20 : Black-hooded Oriole

Black-hooded Oriole - Oriolus xanthornus

Orioles belong in the sun of the tree canopy. Their sulphur yellow plumage and fluting songs are exotic and make you strain your eyes into the tops of trees to pick them out. They are such a reward to see and hear. This bird again was just around Ellerton's lodge in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Every morning I would walk 3 paces out of the front door of my room to look out onto a forested slope and spend a good hour picking out birds. Birding on tap at 6 am to work up an appetite for breakfast.

If you go to Sri lanka try hoppers - baskets woven out of rice flour that have an egg in the bottom. Fruit and a curry for breakfast is not uncommon either. They are accompanied by a thing called sambal which is shredded coconut usually with spicy tomatoe or mint. You might get a Dhal or some spicy potatoes. A Sri-lankan omolette with fiery green and red chillies is a good start for the day as well. There are different pickles made out of mangos,brinjal or limes. The bananas are good with the pickles - they tend to be small and sweet. In Sri lanka the food miles measured on a banana can be less than 1. Also buffalo curd with a treacle from palm sap was a new one on me. Big birds followed by a big breakfast. The day is already perfect before 8.30 am.

Black-hooded Oriole - Oriolus xanthornus
Ellertons lodge, Kandy, Sri Lanka
8-13 April 2011