URBEX: Inhabited Decay
View allAll Photos Tagged INHABIT
INHABITS wooded and savannah country often in the vicinity of rivers, feeds largely upon insects, a real joy to see in the South Luangwa National Park Zambia.
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THANK YOU, for your visit and friendship, love looking at your images, and being transported around the world from my armchair, hope you are enjoying the weekend, stay safe and well.......................God bless you ....Tomx
Old Church
The earliest traces of inhabitation in Borne are archeological finds at the "Stroom Esch" and "Zuid Esch" of substantial settlements dating from the late Iron Age and the Roman period. Finds from around 800 CE.,the remains of two farmhouses and the grave of a man buried with his armour, a sword, lance and 16 silver denarii coined by Charlemagne near two farmhouses of the same age suggest inhabitation in the ninth century. The first historical mention of Borne, under the name Borghende dates from 1206 in a document which transfers churches in Steenwijk and Borne and their possessions by Fredericus, the abbot of the monastery in Ruinen to the bishop of Utrecht,
the Old Church of Borne was founded about the year 1000 by the Dominican monks
Violet-capped Woodnymphs are hummingbirds that inhabit a wide range of habitats from untouched forests, to scrub, to suburban and city gardens. They gather nectar from both native and non-native flowers and also hunt for insects. During certain parts of the year, Violet-capped Woodnymphs migrate short distances. Males have a bluish violet cap and sparkle with dark green above and gold-green below. Females are dark greenish above and off-white below. During the breeding season, these woodnymphs adorn the outside of their nests with ferns and lichen.
Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated!
© All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission. All rights reserved. Please contact me at thelma.gatuzzo@gmail.com if you intend to buy or use any of my images.
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The Black-necked swan inhabits southern South America, from Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands northwards to Paraguay, central Chile, and southern Brazil. It lives in a wide variety of freshwater and saline habitats such as shallow coastal regions along the Pacific Ocean, estuaries, inland lakes, lagoons, and marshes. Particularly important are places that are rich with submerged aquatic vegetation.
These swans are highly social birds, and are gregarious outside of the time of the breeding season. They become territorial during the breeding season and divide up into mated pairs, nesting in small colonies or as solitary pairs, but they regroup once the young have hatched, each flock numbering thousands of birds. These flocks may move around, dependent on the climate and resources, but usually stay in the south of South America until migrating north. Black-necked swans are diurnal and most of their time is spent in water. If males need to defend their territory, they display aggressive behavior such as lowering their neck and thrusting the head forward. After fighting with beating its wings, the male returns to the female in triumph, continuously lifting its chin and calling.
The Black-necked swan eats aquatic vegetation almost exclusively, which it gathers from below the surface of the water. Fish eggs and insects may also be eaten, and the swans may also come onto the land and graze upon terrestrial plants.
Pelicans inhabit lakes, rivers, and seacoasts in many parts of the world. With some species reaching a length of 70 inches. Pelicans eat fish, which they catch by using the extensible throat pouch as a net. This brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), captures fish by a spectacular plunge from the air, but other species swim in formation, driving small schools of fish into shallow water where they are scooped up by the birds.
A striking black-and-white bird with very long, thin red legs. Black-necked Stilts have the second-longest legs in proportion to their bodies of any bird, exceeded only by flamingos.
Black-necked Stilts inhabit shallow wetlands from the western United States to Central America and parts of South America. In the United States, Black-necked Stilts are commonly found in salt ponds, flooded lowlands, or shallow lagoons.
Black-necked Stilts wade in shallow waters to capture their meals of aquatic invertebrates and fish. They often consume such fare as crayfish, brine flies, brine shrimp, beetles, water boatmen, and tadpoles. They peck, snatch, and plunge their heads into the water in pursuit of their food, and will herd fish into shallow waters to trap them there.
(Nikon, 500 mm, 1/1000 @ f/8.0, ISO 640)
The robin (Erithacus rubecula) is a species of bird of the flycatcher family (Muscicapidae). It inhabits North Africa, Europe and Asia Minor as well as the Mediterranean islands.
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
Saucerottia saucerottei
(Steely-vented Hummingbird / Amazilia coliazul)
The Steely-vented Hummingbird is a medium-sized hummingbird that is a resident breeder from Colombia Venezuela, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. This hummingbird inhabits open woodland such as second growth, coffee plantations, gardens, savanna, and the edges and gaps of evergreen forests.
Source: Wikipedia
For a Peaceful Bokeh Wednesday! Violet-capped Woodnymphs inhabit a wide range of habitats from untouched forests, to scrub, to suburban and city gardens. They gather nectar from both native and non-native flowers and also hunt for insects. During certain parts of the year, Violet-capped Woodnymphs migrate short distances. Males have a bluish violet cap and sparkle with dark green above and gold-green below. Females are dark greenish above and off-white below. During the breeding season, these woodnymphs adorn the outside of their nests with ferns and lichen.
Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated!
© All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission. All rights reserved. Please contact me at thelma.gatuzzo@gmail.com if you intend to buy or use any of my images.
My instagram if you like: @thelmag and@thelma_and_cats
Violet-capped Woodnymphs inhabit a wide range of habitats from untouched forests, to scrub, to suburban and city gardens. They gather nectar from both native and non-native flowers and also hunt for insects. During certain parts of the year, Violet-capped Woodnymphs migrate short distances. Males have a bluish violet cap and sparkle with dark green above and gold-green below. Females are dark greenish above and off-white below. During the breeding season, these woodnymphs adorn the outside of their nests with ferns and lichen. Birds of the World.
Male - Wild - at Sítio Macuquinho - Salesópolis.
Have a peaceful new week!
Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated!
© All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission. All rights reserved. Please contact me at thelma.gatuzzo@gmail.com if you intend to buy or use any of my images.
