Cartel - Weeds and Wildflowers
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Common Buckeye butterfly goes for a deep sip of nectar as it pokes down into a Lantana flowerhead.
Considered an uncommon migrant into the area from the south. Abundance varies from year to year.
The diamond of Serifos is its capital, Chora, which is considered to be a model of a medieval castled settlement, built amphitheatrically on the rocky height of the bay of Livadi , in order to protect it from the pirate invasions.
Siberian Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus Collybita Tristis
One of about 10 overwintering Chiffies!
Siberian Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus (collybita) tristis
Siberian chiffchaff (Phylloscopus (collybita) tristis) is a leaf-warbler which is usually considered a subspecies of the common chiffchaff, but may be a species in its own right.
Siberian chiffchaff breeds in Siberia east of the Pechora River and winters in the lower Himalayas.
It is also regularly recorded in western Europe in winter, and it is likely that the numbers involved have been underestimated due to uncertainties over identification criteria, lack of good data and recording policies (Sweden and Finland only accept trapped birds).
Because of their unfamiliar appearance, British records in the 1950s and 1960s were originally thought to be greenish warblers, and accepted as such by BBRC, the national rarities committee, until the records were reviewed in the 1980s.
Figure emblématique de tout temps, le rocher Percé est considéré comme le plus grand symbole de la Gaspésie - An emblematic figure of all time, Percé Rock is considered the greatest symbol of the Gaspé
Brown Hare - Lepus europaeus
Norfolk
Double Click to view
The brown hare is known for its long, black-tipped ears and fast running - it can reach speeds of 45mph when evading predators. It prefers a mosaic of farmland and woodland habitats and can often be spotted in fields.
Thought to have been introduced into the UK in Roman Times (or even earlier), the brown hare is now considered naturalised. It is most common in grassland habitats and at woodland edges, favouring a mosaic of arable fields, grasses and hedgerows. It grazes on vegetation and the bark of young trees and bushes. Brown hares do not dig burrows, but shelter in 'forms', which are shallow depressions in the ground or grass; when disturbed, they can be seen bounding across the fields, using their powerful hind legs to propel them forwards, often in a zigzag pattern. Brown hares are at their most visible in early spring when the breeding season encourages fighting or 'boxing'. Females can produce three to four litters of two to four young (known as leverets) a year.
Widespread, but absent from northern Scotland and the Scottish islands, except Islay, I'm reliably informed.
The Eurasian Eagle-owl is considered to be one of the largest owls in the world, with a wingspan of nearly two metres. These giant birds weighs between 1.5kg – 4kg and have an impressive wingspan of 155-180cm.
There are thought to be 12-40 pairs of eagle owls nesting in Britain, but no one is certain how many of these have escaped from captivity and how many have naturally immigrated here from Europe. For centuries eagle owls were used as decoys to catch birds such as the magpie. This magnificent bird is captive bred.
As recently as the 1940s, this graceful hawk was considered rare and endangered in North America, restricted to a few sites in California and Texas. In recent decades, it has increased greatly in numbers and spread into many new areas.
It is often seen hovering on rapidly beating wings over open fields, looking for small rodents, its main food source.
The introduction of the house mouse from Europe may have played a part in its increase; formerly, the kite fed almost entirely
on voles.
(Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
(A memory from May 2004)
The Roman Forum
Ancient Rome is considered the Roman civilization from the founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD.
The civilization began as a settlement on the Italian Peninsula, in 753 BC, that grew into the city of Rome. The Roman Empire expanded to become one of the largest empires in the ancient world, with an estimated 50 to 90 million inhabitants (roughly 20% of the world's population at the time) covering 5.0 million square kilometres at its height in AD 117.
The Roman Forum is a rectangular plaza surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum.
For centuries the Forum was the center of day-to-day life in Rome: the site of triumphal processions and elections; the venue for public speeches, criminal trials, and gladiatorial matches; and the nucleus of commercial affairs. The teeming heart of ancient Rome, it has been called the most celebrated meeting place in all history. the Forum is located in the small valley between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills. Today the Forum is a sprawling ruin of architectural fragments and intermittent archaeological excavations.
