View allAll Photos Tagged OCCUR
The Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) occurs in tropical lowland evergreen and secondary forests from southern Mexico, where it is the only large toucan, south through Central America to northern Colombia and extreme northwestern Venezuela. Its bizarrely patterned green, orange, red, and blue bill is diagnostic. It feeds largely on fruit, but also consumes arthropods and small vertebrates.
neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p...
Photo taken at the AVIARIO NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA, Barú.
Colombia is the number one country in the world to have the largest varieties of birds, having about 1,876 species and almost 70 kinds that belong specially to Colombia. AVIARIO NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA has done an amazing job to show that. You see some of birds free and others in beautiful habitats. Peacocks, Toucans, Pink Flamingos, Crane Corona, Guacamayas, Pelicanos, Ducks, all types of little colorful birds Colombia is most famous for it, every imaginable birds are here.
This place is so well design, and so well taking care of, that you think some times you are in paradise!
www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attraction_Review-g1507145-d982271...
Ayer fui con mi hija en busca de boletus, porque no distinguimos otras. Y no vimos mas que uno grandote y ya un poco pasado. Pero sí vimos otras setas. Ésta, por ejemplo: La Amanitas Muscaria, Su veneno tiene un efecto principalmente neurotóxico de consecuencias graves aunque no necesariamente mortales. Además, es tóxica para el intestino y el hígado, y tiene propiedades alucinógenas. Los síntomas que provoca son gastrointestinales (vómitos, cólicos, etc.) y se manifiestan unas dos horas despúes de su ingesta.
Pero bonitas...mucho
Yesterday I went with my daughter in search of mushrooms, because we do not distinguish others. And we did not see that one more big, and a little old. But we saw other mushrooms. This, for example: The Amanita muscaria, Their venom is primarily a neurotoxic effect of serious but not necessarily fatal. Furthermore, it is toxic to the intestine and liver, and has hallucinogenic properties. The symptoms that occur are gastrointestinal (vomiting, cramps, etc.) and appear about two hours post ingestion.
But pretty much ...
The grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum) occurs in dry savannah in Africa south of the Sahara, although it nests in somewhat wetter habitats. They can also be found in marshes, cultivated lands and grassy flatlands near rivers and lakes in Uganda and Kenya and as far south as South Africa.
The East African B. r. gibbericeps (crested crane) occurs in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Uganda, of which it is the national bird represented in its national flag; and Kenya to eastern South Africa.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_crowned_crane
Photo taken at the AVIARIO NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA, Barú.
Colombia is the number one country in the world to have the largest varieties of birds, having about 1,876 species and almost 70 kinds that belong specially to Colombia. AVIARIO NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA has done an amazing job to show that. You see some of birds free and others in beautiful habitats. Peacocks, Toucans, Pink Flamingos, Crane Corona, Guacamayas, Pelicanos, Ducks, all types of little colorful birds Colombia is most famous for it, every imaginable birds are here.
This place is so well design, and so well taking care of, that you think some times you are in paradise!
www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attraction_Review-g1507145-d982271...
Very particular plumage changes occur before a juvenile bald eagle turns into a fully developed adult (a roughly 3 year period). I think this eagle is a pre-adult (2 1/2 years +) . Correct me if I’m wrong - it looks different than all juvenile bald eagles I've seen so far.
The shot was taken at sunset.
75 years ago, hard to comprehend, but on this day the largest gamble in history took place. The loss of human life is incomprehensible to me but the world would be a much different and terrible place if this awful day did not occur so thank you to the men and women who made the beginning of the end a realization.
(Uratelornis chimaera)
Spiny Forest Ifaty
Madagascar
Unlike other Ground Rollers that inhabit rainforests, this one occurs only in the Spiny Forest in a very limited area around Ifaty. It's no wonder, therefore, that it has the status of Vulnerable!
The Spiny Forest is an unique ecoregion in southern Madagascar, with a nutrient-poor, sandy substrate, and little, unpredictable rainfall. Its vegetation, almost entirely endemic, consists of thorny trees and shrubs, along with some succulents ones, including the famous and stunning baobabs.
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All my photos are now organized into sets by the country where they were taken, by taxonomic order, by family, by species (often with just one photo for the rarer ones), and by the date they were taken.
