URBEX: Inhabited Decay
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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
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.
Violet-capped Woodnymphs are hummingbirds that inhabit a wide range of habitats from untouched forests, to scrub, to suburban and city gardens. They gather nectar from both native and non-native flowers and also hunt for insects. During certain parts of the year, Violet-capped Woodnymphs migrate short distances. Males have a bluish violet cap and sparkle with dark green above and gold-green below. Females are dark greenish above and off-white below. During the breeding season, these woodnymphs adorn the outside of their nests with ferns and lichen.
Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated!
© All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission. All rights reserved. Please contact me at thelma.gatuzzo@gmail.com if you intend to buy or use any of my images.
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Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros
The black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is a small passerine bird in the redstart genus Phoenicurus. Like its relatives, it was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family (Turdidae), but is now known to be an Old World flycatcher (Muscicapidae). Other common names are Tithy's redstart, blackstart and black redtail.
It is not very closely related to the common redstart. As these are separated by different behaviour and ecological requirements.
It is a widespread breeder in south and central Europe and Asia and northwest Africa, from Great Britain and Ireland (where local) south to Morocco, east to central China. It is resident in the milder parts of its range, but northeastern birds migrate to winter in southern and western Europe and Asia, and north Africa. It nests in crevices or holes in buildings.
In Britain, it is most common as a passage and winter visitor, with only 20–50 pairs breeding.
On passage it is fairly common on the east and south coasts, and in winter on the coasts of Wales and western and southern England, with a few also at inland sites. Migrant black redstarts arrive in Britain in October or November and either move on or remain to winter, returning eastward in March or April. They also winter on the south and east coasts of Ireland.
The species originally inhabited stony ground in mountains, particularly cliffs, but since about 1900 has expanded to include similar urban habitats including bombed areas during and after World War II, and large industrial complexes that have the bare areas and cliff-like buildings it favours; in Great Britain, most of the small breeding population nests in such industrial areas.
Population:
UK breeding:
19-44 pairs
UK wintering:
400 birds
Dunrobin Castle is the most northerly of Scotland's great houses and the largest in the Northern Highlands with 189 rooms. Dunrobin Castle is also one of Britain's oldest continuously inhabited houses dating back to the early 1300s, home to the Earls and later, the Dukes of Sutherland. The Castle, which resembles a French château with its towering conical spires, has seen the architectural influences of Sir Charles Barry, who designed London’s Houses of Parliament.
Dipper - Cinclus Cinclus
aka Water Ouzel
Dippers are members of the genus Cinclus in the bird family Cinclidae, named for their bobbing or dipping movements. They are unique among passerines for their ability to dive and swim underwater.
They have a characteristic bobbing motion when perched beside the water, giving them their name. While under water, they are covered by a thin, silvery film of air, due to small bubbles being trapped on the surface of the plumage.
Dippers are found in suitable freshwater habitats in the highlands of the Americas, Europe and Asia. In Africa they are only found in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. They inhabit the banks of fast-moving upland rivers with cold, clear waters, though, outside the breeding season, they may visit lake shores and sea coasts.
The high haemoglobin concentration in their blood gives them a capacity to store oxygen greater than that of other birds, allowing them to remain underwater for thirty seconds or more, whilst their basal metabolic rate is approximately one-third slower than typical terrestrial passerines of similar mass. One small population wintering at a hot spring in Suntar-Khayata Mountains of Siberia feeds underwater when air temperatures drop below −55 °C (−67 °F).
Dippers are completely dependent on fast-flowing rivers with clear water, accessible food and secure nest-sites. They may be threatened by anything that affects these needs such as water pollution, acidification and turbidity caused by erosion. River regulation through the creation of dams and reservoirs, as well as channelization, can degrade and destroy dipper habitat.
Dippers are also sometimes hunted or otherwise persecuted by humans for various reasons. The Cyprus race of the white-throated dipper is extinct. In the Atlas Mountains dippers are claimed to have aphrodisiacal properties. In parts of Scotland and Germany, until the beginning of the 20th century, bounties were paid for killing dippers because of a misguided perception that they were detrimental to fish stocks through predation on the eggs and fry of salmonids.
Population:
UK breeding:
6,200-18,700 pairs
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.
Ruddy Darter (M) - Sympetrum sanguineum
Inhabits weedy ponds and ditches, frequently in woodland.
