Rufous-vented yuhina (Yuhina occipitalis)

This was perhaps just another spring morning here in Bhutan, but to me it was such a special time at this location. This day started with such a beautiful and colorful dawn with snowcapped mountains in the distance and a forest ablaze with flowering rhododendrons around me. And with flowers come birds – in droves!

Many birds had their face completely covered in pollen, which I suspect they will only have during the rhododendron bloom.

I tried to capture as many birds as I could with one or more rhododendron flowers in the bokeh background, but that was much harder than I expected as these birds were so energetic and busy with their morning activities.

The beautiful colors of some fading rhododendron flowers are seen as mellow pink hues in the back, which matches the hues of the branch it is sitting on as well.

In a few short weeks the hues of green will be dominating the once colorful landscape here.

It sounds like this:

Elevation: 3256 meters

Last updated on 7 December 2020