Sunday, August 30, 2015

Lobelia zeylanica

An indigenous annual herb common among grasses in soggy, clayey soil beside water courses and paddy fields from wet lowlands to about 1500 m altitude. Flowering throughout the year.

Saturday, August 29, 2015

ගස් පින්න/පින්න[Gas pinna/Pinna](Clerodendrum infortunatum)

Common indigenous shrub or small tree occurs in forests from wet  lowlands to about 1500 m altitude. Flowering from March to August.

Friday, August 28, 2015

Slaty-legged Crake/Banded Crake (Rallina eurizonoides)

Slaty-legged Crake is rather rare breeding resident of the wet zone and uncommon migrant mainly from wet lowlands up to the higher hills. Also locally occurs in the dry zone. It lives as solitary birds in dense swampy jungles and thickets near streams, rivers and such water bodies. It is mainly a nocturnal bird though activities can be observed even during the dawn and dusk. Slaty-legged Crake feeds on earth worms, grains, seeds, grasshoppers and such other insects.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Ficus diversiformis

An indigenous slender creeper or climber creeping over the ground, rocks and trunks. It occurs chiefly in the hills but also not uncommon in the lowland rain forests (From 50- 1600 m a.s.l.)

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Bush morning glory/Hedge glory/Shrub ipomoea (Ipomoea carnea)

Native shrub of tropical America.  Introduced as an ornamental and have been cultivating since 20th century. Also naturalized close to the human habitations. Flowering from August to September and probably in other months of the year. 

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Monday, August 24, 2015

Micronia aculeata


Location - Kitulgala - Makandhawa forest reserve
Expanse - Male 3.8 cm, Female - 4.8 cm 
Reference - The Lepidoptera of Ceylon - F. Moore, F.Z.S. Vol 3 Page 460 - 461.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Devil's ivy/Pothos/Money plant (Epipremnum aureum)

An introduced ornamental  climber native to the Solomon islands. Cultivated and also escaped and naturalized in the lowlands to hill country forests. Rarely flowering.

Saturday, August 22, 2015

දිය කූඩලු/වල් කූඩලු [Diya kudalu/Wal kudalu]/Marsh henna (Hydrocera triflora)

Rather common semi-aquatic perennial occurs in ditches, marsh lands, paddy field margins and stagnant pools from sea level to 140 m a.s.l in all the climatic zones. 

Friday, August 21, 2015

Mickey mouse plant/Thomas' bird's eye bush (Ochna thomasiana)

An introduced plant native to Southeast Africa. Cultivated as an ornamental shrub. Flowering intermittently during the year. 

Thursday, August 20, 2015

රස තැල් කොළ [Rasa Tel Kola] (Ipomoea sagittifolia [Syn: Ipomoea marginata/Ipomoea sepiaria])

Common indigenous vine found in swamp margins, river banks and moist disturbed sites, mainly in the dry zone.  Also occurs in the wet zone. Flowering from July to August

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Annotated checklist of vagrant Cisticolas and allies (Family: Cisticolidae) of Sri Lanka

    Birds that appear outside their normal range are known as vagrants. This post listed up to date published sight records of single *unconfirmed vagrant of the family Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and allies) in Sri Lanka.   

      1)Rufescent Prinia (Prinia rufescens)
Single sight record at Kotte in 1989 by Rex.I. de Silva is the only record (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010:283)

References:
Kotagama, S., Ratnavira, G. 2010. An illustrated Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka. Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, Colombo.

*Species for which there are only one or two sight records exist categorized here as unconfirmed vagrants. Problematic records without sufficient details are also included.  

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

නියං වැටකොළු[Niyan-vetakolu]/Smooth luffa/Sponge gourd(Cucumis melo [Syn: Luffa cylindrica])

Cultivated climbing herb with uncertain origin. Widely cultivated since young fruits are eaten as a vegetable. Also naturalized in some areas, especially near old and abandoned habitations and cultivated lands. 

Monday, August 17, 2015

Senecio ludens

An indigenous herb common in moist places at roadsides, on patanas and forest shrub above 1200 m. Flowering from October to April and possibly all the year round.  

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Isodon walkeri

Rather common indigenous annual herb occurs in shaded or semi-exposed rocky edges of forest streams in the montane zone above 1400 m a.s.l. Flowering from January to February.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Crimson sage (Salvia coccinea)

An introduced herb native to Mexico. Widely cultivated in home gardens. Flowering throughout the year. Sometimes escaped and naturalized near gardens. Flower color and size variable and occurs in bright red, white and pink.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

ඇත් තෝර[Eth thora] (Cajanus trinervius[Atylosia trinervia])

Very common erect shrub occurs in the open patanas of the montane zone from 900 to1800 m a.s.l. Flowering throughout the year. 

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Tawny Rajah (Charaxes psaphon)

Rather uncommon butterfly flies all over the island except in the higher hills. It is much common in the dry zone especially during the south-west monsoon and scarce in the wet zone. Both sexes especially males settle on wet patches, bird droppings, decaying animal matters and rotting fruits. It is a very fast flier and also take part in migrations. Hill-topping phenomena is also observed of male Tawny Rajas*. According to the sources females are rarely seen, since they are less active and preferring to sit deep in the foliage. Larva feeds on Entada zeylanica, Tamarindus indica (සියඹලා/Tamarind/Indian Date)Dalbergia pseudo-sissoo (බඹර වැල්),  Entada rheedei (පුස් වැල්) and Croton laccifer (ගස්-කැප්පෙටියා). Egg laying observed on Miliusa tomentosa and  Actinodaphne stenophylla (නික දවුල) and larva fed on Aglaia elaeagnoidea when offered in the lab.

* Male flying up to and staying on a hill top waiting for females.