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As described several days ago, adult Least Bitterns feed their young by gathering baitfish in their gullets and regurgitating the food into the chicks' gaping beaks. Here is how it looks in practice with mama on the right and baby on the left, poking mama's throat to trigger the action.
lights 02.03.2021
at the The Chateau
Most of my flower photos are taken in and around the city of Molde. The second largest city in the county of Møre og Romsdal. It lies along the shores of the Romsdalsfjord in Western Norway.
This charming city has been nicknamed the “City of Roses” since 1913. It boasts incredibly scenic views and surroundings and is filled with beautiful parks and gardens.
"The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae were first described in 1740. "
My Website:
Captured the forest on Borth beach like this back in July 2019, have not managed to see it again quite like this since.
A forest which was buried under water and sand more than 4,500 years ago can be seen on Borth beach in Ceredigion, Cymru/Wales.
The remains of the forests trees, preserved in the local peat, have been exposed by low tides and high winds.
Known as the Sunken Forest or Sunken Kingdom, this graveyard of trees – pine, alder, oak and birch – has been preserved since 1500 BC and surfaced at various points in history, in folktales, songs and legends from the 17th century, that widely identify it with Cantre'r Gwaelod (The Lowland Hundred), an ancient civilization described as a ‘Welsh Atlantis’.
Described as the greatest railway journey in the world, this 84 mile round trip takes you past a list of impressive extremes. Starting near the highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis, it visits Britain’s most westerly mainland railway station, Arisaig; passes close by the deepest freshwater loch in Britain, Loch Morar and the shortest river in Britain, River Morar, finally arriving next to the deepest seawater loch in Europe, Loch Nevis.
Glen Lyon has been described as Scotland’s longest, loneliest and loveliest glen. Stretching for over 30 miles, it was once home to over 2,000 people. Today, the Glen’s residents number fewer than 100.
Follow the Fortingall Way to Fortingall village. Just after the village turn right on to the twisting single track road that runs through the glen. The road is initially hemmed in by high mountains and hugs the wooded banks of the River Lyon. Just after the four-arched Bridge of Lyon you’ll see a deep chasm known as MacGregor’s Leap where, in 1565, the chief of the Clan MacGregor reputedly escaped a group of pursuing Campbell's. This commanding view was taken from the dam over looking the spillway, you can see the single track road that leads you all the way back to Fortingall.
Hard to describe Marley in one word as he is a cat of many words...."happy" is the first thing I think of. He is always posing for me turning upside down with paws curled up in the air looking at me being ever so cute whenever I talk to him.
He walks around the house with tail up most times, purrs whenever he is fed...a sign of a confident and happy cat. He is also the most gentle of cats...I can't recall ever being scratched by him.
Happy Caturday!
Turquoise is used to describe things that are of a light greenish-blue colour. ... a clear turquoise sea.
Spring, also known as springtime, is one of the four temperate seasons, succeeding winter and preceding summer. There are various technical definitions of spring, but local usage of the term varies according to local climate, cultures and customs. When it is spring in the Northern Hemisphere, it is autumn in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. At the spring (or vernal) equinox, days and nights are approximately twelve hours long, with daytime length increasing and nighttime length decreasing as the season progresses.
Lysandra coridon has a wingspan of 30–36 millimetres (1.2–1.4 in).[4] These small butterflies present a sexual dimorphism. This species' physical appearance can be described as males having pale silvery-blue upperside of the wings with a submarginal line of grey spots on the hindwings and a thin brown and white chequered fringe. Females have dark brown upperside of wings, with marginal orange spots and also with chequered fringes.[5] The underside of the wings show a light ochre colouration, several dark spots surrounded by white, a submarginal line of black marks, a series of marginal orange spots on the hindwings and a blue dusting near the body.
As with many blue butterflies, separation from similar species in the field is on the underside markings. Aberrations are common.
These mining bees have been only recently described (Schmidt & Westrich 1993) as a distinct species. Until then, they were confused with another species of Colletes the morphologically very similar, but ecologically distinctive, Colletes halophilus.
The females of Colletes hederae are on average 13 millimetres (0.51 in) long, while the males are about 10 mm (0.39 in) long, significantly larger than the common colletes. The thorax of the adults is covered by dense orange-brown hair, while each abdominal segment has an apical orangey hair-band.
