BRIEF ENCOUNTER, with this beauty , before it took of and lost track of it at Sandwich Bay, Kent UK. A plump-bodied bunting, and its attractive appearance and typically confiding nature, except in my case lol. ensure that it is a favorite among birdwatchers.

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THANK YOU for your visit and friendship, love reading your comments, which I am very thankful for, and find encouraging.

Keep safe and well my friends, enjoy the weekend God bless you.................................Tomx

This puma gave us a glance to ensure we were not approaching her cache of a previous kill. (There was no chance of that !)

Puma / Mountain Lion / Cougar - Patagonia Chile

Dunnock - Prunella Modularis

aka Hedge Sparrow

The dunnock (Prunella modularis) is a small passerine, or perching bird, found throughout temperate Europe and into Asia. Dunnocks have also been successfully introduced into New Zealand. It is by far the most widespread member of the accentor family, which otherwise consists of mountain species. Other common names of the dunnock include the hedge accentor, hedge sparrow, or hedge warbler.

Dunnocks are native to large areas of Eurasia, inhabiting much of Europe including Lebanon, northern Iran, and the Caucasus. They are the only commonly found accentor in lowland areas, all the others inhabit upland areas

Dunnocks were successfully introduced into New Zealand during the 19th century, and are now widely distributed around the country and some offshore islands. Favourite habitats include woodlands, shrubs, gardens, and hedgerows where they typically feed on the ground often seeking out detritivores as food.

The dunnock possesses variable mating systems. Females are often polyandrous, breeding with two or more males at once, which is quite rare among birds. This multiple mating system leads to the development of sperm competition amongst the male suitors. DNA fingerprinting has shown that chicks within a brood often have different fathers, depending on the success of the males at monopolising the female.Males try to ensure their paternity by pecking at the cloaca of the female to stimulate ejection of rival males' sperm. Dunnocks take just one-tenth of a second to copulate and can mate more than 100 times a day. Males provide parental care in proportion to their mating success, so two males and a female can commonly be seen provisioning nestlings at one nest.

Population:

UK breeding:

2,300,000 territories

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

Please follow me on Instagram as well @gregtaylorphotography

All images are the property of Greg Taylor Photography. Do not copy, reprint or reproduce without written consent from me.

Thanks so much to all who choose to look at and comment on my images. It's very much appreciated.

Patrolling...

Male lions are responsible for ensuring their territory remains their own. They go to great lengths to mark their parcel of land.

Many thanks to everyone who chooses to leave a comment or add this image to their favorites, it is much appreciated.

©Elsie van der Walt, all rights reserved. Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. If you are interested in using one of my images, please send me an E-mail (elsie.vdwalt@gmail.com).

The name "vaseux" is French, meaning muddy or murky, which is descriptive of the lake's silty water. The lake was likely named by French Canadian fur traders.

Vaseaux Lake features a variety of wetland and foreshore habitats that support large populations of migratory bird species along the inland portion of the Pacific Flyway. Bird species of note include trumpeter swan, great blue heron, western screech-owl, yellow-breasted chat, and the red-listed Lewis's woodpecker. It is for these reasons that the Canadian Wildlife Service designated the lake and its foreshore a Migratory Bird Sanctuary in 1923.

The semi-arid grasslands and forests surrounding the lake are also of ecological importance, and are protected within several different national and provincial protected areas. In 1956, the provincial government established Vaseux Lake Provincial Park at the northeastern end of the lake to providing space for recreation while also ensuring the ecological integrity of the lake's foreshore in this area is preserved.

In 1979, the Canadian Wildlife Service established Vaseux-Bighorn National Wildlife Area to protect winter rangeland for California Bighorn Sheep.[6] The provincial government added on to this nature preserve by establishing Vaseux Protected Area in 2001. (Wikipedia).

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Looking down the length of Vaseux Lake. It doesn't seem murky to me. We did see plenty of birds, though :-)

Vaseux Lake Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada. June 2022.

Not long ego I showed here another shot from this spectacular sunset above Seifersdorf a village near my hometown. Here, You see a wider look of that scene. Its impressive, how much the story of this photograph is changing, when You have more informations available. I can't deny the parallels to the real life und the culture of communication. So ensure that You did ask enough before You judge.

Von diesem spektakulären Sonnenuntergang über Seifersdorf, meinem Nachbarort, habe ich vor kurzem schon ein Bild gezeigt. Hier gibts nochmal ein etwas weiteres Bild. Es ist beeindruckend, wie sehr sich die Geschichte des Bildes verändert, wenn man mehr Informationen zur Verfügung hat. Eine Parallele zum wirklichen Leben und zur Kultur der Kommunikation kann ich hier nicht leugnen. Also achte darauf, dass du genug gefragt hast, bevor du urteilst.

