One from the archives. Photograph taken with permission from the Environment Agency of Iceland.

Seven days, seven photos of the same thing.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEmI_FT4YHU

Bob Dylan - Masters of War

A very common bird in the Himalayan belt - they were more common than Crows and Sparrows much to my surprise. They were present in the cities, forest areas, hill sides and even around river edges and garbage dumps. The bird must have adapted to the environments around it.

We sighted it several times and our bird guides found it amusing that we were excited about it and photographed it. The bird has an easy to remember whistling call, but we didn't hear it much during the trip. Maybe its not the breeding season.

Many thanks in advance for your views, faves and feedback.

using google earth

he wet environment of the Okavango Delta encourages the growth of thousands of tree and plant species: the Day Water Lily is an aquatic plant with round, floating leaves split by a V-notch. These plants have underground stems which are firmly anchored to the mud under water by means of rather thick, spreading roots. The rhizome (underground stem) is 4 - 5 cm in diameter, black in colour and rather spongy. The leaves float on long, spongy stalks and are round with a deep notch or cut from the centre to the outer edge.

water + brilliant blue FCF + oil + dishwashing liquid

Also known as the Western Reef Heron, this is a medium sized heron found on the coasts of India, but very rare in inland water bodies. In Goa where there are coasts and lots of backwaters, we sighted them in plenty.

This particular shot was taken in the Zuari river mangroves where we sighted several exciting birds. The Egret was casually walking in the morning low tide hunting for fish and other crustaceans found on the shallow banks.

Just a couple of meters away, was a large mugger crocodile with its snout barely visible and as the Heron came closer that reptile disappeared. The Reef Heron seemingly oblivious walked pretty close to the Crocodile - 2-3 meters away - and then much to our surprise suddenly flew and landed far away. None of us thought it saw the predator nearby. There was a tinge of disappointment of missing some action, but a lot of satisfaction in seeing the beautiful bird out of danger!

Thank you so much in advance for your views, feedback and faves.

Juvenile Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata) in landing to the rock in the wild nature environment; Lagoon El Taray in community Castilla-La Mancha (Spain), 30-11-2019.

The image was taken from a photo hide owned by a company "Hides de El Taray" (www.facebook.com/hidesdeeltaray/, @hideseltaray). Thanks to the company Hides de El Taray and our Danish guide Helge Sørensen (www.birdphotos.dk/), who arranged this fantastic photography tour for our group!

Thanks a lot, everyone, for stopping by, for looking my work, for your comments and likes! Always appreciated!

The goldfish (Carassius auratus) is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It is one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish. A relatively small member of the carp family (which also includes the Prussian carp and the crucian carp), the goldfish is native to East Asia. It was first selectively bred in ancient China more than 1,000 years ago, and several distinct breeds have since been developed. Goldfish breeds vary greatly in size, body shape, fin configuration and coloration (various combinations of white, yellow, orange, red, brown, and black are known). Goldfish have strong associative learning abilities, as well as social learning skills. Goldfish are gregarious, displaying schooling behavior, as well as displaying the same types of feeding behaviors. 27345

A photographic lifer for me though I have seen several times before, but never could manage a shot. This is a resident bird of the Subcontinent though more common in Central and Southern India. The bird is usually found around reeds near waterbodies and wet fields. It is a hard bird to sight, but easy to hear since the call is loud and cacophonic.

I sighted several bitterns (and managed superb shots) near some reeds on a lone country road and sat down to make the birds more comfortable. And then I sighted this bird on the slope of the very narrow road. As soon I lay flat on the ground, the bird came to the road and started walking giving me a good number of lovely shots much to my delight.

Thank you so much in advance for your views, feedback and faves.

A migratory dabbling duck from the Palearctic region that winters in India and found commonly across the region in small shallow lakes and ponds - usually on the edges. They are always seen in large flocks and are easy prey if alone. About 40-45 cms long and weighing about 300-400g, they are medium sized ducks and unmistakable - one of the easy ones to id.

A large number of ducks have made a small city lake home for this winter and we are having a good time shooting the variety of waders in that place. But when I visited them early this week, they were too far on the other side of the lake. And the borders of the lake are teeming with the wild pink flowers and the place looks very scenic. After a 2 hour attempt of shooting some birds - came away with a few shots of the Garganey in flight.

Thanks in advance for your views and feedback - very much appreciated.

THE BEACHES WE PROTECT NOW, will be there for our children's children. Thanks for your comments.

Whimbrel

The Hudsonian Whimbrel (Numenius hudsonicus) is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across much of subarctic North America. This species and the Eurasian whimbrel have recently been split, although some taxonomic authorities still consider them to be conspecific.

The Whimbrel is a migratory bird, wintering on coasts in southern North America and South America. It is also a coastal bird during migration. It is fairly gregarious outside the breeding season.

In the mangroves of Colombia, whimbrel roost sites are located in close proximity to feeding territories and away from potential sources of mainland predators, but not away from areas of human disturbance.

Numenius, the genus assigned to Whimbrel, means “new moon” in Greek, a reference to the bird’s bill shape, which resembles a crescent moon.

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

The Cornell Lab: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Whimbrel/id

Silkeborg, Denmark

2021

Looks like the left most one is the youngest (by size) and it wants some hugging. So the other two obliged for quite a while.

