Early in the morning, I walked an unpaved trail deeper into the forest. The path passed through an area known for leopard movement, so we moved quietly. My driver, familiar with the birds along the way, listened ahead.
Then a clear, melodic call came from the trees. We stopped. High above us, a bird sat on a branch, briefly held by the first light of the morning. I raised the camera and waited for the frame to settle.
Curious, I checked the bird with Merlin: a Eurasian Hoopoe. Its warm plumage, raised crest and gently curved bill stood out in the morning light.
I stayed with it for a while, taking a few photographs as the sun rose.
The forest often reveals itself this way — not all at once, but through a call, a pause, a bird held briefly in the light. This was one of those mornings.
