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© 2015 Servalpe. Photos are copyrighted. All rights reserved. Pictures can not be used without explicit permission by the creator.

Localization:

Templo de Debod, Madrid (Spain).

Exif Data:

Canon EOS 5D Mark III | Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM + Extender EF 2x II @ 400 mm | f/8, 1s, ISO 1600.

Picture from 1 exposure on Induro CT114 + BHL1 ball head.

Processing:

Lightroom for catalog, WB, basic ajustments and lens corrections > Dfine + High Pass sharpening technique with Photoshop CC.

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Lakers John J. Boland and Adam E. Cornelius in an extended lay up along the Huron River in Huron, Ohio

.. .and yes, the station is getting ready for steam locos :)

TakenduringSkaerbaekFan Weekend 2015.

The railway arrived in 1930 in Bobo-Dioulasso and then in 1954 in Ouagadougou. It was initially operated by the Régie Abidjan-Niger (RAN) from 1960 to 1989 before being taken over by SITARAIL (Bolloré Group) in 1995. Despite an ambitious project to connect the different countries of the sub-region by the rail network, almost nothing lasting has been achieved to date apart from two sections currently abandoned.

The first is a section which was to connect Niamey to Parakou, then to the Beninese network, started in 2013 and decommissioned in 2018, which was limited to around a hundred kilometres within Niger.

The second is an ambitious project carried out by the Burkinabe people under the revolutionary regime of Captain Thomas SANKARA (1983-1987). This involved extending the Abidjan-Ouagadougou line towards Niger by serving the Tambao phosphate mines. If the platform was built over most of the distance, the rails could only be laid over a hundred kilometres to reach Kaya. The railway nevertheless operated for several years before being abandoned following the deterioration of specific watercourse crossing structures. Operation of this line is currently limited to the Kossodo industrial zone on the northeastern outskirts of Ouagadougou.

However, this infrastructure could arouse new interest because it passes close to the future Donsin International Airport. Establishing a rail service to avoid traffic jams would be an avenue to explore, primarily as the work to be carried out would be limited.

Le chemin de fer est arrivé en 1930 à Bobo-Dioulasso puis en 1954 à Ouagadougou. Il était initialement exploité par la Régie Abidjan-Niger (RAN) de 1960 à 1989 avant d'être reprise par SITARAIL (Goupe Bolloré) en 1995. Malgré un ambitieux projet de relier les différents pays de la sous-région par le réseau ferré, quasiment rien de durable n'a été réalisé jusqu'à ce jour en dehors de deux tronçons actuellement à l'abandon.

Le premier est un tronçon qui devait relier Niamey à Parakou puis au réseau béninois entamé en 2013 et mis hors service en 2018 qui s'est limité à une centaine de kilomètres au sein du Niger.

Le second est un projet ambitieux réalisé par le peuple burkinabé sous le régime révolutionnaire du Capitaine Thomas SANKARA (1983-1987). Il s'agissait de prolonger la ligne Abidjan-Ouagadougou vers le Niger en desservant les mines de phosphate de Tambao. Si le terreplein a été réalisé sur une majeure parte de la distance, les rails n'ont pu être posés que sur une centaine de kilomètres pour atteindre Kaya. Le chemin de fer a néanmoins fonctionné durant un certain nombre d'années avant d'être abandonné suite à la dégradation de certains ouvrages de franchissement de cours d'eau. L'exploitation de cet ligne se limite actuellement à la zone industrielle de Kossodo dans la périphérie nord-est de Ouagadougou.

Pourtant, cette infrastructure pourrait susciter un nouvel intérêt du fait qu'elle passe à proximité du futur aéroport international de Donsin. La mise en place d'une desserte ferroviaire qui permettrait d'éviter les embouteillages serait une piste à explorer, d'autant que les travaux à réaliser seraient limités.

The foundation stone of this Birch-designed pier was laid in 1864. It opened on 5th June 1867 and consisted of a 1040 foot cantilever construction to Birnbeck Island and a short jetty extending westwards from the island.

1872 improvements included the 250 foot wooden north jetty. A lifeboat station was added in 1881 (the boathouse was built in 1889), and a pavilion in 1884. A tramway transported baggage from the steamers.

A fire damaged the main buildings on Boxing Day 1897, but the switchback escaped. The new pavilion and low water jetty opened in 1898. In 1902, a new lifeboat station was built. In 1903, the pier was closed after a gale damaged both jetties. The north jetty was rebuilt in steel to 300 foot and re-opened in 1904 but the low-water jetty remained closed until 1910 and lasted until 1932.

The opening of the Grand Pier’s funfair caused the abandonment of Birnbeck Island amusements in 1933. The Admiralty took over the pier from 1941 to 1946 when it became known as ‘HMS Birnbeck’. P&A Campbell ran the pier from 1962-1972, selling it to John Critchley a year after regular passenger steamer services ceased to call.

Easyjet

A321-251NX

G-UZMF

Newcastle Airport (NCL/EGNT)

17/12/2022

Due to the increased numbers of passengers during the christmas period, Easyjet sent one of their A321s on the run from Bristol replacing the usual A319/320. Thanks to a 3 hour delay on the sector before from Grenoble the aircraft arrived shortly before sunset.

#project150

Phase 2 is mostly completed (far right of this photo). Hawkins\Brown architects. Cropped to 20:9 for your smartphone enjoyment.

It has been a while since uploading American Airlines flagship Boeing 777-300ER's, initially the only airline in the United States to operate the type until United Airlines joined the fray right up to the end of 2016.

Unlike United, American send in their Boeing 777-300ER's into London Heathrow on a regular basis, operating alongside the now refurbished Boeing 777-200ER's. With their Boeing 777-300ER's being the only long-haul wide-body aircraft to feature First Class interiors, they are also usually found operating from pre-merger American hubs on flights to Europe (mainly Europe), South America and in the Pacific.

Following on from the refurbishment of Boeing 777-200ER's, as well as deliveries of brand new Boeing 787's, their usage into London Heathrow has only marginally reduced as a means of right sizing capacity.

During the winter season, American Airlines currently operate the Boeing 777-300ER on the following routes from London Heathrow:

-Dallas-Fort Worth: Operates one of 2 daily flights on AA50/51

-Los Angeles: Operates one of 2 daily flights on AA108/109

-Miami: Operates twice daily on AA38/39 and AA56/57

-New York-John F. Kennedy: Operates one of 3 daily flights on AA100/107

Currently, American Airlines operates 67 Boeing 777's, which includes 47 Boeing 777-200ER's and 20 Boeing 777-300ER's.

November Seven Two Five Alpha November is one of 20 Boeing 777-300ER's in service with American, delivered new to the carrier in July 2013 and she is powered by 2 General Electric GE90-115B engines.

Boeing 777-323/ER N725AN on final approach into Runway 27L at London Heathrow (LHR) on AA38 from Miami (MIA), Florida.

When the KC Class GAC(Ireland) Citybuses were withdrawn from regular service some had their lives extended by going to or staying with Bus Éireann and becoming school buses, Ex Cork City KC143 and 166 are seen in the Summer of 2000 at Louth Commercials just after conversion

De Slufter is a large salt marsh plain lying between two wind-born sand dikes, connected to the North Sea. During heavy westerly winds and spring tide, the seawater penetrates far into the area. The Slufter is dissected by a creek system which extends far inland. Many unusual plants grow here, plants that tolerate salt water to varying degrees

Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved

Plz view in a large size for clearer details

Extended version of my tessellation.

Grey Stark paper

Hexagon from 35x35 cm square, 64 division grid.

Took me a while to notice, and then get my head round, the destination on this First Wessex 37997 (BF63HDV). The X51 has been extended from Dorchester on to Weymouth as per the old 31 route, so most Jurassic Coaster buses from Axminster now show 'Weymouth' on the destination.