A grainy photo showing an Inuit camp at night on an island in lake Tasiujaq (formerly Richmond Gulf and Lac Guillaume-Delisle), Nunavik, Canada.

Lake (lac) Tasiujaq drains several large rivers and is bordered on its west shore by steep cliffs (Hudsonian Cuestas) that are the highest in the province of Quebec.

Lake Tasiujaq is a vast brackish water lake with a narrow opening (called the Goulet) between cuestas to Hudson’s Bay. A large volume of water surges through this bottleneck and is driven by the rise and fall of the tides. The powerful flow ensures that the waters of the Goulet never freeze in winter. Lake Tasiujaq is one of the largest natural lakes in Quebec and is included in the boundaries of Tursujuq national park.

For more information see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Tasiujaq

Photo taken 29 August 2018 on a kayaking expedition.

Camera: Olympus EM1 Mark II

Lens: Olympus 12- 40mm f2.8

P8290294

"Port Moody has one of the few remaining large mudflats in Burrard Inlet. It is an environmentally sensitive area that is home to many nesting shoreline species such as purple martins, osprey, and great blue heron. The mudflats are home to a biodiverse community of fish, shellfish, and other significant tidal species that are sensitive to disturbance. The city’s trail system, including wooden boardwalks that wrap the head of the inlet, is designed so visitors can experience and enjoy the wildlife that live there, while staying off the mudflats. Residents and visitors can stay out of danger, and ensure this special place remains for future generations, by remaining on the designated trails and keeping dogs on a leash."

In Casa Mila, the two atriums ensure ample lighting in all areas on all floors. Structurally, are key as supporting elements of interior facades. In the courtyards, there are traditional elliptical beams and girders, but Gaudí applied an ingenious solution of using two concentric cylindrical beams with stretched radial beams, like the spokes of a bicycle. They form a point outside of the beam to two points above and below, making the function of the central girder a keystone and working in tension and compression simultaneously. This supported structure is about 3,60 meters (12 feet) in diameter and is considered "the soul of the building" with a clear resemblance to Gothic crypts.

*info and adapted text credits: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casa_Mil%C3%A0

Eine Grubenlampe ist eine Leuchte, die bei der Arbeit unter Tage eingesetzt wird. Jeder Bergmann hat seine „persönliche“ Grubenlampe. Nach der Schicht ist der Bergmann dafür verantwortlich, dass er üblicherweise selbst die Grubenlampe ordnungsgemäß zum Wiederaufladen in der Lampenstube in den beschrifteten Stellplatz in der Ladestation einsetzt, damit er zur nächsten Schicht wieder eine vollgeladene Grubenlampe zur Verfügung hat. Zum Schichtbeginn wird die Grubenlampe sofort angeschaltet und erst zum Schichtende an der Ladestation wieder abgeschaltet.

A miner's lamp is a lamp that is used when working underground. Every miner has his "personal" miner's lamp. After the shift, the miner is responsible for ensuring that he himself uses the miner's lamp properly for recharging in the labeled parking space in the charging station so that he has a fully charged miner's lamp available for the next shift. At the start of the shift, the miner's lamp is switched on immediately and only switched off again at the charging station at the end of the shift.

it seems very likely that St Anthony's Chapel was closely associated with Holyrood Abbey, which stood just a few hundred yards away to the north-west. The two were linked by a well-made stone track (now heavily worn) with prominent kerbstones that can in places still be seen, and about three quarters of the way along this track up to the chapel is the spring and carved stone bowl known as St Anthony's Well.

It's tempting to think of St Anthony's Chapel as an outlying chapel for Holyrood Abbey, perhaps constructed as a means of getting pilgrims out from under the feet of the monks in the abbey. It has also been suggested that the chapel served as a sort of religious beacon, designed to be clearly visible to sea-borne pilgrims coming to Holyrood Abbey as they sailed up the River Forth.

As for dating, there are references to a grant paid for repairs to St Anthony's Chapel by the Pope in 1426, suggesting the building could date back into the 1300s or beyond. Details of its demise are equally unclear, but presumably, like Holyrood Abbey itself, St Anthony's Chapel fell into disuse and disrepair after the Reformation in 1560.

Today, all that remains of the chapel are parts of the north wall plus remnants of another building a little to the south-west, which has sometimes been called a hermitage but was probably just a store room. The remaining chapel wall shows signs of vaulting, and it is thought that when complete the building would have comprised a small three-bay chapel, with a three-storey tower at its west end. This odd shape, almost as tall as it was long, supports the idea that the chapel was designed as much to ensure distant visibility as to accommodate worshippers.

