Lake Daylesford is an artificial lake in the town of Daylesford, Victoria, Australia. It was completed in either 1927 or 1929 after many years of campaigning, beginning in 1893. It was designed by Walter Burley Griffin, the American architect who won the competition to design the city of Canberra. Lake Daylesford was formed when the dam wall was built across Wombat Creek above the Central Springs in 1929. The town wanted an ornamental body of water to beautify the scarred creek landscape.

Primary inflows : Wombat Creek

Primary outflows : Molonglo River

Average depth : 2m (6.6 ft)

Maximum depth : 9m (30 ft)

The lake is about 112 km north-west of Melbourne CBD. From the Dja Dja Wurrung people, who first inhabited the land thousands of years ago, to the Swiss Italian migrants of the gold rush and Melbourne's turn-of-the-century holidaymakers, Daylesford has long been considered a special place of healing.

This image is included in 10 galleries:- 1) "AMAZING LANDSCAPES.PAISAJES DE ALUCINE XVLIIII." curated by Lagarto (miguelitoiglesias21), 2) "Special Images" by Robert Baruzzi, 3) "landscape vol 16" by Jean-paul Vancoppenolle, 4) "Jack's Faves - Landscape" by Eclectic Jack, 5) "Пейзаж" by Sergey Ignatov, 6) "Oriental Land and water scape" by Ning Tranquiligold Jin, 7) "Paysages (9) : mes coups de coeur ♥ !" by Miss-Louly, 8) "The Best of Nature and Landscape 11" by Thomas Luckmann, 9) "premio selecto de hacedor de imagenes" by byktor -f.d and 10) "Mountains" by crash_n_burn.

Huangshan 黄山 (Yellow Mountain) is a jagged range of more than 70 knifelike peaks in eastern China’s Anhui Province. The region's low-hanging clouds, distinctively shaped granite rocks and twisted pine trees have been subjects of numerous classical paintings and poems. Cable cars provide access to several peaks, and steep paved trails with thousands of stone steps snake past many of the range's famous viewpoints. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of China's major tourist destinations.

Bright Top 光明頂 is one of the good places for viewing sunrises and sunsets. From this position a myriad of mountain peaks are beautifully silhouetted and the pine leaves nearby are glistening in gold.

黃山位於中國安徽省南部黃山市境內。黃山古稱黟山，南北長約40千米，東西寬約30千米。黃山素以「奇松、怪石、雲海、溫泉」四絕聞名天下。那72峰、24溪、2湖、3瀑，峰峰奇特，溪溪曲折、極盡天下山水之美，更聚名山大川之勝。黃山最高峰是蓮花峰，海拔1860米 ，位 於黃山中部、站在玉屏樓向前望去, 猶如一朵含苞初放的蓮花, 峻峭高聳, 仰天怒放。晴天從蓮花峰頂可遙見江西的廬山和似帶的長江。黃山三大主峰之一的天都峰，與蓮花峰爭雄對峙。它位於黃山東南部，人稱無上之「都會, 海拔1829米、從玉屏樓至天都峰約15千米，其間有黃山最險峻的峰嶺，峰上的石樓，坡度都在70度以上；尤以中途的鯽魚背最險。黃山上觀日出的地點很多, 以光明頂最負盛名。

( Explored: Jan 25, 2024 #136 )

This was taken just below Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. The winds were howling at 40 knots. The sea was quite choppy. The sky was clear blue. On the left horizon is Point Nepean.

Point Lonsdale is a coastal township on the Bellarine Peninsula, near Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia. The town is divided between the Borough of Queenscliffe and the City of Greater Geelong. Point Lonsdale is also one of the headlands which, with Point Nepean, frame The Rip, the entrance to Port Phillip. The headland is dominated by the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. At the 2016 census, Point Lonsdale had a population of 2,684. The population grows rapidly over the summer months through to the Easter period due to its popularity as a holiday destination. (Wikipedia)

This image is included in a gallery "PAISAJES INCREÍBLES.PAISAJES DE ALUCINE XVLVXXVXXVXXXXVXVIII." curated by Lagarto (miguelitoiglesias21).

The Hopewell Rocks are located in New Brunswick, Canada, within one hour of the nearest airport in Moncton, N.B.

An UNESCO site, the Hopewell Rocks, also called the Flowerpots Rocks or simply The Rocks, are rock formations caused by tidal erosion in The Hopewell Rocks Ocean Tidal Exploration Site in New Brunswick. Carved by melting glaciers, then sculpted by the world's highest and most artistic tides, these stacks stand 40–70 feet tall. They are located on the shores of the upper reaches of the Bay of Fundy at Hopewell Cape near Moncton.

Due to the extreme tidal range of the Bay of Fundy, the base of the formations are covered in water twice a day. The formations consist of dark sedimentary conglomerate and sandstone rock. The large volume of water flowing in to and out of the Bay of Fundy modifies the landscape surrounding it. Each day 160 billion tonnes of seawater flows in and out of the Bay of Fundy during one tide cycle, more than the combined flow of the world’s freshwater rivers! After the retreat of the glaciers in the region following the last ice age, surface water filtering through cracks in the cliff has eroded and separated the formations from the rest of the cliff face. Meanwhile, advancing and retreating tides and the associated waves have eroded the base of the rocks at a faster rate than the tops, resulting in their unusual shapes.

