View allAll Photos Tagged Distinct
The distinct shape of LMS Ivatt 46443 can be made out through the winter mist on its approach to santa's grotto in Arley (Dec 2010)
Black (organic) and white (sedimentary) rock above the Kootenai River, Montana, Morning Light, September
"The fossils under the swinging bridge over the Kootenai River are called stromatolites, which are fossilized microbial mats that show distinct, concentric circles. These ancient fossils, found in the Belt formation, are formed by layers of microorganisms that trapped sediment over time.
* Appearance: They look like cream and black 'cabbages' sliced open.
* Composition: The black layers are carbon-rich, and the creamy layers are from periods of higher sediment deposition.
* Age: The Kootenai River stromatolites are part of a Precambrian sedimentary formation that is between 600 million and 800 million years old.
* Significance: Stromatolites are some of the oldest fossils on Earth and provide a glimpse into ancient environments." - From AI
Tall penguin endemic to New Zealand, with distinct broad yellow eyebrow that spreads out and sags down the neck. The orange bill has no bare skin at the base. Breeds and molts in dense coastal forest, thick shrubs, and caves along the southwestern coast of the South Island and Stewart Island. Calls vary from emphatic trumpeting to a low-pitched growl or hiss. Look for white stripes on cheek which can be splayed out when threatened. Cheek stripes and lack of bare skin at base of bill help distinguish this species from Snares and Erect-crested Penguins. (eBird)
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In one of the most scenic places in New Zealand, our eyes were glued to the water in search of penguins. And there ... just off the bow of the boat was this one, preening in the water. Eventually, we saw five of these lovely little penguins. Of course, the scenery was beautiful, too.
Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand. March 2024.
Roadrunner Birding Tours.
The Alaskan husky (distinct from the Siberian husky) is a breed of medium-sized working sled dog, developed specifically for its pulling ability. Alaskan huskies are the most commonly used type of dog for competitive sled dog racing, both in short-distance sprint racing as well as long-distance expedition races.
The Alaskan husky is not an officially recognized breed by any kennel club, nor does it have a formal breed standard.[6] Unlike breeds developed for the show ring, the Alaskan husky is instead a product of careful selection for desirable sled dog traits from various other breeds, such as aptitude for pulling, endurance, speed, intelligence, appetite, and tolerance of extreme weather.
This meet and greet was as near as we got to the sled trails as the conditions were too icy on our trip. Having seen the speed that these dogs pull I think we probably dodged a bullet!
I visited Ivinghoe just after the rain hoping to find some of these and possibly some of the many species of bee to be found there. This Duke Of Burgundy was a little sluggish after the shower but only allowed me to take a couple of shots before fluttering off in search of love. Always a pleasure to see these in the very short window of opportunity we have, especially as there are not many locations left due to habitat loss. Fortunately the land these are on is quite save partly due to its geology and also the efforts of local wildlife trusts. This makes it a stronghold for many species of butterfly that are in decline elsewhere.
In this image, the combining of two distinct subjects represents a sort of metaphor. The BC Cancer Research building in Vancouver, is fronted by a tree silhouette that looks as if it is permeating the buildings structure. And, the exterior design takes on the shape of individual cells supported by the facade. After meeting with a number of people, it felt important to say something about this facility that might reach others.
While this is just a building, for many it represents a sense of hope. I remember one person asking me what I was looking at while working my angles. I replied, "the building". He pushed off with a distinct question mark tattooed to his face. Another person who had been standing next to me quietly uttered three words, "I see it" was all he said. That is among the most enjoyable attributes with respect to photography, sometimes we look and sometimes we see.
I distinctly recall standing there and enjoying the neutral unemphatic beauty of the location. The gentle harmony of colors and how the sun’s rays, filtered through high altitude gossamer ice clouds washed the colors.
SOOC
Notable for the distinct colours of both stars. The main one, Beta Cygni A, is orange and the fainter companion, Beta Cygni B, is blue. They are 415 Light Years from the Sun.
Arthur C Clarke said; "Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe, or we are not. Both are equally terrifying."
The distinct dominant of the town Fiľakovo on the Slovak-Hungarian frontier are the ruins of its Castle, which survived the Tartar raids in the 13th century.