Stood among the conifers, juggling position and exposure to ensure I didn't blow out parts of the tree I was shielding the lens behind, this was a tricky but satisfying shot. Sometimes when I shoot sun rays I am in awe and its easy to forget to take the shot :)

Details

The Pinilla Reservoir is located on the upper Lozoya River, in the north of the Community of Madrid (Spain). Located in the Sierra de Guadarrama, it is the headwater basin of the basin from the moment it was opened in 1967. It is part of the Canal de Isabel II network, a company that supplies drinking water to the capital of Spain and much of it of the Community of Madrid.

After the 1964 drought that forced the imposition of water restrictions on Madrid, the government decided to take the issue of water supply to the capital as a matter of state. Returning to a previous project, a dam was designed next to the town of Pinilla del Valle that retained the waters of the Lozoya River in the upper part of the valley, where rainfall is more abundant and regular.

The execution of this head dam, which by the conditions of the terrain and relative closed valley advised the type of gravity dam, did not present any difficulty and put its regulated flow immediately available to the driving channels, when entering the knot from Torrelaguna, where you could drive on any of the three channels (Alto, Bajo and El Atazar), ensuring an increase in regulated flow of the order of 1 m³ / s.

This dam could also be an important part of a hydroelectric use, deriving its flow, instead of the Lozoya River, by a lateral channel to the Canencia stream, where a waterfall could be established to take advantage of the level gained by the channel in relation to the river, and pour it for its later entry into the reservoir of Riosequillo. (Source Wikipedia)

El embalse de Pinilla está situado en el curso alto del río Lozoya, en el norte de la Comunidad de Madrid (España). Enclavado en plena Sierra de Guadarrama, es el embalse de cabecera de la cuenca desde el momento en que fue inaugurado en 1967. Forma parte de la red del Canal de Isabel II, compañía que suministra el agua potable a la capital de España y a buena parte de la Comunidad de Madrid.

Tras la sequía de 1964 que obligó a imponer restricciones de agua a Madrid, el Gobierno decidió tomar el asunto del suministro de agua a la capital como una cuestión de estado. Retomando un proyecto anterior, se diseñó una presa junto al pueblo de Pinilla del Valle que retuviese las aguas del río Lozoya en la parte alta del valle, donde las precipitaciones son más abundantes y regulares.

La ejecución de esta presa de cabecera, que por las condiciones del terreno y relativa cerrada del valle aconsejaba el tipo de presa de gravedad, no presentaba ninguna dificultad y ponía su caudal regulado a disposición inmediata de los canales de conducción, al ingresar en el nudo de Torrelaguna, donde se podía conducir por cualquiera de los tres canales (Alto, Bajo y de El Atazar), asegurando un incremento de caudal regulado del orden de 1 m³/s.

Esta presa podía ser además, una pieza importante de un aprovechamiento hidroeléctrico, derivando su caudal, en lugar de por el río Lozoya, por un canal lateral hasta el arroyo de Canencia, donde podía establecerse un salto de agua para aprovechar el nivel ganado por el canal en relación al río, y verter a éste para su posterior ingreso en el embalse de Riosequillo.( Fuente Wikipedia)

Rhinoceros: since 1973 the population has recovered well and increased to 544 animals around the turn of the century. To ensure the survival of the endangered species in case of epidemics animals are translocated annually from Chitwan to the Bardia National Park and the Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve since 1986. However, the population has repeatedly been jeopardized by poaching: in 2002 alone, poachers killed 37 individuals in order to saw off and sell their valuable horns.[6] Chitwan has the largest population of Indian rhinoceros in Nepal, estimated at 605 individuals out of 645 in total in the country.

Der Park ist bekannt für die Population des Panzernashorns, die bis zur Jahrtausendwende auf 544 Tiere und bis zum Frühjahr 2015 auf 645 Nashörner[6] angewachsen war. Seit 1986 werden alljährlich Tiere von Chitwan in den Bardia-Nationalpark und in das Suklaphanta-Wildreservat übersiedelt. Die Population war aber immer wieder durch Wilderei stark gefährdet: allein im Jahre 2002 haben Wilderer 37 Tiere grausam getötet, um das kostbare Horn absägen und verkaufen zu können. Die letzte Zählung im Jahr 2011 ergab insgesamt 503 Nashörner im Park, im selben Zeitraum starben zwei Tiere durch Wilderer. Bei der Zählung im Frühjahr 2015 wurden 645 Tiere in Nepal gefunden[6], davon 605 im Chitwan-Nationalpark[8], während gleichzeitig in den letzten drei Jahren kein Tier durch Wilderer ums Leben kam.

