Orange-headed thrush (Geokichla citrina)
In the dry season water is critical, and if you provide access to water on your property you’ll certain to attract all the local bird species, and many mammals as well. This is shot at such a location – not far from a creek that also attracts many birds, but where the photographic setting is […]
Himalayan bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys)
A beautiful pose of a bird you’ll hear and see throughout the Himalayas. Here it’s on its way to drinking water provided by a house owner during the dry season. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1460 meters Aperture: ƒ/5.6 Camera: NIKON D4S Focal length: 800mm ISO: 2200 Shutter speed: 1/320 s
Rufous-bellied niltava (Niltava sundara)
In the dry season water is critical, and if you provide access to water on your property you’ll certain to attract all the local bird species, and many mammals as well. This is shot at such a location – not far from a creek that also attracts many birds, but where the photographic setting is […]
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 wildlife, and these places are great locations to watch the local species. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1460 meters Aperture: ƒ/5.6 Camera: NIKON D4S Focal length: 800mm […]
Hanuman Langur (Semnopithecus entellus)
A very common species in India, and no exception in Corbett National Park, yet common does not mean to be ignored as there are many situations that are special and memorable. This male was crossing close to us in confidence and sat down by a tree very nearby to assert its position as leader as […]
Lord Howe Island twin peaks
The home of the rare and wonderful These beautiful twin peaks are the landmarks of the island, and holds so much more than beauty to the human eye, and is recognized with the highest honor as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tallest of the two peaks is Mt Gower at 867 meters, to the […]
Lord Howe Island twin peaks
The home of the rare and wonderful These beautiful twin peaks are the landmarks of the island, and holds so much more than beauty to the human eye, and is recognized with the highest honor as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tallest of the two peaks is Mt Gower at 867 meters, to the […]
Lord Howe Island Bodyboarder
Waiting for that next big one! When the tide and direction of the wind is right for Lord Howe Island’s Blinky Beach, surfers rush here to take advantage it. Lord Howe Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of those rare places that will never be crowded with people as there is cap of […]
Lord Howe Island sunset
9 out of 10 evenings during my stay on Lord Howe Island I walked the Little Island Track along the beach to the outcrop called Little Island. At first to experience the sunsets, but after just one sunset I was completely hooked. Hooked on experiencing the large numbers of seabirds. I visited in April, the […]
Lord Howe Island Bodyboarder
Knowing when to expect big surfs is one thing, but taking advantage of them when they do arrive is another. You might not see any great waves during your stay, or find out that when you were hiking the interior, there were amazing surfs lasting just a couple of hours. Locals know this all too […]
Lord Howe Island Surfer
The clarity and color of the sea here on Lord Howe Island’s Blinky Beach is absolutely stunning, and when waves are rolling in you can see the turquoise stand bright against the froth of the breaking waves when the sun is low and at a favorable angle. I have seen these colors in the arctic, […]
Principe creek
Minutes ago this water came off the edge of a high cliff as one of several impressive waterfalls on the small island of Principe. Think of miniature versions of Salto Angel (Angel Falls)! As with most of Principe the mountain tops are densely forested and during the rainy season plenty of rainfall replenishes the streams, […]
Principe seasonal waterfall
For a small island, Principe has an impressive array of waterfalls, some can even be seen from far out to sea – that is how tall they are! On a previous day I had passed this side of the island on the way to Caroço Islet and noticed an impressive waterfall standing out in an […]
Principe sunbird (Anabathmis hartlaubii)
I arrived in Principe just in time to enjoy the birds building nests or just in the early stages of incubation. I even followed a pair in the process of completing a nest just outside the window of my room. I found this male further inland from the hotel, an it’s is most likely guarding […]
Caroco Islet (Ilhéu Caroço), Principe
On Principe’s little sister This is a tiny speck of volcanic rock rising more than 300 meter high with sheer cliffs on all sides except areas on the north-western side where huge boulders have come off the mountain to form a fertile slope with dense forest and a rocky and dangerous shore with no beach. […]
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Latest blog posts
Orange-headed thrush (Geokichla citrina)
