Mad in America (and the world)
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The migrant hawker (Aeshna mixta) is one of the smaller species of hawker dragonflies. It can be found away from water but for breeding it prefers still or slow-flowing water and can tolerate brackish sites. The flight period is from July to the end of October. A. mixta occurs in North Africa, southern and central Europe to the Baltic region.
A. mixta is a small aeshna which appears dark in flight. It is similar in appearance to other aeshnas but has a characteristic "golf-tee" shaped mark on the second segment of the abdomen (S2) which is diagnostic. In flight it looks like a small Emperor dragonfly with a blue abdomen which, when seen from the side, curves down. The main identification problem in the field is distinguishing this species from A. affinis where the two species fly together. The markings on the side of the thorax are different in A. affinis and A. mixta. In A. affinis the sides of the thorax are greeny yellow with fine black lines along the sutures. In A. mixta the sides of the thorax are similar in colour but the yellow is separated by dark brown areas so it gives the appearance of having two broad yellow stripes.
The diagnostic black-white-black patch on the edge of the wings can be seen stretched out in this capture of the Woodlark which I watched preening itself in a clearing within a mixed woodland area of the New Forest.
Thank you all for your views, faves and comments.
The dorsal view.
I also posted the ventral view which is more diagnostic in terms of identification.
Wagner Natural Area. parkland County, Alberta.
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Small pale plover, typically found on sandy beaches. Occasionally visits estuaries, seawalls, and mudflats as well. Very similar in all plumages to Kentish Plover, with which it occasionally mixes. Male is sandy brown with a black collar, pale face, and a rufous-and-black crown. Thinner collar and eye-line than Kentish Plover. Female and juvenile are similarly brown with a white collar and face. All plumages have diagnostically pale-fringed feathers which give the bird a worn, faded-out appearance; molting Kentish Plover may appear worn but not in such a uniform manner. (eBird)
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We returned to Marina Bay East two days later in search of a possible Siberian Sand-Plover, but no luck. Instead we were treated to stellar views of the female Malaysian Plover. Her mate was also there, but more distant. Lovely to get such great looks at, and photographs of, lifer birds.
Marina Bay East, Singapore. March 2024.
Birding Singapore.
CREDITS:
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LICKED - Sticky Catsuit
CHARM By Sibilla - Le Cheval Nuda (sold out limited edition)
Sibilla - California Tips 2 Toenails
Kibitz - Lory's collar - gold
KROVA - Tedril - Animesh Companion Bot
Phy.Ka - 038 - Queen Latex Gloves
Phy.Ka - 039 - Queen Rings 18k
Evil Baby. - Rave Babe Goggles
1990 - Classic LV Set - Coffin - XL
DOUX - Thais Hairstyle
BACKGROUD, PROPS & POSE:
PALETO Backdrop - kTX Studio
Khaos Muse - Kronos Ultra B1ke
Black Cats poses - Floating Screens
Beaufort, Hérault, France.
A l'occasion d'un diagnostic archéologique que je viens de mener dans le Domaine de l'Artix, j'ai découvert cette superbe petite chapelle, dont les origines remonteraient à l'époque wisigothique, attenante au domaine.
Diagnostic Chestnut-eared Bunting, Emberiza fucata fucata, 12.5 cm. / 4.92 in. UNCOMMON resident. Grassy meadows and river beds. Very distant bird.
Swan Park, Tofutsu Lake, Abashuri, Hokkaido, Japan.
©bryanjsmith.
One of the coolest shots I've taken in my opinion. A pretty hard bird to find and get good photos of, and even harder to really see the diagnostic white rump!
Harford County
Maryland
Je t’ai accompagné hier pour ton dernier « voyage », toi mon Pschyco-cat, ta présence durant plus de 13 ans restera gravée dans nos mémoires, avec des anecdotes et images.
Jeudi dernier le vétérinaire consulté pour ton oeil gauche fermé et en sang, a posé le diagnostic après plusieurs investigations; attente grave des reins (tu avais explosé les scores de créatinine et d’urée), hypertension artérielle, et ton coeur faisait un bruit de cheval au galop. Le pronostic n’était pas bon. Le traitement n’a pas permis de réduire les symptômes, et ton état s’est rapidement dégradé (vomissements, déshydratation, état hagard…).
