Woodpeckers And Waterhens

Three Black-rumped Flameback Woodpeckers,Dinopium benghalense, gave me quite a run around the neighborhood a  couple of days ago. I barely managed to make this crappy video showing two of them.




 Remember the Waterhen family I showed you last week? The chicks are apparently doing well. I saw them at the same spot today and took a couple of photos and made a short video. The parents are a  little less protective of the chicks now, allowing them to wonder on their own a little. 

 

That's about all the birds I've got about this week, as I had to compromise birding to have my family life intact!

A post for World Bird Wednesday.

Birding On The Go.......

Ahh, time for World Bird Wednesday! What kind of striking birds have you got this week, folks? Well, I've got a few! The highlight of this week is a family of White-breasted Waterhen  that I came across and videoed at a small pool near a paddy field on the way to work.  There were two adults looking after three chicks, so I assume both parents of this species take care of their offspring. The chicks are coal black so you need to look carefully to make them out in the video. I took two snaps of the adults too.

                                            White-breasted Waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus

The freshly planted paddy fields these days are hosting quite a large number of birds, and  I bagged Red-wattled Lapwing, and Indian Pond Heron.
                                                                 Red-wattled Lapwing, Vanellus indicus

 

Indian Pond Heron,Ardeola grayii

I photographed  a Common Kingfisher at the same spot where the Waterhens were, and another on a bank of the canal.
                                                           Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis

This  Cormorant( whetherLittle, Indian or Great I don't know) was by the canal too.

                                                       ? Cormorant

I saw quite a large, mixed, flock of Scaly-breasted and White-rumped Munias today near the canal too, but I only managed to capture  one Scaly-breasted Munia. 

                                       Scaly-breasted Munia, Lonchura punctulata

There was a couple of Rose-ringed Parakeets on a tree this morning by the road I use to reach our hospital, and one was very obliging.

Finally, a Purple-rumped Sunbird that I captured in a neighbor's garden. 

                                               Purple-rumped Sunbird ,Leptocoma zeylonica

A post for World Bird Wednesday.

Canoeing In Pradise....

I had one heck of a great time canoeing and birding along Bolgoda lake in Panadura with my cousin brother and two other friends in 26th last month.  This lake is a very significant wetland habitat. It could be reached with in a few minutes from my old place in Panadura, and I grew up loving it. Try this link to learn a little about this wonderful echo system.  

We saw  a few Paddyfield Pipits/ Anthus rufulus  on the ground just a few feet before the water's edge.








                                                                                                                                                                              The banks of the lake was full of aquatic plants  in bloom. 

Among these plants we spotted a Little Grebe /Tachybaptus ruficollis  with two ducklings.  I managed ti make a short video footage of the happy family too.

There were many Purple Swamphens/ Porphyrio porphyrio too, but it was too difficult to approach them for a decent photo.

Below are the kind of plant life and beautiful views I photographed. Don't forget to check the video too!
















Posted for Scenic Sunday.

Egret And Egret....Swamp Saturday # 2

Cattle Egret /Bubulcus ibis/ගව කොකා


Little Egret /Egretta garzetta

Swamp Saturday Meme#1

This Asian Openbill Stork /Anastomus oscitans was in my local birding retreat a couple of weeks ago. It was really a mutual understanding between him and me, as he calmly perched on a  tree top, preening and giving me an occasional glance of curiosity.

get the InLinkz code





 

Personal Hygiene ...............................

 

 

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.  

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!