This is my last day on Socotra, and my early morning descent from my 2 days on top of Socotra. During the descent I found so many beautiful events of nature that I wished I had a week here. Up here in the clouds Socotra holds a treasure like no other – I hope to […]
I will never forget the 2 days I had on top of Socotra in the Haghier mountains. This is the highest of them all – Skant – looking west. At this time there’s no Milkyway in the west, so the stars are just tiny dots on the sky. Some green airglow is seen here, though. […]
No special patterns appear in UV for this flower! Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/60 s
I only found this species in one specific location on Skant (or Skand) – the highest point on all of Socotra – and was grateful it was in bloom. Aperture: ƒ/22 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1250 Shutter speed: 1/500 s
On the highest peaks of Socotra you’ll find magnificent deciduous trees like this one. Some were finished shedding leaves whilst others were in yellows or reds like the temperate autumns. I think this is an Euphorbiaceae, but need input. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/11 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1250 Shutter speed: 1/320 s
Very dull in UV compared to the many color variations in visible light. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/60 s
Close to the top of Socotra, Skant (or Skand) I found some healthy plants of this species under some trees, which was a relief as all the previous I saw on the way up here were either drooping from lack of water or were browsed by goats. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/9 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: […]
Close to the top of Socotra, Skant (or Skand) I found some healthy plants of this species under some trees, which was a relief as all the previous I saw on the way up here were either drooping from lack of water or were browsed by goats. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/11 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: […]
This plant is so small that it’s very easy to miss! On the field below the weather station of Skant I found many of them growing under trees. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/18 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1600 Shutter speed: 1/250 s
The yellow center of the flower is dark in UV, and the white petals are also quite dark. In UV this small flower appears prominent against the greyness of the background seen here. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/60 s
This plant has such tiny flowers so they are very easy to miss! On the field below the weather station of Skant I found many of them growing under trees. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/18 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1600 Shutter speed: 1/250 s
On the highest peaks of Socotra you’ll find magnificent deciduous trees like this one. Some were finished shedding leaves whilst others were in yellows or reds like the temperate autumns. I was definitely entering their very last moments before the season of rest, so this is perhaps more a developing fruit than that of a […]
The smaller plants on top of Socotra were still in good condition, and thus I found flowers in excellent condition compared to the drooping or even dried ones further down the slopes. Had I come a week or so later, even the plants up here would have been drooping, so I was very grateful! Even […]
The smaller plants on top of Socotra were still in good condition, and thus I found flowers in excellent condition compared to the drooping or even dried ones further down the slopes. Had I come a week or so later, even the plants up here would have been drooping, so I was very grateful! Even […]
Not particularly colorful in visible light and even less so in UV – all dark as it is. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/60 s
I found many of this species on top of Socotra – Skant (or Skand), but few with good flowers as it was nearing the end of the season. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/14 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1600 Shutter speed: 1/320 s
I found many of this species on top of Socotra – Skant (or Skand), but few with good flowers as it was nearing the end of the season. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/22 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1000 Shutter speed: 1/640 s
Dark center opposed to the all-yellow appearance in visible light – a typical Asteraceae! Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/80 s
The wooly leaves makes this plant easy to identify year round. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/18 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1600 Shutter speed: 1/250 s
As I was getting closer to the highest of the Haghier (or Haggeher) mountains – Skant (or Skand) – I noticed this plant with wooly leaves, but none with flowers, or at least none with fresh flowers. On the very top, on Skant, I did find some that still not past blooming. Again I was […]
A most peculiar plant! I only found this plant with fresh flowers, but unfortunately not with open flowers yet. I found it in very steep terrain close to the top of Skant (Skand). Here the goats seemed to have been unable to destroy the vegetation, so it was exceptionally dense and varied. Aperture: ƒ/16 Camera: […]
A most peculiar inflorescence, but with with very attractive color! I found only two plants with this stage of flowering and fresh leaves seen here – all other were passed bloom. Again the top of Socotra – Skant (or Skand) was the very last range for the season, as on lower altitudes the dry season […]
A most peculiar inflorescence, but with with very attractive color! I found only two plants with this stage of flowering – all other were passed bloom. Again the top of Socotra – Skant (or Skand) was the very last range for the season, as on lower altitudes the dry season was way underway. Please help […]
