Limodorum abortivum (Orchidaceae) 126 23

The name Limodorum abortivum refers to the small size of the leaves and the way they sheath the stem. Abortivum literally means aborted leaves.

It is a curious orchid that still requires study to determine its precise biology. Although it is widely considered an entirely saprophytic plant, there are indications that it may be (at least partly) parasitic. Two factors in particular confound the issue: firstly, the stem has been shown to contain measurable levels of chlorophyll, and secondly, the plant is dependent on mycorrhizal fungi for its entire existence.

This is a widespread species with a distribution from Belgium in the north, North Africa in the south and at least as far as Russia in the east. It does not occur in Britain and reaches the height of it's abundance in the southern Mediterranean where it is predominantly found on calcareous soils and usually associated with pine forest. This close proximity to living pine trees is another link with possible parasitism but as already mentioned, the physiology is not yet fully understood.

Each day that passes I grow more dependent on your smile and your laughter. Each day I fall deeper in love with you. My love for you is infinite. My love for you has no ending. I will love you til I take my last breath. I will take with me our greatest achievements, the love we share and all of the memories we've had. My love will never fade and will never die. My heart beats only because of you. You're the air that I breathe and without you my life would be meaningless and I'd be living in vain. You're my world and everything in it. I love you to infinity.

Pookie Bear's Version

I apologise for the VERY POOR QUALITY of this post. It certainly would have been deleted were it now the first time I have ever seen a Bittern . The RSPB site on this bird describes it “ A secretive bird, very difficult to see “ and they are not wrong. I have sat in hides many a time hoping to get a glimpse without any success .I was starting to think I had more chance of seeing a Gryphon that a Bittern

Anyway on New Years DayI went for a walk with friends on the banks of the River Humber we were not looking for birds just walking off the indulgence of New Years Eve. As a short cut we walked through the bird sanctuary at Far Ings. We passed a women who said she had just seen a Bittern from a hide. My friends who are very serious birders were keen to have a look. Sadly I did not have any binoculars and only a basic point and shot camera with me.

We sat in the hide watching the Reed bed for twenty minutes or so, the light was fading and it was cold . Suddenly very slowly this bird walked across a gap in the reeds. I took a few shots with very little hope of getting a clear image and I was right. But at least i had finally seen this rare British bird and on New Years Day. After reading this you will probably understand why I at least wanted to record the sighting on Flickr.

The shot is is a very severe crop.

From The RSPB website

The Bittern is a thickset heron with all-over bright, pale, buffy-brown plumage covered with dark streaks and bars. It flies on broad, rounded, bowed wings. A secretive bird, very difficult to see, as it moves silently through reeds at water's edge, looking for fish. The males make a remarkable far-carrying, booming sound in spring. It's very small, reedbed-dependent population make it an Amber List species. There are only 795 wintering birds in the UK

THANKS FOR YOUR VISIT TO MY STREAM.

I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD NOT FAVE A PHOTO

WITHOUT ALSO LEAVING A COMMENT .

Vanden Plas is the name of coachbuilders who produced bodies for specialist and up-market automobile manufacturers. Latterly the name became a top-end luxury model designation for cars from subsidiaries of British Leyland and the Rover Group, last used in 2009 to denote the top-luxury version of the Jaguar XJ (X350).

The business began in 1870 in Brussels, Belgium, initially making axles later producing horse-drawn carriages. It was founded by Guillaume van den Plas, a blacksmith, and his three sons, Antoine, Henri and Willy, who later set up a branch in Paris. Guillaume's surname is Dutch meaning "from the lake". In 1884 they moved from Brussels to Antwerp. With increased business they opened a branch in Brussels again in 1890. By 1900, they worked with De Dion Bouton, Berlier, Germain and Packard. By 1908 Carrosserie Van den Plas had a workforce of 400 men producing 300 special bodies a year, and that soon increased to over 750. The French branch ceased production in 1934 while the Belgian business was active until 1949.

The coachbuilder's name first appeared in the United Kingdom in 1906 when Métallurgique cars were imported with Carrosserie Van den Plas coachwork. The first Vanden Plas company in England was established by Warwick Wright (now Peugeot dealers) in 1913, building bodies under license from Carrosserie Van den Plas Belgium. During the First World War UK activities were switched to aircraft production, and the UK business was bought by The Aircraft Manufacturing Company which was based at Hendon near London. In 1917, Vanden Plas (1917) Ltd. was incorporated. After the war it seems to have been a struggle to get back into coachbuilding and in 1922 that company was placed in receivership. The exclusive UK naming rights seem to have been lost, because in the early 1920s the Belgian firm was exhibiting at the London Motor Show alongside the British business. In 1923 the rights to the name and the goodwill were purchased by the Fox brothers, who incorporated Vanden Plas (England) 1923 Limited. They moved the business from Hendon to Kingsbury and built on the contacts that had been made with Bentley. Between 1924 and 1931, when Bentley failed, Vanden Plas built the bodies for more than 700 of their chassis. In the 1930s the company became less dependent on one car maker, and supplied coachwork to such as Alvis, Armstrong Siddeley, Bentley, Daimler, Lagonda, Rolls-Royce and Talbot. The company also updated its production methods and took to making small batches of similar bodies. With the outbreak of war in 1939, coachbuilding stopped and the company returned to aircraft work, manufacturing the wooden framework for the de Havilland Mosquito, one of the most successful aircraft of the Second World War. After the war, the company continued its association with de Havilland, and manufactured parts for the Vampire jet fighter.