(Wikipedia)
(Canon PowerShot S400, 125 @ f 7.1) Edited to Taste.
Considered the "Portuguese Venice", the maritime city of Aveiro (Portugal) is located on the edge of a coastal lagoon. "Moliceiros" (traditional boats) in bright colors navigate Aveiro's canal network.
(trip to Portugal - december 2019)
* I'm grateful for visit, favs and comments of my photo.
Considered to be the creme de la creme, from the Alan Titchmarsh Collection, the award winner Gerbera Garvinea 'Sweet Memories'.
texture by and courtesy of www.sarahgardnerphotography.com/digitaltextures (wax fusion)
No collection of shots from Northumberland could be considered complete without featuring Bamburgh. Here the mighty castle is seen from the dunes to the north together with some of the village.
100x 2022 - Northumberland 36/100
nb the more 'classic' view is here: flic.kr/p/2mVBS3c
The Chesme Church (Russian: Чесменская церковь; full name Church of Saint John the Baptist at Chesme Palace, also called the Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Russian: це́рковь Рождества́ Иоа́нна Предте́чи при Че́сменском Дворце́), is a small Russian Orthodox church at 12 Lensoveta Street, in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It was built by the Russian court architect Yury Felten in 1780, at the direction of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia. A memorial church, it was erected adjacent to the Chesme Palace (Russian: Чесменский дворец: damaged during the Siege of Leningrad and restored in 1946) between Saint Petersburg and Tsarskoye Selo to commemorate the anniversary of Russia's 1770 victory over Turkish forces in Chesme Bay (Turkish: Çeşme) in the Aegean Sea during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774.
The church and Chesme Palace were the earliest Neo-Gothic constructions in the St Petersburg area. Considered by some to be St Petersburg's single most impressive church, it is a rare example of very early Gothic Revival influence in Russian church architecture.
Pelișor was designed by the Czech architect Karel Liman in the Art Nouveau style; the furniture and the interior decorations were designed mostly by the Viennese Bernhard Ludwig. There are several chambers, working cabinets, a chapel, and "the golden room". Queen Marie herself, an accomplished artist, made many of the artistic decisions about the design of the palace, and participated in its decoration, including as a painter. Queen Marie considered Art Nouveau a weapon against sterile historicism, creating a personal style combining Art-Nouveau elements with Byzantine and Celtic elements.
"Considered more of a foraging specialist than most other neotropical flycatchers, Tropical Kingbird forages almost exclusively by hawking insects from a perch." Neotropical Birds, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Photographed in the wild, Nayarit, Mexico
Parco museale della miniera di rame di Montecatini Val di Cecina (1827-1907).
Nel diciannovesimo secolo era considerata la più importante miniera cuprifera d'Europa.
Nel 1888 la "compagnia anonima delle miniere di Montecatini Val di Cecina" prese origine e denominazione.
Trasformatasi in "Montecatini SpA", dal 1966, unendosi alla "Edison", divenne "Montedison", una delle più grandi Società chimiche ormai da tempo non più in essere.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOtUIMrJUyc
Museum park of the copper mine of Montecatini Val di Cecina (1827-1907).
In the nineteenth century it was considered the most important copper mine in Europe.
In 1888 the "Anonymous Company of the Mines of Montecatini Val di Cecina" took origin and denomination.
Transformed into "Montecatini SpA", from 1966, becoming part of "Edison", it became "Montedison", one of the largest chemical companies that currently no longer exists.
Monte Pellegrino has always been considered a sacred mountain by the people of Palermo.
On this mountain lived the last years of his life a young noblewoman, a certain Rosalia, who had decided to live as a hermit.
He died on 4 September 1160 or 1165.
On July 15, 1624, while the plague was scourging Palermo, Rosalia's bones were found in a cave in the mountain. The relics were carried in procession and the plague was defeated. Rosalia became the patron saint of the city, the “Santuzza”, and the Sanctuary was built around the cave.
