South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

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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).

Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax Nivalis

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Snow buntings are large buntings, with striking 'snowy' plumages. Males in summer have all white heads and underparts contrasting with a black mantle and wing tips. Females are a more mottled above. In autumn and winter birds develop a sandy/buff wash to their plumage and males have more mottled upperparts.

Globally, they breed around the arctic from Scandinavia to Alaska, Canada and Greenland and migrate south in winter. They are a scarce breeding species in the UK, in Scotland, making them an Amber List species. They are more widespread in winter in the north and east when residents are joined by continental birds.

They are listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act.

The snow bunting lives in very high latitudes in the Arctic tundra. There is no apparent limit to its northern range, while the southern range is limited by the duration of daylight, which influences their reproductive activity. This species is found in the high Arctic tundra of North America, Ellesmere Island, Iceland, higher mountains of Scotland, Norway, Russia, North Greenland, Siberia, Novaya Zemlya, and Franz Josef Land. During the winter, this bird migrates to the circumglobal northern temperate zone including the south of Canada, north of the United States, north of Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and east to central Asia. During the last ice age, the snow bunting was widespread throughout continental Europe.

During the breeding period the snow bunting looks for rocky habitats in the Arctic Since the vegetation in the tundra is low growing, this bird and its nestlings are exposed to predators, and in order to ensure the survival of its offspring, the snow bunting nests in cavities in order to protect the nestlings from any threat. During this period, buntings also look for a habitat rich in vegetation such as wet sedge meadows and areas rich in dryas and lichens. In the winter, they look for open habitats such as farms and fields where they feed on seeds in the ground.

Population:

UK breeding:

60 pairs

UK wintering:

10,000-15,000 birds

Grand pic - Femelle

Pileated Woodpecker - Female

Dryocopus pileatus

En dépit des intempéries, la faune doit continuer ses recherches intensives de nourriture pour assurer sa survie.

Despite the bad weather animals must continue their intense searches for food to ensure their survival.

Merci pour votre visite, vos favoris et vos commentaires. Je les apprécie grandement!

Thanks for stopping by, for your faves and comments everyone!

** Image d'archives : Octobre 2018 **

Les oiseaux consacrent beaucoup de temps à entretenir leur plumage. L'imperméabilité est assurée grâce à leur glande uropygienne,située à la base de la queue. Elle secrète un liquide gras dont ils s'enduisent les plumes. Sans que nous en connaissions la raison, certains oiseaux s'exposent volontiers au soleil, queue et ailes étalées. D'autres espèces aiment à prendre des bains de terre sèche et poudreuse. Les geais des chênes et étourneaux sansonnet préfèrent les fourmis. Ces dernières font un apport en acide formique qui a des propriétés insecticides. Après le bain, le lissage pour réajustement des plumes est une opération importante qui exige du temps. Un plumage bien entretenu est le gage de la survie .

Image prise dans un milieu naturel et depuis la tente affût .

PS : Un grand merci à toutes celles et ceux qui choisissent de regarder , de commenter et d'aimer mes photos . C'est très apprécié , comme vous l'avez constaté , je ne répond plus directement suite à votre commentaire juste pour dire en fait " merci et bonne journée " , mais en retour je passe laisser une petite trace chez vous sur une ou plusieurs de vos éditions .

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** Archive image: October 2018 **

Birds spend a lot of time caring for their plumage. The impermeability is ensured thanks to their uropygian gland, located at the base of the tail. It secretes a fatty liquid with which they smear their feathers. Without our knowing the reason, some birds are willing to expose themselves to the sun, their tail and wings spread out. Other species like to take dry, powdery earth baths. Eurasian jays and starlings prefer ants. The latter provide formic acid which has insecticidal properties. After bathing, smoothing to readjust the feathers is an important operation that requires time. Well-maintained plumage is the guarantee of survival.

Image taken in a natural environment and from the lookout tent.

