Children of the neelakurinji

Children of the neelakurinji

Barefoot, these kids are climbing a very special mountainside behind their Ooty village. For the first time in their lives the hill has become purple with…


Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) bloom of 2018

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) bloom of 2018

Last time these flowers were seen was 12 years ago, and the next time will be in 12 years! During an entire century this species will bloom only 8 times – that…


Neelakurinji bloom in the Nilgiris

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) bloom of 2018

A spectacular view of the Neelakurinji bloom in the Nilgiris! Last time these flowers were seen was 12 years ago, and the next time will be in 12 years!…


Kannan Devan Hills Tea garden

Kannan Devan Hills Tea garden

Some tea plantations are like artwork, with countless shapes, patterns and variations of green, creating a living gallery of abstracts to the beholder.…


Small niltava (Niltava macgrigoriae)

Small niltava (Niltava macgrigoriae)

A very active small niltava (Niltava macgrigoriae), singing out to the world that he's strong, healthy and the leader of this land for his species. Often…


Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus)

Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus)

An encounter with a member of a group of Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus). In what seemed like a quiet morning with little wildlife in Kedarnath Musk…


Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus)

Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus)

My goal was to get a glimpse of this high altitude species, and on my first morning I did see a lone adult male quite near in. I did get a decent image and was…


Grey treepie (Dendrocitta formosae)

Grey treepie (Dendrocitta formosae)

In flight the tail of the grey treepie (Dendrocitta formosae) tail is all fun, but when perched it can be somewhat cumbersome after landing, as it comes on the…


Dark-breasted rosefinch (Procarduelis nipalensis)

Dark-breasted rosefinch (Procarduelis nipalensis)

Dark-breasted rosefinch (Procarduelis nipalensis) is a beautiful high-elevation dweller, seen here around the Tungnath temple during the full moon of April…


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.…