Pea blue (Lampides boeticus)

English: Pea blue
Binomial Name: Lampides boeticus

Pea blue is a butterfly belongs to Lycaenidae family and population of this butterfly has been distributed in many parts of the world including Sri Lanka. This photo was taken in Horton National Park close to Ulex europaeus shrubs which is one of this butterfly's host plants.

Common evening brown (Melanitis leda)

Wet-season form

English: Common evening brown
Binomial Name: Melanitis leda

Widely distributed butterfly in Asia, Africa and Australia including Sri Lanka. Two seasonal forms exists namely Wet-season form and Dry-season from. Different types of grasses are the host plants of this butterfly.

Red-faced malkoha (Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus)

English: Red-faced malkoha
Binomial Name: Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus
Sinhala: වත රතු මල්කොහා[Watha rathu malkoha]

Red-faced malkoha is an endemic bird found in dense forests of Sri Lanka. Sinharaja Forest Reserve is considered as the popular place to observe this bird. Most of the time this bird become a member of mixed-species feeding flocks of Sinharaja forest. It is shy and can be seen in the canopy layer of the forest. This bird is listed as "vulnerable" in Red Data list. Degradation of forests become the major threat for the bird.

Monkey Puzzle (Rathinda amor)

English: Monkey Puzzle
Binomial Name: Rathinda amor

Rathinda amor is a widely distributed butterfly in Sri Lanka except central highlands. Common in areas where the rainfall is high. This butterfly can also be seen in India. Its host plants belong to Rubiaceae, Dipterocarpeae, Euphorbiaceae, Loranthaceae, Sapindaceae and Myrtaceae families.

Habenaria acuminata

Binomial Name: Habenaria acuminata / Ate acuminata Thwaites

A wild orchid found in Sri Lanka and South India. In Sri Lanka it can be found in Submontane zone. Above photographs were taken in November.

Vaccinium leschenaultii

Binomial Name: Vaccinium leschenaultii
 

V. leschenaultii is a small tree/large shrub found in highlands of Sri Lanka. This plant can also be seen in other Asian countries such as India and Myanmar. Color of flowers varies from dark pink to white. This photograph was taken in a forest patch of Horton National Park.

Lime butterfly (Papilio demoleus)

English: Lime butterfly / Lemon butterfly
Binomial Name: Papilio demoleus

Common butterfly found in all environmental regions of Sri Lanka. It is given the name, "Lime Butterfly" since it uses plants belong to citrus family as the host plant. Population of this butterfly has been distributed around many other Asian countries.

Sri Lanka whistling thrush (Myophonus blighi)

Male

Female

Male

Female

English: Sri Lanka whistling thrush
Binomial Name: Myophonus blighi
Sinhala: ලංකා අරංගයා/අරංගයා[Lanka arangaya/Arangaya]

An endemic resident breeder of Sri Lanka. It is found in the central hills close to jungles or inside dense forests. This species is considered as a one of the most difficult to observe bird in Sri Lanka due to its shyness, scarcity and restricted distribution. Being usually active in dawn and dusk makes it even more difficult to observe. Horton National Park and Peak Wilderness Sanctuary are said to be the best areas to observe this bird. In IUCN Red list it is listed in "Endangered" category.