PS: A big thank you to all those who choose to look at, comment on and like my photos. It is much appreciated, as you have noticed, I no longer respond directly to your comment just to say in fact "thank you and have a good day", but in return I will leave a small trace with you on one or more of your editions.

Thanks to the persistant pioneering of the Frisian-Groninger farmers and monks the current dyke construction ensures that the low hinterland can no longer flood by the sea.

But nevertheless, the sea can still be furious in this area.

Pay attention to the water level of the sea and the level of the hinterland, which is clearly below sea level at high tide!!

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Foggy morning reflections in an old meander of the river Durme, tributary of the Scheldt, near Hamme. Interesting that the seagull reflected in the water wasn't captured in the sky.

The Oude Durme is a series of old meanders cut off from the current river Durme in the 1930s, located between the municipalities of Hamme and Waasmunster in East-Flanders. For centuries the lower course of the Durme ensured seasonal inundation of the bordering hayfields and marshes, some of the most fertile in the province. Low embankments were built to protect the fields from flooding in the summer months. Even today the historical landscape with its original dikes, smaller meadow irrigation relicts and lines of walnut trees bordering the Oude Durme, is well preserved. The Durme marshes have been an inspiration for painters since the 19th century - as they remain for photographers today.

Oude Durme, Hamme, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

© 2021 Marc Haegeman. All Rights Reserved

The Water House in Kleinrinderfeld was constructed in 1911 to ensure a safe and steady water supply.

My heartfelt gratitude for your visit, fave and comment.

"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."

Nothing makes it feel more like the holidays are truly here than getting the chance to spend time with the friends we love. So you can just imagine my delight when Pengy and Pengu arrived for a Christmas visit with me and Corgsz! Happy twirlszzz! It was a joyful afternoon, filled will laughter and fun!

Little Pengy is so thoughtful, and brought me such lovely gifts! He knows I’m a Georgia Peach, and a mad crazy football fan, so he gifted me the most amazing peach cocktail set, I’m in love with it! And as if that wasn’t incredible enough, he also gave me a magical, good luck football themed handbag that would help ensure wins for my Bulldogs! He also insisted on modeling it for me, and put it around his neck as soon as I opened it! That little rascal!

Pengy loves his snacks, so I gave him a deluxe French fry vending machine, so he can always have hot fries on hand, and I balanced that with some healthier homemade soup and a set of penguin themed mugs...he loves to drink hot chocolate, so that’s what he and Corgsz sipped while Pengu and I indulged in delish peach cocktails! And like all kiddos, lil Pengy likes things that twinkle, so Corgsz chose to gift his friend a light up bunny!

We all had such a lovely day, and our favorite little penguin shows us with each stop on his friendship holiday tour that what matters most in life is our connections to those we hold dear. Thank you my dear Pengu and Pengy, for the treasured gift of friendship, all year through. And for including me in your beautiful, heartwarming holiday series. Love to you both, and to beautiful Andie girl....happiest of holidays to you all!

Wishing everyone a wonderful, magical week! 💕🎄🐇🐧🍑🍷🍟🏈🐶💕

"Madame Meilland" est un trésor végétal sauvé de la seconde guerre mondiale. Voici son histoire:

Afin de protéger sa création de l'invasion de la France par l'Allemagne en juin 40, Francis Meilland fit parvenir ses boutures à des amis basés en Turquie, en Italie et en Allemagne.

La plante fut aussi envoyée aux Etats-Unis sous forme de quelques greffons, via le consul américain qui utilisa le dernier avion à quitter la région lyonnaise en 1942. La variété fut ainsi préservée par Robert Pyle, un rosiériste de Pensylvanie, ami américain de la famille Meilland depuis 1933.

A l'automne 1942, F. Meilland publia cette nouvelle rose dans le catalogue de l'entreprise, lui attribuant le nom de sa mère décédée 10 ans plus tôt: Madame A. Meilland.

Après la signature de l'armistice le 8 mai 1945, F. Meilland reçut une nouvelle inattendue de la part de Robert Pyle: Il avait officiellement lancé la commercialisation du rosier N°3-35-40 sous le nom de "PEACE". Le baptême avait été organisé par l'American Rose Society à Pasadena en Californie en présence de vedettes de cette époque.

