'Purple-rumped Sunbird - Nectarinia zeylonica - Meethirigala, Gampaha, Sri Lanka.

'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.