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Monte Pellegrino è stato sempre considerato dai palermitani un monte sacro.
Su questa montagna visse gli ultimi anni della sua vita una giovane nobildonna, tale Rosalia, la quale aveva deciso di vivere da eremita.
Morì il 4 settembre del 1160 o 1165.
Il 15 Luglio 1624, mentre la peste flagellava Palermo, le ossa di Rosalia furono ritrovate in una grotta della montagna. Le reliquie furono portate in processione e la peste venne sconfitta. Rosalia divenne la santa patrona della città, la “Santuzza”, e attorno alla grotta venne eretto il Santuario.
The Nepalese Peace Pagoda in the foreground with The Wheel of Brisbane.
A number of challenges with this shot including wind, people and the moving wheel. I considered capturing the Wheel with light streaks, but I preferred the stationary look here.
sometimes considered a subspecies of the White-browed Coucal
although coucals are related to cuckoos they are not brood parasites
centropus burchelli
Burchell's spoorkoekoek
coucal de Burchell
Burchell Spornkuckuck
Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.
All rights reserved. ButsF©2017
Lily legends - many stories, myths and legends have been composed about these beautiful flowers. Since ancient times, people have worshiped the lily as one of the most beautiful creatures on earth. Even the wish for well-being sounded like this: "May your path be strewn with roses and lilies." A symbol of hope in Ancient Greece, peace and purity in Rus', and in France these flowers meant mercy, compassion and justice.
The rose is rightfully called the queen of the flower world, since ancient times it has become an object of reverence and admiration.
The flower was already known in ancient Egypt. During the meeting of Cleopatra and the commander Mark Antony, the floors of the hall in her palace were covered with a layer of rose petals almost half a meter thick. In ancient Greece, this flower was considered a gift from the gods. And it was the rose petals that enveloped the beautiful Aphrodite emerging from the sea. The Olympian gods, being in admiration, sprinkled their nectar on the flower, and since then the rose has received its pleasant smell.
Tomb of Luís de Camões in Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Monastery of St. Hieronymus) in Belem, Lisbon.
Camões is considered to be Portugal's greatest poet. He is to the Portuguese language what Shakespeare is to English and Pushkin to Russian. He led an interesting life spanning most of the Portuguese Age of Discovery in the XVI c., became famous in his lifetime, and died of plague in dire poverty. There is a strong indication that bones interred in his grave do not, in fact, belong to him. And the magnificent tomb was made only in late XIX c.
The Byasa alcinous (Atrophaneura alcinous) is a swallowtail butterfly distributed mainly in East Asia. It is called Chinese windmill in English and jakouageha in Japanese. It is divided into several subspecies; the present one is B. a. miyakoensis, which is considered to be among the most beautiful one. A female at Irabu Island, Miyakojima, Okinawa, Japan
宮古島の伊良部島で撮ったメスのジャコウアゲハです。
Yosemite, considered by many the best National Park in the United States.
This 14-image composite captures the High Sierra, including Half Dome, Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall from the vista at Glacier Point.
I don't know that I would characterize it as best, though it is magnificent and beyond compare (as are most of the parks). It is amazing how accessible, and how diverse this park is. The High Sierra is stunning and splendid in its grandeur.
If you visit California and stay only on the coasts in one of the big cities (San Diego, LA, or San Francisco), you are missing the best part of California. Come, explore the eastern interior of the state, and catch a glimpse of heaven.
Uxmal bezeichnet die Ruinen einer ehemals großen und kulturell bedeutenden Stadt der Maya in Mexiko. Der Name Uxmal kommt möglicherweise von „ox-mal“, was in der yukatekischen Mayasprache „dreimal“ bedeutet. Die Ruinenstadt liegt in der leicht welligen Karstlandschaft Puuc auf der Halbinsel Yucatán im gleichnamigen mexikanischen Bundesstaat, etwa 80 Kilometer südlich von Mérida.
