Streaked Laughingthrush

For this lazy Sunday I will go with the Streaked Laughingthrush. Oblivious to the snow around, it just kept playing or at least what looked like play to me. All kind of Laughingthrushs have beautiful voices but I did not hear it sing this time.

These pictures were clicked at Narkanda, Himachal Pradesh while it got a cover of snow in late February and early March. I was taking a stroll along the main road and found them at the edge of the road. Going by their reaction to me, they were mildly used to being around human beings. It kind of ignored my presence.

I am not sure I like cold weather but being in snow for a few days was jolly good fun. What is exotic weather for me was an irritant for the locals! The bird didn’t seem to mind it though.

There was snow and slush on the roads and apart from the skiers no one seemed to be too happy about it. There is a ski program available with the HPTDC and people from HP police were doing it. They could ski on the side of the road while going to a different location.

I took a walk on one of the quieter roads and it was absolutely amazing. Only an occasional jeep would come my way and I had the whole wonderland to myself!

Other than this close sighting (I use a 75-300 lens for most of my bird pictures) I was not lucky with birds this time. I saw one from the woodpecker family, but before I could gather my wits around, it decided to vanish. It has been actually quite sometime since I went chasing birds. I guess it is about time!