The Castle is first referred to in the 13th century. It was rebuilt in the first half of the 15th century, widened and fortified in the 16th century. Although the fortification of the Castle was to defend it against the Turks, they conquered it in 1554.
It remained in the hands of the Turks for almost 40 years. It became the centre of the so-called Fiľakovo sanjak, (a Turkish administrative district) encompassing the whole of what is today the region of Poiplie. The Castle was re-conquered from the Turks only in 1593. The year 1682 was also fatal for the Castle, as the rebellious troops of Imrich Thököly conquered it and it has gone derelict since then.
The pentagonal Bebekova bašta bastion stands next to the entrance to the Castle. It has a roof and its gross shape has been preserved until the present day. In one of its external walls there is a half-sunk bulky canon ball, reminiscent of the 1682 siege. An exhibition of Castle and town history has been installed in the bastion. Remains of the Palace, a watchtower and a massive half-circle cannon bastion (the "clock" bastion) can still be seen in the upper castle. The Castle provides a wonderful view of the whole town and its environs.
Fresher feel in the air, golden light (when the sun actually puts in an appearance) and autumnal colours. Depressing to think there are months to go before spring arrives, assuming we don’t all succumb to hypothermia… thanks Putin. Taken on my morning photowalk yesterday. Olympus Em1 mk3 and Voigtlander 60mm Nokton.
Depuis mai 2015, la municipalité de Tielt-Winge -Belgium, dans le Brabant flamand, est un lieu qui témoigne de la singularité de l'architecture de paysage. Une structure fascinante qui atténue la distinction entre une tour et un escalier flotte au-dessus du célèbre Kabouterbos ( forêt de conte de fées) et attire la curiosité de nombreux résidents et passants de Tielt. Le volume fascinant de l’acier est revêtu d’acier inoxydable de haut en bas.
Les exigences du cahier des charges reflétaient cet objectif: la nouvelle tour devait être entièrement construite en métal, mesurer au moins dix mètres de haut, comporter un abri et résister à toute forme de vandalisme.
Au lieu d'une construction classique avec un escalier en colimaçon, le designer a conçu un volume suspendu sans trop de fioritures décoratives. Le «Vlooybergtoren», comme on l'appelle, mesure 11, 28 mètres de haut (la plate-forme supérieure déborde de 10, 08 mètres + mur de rambarde de 1, 20 mètre) et est construit sur une sous-structure galvanisée revêtue d'acier patiné, une allusion subtile au typique brun-rouge. couleur de la pierre de fer dans la région de Hageland. Au total, l’imposante tour d’escalier ne pèse pas moins de treize tonnes.
Selon les propres mots du concepteur, la modélisation de la tour Vlooyberg était «une guerre contre son propre poids». Pour s'assurer que la structure serait suffisamment solide et ne s'affaisserait pas, il calculait manuellement les forces agissant sur chaque élément. Ses conclusions ont donné à la tour d'escalier sa forme et ses dimensions ultimes. La structure évolue de grande, lourde et forte, à petite, légère et mince. Le mur de garde-corps fonctionne comme une poutre structurelle qui confère à la structure en acier une solidité et une stabilité suffisantes pour résister aux forces agissant sur elle. Deux amortisseurs de vibrations garantissent que la tour d'escalier ne commence pas à vibrer sous le pied.
La structure a été entièrement préfabriquée et assemblée sur le site section par section. En fin de compte, l'installation n'a duré qu'une demi-journée. En tant que monument à forte valeur iconique, la tour Vlooyberg met en valeur, au sens propre et figuré, le profil de la belle région autour de Tielt-Winge. Les habitants de Tielt, les passants fortunés et les amateurs d'architecture moderne apprécient énormément ce monument fascinant.
Since May 2015, the municipality of Tielt-Winge -Belgium, in Flemish Brabant, has been a place that bears witness to the uniqueness of landscape architecture. A fascinating structure that softens the distinction between a tower and a staircase floats above the famous Kabouterbos (fairytale forest) and attracts the curiosity of many residents and passers-by of Tielt. The fascinating volume of the steel is coated with stainless steel from top to bottom.