Extending 1.8 kilometres across stunning Geographe Bay, the heritage listed Busselton Jetty is the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. A must see for any visitor to the Margaret River Wine Region.

www.busseltonjetty.com.au/

#perth #westernaustralia #australia #oz #aussie #visitaustralia #busselton #busseltonjetty #busseltonwa

Oil on canvas paper, 2009

(21 x 28 cm / 8.3 x 11 in)

[Flickr Explore July 26, 2011 # 489]

Hasselblad Xpan

"ATF Alphabets" boxed card set for type dealers, 1956

This bus stop at the foot of the Canongate in Edinburgh has been equipped with an updated Real Time Passenger Information system which is being tested. The city and Lothian Buses introduced the city’s original RTPI system - branded BusTracker circa 2004 - but is well overdue for replacement.

To make this upload more interesting, I have added some Edinburgh transport chronology:-

Sedan chair makes first appearance in Edinburgh 1687

Edinburgh to Queen’s Ferry Road designated as turnpike road 1751

London to Edinburgh mail coach journey advertised as “10 days in summer, 12 days in winter.” 1754

Ferry Road constructed on its present line 1758

The first North Bridge completed 1772

South Bridge built 1785-1788

First wet dock (East Dock) at Leith opened 1806

John Rennie’s Musselburgh New Bridge opened 1808

First steamboat on the Forth 1812

West Dock completed 1817

Junction Bridge in Leith built 1818

Regent or Regent’s Bridge carrying Waterloo Place over Calton Road completed 1819

Trinity Chain Pier opened 1821

First regular steamship service between Leith and London 1821

Union Canal opened 1822

Second Cramond Brig opened 1824

Telford’s Pathhead (or Lothian) Bridge over Tyne Water built 1827-1831

George IV Bridge built 1827-1836

The Mound completed 1830

Telford’s Dean Bridge completed 1832

Horse drawn passenger service inaugurated on Edinburgh & Dalkeith Rly from St Leonards 1832

New Western Approach (later Johnston Terrace) opened 1836

Granton Pier, originally Victoria Jetty, opened 1838

Edinburgh & Glasgow Rly opened from Haymarket to Glasgow via Falkirk 1842

Railway opened from Scotland Street to Trinity 1842

Granton to Burntisland ferry service opens 1844

Rival schemes put forward for atmospheric railways between Edinburgh and Leith 1845

North British Railway opens to Berwick-upon-Tweed 1846

E&GR extended from Haymarket to Waverley 1847

Scotland Street tunnel and Canal Street station opened 1847

Musselburgh (town centre) station opened 1847

Last mail coach run from Edinburgh to London 1847

Caledonian Railway opened from Carlisle to Lothian Road station via Carstairs 1848

Edinburgh & Glasgow Railway purchase the Union Canal 1848

First trains between Edinburgh and Hawick 1849

Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway opened 1849

Edinburgh and Northern Railway introduce train ferry service for freight wagons between Granton and Burntisland 1851

Victoria Dock at Leith opened 1852

West Pier at Leith opened 1852

Peebles Railway opened 1855

Melville Drive opened 1859

Cockburn Street built to improve access to Waverley from the Old Town 1859-1864

GNR, NER and NBR introduce common pool of passenger carriages (East Coast Joint Stock) on East Coast route 1861

NBR complete Waverley Route to Carlisle 1862

Winchburgh railway accident, 17 killed, 1862

East Coast companies introduce Special Scotch Express Edinburgh to London King’s Cross (later the Flying Scotsman) 1862

Edinburgh & Glasgow Railway taken over by NBR 1865

NBR divert Granton trains via Abbeyhill Jcn and Leith Walk 1868

Ratho/Dalmeny branch railway (1866) extended to South Queensferry 1868

CR open Cleland and Midcalder cut off 1869

NBR open Abbeyhill and Junction Road stations 1869

Albert Dock opened 1869

Tramways Act 1870

CR replace Lothian Road station with new terminus slightly further north and rename it Princes Street 1870

Portobello Pier opened 1871

Through trains to Glasgow via Bathgate 1871

First horse trams (Haymarket to Bernard Street (Leith) started by Edinburgh Street Tramways Co 1871

Penicuik Railway opened 1872

NBR introduce first sleeping car service in GB between Glasgow, Edinburgh and London 1873

Colinton New Bridge opened c.1874

Balerno branch railway opened 1874

Victoria Swing Bridge opened at Leith 1874

Through trains to St Pancras via Waverley Route and Midland Railway’s new Settle and Carlisle Line 1876

CR start passenger service to Leith 1879

Edinburgh Dock opened 1881

Forth Bridge Railway Company formed by NBR/NER/GNR/MR 1881

Edinburgh Street Tramways Co trial steam tramway engines on Portobello route 1881/2

Forth Bridge construction begins 1883

Roads and Bridges Act ends turnpike roads system and tolls 1883

South Suburban railway opened 1884

Galloway Saloon Steam Packet company formed 1886

Galloway steamers build wooden pier at South Queensferry town harbour 1886

First issues of Murray’s monthly Edinburgh timetable diaries 1886

NBR open new and improved station at Portobello 1887

Belford Bridge opened 1887

NBR open Craiglockhart station 1887

First cable tram route (Edinburgh Northern Tramways Co, Hanover St to Goldenacre) 1888

Forth Bridge and connecting railways opened 1890

ENTCo open Stockbridge cable route from Frederick Street to Comely Bank 1890

CR propose railway under Princes Street and Calton Hill to Leith 1890

CR and NBR both open temporary Exhibition stations to serve Edinburgh Exhibition of the Arts, Sciences and Industries 1890

NBR open Easter Road and Piershill stations 1891

Waverley expansion 1892-1902

Lessee of Edinburgh tramways (exc Leith) changes to Edinburgh & District Tramways Co in 1894

Second Princes Street Station opened by CR 1894

CR open their Barnton branch from Craigleith to Cramond Brig (in 1903 renamed Barnton) 1894

NBR open resited Haymarket MPD west of Russell Road 1894/5

The new Haymarket (South) tunnel completed 1895

NBR open Powderhall station 1895

First motor car driven through Edinburgh 1896

Second (the present) North Bridge opened 1897

NBR open second Calton Tunnel 1897

New swing bridge opened at Bernard Street replacing the earlier bridge 1898

NBR open new “suburban station” at Waverley 1898

Norman MacDonald’s Edinburgh Autocar Company introduced motor wagonette service GPO to Haymarket 1899

Edinburgh & District Tramways start their first cable trams 1899

NBR acquires former Waterloo Hotel as head office 1899

Dalry Road station opened by CR 1900

First Sunday trams 1901

NBR open branch line to Corstorphine 1902

First pedestrian fatality as a result of being knocked down by motor vehicle in Edinburgh 1902

Bonnington Bridge built replacing 1812 structure 1902/3

NBR open Leith Central station 1903

Driving licences introduced 1903

Musselburgh & District Electric Light & Traction Co. Ltd open tramway from Joppa to Levenhall 1904

Imperial Dock opened 1904

First Leith Corporation electric trams 1905

Scottish Motor Traction Co Ltd starts first motor bus service Mound to Corstorphine 1906

Last horse tram (Tollcross to Colinton Rd) 1907

John Croall and Sons introduce first motor taxis in Edinburgh 1907

Last extension of cable tramway network in Edinburgh - the Broughton St to Canonmills line 1908

NBR open Newtongrange station 1908

Hailes Platform on CR Balerno branch opened 1908

Musselburgh tramway extended from Levenhall to Port Seton 1909

EDT open electric tramway Ardmillan Tce to Slateford 1910

NBR introduce summer Lothian Coast Express from Glasgow Queen Street to Gullane/North Berwick/Dunbar 1912

NBR open Scotland’s first Control Centre, 1913

NBR open carriage sidings at Craigentinny 1914

Ratho train crash kills 12, 1917

Edinburgh Corporation start running trams directly 1919

Corporation starts first bus tours 1919

NBR take over working of the Queensferry Passage 1920

Edinburgh absorbs Cramond, Corstorphine, Colinton, Leith and Liberton, 1920

Corporation start first regular bus services 1920

Saughton station closed 1921

First ECT electric trams 1922

Tramway on Princes Street electrified 1922

ECT introduce first double deck buses (open top) 1922

Railway grouping 1923

Last cable trams (the Portobello route) withdrawn 1923

Edinburgh Corporation open Portobello Power Station 1923

ECT tracks at Joppa linked up with those of the Musselburgh company 1923

Marchmont Circle tram service starts 1924

Tramway extended from Seafield to King’s Road 1924

Five killed when two trains collide at Haymarket 1924

Murrayfield Stadium opened 1925

LNER withdraw train service to Trinity and Granton 1925

George Street tramway opened 1925

First night bus services introduced by ECT 1925

Edinburgh Licensed Hackney Carriage Association 1925

Tramway extension opened to Colinton 1926

ECT open Central Garage in former Industrial Hall at Annandale Street 1926

SMT open booking and enquiry office at 45 Princes Street 1926

SMT commence through bus service to Glasgow 1926

Maybury Road opened 1927

LMS relaunch their premier Euston- Glasgow/Edinburgh service as the “Royal Scot” 1927