Die Stadt erlebte ihre Hochblüte am Ende des Späten Klassikums im 9. und frühen 10. Jahrhundert n. Chr., wurde aber bereits ein bis zwei Jahrhunderte später völlig verlassen. Die Bauten werden von der „Pyramide des Zauberers“ überragt, die wie die meisten Gebäude in Uxmal während der Besiedlung der Stadt immer wieder umgebaut und erweitert wurde.
Uxmal is an ancient Maya city of the classical period located in present-day Mexico. It is considered one of the most important archaeological sites of Maya culture, along with Palenque, Chichén, and Calakmul in Mexico, Caracol and Xunantunich in Belize, and Tikal in Guatemala. It is located in the Puuc region of the eastern Yucatan Peninsula, and is considered one of the Maya cities most representative of the region's dominant architectural style. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its significance.
Often considered a more romantic and feminine colour, pink dahlias unwavering kindness and unassuming grace. When you give or receive these flowers, that means the recipients are truly loved and irreplaceable in the hearts of the givers.
Have a beautiful Wednesday!💕
Thank you for your visits, kind comments, awards and faves. Always greatly appreciated.
Copyright 2020 ©️ Gloria Sanvicente
The Windows Section is considered by some to be the beating heart of Arches National Park. The area contains a large concentration of arches and is one of the most scenic locations in the park. North Window, South Window, Turret Arch, and Double Arch are just a few of the awe-inspiring expanses you’ll find in just over two square miles.
* ‘Razzmatazz’ is considered to be the first double-flowering echinacea. Instead of a central cone, each flower has a dome covered with short petals surrounded by a skirt of longer, reflexed petals. It is a bright pink and grows 32-26 inches tall.
Taken at Toronto Gardens
Have a beautiful Thursday!💝
Thank you for your visits, kind comments, awards and faves. Always greatly appreciated.
Copyright 2020 ©️ Gloria Sanvicente
Abu Simbel is a historic site comprising two massive rock cut temples in the village of Abu Simbel أبو سمبل, Aswan Governorate, Upper Egypt, near the border with Sudan. It is situated on the western bank of Lake Nasser, about 230 km (140 mi) southwest of Aswan (about 300 km (190 mi) by road). The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century BC, during the 19th Dynasty reign of the Pharaoh Ramesses II. They serve as a lasting monument to the king Ramesses II. His wife Nefatari and children can be seen in smaller figures by his feet, considered to be of lesser importance and were not given the same position of scale. This commemorates his victory at the Battle of Kadesh. Their huge external rock relief figures have become iconic.
Once considered a sub-species of the Chiffchaff the Siberian Chiffchaff is now considered a separate species. The bird is considered rare in the UK but it is believed that it is probably more common than is reported due to the difficulty of establishing the birds identity from the now common wintering Chiffchaff, especially in the South West.
Taken @ Kidwelly
Click on image for larger view
A beautiful little bird considered a bit rare / uncommon in our region. The birds habitat is near rocky areas / edges of rocky areas with open shrubland. It looks very much like a common Bushchat and many times I got confused between the two. The primary difference is the Ventral area which is totally brown in this bird unlike the Bushchat which has a white area. The overall plumage is also much softer and chocolate colored.
The bird prefers small insects and mosquitoes that are found in plenty in the shrublands. I am not sure if it is a local migrant, but suspect it could be since it disappears during summers. Guessing that is due to the disappearance of its food - insects - during the dry summer season.
Thanks in advance for your views and feedback.
The Green Heron (Butorides virescens) is a small heron of North and Central America. It was long considered conspecific with its sister species the Striated Heron (Butorides striata), and together they were called "Green-backed Heron". Birds of the nominate subspecies (no matter which taxonomic arrangement is preferred) are extremely rare vagrants to western Europe; individuals from the Pacific coast of North America may similarly stray as far as Hawaii.
