World Cup fever

There's been a lot of birding activity on the continent these days.

Up north in Bangladesh, did you see the Coppersmith Barbets take on the Indian Fairy Bluebirds, or were they aggressive and comical Purple Swamp hens?

At home in Chennai, a lack of imagination in plumage creation, meant that a look-alike team of Coppersmith Barbets flew in from Kenya took on the sleek and versatile Darters from New Zealand, and came out second-best.

Down south in Sri Lanka, a group of Blue and Yellow Tanagers were an unusual sighting, and thrashed a flock or Red Finches from Canada.

Last night, it was the turn of the Golden Orioles from Australia to dominate the athletic and bright Red Cardinals all the way from Zimbabwe.

More sightings will be reported soon.