These are small birds, around the size of Barn Swallows that prefer high perches. They are usually seen on wires or on bare branches on top of tall trees. They are resident and found near small water bodies but make some local movements in response to rain.

The birds are generally seen in flocks of 5-10 or more. They prefer to sit in a huddle and even sleep like that on tall perches like wires during nights.

I got lucky that we stopped next to an elevated uphill road while the ground was at lower level. The birds were sitting on these wires and hence provided a rare eye level view.

Thanks in advance for your views and feedback.

Victorian dream house splendour in an advanced state of decay.

This house is still inhabited.

If I won the lottery I'd keep it as original as possible.

LR4219 © Joe O'Malley 2022

On a beautiful Autumn day I captured this mallard duck floating in the most magical water.

My favorite subject: light on the dune environment. (and tracks, and wind ripples, and sand fences, and grasses, and shadows!)

Another from the recent set at Clevedon Pill.....high tide and sunset....

Clevedon Pill, Somerset, UK.

© www.stevetholephotography.com. All Rights Reserved©

View On White

5 Maggio

Giornata internazionale dell'ambiente

Ho scelto questa bottiglia di plastica buttata negligentemente in acqua per denuncia:

sono tante le "piccole" cose che ognuno di noi può fare per l'ambiente.

Non possiamo chiedere ai governi di fare qualcosa per il futuro del nostro pianeta se poi noi per primi ci comportiamo male ...

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Do not use my images on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission.

All rights reserved - Copyright © Nora Caracci

‘Reimaginings’ are square-cropped images taken of marks, weathered paint, and rust seen by me in the urban environment which appeal to me as abstract shapes and forms. Some of these photographs are segments of faded and much repainted and over-painted graffiti surfaces, paint spills and general

weathering.

Here's the link to my 'Reimaginings' album: flic.kr/s/aHBqjAiXfh

A large raptor around 55-70 cms tall and weighing around 1.5 - 2.4 kg and found throughout the year in India. They are probably the smallest of the 9 species of vultures found in India. The birds are very distinctive and easily recognizable unlike some of the other vultures which are confusing to id.

This one is an adult with the full white plumage and yellowish face and beak. Immatures tend to be totally brown with a greyish face. The birds are often seen around carcass dumpyards or in the deserts where dead cattle / animals are lying rotten. In our Rajasthan trip last week, we sighted 100+ of them all around the state - they are quite common there. In fact, Rajasthan has 7 of the 9 vultures found in India. Like most vultures, this is quite shy of people, but many a time, we found very close to the nomad settlements perched on the poles or walking around on the ground.

Thanks in advance for your lovely feedback and views - much appreciated.

At 8:55 am, on January 24, the day Environment Canada called for -30 or lower temperatures. It did not get that cold, but -29C still felt pretty darned cold! If you can zoom in, you can see just past the geese on the ice, there are loads of geese hidden by the fog.

South Health Campus Hospital

Advertisement, Paran Hair Design. Opening in July in Hornsby.

Westfield Hornsby, Sydney

Take the initiative to seek the environment you desire. If it is not available, create it yourself.

Also known as the Tibetan ground-tit or Hume's ground-tit, is a unique bird found on the Tibetan Plateau. It lives at high elevations, typically above 3,000 meters (9,800 feet), in treeless environments like alpine steppe and open pastures.

Despite being classified within the tit family, the ground tit's appearance and behavior are quite different from other members of the Paridae family. It was historically mistaken for a ground jay (family Corvidae) due to its terrestrial habits and long, slightly downcurved bill, similar to a chough. However, genetic studies confirmed its placement in the tit family.

Unlike most tits, it spends most of its time on the ground, exhibiting a distinctive bouncy gait and weak flight, preferring to run or jump from danger. Its diet consists primarily of insects and other invertebrates, which it probes for in soil, rock crevices, and even yak dung. The ground tit also builds its own burrows for nesting and roosting, reaching depths of up to 1.8 meters (5.9 feet).

The ground tit is a cooperative breeder, with monogamous pairs sometimes assisted by male helpers, often young from previous broods. We sighted them in plenty around the desert of Tsokar and village of Hanle.

Many thanks in advance for your views / faves and feedback - very much appreciated.

We change colors, shapes, light, ideas, but it still remains only plastic.

Cambiamo colore,forme,luce,idee, ma resta sempre plastico.

Twelve Flowers from the magnificent gardens at Dirleton Castle.

© PHH Sykes 2022

phhsykes@gmail.com

Dirleton Castle is cared for by Historic Environment Scotland

www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/dirleto...

Dirleton, East Lothian, EH39 5ER

01620 850 465

Winterimpressionen

Green-veined White on the ovary of a poppy: A common butterfly in Europe, recognized by the green veins on its wings, often found in meadows and gardens.

Taken in my garden, Netherlands.

Eastern Screech Owl

The Eastern Screech Owl or Eastern screech-owl (Megascops asio) is a small owl that is relatively common in Eastern North America, from Mexico to Canada. This species is native to most wooded environments of its distribution and, more so than any other owl in its range, has adapted well to manmade development, although it frequently avoids detection due to its strictly nocturnal habits.

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

The Cornell Lab: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Screech-Owl/id#

This Redish egret had found a small fish for a morning snack at the South Padre Island Birding Center. The weather thus far has been overcast more than sunny but the diffused light has made it easier to shoot.