our approach but lay down across the road again upon my turning off the engine. It was lying for about 15 minutes. When I reversed the vehicle it got up and entered the forest and slept at the foot of a tree about 15 yards inside the forest.
03.03pm:  4 Spotted Deer between Panikkar Villu Bungalow and Panikkar Villu Junction.
05.10pm:  2 Redshank – Kudapatessa.
05.50pm:  We arrived at Walas Wala and spotted a young female leopard lying on the bund across the waterhole. This was my first sighting of this leopard and I named it Walas Wala Female Cub 1. (WWFC 1) I photographed it for a few minutes and left as we needed to get out of the park.
06.04pm:  12 Wild Boar – Maradanmaduwa Kukul Katu plains.
06.07pm:  2 Spotted Deer – Maradanmaduwa.
06.14pm:  1 Star Tortoise – 4 km from Maradanmaduwa.
06.28pm:  2 Star Tortoises; a small male courting the larger female – 1 km from the park entrance.

24th February
06.07am:  Entered the park.
06.23am:  6 Spotted Deer – Thammenna Wala.
06.32am:  3 Sambar – close to Maradanmaduwa.
06.34am:  2 Golden Jackal, 1 Spotted Deer – Three Causeways at Maradanmaduwa.
06.56am:  1 very dark Brown Mongoose – Borupan Wila Junction. This is my first sighting of this species in the park.
07.01am:  1 Wild Boar & 11 Spotted Deer – Borupan Wila.
07.09am:  2 Spotted Deer – Thimbiri Wila.
07.14am:  5 Spotted Deer – Kumbuk Wila.
07.27am:  8 Spotted Deer – Kokkari Villu.
08.10am:  1 Barking Deer – Kokkari Villu Uda Para.
09.15am:  1 Leopard crossed the road behind us at Walas Wala. I was not able to photograph or identify the leopard.
09.36am:  1 Softshell Terrapin and 1 White-necked Stork – Humbas Wewa.
10.09am:  1 Sambar – Sand patch before the area where Kumbum Wila Uda Para joins Borupan Kumbuk Wila road.
10.18am:  1 Lesser Adjutant stork – Thimbiri Wila.
12.00 noon: 1 Marsh Crocodile, 1 Elephant – Panikka Wila.
04.00pm:  1 big male leopard – Panikkar Villu. I drove down from Tala Wila and as I entered Panikkar Villu, I saw a leopard across the Villu on the right hand extreme corner. However before I could reach to take a shot or identify it, the leopard entered the forest due to some other jeeps speeding towards the animal.
05.16pm:  1 big male leopard sleeping on the sand patch between Panikkar Villu junction and Panikkar Villu bungalow.
06.13pm:  13 Wild Boar, 9 Spotted Deer – Maradanmaduwa Kukul Katu plains.
06.27pm:  1 Leopard – 100m before Percy Bendi Wewa. Could not photograph or identify.
06.33pm:  1 Spotted Deer, 1 Star Tortoise  ½  km from Percy Bendi Wewa.

25th February
06.00am:  Entered the park.
06.10am:  11 Spotted Deer ¾ km from Percy Bendi Wewa.
06.15am:  1 Leopard – ½ km from Percy Bendi Wewa. Could not photograph or identify.
06.23am:  1 Sambar, 5 Spotted Deer – Maradanmaduwa.
06.39am:  3 Spotted Deer, 3 Sambar – Thambi Oluwa.
08.47am:  2 Ruddy Mongoose – Borupan Junction.
09.05am:  Had breakfast at Kumbuk Wila.
09.37am:  1 Spotted Deer – Sand patch Borupan – Kumbuk road near Kumbuk Wila Uda  Para.
09.48am:  1 Great Orange Tip, Blue Mormon, Banded Peacock – Borupan Wila.
09.49am:  2 Leopards lying on the road between Borupan Wila and Thimbiri Wila. They moved in as I approached. Could not photograph or identify.
10.51am:  2 Ruddy Mongoose – Borupan Junction.
11.42am:  1 Ruddy Mongoose – Madan Gaha Wala on the Kumbuk Uda Para.
02.00pm:  Having heard of a leopard sighting at Alam Villu, we parked on a side and were observing the Villu. A flock of House Swifts that was flying above circled down and drank water by skimming the surface of the water.
02.02pm:  CPMC 2 came out of the forest not more than 20 yards on to the left of the vehicle turning circle and drank water for about 3 minutes. I was able to photograph it well. After drinking, it slept on the edge of the forest.
02.55pm:  I was driving from Kumbuk Wila towards Borupan Wila junction and spotted a leopard at the sand patch. It was the Walas Wala Female Cub 1 (WWFC 1). It was on the sand patch near Kumbuk Uda Para junction on the Borupan Wila-Kumbuk Wila road. It was lying on the open white sand. After a few minutes it moved to the edge of the bushes as if it were stalking some prey and lay down again.
03.40pm:  Close to the Thimbiri Wila end of the Kumbuk-Thimbiri road, a pair of Lesser Whistling Teal crossed the road with 8 newborn ducklings following them.
04.37pm:  1 Golden Jackal – Tala Wila.
05.12pm:  2 Spotted Deer – Nelum Wila.
05.20pm:  5 Spotted Deer, 3 Wild Boar – Kokkari Villu.
05.27pm:  7 Wild Boar crossed the road from the side of the Wila at Kumbuk Wila.
05.51pm:  5 Spotted Deer – Borupan Wila.
06.05pm:  1 Sambar – Humbas Wewa.
06.15pm:  11 Wild Boar – Maradanmaduwa Kukul Katu plains. This herd is quite relaxed with the vehicles close by.
06.44pm:  Reached the park entrance.