A most peculiar plant! I only found this plant with fresh flowers, but unfortunately not with open flowers yet. I found it in very steep terrain close to the top of Skant (Skand). Here the goats seemed to have been unable to destroy the vegetation, so it was exceptionally dense and varied. Aperture: ƒ/20 Camera: […]
A most peculiar plant! I only found this plant with fresh flowers, but unfortunately not with open flowers yet. I found it in very steep terrain close to the top of Skant (Skand). Here the goats seemed to have been unable to destroy the vegetation, so it was exceptionally dense and varied. Aperture: ƒ/20 Camera: […]
Contrary to available literature, this is not necessary a cushion plant, unless goats get to them. I found this specimen of epic proportions on a sheer cliff – unacessible to the goats. It was like a tree – perhaps many hundreds of years old. This is a typical example of how goats have transformed many […]
Never in my entire life have I seen hypericum grow as dense and tall shrubs as on top of Socotra (Skant)! I was mesmerized by the abundance of plants and flowers, and also relieved that goats leave at least this species alone. Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂 Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/16 […]
Never in my entire life have I seen hypericum grow as dense and tall shrubs as on top of Socotra (Skant)! I was mesmerized by the abundance of plants and flowers, and also relieved that goats leave at least this species alone. Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂 Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/16 […]
Hypericums are beautiful in UV light, as they are not uniformly colored, and this species is no exception. This species forms impenetrable thickets dotted with flowers, that seem pruned by an expert, but neither goat nor human have anything to to with this amazing growth! Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂 […]
Yet another Convolvulaceae with identical color in UV light! I have yet to encounter one, no matter ho many different colors in visible light, that is not the same in UV! Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/80 s
Resembles Convolvulus sarmentosus, but its petals are rounded outwards opposed to this one which are flattened and pointing inwards at the mid-nerve of the petals. Also grows on lower elevations than this (1500 meters elevation), but few are intact as they are eaten by goats and cows. A very small plant, but that I think […]
Resembles Convolvulus sarmentosus, but its petals are rounded outwards opposed to this one which are flattened and pointing inwards at the mid-nerve of the petals. Aperture: ƒ/13 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 640 Shutter speed: 1/800 s
The tiny flowers are dark in UV light compared to the mellow cream in visible light. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/60 s
I wish I had a week on top of Socotra as there are so incredibly many magnificent plants species and many grow only on socotra! This was the only specimen I could find on Skant (Skand), but with more days I’m certain I would have found magnificent speciemens if I could have climbed where goats […]
I wish I had a week on top of Socotra as there are so incredibly many magnificent plants species and many grow only on socotra! This was the only specimen I could find on Skant (Skand), but with more days I’m certain I would have found magnificent speciemens if I could have climbed where goats […]
With or without flowers, I find this plant really beautiful as it spreads out over the rocks of Socotras highest poeaks. This was one of very few with inflorescences – on the very highest mountain of Socotra – Skant. This is a younger specimen which at first will grow as a cushion plant, but if […]
As the island of Socotra is basically one big goat farm, there are very few plants that are not consumed, or at least stunted by their grazing. Several plant species are venomous while others emit sticky or foul tasting juice. This species has no such defense and is eaten by goats. Thus I was looking […]
In this panorama you can see a clearing, which is an old structure with unknown origin. For generations this structure has been used by Socotris, and I too have camped there and had my meals by the wall. You can see the smoke from the campfire. What’s unusual is that the tiny house (on the […]
On top of Socotra you are open to the elements, which often is fog and mist, which makes it very cold after sunset. This evening was a mix of clouds moving in and clear and dark skies, yet it was very cold, and a campfire made all the difference! Add a pot of tea and […]
What can I say – Socotra has touched me like few places on Earth – I’m spellbound! On this island you’ll experience diversity and uniqueness on so many levels! When driving, trekking, sitting, on your back gazing upon the Milkyway, swimming in the crystal clear ocean, or in a stream seeping out from the countless […]
Before I came to Socotra I didn’t know much about the mountains of the interior of the island, and thus made a mistake in assigning one day here. First and foremost I didn’t know it took so many hours to walk to the top, my understanding was that it was a mere 2 hour walk, […]
Skant is the highest point of the Haghier mountains of Socotra – more than 1500 meters high! This is the last leg of my 14 day Socotra journey, and how lucky I was! During the first week of my visit all of the Haghier mountains was shrouded in thick clouds, and now I’m on top […]
This species grows to the size of small trees, and this one is just a few meters from the highest point of Socotra – Skant (or Skand). Endemic Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 400 Shutter speed: 1/400 s
No surprise in color distribution in UV light compared to visible light for this species – brighter center compared to the darker outer. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/60 s
This species grows to the size of small trees, and this one is just a few meters from the highest point of Socotra – Skant (or Skand). Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/20 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1600 Shutter speed: 1/250 s
