From this vantage near the terminus of the Little Horse Trail, the famous Red Rocks of Sedona tower over Chicken point and this broader valley in Coconino National Forest.

On a bright but cloudy day the contrasts of Sedona, the red rocks and the green Ponderosa Pines, the blue skies and billowy white clouds, create a picturesque scene. Why share the image in monochrome then? Because, even without the colors, the richness of the textures tells a story of its own, from the jagged, but rigidly horizontal lines on the carved towers of rock, to the millions of rough edges on the trees and plants, to the stretched thin cotton of the clouds above.

Sedona is a place that defies explanation, it is a cacophony of sensory pleasures that share space and time to evoke wondrous emotion in all those who encounter it first-hand.

Recognition:

Accepted for Display - JAN 2022 Darkroomers Photographic Club, and can be found in the Photographic Arts Building in Balboa Park, San Diego.

All too often, the only clue that a Sparrowhawk is around is the sudden cacophony of alarm calls, as garden birds of all types explode away in every direction. Usually followed by an eerie silence.

Seeing one perched like this, albeit briefly, is a photo opportunity not to be missed.

Taken on a trip to Norway, last week.

It was a beautiful spring morning. I sat with my tripod and telephoto lens near the edge of the lake, entertained by a company of goldeneyes, mallards and wigeons that had gathered on open water close to shore.

They created a constant chorus of high-pitched quakes, shrill cries and whistles. A flock of noisy gulls took flight overhead, gliding and swooping, all adding to the cacophony of sounds around me.

Taken on: Local lake, Edmonton, Alberta.

Nikon D500 w/ 500f4G+1.4X @f7.1; 1/2000; -2/3EV; ISO500

Focal length: 1050mm

DR6 right-angle viewfinder

Lightroom 6.0

Thank you very much for the visit and comment

Though named "Common" this babbler is anything but common in our state.

This is hard to find babbler whose habitat is grasslands and dry farmlands found scattered across the state. The bird doesn't sound like a babbler even whose calls are often a cacophony of coarse noises. The behaviour is similar to other babblers which are social birds and often found in groups of 3-4 or more.

We sighted a pair of them on the edge of a hill on a dangerously steep slope and think there could be 3-4 in that area based on calls heard. All of them were foraging solitarily and not in a group.

This is my best shot of the bird and my first post of this species in flickr.

Thank you so much in advance for your views, feedback and faves.

These hornbills are endemic species in the Malabar region - a large mega biodiversity hotspot hosting an amazing diversity of wildlife in the South Western part of India. These are the most common hornbills in the region and are well known for their cacophonic cackling and laughing calls which are quite loud and sound totally crazy. I think they are also the smallest of the 5 species of Hornbills found there.

We sighted a fruiting fig tree in a timber depot. It was a very large tree spanning a wide area and the tree was full of figs. And enjoying those fruits were a good variety of birds - Malabar Hornbills, Malabar Pied Hornbills, Coppersmith Barbets, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Malabar Barbet, White-eyes and few other species. The tree is ripe at the right season for these birds which are or had just started nesting. So the tree is easy food for many of them.

Thank you so much in advance for your views, faves, feedback and for reading the long writeup!

Two closeups of iron structures at the Völklinger Hütte combined in post into a double exposure.

Coal Tit [Periparus ater]

Busy little birdie, collecting what is possibly cat hair, for lining the nest.

In a few weeks’ time, the babies will be around, shouting to be fed. It’s very odd to watch as the youngsters look almost twice the size of the parents, and the poor adults just flit around in an exhausting cacophony of “feed me”, “no, me”, no, MEEEE”…”and can you hurry it up!” Poor wee souls. They must be a little relieved when all the babies fledge.

For now, though, this little sweetie is flying back and forth to the nest, sourcing grass, twigs and my cats’ hair, to make it as warm and cozy as possible for the eggs/chicks.

In my garden,

South Carrick Hills

SW Scotland

🎼 “Tomorrow” - John Legend, Florian Picasso, Nas

“You're the new wave forming

You're the new day, dawning

Ask you what is your name, what do they call you?

You said, "They call me Tomorrow.”

I want to thank anyone who stops by to view this image. All favs, comments, or awards are appreciated. Also, the texture is my own work. The image is composed of three separate original images blended together with the texture layer applied. Please do not use my work for anything without permission.

The last time I photographed a laughing kookaburra, I was in Australia ... Pandemic obliges, I was closer ... to a bird park, (Parc des Oiseaux, Villars-les-dombes, France), and I met this amazing character who seemed to take pleasure in being observed.

