Getting twithchy...

Out for a stroll enjoying the late afternoon sun, and was pleased to spot a number of interesting new visitors (or possibly residents) in my kneck of the woods.

We have a large and talkative population of mynahs, the usual mob of red-bum and yellow-bum bulbuls, gangs of marauding parrots and the occasional iridescent sunbird. On the pond are a couple of gangs of mallards, and the occasional heron. Hoopoes abound.

To this yesterday we can add some very welcome newcomers. First up (or down) is what I think is a 'little grebe', a very small duck-shaped bird that behaves like a northern cormorant, diving below the surface of the water for long periods of time, only to resurface a considerable distance away.

Then something new - a flash of bright turquoise, and there on the fence is what I assumed was a large kingfisher. Later searches suggested it might be a 'european roller', but I'll have to try and get a closer look.

Another exotic was a small sleek sportscar of a bird, obviously evolved for speed and maneuverablilty, which I think was a variety of bee-eater. Its colour was striking, merging from deep green around the edges of its dart-like plan, to a deep terracotta on its back.

More twitching tonight, with a camera to hand!