It was a chilly winter morning in Palia, Lakhimpur Kheri, approximately 13 km from Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. Despite the cold, my colleague and friend, Anup Bokkasa, and I were to go birding. March is an interesting time for birding in this region as many migratory birds are on the last leg of their winter visit and those traveling back from far south are crossing this region. Having said that, the weather both outside and inside was melancholy. Anup had received news that his uncle had passed away. After some deliberation, we borrowed a bike from the hotel we were staying at, and left to see birds, which perhaps would prove a welcome distraction, not to mention the fresh air would do him a world of good.