Visit my instagram if you like: @thelmag and@thelma_and_cats
Little blue herons inhabit fresh, salt, and brackish water environments in Florida including swamps, estuaries, ponds, lakes, and rivers . In the U.S., the little blue heron can be found from Missouri, east to Virginia, down to Florida, and west to Texas. In peninsular Florida they are relatively common and widespread but somewhat rare in the Panhandle. Outside of the U.S, the little blue heron can be found in Cuba, both coasts of Mexico and Central America, down into central South America.
I found this one in Polk County, Florida.
The eastern garter snake has a wide range across eastern North America, as far north as southern Ontario and Quebec to the Gulf of Mexico in the south, along the eastern shores of America to the Mississippi River.
The eastern garter snake will live in a variety of environments, with a preference for grassy or shrubby fields, including abandoned farmland, outbuildings and trash dumps. In particular the snake likes to inhabit stone walls that separate the forest from fields. It is also found along moist habitats such as lakes, rivers, streams, swamps, bogs, ponds, drainage ditches, and quarries. Snakes are present in urban environments in habitats that include city parks, cemeteries and suburban yards and gardens. Being cold-blooded, they like to bask in the sunlight near logs, stones and other debris where they can hide if necessary.
Eastern garter snakes mostly eat toads, frogs, slugs, and worms, but they will eat almost anything they can overpower. (Wikipedia)
The first garter snake of the year, she was probably sixty centimeters long and looking for sun, not birders. She peered out at us and then disappeared into the undergrowth.
NCC Trail 10, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. May 2022.
Ramphocelus flammigerus -female-
(Flame-rumped Tanager / Toche)
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
The Flame-rumped Tanager occurs from western Panama south through Colombia to western Ecuador. This is a sociable bird, being typically found in monospecific flocks, which inhabit shrubby semi-open areas.
Source: Neotropical Birds Online; Cornell Lab of Ornithology:
neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species
/overview?p_p...
Kingfisher - Alcedo Atthis
Double click..
The common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) also known as the Eurasian kingfisher, and river kingfisher, is a small kingfisher with seven subspecies recognized within its wide distribution across Eurasia and North Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter.
This sparrow-sized bird has the typical short-tailed, large-headed kingfisher profile; it has blue upperparts, orange underparts and a long bill. It feeds mainly on fish, caught by diving, and has special visual adaptations to enable it to see prey under water. The glossy white eggs are laid in a nest at the end of a burrow in a riverbank.
The female is identical in appearance to the male except that her lower mandible is orange-red with a black tip. The juvenile is similar to the adult, but with duller and greener upperparts and paler underparts. Its bill is black, and the legs are also initially black. Feathers are moulted gradually between July and November with the main flight feathers taking 90–100 days to moult and regrow. Some that moult late may suspend their moult during cold winter weather.
The flight of the kingfisher is fast, direct and usually low over water. The short rounded wings whirr rapidly, and a bird flying away shows an electric-blue "flash" down its back.
The common kingfisher is widely distributed over Europe, Asia, and North Africa, mainly south of 60°N. It is a common breeding species over much of its vast Eurasian range, but in North Africa it is mainly a winter visitor, although it is a scarce breeding resident in coastal Morocco and Tunisia. In temperate regions, this kingfisher inhabits clear, slow-flowing streams and rivers, and lakes with well-vegetated banks. It frequents scrubs and bushes with overhanging branches close to shallow open water in which it hunts. In winter it is more coastal, often feeding in estuaries or harbours and along rocky seashores. Tropical populations are found by slow-flowing rivers, in mangrove creeks and in swamps.
Like all kingfishers, the common kingfisher is highly territorial; since it must eat around 60% of its body weight each day, it is essential to have control of a suitable stretch of river. It is solitary for most of the year, roosting alone in heavy cover. If another kingfisher enters its territory, both birds display from perches, and fights may occur, in which a bird will grab the other's beak and try to hold it under water. Pairs form in the autumn but each bird retains a separate territory, generally at least 1 km (0.62 mi) long, but up to 3.5 km (2.2 mi) and territories are not merged until the spring.
Very few birds live longer than one breeding season. The oldest bird on record was 21 years.
They are also listed as a Schedule 1 species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act offering them additional protection.
Population:
UK breeding:
3,800-6,400 pairs
The African Civet inhabits the savannahs and the forests of southern and central Africa. They live both in the forest and in open country, but they require a covering of tall grasses or thicket to provide safety in the daytime, which explains why I have only seen them by torchlight at night!
The average lifespan of the African civet is 15 to 20 years.
These captive, beautifully marked African Civets are seen at Hoo Farm in Shropshire.
A spectacular and distinctive flycatcher, the bright red Vermilion Flycatcher inhabits riparian areas and scrub in the southwestern United States and southward. It perches conspicuously, making periodic flights to nab insect prey.
The male Vermilion Flycatcher often seeks to initiate copulation by delivering a butterfly or other showy insect to the female.
The oldest recorded Vermillion Flycatcher was a male, and at least 4 years, 6 months old when he was shot in Mexico in 1972, the same country where he had been banded.
(Nikon 300mm + TC 1.7, 1/500 @ f8, ISO 200)
Thank You, Dianne and Julia, for Identifying this Bird !!
Newberry Volcano is a large active shield-shaped stratovolcano located about 20 miles (32 km) south of Bend, Oregon, United States, 35 miles (56 km) east of the major crest of the Cascade Range, within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Its highest point is Paulina Peak. The largest volcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc, Newberry has an area of 1,200 square miles (3,100 km2) when its lava flows are taken into account. From north to south, the volcano has a length of 75 miles (121 km), with a width of 27 miles (43 km) and a total volume of approximately 120 cubic miles (500 km3). It was named for the geologist and surgeon John Strong Newberry, who explored central Oregon for the Pacific Railroad Surveys in 1855. The surrounding area has been inhabited by Native American populations for more than 10,000 years.
