Great White Egret - Ardea Alba

The great egret is generally a very successful species with a large and expanding range, occurring worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. It is ubiquitous across the Sun Belt of the United States and in the Neotropics. In North America, large numbers of great egrets were killed around the end of the 19th century so that their plumes could be used to decorate hats. Numbers have since recovered as a result of conservation measures. Its range has expanded as far north as southern Canada. However, in some parts of the southern United States, its numbers have declined due to habitat loss, particularly wetland degradation through drainage, grazing, clearing, burning, increased salinity, groundwater extraction and invasion by exotic plants. Nevertheless, the species adapts well to human habitation and can be readily seen near wetlands and bodies of water in urban and suburban areas.

The great egret is partially migratory, with northern hemisphere birds moving south from areas with colder winters. It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

In 1953, the great egret in flight was chosen as the symbol of the National Audubon Society, which was formed in part to prevent the killing of birds for their feathers.

On 22 May 2012, a pair of great egrets was announced to be nesting in the UK for the first time at the Shapwick Heath nature reserve in Somerset. The species is a rare visitor to the UK and Ben Aviss of the BBC stated that the news could mean the UK's first great egret colony is established. The following week, Kevin Anderson of Natural England confirmed a great egret chick had hatched, making it a new breeding bird record for the UK. In 2017, seven nests in Somerset fledged 17 young, and a second breeding site was announced at Holkham National Nature Reserve in Norfolk where a pair fledged three young.

In 2018, a pair of great egrets nested in Finland for the first time, raising four young in a grey heron colony in Porvoo.

Provincia de Córdoba-Andalucía- España

Province of Cordoba - Andalusia- Spain

Se recomienda ampliar.

It is recommended to expand.

Muchas gracias por vuestros favoritos, comentarios y visitas. Saludos cordiales.

Thank you very much for your faves, comments and visits . Best regards.

Little Egret - Egretta garzetta

The little egret (Egretta garzetta) is a species of small heron in the family Ardeidae. The genus name comes from the Provençal French Aigrette, egret a diminutive of Aigron, heron. The species epithet garzetta is from the Italian name for this bird, garzetta or sgarzetta.

It is a white bird with a slender black beak, long black legs and, in the western race, yellow feet. As an aquatic bird, it feeds in shallow water and on land, consuming a variety of small creatures. It breeds colonially, often with other species of water birds, making a platform nest of sticks in a tree, bush or reed bed. A clutch of bluish-green eggs is laid and incubated by both parents. The young fledge at about six weeks of age.

Its breeding distribution is in wetlands in warm temperate to tropical parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. A successful colonist, its range has gradually expanded north, with stable and self-sustaining populations now present in the United Kingdom.

It first appeared in the UK in significant numbers in 1989 and first bred in Dorset in 1996

In warmer locations, most birds are permanent residents; northern populations, including many European birds, migrate to Africa and southern Asia to over-winter there. The birds may also wander north in late summer after the breeding season, and their tendency to disperse may have assisted in the recent expansion of the bird's range. At one time common in Western Europe, it was hunted extensively in the 19th century to provide plumes for the decoration of hats and became locally extinct in northwestern Europe and scarce in the south. Around 1950, conservation laws were introduced in southern Europe to protect the species and their numbers began to increase. By the beginning of the 21st century the bird was breeding again in France, the Netherlands, Ireland and Britain. It has also begun to colonise the New World; it was first seen in Barbados in 1954 and first bred there in 1994. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the bird's global conservation status as being of least concern..

Macro Mondays - Tape

Happy Macro Monday everyone.

Dolly was a bit miffed she'd put on a few pounds over Christmas. And that tape measure she'd got out of the Christmas cracker, was proof she wasn't going to fit into her Summer dresses.

PS ... for us mere mortals, the tape measure is tiny and totally useless for us.