This species is very similar to the closely related heather colletes (Colletes succinctus) and even more to the sea aster mining bee (Colletes halophilus).
The adults emerge late in the year (the males from late August and the females a little later in early September) and remain on the wing until early November. The principal pollen forage plant is ivy (Hedera helix), (hence the specific epithet hederae), but both sexes will also nectar at ivy flowers too. When ivy is scarce, other species of plants are also visited. The females supply the larval brood cells almost exclusively with nectar and pollen of ivy flowers. When ivy flowering is delayed, females may also collect pollen at various members of the Daisy family (Asteraceae).
These are solitary bees and do not live in colonies and do not overwinter as adults. They nest in clay-sandy soils, especially in loess hills and soft-rock cliffs. Like many other solitary bees, they can often be found nesting in dense aggregations, sometimes numbering many tens of thousands of nests. In parts of the west European range of the species, Colletes hederae are frequently parasitized by the larvae of the meloid beetle Stenoria analis, which feed on the supply of nectar and pollen prepared by females bees in their nests.
As an amateur observer, I would describe the formation of beautiful cinnamon-colored fungi on top of a wet dead piece of tree in the Chilean Patagonia as a breathtaking sight. The vivid color of the fungi stands out against the dull and muted tones of the dead tree, making them appear even more vibrant and alive.
The fungi are growing in a cluster, creating an eye-catching display of varying shapes and sizes. Their caps are slightly rounded, with a smooth textured surface. The cinnamon color has a range of hues, from deep brown to lighter orange tones, giving the fungi a warm and earthy look.
As the piece of tree is wet, the fungi might be glistening in the light, with small droplets of water on their surface. This adds to their beauty and gives them a dewy and fresh appearance.
Overall, the formation of these cinnamon-colored fungi on top of the dead tree is a stunning example of the beauty of nature, showcasing the intricate and delicate balance of life and death in the Chilean Patagonia.
20230502_RX_07412_Lago Rosselot
A Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) from Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand County, Colorado.
Also commonly referred to as the Gray Jay, the Canada Jay is a familiar site around campgrounds and picnic areas. The nickname "whiskey jack" is a corruption of Wisakedjak, an important figure in Cree mythology. Wisakedjak is described as a benevolent trickster. Perhaps the jay earned its name through its charming nature and sneaky picnic robbing ways.
It's almost my daily commute. So that's it with the description;). LOL. Hey, luckily you don't have to go to the office that often. ;) For us, the home office was well known even before Covid. But let's get to the photo. Oh, you probably already know that. The strange Alexanderplatz, meanwhile, there is also a lot of building going on here. If politics doesn't get involved again, things could look different here in two to three years. I have to stop myself laughing, hey, the Berliners now have an advantage. Because they know what I mean. It's way too late here again. Enough written. Just discover for yourself and have fun.
james blake — assume form ♫
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EOSR | RF35mm f/1.8 IS STM
Exposure: ƒ/11 | 6″s ISO 50
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I can't describe to you how beautiful this Azure was up close - shimmering a champagne white in the July sun, as it moved its hind wings up & down. A lens just can't quite capture it all. I never knew Azure's could be so showy! It did play on my watch but never made it to my diamond - as the Eastern-tailed blue's once did.
>> Summer azure (Celastrina neglecta) - possibly a fresh one - at a pond in the Georgia mountains, last week (SuperMacro shot)
Happy Butterfly Monday!
There is a historical marker on the road describing this one room school. It reads in part "In 1937, Guy U. Robinson led is neighbors to petition the county for a new common school district, in part to protest high school taxes in Strawn (nearby town). Leo Ankenbauer sol two acres of land to school trustees ... and this schoolhouse was completed in time for classes to begin in September 1937. ... In use only until 1943 when the number of pupils declined to two, Robinson School is a unique reminder of the county's rural education."
I ran across this rural property on a county road out in the middle of nowhere, mixed in with ranch properties. I saw the historical marker and stopped to see what it was about. I might not have even noticed the school on the other side had it not been for the marker. That's what's fun about driving the country roads. You never know what's around the corner.
I actually worked this image 3 times. This is my Camera Raw image (equivalent to Lightroom). I created two other separate images in Topaz Impression, just experimenting and trying to be more creative, but in the end I liked this one best for the crisper colors and image.
