This is my 3rd photographic trip to Sri Lanka and this is the first "proper" photo of a Purple-rumped Sunbird that I have been able to take. In actual fact, even though its only mid afternoon here I have already taken lots of photos and had a full day. Ravi, my host told me where there was a Bateacha nest, Bateacha seems to be Sri Lankan word for any small bird. We went quickly this morning to have a look and immediately saw the nest about 6 foot up an a sparse tree with exotic berries. Within seconds a bird arrived with a beak full of grasses, surprisingly it was a Black-headed Munia, a little finch and not a bird I have seen near to the house here so it was a big surprise. I thought it would be busy building the nest for a few more days yet and planned to go back this afternoon to have a session there. I stood next to the nest for more than an hour but it didn't turn up! Quite why that was I have no idea, perhaps, as Ravi said, they only build in the morning so I will try again then. As I walked back I noticed a small Lizard species on a post and I set up the camera to photograph it with some great success, then suddenly in flew this Sunbird and with the camera on a tripod and the bird only a few feet from me I could not fail. It just proves that luck is sometimes just as important as planning and preparation because I have tried really hard previously to photograph this species but with no real success.
I really like this last shot because of the rusty nail contrasting with the gorgeous bird.