The flowers of this giant of hypericums are dark in center in UV, compared to the all-yellow in visible light. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/10 s
When I suddenly stood in front of a hypericum tree, my heart jumped an extra beat and I jumped towards it in awe to make sure I did not hallucinate! This plant is close to 3 meters tall and is not only endangered due to it’s endemism and very limited range but must be of […]
When I suddenly stood in front of a hypericum tree, my heart jumped an extra beat and I jumped towards it in awe to make sure I did not hallucinate! This plant is close to 3 meters tall and is not only endangered due to it’s endemism and very limited range but must be of […]
A bird has likely tried to eat it, and thus a part of the hind wing was lost. This was only one of the species I encountered, so this imperfect specimen must do. Aperture: ƒ/7.1 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 500 Shutter speed: 1/1250 s
This is the iconic and endemic bottle tree, or desert rose of Socotra – Adenium obesum ssp. socotranum. When you find one in bloom like this one you simply cannot resist taking a closer look. It is an amazing sight to see the lushness and bright colors in a landscape of dryness – it’s like […]
What’s interesting with this landscape view of the bottle tree, is that the flowers appear same color in UV as the lichen on the rocks! Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/4 s
Many species of plants on Socotra have evolved seed pods like this, and I don’t know why this is a design preferable here, as the content is dispersed by wind in any case. Aperture: ƒ/10 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 500 Shutter speed: 1/1000 s
This species is endemic to Socotra, meaning it grows only on this island! They come in so many shapes and sizes and sometimes resembles works of art – with or without flowers. Despite this it was not easy to find a specimen with a great shape and with flowers, as either I found amazing shapes […]
During my 14 day stay on Socotra I only found this plant with a seed pod. And in what an exquisite state! The pod has just opened, and the seeds are yet to be dispersed by the wind. Timing is everything, but I think luck is a great part as well 😉 Aperture: ƒ/13 Camera: […]
To find Lavender on Socotra was not expected, and my mindset was on this being an invasive or at least non-endemic species. But endemic it is! Again most were completely eaten by goats, but I managed to find one that was partly intact, at least one of inflorescences. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/18 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal […]
To find Lavender on Socotra was not expected, and my mindset was on this being an invasive or at least non-endemic species. But endemic it is! Again most were completely eaten by goats, but I managed to find one that was partly intact, at least one of inflorescences. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/20 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal […]
Appears much duller in UV compared to visible light. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/100 s
This is the only confirmed photograph of both sexes of the endemic species I got during my visit, as this is a couple (both sexes look the same, opposed to the Somali starling where the female has a grey upper body), and I heard their mellow one-note vocalization, which resembles that of the Eurasian bullfinch. […]
Very interesting in UV, as the flowers have more variations in color than in visible light in which it appears uniformly orange.. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/100 s
On the beach of Shuab of west Socotra I had the most amazing backdrop and light and I got some amazing photographs of the Somali starling and the Egyptian vulture. This location was also brimming with sparrows, which I didn’t pay much attention to at first as I though they were ordinary house sparrows. Too […]
This is the male Somali starling – all-black opposed to the female. He’s observing me from the branches of the endemic dragon blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari) that provides ample food during fruiting season, which is now coming to and end. The fruit is toxic to goats and I suppose many other species that have not […]
The unmistakable silhouette of the most famous of all plant species on Socotra. I stayed here for two nights, and what an amazing place – a forest of dragon blood trees! It’s like being in Jurassic park without the dinosaurs! Aperture: ƒ/6.3 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 2000 Shutter speed: 1/2.5 s
All specimens of this species were heavily grazed by goats, so I was very happy to find this plant which had one intact and healthy flower. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/20 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/200 s
All specimens of this species were heavily grazed by goats, so I was very happy to find this plant which had intact and healthy growth. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/16 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/320 s
White in visible light but quite dark in UV, and stands out in an otherwise dull/grey background in UV. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/100 s
Visiting Socotra is like going back to another time and even to another planet entirely. When visiting the only dragonblood tree forest on the island, you are surrounded by trees so unlike anything alive on Earth today, that you simply cannot wonder if you’ve gone back to prehistoric times. To emphasize the weirdness of the […]
An incredible plant growing to small trees here in Stera of south Socotra. Earlier this morning I saw “bleeding” on the trunks and branches of these plants, and realized it was water. I thought it was moisture caught during the night. It was as salt as it gets! These plants stand tall and strong here […]
