Sunday, March 15, 2015

Sri Lankan Tiger/Monarch (Parantica taprobana)

Sri Lankan Tiger is an endemic butterfly Occurs above 1000 m elevation and common above 1200 m though occasionally found as low as 800 m elevation. It inhabits forests and well wooded hill country home gardens. Larva feeds on Ceropegia elegans, Cynanchum alatum and Vincetoxicum iphisia. Larva also fed on Vincetoxicum bracteatum when offered in the lab and egg laying was observed on Vincetoxicum cordifolium.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

ගල් දෙමට[Gal-Demata](Impatiens repens)

An endemic prostrate herb occurs mainly on rocks, in moist and shaded places in wet zone up to about 1200 m elevations. Flowering most of the year.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Greater Crested Tern (Sterna bergii velox)

A common breeding resident* inhabiting coastal waters, lagoons, estuaries, salt-pans, sand spits and tidal flats as small to large flocks. It feeds entirely on fish. Greater Crested Tern breeds colonially on remote off-shore rocky islets, Adam's bridge islands and sometime in remote coastal areas from May to July.  A single egg is laid on bare sand without any nest. 

*Race thalassina is considered as a vagrant to western coastal areas.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

පුරුක්(Puruk)/Ganges primrose/Chinese violet (Asystasia gangetica)

An indigenous herb native to tropical Asia. Cultivated in home gardens and also grows along roadsides and secondary forest edges in dry lowlands and mid country. (J.&J. de Vlas, 2008 ).  Flowering from January to September.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

රෂ්ණී[Rasni] (Lobelia nicotianifolia)

Giant unbranched herb common in open grassy slopes at altitude between 650-1400 m. Flowering from December to April.

Monday, March 9, 2015

Quaker (Neopithicops zalmora)


Quaker is a common butterfly occurs in forested areas from low lands to hills (Up to about 500ft) all the year round. It takes part in migrations and often settles on damp earth, sometime in swarms. Quaker's dry seasonal form is larger than wet seasonal form. Larva feeds on leaves of  Glycosmis pentaphylla (දොඩම්පාන) Glycosmis angustifolia (බොල් පනා) and  Atalantia ceylanica (වල් දෙහි/යකිනාරන්/‍යක් දෙහි) 

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Friday, March 6, 2015

කුමුඳු/මහ-ඇඹල/ඕලු[Kumudhu/Maha-Ambala/Olu]/Water-snowflake (Nymphoides indica)

Common indigenous aquatic herb occurs in ponds, tanks and shallow streams in the low country up to about 450 m a.s.l. Flowering throughout the year.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Heuglin's Gull(Larus heuglini)

A common winter migrant to northern and north-western coastal waters, lagoons, tidal-flats and salt-pans as small to large flocks. It can be seen sometime scavenging in harbours and following fishing boats. Heuglin's Gull feeds mainly on fish and other small marine animals. But also eats carrion and other garbage thrown overboard while following ships and fishing vessels. It breeds in Siberia and North Europe.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Championia reticulata

An endemic perennial herb occurs from moist low country to southwestern lower hills and western hill country forests up to about 1000m a.s.l. Flowering February - March  and July-August (Probably also in other months)

Monday, March 2, 2015

ලංකා ගල්පර දිය මැඩියා [Lanka Galpara Madiya]/Sri Lankan Rock Frog (Nannophrys ceylonensis )

Sri Lankan Rock Frog occurs from lowlands to mid hills in the wet zone between 60-1070m elevations. It inhabits wet rock surfaces with narrow cracks and under boulders along shaded streams and cascades. Found on rocks during the night and usually hide under boulders and crevices during the day

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Moonia heterophylla

An indigenous herb occurs along forest margins, usually in shady situations from 1800 to 2400m elevations. Flowering from October to June and probably throughout the year.

Friday, February 27, 2015

Alternanthera paronychioides

Creeping herb native to tropical America. Introduced and naturalized in dry sandy places with sparse grass cover, Often in the places where periodical inundation occurs. 