The laughing kookaburra is well known both as a symbol of Australia’s birdlife and as the inspirational “merry, merry king of the bush” from the children’s song.

According to an Aboriginal legend, the kookaburra's famous chorus of laughter every morning is a signal for the sky people to light the great fire that illuminates and warms the earth by day. The legend captures the imagination, but the true function of the familiar cacophony is to advertise the territory of this bold bird.

The Laughing Kookaburra is the largest of the kingfisher family, but unlike most of its relatives, it is sedentary and occupies the same territories the year round. Before spring breeding season, when family groups adjust their boundaries, an observer can actually locate the territories by listening to the noisy choruses at dusk as each group calls in turn and awaits the replies of neighbouring groups.

© www.myplanetexperience.com

Large chickenlike bird found in brushy woodland. Olive-brown overall with warmer buffy belly and long tail and neck. Bare red moustache is usually hidden. Tail feathers have white tips. Extremely noisy and full of character. Small groups crash through the brush from tree to tree with the grace of a large bulldozer. Often heard "singing" a cacophony of grating shouts and squawks. Feeds mainly on fruit. (eBird)

These birds are enjoying the fruit feeding station at our resort. Each morning, staff provided papaya and other food to attract the birds, which in turn attracted the birders to their breakfast :)

Crystal Paradise Resort, Belize. January 2011.

It's winter here. I'm almost living with the birds in the garden.

It's somewhat limited my ability to keep up here.

But spring is on the way... and soon I'll be relieved of my duties :-)

Once I begin feeding the birds I feel obliged to continue until they disappear. They never get addicted to sugarwater or peanutbutter, or sugar-rice or apples or... As soon as wild food is available they leave. I'd hoped this year would be quiet. It's exhausting being a birdwoman. It's not quiet... however it's wonderful for bird watching and photography :-)

Over the years I've learnt that although there may be hundreds of tauho/silvereyes here, and they have some flock behaviours, (like responding to alarm signals, and some collective cacophony) they essentially live in smaller family groups. During the day whanau/family have spots around the garden (and neighbourhood) where they go to rest, cuddle (especially if it's cold) and preen. It seems to me that spot is their's for the whole winter.

At night they all leave. I don't know if they sleep in larger flocks, but sometimes, while photographing stars I've heard one flock calling and another, some distance away, answering. I've even heard them fly over as a flock, calling though the dark. I didn't know they could do that!

In late winter a bit of dating goes on. I've seen some awkward moments :-) But not every pair is a couple. From what I've seen over years, many are family: sisters, brothers, parents, aunts... kindred spirits.

Comments off for this one.

Hopefully I'll have some energy soon to catch up a bit.

In between now and then... I'm grateful for the quiet company :-)

Though named "Common" this babbler is anything but common in our state. This is hard to find babbler whose habitat is grasslands and dry farmlands found scattered across the state. The bird doesn't sound like a babbler even whose calls are often a cacophony of coarse noises. Its behaviour too is unlike other babblers which are social birds and often found in groups of 3-4 or more. But this Common Babbler is often sighted alone or in a pair at best.

We sighted a pair of them on the edge of a hill on a dangerously steep slope and think there could be 2 of them in the area based on calls heard.

Thank you so much in advance for your views, feedback and faves.

First I would like to thank those that followed me on this journey of Dutch re-exploration and suffered through my learning curve in a quest to produce a pleasing “Dutch Masters” work flow and hope you continue to follow my photo page for other upcoming journeys.

This is my last image of this Netherlands series until my next trip there to fill my shot bag is of one of my favorite subjects while traveling anywhere in the world is just everyday life and the cacophony of motion that surrounds it in an urban landscape.

Whether you are Dutch or just an admirer of the them the Netherlands is a wonderful place to begin exploring Europe with the safety net of helpful tolerant English speaking people that take great pride in showing off their country, accomplishments, history and just maybe if you are lucky enough they will help you discover the meaning of the word gezellig.

I took this on Sept 11th, 2017 with my D750 and Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens at 116mm 1 sec f/16 ISO100 processed in LR, PS +Lumenzia, Topaz , Luminar and DXO

Disclaimer: My style is a study of romantic realism as well as a work in progress

A resident babbler found in grasslands and dry farmlands found scattered across the state. The bird doesn't sound like a babbler even whose calls are often a cacophony of coarse noises. The behaviour too is unlike other babblers which are social birds and often found in groups of 3-4 or more.