C'était le jour de la chute de Berlin, date considérée officiellement comme marquant la fin de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale en Europe !

La nouvelle "Rose Peace" fut offerte aux 49 personnes des différents pays, qui, le 26 juin 1945 se réunirent à San Francisco pour constituer l'ONU.

Une "ROSE de la PAIX" était posée sur le bureau de chacun des délégués, accompagnée de cette note; "NOUS ESPERONS QUE LA "ROSE PEACE" PORTERA LES PENSEES HUMAINES VERS UNE PAIX DURABLE DANS LE MONDE"...

Quand la petite histoire rejoint la grande Histoire...

J'aurai toujours un rosier Madame Meilland dit "Rose Peace" dans mon jardin...

Here is the History of the rose "Madame Meilland" or "PEACE ROSE":

The history of "Peace Rose" and how it came about is a fascinating story wich is well worth telling.

In 1935, the French rose breeder Françis Meilland chose fifty seedlings from his seed beds. One of which was labelled 3-35-40. Over the next few years, F. Meilland watched its development with interest and planned to launch the new rose as "Madame Antoine Meilland" in honour of his mother.

However, a few months later, Hitler invaded France and the future of the rose nursery looked dire. To ensure that the new rose was not lost forever, F. Meilland managed to get 3 parcels of budwood out of the country, one of which was smuggled out in a diplomatic bag on the last plane out of France. The budwood was sent to another rose breeder, Robert Pyle, in Pensylvania, USA.

Over the next few years, F. Meilland launched his new rose in France as "Madame Antoine Meilland". He was not aware that some of the budwood had reached Germany, and Italy and the rose was being sold under different names. In Germany, it was called "Gloria Dei", and in Italy "Gioia".

F. Meilland had not had any word from America and had no idea the fate of his rose over there.

It was not untill liberation of France in 1945, that F. Meilland finally heard from Robert Pyle that the rose had survived the war and was being grown successfully.

In the meantime, F. Meilland had decided to change the name of the rose. He wrote to Field Marshall Alan Brooke to thank him for his part in the liberation of France, and to ask him if he would give his name to the rose. The Field Marshall declined stating that a far more fitting name would be "PEACE".

The new name "Peace" was publicly announced in America by Robert Pyle on the 29th April 1945, the very day that Berlin fell and was officialy considered the end of Second World War in Europe.

Towards the end of 1945, "Peace Roses" were given to each of the delegations at the inaugural meeting of the UNITED NATIONS in San Francisco each with a note which read

"We HOPE THE "PEACE ROSE" WILL INFLUENCE MEN'S THOUGHTS FOR EVERLASTING WORLD PEACE"...

I will always have a rosebush "Peace Rose" in my garden...

I used a slow shutter speed 1/60 sec to create motion blur in wings. Took a few attempts to ensure the eyes were in focus and the wings blurred.

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

The Burrowing Owl

Couldn’t entice this little guy to come out of his burrow and pose for a portrait, so I settled for a head shot…Life is Good !!!

Burrowing Owls are small, sandy colored owls with bright-yellow eyes. They live underground in burrows they’ve dug themselves or taken over from a prairie dog, ground squirrel, or tortoise. They live in grasslands, deserts, and other open habitats, where they hunt mainly insects and rodents. Their numbers have declined sharply with human alteration of their habitat and the decline of prairie dogs and ground squirrels.

Before laying eggs, Burrowing Owls carpet the entrances to their homes with animal dung, which attracts dung beetles and other insects that the owls then catch and eat. They may also collect bottle caps, metal foil, cigarette butts, paper scraps, and other bits of trash at the entrance, possibly signifying that the burrow is occupied.

Burrowing Owls have a higher tolerance for carbon dioxide than other birds—an adaptation found in other burrowing animals, which spend long periods underground, where the gas can accumulate to higher levels than found above ground.

