Last winter we decided to explore a couple of National parks at the foothills of the Himalayas. We first visited the Dudhwa national park. Unfortunately for us there was a low depression in the area and we were welcomed with cloudy skies and incessant rains. It actually rained for the entire duration of our visit. We did not let the rains and overcast conditions dampen our spirits and one morning we headed out to the nearby Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary is located on the banks of the Girwa river, that is known to be one of the best places in the world to watch the Gharial in its natural habitat.
As we entered the road on the embankment that led to the boating point within the Sanctuary, we were welcomed with familiar sights and sounds of birdlife. We decided to lookout for birds and that is when we spotted this beautiful Black-hooded Oriole along the treeline beside the road. Ritish took the jeep as close as he could without unsettling the Oriole. That was a good enough distance for my trusted 300mm f/2.8 with the 2x TC mounted on it. Though the overcast conditions posed a challenge and the lens was struggling to focus, we did manage to get some decent portraits of this handsome fellow.