The Green Heron is relatively small; adult body length is about 44 cm (17 in). The neck is often pulled in tight against the body. Adults have a glossy, greenish-black cap, a greenish back and wings that are grey-black grading into green or blue, a chestnut neck with a white line down the front, grey underparts and short yellow legs. The bill is dark with a long, sharp point. Female adults tend to be smaller than males, and have duller and lighter plumage, particularly in the breeding season. Juveniles are duller, with the head sides, neck and underparts streaked brown and white, tan-splotched back and wing coverts, and greenish-yellow legs and bill. Hatchlings are covered in down feathers, light grey above, and white on the belly.
The Green Heron's call is a loud and sudden kyow; it also makes a series of more subdued kuk calls. During courtship, the male gives a raah-rahh call with wide-open bill, makes noisy wingbeats and whoom-whoom-whoom calls in flight, and sometimes calls roo-roo to the female before landing again. While sitting, an aaroo-aaroo courtship call is also given.
Los Angeles. California.
Swiss winter paradise, Paradis hivernal suisse , Les Rochers de Nays . Canton of Vaud. No. 6432.
The Rochers de Naye (French, lit. "rocks of Naye"; 2,042 metres (6,699 ft)) are a mountain of the Swiss Alps, overlooking Lake Geneva near Montreux and Villeneuve, in the canton of Vaud. They lie on the range separating the basin of Lake Geneva from the valley of the Sarine, on the watershed between the Rhone and the Rhine. The mountain is partially located in the canton of Fribourg, the border between the two cantons culminating on a lower summit named Grande Chaux de Naye (1,982 metres (6,503 ft)).
The Rochers de Naye are easily accessible from Montreux, where the highest railway in the canton, the Montreux–Glion–Rochers-de-Naye, starts. From the summit station (1,968 metres (6,457 ft)), only a short walk is necessary to reach the summit. In addition, it is also possible to access the summit by driving to Col de Jaman and then making the 2-3 hr hike to the peak.
The Rochers de Naye are also known for the Rochers de Naye Via Ferrata[3] considered to be extremely difficult (ED), the Grottes de Naye (caves which are accessible via the trail between Col de Jaman and Rochers de Naye), and a few enclosures hosting marmots from around the world.
Les rochers de Naye sont une montagne des Alpes suisses située sur les communes de Veytaux, Villeneuve et Montreux dans le canton de Vaud."
On peut accéder au sommet des rochers de Naye soit à pied, soit par le chemin de fer Montreux-Glion-Rochers de Naye, une ligne de chemin de fer longue de 10,36 km, à voie unique à crémaillère qui couvre en 55 minutes une dénivellation de 1 600 mètres et qui dessert aussi Glion et Caux. Il s'agit de la plus haute voie ferrée du canton. La gare sommitale abrite aussi un restaurant et un hôtel. Il n'y a pas d'accès pour les automobiles au-delà de Caux.
Wikipédia
the river Somme was for centuries considered a strategic route for navigation inland to Picardy and Paris, potentially faster and more reliable than the Seine, particularly for trade with England. The first comprehensive plan for canalisation was produced in 1729. The meandering river was not easily tamed, however, and the Intendant of Picardy reporting in 1763 found the navigation to be in a ‘pitiful state’. Complete canalisation was authorised under Louis XVI in 1785, but works were interrupted by the Revolution. The project revived by Napoleon in 1810 included a ‘ship canal’ (canal maritime) between Saint-Valery-sur-Somme and Abbeville. The waterway was opened to navigation above Abbeville in 1827, while the ship canal was completed in 1835. Locks were 34 m by 6.25 m wide, later enlarged to Freycinet dimensions. The two locks on the section incorporated in the Canal du Nord were rebuilt in 1964 to the dimensions adopted for that project, 90 by 6 m. The canal was among the first to be conceded to a local authority, in this case the Somme département, in 1992, but the concession was limited to the section west of Péronne.
La Ceja, Colombia; Central Andes; 2.300 meters above sea level.
Hepatic Tanager is the most widely distributed Piranga tanager, ranging from the southwest United States south to northern Argentina. Its English name is based on the liver-red color of the adult male from the northern part of the species' range; however, its scientific name, flava, meaning "yellow," derives from the original description, which is based on a female from Paraguay. These names reflect both a characteristic of the genus Piranga, marked sexual dichromatism, and the broad range of coloration, habitat, and behavior encompassed within the Hepatic Tanager as currently recognized.
