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Wildlife and travel photographer chasing stories from the wild.

Birds, big cats, forests, wetlands and the quieter moments of nature, photographed across India, Africa, Brazil, the USA and beyond.

30/10/2026

Two birds, one banana, and a perfect mirror image. But look closely, only one of them is real!

Reflections of the Atlantic Forest | Part 1 of 3

During my birding trip to Trilha dos Tucanos in Brazil's Atlantic Forest, I photographed this beautiful Saffron Toucanet (Pteroglossus bailloni) feeding on a banana beside a pool of still water. The reflection was so clear that even the bright yellow eye, colorful beak, and golden feathers appeared almost perfectly duplicated.

The Saffron Toucanet is one of the most unusual members of the toucan family. While most toucans are known for their black, white, and brightly colored patterns, this species stands out with its striking golden-yellow plumage.

Found in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, these birds feed mainly on fruits and play an important role in dispersing seeds, helping forests regenerate.

Unfortunately, the species is classified as Near Threatened, with habitat loss and forest fragmentation contributing to its declining population.

Sometimes wildlife photography is not just about the bird, but also about the little details that make a moment special. For me, it was this beautiful reflection!

This is Part 1 of my three-part reflection series. Click to explore the other moments in this series.

28/10/2026

What does it take for a bird to earn the nickname “Seven Colors”?
Deep inside Brazil's Atlantic Forest, I found one that seems to have collected nearly every color of the rainbow!

Meet the Green-headed Tanager (Tangara seledon), one of the most colorful birds I photographed at Trilha dos Tucanos in Brazil.

Despite its name, green is just one of its many colors. Look closely and you will find a turquoise head and chest, brilliant green body, deep blue and violet wings, black markings, and a striking yellow-green band across its back.

In Brazil, it is known as “saíra-sete-cores”, meaning Seven-colored Tanager, and it certainly lives up to that name!

These small birds are native to South America's Atlantic Forest region, where they move through the forest canopy, often in mixed-species flocks, searching for fruits and insects.

Interestingly, unlike many colorful bird species where males get all the attention, both male and female Green-headed Tanagers have remarkably vibrant plumage.

Trilha dos Tucanos is a wonderful place for bird photography. The Atlantic Forest may not be as famous as the Amazon, but it is one of the world's richest biodiversity hotspots, with many species found nowhere else.

And when a bird this colorful lands right in front of your camera, it is hard not to appreciate what makes this forest so special.

25/10/2026

What makes a small lake just outside Addis Ababa one of my favourite birdwatching stops in Ethiopia? Sometimes, it is the chance to discover a little flash of yellow hiding among the reeds!

Whenever I visit Addis Ababa, I try to make time for an early morning birding trip to the crater lakes of Bishoftu, about an hour's drive from the city. Lake Hora is one of my favourite stops, with its beautiful volcanic landscape, peaceful waters and wonderful birdlife.

On one such morning, I spotted this beautiful male Rüppell’s Weaver (Ploceus galbula), with its brilliant golden-yellow feathers, reddish-brown facial mask and striking red eyes, peeking through the green reeds.

These little birds are remarkable architects! The males weave elaborate hanging nests from strips of grass and plant fibres, often suspending them from branches above water. The entrance faces downward, helping make the nest harder for some predators to reach. Interestingly, the female inspects the nest before choosing a mate, so the male's weaving skills can influence his chances of breeding!

What makes Bishoftu special is that its lakes were formed in volcanic depressions, creating a beautiful landscape with different habitats that attract everything from tiny weavers and colourful kingfishers to pelicans, herons and African fish eagles.

Lake Hora is also culturally important, hosting the Irreecha thanksgiving celebration of the Oromo people.

Ethiopia has so much more to offer beyond its famous historical sites and spectacular highlands. Even a short drive from Addis Ababa can take you into a completely different world of crater lakes, birdlife and beautiful landscapes.

For anyone visiting Addis Ababa, I would strongly recommend setting aside a morning to explore Bishoftu. It remains one of my favourite little escapes from the city, and there is always something new to discover!

24/10/2026

A small bird with a surprisingly powerful voice, hiding among the wetlands of the Pantanal!

The Black-capped Donacobius may look unassuming, but it has some unusual characteristics that make it stand out.

