Steel Rails Across North America.
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Dahlia flower taken at the Adelaide Botanical Gardens.
Hope you enjoy the Beatles singing the same song as the title
"Across The Universe "
www.youtube.com/watch?v=90M60PzmxEE
Many thanks for your visit, comments, invites and faves...it is always appreciated...
Happy Friday
Taken locally on our walks!
Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita
The common chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), or simply the chiffchaff, is a common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds in open woodlands throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia.
It is a migratory passerine which winters in southern and western Europe, southern Asia and north Africa. Greenish-brown above and off-white below, it is named onomatopoeically for its simple chiff-chaff song. It has a number of subspecies, some of which are now treated as full species.
This warbler gets its name from its simple distinctive song, a repetitive cheerful chiff-chaff. This song is one of the first avian signs that spring has returned. Its call is a hweet, less disyllabic than the hooeet of the willow warbler or hu-it of the western Bonelli's warbler.
The common chiffchaff breeds across Europe and Asia east to eastern Siberia and north to about 70°N, with isolated populations in northwest Africa, northern and western Turkey and northwestern Iran. It is migratory, but it is one of the first passerine birds to return to its breeding areas in the spring and among the last to leave in late autumn. When breeding, it is a bird of open woodlands with some taller trees and ground cover for nesting purposes. These trees are typically at least 5 metres (16 ft) high, with undergrowth that is an open, poor to medium mix of grasses, bracken, nettles or similar plants. Its breeding habitat is quite specific, and even near relatives do not share it; for example, the willow warbler (P. trochilus) prefers younger trees, while the wood warbler (P. sibilatrix) prefers less undergrowth. In winter, the common chiffchaff uses a wider range of habitats including scrub, and is not so dependent on trees. It is often found near water, unlike the willow warbler which tolerates drier habitats. There is an increasing tendency to winter in western Europe well north of the traditional areas, especially in coastal southern England and the mild urban microclimate of London. These overwintering common chiffchaffs include some visitors of the eastern subspecies abietinus and tristis, so they are certainly not all birds which have bred locally, although some undoubtedly are.
Population:
UK breeding:
1,200,000 territories
UK wintering:
500-1,000 birds
Thαηks for your vιsιts αηd coммεηts.
Pℓεαsε doη't usε thιs ιмαgε on wεbsιtεs, bℓogs or othεr мεdια wιthout мy εxpℓιcιt pεrмιssιon.
Aℓℓ rιghts rεsεrvεd © GoldenCrotalo.
Reed Bunting - Emberiza schoeniclus (M)
It breeds across Europe and much of temperate and northern Asia. Most birds migrate south in winter, but those in the milder south and west of the range are resident. It is common in reedbeds and also breeds in drier open areas such as moorland and cultivation. For example, it is a component of the purple moor grass and rush pastures, a type of Biodiversity Action Plan habitat in the UK. It occurs on poorly drained neutral and acidic soils of the lowlands and upland fringe.
The common reed bunting is a medium-sized bird, 13.5–15.5 cm long, with a small but sturdy seed-eater's bill. The male has a black head and throat, white neck collar and underparts, and a heavily streaked brown back. The female is much duller, with a streaked brown head, and is more streaked below.
Despite its name, the Reed Bunting breeds across a range of habitats from reedbeds and conifer plantations to hedgerows and arable crops like oil seed rape. During the non-breeding season, this species is dependent upon weed seeds, and as such, Reed Buntings would have joined other species in winter flocks on farmland stubbles. The decline of this species matches that of other farmland species like Tree Sparrow and Linnet. The increasing winter use of gardens during the 1980s probably reflects the decrease in availability of winter food.
Three Hakuba mountains of Hakuba-yari, Shakushi, and Shirouma or Hakuba across the shrub of Kurobe (Japanese thuja, thuja standishii), an evergreen coniferous species in the cypress family. It is usually a tall tree but is dwarfed here due to a poor soil condition.
Northern Ontario, Canada
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Kuznetsky Most is one of the most beautiful pedestrian streets in the historical center of Moscow.