Status & Distribution
Resident in south-east England and central Ireland but increasing its range.
Similar Species
The various resident and migrant species of Darter in the UK are easily confused, the females being particularly difficult to tell apart. This species has all black legs and the waisted appearence of the blood-red male helps with identification.
Species GroupDragonflies
Identification Notes
Black legs diagnostic, male has distinctive thin waist with clubbed tip
Less aggressive than Common Darter
Specialises in well vegetated ponds, lakes, canals etc. Will tolerate acidic waters
July – September
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...
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...
Lake Nahuel Huapi is immersed within the Nahuel Huapi National Park, which is the oldest of the Argentine national parks.
It was created by the Argentine government in 1934, on the base of the donation of 3 square leagues (7,000 ha) carried out by Francisco Pascasio Moreno for this purpose.
The park covers 717,261 ha, in a strip of about 60 km wide for about 170 km from north to south, lying on the Andes mountain range. The Nahuel Huapi National Park is internationally famous for its attractive photography. It is located between the altitudes of 700 masl and 3400 masl, it stands out for its representative ecosystems of the Patagonian Andes, inhabiting more than a thousand higher botanical species, and some 300 species of vertebrate animals.
Getting to know Victoria Island and witnessing the spectacle of the Bosque de Arrayanes is a pleasure that has been experienced by millions of visitors to this National Park but still awaits, with its intact navigation conditions, the next tourists who, like us, arrive to visit them.
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
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.
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)
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!
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.
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
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...
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.
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 are browner and have no red on head. Their 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 to the Hudson Bay and south into western Ontario. There are isolated populations in: the Rocky Mountains, the northern prairies, the Great Lakes, Mississippi, Georgia and Florida. They winter in California's Central Valley and across the southern states from Arizona to Florida.
Kensington Metropark, Livingston County, Michigan.
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.
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
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?
_________________
THALASSA - Planète océanique, refuge des humains, 3208
Chants de la Terre lointaine (The Songs of Distant Earth), un poème épique, écrit par une écrivaine du nom de Cassiopée Clarke, jusque-là inconnue, bouleverse l’âme des habitants de la planète. Ce poème réveille en eux la douleur ancestrale de la migration de leurs ancêtres, de la perte de leur planète d’origine, de leur culture, de leur histoire. L’héroïne du poème ressent cette douleur, mais aussi quelque chose de plus intime et étrange à la fois : une impossible connexion avec cette Terre lointaine - ses Chants - qui lui révèleraient que la Terre abrite encore et toujours, les vibrations uniques de la vie. Sous la pression du public, les autorités planétaires décident d’organiser une expédition de reconnaissance vers la Terre. La poétesse Clarke, est invitée à se joindre à l’équipe scientifique du vaisseau spatial Earth One.
_________________
PÔLE NORD DE LA TERRE, trois mois après l’arrivée
Le Commandant de la mission - « Madame Clarke, je suis désolé, mais notre équipe scientifique arrive à la conclusion que le cycle destructeur qui a conduit à la Grande Migration ne s’est pas inversé. Les continents qui ne sont pas inondés, sont devenus désertiques, balayés par des vents violents et brûlants. Nous estimons que 80% de la surface la planète est inhabitable par des humains. À l’exception des Pôles, l’air est irrespirable. La vie subsiste dans les profondeurs des mers nordiques, mais sous une forme très simplifiée. L’exploitation des ressources minières - ce dont nous avons réellement besoin - serait non-économique selon nos experts. Leur recommandation est de mettre fin à cette mission. Avez-vous quelque chose à ajouter, Madame? »
En guise de réponse, Madame Clarke offrit ses larmes. Il valait mieux taire son secret, cette certitude qui était maintenant sienne, que ses Chants lui avaient dit la vérité, que la vie reprendrait ses droits sur cette planète, mais qu’il était absolument vital de tenir les humains à l’écart. Elle essuya ses larmes de joie et les préparatifs du retour vers Thalassa débutèrent.
© Patrice photographiste, Chroniques du Monde de Poësia
1 Ce synopsis de film est inspiré de plusieurs romans du célèbre écrivain de science-fiction, Arthur C. Clarke, en particulier : « Les Chants de la Terre lointaine » et la saga des Odyssées de l’espace (2001, 2010, 2061 et 3001)
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MISSION EARTH V2 1
Earth North Pole, December 3218
"This December 21, 3218, a first group of humans whose ancestors fled the land that had become uninhabitable - this sad period, know in history as the Great Migration - lands on these desolate and unrecognizable lands of the northern hemisphere. Their mission: to seek answers to the following questions: is the evolution of the Earth irreversible? Can life ever prosper again? Under what conditions?