The specifications reflected this objective: the new tower had to be constructed entirely of metal, be at least ten meters high, include a shelter and be resistant to all forms of vandalism.
Instead of a classic construction with a spiral staircase, the designer designed a suspended volume without too many decorative frills. The "Vlooybergtoren", as it is called, is 11.28 meters high (the upper platform overhangs 10.08 meters + guardrail wall of 1.20 meters) and is built on a coated galvanized substructure. of patinated steel, a subtle allusion to the typical brown-red. color of the iron stone in the Hageland region. In total, the imposing staircase tower weighs no less than thirteen tons.
In the designer's own words, the modeling of the Vlooyberg Tower was "a war against its own weight". To ensure that the structure would be strong enough and not sag, he would manually calculate the forces acting on each element. His findings gave the staircase tower its ultimate shape and dimensions. The structure evolves from big, heavy and strong, to small, light and thin. The guardrail wall functions as a structural beam which gives the steel structure sufficient strength and stability to withstand the forces acting on it. Two vibration dampers ensure that the stair tower does not start to vibrate underfoot.
The structure was completely prefabricated and assembled on site section by section. In the end, the installation only took half a day. As a monument of high iconic value, the Vlooyberg Tower highlights, literally and figuratively, the profile of the beautiful region around Tielt-Winge. Tielt residents, wealthy passers-by and lovers of modern architecture greatly appreciate this fascinating monument.
Depuis mai 2015, la municipalité de Tielt-Winge -Belgium, dans le Brabant flamand, est un lieu qui témoigne de la singularité de l'architecture de paysage. Une structure fascinante qui atténue la distinction entre une tour et un escalier flotte au-dessus du célèbre Kabouterbos ( forêt de conte de fées) et attire la curiosité de nombreux résidents et passants de Tielt. Le volume fascinant de l’acier est revêtu d’acier inoxydable de haut en bas.
Les exigences du cahier des charges reflétaient cet objectif: la nouvelle tour devait être entièrement construite en métal, mesurer au moins dix mètres de haut, comporter un abri et résister à toute forme de vandalisme.
Au lieu d'une construction classique avec un escalier en colimaçon, le designer a conçu un volume suspendu sans trop de fioritures décoratives. Le «Vlooybergtoren», comme on l'appelle, mesure 11, 28 mètres de haut (la plate-forme supérieure déborde de 10, 08 mètres + mur de rambarde de 1, 20 mètre) et est construit sur une sous-structure galvanisée revêtue d'acier patiné, une allusion subtile au typique brun-rouge. couleur de la pierre de fer dans la région de Hageland. Au total, l’imposante tour d’escalier ne pèse pas moins de treize tonnes.
Selon les propres mots du concepteur, la modélisation de la tour Vlooyberg était «une guerre contre son propre poids». Pour s'assurer que la structure serait suffisamment solide et ne s'affaisserait pas, il calculait manuellement les forces agissant sur chaque élément. Ses conclusions ont donné à la tour d'escalier sa forme et ses dimensions ultimes. La structure évolue de grande, lourde et forte, à petite, légère et mince. Le mur de garde-corps fonctionne comme une poutre structurelle qui confère à la structure en acier une solidité et une stabilité suffisantes pour résister aux forces agissant sur elle. Deux amortisseurs de vibrations garantissent que la tour d'escalier ne commence pas à vibrer sous le pied.
La structure a été entièrement préfabriquée et assemblée sur le site section par section. En fin de compte, l'installation n'a duré qu'une demi-journée. En tant que monument à forte valeur iconique, la tour Vlooyberg met en valeur, au sens propre et figuré, le profil de la belle région autour de Tielt-Winge. Les habitants de Tielt, les passants fortunés et les amateurs d'architecture moderne apprécient énormément ce monument fascinant.
Since May 2015, the municipality of Tielt-Winge -Belgium, in Flemish Brabant, has been a place that bears witness to the uniqueness of landscape architecture. A fascinating structure that softens the distinction between a tower and a staircase floats above the famous Kabouterbos (fairytale forest) and attracts the curiosity of many residents and passers-by of Tielt. The fascinating volume of the steel is coated with stainless steel from top to bottom.
