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After reversing at Henwick, reflected in the windows of The Hive, a GWR Class 158 heads back into Worcester Foregate Street ready to work service 2T48, the 1452 Worcester Foregate Street to Bristol Temple Meads.
Canon EOS 7D Mark II
EF600mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x III
The common starling (Sturnus vulgaris), also known as the European starling, or in the British Isles just the starling, is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is about 20 cm (8 in) long and has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen, which is speckled with white at some times of year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer; young birds have browner plumage than the adults. It is a noisy bird, especially in communal roosts and other gregarious situations, with an unmusical but varied song. Its gift for mimicry has been noted in literature including the Mabinogion and the works of Pliny the Elder and William Shakespeare.
The common starling has about a dozen subspecies breeding in open habitats across its native range in temperate Europe and western Asia, and it has been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, the Falkland Islands, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, South Africa and Fiji. This bird is resident in southern and western Europe and southwestern Asia, while northeastern populations migrate south and west in winter within the breeding range and also further south to Iberia and North Africa. The common starling builds an untidy nest in a natural or artificial cavity in which four or five glossy, pale blue eggs are laid. These take two weeks to hatch and the young remain in the nest for another three weeks. There are normally one or two breeding attempts each year. This species is omnivorous, taking a wide range of invertebrates, as well as seeds and fruit. It is hunted by various mammals and birds of prey, and is host to a range of external and internal parasites.
Large flocks typical of this species can be beneficial to agriculture by controlling invertebrate pests; however, starlings can also be pests themselves when they feed on fruit and sprouting crops. Common starlings may also be a nuisance through the noise and mess caused by their large urban roosts. Introduced populations in particular have been subjected to a range of controls, including culling, but these have had limited success except in preventing the colonisation of Western Australia. The species has declined in numbers in parts of northern and western Europe since the 1980s due to fewer grassland invertebrates being available as food for growing chicks. Despite this, its huge global population is not thought to be declining significantly, so the common starling is classified as being of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The common starling is 19–23 cm (7.5–9.1 in) long, with a wingspan of 31–44 cm (12–17 in) and a weight of 58–101 g (2.0–3.6 oz). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 11.8 to 13.8 cm (4.6 to 5.4 in), the tail is 5.8 to 6.8 cm (2.3 to 2.7 in), the culmen is 2.5 to 3.2 cm (0.98 to 1.26 in) and the tarsus is 2.7 to 3.2 cm The plumage is iridescent black, glossed purple or green, and spangled with white, especially in winter. The underparts of adult male common starlings are less spotted than those of adult females at a given time of year. The throat feathers of males are long and loose and are used in display while those of females are smaller and more pointed. The legs are stout and pinkish- or greyish-red. The bill is narrow and conical with a sharp tip; in the winter it is brownish-black but in summer, females have lemon yellow beaks while males have yellow bills with blue-grey bases. Moulting occurs once a year- in late summer after the breeding season has finished; the fresh feathers are prominently tipped white (breast feathers) or buff (wing and back feathers), which gives the bird a speckled appearance. The reduction in the spotting in the breeding season is achieved through the white feather tips largely wearing off. Juveniles are grey-brown and by their first winter resemble adults though often retaining some brown juvenile feathering, especially on the head. They can usually be sexed by the colour of the irises, rich brown in males, mouse-brown or grey in females. Estimating the contrast between an iris and the central always-dark pupil is 97% accurate in determining sex, rising to 98% if the length of the throat feathers is also considered. The common starling is mid-sized by both starling standards and passerine standards. It is readily distinguished from other mid-sized passerines, such as thrushes, icterids or small corvids, by its relatively short tail, sharp, blade-like bill, round-bellied shape and strong, sizeable (and rufous-coloured) legs. In flight, its strongly pointed wings and dark colouration are distinctive, while on the ground its strange, somewhat waddling gait is also characteristic. The colouring and build usually distinguish this bird from other starlings, although the closely related spotless starling may be physically distinguished by the lack of iridescent spots in adult breeding plumage.