Edinburgh-Glasgow New Road built 1927-32

Edinburgh Corporation Tramways becomes Edinburgh Corporation Transport 1928

First traffic lights in city at Broughton St/York Pl junction 1928

Levenhall to Port Seton tramway abandoned 1928

LNER introduce third class sleeping cars 1928

LNER loco 4472 “Flying Scotsman” hauls first non stop King’s Cross to Edinburgh train service 1928

Thomson’s Tours start coach services to London 1928

SMT open New Street bus garage 1929

Railway companies invest in SMT 1929

Telford Road opened 1929

Last trains to South Queensferry Halt 1929

Tram accident at Liberton Brae 1929

LNER close Turnhouse, Winchburgh, Gogar, Kirkliston and Leith Walk stations 1930

ECT open tramway extension to Stenhouse 1930

Road Traffic Act 1930

SMT starts extended tours of several days 1931

First edition of The Highway Code published 1931

Last trains to Aberlady and Gullane 1932

LNER withdraw passenger services from Glencorse branch 1933

Moderne style Southern Motors garage at Causewayside c.1933

Two custom built car ferries introduced at Queensferry 1934

LNER open Balgreen Halt 1934

LMS open East Pilton Halt 1934

Driving tests introduced 1935

Tramway extended from Braids to Fairmilehead 1936

SMT concentrate departures at Saint Andrew Square 1936

Corporation tours stance opened at Waverley Bridge 1936

The Maybury Roadhouse opened 1936

Final tram extension to Maybury 1937

LNER Edinburgh to Glasgow train collides with another stationary train at Castlecary killing 35, 1937

LMS open House O’ Hill Halt on Barnton branch 1937

LNER introduce The Coronation streamlined express passenger train between King’s Cross and Edinburgh and vv 1937

LNER withdraw Granton/Burntisland ferry 1940

SMT bus inbound from Port Seton crashes head on into tramcar on Portobello Road, killing five bus passengers 1941

Dalkeith branch passenger service withdrawn 1942

Western breakwater at Leith completed 1942

Last trains to Colinton and Balerno 1943

ECT restarts city tours after the war 1946

First BEA flights to London 1947

Last trains to North Leith 1947

Forth Road Bridge Order approves construction of bridge 1947

ECT start Airport bus service (initially under contract to BEA) 1947

Peak year for tram passenger numbers (nearly 193m) 1947

Railways nationalised 1948

Washout of East Coast Main Line in Berwickshire 1948

SMT nationalised 1949

BEA move booking office and town terminal to 133 George Street 1950

Third car ferry introduced on Queensferry Passage 1950

New Hailes station closed 1950

BR open Easter Road Park Halt for arriving football specials 1950

Last trains to Barnton and Penicuik 1951

Last trains call at Curriehill and Ratho 1951

SMT start hourly express coach service to Glasgow 1951

Northern Roadways start overnight service to London 1951

Forth Ferries run short lived car ferry service between Granton and Burntisland 1951/2

Corporation resolves to abandon tramways completely within three years 1952

Corporation permits external adverts on trams and buses 1952

Last passenger trains to Leith Central 1952

First international flights from Turnhouse Airport (to Dublin) 1952

BR introduce summer weekly “Starlight Special” overnight trains Waverley to London Marylebone @ 70/- return 1953

BEA Edinburgh to London flights move from Northolt to Heathrow 1954

Last trams to Musselburgh and Levenhall 1954

Longstone bus garage opened by ECT 1955

Leith Dock Commission cease to open Bernard Street swing bridge to navigation 1955

Millerhill station closed 1955

Remaining Glasgow trains via Bathgate withdrawn 1956

Fourth car ferry joins Queensferry Passage 1956

New passenger terminal opened at Turnhouse Airport 1956

Last first generation electric trams 1956

First diesel trains to Glasgow 1957

ECT relocate head office from St. James Square to 14 Queen Street 1957

SOL open Saint Andrew Square Bus Station 1957

Many local rail services converted to diesel operations 1958

Jeffrey Street footbridge over east end of Waverley closed 1958

Construction of Forth Road Bridge begins 1958

BR introduce summer daytime car carrier service Waverley to London (Holloway) 1960

East Fortune becomes temporary Edinburgh Airport for 4 months (96000 pax )owing to runway strengthening at Turnhouse 1961

SMT start The Transatlantic Express service to Prestwick 1961

The new Bernard Street concrete bridge opened 1961

Last trains to Bonnyrigg and Peebles 1962

Last trains to Leith North 1962

SOL rebuild and extend Musselburgh depot 1962

First parking meters introduced on George Street and Queen Street 1962

ECT open their new Marine Garage 1962

South Sub trains withdrawn 1962

BEA move sales office to 135 Princes Street 1962

Beeching Report published 1963

Loganair start first scheduled service Dundee to Edinburgh 1963

ECT open information bureau at top of Waverley Bridge 1964

Eastern Scottish fleetname introduced by SOL 1964/5

New A90 dual carriageway Cramond Brig to Queensferry 1964

Queensferry Passage closed 1964

Forth Road Bridge (cost £19.5m) opened, first direct buses to Fife 1964

Scotland’s first motorway - M90 Admiralty to Duloch in south Fife plus M823 spur bypassing Rosyth 1964

Castle Terrace multi-storey car park opened 1964

Abbeyhill, Piershill, Portobello and Joppa stations closed 1964

Musselburgh and Inveresk stations closed 1964

First modern rear engined bus bought by ECT 1965

British Rail brand name launched 1965

Princes Street Station closed along with Merchiston 1965

BEA Vickers Vanguard on flight from Edinburgh crashes at Heathrow killing 36, 1965

BUA start InterJet service to Gatwick 1966

Driver-only double deck buses legalised 1966

Motorail brand launched by BRB 1966

Edinburgh Corporation publish plans for six lane Inner Relief Road 1966

ECT close parcels service 1966

Half hourly train service Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk introduced 1966.

BR close St. Margaret’s MPD 1967

Last trains to Corstorphine 1967

Forth Ports Authority replaces Leith Dock Commission 1968

Taxi cooperative, Central Radio Taxis, founded 1968

Waverley Route to Carlisle closed 1969

BR close Divisional Manager’s office at Waterloo Place 1969

ECT introduce first double decker one man operated services 1969

Scottish Transport Group HQ set up at Carron House on George Street, Edinburgh 1969

Closure of North Berwick branch refused by MoT 1969

ECT close Tollcross garage 1969

M8 opened between Whitburn and Dechmont 1969

Direct railway route to Perth closed between Cowdenbeath and Bridge of Earn via Kinross Jcn 1970

ECT employ first female driver 1970

M8 eastern section opened between Dechmont and Newbridge 1970

M9 (later M90) Kirkliston spur opened 1970

Travel Centre opened at Waverley 1970

BAA take over Edinburgh Airport 1971

Scotland’s first motorway service area opened at Harthill on M8 at cost of £650,000, 1971

Push/Pull trains to Glasgow 1971

Kingsknowe Station reopened 1971

ECT expand information bureau at Waverley Bridge to become airport bus terminal 1971

Last passenger sailings from Leith to Orkney/Shetland 1971

Traffic lights installed on Princes Street 1972

First Open Day at ECT Shrubhill 1972

Last sailings Leith to Reykjavik and Copenhagen 1972

The old A9 between Turnhouse and Boathouse Bridge closed to allow construction of the airport’s new runway 1973