Sparrowhawk - Accipiter Nisus

Though it is a predator which specialises in catching woodland birds, the Eurasian sparrowhawk can be found in any habitat and often hunts garden birds in towns and cities. Males tend to take smaller birds, including tits, finches, and sparrows; females catch primarily thrushes and starlings, but are capable of killing birds weighing 500 g (18 oz) or more.

The Eurasian sparrowhawk is found throughout the temperate and subtropical parts of the Old World; while birds from the northern parts of the range migrate south for winter, their southern counterparts remain resident or make dispersive movements. Eurasian sparrowhawks breed in suitable woodland of any type, with the nest, measuring up to 60 cm (2.0 ft) across, built using twigs in a tree. Four or five pale blue, brown-spotted eggs are laid; the success of the breeding attempt is dependent on the female maintaining a high weight while the male brings her food. The chicks hatch after 33 days and fledge after 24 to 28 days.

The probability of a juvenile surviving its first year is 34%, with 69% of adults surviving from one year to the next. Mortality in young males is greater than that of young females and the typical lifespan is four years. This species is now one of the most common birds of prey in Europe, although the population crashed after the Second World War. Organochlorine insecticides used to treat seeds before sowing built up in the bird population, and the concentrations in Eurasian sparrowhawks were enough to kill some outright and incapacitate others; affected birds laid eggs with fragile shells which broke during incubation. However, its population recovered after the chemicals were banned, and it is now relatively common, classified as being of Least Concern by BirdLife International.

The Eurasian sparrowhawk's hunting behaviour has brought it into conflict with humans for hundreds of years, particularly racing pigeon owners and people rearing poultry and gamebirds. It has also been blamed for decreases in passerine populations. The increase in population of the Eurasian Sparrowhawk coincides with the decline in House Sparrows in Britain. Studies of racing pigeon deaths found that Eurasian sparrowhawks were responsible for less than 1%. Falconers have utilised the Eurasian sparrowhawk since at least the 16th century; although the species has a reputation for being difficult to train, it is also praised for its courage. The species features in Teutonic mythology and is mentioned in works by writers including William Shakespeare, Alfred, Lord Tennyson and Ted Hughes.

Male Eurasian sparrowhawks regularly kill birds weighing up to 40 g (1.4 oz) and sometimes up to 120 g (4.2 oz); females can tackle prey up to 500 g (18 oz) or more. The weight of food consumed by adult birds daily is estimated to be 40–50 g (1.4–1.8 oz) for males and 50–70 g (1.8–2.5 oz) for females. During one year, a pair of Eurasian sparrowhawks could take 2,200 house sparrows, 600 common blackbirds or 110 wood pigeons. Species that feed in the open, far from cover, or are conspicuous by their behaviour or coloration, are taken more often by Eurasian sparrowhawks. For example, great tits and house sparrows are vulnerable to attack. Eurasian sparrowhawks may account for more than 50% of deaths in certain species, but the extent varies from area to area.

Males tend to take tits, finches, sparrows and buntings; females often take thrushes and starlings. Larger quarry (such as doves and magpies) may not die immediately but succumb during feather plucking and eating. More than 120 bird species have been recorded as prey and individual Eurasian sparrowhawks may specialise in certain prey. The birds taken are usually adults or fledglings, though chicks in the nest and carrion are sometimes eaten. Small mammals, including bats, are sometimes caught but insects are eaten only very rarely.

Zaahr - in Black * Zaahr - Facebook

Was around 1:30 in the night after spending several hours in the Windows Area of Arches National Park, stopped by here for about 15 minutes to take in the angle of the Milky Way in the late night. May try and get back over here again this evening but earlier in the night when the angle will be lower.

Light on the rock was from a passing car in the night probably heading back from Delicate Arch.

There were two other photographers out there at this time. When I came to this spot that I thought framed up the rock and the foreground tree against the Milky Way, I stopped there. They were about 50 feet longer along the trail. They warned me that they were there taking photos. I told them I was there to do the same.

Within several minutes I heard the car coming, so prepared to take several shots with the changing light from the car. I really liked the results on several of them, take the 10 second captures in quick succession.

I think I said out loud ... perfect timing.

Then one of the photographers asked me what ISO setting I was using. Now that is a strange thing to ask, given that the ISO speed will ultimately be dependent on your shutter time as well as the aperture setting of the your lens.

So I responded, ISO 5000, for 10 seconds and aperture f1.8 on the 14mm Sony lens.

They paused for several seconds and then said "thanks" but sounded dubious. So maybe I gave them too much info ...

Good news is I ran into bunch of others earlier in the night and I was able to pass along some good tips, as well as ISO and shutter speeds based on their lens type and cameras. Always enjoy helping out others, and hopefully many will also now follow me here on FLICKR too :)

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!! ENDED!

3 winners will be announced on Feb 15

Comment and Fave the post and follow my profile

Hi Agonys we have a new release for Cupid´s Curse by Difony Events!

Dark Agony - Dependent Witch

Interactive Animesh Companion

Includes a HUD that you can Activate and Select a Person

Close to Whom the Witch Will Give her Heart*

With and With Out Particles Option

3 Clothes Materials- 3 Crown Materials

3 Skin Materials - 3 Heart Colors

Copy - Modify - No Transfer

LM: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Fort%20Santiago/130/97/23

LM: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Fort%20Santiago/130/97/23

LM: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Fort%20Santiago/130/97/23

'Where' just body dependent

Nowhere, somewhere, everywhere

Mere perceptions diverse

Of everything HERE

Didn't go; to return

Nowhere I go

That nowhere is Here

If you perceive me nowhere

Death starts with birth,

What death without birth ?

'I' am not born,

then 'where' is my birth ?

