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“THE WET” AND “THE DRY” IN THE NORTHERN AUSTRALIAN TROPICS
The Northern Tropics of Australia in the Darwin region are described as having only 2 seasons – the “wet season” (or simply “The Wet”) (broadly November to April) and the “dry season” (or simply “The Dry”) (May to October). There is no local designation of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, although it should be noted that some ancient local indigenous calendars describe up to 8 seasons, categorised by not only weather but also flowering and fruiting of edible plants, appearance of migratory animals as food sources, river heights, etc.
While Europeans settled Darwin in the 1860s, indigenous Australians have occupied the area for at between 40,000 and 60,000 years.
In broad terms, the main differences between the Wet and the Dry relate to humidity levels, prevailing wind direction, and (as the names imply) rain, or the absence of rain.
Darwin has no frost, no snow and no hail.
Darwin is also largely flat and unelevated, with few locations exceeding 30 metres above sea level.
Darwin is located 12 degrees south of the equator, in the middle of the cyclone belt.
THE WET – NOVEMBER TO APRIL
During the Wet, temperatures range from a minimum of 27 – 28C overnight (sometimes not dropping below 30C) and 34 – 36C during the day. Humidity levels are in the range of 75 – 95%.
The prevailing monsoon wind direction is from the North West (i.e. from the Timor Sea), except during the frequent storms, which normally come from the South East.
Cyclones (the local name for a typhoon or hurricane) also form during the Wet as part of monsoon trough activity. The wind from a cyclone can come from any direction, depending on the relationship between the cyclone’s eye and the observer’s position.
Rainfall during the Wet approaches 2,000 mm; with the record for a 6 month Wet season period being 3,000 mm.
Sea temperature during the Wet is around 32C.
Towards the end of the wet season there are almost daily storms with strong winds from the south-east, generally late in the late afternoon. These storms are called “knock-em-downs” as they flatten the 2 metre tall native spear grass which covers all uncleared areas. The spear grass will eventually die off and a large proportion of it will burn in dry season grass fires. The spear grass seeds are a staple diet of many finches and parrots. The spear grass re-germinates when the first storms arrive in October or November.
THE DRY – MAY TO OCTOBER
During the Dry, temperatures range from a typical minimum of 20 - 21C overnight (on rare occasions dropping to 16C) and 30 -31C during the day. Humidity levels are in the range of 10 - 30%.
The prevailing wind direction is from the South East (i.e. from the direction of the Great Australian Desert); with an occasional light North West sea breeze rising in the late afternoon.
There is virtually no rain between April and October.
Because of the absence of rain, a high bushfire danger exists throughout the area during the Dry, with the highest risk occurring in August and September, before the next Wet season storms occur. During these months, the humidity is very low and the South East winds are at their strongest – up to 30 knots (around 55 km/hr).
Bushfire smoke blows out to sea and causes spectacular sunset effects.
Taken at Wilderness Safaris' Jacana Camp. Hard to describe the pleasure at waking up to a serene scene like this, before setting out on a boat to explore the Eden that is the Okavango Delta - a verdant watery paradise in the Kalahari ("land of great thirst") desert.
One photo, describing almost every day of March here by the coast. Especially since the corona lockdown, we've had nice and windy weather every day, and lots of birds are back.
After taking this photo in the middle of the month, I bought my new telephoto lens, and have been out photographing birds every day since then.
A wonderful way of forgetting all that happens in our country and the world right now for a moment, and just concentrate on what's in front of you or above you..
My album of birds and nests here.
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Described as "probably the oldest and toughest regular event for old cars, motorcycles and light commercials certainly in Britain". The Beamish Safety and Reliability (Trial) Run is approaching it's 50th year and follows some of the routes used by manufacturers to test the same vehicles when originally built.
Sky processed, as described on 'Golden Crops'. I'll copy it, so you won't have to search:
Technique/Processing
To get a sky like this, you have to duplicate your photo, convert the new layer to b/w (should be very contrasty, so that the blues of the sky are black and the clouds are white, without losing detail), set it to soft light blending mode and then apply a layer mask, so that it only has effect on the sky. I'd also recommend dialing down the opacity to ~50%, because the effect can get too strong.
Colors are simple cross processing with Nik CFX. Can also be done with an action like urban acid.
Black holes are often described as the monsters of the universe—tearing apart stars, consuming anything that comes too close, and holding light captive. Detailed evidence from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, however, shows a black hole in a new light: fostering, rather than suppressing, star formation. Hubble imaging and spectroscopy of the dwarf starburst galaxy Henize 2-10 clearly show a gas outflow stretching from the black hole to a bright star birth region like an umbilical cord, triggering the already dense cloud into forming clusters of stars. Astronomers have previously debated that a dwarf galaxy could have a black hole analogous to the supermassive black holes in larger galaxies. Further study of dwarf galaxies, which have remained small over cosmic time, may shed light on the question of how the first seeds of supermassive black holes formed and evolved over the history of the universe.
This dwarf starburst galaxy Henize 2-10 sparkles with young stars in this Hubble visible-light image. The bright region at the center, surrounded by pink clouds and dark dust lanes, indicates the location of the galaxy's massive black hole and active stellar nurseries.
Credits: NASA, ESA, Z. Schutte (XGI), A. Reines (XGI), A. Pagan (STScI); CC BY 4.0
Twenty-three subspecies are recognized:[3]
Indian black-naped blue monarch (H. a. styani) - (Hartlaub, 1899): Originally described as a separate species in the genus Ficedula, found from India and Nepal to southeast China and Vietnam. The abdomen is whitish in males.
H. a. oberholseri - Stresemann, 1913: Found in Taiwan
H. a. ceylonensis - Sharpe, 1879: Originally described as a separate species, found in Sri Lanka. The males lack the black necklace.
Andamanen black-naped blue monarch (H. a. tytleri) - (Beavan, 1867): Originally described as a separate species in the genus Myiagra. Found in the Andaman Islands. The abdomen of males is blue.
H. a. idiochroa - Oberholser, 1911: Found on Car Nicobar (northern Nicobar Islands). The abdomen of males is white tinged with blue.
H. a. nicobarica - Bianchi, 1907: Found on southern Nicobar Islands. The abdomen of males is white tinged with blue.
H. a. montana - Riley, 1929: Found in northern and central Thailand
H. a. galerita - (Deignan, 1956), 1929: Found in southwest and southeast Thailand
H. a. forrestia - Oberholser, 1911: Found in Mergui Archipelago (off western Myanmar)
H. a. prophata - Oberholser, 1911: Found on Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo
H. a. javana - Chasen & Kloss, 1929: Found on Java and Bali (Indonesia)
H. a. penidae - Meise, 1942: Found on Nusa Penida (near Bali in the Lesser Sundas)
H. a. karimatensis - Chasen & Kloss, 1932: Found on Karimata Island (off western Borneo)
H. a. opisthocyanea - Oberholser, 1911: Found on Anambas Islands (in the South China Sea)
H. a. gigantoptera - Oberholser, 1911: Found on Natuna Besar (Natuna Islands, South China Sea)
H. a. consobrina - Richmond, 1902: Originally described as a separate species, found on Simeulue (off north-western Sumatra)
H. a. leucophila - Oberholser, 1911: Found on Siberut (off western Sumatra)
H. a. richmondi - Oberholser, 1911: Found on Enggano Island (off south-western Sumatra)
H. a. abbotti - Richmond, 1902: Originally described as a separate species, found on Reusam and Babi Islands (off north-western Sumatra)
H. a. symmixta - Stresemann, 1913: Found on western and central Lesser Sundas
Philippine black-naped monarch (H. a. azurea) - (Boddaert, 1783): Also known as the black-capped monarch and Philippine black-naped blue monarch. Found in Philippines (except Camiguin Sur Island)
H. a. aeria - Bangs & Peters, JL, 1927: Originally described as a separate species, found on Maratua Island (off eastern Borneo)
H. a. catarmanensis - Rand & Rabor, 1969: Found on Camiguin Sur Island (southern Philippines)
If I could describe the music that I hear when I image and later edit this location, it would be published and I'd be in a different role...
Dreich. That’s the only word that could ever describe the steel, bitter, relentless, driving rain that pelts off the upright windshield of our Land Rover, as we weave our way along the coastal path that leads to the most westerly point on the British Mainland.
The week has been remarkably sunny and dare I say warm, at our base in Strontian, located at the most easterly point of Loch Sunart, separating the Morvern wilds from the Ardnamurchan Peninsula. We walked in the hills around Strontian one day, then drove over those wilds of Morvern to Lochaline to catch the ferry over to Fishnish another; the Isle of Mull is equally as beautiful and suited for meandering around, taking in the ambience.
Today though we make haste, for our allotted slot at 10:30am at the Ardnamurchan distillery has been shifted earlier to allow my guide enough time to show me around the place before he attends to some rather important duties. I’m chaperoned to the distillery by my father-in-law of last year's electrical lighting fame, affording me the courtesy of any potential drams that may be bestowed upon my eager face. He also loves his Land Rover, so any chance to stretch her legs is reason enough for him.
We’re soon slingshotting around Salen and onwards to Glenbeg, where the road seems to deteriorate further in both width and surface quality - we must work hard for these spoils. A bright white-painted cask end appears indicating there’s one mile left to go before we alight in the stony car park of the Ardnamurchan distillery and visitor centre. We mention it not - this isn’t the first time either of us have been here.
My in-laws visited this place in 2014 just after the distillery opened, enjoying a tour around the only warehouse on site - Warehouse 1 - where the grand sum of four casks had been laid down. A lot has changed since then. I visited in 2022 and in the time since my tour almost a year ago to the day, I too have changed a lot.
