18 Dec 2023
Socotra Cucumber Tree (Dendrosicyos socotranus) with bark snails
You can find these dormant (aestivating) land snails (Achatinelloides) sporadically throughout Socotra, but find them covering an entire Socotra cucumber tree…
15 Dec 2023
Socotra Cucumber Tree (Dendrosicyos socotranus)
A very young Socotra Cucumber Tree (Dendrosicyos socotranus) that has survived the insatiable appetite of the goats - only because it growing where they cannot…
4 Feb 2023
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
This is the only place I've encountered Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) on Socotra. It thrives here in the shadow of the tall cliffs of Socotra's northeast, and…
22 Oct 2017
Principe sunbird (Anabathmis hartlaubii)
An encounter with the endemic Principe sunbird (Anabathmis hartlaubii). I arrived in Principe just in time to enjoy the Principe sunbirds building nests or…
15 Apr 2017
Black-throated sunbird (Aethopyga saturata)
Sunbirds are strikingly colorful, and you definitely get associations to the hummingbirds of the New World. Depending on the angle of the light the colors…
15 Apr 2017
Striated Laughingthrush (Grammatoptila striata)
I encountered the striated laughingthrush (Grammatoptila striata) many times during my time in Bhutan, but rarely in clear view like this. In fact I thought I…
7 Apr 2017
Fire-tailed sunbird (Aethopyga ignicauda)
Driving ever higher, seeing more and more frost from last night, together with larger and larger patches of snow, one might not expect to see such lavishly…
6 Apr 2017
Hoary-throated barwing (Actinodura nipalensis)
Experiencing the rhododendron forests in bloom is an amazing experience in many ways as they are a magnet to so many incredible bird species. Sometimes you may…
31 Mar 2017
Long-tailed sibia (Heterophasia picaoides)
To the human eye a tree with just these flaming inflorescences is a wonder to behold, but for pollinators and nectar hunters alike this is a welcome and very…