December 31, 2015: Tinsukia, India — After a long day of birding, I went looking for owls this evening with Ramit, Binanda, Bidyut, and Pritam at a forest called Soraipong. We were hoping for a Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl but knew the chances were slim. Suddenly, at our second stop, an owl called from the darkness—and it wasn’t an eagle-owl. “Oriental Bay-Owl!” whispered Binanda. The bird called again, a series of loud whistles, and it sounded close. Back on November 15 I encountered my first Oriental Bay-Owl in Borneo, but this species is much scarcer in India. Ramit has probably seen more of them in this country than anyone else, and this was only his fourth sighting. We tiptoed closer. Pritam turned on his flashlight just as the owl landed on a vertical trunk in front of us, its black eyes focused in our direction. I snapped a couple of photos. The owl lingered for a few moments then flew off. “Congratulations,” said Ramit. “That’s incredible! As far as I...