A Wood Stork coming in for a landing (virtually over my head)

From Florida Audubon

The Wood Stork is one of Florida’s signature wading birds, a long-legged, awkward-looking bird on land that soars like a raptor in the air.

Wood Stork

Like many Florida birds associated with wetlands, the Wood Stork has suffered from the destruction and degradation of our state’s wetlands. Today, the Wood Stork is classed “Threatened” by the State of Florida and the federal government.

It feeds in shallow water, stirring the bottom with its unlikely pink feet and snapping up small prey that are unlucky enough to encounter the bird’s sensitive bill. They nest in early spring, just in time for the traditional season of lowest water when prey items will be concentrated in shrunken wetlands, providing good hunting so the storks can feed their young.

Now, we have altered the natural cycle of high and low water in our wetlands and Wood Storks often can’t find enough food for their young, who eventually succumb to starvation.

How Audubon is Helping

Everglades Restoration: the Everglades is a historical feeding and nesting ground for Wood Storks. By restoring the river of grass, we will ensure there will always be places for storks to feed, nest and raise their young.

Lake Okeechobee Recovery: Wood Storks forage in and nest around this beleagured big lake. Cleaning up the lake will help storks and a suite of other animals, as well as the Everglades itself.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary: This Audubon Sanctuary in Southwest Florida protects one of the state’s largest Wood Stork rookeries. Audubon actively manages the sanctuary for the storks’ benefit, and we advocate for their feeding grounds downstream.

There is a large rookery at Wakodahatchee Wetlands.

The largest group I've ever seen is at Harris Neck in Georgia - there they ride the thermals together many hundreds at a time. They also have a rookery there.

04-May-2022: about turism: my perplexities towards a future with more and more bans and more and more over-taxes.

Lake Bohinj and the much more famous Lake Bled are close (less than 20 km) but the second has a mass tourism now rooted, while the first is expanding its tourist reception in recent years, coming out (unfortunately) from the shadow of Bled, that was a lightning rod for peaceful and symbiotic nature lovers.

I am totally against mass tourism because it transforms a relaxing resort into an area where it is difficult even to access it.

Around Lake Bled, even at a certain distance, there are only paid parking lots, which come to cost 6 euros per hour (about the most decentralized and in May...) that, certainly, leave perplexed about the "tourist selection" that "they" would like to implement (high-end tourism) and, in general, certainly drive away the tourist in search of nature and not restaurants, bars, concrete lake-front and crowd baths.

The naturalist tourist should not feel like a tourist in Nature, which is a single great asset of humanity and that only administratively is divided between various Countries, while in Bled, as in Rimini or Cortina d'Ampezzo, they make you feel not only tourist, but also guest, sometimes unwanted if you spend little.

As tourism increases, so do the bans, because unfortunately mass tourism includes many people who don't know anything about Nature and generally only go to very touristy places to make themselves of...people, sowing dirt and ignorance wherever they move.

The imposition of prohibitions/bans to limit the "damage from mass tourism" affects everyone indiscriminately, including locals and naturalists who have always had a symbiotic relationship with these places, thus making them become inhospitable, at least to those seeking pure contact with nature itself.

Of course this happens all over the world, but it should be condemned.

We already pay State taxes for the maintenance of the slice of Nature that falls within our administration, tourist surcharges, exploiting market laws that should be verified and contained, are for the most part unconstitutional, as well as several prohibitions that deprive access and use of public property.

With the money that the tourist municipalities pocket they could very well implement a targeted prevention (controls by foresters, cameras, ad hoc fences for areas subject to micro-pollution...) rather than closing everything and then de-empowering themself on the maintenance of roads and areas (more and more numerous), thus going to save further, starting from the basic taxes that we pay to also have access to given areas.

I can understand that you tax parking at high altitude to maintain the roads, but the amount of the payment should be directly proportional to the expenses that must be incurred to ensure accessibility, not by putting prices at random and with increases of 200% from one year to the next.

I have always appreciated the fact that Slovenia, thanks also that it is not densely inhabited and has a modest tourism (except precisely Bled, Postojna Caves and the Coast), guarantees a wide accessibility and use of its territories and I hope it can continue, limiting the prohibitions and parking lots everywhere.

Life is brutal in the Mara, the predators follow the abundance of Wildebeest, Antelopes and Zebra to ensure their own young are well fed. The eyes say it all.

As I walked around the park I saw a number of Mallard ducks resting on the grass.

I found this information about this process:

Moulting is a process of shedding and regrowing feathers. Adult birds are shedding their worn out feathers from this year's breeding season and growing new, strong, warm feathers to see them through the winter. This year's young are losing their first feathers and moulting into their adult coats.