Birth and death of a body

Mere perceptions of another mortal body

Which appear to appear

Till either of one to the other,

appear to disappear

Beaming with vigour

In Union with the Supreme

'I' am HERE, NOW

As bright as ever

- Anuj Nair

------------------------------------------------------

© 2013 Anuj Nair. All rights reserved.

-------------------------------------------------------

Contact : www.anujnair.net

________________________________________________

© 2013 Anuj Nair. All rights reserved.

All images and poems are the property of Anuj Nair.

Using these images and poems without permission is in violation of international copyright laws (633/41 DPR19/78-Disg 154/97-L.248/2000). All materials may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any forms or by any means,including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording without written permission of Anuj Nair. Every violation will be pursued penally.

The scientific name Falco columbarius refers to the merlin, a small, fierce falcon found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Once known as the "pigeon hawk," this raptor is a swift and agile hunter, often found in open areas and even urban settings.

Identification 👀

* Size and build: Merlins are small but powerful falcons, larger than an American kestrel but smaller than a crow.

* Color: Plumage varies by subspecies and gender.

Adult males typically have a bluish-gray back and wings, a faintly streaked breast, and a banded tail.

Females and juveniles are browner on their upper parts and have more pronounced streaking on their underparts.

* Distinctive markings: They possess yellow legs and a pale throat and eyebrow. Unlike other falcons, they lack a prominent mustache stripe on their face.

* Flight: Merlins fly with quick, powerful wingbeats and seldom soar.

Habitat and range 🏡

* Breeding habitat: During the nesting season, merlins prefer open to semi-open areas, including forest edges, woodlands, prairies, and tundra.

* Urban areas: In recent decades, merlins have adapted to city life, nesting in urban and suburban areas and hunting the abundant small birds found there.

Migration and wintering: Most populations are migratory, moving south for the winter. During this time, they occupy a variety of open habitats, such as grasslands, coastal marshes, and farmland.

* Holarctic distribution: Their range spans the Northern Hemisphere, covering northern North America and Eurasia.

Diet and hunting 🍔

* Primary prey: Merlins are carnivores that specialize in hunting small- to medium-sized birds, such as sparrows, finches, and shorebirds. House sparrows are common prey in urban environments.

* Hunting technique: They hunt by ambushing their prey, often flying low and fast to surprise it. Most prey is caught in midair after a high-speed chase. Pairs sometimes hunt cooperatively.

* Varied diet: They also feed on large insects, particularly dragonflies, as well as small mammals like voles and bats, and even reptiles.

Reproduction 👩❤️👨

* Nesting sites: Merlins do not build their own nests. Instead, they reuse abandoned nests built by other birds, such as crows, ravens, or magpies. They may also nest in tree cavities, on cliff ledges, or on the ground.

* Clutch: The female typically lays 4 to 5 rusty brown eggs.

* Parental care: The female performs most of the incubation, which lasts about a month. The male provides food for the female and nestlings.

* Fledging: Young merlins fledge about a month after hatching but remain dependent on their parents for several more weeks.

Conservation status ⛑️

* Global status: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has designated the merlin as a species of "Least Concern".

* Recovery from pesticides: Merlin populations experienced significant declines during the mid-20th century due to pesticides like DDT. Since the ban of these chemicals, populations in North America and Europe have largely recovered.

* Threats: Current threats include continued exposure to environmental toxins and habitat loss in some areas. However, their increasing ability to adapt to urban settings has helped to offset some of these concerns.

Substantially dependent on the type Ty43 2-10-0 for it's rural branch services loco Ty43-103 awaits to be dispatched at Gniezno after arrival 11.40 ex Janowiec Wlkp.

A depot visit of the period to a Gniezno crammed with the Polish-build large Kriegslok must certainly have been majestic!

19th February 1987

Beauty exists even without an observer. For nature is in no way dependent on us or our judgment.

This thought came to me when I saw this beautiful flower (whose name I unfortunately couldn't find out) beneath a rock in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park in Thailand.

This isn't so unusual, of course, since large parts of the earth are so sparsely populated or unpopulated that nature there constantly "does its thing" and no one sees it.

Nevertheless, this sight got me thinking.

Beauty (in nature or in people) exists everywhere in the world. Regardless of whether we can (or want to) see it or not.

Therefore, I would like to paraphrase a well-known saying on this topic: in fact, "beauty lies in the heart of the beholder." Seeing, too, begins with a decision.

And so, with this Monday floral greeting, I wish you a week that lets you see with your heart.

Das Schöne existiert auch, ohne dass es einen Betrachter gibt. Denn die Natur ist in keinster Weise auf uns oder unser Urteil angewiesen.

Dieser Gedanke kam mir, als ich unterhalb eines Felsens im Khao Sam Roi Yot Nationalpark in Thailand diese wunderschöne Blume (deren Namen ich leider nicht in Erfahrung bringen konnte) gesehen habe.

Das ist natürlich nicht so außergewöhnlich, den große Teile der Erde sind so dünn oder garnicht besiedelt, dass die Natur dort permanent "ihr Ding macht" und kein Mensch es sieht.

Trotzdem hat mich dieser Anblick zum Nachdenken gebracht.

Das Schöne (in der Natur oder in den Menschen) existiert überall auf der Welt. Ganz gleich, ob wir es sehen können (oder wollen) oder nicht.

Deshalb möchte ich eine bekannte Aussage zu diesem Thema ein wenig umschreiben, denn in Tatsächlich liegt "Schönheit im Herzen des Betrachters". Auch das Sehen beginnt mit einer Entscheidung.

