a leaf warbler's gleanings

That's the Cachar Wedge-billed Wren Babbler, photographed in Nagaland recently by my (cyberspace only thus far) friend, and nature photographer extraordinaire, Ramki, who adds:

This was another coveted South Bramhaputra (roberti) species for us in Nagaland closely linked to its North Bramhaputra cousin (http://twurl.nl/2uxzio). Shashank and I saw a total of 7 birds in two locations (Konoma & Benrue). They were actually participating in mixed hunting flocks (of laughing thrushes and liocichlas), traveling in the undergrowth. Nagaland still has fabulous habitat left for the most fascinating of all NE skulkers -- the wren-babblers -- and we were very fortunate to see a few of them.

The roberti species has white scaling on the underparts compared to the Sikkim humei (found reliably in Eaglenest).

Some may wonder why I am getting so excited about a fairly drab looking bird in a not picture-perfect photo against a dark and noisy background. But the cognoscenti among you will know what a rare privilege it is to catch a glimpse of this quintessential skulker of the rainforest understory! I ran into a cousin of this, Sphenocichla humei, in Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh almost 20 years ago - and the memory of that chance encounter in a dense bamboo thicket on the side of a steep and densely forested ridge still gives me goosebumps; I scarcely believe I actually saw it and its not my memory and desire playing tricks on me! For that species had not been reported in nearly half a century (mostly from lack of proper exploration, not the bird's fault!). And I, unfortunately, didn't have a good enough camera (nor was I fast enough on the draw) to get even a record shot. So I am thrilled to see a lovely portrait of a legendary skulker! How could I not share it with you? And I know there are probably a few clearer portraits of this bird - but this shot, with those blurry twigs trailing across the bird's profile, captures more of the essential experience of seeing this bird!!

If you still don't believe me, check out this YouTube video I just found, illustrating the more common experience with this bird - where its heard but scarcely seen (look around the 1:50 mark in the video):

And if you want to hear more, I even stumbled upon a collection of song recordings! Gotta love this couch-potato birding one can do via the internet these days!!

But ahh... how I miss the sheer exhilaration of actually stalking the birds skulking in that dark rainforest! I really must make more of an effort to get back to that part of the world again soon, eh?