Early Morning Birding Moment at Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

It was dawn and about 15 minutes were left for the sun to rise. Five decade old Land Rovers and Isuzu jeeps were chugging their way into the Yala National Park (also known as Ruhuna National Park) in the south eastern coastal belt of Sri Lanka. Me and my friends were sitting in these jeeps watching the countryside go by, when all of a sudden all the jeeps stopped to capture this pristine early morning birding moment.

 
This birding moment comprised of a painted stork and a peacock sitting next to each other on a deserted tree branch. The bright colours of the painted stork shone even in the murky early morning weather and it was this moment that set the right precedent for the rest of our wildlife safari at Yala National Park, which is a very special place.