URBEX: Inhabited Decay
View allAll Photos Tagged INHABITING
Devetashka - the Bulgarian Cave with 70,000 Years of Human Habitation
Devetashka cave is an enormous cave in Bulgaria, which has provided shelter for groups of humans since the late Paleolithic era, and continuously for tens of thousands of years since then. Now abandoned by humans, it remains a site of national and international significance and is home to some 30,000 bats.
Devetashka cave, which is known as Devetàshka peshterà in Bulgaria, is located roughly 18 kilometres north of Lovech, near the village of Devetaki. It is a karst cave formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks and characterized by sinkholes, caves, and underground drainage systems.
The cave itself is immense, measuring approximately 2 kilometres in length and with a huge entrance ‘hall’ measuring 60 metres in height. In places the ceiling is 100 metres above the ground and there are seven huge holes through which daylight illuminates the vast interior. It is these holes that earned the cave the name Maarata or Oknata ("the eyes").
About 200 meters from the entrance, the cave separates into two branches. On the left side, a small river runs along it, forming miniature lakes and waterfalls, passing through the main hall and eventually flowing into the Osam River. The right side is warm and dry and contains several chambers, ending with a round hall, known as the Altar. Beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, rivulets, majestic natural domes and arches can be found within the enormous cave and one can see why various human populations would have chosen Devetashka as their home.
Devetashka Cave was rediscovered by a Bulgarian scientist in 1921 but was not fully excavated until the 1950s when the intention was to transform the cave into a giant warehouse. Studies revealed that it has been inhabited almost continuously since the late Paleolithic era. The earliest traces of human presence date back to the middle of the Early Stone Age around 70,000 years ago. The Devetashka cave also contained one of the richest sources of cultural artifacts from the Neolithic (6th millennium - 4th millennium B C).
In June, 1996, Devetashka Cave was declared a natural landmark. The cave is probably best known for its part in the action movie ‘The Expendables 2’, filmed in 2011, in which Sylvester Stallone crash lands a plane into Jean Claude Van Damme’s subterranean lair.
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
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.
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.
My instagram if you like: @thelmag and @thelma_and_cats
Villa dei Medici di Trebbio (ora privata )abitata prima del loro arrivo in Firenze : Visita al Giardino grazie al FAI
Norfolk Hawker - Anaciaeschna isoceles (M)
Habitat
The optimum conditions for breeding appear to be unspoilt grazing marsh dyke systems with clean, non-saline water, rushy margins, preferably with an abundance of water soldier as well as other aquatic plants.
Threats
Conversion of grazing marsh to arable farming.
Inappropriate ditch management.
Nutrients enrichment.
Pollution.
The impact of global climate change and fluctuations in water levels.
Status & Distribution
The Norfolk Hawker is currently restricted to the fens and grazing marshes that are relatively isolated from polluted water in the Broadlands of Norfolk and Northeast Suffolk. A Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) for the Norfolk Hawker has been drafted for Norfolk.
Similar Species
Brown Hawker
Brown wings.
Blue-brown eyes.
Blue and yellow markings.
Management
Norfolk Hawker Management Profile
General management principles include maintaining grazing marshes, controlling saline intrusion, controlling nutrient enrichment. There are also best practice guidelines for managing inhabited sites, particularly the dyke vegetation and the surrounding terrestrial habitats.
Case Study
Work is underway to restore habitats for this species in Norfolk.
The robin (Erithacus rubecula) is a species of bird of the flycatcher family (Muscicapidae). It inhabits North Africa, Europe and Asia 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 Wandering Whistling Duck inhabits tropical and subtropical Australia, the Philippines, Borneo, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific 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)
Plain Parakeets - The Plain Parakeet is endemic to the Atlantic Forest biome of eastern Brazil, where it is a generally common resident in lowlands and foothills, to at least 1200 m, and is found from Alagoas south to Santa Catarina, and ranges inland as far as Goiás. It inhabits forests, second growth, semi-open areas, and cities, provided there are some trees. Just as its name suggests, this is a plain green-colored parakeet, although some blue is visible at the wing bend at rest and some bronzy coloration over the shoulder. It feeds on fruit, seeds and flowers, and perhaps also insects and their larvae, but given the Plain Parakeet’s general abundance—the species is common in many cities, including the huge metropolises of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo—it is perhaps surprising how little is known concerning this bird’s general biology. These guys were photographed in the wild at Tapiraí - São Paulo.
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
Small sturdy plover with pink legs and red eyering. Adult has black hood that extends down onto the chin. Endemic to southern Australia where it typically inhabits sandy ocean beaches, nesting just above the high tide mark. In western Australia it is also found on saline lakes. (eBird)
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Similar to the Piping Plovers in the northern hemisphere, these Hooded Plovers nest on the beach and so are vulnerable to being disturbed. We could not get very close to these quartet, and even with the big lens, this is an enormous crop. Still very happy to have seen these attractive birds, just once during the trip.