The Northern Parula inhabits older established forests where there is an establishment of mature lichens that they like to have access to during the nesting season. They are one of the easier species to locate while singing and foraging in the tree canopies seemingly fearless and easily approached.
At times they will hover while foraging for insects near branch tips and will occasionally feed on the ground. Sometimes they almost appear to be related to the nuthatch as they cling upside-down while foraging.
The yellow-green patch they exhibit on their backs is visible in this image.
through an understanding of others and the world we inhabit. When that happens, the result, like photographs, are really the expressions of the life of the maker.
David Hurn
On Being a Photographer : A Practical Guide by David Hurn, Bill Jay
HBW! HDT! HGGT!
blue dasher dragonfly on water lily, sarah p duke gardens, duke university, durham, north carolina
The Red-shouldered Hawk inhabits a broad array of North American forests, but favors mature, mixed deciduous-coniferous woodlands, especially bottomland hardwood, riparian areas, and flooded deciduous swamps. In the West, this species prefers riparian and oak (Quercus spp.) woodlands, but is also found in eucalyptus groves and suburban areas with nearby woodlots.
This hawk generally hunts from a perch, waiting for its prey to reveal itself and then swooping down to snatch it from the ground or water surface. The Red-shoulder's diet is broad, although small mammals (especially chipmunks, mice, and voles), frogs, and snakes comprise the bulk of its diet in most areas. Birds, crayfish, and insects are key food items in certain areas and seasons.
Distinguished by its “red” shoulder patches, black-and-white checkered flight feathers (seen from above), and translucent, crescent-shaped wing panel in the outer primaries (seen from below when the wing is backlit), the Red-shouldered Hawk has been well surveyed at hawk watch locations throughout North America. It is a partial migrant, with only northernmost populations moving south for winter.
Found this juvenile along Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County. Florida.
Little Owl - Athena noctua (M)
The little owl (Athene noctua) is a bird that inhabits much of the temperate and warmer parts of Europe, Asia east to Korea, and north Africa. It was introduced into Britain at the end of the nineteenth century and into the South Island of New Zealand in the early twentieth century.
This owl is a cavity nester and a clutch of about four eggs is laid in spring. The female does the incubation and the male brings food to the nest, first for the female and later for the newly hatched young. As the chicks grow, both parents hunt and bring them food, and the chicks leave the nest at about seven weeks of age.
The distribution is widespread across Europe, Asia and North Africa. Its range in Eurasia extends from the Iberian Peninsula and Denmark eastwards to China and southwards to the Himalayas. In Africa it is present from Mauritania to Egypt, the Red Sea and Arabia. The bird has been introduced to New Zealand, and to the United Kingdom, where it has spread across much of England and the whole of Wales.
This is a sedentary species which is found in open countryside in a great range of habitats. These include agricultural land with hedgerows and trees, orchards, woodland verges, parks and gardens, as well as steppes and stony semi-deserts. It is also present in treeless areas such as dunes, and in the vicinity of ruins, quarries and rocky outcrops. It sometimes ventures into villages and suburbs. In the United Kingdom it is chiefly a bird of the lowlands, and usually occurs below 500 m (1,600 ft).
In continental Europe and Asia it may be found at much higher elevations; one individual was recorded from 3,600 m (12,000 ft) in Tibet.
The little owl is territorial, the male normally remaining in one territory for life. However the boundaries may expand and contract, being largest in the courtship season in spring. The home range, in which the bird actually hunts for food, varies with the type of habitat and time of year. Little owls with home-ranges that incorporate a high diversity of habitats are much smaller (< 2 ha) than those which breed in monotonous farmland (with home-ranges over 12 ha).
The little owl is partly diurnal and often perches boldly and prominently during the day. If living in an area with a large amount of human activity, little owls may grow used to humans and will remain on their perch, often in full view, while people are around. The little owl has a life expectancy of about sixteen years. However, many birds do not reach maturity; severe winters can take their toll and some birds are killed by road vehicles at night, so the average lifespan may be on the order of three years.
Breeding Bird Survey data suggest that little owl numbers are declining, with the UK population estimated to be down by 24 per cent between 1995 and 2008.
UK breeding:
5,700 pairs
The Crested Carcara is a ground-inhabiting bird of prey that is closely related to Falcons. It’s found primarily in open habitats like grasslands, scrub deserts and seashores.
The Florida population has been isolated from the rest of the Caracara range (most of South and Central America) since the end of the last ice age. In Florida its range extends throughout Okeechobee, Osceola, Highlands, Glades, Polk, Indian River, St. Lucie, Hardee, DeSoto, Bervard, Collier and Martain counties.
Caracaras, like other raptors, are opportunistic and will eat carrion, steal food from other birds, and hunt for small most other small prey items. However, unlike vultures, Caracaras will almost always avoid rotting carrion.
I found this young Adult along Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County Florida.
Legend says that Atlantis city was built by Poseidon, god of sea when he fell in love with a mortal woman Cleito. He made this city on top of a nearby hill and named it Atlantis. It is believed that he walked through these islands until he reached the biggest of them all- Atlantis and found it to be inhabited by people more beautiful and intelligent than rest of the world. It is here he first saw his future wife and fell in love with her.
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Ramphocelus flammigerus -female-
(Flame-rumped Tanager / Toche)
This mom is now taking care of its offspring in the nest. For that reason her feathers appear as "messy".
The Flame-rumped Tanager occurs from western Panama south through Colombia to western Ecuador. This is a sociable bird, being typically found in monospecific flocks, which inhabit shrubby semi-open areas.
Source: Neotropical Birds Online; Cornell Lab of Ornithology:
neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species
/overview?p_p...
