Cattle on Wörth island on a hot spring day.

Wörth is the largest island in the Bavarian Staffelsee lake and the only permanently inhabited island in the lake.

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

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

Small waxbill, adult olive green above, gray below, with red eyebrow, red bill, and black tail. In flight, bright red rump apparent. Juvenile with red rump but otherwise olive drab with dark bill. Inhabits grassy areas close to thick cover in eastern and southeastern coastal Australia. Often-heard call is a thin "seeeeep." (eBird)

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Finally, one stopped moving long enough to get a photo! These beautiful finch live in large flocks and all want to land on the feeder at the same moment. This one was just contemplating his next move.

Julatten, Queensland, Australia. October 2022.

Eagle-Eye Tours - Eastern Australia.

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.

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.

Medium-sized songbird with long pinkish bill and red eye. Olive-green above, pale below, with dark streaks on chest and belly. Juvenile and immature browner, with grayish bills. Green Oriole is green and yellow below. Female Australasian Figbird is browner, with shorter bill and bare skin around eyes. Resident in northern Australia and New Guinea, summer migrant to southeastern Australia. Inhabits many sorts of woodlands, foraging singly or in pairs, singing frequently, a clear, tuneful “orri-orri-orriole.” (eBird

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Even though we had been on the official birding tour for a few days, we had come across a number of these beautiful orioles, along with their close cousins, the Green Oriole. They had proved (and continued) to be difficult to photograph because of the ability to blend right into the leaves. This one granted me two photos before vanishing.

Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia. October 2022.

Eagle-Eye Tours - Tropical Australia.

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.

The species inhabits the interior and edges of humid to wet montane forest, cloudforest, and elfin forest. It also occurs in more open shrubby landscapes. In elevation it ranges from 2,000 to 3,500 m (6,600 to 11,500 ft)

28-april-2022

Sveti Duh means Holy Spirit.

Podolševa scattered/dispersed settelement, inhabited by 71 people, is at an altitude between 1050m a.s.l. and 1327m a.s.l., appearing among the highest inhabited places in the whole Slovenija.

STAR 100

A long sailing day ended among the thousands of islands in Croatia.

The islands of Croatia are in total 1 246 [1], of which about fifty are inhabited and cover a total area of approximately 3 259 km²]. Islands (in Croatian: otok) are defined as those with an area greater than 1 km²; islets (otočić), if they have an area less than one square kilometer but greater than 0.01 km²; while those smaller than 0.01 km² are called rocks or rocks (hrid). According to this classification, the islands are 79 [1] and the two largest are Veglia and Cres, both with an area of 405 km²; there are 525 islets and 642 rocks [. It should be noted that the number of islands, islets and rocks fluctuates over time, due to natural and artificial modifications.

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 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.

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 !!

La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.

Ramphocelus flammigerus

(Flame-rumped Tanager / Toche)

Juvenile males show a kaleidoscope of colours: Yellows as the females, and reds and blacks as adult males.

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...

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 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.

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". Eastern garter snakes like to conceal themselves under logs, stones and other debris that allow them to bask in the sunlight and quickly seek refuge from predators.

Eastern garter snakes mostly eat toads, frogs, slugs, and worms, but they will eat almost anything they can overpower. The eastern garter snake is broadly considered non-venomous. (Wikipedia)

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This snake was enjoying the sun in early spring. It was probably just recently out of hibernation and was looking for food and warmth. It watched me for a while as I struggled to get a photo with the wrong lens, and then finally left me to my own devices. I ended up with two good shots from this encounter.

Trail 10, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. May 2022.

The eternal Self existent one - I am that I am-- the one who inhabits eternity

His mercy endures forever

Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

filmfreeway.com/KyleTiernan

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBBxrsqSa0o

www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4cJ4wviwS8

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf1ExENJqp8

www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0NJiasWrLc

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQHKLtk6co0

www.prophotoblog.ca/interviews/kyle-tiernan-freelance-cin...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_H0hz6B-xw

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vcvTd4_Q-w

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:” Amos 8:11)

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 cottages originally inhabited by the pilots whose job was to pilot ships into the Menai Straights, these pilots also manned the nearby lifeboat along with nearby locals from Newborough. The name Llanddwyn translates as Dwynwen's church, Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers, the Welsh equivalent of St. Valentine. The remains of St.Dwynwen's church can still be seen on the island

In the valleys of the Atlas mountain range it is possible to spot several Kasbah, fortresses. Some are still Inhabited, some aren't, some are there as turistic attractives, but the time isn't so kind with this type of building. But, this place, with some palm trees before and the mountain behind, inspired me the idea of a "lost city". So here it is my lost Kasbah. Don't you agree?