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Indian Skipper (Spialia galba)

Common butterfly found in all climatic zones of the country throughout the year while becoming rarer in higher elevations. It is very fond of the sun and can be found on hottest places such as pathways during the hottest times of the day. Larva feeds on කොටි-කන් බැවිල[Kotikan-bevila] (Sida rhombifolia)ගස් බැවිල/Gas-bevila (Sida acuta) and Waltheria indica


Tuesday, February 24, 2015

එළ-නිතුල්[Ela-nitul]/Ceylon leadwort/White plumbago (Plumbago zeylanica)

Common indigenous straggling shrub occurs in lowlands, especially in the dry areas. Also cultivated as an ornamental plant in wet zone home gardens. Flowering throughout the year with a peak from December to March. Roots use in medicine. 

Monday, February 23, 2015

Great Eared-nightjar (Vagrant Nightjars (Family: Caprimulgidae) recorded in Sri Lanka)

      Birds that appear outside their normal range are known as vagrants. This post summarizes up to date published sight records of vagrants of the family Caprimulgidae (Nightjars) in Sri Lanka.

      Great Eared-nightjar (Eurostopodus macrotis)
First and only record of the occurrence of Great eared-nightjar in Sri Lanka is based on an exhausted and injured bird captured in a house near the coast at Kaluthara on 12th March 2006 by W.C. Chamila soysa (Soysa W.C.C. et. al., 2007).  Identification was confirmed by Deepal Warakagoda and Uditha Hettige (Siriwardana, U., 2007). Bird subsequently died and specimen was deposited at the national museum.

References:
Siriwardana, U., 2007. Report of the Ceylon Bird Club 2006 Loris, 24(5 & 6), 50-56
Soysa W.C.C.,  Amarasinghe A.A.T and Karunarathna D.M.S.S. 2007.  A record of the Great Eared Nightjar Eurostopodus macrotis Vigors, 1831 (Aves: Caprimulgidae) from Sri Lanka Siyoth 2(1) 40-42

Sunday, February 22, 2015

සෙම්බු-නෙරෙන්චි/ගොකටු[Sembu-Nerinchi/Gokatu](Tribulus terrestris)

A common native herb with prostrate branches occurs in sandy places in the dry lowlands. Flowering all the year round. fruits, roots and seed used in medicine.  

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Common Red Eye (Matapa aria)

An uncommon butterfly confine to the wet zone of the country up to mid-hills. It is more frequently seen from August to October (Woodhouse L.G.O. , 1950). Common Red-eye is active mostly at dusk and dawn except on a dull day. Its larval host plants are Bambusa vulgaris (උණ), Dendrocalamus giganteus, Bambusa multiplex, Schizostachyum brachycladum and Ochlandra stridula (බට


Thursday, February 19, 2015

හකරිල්ලා[Hakarilla] (Solanum mauritianum)

A native plant of Argentina. Introduced and naturalized along roadsides and streams in the montane zone. Flowering throughout the year. 

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

අලු හැලපෙන්දා/Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerera)

Common migrant bird found mainly in the hill country though not uncommon in all other zones. It can be seen feeding along streams and rivers as well as paddy fields, tea estates, open country and forest glades as solitary birds or as scattered small flocks. In the evening large flocks assemble for roosting in a usual place, often a large tree overhanging water or a thicket in a marshy area. Each bird occupy its chosen territory on the roosting tree. Grey Wagtail feeds on small insects and often seen searching insects in damp areas especially fast flowing rocky streams. It breeds in Central Asia. 

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

Monday, February 16, 2015

Torenia crustacea [Syn: Lindernia crustacea]

An indigenous prostrate herb in wet grassy places, paddy fields after harvest and along tanks in wet and dry lowlands. Very common and flowering throughout the year. 

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae ceylonica)

Common butterfly occurs most parts of the island, throughout the year. It takes part in migrations and males sometimes seen mud-puddling. Its larval host plants are Aristolochia indica[සප්සඳ], A.bracteolata, Thottea siliquosa [තපසර බුලත්] and Aristolochia ringens (තාරාමල්) of the family Aristolochiaceae





Friday, February 13, 2015

Slipperwort (Calceolaria chelidonioides)

Native plant of Ecuador. Naturalized in the hill country above 1650m in roadsides, damp grounds, grassy embankments, close to watercourse and ditches. Flowering from December to August. 

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Asian Fairy Bluebird (Vagrants of the family Irenidae (Fairy Blubirds))

     Birds that appear outside their normal range are known as vagrants. This post summarizes up to date published sight records of vagrants of the family Irenidae (Fairy Blubirds) in Sri Lanka.

