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!…


Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)

Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)

There are many hotels very close to the nature reserve in Paracas, and here you will see many birds close to the hotels. As there are no trees here, many like…


Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)

Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)

The entire coastline of Peru is a desert, but the cold and nutrient rich ocean is rich with fish due to the cold Humbolt Current. Thus the coast was once…


Peru Pacific Iguana (Microlophus peruvianus)

Peru Pacific Iguana (Microlophus peruvianus)

The coast of Peru is a desert, and fresh water is only available from springs or rivers fed by the Andes. This lizard was far from any such resources, so I…


Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)

A few places rock of unusual colors come up to the surface on the beaches of Peru, and here an entire beach is red by this rock. It has become so popular with…


Paracas

Paracas

The only feature in a desert like the coast of Peru is that of coloration of the sand or rock, and in some places the shapes of the landscape as is seen here.…


Guanay Cormorant (Phalacrocorax bougainvilliorum)

Guanay Cormorant (Phalacrocorax bougainvilliorum)

This has become a more uncommon species, and even here around havens like the Ballestas Islands in Peru I saw only a few individuals. None with chicks as I did…


South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens)

South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens)

Ballestas Islands off Paracas in Peru is one of very few protected areas of the Puruvian coast, and it's teaming with life. This group of sea lions seems to…