I had gone to Buxa Tiger Reserve (West Bengal) recently for the first time for one night only, before my planned trip towards Darjeeling hills side. I was hoping to maybe find a marbled cat or clouded leopard and definitely the Wreathed Hornbill. I arrived late due to a political rally of Prime Minister on the way but immediately started the trek in late afternoon. I had no idea though that the trek would be so tough - about a 5km walk at a steep incline in most places! Could see the hills of Bhutan on one side too.
No trace of the cats but I was informed about a place where a pair of the Hornbills were seen. I reached there late in evening, completely drenched in sweat, and found a hole in a tree which I assumed was where the female was inside. The male should then keep coming to feed the female (and maybe a chick) and I waited. For more than an hour. It did not come. It had made its final “food delivery” and I wondered in amusement why could it not deliver all night as a Zomato! As a final insult to injury, towards my last few minutes of waiting, the female spit out the seeds from the hole - it was akin to a spit on all my efforts! Had to climb down the 5km in complete darkness, with a heavy sweaty wet Tshirt and a heavier heart.
I was now even more determined to see the Hornbill. I had no intent to anyway disturb the birds (and its nest) but wanted just two seconds to photograph it. So pulled up all my physical and mental energy and within a few hours I was back at the base of the hills very early in the morning again. Muscles paining, cramps in multiple places, blisters on feet - all from the trek previous evening. To add to my woes, it started to rain heavily. Borrowed an umbrella from a villager and started the climb.
Doing the same arduous trek just within a few hours again (previous evening while climbing up the hills I had promised myself never to come back..yet here I was…!) - it took a mental resolve that I had not faced before! And with the rains then came another problem - the leeches! It indeed had a “bloody” fine day feasting on me that day!
Somehow reached the top again and just saw the male Hornbill flying away as we neared the site. So meant more waiting on that slippery muddy slope, with leeches crawling around, and holding an umbrella in one hand and the camera in the other! Fortunately this time the bird came back within twenty minutes or so and I had a big grin on my face. Pointed my camera towards the bird…and…my camera was not working!! I literally panicked and in that panic my mobile phone too dropped on the slope. For 2-3 minutes the Hornbill was there but I could not fix the camera. As a last resort I picked up the phone from the ground and took a few clicks from it. The bird flew away, together with my hopes! 20 km of trek in total over a period of 20 hours and all for this?!
Started to check the usual problems of my camera : focus mode, locked mode etc - all seemed fine. Then saw that the “mode” on top left (which has the Ch etc options) had shifted probably during the trek! Was relieved to a large extent. Now it meant just more waiting.
God felt pity this time on me and the Hornbill came back within half an hour again. Literally for 2 seconds before flying away! This time those 2 seconds were enough for me. The 2 seconds that I had wanted and planned from start (but not those 20 hours in between to reach these 2 seconds!) Grateful though for another lasting memory for life, another adventure to think and smile about in my fast nearing old age!
And a big thank you to my local guide Kezang who was the most able accomplice and witness in this adventure!