Because the Fundy Bay is funnel-shaped - wide and deep at one end and shallow at the other, tides are pushed increasingly higher as they move up the Bay. By the time they reach "The Rocks" they are over four stories high! Although the tides vary from day to day, the high tide can be as high as 16 metres (52ft) and an average of 10.7 metres (35ft), giving the Hopewell Rocks one of the highest average tides in the world.

We only had barely over an hour's time there because the tide was coming in very fast. This was one of the last couple of shots taken before we were able to retreat to higher ground. Luckily the light was reasonably good.

This image is included in 7 galleries :- 1) "plumas en el aire" curated by byktor -f.d., 2) "THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF ANIMALS XXVXXXVIII." by Lagarto (miguelitoiglesias21), 3) "Photography from around the world." by Arth Wen Photography and Imagery, 4) "PRIMER PREMIO. - Buzón de oro. Gouldner Briefkasten No. 15" by Luis Siabala Valer, 5) "Natura 28" by Stefano Bacci, 6) "AVES_3" by jagar41_ Juan Antonio and 7) "Just wow 2." by Jane Statham.

The Australian white ibis (Threskiornis molucca) is a wading bird of the ibis family, Threskiornithidae. It is widespread across much of Australia. It has a predominantly white plumage with a bare, black head, long downcurved bill and black legs. While it is closely related to the African sacred ibis, the Australian white ibis is a native Australian bird – contrary to urban myth, it is not a feral species introduced to Australia by people, and it does not come from Egypt.

Historically rare in urban areas, the Australian white ibis has established in urban areas of the east coast in increasing numbers since the late 1970s; it is now commonly seen in Wollongong, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide (where it mostly is in Mawson Lakes wetlands), Darwin, the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Townsville. In recent years, the bird has also become increasingly common in Perth, Western Australia, and surrounding towns in south-western Australia. Populations have disappeared from natural breeding areas such as the Macquarie Marshes in northern New South Wales. Management plans have been introduced to control problematic urban populations in Sydney.

Due to its increasing presence in the urban environment and its habit of rummaging in garbage, the species has acquired a variety of colloquial names such as "tip turkey" and "bin chicken", and in recent years has become an icon of Australia's popular culture, regarded with glee by some and passionate revulsion by others. (Wikipedia)

This was taken near the Jells Park Lake on a fine winter morning. The colony of ibises were busy collecting material to build their nets in preparation for imminent breeding season.

( Explored : Nov 18, 2023 #35 )

The cockatoo is eyeing the intruder intensely.

Young Tawny Owl branching in a Devon spring woodland. The young Tawny will wait motionless until dusk when it will become more active and start to call for a feed. Other young owls may have also fledged the nest and will start to call at dusk. Both adults will come in with food for the young and will usually go to the owlet calling the loudest including any young still in the nest. Photo Kevin Keatley, Devon UK. Camera Nikon D800, 300 F4P, F6.3, 1/60 sec., ISO 640. Camera & high speed flash on manual.

This image is included in 4 galleries:- 1) "AMAZING LANDSCAPES.PAISAJES DE ALUCINE XVLVXXVXXVI." curated by Lagarto (miguelitoiglesias21), 2) "MARITIME, nautique, aquatique" by Gérard LEBAILLY, 3) "PRIMER PREMIO. - Buzón de oro. Gouldner Briefkasten No. 20" by Luis Siabala Valer and 4) "Quand on navigue sur Flickr..." by Victor Elies .

This was taken near a blowhole in Forrest Caves, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia. I was standing on a large rock formation called the Red Rocks. It was a rainy morning, yet the sun came out long enough during our visit. The clouds over the horizon were pleasingly tidy and clean. It is funky yet beautiful.

( Explored: Apr 17, 2024 #28 )

This image is included in 2 galleries:- 1) "The Eternal Whispered 2" curated by thanks 173rd Airborne and 2) "Couchers et/ou levers de soleil - Sunsets or sunrises" by Rick The Zoo.

Lake Tyrrell (also known as Lake Tyrrell Wildlife Reserve) is a shallow, salt-crusted depression in the Mallee district of north-west Victoria, in Australia. The name 'Tyrrell' is derived from the local Wergaia word for 'sky', the Boorong Aboriginal people of the area being distinguished for their interest in star-lore. The Boorong, with their astronomical traditions, told stories connected with constellations in the night sky.

In the mid-2010s, the lake became a tourist mecca, particularly for Chinese. It is a popular location for photographers and social media users, who take snaps of the lake's mirror-like surface (天空之鏡) during winter, when ground water percolates to the surface and inflows arrive from the Avoca River/Tyrrell Creek system.

At more than 20,800 hectares, Lake Tyrrell might hold the title of state’s largest salt lake.

During dry periods, people can walk on to the lake area by using places where salt has formed a solid surface.

This was taken on an Autumnal dawn during dry season. Here the salt on the lake surface is drenched in the beautiful colours of a spectacular dawn clouds.

( Explored: Jul 2, 2025 #36 )

This image is included in 7 galleries :- 1) "Stunning Bird Shots" curated by anandamoy chatterji, 2) "THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF ANIMALS XXVXXXII." by Lagarto (miguelitoiglesias21), 3) "birds on blue" by Randolph Lufriu, 4) "Birds" by Caught:-On:-Camera, 5) "La Planète des oiseaux (97)" by Laval Roy, 6) "Birds" by Jeff Tripodi and 7) "PRIMER PREMIO.- Buzón de oro. Goldener Briefkasten No. 14" by

Luis Siabala Valer.