Und so wünsche ich Euch mit diesem montäglichen Blumengruß eine Woche, die Euch mit dem Herzen sehen lässt.

it is the first WebWednesday of Arachtober

I do like conjunctions. We will have 4 of them this Arachtober.

so here is another scatterscape in the gorse bokeh!

Julieta Venegas - Primer Dia

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHgm7IPng7o

Yesterday I was reminded how dependent we are on electricity. Though we have converted to solar, we are not off the grid which means that if the power goes out ours does too since there is no battery system installed to store the power. It was over 90 degrees and the power was out for about 9 hours. It wasn't a tragedy, just an inconvenience, however, it was a wake-up call to get our emergency preparedness plans and supplies updated. Take a moment today and review yours too, you never know when disaster will strike. Here is a link to put together a plan and for a supply checklist. www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m94400...

I am trying to post shots from my journey to Central Asia, not in a time-dependent sequence, otherwise I might only show you Georgia shots, and there were so many other wonderful countries.

This picture was taken in Kirghistan, but to be honest I have no clue what we were doing here. I can remember that we had been walking here, but the reason for this hike, what the goal was, no clue anymore. But the landscape was beautiful, as so much in Kirghistan with the high mountains everywhere around. Some of the most spectacular shots I have made I will post later.

20 September I came back from my journey over a part of the Silk Road to and through Central Asia. 4 months of traveling through 14 countries (Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran) before I flew home from Teheran. An impressive journey in countries that are extremely beautiful, with lovely and welcoming people and diverse cultures and history.

Intense traveling with more than 20000 kilometers in our mobile home on sometimes roads that hardly could be called that way. We saw many villages and cities (some wonderful, others very ugly), countries that are transforming from the old Soviet era into something more related to older cultures and the way people live, often funded by oil readily available around the Caspian sea. We saw the amazing mountains south of the Black Sea, the wonderful Caucasus, and the high mountains in the far east close to China with peaks over 7000 meter, and not to forget the (Bulgarian) Alps!

We crossed the great steppe of Kazakhstan. a drive of at least 5000 km, the remnants of lake Aral, once one of the biggest lakes of the world, saw a rocket launch from Baikonur (this little part is Russian owned), we crossed many high mountains passes, and drove the breathtaking canyon that comes from the Pamir, beginning at ca 4500 meter, and going down for ca. 400km to an altitude of 1300 meter, driving for 100's of kilometers along the Afghan border.

And then the numerous lakes with all sorts of different colors from deep cobalt blue to turquoise, and one rare spectacle in Turkmenistan where a gas crater is burning already for more than 40 years. And finally and certainly not the least to mention an enormous amount of wonderful, hospitable and welcoming people. The woman often dressed in wonderful dresses, and bringing a lot of color in the streets of almost of all countries we visited.

Technical requirements

Indissolubly material

Rules of unity

I thought you should all be brought up to speed with a story (sorry reportage) that has broken over the last couple of days, Cornwall is to build a satellite launch system at Newquay Airport, currently being developed overseas🚀

You may have heard Hugh Edwards mention this on News at Ten a few nights ago.

This system intends to despatch rockets into space from under the wing of a converted Typhoon jet.

Now who do we know that has such an aircraft, yes our very own H & H,🐎🐷 the one they bought on eBay.

The investment offer is dependent on Spaceport Cornwall and A. N. Other putting together a business plan.✈️

Guess what, yes H & H have put in a tender, watch this space, see what I did there. If they pull this deal off they know that they will have to take on men, as their business portfolio is growing beyond all recognition.📘📘📕📕

They have their daily space flights to Mars, which has taken off well, there is the time travel division of the company, yes I know Horace has only just cut the roof off the Jensen Interceptor, however we did seem to loose twelve days recently !!

Horace also has his after dinner speaking duties, the village vicar has booked him for the foreseeable future, and of course Hoof has his sports consultancy business, the courts at Wimbledon will look the best ever this year, and he is hoping to have the new roof on No 1 court finished for the opening of the tournament this year, wow !!! 🎾🎾🎾

I will leave you with this thought for the weekend,

If you think nothing is impossible,

Try slamming a revolving door.

Thank you for looking at my pictures, I so much enjoy taking them around the beautiful coastline of Cornwall.

The comments you leave are so appreciated.

Have a lovely weekend🔥🚀✈️🐎🐷🍷🍷🍷😎😂😂😂

Only one more Webnesday to go before the start of Arachtober !!

In 1105 he already belonged to the Order of Saint Benedict. Don Pedro, Count of Traba, stipulated an amount for its repair, given that this same year it had been attacked by Norman pirates. Around 1115 it was razed again, this time by the Almoravids coming from the southern border. In the 12th century, the current temple was built along with the new monastery on the south side. The construction was carried out with the help of Alfonso VII King of Galicia, who favored Moraime in gratitude for the services of Abbot Hodorio and his predecessors, who had given him shelter in his childhood during the fights between his supporters and those of his mother Doña Urraca.

King Ferdinand II of León also granted donations to this monastery: in 1161 the estate of Castro (Frige, Mugía), and in 1175 the place of Merejo (San Martín de Ozón, Mugía). These donations were confirmed by later kings. From the second half of the 14th century the decline of the monastery began, due to the looting of the small rural nobility, who appropriated its assets. Until 1489 it depended on the Monastery of San Martín Pinario, as shown by the shield on the main façade of the church. That year, by order of the Catholic Monarchs, it became dependent on the Royal Monastery of San Benito de Valladolid, like other Galician monasteries.