The street got its modern - and at the same time historical - name thanks to the Kuznetsky Bridge across the Neglinnaya River. Today, Kuznetsky Most Street attracts citizens with its high-quality landscaping, an abundance of architectural monuments and an unusual relief: due to the significant difference in heights between Petrovka and Rozhdestvenka, the city landscape looks especially picturesque.
Kuznetskaya Sloboda on the high bank of the Neglinnaya River - Neglinnaya Upper - appeared in the 12th century, but its heyday came only at the end of the 15th, when the Cannon Yard was built in the vicinity, and the Moscow prince Ivan III ordered to settle in it blacksmiths and grooms who served new production. At the turn of the 15th-16th centuries, Novgorod and Pskov were annexed to the Moscow principality, and craftsmen of various professions from these cities were moved to the Neglinny Upper.
In 1737, the street burned out during the Trinity fire, but rather quickly new buildings were built on it, in which foreign shops began to be located. Gradually, the street turned into the abode of foreign trade: the French showed particular zeal, opening fashion and haberdashery shops here, thanks to which Kuznetsky Most became the main shopping street in Moscow. During World War II and the fire of 1812, it practically did not suffer from the fire, since the French guard took over the protection of the business of compatriots. After the war, trade flourished again, and many fashionable shops were opened on it (almost all of them were foreign, most of them were French). The abundance of foreign shops made Kuznetsky Most the most fashionable and aristocratic street in Moscow, which it remained until the 1917 Revolution.
During the Soviet era, the street lost part of the historical buildings, many buildings were rebuilt, and the street gradually took on a modern look.
After the reconstruction carried out in 2012, the Kuznetsky Most section from Bolshaya Dmitrovka to Rozhdestvenka became pedestrian.
Today Kuznetsky Most Street is a well-maintained pedestrian zone, where city holidays and festivals are often held.
Despite the losses of the Soviet years, a large number of architectural monuments have been preserved on it: tenement houses, partially preserved city estates and passages. Among them are famous Moscow sights: the building of the Moscow International Trade Bank, Khomyakov's trading house and others.
The low winters sun.. has given this Dartmoor landscape a lovely warm feel.. but it was freezing..
HGGT.. thanks for looking.. have a great day
Cruise ship passing under the three bridges of Peso da Régua
[Nikkor AI-S 50mm f/1.2, merge of several frames]
The Ribblesdale railway viaduct on a grey, wet day. The viaduct, across Ribblesdale (known as the Ribblesdale Viaduct and Batty Moss Viaduct) was built in 1875, and is 1320 ft long, 104 ft high. It was closed to rail traffic for a while, but has now reopened, though all trains seems to tip-toe across.
Wide angle landscape shots of the dales and the viaduct were just not working on the day I was there with so much low cloud, rain and mist around...it allowed for some more moody compositions though!
The constant teetering and bobbing of the tail action of the Spotted Sandpiper makes it one of the easiest shorebirds to identify and common all across Canada.
Unlike most species involved with the northern migration the females arrive on their breeding grounds ahead of the males and they establish and defend their territory. Polyandry is a common practice by the females and they will mate with as many as 4 males and will lay a clutch of eggs for each male to incubate and raise the young. When she lays a clutch of eggs for a male they may well have been fathered by a male from a previous mating since she can store sperm for up to a month.
This adult bird is gleaning for insects on a stopover during the northern migration.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvxL-1NUl9U
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN9Cb-rNF9U
Our view is of the idyllic islands of Tarutao National Park, Thailand, on an atmospheric early morning. The Thai National Marine Park comprises 51 outstanding forested islands and coral reefs. It was established in 1974.
Prior to that it was the home for centuries of the Chao Lay or Sea Gypsies (aka People of the Sea). Otherwise, Thailand's nomadic seafaring tribes, who used to roam freely across the Andaman Sea without ties to any country or nationality.
The southernmost end of the park lies on the border with Malaysia, just north of Langkawi's island coastline where this photo was shot from Datai Bay. It offers yet another beautiful nature place to visit in this part of the world.