Thousands of years ago, the area’s native people inhabited Antelope Island; some of their prehistoric artifacts have been found at the ranch. In modern times, the ranch house is the oldest Anglo building still standing on its original foundation in Utah.

Fielding Garr Ranch is located at Garr Springs. Indigenous people and wildlife used this water source long before Fielding Garr built the ranch.

The first permanent structure at this site was a small log cabin built in 1848 by Fielding Garr. Garr had been assigned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to establish a ranch on the island as a stronghold for managing the church tithing herds. Within two years, Garr had expanded the ranch compound to include the adobe ranch house and other out buildings. The ranch was continually inhabited from that time until 1981.

The LDS Church operated the ranch until the mid-1870s. During this era, ranching operations encompassed the entire island. In 1869, the railroad came to Utah, and with it came the first federal surveys of the land. Because the only improvements on the island were around the ranch itself, the federal government opened the rest of the island to homesteading. By the turn of the century, most of the homesteaders had failed to prove their claims. John Dooly Sr., and enterprising businessman and rancher, purchased the entire island and a price of $1,000,000 (approximately $27,800,000 in 2018), and it became the home of his Island Improvement Company.

The ranching operation continued uninterrupted through several owners. Just after the turn of the 20th century, the focus of the ranch turned to sheep. Under the direction of John Dooly Jr., the sheep operation expanded to more than 10,000 sheep to become one of the largest and most industrialized ranching efforts in the western United States. When sheep ranching became unprofitable in the 1950s due to a failing wool market, the operation turned again to cattle. The island ranch continued to function as part of one of the largest commercial cattle operations in the state until the island became a state park in 1981.

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.

Der Gartenrotschwanz (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) ist eine Vogelart der Gattung Rotschwänze (Phoenicurus) aus der Familie Fliegenschnäpper (Muscicapidae), früher wurde die Gattung mit anderen schmätzerähnlichen Arten zu den Drosseln (Turdidae) gezählt. Er besiedelt Eurasien ostwärts bis zum Baikalsee sowie Teile Nordafrikas und des Nahen Ostens. Als Höhlen- und Halbhöhlenbrüter bewohnt er vorwiegend lichte Laubwälder, Parkanlagen und Gärten mit altem Baumbestand. Er ist ein Transsaharazieher, der sich schon im Spätsommer auf den Weg in die Winterquartiere macht. Seit Beginn der 1980er Jahre sind die Bestände der Art stark rückläufig, scheinen sich jedoch in den letzten Jahren auf niedrigem Niveau zu stabilisieren. Der Gesamtbestand des Gartenrotschwanzes gilt nicht als gefährdet.[1] Für das Jahr 2011 wurde er zum Vogel des Jahres in Deutschland und Österreich gewählt.[2] In der Schweiz war er 2009 Vogel des Jahres.[3]

The redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) is a species of bird in the genus redstarts (Phoenicurus) from the flycatcher family (Muscicapidae), formerly the genus was counted with other species similar to the thrushes (Turdidae). It inhabits Eurasia eastward to Lake Baikal and parts of North Africa and the Middle East. As cave and semi-cave breeders, it mainly inhabits light deciduous forests, parks and gardens with old trees. It is a trans-Saharan migrant who sets off for winter quarters as early as late summer. Populations of the species have been declining sharply since the early 1980s, but appear to have stabilized at a low level in recent years. The entire stock of redstarts is not considered endangered.[1] For 2011, it was voted bird of the year in Germany and Austria.[2] In Switzerland it was bird of the year in 2009.[3]

(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)

—————————————————————-

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)

Morocco

The Tuareg people are a large Berber ethnic confederation. They principally inhabit the Sahara in a vast area.