Record crowds lined the streets of Manchester to celebrate Chinese New Year and watch the city's famous Dragon Parade in what has been described as the busiest year yet. A huge 175ft long dragon, dancing lions and traditional Geisha artists were among the hundreds of participants in the parade through the city centre.
They were watched by thousands of people who crammed along Oxford Street, Portland Street and through China Town which were all closed to traffic for the celebration on Sunday. Naturally it was the dragon dancers - formed of two parts - that drew the biggest gasps from the hundreds of youngsters lining the streets with their families.
The dragons swept over and around the crowds chasing the "Pearl of Wisdom" - a large globe on a pole which is symbolic of the dragon chasing wisdom and knowledge. Manchester's civic dignitaries earlier bestowed the dragon with red ribbons to usher in good fortune.
2024 is the Lunar Year of the Dragon - which is a symbol of good luck, health and strength in Chinese culture. The reason why dragon dances are performed at the start of the Lunar New Year is because they are believed to chase away evil spirits and welcome in prosperous times.
City centre spokesman Pat Karney hailed it a "record year" for Chinese New Year celebrations saying: "The best ever Chinese New Year Celebrations. Record crowds have been treated to a feast of dance and musical performances and the Dragon had kids in absolute awe."
When I asked her to describe herself, she said " ... gregarious, sensitive, hopeful ..."
Available light was from the kitchen windows. Attempting to get deeper richer tones, I shrank the aperture too much, with ISO 6400 a by-product, and, of course, a lots of noise! I have not tried to clean that up in these images. Instead, I resorted to sepia in two of the shots, resulting in the noise being slightly less obvious.
I find it quite challenging to attend to all the technical necessities while chatting with the subject. But, being housebound now, portrait and bird photography are two horizons for growth I can take on. Am sharing with you my maiden efforts, with all their imperfections. Elizabeth is beautiful and I hope to invite her to sit for me again after I have a little more experience with portrait photography.
Very slow day at Coyote Hills, but this beautiful 'museum' of Cedar Waxwings saved the day. I love that word to describe them.
I was astounded at the water levels at the park today. The water just past the entrance kiosk is very close to the road. Never ever seen it so high!!
After reading about a unique waterfall located within what was described as a slot canyon less than 90 minutes from home, I knew I had to see it for myself.
Directions ended with: "At the end of the trail, follow the manway (unofficial trail) up, around the first waterfall, climb a small rock wall, and hike the remainder of the way to the next falls in the streambed". This translated into: Geezers like me will be sore the next day and will need to make an offering of a full dose of Ibuprofen to the trail gods.
Bailey Falls is located near Greeneville, TN in Cherokee National Forest, past Margarette Falls on the West Fork Dry Creek and is further divided into an upper and lower falls. The lower falls are shown here, with the top of the upper falls visible here as the first drop. The Lower Falls are 20 feet in height and the canyon section surrounding the plunge pool being perhaps 8 feet in width. With the rhododendrons overhanging the canyon from both sides it had a cave-like appearance. What it lacks in size it makes up for in beauty. There is only here. There is only now, and it is good. Off Trail Zen.
Hard to describe the music of 'Petunia & the Vipers’. It's country, it's western swing, jazzy, ballads; simply good time music that leaves smile on your face. The concert just flew by so very quickly. I did not know the band, but one of Toronto most talented musicians got involved and it became a show, which you should not miss. Trombone Charlotte was the Toronto addition. Petunia lured her on their next stop to New Orleans, LA, where her star got even more shine.
'Petunia and the Vipers' was at 'Horseshoe', a Toronto institution since 1947. The leader of the band is amazing guitarist, vocalist and jodelist Petunia (Ron), who ended up playing with 5 strings (or was it just 4?) on last few songs. With Trombone Charlotte on stage playing, singing and off stage dancing, Joseph Abbott on clarinet, sax and guitar, Paul Townsend on drums, Liam McIvor on Fender steel guitar plus the man with a hat, Aaron Harmonsen on bass.
389. Horseshoe P1210279; Taken 2024-Sept 25. Upload 2024-Dec 02.
Izumo was described in the Japanese mythology as Ashihara Nakatsukuni (葦原中国 kingdom in the plain of reeds). The plain is now completely converted to rice paddy.
The Izumo plain is an alluvial land created by rivers that carried soil from the mountain to the south to connect a mountainous off-shore island to the north. Mountains in the distance used to be the island.