The specifications reflected this objective: the new tower had to be constructed entirely of metal, be at least ten meters high, include a shelter and be resistant to all forms of vandalism.
Instead of a classic construction with a spiral staircase, the designer designed a suspended volume without too many decorative frills. The "Vlooybergtoren", as it is called, is 11.28 meters high (the upper platform overhangs 10.08 meters + guardrail wall of 1.20 meters) and is built on a coated galvanized substructure. of patinated steel, a subtle allusion to the typical brown-red. color of the iron stone in the Hageland region. In total, the imposing staircase tower weighs no less than thirteen tons.
In the designer's own words, the modeling of the Vlooyberg Tower was "a war against its own weight". To ensure that the structure would be strong enough and not sag, he would manually calculate the forces acting on each element. His findings gave the staircase tower its ultimate shape and dimensions. The structure evolves from big, heavy and strong, to small, light and thin. The guardrail wall functions as a structural beam which gives the steel structure sufficient strength and stability to withstand the forces acting on it. Two vibration dampers ensure that the stair tower does not start to vibrate underfoot.
The structure was completely prefabricated and assembled on site section by section. In the end, the installation only took half a day. As a monument of high iconic value, the Vlooyberg Tower highlights, literally and figuratively, the profile of the beautiful region around Tielt-Winge. Tielt residents, wealthy passers-by and lovers of modern architecture greatly appreciate this fascinating monument.
Recently we had freezing rain fall to the ground after several days of light snow. I was especially excited about the prospect of sliding across the frozen spots to capture what I could of this special landscape I call my garden. One of my favorite authors has a quotation I felt enhanced this image.."Ice contains no future, just the past, sealed away. As if they're alive, everything in the world is sealed up inside, clear and distinct. Ice can preserve all kinds of things that way- cleanly, clearly. That's the essence of ice, the role it plays."
Haruki Murakami
This is our mom with the sort of messed up nose from last year, I believe, that had the fawn really late in the season. There was a smaller one with her so I'm guessing that's the fawn. Glad to see the two of them are still around.
The cathedral has a distinct pink facade with a rose window and twin square bell towers with pyramidal roofs. Within its large courtyard is a view deck that overlooks Session Road and the downtown commercial district of Baguio City. The cathedral is accessible to pedestrians from Session Road through a 100-step stone staircase, or through the adjacent campus of Saint Louis University.
The Baguio Cathedral is also distinct for probably being the only Cathedral in the world that owns and operates its own shopping center, called Porta Vaga, partially built from donations from church-goers, coyed into thinking they were building a supporting wall for the hillside that collapsed during the earthquake of 16 July 1990.
Mitakon Speedmaster manual lens at F4, contre-jour, close-up. Three distinctly different feathers, but from one body (a pigeon killed by the cat).
This distinctly hairy grasshopper (chorthippus brunneus), is found with a range of colours, but usually has an orange colouration towards the tip of its abdomen.
It prefers dry short vegetation in sunny situations and can be seen throughout its range, in Europe, North Africa and temperate Asia.
To attract females, males rub their legs against their wings, and make a single chirrup sound, which they repeat at intervals. After mating, eggs are laid in the soil, which hatch as nymphs the following spring.
Adults emerge in June and may survive until late Autumn.They vary between 15-25 mm in size. Essentially herbivores, they feed mainly on grasses.
Many thanks for your kind comments, which are always appreciated.
orange gerbera
For long, orange has been associated with enthusiasm, energy and warmth. When it comes to gerberas, they convey that the person you present it to is the sunshine of your life.
There’s almost nothing that I can think of that sounds as good as a train in the distance coming through a dead silent snow covered river valley and all you here is that distinct roar off a train. This empty BNSF coal train is crossing the James River just east of Springfield, Mo.
13 fascinating facts about giraffes:
- There are four distinct species of giraffe: Northern giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis, Southern giraffe giraffa, Reticulated giraffe G. reticulata and Masai giraffe G. tippelskirchi.
- Giraffe are already extinct in at least seven countries in Africa.
- Just like human fingerprints, no two giraffe have the same coat pattern.
