To Build Her Sweet Home.......

Scaly-breasted Munia/ Lonchura punctulata

Wordless Wednesday

Tempted....................

             
                                                                                                                                                                                        A post for Wordless Wednesday.

At The Lake In Kandy.........................

I spent a little time at the lake in Kandy last Thursday. I like this particular lake for the photographic opportunities it offers. On one side of the lake there are some dead trees fallen in to it and you can always see a variety of waterbirds, turtles and huge water monitors perched on them and enjoying the sun.  Inhabiting a lake in the middle of a very thickly populated city, these birds are not as vary of us humans. However, this photography expedition didn't go all that well, the sunlight was way too bright, and I haven't    got the hang of exposure compensation and spot metering. Dah!.....

Asian Openbill Stork/ Anastomus oscitans


















Black-crowned Nigt Heron/ Nycticorax nycticorax

 





















Black-crowned Night Heron /Nycticorax nycticorax Juvenile

Little Cormorant /Microcarbo niger/දියකාවා

Parker's Black Turtle/ Melanochelys trijuga parkeri/ පාකර්ගේ ගල් ඉබ්බා

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 


















Water Monitor/Varanus salvator salvator/ කබරගොයා

Babies!!!!!.......................

A few days ago, I noticed a Common Tailorbird /Orthotomus sutorius/බට්ටිච්චා coming to a shrub by the driveway over and over again. Curious,  I went and peeked in to the shrub when the bird was away. There were three little ones hidden among the foliage. I didn't see the nest, the little birds were just perched on branches. I quickly took these photos, made a short video, and left them alone. I hope they would grow up alright and fly away.

You Made Me Happy When The Sky Was Grey.............

After about two weeks of bright sunny days, the gloomy,drizzly weather has begun again. Good times don't last! Sigh. I've had to opt for traveling to and from work  by bus instead of walking, and it kills me to see increasing bird activity all around as the spring is slowly approaching, without being able to take my camera and and go about photographing them.   My parents told me a couple of Red-vented Bulbuls/Pycnonotus cafer/ෙකාණ්ඩ කුරුල්ලා were building a nest inside their very room at my old place and my cousin brother told me a Black-hooded Oriole/ Oriolus xanthornus/කහ කුරුල්ලා was building one in a very-easy-to-photograph spot in his garden! As I was just on my way to sign off duty yesterday this Rose-ringed Parakeet/Psittacula krameri/රැන ගිරවා came to perch on  a very small tree and stayed just long enough for me to take a snap. As it was quite gloomy I shot with increased exposure, just  a little too much. I had a touch it up with Picnik's auto fix feature to make it a little more presentable. Wish me luck for fair weather soon, my dear readers, it's the best time of year for birding!

Parrot French Kiss

I was on the way to work as usual this morning when I witnessed this at a spot close to where the Pond Heron was last morning. This pair of Rose-ringed Parakeets(Psittacula krameri krameri)
were engaged in something remarkably like passionate kissing. They did it three times and, flap flap,   off they flew.


Endemic Birds of Sri Lanka

This Is What You Call A Cooperative Subject

I take most of my photos as I walk home from work in the evening. I walk to my work place in the morning too, but usually in a hurry. This morning I could leave home earlier, so I took some time taking pictures on the way. That's how I captured this Indian Pond Heron  (Ardeola grayii) Perched on a coconut palm.  

King The Fisher

A Few Days of Sun Has Brought Many Critters To The Open

Image by roosterfeather via FlickrThe topic of this post is different from what I said it would be on my last post,but the originally intended content is included,plus some more.Apparently the consistent downpour that caused so many trouble is over,and the last few days has been warm,humid and sunny. I've observed and photographed a variety of creatures during this time,and here they are.This Lesser Whistling-duck (Dendrocygna javanica) was the recent for the originally intended post title, Quack Quack!   I didn't know of these till I saw this post by my blogger friend Amila.  I was on the look for this one ever since, till I finally saw this one floating in  small tank at a village a little off from Kurunegala. 

Image by roosterfeather via FlickrA small flock of  Scaly-breasted Munia, Lonchura punctulata were near a paddy filed yesterday,eating the seeds of some tall grass. I couldn't focus on their face though,I'd try my luck again.  




 



Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis) are nesting, and I see some incubating and building nests at my workplace. I tried to capture one carrying a twig in the beak, but failed. But I got this shot.  










Red-wattled Lapwings (Vanellus indicus) are clearly enjoying the sunny weather too.










Ever-present Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is seen in both small flocks as well as individuals pecking parasites off grazing cows and buffaloes.  



































Image by roosterfeather via Flickr








I photographed this Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) today as I walked home after work. They seem to prefer being in water.







Image by roosterfeather via Flickr

Last Sunday morning allowed me to capture this Indian Pond Heron or (Ardeola grayii).













Image by roosterfeather via Flickr This Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis), like the Spotted Dove, is from within my working place premises.







                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Butterflies  have been plentiful around here too. This one is a Common Pierrot (Castalius rosimon).


                                                  

Common Grass Yellow butterflies have found my Sesbania grandiflora plant,there are a few caterpillars and a pupa already.


















Dragonflies and damsels have also appeared in considerable numbers, with notably many juveniles. This Pink Skimmer(Orthetrum  pruinosum) is from my garden.  












I saw this marsh dancer on a plant in a foot path leading to a paddy field.


Allow me to finish this post with this water strider from my garden pond. Could you guys tell me the binomial name? I've got some more photos, but it's 1.40 a.m. and I can't go on. Stay put, take care! 

                                                                                                                           

Koel At The Bird Feeder

Two Asian Koels(Eudynamys scolopaceus), one male and the other a female, have found their way into the bird feeder. They come for a feed off it frequently, but never together so far. The female Koel looks very different   to the male, I'll be able to show you soon. This bird can be considered a flagship species, as it's bound with local culture. The male Koel's distinctive call for a mate is heard around every April, and it's April when Sinhalese-Hindu new year is celebrated. So, it is said that the male birds  call is indeed the message  of new year arriving.



An interesting fact about Asian Koel is that the female lays eggs in crow's nests, hence making it a brood parasite.

Today In The Garden....................

Hi all, it's been some time since my last post, for my faithful point-and- shoot is no more. :-(  It'll take some time to have a new toy. I'm doing a bit of wildlife gardening till then. Here are some critters that I captured in the garden today with a cam a friend of mine lent me. I've mot identified some of them, and let you know if I do.  I'll be grateful if you could help me there too.

Yellow-Billed Babblers(Turdoides affinis)

  Three-stripped Palm squirrel

 

Variable Flutterer Dragonfy

 Chocolate Soldier butterfly