19-3-2025 WATER GARDENS SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA - LITTLE CORMORANT (Microcarbo niger)

The Little Cormorant, Microcarbo niger, is a dainty member of the cormorant family, measuring about 50 centimeters in length. In its breeding attire, it boasts a sleek, all-black plumage adorned with white spots and delicate filoplumes on its face, and a modest crest on the back of its head. The non-breeding or juvenile birds display a more subdued brownish plumage, with a small, distinct white patch on the throat.

Distinguishable from the slightly larger Indian Cormorant by its shorter beak and absence of a peaked head, the Little Cormorant has dark eyes and facial skin. Males and females appear similar, though males are generally larger. A rare silvery-grey plumage has been noted in some individuals.

The Little Cormorant frequents a variety of freshwater bodies, from diminutive village ponds to expansive lakes, and occasionally coastal estuaries.

This species is widely distributed across the Indian Subcontinent, extending east to Java. It is absent from the Himalayas, though vagrants have been spotted in Ladakh.

Often seen perched on waterside rocks with wings outstretched, the Little Cormorant forages alone or in small groups. It dives underwater, propelled by webbed feet, to catch fish, which are sometimes stolen by other birds when brought to the surface.

19-3-2025 WATER GARDENS SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA - EASTERN CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis ssp. coromandus)

The Eastern Cattle Egret, Bubulcus coromandus, is a member of the heron family Ardeidae, displaying a stout build with a wingspan ranging from 88 to 96 centimeters. It is characterized by its white plumage, which during the breeding season is adorned with buff plumes, and a yellow bill and greyish-yellow legs. The breeding adult is distinguished by its golden nuptial plumes and the buff coloration extending to the cheeks and throat.

This species can be identified by its relatively short, thick neck, sturdy bill, and hunched posture. The non-breeding adult is predominantly white with a yellow bill. During breeding, the buff on the head extends to the cheeks and throat, and the plumes take on a more golden hue. The bill and tarsus are longer than those of its western counterpart, and it is generally smaller with shorter wings.

The Eastern Cattle Egret favors drier and open habitats more than other heron species. Its preferred environments include seasonally inundated grasslands, pastures, farmlands, wetlands, and rice paddies.

Native to southern and eastern Asia, and Australasia, this species has expanded its range remarkably, partly due to its symbiotic relationship with cattle and other large grazing mammals. It has established itself in the north and east of Australia and regularly visits New Zealand.

The Eastern Cattle Egret is often seen in the company of cattle or other large mammals, taking advantage of the insects and small vertebrates these animals disturb. Some populations are migratory, while others disperse after breeding, showing a remarkable adaptability in their movements.

At the breeding colony, the Eastern Cattle Egret emits a quiet, throaty "rick-rack" call but is otherwise not a vocal species.

Breeding occurs in colonies, often near water and with other wading birds. The nest is a platform of sticks in trees or shrubs. The breeding season varies by region, with nesting in northern India beginning with the monsoons in May, and in Australia from November to early January.

The diet is varied, predominantly consisting of insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and flies, as well as spiders, frogs, and earthworms. It has been known to forage in unusual settings, including along railway lines and in seabird colonies, preying on eggs and chicks.

The Eastern Cattle Egret benefits from its association with human agriculture and has an expanding range. However, it can pose a hazard to aircraft and has been implicated in the spread of tick-borne diseases among livestock.

19-3-2025 WATER GARDENS SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is a statuesque wading bird belonging to the family Ardeidae. It is a familiar sight in both rural and urban settings, often seen standing stoically along the water's edge. An adult Grey Heron is a large bird, reaching up to 100 cm in height, with a wingspan between 155 to 195 cm. It weighs between 1 to 2 kg. The plumage is predominantly ashy-grey above, with a greyish-white underbelly and some black on the flanks. A striking feature is the white head and neck adorned with a broad black stripe that extends from the eye to the black crest. The beak is pinkish-yellow, long, and sharply pointed, while the legs are a brown hue.

When identifying the Grey Heron, look for the white head with the black supercilium and crest, the long grey neck, and the ashy-grey wings and back. The underparts are lighter, and the legs are long and brown. Juveniles can be distinguished by their duller grey neck and smaller crest. The beak is a useful indicator of age, being brighter in breeding adults.

Grey Herons are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of watery habitats including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, and coastal environments. They require shallow waters for foraging or areas with shelving margins where they can wade.

Native to temperate Europe and Asia, as well as parts of Africa, the Grey Heron has a broad range. Northern populations may migrate southwards in autumn, while others remain resident year-round. Vagrant sightings have occurred in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and parts of North America.

The Grey Heron exhibits a slow, deliberate flight with its neck retracted in an S-shape. It is known for its solitary foraging habits, often standing motionless or stalking prey through shallow waters. It is also a communal rooster, often found in trees or cliffs at night.