I’m nervous. Not because whisky tours make me nervous or because I’m worried I won’t like the whisky, but because I’m hoping to meet the people I’d spent so many months tagging in my Instagram posts and chatting over messages and emails. I guess my nervousness is a poor attempt to mask my desperation that they like me, that I don’t embarrass myself or make them realise I’m a giant fraud.
Last year at this time, the team had assembled at the distillery to blend the 2022 Paul Launois release and I’d been too shy to say hello. It turns out this year they’re doing the exact same thing. Today, in fact.
It’s no secret I'm devoted to the Ardnamurchan way - in fact it’s become a bit of fun for those wanting to tease me about my abject obsession with this place. I’ve spent many hours postulating why the Ardnamurchan distillery resonates so deeply with me, as a person and as a whisky exciter, and over the course of three hours, first in Warehouse 1 then up into the hills, nothing happens to change that. In fact, if you can believe it, my devotion has widened.
We started in the dark, cool climes of Warehouse 1. If you’ve never smelled a whisky warehouse then it's hard to convey the utterly absorbing aroma that greets you upon entry, arriving in waves through your red-hot olfactory machine. It’s easy to spill over into the saccharine romanticism when thinking and speaking about alcohol inside casks plopped inside a building (and oh boy do I fall foul constantly), but it’s undeniably a rather unique place to be. No-one gushes about the alluring aromas of an Amazon warehouse, do they? The difference being that whisky matures inside leaky wooden vessels, and that porosity allows alcohol vapours to find their way into the air circulating around the breezy warehouse and colours the environment with fabulous scents - Angels’ Share is what they call it.
But it’s more than smell - it’s touch and sight too. Casks and their condition are intrinsically linked to the quality and style of maturation and we get to see those variances as we walk along the warehouse. From rough to smooth, bright and clean to looking like a potato that you’ve just dug out the ground; the variety of casks, aesthetically, is quite amazing. If we are so inclined, we can touch the casks, feel their texture and knock on their wooden walls. Sometimes we get to stick our noses inside. There happened to be a cask waiting to get filled, and sniffing through the bung hole the diorama of scents unleashed into my frontal cortex was overwhelming. I managed to blurt out caramel, cherry and vanilla, but in truth it was a million things all at once and making sense of it was impossible - I only wish I could bottle that scent or turn it into a candle.
There’s a tasting element to a warehouse too, and today I was extremely fortunate to be accompanied by 3/5ths of the blending team, who were only too happy to see what was occurring in the warehouse. Drinking whisky decanted, through syphoning via a giant copper straw-like valinch, splashing all over the place before finally finding its way into a glass, surrounded by all this sensory overload is peak whisky for me. The liquid is really cold and viscous. It takes a moment for it to warm up enough in my hand to begin releasing aromas and flavours, but when it does, the mouthfeel, smell, sight and sound of it all is unbeatable. It’s untouched, unfiltered.
It’s been suggested I might soon get to a point where Ardnamurchan stops offering enough to keep my attention, and I’ll start to drift and dabble. Having now tried a number of remarkable whiskies maturing in the cask, from a variety of different cask types, styles, ages and sizes, I have to say I can’t see that happening anytime soon. I kneel down, lower my arms and prepare for the hiss of the blade - perhaps I’m blinkered and naive, or perhaps there’s nothing more to it than simple resonance.
Hmmm. Did you get all that? His words (Dramface) not mine. Landrover, knobbly tyres, type
Described by the RSPB as an omnivore and scavenger. In the garden this magpie seems to have found a store of wasps to eat.
“THE WET” AND “THE DRY” IN THE NORTHERN AUSTRALIAN TROPICS
The Northern Tropics of Australia in the Darwin region are described as having only 2 seasons – the “wet season” (or simply “The Wet”)(broadly November to April) and the “dry season” (or simply “The Dry”) (May to October). There is no local designation of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, although it should be noted that some ancient local indigenous calendars describe up to 8 seasons, categorised by not only weather but also flowering and fruiting of edible plants, appearance of migratory animals as food sources, river heights, etc.
While Europeans settled Darwin in the 1860s, indigenous Australians have occupied the area for at between 40,000 and 60,000 years.
In broad terms, the main differences between the Wet and the Dry relate to humidity levels, prevailing wind direction, and (as the names imply) rain, or the absence of rain.
Darwin has no frost, no snow and no hail.
Darwin is also largely flat and unelevated, with few locations exceeding 30 metres above sea level.
Darwin is located 12 degrees south of the equator, in the middle of the cyclone belt.
THE WET – NOVEMBER TO APRIL
During the Wet, temperatures range from a minimum of 27 – 28C overnight (sometimes not dropping below 30C) and 34 – 36C during the day. Humidity levels are in the range of 75 – 95%.
The prevailing monsoon wind direction is from the North West (i.e. from the Timor Sea), except during the frequent storms, which normally come from the South East.
Cyclones (the local name for a typhoon or hurricane) also form during the Wet as part of monsoon trough activity. The wind from a cyclone can come from any direction, depending on the relationship between the cyclone’s eye and the observer’s position.
Rainfall during the Wet approaches 2,000 mm; with the record for a 6 month Wet season period being 3,000 mm. It should be noted that due to quite obvious climatic changes these totals have not been reached in recent years and this may herald a permanent change to the local climate.
In January 2021 Darwin had 750 mm of rain, about average.
Sea temperature during the Wet is around 32C.
THE DRY – MAY TO OCTOBER
During the Dry, temperatures range from a typical minimum of 20 - 21C overnight (on rare occasions dropping to 16C) and 30 -31C during the day. Humidity levels are in the range of 10 - 30%.
The prevailing wind direction is from the South East (i.e. from the direction of the Great Australian Desert); with an occasional light North West sea breeze rising in the late afternoon.
There is virtually no rain between April and October.
Because of the absence of rain, a high bushfire danger exists throughout the area during the Dry, with the highest risk occurring in August and September, before the next Wet season storms occur. During these months, the humidity is very low and the South East winds are at their strongest – up to 30 knots (around 55 km/hr).
Bushfire smoke blows out to sea and causes spectacular sunset effects.
This album's name is dedicated to my favourite game of all time Elder Scrolls Online and race of all time, The Argonians (reptile humanoids). There's a story for you to read below about some of them towards the bottom.
What does Ku Vastei mean? Read below
By Lights-the-Way, Mystic of the Mages Guild
It is hard to describe the culture of my people. Often my tongue stumbles as I try to explain, but it is my hope that ink and quill will give me time enough to gather my thoughts. And perhaps, though such writing, I will finally connect the parts of me that now feel so divided; my homeland of Murkmire and my new life within the Mages Guild.
These journals are to become my ku-vastei. And, as I write that, I can think of no better topic to begin with.
Ku-vastei roughly translates to "the catalyst of needed change," though such a direct translation in no way does justice to the original meaning. Another translation could be "that which creates the needed pathway for change to occur" or even "the spark which ignites the flame which must come into being."
Perhaps a more direct analysis should be first presented. Ku-vastei is a noun, a thing or person. Vastei directly translates to change, an important part of my culture. Ku is harder to speak of. It is that which leads to change, though not that which creates change. An important role, as stagnation is a fate worse than death.
Take a boulder which sits atop a cliff, teetering in place. It must fall eventually. The ku-vastei does not push the boulder off the cliff; rather, it picks the pebble which holds the rock in place. And so it falls, not by a push, but by a pathway cleared.
Ku-vastei is revered, just as change itself is revered, for to look back at what was means to stumble as you move forward. Sometimes, a little push in the right direction is all someone needs to remember such wisdom. Other times, they may need to be shoved.
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Naka Desh Tribe
by Emmanubeth Hurrent, the Wayfarers' Society of Wayrest
My guide, Names-the-Orchids, took me deep into the swamp to meet a little-known tribe called the Naka-Desh, or Riverbacks. Few Imperials venture far enough into Black Marsh to meet the People of the River, and the Naka-Desh see little benefit in traveling beyond the boundaries of their Hist's roots. For that reason, most perceive them as a secretive and mysterious tribe. This misconception is made all the more amusing by the Riverbacks' boundless hospitality.
We approached the Riverbacks' territory via ferry boats. Our expedition encountered tribal sentries almost immediately. They floated to the surface of the water like turtles or crocodiles. I was struck by the wideness of their faces, the largeness of their eyes, and the broad webs adorning their forearms and throats. The Hist clearly provided the "right skin" for the locale. Riverback territory is more water than land—a drowned marsh navigable by small rafts, canoes, and little else.
Names-the-Orchids greeted them with a series of low croaks. They cheerfully repeated the sound before lifting themselves onto our boat. Neither of the sentries seemed familiar with Cyrodilic, so our guide had to interpret. She told us that the Riverbacks demanded tribute in the form of a riddle before they would grant passage. I detected no threat behind the demand. It seemed like more of an invitation than an order. I've no talent for wordplay, but I shared a children's riddle about doorknobs that practically every Imperial knows. As soon as Names-the-Orchids translated it, the two sentries clapped their hands. One of them pressed his forehead to mine, croaked twice, then both vanished into the water as suddenly as they appeared.
We spent four days among the Riverbacks—all but one of them on rafts fishing. Riverback fishing resembles traditional fishing in name only. Rather than hook and line, the Naka-Desh use large river fish called osheeja gars. Each osheeja is secured by a strange harness and bridle. When the Argonians find an abundant fishing spot, they release the predatory gars and let them snatch up the fish. As soon as an osheeja bites a fish, the Argonians pull their pets to the side of the boat and claim the fish for themselves. I asked Names-the-Orchids how it works. Apparently, the bridle prevents the gar from swallowing. She assured me that the osheejas are well-cared for, though. Until they grow too old, of course, whereupon they too are eaten.