These are considered uncommon in our state, but in the state of Gujarat, they seemed common. We sighted them in several places in good numbers often foraging on the roadside bushes, in the ground and on small trees. I was quite happy to see them since these have been a target for a while. And interestingly the shot of Shikra (previous photo in the photostream) was taken when it was trying to attack this bird. We spent around a minute and half seeing this bird forage when the bird darted off suddenly and disappeared. Before we could wonder why, the Shikra was there, unhappy clearly. This Babbler had a lucky escape.

Thanks in advance for all your views and feedback. Much appreciated.

A flock of geese had flown in at sunrise and contented themselves for several minutes and were then spooked into the air by a passing eagle, producing a cacophony. The takeoff and their reflection in the wetland captured here.

I really want to hear you but

Your individuality breaks up

Words carry worries

Chaotic crescendos rise

Don’t sing all at once, either

I can’t help you if I don’t know

your unique challenges or hopes

I can’t rejoice in your victories either

I know you’d like to be a

chorus of living breathing talented lyrics

versus a cacophony

that makes even the most patient run.

But when the words have no meaning

when we lose ourselves in a

dissolving plot

it is impossible to see an exit.

Now, don’t laugh all at once.

I know there was a funny anecdote in there

But I don’t know whose it was and

if your uproar is with me or against me.

Now, don’t cry out all at once.

There aren’t enough tissues in the world

to get to each of your faces as you

yearn for new redemption.

When we don’t wait our turn

When we aren’t calm and enduring

When we insist we are the most important…

We are all doomed.

**All photos and poems are copyrighted**

A resident babbler, but hard to find one whose habitat is grasslands and dry farmlands found scattered across the state. The bird doesn't sound like a babbler even whose calls are often a cacophony of coarse noises. The behaviour too is unlike other babblers which are social birds and often found in groups of 3-4 or more.

We sighted more than a dozen of them on this day much to my delight. They were busy playing with each other and few of them were seen with twigs in their beaks, sign of nest building. Not sure where they would nest though on high trees or low bushes.

Thank you so much in advance for your views, feedback and faves.

My visit to the Farne Islands this year was a mixture of joy and sadness. It was a joy to see and hear once more the various seabirds clamouring for space to raise their young amidst a cacophony of noise. But in the context of Avian Flu which is predicted will result in the loss of around 30,000 birds in the Farne Islands it was sad to contemplate the effect of yet another factor putting pressure on wildlife.

From my boat (landings have ceased) I enjoyed the moment - a portly Puffin rock hopping on Staple Island. Whilst most agile underwater, Puffins can be very engaging on land!

Thank you all for your kind responses.

I awoke this morning to a rather heavy fog and, happily, open water on the lake with only a few icy patches remaining. It is always amazing how quickly this transition happens. As I stood watching, a small group of the beautiful hooded mergansers landed right in front of me, the males immediately beginning the head bobbing mating ritual to the seemingly unimpressed females. My loons should arrive very soon. In the background, Canadian geese were calling from the marshes and the familiar cacophony of the amorous crows signaled that, indeed, spring had arrived...at least for the fauna. It will still be a while before the flora feels the warmth necessary to emerge and make its presence known.

_____________________

As an aside, I want to thank those contacts who took issue with my "fool" characterization yesterday...many replacing it with the far more comforting descriptive of "old" or some derivation thereof. I really appreciate it. So while there may be some question as to being the fool, it appears there is none as to being old. Terrific. Very encouraging. I reckon I have lived long enough to confirm the proverb that, indeed, "there is no fool like an old fool." But we would also do well to recall Harold MacMillan's words very effectively covering the subject: "It has been said that there is no fool like an old fool, except a young fool. But the young fool has first to grow up to be an old fool to realize what a damn fool he was when he was a young fool." British logic at its best...

Stormy sunset over Kaho'olawe, from Polo Beach, Maui, Hawai'i

So speaks the sea,

in roars and whispers,

timeless rhythms

soothe my soul,

and set my heart alight

In longing dreams

I hear the call,

through a cacophony

of voiceless noise,

I know she speaks to me

It's been a bit since I've posted an image, not for lack of photos to post, but more a lack of inspiration for something to say about them. Usually as I look through my images, there is something that jumps out and says "post me, post me!" and the words flow from there, but lately there has been only silence. Until earlier today, as I was revisiting some of last year's images from Hawai’i, in anticipation of a return to my beloved islands later this summer. Then, the sea spoke...

A quaint pairing of cypress and maples in the swamp. Late day light, peacefully drifting past as the gentle currents pulled the kayak along. Back to camp and the nightly serenade of Barred Owls...

* edit... let's replace serenade with cacophony.

Autumn in Scotland can be so incredible when the colours of the season erupt into a cacophony of colours.