Feathers wear out during a bird's busy year. Flying, rubbing against neighbouring feathers or trees, general weakening due to exposure to sun, along with parasites, such as feather lice, all cause damage to feathers.

A comparison of feather wear shows that pigmented (dark) feathers wear more slowly than white ones.

Feathers grow from follicles in the skin (like hair) and the growth of a new feather from the bottom of the follicle pushes the old one out. The process is a gradual one and occurs in sequence across an area of skin to ensure that there are no ‘bald’ patches.

This means that a full moult may be spread out over a considerable time period, which is fine if there is a plentiful food supply, and if the bird is not a migrant.

Most birds will moult completely during a year, sometimes split into two or three moult periods, usually before and after breeding.

Moulting is a drain on a bird’s resources. It takes energy to grow new feathers, there may be heat loss when feathers are shed, affecting insulation, and when flight feathers are lost, more energy may be needed for flight.

Unlike most other birds, ducks, geese and swans lose all their flight feathers at once, rendering them flightless for a period.

In ducks, to provide some protection for the brightly-coloured males, the moult starts with their bright body feathers. These are replaced by dowdy brown ones, making them look much like females.

This eclipse plumage is why in mid- to late summer, it seems that all the drakes have gone. Once the flight feathers have regrown, the birds moult again, and by October the full colours have been regained and the various species of ducks are easily recognisable.

Female ducks lose their flight feathers later, after the young become independent.

This is the time of year when they moult.

(source: RSPB website)

He gently stroked between the cat's ears and sighed. "With Auntie leaving everything to you in her will, Felix, I'll have to ensure I give you both the best send-off your deserve."

...Mew... said Felix

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Several friends nudged me. And nudged me some more to enter the challenge. I seemed to have reached dark fantasy Zen as while I was afk my partner logged in and was so creeped out seeing my character he kicked me from his home. The cad. I call that a result.

My work here is done.....steeples fingers together and mutters 'excellent'

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Hotdog&[ContraptioN] - Xing coat . leather demon @Mainstore

.pt. gg - emotional urn - peculiar @Mainstore

[ContraptioN] The Saboteur's Gloves II *???* bento @Mainstore

Clemmm - Igno Pin /// Aged Original [Worn as a brooch] @Marketplace

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The kitten is alive and well and ended up parked on Steven's head.

taken by KHWD

want to see more images?

www.motorhome-travels.net/family-slides-20s

Sawley Marina, located near Nottingham, offers a picturesque setting with plenty of opportunities to capture stunning reflections of barges. Here are some tips to help you take great photos of barge reflections:

Golden Hour: As always, shooting during the golden hours (early morning or late afternoon) provides beautiful, warm light that enhances reflections.

Calm Waters: Look for calm, still water to get the clearest reflections. Early mornings are usually best for this, as winds tend to be lighter.

Composition: Use the rule of thirds to position the barge and its reflection. Experiment with different compositions to find the most visually appealing shot.

Symmetry: Emphasize the symmetry between the barge and its reflection. This can create a very balanced and pleasing image.

Depth of Field: Use a smaller aperture (higher f-number) to ensure both the barge and its reflection are in sharp focus. This will help capture details in both the barge and its mirror image.

Polarizing Filter: A polarizing filter can reduce glare on the water and enhance the colors of the barge and its reflection.

Perspective: Get low to the water's surface to accentuate the reflection. Shooting from different angles can provide unique and interesting perspectives.

Foreground Interest: Include elements in the foreground, like the marina's edge or other boats, to add depth and context to your photo.

Editing: In post-processing, enhance the contrast and colors to make the reflections more pronounced. Adjusting the clarity and sharpness can also help bring out details.

Sawley Marina's tranquil environment and the vibrant colors of the barges make it a fantastic spot for photography. Enjoy capturing the beauty of the reflections! 😊

Mit der Apfelblüte hält der Vollfrühling Einzug. Jetzt ist die Zeit der Blütenfülle. Es blühen nicht nur die Obstbäume, sondern auch viele Wildpflanzen und Ziersträucher, z.B. der Flieder. Auch die spät austreibenden Laubbäume entfalten jetzt ihr Laub und Raps und Wintergetreide wachsen schnell in die Höhe. Die steigenden Temperaturen und die längere Sonneneinstrahlung sorgen für eine allgemein stürmische Pflanzenentwicklung. Der phänologische Beobachter muss jetzt sehr aufmerksam sein, damit er die vielen phänologischen Phasen mitbekommt.

Full spring arrives with the apple blossom. Now is the time for blooms. Not only the fruit trees are in bloom, but also many wild plants and ornamental shrubs, e.g. lilacs. The deciduous trees that sprout late are now unfolding their leaves and rapeseed and winter cereals are growing quickly. The rising temperatures and longer periods of sunshine ensure a generally stormy plant development. The phenological observer must now be very attentive in order to notice the many phenological phases.

