Indian Pacific - Australia's transcontinental passenger train
View allAll Photos Tagged Commence
The next instalment of a Barred Owl at a local park this past spring can be viewed at the following link: youtu.be/Ml8--M3mfT8
In this episode, two different Barred Owls in the same park are repeatedly dive bombed by an American Robin whose nest is nearby. The Robin was moving so fast, it wasn't possible to catch a still shot of the moment, so the thumbnail and first picture were captured from the video.
To continue this magical morning's story; after the two owls allopreened, (I'll probably upload one more picture of this later), the one owl moved off up the branch and the lower owl reached out and grabbed it's tail and almost made it fall.
Then it left and sat down in the undergrowth near the creek where a crayfish was quickly caught. It had barely made headway into eating it when the second owl joined in. The first one backed off, and let the second owl finish the meal. All this occurred in a spot that was impossible to photograph.
While the one owl ate, the other flew to a favourite perch: an overhanging stump by the creek where in relative short order it swooped down and caught another crayfish. When it landed on the bridge railing right in front of us, I was caught flat-footed, and didn't change my settings fast enough from video mode before it took it's catch elsewhere to eat in peace.
That brings us to today's upload. Crayfish eaten, the male was the first to land on this Maple Tree branch which overlooks the creek, where it tried to resume hunting in spite of the pesky male Robin's interference. It was later joined by the second owl, and more allopreening commenced (photos and video forthcoming). I'll conclude the story when I upload that link, hopefully sometime this month.
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs, etc. without my permission.
A magnificent Cathedral, building commenced in 1072. It was the tallest building in the world for 238 years (1311–1548), and the first building to hold that title after the Great Pyramid of Giza. In 1548 the spire on the centre tower collapsed and was not rebuilt.
I've tried to represent the Cathedral in this photo as if in the style of a medieval drawing or print - but not using anything else but the camera (no fancy graphics programmes)
As the Spring thaw commences fragments of river ice are carried by strong currents and deposited along shorelines.
Here translucent ice fragments scatter the light of a fast setting sun and glow like gems.
Photo taken 27 March 2016
West Quebec, Canada
Olympus EM5 and 12-40 mm f2.8 lens
P3270736
Le Capitaine Haddock
de 7 à 77 ans - j'ai commencé avant, et j'espère continuer après, mille millions de mille sabords !
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitaine_Haddock
Captain Haddock
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Haddock
July 2022 - Edited and uploaded 2022/07/27
The gifts of Brittany, only happiness
Saint-Cado et sa célèbre maison aux volets bleus
Avant de commencer votre balade, admirez la fameuse petite maison aux volets bleus posée sur l'îlot rocheux de Nichtarguer. Surnommée aussi la maison de l'huître, elle était autrefois la demeure d’un gardien de parcs ostréicoles et de sa famille.
Aujourd’hui inhabitée, cette maison invite à la rêverie et donne envie d’y séjourner pour les vacances d’été. Vous croiserez sûrement quelques peintres ou photographes immortalisant le paysage et l’histoire légendaire de ce petit coin de terre, devenu un des clichés les plus célèbres de Bretagne. Depuis le quai, profitez d’un cadre magique pour contempler de magnifiques couchers de soleil.
La légende de Saint-Cado
Selon la légende, Saint-Cado voulait construire un pont pour relier l'île de la Ria d'Etel au pays. Mais faute de moyens, un jour, il fut visité par le diable. Ce dernier lui offrit son aide à condition qu'il reçoive l'âme de la première créature à traverser le pont.
Saint-Cado accepta et le démon créa la structure de pierre en une nuit. Tôt le matin, Saint-Cado a attiré un chat à travers le pont. Le diable ne s'y attendait pas, mais c'était comme ça !
Promenade romantique à Saint-Cado
Partez à la découverte de cet îlot plein de mystères, relié par un pont en pierre et accessible à pied. Vous pourrez y découvrir de charmantes petites maisons de pêcheurs et approcher quelques monuments religieux.