I spotted this solitary bird in the Pantanal, perched among the wetland vegetation. Its distinctive black cap, yellow eyes, and long, graduated tail make it an interesting bird to photograph.

Interestingly, scientists once classified this species alongside mockingbirds and later wrens. Today, it belongs to its own family, Donacobiidae, making it quite unusual in the bird world.

The Black-capped Donacobius (Donacobius atricapilla) feeds mainly on insects and other small invertebrates found around marshes and waterways. It is also known for its loud, musical calls, which can carry considerable distances across the wetlands.

Another fascinating bird from the incredible biodiversity of Brazil's Pantanal!

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23/10/2026

What goes through a Jaguar's mind as it quietly watches the world around it?

One moment, those eyes look almost sleepy. The next, they are intensely focused on something we cannot even see!

Part 2 of my Jaguar expressions series from the Pantanal, Brazil.

Spending long hours observing Jaguars along the riverbanks gave us opportunities to capture these subtle changes in their expressions, from curiosity and alertness to complete relaxation.

Interestingly, Jaguars rely heavily on their excellent hearing and vision while hunting. Their ears can move independently to detect sounds, while their eyes are adapted for seeing in low light, making them effective hunters during dawn, dusk and nighttime.

These photographs capture another side of one of the most powerful predators in the Americas. No dramatic action, just the fascinating expressions of a wild Jaguar going about its day.

21/10/2026

A powerful stare, a curious look, or a massive yawn revealing those sharp teeth. Jaguars have some fascinating facial expressions!

During our Pantanal trip, we stayed on a houseboat along the river, allowing us to be among the first to enter the reserve and the last to leave. This gave us more time to observe Jaguars and capture their quieter moments.

Jaguars have one of the strongest bites relative to body size among big cats, powerful enough to pierce turtle shells and caiman skulls. Yet, a wide-open mouth isn't always a sign of aggression. Like domestic cats, Jaguars also yawn while resting or waking up!

This series captures their many expressions, from intense concentration to complete relaxation. Sometimes, the quieter moments tell the most interesting stories.

20/10/2026

That cream patch on a giant otter’s throat is more than a marking.
Its pattern is unique to each individual, helping researchers tell them apart.

We found these giant otters in Brazil’s Pantanal eating fish, holding their catch in their front paws and tearing into it bite by bite. Watching them feed gave us a close look at the sharp teeth behind those whiskered faces.

Giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) are the longest otter species, reaching around 1.8 metres, including the tail. They live in family groups that travel, hunt and raise their young together. Fish make up most of their diet, and their sensitive whiskers help them detect prey moving through murky water.

A fish meal for them, and a fascinating moment by the river for us.

17/10/2026

For more than two hours, I kept missing the moment. Then I finally caught a ringed kingfisher just before it hit the water.

I watched several kingfishers along the Pantanal waterways, waiting for a dive and trying to follow each bird fast enough to get the shot. The timing was difficult. One instant the bird was above the water; the next, it was gone beneath the surface.

Ringed kingfishers are the largest kingfishers in the Americas. They often hunt from a perch, plunging toward fish with their heavy bills. These photos freeze the brief moment before impact, but they cannot show how many attempts it took to capture it.

16/10/2026

We went deeper into the woods looking for this pair. Once we found them, we stayed and watched them rest together.

These hyacinth macaws were near their nesting tree at Pousada Piuval in Brazil’s Pantanal. In the shade, their deep blue feathers were still easy to spot. Their large bills looked just as impressive up close.

Those bills have a practical job: hyacinth macaws use them to crack the hard nuts of palms such as acuri and bocaiúva. After seeing the pair so quietly among the trees, I found it hard to imagine the force behind those bills.

15/10/2026

We found them only after going deeper into the woods. A pair of hyacinth macaws was resting near the tree where they were preparing to nest.

Away from the more open areas of Pousada Piuval, we watched them together for a while. Their blue feathers still caught the light through the trees.

Hyacinth macaws in the Pantanal rely heavily on hollows in mature manduvi trees for nesting. Suitable hollows are scarce, so finding one matters. Seeing this pair near their nest site was a reminder that protecting old trees is part of protecting the macaws themselves.

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