The big church in Dordrecht is a fantastic find for anyone who is interested in religious buildings or medieval architecture. Alternatively known as Dordrecht Minster, the Great Church or the Church of Our Lady, this establishment is the largest church in the city. This church was ranked amongst the top 100 Dutch heritage sites on a list which was created by the department of Conservation in the early 1990s. It is noted for its Brabant Gothic style and its unfinished church tower.

The original plan was to construct an octagonal tower which would be over one hundred meters highs, however half way through the construction, it was noticed that the tower had begun to develop a significant lean. Like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the ground below the tower was too soft to support such a heavy structure, and the tower had begun to tilt. Because of the dangerous incline, the tower was never finished. During the 20th century, restoration work took place on the tower to ensure that the structure would remain safe for visitors. Despite the fact that it remained unfinished, the tower was still the tallest structure in Dordrecht for almost 500 years.

Always shifting and drifting ensuring nature's canvas is constantly changing from one day to the next. Taken at Barwon Heads from under the road bridge just before sunset using Nisi ND Filters

Buergbrennen is a celebration centred on a huge bonfire which takes place on the first Sunday in Lent in Luxembourg and surrounding areas. The burning of fires originated with pagan feasts in connection with the spring equinox on 21 March.The local authorities or youth organisations usually make the arrangements for the Buergbrennen. They collect wood, often old Christmas trees, from the inhabitants and make the buerg or bonfire, usually on the top of a neighbouring hill and clad with hay to ensure rapid burning. There is often a cross rising high above the centre of the fire. Torchlight processions to the bonfire sometimes take place and there are usually stands for food and drink. The firemen are present to ensure against accidents. In some areas, the most recently married couple have the honour of lighting the fire.

JOIN ME on my Five Day Northern Lights Iceland Workshop

15th - 20th October 2020

melvinnicholsonphotography.co.uk/product-category/iceland...

WOW, WOW, WOW, what a sunrise I was treated to in Iceland back in October last year. I cannot wait to return this October.

I have longed to capture the beautiful sights of the sea stacks of Vik with some wonderful colour and on this particular morning, my wish was granted.

I positioned myself on the beach to catch the rising sun and shooting at f16, I ensured that it would starburst as soon as it made an appearance. It was also important to me to capture the streaks of water on the beach which would reflect the golden light and colours beautifully.

Canon 5D MK4

Canon 24-70mm f4 @ 59mm

f16

2"

ISO100

Polariser Filter

0.6 Hard ND Grad Filter

6 Stop ND Filter

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Traveling to new places always ensures my heart will skip a beat faster when I see new sights. I was familiar with Cattle Egrets, as I'd noticed them at a distance on one of our earlier trips to the Hawaiian Islands. However, on our last visit I was stunned to see this beauty creeping slowly through the green grass outside one of the five star resorts. As this bird was moving along just feet away from tourists, I realized that its search for a meal was the only thing on its mind.

Cologne’s extensive public transport network ensures convenient and fast travel around the town. The Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe (KVB) local transport company moves daily around 800,000 people with almost 60 lines, a good 380 trams and 320 buses. Most local train stations are linked to tram stops and are equipped with live departure boards.

Almost all KVB trams and buses are provided with ticket machines. You can pay with coins or “Geldkarte” money card/e-purse. Besides, tickets are available at ticket machines next to public transport stops and at any KVB travel desk.

(Text source: KVB website)

This red winged backbird was watching the passers on the trail, ensuring that we didn't get too close! At Commonwealth Lake.

Brian ensures he keeps his slime-alcohol level below the Scottish legal limit of 0.05%. Because he always drinks responsibly, he is generally the designated crawler when out with his friends.

For Macro Mondays theme 'Beverage'.

No snails were harmed or became inebriated in the making of this photograph.

Bundar is a 6 year old male Malayan tiger. With only about 250 remaining in the wild Malayan tigers are the most at risk tigers for going extinct. Without managed care to boost their numbers, and to ensure genetic diversity, they will most likely go extinct.

The Parthenon (/ˈpɑːrθəˌnɒn, -nən/; Ancient Greek: Παρθενών; Greek: Παρθενώνας, Parthenónas) is a former temple, on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron. Construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the peak of its power. It was completed in 438 BC although decoration of the building continued until 432 BC. It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece, generally considered the zenith of the Doric order. Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of Greek art. The Parthenon is regarded as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, Athenian democracy and Western civilization,and one of the world's greatest cultural monuments. To the Athenians who built it, the Parthenon and other Periclean monuments of the Acropolis, were seen fundamentally as a celebration of Hellenic victory over the Persian invaders and as a thanksgiving to the gods for that victory.The Greek Ministry of Culture is currently carrying out a program of selective restoration and reconstruction to ensure the stability of the partially ruined structure. Wikipedia

Time consuming, but it ensured he left no evidence behind.