Our time with the Riverbacks was not without frustration. Of all the Argonians I have met, the Naka-Desh were by far the least curious. Other than riddles, they had no appetite for anything we brought. They refused our food, took no particular interest in our tales, and did not even ask for our names. This disinterest combined with their boundless hospitality made most of the expedition uncomfortable. Names-the-Orchids chided us for thinking kindness demands reciprocity. As always, even these small disappointments teach us valuable lessons.
["the tribe is not currently in the game but in the world of the game"]
Enjoying this view with a Florida friend from a roof top:)...
Feeling a sense of Hygge ......described below if you have time to read.
Thank you for stopping by, flickr friends....enjoy the new week wherever you are....Pat....xo
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Hygge (noun)....coziness, wellbeing, warmth...
Hyggelig (adjective)...cozy, snug, friendly.....
Recently, a friend of Richard's and he were discussing what these two Danish words meant.
'The above translations of two Danish words are rather inadequate, and some additional clarification is required.
If a home is described as being hyggelig, it means that it is equipped with well-chosen furniture, ornaments , flowers, candles, etc. (not necessarily expensive), and it gives its owners and visitors alike a general feeling of warmth, comfort and wellbeing.
If we spend a hyggelig evening with our family or friends, it means that we find ourselves in a pleasant environment (in a private home or a restaurant), with a small group of people whose company we enjoy, sharing anything from a cup of coffee or a drink to an elaborate meal. Large parties are not usually considered as being hyggelig.
It's important to note that there's absolutely no relationship between hygge and wealth or budget. Hygge is created by people, not by money. Danish people have a tradition for doing this extremely well, and we're certainly very proud of it.
These words, and the ideas they cover, are so important to us Danes, that we sometimes tend to believe (mistakenly) that we have a monopoly on hygge, as no other language seems to have one single word that covers the entire concept.
Having lived most of our lives (both Hans and Richard) outside Denmark, we're happy to say that we've had the pleasure of encountering various forms of hygge in many different cultures. They just don't seem to have a word for it!'
*****
So yes, we (Richard and I) live hygge whenever someone enters our house be it for a small party, family, or service people to repair something. We have something cool/hot for them to drink and a small snack...always available. They often refuse it but we have an extended conversation that probably would not have happened otherwise.
I'd love to have you describe your form of hygge...
18/52
I can't even begin to describe how incredible this week has been. Aminda and I went to After Dark Education in St. Louis where we learned from only the best. This was from a shoot with Brooke Shaden, whom I have only gained more respect for and learned even more than I thought was possible from one person- about inspiration, creativity, and overall just how to be the best version of yourself. Brooke was not the only one I learned a lot from- we learned from the creative side to the business side of this industry from many other mentors.
I've never been around so many creative and passionate people before- and interested in what I love as well. It was an experience I will never forget and something I desperately needed. I feel re-inspired and am ready to continue creating.
Many ideas have been constructed this week, I'm excited to explore the darker side of photography, since I've had six months of continuing angst, I want to bring that out more in pictures.
I'm more than a little sad to be back in my reality, the swing of work and school continuing tomorrow... if this week has taught me anything, it's the fact that I will never feel in the classroom how I feel when I am learning, shooting and breathing photography. Alive. Happy. Myself.
Yes! Brilliant! That describes all of you! Your photographic skills and hearts behind your incredible work is just that...Brilliant!
Brilliant defined: exceptionally clever or talented. synonyms:bright, intelligent, clever, smart, astute, intellectual; outstanding; impressive. synonyms:superb, glorious, illustrious, impressive, remarkable, exceptional very good, excellent, or marvelous.
Yep! That describes you and your work!
I am so T H A N K F U L for all of you splashing your gifts on me!
A very Blessed and Delightful Thanksgiving to you here in the USA!
I Love You All!
AN ATTITUDE OF GENUINE THANKSGIVING by Charles R. Swindoll
Paul had an attitude of genuine thanksgiving: "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak" (Colossians 4:2-4). Here's a man in his sixties who has been preaching for years asking for prayers for a clearer delivery. There was no pretense with Paul. No degree of success or number of years in the ministry gave him a false sense of ultimate accomplishment. He knew he had not yet arrived. He was convinced his preaching could be improved. And so with a genuinely thankful heart, he entreated his fellow believers for their prayers. Can you see the power of that kind of attitude? Very refreshing.
No wonder the man had such lasting impact for Christ. His secret bled through every one of his letters. He had learned to be content in all things. But we can't leave the ink of these truths to simply sit and dry on the page. We must embrace the same secret for ourselves if we are to have the same lasting impact. Some personal reflection is in order. Let's turn the spotlight away from the man housed in Rome back then and focus it on you and your life, wherever you find yourself right now. Are you making a difference in the lives of those closest to you by the way you respond to your circumstances? Are others inspired by your faith, or are they discouraged by your fears? Are the attitudes of unselfish humility, joyful acceptance, strong determination, and genuine thanksgiving evident in the way you respond to circumstances? Maybe it's time to make some changes. Let's see if I can help.
Start by refusing to let your situation determine your attitude. When your attitude overshadows your situation, transformation really begins. As we saw in Paul, the power to transform stubborn attitudes of fear and bitterness, anger and defeat, comes from Christ. The Lord our God stands ready to pour His strength in you. He alone has the power to deliver you from those relentless foes and send you soaring. Keep an attitude of genuine thanksgiving. Read Acts 16:16-40; Philippians 2:1-18"
"Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever." Psalm 106:1
THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS TO YOU!
Gold Hill has been described as "one of the most romantic sights in England." The daylight image of this view appears on the covers of many books about Dorset and rural England, as well as on chocolate boxes and calendars.
Gold Hill has also been used as a setting for film and television. It appears in the 1967 film version of Thomas Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd. The street is the main setting for the 1973 "Boy on Bike" television advertisement for Hovis bread, which has been voted Britain's favourite advertisement of all time. It was directed by Ridley Scott, and includes the distinctive main theme from the slow movement of Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9. For this reason, the hill is still known to many people as "Hovis Hill". Gold Hill also featured in a recent advert for supermarket Morrisons. The tops of some of the houses along Gold Hill are on the cover of J.K. Rowling's book "The Casual Vacancy". [Wikipedia]
Last year the Boy on Bike (age 58) returned to Shaftesbury for a re-do on an e-bike to promote the bikes!
The black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) is a large, long-legged, long-billed shorebird first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. It is a member of the godwit genus, Limosa. There are four subspecies, all with orange head, neck and chest in breeding plumage and dull grey-brown winter coloration, and distinctive black and white wingbar at all times.
Its breeding range stretches from Iceland through Europe and areas of central Asia. Black-tailed godwits spend (the northern hemisphere) winter in areas as diverse as the Indian subcontinent, Australia, New Zealand, western Europe and west Africa. The species breeds in fens, lake edges, damp meadows, moorlands and bogs and uses estuaries, swamps and floods in (the northern hemisphere) winter; it is more likely to be found inland and on freshwater than the similar bar-tailed godwit. The world population is estimated to be 634,000 to 805,000 birds and is classified as Near Threatened. The black-tailed godwit is the national bird of the Netherlands.
The black-tailed godwit is a large wader with long bill (7.5 to 12 cm (3.0 to 4.7 in) long), neck and legs. During the breeding season, the bill has a yellowish or orange-pink base and dark tip; the base is pink in winter. The legs are dark grey, brown or black. The sexes are similar, but in breeding plumage, they can be separated by the male's brighter, more extensive orange breast, neck and head. In winter, adult black-tailed godwits have a uniform brown-grey breast and upperparts (in contrast to the bar-tailed godwit's streaked back). Juveniles have a pale orange wash to the neck and breast.
In flight, its bold black and white wings and white rump can be seen readily. When on the ground it can be difficult to separate from the similar bar-tailed Godwit, but the black-tailed godwit's longer, straighter bill and longer legs are diagnostic. Black-tailed godwits are similar in body size and shape to bar-taileds, but stand taller.
It measures 42 cm (17 in) from bill to tail with a wingspan of 70–82 cm (28–32 in).[8] Males weight around 280 g (9.9 oz) and females 340 g (12 oz).[12] The female is around 5% larger than the male,[8] with a bill 12–15% longer.
The most common call is a strident weeka weeka weeka.
A study of black-tailed godwits in the Netherlands found a mortality rate of 37.6% in the first year of life, 32% in the second year, and 36.9% thereafter.
They mainly eat invertebrates, but also aquatic plants in winter and on migration. In the breeding season, prey includes beetles, flies, grasshoppers, dragonflies, mayflies, caterpillars, annelid worms and molluscs. Occasionally, fish eggs, frogspawn and tadpoles are eaten. In water, the most common feeding method is to probe vigorously, up to 36 times per minute, and often with the head completely submerged. On land, black-tailed godwits probe into soft ground and also pick prey items from the surface.
In Europe, black-tailed godwits are only hunted in France, with the annual total killed estimated at 6,000 to 8,000 birds. This puts additional pressure on the western European population, and the European Commission has a management plan in place for the species in its member states.
For more information, please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-tailed_godwit
Often described as "Flying balls of fluff" the Long Tailed Tit is a very sociable bird. In Winter the birds will often show as flocks of easily twenty birds arriving at bird feeders. They will also huddle together for warmth at night. During the rest of the year they will feed on insects and invertebrates.
