My bags are packed and first thing in the morning I board the plane for my return home. I realised that I hadn't photographed any butterflies and the main part of my day was spent trying to rectify that which I did and I am pleased with the results.
Even thoughI do have an ID chart I have to confess to finding it hard to give these two a name.
I made a great discovery late afternoon today, unfortunately a few days too late as it's my last day. I realised that by siting quietly on a raised area of lawn just outside my "house" I could get a clear view, in clear light, of the birds on the move at the end of their day, feeding in the scrubby garden next to Ravi's house. I photographed 4 new species for the trip which was a real bonus considering I was in my own garden. The highlight was a Brown - headed Barbet, this is the first time I haven't seen a Barbet properly before and I was really taken. In every way apart from bill, they resemble a lovebird or other small parrot. Quite a stunning and interesting bird the size of a blackbird in the UK, bright green with a strong orbital ring. The photos are not my best of the trip but a great little bird.
The next visitor was a Tailor Bird, I am familiar with them but not easy to see let alone photograph. They are interesting because they make their nests by literally stitching leaves together using their long beaks as a tool.
I am thrilled with this shot and as it's a bird that I have seen before in the Far East I am very pleased to get a photograph. For me the most impressive feature is this eye and russet head colour which has been picked up nicely by the strong sunlight which incidentally is really hard to deal with photographically.
It's been a constant quest all week to get at least a record shot of a male Purple-headed Sunbird and eventually, granted from a distance, I managed it. These are very exotic birds that replaces the Hummingbirds of the New World.
Not the usual close-up but a nice photo that captures the rich interesting foliage with creepers and a "sensitive plant".
Bulbuls are a common in the tropics with numerous species. This one is a White-browed Bulbul. They are fruit, insect and berry eaters and about the size of a Starling. The sexes appear to be similar, there were two together and I couldn't see any difference.
Finally, as I started this short trip in the tropics with an Indian Roller then here he is again. This bird is a resident in Ravi's garden and just about the easiest bird in the world to get a good photograph of. As I sat waiting for the visitors I was accompanied almost constantly by him on the wires just to my left. If I had been here for a longer period I would have concentrated on him for a day or more. Of course, had I done that I would have missed the chance to see and photograph any other species. I have only just scratched the surface here in Sri Lanka but that was my plan. I came to see and photograph the common birds close to my accommodation and not chase about looking for rarities. Perhaps I may do that on another occasion.
To summarise, it's been a very successful 9 nights. I have been safe, felt safe and stayed safe. I have not been in the least bit isolated or lonely on my own. My hosts Ravi and his family have been wonderful and it has been an immense privilege to live close to them, eat their food and get a real insight in to their day to day activities and way of life. You could for sure, make a documentary about their lives which would make very good entertainment. The thing that impressed me more than anything was the really evident love that the parents have for their two children and the obvious respect and love the children have for their parents. Both mother and father dote on the children and deliver them too and from school, not in a 4x4 as would be the case in the UK but usually on the back or sometimes stood on the front of a small motor scooter. Like I have said previously, health and safety is not a consideration. It's obviously potentially very dangerous but the truth of the matter is, nobody gets injured or maimed. I even saw a mother, as a passenger today on the back of a scooter with a newborn in her arms. I think that may have been stretching it somewhat!
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