So, you may find:
- All the photos for this trip Madagascar (2023) (174)
- All the photos for this order CORACIIFORMES (240)
- All the photos for this family Brachypteraciidae (Braquipteraciídeos) (14)
- All the photos for this species Uratelornis chimaera (3)
- All the photos taken this day 2023/11/13 (28)
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"A ripple effect occurs when an initial disturbance to a system propagates outward to disturb an increasingly larger portion of the system, like ripples expanding across the water when an object is dropped into it."
This is not just a duck in a pond at sunset. It is a symbol of a phenomenon that we have all experienced directly in 2020. At one level the COVID-19 virus spread from one part of the world to everywhere very quickly like ripples on a pond. But not just the virus. The follow on effects of lock downs, loss of freedoms, jobs, security, pressure on medical systems, collapsing economies, all point to the ripple effect.
But ripple effects are not all bad either. In fact the same principle can lead to rapid solutions and even the healing of the world's woes. If we can find a way to create positive solutions to enhance the eco-system of our planet things can get better. But the choice is ours.
Hunting occurs mostly at night, but this owl is known to be diurnal and crepuscular as well. Its daylight hunting seems to coincide with the high-activity periods of voles, its preferred prey. It tends to fly only feet above the ground in open fields and grasslands until swooping down upon its prey feet-first. Several owls may hunt over the same open area. Its food consists mainly of rodents, especially voles, but it will eat other small mammals such as mice, ground squirrels, shrews, rats, bats, muskrats and moles. It will also occasionally predate smaller birds, especially when near sea-coasts and adjacent wetlands at which time they attack shorebirds, terns and small gulls and seabirds with semi-regularity. Avian prey is more infrequently preyed on inland and centers on passerines such as larks, icterids, starlings, tyrant flycatchers and pipits. Insects supplement the diet and short-eared owls may prey on roaches, grasshoppers, beetles, katydids and caterpillars. Competition can be fierce in North America with the northern harrier, with which the owl shares similar habitat and prey preferences. Both species will readily harass the other when prey is caught.
I always know when autumn is upon us. The days grow shorter, a chill electrifies the air, and the camellia sasanquas in my hedge in my rear garden start to flower. Well, there may me no chill in the air - quite the contrary actually - however my camellias are budding and the first perfect bloom has appeared.
My "Plantation Pink" camellia sasanqua is always the first of my camellias to blossom in Autumn out of the specimens in my camellia hedge at the rear of my garden, and it seems to have thrown almost overnight. Where yesterday there were tight buds, today there are crepe like blooms.
Vigorous and fast growing, Camellia Sasanqua “Plantation Pink” is an upright evergreen shrub with masses of large sweetly scented single to semi-double, soft pink flowers and a wonderful centre of golden yellow stamens. The blooms occur over quite a long period between March and June in the Southern Hemisphere which makes them very popular. They are often used for hedges or to cover walls.
A small cluster of naturally occuring amethyst crystals, with natural inclusions.
(The inclusions in an amethyst typically include feathers, smaller crystals, needles, pinpoints, indented naturals, and cavities, amongst others. These dark spots could be due to inclusions of goethite or hematite. They all tell the story of how the crystals were formed!)
for the Crazy Tuesday challenge: "Textures in nature"
Crazy Tuesday: Here
Still Life Compositions: Here
Spotted this little beauty in Buzz's front garden.
A well-known immigrant species, this moth can turn up in thousands under the right conditions, especially at coastal migration watch-points. It can occur anywhere in Britain, and in autumn, the breeding population from spring migrants is swelled by further migration.
The adults can be found from spring through till late autumn, and can be seen by day as well as at night, when they regularly visit light.
The larvae feed on a wide range of low plants.