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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)
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.
Mid-sized diving duck. Male distinctive, with dark rusty head, pale gray body contrasting with black breast, and broad pale bluish band on bill. Female rather nondescript: gray-brown overall with diffuse pale head markings. Note sloping forehead and dark gray bill with pale band near tip. In flight grayish overall (lacks bold white wing stripe). Inhabits marshy and reed-fringed lakes to open reservoirs; locally on the sea in winter, especially when lakes freeze. Locally in flocks, and often associates with winter flocks of Tufted Ducks. Feeds mainly by diving. eBird
~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!! :)
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
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.
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.
Before arriving at San Gimignano, the only medieval city I had visited was Siena. But as soon as I arrived I could confirm my deep admiration and love for these magnificent jewels, with a very interesting configuration and so different from everything we know in our cities, but certainly of an incomparable charm.
I never thought I would like San Gimignano so much, but I could see that I am not the only one nor will I be the last.
Countless tourists take to the narrow streets or spend hours sitting in the small squares. There are no trees in the streets or squares, cars only enter special moments and with authorization. Everything so different from what we usually experience. Is this the charm of the city, or does it lie dormant in the dramatic events that marked its history?
I do not know, but at the same time everything is so peaceful and charming. I know that the families that once inhabited the city built about 72 house-towers as a symbol of their power, but today there remain only 14 such buildings.
Some are about 50m tall, and it's amazing how they endured all this time. Certainly from the top of them the sight of beautiful Tuscany, at a 360 ° angle, must be unforgettable. So, I hope to return one day to have this experience ;)
In this trip my vision and photos of Tuscany was closer, from the top of the slopes of the city itself, or from the hotel window.San Gimignano is considered today as one of the pearls of Tuscany, a city of art under the protection of UNESCO, is known worldly as the city of the towers.
I hope you like, dear Flickr friends! I wish a Happy weekend to all of you!
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...
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
Kingfisher - Alcedo Atthis
Double click..
The common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) also known as the Eurasian kingfisher, and river kingfisher, is a small kingfisher with seven subspecies recognized within its wide distribution across Eurasia and North Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter.
This sparrow-sized bird has the typical short-tailed, large-headed kingfisher profile; it has blue upperparts, orange underparts and a long bill. It feeds mainly on fish, caught by diving, and has special visual adaptations to enable it to see prey under water. The glossy white eggs are laid in a nest at the end of a burrow in a riverbank.
The female is identical in appearance to the male except that her lower mandible is orange-red with a black tip. The juvenile is similar to the adult, but with duller and greener upperparts and paler underparts. Its bill is black, and the legs are also initially black. Feathers are moulted gradually between July and November with the main flight feathers taking 90–100 days to moult and regrow. Some that moult late may suspend their moult during cold winter weather.
The flight of the kingfisher is fast, direct and usually low over water. The short rounded wings whirr rapidly, and a bird flying away shows an electric-blue "flash" down its back.
The common kingfisher is widely distributed over Europe, Asia, and North Africa, mainly south of 60°N. It is a common breeding species over much of its vast Eurasian range, but in North Africa it is mainly a winter visitor, although it is a scarce breeding resident in coastal Morocco and Tunisia. In temperate regions, this kingfisher inhabits clear, slow-flowing streams and rivers, and lakes with well-vegetated banks. It frequents scrubs and bushes with overhanging branches close to shallow open water in which it hunts. In winter it is more coastal, often feeding in estuaries or harbours and along rocky seashores. Tropical populations are found by slow-flowing rivers, in mangrove creeks and in swamps.
Like all kingfishers, the common kingfisher is highly territorial; since it must eat around 60% of its body weight each day, it is essential to have control of a suitable stretch of river. It is solitary for most of the year, roosting alone in heavy cover. If another kingfisher enters its territory, both birds display from perches, and fights may occur, in which a bird will grab the other's beak and try to hold it under water. Pairs form in the autumn but each bird retains a separate territory, generally at least 1 km (0.62 mi) long, but up to 3.5 km (2.2 mi) and territories are not merged until the spring.
Very few birds live longer than one breeding season. The oldest bird on record was 21 years.