The Australian white ibis (Threskiornis molucca) is a wading bird of the ibis family, Threskiornithidae. It is widespread across much of Australia. It has a predominantly white plumage with a bare, black head, long downcurved bill and black legs. While it is closely related to the African sacred ibis, the Australian white ibis is a native Australian bird – contrary to urban myth, it is not a feral species introduced to Australia by people, and it does not come from Egypt.

Historically rare in urban areas, the Australian white ibis has established in urban areas of the east coast in increasing numbers since the late 1970s; it is now commonly seen in Wollongong, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide (where it mostly is in Mawson Lakes wetlands), Darwin, the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Townsville. In recent years, the bird has also become increasingly common in Perth, Western Australia, and surrounding towns in south-western Australia. Populations have disappeared from natural breeding areas such as the Macquarie Marshes in northern New South Wales. Management plans have been introduced to control problematic urban populations in Sydney.

Due to its increasing presence in the urban environment and its habit of rummaging in garbage, the species has acquired a variety of colloquial names such as "tip turkey" and "bin chicken", and in recent years has become an icon of Australia's popular culture, regarded with glee by some and passionate revulsion by others. (Wikipedia)

( Explored : Sep 30, 2023 #44 )

This image is included in a gallery "Aves y avecillas V" curated by Luisma.

This image is included in 7 galleries :- 1) "I Was Born A Rambling Man 3" curated by thanks 173rd Airborne, 2) "AMAZING LANDSCAPES.PAISAJES DE ALUCINE XVL." by Lagarto(miguelitoiglesias21), 3) "EXPLORED LANDSCAPE IMAGES" by Raymond Hoke(SOUTHERN DRAWN), 4) "placeres visuales-volumen 2" by byktor -f.d., 5) "Images du monde. From different countries of the world." by rosedenovembre, 6) "PRIMER PREMIO. - Buzón de oro. Gouldner Briefkasten No. 15" by Luis Siabala Vale and 7) "I Was Born A Rambling Man 3" by thanks 173rd Airborne.

Lake Louise, also called Lake of the Little Fishes by the Stoney Nakota First Nations people, is a glacial lake within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. The village of Lake Louise is on the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1), which is 57 knots (106 km) west of Banff, Alberta. The emerald color of the water comes from rock flour carried into the lake by melt-water from the glaciers that overlook the lake. The lake has a surface of 0.8 km2 (0.31 sq mi) and is drained through the 3 km long Louise Creek into the Bow River. Moraine Lake and Lake Agnes are also accessible from Lake Louise.

Lake Louise was originally named "Emerald Lake". In 1884 the name was changed, naming it after the daughter of Queen Victoria, Princess Louise Caroline Alberta. (Wikipedia)

This was taken on a fine summer's morning: the light was soft and it was windless. In the prominent middle is Mount Fairview (Fairview Mountain) (2745m), named for the view from its summit. An alternate name for the peak is Goat Mountain although it is rarely referred to as such. Fairview Mountain is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Cambrian period. Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.

A glimpse of Upper Victoria Glacier is on the right edge.

( Explored: Nov 1, 2023 #83 )

The Scarborough Bluffs, also known as The Bluffs, is an escarpment in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. There are nine parks along the bluffs, with Bluffers Park being the only one with a beach. Forming much of the eastern portion of Toronto's waterfront, the Scarborough Bluffs stands above the shoreline of Lake Ontario. At its highest point, the escarpment rises 90 metres (300 ft) above the coastline and spans a length of 15 kilometres (9.3 mi).

The Scarborough Bluffs are a unique sequence of glacial sediments on the shore of Lake Ontario. They represent approximately 60,000 years of glacial history and are one of the last remaining, and most complete, records of the Wisconsinan glacial advance at the end of the Pleistocene Ice Age.

The French gave the name "Les Grands Ecores", or tall points on the shore, to the cliffs. In the 1788 Plan of Toronto by Alexander Aitken, the bluffs were simply known as the High Lands. They became known as the Scarborough Highlands in 1793 named after Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

This was taken on the Bluffer's Park Beach using a telephoto lens. For a very brief duration, the warm early morning light produced a dramatic illumination on the escarpment against a misty dark sky.

Caves Beach is a locality on the Swansea peninsula between Lake Macquarie and the Pacific Ocean in Greater Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the City of Lake Macquarie local government area. The locality is named for the large number of caves on the nearby coastline. It has a surfing beach which is popular with the local surfers. It is highly popular for spearfishing, with the premier target species being the elusive red morwong. The traditional custodians of the land were the Awabakal people. (Wikipedia)

This image is included in a gallery "Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies)" curated by Gary Leavens.

The marsh skimmer, also known as tricolored marsh hawk, and slender blue skimmer, (Orthetrum luzonicum) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is widespread in many Asian countries.

It is a medium sized dragonfly with yellowish white face and blue eyes. Its thorax is yellowish green with some brown stripes. Its wings are transparent, including the base. Its abdomen is pruinosed with azure blue up to the last segments. In old adults, thorax will also get pruinosed, obscuring whole the marks. Females and young males are yellowish green. They breed in marshes and swampy areas in the plains. (Wikipedia)

This image is included in a gallery "PRIMER PREMIO.- Buzón de oro. Goldener Briefkasten No. 14" curated by Luis Siabala Valer.

Papilio polytes, the common Mormon, is a common species of swallowtail butterfly widely distributed across Asia.

