Socotran Pomegranate (Punica protopunica)

Socotran Pomegranate (Punica protopunica)

Most of the Socotran Pomegranate (Punica protopunica) I have encountered have been heavily browsed by goats, and this individual is no exception, except that…


Socotran Pomegranate (Punica protopunica)

Socotran Pomegranate (Punica protopunica)

A vibrant, healthy and quite tall Socotran Pomegranate (Punica protopunica), found next to the walls of the north east of Socotra. These vertical cliffs…


Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha)

Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha)

Encountering this koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha) peacefully feeding off the juicy spring shoots and buttercup flowers was a wonderful experience. Not a…


Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha)

Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha)

A koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha) leisurly crossing the road. The many species of pheasant found in the Himalayas is incredible, and seeing them up…


Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus)

Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus)

Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus) is the state bird of Uttarakhand, and and incredibly beautiful bird. In Chopta and by most temples this is a commonly…


Orange-headed thrush (Geokichla citrina)

Orange-headed thrush (Geokichla citrina)

An orange-headed thrush (Geokichla citrina) quenching its thirst. In the dry season water is critical, and if you provide access to water on your property…


Grey-winged blackbird (Turdus boulboul)

Grey-winged blackbird (Turdus boulboul)

Nothing feels better than a thorough soak in pond during the dry season. In the dry season many people offer permanent water sources for the birds and local…


Red junglefowl (Gallus gallus)

Red junglefowl (Gallus gallus)

This is a common species, but nonetheless a beautiful one, especially when you can see it in the open like here, where it was foraging in the leaf litter and…


Kalij pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos)

Kalij pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos)

On my way down from an amazing sunrise near the Dochula Pass I encountered this gorgeous male kalij pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos) strolling leisurely with…


Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus)

Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus)

Although the Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus) not a threatened species that does not mean it is either common to see, despite its amazing iridescent…