In the dry season water is critical, and if you provide access to water on your property you’ll certain to attract all the local bird species, and many mammals as well. This is shot at such a location – not far from a creek that also attracts many birds, but where the photographic setting is […]
Himalayan bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys)
A beautiful pose of a bird you’ll hear and see throughout the Himalayas. Here it’s on its way to drinking water provided by a house owner during the dry season. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1460 meters Aperture: ƒ/5.6 Camera: NIKON D4S Focal length: 800mm ISO: 2200 Shutter speed: 1/320 s
Rufous-bellied niltava (Niltava sundara)
In the dry season water is critical, and if you provide access to water on your property you’ll certain to attract all the local bird species, and many mammals as well. This is shot at such a location – not far from a creek that also attracts many birds, but where the photographic setting is […]
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 wildlife, and these places are great locations to watch the local species. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1460 meters Aperture: ƒ/5.6 Camera: NIKON D4S Focal length: 800mm […]
Hanuman Langur (Semnopithecus entellus)
A very common species in India, and no exception in Corbett National Park, yet common does not mean to be ignored as there are many situations that are special and memorable. This male was crossing close to us in confidence and sat down by a tree very nearby to assert its position as leader as […]
Lord Howe Island twin peaks
The home of the rare and wonderful These beautiful twin peaks are the landmarks of the island, and holds so much more than beauty to the human eye, and is recognized with the highest honor as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tallest of the two peaks is Mt Gower at 867 meters, to the […]
Lord Howe Island twin peaks
The home of the rare and wonderful These beautiful twin peaks are the landmarks of the island, and holds so much more than beauty to the human eye, and is recognized with the highest honor as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tallest of the two peaks is Mt Gower at 867 meters, to the […]
Lord Howe Island Bodyboarder
Waiting for that next big one! When the tide and direction of the wind is right for Lord Howe Island’s Blinky Beach, surfers rush here to take advantage it. Lord Howe Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of those rare places that will never be crowded with people as there is cap of […]
Lord Howe Island sunset
9 out of 10 evenings during my stay on Lord Howe Island I walked the Little Island Track along the beach to the outcrop called Little Island. At first to experience the sunsets, but after just one sunset I was completely hooked. Hooked on experiencing the large numbers of seabirds. I visited in April, the […]
Lord Howe Island Bodyboarder
Knowing when to expect big surfs is one thing, but taking advantage of them when they do arrive is another. You might not see any great waves during your stay, or find out that when you were hiking the interior, there were amazing surfs lasting just a couple of hours. Locals know this all too […]
Lord Howe Island Surfer
The clarity and color of the sea here on Lord Howe Island’s Blinky Beach is absolutely stunning, and when waves are rolling in you can see the turquoise stand bright against the froth of the breaking waves when the sun is low and at a favorable angle. I have seen these colors in the arctic, […]
Principe creek
Minutes ago this water came off the edge of a high cliff as one of several impressive waterfalls on the small island of Principe. Think of miniature versions of Salto Angel (Angel Falls)! As with most of Principe the mountain tops are densely forested and during the rainy season plenty of rainfall replenishes the streams, […]
Principe seasonal waterfall
For a small island, Principe has an impressive array of waterfalls, some can even be seen from far out to sea – that is how tall they are! On a previous day I had passed this side of the island on the way to Caroço Islet and noticed an impressive waterfall standing out in an […]
Principe sunbird (Anabathmis hartlaubii)
I arrived in Principe just in time to enjoy the birds building nests or just in the early stages of incubation. I even followed a pair in the process of completing a nest just outside the window of my room. I found this male further inland from the hotel, an it’s is most likely guarding […]
Caroco Islet (Ilhéu Caroço), Principe
On Principe’s little sister This is a tiny speck of volcanic rock rising more than 300 meter high with sheer cliffs on all sides except areas on the north-western side where huge boulders have come off the mountain to form a fertile slope with dense forest and a rocky and dangerous shore with no beach. […]
Principe weaver (Ploceus princeps)
Although Principe is a small island, its diversity is still largely intact and thus most of the endemic species are common and widespread. When I arrived here the building of nests was in full swing. The males were completely absorbed in courting the females, fencing off any competing males and completing their nest building. It […]
Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus)
An endangered widow This amazing species is yet another example of how selfish human desires to keep exotic pets drives a species to extinction. Why is it so hard to understand that keeping a bird captive does not benefit anyone? This delusional idea that the pet has been bred from long standing captive populations and […]
Principe fungus, unknown species
Bom Bom islet, Principe Humanity is still struggling with understanding its place in the universe. Partly due to greed, short sightedness and weak government, but perhaps most importantly the deep an incomprehensible absence of feeling a connection with life! Every child is pushed through a molding process starting in kindergarten – all firmly focused on […]
Principe puffball fungus, unknown species
Bom Bom islet, Principe This small islet was a treasure trove of fungi species, and I wonder how many species will come out of the ground and rotten wood as the wet season progresses. I visited at the beginning of the season and had such a great time here. I had left behind the best […]
Principe gilled fungus, unknown species
Bom Bom islet, Principe The color palette of the fungi I encountered on the Bom Bom islet was surprisingly diverse and this species made me think of the colorful Russula fungi I enjoyed back home just before this trip. I found many specimens of this species on this small islet which is a good sign […]
Principe fungus, unknown species
Bom Bom islet, Principe I had many amazing moments on the forest floor of Bom Bom islet as there were so many fungi species with beautiful specimens. Some were very hard to spot as they blended in so well with their surroundings, and this one has a beautiful cap of cracks creating a pattern that […]
Principe fungus, unknown species
Bom Bom islet, Principe With the very same color as the decaying leaves on the ground this is a species that is easily missed, even though it is quite large. I encountered many brightly colored fungi species on this islet, some were magnets to insects, but this one is very different and also was free […]
Principe kingfisher (Corythornis cristatus nais)
During my stay on Principe I had a lot of lovely encounters with one of the resident pairs of Principe kingfishers. If I was inside my room and heard the familiar calls I would look outside and find one or more of them in one of their favorite perches. Perhaps the most popular was that […]
Tidal pool sunset, Principe
This evening I was hoping to encounter many interesting fungi and perhaps even flowers in the forest west of Bom Bom islet where I had found so many amazing species so far. From the islet the forest looks pristine and untouched, but as I walked the trail I soon realized it was second growth forest […]
Waterfall in Lahaul Valley
This is one of several beautiful waterfalls on the north-facing slopes, now a mellow trickle compared to during the monsoon several weeks ago. It’s running down to the Chandra river (Chenab river is also used) in Lahaul valley, reached by the Rothang Pass from Manali to the south of this position and is at the […]
Chandra river, Spiti
The water in this river (also called Cheneb river) comes from the glaciers which are slowly releasing less and less water as the winter approaches. Soon this landscape will be all white and very desolate as the road will be closed until summer once again wins over winter. I got a reminder of how close […]
Chandra river, Spiti
A very different experience when all colors are removed. The water in this river (also called Cheneb river) comes from the glaciers which are slowly releasing less and less water as the winter approaches. Soon this landscape will be all white and very desolate as the road will be closed until summer once again wins […]
Chandra river, Spiti
The water in this river (also called Cheneb river) comes from the glaciers which are slowly releasing less and less water as the winter approaches. Soon this landscape will be all white and very desolate as the road will be closed until summer once again wins over winter. I got a reminder of how close […]
Dhankar Gompa, Spiti
Today we can enjoy a leisurely car drive to this amazing monastery and village – Dhankar Gompa, and move on within minutes in the summer months. But think about how this kind of living was all the hundreds of years prior to any road or motorized vehicles! Winters as cold as can be – centuries […]
Pin Valley National Park, India
Clouds always add mystery and dynamics to any landscape, but Spiti is mostly without any clouds as it is a mountain desert with cloudless skies for long periods, and during my travel here I did not expect any clouds in my landscape captures. But microclimatic conditions provide exceptions to the norm, and here I found […]
Nightfall at Ki monastery
I had a wonderful time at this spot, watching the remaining light of the sun fade and being replaced by the rising moon behind me. There is not much vegetation in this dry valley, so wherever it is it gives such beautiful colors of autumn to the otherwise dry and barren landscape, and I was […]
