It was one bright Sunday afternoon after a long birding session at Kenjar, Mangaluru. Our group — Mr. Vivek Nayak, Mr. Vaman Kamath, Mr. Abhay Yelloore, and Dr. Ashwin Sujir — had spent the entire morning exploring the serene landscapes, cameras in hand, hearts filled with excitement.

Since we had started very early, none of us had time for breakfast. Hunger began to take over after hours of walking under the sun. Sensing that, Dr. Sujir sir kindly invited all of us for lunch at the Pilikula Golf Club. The thought of a good meal and shade made everyone smile — it felt like a perfect way to end the morning's adventure.

As we waited for lunch, a familiar sound suddenly reached our ears — a soft “churrr churrr” call from somewhere outside. Vivek, ever alert, immediately said, “That's a Spotted Owlet!” and rushed out to check.

After a few minutes, he returned, excitement glowing in his eyes. “The owlet is perched on a wooden branch outside!” he said breathlessly. In a flash, we all ran out, picked up our cameras from the car, and began shooting this unexpected little beauty. The Spotted Owlet sat calmly, blinking in the mild afternoon light, a sight that made our hearts full. Just then, the sky turned dark and it started drizzling — the soft touch of the monsoon rain. We quickly ran back inside for shelter, drenched but happily laughing. In all that hurry, Vaman forgot his camera and left it near the spot. After lunch, we went back to collect it. And what a surprise awaited us! The same Spotted Owlet was sitting right on top of the camera, as if it had posed for us one last time! For a few moments, we all stood silent, amazed by the magic of nature. Then the cameras clicked again — this time, not just to capture the bird, but the feeling of wonder, laughter, and friendship that surrounded it. It was a lifetime memory, a story we will cherish forever — a gentle lesson that nature rewards patience and passion in the most unexpected way. We bowed our heads in gratitude — Thank you, Nature, for this beautiful and unforgettable gift!