Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus), which resembles the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (Merop spersicusis), is probably the most vibrant among the bee-eaters found in India. Years ago, we first saw this bird, perched on a bare branch on the edge of a mangrove forest in a coastal area of West Bengal. It was great to see them fly and again glide down swiftly, mostly with a catch, on the same perch. Since then, we are in love with this fascinating beauty. Portrait of a flying bl

The Singalila National Park that reigns the north eastern part of India and the India-Nepal border becomes the land of Guras in March - April every year. This national park is flooded with grandeur of gorgeous Rhododendron, locally called Guras. Studies and records suggest that there are 132 taxa (80 species, 25 sub species and 27 varieties) of Rhododendron found in India, of which 129 are found in the north-eastern India alone. Guras or Rhododendron is the national flower