Photographer: Norbu
Blue-naped Pitta
We are delighted to present you with a photograph of a rare species found in Bhutan. Despite having seen this species a few times during our tours over the years, we never expected to be able to capture it on camera due to its shy behavior and rarity. During our spring tour in March, while on our way to Yongkala from Nganglam, a small town in the southeast of Bhutan bordering India, my co-guide Pema Dawa and I heard an unusual sound from the road ahead during our morning birding walk. Though we were initially distracted by other bird activities, we eventually heard the Blue-naped Pitta calling loudly, not too far from where we were. We informed our clients and walked back a few bends, cautioning them that it would be a difficult task. While some decided to stay behind, most of them agreed to give it a try. When we finally reached the spot where the call was coming from and patiently listened for its next call, we were pleasantly surprised to hear it calling very close to us. To our delight, we saw it perched on a branch of a mid-sized tree, offering us a wonderful opportunity to capture their beauty on camera. This was the first time we were able to photograph this species and we couldn’t be happier.