Even though the Hepatic Tanager is currently considered one species, much evidence, including a recent study of molecular genetics, indicates that up to 3 species could be recognized, corresponding to the 3 groups of subspecies combined long ago. These groups and their respective species names are the Hepatic Tanager (P. hepatica) of montane pine-oak forests from the southwestern United States to Nicaragua, the Tooth-billed Tanager (P. lutea) of forest edges in foothills and mountains from Costa Rica to northern and western South America, and the Red Tanager (P. flava) of open woodlands of eastern and southeastern South America.
neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/...
A view of the Bayview Trail in Mason Neck State Park. A 1.2 mile trail with heavy usage and considered easy. There are some stairs and it's well maintained. #MasonNeckStatePark #Virginia #hiking #randonnée #Wandern #nature #Natur #BayviewTrail #VirginiaStateParks #trail
The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a planthopper indigenous to parts of China and Vietnam. It has spread invasively to Japan, South Korea, and the United States. Its preferred host is tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), but it infests economically significant plants including soybean, grapes, stone fruits, and Malus spp.
The species was accidentally introduced into South Korea in 2006 and Japan in 2009, and has since been considered a pest. In September 2014, L. delicatula was first recorded in the United States, and as of 2022, it is an invasive species in much of Northeastern United States and is rapidly spreading south and west.[4] L. delicatula's egg masses have been found to be the primary vector of spread, with Ailanthus altissima populations seen as a risk factor for further infestation globally. Ongoing pest control efforts have sought to limit population growth, due to the threat L. delicatula poses to global agricultural industries.
njaes.rutgers.edu/spotted-lanternfly/
Note: I have seen many immature lantern-fly in my garden, you're supposed to smash them when noticing. Not much success as they flew away as soon as you approached them, unless they were on the ground, then, you might be able to smash them at once.
Many don’t realize that two thirds of Oregon is considered high desert, and that something like the Alvord Desert exists in our gorgeous state. One of the great things about Oregon is how diverse the geology and landscape is, and that you can visit the coast one day, and be in the Alvord Desert camping on the playa and staring up at the milky way the next. (from That Oregon Life)
The Alvord Desert is one of the largest playas in Oregon at six miles wide and eleven miles long. This remote playa sits at approximately 4,000 feet in elevation and is the perfect place to camp and enjoy nature.
I was told by another camper, that this crystalline substance on the lake is an alkaline salt deposit. What ever it is, it is crunchy and has a bit of sparkle when the sun catches it right.
This was taken very early in the morning. It was still quite cold but since you can drive out on the playa I kept jumping back in my car to get warm.
Red Grouse - Lagopus lagopus scotica
Scottish Moors
The red grouse, Lagopus lagopus scotica, is a medium-sized bird of the grouse family which is found in heather moorland in Great Britain and Ireland. It is usually classified as a subspecies of the willow ptarmigan but is sometimes considered to be a separate species, Lagopus scotica. It is also known as the moorcock, moorfowl or moorbird. Lagopus is derived from Ancient Greek lagos (λαγος), meaning "hare", + pous (πους), "foot", in reference to the feathered feet and toes typical of this cold-adapted genus, and scoticus is "of Scotland".
The red grouse is widely known as the logo of The Famous Grouse whisky and an animated bird is a character in a series of its adverts. The red grouse is also the emblem of the journal British Birds.
The red grouse is differentiated from the willow ptarmigan and rock ptarmigan by its plumage being reddish brown, and not having a white winter plumage. The tail is black and the legs are white. There are white stripes on the underwing and red combs over the eye. Females are less reddish than the males and have less conspicuous combs. Young birds are duller and lack the red combs.
The red grouse is endemic to the British Isles; it has developed in isolation from other subspecies of the willow ptarmigan which are widespread in northern parts of Eurasia and North America.
