On Sunday,, while waiting for my friend to pick me up, I saw someone familiar foraging on the stretch of grass next to the fence. A Greater Coucal.

Did I have time to take a picture without making my friend wait? More importantly will it vanish by the time I fished out my phone? In case it did stay put, will it let me get closer for a shot?

Even as these thoughts raced through my mind, I had pulled out my phone and was focusing it on the bird. It had risen and was now perched on the fence. I moved closer slowly, trying not to scare the bird.

But

Greater Coucals have excellent vision, as do many other birds. And though I tried to be as unobtrusive as possible, it caught me in its radar. Distrustful of humans following it with phones, it started moving away, In spite, I got my shots.

I have titled the collection ‘The Fence March by a Greater Coucal’

©️ Shail Mohan 2026