Taken in La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
(english follow)
MISSION TERRE V2 1
Pôle Nord de la Terre, décembre 3218
« Ce 21 décembre 3218, un premier groupe d’humains dont les ancêtres ont fuit une Terre devenue inhabitable - cette triste période l’histoire connue sous le nom de Grande Migration - se pose sur ces terres désolées et méconnaissables du Pôle Nord de la Terre. Leur mission : chercher des réponses aux interrogations suivantes : l’évolution de la Terre est-elle irréversible? La vie pourra t-elle un jour y prospérer de nouveau? Dans quelles conditions?
_________________
THALASSA - Planète océanique, refuge des humains, 3208
Chants de la Terre lointaine (The Songs of Distant Earth), un poème épique, écrit par une écrivaine du nom de Cassiopée Clarke, jusque-là inconnue, bouleverse l’âme des habitants de la planète. Ce poème réveille en eux la douleur ancestrale de la migration de leurs ancêtres, de la perte de leur planète d’origine, de leur culture, de leur histoire. L’héroïne du poème ressent cette douleur, mais aussi quelque chose de plus intime et étrange à la fois : une impossible connexion avec cette Terre lointaine - ses Chants - qui lui révèleraient que la Terre abrite encore et toujours, les vibrations uniques de la vie. Sous la pression du public, les autorités planétaires décident d’organiser une expédition de reconnaissance vers la Terre. La poétesse Clarke, est invitée à se joindre à l’équipe scientifique du vaisseau spatial Earth One.
_________________
PÔLE NORD DE LA TERRE, trois mois après l’arrivée
Le Commandant de la mission - « Madame Clarke, je suis désolé, mais notre équipe scientifique arrive à la conclusion que le cycle destructeur qui a conduit à la Grande Migration ne s’est pas inversé. Les continents qui ne sont pas inondés, sont devenus désertiques, balayés par des vents violents et brûlants. Nous estimons que 80% de la surface la planète est inhabitable par des humains. À l’exception des Pôles, l’air est irrespirable. La vie subsiste dans les profondeurs des mers nordiques, mais sous une forme très simplifiée. L’exploitation des ressources minières - ce dont nous avons réellement besoin - serait non-économique selon nos experts. Leur recommandation est de mettre fin à cette mission. Avez-vous quelque chose à ajouter, Madame? »
En guise de réponse, Madame Clarke offrit ses larmes. Il valait mieux taire son secret, cette certitude qui était maintenant sienne, que ses Chants lui avaient dit la vérité, que la vie reprendrait ses droits sur cette planète, mais qu’il était absolument vital de tenir les humains à l’écart. Elle essuya ses larmes de joie et les préparatifs du retour vers Thalassa débutèrent.
© Patrice photographiste, Chroniques du Monde de Poësia
1 Ce synopsis de film est inspiré de plusieurs romans du célèbre écrivain de science-fiction, Arthur C. Clarke, en particulier : « Les Chants de la Terre lointaine » et la saga des Odyssées de l’espace (2001, 2010, 2061 et 3001)
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MISSION EARTH V2 1
Earth North Pole, December 3218
"This December 21, 3218, a first group of humans whose ancestors fled the land that had become uninhabitable - this sad period, know in history as the Great Migration - lands on these desolate and unrecognizable lands of the northern hemisphere. Their mission: to seek answers to the following questions: is the evolution of the Earth irreversible? Can life ever prosper again? Under what conditions?
____________
THALASSA - Oceanic planet, refuge of humans, 3208
The Songs of Distant Earth, an epic poem, written by a writer named Cassiopeia Clarke, until then unknown, moves the souls of the inhabitants of the planet. This poem awakens in them the ancestral pain of the migration of their ancestors, of the loss of their home planet, their culture, their history. The heroine of the poem feels this pain, but also something more intimate and strange at the same time: an impossible connection with this distant Earth - her Songs - which would reveal to her that the Earth still and always shelters the unique vibrations of life. Under public pressure, the planetary authorities decide to organize a scouting expedition to Earth. Poet Clarke is invited to join the scientific team to the spacecraft Earth One.
__________________
NORTH POLE OF THE EARTH, three months after arrival
Mission Commander - "Mrs. Clarke, I'm sorry, but our science team has come to the conclusion that the destructive cycle that led to the Great Migration has not been reversed. The continents which are not flooded have become desert, swept by strong and scorching winds. We estimate that 80% of the planet's surface is uninhabitable by humans. With the exception of the Poles, the air is unbreathable. Life subsists in the depths of the northern seas, but in a very simplified form. The exploitation of mineral resources - what we really need - would be uneconomic according to our experts. Their recommendation is to end this mission. Do you have anything to add, Madame? "
In response, Mrs. Clarke offered her tears. It was better to hide her secret, this certainty that was now hers, that her Songs had told the truth, that life would take back its rights on this planet, but that it was absolutely vital to keep humans away. She wiped away her tears of joy and the preparations for the return to Thalassa began.
© Patrice photographist, Chronicles of the Lands of Poësia
1 This film synopsis is inspired by several novels by the famous science fiction writer, Arthur C. Clarke, in particular: « The Songs of Distant Earth" and the saga of Space Odyssey (2001, 2010, 2061 and 3001)
Lapwing inhabits almost all of Europe and the temperate zone of Asia to the Pacific (to the Sea of Japan). It winters in Western Europe, on the islands of the eastern Atlantic, in northern Africa, the Mediterranean, in the Middle and Far East and in India. In Poland, it occurs throughout the country, although unevenly, because it is most numerous in the east. It also appears in the lower parts of the mountains. Western and southern European populations are sedentary, influenced by the mild climate. Flights March-April and June and later months.
Snow leopard (Panthera uncia or Uncia uncia), also called ounce, is a carnivore that inhabits the mountainous regions of central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
Its litters of two to four young are born after a gestation period of approximately 93 days.