19-3-2025 , OLD CITY POLONNARUW, SRI LANKA - PARADOXICAL KEELED MILLIPEDE (Anoplodesmus saussurii)

Anoplodesmus saussurii is a species of millipedes in the family Paradoxosomatidae. It was once thought endemic to South Asia, including India and Sri Lanka, but it was later found in Fiji and Mauritius. It is also found in Southeast Asia

It is about 21–33 mm in length. Adults are shiny dark brown to black in color. They are much largely aggregated species that can be found undercover of decaying litter layers in the agricultural and horticultural land areas and forests on humid soils. Mainly herbivores, they are known to eat any decaying and rotting leaves and vegetable parts, and even wood, decaying fish, and cow dung. After 20 to 25 days of copulation, female laid 200 to 400 eggs in earthen nests. One female may lay 2 to 4 times of egg masses in her lifetime. After seven moultings, stadia come out to surface after the onset of the rainy season.

19-3-2025 WATER GARDENS SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA - INDIAN POND HERON (Ardeola grayii)

The Indian Pond Heron, known colloquially as the paddybird, is a modestly sized heron with a penchant for concealment. Its plumage is a mélange of streaked olive and brown, which serves as excellent camouflage against the marshy landscapes it frequents. However, when this bird takes flight, it reveals a striking contrast with its bright white wings, a feature that is otherwise hidden when at rest.

This stocky bird possesses a short neck and a robust, thick bill. The back is buff-brown, and during the summer, adults boast elongated neck feathers. When in flight, the Indian Pond Heron is unmistakable due to the white of its wings. It bears a resemblance to the squacco herons but is distinguished by its darker back. Observers should note that individuals may occasionally exhibit red legs during the breeding season, though this is not a common trait.

The Indian Pond Heron is often found stalking prey at the edges of small water bodies or roosting near human habitations. It is adept at utilizing floating vegetation to access deeper waters and is known to frequent marshy wetlands.

This heron has its origins in the Old World, with a breeding range that extends from southern Iran across the Indian subcontinent to Burma and Sri Lanka. It is a widespread and common species, yet its cryptic coloration often renders it invisible until it is nearly underfoot.

Typically solitary in its foraging habits, the Indian Pond Heron may gather in numbers during the dry season when prey is concentrated in shrinking wetlands. It is a semi-colonial breeder and has been observed foraging in diverse environments, including garbage heaps and well-watered lawns. The bird's tendency to allow close approaches by humans is notable, and it may form communal roosts in urban areas.

18-3-2025 WATER GARDENS LODGE SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA - BENGAL TRUMPET (Thunbergia grandiflora)

Thunbergia grandiflora is an evergreen vine in the family Acanthaceae. It is native to China, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indochina and Myanmar and widely naturalised elsewhere. Common names include Bengal clockvine, Bengal trumpet, blue skyflower, blue thunbergia, blue trumpetvine, clockvine, skyflower and skyvine.

Plants may grow to about 20 metres in height and have a long root system with a deep tap root, that can be as large as a small car.[The stalked, opposite leaves, which have a rough surface, are quite variable in shape. They may be triangular or ovate and the margins may be toothed, lobed or entire. Length is up to 200 mm and width is up to 60 mm, which are typically smaller than the very similar T. laurifolia.

The blue to mauve flowers are about 8 cm across with a 4 cm long tube that is pale yellow inside. These are followed by pods containing seeds that are ejected several metres upon ripening. Plants also reproduce from segments that are washed down watercourses.

With a minimum temperature of 10–13 °C (50–55 °F), this plant is cultivated as a houseplant in temperate regions,[5] and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

The species has become a serious environmental weed in Australia on disturbed land along watercourses and in the wet tropics where it smothers other vegetation. It is commonly seen north of Sydney where it has been cultivated for many years.

18-3-2025 WATER GARDENS LODGE SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA - LAND MONITOR (Varanus bengalensis)

The Bengal monitor (Varanus bengalensis) is a large terrestrial monitor lizard. Young monitors, however, may be more arboreal, but adults mainly hunt on the ground. Although large Bengal monitors have few predators apart from humans who hunt them for meat, younger individuals are hunted by many predators.

Young Bengal monitors are more colorful than adults. Young have a series of dark crossbars on the neck, throat, and back. The belly is white, banded with dark crossbars, and is spotted with grey or yellow (particularly in the eastern part of the range). On the dorsal surface of young monitors, there are a series of yellow spots with dark transverse bars connecting them. As they mature, the ground color becomes light brown or grey, and dark spots give them a speckled appearance. Bengal monitors have external nostril openings (nares) that are slit-like and oriented near horizontally and positioned between the eye and the tip of the snout. 