No body, no crime.

The bits of viscera that fall away due to his messy eating fall into the water, drawing in several fish that happily swallow down his crumbs.

Taking the bodies, he finally descends into the depths. His magic is released, a sudden pulse that pings out to the dangers that lurk in the deep.

It’s not long before there’s an answer to his call.

Within a matter of minutes, the monster is surrounded by a group of Short fin Mako Sharks, circling, curious. Magic amplifies his thoughts, his will. For a moment their silence leaves him hanging, believing they do not wish to share his meal.

Sharks do not consider humans as part of their diet. At least there is no record of it. Whenever an attack happens it’s mainly due to other reasons.

Yet, this type of shark is known to devour their own siblings.

Survival of the fittest.

They shoot forward with incredible speed, their mouths eagerly tearing into the bodies he’s provided. His own maw parts, reflecting those around him before another bit of flesh is torn off and swallowed.

Having dinner with others makes it more enjoyable.

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Any rewards/awards comments will be deleted.

Insekten sind bei Blumen stets gern gesehene Gäste.

Insects ensure the existence in the plant world. Just because they are not petting animals, we shouldn't neglect them.

Please, no invitations to award/forced comment groups or to those with large/animated comment codes.

A hidden gem where nature flourishes amidst the busy urban is located in the center of Dubai. Greetings from Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, a sanctuary for both environment lovers and animal aficionados. Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, which is situated at the mouth of the ecologically significant Dubai Creek, is essential to the restocking of the fishing grounds for the neighboring communities of Deira, Shindhaga, and Bur Dubai. This sanctuary was created in 1985 and was formally designated as a protected area in 1998. Its ecological significance has won it acclaim on a global scale.

In 2007, it was designated as a Ramsar Site under the Ramsar Convention, highlighting its importance on a global scale. Additionally, Birdlife International has identified it as a Globally Important Bird Area (IBA), further solidifying its status as an exceptional wetland within the UAE. (DubaiTourVisa.com)

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We had a two day layover in Dubai on our way home from New Zealand and Singapore. So of course, we went birding. This is the view from the Mangrove Hide, one of three luxurious hides situated at the Sanctuary. These hides are the only access points for viewing and are managed carefully to ensure that the birds are not disturbed. We saw 31 species in just one morning, including one lifer and many flamingoes. An easy visit for any birder with a few hours to spare when visiting Dubai.

This is a two-image panorama.

Dubai, UAE. March 2024.

Macro Mondays: Anachonism (something that is out of place in modern time). Image is cropped to ensure it fits within the 3" size limits.

I seem to have misplaced or possibly thrown out :( all of our cassette tape collection. I texted my husband if he knows where it is and he is certain it is in the garage which is where one stereo that still plays cassette tapes is located. I looked in the garage but couldn't find the box of cassette tapes. While I was out there I decided to take a look in the stereo and I lucked out...one, dusty, old AC/DC tape to the rescue!

Thank you so much for your visit! Happy Macro Monday and have a great week!

In this photo, a male and female dragonfly are seen connected after mating. The male remains attached to the female, a behavior called mate guarding. This ensures his sperm has the highest chance of fertilizing her eggs while they search for an ideal spot to lay them.

Mating Silver-studded Blues ensuring next years generation.

Cottonwood Creek in Sierra County is a nice place to view the progression of Autumn. A heady dose of cottonwoods, willows, and aspens ensures your autumn needs are met. Watch out for the bears.

Sierra County CA

Just out for one of my typical peaceful rides. Great way to clear ones mind. :) Photo taken at Cloudbreak SLURL

Just on my Clydesdale Waterhorse. There are lots of 'charities' in SL. Some are not legit, but some have been looked into to ensure that the donations go where they need to go. The skin on my Clyde is from *CINNAMON* at the following:

Second Chances Equine Rescue, SL event.

100% profit from these two babies will be donated to the cause.

August 25th and 26th

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Choa%20Nu/84/213/1257

For more info about what Second Chances do, and how to donate and support them, visit their page:

www.facebook.com/SecondChancesEquineRescue/

www.scer-ga.org/

Waves and current have kept this section of the St. Lawrence River clear of ice. There's a warming trend now through Christmas, but there's enough snow to ensure a white one.

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118/100 Paddles, 2016.