May is the time of year when the fields are full of the yellow flowers of Oil Seed Rape, and Social Media is festooned with images of the stuff. Well, to add further to this cacophony of yellow, here’s an image I captured the other evening. The day had seen some rain but the clouds had more or less dispersed by the tme of sunset, and these provided a nice lead in to the the sun.

Canon EOS R

Canon EF16-35f4

Kase 3 stop Reverse Grad

Cacophony of Lines

A visual slice of the cacophony of Snow geese (Anser caerulescens) repositioning at dusk at Loess Bluffs NWR. We were told the first waves had already left on their northward journey. The number remaining was still astronomical.

Cliffs, plants and moss make a cacophonic symphony for all senses

Eather it opens for you all of a sudden, or you gradually get closer you take into your mind and soul a wholeness and details from the wide to the narrow to the wide again.

A sensory orgy no photo can ever more than give a part of.

I find photographing trees difficult. I envy those with the eyes to detail and composition to pick out something from the cacophony of the forest and create an image out of nothing. Well this time I got lucky. I could not ignore the light of a sun fighting a thunder cloud with humidity in the air lighting this single tree ablaze.

10/13/2010 by 1crzqbn

Please View On Black

The new World Trade Center (WTC) Transportation Hub or Oculus is the design of Santiago Calatrava with an interior the exceeds the cavernous Grand Central Station on 42nd Street. The post 9-11 World Trade Center site is more of a cacophony of designs, whereas the original World Trade Center had a design theme. Certainly the strangest design is Calatrava’s Transportation Hub which can evoke awe to some and to other well as I’ve stated before, it appears to be a cross between a porcupine and a stegosaurus. - [ ] #developportdev @gothamtomato @developphotoweek @omsystem.cameras #excellent_america #omsystem @bheventspace - [ ] #developportdev @gothamtomato @developphotonewsletter @omsystem.cameras #excellent_america #omsystem @bheventspace @bhphoto @adorama @tamrac @tiffen #usaprimeshot @nycurbanism @nybucketlist @nycprimeshot @911memorial @_wtcofficial #oculusnyc

“Visual Cacophony” of colour in the gardens the light was perfect again nice and soft with stunning welsh poppy's mixed amongst the purple flowers..

“He who contemplates the depths of Paris is seized with vertigo.

Nothing is more fantastic. Nothing is more tragic.

Nothing is more sublime.”

― Victor Hugo

It was her time of peace, a respite; a bit of solitude from the harrowing cacophony that had become her daily life. To the passerby she smiled and when the occasion called for it she was ready with her words of civility. All she needed was a couple days in which to be herself, by herself, and what better place than Paris?

Credits . . .

The Eternal orchestrates a sonorous symphony among the cacophony of broken notes. . . .

"We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan." Romans 8:28 . . .

"Symphony" - Switch - www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_90_NAbv3k

I am recovering after the latest round of medical challenges . . . I asked the hospital for gold status upgrade as well as buy-one-get-one-free. . . . Notes from above song drifted through my mind during the previous sleepless night. Beautiful praise time this morning listening to the song while photo editing.

The great migration of the Winter Snow Goose has begun! This pair of Snow Geese seemed to be checking each other out. It is time to choose a mate and prepare for family life. Watching huge flocks of Snow Geese swirl down from the sky, amid a cacophony of honking, is a little like standing inside a snow globe.

A photographic lifer for me though I have seen several times before, but never could manage a shot. This is a resident bird of the Subcontinent though more common in Central and Southern India. The bird is usually found around reeds near waterbodies and wet fields. It is a hard bird to sight, but easy to hear since the call is loud and cacophonic.

I sighted several bitterns (and managed superb shots) near some reeds on a lone country road and sat down to make the birds more comfortable. And then I sighted this bird on the slope of the very narrow road. As soon I lay flat on the ground, the bird came to the road and started walking giving me a good number of lovely shots much to my delight.

Thank you so much in advance for your views, feedback and faves.

A resident bird of the Subcontinent though more common in Central and Southern India. The bird is usually found around reeds near waterbodies and wet fields. It is a hard bird to sight, but easy to hear since the call is loud and cacophonic.

I sighted several bitterns (and managed superb shots) near some reeds on a lone country road and sat down to make the birds more comfortable. And then I sighted this bird on the slope of the very narrow road. As soon I lay flat on the ground, the bird came to the road and started walking giving me a good number of lovely shots much to my delight.

Thank you so much in advance for your views, feedback and faves.