Asian fairy bluebird
Layard obtained a specimen near Kandy and Kelaart procured the second specimen also from Kandy during 18th century. Taxidermist of Colombo museum Hart reported a small flock in Rakvana in 1868 and again 3-4 birds in November 1877 at the same location and procured single specimen (Legge 1880:603). As per Phillips it has not been recorded since 1877 (Phillips 1978:70). In 1977 there is a sight record of a flock of 6 birds, drinking at a waterhole north of Trincomalee (Anon. 1977) and another rather doubtful sighting in February 1987 from Gilimale (Hoffmann, T. W., 1988)

References:
Anon. 1977. Fairy Blue Birds. Loris. 14(4):243
Hoffmann, T. W., 1988. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1987, A brief avifaunal survey. Loris, 18(1), 23-25
Legge V., 1880. A History of the birds of Ceylon  1983 second edition.
Phillips W.W.A., 1978. Annotated checklist of the Birds of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 1978 revised edition.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

අඩහඳ-ඇස්ස[Ada-handa-essa]/Shield-leaved sundew (Drosera lunata [As Drosera peltata])

An indigenous herb found in wet grassy patches on hill slopes and banks of bordering waterways in the upper montane zone. This plant get additional nutrition by digesting small insects trapped by bending sticky tentacles.  

Saturday, February 7, 2015

එළ මිදෙල්ල [Ela Midella] (Barringtonia acutangula)

An indigenous tree occurs mainly near tanks, irrigation channels and flood plains of the dry lowlands. Occasionally found also near paddy fields and streams of the wet lowlands.  

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

An uncommon winter migrant to lagoons, mud-flats, shores, creeks and estuaries in dry zone coastal areas. Rare in wet zone coastal areas. It occurs as solitary birds or as scattered small groups usually with other waders. Grey Plover feeds mainly on small marine animals such as worms, molluscs and crustaceans. It breeds in Tundras within the Arctic circle. 

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

Monday, February 2, 2015

කැකිරි-වරා [Kekiri-Wara] (Schumacheria castaneifolia)

An endemic small tree occurs in primary and secondary rain forests in the wet lowlands from 100m to 760m a.s.l. Flowering throughout the year.

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Butler’s Spotted Pierrot (Tarucus callinara)

Locally common butterfly confine to the southern arid zone areas, usually close to the coast from Hambantota to Yala. Also occurs in nearby inland dry zone areas. It flies slowly close to the ground and often settles on flowers. Larva feeds on leaves of Ziziphus mauritiana (දෙබර/මහ දෙබර/මසන්/Indian jujube/Chinese apple) 

Friday, January 30, 2015

Lindernia rotundifolia

An indigenous herb common in harvested paddy fields in wet lowlands to wet hills up to about 550m altitude. Also along ditches in the hill country up to 1700 m and along borders of tanks in the lowlands. Flowering throughout the year.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

මූකලන් ලේනා[Mookalan Lena ]Sri lanka flame-striped jungle squirrel(Funambulus layardi)

An uncommon endemic squirrel occurs in dense rain forest habitats from lowlands to about 1200m altitude in the south-western wet zone including Knuckles range. It is active during the day time and spends most of its time in the canopy though sometimes encounters near ground level. It use to follow mixed-species bird flocks and feeds mainly on fruits, nuts, lichens, young shoots as well as small insects and grubs. Flame-striped jungle squirrel lives as pairs and breeds during May to July.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

කටු-ඉඹුල්[Katu Imbul]/Cotton Tree (Bombax ceiba)

Common indigenous tree found mainly in wet lowlands to mid-hill forests up to about 1000m. Also occurred in intermediate and dry zone forests. The leaves are shed during December and flowers start blooming in clusters close to the branches. The new leaves appears again in March as the flowering wanes. Wood use to manufacture of safety matches and tea-boxes. Young flowers sometimes eaten as a vegetable and kapok is used for stuffing mattresses and pillows. 

