Webbed

A spiderweb glistens with raindrops in the early morning in Bangalore.

Wildflower Wednesdays

Our hike in the Himalayas last August was not defined by its birds, surprisingly enough. Rather, it was defined by its flowers. I tend to avoid flowers, except when as an attraction for butterflies, as a photography subject: stationary plants seem too easy, too facile. But the sheer range we saw in the mountains made…

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Of Paintings and Project Noah

Some of you may recall my recent post of a lilac-breasted roller we spotted in Kenya. If you don't, refresh your memory. This bird was at the top of my to-see list in Kenya, not despite and in fact because it was so common there. Satisfaction guaranteed. (I also had a second, non-official list, which…

Buzzing Time

This gigantic bee was spotted at an altitude of above 3,000 meters in the Himalayas. The largest social bee in the world, Apis laboriosa, is found in - fittingly - the largest mountain range in the world. While the species above is not Apis, it is, however, a telling reminder to not forget that which…

Grenade of Colors

Scarlet Grenadiers (Lathrecista asiatica) are another example of a common species that should not be underestimated in terms of ability to stun. Despite being found from India to Australia, they are still restricted to forested nature reserves in Singapore - this individual was spotted at Pasir Ris Mangroves.

Crazy Tiny Insects: Crazy Cool Moths (Again.)

I love moths as much as I love butterflies, I think, only they're... hmmm. I'd say about 20x as difficult to spot. So many people have these crazy beautiful ones literally bumping into their front doors with a wave of brightly colored wings, saying, 'Hey! Take a picture of me!' and despite living, quite literally,…

Crimson

These beautiful dragonflies are often seen at the edges of pools and man-made water bodies.