There are two blackish lagoons that used to be the sea in the Izumo plain, namely, Shinjiko (宍道湖) and Naka'umi (中海). Matsue City, the capital of Shimane prefecture is located between the two lagoons.
The Heritage Council describes the Mount Gould Police Station thus:
The Mount Gould Police Station opened in the 1880s as a centre for police protection for Murchison pastoralists. In the late 1890s early 1900s, the police were concerned with checking cattle and sheep killing by the local Aboriginals. The buildings consist of the main station, which originally had a separate kitchen, lock-up, stone-lined well and a grave. Iron bars, to which prisoners were chained, are still set in the walls of the lock-up. On 3 June 1987, the restored Mt Gould police station was dedicated to all the pioneers who settled the district.
No mention of the treatment of the First Nations people who were often made to walk in chains to Carnarvon, some 450 kilometres away. Imagine doing this in the summer heat where the temperatures can exceed 40 °C.
Nor any mention of the Wajarri people, who had their own complaints regarding the disruption of water supplies and native wildlife by the pastoralists.
We camped here overnight. It still lingers in my mind, giving me an ill feeling. There is a feeling, a spirit about this place. I was happy to move on early the next morning.
Gascoyne Murchison Outback Pathway Exploration July-August 2020 - #GMOPE 54.
Duckett’s Grove is described by Mark Bence-Jones in his book 'A Guide to Irish Country Houses' "A square house of 2 and three storeys, transformed into a spectacular castellated Gothic fantasy by Thomas A. Cobden … for J. D. Duckett 1830. Numerous towers and turrets, round, square and octagonal; notably a heavily machicolated round tower with a tall octagonal turret growing out of it. The walls enlivened with oriels and many canopied niches sheltering statues; more statues and busts in niches along the battlemented wall joining the house to a massively feudal yard gateway; yet more statues manning the battlements of one of the towers, and disposed around the house on pedestals………. The house was burnt 1933 and is now a ruin. "
Felis serval was first described by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in 1776. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the following serval zoological specimens were described:
Felis constantina proposed by Georg Forster in 1780 was a specimen from the vicinity of Constantine, Algeria.
Felis servalina proposed by William Ogilby in 1839 was based on one serval skin from Sierra Leone with freckle-sized spots.
Felis brachyura proposed by Johann Andreas Wagner in 1841 was also a serval skin from Sierra Leone.
Felis (Serval) togoensis proposed by Paul Matschie in 1893 were two skins and three skulls from Togo.
Felis servalina pantasticta and F. s. liposticta proposed by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1907 were based on one serval from Entebbe in Uganda with a yellowish fur, and one serval skin from Mombasa in Kenya with dusky spots on its belly.
Felis capensis phillipsi proposed by Glover Morrill Allen in 1914 was a skin and a skeleton of an adult male serval from El Garef at the Blue Nile in Sudan.
The generic name Leptailurus was proposed by Nikolai Severtzov in 1858. The serval is the sole member of this genus.
In 1944, Pocock recognised three serval races in North Africa. Three subspecies are recognised as valid since 2017
L. s. serval, the nominate subspecies, in Southern Africa
L. s. constantina in Central and West Africa
L. s. lipostictus in East Africa
Described by auto experts as “the Mona Lisa of American historic automobiles,” it became the first U.S.-built car to win an international auto race when it captured the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup. The Locomobile was aptly named as it was built as strong as any locomotive. It was built for nearly 30 years in Bridgeport, Connecticut. It had a reputation as one of the finest and most carefully built cars ever manufactured in the United States. It was also one of the most luxurious and most prestigious — and the most expensive. Everything about the Locomobile bespoke elegance. Its massive body gleamed with innumerable layers of paint, each hand-rubbed to a gleaming finish.
More here on the car for those interested:
Often described as being "angelic", this specimen is going above and beyond to prove that the species is truely angelic.
White Terns don't make nests instead laying a single egg balanced on a broad, flattish tree limb.
The parents share incubation duties so the egg is never left alone but suspect accidents do happen, particularly in high winds that frequently occur at this location.
Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia
Record crowds lined the streets of Manchester to celebrate Chinese New Year and watch the city's famous Dragon Parade in what has been described as the busiest year yet. A huge 175ft long dragon, dancing lions and traditional Geisha artists were among the hundreds of participants in the parade through the city centre.