E © C

Thanks to Ben Caledonia for the scientific name of this beautiful cluster of wild flowers, these are "Oxalis debilis" wild flowers taken with a Canon EOS 700D camera. Enjoy with Love and Light!

FLORA IN MONOTONE

Time expands, then contracts, and in tune with the stirrings of the heart.

Quote from Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami.

Entered in the Mystic Challenge Group Contest Mystery Clocks

Thank you for taking the time to visit, comment, fave or invite. I really appreciate them all.

All photos used are my own.

All rights reserved. This photo is not authorized for use on your blogs, pin boards, websites or use in any other way. You may NOT download this image without written permission from lemon~art.

I'm not sure why these are called Inca Doves. Reportedly, they've never inhabited the Andes Mountains of Peru where the Inca Empire thrived. They do live in Mexico and southern US states, however. And apparently they're expanding northward. Look out Colorado, they're coming. These are very small doves, just a little bigger than a sparrow.

Uglich (Russian: Углич, IPA: [ˈuɡlʲɪtɕ]) is a historic town in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, located on the Volga River. Population: 34,507.

A local tradition dates the town's origins to 937. It was first documented in 1148 as Ugliche Pole (Corner Field). The town's name is thought to allude to the nearby turn in the Volga River, and is derived from the Russian word ugol (a corner, a nook).

From 1218 until 1328, Uglich was the seat of a small princedom. At that time, the local princes sold their rights to the great prince of Moscow. Uglich was a border town of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, and it was burned several times in conflicts by Lithuanians, Tatars, and the grand prince of Tver.

Grand Duke Ivan III of Moscow gave the town in 1462 to his younger brother Andrey Bolshoy (Andrey the Great). During Andrey's reign, the town was expanded and the first stone buildings were constructed. Particularly notable were the cathedral (rebuilt in 1713), the Intercession Monastery (destroyed by the Bolsheviks in the early 20th century Revolution), and the red-brick palace of the prince (completed in 1481 and still standing).

Yellow Flag Iris through Sedge Grass

Madwish moved to new location! T A X I !

♡ S p o n s o r s ♡

↪ Bamboo

↪ Versuta

♡♡ C r e d i t s ♡♡

▹ Madwish - Nose blush (group gift) @Madwish Mainstore

▸ Madwish - Bambi Eyebrows @Madwish Marketplace

▹ Madwish - Lovely Cheeks ( round blush ) @Madwish Marketplace

▸ Bamboo - Annie top @Level Event

▹ Versuta - ai pose ( 8 )

▸ Glam Affair - Martina skin ( Baige)

▹ Hive - Cold brew

▸ Ladybird - Beatrice

▹ Rouly - Kim Track Pants

▸ Doux - Amaya hairstyle

_____________

♡♡

↪ Madwish Mainstore!

her galaxies dance with grace in the infinite world

www.flickr.com/photos/magic_fly/

thank you, Paula!

Appearings appear

Developing aspect

Normal processes

Water placed in oil and stirred up with different colours placed underneath.

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A fading rose is still beautiful.

Thank you to everyone who pauses long enough to look at my photo. All comments and Faves are very much appreciated

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Treasure Hunt #73 ~ Wires

Thank you to everyone who pauses long enough to look at my photo. All comments and Faves are very much appreciated

Mad because I missed the bee that was in another of the crocuses in this planter in my garden.

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Thank you to everyone who pauses long enough to look at my photo. All comments and Faves are very much appreciated

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Not having been in a shop, to buy anything for a very long time, I was commenting how I missed having fresh flowers in the house. Today my lovely husband came home with a pretty bouquet of flowers for me.

Thank you to everyone who pauses long enough to look at my photo. All comments and Faves are very much appreciated

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Thank you to everyone who pauses long enough to look at my photo. All comments and Faves are very much appreciated

Maybe see some of your fantastic photographs again

Look out for FB nick gray name with a profile image of a stags head

Stay safe all 👍👍👍

The space inside

the human body

In cubistic style

by Antony Gormley

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Our Daily Challenge ~ Yellow Submerged

Thank you to everyone who pauses long enough to look at my photo. All comments and Faves are very much appreciated

Fascinating concertina extension service cables for one side of a moveable pair of buildings (on tracks) that services airplane wings. The top one for compressed air is broken, while the bottom one for electricity is intact.