This butterfly is known for the mimicry displayed by the numerous forms of its females which mimic inedible red-bodied swallowtails, such as the common rose and the crimson rose.

This is a male. The male has one morph. It is a dark-coloured swallow-tailed butterfly. The upper forewing has a series of white spots decreasing in size towards the apex. The upper hindwing has a complete discal band of elongated white spots. It may or may not have marginal red crescents. The males are generally smaller in size than the females but not always. (Wikipedia)

Captured this one on a fine Autumn morning at Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve, Hong Kong.

This image is included in 4 galleries :- 1) "As Tho Everything Is a Miracle 8" curated by thanks 173rd Airborne, 2) "Most Outstanding Landscapes in the World" by mark doyle, 3) "I Was Born a Rambling Man 10" by thanks 173rd Airborne and 4) "I Was Born a Rambling Man 1" by thanks 173rd Airborne.

This was taken on a fine autumn morning. The sidelit light makes the reflections of the columns on the Jacksons Creek interestingly beautiful.

The hexagonal basalt columns known as the "Organ Pipes" which sit in the bed of the creek is of the order of 70 metres (230 ft) high.

The Organ Pipes National Park, abbreviated as OPNP, is a national park located in the Central region of Victoria, Australia. The 121-hectare (300-acre) protected area was established with the focus on conservation of the native flora and fauna, and preservation of the geological features in the Jacksons Creek, a part of the Maribyrnong valley, north-west of Melbourne. It is situated in a deep gorge in the grassy, basalt Keilor plains. Within Organ Pipes National Park, the valley walls of Jacksons Creek expose Pleistocene volcanic rocks of the New Volcanic Group. These 2.5 to 2.8 million year-old basalt lavas, commonly known as "trap rock," fractured during cooling into vertically standing, hexagonal basalt columns. These columns are locally known as the "organ pipes" for which this park is named. Over the last one to two million years, the slow cutting by Jackson Creek of its valley down into the basaltic plains and through the underlying trap rock exposed these geological structures. The bottom of the valley of Jackson Creek also exposes a prehistoric buried creek valley, which is cut into 400 million year-old (Silurian) mudstones and sandstones. The bottom of this buried valley contains ancient creek gravel. Both the ancient river valley and the Silurian sedimentary rock lies buried beneath the basaltic volcanic rocks of the New Volcanic Group. Marine fossils that are found in the Silurian sedimentary rocks demonstrate that they accumulated beneath a prehistoric ocean.

A Friends’ group, (the first in Australia) the "Friends of Organ Pipes" (FOOPS), comprising conservation activists to support the efforts of rehabilitation of the OPNP’s indigenous flora and fauna, supplemented the work of the Victoria Park system under which the OPNP was declared a National Park. The park's importance to the whole region as a "center for education about the geology, flora and fauna of the Keilor Plains, and the restoration of degraded land" is important. With its inclusion in the IUCN Category III (Natural Monuments) of the United Nations’ list of National Parks and Protected Areas, there is a greater recognition of the need to protect or preserve outstanding natural features. (Sourced from Internet)

The Pink Cliffs Reserve is about 140km from Melbourne CBD. It was originally man made but is now considered one of Victoria's natural wonders. The multi-coloured soft granite exposed as a moonscape surface in the central portion of the reserve is the best known feature hence its name, Pink Cliffs.

The colourful phenomenon was created by early gold-mining activities: sluicing work in the 1880s revealed the 'pink' hills near the historic town of Heathcote.

"The colour kaleidoscope you can see today is the remaining granite sliced through with reddish brown cracks filled with quartz. The surface fine granite was washed by percolating ground water containing sodium, chlorides and carbonates, which helped to dissolve the iron ore minerals and weather the granite. In the process, the granite became stained with iron rich solutions, the colour intensity being directly related to the amounts of iron ore minerals within the cracks. Erosion has proceeded at such a rate that the present surface still resembles a moonscape. ." (Heathcote Information Center Website)

This geological reserve offers hills of fine clay with an almost talcum-powder texture. The pinkness is more intense when the area is moist, i.e, shortly after a rain or shower.

This is a HDR shot with CPL filter. The light was warm on a Spring morning.

( Explored: Jun 16, 2025 #121 )

This image is included in a gallery "PREMIO BUZÓN DE PLATA. Silberne Briefkasten 3" curated by Luis Siabala Valer.

Yering Meadows Golf Club is about 25km from home. It was zero degrees Celsius and very foggy. Play was delayed for 30 minutes. The light was atmospheric, hence it was a great time to take a few panoramas.

( Explored : Aug 5, 2025 #25 )

This image is included in a gallery "SAMSUNG GALAXY S 23/24 ULTRA - SØS' FAVORITES" curated by solveig østerø schrøder.

The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, formerly known as the National Rhododendron Gardens, is a botanical garden in Olinda, Victoria, Australia.

The gardens are known for their rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, cherries and daffodils. The collection includes more than 50,000 plants, some of which are rare or endangered. There are also some smaller gardens, like the Japanese Garden. In September and early October, the cherry blossoms are in bloom in Cherry Tree Grove. (Wikipedia)

This was taken on an overcast autumn morning, with my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra mobile phone. The glorious tree in the centre of the picture is probably a golden larch.

This image is included in a gallery "Scenic Places" curated by

Zev790.