The nares can be closed at will, especially to keep away debris or water. The scales of the skin are rougher in patches and on the sides, they have minute pits, especially well distributed in males. These scales with micropores have glandular structures in the underlying dermal tissue and produce a secretion that may be a pheromone-like substance. Like other monitors, Bengal monitors have a forked tongue similar to snakes. The function is mainly sensory and is not very involved in the transport of food down the throat.

Bengal monitors have fat deposits in the tail and body that serve them in conditions when prey are not easily available. The lungs have spongy tissue, unlike the sacs of other saurians. This allows for a greater rate of gas exchange and allows a faster metabolic rate and higher activity levels. Like all monitors, they have subpleurodont teeth, meaning the teeth are fused to the inside of the jaw bones. While monitor lizards are venomous, there are no reports of the effects of venom in Bengal monitors other than a very controversial case report of fatal renal failure as a result of envenomation from this species.

12-4-2025 RIO SERPIS GANDIA, VALENCIA - GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus)

The Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellus, is a wading bird of the family Threskiornithidae, known for its striking, sickle-shaped bill. This mid-sized ibis measures 48–66 cm in length, with a wingspan of 80–105 cm. Breeding adults boast reddish-brown bodies and iridescent bottle-green wings, while non-breeders and juveniles display a more subdued coloration. The species is characterized by a brownish bill, dark facial skin with blue-gray to cobalt blue borders, and red-brown legs. In flight, the ibis extends its neck and exhibits a graceful V formation.

When identifying the Glossy Ibis, look for its unique glossy feathers and the distinct shape of its bill. The bird's flight pattern is also a telltale sign, as it flies with its neck outstretched, unlike herons. Listen for its various croaks and grunts, particularly the hoarse grrrr sound during the breeding season.

The Glossy Ibis favors freshwater or brackish wetlands with tall, dense emergent vegetation such as reeds, papyrus, or rushes, and low trees or bushes. It can also be found in lagoons, floodplains, wet meadows, swamps, reservoirs, sewage ponds, rice paddies, and irrigated farmland. Coastal habitats like estuaries and salt marshes are less common for this species.

This ibis is the most widespread of its kind, breeding in warm regions across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. It is migratory, with European birds wintering in Africa and North American birds migrating southward. The species has been expanding its range, with increasing numbers in Europe and successful breeding in Britain as of 2022.

12-4-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BLAIR'S MOCHA MOTH (Cyclophora puppillaria)

Cyclophora puppillaria, or Blair's mocha, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1799. It can be found in Europe and from North Africa up to the Caucasus area.

The wingspan is 28–36 mm in the first generation; the second and any subsequent generations are on average much smaller often only 19 mm. Front and hindwings have almost the same colour. This is however very variable and ranges usually from reddish brown to reddish yellow and light brown. Some specimens are sand coloured, brown or orange. Also, the pattern is very variable. The inner and outer cross lines, as well as the median band can be very well developed, but also almost completely missing. The interior cross line, but especially the outer cross line is often replaced by a row of dots. The discal spots on the front and rear wings can be large, small or completely absent. In specimens with large discal spots, these are often with white pupils. The front wing margin stains present on the hindwings, but mostly absent. The basal half of the costa is often dark. Where the inner and outer cross line reach the costal of the forewings, noticeable spots are usually developed. The fringes usually have the colour of the wings. The subspecies lilacinipes of Madeira has a dark fringe.

The moths fly from June to October depending on the location.

The larvae feed on oak.

Subspecies

Cyclophora puppillaria puppillaria

Cyclophora puppillaria granti (Prout, 1935)

Cyclophora puppillaria lilacinipes (Schaus & Cockerell, 1923)

The species is widespread in the Mediterranean region. The occurrence ranges from the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco in the west to Greece, Asia minor and Egypt in the east. It occurs on all major islands of the Mediterranean. The occurrence continues to the Crimea and the Caucasus area to Iran and possibly Afghanistan. In France, it occurs in southern France and on the Atlantic coast to south of Brittany. Further east, the northernmost permanent presence is found in Hungary are found. The species is migratory and is therefore in the summer north of the Alps to southern England, Denmark, southern Sweden and southern Finland.

The populations on Madeira and the Azores are C. p. lilacinipes on Madeira and C. p. granti on the Azores.

12-4-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (idaea cervantaria)

Very similar to I. alyssumata , it is distinguished by thicker antennae and the more marked presence of the antemedian spot on the upper edge of the wings. Widespread in Spain from where it is described, it is found in France, locally, in the Pyrénées-Orientales and also forms an isolate in Ardèche. Inhabiting xeric wastelands, it has often been seen perched on walls. The first states were described by Millière who raised it with petals of Lobularia maritima . It also accepts petals of Asteraceae .

No protection and/or heritage status for this species.

