Saturday 1 January 2011

Happy New Year!


I hope the New Year will bring you peace, happiness and good health!

The endemic Chestnut-backed Owlet above was photographed last November at Kithulgala while guiding Dr. Wilf Powell and his wife Mrs. Julia Powell on a 14-day Absolute Birding tour. I am always careful when typing the name of this bird to avoid the embarrassing misspelling: Chestnut-baked Owlet!

I first heard mobbing calls smaller birds, typically made when a predator has been spotted. Scanning the centre of this commotion, I found this owlet, clearly startled by the abuse. When this species of owl is sighted front on, you often do not get to see its beautiful chestnut back. With its chestnut back to us, it rotated the head to look back at us. A really neat view.

This was our second Chestnut-backed Owlet for the trip. I shot it at 1/250 at ISO 4000 using Canon EOS1D Mark iv and Canon 100-400mm lens. I removed camera noise using Noiseware Professional.

1 Jan., 2011 marks my 34th birthday.
And, as usual, gifts are accepted at 146A, Pahala Bomiriya, Kaduwela, Sri Lanka.

17 comments:

rainfield61 said...

Happy New Year with a pair of curious eyes wide-open.

To see the beauty of Nature. To explore.

Happy New Year.

Anjana Gunawardena said...

Wonderful capture!

Wish you a very happy New Year and a fabulous B’day as well (what a way to start the New Year :)

PS: you will receive my gift in near future … :D

Angel said...

I confess that owls are not my favourite feathered friend... but the li'l dude sure is cute!!

Happy new year and happy birthday!!!

Amila Salgado said...

@Rainfield,
Happy New Year!

@Anjana,
Happy New Year! Thank you! Good to hear from you. I look forward to your gift! hahaha!

@Angel,
Happy New Year!
Thanks a lot!
It's nice to hear from you as well.

And I agree, this is quite a cute owl.

santhoshi said...

Happy New Year! Happy Birthday where is the Cake? :)

Kathie Brown said...

Happy New Year Gallicissa! It has been way too long since I came to visit you! Happy Birthday too! Love that little owlet! BTW, I have a new blog called Kathie's Birds since I moved away from Sycamore Canyon last year. You can find the link there though or through my profile.

Amila Salgado said...

@Santhoshi!
Happy New Year, and thank you!
Come here, and I'll give you cake! :)

@Kathie,
Happy New Year!I haven't visited yours too for long, so no worries!

Thank you for your B'day wishes. I have updated my link to your new site.

Stuart Price said...

Wow, only 34! You're still a youngster then.............

Dee said...

oh wow! Happy new year and Happy birthday! Await something special from the mail from me :)

xox
Dee

Amila Kanchana said...

May all your birding trips,and everything else be successful this year,and,though it's a little late, many happy returns of the B'day!:-)

Amila Salgado said...

@Stu,
Very much so, compared you oldies. :)

@Dee,
Happy New Year, and thank you!
Fingers crossed. ;)

@Amila,
Happy New Year!
Thank you for your well wishes and greetings!

Phil Slade said...

Hi Amila, Happy New Year and Happy Birthday to you. I guess the weather is a bit warmer in SL than in the UK right now?

Kirigalpoththa said...

Hi Amila,

Wish you a faboulous new year!

Sorry I missed your b'day and pls accept my belated wishes too!!

Hope you could travel more and bring us many more exciting wildlife photos of Sri Lanka this year

Cheers!

Amila Salgado said...

@Phil,
Happy New Year.
Thanks for your b'day wishes.
Where I am, it's a plesant 27°C now.

@K,
I wish you the same!
No problem about delays, thank you!
I hope our paths will cross this year.

Janith said...

Happy Belated Birthday Amila! :D And Happy New Year! :D

I hope that when you and K cross paths, I'll be there. (Won't use the popular metaphor here since that would be the insensitive thing to say on a birder's blog) :D

Hope you have a wonderful year ahead!

silent moments said...

Hey, Belated Birthday wishes... thirties are the best :D
Thats a lovely owl with an attitude !

Amila Salgado said...

Thank you, Chavie!
Happy New Year!
May you excel in your studies!

This year I plan to meet at least 5bloggers whom I have not met so far, and you definitely on that list.

@Patali,
Thank you!
30s are so cool!
I miss my late 20s though.

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