Ellery Creek Big Hole is one of the most popular and picturesque camping, walking, swimming and picnic spots in the Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park. It is about 90 km west of Alice Springs. The spectacular waterhole is fed by the West MacDonnell Ranges (Tjoritja) and surrounded by high red cliffs and sandy Ellery Creek. Thousands of years of massive floods have carved out this waterhole, which is recognised as an internationally significant geological site. The Aboriginal name for Ellery Big Hole is Udepata. The permanent water made it a special meeting place for the Aranda people on the fish and honey ant dreaming trails.

( Explored: Sep 11, 2024 #102 )

The Budgerigar is a small parrot with a long tail. Wild ‘budgies’ are green-yellow with black barrings. The Budgerigar occurs naturally throughout much of mainland Australia, but is absent from the far south-west, the north of the Northern Territory, Tasmania and the majority of the east coast.

Budgerigars are nomadic and large flocks of birds can be seen in most open habitat types, but seldom far from water. Very large flocks, numbering occasionally in the tens of thousands, are seen after a season of abundant rainfall and food. Flocks are usually much smaller, however, and range from as few as three birds up to 100 or more. Birds in a flock fly in a characteristic undulating manner.

The male has a dark blue cere (skin at the base of the upper mandible surrounding the nostrils). In the female, this is brownish when breeding and light blue otherwise. Young Budgerigars are similar to adult birds, but are duller and have a dark brown eye (which is white or yellow in adults). Their average size is 18cm and their average weight is 28 grams.

The contact call is a warbling “chirrup”; “zit” is given in alarm. (Birdlife Australia)

This image is included in 2 galleries:- 1) "My Fave of the Day" curated by rixpix6 and 2) "PRIMER PREMIO. - Buzón de oro. Gouldner Briefkasten No. 24" by Luis Siabala Valer.

This was taken on a fine autumn afternoon near a blowhole in Forrest Caves, Phillip Island, Victoria.

This image is included in a gallery "PRIMER PREMIO. - Buzón de oro. Gouldner Briefkasten No. 23" curated by Luis Siabala Valer.

Troides helena, the common birdwing, is a butterfly belonging to the family Papilionidae. It is often found in the wildlife trade due to its popularity with butterfly collectors.

In Hong Kong, T. helena is at the northern limit of its range. It is not common in Hong Kong but it is observed that there are stable populations in three sites (the surrounding area of Po Lo Che (Sai Kung District), Shan Liu Road (Tai Po) and Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden in the New Territories). It is also found on Lantau Island and Hong Kong Island. (Wikipedia)

This image is included in a gallery "iceland colors" curated by B&EH.

This image is included in a gallery "PRIMER PREMIO.- Buzón de oro. Goldener Briefkasten No. 14" curated by Luis Siabala Valer.

The song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) is a medium-sized New World sparrow. Among the native sparrows in North America, it is easily one of the most abundant, variable and adaptable species.

The sparrow species derives its name from its colorful repertoire of songs. Enthusiasts report that one of the songs heard often in suburban locations closely resembles the opening four notes of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 5. The male uses a fairly complex song to declare ownership of its territory and attract females.

Song sparrows typically learn their songs from a handful of other birds that have neighboring territories. They are most likely to learn songs that are shared between these neighbors. Ultimately, they will choose a territory close to or replacing the birds that they have learned from. This allows the song sparrows to address their neighbors with songs shared with those neighbors. It has been demonstrated that song sparrows are able to distinguish neighbors from strangers on the basis of song, and also that females are able to distinguish (and prefer) their mate's songs from those of other neighboring birds, and they prefer songs of neighboring birds to those of strangers. (Wikipedia)

Took this one somewhere at the Halifax Public Gardens, Nova Scotia, Canada.

This image is included in 3 galleries:- 1) "PRIMER PREMIO. - Buzón de oro. Gouldner Briefkasten No. 15" curated by Luis Siabala Valer, 2) "Mondo subacqueo - Underwater world" by .Luigi Mirto/ArchiMlFotoWord FIAF/AFI-UIF and 3) "Smile_3 :)" by bs_windrose.

The weedy seadragon or common seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) is a marine fish related to the seahorses. Adult common seadragons are a reddish colour, with yellow and purple markings; they have small leaf-like appendages that resemble kelp fronds providing camouflage and a number of short spines for protection. Males have narrower bodies and are darker than females. Seadragons have a long dorsal fin along the back and small pectoral fins on either side of the neck, which provide balance. Common seadragons can reach 45 cm (18 in) in length.

These fish are slow-moving and rely on their camouflage as protection against predation; they drift in the water and with the leaf-like appendages resemble the swaying seaweed of their habitat. They lack a prehensile tail that enables similar species to clasp and anchor themselves.

Individuals are observed either on their own or in pairs; feeding on tiny crustaceans and other zooplankton by sucking prey into their toothless mouths. As with seahorses, seadragon males are the sex that cares for the developing eggs. Females lay around 120 eggs onto the brood patch located on the underside of the males' tail. The eggs are fertilised and carried by the male for around a month before the hatchlings emerge. The young are independent at birth, beginning to eat shortly after. Common seadragons take about 28 months to reach sexual maturity, and may live for up to six years. (Wikepedia)

草海龍的長嘴巴有如飲管，能吸啜岩縫間細如微塵的的浮游生物作食物。牠們的附肢形似葉子，讓陀們能隱身環境，在水中悠然進餐也難被發現。

Took this image using my Samsung S23 Ultra mobile phone at the Grand Aquarium 海洋奇観.