Explored 25 May 2023
Samsung S23 Ultra 5G Camera
Ive just deciderd to put up this photograph again as its one of my most favourite ones and I love the place. Ive a lot of personal stuff to sort out at the moment so hopefully this will give me breathing space. Best wishes and thanks to all you great people out there!
P.
" I love the ground whereon she stands "
Here is "Celtic Woman`s" haunting version:
Do give it a listen/look;
SONG;
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBIDgUQiu-8
"Black is the colour, of my true loves hair,
Her lips are soft like roses fair,
She has the sweetest smile and the gentlest hands,
I love the ground, whereon she stands"
" I love my love, and well she knows,
I love the ground, where on she goes.
I write her a letter, Just a few short lines,
And my heart it dies, a thousand times"
[ Unknown, traditional, Glasgow, Scotland, 18th century. ]
The evening light slowly fades out to the west
over Lugala and beyond and as far as the eye can see, in the Wicklow Mountains National Park, Ireland.
This lovely mountain is also called "Fancy Mountain".A pretty name for a pretty place.
Im going to ask my friend to write a slip jig on the fiddle for me and call it " The Fancies of Lugalaw " and then every time I go up here, not only will I have the view and the silence but Ill also have the music going around in my head as well. Now isnt that a proper kind of "madness"! Lol! P@t.
My pics are also available in slide form on Flickriver below, if you prefer;
flickriver.com/photos/137473925@N08/
A few people have said that they found the song very sad, particularly the extra verse I put in above.
We may be completely wrong as often in songs and poems of this period from Ireland and Scotland, the woman is actually ones homeland.Many womens names were used in the place of the country and the broken heart and unrequited love has to do with the country been in "strangers hands" and un free and would particularly apply to Scotland and Ireland.
It seems to be in vogue now to be patriotic and whereas a certain amount of it is to be admired, we must be careful, as too much of it has plunged the World into too many wars. We dont want a border here in this country. We had one for a hundred years and lots died because of it. Mostly innocent as always.I do think that they wont allow one and Im hopeful.
Ive just updated this photo as lots of people may not have seen it. I actually think its my best ever and please do listen to the song and watch the video as its amazing!!! P@t.
Heron across the bank taken from the pub garden "Fish & Eels Nazeing" What a proud elegant bird, I love the way these guys pose for me, just a shame he was not a little closer.
across your blue ocean
hold fast to your dreaming for all that you're worth
for as long as there’s dreamers, there will always be sailors
bringing back their bright treasures from corners of earth
(Safe in the Harbour - Eric Bogle)
Measuring 46 feet across and spanning the length of the gallery’s wall, the monumental Joystick is an ode to Rosenquist’s love of flying. Based on reflections from a mirrored cylinder, packed with gyrating forms that move at incredible speed, the space of Joystick is invented, abstract, and wholly optical. “The priority for me is visual invention and, really, content is secondary,” Rosenquist told the late art historian Robert Rosenblum. By contrast, the central expanse of The Geometry of Fire is a reflection of real space. Painted after a devastating fire destroyed the artist’s Florida studio, the 25 foot long picture depicts the wildness of fire on the left and the destruction it causes, seen in the melting, exploding hub caps on the right. At the picture’s center is the mysterious cosmos, populated with the galaxies, star showers and black holes that became the subject of Rosenquist’s last paintings.
Displayed @the "WTC", NYC
Amazing cloud formation just after sunrise. The sea was calm and the tide was coming in. Every year the shingle is built up on the beach as a sea defence but you can see the channels in the shingle where the sea has already flooded in during recent stormy weather. The wooden breakers are also a sea defence. Eastbourne, UK
A cloudy day with just a bit of snow -- and a view of Gaustadt's main street. Even though the houses are fairly colorful, I like the look of this image in b&w (Panasonic L Monochrome in LR 6.14). [P1060245_lr_2000]
Thank you all for the clicks, comments & faves. I really appreciate it. (I've decided to reply to comments only if I have something worthwhile to add.)
Came across this Chiffchaff singing his socks off yesterday on our local walk.
I think this might be a female Goat Willow tree (Salix caprea) but would appreciate a correct I.D.
Many thanks to all who take the time to view, comment or fave my images.