'Brown Fish-Owl' - Ketupa zeylonensis, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

I came out of my house at 6 am today and saw this largish bird standing on the satellite dish antenna. I quickly went inside and brought out my camera - Nikon D 90 with a Nikkor 105 - 300 mm lens. I managed to take two shots before it flew away. It must have come to investigate a newly constructed pond in our garden.

'Red-vented Bulbul' - Pycnonotus cafer, among the flowers, home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

'Do I look pretty?' the Bulbul seems to be asking when posing for this photo in our home garden.

'Spotted Dove' - Streptopelia chinensis ceylonensis, Gampaha, Sri Lanka.

'Asian Koel' - Eudynamys scolopacea, Gampaha, Sri Lanka.

Listen to the cry of the Koel. Click on the web-link below:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TLppJJZMuA&feature=share&list=UU1dqepitfAJwrQWLD-gZ3NA

'Little Cormorant - Phalacrocorax niger, Gampaha, Sri Lanka.

These birds are said not to have sweat glands. They spread their wings to catch the cool air to bring down  the rise in body temperature, after exertion like in diving to catch fish.

'White-browed Fantail' - Rhipidura aureola, home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Looks a juvenile. Made an appearance on the 24th August 2013. Very busy catching insects while flying. Not at all shy. Came quite close during its forays.
Correction made by Priyantha. Thanks Priyantha for the correction.

'House Sparrow' - Passer domesticus indicus, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

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The 'House Sparrow' was the commonest bird seen close to dwellings in Sri Lanka up to about 15 years ago. Each household would have an empty pot with a hole at the bottom of the pot, hung by a nail on the outer wall of the house. This was the preferred place for the sparrows to build their nests. Predators like the 'Rat snake' could not reach the chicks in these pots.The 'House-Sparrows'  disappeared for a few years. We still do not know the cause of this sudden disappearance. Now they are making a come-back. I took these photos in our home-garden.