HSS 😊😊😍

I know that AI has some beneficial qualities, and those I am delighted with. However, I am apprehensive about the harm it may cause.

With heartfelt thanks for your kind visit. Have a wonderful day, stay healthy, stay alert, appreciate the beauty around you, enjoy your creativity, stay safe, and laugh often! ❤️❤️❤️

Nachdem ich das obere Teil des Schiffes durch die Büsche fahren sah, beeilte ich mich nach unten zum Nord-Ostsee-Kanal zu kommen.Wenige Meter entfernt gleitet dann das Cargo Schiff an mir vorbei.

After seeing the upper part of the ship sailing through the bushes, I hurried down to the Kiel Canal and the cargo ship glided by a few meters away.

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Danube Highway, Kess

GT23498

DWT (t)7788

Gesamtlänge (m)148

Breite (m)25

www.vesselfinder.com/de/vessels/DANUBE-HIGHWAY-IMO-931630...

Danube Highway, Kess

Length 148 m

Breadth 25 m

Ramp Capacity 70 t

Capacity 1600 units

Latest generation of Car Carriers for short sea shipping. Very flexible vessels with high & heavy decks and liftable car decks. Equipped with strong straight stern and quarter ramps as well as wide, open decks for safe and easy car/truck handling. These ships are fitted with bow and stern thrusters to ensure high manoeuvrability. For winter navigation in Baltic the vessels are built according to Finnish / Swedish ice-class 1A.

www.kess.kline.de//index.php?//Fleet/Elbe%2C%20Seine%2C%2...

www.flickr.com/photos/184806716@N02/52850522713/in/pool-i...

COMMON NAME: Bengal Tiger

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Panthera tigris tigris

TYPE: Mammals

DIET: Carnivore

AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 8 to 10 years

SIZE: Head and body: 5 to 6 feet; tail: 2 to 3 feet

WEIGHT: 240 to 500 pounds

In the tall grass and dense jungle,

Lurks the Royal Bengal Tiger so agile,

With fur as bright as the setting sun,

And stripes as black as a night begun.

Their powerful legs and jaws so strong,

They hunt their prey all day long,

Deer, pigs, and buffalo too,

Their diet is one of a fierce carnivore's brew.

The pattern of their stripes is unique,

Helping them blend in, without a peek,

Into the forest they disappear,

Without a trace, and without a fear.

But alas, their future is in doubt,

For their habitat is dwindling, no doubt,

Human encroachment and poaching too,

Are the threats that make them few.

Conservation efforts are underway,

To protect the Royal Bengal Tiger each day,

Protected areas and anti-poaching measures,

Help ensure these tigers' survival pleasures.

So let us strive to protect and conserve,

This beautiful beast we truly deserve,

The Royal Bengal Tiger, may it thrive,

And continue to inspire us all to survive.

A few weeks ago, there was a fire in the building in which I live. Me being me, once I heard "confirmed fire on the fourth floor", I grabbed all my camera gear, laptop and external hard drives to ensure my image collections safety. The one thing I forgot was my tripod mount.

So me being me... I started walking around with my camera and before long, this sewer caught my attention.

This image is a by product of not being allowed to enter the building for several hours haha.

A common little Garden and Hedgerow bird, quiet

and unobtrusive

This is interesting!!

Dunnocks have a rather more colourful domestic arrangement than most Birds, since female will often court other males whilst already mated with another.This ensures that her chicks will receive an adequate supply of food from both males, no matter who the father is.

Dunnock nests are often parasitized by cuckoos!

Only after the invention of fire arms, Katz Castle had to be substantially reinforced. It was also upgraded as bastion against Maus Castle in the Electorate of Trier. At the same time the donjon of Katz Castle was raised to approx. 197 feet to ensure eye contact with Reichenstein Castle which is approx 1.9 miles away.

In 1479 the family line of the Counts of Katzenelnbogen died out. In succession of long-lasting disputes on heritage, Katz Castle and Rheinfels Castle were besieged, demolished, rebuilt and extended several times. Even though repairs had been made in 1800, Napoleon blew up Katz Castle in 1806.

In 1896 District Administrator Berg acquired Katz Castle, to reconstruct it as close as possible to the original design. From 1946 till 1951 Katz Castle served as local High School "Institut Hofmann" including board

Since 1989 Katz Castle is private property of a Japanese and accommodates the hotel Katz Castle.

... is what was to be seen at Knottingley in South Yorkshire until March 2015 before punative taxes applied to coal burning power stations came into force.

The power stations of Eggborough and Drax a few miles to the east ensured multiple loaded coal trains per hour ran through Knottingley.

Here 56102, exhibiting tatty ‘Large Logo’ livery passes through knottingley station with a train for either Drax or Eggborough.