Although Stera is beautiful in the soft evening light, it’s equally wonderful during the time before the sun makes it too hot. Add some clouds to dapple the light on the dunes, and it’s something you’ll remember for a long time. Sand, sun, wind, sea – such is Stera! PS: do you see the approaching […]
Yet another gorgeous Socotra vista! It’s a windswept place, and the dunes are here because of it. It was windy when I was here, and you can see the sand blowing off the top of the dune, making the edge look out of focus. This is nothing compared to the monsoon winds in the summer […]
An amazing vista – the mountains as a hard and uninviting backdrop to the soft and mellow dunes of Stera. The tree (Tamarix nilotica) seems out of place here in the middle of a desert, but it is at home and gets to water through very deep and long roots. It can extract the moisture […]
Only when you have a known size in a landscape will truly see the scale, as is the case here with the photographer and the tripod. Aperture: ƒ/5.6 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1600 Shutter speed: 1/160 s
A lonely bush (Tamarix nilotica) and a lonely human in a vastness of sand! Socotra has many areas of desert-like dunes, but Stera is perhaps the one most resembling a true desert, as in many places you you don’t see the end of the sand, but walk to the top of one of the dunes […]
Although many plants species are very well suited for life here in the Stera dunes, some one way or another perish, and end up like a skeleton seen here – sand-blasted and dry as bone. Aperture: ƒ/6.3 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 320 Shutter speed: 1/125 s
This is from the south of Socotra, and when in between the dunes you only see the sky and the sand, you’d think this is not from an island but a huge desert. I was mesmerized by the scenery! No matter where I turned my head I was in awe. In the back the sheer […]
Yet another shot from my stay in the sand dunes of the south of Socotra. A short while ago I was on the plateau seen in the distant – totally different landscape. Here we’re setting up camp for the night, protected from the wind. There are no tracks in the sand from this vantage point, […]
Sun, sea, sand, wind and no people! Such is Stera. Aperture: ƒ/13 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 500 Shutter speed: 1/640 s
Another view from beautiful Stera of south Socotra. Aperture: ƒ/13 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 500 Shutter speed: 1/640 s
A huge trunk with seemingly feeble branches – what a strange plant indeed. This adaptation means it can grow tender and mist leaves at any time – even at the height of the dry season. The trunk stores plenty of moisture for many lean times. Endemic Aperture: ƒ/14 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: […]
There are many species of butterflies on Socotra, and in some areas you can see many of them if there are plenty of plants in bloom. At higher elevations – about 800 meters and higher, the euryops arabicus thrives, so when in bloom the butterflies have a lot of food from the thousands of flowers. […]
No surprise for this Asteraceae – dark in the center opposed to all yellow in visible light. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/100 s
At around 700 meter elevation this species start to appear alongside the road to Dixam, and on the plateau they are in some places so dense you can see the yellow of the flowers from far away. Aperture: ƒ/14 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 320 Shutter speed: 1/640 s
I found this species on the scorching hot plain at sea level in the north by the road to Dixam, as well as higher up on around 800 meters elevation. Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂 Aperture: ƒ/14 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 400 Shutter speed: 1/800 s
I found this species on the scorching hot plain at sea level in the north by the road to Dixam, as well as higher up on around 800 meters elevation. Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂 Aperture: ƒ/18 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/800 s
At around 800 meter elevation and up the Euryops arabicus were in bloom and thus a lot of insects gathered to eat from the huge number of flowers. This was one of several lepidoptera species I encountered here. Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂 Aperture: ƒ/20 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: […]
The only one of this species I encountered. A magnificent, large spider! I also found a small male on the outer fringes of the large web made by this female. Perhaps it will manage to mate before it too is eaten? Altitude: 582 meters. Aperture: ƒ/14 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 800 Shutter […]
Resembles leucas spiculifera, but the flowers are morphologically too different to be same species. Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂 Aperture: ƒ/16 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1250 Shutter speed: 1/320 s
It’s amazing how this species is able to thrive on bare rock! Aperture: ƒ/9 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1250 Shutter speed: 1/320 s
I found very few with flowers, and only this one with a health flower and intact foliage. All plants were stunted due to heavy grazing by goats. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/10 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1250 Shutter speed: 1/320 s
I found very few with flowers, and only this one with a healthy flower. All plants were stunted due to heavy grazing by goats. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/16 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1250 Shutter speed: 1/320 s
Right outside Hoq cave in the northeast of Socotra I found many plant species benefiting from the water dripping from the cave, orchids and ferns like this one. further away from the opening and the drought is way underway with most plants now drooping or already completely crisp and dried. Aperture: ƒ/10 Camera: NIKON D4 […]