Snow leopards have pretty long tails. About 80 – 100 cm in length as against its body length of 48 – 60 cm.
The snow leopard uses its bushy tail to keep balance when it jumps.
The tail allows the leopard to maneuver rather quickly.
The leopard uses its tail as a blanket when it is asleep, it wraps the tail around their body.
The snow leopard population is estimated to be only a few thousand animals, and the species is thus considered endangered.
Buy this photo on Getty Images : Getty Images
Tyre was the largest mercantile city of the Phoenicians, now mostly noted for the archeological remains of its Roman city. Tyre is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. It was added as a whole to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1984.
Submitted: 07/02/2022
Accepted: 07/02/2022
Published:
- PRISMA MEDIA (France) 02-May-2022
- Substack (CALIFORNIA) 07-May-2022
- Thryv, Inc. (TEXAS) 13-Jul-2023
Little Owl - Athena noctua (M)
The little owl (Athene noctua) is a bird that inhabits much of the temperate and warmer parts of Europe, Asia east to Korea, and north Africa. It was introduced into Britain at the end of the nineteenth century and into the South Island of New Zealand in the early twentieth century.
This owl is a cavity nester and a clutch of about four eggs is laid in spring. The female does the incubation and the male brings food to the nest, first for the female and later for the newly hatched young. As the chicks grow, both parents hunt and bring them food, and the chicks leave the nest at about seven weeks of age.
The distribution is widespread across Europe, Asia and North Africa. Its range in Eurasia extends from the Iberian Peninsula and Denmark eastwards to China and southwards to the Himalayas. In Africa it is present from Mauritania to Egypt, the Red Sea and Arabia. The bird has been introduced to New Zealand, and to the United Kingdom, where it has spread across much of England and the whole of Wales.
This is a sedentary species which is found in open countryside in a great range of habitats. These include agricultural land with hedgerows and trees, orchards, woodland verges, parks and gardens, as well as steppes and stony semi-deserts. It is also present in treeless areas such as dunes, and in the vicinity of ruins, quarries and rocky outcrops. It sometimes ventures into villages and suburbs. In the United Kingdom it is chiefly a bird of the lowlands, and usually occurs below 500 m (1,600 ft).
In continental Europe and Asia it may be found at much higher elevations; one individual was recorded from 3,600 m (12,000 ft) in Tibet.
The little owl is territorial, the male normally remaining in one territory for life. However the boundaries may expand and contract, being largest in the courtship season in spring. The home range, in which the bird actually hunts for food, varies with the type of habitat and time of year. Little owls with home-ranges that incorporate a high diversity of habitats are much smaller (< 2 ha) than those which breed in monotonous farmland (with home-ranges over 12 ha).
The little owl is partly diurnal and often perches boldly and prominently during the day. If living in an area with a large amount of human activity, little owls may grow used to humans and will remain on their perch, often in full view, while people are around. The little owl has a life expectancy of about sixteen years. However, many birds do not reach maturity; severe winters can take their toll and some birds are killed by road vehicles at night, so the average lifespan may be on the order of three years.
Breeding Bird Survey data suggest that little owl numbers are declining, with the UK population estimated to be down by 24 per cent between 1995 and 2008.
UK breeding:
5,700 pairs
Florida Sandhill Crane. Florida sandhill cranes inhabit freshwater marshes, prairies, and pastures (Florida Natural Areas Inventory 2001). They occur throughout peninsular Florida north to the Okefenokee Swamp in southern Georgia; however, they are less common at the northernmost and southernmost portions of this range. Florida’s Kissimmee and Desoto prairie regions are home to the state’s most abundant populations (Meine and Archibald 1996). MyFWC
Koalas typically inhabit open Eucalyptus woodland, as the leaves of these trees make up most of their diet. Their eucalypt diet has low nutritional and caloric content and contains toxins that deter most other mammals from feeding on it. Koalas are largely sedentary and sleep up to twenty hours a day; I caught this cool Koala when it was taking a well earned nap.
Heliodoxa rubricauda / Rubi throated hummingbird is a species that inhabits the edge of the Atlantic Forest, secondary forests, gardens and parks from east of Brazil.
Measures approximately 14 cm. It has robust appearance, and a relatively large size compared to other hummingbird species. The male is dark green metallic, with the wings and tail of a dark tone and the throat of an iridescent ruby tone (so also popularly called “red throat”).
The female is generally smaller (about 1 cm) when compared to the male. It has the back in the color of a lighter green and the pectoral front has ocher color. Both sexes have a white spot beside the eyes and black straight beak.
One of the most aggressive in its source of food, it usually attacks and pursues invaders including other species. It is a very usual visitor of artificial feeders.
They appreciate the areas of altitude, being widely seen in the gardens and parks in the highest parts of Serra da Mantiqueira. Passing the whole year at the site, they tolerate well the Winter in these regions where it is common for the temperature to fall below 0ºC.
* What you see in the photo is the female, resting very quiet and serene.
Scarce Chaser - Libellula Fulva
Norfolk
Scarce Chaser - Libellula Fulva
Male
Norfolk
A species of lowland river floodplains that usually inhabits slow-flowing, meandering rivers and large dykes. Occasionally occurs in mature gravel pits and nearby ponds also support populations. Inhabited sites characteristically have good water quality, which supports submerged and floating plants as well as prolific stands of emergent vegetation. Ovipositing females require areas of slow flowing open water, and the adults require some shrub or tree shelter.
Scarce in Britain and is consequently listed under category 3 (scarce) in the British Red Data Book on Insects.
The Scarce Chaser is restricted to 6 main localities in Norfolk/Suffolk, Sussex, Wiltshire/Somerset, Cambridgeshire, Kent and Dorset/Hampshire. Populations appear to be stable and there is evidence that suggests that it may be expanding its range.