Construite par les moines du prieuré au 12e siècle, une somptueuse chapelle romane dédiée à Saint-Cado trône sur la place centrale. Dans le village, découvrez aussi le calvaire orné de sculptures et la fontaine régulièrement submergée par la marée.
Empruntez le sentier en contrebas de la chapelle et faites le tour de l'île à pied. Le circuit vous offre un joli point de vue sur la rivière d’Etel entre parcs ostréicoles, forêts et petites anses où naviguent des embarcations colorées.
Source Baie de Quiberon
--------------------------------
Saint-Cado and its famous house with blue shutters
Before starting your walk, admire the famous little house with blue shutters on the rocky islet of Nichtarguer. Also known as the Oyster House, it was once the home of an oyster farm keeper and his family.
Now uninhabited, this house invites you to dream and makes you want to stay there for the summer holidays. You will surely come across a few painters or photographers immortalizing the landscape and the legendary history of this little corner of the land, which has become one of the most famous photographs in Brittany. From the quay, take advantage of a magical setting to contemplate magnificent sunsets.
The legend of Saint-Cado
According to legend, Saint-Cado wanted to build a bridge to connect the island of Ria d'Etel to the country. But for lack of funds, one day he was visited by the devil. The latter offered his help on condition that he received the soul of the first creature to cross the bridge.
Saint-Cado agreed and the demon created the stone structure overnight. Early in the morning, Saint-Cado lured a cat across the bridge. The devil did not expect it, but it was like that!
Romantic walk in Saint-Cado
Discover this islet full of mysteries, linked by a stone bridge and accessible on foot. You can discover charming little fishermen's houses and approach some religious monuments.
Built by the monks of the priory in the 12th century, a sumptuous Romanesque chapel dedicated to Saint-Cado stands in the central square. In the village, also discover the Calvary decorated with sculptures and the fountain regularly submerged by the tide.
Take the path below the chapel and go around the island on foot. The circuit offers you a nice view of the Etel river between oyster parks, forests and small coves where colorful boats sail.
Source Baie de Quiberon
--------------------------------------
Il y a quelques semaines une fête était en préparation au forum des halles et le DJ répétait..soudain il a joué cette célèbre chanson italienne et quelques passants ont spontanément commencé à danser...
A few weeks ago they were preparing a feast in a very famous parisian shopping center and the DJ was rehearsing ...he suddendly played this famous italian song and a few passers -by immediatly started to dance...
J'ai commencé il y a quelques temps un album sur la gare des Guillemins colorée par Daniel Buren en cours de préparation, voilà une série de photos avec le travail terminé, j'espère ne pas vous lasser car je me suis bien amusé à jouer avec les lignes, les courbes et surtout dans ce cas les couleurs.
I started some time ago an album on the Guillemins station colored by Daniel Buren in preparation, here is a series of photos with the finished work, I hope you don't get bored because I had fun playing with lines, curves and especially in this case colors.
Domicile, Duhamel, Québec, Canada.
Full Frame
Paruline obscure ou autre ?
Merci énormément pour vos commentaires, ils sont toujours très appréciés.
Je suis présentement à faire quelques travaux d'entretien sur la maison et le terrain, travaux qui perdurent depuis plus de 2 années et donc je dois admettre être pas mal la de faire et refaire.
Bref, ma caméra me suit partout dans la maison comme à l'extérieur, car je suis toujours à l'affût des oiseaux ou autres qui utilisent mon terrain pour s'y nourrir ou tout simplement le traverser. Puisque je suis riverain d'un lac de plus de 17 kilomètres, il y a beaucoup d'action à certains moments.Hier matin, tôt, alors que j'étais en train de commenter vos images sur Flickr avant de commencer mes travaux à l'extérieur, j'ai aperçu du coin de l'œil une petite paruline dans mon jardin de fleurs. Plutôt inhabituelle de la voir aussi basse près du sol et dans le jardin de fleurs... Il y avait probablement quelques insectes qui on fait son petit déjeuné, il y a aussi eu simultanément une paruline noir et blanche ainsi qu'une paruline à joues grises que je n'ai pas réussi à capter parmis les fleurs...
