Western Hooded Pitta

 And there it was, one stunning robust image of a pitta.

After years of being teased by its calls, pursuing it by calls, it was like I was seeing the Western Hooded Pitta for the first time!

And falling in love all over again!

I was the prey here, being hunted as the bird scanned for my presence!  And like a prey, I hardly dared breathe or stir.

And there it remained for a couple of minutes for me to admire and savour its precious presence.

And as stealthily and silently as it appeared, it turned and retreated into the unruly undergrowth.