Bulbuls, Leafbirds, Iora and Orioles
Photographed in the outskirts of Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
Photographed in the outskirts of Rathnapura.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
Black-headed Yellow Bulbul / Black-capped Bulbul (හිස කලු කොන්ඩයා)
Pycnonotus melanicterus
1st seen at Rathnapura, there were a couple of them flying around in a bush. I wish I had more time to spend in their presence but I was pressed for time as I was with family.
The other images are from Sinharaja rain forest where this beautiful bird put on a good display for me.
Photographed in the outskirts of Rathnapura.
Photographed in Polonnaruwa.
Photographed in the outskirts of Nawala.
Photographed in the outskirts of Rathnapura.
Red-vented Bulbul
(කොන්ඩ කුරුල්ලා)
Pycnonotus cafer
One of the most common birds in Sri Lanka, these guys thrive in both urban and village settings. Some of them build their nests very close to human dwellings.
Took the pictures in Polonnaruwa, in Rathnapura, in Thalangama and Nawala. Images from Thalangama are of a couple who were actively taking care of a baby.
They raise little ones often in one of my home bathrooms.
Photographed at Horton Planes.
Photographed at Horton Planes.
Photographed at Horton Planes.
Photographed at Horton Planes.
Yellow-eared Bulbul
(ශ්රි ලංකා කහ-කැන් කොන්ඩයා)
Kelaartia penicillata
Endemic to Sri Lanka and only found in the highlands, this magnificent beauty was seen at Horton Planes.
Photographed in the outskirts of Kuchchaveli.
Photographed in the outskirts of Kuchchaveli.
Photographed in the outskirts of Wilpattu.
Photographed in the outskirts of Kuchchaveli.
White-browed Bulbul
(බම-සුදු කොන්ඩයා)
Pycnonotus luteolus
Seen at Kuchchaveli. These guys were very brave and didn't fly off quickly. They put on a show for me in Polonnaruwa also where a pair of them had a nice bath in a small waterhole.
Image 5 from Yala where one was flying around very close to the ground. Image 6 from the Giants Tank area in Mannar.
A very vocal bird who is brave and keeps me company during my many travels.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
Yellow-browed Bulbul
(බමකහ ගුලුගුඩුවා)
Acritillas indica
This beautiful bird was first seen at Sinharaja rain forest where he responded to the call of a Chestnut-backed Owlet which we played. Apparently most other birds aggressively respond to this owlet call as they seek to attack it.
I got a few more pictures of them again at Sinharaja on a different day. Although quite common, his beauty is noteworthy.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
Black Bulbul
(කලු කොන්ඩයා)
Hypsipetes ganeesa
These playful but aggressive cuties were photographed at Sinharaja rain forest where a few of them were enjoying among other fruits a ripe papaya.
Photographed at Thalangama wetlands.
Photographed in the outskirts of Bulathsinhala.
Photographed at Thalangama wetlands.
Photographed at Thalangama wetlands.
Common Iora
(පොදු ඉයෝරාවා)
Aegithina tiphia
The first images are of a male Common Iora seen in a 'Jambu' tree at my mother's parents' house. Such beauty. Taken with my point-and-shoot camera.
Image 3 is of a female seen on the outskirts of 'Bodinagala' forest reserve.
Images 5 - 7 of a male who was hunting caterpillars at Diyasaru Park, Thalawathugoda. Image 8 is from the outskirts of Wilpattu. Images 9 to 11 are of a female from Thalangama wetlands.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Marshall's Iora
(මාර්ශල්ගේ ඉයෝරාවා)
Aegithina nigrolutea
Yet to capture image
Photographed inside the Kala Wewa National Park.
Photographed in the outskirts of Bodhinagala Forest Reserve.
Photographed inside the Kala Wewa National Park.
Photographed inside the Kala Wewa National Park.
Jerdon's Leafbird / Jerdon's Chloropsis
Chloropsis jerdoni
These beautiful leafbirds are notoriously difficult to capture on a photograph as they are almost always among the leaf’s blending in. The female in images 1 and 2 were photographed on the outskirts of ‘Bodinagala’ forest reserve.
Male in the other images was photographed at 'Kala Wewa' forest reserve.
Photographed in the outskirts of Bodhinagala Forest Reserve.
Photographed in the outskirts of Bulathsinhala.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
Photographed in the outskirts of Bodhinagala Forest Reserve.
Golden-fronted Leafbird / Gold-fronted Chloropsis (රන්-නලල කොලරිසියා)
Chloropsis aurifrons
Image 1 and 2 taken during a rainy day in 'Bulathsinhala' in front of my mother's ancestral home. There were two of them. One a juvenile and an adult feasting on the yummy mango's on offer. With the rain, I couldn't get a better shot.
They are notoriously difficult to capture as they blend in with the leafs and never stay still. 3rd image from the outskirts of 'Bodinagala' forest reserve. 4th from 'Sinharaja'.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Asian Fairy Bluebird / Fairy Bluebird
(අසියා නීලරාජයා)
Irena puella
Yet to capture image
Photographed in the outskirts of Weeravila.
Photographed in the outskirts of Rathnapura with my point-and-shoot camera.
Photographed in the outskirts of Weeravila.
Photographed in the outskirts of Weeravila.
Black-hooded Oriole / Black-headed Oriole
(කහකුරුල්ලා)
Oriolus xanthornus
The first image from Rathnapura when I was on holiday. A beautiful bird and it was very difficult to capture it with a point-and-shoot as they fly off at the slightest movement.
Images 3 and 4 are from the bird's enclosure at the Dehiwala Zoo.
Images 5 and 6 are from Giants Tank area in Mannar. Image 7 - 9 of a family from Diyasaru park, Thalawathugoda.
Images 10 to 12 are from Nawala photographed in front of my house.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Black-naped Oriole
(කලු-ගෙලැසි කහකුරුල්ලා)
Oriolus chinensis
Yet to capture image
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Eurasian Golden Oriole / European Golden Oriole (යුරේසියා රන් කහකුරුල්ලා)
Oriolus oriolus
Yet to capture image