White-breasted Waterhen

This video is the result of weeks of waiting and observing one single spot near a paddy field in Kurunegala. On the route I've chosen to walk between my workplace and home is a big shallow hole close to a rice field that gets filled by the rain in the rainy season. That's where I saw an opportunity to have a go at a  White-breasted Waterhen(Amaurornis phoenicurus), locally known as Korawakka . But it was no easy task. These birds will remain in the open as long as I leave them alone, but dash in to hiding if I so much as  just look at them. But today in the morning I got lucky with one. Having made a couple of videos, I moved on for work. Although it was pretty hot and humid when m,y work was over, I decided to walk home with out taking a bus, hoping I'd be lucky again. And this time there were two of them. I couldn't get the two together in the video though. Like some scientific information of this bird?   

Red-Wattled Lapwing

I took these photos on one bank of the canal I talked about earlier. I can recognize this particular bird from the rest of its flock with it's thinner built and the indifference it has started showing for my presence around the canal.

Vibrant Life In A Dirty Canal -5, Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii grayii)

This is yet another frequently  seen bird around the canal. A white -breasted Kingfisher attacked this heron while I was making this footage, but it doesn't show so well in the video. Sigh. The colors are of breeding plumage. This bird is locally known as Kanakoka.


 

Vibrant Life In A Dirty Canal- 5, Blue- Eared Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting)

This is the first ever and only Blue-Eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting I've seen. Hopefully I 'll have better videos and more information for you in the future. Follow this link till then.

Vibrant Life In A Dirty Canal 4, Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) Aka Eli Koka

Here is another commonly seen bird in and around the dirty canal. Dambulla Road is very close to this canal, and lots of these birds are nesting on trees at the very edge of the road, undisturbed by thousands of traffic and people passing by everyday. Wanna learn more about   Little Egret ?                                                                          

 Wings in the wetlands: A photographic portfolio

Vibrant Life In A Dirty Canal 1- Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) Aka Kirala

Close to my work place is a canal that functions as an outlet to a nearby wewa ( man made lake to collect rain water, one of the historical marvels of Sri Lanka) that goes through the south part of the city of Kurunegala. Lots of garbage gets dumped to the canal at many points. But despite that, an interesting number of critters find shelter and food in the canal. If the garbage continues to find it's way in to the canal, there populations will inevitably thin out. Most of the critters I see three is wetland birds, and there is a considerable population of introduced and invasive Thilapia too. Whats in the video below is some Red-wattled Lapwings. Stay put to see the other critters with time to come.    

White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) Or Pilihuduwa

 These beautiful birds are very accurate hunters. Prefers habitats where there is plenty of water, but a frequent sight in home gardens too. I've often seen them perched patiently on tree branches pr power cables  above streams or what ever with naturally filled water, and then coming down on it like an arrow to snatch a  fish,crab or a frog. Learn more.....