La lésion à l’oeil serait un effet secondaire à l’insuffisance rénale et cardiaque. Tu ne semblais pas en détresse, juste un chat qui vieillit.
Et hier tu étais dans mes bras lorsque le vétérinaire t’a endormi, tu seras incinéré avec d’autres potes à 4 pattes.
La décision a été difficile à prendre, et je ne l’ai pas prise seule, mais le pronostic n’était pas bon, et pas d’autres issues à court ou moyen terme.
Tu resteras dans nos coeurs à jamais.
I was with you yesterday for your last "trip", you my Pschyco-cat, you was with us for more than 13 years, it this will remain in our memories, with anecdotes and images. Last Thursday the veterinarian consulted for your closed and bleeding left eye, made the diagnosis after several investigations: serious kidney failure (your creatinine and urea scores had exploded), high blood pressure, and your heart was making a sound like a galloping horse. The prognosis was not good. The treatment did not reduce the symptoms, and your condition deteriorated rapidly (vomiting, dehydration, haggard state, etc.).
The eye injury would be a side effect of kidney and heart failure. You did not seem in distress, just an aging cat.
And yesterday you were in my arms when the veterinarian put you to sleep, you will be cremated with other 4-legged friends.
The decision was difficult to make, and I did not make it alone, but the prognosis was not good, and there were no other outcomes in the short or medium term.
You will remain in our hearts forever.
The first time I've seen this hoverfly species in the garden. The shape of the yellow patches on the abdomen is diagnostic. Yet another customer for the Inula flowers.
Diagnostic Fringe-backed Fire-Eye, Papa-taoca-da-bahia, Pyriglena atra, 17 cm / 6.7 in. RARE ENDEMIC in understory of forest edge and tall, second-growth. Really shy bird!
Bahia, Brazil.
©bryanjsmith.
Always nice to find this species. The diagnostic ocelli can both be seen in the inset - this individual had an undeveloped antenna on the LH side.
Eardington NR, Shropshire.
A mating pair of Dotted Bee-fly in my garden in Gloucestershire. The white median stripe is diagnostic for female B. discolor.
Remains of barley (Hordeum vulgare) grains found at archaeological sites in the Fertile Crescent indicate that about 10,000 years ago the crop was domesticated there from its wild relative Hordeum spontaneum. The domestication history of barley is revisited based on the assumptions that DNA markers effectively measure genetic distances and that wild populations are genetically different and they have not undergone significant change since domestication. The monophyletic nature of barley domestication is demonstrated based on allelic frequencies at 400 AFLP polymorphic loci studied in 317 wild and 57 cultivated lines. The wild populations from Israel-Jordan are molecularly more similar than are any others to the cultivated gene pool. The results provided support for the hypothesis that the Israel-Jordan area is the region in which barley was brought into culture. Moreover, the diagnostic allele I of the homeobox gene BKn-3, rarely but almost exclusively found in Israel H. spontaneum, is pervasive in western landraces and modern cultivated varieties. In landraces from the Himalayas and India, the BKn-3 allele IIIa prevails, indicating that an allelic substitution has taken place during the migration of barley from the Near East to South Asia. Thus, the Himalayas can be considered a region of domesticated barley diversification.
EXPLORED
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UPDATE: I think I finally discovered the actual species. According to this excellent site, it looks like it's a Cotton Harlequin Bug (Tectocoris diophthalmus).
I've never seen one of these before and apparently it's a Harlequin Beetle. I can't find much information or even the botanical name for it, so I did a search for quotes that referred to harlequins.
Imagine my delight when I found a quote from Battlestar Galactica! Here's the quote in full from Wikiquote:
Hybrid: Two protons expelled at each coupling site creates the mode of force, the embryo becomes a fish though we don't enter until a plate, we're here to experience, evolve the little toe, atrophy, don't ask me how, I'll be dead in a thousand light years, thank you, thank you, genesis turns to its source, reduction occurs step wise though the essence is all one, end of line. FTL system check. Diagnostic functions within parameters repeats the harlequin, the agony exquisite, the colors run the path of ashes...