Adventure Bay, Tasmania, Austraia,. October 2022.
Eagle-Eye Tours - Tasmania.
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.
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
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...
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
I'll be away for a while.
Buff-tailed coronet - These medium-sized hummingbirds display a cinnamon underwing in flight, and other than the bronzy central tail feathers, the tail is notably buffy. Buff-tailed Coronets inhabit humid and wet montane forests, shrubby forest borders, and dwarf forests. They are rather defensive around mid and upper level flowers in the forest, and sometimes congregate with other hummingbirds at trees in the canopy interior. They hold on to flowers when feeding and hold their wings up in a V while doing so.
Picture taken at Birdwatchers House (www.birdwatchershouse.com/en/), Ecuador.
Have 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
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.
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
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/...
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.
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 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.
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)
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.
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
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 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.
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.
(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?
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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)
There are places that help me recognize a deeper truth about myself that transcends logic and explanation. Ancient Romans argued that no place is without genius. Every place, every space is inhabited by the invisible; as is the human body by the breath of life
Small bird with thin pointed bill. Upperparts brown, underparts grayish brown, with dark red eye, reddish-brown forehead, and white throat with dark streaking. Similar Tasmanian Thornbill has longer tail and rufous-brown panel on wings; Inland Thornbill has grayer upperparts, more streaking on the breast, and a longer tail; and Striated Thornbill has more greenish upperparts, thin white streaking in reddish-brown cap, and pale eyebrow. Inhabits a wide variety of shrub habitats, where usually seen in small groups or pairs. (eBird)
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One of several different species of small brown birds that we encountered this rainy day (it is the rainforest, after all). Small, bouncy and curious, they were fun to watch.
O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, Queensland, Australia. October 2022.
Eagle-Eye Tours - Eastern Australia.
~Aristotle
I wasn't around much during the weekend....I guess I've a lot of catching up to do...Hope you all had a great weekend!
Don't let the blues get you down.....Happy Monday!! :)
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 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
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.
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
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]
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
Székesfehérvár is the oldest town in Hungary. The settlers inhabited the city area of 2-5 thousand years BC. Later, as the legend says, the Arpada tribe has settled on this area. The city was founded in the year 972 by Prince Gejzę, and its further development was contributed by the son of Gejza, Stefan I Saint. In the year 1003 he started the construction of the basilica, which became the first center of Hungarian statehood, and the city the first historical capital of Hungary.
For about 500 years, Székesfehérvár was the royal seat. In the cathedral built in the city, 37 kings (all medieval kings of Hungary with the exception of St. Stefan) were crowned, and 15 were buried.
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Székesfehérvár jest najstarszym miastem na Węgrzech. Osadnicy zamieszkiwali teren miasta już 2-5 tys. lat p.n.e. Później, jak głosi legenda, na tym właśnie terenie osiedliło się plemię Arpada. Miasto zostało założone w roku 972 przez księcia Gejzę, a do jego dalszego rozwoju przyczynił się syn Gejzy, Stefan I Święty. W roku 1003 rozpoczął on budowę bazyliki, która stała się pierwszym ośrodkiem państwowości węgierskiej, a miasto pierwszą historyczną stolicą Węgier.
Przez około 500 lat Székesfehérvár był siedzibą królewską. W wybudowanej w mieście katedrze koronowano 37 królów (wszystkich średniowiecznych królów Węgier z wyjątkiem św.Stefana), a pochowano 15.
Inhabited by Roseate Spoonbills but also American White Pelicans, one seen here on the right. Delores Fenwick Nature Center, Pearland, Texas.
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
Samburu National Reserve
Kenya
East Africa
Oryx is a genus consisting of four large antelope species. Three of them are native to arid parts of Africa, and the fourth to the Arabian Peninsula. Their fur is pale with contrasting dark markings in the face and on the legs, and their long horns are almost straight.
The East African oryx (Oryx beisa) inhabits eastern Africa, and the closely related gemsbok (Oryx gazella) inhabits southern Africa. Neither is threatened, though the former is considered Near Threatened by the IUCN. The gemsbok is monotypic, and the East African oryx has two subspecies; East African oryx "proper" (O. b. beisa) and the fringe-eared oryx (O. b. callotis). In the past, both were considered subspecies of the gemsbok. – Wikipedia
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
NEW!!Featuring Kalopsia,Soy, [Keke] and more!
Credits : insightinertia.blogspot.nl/2015/10/inhabiting.html
Location : A Piece of Us (Home)
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
Pitangus sulphuratus (Great Kiskadee / Bichofué gritón)
The Great Kiskadee is a large and strikingly colored flycatcher that inhabits much of Central and South America. Great Kiskadees reside in a variety of habitats from forest edges to grasslands to busy residential areas. These birds can often been seen hawking insects from an open perch or dropping to the ground feeding on insects and small reptiles.
Source: Neotropical Birds Online: neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p...
Sandhill Crane.
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.
“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.
- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author
Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission
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. 40503