Thursday, September 16, 2010

Wild elephant, Udawalawe, Sri Lanka.

Wild elephant behind the electric fence, Uda Walawe, Sri Lanka.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

A Red-vented bulbul chick

I saw this Bulbul chick on the ground close to the nest where it was hatched. The parents were hovering close by. I was wondering whether it was unable to fly. If it stayed on the ground it would become easy prey to the cat roaming around. As I approached it its parents increased their chatter. In the twinkling of an eye it took wing and flew away. I guess fear and the warning from its parents induced it to make its maiden flight.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

A view of 'Vedahiti-kande' - 'Kathiramalai' from Katharagama.

'Vedahiti-kanda' or 'Kathiramalai' is the sacred mountain on which Lord Murugan is said to have settled down, after marrying the Veddah cheiftain's daughter, Valliamma. It was a 2 hour difficult climb. Now you can reach the top by jeep available for hire at the bottom of the hill.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Brooding Bulbul

I took this picture in my garden in Avissawella. You can see the mother sitting on the eggs. She did not fly away when I went close. The male was hovering nearby giving warning cries. Prowling cats, the rat-snake and the Greater Coucal, which latter boldly goes to the nest and swallows the live chicks, are an ever present danger. The population of the bulbul is stable at the moment.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Nest of a Red-vented Bulbul.

This nest of a Red-vented Bulbul was on a tree stump in my garden at Avissawella. The female would brood over it while the male went food gathering. If you went too close to it the female would temporarily fly away at its mates signaled warning. She would return once the intruders went away.