Rose Street (between Castle St and Frederick St) becomes first in city to be pedestrianised 1973

Civil Aviation Act 1971 merges BEA and BOAC as British Airways 1974

First bus lane in city (Earl Grey Street, northbound) 1974

West Approach Road opened 1974

Edinburgh boundary extended to take in Queensferry, Kirkliston, Newbridge, Ratho, Currie and Balerno 1975

Edinburgh City Transport becomes Lothian Regional Transport 1975

Air Anglia launch first Edinburgh to Amsterdam flights 1975

First Leith Street footbridge erected 1975

New runway opened at Edinburgh Airport 1976

British Airways introduce the Shuttle to Heathrow 1976

LRT introduces the Ridacard season ticket 1976

New power signal box opened at Waverley 1976

SBG launch blue and white livery and “Scottish” brand on London coaches 1976

New passenger terminal at Edinburgh Airport opened 1977

SPOKES (the Lothian cycle campaign) launched 1977

BR opens Craigentinny Train Maintenance Depot 1977

HST train services from King’s Cross to Edinburgh introduced 1978/9

Townsend Thoresen run shortlived experimental sailings between Leith and Kristiansand (Norway), autumn 1978

Penmanshiel Tunnel collapse on ECML between Berwick and Dunbar 1979

Transport museum at Shrubhill closed 1979

LRT last use bus conductors 1980

Deregulation of express coach services 1980

Eastern Scottish introduce X14 Motorway Express to Glasgow 1981

Colinton bypass (3.5 miles) opened from Baberton to Fairmilehead 1981

Cotter Coachline service to London 1981

Lothian Regional Council buys disused railway routes in north Edinburgh 1981

British Rail launch low cost Nightrider train service King’s Cross to Edinburgh and Aberdeen 1982

Eastern Scottish end use of bus conductors 1982

“Innocent Railway” walkway and cyclepath opened 1982

Midcalder station renamed Kirknewton 1982

Newton’s Travel launch “Fast Class” coach service to/from Inverness 1982

British Midland start Heathrow to Edinburgh service 1983

British Airways upgrade Heathrow services to “Super Shuttle” 1983

British Rail Scotland adopt Scotrail brand (22 Sept) 1983

Stagecoach start an Edinburgh-Glasgow service 1983

ECT tram 35 moved to Blackpool 1983

InterCity launch Highland Chieftain between King’s Cross and Inverness via Edinburgh (581 miles) 1984

Edinburgh-Glasgow train derails W of Polmont, 13 killed, 1984

Livingston South station opened 1984

South Gyle Station opened 1985

Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd formed 1985

Borders/East Lothian routes of Eastern Scottish pass to Lowland Scottish 1985

Edinburgh to Bathgate train service reopened 1986

ScotRail Operations Depot opened at Waverley 1986

ScotRail operate dmu shuttles between Waverley and Meadowbank Stadium during Commonwealth Games 1986

Bus services deregulated 1986

Lothian Regional Transport becomes Lothian Region Transport plc 1986

A1 Tranent and Musselburgh bypasses opened 1986

A199 Portobello bypass (Sir Harry Lauder Road) opened 1986

Eastern Scottish introduce City Sprinter minibuses 1986

Sighthill Bypass (3 miles) opened from Glasgow Road to Baberton 1986

Scott Russell Aqueduct built to carry Union Canal over the Edinburgh city bypass 1987

Wester Hailes and Curriehill stations opened /reopened 1987

Air UK replace BCal on Gatwick/Edinburgh route 1988

InterCity Sleepers concentrated on WCML and Euston 1988

Preserved Edinburgh tram 35 operates at the Glasgow Garden Festival tramway 1988

New station opened at Musselburgh 1988

Burdiehouse Bypass from Fairmilehead to Straiton opened 1988

Millerhill Bypass from Sheriffhall to Old Craighall opened 1988

Guide Friday starts Edinburgh open top bus tour followed by LRT later same year with Edinburgh Classic Tour 1989

Guide Friday start their AirBus Express to airport 1989

Stagecoach sells express operations to National Express 1989

Gilmerton Bypass opened from Straiton to Sheriffhall 1989

Eastern Scottish privatised, revives SMT fleetname 1990

Carstairs/Edinburgh link from WCML electrified 1991

East Coast Main Line electrification completed 1991

North Berwick train service electrified 1991

SBG sell Fife Scottish to Stagecoach 1991

Stagecoach Rail launched 1992

Scottish Citylink purchased by National Express 1993

Underpass opened at Gogar roundabout 1993

Guide Friday start Deep Sea World Express to North Queensferry 1993

Gyle Centre opened 1993

CERT (City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit) bus rapid transit scheme proposed c.1993

GRT buys Eastern Scottish Omnibuses (SMT) 1994

ScotRail TOC created (still BRB owned) 1994

New station opened at Wallyford 1994

M8 extended from Newbridge to City Bypass 1995

BR withdraw Sleeper/Motorail to Plymouth 1995

First EasyJet services from London Luton to Edinburgh 1995

GNER train operating company takes over ECML train services 1996

ScotRail introduce Caledonian Sleeper brand 1996

Eastbound traffic exc buses, taxis, cycles etc removed from Princes Street 1996

First carve up Eastern Scottish between Midland Bluebird and Lowland 1996

Virgin Trains start running CrossCountry and West Coast trains 1997

Underpass opened at Newbridge roundabout 1997

First merge Midland Bluebird and Lowland as First Edinburgh 1997

ScotRail privatised 1997

Priority bus lanes (“Greenways”) introduced on five arterial roads 1997

Low cost carrier Go starts Stansted/Edinburgh route 1998

LRT becomes Lothian Buses 2000

LB becomes a City Sightseeing franchisee 2000

First Edinburgh launch The Overground network in city 2000

Motorvator coach service Edinburgh to Glasgow started by Bruce Coaches and Long’s of Salsburgh 2000

Ferrytoll P+R opened in Fife 2000

Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre opened 2001

Forth Estuary Transport Authority replaces FRBJB 2001

Ryanair launch first scheduled service from EDI (to Dublin) 2001

Brunstane and Newcraighall stations opened 2002

Transport Initiatives Edinburgh formed 2002

Rosyth/Zeebrugge ferry service started by Superfast Ferries 2002

LB acquire Mac Tours and Edinburgh ops of Guide Friday 2002

Lothian revamps night bus network 2002

Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh relocates to Little France 2003

Edinburgh Bus Station opened 2003

Megabus started 2003

Second Leith Street footbridge (the “bendy bridge”) erected 2003

Edinburgh Park station opened 2003

First Group takeover ScotRail franchise 2004

Edinburgh Bus Tours introduce Majestic Tour 2004

West Edinburgh 1.5k guided busway opens 2004

Continental start first daily transatlantic scheduled flight to New York/Newark 2004

Stagecoach buy the Motorvator Edinburgh Glasgow coach service 2004

Transport Scotland (agency of Scottish Government) formed 2005

Stagecoach gain 35% stake in Scottish Citylink and become managing partner 2005

Hermiston P+R opened 2005

NATS build new 57 metre high control tower at EDI 2005

Edinburgh congestion charge referendum 2005

Central Edinburgh Traffic Management Scheme 2005

SEStran (Regional Transport Partnership) formed 2005

Ingliston P+R opened 2006

Stagecoach launch Airdirect (later Jet 747) bus Inverkeithing to Edinburgh Airport in 2006

Former SMT depot/Head Office at New Street demolished 2006

Stagecoach run two week hovercraft trial between Portobello and KIrkcaldy 2007

Edinburgh Airport Rail Link cancelled by Scottish Govt 2007

First TransPennine Express replace Virgin CrossCountry on Manchester services 2007

Edinburgh Bus Tours start Bus and Boat Tour 2007

Lothian start taxibus service to/from Edinburgh Airport 2007

M9 spur (later M90) opened from Kirkliston to Queensferry 2007

Stagecoach East Scotland launch Express CityConnect brand for coach network 2007

National Express East Coast takes over InterCity East Coast franchise 2007

Tolls removed from Forth Road Bridge 2008

First Edinburgh renamed First Scotland East 2008

Sheriffhall P&R opened 2008

Wallyford P&R opened 2008

Norfolkline restart Rosyth/Zeebrugge ferry service 2009

Tramway construction begins on Princes Street 2009

The state owned East Coast train operating company replaced National Express East Coast 2009