Pas encore vraiment certain que c'est une Paruline obscure, mais probablement que c'est ça car mon très bon ami Serge qui est pas mal bon sur l'identification se trompe rarement. Si vous avez une autre opinion, S.V.P. partagée avec moi vos connaissances.
Residence, Duhamel, Quebec, Canada.
Full Frame
Tennessee warbler or not?
Thank you very much for your comments, they are always very much appreciated.
I am currently doing some maintenance work on the house and the grounds, work that has been going on for more than 2 years and therefore I must admit that I am quite ready to do and redo.
In short, my camera follows me everywhere in the house and outside, because I am always on the lookout for birds or others that use my land to feed or simply cross it. Since I live on a lake over 17 kilometers long, there is a lot of action at times. Early yesterday morning, while I was commenting on your images on Flickr before starting my work at the Outside, I saw out of the corner of my eye a little warbler in my flower garden. Quite unusual to see her so low near the ground and in the flower garden... There were probably a few insects that made her breakfast, there was also a Black and White Warbler and a Nashville Warbler at the same time that I couldn't capture among the flowers...
Not quite sure it's a Tennessee Warbler yet, but probably it is. If you have another opinion, please share with me your knowledge.
(199/366) It's almost time for "Scullysfest" an annual traditional music festival held the first week in August in & around Scullys pub. In honour of the occasion it's undergoing a makeover. I had to stop myself from asking them to paint an apostrophe in!
First comment below shows my photo from 1st July before the paint job commenced. You can read about the festival here scullysfest.com/
L’histoire du pont commence en 1878, lors de la troisième exposition universelle de Paris qui se tient sur le champ de Mars de mai à octobre. Une passerelle métallique réservée aux piétons est construite entre les 15e et 16e arrondissements en prenant appui sur la petite île aux Cygnes.
Quelques années plus tard, un concours vient pérenniser l’ouvrage: des travaux effectués entre 1903 et 1906 donnent naissance au pont tel que nous le connaissons aujourd’hui. Disposant de deux étages, il permet alors la traversée des voitures et des piétons au premier niveau et le passage des métros au deuxième étage. C’est en est fini de l’exclusivité piétonnière !
C’est Jean-Camille Formigé (1845-1926), architecte de la Ville de Paris, qui dirige les travaux de construction et de décoration du pont. Louis Biette, ingénieur, est également en charge du projet.
Le début du XXe siècle coïncide avec le développement rapide du métro parisien. Les prouesses techniques permettent de sortir le métro de terre et de lui faire traverser la Seine au sommet du pont. Les usagers et usagères peuvent alors profiter d’une vue incomparable sur la Dame de Fer.
Avec l’essor du 7e art, des appareils photos et du tourisme, le pont de Bir-Hakeim, de par sa localisation mais surtout grâce à son architecture, devient le chouchou des touristes et des artistes.
The history of the bridge begins in 1878, during the third Universal Exhibition in Paris which is held on the Champ de Mars from May to October. A metal footbridge reserved for pedestrians is built between the 15th and 16th arrondissements, resting on the small island of Swans.
A few years later, a competition came to perpetuate the work: work carried out between 1903 and 1906 gave birth to the bridge as we know it today. With two floors, it then allows the crossing of cars and pedestrians on the first level and the passage of metros on the second floor. This is the end of pedestrian exclusivity!
It was Jean-Camille Formigé (1845-1926), architect for the City of Paris, who directed the construction and decoration of the bridge. Louis Biette, engineer, is also in charge of the project.