Collared owlets transition through various age-dependent colour morphs. A capture-recapture study of collared owlets in Taiwan provided evidence of this. On the first capture, the individual was 56 days old and showed fledgling colour morph stage; having less spots and barring on the back and top of the head and not having a completely formed occipital. On the second recapture, the individual was captured 165 days after hatching and demonstrated a rufous morph; having an overall orange-red colour, barred back, spots on the head and a formed occipital. On the third recapture, the individual was 394 days old and was in its final grey morph

Reed Bunting - Emberiza schoeniclus (M)

It breeds across Europe and much of temperate and northern Asia. Most birds migrate south in winter, but those in the milder south and west of the range are resident. It is common in reedbeds and also breeds in drier open areas such as moorland and cultivation. For example, it is a component of the purple moor grass and rush pastures, a type of Biodiversity Action Plan habitat in the UK. It occurs on poorly drained neutral and acidic soils of the lowlands and upland fringe.

The common reed bunting is a medium-sized bird, 13.5–15.5 cm long, with a small but sturdy seed-eater's bill. The male has a black head and throat, white neck collar and underparts, and a heavily streaked brown back. The female is much duller, with a streaked brown head, and is more streaked below.

Despite its name, the Reed Bunting breeds across a range of habitats from reedbeds and conifer plantations to hedgerows and arable crops like oil seed rape. During the non-breeding season, this species is dependent upon weed seeds, and as such, Reed Buntings would have joined other species in winter flocks on farmland stubbles. The decline of this species matches that of other farmland species like Tree Sparrow and Linnet. The increasing winter use of gardens during the 1980s probably reflects the decrease in availability of winter food.

The Eastern Osprey is a large, water-dependent bird of prey, distinctive in flight and when perched. Despite its wing-span of up to 1.7 m, it is noticeably smaller than the White-bellied Sea-eagle. In flight it can be recognised by its distinctly bowed wings that are dark brown above, and barred underneath, and with white underwing coverts. Perched, the upperparts are dark brown and the underparts are white. The female has a dark streaky collar. The head is mainly white with a blackish stripe through the eye.

The grey-headed woodpecker (Picus canus), also known as the grey-faced woodpecker, is a Eurasian member of the woodpecker family, Picidae. Along with the more commonly found European green woodpecker and the Iberian green woodpecker, it is one of three closely related sister species found in Europe. Its distribution stretches across large parts of the central and Eastern Palaearctic, all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

The grey-headed woodpecker is more demanding than the European green woodpecker in terms of its habitat. It prefers old mixed coniferous forest with a high proportion of dead trees, feeding primarily on ants, although not being as exclusively dependent on this group as the green woodpecker. The grey-headed woodpecker's nest is typically excavated into dead or severely damaged trees.

The subspecies of grey-headed woodpeckers in the Himalayas and those in Sumatra were defined, in 2014, to be separate species Picus guerini and Picus dedemi, respectively, so that as of 2016, three subspecies remain part of Picus canus.,but IOC World Bird List are still treating P. canus guerini and P. canus dedemi as subspecies.

In the majority of areas for which population numbers are available, the grey-headed woodpecker is in decline. IUCN's Least Concern rating is primarily based on the large distribution of the species

An adult Harris Hawk delivers food to its dependent fledgling. The young hawk is the one on the right, having just arrived to retrieve its meal. Photographed at Lost Dutchman State Park in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix, AZ. While I lived in AZ many years ago I loved hiking in those mountains as often as possible. It wasn’t until 2015 that I returned as a wildlife photographer. During that trip my eyes were opened to a new adventure as I discovered all the beautiful birds and mammals I hadn’t noticed decades before. I’m very thankful for the new awareness of our natural world that has so fully enriched my life.. Photographed October 23, 2017

The dependent one was just wailing away for food with all its body and soul. I will post a couple of the funny posts later.

“The small are always dependent on the great; they are "small" precisely because they think they are independent. The great thinker is one who can hear what is greatest in the work of other "greats" and who can transform it in an original manner.”

"Cuando tu oras de todo corazón, una de las primeras cosas que reconoces es cuan pequeño y finito eres, y cuán grande y poderoso es el Señor. Eso crea en ti el sentido de dependencia y no de insignificancia"

-A. Bullón

Mammoth Hot Springs is a large complex of hot springs on a hill of travertine in Yellowstone National Park adjacent to Fort Yellowstone and the Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District. It was created over thousands of years as hot water from the spring cooled and deposited calcium carbonate. Because of the huge amount of geothermal vents, travertine flourishes.

Canary Spring is named for its bright colors. Canary Springs owes its brilliance to sulfur-dependent filamentous bacteria. The colors blend here in delicate tints on the creamy rock face.

Yellowstone National Park is a national park located in the western United States, largely in the northwest corner of Wyoming and extending into Montana and Idaho. It was established by the 42nd U.S. Congress with the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1 Yellowstone was the first national park in the U.S.

Morning. Telelens.

United States, Yellowstone National Park

Please don't use my images without my permission. All images © Aivar Mikko.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmOofPkA3X8&ab_channel=Dependent

You are very dependent on the weather and light when taking photos. We've often had dry, hot summers in Europe in recent years and now have warmed seas around us that don't cool down properly in winter.

That's why we had a lot of rain in France and Italy this year in spring (Seawater evaporation) and nature was extremely green by local standards, seasonally speaking, and 3 weeks behind.

In the situation here, you can still see a dark grey rain cloud, the raindrops had washed the dust out of the atmosphere and the still damp nature had intense colors, which the sun, which just found gaps in the clouds, intensified beautifully.

Man ist beim Fotografieren sehr vom Wetter und Licht abhhängig. Wir haben in Europa in den letzten Jahren oft trockene, heiße Sommer gehabt und inzwischen aufgewärmte Meere um uns herum, die sich im Winter nicht mehr richtig abkühlen.