- Giraffe feet are the size of a dinner plate with a diameter of 30 cm.
- Giraffe tongues are bluish-purple and between 45 and 50 cm long.
- Both male and female giraffe have horns already at birth. These ossicones lie flat and are not attached to the skull to avoid injury at birth. They only fuse with the skull later in life.
- The giraffe is the tallest mammal in the world. Even newborn giraffe are taller than most humans.
- Female giraffe give birth standing up. Their young fall about 2 m to the ground and can stand up within an hour of birth.
- In some populations, over 50% of all giraffe calves do not survive their first year.
- A giraffe’s neck is too short to reach the ground. To drink, giraffe first have to splay their forelegs and/or bend their knees, and only then can they lower their necks to reach the surface of the water.
- Giraffe only drink once every few days. Even when water is readily available, evidence shows that many giraffe do not drink regularly – sometimes not at all.
- To protect the giraffe’s brain from sudden changes in blood pressure when it lowers its head to drink, it has valves to stop the back-flow of blood and elastic-walled vessels that dilate and constrict to manage flow. NASA has done research on the blood vessels in giraffe legs to get inspiration for human space suits.
- A giraffe heart weighs approximately 11 kilograms and is the biggest of any land mammal. It is used to pump 60 litres of blood around its body every minute at a blood pressure twice that of an average human.
And more facts about these fasinating animals HERE!
Thornicroft giraffe / Thornicroft-Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis thornicrofti) in South Luangwa N.P., Zambia.
Giraffes are widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, but the subspecies Giraffa Camelopardalis thornicrofti is endemic to Zambia with a population of less than 1,500. It is considered to be geographically isolated, occurring only in Zambia’s South Luangwa Valley. (Wikipedia)
A distinct autumnal atmosphere with an abundance of brown, dry leaves hanging from the branches and covering the ground.
The scene features various tree species, including a prominent birch with its characteristic white, peeling bark in the foreground.
The subdued light and color filtering contribute to the melancholic, atmospheric mood typical of the season.
In the background, through the trees, a rural landscape or small village is indistinctly visible.
No, saw-whet! I had the distinct pleasure of seeing this Northern Saw-Whet owl at Gilbert Water Ranch last week. It is such tiny little owl and absolutely adorable. They grow to be just 7 or 8 inches (18-20cm) and weigh only about 3.5 ounces (~100g). It is pretty rare for our area so I left the park with big ol' grin on my face. BTW: they're called saw-whet owls because their call apparently sounds like a saw being whetted across a sharpening stone.
The Northern Saw-Whet owl lifer #297 for me, my 4th lifer in a week. Just because I like round numbers, I'm trying to hit 300 lifers by the end of the year. Doable. I've got a couple places in mind to close that 3-bird gap.
Maroon Bells near Aspen is very cool at the moment Alpin light hits, but a short time later the scene turns much brighter and the greens help define the distinct V shape of the reflections.
There's something distinctly odd about a walk that I do regularly. I leave my house, go south across seven fields, through a village, over a pelican crossing and into the fields. (Actually I made that last bit up about the crossing, but the rest is absolutely true.)
So I walk across the high ground above the village of East Farndon and pick up the Jurassic Way footpath, over a few stiles and down the hill on the other side where the beginnings of the Welland valley come into view, and come to a thin stretch of field, probably no more than fifty yards wide where I have to cross two stiles, and there on the first stile is this beautiful creature who paced back and forth on the other side, showing absolutely no fear of me and getting disturbingly closer with my every attempt to cross.
Bear in mind that these Emu's have very long legs and necks, so even though I'm six foot tall, their beaky faces are just about the same height as mine, and when those reptilian like eyes stare into mine as they make dinosaur like throaty noises, and to make matters worse, it's partner in crime is guarding my exit, the stile on the other side!
Sometimes I'm met there by horses who are also curious but a bit friendlier than these Emus.
So anyway, in the end I decided that I was not going to be intimidated any longer by these two and made my way over the stile into the field, and immediately it rushed towards me until I made my own loud primitive throat noises which encouraged it and it's accomplice to back off and let me pass through.
Then later I had the same again on the way home.