They were watched by thousands of people who crammed along Oxford Street, Portland Street and through China Town which were all closed to traffic for the celebration on Sunday. Naturally it was the dragon dancers - formed of two parts - that drew the biggest gasps from the hundreds of youngsters lining the streets with their families.
The dragons swept over and around the crowds chasing the "Pearl of Wisdom" - a large globe on a pole which is symbolic of the dragon chasing wisdom and knowledge. Manchester's civic dignitaries earlier bestowed the dragon with red ribbons to usher in good fortune.
2024 is the Lunar Year of the Dragon - which is a symbol of good luck, health and strength in Chinese culture. The reason why dragon dances are performed at the start of the Lunar New Year is because they are believed to chase away evil spirits and welcome in prosperous times.
City centre spokesman Pat Karney hailed it a "record year" for Chinese New Year celebrations saying: "The best ever Chinese New Year Celebrations. Record crowds have been treated to a feast of dance and musical performances and the Dragon had kids in absolute awe."
Described as "perhaps the most notable wooden Orthodox church in Finland", St Nicholas' Church in Joensuu, the second largest Orthodox parish in Finland after Helsinki, was built in 1887.
It is located at one end of Kirkkokatu (Church Street) - the Lutheran parish church is at the other end.
This species is described as vulnerable:
Red-necked Amazon
(Amazona arausiaca)
Photo taken on the island of Dominica, Lesser Antilles Islands:
A chunky and gregarious resident of wet upland forests; often found in flocks of up to 15 birds. Its green body, bluish head, and orange-red spot on upper chest readily separates this species from the Imperial Parrot, the only other parrot sharing its range, as well as parrot species commonly kept in captivity. The largely blue underwing, often seen in flight, is also distinctive. Calls include a shrill “chur-lu-weeek” with the final note louder and higher pitched, plus a shrill, almost trilled, “cureeek.”
I described a pure natural garden yesterday, and here's another example. Not a plant out of place up in the mountains.
American Bison
The American Bison or simply Bison (Bison bison), also commonly known as the American Buffalo or simply Buffalo, is an American species of Bison that once roamed North America in vast herds. Its historical range, by 9000 BC, is described as the Great Bison Belt, a tract of rich grassland that ran from Alaska to the Gulf of Mexico, east to the Atlantic Seaboard (nearly to the Atlantic tidewater in some areas) as far north as New York and south to Georgia and, according to some sources, further south to Florida, with sightings in North Carolina near Buffalo Ford on the Catawba River as late as 1750. It nearly became extinct by a combination of commercial hunting and slaughter in the 19th century and introduction of bovine diseases from domestic cattle. With a population more than 60 million in the late 18th century, the species was down to just 541 animals by 1889. Recovery efforts expanded in the mid-20th century, with a resurgence to roughly 31,000 wild Bison today, largely restricted to a few national parks and reserves. Through multiple reintroductions, the species is now also freely roaming wild in some regions in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with it also being introduced to Yakutia in Russia.
For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_bison
I can't really begin to describe what the weather has been like here today other than to say we've had Hollywood-style rain and it feels like midnight! Of course, I had planned a high key image for today. I probably should have had a rethink, but I just went for it. Madness!
Anyway, sadly the lack of light has all but robbed my little butterfly brooch of its delicate blue and brown hues. The wings and lower part of the body are saphiret, the thorax is a clear paste and I'm not sure about the eyes. They're either garnet or, probably more likely, red paste. I've become a bit obsessed with saphiret for some reason, but I don't often find anything I can afford. It's a rare type of glass that was produced in the town of Gablonz, Czechoslovakia for a very short time in the early part of the 20th century. The saphirets in this butterfly are particularly pale and delicate, but the colours are definitely there ... when there's some light!
I don't know much about the little pink pot, but I found it a while ago in the Lewes Antiques Flea Market. It's likely also from the early part of the 20th century. My trusty dried Hydrangea flowers are making a welcome return because everything outside is SOGGY. :)
Beautiful. How else can I describe the dawn sunrise this morning. When you have to get up at silly O’ clock which was 3:25 am in the morning I always debate the night before will it be really worth it? I look at my weather apps, I check the tide, I check the sea conditions trying to find something to tell me to stay in bed. The fact I’m checking all this stuff I’m already committed, I will always go for it, and usually the sunrise is not too special. Don’t get me wrong once I’m out at that time regardless of the conditions it the best feeling in the world, I’m always at peace with the world. But this morning was something else, the sunrise could not have been better, it was beautiful. Now all I have to do is get a photo that gives me something back of that morning.