It is found across most parts of Scotland, including Orkney, Shetland and most of the Outer Hebrides. They are only absent from urban areas, such as in the Central Belt.
In Wales there are strong populations in places but their range has retracted. They are now largely absent from the far south, their main strongholds being Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons and the Cambrian Mountains. There are reports of Welsh birds crossing the Bristol Channel to Exmoor.
In England it is mainly found in the north – places such as the Lake District, Northumberland, County Durham, much of Yorkshire, the Pennines and the Peak District, as far south as the Staffordshire Moorlands. There is an isolated introduced population on Dartmoor, and overspill Welsh birds visit the Shropshire Hills such as Long Mynd, where they breed. The Exmoor population would now appear to be extinct, with the last birds sighted as recently as 2005. An introduced population in Suffolk died out by the early 20th century, though a population on Cannock Chase in Staffordshire lasted longer.
The British population is estimated at about 250,000 pairs with around 1–5,000 pairs in Ireland. Numbers have declined in recent years and birds are now absent in areas where they were once common. Reasons for the decline include loss of heather due to overgrazing, creation of new conifer plantations and a decline in the number of upland gamekeepers. Some predators such as the hen harrier feed on grouse and there is ongoing controversy as to what effect these have on grouse numbers.
Red grouse have been introduced to the Hautes Fagnes region of Belgium but the population there died out in the early 1970s.
The red grouse is considered a game bird and is shot in large numbers during the shooting season which traditionally starts on August 12, known as the Glorious Twelfth. There is a keen competition among some London restaurants to serve freshly killed grouse on August 12, with the birds being flown from the moors and cooked within hours.
Cats are everywhere in Morocco. They live harmoniously with humans, but rather than pets, they are neighbors. many of them are associated with a particular shop or business. People often feed them, but they do their part by keeping the neighborhood free of pests. They appear in a huge variety of colors and patterns, but there are more ginger, calico, and tortoiseshell cats here than in many other places where cats have the run of the place. In Islam, cats are appreciated and considered clean; they are welcome in homes, shops, and even mosques.
"The “giant” Canada Goose, bred from central Manitoba to Kentucky but was nearly driven extinct in the early 1900s. Programs to reestablish the subspecies to its original range were in many places so successful that the geese have become a nuisance in many urban and suburban areas. At least 11 subspecies of Canada Goose have been recognized, although only a couple are distinctive. In general, the geese get smaller as you move northward, and darker as you go westward. The four smallest forms are now considered a different species: the Cackling Goose." Cornell Lab of Ornithology Photograhed in the wild, Rideau River, Ontario, Canada.
Dean Village is considered a “village within a city” and is just a short walk from central Edinburgh. It was formerly known as the "Water of Leith Village" and was a successful grain milling area for more than 800 years. I found it extremely idyllic and one of the most picturesque spots in Edinburgh.
The river Somme was for centuries considered a strategic route for navigation inland to Picardy and Paris, potentially faster and more reliable than the Seine, particularly for trade with England. The first comprehensive plan for canalisation was produced in 1729. The meandering river was not easily tamed, however, and the Intendant of Picardy reporting in 1763 found the navigation to be in a ‘pitiful state’. Complete canalisation was authorised under Louis XVI in 1785, but works were interrupted by the Revolution. The project revived by Napoleon in 1810 included a ‘ship canal’ (canal maritime) between Saint-Valery-sur-Somme and Abbeville. The waterway was opened to navigation above Abbeville in 1827, while the ship canal was completed in 1835. Locks were 34 m by 6.25 m wide, later enlarged to Freycinet dimensions. The two locks on the section incorporated in the Canal du Nord were rebuilt in 1964 to the dimensions adopted for that project, 90 by 6 m. The canal was among the first to be conceded to a local authority, in this case the Somme département, in 1992, but the concession was limited to the section west of Péronne.
An American Kestrel hiding in the solid superstructure of a power pole. It appears to be patiently waiting for an adventuring Vole, the favorite food source of this tiny (100g) and colorful falcon.
Although I've seen several this season, Kestrels are considered uncommon to rare.