The Long Tailed Tit nest is a work of art. Both male and female work on it over a period of around three weeks. it is made up of moss camouflaged with lichen and bound together with cobweb silk. The inside is lined with lots of feathers. The finished product looks rather like a small sleeping bag! The silk binding allows the nest to expand as the fledglings grow.
The unusually shaped bloom of this plant is best described as “bizarre” or “weird”! A bright red, flattened fan shape is topped by a series of convoluted ridges to form a flower-head composed of hundreds of tiny individual flowers. The bloom is approximately 13 centimetres high, and 12 centimetres wide at the top. The flattened triangular base is about 2 centimetres thick.
Celosias are members of the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae). The particular cut-flower photographed for this article is a cultivar of wild Celosia argenta called “cristata”. Wild celosias are native to the equatorial tropics of Africa, Asia, and South America. The common name for the plant comes from the flower-head’s resemblance to a rooster’s comb. Alternative common names are “feathered amaranth”, “wool-flower”, and “red fox”.
In the closer view below, the small individual flowers growing in the triangular base are just visible. The flowers at the bloom’s base are lighter coloured than those positioned higher up.
The National Churches Trust describes St Mary's in Potterne as a “an Early English church of exceptional purity and austerity.”
A priest, and land held by the Bishop of Salisbury, was recorded at Potterne in Domesday Book of 1086, and in Victorian times, a 10th Century font was found on the site of the present day Church of England parish church of St Mary. It was built in the 13th century and has survived with little change, beyond work to the tower in the 15th century and restoration by Ewan Christian. Pevsner describes it as, “An Early English parish church of exceptional purity and indeed classicity” and linked this to the Bishops’ ownership of the manor.
The church is cruciform, with a substantial tower over the crossing, and original lancet windows. It is built of rubble stone, with ashlar to the upper tower. The south porch was added in the 14th century, and in the 15th the tower was made higher and given an elaborate battlement. Restoration in 1870–2 included re-roofing and the removal of galleries, and the stained glass is from various dates in that century.
From the 11th century, the church had been linked to All Saints at West Lavington as tithes from both churches endowed a prebendary at Salisbury Cathedral. From 1967 the benefice was held in plurality with Worton and since 2017 the parish has been part of the Wellsprings benefice, which extends to Seend, Bulkington and Poulshot.
Potterne is a village with a population of 1,544 (2021), 2 miles/3 km south of the Wiltshire market town of Devizes.
This description incorporates text from the English Wikipedia.
Described as the largest and rarest of the UK's Blue butterflies, this was my first ever Large Blue sighting.
This species was always rare in Britain but the UK race became completely extinct in 1979 and no longer exists.
The re-introduced colonies today are from continental Europe as these are very similar. So far it has been a very successful re-introduction.
Remember everyone, there is a new competition!:
www.flickr.com/groups/ukbutterflies/discuss/7215764486969...
That describes exactly what it's like right now in my neck of the woods! So remember I told y'all I'd buy some flowers and plant them? Well, I went to buy some and am planting them this weekend. I can't wait! I got some tulips, gerberas and am going back for some other flowers I saw that I fell in love with. I just had to wait till today (pay day) haha! Yayyy...
On a sidenote. I think I may be getting a job again. Yep. No worries though, Momma. Sofia will be going to work with me. Does that give you a hint? More details later. Gotta support this photography hobby of mine somehow! haha
*EXPLORED #72, thank you so much for all the lovely comments!*
The first fuchsia to be scientifically described, Fuchsia triphylla,
was discovered on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola
(Haiti and the Dominican Republic) about 1696–1697
by the French Minim friar and botanist, Charles Plumier,
during his third expedition to the Greater Antilles.
He named the new genus after German botanist Leonhart Fuchs.
while researching this flower and wondering what a Minim friar was,
I learned a new word - discalceation -
Discalceation means "removal of footwear".
St. Teresa of Ávila was one of a number of saints of the
Roman Catholic Church who were "discalced" or shoeless.
She and St. John of the Cross were the founders of the Discalced Carmelites.
The origins of discalceation lie in Exodus 3:5, where God tells Moses
"Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground".
well, I'll have to try and use that word today ... :)
Sometimes described as Tudor, this beautiful Grade I-listed gatehouse at Lanhydrock actually dates from 1651, two years after King Charles I was executed. The gatehouse was originally attached to the main house, which had an east range and forecourt walls. Those were demolished in about 1780, leaving the gatehouse free-standing. In 1857, the gatehouse was again attached to the house by the low garden walls, designed by George Gilbert Scott.
Lanhydrock House stands in extensive grounds above the River Fowey almost midway between Bodmin and Lostwithiel. It has been owned and managed by the National Trust since 1953. Much of the present house dates back to late Victorian times when it was rebuilt after a major fire, but some sections date from the 17th century.
Lovaina (Leuven, Louvain, Löwen) es una ciudad de Bélgica, ubicada en la confluencia de los ríos Dijle y Voer. Y capital de la provincia de Brabante Flamenco, en la región de Flandes.
El principal recurso económico de la villa es la universidad, lo que hace que se le conozca desde el barroco como «ciudad de estudiantes y monjas». Y durante el año académico la mayoría de los habitantes del centro son estudiantes.
La Universidad Católica de Lovaina (KU Leuven), fundada en 1425, es una de las más antiguas del mundo, es la más grande de Bélgica y está entre las mejores del mundo. Según el ranking de Reuters, la KU Leuven es la segunda universidad más innovadora de Europa, solo superada por el Imperial College de Londres.
Lovaina es el lugar de nacimiento de varias cervezas como Stella Artois, Leuvense Tripel, Domus y Keizersberg. Y tiene varios bares que se enorgullecen de ofrecer una amplia variedad de cervezas locales e internacionales (uno de ellos presume de ofrecer más de 3.000 cervezas diferentes.
Entre sus monumentos cabe destacar la biblioteca de la universidad, incendiada durante la Primera Guerra Mundial y reconstruida con aportaciones de las universidades estadounidenses. La plaza Mayor o «Grote Markt», con un espléndido Ayuntamiento típico de la arquitectura flamenca. La «Oude Markt», o plaza vieja, centro de la noche universitaria.
Especial atención merece el beaterio o begijnhof o Beguinaje, que la Unesco declaró patrimonio de la humanidad y que es en realidad un viejo monasterio habilitado como colegio mayor de estudiantes.
La iglesia de San Pedro (1425-1500) fue acabada por Jan Keldermans y Matheus de Layens. y hay varias pinturas de los siglos XVII y XVIII, pero la más famosa es la gótica Última cena de Dirk Bouts. Aquí se encuentra la tumba del duque Enrique I de Brabante. Su torre, de 50 metros de altura, estaba pensada para alcanzar los 169 metros, pero nunca se completó, alberga un carillón. Y fue incluida en la lista de la Unesco de «Campanarios de Bélgica y Francia» en 1999.
Leuven or Louvain is the capital and largest city of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located about 25 kilometres (16 miles) east of Brussels. It is the eighth largest city in Belgium, with more than 100,244 inhabitants.
Leuven has been a university city since 1425. This makes it the oldest university city in the Low Countries. KU Leuven, the largest Dutch-speaking university in the world and the largest university in the Low Countries (and thus also Belgium's largest university), has its flagship campus in Leuven.
Leuven is the worldwide headquarters of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the largest beer company in the world and is considered one of the largest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in the world. InBev's Stella Artois brewery and main offices dominate the entire north-eastern part of the town, between the railway station and the canal to Mechelen. Finally, Leuven is the ancestral home of the KBC Group. KBC is one of the leading financial groups in Europe. It is a multi-channel bank-insurance group, with a geographic focus on Belgium and Central Europe, catering mainly to retail clients, SMEs and local midcaps. As one of the largest companies in Belgium and it has its insurance and auto lease HQ in Leuven.
Leuven has a rich beer culture, being the birthplace of several beers such as Stella Artois, Leuvense Tripel, Domus and Keizersberg. It has several bars priding themselves in offering a wide variety of local and international beers, including a bar that claims to offer more than 3000 different beers.
Leuven has a large international student population, mainly concentrated around the city centre. The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven; University of Leuven) has two campuses in the city, with a total of more than 45,000 students as of January 2020. It is the oldest Catholic university still in existence in the world, and the largest university in Belgium. There are also a number of hogescholen (universities of applied sciences), such as the UC Leuven-Limburg (UCLL).
One of Belgium's conservatories is based in Leuven: the Lemmens Institute, which is described as "Faculty of Music, Performing Arts and Education". It is known for its music therapy education and its wordart-drama education. Kunstencentrum STUK is a cultural centre and venue in the city center for music, theatre, sound art, and dance. Leuven holds a summer rock festival, Marktrock. Leuven has some university orchestras, such as the University Symphony Orchestra (USO), the University Symphonic Band (UHO). and the Arenberg Orchestra.
Christ is described at Chora as "Land of the Living"
[Χώρα των ζώντων]
music:
Medieval Byzantine Nativity chant (Kathismata of Christmas).
Title: "Μυστήριο ξένον" (Wondrous Mystery)
Service: Matins of Nativity
Performers: Greek Byzantine Choir
.
.
.
photo:
inner narthex dome with Genealogy of Christ
from the Cycle of Christ's Infancy and Ministry
Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora, Istanbul
www.columbia.edu/cu/wallach/exhibitions/Byzantium/html/bu...
Chora Museum, Chora Monastery (Contantinople)
Μονή της Χώρας, Μουσείο Χώρας, Κωνσταντινούπολη
Kariye Müzesi, Kariye Camii, Kariye Kilisesi, Istanbul
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chora_Church
www.columbia.edu/cu/wallach/exhibitions/Byzantium/
www.byzantium1200.com/chora.html
www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/istanbul-st-savior-in-...
www.doaks.org/library-archives/icfa/moving-image-collecti...