You might describe this LF Faith Dress & Fur Stole as making a provocative statement and intended to make someone feel sexual desire. I don’t know about you, but for me this dress raises the temperature in the room significantly.
Yesterday, being sexy was about particular grooming, tight-fitting clothes and makeup. Today, we understand that being sexy has more to do with a certain je ne sais quoi, an elusive pleasing quality.
Although science has tried to measure what makes a person more appealing, most of us know that attractiveness can’t be boiled down to algorithms. Real sexiness is in the eye of the beholder. Wearing this dress however certainly adds to warming one's eyes, of course.
This sexy Faith Dress Outfit comes with Gown, Fur Stole, and Diamond Panties. It also features a HUD which offers you 10 color choices for the Dress & Stole with 8 colors for the Diamond Panties.
This LF Faith Dress fits Erika, Gen X Classic (+Curvy), Kupra, Legacy, Maitreya Lara (+ Petite), Prima Busty (+ Petite), and Reborn mesh bodies.
You will find this LF Faith Dress exclusively available now at SWANK RENEW YOURSELF JANUARY 2023 EVENT:
Zephyranthes candida was first described by John Lindley in 1823 as Amaryllis candida.
Zephyranthes candida, with common names that include autumn zephyrlily, white windflower and Peruvian swamp lily, is a species of rain lily native to South America including Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil. The species is widely cultivated as an ornamental and reportedly naturalized in many places (South Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, central and southern China, Korea and other).
The Amaryllidaceae include many ornamental garden plants such as daffodils, snowdrops and snowflake, pot plants such as amaryllis and Clivia, and vegetables, such as onions, chives, leeks and garlic. A number of tropical lily-like plants are also sold, such as the belladonna lily, Amazon lily, blood lily (Cape tulip), Cornish lily (Nerine), and the Eurasian winter daffodil, Sternbergia.
Although Prunus tenella, Dwarf Russian Almond, was first scientifically described and renamed from Amygdalus nana in 1801 by August Johann Georg Karl Batsch (1761-1802), it was already well-known in Europe. I don't know from when, but James Sutherland in 1683 was growing it in England; and fine gardener Abraham Munting (1626-1683) of Groningen gave an interesting description in his great work on plants.
Our Almond is notorious for being very bitter. Munting says that bitterness may be mitigated if its roots are watered with kamerloog or cold menschen-water, which is to say: urine.
Regarding the English name Dwarf Russian Almond - you know me - I had to look for some references to Russia. So I found the travel journals of the German zoologist and botanist Peter Simon Pallas (1741-1811). He came into the service in St Petersburg of Catherine II from 1767 onwards. Soon he was on his way to Eastern parts as far as Lake Baikal. Several times in his journal he mentions our Nana, the first time in the region of Bobovnik (Slovenia). Here this Plum is called Calmytskié-orékhi (Kalmuk nut). He writes engagingly that oil pressed from the bitter fruits is good in salads and that a liquor can also be distilled from them. If the gardeners of the Hortus allow me, I might taste a 'prune' when it comes into season.
In any case, here a Comma Hoverfly, Eupeodes sp., has found its way to the pollen of the Prunus flowers. I wonder whether it's bitter.
Christmas is described as a time of peace and joy, but for many, it brings feelings of sadness and abandonment. It is for those that I share this image of a unique tree. For me, it is a symbol of perseverance and hope.
This is an ‘Ohiʻa Lehua tree. It is the most common native endemic tree found in the state of Hawaiʻi, meaning it is found there and nowhere else in the world. Amazingly, it has adapted to grow directly in lava rock. Those who have experienced lava know that its shards are hard and sharp. Nice to look at, lava is inhospitable terrain. But the seeds of the ‘Ohi’a Lehua blow in the wind and settle in cracks in the lava, and find a way to survive, creating beauty along the way..
Hawaiians utilize the hardy tree for building houses, canoes, spears, while the flowers are used in lei and sung about in chant and hula. Flowers are considered sacred to the goddess of lava and volcanic eruptions, Pele.