The growth and development of flowers occurs over several weeks from the germination of seeds planted in a ground or container to the time in which flowers bloom. The entire process happens in about five stages for most flowers. Although flower species have varying bloom periods, the general growth and development process is basically the same for all flowers. Moderate variations in the length of time of certain stages may differ by flower species. A Sprout Is Born
The seed begins the germination process during the first five days after being planted. During day 3 of the initial growth and development stage, imbibition begins as the dry seed takes in water from the ground. Next, the root emerges from the seed coat on or about day 4. On day 5, the root begins to extend and develops a root system at one end while a stem forms at the other end. The stem starts the process of making its way upward and eventually past the soil's surface. Hey, Bud
Stage 2 is the stage when a flower's leaves develop. Leaf development usually begins on day 6 and continues to day 26. Leaves begin as tiny rosettes (leaf buds). As the stem begins growing leaves, the development of a flower's primary root structure also culminates usually sometime after day 14. Even though leaf growth does not officially happen until stage 3, the first leaf buds may begin growing after day 18 and continue until day 26. A New Leaf on Life
Leaf growth overlaps slightly between stages 2 and 3 as buds evolve into new leaf growth. But stage 3 officially marks the entire leaf growth period at around day 19. During this stage, all of the leaf buds grow until each one reaches full maturity at about day 29. It's also possible for stage 4 to begin during the latter part (day 26) of the leaf growth stage.
Beginning of the Blossom Day 26 is the day in which most flowers experience inflorescence emergence. In other words, flower buds start appearing on the stem, signifying stage 4 of development. It often occurs toward the end of stage 3 leaf growth; however, it is treated as a separate stage because the period indicates the growth and development exclusively of flowers.
Bloom Times
Stage 5 commences the flower production phase. On approximately day 31, the first flower bud opens. Additional flower buds continue opening throughout a roughly 18-day bloom period until day 49 at which point flower production typically ends.
www.hunker.com/13426298/the-stages-of-a-flower-from-seed-...
It occurred to me I've posted lots of photos from the Lotus Pond but very few actual Lotus flowers, so here's one to prove there really are Lotus flowers at the Lotus Pond.
One of the reasons we enjoy the Lotus Pond at Dauset Trails.
This unmistakable long-winged flycatcher is widespread (though rarely very numerous) throughout much of South America. As the name implies it occurs around cliffs, landslides, and even buildings. Medium size, warm rufous coloration (brightest on the wings), and habitat are distinctive. Some variation across range, with birds in the Andes having more whitish speckling on the face. Compare with Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, which is larger and has a streaked throat. Usually seen singly or in pairs, perched conspicuously on a snag, rock face, powerline, or building.
Loreto Road, Ecuador. July 2019.
Please, no invitations to award/forced comment groups or to those with large/animated comment codes.
Brightly colored small parrot with yellow underbelly, green back, and a blue face and shoulder patch. Adult male has entirely blue face; female and juvenile have reduced blue. Typically occurs in fringe habitats: favors grassy areas near forest edges where small groups feed on the ground. (eBird)
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This lovely little parrot was sitting on the fence, mostly hidden behind the long grass. I caught this shot just as he noticed us and flew away. It was wonderful to see this little bird in the wild, after having seen a Turquoise Parrot in our local pet store, sitting so quiet and alone, and making my heart ache for it. Australia is full of "pet store" birds and my trip there made me vow never to own a pet bird, no matter how beautiful they are.
Bogee, New South Wales, Australia. October 2022.
Eagle-Eye Tours - Eastern Australia.
In Europe, the Lesser Kestrel predominantly occurs around the Mediterranean and Black sea.
It was previously also found in central Europe, but has been extinct in the northernmost parts of its range for some time now (probably to changes in agricultural practices).
Lesser Kestrels prefers open landscapes, including arid and semi-arid zones, as well as farmland that is not too intensively cultivated. In addition to open foraging areas, it also requires cliffs or large buildings to provide nesting opportunities.
Lesser Kestrel females are quite similar looking as Common Kestrel.
You can just make out the ivory coloured talons (here) as opposed to dark brown-grey on Common Kestrel.
Lesser are also colonial and don't mix with Common Kestrels. Their calls are different too and call returning to the colony.
Their call—a harsh "chay-chay-chay"—is distinct from the common kestrel's "kee-kee-kee."
Outside of Europe, the Lesser Kestrel occurs in North Africa, and extending eastwards to northern China.
Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) adult female Bull-ring Trujillo Spain_0959
Hiroshima was the first city targeted by a nuclear weapon. This occurred on August 6, 1945 at 8:15 a.m., when the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) dropped the atomic bomb "Little Boy" on the city. Most of the city was destroyed, and by the end of the year 90,000–166,000 had died as a result of the blast and its effects. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) serves as a memorial of the bombing.