Biscayne Bay reflects the beautiful and expanding skyline of Miami

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Thank you to everyone who pauses long enough to look at my photo. All comments and Faves are very much appreciated

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The Flickr Lounge ~ Fruit

Thank you to everyone who pauses long enough to look at my photo. All comments and Faves are very much appreciated

A life bird at the time, whether you call it a Nutmeg Mannikin, a Scaly-Breasted Munia, or a Lonchura punctulate. Whatever it is, they're an introduced species and their range is expanding, there was one here in Yolo County last year.

Pasadena, Ca. November 2019.

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Thank you to everyone who pauses long enough to look at my photo. All comments and Faves are very much appreciated

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Short on time and inspiration today so the single daffodil on the windowsill it is.

Thank you to everyone who pauses long enough to look at my photo. All comments and Faves are very much appreciated

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Finally, the first of my daffodils has flowered!

Thank you to everyone who pauses long enough to look at my photo. All comments and Faves are very much appreciated

"A ripple effect occurs when an initial disturbance to a system propagates outward to disturb an increasingly larger portion of the system, like ripples expanding across the water when an object is dropped into it."

This is not just a duck in a pond at sunset. It is a symbol of a phenomenon that we have all experienced directly in 2020. At one level the COVID-19 virus spread from one part of the world to everywhere very quickly like ripples on a pond. But not just the virus. The follow on effects of lock downs, loss of freedoms, jobs, security, pressure on medical systems, collapsing economies, all point to the ripple effect.

But ripple effects are not all bad either. In fact the same principle can lead to rapid solutions and even the healing of the world's woes. If we can find a way to create positive solutions to enhance the eco-system of our planet things can get better. But the choice is ours.

humanityhealing.org/who-we-are/the-ripple-effect/

sim: Wandering New York

uber: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/KaidenTray%20Landscapes/19...

Tune: Hometown www.youtube.com/watch?v=asURM4uVkRA

Wren: I think I started to worry about Twain when he came into our classes later and later ...

Kitten: Wren is correct. Twain rarely paid attention to the speakers. He is known for being rude. But, now, something was different.

Wren: Yes. He seemed , ... as though he was 'zoned out' .. and that is when Kitten noticed ....

Kitten: ... well, I just happened to be glancing over at Twain and I thought I saw him bring this tiny bottle up to his mouth ... and ..

Wren: Exactly ! I caught that too ! Twain quickly tipped the bottle back and swallowed it whole !

Kitten: [nods] ... I think it was , ... and Wren, tell me if I'm wrong on this, .. I think it was 'Parrot Blue' .....

www.amazon.com/Apple-Barrel-PROMOABIII-Acrylic-2-Ounce/dp...

Wren: You are right ... Parrot Blue, Acrylic Paint !! Twain was hooked ... [sighs]

Kitten: Yes. You could see some 'blue' just under his lip .. it was sad. Then he placed his fingers deeper into his pocket and grabbed another bottle.... only this time it was .. um .. ??? .. .

Wren: I think it was Candy-Pink.

I'm almost sure. He really enjoyed switching up flavors.

....and he was listening to that crazy song by Cleopatrick called: Hometown. ... Did you see some of those lyrics Kitten ??

Kitten: [nods and sighs] Yes .. I watched the song on youtube and,, that song is not the Twain I know. He usually listens to Bruno Major ! This song .. with the lyrics right on the screen .. what is that all about ? ...' "life is a bitch with no mouth and no lips"

Wren: [shakes her head sadly] ..I think the streets of New York must have really gotten to him ?