Kremle | Brittlegill (Russula sp)
Just two days have passed and my return here has shown all the specimens have grown considerably and are now on their last stages before decomposition will set in. Some were perfect spheres, and today they are breaking up and displaying their gills and dispersing their spores. Although this is not a “perfect” specimen as […]
Vorterøyksopp | Common puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum)
Lots of spiky warts were no match for a slug that went all the way to the top and took a deep bite and then went off. You can see the shiny and dry slime in several places on the cap. As a kid I had lots of fun with the mature puffballs and made […]
Drueblå kremle | Brittlegill (Russula azurea)
The brittlegill fungi come in an incredible variety of colors, and often change hues throughout their growth. I found this one under a conifer in near proximity to a small stream, draining a swampy pond in the hills behind my house. A spider has found refuge under its cap and is free to leave anytime, […]
Sopp | Fungus, unknown species
The color palette of mushrooms is as diverse as the number of species – ranging from extremely colorful, saturated and conspicuous to almost camouflage and barely visible. Here is an example of the bland kind. This was the only specimen of the species I encountered during my fungi-walk this day, but what an amazing specimen […]
Skarp rustbrunpigg | Bleeding tooth fungus (Hydnellum peckii)
The diversity and number of mushrooms growing in the forest now is more than I can remember in decades. It is absolutely incredible! I usually find the conspicuous species like the Fly agaric individually and far between, and some autumns they have been hard to find. Now they are growing in huge clusters and with […]
Ospeskrubb | Aspen boletes (Leccinum aurantiacum/albostipitatum)
The forest is full of amazing fungi now, and I am having a blast looking for the best specimens of each species. But when I finally find one and set up my camera I am also overwhelmed by the ever hungry mosquitos! They come from all sides, and I find it hard to sit still […]
Teiebær | Stone bramble (Rubus saxatilis)
This intensely colored fruit should be easy to see on the forest floor but is quite hard to find as it is mostly hidden under the leaves of the plant. Furthermore each plant holds very few fruits, and some just one drupe as seen here. A fully formed fruit would hold many drupes and resemble […]
Røsslyng | Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
Since a very young kid I remember how the last of summer had such an abundant burst of flowers of this species. And with it so many bumble bees, bees, butterflies and insects of so many kinds were buzzing around these hardy plants. For some time it looked as if the flowering would not happen […]
Enghumleblom | Water avens (Geum rivale)
This is one of countless ways of nature that humans have copied and companies have copyrighted as their own invention and sold as things we cannot live without. For this particular function, I think all of us has one or more objects with this in their home. It is such an ingenious way to ensure […]
Blodstorkenebb | Bloody crane’s-bill (Geranium sanguineum)
This long fruit is how this species got its name. Perhaps not so obvious at this stage as it is more hairy than bloody, but as it matures the red hues will appear and the hairs become less prominent. In fact this species has the most amazing colors in its foliage as it prepares for […]
Stankstorkenebb | Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)
Summer is well underway now, and thus many plant species are producing fruits, and in this case a very artistic one at that. When ripe these amazing looking bills will open up to what looks like a dry flower with seeds in each section, or petal if you like. The glandular hairs seen here are […]
Sankthansorm | Common European glowworm (Lampyris noctiluca)
Common European glowworm (Lampyris noctiluca) Bioluminescence has fascinated me since early childhood when I first encountered these glowing dots in the heather, mosses, lichen or bare rocks by the ocean where I live. As the years went on I have been fortunate to encounter incredible diversity of glowing insects, fungi and ocean-dwellers. In South America […]
Skogkløver | Zigzag Clover (Trifolium medium)
Zigzag Clover (Trifolium medium) Oslo, Norway At first you might think you’ve encountered a red clover (Trifolium pretense). It is after all red, and it is a clover. But take a look at those elongated leaves, and the hue and color of the flowers. They are richer and more vibrant than that of the red […]
Kalij pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos)
On my way down from an amazing sunrise near the Dochula Pass I encountered this gorgeous male strolling leisurely with his mate which was blending in perfectly with the landscape. This is one of several amazing species of pheasants roaming the Himalayas and they are like birds from a fairy tale. Beauty is in the […]