Blue hour after sunset
Blaue Stunde nach Sonnenuntergang
The London Eye, or the Millennium Wheel, is a cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. It is Europe's tallest cantilevered observation wheel, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom with over three million visitors annually. It has made many appearances in popular culture.
The structure is 135 metres (443 ft) tall and the wheel has a diameter of 120 metres (394 ft). When it opened to the public in 2000 it was the world's tallest Ferris wheel. Its height was surpassed by the 140 metres (459 ft) Sun of Moscow in 2022, the 160 metres (525 ft) Star of Nanchang in 2006, the 165 metres (541 ft) Singapore Flyer in 2008, the 167 metres (548 ft) High Roller (Las Vegas) in 2014, and the 250 metres (820 ft) Ain Dubai in 2021. Supported by an A-frame on one side only, unlike these taller examples, the Eye is described by its operators as "the world's tallest cantilevered observation wheel". The Eye offered the highest public viewing point in London until it was superseded by the 245-metre-high (804 ft) observation deck on the 72nd floor of The Shard in early 2013.
The London Eye adjoins the western end of Jubilee Gardens (previously the site of the former Dome of Discovery), on the South Bank of the River Thames between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge beside County Hall, in the London Borough of Lambeth. The nearest tube station is Waterloo.
History
Design and construction
The London Eye was designed by the husband-and-wife team of Julia Barfield and David Marks of Marks Barfield Architects.
Mace was responsible for construction management, with Hollandia as the main steelwork contractor and Tilbury Douglas as the civil contractor. Consulting engineers Tony Gee & Partners designed the foundation works while Beckett Rankine designed the marine works.
Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners assisted The Tussauds Group in obtaining planning and listed building consent to alter the wall on the South Bank of the Thames. They also examined and reported on the implications of a Section 106 agreement attached to the original contract, and also prepared planning and listed building consent applications for the permanent retention of the attraction, which involved the co-ordination of an Environmental Statement and the production of a planning supporting statement detailing the reasons for its retention.
The rim of the Eye is supported by tensioned steel cables and resembles a huge spoked bicycle wheel. The lighting was re-done with LED lighting from Color Kinetics in December 2006 to allow digital control of the lights as opposed to the manual replacement of gels over fluorescent tubes.
The wheel was constructed in sections which were floated up the Thames on barges and assembled lying flat on piled platforms in the river. Once the wheel was complete it was lifted into an upright position by a strand jack system made by Enerpac. It was first raised at 2 degrees per hour until it reached 65 degrees, then left in that position for a week while engineers prepared for the second phase of the lift. The project was European with major components coming from six countries: the steel was supplied from the UK and fabricated in The Netherlands by the Dutch company Hollandia, the cables came from Italy, the bearings came from Germany (FAG/Schaeffler Group), the spindle and hub were cast in the Czech Republic, the capsules were made by Poma in France (and the glass for these came from Italy), and the electrical components from the UK.
Opening
The London Eye was formally opened by the Prime Minister Tony Blair on 31 December 1999, but did not open to the paying public until 9 March 2000 because of a capsule clutch problem.
The London Eye was originally intended as a temporary attraction, with a five-year lease. In December 2001, operators submitted an application to Lambeth Council to give the London Eye permanent status, and the application was granted in July 2002.
On 5 June 2008 it was announced that 30 million people had ridden the London Eye since it opened.
Passenger capsules
The wheel's 32 sealed and air-conditioned ovoidal passenger capsules, designed and supplied by Poma, are attached to the external circumference of the wheel and rotated by electric motors. The capsules are numbered from 1 to 33, excluding number 13 for superstitious reasons. Each of the 10-tonne (11-short-ton) capsules represents one of the London Boroughs,[25] and holds up to 25 people, who are free to walk around inside the capsule, though seating is provided. The wheel rotates at 26 cm (10 in) per second (about 0.9 km/h or 0.6 mph) so that one revolution takes about 30 minutes, giving a theoretical capacity of 1,600 passengers per hour. It does not usually stop to take on passengers; the rotation rate is slow enough to allow passengers to walk on and off the moving capsules at ground level. It is stopped to allow disabled or elderly passengers time to embark and disembark safely.
In 2009 the first stage of a £12.5 million capsule upgrade began. Each capsule was taken down and floated down the river to Tilbury Docks in Essex.
On 2 June 2013 a passenger capsule was named the Coronation Capsule to mark the 60th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
In March 2020, the London Eye celebrated its 20th birthday by turning several of its pods into experiences themed around London. The experiences included a pub in a capsule, a west end theatre pod and a garden party with flower arrangements to represent the eight London Royal parks.
Ownership and branding
Marks Barfield (the lead architects), The Tussauds Group, and British Airways were the original owners of the London Eye. Tussauds bought out British Airways' stake in 2005 and then Marks Barfield's stake in 2006 to become sole owner.
In May 2007, the Blackstone Group purchased The Tussauds Group which was then the owner of the Eye; Tussauds was merged with Blackstone's Merlin Entertainments and disappeared as an entity. British Airways continued its brand association, but from the beginning of 2008 the name British Airways was dropped from the logo.
On 12 August 2009, the London Eye saw another rebrand, this time being called "The Merlin Entertainments London Eye". A refurbished ticket hall and 4D cinema experience were designed by architect Kay Elliott working with project designer Craig Sciba, and Simex-Iwerks as the 4D theatre hardware specialists. The film was written and directed by Julian Napier and produced by Phil Streather.
In January 2011, a lighting-up ceremony marked the start of a three-year deal between EDF Energy and Merlin Entertainments.
Coca-Cola began to sponsor the London Eye from January 2015. On the day the sponsorship was announced the London Eye was lit in red.
In February 2020, lastminute.com replaced Coca-Cola as the sponsor.[50] Grammy Award-winning singer Meghan Trainor performed at the launch party on a boat overlooking the London Eye.
In March 2020, the wheel was illuminated blue every Thursday at 8pm in support of the National Health Service as part of the ‘Clap for our Carers’ campaign created during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Financial difficulties
On 20 May 2005, there were reports of a leaked letter showing that the South Bank Centre (SBC)—owners of part of the land on which the struts of the Eye are located—had served a notice to quit on the attraction along with a demand for an increase in rent from £64,000 per year to £2.5 million, which the operators rejected as unaffordable.
On 25 May 2005, London mayor Ken Livingstone vowed that the landmark would remain in London. He also pledged that if the dispute was not resolved he would use his powers to ask the London Development Agency to issue a compulsory purchase order. The land in question is a small part of the Jubilee Gardens, which was given to the SBC for £1 when the Greater London Council was broken up.
The South Bank Centre and the British Airways London Eye agreed on a 25-year lease on 8 February 2006 after a judicial review over the rent dispute. The lease agreement meant that the South Bank Centre, a publicly funded charity, would receive at least £500,000 a year from the attraction, the status of which is secured for the foreseeable future. Tussauds also announced the acquisition of the entire one-third interests of British Airways and Marks Barfield in the Eye as well as the outstanding debt to BA. These agreements gave Tussauds 100% ownership and resolved the debt from the Eye's construction loan from British Airways, which stood at more than £150 million by mid-2005 and had been charging an interest rate of 25% per annum.
Critical reception
Sir Richard Rogers, winner of the 2007 Pritzker Architecture Prize, wrote of the London Eye in a book about the project:
The Eye has done for London what the Eiffel Tower did for Paris, which is to give it a symbol and to let people climb above the city and look back down on it. Not just specialists or rich people, but everybody. That's the beauty of it: it is public and accessible, and it is in a great position at the heart of London.
Big City Review wrote that:
If you're an amateur or professional photographer, the London Eye delivers the chance to get breathtaking photos of the city of London. The ride moves so slow which enables one to have ample opportunity to shoot photos and video from all angles. When your done shooting your photos, the ride's slow speed lets you just sit back and take in the incredible views of London. From the time your carriage reaches the highest point your breath will have been take away. That is why the London Eye is worth visiting.
Transport links
The nearest London Underground station is Waterloo, although Charing Cross, Embankment, and Westminster are also within easy walking distance.
Connection with National Rail services is made at London Waterloo station and London Waterloo East station.
London River Services operated by Thames Clippers and City Cruises stop at the London Eye Pier.
(Wikipedia)
Das London Eye (englisch „Auge von London“), auch bekannt unter der Bezeichnung Millennium Wheel, ist mit einer Höhe von 135 Metern seit 2022 das zweithöchste Riesenrad Europas. Es steht im Zentrum von London am Südufer der Themse im London Borough of Lambeth nahe der Westminster Bridge und gilt als eines der Wahrzeichen der britischen Hauptstadt.
Baubeginn des Riesenrades war 1998. Am 10. Oktober 1999 wurde die Konstruktion aufgerichtet. Die Eröffnung für Besucher verzögerte sich wegen technischer Probleme bis zum 9. März 2000. Das London Eye sollte ursprünglich nur etwa fünf Jahre betrieben werden; angesichts des großen Erfolges wurde dies verworfen. Bis zum 10. September 2022 war es das höchste Riesenrad Europas, bis in Moskau das 140 m hohe Riesenrad Sonne von Moskau eröffnet wurde.