I arrived at the park entrance around 5.45am and entered the park with guide Saranga by 6.15am.
06.27am:  1 Golden Jackal & 3 Spotted Deer about ½ km from the park entrance.
06.30am:  1 Sambar – ½ km from Percy Bendi Wewa.
06.33am:  5 Spotted Deer, 3 Sambar, 1 Mugger Crocodile and Indian Paradise Flycatcher chasing a long-tailed chestnut Paradise Flycatcher – Percy Bendi Wewa.
06.51am:  1 Brown Fish Owl & a Crested Serpent Eagle – Palu Kola Wewa.
06.59am:  11 Spotted Deer at Three Causeways – Maradanmaduwa.
07.03am:  6 Spotted Deer – Maradanmaduwa.
07.13am:  5 Spotted Deer – Ibba Wala.
07.15am:  1 Barking Deer – Between Ibba Wala & Humbas Wewa.
07.46am:  3 Spotted Deer – Kokkari Villu - Thammenna Gaha junction.
07.54am:  Chestnut-headed Bee-eater – Nelum Wila Sand Patch.
08.05am:  3 Spotted Deer – Panikkar Villu.
08.17am:  2 Spotted Deer – Combansanchi Pooval sand patch.
08.57am:  3 Spotted Deer – Alam Villu.
09.45am:  1 Elephant - Panikkar Villu.
10.30am:  8 Pintail Snipe – Panikkar Villu.
10.48am:  1 Golden Jackal – Tala Wila.
01.02pm:  Troop of Grey Langur – Mahapatessa.
01.48pm:  5 Spotted Deer – Kumbuk Wila.
01.58am:  1 White-necked Stork – Kumbuk Wila.
02.18am:  2 Common Redshank – Kudapatessa.
02.32pm:  1 Forest Wagtail – Kokkari Villu Uda Para.
02.57pm:  1 Mugger Crocodile & 1 White-bellied Sea Eagle – Alam Villu.
03.00pm:  Black-winged Stilt, Pintail Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Asiatic Golden Plover & Blue-tailed Bee-eater – Panikkar Villu.
03.07pm:  1 Mouse Deer – Panikkar Villu Uda Para.
03.08pm:  1 Ruddy Mongoose – Panikkar Villu.
04.00pm:  1 Lowland Kangaroo Lizard Otocryptis nigristigma – Kumbuk Wila Uda Para.
04.06pm:  1 Mugger Crocodile – Walas Wala.
04.35pm:  1 Mugger Crocodile – Borupan Wila.
04.39pm:  1 Softshell Terrapin – Borupan Wila.
04.46pm:  2 Great Stone Plover – Thimbiri Wila.
05.01pm:  5 Spotted Deer – Kokkari Villu.
05.15pm:  Having driven on the sand dunes, we entered the forest and were driving towards Kudapatessa when we came upon a young leopard walking ahead of the vehicle about 200 meters from the Kokkari Veli Kanda (Sand Dunes) towards Kudapatessa. It was later identified as Kudapatessa Female Cub 1 (KPFC 1). She was scent marking every 30-40 yards or so. She turned into the Kudapatessa road and walked ahead. I managed to get a few photos for identification. The sighting lasted about 25 minutes.
06.19pm:  1 Golden Jackal – Maradanmaduwa.
06.20pm:  15 Spotted Deer – Maradanmaduwa.
06,36pm:  3 Star Tortoises walking across the road one behind the other- 200 meters from Percy Bendi Wewa.
06.45pm:  Left the park.

20th January
06.04am:  Entered the park with guide Saranga.
06.14am:  1 Black-naped Hare – 1 km from the entrance.
06.32am:  1 Sambar – Palu Kola Wewa.
06.39am:  6 Spotted Deer – Maradanmaduwa.
06.41am:  10 Spotted Deer – Maradanmaduwa.
06.53am:  As I came to the Kukul Katu plains, I spotted a Sambar kill at the center of the open area. The Sambar had been killed the previous night, as it was not present the previous day when I left the park. One subadult male leopard was seen. It was later identified as the Walas Wala Male Cub 1 (WWMC 1). It fed on the kill for about 22 minutes and left. I decided to spend the whole day at the kill.
08.56am:  WWMC 1 walked out but did not feed on the kill and walked across the glade in full view and entered the forest.
09.10am:  2 Brahminy Kites – Feeding on the kill.
09.23am:  6 Wild Buffalo and a troop of Grey Langur were seen.
10.08am:  WWMC 1 seen at the edge of the forest but did not come to the kill.
10.20am:  2 Golden-backed Woodpecker with one Red-backed Woodpecker flew across the glade.
02.16pm:  Spotted Deer and Grey Langur started to make alarm calls but no leopard was sighted.
02.30pm:  2 Yellow-wattled Lapwings.
05.05pm:  WWMC 1 walked to the kill and a large cloud of flies flew up with a buzzing noise. The young leopard fed for about 12 minutes and left.
05.47pm:  7 Spotted Deer – Maradanmaduwa.
06.03pm:  1 Sambar – about one km from Percy Bendi Wewa.
06.06pm:  2 Spotted Deer – ½ km from Percy Bendi Wewa.
06.15pm:  2 White-throated Babbler – Park entrance.
06.25pm:  Left the park.