Deshalb haben wir in diesem Jahr, im Frühjahr, in Frankreich und Italien viel Regen gehabt und die Natur war für dortige Verhältnisse, jahreszeitbezogen, extrem Grün und 3 Wochen zurück.

In der Situation hier, man kann noch eine dunkelgraue Regenwolke sehen, hatten die Regentropfen die Stäube aus der Atmosphäre ausgewaschen und die noch feuchte Natur hatte intensieve Farben, die die Sonne, die gerade Wolkenlücken fand, schön verstärkte.

Auf der Fahrt nach Südfrankreich war zunächst Metz unser Ziel, immer die Wetter-App im Auge, wann wo die Sonne zu erwarten war.

In Metz kam die Sonne etwas später, als vorherzusehen und für das Erreichen dieses Museum in Beaune wurde die Zeit knapp.

Nach "halsbrecherischer" Fahrt kamen wir dort ca. 2 Minuten vor Schließung an und ich spurtete mit meiner Kamera in der Hand, vom Parkplatz aus, los, sah die letzten Gäste das Gebäude verlassen, traf zu meiner Erleichterung noch auf eine offene Tür.

Personal war nigends zu sehen, so traute ich mich auch erst gar nicht den Aufzug zu nutzen, sondern nahm die Treppe zur ersten Etage und kam dort auf einen Außenbalkon, lief dann, Ebene für Ebene die Außenspirale hoch, hoffent, dass ich nicht doch noch aufgehalten wurde, mit dem Gedanken, wenn dich hier niemand gesehen hat, könntest du am Ende noch im Gebäude eingeschlossen werden ;-) ...

Die Hügel/Weinberge, die ihr am Horizont seht, sind Weltkulturerbe. Die Burgunder nennen sie Climats.

Seit Jahren gibt es den Trend in den wichtigstens Weinanbaugebieten die Wineries mit aufwendiger Architektur aufzuwerten. Es gibt z.B. für Südafrika Rundreiseangebote, von Winery zu Winery.

Da kann Burgund nicht zurückstehen und hat den Schlössern und Herrenhäusern der Weingegend eine moderne Architektur hinzugefügt, das als Museum alles zusammenfasst.

Und was wäre ein Besuch in der Hauptstadt des Weins, Beaune, ohne etwas über den Burgunderwein und den Weinanbau in der Region zu erfahren? Am Besten kannst du das in der hier gezeigten, im Juni 2023 neu-eröffneten Cité des Climats et Vins de Bourgogne.

Seit dem Frühjahr 2023 können hier Weinliebhaber in die Welt des Bourgogne Weins, der Reben und der Besonderheiten der Bourgogne rund um die ‘Climats’ eintauchen.

Ein Climat, ist eine sogenannte kleine Parzelle im Weinberg, die von geologischen und klimatischen Besonderheiten gekennzeichnet ist.

Und jeder Wein aus einem climat hat einen ganz eigenen Charakter. Aufgrund der Vielzahl an climats in der Bourgogne, sind auch die Weine sehr unterschiedlich.

Das Museum ist also der ideale Ort für alle Wein- und Architekturinteressierte.

English

On the drive to the South of France, our first destination was Metz, always keeping an eye on the weather app to see when and where the sun would shine. In Metz, the sun came out a little later than expected, and time was running out to reach this museum in Beaune.

After a breakneck drive, we arrived about two minutes before closing time. I sprinted from the parking lot with my camera in hand. I saw the last guests leaving the building. To my relief, I found an open door. There was no staff anywhere in sight. So I didn't even dare use the elevator. Instead, I took the stairs to the first floor and arrived at an outside balcony. Then I walked up the outside spiral, level by level, hoping I wouldn't be stopped, thinking that if no one saw me there, I might end up locked in the building ;-) ...

The hills/vineyards you see on the horizon are a World Heritage Site. The Burgundians call them Climats.

For years, there has been a trend in the most important wine-growing regions to enhance their wineries with elaborate architecture. For example, there are tours for South Africa, from winery to winery.

Burgundy can't be left behind and has added modern architecture to the castles and manor houses of the wine region, bringing it all together as a museum.

And what would a visit to the wine capital, Beaune, be without learning something about Burgundy wine and winemaking in the region? The best place to do this is at the Cité des Climats et Vins de Bourgogne, shown here and opening in June 2023.

Since spring 2023, wine lovers have been able to immerse themselves in the world of Burgundy wine, the vines, and the special features of Burgundy's climates.

A climat is a small plot in the vineyard, characterized by geological and climatic peculiarities.

And each wine from a climat has its own unique character. Due to the variety of climates in Burgundy, the wines are also very diverse.

The museum is therefore the ideal place for anyone interested in wine and architecture.

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Alors que certains créatifs dépendent d'une combinaison de matériaux pour créer des œuvres d'art, l'artiste Paulus Architect n'a besoin que d'un seul outil fiable. Il utilise des stylos à bille bleus ordinaires pour réaliser des dessins hyperréalistes de personnes . Ces illustrations capturent la profondeur des sujets en utilisant une palette de couleurs monochromes et des techniques magistrales.

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While some creatives depend on a combination of materials to create artwork, artist Paulus Architect only needs one dependable tool. He uses ordinary blue ballpoint pens to render hyperrealistic drawings of people. These illustrations capture the depth of the subjects using a monochrome color palette and masterful techniques.

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The correct exposure time is not only dependent on the density of the print negative. The developer also plays an important role in determining the exposure time. Especially with rarely used developers, it can happen that I make a mistake when estimating the time required for the first print.