These trees are home to many native insects and even rare native tree snails! The ʻōhiʻa lehua flowers are an important food source for birds, they sip the nectar from the red blossoms and glean insects in bark and leaves.
There are many versions of a legend about the ʻOhiʻa Lehua tree. One is of a couple who were madly in love- a man named ʻŌhiʻa, and a woman named Lehua. One day the volcano goddess Pele, taking the form of a beautiful woman, saw ʻŌhiʻa and was attracted to him. However ʻŌhiʻa refused Pele because he was in love with Lehua. Pele in her fit and fury, then turned ‘Ōhiʻa into a tree. Lehua, hearing of her lover being gone, asked the gods to turn her into a flower so she could be with him, which they did. To this day, if you pick the lehua blossom from the tree, it is said that it will rain because the two lovers have been separated.
Sparky described this one as the shot of the day which is a bold statement to make for a Shed photo, but it was great to capture recent German arrival and Beacon Rail Leasing liveried 66797 (operated by GB Railfreight).
The Euro shed is seen passing through the idyllic scenery of Barrow-upon-Trent with the 6X44 11.10 Bescot-Toton departmental, the "X-Ray" denoting the inclusion of out of gauge points carriers in the consist.
I can’t describe to you what a welcoming sight this was the night I decided to go exploring at dusk by myself with my camera, after docking near shore whilst on a Murray River houseboat with 10 friends. I’ve never had the best sense of direction, and a few quiet beers during the day didn’t help fine tune that sense at all. No phone reception, only had thongs on my feet (flip flops for our American friends), being devoured by mosquitos and who knows what other little critters in the dark. After a couple of hours lost, the lights of the houseboat were a most welcome sight , a beacon of safety, warmth, beer and friends. Would I do it again? Without a moments hesitation 😉
The 10 of us on the boat were all good friends but started to drift apart. Too much pier pressure I guess. Someone started playing Maroon 5 , which we didn’t think appropriate. Still, whatever floats your boat. Thankfully a near disaster brought us all back together. We went too close to a Bluetooth obstruction, started to sync. Brought back the words the hire guy had told me when I asked do houseboats sink very often? He said usually just once. Had to find a boating equipment sale to fix things up, was quite an oar deal. And one of the guys hurt his tooth, but luckily we found a tooth ferry! But happy to report that friend-ship prevailed and I’m now a recovering aquaholic 😀
Hope everyone is having a good run into Christmas, cheers
Newly described and separated from what is now known as the Eastern Spiny Knob-tailed Gecko (Nephrurus asper). N. eromanga is found west of the Central Queensland "downs" country from south of Mt Isa through Winton and down to about Windorah in the Eromanga basin for which it is named.
This specimen is from Dajarra, Queensland, Australia
No words to describe, Perfect.
He did accidently drop fish to ground. We noticed how precisely he ate head first, rest of fish in contact. Except for a few Talon marks on body.
Someone once described trees as "poems written upon the sky." Exactly!
This tree is another example of a Norfolk Island Pine, and I photographed it while visiting New Zealand. I composed this image while visiting New Zealand. It is a picture of a Norfolk Island Pine, framed by a cloudy sky. Someone once described trees as "poems written upon the sky," and I found this tree to be an example of this. I also consider this tree - its symmetry almost perfect - to be a fine example of 'architecture in nature'.
The Norfolk Island Pine, is not a pine, but rather a member of a related genus. It is found throughout the South Pacific. The first European known to have sighted Norfolk Island was Captain James Cook. In 1774, on his second voyage to the South Pacific in HMS Resolution, Cook noted the presence of large forests of tall, straight trees that appeared to be suitable for use as masts and yards for sailing ships. However, when the island was occupied in 1788 by convicts transported from Britain, it was found that Norfolk Island pine trees were not resilient enough for such use and the idea was abandoned.
In the late 1950s, a trial shipment of Norfolk pine logs was sent to plywood manufacturers in Sydney, New South Wales, with the hope of developing a timber export industry on Norfolk Island. Although the plywood companies reported excellent results, the industry was deemed not sustainable by the Norfolk Island Advisory Council, which decided to reserve timber production for local use. The timber is good for woodturning and, together with the similar Cook pine, is extensively used by Hawaiian artisans.