Unlike most owls in which the female is larger than the male, the sexes of the Burrowing Owl are the same size.

Burrowing Owls often stow extra food to ensure an adequate supply during incubation and brooding. When food is plentiful, the birds' underground larders can reach prodigious sizes. One cache observed in Saskatchewan in 1997 contained more than 200 rodents.

The oldest known Burrowing Owl was at least 9 years, 11 months old when it was sighted in California in 2014.

(Nikon D500, 80-400/5.6, 1/000 @ f/5.6, ISO 1400)

Les larves rouge de Trombidiidae (Allothrombium fuliginosum) dont le principal objectif est de trouver un hôte (pucerons ou papillons) pour s’y fixer en parasite externe. Elles ont une semaine pour le faire, si elles échouent elles sont condamnées. Une fois l’hôte trouvé, la larve se fixe indifféremment sur n’importe quelle partie du corps sur lequel elle prélève, en 3 ou 4 jours suffisamment de nourriture pour assurer la suite de son développement.

www.european-lepidopteres.fr/L-acarien-rouge-Trombidiidae...

The red larvae of Trombidiidae (Allothrombium fuliginosum) whose main objective is to find a host (aphids or butterflies) to attach themselves as an external parasite. They have a week to do it, if they fail they are doomed. Once the host is found, the larva attaches indifferently to any part of the body from which it takes, in 3 or 4 days, enough food to ensure the continuation of its development.

The country’s first farmers’ co-operative, built its first shelter for the homeless, and played a key role in the development of democracy by ensuring the elections of William Lyon Mackenzie, and both fathers of responsible government – Robert Baldwin and Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine – in the formative years before Canadian confederation.

The center piece of their activity was The Temple. Completed in 1832 and restored in 2011, it is now part of the Sharon National Historic Site, which encompasses nine historic buildings in a park like setting

For more than a century, beginning in 1855, the North Point Lighthouse stood tall, overlooking the water and beaming out its light to protect and guide ships and watercraft. Keepers and their families lived and worked at the North Point Light Station, ensuring that the bright light was broadcast through fair weather and foul. It symbolizes a time in our history when waterways were the highways between cities. Lighthouses facilitated water travel and commerce on Lake Michigan, throughout the Great Lakes and beyond.

It has recently been restored to its early 20th century charm through the determined efforts of a group of committed volunteers.

NRHP ~ Keepers Quarters and Lighthouse 1984 Historic.

Configuration: Mid-Engine

Engine: 400 C.I. V8 (6.6 L)

Transmission: 3 speed automatic

Original Engine: 4 rotor Wankel

Weight: 2600 lbs

The Aerovette started life as the XP-882, a mid engined Corvette, with a 6.2L Wankel rotary engine with four chambers that developed around 400hp. Under the design team of Bill Mitchell, the car was first unveiled as “The Four Rotor Corvette” during the 1970 New York Auto Show. The car featured bi-folding gull-wing doors and a clear cover showcasing the engine bay. Eventually, GM abandoned their rotary technology and replaced the four rotor with a small block Chevy V8, because they anticipated the gas crisis of the 1970s.

The Aerovette’s styling was formed through a wind tunnel to give it a streamlined form. The body of the car was constructed with fiberglass along with a steel and aluminum tubular frame. The Aerovette had an advanced rectangular headlight design that allowed the driver to see the road from further away, while remaining aerodynamic and in a low position. The Aerovette’s doors were a bi-folding gullwing

design that allowed the driver and passenger to enter and exit the vehicle quickly. The “V” design on the windshield was angled at 72° and wrapped around the doors to conceal the front pillars of the car. Glass louvers were placed on the rear quarter panel to aid with vision, and allow heat to be dispersed from the engine compartment. Cool air was channeled into the carburetors from the apertures that were located in front of the rear wheels. The engine’s radiator and air conditioning unit were mounted at the front of the car near the wheels to ensure maximum cooling and efficiency.