This image is included in 2 galleries:- `1) "Paisatges geològics 2 / Geological landscapes 2" curated by Jordi Lluis Pi and 2) "STUFF" by Deja Mitchell.

The Pink Cliffs Reserve is about 140km from Melbourne CBD. It was originally man made but is now considered one of Victoria's natural wonders. The multi-coloured soft granite exposed as a moonscape surface in the central portion of the reserve is the best known feature hence its name, Pink Cliffs.

The colourful phenomenon was created by early gold-mining activities: sluicing work in the 1880s revealed the 'pink' hills near the historic town of Heathcote.

"The colour kaleidoscope you can see today is the remaining granite sliced through with reddish brown cracks filled with quartz. The surface fine granite was washed by percolating ground water containing sodium, chlorides and carbonates, which helped to dissolve the iron ore minerals and weather the granite. In the process, the granite became stained with iron rich solutions, the colour intensity being directly related to the amounts of iron ore minerals within the cracks. Erosion has proceeded at such a rate that the present surface still resembles a moonscape. ." (Heathcote Information Center Website)

This geological reserve offers hills of fine clay with an almost talcum-powder texture. The pinkness is more intense when the area is moist, i.e, shortly after a rain or shower.

This is a panoramic shot from the observation area using my Samsung mobile phone. The light was surprisingly warm for a Winter's afternoon.

( Explored: Jul 25, 2024 #91 )

This image is included in 2 galleries :- 1) "La Planète des oiseaux (78)" curated by Laval Roy and 2) "PRIMER PREMIO.- Buzón de oro. Goldener Briefkasten No. 14" by Luis Siabala Valer.

The Purple Swamphen is found around freshwater swamps, streams and marshes. Songs and Calls:- a loud, penetrating ‘kee-ow’, as well as some softer clucking between members of a group while feeding.

The Purple Swamphen is a large rail. It is mainly dusky black above, with a broad dark blue collar, and dark blue to purple below. As the Purple Swamphen walks, it flicks its tail up and down, revealing its white undertail. The bill is red and robust, and the legs and feet orange-red.

Unlike many wetland species which have dull plumage to aid camouflage among the rank vegetation, the Purple Swamphen has a resplendent purple-blue neck, breast and belly, and a gaudy, oversized bill and frontal shield, both of which are bright red, as are its beady eyes. And when a Swamphen walks away from you, it usually flicks its tail up and down to reveal a gleaming white undertail, which contrasts with the bird’s black upperparts. The entire combination is dazzling when ambling across a sunlit grassy sward. (Birdlife Australia)

For some reason, a lot of birds scratch their neck and head area. Nosiy miners and lapwings etc all do it not infrequently.

Ingredients: Winter morning, mist, , coloured sign posts, dirt, white boat, sea gull in flight etc.

This image is included in 3 galleries :- 1) "PRIMER PREMIO.- Buzón de oro. Goldener Briefkasten No. 11" curated by

Luis Siabala Valer, 2) "La Planète des oiseaux (71)" by Laval Roy and 3) "Natura 25" by Stefano Bacci.

The crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans) is a parrot native to eastern and south eastern Australia which has been introduced to New Zealand and Norfolk Island. It is commonly found in, but not restricted to, mountain forests and gardens.

Platycercus elegans is a medium-sized Australian parrot at 36 cm (14 in) long, much of which is tail. There are seven subspecies, three of which are actually crimson. The red is replaced by yellow in the case of var. flaveolus and a mixture of red, orange and yellow in the Adelaide rosella.

Subspecies:- P. elegans elegans, the nominate race of Victoria and eastern New South Wales. P. elegans nigrescens, occurring on Queensland's northeastern coast, and P. elegans melanoptera on Kangaroo Island. The main distinction between these is size: nigrescens is the smallest of the three and melanoptera is the largest; both are slightly darker than the nominate race.

This image is included in a gallery "Natura 28" curated by Stefano Bacci.

Located in the Tsim Sha Tsui area of Hong Kong, Kowloon Park is a peaceful, green oasis right in the heart of this incredibly busy part of the city. It covers an area of just under 33 acres, with a varied landscape connected by pathways snaking through preened shrubs and ancient banyan trees. A flock of about 40 to 50 flamingos (greater and lesser admixed) like to gather at the Bird Lake.

Flamingo diet largely consists of crustaceans and algae, which are rich in carotenoids. This pigment gives flamingos the hot pink or reddish coloration they are known for.

Almost every year between June and September, female whales include Humpbacks, Orcas, and Southern Right Whales return to the waters of Warrnambool’s Logans Beach to calve.

The whales often swim within a hundred metres of the shore and can be viewed from a specially constructed platform in the sand dunes or from the beach.

Southern Right Whales have been visiting Warrnambool for hundreds of years. Once they were hunted almost to the point of extinction, but since whaling was outlawed in 1935, their numbers have been growing.

In summer, Southern Right whales live in the sub-Antarctic. In winter, they migrate to warmer waters around the southern areas of Australia.

The females migrate to the “nursery” areas close to the shore to bear their calves, while the males, yearlings and young adults remain further out to sea. (Warrnambool City Council website)

The Bay of Fires is a bay on the northeastern coast of Tasmania in Australia, extending from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point.

The Bay of Fires (indigenous name: larapuna) is a bay on the north eastern coast of Tasmania, extending from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point. It is a 29 km long sweep of powder-white sand and crystal-clear seas, with a string of superb beaches, punctuated by lagoons and rocky headlands, backed by coastal heath and bush.

The bay was given its name in 1773 by Captain Tobias Furneaux in Adventure, who saw the fires of Aboriginal people on the beaches along the coast line. The Bay of Fires is characterized by white beaches, blue water and huge granite blocks that are coloured bright orange by lichens. Perhaps, Captain Tobias Furneaux named the bay after these fiery red rocks. The lichens responsible for the orange hue in the rocks of Bay of Fires belong to the family Hymeneliaceae.

The conservation area is divided into three sections, with Anson's Bay dividing the southern and northern ends. A scenic view of the bay can be glimpsed by driving along the coast to The Gardens.

This was taken near Skeleton Bay.

There was a glich while uploading this image. Apologies to some of the contacts who faved it.

( Explored: Aug 12, 2023 #173 )

This image is included in 3 galleries 1) "AMAZING LANDSCAPES.PAISAJES DE ALUCINE XVXIXIII." curated by Lagarto(miguelitoiglesias21), 2) "Natura 25" by Stefano Bacci and 3) "lugares increibles" by byktor -f.d..

The Bay of Fires (indigenous name: larapuna) is a bay on the north eastern coast of Tasmania, extending from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point. It is a 29 km long sweep of powder-white sand and crystal-clear seas, with a string of superb beaches, punctuated by lagoons and rocky headlands, backed by coastal heath and bush.

The bay was given its name in 1773 by Captain Tobias Furneaux in Adventure, who saw the fires of Aboriginal people on the beaches along the coast line. The Bay of Fires is characterized by white beaches, blue water and huge granite blocks that are coloured bright orange by lichens. Perhaps, Captain Tobias Furneaux named the bay after these fiery red rocks. The lichens responsible for the orange hue in the rocks of Bay of Fires belong to the family Hymeneliaceae.

The conservation area is divided into three sections, with Anson's Bay dividing the southern and northern ends. A scenic view of the bay can be glimpsed by driving along the coast to The Gardens.

This was taken near The Gardens. Looking beyond the horizon is Tasman Sea.

( Explored : Aug 28, 2023 #112 )

Starfish or sea stars are star-shaped echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea (/ˌæstəˈrɔɪdiə/). Common usage frequently finds these names being also applied to ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to as brittle stars or basket stars. Starfish are also known as asteroids due to being in the class Asteroidea. About 1,900 species of starfish live on the seabed in all the world's oceans, from warm, tropical zones to frigid, polar regions. They are found from the intertidal zone down to abyssal depths, at 6,000 m (20,000 ft) below the surface.

Starfish are marine invertebrates. They typically have a central disc and usually five arms, though some species have a larger number of arms. The aboral or upper surface may be smooth, granular or spiny, and is covered with overlapping plates. Many species are brightly coloured in various shades of red or orange, while others are blue, grey or brown. Starfish have tube feet operated by a hydraulic system and a mouth at the centre of the oral or lower surface. (Wikipedia)

Took this image using my Samsung S23 Ultra mobile phone at the Grand Aquarium 海洋奇観, Ocean Park Hong Kong.

Parrots like to bite and hone their beaks whenever they get a chance.

This image is included in a gallery "My South Australia" curated by Fairy Duff.

Mount Gambier's Blue Lake, in South Australia, is situated in a volcanic crater, exposes the crystal clear water that has filtered underground as it passes under the city through the limestone region. Each year in November the lake starts its colour change from winter steel blue to briilliant turquoise blue, before returning to its winter hue in March.

Why does Blue Lake change colour? According to the Mount Gambier visitor guide, the colour change is due to the removal of humic substances (eg tannins) from the upper part of the lake by calcite precipitation. The humic substances are yellow in colour, because they absorb blue light. The humic substances come from dead algae and land vegetation. Calcite precipitates when the lake water warms during summer. The lake water flows into the lake through limestone rocks, and the water contains lots of dissolved limestone. When the lake water warms up in summer, the limestone precipitates out of the water. As it happens, the humic substances are chemically attracted to the calcite crystals and co-precipitate with the calcite. The calcite, with humic substances attached, falls to the floor of the lake, so during summer, the surface waters have the humic substances removed and hence the natural blue colour of the water is more evident.

This image is included in 6 galleries:- 1) "The Eternal Whispered 1" curated by thanks 173rd Airborne, 2) "PAISAJES INCREÍBLES.PAISAJES DE ALUCINE XVLVXXVXXVXI." by Lagarto (miguelitoiglesias21), 3) "MARAVILLAS ESPEJADAS" by byktor -f.d., 4) "PLACERES VISUALES--VOLUMEN 5" also by byktor -f.d., 5) "To remember - Pour se souvenir" by Alain Richet and 6) "Couchers et/ou levers de soleil - Sunsets or sunrises" by Rick The Zoo.

Lake Tyrrell (also known as Lake Tyrrell Wildlife Reserve) is a shallow, salt-crusted depression in the Mallee district of north-west Victoria, in Australia. The name 'Tyrrell' is derived from the local Wergaia word for 'sky', the Boorong Aboriginal people of the area being distinguished for their interest in star-lore. The Boorong, with their astronomical traditions, told stories connected with constellations in the night sky.

In the mid-2010s, the lake became a tourist mecca, particularly for Chinese. It is a popular location for photographers and social media users, who take snaps of the lake's mirror-like surface during winter, when ground water percolates to the surface and inflows arrive from the Avoca River/Tyrrell Creek system.

