Black Eagle - Galaha, Sri Lanka

The Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malaiensis) is seen regularly around the Galaha area near Kandy, Sri Lanka. I've been trying to photograph it while perched for about 20 years but have had no luck so far. This weekend was no exception. We saw the birds at quite a close range but unfortunately they didn't perch on any of the trees in the area. This photograph was taken when the birds swooped down on one of it's many circuits of the area.

 

Hindagala Raja Maha Viharaya - Hindagala, Kandy

The Hindagala Rajamaha Viharaya, located close to the university of Peradeniya, has been dated back to the 7th Century AD. The temple is known for its paintings that can be seen on the outer facade of the temple. However, the oldest paintings are within the cave itself. 

Yellow-fronted Barbet - Kandy, Sri Lanka

I photographed this Yellow-fronted Barbet (Megalaima flavifrons) outside the dining room window in Kandy. I'd seen it feeding on the tree a few times and decided to wait for it one afternoon. Luck was in my favour as the bird perched on an exposed branch within my line of sight and gave me the opportunity to take the shot. This photograph was used as the cover photograph of the second edition of Gehan de Silva Wijeyratne's book "A photographic guide to the birds of Sri Lanka".

Indian Tree Frog - Kandy, Sri Lanka

This was one of about 5 Indian tree frogs (Polypedates maculatus) that emerged out of an egg sack that was hanging over some water. It took the frogs about 15-20 minutes to emerge from the sack and hop away. Some of them made straight for some shrubs that were growing close to the sack while others jumped into the water. 

Ambalama - Godamunne, Sri Lanka

Ambalama's are old buildings that were setup as wayside rests to be used by travels and can be found throughout the country. The ambalama in Godamunne is said to have been built using pillars from the Hanguranketha Palace which was destroyed by the  Dutch in the 17th century. The pillars themselves have ornate carvings on them but they have been damaged over time. 

The Temple of the Tooth - Kandy, Sri Lanka

I thought I'd get to the temple early in the morning and photograph it's exterior before pilgrims and tourists started arriving. I was surprised when I had issues finding parking after a 5.00am start! It was impossible to compose a shot of the building without including people so I had no choice but to come up with a composition that included pilgrims. 

Lankatilaka Temple - Hiyarapitiya, Sri Lanka

The Lankatilaka temple is said to have been constructed by King Bhuvenekabahu IV in 1344. It is relatively close to the Embekke and Gadaladeniya temples. Its probably best to visit the temple early in the morning or late in the afternoon as it is built on a rock which heats up during the day. 

Crimson-fronted Barbet

I photographed this Crimson-fronted Barbet in Kandy. It was nesting in a tree nearby and would stop on this perch to get rid of waste from the nest. Positioning myself to get a decent shot was a bit of a challenge as it was on a steep slope but it worked out and I was able to capture this shot.

City views - Kandy, Sri Lanka

Kandy, a city in the central highlands, was the last Sri Lankan kingdom to fall to the British in February 1815. It is the second largest city in Sri Lanka and the capital of the central province. Attractions in the area include the Temple of the Tooth, the Peradeniya botanical gardens and the Kandy lake and the King's Palace.