(Text by Wikipedia)
The naturally occurring joints in these rocks at Pirates Bay, Tasmania, give the impression of a tessellated pavement.
tessellated
/ˈtɛsɪleɪtɪd/
adjective
denoting or characterized by a pattern of repeated shapes, especially polygons, that fit together closely without gaps or overlaps.
"a tessellated pavement"
I swear everytime I post something its related to some stupid change which has occured. Ugh. The last of the MRL locomotives have finally been removed from mainline service due to BNSF PTC going live. How ironic that the MRL was actually who began this PTC project but in the end became the victim. It's truly a waste as all 5 GP35's are likely sidelined but at the very least unable to lead trains any longer. Over the last few years of its existence the MRL spent over $500,000 to upgrade all 6 GP35's with a complete rewire and upgrade of the control system. MRL 405 has an easy tell by the red antennae right behind the cab. A close eye will also reveal the MRL 404 has been completed, as the class lights it wore its entire career have been removed and tastefully patched during the rewire. This was all done in house by MRL employees, not contractors. Now, who knows what will happen to them? Always thought they were pretty neat units who didn't seem to be very popular elsewhere but for the most part were very good workhorses in local service across Montana.
The dragon's mouth orchid (Arethusa bulbosa) is widely distributed in East North America. It occurs in bogs and fens and grows from a bulb to a height of about 10-15 cm. It is considered to be rare (threatened) in many localities primarily due to habitat loss. Like many orchids it does not produce nectar to reward insect pollinators. Flowering occurs early to mid June.
For more information see: explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.142646/Ar...
Photograph taken June 2023. A floating fen, West Quebec, Canada
Camera: Sony alpha a7III
Lens: Meyer Optik Görlitz Oreston 50mm f1.8 M42 (1960's twin zebra version) fitted with improvised adapter, spacers and focusing helicoid.
DSC02333
The American lady occurs from southern Canada throughout the U.S. and southward to northern South America.
In the Andean region is located from 1,600 to 3,000 meters. American painted lady flies in open areas and forest edge; it feeds on flowers nectar and bird droppings.
Vanessa virginiensis is most easily distinguishable by its two large eyespots on the ventral side.
Source:
Mariposario Comfenalco Piedras Blancas, Antioquia.
Hamilton was in trouble. Cholera outbreaks were occurring and the city needed a fresh water supply. The answer was the construction of this rather unique structure that included a boiler room which fed two massive 100 hp steam engines that drew water from Lake Ontario and pumped it 1.9 Km and up 150 feet to a reservoir located on the escarpment adjacent to the city.
No expense was spared in its construction and the entire structure was overbuilt. The smoke stack only needed to be 50 feet but was increased to 150 feet simply so that it would serve as a landmark. In fact this was the reason for its preservation. In the mid 60's plans were made to demolish it but they found because it was so overbuilt demolition was prohibitively expensive. Ultimately it was decided to preserve it as a heritage site and operate it as a museum.
The pumps are still in working condition and the tour is quite informative and fun. Well worth exploring.
www.therecord.com/life/travel/2013/03/01/out-for-the-day-...
_DSF3004
World Otter Day occurs on the last Wednesday of May, which is May 31 this year. Otters are beautiful, playful animals that live in wetlands across the world. Species are declining due to habitat destruction, reduction of prey, roadkill, and illegal trade for fur and as pets. There are 13 different species, 12 of which are disappearing. Seven of these species are classified as vulnerable and five are endangered. The International Otter Survival Fund founded World Otter Day with two goals in mind. First, to help raise awareness of the dangers that otters face. Second, to educate people on how to protect their habitats.
River Otters
Image taken a year ago in Terra Nova NP, NL
It occurred to me that I have neglected to put an image up of what this Medieval Church looks like from the outside, apart from one that was in the dark!
Truth is, is that it is surrounded by suburbia and in my mind I see it as it was first built, resting on the slope of the Bourne stream, with not many buildings nearby. More rural. But of course this is not the reality now. And apologies, but even with this image I have managed to naturally crop all that out with composition while I was taking this image.
I think it is because when I am inside, and under normal circumstances with the doors shut and not opened with a freezing wind blowing through because of covid rules, you are not aware of the outside. The inside is so beautiful, and appears so much larger than the outside seems to suggest. The original intention of letting you enter a spiritual state I find impossible to find outside, inside, well, the images I have taken speak for themselves I believe. See Album.