At more than 20,800 hectares, Lake Tyrrell might hold the title of state’s largest salt lake.

During dry periods, people can walk on to the lake area by using places where salt has formed a solid surface.

This was taken on an Autumnal evening, just before sunset.

( Explored: May 21, 2024 #96 )

This image is included in a gallery "Dragonflies" curated by Radoslav Besenyi.

The tau emerald is a medium-sized, black and yellow dragonfly with long legs, reaching a body length of about 50 mm. As is unique to dragonfly and mayfly species, H. tau has flight muscles attached directly to the wings, and in both the males and females the inboard edge of the hindwing is rounded. The 7th abdominal tergum is extensively black above and yellowish at the sides. The top of the frons are yellow with a dark T-mark. The species exhibits a linear relationship between head width and body length.

Nearly all of the dragonfly's head is eye, allowing incredible vision that encompasses almost every angle except right behind them. H. tau has a particularly large and well developed compound eye with two principal regions, the dorsal eye and the ventral eye. The dorsal eye is principally sensitive to short wavelength light, while the ventral eye has 3 or more spectral types of photo-receptors.

H. tau is found in all parts of Australia except northern Queensland and north-western Western Australia and is one of Australia's most abundant dragonflies. It is considered a dry-country dragon fly, often inhabiting the arid Australian inland. The adults are vagrants and highly opportunistic users of habitat for breeding.

The Australian Emerald Dragonflies female and male look the same and have the same colours. Their eyes colour change from brown to emerald when mature. This appears to be a young adult - resting (camouflaging) in plain sight.

This image is included in 4 galleries:- 1) "AMAZING LANDSCAPES.PAISAJES DE ALUCINE XVLVXI." curated by

Lagarto (miguelitoiglesias21), 2) "EXPLORED LANDSCAPE IMAGES" by Raymond Hoke, 3) "Polar Bear (Arth Wen Photography) FAVOURITES." by Arth Wen and 4) "PRIMER PREMIO. - Buzón de oro. Gouldner Briefkasten No. 16" by Luis Siabala Valer.

This massive granite rock here is called The Pointer Rock. Recently it is also known as Mobile Phone Rock because with some imagination it resembles an early model of Motorola from some years back. Some people think it looks like dolphin.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is a jagged range of more than 70 knifelike peaks in eastern China’s Anhui province. The region's low-hanging clouds, distinctively shaped granite rocks and twisted pine trees have been subjects of numerous classical paintings and poems. Cable cars provide access to several peaks, and steep paved trails with thousands of stone steps snake past many of the range's famous viewpoints. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of China's major tourist destinations.

黃山位於中國安徽省南部黃山市境內。黃山古稱黟山，南北長約40千米，東西寬約30千米。黃山素以「奇松、怪石、雲海、溫泉」四絕聞名天下。那72峰、24溪、2湖、3瀑，峰峰奇特，溪溪曲折、極盡天下山水之美，更聚名山大川之勝。黃山最高峰是蓮花峰，海拔1860米 ，位 於黃山中部、站在玉屏樓向前望去, 猶如一朵含苞初放的蓮花, 峻峭高聳, 仰天怒放。晴天從蓮花峰頂可遙見江西的廬山和似帶的長江。黃山三大主峰之一的天都峰，與蓮花峰爭雄對峙。它位於黃山東南部，人稱無上之「都會, 海拔1829米、從玉屏樓至天都峰約15千米，其間有黃山最險峻的峰嶺，峰上的石樓，坡度都在70度以上；尤以中途的鯽魚背最險。

黃山手機石又叫海豚石，位於蓮花峰往迎客松的路上。

( Explored : Dec 6, 2023 #130 )

Penn’s Cave is a unique and historic attraction located in Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, USA.

Penn’s Cave is America’s only all-water cavern. Visitors can explore this natural limestone cave entirely by boat. The cave’s water-filled passages wind through the earth, creating a breathtaking underground experience. (COPILOT)

Centuries ago, the Seneca Indians discovered this natural landmark in the Valley of Karoondinha (Penn’s Valley). The famous legend of the Indian maiden, Nita-nee (from whom the famous Penn State Nittany Lion got its name) and her French trapper lover, Malachi Boyer, has been told around campfires for generations. Forbidden to marry because of an Indian custom, they ran away and were captured, and Malachi was thrown into Penn’s Cave to die. Local history also tells of Indians and early explorers using the dry rooms for shelter. In 1885, Penn’s Cave opened as a commercial show cavern, and the Penn’s Cave Hotel was built. In 1976, Penn’s Cave and the Penn’s Cave House were placed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Penn's Cave & Wildlife Park website)

Located between Penn Valley and Brush Valley, Penn's Cave limestone is theorized to have formed from ocean bottom mud compressed into rock over millions of years.

This was taken on a slow-moving boat, panning backwards.

About 310 km from Scarborough, Algonquin Provincial Park is located between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River in Central Ontario, mostly within the Unorganized South Part of Nipissing District. Established in 1893, it is the oldest provincial park in Canada. The park is considered part of the "border" between Northern Ontario and Southern Ontario. The park is in an area of transition between coniferous forest and deciduous forest. This unique mixture of forest types, and the wide variety of environments in the park, allows the park to support an uncommon diversity of plant and animal species.

This was taken on an overcast autumn morning, somewhere along the Oxtongue River. The light was soft and breezes were gentle.