Grey treepie (Dendrocitta formosae)

Grey treepie (Dendrocitta formosae)

Saari Village, Uttarakhand, India In flight this tail is all fun, but when perched it can be somewhat cumbersome after landing, as it comes on the way of…


Dark-breasted rosefinch (Procarduelis nipalensis)

Dark-breasted rosefinch (Procarduelis nipalensis)

A beautiful high-elevation dweller, seen here around the Tungnath temple during the full moon of April 2018. The winters are harsh here, but on the last day of…


Himalayan Pika (Ochotona roylei)

Himalayan Pika (Ochotona roylei)

This little cutie was in full swing eating the delicious primula flowers and other species now in bloom, but I just missed it having a mountful of flowers.…


Himalayan Pika (Ochotona roylei)

Himalayan Pika (Ochotona roylei)

This little cutie was in full swing eating the delicious primula flowers and other species now in bloom, and here it had a very short break on an outcrop to…


Oriental turtle dove (Streptopelia orientalis)

Oriental turtle dove (Streptopelia orientalis)

As the day is nearing its end, this individual is resting atop this tree stub as it's possibly well fed for the day. If not disturbed it might stay overnight.…


Grey bush chat (Saxicola ferreus)

Grey bush chat (Saxicola ferreus)

During my stay in Chopta I encountered an amazing array of animal species in biomes ranging from alpine to dense forest slopes and valleys and farms. Each with…


Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha)

Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha)

Encountering this koklass pheasant peacefully feeding off the juicy spring shoots and buttercup flowers was a wonderful experience. Not a sound of human…


Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha)

Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha)

The many species of pheasant found in the Himalayas is incredible, and seeing them up close on the road like this is exiting as it is surprising. Yet it is a…


Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus)

Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus)

The state bird of Uttarakhand, and and incredibly beautiful bird. In Chopta and by most temples this is a commonly seen bird that will come up close, and…


Oriental magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis)

Oriental magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis)

In the dry season water is critical, and if you provide access to water on your property you’re certain to attract all the local bird species, and many mammals…