Copyright © 2017 by Ali Bernie Buga-ay, all rights reserved. Silver Pheasant (male): this photograph may not be used without permission.
The Silver Pheasant or Lophura nycthemera is a species of pheasant found in montane forest of mainland Southeast Asia and eastern southern China. Introduced in Hawaii and various places in the mainland US. Subspecies in Laos and southern Vietnam and deemed rare and threatened.
We were driving back to the camp site on Doi Lang from Doi Sanju and it was getting dark. The ridge road was partially paved and asphalted as water, mud, and time reconfigured it to be broken and riddles with some potholes. As we were carefully negotiating down the slope, the tires were trying to stick on concrete covered with dead leaves and mud, breaks were making squeaking sounds, on lowest gear, we stopped quickly as about seven Silver pheasants, males and females, crossed the road. I have seen them at Khao Yai National Park many times and have failed to take proper shots.
They sopped in the middle of the road and gave us time to take shots, we horrible conditions, shower, low light, distance, and some insects following the birds, we took the shots handheld as I had no time to take my tripod out from the backside of the truck. The experience was amazing, sometimes we really don’t need to get a fantastic capture; but a great moment is rather more important in the habitat.
Doi Lang, Thailand
December 31, 2018
Nikon D500 + Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Fotopro TS-85C | Fotopro WH-30 | Carry Speed FS-Pro | Nitecore UNK1