Merkmale
Das London Eye besitzt 32 bodentief verglaste und klimatisierte Gondeln, in denen jeweils 25 bis 28 Personen Platz finden.[5] Die Gondeln sind horizontal verlängerte Rotationsellipsoide. Sie sind von je zwei fest im Riesenrad montierten Kreisringen umgeben und in ihnen um ihre horizontale Achse drehbar gelagert (s. unten stehendes erstes und zweites Bild). Wegen ihres tiefen Schwerpunktes drehen sie sich darin so, dass der Gondelboden immer waagerecht bleibt.
Die Gondeln befinden sich außerhalb des Rades, was eine fast uneingeschränkte Panorama-Aussicht ermöglicht. Ihre Umfangsgeschwindigkeit ist 0,26 m/s (knapp 1 km/h). Ein Umlauf dauert fast ½ Stunde.[6] Durch die geringe Geschwindigkeit wird der Fahrgastwechsel während der Fahrt möglich, so dass das Rad nur anhält, um u. a. Rollstuhlfahrern den Einstieg zu ermöglichen. Der Antrieb des Radkranzes erfolgt an beiden Seiten durch insgesamt 16 Reibräder (siehe ein Reibrad in unten stehendem dritten Bild): 8 pro Seite, zu je 2 Gruppen à 4 Stück zusammengefasst.
Bei guter Fernsicht kann man vom Riesenrad aus bis zu 40 km weit sehen, unter anderem bis zum etwas außerhalb Londons gelegenen Schloss Windsor.
Planung und Bau
Das Riesenrad wurde von den Architekten David Marks und Julia Barfield entworfen. Tragwerksplaner war John Roberts, der auch später mit Marks Barfield beim British Airways i360 Aussichtsturm in Brighton zusammenarbeitete. Marks und Barfield hatten versucht, nach dem Erfolg des London Eye die Idee an weitere Städte zu verkaufen; sie erwies sich aber als zu teuer, weshalb sie als kostengünstigere Alternative den Aussichtsturm i360 entwarfen. Für das London Eye war ursprünglich Arup als Ingenieursfirma eingebunden. Diese stieg jedoch aus, als das Unternehmen Mitsubishi, mit dem sie verbunden war, sich zurückzog. Das Design der Gondeln stammt von Nick Bailey; das niederländische Stahlbau-Unternehmen Hollandia baute sie. Die Drehachse und die einseitige, schräge Stütze aus Rohren und Spannelementen wurden von der tschechischen Maschinenbaufirma Škoda geliefert. FAG Kugelfischer entwickelte und baute in Schweinfurt das riesige Pendelrollenlager an der Nabe. Die Kapseln und das Stabilisations-System stammen von der französischen Firma Sigma. Der Antrieb wurde von Bosch Rexroth geliefert. Am 10. September 1999 versuchte das niederländische Spezialunternehmen Smit-Tak mit einem der größten Schwimmkräne der Welt, das liegend zusammengebaute Rad des London Eye aufzurichten, doch der Versuch schlug fehl. Erst einen Monat später konnte das Rad zunächst um 60 Grad aufgerichtet werden. Es dauerte eine weitere Woche, um es in seine endgültige Position zu heben.
Betreiber
Die Merlin Entertainments Group besitzt und betreibt das Riesenrad. Sponsor seit Februar 2020 ist die Online-Reisesuchmaschine lastminute.com.[10] Zuvor waren von 2011 bis Ende 2014 EDF Energy und von 2015 bis Ende Januar 2020 Coca-Cola die Sponsoren. Bei der Eröffnung 2000 gehörte es noch der Tussauds Group, British Airways und der Architektenfamilie Marks Barfield gemeinsam. Tussaud kaufte 2006 die Anteile der anderen Eigentümer und wurde 2007 dann selbst von Merlin übernommen.
Einordnung
Das London Eye ist das sechstgrößte Riesenrad der Welt. Bis zum 4. Januar 2006 war es das höchste Riesenrad der Welt, wurde aber dann durch das 160 Meter hohe Riesenrad „Stern von Nanchang“ in Nanchang, China, abgelöst, das wiederum mit der Eröffnung des Singapore Flyer am 1. März 2008 als damals größtes Riesenrad der Welt ersetzt wurde (siehe auch Dubai Wheel). In der Zeit zwischen 2014 und 2021 war der High Roller in Las Vegas das größte Riesenrad, welches im Oktober 2021 vom 260 Meter hohen Ain Dubai abgelöst wurde.
Bis zum 10. September 2022 war es außerdem das größte Riesenrad Europas, wurde aber durch das 140 Meter hohe Riesenrad „Sonne von Moskau“ in Moskau, Russland abgelöst.
Zur Kolonialausstellung Empire of India Exhibition stand von 1895 bis 1907 im Earls Court Exhibition Centre das Great Wheel, das mit 94 Meter bis zum Bau des Riesenrades in Paris im Jahr 1900 das höchste Riesenrad der Welt war.
(Wikipedia)
"Some books describe the process of metamorphosis as one in which the larva "turns to liquid" and is then completely reorganized into an adult. Nothing could be farther from the truth. As described in the larval development section, many of the adult features begin forming in the larva. However, an immobile pupa stage is required when the larval and adult forms are as different as they are in monarchs. The most dramatic changes that occur in the pupa are the growth of the wings and the development of flight muscles. These things could not occur in an active larva."
from Univ. of Minnesota Monarch Lab, monarchlab.org/biology-and-research/biology-and-natural-h...
Monarch_cat-0725-sc02
Ludlow was described by the poet Sir John Betjeman as "probably the loveliest town in England". The delightful small market town is 28 miles south of Shrewsbury and is near the confluence of the rivers Corve and Teme. The oldest part is the medieval walled town, founded in the late 11th century after the Norman conquest of England. It is centred on a small hill which lies on the eastern bank of a bend of the River Teme. Atop this hill is Ludlow Castle and the parish church, St Laurence's, the largest in the county. From there the streets slope downward to the River Teme, and northward (as here) toward the River Corve. The town is in a sheltered spot beneath Mortimer Forest and the Clee Hills, which are clearly visible from the town. Ludlow has nearly 500 listed buildings, which include some fine examples of medieval and Tudor-style half-timbered buildings. According to British Listed Buildings, the Grade II-listed Bull Hotel on the left has an 18th century front to what is probably a 16th century core.
Old Havana (Spanish: La Habana Vieja) describes the central area of the original city of Havana, Cuba. Havana is a city of great architectural character, containing many treasures from the city's long and colorful history. Old Havana and its fortifications were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
Spanish colonial structures, Baroque churches, and buildings in Neoclassic style fill Old Havanas narrow streets and alleyways. Although many of these historic treasures fell into ruin in the latter half of the twentieth century following the Cuban Revolution, many are restored. As part of the World Heritage Site program, they will be preserved and this legacy will be passed on to future generations.
Older Self Portrait.
_____________________
How do I describe these feelings that I've been feeling these past couple of days?
...Like I am drowning.
Overwhelmed. Drowning in sorrows, worries, emotions & pain.
I'm not 100% sure how to make the pain stop.. It's ripping my heart apart.
______
-First, I missed 2 calls from my Aunt on messenger. Then later on this past Saturday evening I got a message from her.. it said, "In hospital with congestive heart failure, been here for 5 days, already, loveyas".
Haven't really spoken to her much since, I believe that she is unable to type. She hasn't called back.. I wish she would. & I have no way to contact her. Then I'm getting more news.. that she's doing worse. And, my heart and mind is racing.. I'm so so worried.. and praying so hard. I just want her to be okay.. I'm praying so hard. Please, I'm begging you all - please say prayers for my Aunt Diane.. (God Mother).. She means so much to me.. And I can't stand that she's going thru this and she's so alone. I'm sure Jack is with her, (I HOPE) - Jack is her other half. But I know that with covid-19, is hospitals, sometimes you cannot have visitors.. So I'm just praying that she's not alone. I'm trying to get her to reach back out to me on messenger.. She's rarely on and when she is.. She's silent. I've heard a couple of things here and there thru family members.. but we're all trying to figure out what's going on. Please just say a prayer or two tonight.. and tomorrow for my Aunt. She's so IMPORTANT TO ME.
-THEN, A couple of days ago, a friend of mine in recovery died. I found out yesterday. When I read a post about it on Facebook, I gasped/yelled so loud in the passenger seat of the car that I scared Juan (my fiancé who was driving) so bad. He was upset that I scared him so bad, but it was unintentional. When he heard what happened, he stopped being upset with me. (I probably almost caused an accident, to be honest.) But, as the shock of everything wears off.. I'm on and off crying. Not to mention the fact that I had a disagreement on Facebook because of a photo I posted of her, in my post. I took the photo down, and apologized. But long story short, I was upset.. and I blocked the person who was a mutual friend & messaged me yelling. I don't even want to get into it.. but that was an upsetting thing last night. It's over, but she remains blocked. I'm sure that we are just both hurting in our own ways, but there's no reason to make things worse by arguing or starting drama.. so I'm just not talking to anyone about it. And I'm done dwelling on it.
We're all very upset about it.. She had quite a few years clean and she was doing VERY WELL. She looked so great.. and she was the kind of person that you look at in recovery and you're so proud of.. and look up to! Not to mention the fact that this girl was such a BEAUTIFUL SOUL.
If you took the time to read what people had to say about her, you would see that there wasn't one bad thing anyone could ever think up. They all said the same things...
- She was so happy/positive/loving and bubbly.
-She never had one bad thing to say about anything and never EVER passed judgement on ANYONE!
-She always went out of her way to listen to everyone's worries.. and make sure that EVERYONE (including strangers) always felt super comfortable, important and happy.
-She was one of those people that everyone just loved to be around.. A smiling face, always.. that you'll always see and never forget - when you hear her name.