Monday, January 26, 2015

අවිච්චියා/Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura)

Indian Pitta is a common migrant encountered throughout the island except highest hills. It inhabits forest undergrowth and any such habitat with shade such as dense home gardens, plantations and even urban parks. After arriving each bird demarcates its own territory and remain there for rest of its stay while not letting other Pittas to intrude it. Its territorial call often heard at dawn and dusk. It feeds on the ground skulking in undergrowth and turning over dead leaves in search of insects. Other than insects Indian Pitta also feeds on worms, small snails, etc. It has a habit of slowly lifting tail up and down. It breeds in the Himalayan foothills and Central India.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Blue Sprite (Pseudagrion microcephalum)

Very common damselfly occurs in ponds, tanks, marshlands, lagoons, paddy fields, channels,   brackish water and sometimes even in  polluted water from lowlands to mid-hills.  

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

හවරි-නුග\අවරි-නුග[Havari-Nuga\Avari-Nuga] (Alstonia macrophylla)

Native plant of Malay peninsula, Thailand, Indochina, Philippines, Borneo and Celebes. Introduced as a timber tree to Sri Lanka (Native ? >>) at the beginning of last century. Now it is naturalized in the wet and intermediate zone up to about 1200-1500m, especially in the secondary rain forests.  

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Common Banded Peacock (Papilio crino)

Common butterfly flies all over the island up to about 1000m asl. It is more common in the dry zone. Common Banded Peacock is a migratory butterfly and Ormiston recorded an interesting observation of large flight of these butterflies continues 3-4 days straight out to the sea at Galle. He believed that enormous numbers of  them must have perished in the sea (Ormiston  W., 1924). Male Common Banded Peacock often settles on mud patches and river beds to absorb minerals. Its larva feeds on Chloroxylon swietenia[Satinwood/බුරුත], Clausena indica [මීගොං කරපිංචා] and Toddalia asiatica[කුඩු මිරිස්

References:
Ormiston  W., 1924 The Butterflies of Ceylon, H.W.Cave & Co., Colombo 1924, AES Reprint New Delhi, 2003

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Friday, January 16, 2015

අලු කෑදැත්තා/Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros gingalensis)


Common endemic bird found in forests and wooded gardens from lowlands up to mid hills, both wet and dry zones. It lives in pairs or small to larger flocks ( Large gatherings may be seen especially in fruiting trees ).  It feeds on wild berries, lizards, tree frogs and insects. The breeding season is from April to August and the nest is a cavity in the large tree.

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >> 

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

බූ-කොබ්බෑ\කොබ්බෑ[Bu-kobbe\Kobbe] (Allophylus cobbe)

Common indigenous shrub or small tree grows in moist low country and lower montane forest areas. Also occurs in the forests of  the dry region. Flowering from March to May and again September to October.  All parts of the plant are used to prepare medicinal oils for use on fracture. Veddas use wood to make bows.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Vagrant Chats and Old World Flycatchers (family:Muscicapidae) Recorded in Sri lanka

     1) Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
      First record of occurrence of this bird in Sri Lanka is by Layard and second was by E.C. Fernando from Boralesgamuwa in November 1955. Third record is from Tharanga Herath with photographic evidence near old campsite of the Bundala National Park on 13th March 2014. (http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/the_ceylon_bird_club_news.php)

      2) Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin(Erythropygia galactotes familiaris)
A live specimen collected on 30th September 1964 in a garden at Dehiwela and brought to Thelma Gunawardane by Osmar Ismail is the first and only record of the occurrence of this bird in Sri Lanka. The bird was in exhausted condition and was found dead on following morning. Specimen sent to J.D. Macdonald of the British natural history museum and identification was confirmed by himself. (Gunawardene, W. T. T. P., 1965)

      3) Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)
W.W.A. Phillips mentioned two sight records of Isabelline Wheatear, one bird close to the 15th mile-post on the Mannar-Pooneryn road, north of the Uyatantundi Aru causeway by K.F. Dallas and a friend on the 4th December 1970 [November 1970 according to the Hoffmann, T. W., 1974] and another one from dry mud-flats about a quarter of a mile from Vankalai on the 14th March 1976 by John and Jude Banks (Phillips 1978: 83, & Hoffmann, T. W., 1977). A sight record of a single bird reported from Bundala on March 1990 (Hoffmann, T. W., 1991) Another sight record is given in the South-east coast (in two seasons) in the Report of the CBC for the 2008-2011 periods (Warakagoda D. & Sirivardana U., 2011)