19-3-2025 , OLD CITY POLONNARUW, SRI LANKA - COMMON MYNA (Acridotheres tristis)

The common myna, also known as the Indian myna (Acridotheres tristis), is a member of the starling family Sturnidae. This bird is distinguished by its brown body, black hooded head, and the striking bare yellow patch behind its eye. The bill and legs are a vivid yellow, and there is a notable white patch on the outer primaries. The wing lining on the underside is white, and both sexes appear similar, often seen in pairs.

The common myna is highly adaptable and thrives in a variety of habitats, including open woodland, cultivation, and urban environments. It has a strong preference for areas with tall structures and minimal ground cover, which are typical of city landscapes.

Originally from Asia, the common myna's range has expanded due to introductions across the globe. It is now found in many parts of the world, including North America, Australia, New Zealand, and various islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

The common myna is known for its strong territorial instinct and adaptability to urban settings. It is a social bird, often seen in pairs or flocks, and can be quite aggressive, particularly during the breeding season.

The vocal repertoire of the common myna includes a variety of sounds such as croaks, squawks, chirps, clicks, whistles, and 'growls'. They are known for their singing and mimicry abilities, often fluffing their feathers and bobbing their heads while vocalizing.

Common mynas are believed to mate for life. They nest in cavities and are prolific breeders, with a clutch size typically ranging from 4 to 6 eggs. The species is also known to evict other birds from their nests, demonstrating their aggressive nature.

An omnivorous bird, the common myna's diet includes insects, arachnids, crustaceans, reptiles, small mammals, seeds, grains, fruits, and human waste. It forages on the ground and is particularly fond of grasshoppers.

19-3-2025 , OLD CITY POLONNARUW, SRI LANKA - BROWN HEADED BARBET (Psilopogon zeylanicus)

The Brown-headed barbet (Psilopogon zeylanicus) is an Asian barbet species native to the Indian subcontinent, where it inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests. It is widespread, with its range stretching from the Terai in southern Nepal in the north to Sri Lanka in the south, encompassing most of peninsular India, and listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is an arboreal species of gardens and wooded country which eats fruit and insects. It is fairly tolerant of humans and often seen in city parks. It nests in a tree hole, laying 2-4 eggs. It forages on mangoes, ripe jackfruit, papaya, banana, figs and similar cultivated fruit trees. 

Its habitat includes urban and country gardens; it tends to eschew heavy forest. It nests in a suitable hole in a tree that it will often excavate. Both sexes incubate the eggs and often communicate with each other using their Kura, kura calls.

The adult has a streaked brown head, neck and breast, and a yellow eye patch. The rest of the plumage is green. It is 27 cm long with a large head, short neck and short tail.

Its call is a repetitive kutroo…kutroo…kutroo, but silent in the winter. Others take up the call when one starts.

18-3-2025 WATER GARDENS LODGE SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA - GREY PANSY BUTTERFLY (Junonia atlites)

Junonia atlites, the grey pansy, is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in South Asia.

J. atlites is found in Bangladesh, India, southern China, Cambodia, Indochina, the Malay Peninsula, western and central Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Upperside of both sexes pale lavender brown, apical half of wings paler. Forewing: cell with, three transverse, short, sinuous black bands, the outermost defining the discocellulars; a similar short, somewhat broader band beyond the apex of the cell; two transverse discal dusky black fasciae, the inner highly sinuous and outward, angulate above vein 4, the outer straighter, somewhat lunular, bordered by a series of whitish ovals with dusky or black centers. The black-centered spots in the ovals in interspaces 2, 5, and 6 margined posteriorly with rich ocherous yellow. Beyond this series of ovals is a lunular, narrow, transverse dark band, followed by sinuous subterminal and terminal broad dark lines. Apex of wing slightly fuliginous. Hindwing: a short slender black loop from veins 6 to 4 at apex of cell-area; two discal sinuous transverse dark, fasciae in continuation of those on the forewing: followed by a series of dark-centered ovals in interspaces 2–6, the ovals in interspaces 2, 5, and 6 with the dark centers inwardly broadly bordered with ochreous yellow; postdiscal, subterminal and terminal dark lunular lines as on the forewing.

Underside lilacine white markings as on the upperside but very delicate, slender and somewhat obsolescent. In the dry-season forms of the males the rows of oval ocelli are only indicated by the yellow-centered ovals. The most prominent marking is the inner discal fascia crossing the wings; this is much less sinuous than on the upperside and not angulated on the forewing. In the females the markings are all heavier and more distinct, the space between the various transverse fasciae tinged with ocherous.

