“I just woke up and… click! Just like when you took my picture three years ago, when I was soaking wet. Yes, it’s me Owlpacino. Ah you remember meeting me? Then you would also remember that I am a nocturnal fish hunter extraordinaire and this is the time I wake up? It’s ok, I forgive you for forgetting. Did you get a good shot? The light is rather dim… are the black streaks and brown crossbars in my feathers visible? I don’t mind posing for more, I have some time to kill until it gets darker. When it’s dark, the rodents, reptiles, small birds and, of course, fish have no idea I’m coming for them. They call me The-Last-Shadow-Under-the-Moon!”

“You wouldn’t peg me for a nocturnal hunter, yes? Most of my cousins who hunt in the night have a deep facial disk which helps them with locating noisy prey. My species prefers to catch what we can see. That’s why we have large eyes. Also, sound doesn’t help much when you’re trying to catch fish. I love eating fish so much that I moved to Wilpattu National park a long time ago. Lots of lakes and ponds and trees everywhere. Great places to eat, mate and grow. You’re leaving? Oh yes, I forgot that there are strict times for visitors to leave the park in the evening. See you sometime soon!”

The Brown Fish Owl can be spotted near the fish-filled waterholes around the Mahoora Tented Safari Camp in Wilpattu. This photo, however, was taken when Dilum was on an evening safari inside the Park.