Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps ssp. melanauchen)

Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps ssp. melanauchen)

This location was full of bird song from the black-crowned sparrow-lark and other bird species. Most of Socotra is rather silent in regards to bird sounds. You…


Jordhumle (Bombus)

Jordhumle (Bombus)

En Jordhumle (Bombus) henter mat fra en aksveronika (Veronica spicata). Når gressløken blomstret og farget store deler av Fyrsteilene lilla i begynnelsen av…


Jordhumle (Bombus)

Jordhumle (Bombus)

En Jordhumle (Bombus) henter mat fra en aksveronika (Veronica spicata). Humlene på Fyrsteilene har mange plantearter å velge mellom fra våren til sensommeren,…


Corchorus erodioides UV

Corchorus erodioides UV

Another example of a yellow flower in visible light that is very dark in UV. It is endemic to Socotra.


Corchorus erodioides

Corchorus erodioides

On the hills overlooking the Detwah lagoon on the west coast of Socotra I found many interesting flowers, and luckily some not destroyed by goats, like this…


Corchorus erodioides

Corchorus erodioides

On the hills overlooking the Detwah lagoon on the west coast of Socotra I found many interesting flowers, and luckily some not destroyed by goats, like this…


Cleistocactus samaipatanus

Cleistocactus samaipatanus

Finding cacti on the sheer cliffs of Refugio Los Volcanes was a surprise to me! I saw their red flowers  from afar, but assumed totally different species.


Cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis)

Cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis)

When not in bloom the cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis) looks just like the white-flowering Echinopsis atacamensis, but this one is much rarer, and I found…


Cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis)

Cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis)

When not in bloom the cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis) looks like the white-flowering Echinopsis atacamensis, but this one is much rarer, and I found only…


Cactus nest on Isla del Pescado (Fish Island)

Cactus nest on Isla del Pescado (Fish Island)

For birds that have a need to build nests above ground, a desert has few options, so they learn to deal with the spines and use them to their advantage. It…