Similar Species
The male could be confused with Black-tailed Skimmer or Keeled Skimmer. The blue eyes help to distinguish it.
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level. The red colour comes from the berrie clusters on the Cotoneaster tree.
Tangara labradorides labradorides
(Metallic-green tanager / Tangara verdinegra)
Metallic-green Tanagers inhabit humid montane forests in the Andes in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. They are mostly blue-green in color, although strongly they appear to be blue or green can change, depending upon light conditions.
Their diet consists almost entirely of arthropods and fruits. Metallic-green Tanagers are usually found in pairs or small groups and often join flocks consisting of multiple tanager species.
There are two recognized subspecies of the Metallic-green Tanager (Storer 1970):
-labradorides Boissinneau 1840; type locality Santa-Fé de Bogota [Colombia]
Occurs in western and central Colombia and in western Ecuador (Storer 1970, Hilty and Brown 1986, Ridgely and Greenfield 2001).
-chaupensis Chapman 1925; type locality Chaupe, Cajamarca, Peru
Occurs in southeastern Ecuador and in northern Peru (Storer 1970, Ridgely and Greenfield 2001, Schulenberg et al. 2007).
neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/...
A member of the widespread jay group, and about the size of the jackdaw, it inhabits mixed woodland, particularly with oaks, and is a habitual acorn hoarder. In recent years, the bird has begun to migrate into urban areas, possibly as a result of continued erosion of its woodland habitat. Before humans began planting the trees commercially on a wide scale, Eurasian jays were the main source of movement and propagation for the European oak (Q. robur), each bird having the ability to spread more than a thousand acorns each year. Eurasian jays will also bury the acorns of other oak species, and have been cited by the National Trust as a major propagator of the largest population of Holm oak (Q. ilex) in Northern Europe, situated in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight.[5] Jays have been recorded carrying single acorns as far as 20 km, and are credited with the rapid northward spread of oaks following the last ice age.[6]
Satin bowerbirds inhabit most of the east and south-east coast of Australia, living in humid woodlands and forests and their edges. They can be found in nearby open regions as well. During winter, flocks occur in open habitats such as gardens, parks and orchards. Bower sites are usually located in suitable rainforest and woodlands.
Ever vigilant, a female Satin Bowerbird check one more time before she eats from the fruit dish. I took this shot through my kitchen window, so exciting to see these beautiful birds in my garden.
There are many birds that inhabit the Atlantic Forest, and the ones I have presented here so far are only a small sample.
In the next photos, some birds that do not have precious colors, and because they have neutral tones (with some variations) are more difficult to identify.
Many young birds are so different from an adult bird and their colors are easily confused with other species. So I did not risk trying to identify them on the web so as not to incur errors.
Even though they are not exuberant I hope you like the photos.
Big hug to all my Flickr friends!
Violet-capped Woodnymphs inhabit a wide range of habitats from untouched forests, to scrub, to suburban and city gardens. They gather nectar from both native and non-native flowers and also hunt for insects. During certain parts of the year, Violet-capped Woodnymphs migrate short distances. Males have a bluish violet cap and sparkle with dark green above and gold-green below. Females are dark greenish above and off-white below. During the breeding season, these woodnymphs adorn the outside of their nests with ferns and lichen. www.birdsoftheworld.org
Wishing everyone a peaceful Wednesday. HBW!
Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated!
© All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission. All rights reserved. Please contact me at thelma.gatuzzo@gmail.com if you intend to buy or use any of my images.
Visit my instagram if you like: @thelmag and@thelma_and_cats
Green-crowned Woodnymph - Woodnymphs (Thalurania) are medium-sized hummingbirds with a slightly decurved, black bill; the males also have a noticeably forked tail, and glittering throat and belly. They inhabit the understory of humid lowland forest and in adjacent advanced second growth, and often are common. The Green-crowned Woodnymph is the representative of this genus that occurs from eastern Panama south to southwestern Ecuador. As the name implies, this is the only species of woodnymph in which the crown of the male is glittering green. Four subspecies of Green-crowned Woodnymph are recognized. The three northern subspecies all are very similar: the male has a green throat but a blue breast and belly, while the female has a gray throat and the belly is mixed dark gray and dark green. The southernmost subspecies, hypochlora of southwestern Ecuador, is very different, however: the male is entirely green below, while the underparts of the female are all pale gray.
Picture taken at San Miguel de los Bancos, Ecuador.
Wishing everyone a peaceful bokeh Wednesday!
Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated!
© All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission. All rights reserved. Please contact me at thelma.gatuzzo@gmail.com if you intend to buy or use any of my images.
My instagram if you like: @thelmag and @thelma_and_cats
Eastern meadowlark is a songbird that belongs to the blackbird family. There are 17 subspecies of eastern meadowlarks that can be found in the eastern parts of North, Central and South America. Eastern meadowlark inhabits grasslands, prairies, pastures, agricultural fields and areas near the roads.
Eastern meadowlark can reach 7.5 to 10.2 inches in length and 3.2 to 5.3 ounces of weight. Males are slightly larger than females.
Eastern meadowlark has brown backs with black streaks and bars on the wings and tail. Bottom part of the body is bright yellow, with black V-shaped mark on the chest. Males and females look alike.
Eastern meadowlark has body of medium size, slender bill, short tail and long legs.
Eastern meadowlark combines shallow, vigorous wing beats with gliding through the air during the flight.
Eastern meadowlark likes to eat grasshopper and crickets. Insect-based diet is occasionally supplemented with caterpillars, corn, wild fruit and seed.
Eastern meadowlark collects food from the ground. It uses sharp bill to expose and excavate larvae from the soil.
Eastern meadowlarks live in loose flocks during the autumn and winter.
Eastern meadowlark produces whistling songs at the beginning of the spring. Males are very creative. They are able to sing one song on 100 different ways.