The beginning of the 20th century coincides with the rapid development of the Paris metro. Technical prowess enabled the metro to be lifted from the ground and cross the Seine at the top of the bridge. Users can then enjoy an incomparable view of the Iron Lady.
With the rise of the 7th art, cameras and tourism, the Bir-Hakeim bridge, due to its location but above all thanks to its architecture, has become the darling of tourists and artists.
Once completed, the subject will be fully cyber-organic.
Photo taken at NuNoX. Visit here: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Desert%20Sunrise/137/116/23
Depuis plusieurs jours il en passe souvent, parfois vers l'ouest d'autre comme aujourd'hui vers l'est, je pense que la remontée vers le les pays nordiques est commencée.
Bon week-end à toutes et à tous.
Wild Turkeys, De Pere, Wisconsin USA
"I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
And gaze at the moon 'till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in."
~ Cole Porter
J'ai commencé une série sur les murales que j'ai vues au cours des ans. Cela me permet de fouiller mes fichiers . Cette photo date de juillet 2011 alors que nous étions sur la route pour un long voyage. J'ai ajouté une texture de Lenabem. (MERCI)
I started a series of murals that I have seen over the years. This allows me to search my files. This photo is from July 2011 when we were on the road for a long trip. I added a Lenabem texture. (THANK YOU)
It was a fine morning, This Day, 39 Years Ago, In the presence of Parents, Kith and Kin, we tied the knot and commenced the Journey of Wedlock in A Simple And Humble Style.
Since then we are galloping together in unison Around The World Together.
Each has their own horse, yet the horses munch in unison, drink in unison.
have seen many ups and downs, but always catch the plains.
Yet, All those happenings happens smoothly because of give and take, and share the Joy And Sorrow.
The Journey Continues, for 38 years and will continue for some more years.
Our motto is "Stay United"
We ensure that , where ever we are ,,the fun, laughter and harmony prevails
Of course the Blessings and Good Wishes will make it great going. .
Therefore, we come together to say a " BIG THANK YOU" to all our friends and well wishers.
Spread All Around The Globe. We promise to continue to be in touch with you all in the years to come.
THANK YOU, FRIENDS , THANK YOU, We say it from the bottom of our hearts!!
THIS IS NOT A CLIPPING FROM GOOD OLD MOVIES
" THEN NILAVVU" OR
"ANBE VAA" .
We commence a series from the Hobart beachside suburb of Sandy Bay in Tasmania. This photograph was taken of the Sandy Bay Marina from the 17 floor Wrest Point Hotel tower. We'll get a closer look at this Sir Roy Grounds' building later in the series.
[This is a photograph that must be enlarged to take in all it surveys.]
───
/// VINTAGE FAIR 2025
June 6th - 16th
➤ HEAD. BeSpoke - Naga Vaelric
➤ GLOVES. [Litten] - Kokoro Gloves
➤ WEAPON. {En Pointe} - Gate Guard's Goad Mace
➤ BRIDGES. 3rd Eye Perceptions - Rope Bridge set
───
/// WE LOVE ROLEPLAY
June 4th - 28th
➤ TOP. *Mindar's Store* - Drakita Top
➤ TAIL SKIN. Misteria - Skelly Set
➤ DECOR.
- ^TD^Tirrany Designs - Crescent Throne
- Nocturna Deed - Gothic Castle
───
/// OTHER CREDITS
♥ Amadeus Mainstore | Marketplace ♥
➤ TAIL. Amadeus - Lamia Tail
♥ [AERTH] Mainstore | Marketplace ♥
➤ SCALES. [AERTH] - Sunscale Naga Tattoos
───
➤ Blog
➤ Primfeed
Construction commenced in 1072, and completed in 1311, this building, at 520ft in height was claimed to have been the tallest building in the world at the time. It remained so until 1548 when the spire collapsed. It was not replaced.
The building was the home of one of the copies of the Magna Carta, but which is now held in nearby Lincoln Castle.