18-3-2025 WATER GARDENS LODGE SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA - TOQUE MACAQUE

This smallest macaque is a native Sri Lankan species with a golden-brown fur. The local people call Toque Macaque the “Rilawa”. The most characteristic feature of this primate is the toque-like swirl of hair on its head top. As a matter of fact, their physiological characteristics vary greatly, depending on climatic conditions. Thus, populations in cooler climate exhibit thick, dark brown coat as well as relatively short limbs and tails. Meanwhile, those inhabiting lowland rainforests typically display reddish or golden fur and longer bonnets. Populations in drier habitats have lighter fur, noticeably longer legs and tails as well as shorter swirl of hair on their head. 

The Toque macaques are native and endemic exclusively to Sri Lanka, where they generally occupy three types of habitat, hence can be divided into three subspecies. These are: the Common toque macaque, occurring in dry habitat; the Pale-fronted toque macaque, inhabiting wet areas; and the Hill-zone toque macaque, found at high elevations.

These primates are generally tree-dwelling creatures. The Toque macaques are highly social animals, living in units of up to 40 individuals, which remain in the group for a long period of time. However, young males are known to occasionally move between groups. As a general rule, these social units contain twice as many females as males. Each group consists of 50% mature individuals and 50% infants and juveniles. Individuals of both genders have certain responsibilities within a group. Males are the leaders of the groups, settling conflicts between juveniles, whereas females raise offspring. The Toque macaques live in a well-defined dominance hierarchy system, where the oldest male is usually the most dominant one, followed by lower-ranked members of the community: sub-adult males, adult females and then juveniles. As diurnal animals, the Toque macaques perceive their environment mainly through vision, which is even used to identify a food source. A large part of their active time is spent looking for food.

18-3-2025 WATER GARDENS LODGE SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA - SPOTTED DOVE (Spilopelia chinensis)

The Spotted Dove, known scientifically as Spilopelia chinensis, is a small, long-tailed pigeon that graces the Indian subcontinent and parts of East and Southeast Asia with its presence. This bird, with its gentle buff brown plumage and distinctive white-spotted black collar patch, is a familiar sight in many urban and rural landscapes. The tail tips are a contrasting white, and the wing coverts are adorned with light buff spots, adding to its delicate appearance.

To identify the Spotted Dove, look for the unique black collar on the back and sides of the neck, which features white spots. The bird's underparts are a rosy buff that transitions to grey on the head and belly. Both sexes are similar in appearance, but juveniles can be distinguished by their duller coloration and lack of neck spots until maturity. The length of these doves ranges from 28 to 32 centimeters.

The Spotted Dove thrives in a variety of environments, including light forests, gardens, and urban areas. It has a preference for the ground, where it forages for seeds, or low vegetation.

Native to Asia, the Spotted Dove has spread its wings far and wide, establishing feral populations across the globe, including Hawaii, southern California, Mauritius, Australia, and New Zealand.

These doves are sociable creatures, often seen in pairs or small groups. They exhibit a quick, fluttering flight from the ground and may glide gracefully to a perch. During the breeding season, males engage in cooing and aerial displays to court females.

18-3-2025 WATER GARDENS LODGE SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA - RED WATTLED LAPWING (Vanellus indicus)

The red-wattled lapwing (Vanellus indicus) is an Asian lapwing or large plover, a wader in the family Charadriidae. Like other lapwings they are ground birds that are incapable of perching. Their characteristic loud alarm calls are indicators of human or animal movements and the sounds have been variously rendered as did he do it or pity to do it[2] leading to the colloquial name of did-he-do-it bird. Usually seen in pairs or small groups not far from water, they sometimes form large aggregations in the non-breeding season (winter). They nest in a ground scrape laying three to four camouflaged eggs. Adults near the nest fly around, diving at potential predators while calling noisily. The cryptically patterned chicks hatch and immediately follow their parents to feed, hiding by lying low on the ground or in the grass when threatened. 

It breeds from West Asia (Iraq, SW Iran, Persian Gulf) eastwards across South Asia (Baluchistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the entire Indian subcontinent up to Kanyakumari and up to 1800m in Kashmir/Nepal), with another sub-species further east in Southeast Asia. May migrate altitudinally in spring and autumn (e.g. in N. Baluchistan or NW Pakistan), and spreads out widely in the monsoons on creation of requisite habitats, but by and large the populations are resident.

This species is declining in its western range, but is abundant in much of South Asia, being seen at almost any wetland habitat in its range.

18-3-2025 WATER GARDENS LODGE SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA - PURPLE HERON (Ardea purpurea)

The Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), a statuesque avian, stands with a height ranging from 70 to 94 cm and boasts a wingspan of 120 to 152 cm. Despite its grand stature, it is a slender creature, tipping the scales at a mere 0.5 to 1.35 kg. This bird is slightly smaller and more svelte than its cousin, the Grey Heron, and is adorned with darker, reddish-brown plumage.

Adult Purple Herons are distinguished by their black foreheads and crowns, with a dark stripe cascading down the back of the neck, culminating in a modest, dangling crest. Their heads and necks are a buffish chestnut, streaked with dark lines, while the mantle dons an oily brown hue. The upper parts and tail are a brownish grey, and the underparts are a mix of chestnut and black. During the breeding season, the beak of the adult brightens, and the eyes gleam with a yellow iris.

The Purple Heron is a denizen of marshes, lagoons, and lakes, often shrouded by dense vegetation. It has a penchant for freshwater habitats, particularly those with expansive reed beds of Phragmites. Coastal mangrove swamps are also within its realm, though less frequently visited.

This heron has a broad range that spans Africa, central and southern Europe, and the southern and eastern Palearctic. While the Western Palearctic populations are migratory, their African and tropical-Asian counterparts are mostly sedentary, save for occasional dispersive movements.

The Purple Heron is a creature of stealth and grace, often retreating to the sanctuary of reed beds. It exhibits a slow, deliberate flight, with its neck retracted and legs trailing behind. On land, it moves with long toes that allow it to traverse floating vegetation or even bushwalk without grasping the branches. Dawn and dusk are its preferred times for activity, with the bird often seen stalking or standing in ambush for its prey.

The heron's vocalization is a subdued "frarnk," a quieter and higher-pitched affair compared to the Grey Heron. It is generally less vocal, but similar guttural sounds may emanate from its colonies.

Purple Herons are colonial breeders, constructing bulky nests from dead reeds or sticks in close proximity to water. They lay about five bluish-green eggs, with both parents sharing incubation duties. The young emerge after approximately four weeks and take their first flight six weeks later.

The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is the most similar species, but the Purple Heron can be differentiated by its smaller size, darker plumage, and the shorter crest on its head.

A versatile predator, the Purple Heron's diet includes fish, rodents, frogs, insects, and more. It employs both stalking and ambush tactics to capture its prey, often waiting motionlessly or slowly stalking its victim.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Purple Heron as "Least Concern," despite a global population trend that is on the decline. The primary threat to this species is the drainage and disturbance of wetland habitats, particularly the destruction of reed beds.

18-3-2025 WATER GARDENS LODGE SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)

The Little Egret, Egretta garzetta, is a dainty heron adorned in pure white plumage. It is characterized by a slender black beak, long black legs, and, notably in the western race, yellow feet. This elegant bird is a sight to behold with its graceful neck and poised stance.

Adult Little Egrets measure between 55–65 cm in length with a wingspan of 88–106 cm, and weigh 350–550 g. Their plumage is predominantly white, though some may exhibit bluish-grey coloration. Breeding adults boast ornate nape plumes reaching about 150 mm, along with distinctive feathers on the breast and elongated scapulars. The bill and lores are black, with greenish-grey skin at the base of the lower mandible and around the eye, which houses a yellow iris. Legs are black with contrasting yellow feet, though juveniles may have greenish-black legs and duller feet. The subspecies E. g. nigripes is distinguished by yellow skin between the bill and eye, and blackish feet.

The Little Egret frequents a variety of wetland habitats, from the shores of lakes and rivers to marshes and coastal regions. It is often found in open environments, such as mangroves, swamps, mudflats, and sandy beaches, as well as human-altered landscapes like rice fields.

The species has a broad breeding distribution across warm temperate to tropical regions of Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe. Northern populations are migratory, wintering in Africa and southern Asia, while others remain as permanent residents in warmer areas.

Little Egrets are social yet territorial when feeding. They exhibit a range of foraging behaviors, from active chasing to patient ambush. Their movements are often in response to the presence of other animals, which may stir up prey.

The Little Egret's vocalizations include croaking and bubbling sounds at breeding colonies and a harsh alarm call when disturbed. These calls are similar to those of the Black-crowned Night Heron and the Cattle Egret.

Breeding colonies are often mixed with other water birds. Nests are platforms of sticks located in trees, shrubs, or reed beds. Clutches typically consist of three to five bluish-green eggs, incubated by both parents for about three weeks. The young fledge at approximately six weeks old.

The diet is diverse, including fish, amphibians, small reptiles, mammals, birds, crustaceans, molluscs, insects, spiders, and worms. The Little Egret employs various hunting techniques, both in water and on land, to capture its prey.

The Little Egret is classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN. Conservation measures in the 20th century have allowed populations to recover in Europe, and the species has been expanding its range. It is now successfully colonizing new areas, including the New World.

18-3-2025 WATER GARDENS LODGE SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA - INDIAN PEAFOWL (MALE) (Pavo cristatus)

The Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus), also known as the common peafowl, or blue peafowl, is a peafowl species native to the Indian subcontinent. While it originated in the Indian subcontinent, it has since been introduced to many other parts of the world. Male peafowl are referred to as peacocks, and female peafowl are referred to as peahens, although both sexes are often referred to colloquially as a "peacock".