Several months ago I'd had another strange but wonderful interaction as I walked back at dusk, not far from the Emu field.
I'd noticed something white fluttering above the hedge some distance away and stopped in my tracks as I realised that it was an Owl and was amazed to see it fly closer until it was only two or three yards away hovering in front of me, with us both looking into each others' eyes. My camera was slung over my shoulder but there was absolutely no question of even attempting a shot. There's always something so deeply moving about coming face to face with wild creatures, and such moments are so uniquely sacred.
I also had the pleasure of coming face to face with a young Fox on this last walk which stopped and checked me out at a distance before going on our ways.
The WiFi is a bit patchy down here in a distinctly balmy Fuerteventura, and I've no idea whether I'm going to manage to upload this successfully, but I thought I'd give it a try. So I'm currently leaning in the direction of the router in the resort reception and trusting my luck.
Of course this wasn't taken in the Canaries, although there are plenty of kite surfers patrolling the coast between Majanicho and El Cotillo on the northwest tip of the island. This was one from much closer to home a year ago, when the subject steered himself into the exact position I'd hoped for as his kite seemed to capture the burning globe in the sky and harness its power. Sometimes photography is difficult, but sometimes you just need to be in the right place at the right time to capture the moment.
Ironically, last night I was in the wrong place at the right time, but we'll come back to that when I can edit my shots at home.
Oh yes, and some of you might be waiting to hear about my exploits with the underwater camera. Well it would be better if if I could see the back of the screen when I'm nosing around the rocks in my swimming shorts. Maybe I'll try wearing my varifocals under my mask next time. It would also help if a young lady hadn't ventured into my lagoon stark naked as I fiddled about with my camera beneath the surface, but I did get there first. Suffice to say she didn't make it into the viewfinder - which of course I couldn't see anyway. Enough said.
Looking forward to catching up with your all when we're back and somewhere where the WiFi behaves.....
The most distinctly American fact you will ever learn is that the piercing cry you associate with the bald eagle is actually a Hollywood invention.
Imagine the sound a bald eagle makes. Got it? Good.
Unless you’re really into birds, you probably got it wrong. The long, powerful cry you likely heard in your mind’s ear when asked to imagine the call of a bald eagle is actually the call of a red-tailed hawk, whose voice Hollywood studios have been dubbing over footage of bald eagles for generations.
Caitlin Johnstone
www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/even-the-bald-eagles-call-is-prop...
White naped Mangabey
Witkruinmangabey
Cercocebus lunulatus
This now distinct species is considered to have a geographic range east of the Sassandra River to the west of the Volta River in Ghana; Cercocebus lunulatus is also recorded as inhabiting forests in southwestern Burkina Faso and northeastern Ivory Coast. Cercocebus lunulatus is considered Endangered by the IUCN.
Mangabeys are some of the most rare and endangered monkeys on Earth. These large forest dwellers are found only in Africa. They look somewhat like guenons but are bigger. Local people call some of them "the ones with the thin waist" or "four-eyed monkeys," because some kinds of mangabeys have bright white eyelids.
All mangabeys have a tail that is longer than their body, providing balance for them as they scamper through the rain forest canopy.
Mangabeys can be golden brown, gray, dark brown, or soft black, depending on the species or subspecies, usually with a lighter color on the underbelly.
Mangabeys have some interesting ways of communicating with each other. It's often hard to see one another in the dense forest canopy, so sound is very important. In fact, mangabeys can be very noisy!
White is an important color when you need to get your point across. White-collared mangabeys use movements of their white-tipped tails to express themselves. White hair on the underside of the chin helps make other facial gestures more noticeable. For white-eyelid mangabeys, batting their eyelids and raising their eyebrows can have a whole range of meanings. Making these facial expressions and flashing their white eyelids against their darker fur help get the message across. Flashing eyelids can mean "warning—watch your step!"
Like most monkeys, mangabeys are very much at home in trees, spending most of their time there. However, white-eyelid mangabeys are also comfortable on the ground, traveling on their hands and feet between patches of forest or to forage in the leaf litter for tasty food items. In some areas of the forest, the ground is swampy, but that’s not a problem for mangabeys. Webbing between their fingers and toes helps these amazing monkeys swim!