Removal of last step entrance bus from Lothian fleet 2009

Airdrie/Bathgate railway reopened/ electrified 2010

ScotRail reintroduce local Edinburgh-Dunbar service supplementing Dunbar calls by long distance operators 2010

Waverley Steps rebuilt with canopy and escalators added 2012

British Airways takeover bmi British Midland 2012

Global Investment Partners buy Edinburgh Airport 2012

M90 intelligent transport system inc bus lane 2012

Citylinkair coach service Glasgow to Edinburgh Airport launched 2013

Haymarket Station modernised 2013

Virgin Little Red launch LHR/Edinburgh service 2013

Luxury Megabus Gold sleeper coach services introduced between London and Edinburgh/Aberdeen 2013

Transport for Edinburgh formed 2013

Modern tramway opened Airport to York Place 2014

Taxis and other motor vehicles banned from Edinburgh Waverley 2014

Virgin Trains East Coast replaces state owned East Coast on the ECML 2015

Abellio takeover ScotRail franchise 2015

Amey take over management of Forth Road Bri for Transport Scotland 2015

Bruce’s Coaches launch M8 CityXpress to/from Glasgow 2015

Serco now operating the new Caledonian Sleeper franchise 2015

Borders Railway to Tweedbank opened 2015

Borders Railway inc new stations at Shawfair and Eskbank 2015

UNESCO inscribes Forth Bridge on World Heritage Sites list 2015

Emergency closure of Forth Road Bridge, December 2015

City of Edinburgh Council starts rollout of 20mph speed limits on 80% of city streets. From 2016.

Edinburgh Gateway rail/tram interchange opened 2016

Lothian introduces new fleet for Edinburgh Bus Tours 2016

EastCoastbuses launched 2016

Lothian launch Skylink service Leith to Edinburgh Airport 2017

Queensferry Crossing opened 2017

Forth Road Bridge becomes the public transport corridor 2017

Edinburgh to Glasgow train services via Falkirk High electrified 2017

Borders Buses launched 2017

Lothiancountry brand starts with route 43 to Queensferry 2017

ScotRail open Millerhill EMU depot 2018

Lothian launch Cruiselink X99 to/from Queensferry Hawes Pier 2018

DfT Operator of Last Resort (using LNER brand) replaces VTEC on ECML 2018

Transport for Edinburgh cycle hire scheme in association with Serco launched 2018

Lothiancountry start renewed expansion into West Lothian 2018

First start Bright Bus Tours 2019

Lothian introduce ADL Enviro 400XLB tri - axle double deckers 2019

Lothian launch capped contactless payment system 2019

Edinburgh to Glasgow train services via Shotts electrified 2019

LNER introduce “Azuma” service to Edinburgh 2019

Avanti West Coast take over InterCity West Coast franchise 2019

Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. Only critical services provided 2020

Waverley Bridge largely pedestrianised 2020

Stagecoach introduce new livery schemes 2020

Ember Core start electric coach service to Dundee 2020

Plaxton Panorama double deck coaches introduced on Citylink 900 Edinburgh to Glasgow service 2020

Flixbus start overnight coach service to London 2021

First Group launch low cost rail subsidiary, Lumo, operating between Edinburgh and London King’s Cross 2021

York Place tramstop closed 2022

ScotRail nationalised 2022

McGill’s Buses take over First Scotland East and West Lothian services rebranded Eastern Scottish, 2022

Open top bus tours move to new base at Waterloo Place 2023

Flixbus start Edinburgh to Aberdeen service 2023

CAVForth autonomous bus service (operated by Stagecoach) launched between Ferrytoll P+R and Edinburgh Park station 2023

TransPennine Express nationalised 2023

The former Granton Gasworks station restored 2023

Trams extended from city centre to Leith and Newhaven 2023

Caledonian Sleeper nationalised 2023.

Low Emission Zone (LEZ) established in central Edinburgh 2023

McGill’s Scotland East pull out of West Lothian 2023

McGill’s launch Bright Bus Airport Express 2024

Lothian Buses purchase Dunbar based Eve Coaches 2024

Regal Tour replaces Majestic Tour 2024

Flixbus launch Edinburgh- Glasgow service 2024

VINCI Airports acquire 50.01% of Edinburgh Airport, GIP retain remaining shareholding 2024

Bright Bus launch Bus and Boat Tour 2024

Airport buses move to Waverley Bridge 2024

Airport handles 15m passengers in year for first time 2024

Transport for Edinburgh reduced to shareholding shell company 2024

Lothian drop Skylink brand 2025

McGill’s Bright Bus Tours adopt BigBus franchise 2025

Travel Centre relocates at Waverley 2025

ScotRail abolish peak fares 2025

Transport Scotland confirm discontinuous electrification going ahead for Fife and Borders routes 2025

City council launches new bike share scheme with Voi 2025

Znap extended feat. Silke Eberhard - 21.02.2025 - Jazzit Musik Club Salzburg

Besetzung:

Lorenz Raab: tumpet, flügelhorn;

Silke Eberhard: altsaxophon, clarinet;

Leonhard Skorupa: tenorsaxophon, clarinet;

Martin Bayer: guitar;

Gregor Aufmesser: double bass;

Lukas Aichinger: drums;

McDonnell Douglas KC-10A EXTENDER (MSN 48219) USAF/60th AMW/AMC (83-0078) BASE DE MORÓN (LEMO) SPAIN

The Brazilian National Guard has deployed 15,000 troops into Venezuela. They head directly to military bases and other important areas. Once the BNG has most of the bases under control they will head towards the Caracas.

--------------------

For LMG. Sorry about the bad photography.

Most are gone now, but a few wild sunflowers continue to bloom. I brought these into the house, and enjoyed there beauty, up close, for several days, and got to take lots of pictures of them which i'll share later on.

Thanks to Mary Ann Potter for the texture. My wall looks lovely with the wallpaper on it.

The loss of Merthyr Tydfil depot's Alexander PS-bodied Volvo B10M 20826 (P826 FVU) in a road traffic accident in November 2011 led Stagecoach in South Wales to source a replacement vehicle. This materialised as semi-coach seated 20685 from Stagecoach West.

She was allocated to Aberdare depot for Services 72/172 (Aberdare-Rhondda Valleys-Bridgend-Porthcawl) after a repaint, and released bus seated 20387 (R787 DHB) to Merthyr depot as 20826's replacement.

She was new to Stagecoach West in batch of 10 that was split between Swindon and Cheltenham depots. The other nine have all now been sold by Stagecoach, with one - 20687 (N407 LDF) - having passed into preservation.

Replaced at Aberdare depot by an Alexander Dennis Enviro300-bodied Scania in October 2012, she is now based at Brynmawr, and still puts in appearances on Services X15 and Tuesdays only X74, though I've yet to see her replacing an MAN on the X4.

This September 2012 shot was taken on top of the Maerdy Mountain, slightly on the Rhondda side. Porthcawl would be reached in a couple of hours.

Wonderful machines.

I was stoked to click this photo of Anna soaring in the air with legs, arms, even fingertips and toes fully extended. It was also nice to have her eyes open, and her hair although floating magnificently, didn't cover her face and a strand curved nicely up under her right arm pit. It seems even the guy in the background knew to turn and see something special...Anna soaring in the USA saluting a ring of proudly swaying flags! Washington DC, 26 August 2017.

Black-and-white photo of an extended family in a Hungarian courtyard during the 1940s, highlighting multi-generational bonds. Magyary-Kossa Katalin

Chobe Riverfront, Botswana

Senior Airman Charlton Hampton refuels an F-15C Eagle from a KC-135 Stratotanker Dec. 23, 2014, near Okinawa, Japan. Mid-air refueling gives the Air Force the ability to extend the range of its aircraft, which is integral to the global reach of U.S. military power and humanitarian relief in the event of a crisis. Charlton is a 909th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Maeson L. Elleman/Released)

Please NO groups invites - S'il vous plait, pas d'invitation pour des groupes.