But here it is, the main entrance on the South side, and about four feet from where I am standing is the main road.
Eastbourne Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin was built in the 12th century with Caen stone from Normandy. It was enlarged in the 14th century and extensively restored in the 19th century. It has many beautiful features, and a welcoming presence inside.
To see more of my images and to read my poetry visit my website:
Returned to ::C’est la vie!:: Main Store
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Harlman/160/23/50
Available at Heart for Nine States 22.April - 3.May
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hutter/17/217/2004
Event Official site heart4ns.wix.com/2016
An earthquake hit Kyusyu(Japan）. damage is serious.
We gathered to help them.
We plan to donate proceeds from tips and donation items that our designers will create, to the japanplatform fund. Hardships do not stop after the natural disasters occur.
Proceeds will go towards helping these people in need.
when this event was finished, we donate here ⇒ JAPANPLATFORM
more info⇒::C'est la vie!:: Web
Some strange timings can occur with this working and I've stood for a couple of hours only for it to be caped at Carlisle Upperby Bridge Junction having watched proceed that far on the maps. Today, It ran early out of Carlisle, passed me at Yanwath 36 early then sat in the loop at Eden Valley, leaving 3 minute late. This enabled me to relocate to Bessy Gill.
90045 and 90004 pass the gallery of 5 on their way south with the 4M83 Saturdays 10.33 Coatbridge to Crewe Basford Hall. This was a regular 86 working a few years ago too. 16/7/2022
After a huge collective trauma has occurred, like Covid or the 2024 election, you tend to wonder if there will be anything positive to look forward to or experience. You also wonder what will change and be left of all of us.
I was really happy that Chiditarod still happened this year. It looks like a bunch of goofballs being silly and running around on a cold day as winter ends and spring begins. It's sort of like Chicago's answer to Mardi Gras and it takes the basic concept of an Iditarod and replaces dogs with shopping carts. But, the message here is that it's important to give back to the community and so each year, Chiditarod raises over $100,000 to the Chicago Food Depository for people in need all across the city. That's fun you can feel good about.
**All photos are copyrighted**
The blue hour occurs when the Sun is far enough below the horizon so that the sunlight's blue wavelengths dominate due to the Chappuis absorption caused by ozone. Basically, it refers to a state of natural lighting that usually occurs around the nautical stage of the twilight period. This is a long exposure.
The two species of plovercrests occur in the Atlantic Forest region of eastern South America, but do not overlap geographically: Green-crowned Plovercrest is restricted to southeastern Brazil (from southern Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo south to northeastern São Paulo), whereas Purple-crowned Plovercrest Stephanoxis loddigesii occurs from eastern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina to southern Brazil (north to central São Paulo). This is a young male at Campos do Jordão.
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 by any means without my written explicit permission, including the use on websites and similar medias. 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, @thelma_and_cats and @teg_photo_arts
Member of Nature’s Spirit
Good Stewards of Nature
NEW CHALLENGE: MIXMASTER CHALLENGE #63 - Chef: xandram
CHEF xandram envisions a bright summer!
➤ Your image must contain a trellis or arbor.
➤ And at least one orb or sphere.
➤ Plus at least one mushroom.
➤ Use primarily bright and/or saturated colors (minimal pastels and black/white).
➤ NO PEOPLE including humanoids (robots, statues, etc.).
P1110055 - Osprey - Size - 55 - 58 cm
# 006
On a beautiful evening - we were moving slowly in an open Jeep in the park scanning for birds ... we came across this magnificent ... perched on a tree, at a touching distance. and literally not bothered of our presences ....
We were there for about 30 min, watching him and others close by. later slowly moved away.
but he was still enjoying his seat..! 🐾
WONDERFUL FACTS: The osprey or more specifically the western osprey (Pandion haliaetus) - also called sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk - is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan range. It is a large raptor
The osprey tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply. It is found on all continents except Antarctica, although in South America it occurs only as a non-breeding migrant. (wikipedia)
Happy Birding 🐦
The Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) occurs in tropical lowland evergreen and secondary forests from southern Mexico, where it is the only large toucan, south through Central America to northern Colombia and extreme northwestern Venezuela. In a large part of its range, it overlaps with the "Chestnut-mandibled Toucan" (Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii). Its bizarrely patterned green, orange, red, and blue bill is diagnostic. It feeds largely on fruit, but also consumes arthropods and small vertebrates. Here it was eating the fruit of the Cecropia tree. For me the most beautiful of the toucan family. Sadly endangered.
