in order to see,
among these mountains,
each and every flower of every cherry tree.”
― Saigyo
Within the picturesque landscapes of the temperate Himalayan region, a captivating spectacle unfolds every November when the Wild Himalayan Cherry trees (Prunus cerasoides) burst into a breathtaking display of pink and white blossoms, casting a magical aura over the mountains.
As I marveled at the delicate hues of these blooms, a flock of Black-Throated Tits emerged and one of them was perfectly framed by the tender blossoms.
The Black-throated Tit is native to the Himalayas and is seen at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 3,600 meters in parts of Afghanistan, India, Nepal, China and Bhutan.
Adorned with a bandit-like mask around its eyes these birds are known for their acrobatic and agile movements. They are often seen in small, active groups, foraging for insects and small invertebrates in trees and shrubs.
The Black-throated Tit and other small birds play a vital role as a pollinator, contributing to the cycle of life in these mountainous realms, as it hovers around the blossoms, inadvertently aiding the pollination process, ensuring the perpetuation of the wild cherry trees that dot the Himalayan landscape.
Black-throated bushtit
Black-throated tit
(Aegithalos concinnus)
Sony A77II
Tamron 150-600
f/6.3, 1/640s, ISO 3200, 500mm
Almas, Uttarakhand (India)
November 2023
www.thekeyislooking.com