Canon 40D et zoom Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS + extender Canon 1.4x

Nacho 223 Heavy backtracking down a wet runway 10 at RAF Mildenhall

Only one species of marmot (Marmota himalayana) extends across the Tibetan Plateau. Himalayan marmots favor alpine meadows with lush vegetation in the vicinity of their burrows. Since they hibernate six month or more, they need to store ample fat reserves during the short growing season. They frequently dig a burrow system with two or more entrances in rolling terrain and on slopes, often at the base of boulders. Rocky sites tend to be well drained and also difficult for bears to excavate.

Although marmots are usually found in hilly to mountainous terrain up to an elevation of 5000m, they readily occupy level plains that have suitable forage, such as east Drito (Ch Zhidoi) in Amdo (Ch Qinghai. Marmots begin hibernation in late September or early October, depending on elevation, the animals emerge during April.

They weigh 4-8kg. Average litter size is 4.8-6.9, although seldom to observe more than 3-4 around a den. The young are especially vulnerable to predation when they first venture from their burrows. Marmots are much hunted for their hides in some areas (Tibetans usually do not eat marmot meat). In Amdo (Qinghai) the animals are also poisoned because they are thought to compete with livestock for forage. Marmots are susceptible to the flea-borne sylvatic plague, a bacterial (Pasteurella pestis) disease, which may greatly reduce local populations and also affect people.George B. Schaller

bibliovault.org/BV.book.epl?ISBN=9780226736532

Last year I built this Scania R500 and Broshuis extendible trailer. Originally it was laden with a large concrete beam. Hauler Combex also operates these combos to transport large poles to the construction sites. In the Netherlands it is legal to carry them like this, over the cab's roof to save as much length as possible. The model is about 6.6 ft long. The trailer is accurate built copy with three steered axles. More details underneath I can show later on.

The This Scania R500 unit is also featured in the book "The Art of LEGO Scale Modeling" (www.nostarch.com/legoscalemodeling).

"Usual Blurb" © by Wil Wardle. Please do not use this or any of my images without my permission.

Please click "L" on your keyboard to view on Black.

Please follow me on facebook:

www.facebook.com/pages/Wil-Wardle-Photography/13877641613...

Optics was darker, but I could dig more detail in dark parts easily with this DSLR compared to the frame with EOS 5Dmk2-sp2.

www.flickr.com/photos/hiroc/15411416950/

Enjoy the variety of color and depth of dark areas.

equipment: Takahashi FSQ-106ED with Extender Q1.6x and Canon EOS 5Dmk3-sp4, modified by Seo-san, on Takahashi EM-200 Temma 2 Jr, autoguided with hiro-design off-axis guider, SX Lodestar, and PHD Guiding

exposure: 1 time x 1 hour, 2 x 45 minutes, 3 x 15 min, 4 x 4 min, and 5 x 1 minute at ISO 1,600, 850mm in focal length, and f/8.0

site: 11,000 feet above sea level near Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii

My apologies to many of my flickr friends for my extended absence, I am a freelance producer for a commercial photographer and for the last several months our calendars (thankfully) have been full.

I will make an effort to re-connect with your photo streams in the coming week. I am sure I have missed out on some great work.

Unless you have been living under a rock in the Disney community you have no doubt heard of the World of Color which made it's appearance to the public in early June. I have been fortunate to have visited Disney World at least 2 dozen times in my life, but had never been to Disneyland.

Well on Thursday, July 1st, I had a down day while I was in California, so I decided to go for it, and visit the park where it all began. I left my hotel in Santa Barbara at 5:30 in the morning and made the 2 hour drive to Anaheim through LA traffic.

I got to the park at opening and stayed well after close, I think I got about 2 hours of sleep before my 8am call time the next day, but it was well worth it.

World of Color was a wonderful show (however, I was a little disappointed given all the hype surrounding it, and my favorite show remains illuminations), being a water show, I really didn't want to shoot right at the edge without a water housing for the camera, and even from my vantage of the upper tier, my rig got soaked, and it wasn't even windy that night. At the end of the show I walked down to the edge of the pier to grab a few shots, only to see the people making their way out, soaked to the skin like they had just gotten off Kali Rapids at Animal Kingdom.

This was one of my best frames, I think next time I would like to shoot it from a balcony at the Grand Californian, or from the edge of the pier, in full rain gear. Cheers, and I can't wait to see what everyone has been up to lately.

White-breasted Nuthatch

Los Alamos, NM

The history of the MAN Group extends over more than 250 years. The company is celebrating another important anniversary this year: The history of commercial vehicle construction at MAN started 100 years ago. Here is an overview of the most important milestones.

Giraffe

Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of 19,485 km2 (7,523 sq mi) in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in northeastern South Africa, and extends 360 km (220 mi) from north to south and 65 km (40 mi) from east to west. The administrative headquarters are in Skukuza. Areas of the park were first protected by the government of the South African Republic in 1898, and it became South Africa's first national park in 1926.

To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is Mozambique. It is now part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park that links Kruger National Park with the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, and with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique.

The park is part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere an area designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an International Man and Biosphere Reserve (the "Biosphere").

The park has nine main gates allowing entrance to the different camps.

(Wikipedia)

The giraffe (Giraffa) is an African artiodactyl mammal, the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant. It is traditionally considered to be one species, Giraffa camelopardalis, with nine subspecies. However, the existence of up to eight extant giraffe species has been described, based upon research into the mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, as well as morphological measurements of Giraffa. Seven other species are extinct, prehistoric species known from fossils.

The giraffe's chief distinguishing characteristics are its extremely long neck and legs, its horn-like ossicones, and its distinctive coat patterns. It is classified under the family Giraffidae, along with its closest extant relative, the okapi. Its scattered range extends from Chad in the north to South Africa in the south, and from Niger in the west to Somalia in the east. Giraffes usually inhabit savannahs and woodlands. Their food source is leaves, fruits and flowers of woody plants, primarily acacia species, which they browse at heights most other herbivores cannot reach. They may be preyed on by lions, leopards, spotted hyenas and African wild dogs. Giraffes live in herds of related females and their offspring, or bachelor herds of unrelated adult males, but are gregarious and may gather in large aggregations. Males establish social hierarchies through "necking", which are combat bouts where the neck is used as a weapon. Dominant males gain mating access to females, which bear the sole responsibility for raising the young.

The giraffe has intrigued various cultures, both ancient and modern, for its peculiar appearance, and has often been featured in paintings, books, and cartoons. It is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as vulnerable to extinction, and has been extirpated from many parts of its former range. Giraffes are still found in numerous national parks and game reserves but estimates as of 2016 indicate that there are approximately 97,500 members of Giraffa in the wild. More than 1,600 were kept in zoos in 2010.

The name "giraffe" has its earliest known origins in the Arabic word zarāfah (زرافة), perhaps borrowed from the animal's Somali name geri. The Arab name is translated as "fast-walker". There were several Middle English spellings, such as jarraf, ziraph, and gerfauntz. The Italian form giraffa arose in the 1590s. The modern English form developed around 1600 from the French girafe. "Camelopard" is an archaic English name for the giraffe deriving from the Ancient Greek for camel and leopard, referring to its camel-like shape and its leopard-like colouring.

Fully grown giraffes stand 4.3–5.7 m (14.1–18.7 ft) tall, with males taller than females. The tallest recorded male was 5.88 m (19.3 ft) and the tallest recorded female was 5.17 m (17.0 ft) tall. The average weight is 1,192 kg (2,628 lb) for an adult male and 828 kg (1,825 lb) for an adult female with maximum weights of 1,930 kg (4,250 lb) and 1,180 kg (2,600 lb) having been recorded for males and females, respectively. Despite its long neck and legs, the giraffe's body is relatively short. Located at both sides of the head, the giraffe's large, bulging eyes give it good all-round vision from its great height. Giraffes see in colour and their senses of hearing and smell are also sharp. The animal can close its muscular nostrils to protect against sandstorms and ants.

The giraffe's prehensile tongue is about 45 cm (18 in) long. It is purplish-black in colour, perhaps to protect against sunburn, and is useful for grasping foliage, as well as for grooming and cleaning the animal's nose. The upper lip of the giraffe is also prehensile and useful when foraging and is covered in hair to protect against thorns. The tongue, and inside of the mouth are covered in papillae.