Mating season of eastern meadowlark takes place from March to August.
Males occupy and defend territory of around 6 acres during the breeding season. They sing and perform various acrobatics in the air to attract the females. Males and females chase each other in the air as a part of courtship. One male usually mates with two or three females during the breeding season.
Female builds cup-shaped nest on the ground. Construction of the nest usually lasts 4 to 8 days. Nest can be equipped with roof and an "emergency" exit.
Female lays 2 to 6 eggs that hatch after 13 to 14 days. Female is responsible for the incubation of eggs. She will abandon the nest in the case that humans or some other intruders remove some of her eggs.
Female brings majority of food to the nest. Male only occasionally assists in feeding. Young eastern meadowlarks are ready to leave the nest 10 to 12 days after hatching. They begin independent life two weeks later.
Eastern and western meadowlarks are two different species of meadowlarks which occasionally inhabit same areas in the wild. Even thought they usually fight to establish dominance over a certain territory, they are able to mate and produce offspring.
Eastern meadowlark can survive up to 8 years in the wild.
Found this songster along Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, Florida.
Explored July 4, 2023
#MacroMondays
#Feather
Plume grass is an extremely rare type of grass that can only be found in the deep sea in light-flooded caves (illuminated by the just as rare but permanently glowing deep sea rainbow) or above the clouds. I couldn't verify the origin of this specific bunch of plume grass, because it had materialized itself on my photo (aka living room) table out of nowhere. OK, joking aside, "nowhere" is a small paper bag that I keep in my original MM box (numerous boxes have followed since) in which I've carefully stored this feather ever since I found it on the ground in front of an outdoor owl cage/compound at the Tierpark Berlin back in 2017. The owl inhabiting said cage had eyed me suspiciously all the time plus its plumage colour and pattern were very similar to that of this feather, so it was pretty sure that owl's feather.
The feather, or rather the part of it I'd found (it looks as if it had broken off because the quill is missing), is very fluffy and delicate, and it has a white/light brown zigzag-like pattern. The entire length of the feather is 6,5 cm/2,5 inches, and the (upper) part of the feather that you can see in my image has a length of 2 cm/0,78 inches and a width of 4 cm/1,5 inches..
Since a feather is all about airiness, freedom, and a creature soaring the sky up above I thought I'd use a bright blue backdrop for a change. I still didn't know how to add a little more vivacity to the feather itself, since while beautiful it isn't exactly colourful with its muted tones that suit a predator well as camouflage. My makeshift colour filters didn't work too well for the scene I had in mind because they coloured the backdrop as well. But the sunshine came to my rescue. I keep all sorts of stuff on the window sill, like a sundial, and also rocks and crystals, and among these "dust collectors" also is a huge, diamond-shaped glass crystal. Its facets conjure lovely rainbow-coloured light reflections onto the wall and the window sill when hit by the sunlight at the right angle. And when I noticed the sparkle, I thought "That's it, hooray!" :) Not that it is easy to direct the rainbow sparkles to a specific subject, it was a lot of hit-and-miss, but in the end, I once again had a few images to choose from. I also took a few images of a plain white feather that actually reflects the rainbow light much better, but since I had to make a choice, this image made it mainly because of the white bokeh balls in the upper right corner (probably light reflections from the glass crystal as well) because they reminded me of sunlight shining through a very clear water surface (or of a small fleecy cloud), illuminating a beautiful "underwater scape".
HMM, Everyone, and have a nice week ahead!
This one has a slightly damaged wing tip :( Thanks to Buzz www.flickr.com/photos/orangebuzz2000 for finding it for me :))
Probably the most distinctive of the 'Plume' moths, and one of the largest. Its wings are deeply divided into several 'fingers', each of which is finely feathered, or plumed.
Quite common over much of Britain, inhabiting dry grassland, waste ground and gardens.
The adults fly from dusk onwards in June and July, and sometimes have a second generation in September.
The caterpillars overwinter and feed on bindweed (Convolvulus).
Easter Island is probably the most isolated place in the world, whatever direction you look at, the nearest inhabited land is thousands of miles away. Look at the island on a globe (use Google Earth), position Easter Island in the center; it is surrounded by the ocean that fills almost the entire half of the visible globe.
Little Owl - Athena noctua (M)
The little owl (Athene noctua) is a bird that inhabits much of the temperate and warmer parts of Europe, Asia east to Korea, and north Africa. It was introduced into Britain at the end of the nineteenth century and into the South Island of New Zealand in the early twentieth century.
This owl is a cavity nester and a clutch of about four eggs is laid in spring. The female does the incubation and the male brings food to the nest, first for the female and later for the newly hatched young. As the chicks grow, both parents hunt and bring them food, and the chicks leave the nest at about seven weeks of age.
The distribution is widespread across Europe, Asia and North Africa. Its range in Eurasia extends from the Iberian Peninsula and Denmark eastwards to China and southwards to the Himalayas. In Africa it is present from Mauritania to Egypt, the Red Sea and Arabia. The bird has been introduced to New Zealand, and to the United Kingdom, where it has spread across much of England and the whole of Wales.
This is a sedentary species which is found in open countryside in a great range of habitats. These include agricultural land with hedgerows and trees, orchards, woodland verges, parks and gardens, as well as steppes and stony semi-deserts. It is also present in treeless areas such as dunes, and in the vicinity of ruins, quarries and rocky outcrops. It sometimes ventures into villages and suburbs. In the United Kingdom it is chiefly a bird of the lowlands, and usually occurs below 500 m (1,600 ft).
In continental Europe and Asia it may be found at much higher elevations; one individual was recorded from 3,600 m (12,000 ft) in Tibet.