They are also listed as a Schedule 1 species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act offering them additional protection.
Population:
UK breeding:
3,800-6,400 pairs
Pillar Point Harbor is in San Mateo County, California, just south of San Francisco. The site was originally inhabited by the Ohlone people in prehistoric times. The first European land exploration came through the area in 1769. By the early 19th century Russian fur trappers plied this portion of the California coast. A number of shipwrecks and other nautical accidents occurred in this area.
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!
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.
This old castle, which was built around 1790, was still inhabited until a few years ago. Now it's empty.
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...
Buy this photo on Getty Images : Getty Images
Northern gannet (Morus bassanus or Sula bassana) on Helgoland, Germany
Since 1991, the Northern Gannet inhabits the rocky cliffs of this tiny island in the North Sea. The birds can be observed throughout the breeding season and display their behaviour without feeling threatened by the visitors.
Submitted: 24/01/2022
Accepted: 25/01/2022
in explore: 26 January 2022 (nr. 37)
Published:
- rsted Services A/S (Denmark) 24-May-2022
The lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis) is a forest antelope found in East Africa, native to Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. They inhabit dry, flat, and densely thicketed areas, as well as woodlands and hilly land. It is rarely observed in open or cleared areas. The lesser kudu's shyness and its ability to camouflage itself in dense cover has protected it from the risks of poaching. 50% of the calves die within the first six months, from disease and predation, and only 25% survive to reach 3 years of age.
Inhabited by Roseate Spoonbills but also American White Pelicans, one seen here on the right. Delores Fenwick Nature Center, Pearland, Texas.
Masai Mara National Reserve
Kenya
East Africa
Happy Caturday!
The lion (Panthera leo) is a species in the cat family (Felidae). The lion is sexually dimorphic; males are larger than females with a typical weight range of 150 to 250 kg (331 to 551 lb) for the former and 120 to 182 kg (265 to 401 lb) for the latter. Male lions have a prominent mane, which is the most recognisable feature of the species.
A lion pride consists of a few adult males, related females and cubs. Groups of female lions typically hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates. The species is an apex and keystone predator, although they scavenge when opportunities occur.
Typically, the lion inhabits grasslands and savannas but is absent in dense forests. It is usually more diurnal than other big cats, but when persecuted it adapts to being active at night and at twilight.
It has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1996 because populations in African countries have declined by about 43% since the early 1990s. Habitat loss and conflicts with humans are the greatest causes for concern. - Source Wikipedia
Portrait of Artc Wolf, Espace Zoologique, Saint Martin La Plaine, France
The Arctic wolf, Canis lupus arctos, also known as the white wolf or polar wolf, is a subspecies of grey wolf native to Canada's Queen Elizabeth Islands, from Melville Island to Ellesmere Island.
Arctic wolves inhabit the Arctic regions of North America and Greenland. Thanks to its isolation, the Arctic wolf is not threatened by hunting and habitat destruction in the same way as its southern relatives. But it does face threats. In 1997 there was a decline in the Arctic wolf population and its prey, muskoxen, and Arctic hares.
Unfortunately I don't know the frog's ID. Fairly common throughout its large range, Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl inhabits the interior of humid lowland forest. There, they are the most common screech-owl, as Tropical Screech-Owl (Megascops choliba) favors edges and second growth. Strictly nocturnal, Tawny-bellied Screech-Owls generally stay in thick lower vegetation, making it often difficult to view. They occur in red, brown, and gray morphs. The red and brown morphs are distinctly dark overall, but all morphs share the distinguishing long ear-tufts, dark facial disk, and dark eyebrows. Compared to Tropical Screech-Owl, Tawny-bellied is darker overall, and the darker eyebrows are a good field mark. Their song is a long series of rapidly-delivered hoots on a steady pitch. The pace of the song is faster in northern Amazonia, leading to speculation that the Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl may include two distinct species, very similar in appearance but differing in vocalizations. From my files.
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Blue Jay.
Around 12 inches long. A bright blue top with a lot of white and black in the wings and tail with a dingy white bottom. They have black facial marking and a prominent crest.
The inhabit chiefly oak forests, but now also city parks and suburban yards especially where oak trees predominate.
They range east of the Rocky Mountains from southern Canada to the GUlf of Mexico. In winter they often withdraw from the northern parts of their range.
Kensington Metropark, Livingston County, Michigan.
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