Close encounter.. the elephant was also guarding her calf. On seeing the calf, I got the feeling that she could be aggressive, however she wasn't particularly bothered and carried on with feeding.

Eurasian jay from Shitlakhet,
Had earlier posted about black-headed jay. This is its Eurasian counterpart. Notice its slightly thicker build whereas the bill is longer but thinner. Its body is brown-pinkish in color and you will see a black moustache just behind its bill. Has quite a harsh call and is known for its mimicry too! Do compare with previous post in case you want to see both.

Slaty-headed parakeet from Shitlakhet
It is the only bird in its species which exhibits migration from lower altitude to higher and back. Saw dozens of them in Shitlakhet although it was very early in the morning so light was an issue. They are extremely colorful with a slaty head, green feathers and a blue tint where the head meets the neck. Its upper part of the beak (known as upper mandible) is bright red and the lower part is pale yellow. Its tail has shades of blue, green and yellow. Although not that good a picture and it has also been cropped, i hope some of these features can be distinguished. Source: wiki

Black-headed jay from the sleepy hamlet of Shitlakhet
My first post here.. just a shot i had taken on a trail. This jay is similar to size of the Eurasian jay, however it is thinner than the Eurasian jay. Also the top of the head is black and its bill is shorter and thicker. Shitlakhet is a small hill station town between Ranikhet and Almora. Fabulous for bird-watching, grand views of the Himalayas and very few people around. Numerous trails through forests and should not miss the early morning and evening views on offer. For stay there is KMVN and also a FRH. Few good lodges are there too. Great for 2-3 days reconnecting with nature.