Hornbill Nest in Ridge Cavity Before Rain

Morning mist rests on the wind-scoured ridge in Uttarakhand as low sun touches the horizon haze. Rain streaks blur the foreground, framing a deep tree cavity where a hornbill nest rests. The rough bark shows deep grooves worn by years of monsoon winds. Inside the dark opening, a white plastered wall seals the entrance, its texture smooth against the jagged wood. Water droplets hang from the overhanging branch above, heavy and still. The gray sky presses low against the tree line. One raindrop slides down the cavity rim, tracing a path through the dust on the bark.