The technology in the Aerovette was quite advanced for the time. The interior of the car featured a telescopic steering wheel and digital display that allowed the driver to adjust it to their comfort level. The seats of the car were in a fixed position for weight distribution, but could be adjusted up and down. The driver would press a lever to move the pedals further away or closer to them. The Aerovette came with a number of safety and digital features as well. These included, a warning system that alerted the

driver if the doors were open or closed, if the seatbelts were unfastened, and front and rear energy absorbing bumpers that provided protection in car-to-car impacts up to 10 mph. A button could also be pressed to check on the fuel supply, water temperature, oil pressure, and voltage. The dashboard of the car had small lights to indicate what rpm the engine was spinning at, and would change from green to red when the driver was approaching redline. Additionally, the car had a built in lap timer, clock, calendar, and an am/fm radio.

Source: Audrain Auto Museum

Details

Adventure in Baños:

The circuit offered by this park is a complete adventure in Baños. The excitement begins with a flight over the San Martin canyon through a 850 meters (2,788 ft) long zipline or canopy. I reached such speed that it seemed that I was swallowed by the throat of the canyon upon arrival. Fortunately they have an excellent brake system and a motorized platform that allows you to comfortably lower the cable. According to the guide who accompanied me, some people have come to fly at 130 km / h. The speed depends on the weight of each. It starts from a height of 150 meters (492 ft) above the river.

When I descended from the canopy I found a large basalt cave (dry lava) full of sand that makes me look as if I was on the moon. You could hear the strength of the Pastaza River as it passes through the canyoning.

Next, I had to cross the river bank and there was no better idea than to hang a 90 meters (295 ft) long Tibetan bridge. Two hand cables and small foot plates form this bridge located 50 meters (164 ft) above the torrential river. They say that the trick to not fear heights is not to see below, this was not an option here, you must see where to walk forced. The bridge moves with each step giving you a feeling of extreme adrenaline.

I was always with a safety harness in case I lose my balance, although I tell you that I did not want to experience hanging in the middle of the bridge, I took every step very carefully.

After this I found myself on a small path where the only way out is a vertical wall to climb. This was the third activity: the 90 meters (295 ft) ferrata track. Small metal stairs attached to the rocks allow me to ascend without major problem. Every certain section I had to change the safety harnesses on the steel cable, also called the "lifeline", to which the climber is attached all the time. The height ensures my nerves, calm.

Finally, I took a new 350 meters (1,148 ft) zipline at the other end of the canyon. In this one I could make several positions and breathe the pure air, excellent to relax after all the extreme activities.

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.

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.

The sight of a Red Kite, or two, or three, gently soaring over our countryside is now, once more, a familiar thing. The reintroduction of this species to Britain must rate as one of the conservation success stories of the modern era.

Once a common bird over much of the country, even haunting the litter-ridden and filthy streets of our cities, Red Kites were seen as disease-carrying vermin and bounties were paid for their carcasses. The population retreated, finding a final refuge in the valleys of central Wales. A handful of breeding pairs hung on. In 1989, six birds were released at a site in Scotland and a further four birds were released in the Chilterns.

Red Kites are extremely long-winged and long-tailed and very large, with slightly larger bodies and very much longer wings than a Buzzard. They are predominantly rufous red, with dark wing tips and pale outer wings. The head is pale, with older birds developing almost white heads, and the long, red tail is deeply forked and used as a stabiliser in flight, twisting back and forth – a characteristic clue to the Red Kite’s identity, even with only distant views.

Red Kites are found across much of northern Europe and into Iberia in the south west and Russia in the east. Only populations from the western part of the range are resident, those from further east are migratory and one of the challenges for the reintroduction programme was to source birds from a non-migratory population to ensure a similar lifestyle to the previous British kites. Most of the Chilterns birds were sourced from the sedentary and common Spanish population for this reason, although birds for the later, more northerly reintroductions have often been sourced from the thriving Swedish migrant population (Courtesy Hawk & Owl Trust).