Like most terrestrial starlings the common starling moves by walking or running, rather than hopping. Their flight is quite strong and direct; their triangular-shaped wings beat very rapidly, and periodically the birds glide for a short way without losing much height before resuming powered flight. When in a flock, the birds take off almost simultaneously, wheel and turn in unison, form a compact mass or trail off into a wispy stream, bunch up again and land in a coordinated fashion. Common starling on migration can fly at 60–80 km/h (37–50 mph) and cover up to 1,000–1,500 km (620–930 mi).
Several terrestrial starlings, including those in the genus Sturnus, have adaptations of the skull and muscles that help with feeding by probing. This adaptation is most strongly developed in the common starling (along with the spotless and white-cheeked starlings), where the protractor muscles responsible for opening the jaw are enlarged and the skull is narrow, allowing the eye to be moved forward to peer down the length of the bill. This technique involves inserting the bill into the ground and opening it as a way of searching for hidden food items. Common starlings have the physical traits that enable them to use this feeding technique, which has undoubtedly helped the species spread far and wide.
In Iberia, the western Mediterranean and northwest Africa, the common starling may be confused with the closely related spotless starling, the plumage of which, as its name implies, has a more uniform colour. At close range it can be seen that the latter has longer throat feathers, a fact particularly noticeable when it sings.
The common starling is a noisy bird. Its song consists of a wide variety of both melodic and mechanical-sounding noises as part of a ritual succession of sounds. The male is the main songster and engages in bouts of song lasting for a minute or more. Each of these typically includes four varieties of song type, which follow each other in a regular order without pause. The bout starts with a series of pure-tone whistles and these are followed by the main part of the song, a number of variable sequences that often incorporate snatches of song mimicked from other species of bird and various naturally occurring or man-made noises. The structure and simplicity of the sound mimicked is of greater importance than the frequency with which it occurs. Each sound clip is repeated several times before the bird moves on to the next. After this variable section comes a number of types of repeated clicks followed by a final burst of high-frequency song, again formed of several types. Each bird has its own repertoire with more proficient birds having a range of up to 35 variable song types and as many as 14 types of clicks.
Unryu paper is also known as mulberry paper. Unryu is lightweight and translucent enough for light to shine through it highlighting the fibers that are embued in it. I fell back on the two origami creatures I know how to fold to highlight the fibers.
For February Alphabet Fun Month.
Back in Fontainebleau after years away and delighted to see our favourite patisseries are still doing fine and still absolutely delicious. I'm going to gain 50kg on this trip...
One of the many things I enjoy about tramping is the opportunity to look back on the ground you have covered the previous day(s).
On this 6 day tramp, we travelled from the Cobb valley to the Aorere valley, via the Douglas range in Kahurangi National Park . Part of the route we took is unofficially known as the "low route" as it bypasses the most difficult section of the Douglas range known as the "Dragons Teeth".
This photo was taken as I look back at the low route. We descended into this (Anatoki) valley on one of the distant spurs on the right and camped on the river flats in the bush. The next day we made our way up the river to the headwaters and bush bashed on a compass bearing to this saddle and Adelaide tarn. This was all untracked travel and one of the better days tramping I have had.
Had to be quick to catch a shot of this little guy at the Nanaimo River Estuary.
Sadly it wouldn't turn towards the light for me.
Tonight was the first time i've been out taking photos since getting back from Utah. A quick ride out to a local field that had been harvested a couple of days ago!
I apologize for the absence of posts here over the past few weeks. We have been moving, which brings with it a whole host of fun challenges. In between that, I have certainly tried to make it out for some of the more rare trains and leaders that have made their way to the RF&P. On the evening of July 26th, I read that an empty coal drag with a YN2 leader was coming northbound. I headed out to Long Bridge Park, and captured the train at RO with DCA in the background. As YN2 leaders become more rare across CSX, I'll take any chance I can to shoot them.
With this simple trolley we travel in many country. It’s much easier,than you need to wear backpack on your back,specially,if you travel by hitchhiking and walk a lot.
In Venice even the back streets are amazing!
Please press L and view in full screen.
Thank you so much for your visit!
Peeblespair Website ~ Tumblr ~ Instagram
Now back on CSS rails, the 2005 leads the detour move South across the CN diamonds in Stillwell, IN.
