Image Showcase: Asian Openbills on a calm morning

Asian Openbill storks are one of the more under-photographed species among the large waders of Bharatpur. Found in large flocks during the breeding season, these birds are often spotted hunting in the wetlands – possibly the most picturesque site of the park.

The morning I shot this image was quite cold and misty. The rising sun cast some very pleasing shades of pink and orange on the water’s surface. As I walked along this stretch of the reserve, the calls of the Asian Openbills echoed across the wetlands. The serenity of the scene was just entrancing.

I found the shapes of the trees on these little islands especially appealing, so I decided to stay a while and see if a composition would come together. The cormorant in the background was partly down to luck, but patience pays off in this habitat. There’s always some sort of action to be had.