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 by any means without my written explicit permission, including the use on websites and similar medias. 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
Large, lanky blackbird with rounded crown and long tail. Males have ridiculously long tails, almost as long as their body, often held in a V-shape like the keel of boat. Males are glossy black. Females are brown, with subtle face pattern. Eye color ranges from brown along western Gulf Coast to yellow on Atlantic Coast. Strictly coastal, except in Florida where they occur inland (often around human development). Overlaps with similar Great-tailed Grackle on Texas coast, but occurs more strictly in coastal saltmarshes and has dark eye (not pale).
Everglades National Park, Florida, USA. January 2013.
A small, chunky, grayish hawk with a distinctive pale throat spliced by a vertical black throat stripe; has one or two (rarely) broad white bars across the black tail. Occurs in singles or pairs in savanna and is often seen perched in the open, watching for insects, lizards, snakes, and other small vertebrates. It is shorter-legged and has a more powerful build than most sparrowhawks. The Lizard Buzzard is distinguished by its distinctive throat pattern, pale tail bands, and pale tail tips. (eBird)
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This Lizard Buzzard was lurking at the waterhole in search of breakfast. A pretty buzzard, but perhaps not to his prey.
Mole National Park, Ghana. March 2019.
Ashanti African Tours.
Pumpkin patch at Harris Farms, Minesing Ontario
Thanksgiving Day is an annual Canadian holiday, occurring on the second Monday in October. The day has been celebrated as an annual holiday in Canada since November 6, 1879, when parliament passed a law designating a national day of thanksgiving.
As I sat looking out the window of my man cave this morning, watching the soft gray clouds drift in over our ridge, it occurred to me that despite the trials and tribulations of 2020, I really have more to be grateful for than not. Marg and I are still waking up on the green side of the grass--that's the main thing, and as I gaze out my window at the autumn colors of the trees and the vineyard in the distance, I'm grateful that each morning we wake up in this beautiful place on earth with Bella the cat, and Kenzie the pup.
Wishing you and yours a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
Nevada City CA
Momotus aequatorialis (Andean motmot / Barranquero)
Bird in freedom. La Ceja, Colombia; Central Andes; 2.300 meters above sea level.
The Andean Motmot, as the English name implies, is the Andean representative of the "Blue-crowned Motmot" complex. For many years, all members of this group were considered to be conspecific, but this group now is reclassified as representing five different species. The Andean Motmot occurs in humid montane forests of the Andes mountains of South America, from Colombia south to Bolivia. Andean motmot is a big bird about 50 cm from beak to tail.
These birds often sit still, and in their dense forest habitat can be difficult to see, despite their size. They eat small prey such as insects and lizards, and will also regularly take fruit.
Despite its name, the small skipper is not our smallest skipper, although it is smaller than the large skipper: the other skipper likely to occur in gardens.
Like its larger cousin, the small skipper is often found basking on vegetation, or making short buzzing flights among tall grass stems.
It is a small, bright orange, moth-like butterfly that flies rapidly and often has its wings closed at rest. It is less boldly marked on its upperwings than the large skipper.
This butterfly is widespread in southern Britain and is expanding its range northwards. There is a single generation each year.
Eggs are laid in late July and early August. The caterpillars emerge some two weeks later.
What they eat:
Adults nectar at flowers. The caterpillars feed on Yorkshire fog grass.
Identifying features:
Natural habitats: Flower border Herb garden Lawn/grassy area Woodland area
This morning I could see the sun was trying to put his hat on but seemed to be battling with the moon and the black clouds. Eventually the sun won.
I decided it could not have been the moon as the sun and the moon wouldn't be in the sky at the same time. So I googled it and learnt that it is called a selenelion and occurs when the sun and moon are 100 degrees apart in the sky at the same time.
