The wait is over, finally

 I've waited for almost five years now to photograph the Blue-winged Pitta (Pitta moluccensis) in the bukit ever since I first saw it fly across the road.

It has been five long years and I've always heard its calls every migrant season, at almost the same location, but then never ever able to spot or lure it out.

And, now, it's simply a celebration to come across one that looked so robust, obviously was busy foraging going by its wet muddy bill before I chanced upon it.

When I caught a glimpse of orange hopping on the ground behind drooping leaves, the phrase 'stop dead in my track' never rang more real.  A momentary pause, and a cautious step forward, my heart was thumping as I raised my camera for that much-awaited moment and shot.

And this one seemed to freeze too, obviously sensing my presence.

18/2022

And then it was like waiting to see who would make the first move, as I continued to snap away and it scanned about.

And of course it finally did, fleeing across the trail deep into the undergrowth, and I thought, let it be, enough, I've got it, finally!

Tomorrow is another day!