The Tuaregs have been called the "blue people" for the indigo dye coloured clothes they traditionally wear and which stains their skin.

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.

Ibises are a group of long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae, that inhabit wetlands, forests and plains. Ibises usually feed as a group, probing mud for food items, usually crustaceans. It is widespread across much of Australia. It has a predominantly white plumage with a bare, black head, long down curved bill and black legs. They are monogamous and highly territorial while nesting and feeding. Most nest in trees, often with spoonbills or herons. Due to its increasing presence in the urban environment and its habit of rummaging in garbage, the species has acquired a variety of colloquial names such as tip turkey; and bin chicken, and in recent years has become an icon of popular culture, being regarded with passion, wit, and, in equal measure, affection and disgust. 63999

Tulip, Dunvegan Castle garden

Dunvegan Castle is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and has been the ancestral home of the Chiefs of clan MacLeod for 800 years. Originally designed as a fortress to keep people out, today you can tour an award-winning castle and Highland estate steeped in history and clan legend, delight in the beauty of its formal gardens, take a boat trip to see the Loch Dunvegan seal colony, stay in one of our five charming holiday cottages, browse in one of our shops which feature quality local and Scottish gifts, or satisfy your appetite at the MacLeod Tables Cafe.

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

Any finite number divided by infinity is as near to nothing as makes no odds, so the average population of all the planets in the Universe can be said to be zero. From this it follows that the population of the whole Universe is also zero, and that any people you may meet from time to time are merely the products of a deranged imagination :-)

Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

HFF!! a little statistical humor for these infinitely unusual times ;-)

narcissus, 'Sweet Smiles', j c raulston arboretum, ncsu, raleigh, north carolina

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.

In my garden. 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

The giant green anemone is a species of intertidal sea anemone of the family Actiniidae.

Generally, it is found along the low to mid intertidal zones of the Pacific Ocean, from Alaska to southern California and sometimes downwards to Panama, where cold water swells can occur. It prefers to inhabit sandy or rocky shorelines, where water remains for most of the day. They can generally be found in tide pools up to 15 m deep. Occasionally it can also be found in deep channels of more exposed rocky shores and concrete pilings in bays and harbors.

These anemones tend to live a solitary life, but can be occasionally seen as groups with no more than 14 individuals per square meter. They can move slowly using their basal disks, but usually stay sessile.

The anemone feeds on sea urchins, small fish, and crabs, but detached mussels seem to be the main food source. There are rare instances where the giant green anemone has consumed seabirds. It is not known whether the birds were alive or dead when engulfed by the anemone. (Wikipedia)

One evening we went to the tidal pools along the coast to look for fish, anemones and sea stars. It was adventure scrambling over the huge rocks, but we were rewarded with this anemone just under the surface of the water. No evidence of it having eaten a bird recently was found :-)

Ucluelet, British Columbia, Canada. May 2022.

Eagle-Eye Tours - Ultimate British Columbia.

Inhabited by Roseate Spoonbills but also American White Pelicans, one seen here on the right. Delores Fenwick Nature Center, Pearland, Texas.

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.

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!

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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.

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.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UTzVERM430

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.

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!

La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.

Ramphocelus flammigerus

(Flame-rumped Tanager / Toche)

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...

Great Egret

Seems to be waiting for something to happen while standing in the early morning light streaming over the ocean and sand.

From the National Park Service:

Second only to the Great Blue Heron in size, the Great Egret (Casmerodius albus), sometimes called the Great White Egret, is one of the largest of the wading birds that inhabit the Everglades. Standing over 4 feet in height with a wingspan of more than 50 inches, it is similar in appearance to the Snowy Egret but can be distinguished by its long black legs, black feet, stout yellow bill, and tremendous size. The Snowy Egret is smaller than the Great Egret and has a black bill and yellow feet.

Although numbers of Great Egrets have recovered throughout most of the United States in response to conservation measures, numbers have declined in some parts of the southern United States because of habitat loss. Data indicate that the Florida Everglades has undergone a 90-percent reduction in the number of breeding pairs of wading birds.