A Great Western Steam train on the Lickey incline is a rare sight nowadays. Here GWR 7029 Clun Castle commences an unassisted climb up the 1 in 37 incline from Bromsgrove to Blackwell. Although the sky was very overcast, being a GWR man I just had to record this event. (Thanks to Digital Technology)
Rip Van Winkle Gardens of Jefferson Island THIS narrative was written by the New Iberia Chamber of Commence
5505 Rip Van Winkle Road
New Iberia, LA 70560
337-359-8525
Atop a salt dome on Lake Peigneur sits Rip Van Winkle Gardens with 20 acres surrounding the Joseph Jefferson Home. The home was built in 1870 by the acclaimed American actor and listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Jefferson purchased "Orange Island" in 1869 and built his winter home here. He is credited for playing the "Rip Van Winkle" role from the Washington Irving tale for many years in the theater.
After his death in 1905, Jefferson's heirs sold Jefferson Island and the 2,000-acre plantation in 1917 to a partnership of John Lyle Bayless, Sr. of Anchorage, Kentucky; Paul Jones, bourbon distiller of Louisville, Kentucky; and E. A. McIlhenny of Avery Island, maker of TABASCO® Sauce. John Lyle Bayless, Jr. affectionately called Jack, developed Rip Van Winkle Gardens around the historic home in the late 1950's after selling the salt mine that tunnels under the island and lake. Bayless donated the home and 800 acres to a private operating foundation which he formed to assure its continued operation far beyond his lifetime to share with everyone, the place he so loved and enjoyed.
Bayless built a 1/2 acre garden under glass. This conservatory and welcome center featured over 3,000 species of exotic tropical plants. On the edge of the 1,300 acres Lake Peigneur, Bayless moved into his retreat to enjoy his retirement. On November 20, 1980, his dreams were washed away when a Texaco drilling rig pierced one of the giant caverns of the Diamond Crystal Salt Company, flooding the entire mine. The vortex into the salt cavern swallowed the lake, 65 acres of native wood land, Rip Van Winkle Welcome Center, the glass conservatory and Bayless' new home. A drilling rig, several barges loaded with trucks and rock salt, boats and equipment also vanished into the whirlpool. Nine of the lost barges were coughed up from the deep recesses of the lake after it was refilled by the Gulf of Mexico via the Delcambre Canal. What was once a 10-foot deep freshwater lake is now a one thousand three hundred foot deep salt water lake. Miraculously, no lives were lost that day in the mines. The damage to the island took four years to recover and rebuild.
Now exquisitely restored, visitors can view a documentary on the history of the gardens including the disaster, stroll the gardens and tour the Joseph Jefferson Home. The attraction also has facilities for weddings, private functions, conferences, corporate retreats, luncheons and bed and breakfast cottages. Café Jefferson is open for lunch.
Eglise commencée en 1879, consacrée en 1883.
De style néo-gothique construite en grès rouge, dotée de deux tours hautes de 45 m.
This was tedious, tough and stressful. I only had one pumpkin so had to make it work. It is highly fragile.
“Commencer, c'est avoir à moitié fini.”
Horace
Thank you very much for your comments and for your faves.
(Please do not use without my written permission.)
A pair of climbers commencing one of the crack climbs on the Western Grit of Hen Cloud in the Staffordshire Peak District.
Excerpt of info from UKC: ‘The superb castellated buttresses of Hen Cloud offer some of grit's finest crack climbs, and these include routes which are amongst the longest anywhere on grit. There are even some genuine multi-pitch climbs to savour. Perched above a steep bank, the positions are superb as is the outlook but, despite all these positives, the crag is rarely crowded. The climbs cover the grade spectrum and like the nearby crag of the Roaches, there is an excellent selection of lower grade climbs.
Despite facing south, the crag is inclined to be green and lichenous, especially on the left (because of the grass ledges) and as such is not a good destination after damp weather. The crag is very exposed to the wind, and will catch any precipitation carried on Westerlies’.
Fractured Kingdoms: Calm
This painful calm always happens. Nothing is happening, nothing to stop you form wondering if you will be the one who doesn't make it or if you are the one who will survive and be forced to live without your fellow soldiers. When the fighting begins these thoughts disappear and are replaced with the terror of the battle and the fight to simply survive.
Finally the sight of light reflecting off of spears. The battle was about to commence.
Build for vignweek 2021 as well as Fractured Kingdoms
Bluebells in abundance in Cubbington South Wood. This idyllic scene will soon be a distant memory when construction of HS2 commences.
Commencée dans le dernier quart du XIIème siècle et terminée sous l'épiscopat de l'évêque Philippe (1235-1248), Après l'incendie qui la détruisit en 1353, elle fut en effet, presqu'entièrement reconstruite en réutilisant beaucoup de matériaux anciens ; mais, à peine achevée, elle fut profondément, endommagée par le siège que lui fit subir Olivier de Clisson en 1394. Il fallut alors la restaurer à nouveau et même la reconstruire en grande partie. C'est du début du XVème siècle, en effet, que datent entre autres l'aile nord du transept, le pignon de l'aile sud, la chapelle des fonts, la tour midi ainsi que les parties hautes du pignon occidental et de la tour nord.
Au début du XVIIIème siècle, l'édifice fut très malheureusement défiguré par la reconstruction totale de la nef ; enfin, aux XIXème et XXème siècles, l'on fit d'importants travaux de restauration
A l'EXTERIEUR, on admire, avec un peu de recul, les deux tours :
- la Tour Brieuc, à dr sur le cliché(XIIIème siècle, avec un bourdon de 4.000 kg) ;
- la Tour Marie (ou du Midi), celle à gauche des 2 sur le cliché (XVème siècle, avec un bourdon de 2.800 kg)
qui ont servi toutes les deux à la défense de cette " cathédrale-forteresse ".
En tant que gamin, j'ai commencé à dessiner pour exprimer mes goûts. En tant qu'étudiant, j'ai été attiré à la peinture par passion. Pour des raisons professionnelles, j'ai choisi la communication pour mettre en avant mes idées et j'ai découvert la photo, ma deuxième passion. Aujourd'hui, je rêve de me remettre à la peinture. Mais pour des raisons de manque de temps, j'ai fait un compromis provisoire en fondant mes deux passions en une, en utilisant "Photoschop" comme outil de travail !!!
I started my first years as a kid drawing for my tastes. As a student, I was attracted to painting by passion. For professional reasons, I chose the communication to put forward my ideas and I found the photo, my second passion. Today, I dream to get back to painting. But for reasons of lack of time, I made a tentative compromise basing my two passions into one, using "Photoschop" as a working tool!
The Grade I Listed Lincoln Cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of Lincoln, in Lincoln, Lincolnshire.
Building commenced in 1088 and continued in several phases throughout the medieval period. It was reputedly the tallest building in the world for 238 years (1311–1549) before the central spire collapsed in 1549 and was not rebuilt.
Remigius de Fécamp, the first bishop of Lincoln, moved the Episcopal seat there between 1072 and 1092. Up until then St. Mary's Church in Stow was the "mother church" of Lincolnshire (although it was not a cathedral, because the seat of the diocese was at Dorchester Abbey in Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire).
Bishop Remigius built the first Lincoln Cathedral on the present site, finishing it in 1092 and then dying on 9 May of that year, two days before it was consecrated. In 1141, the timber roofing was destroyed in a fire. Bishop Alexander rebuilt and expanded the cathedral, but it was mostly destroyed by an earthquake about forty years later, in 1185.
The earthquake was one of the largest felt in the UK. The damage to the cathedral is thought to have been very extensive: The Cathedral is described as having "split from top to bottom"; in the current building, only the lower part of the west end and of its two attached towers remain of the pre-earthquake cathedral.
