A Brahminy Starling (Sturnia pagodarum) spotted on top of a pillar at the Vittala Temple during the evening. The scientific name of the Brahminy Starling is Sturnia pagodarum, where 'pagodarum' apparently comes from the species tending to perch on top of south Indian temple pagodas.

A Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) spotted close to Creede, Colorado. Swainson's hawk is purported to be the longest migrant of any North American raptor with a flight over 14,000 mi from the United States to southern Brazil or Argentina.

Spotted at Anjaneya Hill, Hampi.

A brown noddy (Anous stolidus) that we spotted close to Mandemangota Island around Kolombangara in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. Their name derives from the Latin stolidus meaning impassive owing to their utter nonchalance when it came to humans/sailors or predators. The noddy sits atop emerged coralline limestone.

A male Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) spotted deep inside the jungles of Rendova. Being surrounded by several of these colorful birds in thick vegetation was quite surreal.

A brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) and a western gull (Larus occidentalis) have a day out at the beach to fish in the Pacific Ocean.

I had to be very careful to catch a glimpse of the elusive American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus). This species has a very distinctive call almost sounding like a drop of water which it makes by inflating its oesophagoes with air  - listen here.