Sunday, September 6, 2015

නිල් පුරුක්[Nil-Puruk](Ruellia prostrata [Syn: Dipteracanthus prostratus])

Common indigenous herb occurs in partial shade among short grass along roadsides, bunds of paddy fields, etc. from low country to mid hills about 900 m a.s.l. Flowering throughout the year with a peak in March. Flowers open in the early morning and wither by noon.  

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Pomasia psylaria?


Location - Kitulgala - Makandhawa forest reserve
Expanse - 2.8 cm
Reference - The Lepidoptera of Ceylon - F. Moore, F.Z.S. Vol 3 Page 448.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Eleutheranthera ruderalis

Common introduced weed occurs in abandoned lands, cultivated grounds, roadsides, etc. Native to the tropical America. Flowering from November to May and possibly throughout the year. This grows in much the same habitats as, and closely resembles Nodeweed (Synedrella nodiflora)

Thursday, September 3, 2015

දියපර[Diyapara](Dillenia triquetra)

An indigenous tree occurs in wet zone forests from lowlands to about 1200 m altitude. Flowering throughout the year.
*The vernacular name ගොඩපර[Godapara] is also used for this species where  ගොඩපර[Godapara] (Dillenia retusa) is absent, especially in Nawalapitiya area.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Witchweed (Striga lutea)

Rather common indigenous herb occurs in open grassy places of the wet lowlands and the hill country, up to about 1800 m altitudes. Probably a parasitic on the roots of the grasses. Flowering throughout the year.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Mangina argus


Location - Thalangama tank
Expanse - Male 5 cm Female - 5.4 cm
Reference - The Lepidoptera of Ceylon - F. Moore, F.Z.S. Vol 2. page 69 as Argina argus
Larval host Plants - Young leaves of Crotalaria species. Larvae observed at above location were feeding on Crotalaria retusa leaves.

Monday, August 31, 2015

Euonymus walkeri

An endemic shrub or small tree rather common in south western wet lowland forests. Flowering from August to April. 

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.