Dochula Pass, Bhutan
I was very fortunate to come here in time for the sunrise with a cloudless sky. Very slowly I had a growing idea of the magnificent snowcapped mountains to the north and west, and as the light increased I was greeted with a completely clear sight of the tallest mountain peaks in Bhutan. This shot […]
Dochula Pass, Bhutan
The sunrise is almost over, and I was having a hard time deciding which direction to point the camera. Focus on the sunrise in the east above the stupas, and capture the moment the entire disc has climbed above the horizon, or focus on the north-west where the amazing hues of the sunrise colors the […]
Rhododendron kesangiae var album
This beautiful and relatively large leaved species was my first and only encounter and the only one still with newly opened flowers. The other plants here were already starting to fade and had lost most of the pink hues and become mostly white. This might also be a natural variance of this species, as well […]
Grey treepie (Dendrocitta formosae)
This is one of many opportunities that just presented itself after I had given up on getting any good captures during my Bhutan journey. I had just finished my morning photo session and was on my way back to the hotel when I saw this group sitting out in the open chit-chatting. Although common, I’m […]
Black-throated sunbird (Aethopyga saturata)
Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan 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 might seem bland or like flashes of iridescence, but come rain or shine, they are colorful. This was shot on a cloudy day, and the […]
Striated Laughingthrush (Garrulax striatus)
Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan I encountered this species many times during my time in Bhutan, but rarely in clear view like this. In fact I thought I was missing out on yet another clear shot here, as it was deep inside a raspberry thicket, gorging in yellow rubus berries. I’m not certain which species, […]
Rhododendron falconeri
This is perhaps the most impressive of all the rhododendron species I encountered during my travel in Bhutan. Not because it was such a huge specimen, it was in fact a young bush which made these flowers accessible to me, as mature plants have their inflorescences too high to reach. Not because it had such […]
Rufous-gorgeted flycatcher (Ficedula strophiata)
One of a large number of bird species visiting the countless Rhodondendron trees in bloom. Elevation: 3267 meters. Aperture: ƒ/5.6 Camera: NIKON D4S Focal length: 800mm ISO: 140 Shutter speed: 1/400 s
Adonis brevistyla (Ranunculeae)
This species came as a total surprise to me, and only because I finally encountered a rhododendron plant with white flowers accessible to me on the ground! All the others had been too high on very tall rhododendron trees. The rhododendron encounter was absolutely amazing and will be covered in an upcoming post, but when […]
Nepal gray langur (Semnopithecus schistaceus)
After an amazing morning I was moving on towards the next valley, but I did not get far before I encountered yet another exciting mammal – the third of the langur species in Bhutan. My first reaction was how big it was – so much bulkier than the capped langurs I had encountered. It was […]
Rhododendron thomsosnii
There are many species of rhododendron that might pass you by when you’re faced with huge trees of them in bloom so lavishly that you cannot keep your eyes off them. I caught a glimpse of a different red hue close to the ground and the road. We stopped so I could take closer look […]
Rhododendron arboreum
You can get a lot of information on the local weather patterns and precipitation by simply looking at the type of vegetation, and in some places you will know that the clouds are hugging the landscape for long periods of time as these long “beards” only grow to these lengths where the moisture is frequent […]
Rufous-vented yuhina (Yuhina occipitalis)
This was perhaps just another spring morning here in Bhutan, but to me it was such a special time at this location. This day started with such a beautiful and colorful dawn with snowcapped mountains in the distance and a forest ablaze with flowering rhododendrons around me. And with flowers come birds – in droves! […]
White-browed fulvetta (Fulvetta vinipectus)
The colorful background in this image is one of the countless inflorescences of the amazing rhododendron. I was fortunate to travel in Bhutan as the rhododendron bloom was at its best, and all the rhododendrons were attracting so many birds. And me. Many species were feasting on the huge quantity of pollen, some for the […]
Rhododendron kesangiae
My previous encounter of this species was carrying one inflorescence with flowers just opening, but was exceedingly hard to get up and close to. I was naturally exhilarated to be able to encounter wonderful specimens here that I could touch and admire as close as I wanted. This very location was a veritable garden with […]
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