Developer Ammonium citrate/Sodium acetate mix.

The first print was much too dark, the second print (left side) was then correctly exposed. Prints that are too dark don't necessarily have to end up in the bin, you can lighten them by re-developing.

On the right the too dark print, bleached in Ferricyanide/Bromide bleach 1+20 2 minutes. Re-development with Easy Lith 3+3+600ml at approx. 40°C for 45 seconds. Highlights and mid tones are now as they should be, only the shadows lack differentiation.

The Urban Fox

Wild foxes have learned to adapt to the urban environment in order to survive. By nature, foxes are nocturnal and hunt at night, whereas the urban fox has adapted its behavior to survive and can be seen during daylight hours.

Locally, a fox vixen has located her den in the foundational remains of a razed building complex along the boardwalk at the Jersey Shore. She has six Kits, which can be seen frolicking in the debris and along the dunes during the day. The fox family has become local celebrities and unfortunately people have begun feeding them. Never feed wild animals. Although you may feel as if you’re helping them survive, you are actually harming them. Feeding foxes can alter their natural behavior and they may lose its fear of humans.

“Wildlife that is fed by people become less experienced at forging for their natural food and may become dependent on handouts that are not a part of their natural diets. This is especially true in juvenile animals that have not yet developed their own foraging skills and have little ability to fend for themselves once handouts cease.” ~ Julie King, Senior Wildlife Biologist

Please Do Not Feed the Wildlife!

Red Fox

The Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes, is the largest of the true foxes and the most abundant wild member of the Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, North America and Eurasia. It is listed as least concern by the IUCN. Its range has increased alongside human expansion, having been introduced to Australia, where it is considered harmful to native mammals and bird populations. Due to its presence in Australia, it is included among the list of the "world's 100 worst invasive species".

For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_fox

Chicks still dependent on parents for food, as they are not too good at hunting yet. Don't see how they eat these japanese beetles, they are as hard as rocks.

There was a time when this was the primary defense of our entire nation. Where the very fabric of our peace lay partially dependent upon this giant piece of metal floating in the ocean slicing through waves, and providing a landing strip for fighter jets, and helicopters. Now this defender lies at rest in the Alameda harbor as a relic of the past. An old defense that's no longer used as it's been rendered obsolete by advancements in technology.

USS Hornet (CV/CVA/CVS-12) was a United States Navy aircraft carrier of the Essex class. Construction started in August 1942. She was originally named USS Kearsarge, but was renamed in honor of the USS Hornet (CV-8), which was lost in October 1942, becoming the eighth ship to bear the name.

Hornet was commissioned in November 1943, and after three months of training joined the U.S. forces in the Pacific War. She played a major part in the Pacific battles of World War II, and also took part in Operation Magic Carpet, returning troops back to the U.S. Following World War II, she served in the Vietnam War, and also played a part in the Apollo program, recovering astronauts as they returned from the Moon.

Hornet was finally decommissioned in 1970. She was eventually designated as both a National Historic Landmark and a California Historical Landmark, and in 1998 she opened to the public as the USS Hornet Museum in Alameda, California.

The British population of Short-eared Owl is boosted in winter by a large influx from Scandinavia and Russia. The breeding population is much smaller and is largely dependent on Short-tailed Field Voles whose numbers fluctuate widely, and the Short-eared Owl population follows the voles' boom and bust cycles. So population estimates range from 2140 breeding pairs in a good year, down to just 610 pairs in a poor vole year. They nest mainly on northern moorlands, including the Peak District where I photographed this one. The deep heather in the background is quite typical of the nesting habitat though they prefer grassy moorland for hunting.

IC 2118 is a reflection nebula in the Orion constellation, around 900 light years from earth.

It’s essentially a large cloud of dust that’s being illuminated by starlight. As such, the colours/tones that we perceive will be largely dependent on the nearby stars. As you can see, there’s a fairly dominant blue’ish tone present. That’s because this nebula is right next to (astronomically speaking) the blue supergiant star Rigel; one of the brightest stars in our night sky and one you’ve no doubt seen before (it makes up the “left leg” of the hunter figure in the Orion constellation).

Setup:

Planewave CDK24

Moravian C3-61000 Pro

Planewave L-600

Image acquisition details:

22x600” Luminance

24x600” Red

24x600” Green

24x600” Blue

www.jochenmaes.com

for a scatterscape ...for Webnesday

Altered Images - Beckoning Strings

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD7ed70Eaic

Your comments and faves are greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

Crimson Rosella

Platycercus elegans

Description: There are several colour forms of the Crimson Rosella. The form it is named for has mostly crimson (red) plumage and bright blue cheeks. The feathers of the back and wing coverts are black broadly edged with red. The flight feathers of the wings have broad blue edges and the tail is blue above and pale blue below and on the outer feathers. Birds from northern Queensland are generally smaller and darker than southern birds. The 'Yellow Rosella' has the crimson areas replaced with light yellow and the tail more greenish. The 'Adelaide Rosella' is intermediate in colour, ranging from yellow with a reddish wash to dark orange. Otherwise, all the forms are similar in pattern. Young Crimson Rosellas have the characteristic blue cheeks, but the remainder of the body plumage is green-olive to yellowish olive (occasionally red in some areas). The young bird gradually attains the adult plumage over a period of 15 months

Similar species: The adult Crimson Rosella is similar to male Australian King-Parrots, but differs by having blue cheeks, shoulders, and tail, a whitish, rather than red, bill and a dark eye. Immature Crimson Rosellas also differ from female and immature King-Parrots by having blue cheeks, a whitish bill and a more yellow-green rather than dark green colouring.