-A ball of radiance that was always able to make even the saddest person SMILE & always was there to comfort and give love and a shoulder to everyone she met.
-Jamie was a true walking angel on earth.
..So I guess GOD really needed another amazing angel to stand beside him in the kingdom of heaven.
---
All of this was so unexpected and heartbreaking for everyone who has ever even so much as met this girl.
I met her in jail (4 months), rehab (6 months) & halfway house (3 months) = 13 months we lived together.. and transitioned thru the system together. She was someone who always made me feel comfortable during this long and scary process.
I remember when I walked into rehab in Atlantic City, New Jersey.. I was happy to be out of jail.. and nervous at the same time.. Worried and had anxiety.. I didn't think that I knew anyone there.. but I knew that Jamie was there somewhere.. and I kept looking for her. I was in the back room eating a hotdog that an aid brought over from the cafeteria to the house.. and I was sitting in the back living area while they checked me in and looked thru my items.. And all of the women of the house (about 28 women) all came walking into the back room where I was to wait for their cigarettes.. it was after lunch & time for a cigarette break. I really really wanted a cigarette & Juan hadn't yet dropped off my stuff so I didn't have my own cigarettes there yet. Then I heard Jamie's super friendly voice holler to me, "JESS!!" She came running and hugged me. She introduced me to everyone and handed me a cigarette - knowing I just came in and didn't have any yet.
She was always giving people cigarettes there, which is crazy because you only get 5 a day.. 4 packs a month I think it was.. and you really can't afford to give them out.. (they put limits on everything including what you could have dropped off, etc) So anyway, I remember the counslers coming to her and listerally telling her that because she was SO NICE & always giving away her cigarettes.. that she wasn't allowed anymore to give them out. They had to put a stop to it.. because she wouldn't tell someone no.. and she was giving out like 6 per cigarette break.. or more. That's 5 for her a day.. and usually OVER 1 PACK TO OTHER PEOPLE a day.. So the people in charge put a stop to it. Because she was so nice.
& It wasn't that she couldn't say no, she just wouldn't.
People didn't even have to ask, she offered.
She was like that with everything. & Anything.
She always went out of her way to make people laugh and smile.
I have memories of us laughing so hard some of us peed ourselves.. and the thought of those memories that I WON'T get into, make me giggle sooo bad.
I also remember her laying on my bedroom floor and my roommates ironing her hair ( we didn't have straighteners). And talking into the evening..
& Now all I have are a BUNCH of fantastic memories that just make my heart smile.. every time I think about them .. So, I'm not going to think about her and cry.. I'm going to think about her and smile. She wouldn't want us to dwell and cry.. She'd want us all to smile.
RIP Jamie. My beautiful friend/angel on earth/& ANGEL IN HEAVEN NOW.
I've never used the term spike to describe a moose like i have with young male deer and elk, but it seems appropriate in this case. We had been fishing in one of my absolute favorite streams, Big Blue Creek near the Big Blue Wilderness area in southwestern Colorado. In this small stream are brookies, browns and rainbows that readily take both dry flies and small nymphs. The scenery is breathtaking and is fairly easy to get to.
After spending the day on the stream, I headed back to the jeep to sit and reflect while I waited for my fishing buddies to return. There had been a couple of other vehicles in the area and when one came up the gravel road, the driver rolled down his window and said "Hey, did you see the moose?" I said no and quickly grabbed my camera out of the jeep. After walking towards the moose I started shooting from a distance, taking care not to spook them (there was a cow in addition to this bull). The couple in the car sat and watched from inside their vehicle. They asked if I wanted to hop in and said they would drive closer. Of course I said yes and we drove up a bit with me shooting out the back window. We had a pleasant conversation as we watched and took photos. A great way to top off the day!
Thanks for your views and comments!
The genus Grevillea was first formally described in 1809 by Joseph Knight from an unpublished manuscript by Robert Brown. Knight gave the spelling Grevillia, corrected by Brown in 1810 to Grevillea in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. The genus was named in honour of Charles Francis Greville, an 18th-century patron of botany and co-founder of the Royal Horticultural Society.
There are over 350 species which are endemic to Australia. Five other species are endemic to areas outside Australia. Three of these (G. exul, G. gillivrayi, and G. meisneri) are endemic to New Caledonia, while G. elbertii and G. papuana are endemic to Sulawesi and New Guinea respectively. Two other species, G. baileyana and G. glauca, occur in both New Guinea and Queensland.
(Source: Wikipedia)
photo rights reserved by B℮n
Bosnia and Herzegovina often known informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe, located within the Balkans. Sarajevo is the capital and largest city. Bosnia is not entirely a landlocked country as it may appear on a map – to the south it has a narrow coast on the Adriatic Sea long and surrounds the town of Neum. Many people still associate the country with the break-up of Yugoslavia in the heartbreaking civil war of the 1990's. The scars from that time are all still visible. But today's tourist are likely to remember the country for its friendly, modest and warm people. The country has turned into an exciting and versatile travel destination, with beautiful mountains, numerous medieval castle ruins, seven major rivers, impressive waterfalls. Overall, nearly 50% of Bosnia is forested. A country where Eastern and Western civilizations have met over the centuries. Today integration into the European Union is one of the main political objectives of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The local currency is the Bosnian mark. The euro is also accepted. Islam is the majority faith in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also Orthodox Christianity, and Roman Catholicism are all present. The wild and unspoilt nature makes it an ideal place for both adventurers and nature lovers. Koćuša waterfall is situated in Veljaci village and it's one of the most beautiful nature pearls of this part of Herzegovina.
Koćuša Waterfall impresses firstly because of its length. It is more than fifty meters wide, which with five meters of height slopes, makes an imposing water slide. But numbers can’t describe you the real feel when you stand in front of it. Trebižat River is full of waterfalls. Actually, this river has 9 different names, and it changes them through its course. Before this waterfall the river is called Mlade and after it the river becomes Trebižat. On high temperatures, waterfall Koćuša is an ideal place for a rest and pleasant atmosphere. Beside waterfall, numerous visitors can be thrilled with ambundant wildlife of this untouched nature. Ducks enjoying the fresh water of the waterfall. The beautiful demoiselle is a European damselfly. It is often found along fast-flowing waters where it is most at home. Male demoiselle have a blue color.
Bosnië en Herzegovina informeel bekend als Bosnië, is een land in Zuidoost-Europa, gelegen op de Balkan. Sarajevo is de hoofdstad en de grootste stad. Veel mensen associëren het land nog steeds met het uiteenvallen van Joegoslavië in de hartverscheurende burgeroorlog van de jaren negentig. De littekens uit die tijd zijn allemaal nog zichtbaar. Maar de toerist van vandaag de dag zal het land waarschijnlijk herinneren vanwege zijn vriendelijke, bescheiden en warme mensen. Het land is een opwindende en veelzijdige reisbestemming geworden, met prachtige bergen, talloze middeleeuwse kasteelruïnes, zeven grote rivieren, indrukwekkende watervallen. In totaal is bijna 50% van Bosnië bebost. Een land waar oosterse en westerse beschavingen elkaar door de eeuwen heen hebben ontmoet. De wilde en ongerepte natuur maakt het een ideale plek voor zowel avonturiers als natuurliefhebbers. De Koćuša-waterval ligt in het dorp Veljaci en het is één van de mooiste natuurparels van dit deel van Herzegovina. De Koćuša-waterval maakt in de eerste plaats indruk vanwege zijn lengte. Het is meer dan vijftig meter breed en maakt met vijf meter hoge hellingen een imposante waterglijbaan. Maar cijfers kunnen u niet het echte gevoel beschrijven als u ervoor staat. Trebižat River staat vol met watervallen. Eigenlijk heeft deze rivier 9 verschillende namen en verandert deze door zijn loop. Voor deze waterval heet de rivier Mlade en daarna wordt de rivier Trebižat. Bij hoge temperaturen kan de waterval Koćuša een ideale plek zijn voor rust en een aangename sfeer. Naast de waterval kunnen talloze bezoekers enthousiast zijn over de overvloed aan wilde dieren van deze ongerepte natuur. Eenden genieten van het frisse water van de waterval. De prachtige bosbeekjuffer is een Europese waterjuffer. Ze worden vaak gevonden langs snelstromende wateren waar het het meest thuis is. Mannelijke bosbeekjuffers hebben een blauwe kleur.
Vintage Buster Brown Mary Janes made for a stylish young lady, these vintage shoes were found in North Carolina and may bring back memories for some of you, if not you missed a lot.
Wiki: "Buster Brown was a comic strip character created in 1902 by Richard F. Outcault. Adopted as the mascot of the Brown Shoe Company in 1904, Buster Brown, his sweetheart Mary Jane, and his dog Tige, an American Pit Bull Terrier, were well-known to the American public in the early 20th century. The character's name was also used to describe a popular style of suit for young boys, the Buster Brown suit, that echoed his own outfit"
Described as having all the aesthetic beauty of a suitcase, the Lightning was the Spitfire of its generation and what it lacked in the latters poise and purebred design, it more than made up for in being one of the best all-weather interceptors of all time.
2020 is hard to describe. Perhaps the less said about it the better. It was certainly not the way we anticipated it would turn out this time last year. If we take a golfing metaphor, we've gone from aiming at the flag to landing in the water. After taking a penalty shot (lock downs?), we find ourselves stuck in the sand trap. Will next year see us on the green? We can't be sure.
The best we can do is wish each other well, work together to assist where we can and hope that in the end all will be well. At least that gives us some promise of a better 2021. I'll wish you a Happy New Year tomorrow. For the moment we can reflect on where we find ourselves.