The coat has dark blotches or patches (which can be orange, chestnut, brown, or nearly black in colour) separated by light hair (usually white or cream in colour). Male giraffes become darker as they age. The coat pattern has been claimed to serve as camouflage in the light and shade patterns of savannah woodlands. Giraffe calves inherit some spot pattern traits from their mothers, and variation in some spot traits are correlated with neonatal survival. The skin underneath the dark areas may serve as windows for thermoregulation, being sites for complex blood vessel systems and large sweat glands. Each individual giraffe has a unique coat pattern.

The skin of a giraffe is mostly gray. Its thickness allows the animal to run through thorn bushes without being punctured. The fur may serve as a chemical defence, as its parasite repellents give the animal a characteristic scent. At least 11 main aromatic chemicals are in the fur, although indole and 3-methylindole are responsible for most of the smell. Because the males have a stronger odour than the females, the odour may also have sexual function. Along the animal's neck is a mane made of short, erect hairs. The one-metre (3.3-ft) tail ends in a long, dark tuft of hair and is used as a defense against insects.

Giraffes usually inhabit savannahs and open woodlands. They prefer Acacieae, Commiphora, Combretum and open Terminalia woodlands over denser environments like Brachystegia woodlands.The Angolan giraffe can be found in desert environments. Giraffes browse on the twigs of trees, preferring trees of the subfamily Acacieae and the genera Commiphora and Terminalia, which are important sources of calcium and protein to sustain the giraffe's growth rate. They also feed on shrubs, grass and fruit. A giraffe eats around 34 kg (75 lb) of foliage daily. When stressed, giraffes may chew the bark off branches. Although herbivorous, the giraffe has been known to visit carcasses and lick dried meat off bones.

During the wet season, food is abundant and giraffes are more spread out, while during the dry season, they gather around the remaining evergreen trees and bushes. Mothers tend to feed in open areas, presumably to make it easier to detect predators, although this may reduce their feeding efficiency. As a ruminant, the giraffe first chews its food, then swallows it for processing and then visibly passes the half-digested cud up the neck and back into the mouth to chew again. It is common for a giraffe to salivate while feeding. The giraffe requires less food than many other herbivores because the foliage it eats has more concentrated nutrients and it has a more efficient digestive system. The animal's faeces come in the form of small pellets. When it has access to water, a giraffe drinks at intervals no longer than three days.

Giraffes have a great effect on the trees that they feed on, delaying the growth of young trees for some years and giving "waistlines" to trees that are too tall. Feeding is at its highest during the first and last hours of daytime. Between these hours, giraffes mostly stand and ruminate. Rumination is the dominant activity during the night, when it is mostly done lying down.

Giraffes are usually found in groups that vary in size and composition according to ecological, anthropogenic, temporal, and social factors. Traditionally, the composition of these groups had been described as open and ever-changing. For research purposes, a "group" has been defined as "a collection of individuals that are less than a kilometre apart and moving in the same general direction." More recent studies have found that giraffes have long-term social associations and may form groups or pairs based on kinship, sex or other factors. These groups may regularly associate with one another in larger communities or sub-communities within a fission–fusion society. The number of giraffes in a group can range up to 66 individuals.

Giraffe groups tend to be sex-segregated although mixed-sex groups made of adult females and young males are known to occur. Particularly stable giraffe groups are those made of mothers and their young, which can last weeks or months. Social cohesion in these groups is maintained by the bonds formed between calves. Female association appears to be based on space-use and individuals may be matrilineally related. In general, females are more selective than males in who they associate with in regards to individuals of the same sex. Young males also form groups and will engage in playfights. However, as they get older males become more solitary but may also associate in pairs or with female groups. Giraffes are not territorial, but they have home ranges that vary according to rainfall and proximity to human settlements. Male giraffes occasionally wander far from areas that they normally frequent.

Although generally quiet and non-vocal, giraffes have been heard to communicate using various sounds. During courtship, males emit loud coughs. Females call their young by bellowing. Calves will emit snorts, bleats, mooing and mewing sounds. Giraffes also snore, hiss, moan, grunt and make flute-like sounds. During nighttime, giraffes appear to hum to each other above the infrasound range for purposes which are unclear.

(Wikipedia)

Der Kruger-Nationalpark (deutsch häufig falsch Krüger-Nationalpark) ist das größte Wildschutzgebiet Südafrikas. Er liegt im Nordosten des Landes in der Landschaft des Lowveld auf dem Gebiet der Provinz Limpopo sowie des östlichen Abschnitts von Mpumalanga. Seine Fläche erstreckt sich vom Crocodile-River im Süden bis zum Limpopo, dem Grenzfluss zu Simbabwe, im Norden. Die Nord-Süd-Ausdehnung beträgt etwa 350 km, in Ost-West-Richtung ist der Park durchschnittlich 54 km breit und umfasst eine Fläche von rund 20.000 Quadratkilometern. Damit gehört er zu den größten Nationalparks in Afrika.

Das Schutzgebiet wurde am 26. März 1898 unter dem Präsidenten Paul Kruger als Sabie Game Reserve zum Schutz der Wildnis gegründet. 1926 erhielt das Gebiet den Status Nationalpark und wurde in seinen heutigen Namen umbenannt. Im Park leben 147 Säugetierarten inklusive der „Big Five“, außerdem etwa 507 Vogelarten und 114 Reptilienarten, 49 Fischarten und 34 Amphibienarten.

(Wikipedia)

Die Giraffen (Giraffa) sind eine Gattung der Säugetiere aus der Ordnung der Paarhufer. Ursprünglich wurde ihr mit Giraffa camelopardalis und der Trivialbezeichnung „Giraffe“ nur eine einzige Art zugewiesen. Molekulargenetische Untersuchungen aus dem Jahr 2016 zeigen jedoch, dass die Gattung wenigstens vier Arten mit sieben eigenständigen Populationen umfasst. Die Giraffen stellen die höchsten landlebenden Tiere der Welt. Zur Unterscheidung vom verwandten Okapi (sogenannte „Waldgiraffe“) werden sie auch als Steppengiraffen bezeichnet.

Männchen (Bullen) werden bis zu 6 Meter hoch und wiegen durchschnittlich rund 1600 Kilogramm. Weibchen (Kühe) werden bis zu 4,5 Meter hoch und wiegen etwa 830 Kilogramm bei einer Schulterhöhe zwischen 2 und 3,5 Metern.

Der Hals der Giraffen ist außergewöhnlich lang. Wie bei fast allen Säugetieren besteht die Halswirbelsäule gleichwohl aus nur sieben Halswirbeln, die aber stark verlängert sind. Der Hals wird von einer einzigen, sehr starken Sehne in einem Winkel von etwa 55° gehalten. Die Sehne verläuft vom Hinterkopf der Giraffe bis zum Steiß und ist für den „Höcker“ zwischen Hals und Körper verantwortlich. Der Ruhezustand hält Hals und Kopf in der aufrechten Position; um den Kopf nach unten zu bewegen, z. B. zum Trinken, muss die Giraffe Muskelarbeit aufbringen. Die Zunge kann 50 Zentimeter lang werden. Sie ist zum Greifen befähigt und im vorderen Bereich zum Schutz vor Sonnenbrand stark pigmentiert.

Das Muster des Haarkleids besteht aus dunklen Flecken, die sich von der helleren Grundfarbe abheben. Je nach Art variieren Form und Farbe der Flecken. Die Unterseite ist hell und ungefleckt. Die Flecken dienen der Tarnung und der Regulierung der Körpertemperatur. Im Unterhautgewebe verläuft um jeden Flecken eine ringförmige Arterie, die Äste in den Flecken hinein aussendet. Über eine stärkere Durchblutung kann die Giraffe so mehr Körperwärme abgeben und ist nicht auf Schatten angewiesen. Vor allem bei männlichen Giraffen werden die Flecken mit zunehmenden Alter dunkler. Dies geschieht jedoch nicht bei allen Individuen im gleichen Maß oder in der gleichen Intensität, so dass hellere und dunklere Tiere in derselben Altersklasse auftreten. Nach Untersuchungen an Tieren aus dem Etosha-Nationalpark sind dunklere Altbullen häufig einzelgängerisch und zeichnen sich durch ein dominantes Auftreten gegenüber Geschlechtsgenossen bei der Fortpflanzung aus. Gleichalte hellere Individuen führen dagegen häufig ein Leben im Verband und sind weniger dominant, was zu geringeren Erfolgen in der Verpaarung mit Kühen führt. Demnach gibt die Fellfarbe den sozialen Status eines Individuums wieder.