After the earthquake, a new bishop was appointed. He was Hugh de Burgundy of Avalon, France, who became known as St Hugh of Lincoln. He began a massive rebuilding and expansion programme. Rebuilding began with the choir and the eastern transepts between 1192 and 1210. The central nave was then built in the Early English Gothic style. Until 1549 the spire was reputedly the tallest medieval tower in Europe, though the exact height has been a matter of debate.
The two large stained glass rose windows, the matching Dean's Eye and Bishop's Eye, were added to the cathedral during the late Middle Ages. The former, the Dean's Eye in the north transept dates from the 1192 rebuild begun by St Hugh, finally being completed in 1235.
After the additions of the Dean's eye and other major Gothic additions it is believed some mistakes in the support of the tower occurred, for in 1237 the main tower collapsed. A new tower was soon started and in 1255 the Cathedral petitioned Henry III to allow them to take down part of the town wall to enlarge and expand the Cathedral.
In 1290 Eleanor of Castile died and King Edward I of England decided to honour her, his Queen Consort, with an elegant funeral procession. After her body had been embalmed, which in the 13th century involved evisceration, Eleanor's viscera were buried in Lincoln cathedral, and Edward placed a duplicate of the Westminster tomb there.
Information Source:
The five-storey tower mill at Great Bircham in North Norfolk dates from 1846, though there was an earlier post mill on the site that was demolished to make way for it. The new mill worked for at least 70 years, but had ceased working by 1922. It has since had several owners, including the late Queen. According to Wikipedia the Grade II-listed mill was purchased by Mr Roger Wagg from the Queen in 1976, and a major restoration commenced in 1977. Together with its adjacent visitor facilities it is now open to the public from April until the end of September.
For more details please see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Bircham_Windmill.
Quand je commence à voir son petit bec se pointer à ma mangeoire, je sais que le froid arrive. Mais ce petit oiseau a une histoire et même si il en existe plusieurs, c’est là, que je retiens :
« Il y a fort longtemps, ce n'était qu'un modeste oiseau au plumage brunâtre.
Alors qu'il voletait, il s'approcha du Christ crucifié sur sa croix. Il se posa sur son épaule, de ses ailes, il essuya ses larmes, et de son bec, il arracha les épines qui lui blessaient la tête. Une goutte de sang tomba sur sa gorge, colorant à jamais son humble plumage. »
Cuando empiezo a ver su pequeño punto de pico hacia mi pesebre, sé que sucede el frío. Pero este pajarito tiene una historia e incluso si hay varias, es aquí donde recuerdo:
"Hace mucho tiempo, solo era un pájaro modesto con plumaje marrón.
Mientras revoloteaba, se acercó a Cristo crucificado en su cruz. Descansó sobre su hombro, con sus alas, se secó las lágrimas, y con su pico, arrancó las espinas que le dolían la cabeza. Una gota de sangre cayó sobre su garganta, coloreando para siempre su humilde plumaje. "
When I start to see his little beak point to my manger, I know the cold happens. But this little bird has a story and even if there are several, it is here that I remember:
"A long time ago, it was only a modest bird with brownish plumage.