Thanks for viewing my photos and for any favourites and comments, it’s much appreciated 👍

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

"Shadow, Steel and Steam": Silhouetted against a brilliant mountain sunrise Western Maryland #1309, ex-C&O, charges north for the Narrows on the former Western Maryland right of way. Meanwhile the fireman's own silhouette can be seen ensuring the way ahead is clear.

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.

Bartimeu – Tiago

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Warm - Soul Deep HUD

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For those of us crammed into the "little boxes on the hillside," a life in the great outdoors is less a dream and more a retirement plan that never quite materializes. So, while we're stuck in our "ticky-tacky" conformity, this Barn in the photo is clearly living its best, most adventurous life—and its story is certainly a tale worth telling.

Thomas Moulton first homesteaded this property in 1908 as a bachelor. He came over Teton Pass with his brother and a neighbor from Teton Basin, Idaho. The Moultons had moved to Idaho from Utah several decades before.

For the first few winters Moulton continued to return to the family holdings in Idaho. By 1912 though he had married and he brought his new wife, Lucille, over the pass to permanently settle in the Jackson Hole valley.

What remains from his homestead is only a barn, but the barn has created a legacy beyond anything Moulton or his children could have imagined. Billed as the “most photographed barn in America,” this structure had humble beginnings.

Moulton began construction on the central portion in 1913 in order to give his hard-working horses some shelter. The original barn had a flat roof, but it provided a necessary service for the Moulton family. In 1928 the hayloft and steeply pitched gable roof was added. By 1938 and 1939 two shed roofed lean-tos were added to the structure. First the north section for the horses, then the south section for the pigs. The continued addition of separate parts to make the whole gives the barn a unique, but unintentional character that is recognized nationally. Preservation efforts have been undertaken by both the Moulton family and the Grand Teton National Park to ensure that this barn continues to illustrate the trials and successes of homesteading in Jackson Hole.

(Nikon Z6, Nikkor 24-70/2.8 @ f24 mm, 1/50 @ f/22, ISO 110, edited to taste)

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.

For the Necklace theme of Macro Mondays. HMM! The entire necklace did not fit within the size parameters. This image was edited to ensure it was within the 3 inch limit for MM images.

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.

Dancersend Nature Reserve is a site of Special Scientific interest managed by BBOWT. One part of the Rothschild family estate the Reserve was established din 1939 in memory of Charles Rothschild who set up the Society for the promotion of Nature Reserves, regarded as the launch of the wildlife Trust movement in Britain. The soil at Dancersend ranges from acid to alkaline, ensuring a wide variety of flora and fauna.

© Leanne Boulton, All Rights Reserved

Street photography from Glasgow, Scotland.

Captured in September 2019 during an exercise I gave to my Street Photography Workshop for them to look for different angles and perspectives as we walked around. Of course I ensured that the person begging in the shot was suitably anonymised so that the image is for narrative and is not in any way exploitative.

I'm thinking of the millions of people currently displaced across Ukraine. Over 2 million displaced out of the country but countless millions more ran out of their homes to another part of the country, all while being under artillery and rocket fire. I cannot begin to imagine the depths of pain, despair and loss that they are feeling.

I'm also thinking of those displaced and homeless throughout the United Kingdom as a result of poverty driven by the cost of living crisis and Government policy over the past decade. My own energy prices have risen 129% overnight.

I'm also thinking of those displaced out of their homes, steadings and traditional nomadic routes in Ethiopia right now. Years and years of lower than average rainfall are now leading to a famine of the levels not seen since 1985. The building humanitarian disaster is expected to be worse than that thanks, in no small part, to the climate emergency.

We all need water, food and shelter - these basics that are essential for life should be a given in our modern world.

Today I am thinking of those who have been or are being displaced from their homes. I wish I could help more.

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

Opened in February 1888, Hotel del Coronado debuted as an architectural masterpiece, acclaimed for its spectacular seaside setting and world-famous weather. Outfitted with electricity and every modern amenity, The Del was a destination resort before the term existed, attracting a wealthy clientele from the Midwest, East Coast, and Europe. These guests – who arrived with their own servants in tow – generally stayed for months at a time.

