A Blue-faced Malkoha, in a summery blue setting!

Normally, I am not the kind to stay at home (or luxuriate under the vents of an AC pretending to work, for that matter) even on the hottest day in May, if there is birding to be done.

In fact, birding in the peak of summer has one distinct advantage, the weather is mind-bogglingly "sunny" and the light is the kind that will make any photographer go ga ga with delight!

But then, this May was different, thanks to the heat wave that battered most of North and South India, accounting for a lot of deaths (mostly of the poor, those unlucky enough to get any work other than the kind that calls for getting broiled in the sun) and the weather was certainly not something that can be called "sunny", in a flippant, or conversational way.

But as I keep saying, a man has to do what a man has to do, so I  tried to put in a spot of "hot weather" birding, as is my wont, and braved the dust devils and the mirages while striking it afoot, looking for birds.

Then again, at some level this is work for me, and I better keep at it -- sun or rain, no?

I made this image of a Blue-faced Malkoha on a May evening, after spending almost half an hour patiently tracking the bird as it worked its way through a couple of thorn thickets, a Ber tree and then, through this Tamarind.

This is a full frame image, and seems just about perfect. And, that dazzling blue sky in the background gives an idea of the light that was on offer.

P.S. -- I never knew Tamarind flowers were pink

Nor did I know that the Blue-faced Malkoha is NOT a brood parasite. So much to learn daily, while in the pursuit of birds. I better keep at it -- sun or rain, no?