A cherry blossom is a flower of many trees of genus Prunus. The most well-known species is the Japanese cherry, Prunus serrulata, which is commonly called sakura. They are widely distributed, especially in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere including Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Mainland China, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Myanmar, Thailand and West Siberia. Along with the chrysanthemum, the cherry blossom is considered the national flower of Japan. Japan has a wide variety of cherry blossoms (sakura); well over 200 cultivars can be found there. All varieties of cherry blossom trees produce small, unpalatable fruit or edible cherries. Edible cherries generally come from cultivars of the related species Prunus avium and Prunus cerasus. 17258
One of the many well-made wooden doors that you encounter while walking in the narrow alleys of the town of Olympus. The woodcarvers of Karpathos have long been known for their exceptional skills. So the proud Lord of the house considered it necessary to place his coat of arms above the magnificent solid door.
The Château d'Azay-le-Rideau (pronounced [azɛ lə ʁido]) is located in the town of Azay-le-Rideau in the French département of Indre-et-Loire. Built between 1518 and 1527, this château is considered one of the foremost examples of early French renaissance architecture. Set on an island in the middle of the Indre river, this picturesque château has become one of the most popular of the châteaux of the Loire valley.
Considered one of the most beautiful birds in Brazil, the male is turquoise and the female is green.
Considerado um dos pássaros mais bonitos do Brasil, o macho é azul-turquesa e a fêmea é verde.
Swallow Tanager (Nome em inglês)
Tersina viridis (Nome Científico)
Thraupidae (Família)
Passeriformes (Ordem)
FREE BIRD
Árvore: Magnólia Amarela
Lago Sul
Brasília, Brasil
It has been considered to form a superspecies complex along with the rock partridge, Philby's partridge and Przevalski's partridge and treated in the past as conspecific particularly with the first. This partridge has well marked black and white bars on the flanks and a black band running from the forehead across the eye and running down the head to form a necklace that encloses a white throat. Native to Asia, the species has been introduced into many other places and feral populations have established themselves in parts of North America and New Zealand. This bird can be found in parts of the Middle East and temperate Asia.
The Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) is a medium-sized black and white passerine bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea. Although once considered to be three separate species, it is now considered to be one, with nine recognised subspecies. A member of the Artamidae, the Australian magpie is placed in its own genus and is most closely related to the black butcherbird (Melloria quoyi). Currawongs have yellow eyes, whereas Magpies have red-brown eyes and Butcherbirds have very dark brown, almost black eyes. It is not, however, closely related to the European magpie, which is a corvid. The adult Australian magpie is a fairly robust bird ranging from 37 to 43 cm in length, with distinctive black and white plumage, gold brown eyes and a solid wedge-shaped bluish-white and black bill. The male and female are similar in appearance, and can be distinguished by differences in back markings. The male has pure white feathers on the back of the head and the female has white blending to grey feathers on the back of the head. With its long legs, the Australian magpie walks rather than waddles or hops and spends much time on the ground. Described as one of Australia's most accomplished songbirds, the Australian magpie has an array of complex vocalisations. It is omnivorous, with the bulk of its varied diet made up of invertebrates. It is generally sedentary and territorial throughout its range. Common and widespread, it has adapted well to human habitation and is a familiar bird of parks, gardens and farmland in Australia and New Guinea. This species is commonly fed by households around the country, but in spring (and occasionally in autumn) a small minority of breeding magpies (almost always males) become aggressive and swoop and attack those who approach their nests. 6966
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A small, Romanesque church in Myresjö, Småland, Sweden - built in the middle of the 12th century.
The church was for a long time parish-church, but deemed unfit for this in 1814 by the bishop. In 1879 the new church was inaugurated (a church the parish shared with neighbouring Lannaskede) and this one was abandoned for some 50 years before it was saved because people finally realized that this was something quite special (today it is considered a church of national interest). During the time it was abandoned it lost most of its roof, but not over the choir and apse, which is why the murals in this part of the church has survived. Some of the original furnishings of the church have also survived.