Although seaside resorts were fairly commonplace along both American coasts during the late 19th century, few were as large as The Del or as distinctive. With its one-of-a-kind sweeping silhouette – once likened to a cross between an ornate wedding cake and well-trimmed ship – the resort was recognizable throughout the country and around the world.

Coronado’s island-like allure and year-round sunshine further ensured The Del’s reputation as a standout resort, described as the “unrivaled Queen of seaside resorts … this enchanting spot has no equal in America … or the world.”119

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! ❤️❤️❤️

Sometimes Jasper takes playground patrol, ensuring all the little humans remain safe. He takes his job very seriously. Good boy, Jasper.

Le site du Spitzkoppe est géré par une communauté, qui fait respecter le site,a aménagé des lieux de campement ,avec un espace toilette seches ,un coin feu....et des installations un peu plus complètes à l' entrée du camp. Des membres de la communauté viendront animer une soirée spectacle- échanges, avec nous...photos à venir.

🇬🇧 The Spitzkoppe site is managed by a community, which ensures respect for the site, has set up a dry toilet area, a fire area....and slightly more complete facilities at the entrance to the camp. Members of the community will come and host a show-exchange evening with us...photos to come

🇩🇪 Das Spitzkoppe-Gelände wird von einer Gemeinschaft verwaltet, die den Respekt vor dem Gelände gewährleistet und einen Trockentoilettenbereich, eine Feuerstelle usw. sowie etwas umfassendere Einrichtungen am Eingang des Lagers eingerichtet hat. Mitglieder der Community werden kommen und mit uns einen Show-Austauschabend veranstalten ... Fotos folgen

🇪🇸 El sitio de Spitzkoppe está gestionado por una comunidad, que vela por el respeto del lugar, ha habilitado una zona de baños secos, una zona contra incendios... y unas instalaciones un poco más completas a la entrada del campamento. Los miembros de la comunidad vendrán y organizarán una velada de intercambio de espectáculos con nosotros... fotos por venir

LIFE WITH NEW BEGINNINGS......A single breath from a playing child can send dozens of fluffy dandelion seeds floating into the air. Now scientists find these seeds can keep themselves aloft by generating a type of vortex previously thought too unstable to exist, helping explain how these flowers have dispersed across the planet.

Each dandelion seed is attached to a bundle of roughly 100 feathery bristles known as a pappus, whose name derives from an ancient Greek word for grandfather due to its resemblance to a beard. This structure prolongs the descent of seeds by dragging on the air a bit like a parachute, ensuring that horizontal winds can help carry the seeds farther. Most dandelion seeds probably land within 2 meters of their parent flowers, but in warm, dry, windy conditions, some may fly more than a kilometer.

Dandelions are far from the only plants to use wind to help disperse their seeds. It was a puzzle as to why dandelions evolved plumes to help keep their seeds in the air, rather than winglike membranes, such as what maple seeds have.

To explore this question further, scientists at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland built a vertical wind tunnel to investigate the physics of dandelion seed flight. They blew air under dandelion seeds that were either freely flying or fixed in place, adding smoke into this wind and illuminating it with a green laser to help reveal the way air moved around the seeds.

Using long-exposure photography and high-speed imaging, the researchers discovered that a kind of stable air bubble known as a vortex ring remained a fixed distance from the seeds. Experiments with silicon disks of varying porosity that imitated the aerodynamics of a dandelion pappus suggested the circular geometry and airy nature of the pappus is tuned precisely to stabilize these vortex rings, helping them deliver four times more drag than a solid disk with the same area. As such, this plumed structure may prove ideal for the dispersal of the small, light seeds of short plants, whereas winglike membranes likely prove better for larger seeds, the researchers write.

Prior work had found that objects could form vortex wings in their wake, but these either stayed anchored to these items or flew downstream. This newfound type of vortex ring was previously thought too unstable to actually occur, and suggests examining nature could reveal other as yet unknown kinds of fluid behavior.

... 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.