The little owl is territorial, the male normally remaining in one territory for life. However the boundaries may expand and contract, being largest in the courtship season in spring. The home range, in which the bird actually hunts for food, varies with the type of habitat and time of year. Little owls with home-ranges that incorporate a high diversity of habitats are much smaller (< 2 ha) than those which breed in monotonous farmland (with home-ranges over 12 ha).
The little owl is partly diurnal and often perches boldly and prominently during the day. If living in an area with a large amount of human activity, little owls may grow used to humans and will remain on their perch, often in full view, while people are around. The little owl has a life expectancy of about sixteen years. However, many birds do not reach maturity; severe winters can take their toll and some birds are killed by road vehicles at night, so the average lifespan may be on the order of three years.
Breeding Bird Survey data suggest that little owl numbers are declining, with the UK population estimated to be down by 24 per cent between 1995 and 2008.
UK breeding:
5,700 pairs
Distribution
Geography
CONTINENTS
Africa
SUBCONTINENTS
Sub-Saharan Africa
COUNTRIES
Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
BIOGEOGRAPHICAL REALMS
Afrotropical
Common elands inhabit southern Africa and the foothills in the great southern African plateau, as well as Ethiopia and most of the arid zones in South Sudan, as well as western Angola, Namibia, and South Africa. They prefer to live in semi-arid areas that contain many shrub-like bushes, and often inhabit woodlands, bush, and mountaintops. Elands typically avoid forests, swamps, deserts, and open grasslands but do occur in grassland with good herb cover.
Common elands are crepuscular and are most often found feeding at night, when vegetation has taken in moisture from the air, thus providing a higher water content. When it is hot during the day, they will often be found resting in areas of shade. Common elands are social animals, often found in herds of 25-60, occasionally gathering in groups of more than 1,000, especially during the rainy season. Typically, mature males form herds, and mature females do as well, with the young congregating in nursery herds. A hierarchy exists within these herds, which determines, for a male, access to breeding females, and to feeding sites for a female. Common elands are nomadic creatures. Males are not territorial, though will become possessive with regard to breeding females. The home range of a female, which makes extensive movements in the wet season, is much bigger than that of a male. Male territories are mostly in wooded areas. If a predator is seen, the bull of a group will bark and start walking back and forth to warn other elands of danger. They also use the odors in their urine to communicate.
Violet-capped Woodnymphs inhabit a wide range of habitats from untouched forests, to scrub, to suburban and city gardens. They gather nectar from both native and non-native flowers and also hunt for insects. During certain parts of the year, Violet-capped Woodnymphs migrate short distances. Males have a bluish violet cap and sparkle with dark green above and gold-green below. Females are dark greenish above and off-white below. During the breeding season, these woodnymphs adorn the outside of their nests with ferns and lichen. www.birdsoftheworld.org
Wishing everyone a great new week and a happy blue Monday!
Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated!
© All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission. All rights reserved. Please contact me at thelma.gatuzzo@gmail.com if you intend to buy or use any of my images.
Visit my instagram if you like: @thelmag and@thelma_and_cats
Sandhill Crane colt portrait.
Between 34 to 48 inches in length with a wingspan of nearly 7 feet. They are very tall with a long neck and long legs. Largely gray with a red forehead. Juveniles browner with no red on head. Plumage often appears a rusty color because of iron stains from water of ponds or marshes.
They inhabit large freshwater marshes, prairie ponds and marshy tundra. They are also on prairies and grain fields during migration and in winter.
They range from Siberia and Alaska east across arctic Canada to the Hudson Bay and south to western Ontario. There are isolated populations in the Rocky Mountians, northern prairies, and the Great Lakes region along with in Mississippi, Georgia and Florida. They winter in California's Central Valley and across the southern states from Arizona to Florida. They can also be found in Cuba.
Kensington Metropark, Livingston County, Michigan.
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
Metallic-green Tanagers inhabit humid montane forests in the Andes in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. They are mostly blue-green in color, although strongly they appear to be blue or green can change, depending uopn light conditions.
Their diet consists almost entirely of arthropods and fruits. Metallic-green Tanagers are usually found in pairs or small groups and often join flocks consisting of multiple tanager species.
There are two recognized subspecies of the Metallic-green Tanager (Storer 1970):
-labradorides Boissinneau 1840; type locality Santa-Fé de Bogota [Colombia]
Occurs in western and central Colombia and in western Ecuador (Storer 1970, Hilty and Brown 1986, Ridgely and Greenfield 2001).
-chaupensis Chapman 1925; type locality Chaupe, Cajamarca, Peru
Occurs in southeastern Ecuador and in northern Peru (Storer 1970, Ridgely and Greenfield 2001, Schulenberg et al. 2007).
neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/...
“I would like to be the air that inhabits you for a moment only. I would like to be that unnoticed and that necessary.”
― Margaret Atwood
Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4MSFhIbAJA
GUIDING LIGHT – FOY VANCE
Summertime blues
shape me to a leaf
greens and pinks
palest blues beyond belief
pegs on the washing line
like punctuations
wooden and plastic
pastel colours; sweet sensations
warm Summer breeze
tickling my knees
swaying grasses
making me sneeze
pale into insignificance
breathe in the balmy air
fill me up with buttercups
spiders trying to lead me to their lair
I avoid by being still
absorbing me in gentle nature's spell
seagulls bombarding me with crusts of bread
they sound so woeful when all is well
idly I wonder what I am
a butterfly or a bee
or am I a dragon in disguise
as a damselfly; suddenly I feel so lazy
my eyes blink once; my eyes blink twice
I succumb to slumber in the sea-salt air
dreaming of where the wild things grow
where time moves slowly without a care
the Autumn days will soon roll in
the green leaves will turn to orange and yellow
before they fall when the first snow's felt
but until that time I'm feeling mellow
Summertime blues
shape me to a leaf
let Summer days take me
far beyond belief.
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Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission