Steve Happ Photography Ramblings and dissertations

Green Bee-eater Splits , May 2021.

This is the latest splits from some fancy taxonomy doods. “Accept split of Ethiopian Bee-eater from Blue-breasted Bee-eater.

Accept splits of African Green Bee-eater Merops viridissimus and Arabian Green Bee-eater Merops cyanophrys from Asian Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis.”

So, I had a look at my Green Bee-eater photos again to see what I had.

African Green Bee-eater(Merops virdissimus)

This one was taken at Gebel Shisha, Aswan, in Egypt. It is possible it is a Merops orientalis cleopatra, but I am not sure. Also possible, ssp. viridissimus, new species – African Green Bee-eater. December 11th, 2017. “Yes, African Green Bee-eater (Merops viridissimus), I think ssp. M. v. cleopatra. Lack blue on cheek and throat rules out Arabian Green Bee-eater (Merops cyanophrys), location rules out Asian Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis).” (from Nikolas Haass).

Arabian Green Bee-eater (Merops cyanophrys)

Seen at Khatt, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on the way to Wadi Masafi. November 20th, 2017. “It is usually found in dry, open country with scattered trees and in wadis, gardens and farmland…. (split) on the basis of its shorter central tail feathers, its blue forehead, supercilium and throat and its broader black breast band. ” (http://www.arthurgrosset.com/mebirds/littlegreenbee-eater.html)

Arabian Green Bee-eater (Merops cyanophrys)

Seen at Al Ain, UAE on November 13th, 2017. Another Arabian Green Bee-eater, I reckon. I could be wrong of course, as I am so often, doh! Thanks to Gustav and Nikolas for help with ID. 🙂

As for the Asian Green Bee-eater(Merops orientalis), the range goes from South-East Asia, Indian subcontinent into coastal Iran. I have seen them in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Sri Lanka – Bundala National Park, Vietnam – Mui Ne, and Cambodia – Stung Treng.

Jungle Beach , Galle

Rumassala Sanctuary, Jungle Beach, Galle – Southern Province, Sri Lanka. 16th April 2021.

Spotted Dove (Western) (Streptopelia chinensis suratensis)

This is subspecies suratensis according to Ebird. Birdlife has it a separate species. Western Spotted Dove (Spilopelia suratensis).
“The population in India suratensis (type locality Surat) and Sri Lanka have fine rufous or buff spots on the back. There is a size reduction trend with specimens from southern India being smaller. The lesser and median wing-coverts are also spotted at the tip in buff” (wiki).

Sri Lanka Green-Pigeon (Treron pompadora) – male

He is looking very yellow. ???

Green Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula aenea)

Black-hooded Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus)

My mate Pete reckons : “These buggers predate other species’s nests. And look very good while they’re doing it.”

Crimson-fronted Barbet (Psilopogon rubricapillus)

Crimson-fronted Barbet (Psilopogon rubricapillus)

Brown-headed Barbet (Psilopogon zeylanicus)

Sri Lanka Bird List

Spotted Dove (Western) (Streptopelia chinensis suratensis)
Brown-headed Barbet (Psilopogon zeylanicus)
Crimson-fronted Barbet (Psilopogon rubricapillus)
Green Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula aenea)
Sri Lanka Green-Pigeon (Treron pompadora)
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
Yellow-billed Babbler (Argya affinis)
Common Tailorbird ( Orthotomus sutorius)
House Crow
Black-hooded Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus)

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Hikkaduwa Birding – Sri Lanka

Late yesterday afternoon, I went out the back of Hikkaduwa to try and find some birds. All in all it was pretty successful, with a few good birds and some great photos.

Loten’s Sunbird (Cinnyris lotenius) – male

Or is it Nectarinia lotenia ?

Loten’s Sunbird (Cinnyris lotenius) – female

Red-backed Flameback (Dinopium psarodes) – female

I think they have been split and the old name was Black-rumped Flameback (Dinopium benghalense psarodes).

Red-backed Flameback (Dinopium psarodes)

Get that into ya!

Red-backed Flameback (Dinopium psarodes)

That’s all. No more.

Red-backed Flameback (Dinopium psarodes)

My turn!

Indian Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphon paradisi)

Another crappy photo. They are so damned difficult to photograph. They never sit still and as soon as they see you, they are off.

White-rumped Munia (Lonchura striata)

Ashy Woodswallow (Artamus fuscus)

I am not really sure about this. My internet is down so I cannot check, doh! Edit: yes, this is correct. It seems it is the only one(Woodswallow) in the Southern District.

Indian Pond-heron (Ardeola grayii)

Sri Lanka Bird List

Loten’s Sunbird (Cinnyris lotenius)
Indian Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi)
Red-backed Flameback (Dinopium psarodes) or Black-rumped Flameback (Dinopium benghalense psarodes)
White-rumped Munia (Lonchura striata)
Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)
Ashy Woodswallow (Artamus fuscus)
White-throated Kingfisher
Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius)
Indian Pond-heron
Green Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula aenea)
Cattle Egret
Common Myna
Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
Black-hooded Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus)
White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens)
Yellow-billed Babbler (Argya affinis)
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis)
Oriental Magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis)
Brown-headed Barbet (Megalaima zeylanica)
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) – ssp lankae
Plain Prinia (Prinia inornata)

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Galle, Sri Lanka Birding

Rumassala Sanctuary, Jungle Beach, Galle – Southern Province, Sri Lanka.

I got a tuktuk up the hill to Jungle Beach. I started walking up the hill towards the Rumassala Sanctuary, wandered around for a while and got some pretty good birds for no expectations. Maybe five new birds. Big surprise!

Crimson-fronted Barbet (Psilopogon rubricapillus)

Brown-headed Barbet (Psilopogon zeylanicus)

Green Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula aenea)

Sri Lanka Green-Pigeon (Treron pompadora)

“Medium-sized green pigeon with yellow face and yellowish line on the wing. Male has a maroon back that is green on the female. Female has pale, green-marked undertail, unlike plainer, rufous undertail of Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, or rufous markings of Yellow-footed Green Pigeon. Legs and feet of Sri Lanka Green Pigeon are reddish.” (ebird)

Jerdon’s Leafbird (Chloropsis jerdoni)

Pale-billed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum erythrorhynchos)

Indian Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi) – male

This is the only shot I got of him. He was flitting around all over the place and would not stay still. Cinammon morph i think.

Purple-rumped Sunbird (Leptocoma zeylonica)

Purple-faced Langur (Trachypithecus vetulus)

Galle bird list

Green Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula aenea)
Sri Lanka Green-Pigeon (Treron pompadora)
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
Common Tailorbird ( Orthotomus sutorius)
Pale-billed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum erythrorhynchos)
Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
Yellow-billed Babbler (Argya affinis)
Brown-headed Barbet (Psilopogon zeylanicus)
Crimson-fronted Barbet (Psilopogon rubricapillus)
Indian Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi)
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)
House Crow
Purple-rumped Sunbird
White-throated Kingfisher
Jerdon’s Leafbird (Chloropsis jerdoni)
White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens)

Mammals

Purple-faced Langur (Trachypithecus vetulus)
Long-tailed Macaque
Indian Palm Squirrel

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From Langkawi to Ahangama

So, here are all the photos off my phone from months ago. I have been meaning to do this for two weeks, but finally I get around to doing it on the second last day of quarantine here in Sri Lanka. It has gone very quickly. I have been surfing most days, I did my ten thousand steps every day, I swam in the pool a couple of times a day. I thought I was fit until I tried surfing again, and whew! I am not fit. After two weeks I can manage to go out in the water for half an hour and stand up on the surboard now! Woohoo.

Kien’s eggs

Starting off from Langkawi about a month ago. Here is Kien with his first eggs from his chooks. He is so proud.

First flower

And his first flower in his garden. I have no idea what it is. But it is extremely beautiful.

Common Sunda Toad

Duttaphrynus melanostictus is commonly called Asian common toad, Asian black-spined toad, Asian toad, black-spectacled toad, common Sunda toad. This one hung around my doorstep every morning.

K.L. old building

I cannot remember the name of this old building. Possibly colonial.

Kuala Lumpur riverside

Not really a river, just a filthy black drain, ha ha.

K.L. Chinatown

Jalan Sultan in Chinatown. There were a bunch of homeless dudes living under my window and screaming their heads off at 4am in the morning. I loved it.

LRT ride

This is the overhead subway, light rail, on the way to the hospital to get my pcr test done.

Luxury plane trip

This is the plane to Singapore. I forget the name of the airline.

Landing

Landing at Changi Airport, Singapore.

Scoot

I waited in the transit lounge at Changi for ten hours. So boredom. I did about twenty laps around that lounge.

Quarantine

This is the view from my room at Quarantine. I had to do two weeks in this hell-hole!

Indian palm squirrel (Funambulus palmarum)

Also called three-striped palm squirrel.

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Ahangama Surfing

I have rented a surfboard here in Ahangama, southern Sri Lanka. I went out the first day and I could not even stand up. I was completely knackered after about twenty minutes. I thought I was fit. Luckily today I managed to stand up. It has been about six or seven years since I last went surfing. doh!

Go chica !

Cutback

Going left

Big turn

Sharing is caring

California Soul Arch

Bail out

Riding the foam

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Last days at Langkawi

This was the last shoot that I did on Langkawi. I took the camera to the beach to get some photos of the pair of Collared Kingfishers that have been there for weeks.

Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)

Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

Super low tide

Langkawi bird list

Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)
Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)
Pacific Reef-Heron – dark morph
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)
White-bellied Sea-eagle

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Padang Matsirat

The other day I walked along the creek behind the Padang Matsirat wet fish market. It was a pretty ordinary morning with nothing special or new.. ha ha way to tell a story..

Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)

Great Egret ( Ardea alba )

Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus)

Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)

Is it feeding on a snail ?

Red Collared Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica)

And some Spotted Doves.

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

Carpenter Bee

Xylocopa sp.

Langkawi bird list

Great Egret ( Ardea alba )
Common Sandpiper
Pond Heron sp.
Paddyfield Pipit
Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)
Red Collared Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica)
Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus)
Brown Shrike
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)
Black-naped Oriole
collared kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

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