From Wikipedia:

Ein Ovdat is a canyon in the Negev Desert of Israel, south of Kibbutz Sde Boker. Archaeological evidence shows that Ein Avdat was inhabited by Nabateans and Catholic monks. Numerous springs at the southern opening of the canyon empty into deep pools in a series of waterfalls. The water emerges from the rock layers with salt-tolerant plants like Poplar trees and Atriplexes growing nearby.

The canyon of Ein Ovdat is part of Nahal Zin, the largest Wadi or dry riverbed in the Negev. The 120 kilometer-long riverbed begins at the northwestern tip of Makhtesh Ramon and heads north before veering sharply eastwards. Ein Ovdat was created by erosion.

Springs:

The southernmost spring is Ein Ma'arif,[3][9] featuring a series of waterfalls and pools.[10] A Byzantine fortress overlooks the spring and adjacent agricultural land.[5][10]

Further north is Ein Ovdat, a 15-meter high waterfall that flows into an 8-meter deep pool of water divided by a small artificial dam.[11]

Located near the northern entrance of the park is a spring called Ein Mor, named for the spice myrrh.[9][12]

Growing around the springs are Poplar trees and Atriplexes, commonly known as saltbush, which grows on riverbanks and can tolerate salinity.[3][7]

Climate:

According to statistics compiled by a weather station at Sde Boker, the summers are hot with almost no precipitation while the winters are cold with some rain. The lowest recorded temperature for January was −3.6 °C (25.5 °F). In the summer temperatures can reach over 40 °C (104 °F). The humidity is relatively high.[13]

.

Frühes Aufstehen sichert schlafende Widderchen :)

Esparsetten-Widderchen (Zygaena carniolica) - eastern burnet

My insects album is here:

www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/1JX0WtU146

My 2019-2023 tours album is here:

www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/SKf0o8040w

My nature album is here:

www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/27PwYUERX2

My flora album is here:

www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/k22a1R5wwS

de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esparsetten-Widderchen

Das Esparsetten-Widderchen oder Krainer Widderchen (Zygaena carniolica) ist ein Schmetterling (Nachtfalter) aus der Familie der Widderchen (Zygaenidae). Sowohl die Raupen als auch die erwachsenen Tiere sind giftig und dokumentieren dies für Fressfeinde mit Hilfe ihrer auffälligen Warnfärbung. Die Art wurde in Deutschland und Österreich zum „Insekt des Jahres 2008“ gewählt.

Merkmale

Das Esparsetten-Widderchen ist wegen seiner charakteristischen Zeichnung auf den Vorderflügeln – die roten Flecken auf schwarzem Grund sind hell umrandet – in Mitteleuropa meist recht eindeutig von anderen im Volksmund auch „Blutströpfchen“ genannten Widderchen-Arten zu unterscheiden. Die helle Umrandung kann jedoch manchmal schwach ausfallen oder ganz fehlen und die Farbintensität der roten Flecken kann variieren.

Crepuscular burnet or Eastern burnet

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zygaena_carniolica

Distribution

This species can be found in most of Europe, except Britain Isles and northern Scandinavia. It is also present from Western Asia to Iran.

Habitat

It inhabits warm and dry areas, grasslands and limestone substrate, steppe slopes and dry pastures.

Description

Lateral view

The wingspan is 30–35 mm. Forewings are bluish-black with six red spots surrounded by yellow. Hindwings have a red color with a black border. The outer spots are often in the shape of a crescent. The abdomen is black-blue, sometimes with a red belt.[5] The caterpillar is light green with a series of triangular black spots on the sides of the body. Pupae are black-brown, with a white or yellowish ovoid cocoon.

This species is rather similar to Zygaena algira, Zygaena maroccana, Zygaena occitanica, Zygaena orana and Zygaena youngi.

Biology

It is an univoltine species. Adults are on wing from July to August. Adults feed on the nectar of flowers in the Fabaceae family.The larvae feed on Lotus, Anthyllis, Dorycnium and Onobrychis species.[7] They frequently rest large numbers on flowers. Pupation occurs in May–June. The caterpillars hibernate.