Der Geruch des Haarkleids ist für den Menschen unangenehm. Giraffenbullen riechen stärker als -kühe. An Fäkalien erinnern speziell die Stoffe Indol und Skatol, darüber hinaus finden sich Octan, Benzaldehyd, Heptanal, Octanal, Nonanal, p-Kresol, Tetradecan- und Hexadecansäure im Fell. Die meisten dieser Verbindungen hemmen das Wachstum von Bakterien oder Pilzen, wie sie auf der Haut von Säugetieren vorkommen. Der Gehalt von p-Kresol im Giraffenhaar ist ausreichend, um Zecken abzuschrecken.

Zwei zapfenartige Hörner sitzen bei beiden Geschlechtern dem Kopf auf. In seltenen Fällen wächst dahinter ein weiteres Hornpaar. Manche Giraffen haben zudem einen knochigen Höcker zwischen den Augen, der ähnlich wie die Hörner strukturiert ist.

Giraffen erreichen eine Spitzengeschwindigkeit von 55 km/h. Die langen Beine können die Giraffe aber nur auf festem Untergrund tragen. Sumpfige Gegenden werden von den Tieren daher gemieden.

Giraffen verständigen sich im für Menschen nicht hörbaren Infraschallbereich mit Frequenzen unter 20 Hertz.

Giraffen sind in afrikanischen Savannen verbreitet. Heute leben sie nur noch südlich der Sahara, vor allem in den Grassteppen Ost- und Südafrikas. Die Bestände nördlich der Sahara wurden frühzeitig durch den Menschen ausgerottet: während des frühen Altertums im Niltal und etwa im 7. Jahrhundert in den Küstenebenen Marokkos und Algeriens. Im 20. Jahrhundert verschwanden Giraffen aus vielen weiteren Bereichen ihres Verbreitungsgebiets.

Giraffen beweiden bevorzugt Akazien. Dabei greifen die Tiere einen Zweig mit ihrer bis zu 50 cm langen Zunge, ziehen ihn ins Maul und streifen durch Zurückziehen des Kopfes die Blätter ab. Zunge und Lippen sind so beschaffen, dass sie trotz der dornigen Äste keinen Schaden nehmen. Durch die hohe Bisskraft und die massiven Mahlzähne können die Äste, Blätter und Zweige zügig kleingemahlen werden und rutschen innerhalb kürzester Zeit den bis zu 2,5 Meter langen Hals herab. Jeden Tag nimmt eine Giraffe etwa 30 kg Nahrung auf; hierfür benötigt sie sechzehn bis zwanzig Stunden. Der Flüssigkeitsbedarf wird größtenteils aus der Nahrung gedeckt, so dass Giraffen wochenlang ohne zu trinken auskommen können. Wenn sie doch trinken, müssen sie die Vorderbeine weit spreizen, um den Kopf weit genug zur Wasserquelle herabsenken zu können; ebenso verfahren sie, wenn sie Nahrung vom Boden aufnehmen, was sie allerdings nur unter sehr ungünstigen Umständen tun.

Giraffen leben einzelgängerisch oder in losen Verbänden. Dabei hängt das Sozialverhalten vom Geschlecht ab: Weibchen tun sich stets zu Herden von 4 bis 32 Tieren zusammen, die jedoch immer wieder in der Zusammensetzung wechseln. Junge oder weniger dominante Männchen formen eigene Verbände, sogenannte Junggesellengruppen, dominante Altbullen sind meist Einzelgänger. Die Gruppengröße ist abhängig vom Lebensraum und wird nicht durch die Anwesenheit größerer Beutegreifer beeinflusst. Auffälligerweise finden sich Kühe mit Nachwuchs häufiger in kleineren Gruppen zusammen. In der Namib im südwestlichen Afrika bilden gemischte Gruppen zumeist größere Verbände als eingeschlechtige Gruppen, wodurch die Geschlechterzusammensetzung einen wichtigen Einfluss darstellt. Demgegenüber nehmen Herden mit Jungtieren nicht an Größe zu, was den Schluss zulässt, dass bei den Giraffen der Schutz des Nachwuchses vor Bejagung nicht über die Gruppengröße gesteuert wird. Einen weiteren wichtigen Faktor bei der Herdenbildung stellt die räumliche Verfügbarkeit von Nahrung dar. Dieser greift aber nicht über die Jahreszeiten hinweg, wodurch Herden als relativ stabil angesehen werden können. Fluktuationen in der Herdengröße sind demnach vom Nahrungsangebot abhängig und können über Tage deutlich schwanken. So kommt es häufig in den Morgen- und Abendstunden zu größeren Zusammenschlüssen, die der gemeinsamen Nahrungsaufnahme dienen.

Treffen zwei Bullen aufeinander, kommt es meistens zu einem ritualisierten Kampf, bei dem die Tiere nebeneinander stehen und ihren Kopf gegen den Hals des Konkurrenten schlagen. Zur Paarungszeit können solche Kämpfe aggressiver ausfallen und eine Heftigkeit annehmen, bei der einer der Konkurrenten bewusstlos geschlagen wird.

Entgegen weit verbreiteter Meinung fressen Giraffen, vor allem in der Trockenzeit, von niedrigen Büschen bzw. auf halber Körperhöhe. Aus diesem Grund wird mittlerweile angezweifelt, dass die Giraffen ihren langen Hals nur aufgrund von Nahrungsauswahl haben. Ein Argument, das gegen die Nahrungsaufnahme-Theorie spricht, ist, dass Giraffen im Laufe der Evolution stärker ihren Hals verlängert haben als ihre Beine. Längere Beine wären jedoch energetisch günstiger, wenn es nur um Höhengewinn gehen würde. Eine aktuelle Theorie für den langen Hals sieht daher den Kampf der Giraffen-Männchen um Dominanz und Weibchen als einen Hauptgrund. Ein langer Hals ist dabei im Kampf vorteilhaft.

Giraffen schlafen mehrmals innerhalb eines 24-Stunden-Tages, dabei liegen sie mit angezogenen Beinen auf dem Bauch, mit dem Kopf nach hinten auf dem Körper. Der Schlaf dauert in der Regel nur kurze Zeit, in mehr als der Hälfte aller Beobachtungen weniger als 11 Minuten, im Maximum bis zu 100 Minuten. Die REM-Phase währt im Mittel 3 Minuten. Es wird angenommen, dass die Tiere in der liegenden Stellung Raubtieren schutzlos ausgeliefert sind, da sie nur langsam aufstehen können und sich durch Treten mit den Beinen verteidigen. Den größten Teil der Nacht verbringen sie mit Wiederkäuen. Tagsüber dösen Giraffen hin und wieder kurz im Stehen, was insgesamt weniger als 50 Minuten eines 24-Stunden-Tages ausmacht. Dadurch kommt ein Individuum auf etwa 4,6 Stunden Schlaf je Tageszyklus. Jungtiere schlafen durchschnittlich länger.

(Wikipedia)

Some places hang on to existing technology, never making room for cleaner, better methods of communication.

Forgotten Chapel

© All rights reserved. Use without permission is illegal. Day 8. Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3

See it LARGER.

It was a nice day at the beach but higher elevation, 4000 Feet, it was a constant rainy mist. This guy popped up as I was starting down the wet and muddy Pihea Trail at Koke'e State Park. I actually slipped and fell but managed to keep the camera w/tripod a'float. A common bird on Kauai, an introduced species from South America.

Koke'e State Park. Kauai, Hawaii.March 8, 2009.

Taken with a Canon EOS 50D with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM Lens with a Canon EF 1.4x II Extender.