All mangabeys are excellent jumpers, and gray-cheeked mangabeys and white-collared mangabeys have a tail that is strong enough to hook onto branches as they leap about the forest canopy.
Mangabeys are mainly fruit eaters, although they can also eat leaves, nuts, seeds, insects, and spiders. Powerful teeth and jaws help them crack hard nut shells or bite into thick-skinned fruits. Mangabeys also tear bark from trees using their teeth and hands to find bugs and spiders hiding underneath. Large cheek pouches act like a shopping cart: mangabeys fill their pouches with food until full! The biggest meal of the day for mangabeys is breakfast, and they start foraging for food in the early morning, often before the sun comes up.
Like many monkeys, mangabeys lick nectar from flowers, moving from tree to tree for this sweet feast, earning them status as pollinators as well as seed dispersers.
Mangabeys live in groups, called troops, of about 10 to 40 individuals, depending on the species and the availability of food and habitat. There is usually one adult male that acts as leader and the troop's defender, but sometimes larger troops have two or three adult males that split off with their own family units to forage for food. When there is plenty of food available, mangabey troops often gather together for a while and even exchange troop members.
Much like baboons, a female mangabey's buttocks swell when she is ready to breed. This is her visual signal to the adult males.
Pantanal
Brazil
South America
TCuiaba River
The he giant otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. It is the longest member of the Mustelidae, or weasel family, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7 m (5.6 ft).
Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. The groups are centered on a dominant breeding pair and are extremely cohesive and cooperative.
Although generally peaceful, the species is territorial, and aggression has been observed between groups.
The giant otter is diurnal, being active exclusively during daylight hours. It is the noisiest otter species, and distinct vocalizations have been documented that indicate alarm, aggressiveness, and reassurance.
The giant otter ranges across north-central South America; it lives mostly in and along the Amazon River and in the Pantanal. - Wikipedia
The four seasons are distinctly charted on the calendar. However in real life there is often considerable overlap. Yesterday morning I was out raking leaves and even mowing portions of the lawn. By midday a snowstorm moved into the area, instantly transforming the village into a winter wonderland. There's a certain magic in the first snowfall of the season. It's been that way since childhood. As an adult I've come to appreciate that magic even more. Each year I make it a point to interact with it as much as possible. I love the feeling of excitement and the creative burst that seems to occasion it.
The magic quickly erodes as the season progresses. Each successive winter storm induces a mental beat-down effect that can result in all sorts of mental dysfunction. Winter just makes the outdoor aspects of daily life more tedious. I'm not immune from this, but for now anyway, I'm starting off with a fresh slate mentally speaking. I watch the Doppler radar with fascination as the display is inundated with blue, the color representing snowfall. I head out just as the darkest shade of blue approaches the village. I want to be out in the thick of snowfall, with the sky filled with flakes like a real life snow globe. I love challenging nature like this, avoiding the human tendency to take refuge, and facing my dislike and anxiety about winter head-on. Plus the magic thing. The storm did not disappoint. Wet heavy snow pelted down even though the air temperature remained just above freezing. Snow blanked most of the landscape except for sections shielded by trees, many still filled with leaves. There I found wonderfully conflicted scenes like this, vibrant autumn leaves abutting early winter. The line of demarcation sharply defined, magic intact!
The sapeaters are quite a distinct-looking group of hoverflies. They appear in the spring and some species don't visit flowers, instead feeding on sap runs on old trees. This is also where the females lay their eggs and the larvae develop within the sap runs. The males hang around nearby from time to time hovering for minutes at a time, which is probably a form of courtship display.
This unexpectedly made it to Explore and I am happy that more people than usual will get a a chance to see this unusual and uncommon hoverfly.
Thank you for your visit, likes and comments, which I appreciate a lot.
Asparagus has been used as a vegetable owing to its distinct flavor, and in medicine due to its diuretic properties and its purported function as an aphrodisiac. It is pictured as an offering on an Egyptian frieze dating to 3000 BC. In ancient times, it was also known in Syria and in Spain. Greeks and Romans ate it fresh when in season, and dried the vegetable for use in winter. Roman Epicureans froze its sprouts high in the Alps for the Feast of Epicurus. Emperor Augustus created the "Asparagus Fleet" for hauling the vegetable, and coined the expression "faster than cooking asparagus" for quick action.