As an amateur photographer, whose photographic skills have been described by an eminent friend and photographer as ‘sure as the earth is flat, the man can take an awesome image’, I am not always sure what to shoot. Do I go for that iconic spot or shoot something that hasn’t yet set the internet on fire? Like the rest of you outstanding landscape photographers, do I wait for that amazing light or keep shooting in the current bland light cursing all the while in Kodak chrome color? Do I pay attention to rules of photography and expectations of the human mind like a trained artist or do I shoot that Hilly Billy wind blowing over nothing? You see, it is never clear to me, what my role as a photographer exactly is.
But that is not the whole truth. I may not always know what to shoot, but I know what not to miss. Sometimes, certain moments in certain places emit a resonance that shiver my emotions and move me. These snippets of time and space are not always iconic, may not always have the best light or photographic contours, but they leave me speechless and strikingly alive. The Mono Lake dead bush, the dead dream atop the Watson Lake, the Grand Canyon Redwall lime-stone set ablaze by the setting sun, the moon shining through the smoky Yosemite tunnel, or, the milky way caressing Mt. Lassen in utter darkness... these are good examples of such extraordinary resonances. They are like eye-contacts with beautiful strangers that somehow drum up the heartbeat while lasting past that critical fourth second.
And then, there are eye contacts with glamorous eyes where it takes a few second to see past the initial bedazzlement and spot their turbulent and covert pain. The above place – hidden next to a beautiful wash in the Valley of Fire State Park – is one such siren that allured me in with its mind-numbing colors, lines and beauty. After a steep climb, I had a very narrow ledge to shoot this eye-candy from. While doing so, I noticed how this beautiful arch, which is in ruins, was bleeding for ages as pink sand and was resting all its hope on a weak pillar that was almost ready to give up. In contrary to above mentioned places, this place did not leave me speechless and alive. Resonating in a different channel, it instead left me numb and bereft of emotions … just as I feel when I must carry the unbearable within while wearing a lie-smile on the outside.
PS: This shot defies color-depth 'rules' of photography quite arrogantly. Guess what, it's one of those days today when defying something is all I feel like doing. (insert lie-smile) :-]
One word can best describe how it felt standing on the bluff over the shore of Yellowstone Lake, looking at the landscape across the water with my telephoto lens, on a very cold, very windy day: Brrr.
The road from Canyon to Yellowstone Lake was the only road open on that day at that particular time, so after stopping off at the lower falls for some shots, I headed on to the lake. I did not really stay very long. Too cold, too tired, and I was dying for a cup of hot coffee. So, I drove back to my warm cozy lodge room, fixed some coffee, and started editing my photos.
Copyright Rebecca L. Latson, all rights reserved.
I can't begin to describe the sheer joy of being with this exuberant pod of dolphin as they raced alongside our boat. What a magical moment it was!
Described as distortion of Central Park in New York (on an immensely larger scale), screwedCITY Central Desert resonates as corrupted heart within the foul arena of this merciless urban turmoil. Countless dark secrets of screwedCITY organized crime have been buried and lost in Central Desert, but every victim is given one final chance for deliverance – there's a good cell phone signal coverage throughout the Desert, so mobsters never fail to drop poor wretched souls with fully functional cell phones. Apart from them, nobody else ever dares to venture that far into the Desert.
Anyway, the irony's on the house – now you may begin to feel desEARTHED...
Barbados - Andromeda Botanic Gardens- Caribbean
Described by a Royal Horticultural Society judge as 'one of the most unique and outstanding gardens in the world', Andromeda is the original garden of Barbados and provides visitors with an authentic garden experience. Created as a private family retreat, Andromeda has a wonderful collection of plants with a relaxing pond at the heart of these historic and organic gardens. Comprised of about 20 different but connected gardens, the variety of plants and experiences is incredible. There are over 500 different plant species, including over 150 trees and palms. Enjoy the wildlife - bees, birds and butterflies add so much to the enjoyment! Journey through these gardens at your leisure and marvel at the vision of its creator, the multi-award winning Iris Bannochie (three Gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show, Silver Crown of Merit by the Barbadian government and much more). Andromeda Botanic Gardens, 'the best garden in Barbados by far', is also an accredited training provider.
He nibbled on the olive tree with delight -
The Caucasian squirrel - Sciurus anomalus ; The Caucasian squirrel or Persian squirrel, is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus found in temperate broadleaf and mixed forests in south-western Asia.
The species is usually said to have first been described in 1778 by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in the 13th edition of Systema Naturae,and named Sciurus anomalus. However, some authors argue that this work was actually published in 1788, and that the true first description was made by Johann Anton Güldenstädt in 1785.
Description -
Caucasian squirrels are small tree squirrels, with a total length of 32 to 36 cm (13 to 14 in), including the 13 to 18 cm (5.1 to 7.1 in) tail, and weighing 250 to 410 g (8.8 to 14.5 oz). The color of the upper body fur ranges from greyish brown to pale grey, depending on the subspecies, while that of the underparts is rusty brown to yellowish, and that of the tail, yellow brown to deep red. The claws are relatively short, compared with those of other tree squirrels, and females have either eight or ten teats.
Samuel Griswold Goodrich described the Caucasian squirrel in 1885 as "Its color is grayish-brown above, and yellowish-brown below".
Physical Description -
Caucasian squirrels have a dental formula of incisors 1/1, canines 0/0, premolars 1/1, and molars 3/3, totaling 20. They have four fingered fore feet and five fingered hind feet. Sex differences in body length or mass are not evident.
Distribution and habitat -
Caucasian squirrels are native to south-western Asia, where they are found from Turkey, and the islands of Gökçeada and Lesbos in the west, Iran in the southeast, and as far as Israel and Jordan in the south.It is one of only two species of the genus Sciurus to be found on Mediterranean islands,and, although Eurasian red squirrels have been recently introduced to some areas, is the only species of Sciurus native to the wider region.
The species mainly lives in forested areas dominated by oak, pine, and pistachio, up to altitudes of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft).
Biology and behavior -
The squirrels are diurnal, and solitary, although temporary groups may forage where food is plentiful. Their diet includes nuts, seeds, tree shoots, and buds,with the seeds of oak and pine being particularly favored. Like many other squirrels, they cache their food within tree cavities or loose soil, with some larders containing up to 6 kg (13 lb) of seeds. They live in trees, where they make their dens, but frequently forage on the ground, and are considered less arboreal than Eurasian red squirrels. They commonly nest in tree hollows lined with moss and leaves, and located 5 to 14 m (16 to 46 ft) above the ground, but nests are also sometimes found under rocks or tree roots. Their alarm call is high-pitched, and said to resemble the call of the European green woodpecker, and they mark their territories with urine and dung.
Breeding occurs throughout the year, but is more common in spring or autumn. Litters range from two to seven, with three or four being typical, and the young are fully mature by five or six months of age.
Conservation -
A survey in 2008 found that the species remained abundant within Turkey, however declines are noted in population within the Levant region. The guides for a survey in 1993 in Israel stated that they considered the species to be nearly extinct within the area studied. Whilst the Caucasian squirrel is threatened by poaching and deforestation, the declines recorded are not sufficient to qualify them as anything other than "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.[1] Hunting of the species is banned by the Central Hunting Commission, and the Caucasian squirrel is protected by the Bern Convention and the EU Habitats Directive.
This information is sourced from "Wikipedia".
Thank you so much for visiting my stream, whether you comments , favorites or just have a look.
I appreciate it very much, wishing the best of luck and good light.
© All rights reserved R.Ertug Please do not use this image without my explicit written permission. Contact me by Flickr mail if you want to buy or use Your comments and critiques are very well appreciated.
Lens - With Nikon TC 14E II hand held - Monopod and SPORT VR on. Aperture is f8 and full length. All my images have been converted from RAW to JPEG.
I started using Monopod on long walks. Here is my Carbon Monopod details : Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head with Standard Lever - Release Clamp - Nikkor AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6 ED VR fitted MPR-113 Multi-Purpose Rail lens foot and Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod.
Thanks for stopping and looking :)
It is hard to describe the impressions. They come from bathing in azure water additionally toned by the sunset reflecting from a massive cream colored cliff hanging above you.
Julianne Waldock who described this species last year measured the holotype as just shy of 8 mm (without spinnerets) which would make this by far the largest peacock spider species and this was one of the reasons I was so keen on finding and photographing this spider. There is a phenomenon called "island gigantism" meaning that the size of an animal isolated on an island often increases dramatically in comparison to their mainland relative. Therefore it would not be unexpected to find a larger than usual Maratus on Middle Island. I asked one of my individuals to hop onto a ruler, looks to me like under 5 mm. Three mm difference does not sound like much but it is huge if you consider the resulting increase in mass, in other words a spider close to 8 mm long would look massive by comparison. Picture this, If its tail end was in the same position as shown above its eyes would be at the right margin of the picture ! All other individuals I found on Middle Island are of similar size, and if that size is typical of the species it makes Maratus caeruleus not the island giant I was hoping to find, and only slightly larger than its mainland relative Maratus avibus. However, I am not disappointed, beautiful animal.
For more info about this species look into the description to the album, and have a look at the other pictures of this species. And if you are not familiar with peacock spiders yet,,watch my videos on YouTube, channel Peacockspiderman www.youtube.com/user/Peacockspiderman Or check out other peacock spiders in my growing collection www.flickr.com/photos/59431731@N05/collections/7215762742...
You may also like the babies, in fact I am sure you will www.flickr.com/photos/59431731@N05/collections/7215764000...
And for regular updates on my discoveries, videos and photography visit me on Facebook www.facebook.com/PeacockSpider