As he fluttered, he approached Christ crucified on his cross. He rested on his shoulder, with his wings, he wiped his tears, and with his beak, he tore out the thorns that hurt his head. A drop of blood fell on his throat, forever coloring his humble plumage. "
Environ tous les quatre ans nous observons une irruption de Chouettes lapone au Québec bien que le cycle se soit quelque peu brisé depuis 2012. La dernière irruption importante était en 2017 mais je ne faisais pas de photographie animalière à l'époque. Celle de 2025 a été encore plus notable avec 65 lapones mentionnées au Québec. En janvier dernier nous avons commencé à voir plusieurs mentions de ces magnifiques chouettes qui nous arrivent de la forêt boréale affamées et amaigries car elles subissent un manque de nourriture dramatique. Une des hypothèses expliquant ces irruptions serait que les campagnols à doux roux de Gapper, leur nourriture privilégiée, se nourrissant des semences de conifères viennent eux aussi à manquer de semences car celles-ci auraient un cycle de quatre ans. Une autre hypothèse plus récente explique que les nichées auraient été si fructueuses menant à trop d'individus sur le territoire pour la nourriture disponible poussant ainsi plusieurs strigidés vers le sud. Nous avons eu la présence d'un individu à Laval qui était toujours sur place dimanche dernier. Ces Chouettes lapone ne sont pas faciles à trouver. Leur territoire est grand, elles se déplacent beaucoup, il faut souvent faire plusieurs sorties avant d'avoir l'occasion de l'admirer. J'ai eu la chance de la voir trois fois à Laval. Cependant, j'ai eu une très belle surprise en ce samedi du 22 février alors que je m'apprêtais à tenter ma chance de nouveau avec cette lapone de Laval. Mon amie Anouk m'a signalé la présence d'un autre individu et tout près de chez moi, au cimetière du Mont-Royal à Montréal. À mon arrivée elle commençait déjà à s'activer et cela pendant plus de quatre heures de temps. Une journée qui commençait si bien et qui fut un pur plaisir, épuisante aussi car notre vedette se déplaçait constamment et avec la neige abondante qui est tombée ce n'était pas si facile de la suivre. Le lendemain une autre lapone a été mentionnée sur le Mont-Royal. En me dirigeant vers le lieu où elle était les cris des corneilles m'a révélé une autre lapone qui était située à trois minutes de marche de l'autre. C'était bien celle du cimetière reconnaissable par ses quelques rémiges secondaires blanches. Je rêve toujours de la voir en chasse dans un champs, un jour peut-être, mais en attendant je vous présente cette image en vol où l'on voit ses longues pattes qui me font penser à celles d'un chat!
About every four years we observe an irruption of Great Gray Owls in Quebec although the cycle has been somewhat broken since 2012. The last major irruption was in 2017 but I was not doing wildlife photography at the time. The one in 2025 was even more notable with 65 Great Gray Owls mentioned in Quebec. Last January we began to see several mentions of these magnificent owls arriving from the boreal forest hungry and emaciated because they are experiencing a dramatic lack of food. One of the hypotheses explaining these irruptions would be that the Gapper's red-backed vole, their preferred food, feeding on conifer seeds, are also running out of seeds because these have a four-year cycle. Another more recent hypothesis explains that the broods would have been so fruitful leading to too many individuals on the territory for the available food thus pushing several owls towards South. We had the presence of an individual in Laval that was still there last Sunday. These Great Gray Owls are not easy to find. Their territory is large, they move around a lot, you often have to make several outings before having the opportunity to admire it. I was lucky enough to see it three times in Laval. However, I had a very nice surprise on this Saturday, February 22, when I was getting ready to try my luck again with this GGO from Laval. My friend Anouk told me about the presence of another individual and very close to my home, at the Mount Royal cemetery in Montreal. When I arrived, it was already starting to get active and this for more than four hours. A day that started so well and was a pure pleasure, exhausting too because our star was constantly moving and with the heavy snow that fell recently it was not so easy to follow it. The next day another GGO was mentioned on Mount Royal. As I headed towards where it was, the screams of the crows revealed another individual that was located three minutes walk from the other. It was indeed the one from the cemetery, recognizable by its few white secondary flight feathers. I still dream of seeing her hunting in a field, one day perhaps, but in the meantime I present to you this image in flight where we see her long legs that remind me of those of a cat!
Chouette lapone
Great Gray Owl
Strix nebulosa
Merci pour votre passage, vos favoris et commentaires. Je lis chaque commentaire attentivement et ils me font grandement plaisir!
Thank you for your visit, favorite and comment. I read closely each comment . They are sincerely appreciated!