A breed of "early-season asparagus" that can be harvested two months earlier than usual was announced by a UK grower in early 2011.
In Explore (27/04/2021)
In Germany, asparagus is grown in "tents" as you can see here near Geiselhöring.
Moon Drop® grapes are a medium to large varietal that grows in loose bunches averaging 29 centimeters in length and 16 centimeters in width. Each grape has a distinct, elongated, uniform, and cylindrical shape, about 3 to 4 centimeters in length and 1 to 2 centimeters in diameter, and showcases a characteristic dimple on one end. The grape’s skin is smooth, semi-thick, glossy, and taut. The skin is also dark purple, often appearing black, and is covered in a medium to heavy blue-grey bloom. This bloom is natural and edible but can be easily wiped from the surface if preferred. Underneath the skin, the translucent purple-green flesh is crisp, seedless, and aqueous with a snap-like quality. [...]. Moon Drop® grapes are sweeter than standard black grape varieties and contain tannins to create a pleasant and balanced sweet-tart flavor.
PS
Moon Drop® grapes are available for a few weeks in the late summer through early fall.
Le Palau Reial Major est un complexe de bâtiments historiques situé sur la Plaça del Rei à Barcelone .
Le palais était la résidence des comtes de Barcelone et, plus tard, des rois d'Aragon et se compose de trois bâtiments distincts :
le Saló del Tinell , construit au XIVe siècle sous la direction de l'architecte Guillem Carbonell et dont les arcs en plein cintre reposent sur des voûtes d'arêtes du XIe siècle , elles-mêmes construites sur une structure monumentale préexistante datant de l' époque wisigothique.
La chapelle palatine Sainte-Agathe, construite en 1302 sous le roi Jacques II.
Le Palau del Lloctinent , construit entre 1549 et 1557 par Antoni Carbonell dans un style gothique tardif et Renaissance , ainsi que le Mirador del rei Martí , une tour de cinq étages sur un plan rectangulaire.
The Palau Reial Major is a complex of historic buildings located in the Plaça del Rei in Barcelona.
The palace was the residence of the Counts of Barcelona and, later, the Kings of Aragon, and consists of three separate buildings:
The Saló del Tinell, built in the 14th century under the direction of the architect Guillem Carbonell, whose semicircular arches rest on 11th-century groin vaults, themselves built over a pre-existing monumental structure dating from the Visigothic period.
The Palatine Chapel of Saint Agatha, built in 1302 under King James II.
The Palau del Lloctinent, built between 1549 and 1557 by Antoni Carbonell in a Late Gothic and Renaissance style, and the Mirador del Rei Martí, a five-story tower on a rectangular plan.
the stars may be seen distinctly before the sun rises, but as His light advances their rays are gradually absorbed by His, and they become invisible. Not from the want of light in themselves, but from the superior effulgence of the chief luminary.
The case is similar here, for there is a strong and universal light which absorbs all the little distinct lights of the soul. They grow faint and disappear under its powerful influence and self activity is now now longer distinguishable.
Similar to and often misidentified as spiders, Opiliones are a distinct order and not closely related to spiders. They have a fused body, and single pair of eyes in the middle of the cephalothorax. Some 6,650 species of harvestmen have been discovered worldwide. The colloquial name daddy longlegs is inappropriate because crane flies and cellar spiders are also referred to by that name. There's an urban myth that Harvestmen are the most venomous animal, but truth be told, it's fangs are too short, and it's mouth too small to bite a human. None in the species have venom glands, so it is therefore harmless to humans.
The distinct red band is quite variable. It may be wide and bold as in this individual or orange as in my next shot. It may also be narrow, especially on the forewing. It is always accented with a thin black and then white line.
Ventrally, this species is not sexually dimorphic and according to literature the band color is not indicative of sex.
Fallen decaying leaves and other decomposing matter are the larval host foods for the Red-banded Hairstreak.