A major terrorist incident occurred in the city in 1913, which led to the deaths of two men. During the suffragette bombing and arson campaign of 1912–1914, militant suffragettes of the Women's Social and Political Union carried out a series of politically motivated bombing and arson attacks nationwide as part of their campaign for women's suffrage. In one of the more serious suffragette attacks, a fire was purposely started at Portsmouth dockyard on 20 December 1913, in which two sailors were killed after it spread through the industrial area.
Marsh Tit - Poecile palustris
Globally, the marsh tit is classified as Least Concern, although there is evidence of a decline in numbers (in the UK, numbers have dropped by more than 50% since the 1970s, for example). It can be found throughout temperate Europe and northern Asia and, despite its name, it occurs in a range of habitats including dry woodland. The marsh tit is omnivorous; its food includes caterpillars, spiders and seeds. It nests in tree holes, choosing existing hollows to enlarge, rather than excavating its own. A clutch of 5–9 eggs is laid.
Marsh and willow tits are difficult to identify on appearance alone; the races occurring in the UK and are especially hard to separate. When caught for ringing, the pale 'cutting edge' of the marsh tit's bill is a reliable criterion; otherwise, the best way to tell apart the two species is by voice. Plumage characteristics include the lack of a pale wing panel (formed by pale edges to the secondary feathers in the willow tit), the marsh tit's glossier black cap and smaller black 'bib', although none of these is 'completely reliable'; for example, juvenile marsh tits can show a pale wing panel. The marsh tit has a noticeably smaller and shorter head than the willow tit and overall the markings are crisp and neat, with the head in proportion to the rest of the bird (willow tit gives the impression of being 'bull-necked').
A measure of the difficulty in identification is given by the fact that, in the UK, the willow tit was not identified as distinct from marsh tit until 1897. Two German ornithologists, Ernst Hartert and Otto Kleinschmidt, were studying marsh tit skins at the British Museum and found two wrongly-labelled willow tits amongst them (two willow tit specimens were then collected at Coalfall Wood in Finchley, north London, and that species was added to the British list in 1900).
Huge gray heron, no other similar species in range. Note large yellow-orange bill, short black plumes on head, and black and chestnut pattern on shoulder. Immatures are more brownish than adults, and have a dark crown. Fairly common and widespread throughout North America; wintering range extends to northern South America. Occurs in almost any wetland habitat, from small ponds to marshes to saltwater bays. Usually seen singly but can gather in numbers where food is plentiful. White form, sometimes considered a separate species (“Great White Heron”), is found in southern Florida and the Caribbean. It is most similar to Great Egret but has a larger bill. (eBird)
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It's tiring, standing around in cold water and waiting for a fish to swim by, so this heron decided to take a nap. He was standing on a branch, head tucked in, for a while before we noticed him. The flurry of cameras and clicks from nearby photographers roused him briefly for a quick look before he resumed his nap. He knew we couldn't get to him across the fast-moving water.
Britannia Conservation Area, Ottawa, Ontario. August 2023.
I photographed these basalt columns while hiking the Grapevine Trail in Washington, Utah, close to St. George. They are reminders that portions of the Colorado Plateau have featured volcanic activity (over 80 sites identified) for millions of years.
The last documented volcanos in this region are thought to have erupted 600 - 1000 years ago, but geologists believe that it is just a matter of time before another eruption occurs. Of course, that 'time' could be a few months from now or 10,000 years into the future.
These columns of rock are a volcanic rock called basalt, which makes up about 90% of all the lava rock on Earth. How do these basalt columns form? It’s due to physical processes that take place in melted lava rock as it cools.
Imagine a huge flow of hot, liquid magma that is settling. The outer layer is starting to cool and darken in color from orange to black. As it cools, it needs to shrink a bit, as hot materials usually take up more space than cooler ones. Because of this shrinking, the surface of the lava starts to crack. But this cracking isn’t always random.
In this case, the lava starts to crack into regular shapes. Those shapes are forming because of how the lava cools. It starts at different spots called “centers.” If those centers are evenly spaced, the forces that pull inward toward the centers end up creating different chunks of cooling lava that are hexagonal (6-sided), or close to it. The more uniform the material of the lava is, the more evenly those centers pull. That means it is more likely it will cool into hexagonal chunks. Scientists also think that faster cooling, like when lava is exposed to water, may also help with the formation of these columns.
