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| Large-billed crow (Himalayan): Corvus macrorhynchos intermedius |
Dhalipur is a picturesque village in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand on the banks of Asan
Lake. Nestled at the feet of Timli Range, which lies to its south, Asan Lake and
river to its north, River Yamuna to its west, it is a peaceful outpost near the
border with Himachal Pradesh. In fact, the Shimla Bypass coursing through the
Timli Range forms its southern border, but I took the northern route via Herbertpur and reached Dhalipur by taking a rough
track forking off Chakrata Road - which goes on to Paonta Sahib about 15 kms. away – soon after
crossing the Asan Barrage and going down through the fields to the village.
I reached Dhalipur at dawn after
driving through the night from Delhi. The sky was lightening grey - too early
for the camera sensors but not too soon for my city nerves; the cool and
refreshing breeze whistling through the confluence of Yamuna and Asan rivers; various
waterfowl croaking to my left and a symphony orchestrated by various hidden arboreal
and grassland birds ringing in my ears as I walked down the track inhaling
deeply the aroma of mountains and the scent of dew-moist fields.
A feldegg subspecies of Yellow wagtail flew in low, landed, breaking
my exploratory stride, almost tripping me, and, having snatched attention, instantly
took off in a streak of black and yellow. I stared after seduced, but my
engrossment was cracked by a guttural grack…grack
in my right ear. I looked up. Perched atop a stone fence post, almost
within reach, was a Large-billed crow (Himalayan). A Pahari kuwwa or Junglee kuwwa
welcome to a shard of paradise.
Large-billed crow (Himalayan): Corvus macrorhynchos intermedius
Synonyms:
Sanskrit: Van kak; Hindi:
Pahari kuwwa, Junglee kuwwa.
IUCN
Status: Least
Concern
Photographed at Dhalipur village, Asan Barrage,
Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India on 8.11.2014
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR
with Tamron 150-600mm Lens
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