Flowers in my garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Flower in our garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Two orchids in our home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

These type of orchids do not need much care in the climatic conditions at Avissawella, Sri Lanka. Looks like the same species but with slight variation of colour.

'The dew on the flowers ...'

I took this picture of the dew on the leaves and bud of a rose bush, in my garden at Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Flower in the garden, Avissawella.

A dance by school girls on 'Sahithya' - Cultural - day, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

A beautiful dance routine by school girls, on Cultural Day at the Town hall, Avissawella.

Road through shrub jungle, Avissawellka, Sri Lanka.

The road bordering the perimeter of the Free Trade Zone at Seethawake, is nice, cool and full of bird sound. You can see many different varieties of birds, butterflies and dragon flies. An occasional mongoose or 'thalagoya' crosses the road. It is a beautiful road to do cycling.

Flowers in our home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Now that the rainy season has started there are a different kinds of flowers are blooming in our garden with the cooler climate of 24 degrees Celsius in the mornings..

'Black-headed Munias', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

I took this picture of 'Black-headed Munias' on a grassland at Avissawella, Sri Lanka. They are seen together with 'Scaly-breasted Munias'

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.

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.

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.

Scaly breasted Munias, Avissawella

I found these small birds flitting from grass tops, eating the grain. They allowed me to approach close enough to take this picture.

Ceylon Hanging parrot and a 'jambu' fruit.

The 'Hanging parrot' comes silently to the jambu tree. It is well camouflaged. One becomes aware of its presence by the chips of the fruit falling on the ground. It hides from view by changing its position when spotted.

A parakeet and a 'Jambu' fruit.

'Kadapul-mal'

The white flower arises from a stalk emanating from the thick leaf of the plant, it blooms at night and emits a sweet smell. A native to Sri Lanka. Photo taken in my house garden.

Wesak lanterns, Avissawella, Sri Lanka - daytime.

A squirrel enjoying a mango fruit.

Brown-headed barbet, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

I heard at a lecture by Felsinger in the 1970s, how difficult it was to isolate and record bird song in that era. They would set up microphones set in parabolic mirrors and wait. Any bird song was invarioably marred by the raucous song of the babbler. These birds are quite noisy.

A 'Black-headed Oriole' enjoying a ripe mango fruit.

The 'Black-headed oriole' - 'Kaha kurulla' - 'maambalak kuruvi' - enjoys a ripe mango when it sees one. I took this picture from the window of my neighbour Piyal Romawardena's house.