Monday 23 November 2009

Macro Monday

Plexippus petersi

Plexippus petersi ready to pounce. This is a common jumping spider at my house. It is widely distributed in Asia.

MM HQ is at Lisa's Chaos

Wednesday 18 November 2009

Sociable Glider

Tramea limbata
The Sociable Glider Tramea limbata is one of the dragonfly species that colonised my garden, after I built my dragonfly pond. It has now become a regular breeder. You may remember, I shared a sequence of its emergence from larval stage.

The images shared here, were taken using my Canon 100-400mm lens, which I must admit is not my most favourite lens for dragonfly photography. Why? Because I just don't like too much of distance between me and the subject, when shooting smaller forms of life such as dragonflies.

Tramea limbata
Off topic, here's my little neighbour, Malisa Phillips, who will be celebrating her 1st B'day next month.

Malisa Phillips
And the November rain continues...

Thursday 12 November 2009

Extreme Macro

Yellow Waxtail Ceriagrion coromandelianum - a Common damselfly found at my dragonfly pond.

Wednesday 11 November 2009

Sunday 8 November 2009

November Rain

The rains have returned to the dry zone, ending the withering drought it experienced for several months. I know this, because I am back from a 4-day trip, which took me to several National Parks in that part of the country. I bore witness to some of the pleasant changes brought about by the rains. A brief account below.

Grey-breasted Prinia
Grey-breasted Prinia at Udawalawe

One of things that I have experienced in our dry country is that, when it rains, it really pours, just as Elvis sang decades ago. It had started to rain properly just three days before my arrival at Yala. And I was surprised to see how quickly some of the waterholes had filled up. The Wild Buffalos, neck deep them, were visibly happy that the drought is finally over.

Wild Buffalo
The shrubs, which had shed leaves to conserve water during the drought, spouted up fresh foliage almost before our eyes. It was springtime at Yala. This migrant Brahminy Myna was sitting on such a deciduous shrub.

Brahminy Myna
The new growth in the vegetation brought about happy times for herbivores. This elephant, busy feasting on the succulent new-growth, was not too bothered by our close presence.

Asian Elephant
This female Sambar held this pose long enough for me to bump up the ISO to attempt this shot in low light.


The Spotted Deer were back in the glades, grazing the new grass that had sprung up. Suddenly, there was water everywhere, and the rush-hour traffic, seen near water holes during the height of the drought last month, was over. Life was returning to once barren terrain.

Spotted Deer
Whenever there was a respite from the weather, the bird activity went up. I got my first decent shots of Tawny-bellied Babbler at Udawalawe.

Tawny-bellied Babbler
Courting Indian Peafowl males, displaying their gaudy trains, were a common sight at all sites.


Even in rainy weather, you still could manage plenty of bird and wildlife watching in the tropics. If you are patient enough, that is. Like this Painted Stork at Bundala National Park.

Painted Stork

Sunday 1 November 2009

Silly Stuff


Have you got what it takes to survive on a deserted island, if you are marooned there for five years? Name ten four non-electronic/non-foodie thingies you would like to have with you, before you find yourself in such a situation.
I would settle for a Rambo knife, a waterproof matchbox, my binoculars, and a copy of The Song of the Dodo (preferably in hardcover).
Click here if you cannot see the above YT clip.
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