It was still dark when we began our journey from Puttur, our hearts filled with excitement for the day ahead. Our birding team — Suresh Kamath, Arun Santhosh, Venkatrya Malya, Avinash Adapa, and I — packed our breakfast and lunch, ready for a long day surrounded by nature's beauty. As the car climbed the winding Western Ghats, the cool mist hugged the hills, and the gentle sound of flowing streams followed us along the road.

We stopped near a sparkling water stream in the ghat to enjoy our breakfast. The sound of rushing water, the chill of the morning breeze, and the first sunlight touching the forest created a peaceful start to our adventure.

After breakfast, we continued toward our birding spot in Coorg, exploring the dense greenery and listening to the melodies of the forest. By noon, we had lunch amidst coffee plantations, the aroma of blossoms mixing with the earthy smell of rain-soaked soil.

As the golden evening sunlight filled the woods, the forest gifted us two magical moments — a Flame-throated Bulbul, glowing like fire among the leaves, and later a Grey-headed Bulbul, perched elegantly on a mossy branch.

Our photography in Coorg became more than just a birding trip. It was a story of friendship, patience, and the quiet joy of being one with nature. A reminder that true happiness takes flight when hearts travel together in the wild.