The Indian peafowl displays a marked form of sexual dimorphism. The brightly coloured male has a blue coloured head with a fan-shaped crest and is best known for their long train. The train is made up of elongated upper-tail covert feathers with colourful eyespots. These stiff feathers are raised into a fan and quivered in a display during courtship. The peahen is predominantly brown in colour, with a white face and iridescent green lower neck, and lack the elaborate train. There are several colour mutations of the Indian peafowl including the leucistic white peafowl.

Despite the length and size of the covert feathers, the peacock is still capable of flight. The peafowl lives mainly on the ground in open forests or on cultivable lands where it forages for berries and grains, and also preys on snakes, lizards and small rodents. It makes loud calls, which makes it easier to detect, and are often used to indicate the presence of a predator in the forest areas. It forages on the ground in small groups and usually escapes on foot through undergrowth and avoids flying, though it flies into tall trees to roost.

The function of the Indian peacock's elaborate train has been debated for more than a century. In the 19th century, Charles Darwin found it a puzzle, hard to explain through ordinary natural selection. His later explanation, sexual selection, is widely but not universally accepted. In the 20th century, Amotz Zahavi argued that the train was a handicap, and that males were honestly signalling their fitness in proportion to the splendour of their trains. Despite extensive study, opinions remain divided on the mechanisms involved.

The Indian peafowl is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is the national bird of India and venerated in Hindu and Greek mythology.

The Indian peafowl was formally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under its current binomial name Pavo cristatus. The genus name Pavo is Latin for "peacock", which came from the Greek word taos derived from Persian tavus, which came from the Tamil word tokei. The specific epitet cristatus is Latin meaning "crested". The species is considered to be monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.

The earliest usage of the word peacock in written English was from the 14th century where Geoffrey Chaucer (1343–1400) used the word in a simile "proud a pekok" in his epic poem Troilus and Criseyde.[9][10] Various spelling variants included peacock, pacok, pecok, pekok, pokok, and pocok among others.

18-3-2025 WATER GARDENS LODGE SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA - LITTLE CORMORANT (Microcarbo niger)

The Little Cormorant, Microcarbo niger, is a dainty member of the cormorant family, measuring about 50 centimeters in length. In its breeding attire, it boasts a sleek, all-black plumage adorned with white spots and delicate filoplumes on its face, and a modest crest on the back of its head. The non-breeding or juvenile birds display a more subdued brownish plumage, with a small, distinct white patch on the throat.

Distinguishable from the slightly larger Indian Cormorant by its shorter beak and absence of a peaked head, the Little Cormorant has dark eyes and facial skin. Males and females appear similar, though males are generally larger. A rare silvery-grey plumage has been noted in some individuals.

The Little Cormorant frequents a variety of freshwater bodies, from diminutive village ponds to expansive lakes, and occasionally coastal estuaries.

This species is widely distributed across the Indian Subcontinent, extending east to Java. It is absent from the Himalayas, though vagrants have been spotted in Ladakh.

Often seen perched on waterside rocks with wings outstretched, the Little Cormorant forages alone or in small groups. It dives underwater, propelled by webbed feet, to catch fish, which are sometimes stolen by other birds when brought to the surface.

Breeding occurs in trees, often within mixed-species heronries. The breeding season varies regionally, with nests constructed from sticks. Clutch sizes range from two to six eggs, with asynchronous hatching due to incubation starting with the first egg.

The Little Cormorant may be confused with the vagrant Pygmy Cormorants, especially west of the Indus River valley, where their ranges overlap.

Their diet consists mainly of fish, which they catch by diving in shallow waters. They are known to fish in waters less than a meter deep, targeting fish approximately 2–8 centimeters in length.

The Little Cormorant is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating it is not currently at significant risk of widespread decline.

Near their nests and roosts, Little Cormorants are quite vocal, emitting low roaring sounds, grunts, groans, and a variety of calls including a low-pitched "ah-ah-ah" and "kok-kok-kok".

18-3-2025 WATER GARDENS LODGE SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA - DITCH JEWEL DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Brachythemis contaminata)

Brachythemis contaminata, ditch jewel, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is found in many Asian countries.

It is a small dragonfly with brown-capped yellowish-green eyes. Its thorax is olivaceous-brown, marked with a reddish-brown humeral stripe and two brownish stripes on each side. Wings are transparent; but with a broad bright orange fascia extending from base to within 2 to 3 cells of reddish pterostigma. Abdomen is ochreous-red, marked with dorsal and sub-dorsal brown stripes. Anal appendages are in reddish-brown. Female is similar to the male; but in pale yellowish-green color. Wings are transparent, tinted with yellow at extreme base;, but the bright orange fascia seen in the male absent.