Distribution: There are several populations of the Crimson Rosella. Red (crimson) birds occur in northern Queensland, in southern Queensland to south-eastern South Australia and on Kangaroo Island. Orange birds are restricted to the Flinders Ranges region of South Australia, while yellow ones are found along the Murray, Murrumbidgee and neighbouring rivers (where yellow birds meet red birds they hybridise, producing orange offspring). Red birds have been introduced to Norfolk Island and New Zealand.

Habitat: Throughout its range, the Crimson Rosella is commonly associated with tall eucalypt and wetter forests.

Feeding: Crimson Rosellas are normally encountered in small flocks and are easily attracted to garden seed trays. Once familiar with humans, they will accept hand held food. Natural foods include seeds of eucalypts, grasses and shrubs, as well as insects and some tree blossoms.

Breeding: The Crimson Rosella's nest is a tree hollow, located high in a tree, and lined with wood shavings and dust. The female alone incubates the white eggs, but both sexes care for the young. The chicks remain dependent on their parents for a further 35 days after leaving the nest.

Calls: The Crimson Rosella has a range of calls, the commonest being a two-syllabled "cussik-cussik". It also has a range of harsh screeches and metallic whistles.

Minimum Size: 32cm

Maximum Size: 36cm

Average size: 34cm

Average weight: 129g

Breeding season: September to January

Clutch Size: 4 to 8 (usually 5)

Incubation: 20 days

Nestling Period: 35 days

(Source: www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Platycercus-elegans)

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© Chris Burns 2025

All rights reserved.

This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.

Staying on Playa la Ropa on Zihuatanejo Bay at the Catalina Beach Resort, one is treated to some interesting sunsets dependent on the cloud formation of the day.

And here is one example.

I'm never quite sure what to expect these days as I hop on my bicycle for an evening ride. Riding gives me a much greater appreciation of the space in which I live. Makes me recall having the same feelings in my younger teens as I traversed the streets of my town by bike. I got to know every detail on every street. It's a much more intimate knowledge than you can ever develop driving in a car. Riding the bike, I slow down or stop wherever and whenever I please. I get to know the houses and yards that I pass, and the people I see out walking. It's all quite enriching. And if it stopped there, I would be fully content. But it does not stop there. At any moment, the familiarity of my surroundings can get upended by some jaw-dropping scene or situation. And it's almost always something that I would have been blissfully unaware of had I remained at home. This has become one of my photographer's mantras over the years. I've simply never taken a memorable photo from my easy chair.

The bike ride last evening is a case in point. Routine at first, but as I neared the local cemetery, this incredible sky came into view. For the umpteenth time this summer, I was faced with a scene that seemed completely implausible. One of those moments when I can't completely believe what I am seeing. I rode out into an open area, dismounted, and simply stood and gawked at the sky. Sunsets like this are dependent on the clouds to reflect sunlight even after the sun is below the horizon. It's a highly dynamic process as the clouds move as the sun dips ever lower. The colors actually deepen as the sky darkens. There is always a key moment when everything is in perfect balance. Last evening, this was that moment.

IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened - at Pantanal - Brazil.

Jaguars are mighty cats most easily recognized by the bold rosettes generously spotted across their tawny-colored coats. They have thick, stocky legs and short, round ears. The jaguar has the strongest of all the felines. The name “jaguar” originates from the Tupi and Guarani languages of South America from the word yaguareté, or “true, fierce beast and he who kills in one leap.” The majestic jaguar is a symbol of power for many Latin-American cultures, it represents the power of nature and is seen as the protector of the rainforest. These magnificent cats are distributed from Mexico to Argentina across 18 countries, and Brazil holds around half of the wild jaguars in the world. Their habitats include wet and dry forests, savannahs, and shrublands. Jaguars are strong swimmers and climbers and are dependent on healthy freshwater systems and access to great amounts of territory for survival. www.worldwildlife.org/species/jaguar

Wishing a Peaceful Caturday!

Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated!

© All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission. All rights reserved. Please contact me at thelma.gatuzzo@gmail.com if you intend to buy or use any of my images.

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Proud about the first take of my test series with a amazing 100 year old rodenstock planar 6“x 9“ on 120 ilford ortho80 rollfilm. For me a very impressive process that let me think about what we need and what we have in this digital energie and power dependent time. Regression is true progress✌cheers

The Volks Electric Railway Association (VOLK's) opens on 11th April for the summer season but only from the Pier to the halfway station. The opening of the final part is dependent on the Black Rock Rejuvenation contractors completing the work on all the other crossings and the other crossing gates arriving on time. Meanwhile this one is looking rather cool.

Villaverde de Sandoval, perteneciente al término municipal de Mansilla Mayor, está situada a poco más de 20 km. al sureste de León.

El monasterio de Santa María aparece fue un cenobio masculino de la Orden del Cister.

Abandonadas sus dependencias monásticas por los cistercienses, su iglesia ejerce de parroquia de la zona.

Este monasterio tiene varias fases de construcción, la primera dentro de la denominada arquitectura tardorrománica o de transición al gótico (finales del siglo XII, principios del XIII), abarcaría un proyecto al que pertenece la totalidad de la cabecera, que vemos en la foto.

Exteriormente los tres semicírculos absidales se articulan verticalmente por unas triples columnillas que, arrancando del zócalo, llegan hasta la cornisa, en el central (dividido en siete paños por seis haces de triples columnas) se abre un triple vano, único en los ábsides laterales o absidiolos (que constan de cinco paños generados por cuatro haces de triples columnas.