Diagnostic Crimson-backed Tanager, Ramphocelus dimidiatus dimidiatus, 17.5cm / 6.75in. COMMON in semi-open areas, forest edge and plantations; locally up to the subtropics.
Hotel Tinamu Birding Nature Reserve, Departamento de Caldas, Colombia.
©bryanjsmith.
The diagnostic feature for separating Brown Argus from female Common Blue, is two spots on top of one another at the top edge of the Brown Argus hindwing, creating a figure of 8 like this: www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/5990925447/in/photolist But this Brown Argus that I photographed in my friend's Rutland garden, lacks this feature and so superficially resembles a Common Blue like this: www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/5799969922/in/photolist The spot in question appears to be slightly comma-shaped so maybe the two spots have merged. To add to the confusion the Brown Argus was nectaring on Bird's-foot Trefoil, which is the larval foodplant of Common Blue. An additional identification feature is the marginal orange lunules on the forewing. In Common Blue they usually peter out towards the tip, whereas on Brown Argus they are solidly orange right to the tip, as they are here.
Vadiúj mérővonat kirándul a Kisalföldön
Under the steep hills of Kisalföld with a brand new diagnostic train.
Diagnostic Eurasian Linnet, Carduelis cannabina mediterranea, 12.5 - 14cm. Areas thick with bushes in gardens and coastal heath with gorse.
Castello Branco, Portugal.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Yellow-collared Lovebird, Agapornis fischeri, Blue mutation. Most likely an escaped cage-bird. Native to Tanzania. Eating lichens on the distant cliff face near the waterfall.
Walter Sisulu National Botanic Gardens, Gauteng Province, South Africa.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Spix's Spinetail, Chicli Spinetail, Joao-teneném, Synallaxis spixi, 17 cm / 6.7 in. COMMON in undergrowth of shrub, cerrado, woodland edge and grassy habitat with shrub.
Bahia, Brazil.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic African Hawk-Eagle, Aquila spilogaster, 68 cm / 27 in. Record shot of a quite distant bird. Fairly COMMON in open woodland, bush and semi-arid habitat but none came in close.
Arabuko Sokoke Forest, Kilifi, Coast, Kenya.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Bonaparte's Gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia, 13.5 in / 34.29 cm. RARE at this location, this time of year. COMMON locally on lakes, rivers and ocean.
Lake Cochise, Willcox, Cochise County, Arizona, USA.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Cape Starling, Lamprotornis nitens, 25 cm / 9.8 in. COMMON resident in savanna, mixed woodland and gardens; often in quite arid habitat.
Zaagkuild Rift Road, Gauteng Province, South Africa.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Okinawa Rail, Gallirallus okinawae, 30 cm. / 11.8 in. ENDANGERED endemic. "Discovered" in 1981. Sub-tropical forest in northern Okinawa-jima. The population is thought to be 1,500 birds.
Yanburra National Park, Okinawa, Japan.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Long-tailed Jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus pallescens, 15 in / 38.1 cm. UNCOMMON to RARE, but we saw lots of them on Arctic Tundra, nesting in loose colonies, once spotting about 30 in a group, some on the road. Photographed through the vehicle window and the rain.
Council Road, Nome, Alaska, USA.
©bryanjsmith.
record shots
Diagnostic feature review : Brown under tail covert
Bohemian Waxwing BOWA (Bombycilla garrulous)
Duncan BC
DSCN2505
Congrats and Kudos to Liam S. on this a Lifer for him !!!
as we 'covered' some areas together
Fun day to team up on the Christmas Bird Count at Duncan.
I am always learning from this young man.
Lottsa fun.
Mary R. & Rick S were also able to view this (presumably) bird somewhat later in the afternoon.
Quite a thrill to have good views and obvious & clear vocalizations of this impressive species.
DSCN2760
Liam was tuned into this bird and relocated it in a holly farm after his initial discovery in a residential back yard.
We had stopped the vehicle to explore a waxwing flyby .
As we stood out front with our gear ,the friendly homeowners invited us into the back yard .
Shortly thereafter Liam excitedly exclaimed Bohemian Waxwing!
Woot!
:)
-at top of tree as in following post
Rhipidura rufiventris
This close view of the bird shows the indistinct white streaks on the breast that are diagnostic.