After finally making it back from Sawyers River with the snowbound Crawford excursion that had to turn back there the crew has put the train away and is now in the process of MUing the two two GP38s to be ready for a storm clean up day on Monday.
Conway Scenic 252 drifts light down the main past the station platform headed to the south end of the yard. This EMD GP38 was built in November 1966 for the Maine Central Railroad as part of an order of 13 of the model which were the first batch of second generation diesel locomotives purchased by the road. This unit was the last of the thirteen in service on MEC successor Guilford Transportation, lasting more than three decades, and having seen her other dozen siblings retired and scrapped or sold. She came here in March 2010 along with GP35 216 in a trade with Pan Am Railways for FP9s 6505 and 6516 that would become Pan Am's OCS power.
At right is the splendid Victorian/Russian styled depot built in 1874 by the Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway Railroad. under lease to the Eastern Railroad became a part of the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1890 when it purchased the Eastern. The B&M continued to run scheduled passenger service until 1961, and beginning in 1932 dedicated ski trains were run from Boston as the sport of downhill skiing gained in popularity. The very last snow train arrived from Boston in February 1972 ,and on Halloween day of that year the last local freight departed south and the B&M abandoned 22 miles of the branch south to Ossipee. Meanwhile the depot had been saved by a group of local businessmen in 1968 who later purchased the rail yard and the northernmost 7 miles of the branch to found the Conway Scenic Railroad in 1974.
Village of North Conway
Town of Conway, New Hampshire
Sunday February 16, 2025
I've got to get over you then I know, then I can get back to me.
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Thank you so much for your visits, comments and faves !!!
Wish you all a wonderful day! :)
#1 Explore, Mar 18, 2012
Grey Nurse Shark
Carcharias taurus
South Solitary Island, NSW
First dive back after an O-ring failure caused my system to flood.
Have a fabulous Christmas and New Year, also thank you very much to those who have viewed, commented on, or faved any of my photos this year.
Those pesky Cupids are back to cause lovey-dovey havoc across the SL grid. Get ready to slay them by smashing, smooshing, and squishing them before they infect you with love! 💘
The MadPea Cupid Catastrophe 2022, a two-week grid-wide hunt, is coming soon! Stay tuned for more info!
I’m not a hardcore birder, I shoot only when both the opportunity and mood arise simultaneously, both of which does not happen very often.
I remember feeling challenged shooting this bird and as such it was a great experience.
1. Tiny bird, smaller even than the common Kingfisher but way more colourful.
2. This being a Forest Kingfisher, it’s always in the thicket, never in the open. Had to shoot at very low shutter speed hoping to catch it in between twitches just to keep ISO low enough to preserve details. Being as dim as it was, had to also boost up the EV to avoid having to do any shadow recovery.
3. 600mm even on APS-C crop was barely sufficient.
4. Trying to squeeze out as much details as possible. Used normal wireless release via OVF; MUP+EFC; Live-view, none made any consistent and significant difference. This was where I got a little mad at Nikon’s useless implementation of EFC on the D500, even more useless than the auto AF fine-tune feature. What’s the point of putting in features that don’t really work!? EFC in Live-view would have helped but infuriatingly, you can activate EFC in Live-view yet you can’t use EFC in Live-view, get your act together Nikon!
5. Getting the right pose with the beak pointing sideways and preferably upwards for the slightly haughty look plus some catch-light in the eye.
An experience to remember. a most beautiful bird, its red feathers extend down the centre back of its head to the collar in a narrowing ridge looking like its beak with the dark blue patches on each side of this ridge giving it the appearance of having eyes and beak at the back of its head! This is likely a defensive marking. Especially interesting when the Micronesia Kingfisher became extinct in the wild due to introduced brown tree snake sneaking up on it from behind while the bird was totally focused ahead and below as kingfishers normally do.
Shooting very small birds is always challenging as conditions constantly change with the subject constantly on the move while you aim for that perfect pose which can disappear in a twitch.
I toyed with the idea of getting the Sony a99ii with A-mount Tamron 150-600mm G2 after this but gave it up eventually. It’s not feasible to shoot with so many different systems.
Shot on tripod at 1/15s!
Uploaded a much better image (albeit cropped) with my latest post processing workflow.