      4) Blue-throated Flycatcher (Cyornis rubeculoides)
Emerson Tennent first time included it in his list as a Sri lankan bird (Tennent E., 1861: 267). But Legge was in the opinion that Tennent may have been misidentified C. banyumas which is the flycatcher which represented in the south of the peninsula while C. rubeculoides is the North Indian bird. (Legge, W. V. 1870).  His idea is further supported by not having C. banyumas in Tennents list. Legge himself noted that he had met with this bird in various parts of the northern forests, but only from October to April of the year and Layard also obtained few specimens during its migration from the mainland ,first one being on 14th October 1851(Legge 1880:547). Legge mention of seeing a specimen in Lord Tweeddale’s collection [which was probably collected by Chapman] by HoldsworthLegge also had some specimens collected by himself. All of above specimens from Northern forests and Jaffna peninsula till W.W.A. Phillip observed a single bird on Mousakande estate Gammaduwa in the Mathale hills (3300ft a.s.l) (Phillips 1978:75)). In 1997/68 migrate season almost certainly a bird was seen in the northern forest area (Cameron, R.Mcl.L., 1968) and another sight record of a single bird reported on February 1981 at Sigiriya (Hoffmann, T. W., 1982)

Unconfirmed vagrants:

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.

      5) Pied Wheatear(Oenanthe pleschanka pleschanka)
G.M. Henry in 16 November 1943 observed an exhausted female bird in its winter plumage in a Colombo garden probably after arriving presumably from India. He has confirmed his identification after comparing his notes and sketches he had taken during many minutes of his observations with specimens at the British Natural History Museum. (Henry G.M. 1998: 380) There is another sight record of Pied Wheatear on passage between Sri Lanka and Maldives islands (Repley S.D. 1982: 471)

      6)Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)
Single sight record of the Desert wheatear available so far was reported by R.W. Lekkerkerk of Holland from Bundala National Park in February 1986 (Hoffmann, T. W., 1987).

      7) Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)            
Single sight record of it at Sinharaja noted by Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010: 306 Quoting CBCN 1978, July: 41). However it is not available in annual review of CBC notes for 1978 (Hoffmann, T. W., 1979) not in CBC country list (http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/sri-lanka-bird-list.php) and two appendixes (http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/Appendix-I.pdfhttp://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/Appendix-II.pdf), not even in List of rejections (http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/List-of-Rejections.pdf)

      8) Yellow-rumped Flycatcher (Ficedula zanthopygia)
Sight record made by Deepal Warakagoda and Steve Rooke at Yala block IV in March 1999 is the first record of its occurrences in Sri Lanka (Warakagoda, D. 2000). Second sight record of it from Thanamalwila on 3rd January 2012 with photographic evident by Amila Salgado (Samaraweera P., 2013)

      9) Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)
A.J. Vincet has recorded it from Horton plains in March 1994. It is the only record of this bird in Sri Lanka (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010:307)

      10) Slaty-blue Flycatcher (Ficedula tricolr)
Single sight record at Sigiriya in February 1993 by A.J. Vincent is the only record (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010:308)

      11) Black-and-rufous Flycatcher (Ficedula nigrorufa)
E.L. Mitford of the Ceylon civil service said to have procured a specimen of this species from Rathnapura district. Layard identified the species by a drawing of the bird made by Mitford who asserts that it was migratory, appearing in JuneLegge doubted about it since no South-Indian migratory bird visiting Sri Lanka at that season and it can’t be also a local migration since it would not have been observed in other areas of the island (Legge 1880: 548)

      12) White-bellied Blue-flycatcher (Cyornis pallipes)
Sight record of A.J. Vincent at Kitulgala in April 1994 is the only evident for the occurrence of this species in Sri Lanka (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010:309)

      13) Hill Blue-flycatcher (Cyornis banyumas)
Single sight record of this flycatcher reported from Colombo in 1985 (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010:309 quoting CBCN 1985, Oct: 53a). However annual review of CBC notes for 1985 lack such a record (Hoffmann, T. W., 1986). It is not available in either CBC country list (http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/sri-lanka-bird-list.php) or two Appendixes (http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/Appendix-I.pdfhttp://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/Appendix-II.pdf), not even in List of rejections (http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/List-of-Rejections.pdf)


14) Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus)
First time recorded by Sarath Seneviratna on March 2008 at Walahanduwa (Warakagoda D. & Sirivardana U., 2011)

15) Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
The sight record of the single bird at t Udawalawe National Park on 8th of February 2015 by Chintaka De Silva, Janith Jayarathna and Clemens Steiof is the first record of it for Sri Lanka. (http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/the_ceylon_bird_club_news.php)

16) Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus)

Single bird observed at Udawalawe National Park on 8th February 2015 by Chintaka de Silva, Janith Jayaratne and Clemens Steiof is probably the second record of it for Sri Lanka.(http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/the_ceylon_bird_club_news.php)

References: 

Cameron, R.Mcl.L. 1968. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club - 1967/68. Loris. 11(3):153-154.
Gunawardene, W. T. T. P., 1965. A new addition to the avifauna of Ceylon Erythopygia galactodes familiaris. Spolia Zeylanica, 30(2), 247-248.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1974. Notes From The Ceylon Bird Club 1970-1973. Loris, 13(4), 211-214.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1977. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1976. Loris, 14(3), 154-156.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1979. Note from the Ceylon Bird club 1978. Loris, 15(1), p6-8.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1982. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1981. Loris, 16(1), 38-40.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1986. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1985. Loris, 17(3), 99-101.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1987. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1986. Loris, 17(5), 209-210
Hoffmann, T. W., 1991. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club, 1990. Loris, 19(3), 103-105.
Henry G.M., 1998 A Guide to the birds of Sri Lanka 1998. 3rd Edition.
Kotagama, S., Ratnavira, G. 2010. An illustrated Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka. Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, Colombo.
Legge V., 1880. A History of the birds of Ceylon  1983 second edition.
Phillips W.W.A., 1978 Annotated checklist of the Birds of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 1978 revised edition.
Repley S.D., 1982 A synopsis of the birds of India and Pakistan together with those of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka 1982
Samaraweera P., 2013. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club 2012, Loris 26(5&6), 33-35
Tennent E., 1861. Sketches of the Natural History of Ceylon with narratives and anecdotes. (AES reprint 1999)
Warakagoda, D., 2000. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 1999. Loris, 22(4), 23-25.
Warakagoda D. & Sirivardana U., 2011. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2008-2011, Loris 26 (1&2)

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Ceylon Banded Awl/Ceylon Awl (Hasora badra lanka)

An uncommon butterfly occurs in southwestern forests from lowlands to the hills. It has a fast flight and often settle beneath leaves. Larva feeds on දිය කල වැල්/කළු කල වැල් (Derris canarensis) 

Thursday, January 8, 2015

කාමරංගා[Kamaranga]/Carambola apple/Chinese Gooseberry (Averrhoa carambola)

A small tree native to Malayan region. Introduced and widely cultivated in low to mid elevation home gardens. Flowering throughout the year with peaks in April to June. Fruit edible and fruits, leaves, seeds and flowers are used in medicine. 

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Dingy Duskflyer (Zyxomma petiolatum)

An uncommon dragonfly inhabiting ponds, lakes, rivers, tanks and lagoons of lowland areas. It is a crepuscular dragonfly and active only during the dusk, while rest in thick scrub jungles during the day. Dingy Duskflyer is a fast flyer and feeds mainly on mosquitoes looping around over still water. 

Monday, January 5, 2015

Osbeckia lanata

An endemic shrub locally common in grasslands, open forests and forest edges in the montane region

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Kashmir Flycatcher (Ficedula subrubra)

An uncommon winter migrant to the home gardens, cultivation and forest edges of the mid hills and above.  It is usually found feeding on insects as solitary birds on the ground. But also feeds high up in trees. Each bird demarcate its own territory and where it can be found day after day. It is considered as a globally threatened bird nesting in north-western Himalayas of the Kashmir region of India and Pakistan. Probably the majority of the population of Kashmir Flycatcher migrate to the Sri Lankan hills during the winter. 

Saturday, January 3, 2015

විළඳ වැන්න/ගැට-තුඹ[Wiladhawenna/Gata-tumba] (Leucas biflora)

Common indigenous herb occurs in waste places, roadsides, patana lands and forests from lowlands to about 2700m elevations. Flowering throughout the year.