Diagnostic Chubb's Cisticola, Cisticola chubbi chubbi, 14cm. / 5.5in. Mainly western distribution in East Africa.
Kakamega Forest Nature Reserve, Nandi, Western, Kenya.
©bryanjsmith.
... for a current build. As much fun as fighters and stuff are, non-violent space always holds a special place in this old spacers heart.
Diagnostic Swallow Tanager, Sai-andorinha, Tersina viridis viridis, 15 cm / 5.9 in. Humid forest borders and woodland.
Santa Eliza Trails, Sao Paulo State, Brazil.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Olive-backed Pipit, Olive Tree-Pipit, Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni, 15 cm. / 6.3 in. UNCOMMON for Yunnan, found in open wooded habitats.
River Walk, Yingjiang area, Yunnan Province, China.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Ross's Turaco, Musophaga rossae, 54cm / 21in. Widespread and locally COMMON in riparian forest, forest edge, woodland and mature gardens. Pretty tough to get out in the open, or close to this bird.
Maasai Mara, Trans Mara, Rift Valley, Kenya.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Male Red-headed Bluebill, Seermophaga ruficapilla ruficapilla, 14cm. / 5.5in. Locally COMMON in forest, secondary growth and moist thickets. Not eating berries, those are the bill colors.
Kakamega Forest, Vihiga, Western, Kenya.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic feature review : besides red which is also on Cedar Waxwing - this species also has white and yellow wing features
record shots
Bohemian Waxwing BOWA (Bombycilla garrulous)
Duncan BC
DSCN2505
Congrats and Kudos to Liam S. on this a Lifer for him !!!
as we 'covered' some areas together
Fun day to team up on the Christmas Bird Count at Duncan.
I am always learning from this young man.
Lottsa fun.
Mary R. & Rick S were also able to view this (presumably) bird somewhat later in the afternoon.
Quite a thrill to have good views and obvious & clear vocalizations of this impressive species.
DSCN2791
Liam was tuned into this bird and relocated it in a holly farm after his initial discovery in a residential back yard.
We had stopped the vehicle to explore a waxwing flyby .
As we stood out front with our gear ,the friendly homeowners invited us into the back yard .
Shortly thereafter Liam excitedly exclaimed Bohemian Waxwing!
Woot!
:)
-at top of tree as in following post
Diagnostic Pelagis Cormorant, Urile pelagicus pelagicus, 73 cm. / 28.7 in. WS: 98 cm. / 38.6 in. Locally COMMON resident on rocky coasts. It was very windy, cold and rain was falling sideways, we were sheltering in the leeward side of the lighthouse.
Nosappu Point, Hokkaido, Japan.
©bryanjsmith.
GP had to go for diagnostic imaging today at the Smiths Falls site of the Perth and District Hospital seen here. I brought my camera as it was ironic we would be once again going to the Smtihs Falls hospital entering via the ER doors on February 13th and I wanted to take a photo of the hospital for my 365.
The irony of going there on this day was that it was 23 years ago today that I entered the same doors with GP and our middle daughter to say goodbye to my dad.
My dad lived with us and he was always in and out of the Smiths Falls Hospital - he had COPD. He used to laugh and say they should put him on the payroll - he knew all the nurses and janitorial staff by name, their life stories and they knew him.
Doctors or nurses would always call me saying I should get in as his time was short. Every time, over the years he beat their odds. If he went in on a Friday he would be coming home on the Monday despite medical professionals thinking he was on his last legs so-to-speak.
23 years ago today, it would be no different. They called me and said I should come in right away. We got up and left thinking they are wrong he will be coming home. When we arrived though, it would not be the case.
I think he was waiting for me to get there just so I could say goodbye. I held his hand as I told him it was okay for him to go, that I would be okay without him and he took his last breath.
That was the biggest lie I ever told my dad in all my years because, after 23 years I am still not okay without him. My mom passed in 1986 and I am an only child so basically I am an adult orphan I guess. I still miss him terribly as does Mike and our kids.
I did not post this long blurb for anyone's sympathy rather, for a diary I guess of my day on this 365 journey.
SOC no edits other than resized for the web.
I appreciate each and every visit, comment and fave here on my little corner of Flickr. Have a super day!