An early winter morning at Gray Lodge Preserve. The migratory birds were already in abundance. We could hear the cacophony of bird chatter as we exited our car, leaving no doubt that we were in the right place.

Butte County CA

The morning of my departure back home out west walking through the new and very nicely done terminal B at New York’s La Guardia Airport, I stepped up the heating/cooling grates to eliminate some (not all) of the lighting reflections to capture the eastern sky as the sun rose. A wonderful cacophony of warm tones in the skies. Spent a sweetie me more time with my girls and folks getting my bi-annual check up with my surgeon unfortunately bringing back an unexpected stow away, what appears to be a strain of pain influenza virus, been laid out for 3 days…- [ ] #developportdev @gothamtomato @developphotonewsletter @omsystem.cameras #excellent_america #iphone13pro @apple @bheventspace @bhphoto @adorama @tamracphoto @tiffencompany #usaprimeshot #tamractales @lgaairport @nycurbanism @nycprimeshot @nybucketlist #sunriselover @kehcamera

Wood Duck hen, De Pere, Wisconsin USA

Duck weather.

Made some recent improvements to my floating blind that afford more protection for gear (and photographer) in the rain. Bring on the ducks . . . . and the weather.

My cell phone got a bit too moist in yesterdays outing, however - currently in critical condition and may not pull through.

Cacophony of Pinks @ Nymans borders in West Sussex..

Horniman Sunken Gardens..The gardens at @HornimanMuseum are absolutely stunning right now. Perfect spot for a hot cuppa

Ivan Ellison and myself visited St Aiden's RSPB Reserve. The reserve is large and the RSPB have only been managing the site for about a year. The habitat is glorious and the cacophony of bird sound is wonderful especially with bitterns booming. I'm sure it will get better when the migrants have arrived. I have never had much luck photographing Black-necked Grebes, but on this occasion, with the aid of a 2X tele-converter I was able to get full framers. Sadly I had turned up at the wrong time since the light was dull and when the sun came out for very brief periods it was high and behind the bird which is the worst sunlight there is for photography. I will visit the site again despite some of the short comings which I think over time will improve.

Treat This 245 ~ Kreative People group

Thanks to SolanoSnapper for the source image which you can see in the first comment box below or here: flic.kr/p/2iQS3k5

Music background: Public Domain

Triton Fountain, Valletta, Malta.

Dramatic rendition of Malta’s majestic Triton Fountain outside Valletta’s City Gate. It’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Malta. It consists of three bronze Tritons holding up a huge basin. The sculptural group was designed and constructed between 1952 and 1959 and collapsed in 1978. Finally it was restored and officially inaugurated on January 2018.

Triton is a mythological Greek god, the messenger of the sea. He is represented as a merman which has the upper body of a human and the tail of a fish. Also he usually carried a trident, like his father, Poseidon. Triton blew a shell like a trumpet to calm and raise the waves. Its sound was such a cacophony, that when loudly blown, it put the giants to flight, since they imagined it to be the roar of a dark wild beast.

This image is included in the galleries

bronze: Colorful alloy curated by Giorgos Rodinos, GRAPHIC ART curated by Henri DUBUC and Sculpture curated by JFB119.

I wasn't the only one looking for small birds in the park today.

I never would have found this one if not for the Crows, Magpies, and Jays creating a cacophony of sound.

I had to do some very noisy bush-whacking to find it and get an angle. I am surprised it stayed put. It certainly heard me and saw me when I set up for this shot.

William Hawrelak Park. Edmonton, Alberta.

SOMNIATORIS ARX

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Somniatoris%20Arx/166/128/79

Sponsored by [ContraptioN]

Open until May 12, 2021

Region by Walton F. Wainwright and Victor Eton

Before time as it was known, an entity fell from the heavens and embedded itself into the stone where it came to rest; until it too became part of the earth. Its passing brought unusual powers to the surrounding lands, and gifted the few who uncovered it the means to forge a civilization. In the compact city of Somniatoris Arx, industrious businesses are suspended skyward; filled with towering buildings carved by artisans of the sacred dreamer’s tomb as if to mimic cathedrals in its honour. A cacophony of bells rings from every cardinal direction, stirring the fallen spirit from its long slumber below.

Watching huge flocks of Snow Geese swirl down from the sky, amid a cacophony of honking, is a little like standing inside a snow globe. These loud, white-and-black geese can cover the ground in a snowy blanket as they eat their way across fallow cornfields or wetlands. Among them, you might see a dark form with a white head—a color variant called the “Blue Goose.” Snow Geese have skyrocketed in numbers and are now among the most abundant waterfowl on the continent.