Twain: [Back at his little Studio]

' I dun'no .. I think I first started using the paint after the class on 'Thirds' .. I just didn't get it ?

How am I supposed to crop my photos into Thirds ?!! [pounds his little mesh fist on his studio table]. I can understand cutting a pie or ? .. a watermelon into Thirds. ... but when they talked about it in class .. and showed the photos ... I think that was the tipping point for me. That's when I turned to these little babies as my salvation .. [points to the little flavored bottles of Acrylic Paints].

They really help me get through the day. The 'paints' also helped me get off of Bruno Major music. Ya know ? .. I've expanded into different music .. like this deep stuff .. Hometown by cleopatrick.

Which, btw, is also the background music that is used for this amazing dance troupe that you really all should watch from AGT .. but it's only worth watching if you have your video screen fully filled .. fully open with this .. or it isn't worth watching 1/2 open .. they will blow your mind !!! www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZdXlU_VChw

So worth watching twice even !

Twain: I'll, ... I'll try to kick the 'paint' and be a better student in class ... I didn't mean to worry Wren or Kitten. They've both been so good to me. Well ... until next time .. see ya !! And be sure to watch that dance troupe with your screen / video fully open ... they are amazing ! Thanks ! 💖

Oh . .and thank you for all your support of my photo pages ! :)

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I walked out into the garden today to find that this little beauty has flowered. Another of the tulips I planted last autumn.

Thank you to everyone who pauses long enough to look at my photo. All comments and Faves are very much appreciated

In my garden after a spot of overnight rain.

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Wonderfully juicy satsumas.

Thank you to everyone who pauses long enough to look at my photo. All comments and Faves are very much appreciated

Walked passed the railway station this afternoon and looks like nobody is travelling, anywhere!!

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Stay Safe and Healthy Everyone!

Thanks to everyone who views this photo, adds a note, leaves a comment and of course BIG thanks to anyone who chooses to favourite my photo .... Thanks to you all!

The clouds spread out above the horizon with the mountains in the backdrop.

Good morning beautiful. Nice to see you again.

This looks gorgeous if you expAND it!!!

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Treasure Hunt #34 ~ Hexagonal

Thank you to everyone who pauses long enough to look at my photo. All comments and Faves are very much appreciated

This photograph taken inside the Wisconsin Central’s diesel shop at North Fond du Lac shows two recent arrivals getting a mechanical check-over before being added to their then rapidly expanding fleet of SD45s.

The WC had already purchased 21 of these big EMDs from the Santa Fe in 1993, but due to increasing traffic levels they found it necessary to add more power in late 1994 into early 1995.

The ATSF 5327 would become the WC 6599 and the ATSF 5400 the WC 6629. – The additional road units that came to the WC from the ATSF this time around included 33 SD45s, 6 F45s and the one FP45. - September 6th, 1994 ~~ A Jeff Hampton Photograph ©

American Bison

The American Bison or simply Bison (Bison bison), also commonly known as the American Buffalo or simply Buffalo, is an American species of Bison that once roamed North America in vast herds. Its historical range, by 9000 BC, is described as the Great Bison Belt, a tract of rich grassland that ran from Alaska to the Gulf of Mexico, east to the Atlantic Seaboard (nearly to the Atlantic tidewater in some areas) as far north as New York and south to Georgia and, according to some sources, further south to Florida, with sightings in North Carolina near Buffalo Ford on the Catawba River as late as 1750. It nearly became extinct by a combination of commercial hunting and slaughter in the 19th century and introduction of bovine diseases from domestic cattle. With a population more than 60 million in the late 18th century, the species was down to just 541 animals by 1889. Recovery efforts expanded in the mid-20th century, with a resurgence to roughly 31,000 wild Bison today, largely restricted to a few national parks and reserves. Through multiple reintroductions, the species is now also freely roaming wild in some regions in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with it also being introduced to Yakutia in Russia.

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

melting hearts