It breeds in weedy ponds, lakes, and slowly moving streams; especially in sluggish waters. It is very common along sewage canals, tanks, ponds and ditches.

This type of dragonfly has the smallest genome of its kind. The entire circular genome is 15,056 bp in length and represents the smallest in presently known odonatan mitogenomes. (Yu et al 2014).  Its first species to have a complete mitochondrial genome among the family Libellulidae. This helps learn more about their genetics, and their evolution.

10-4-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - IPSILON DART MOTH (Agrotis ipsilon)

 

Agrotis ipsilon, the dark sword-grass, ipsilon dart, black cutworm, greasy cutworm or floodplain cutworm, is a small noctuid moth found worldwide. The moth gets its scientific name from black markings on its forewings shaped like the letter "Y" or the Greek letter upsilon. The larvae are known as "cutworms" because they cut plants and other crops. The larvae are serious agricultural pests and feed on nearly all varieties of vegetables and many important grains.

This species is a seasonal migrant that travels north in the spring and south in the fall to escape extreme temperatures in the summer and winter. The migration patterns reflect how reproduction occurs in the spring and ceases in the fall.

Females release sex pheromones to attract males for mating. Pheromone production and release in females and pheromone responsiveness in males is dependent on the juvenile hormone (JH) and pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (BPAN). In the span of 2 months, the moth progresses through the life cycle stages egg, larvae, pupa, and adult. Throughout this time period, this moth faces the risk of predation and parasitism, such as by Hexamermis arvalis or by the parasite Archytas cirphis.

10-4-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - ANGLE MOTH (Itame vincularia)

Itame vincularia is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is found in France, Portugal, Spain, North Africa and Turkey.

The wingspan is about 28–32 mm.

The larvae feed on Rhamnus infectoria and Frangula alnus.

Subspecies

Itame vincularia vincularia

Itame vincularia latefasciata Rothschild, 1914

Itame vincularia lycioidaria Herbulot, 1957

Itame vincularia mrassinaria (Oberthur, 1923)

18-3-2025 WATER GARDENS LODGE SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA - COMMON SAILOR BUTTERFLY (Neptis hylas)

Neptis hylas, the common sailor, is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia. It has a characteristic stiff gliding flight achieved by short and shallow wingbeats just above the horizontal. Bengali name: চরবাতাসি. Distributed Throughout continental India; Sri Lanka; Assam; Nepal; Myanmar (Tenasserim), extending to China and Indomalaya.

Dry-season form - Upperside black, with pure white markings. Forewing discoidal streak clavate (club shaped), apically truncate, subapically either notched or sometimes indistinctly divided; triangular spot beyond broad, well defined, acute at apex, but not elongate; discal series of spots separate, not connate (united), each about twice as long as broad; postdiscal transverse series of small spots incomplete, but some are always present. Hindwing: subbasal band of even or nearly oven width; discal and subterminal pale lines obscure; postdiscal series of spots well separated, quadrate or subquadrate, very seldom narrow. Underside from pale golden ochraceous to dark ochraceous almost chocolate; white markings as on the upperside, but broader and defined in black. Forewing: interspaces 1a and 1 from base to near the apex shaded with black, some narrow transverse white markings on either side of the transverse postdiscal series of small spots. Hindwing a streak of white on costal margin at base, a more slender white streak below it; the discal and subterminal pale lines of the upperside replaced by narrow white lines with still narrower margins of black. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen black; the palpi, thorax and abdomen beneath dusky white.

Wet-season form - Differs only in the narrowness of the white markings and in the slightly darker ground colour and broader black margins to the spots and bands on the underside.

More than 20 subspecies have been described.

17-3-2025 ISHQ COLOMBO, SRI LANKA - RED WATER LILY (Nymphaea rubra)

Nymphaea rubra is a species of waterlily native to the region spanning from Sri Lanka and northeastern India to western and central Malesia. Additionally, it has been introduced to regions such as Southeast China, Cuba, Guyana, Hungary, and Suriname.

Nymphaea rubra has 15.1 cm long, and 7.9 cm wide rhizomes. The petiolate, orbicular leaves are 25–48 cm wide. The adaxial leaf surface is bronzy red to dark green, and the abaxial leaf surface is dark purple. The leaf venation is very prominent. The petiole is 140 cm long.

The flowers are 15–25 cm wide. The four purplish-red sepals are oblong to lanceolate. The 12-20 narrowly oval petals have a rounded apex. The androecium consists of 55 red stamens. The gynoecium consists of 16-21 carpels.[6] The fruit bears 1.85 mm long, and 1.6 mm wide seeds. The peduncle is 116 cm long.[3] The flowers are pleasantly fragrant.

The diploid chromosome count is 2n = 56.