Information on basalt column formation adapted from Internet sources, including from Arizona State University.
Flooding occurred in the Marias Pass area causing detours.
This detour continues south from Great Falls after meeting Amtrak's Empire Builder #8 at Cascade.
130 cars, six SD45's and and F45 about to go under I-15.
6-21-76
The great eruption, known as the Pico Alto, which occurred north of the existing Guilherme Moniz volcanic apparatus, poured its lavas from a great distance. Later, a new eruption, this time basaltic, tore the ground and initiated a process that would lead to the formation of a stromboliano volcano – the Peak of the Coal. In a first phase, by forcing and trying to break the existing trachytic effusion, which constituted a natural barrier of little consistency, it formed the zone of the lagoon and the two vaults on it. Later, in a new attempt of evasion, the basaltic lavas, they broke more to the side the current chimney, leaving to the outside. In its final phase the magma descended into the deepest conduits and the magma chamber, giving rise, this almost instantaneous absence of magma, to the formation of the Algar proper. Very effusive lava spills produced very flowing acidic lava rivers that charred existing vegetation. The dating of one of the fossils then formed gives the Algar do Carvão an age of 2148 (+ or-115 years).
Summer snapdragon
Angelonia is a genus of about 30 species which occur from Mexico to Argentina. They are herbaceous plants occurring mainly in arid and semi-arid habitats. Most Angelonia species can be found in Northeastern Brazil in the seasonally-dry tropical forest namely Caatinga.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelonia
Sugar Mill Gardens
Diphelypaea (Nicholson) occur in the Caucasus, Crimea and Western Asia ( Turkey and Iran). D. coccinea is an achlorophyllous obligately parasitic perennial herbaceous plant up to 30-50 cm in height. The stem is unbranched, red to reddish brown, ending in a single flower of a bright red color. D. coccinea parasitizes the roots of plants of the genus Psephellus.
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პირიმზე (ლათ. Diphelypaea coccinea) — ბალახოვანი მცენარე კელაპტარასებრთა ოჯახისა. პარაზიტია, მეტწილად გვირილებზე და რთულყვავილოვანთა ოჯახის სხვა მცენარეებზე სახლობს. მისი ფოთლები დაკნინებულია და ღეროს ქვედა ნაწილში გადაქცეულია ყავისფერ ქერქლებად, ფესვები კი — მისაწოვრებად.
15-40 სმ სიმაღლის ჩხირის მსგავს და ამართულ დაუტოტავ ღეროზე ყოველთვის მზისკენ მიმართული მხოლოდ ერთი ლალისფერი ყვავილი ზის.
გავრცელებულია ქართლსა და კახეთში, მთის ქვედა სარტყლიდან შუა სარტყლამდე. გვხვდება კლდეზე, ველზე და ზოგჯერ ბუჩქნარებში. თბილისის მიდამოებში ჩიბუხას ეძახიან.
სწორედ ეს არის პირიმზე ვაჟას ამ ცნობილი ლექსიდან:
„ბუნება მბრძანებელია,
იგივ მონაა თავისა,
ზოგჯერ სიკეთეს იხვეჭავს,
ზოგჯერ მქმნელია ავისა,
ერთფერად მტვირთველი არის
საქმის თეთრის და შავისა;
საცა პირიმზეს ახარებს,
იქვე მთხრელია ზვავისა…“
პოემა „სტუმარ-მასპინძლის“ ფინალშიც გვხვდება ეს ყვავილი იმ ადგილას, სადაც ჯოყოლა მოკლეს:
„მხოლოდ მდინარის ხმა ისმის,
დაბლა მიქანავს ხველითა
და უფსკრულს დასცქერს პირიმზე
მოღერებულის ყელითა…“
One of the earliest changes that occurred with the creation of CSX was the shifting of C&O's eastern terminus of manifests No's. 90 and 91 from Newport News to Portsmouth. In hindisght, it likely resulted in a significent increase in traffic. The new terminus was reached over Seaboard Coast Line trackage between Richmond and Portsmouth. On May 15, 1982, eastbound No. 890, its number over the SCL, grinds upgrade approaching Hermitage Road in Richmond over former Seaboard Air Line trackage. Power was B&O GP40-2 No. 4195, two C&O B30-7's and a C&O U30B. The caboose behind ther power was to facilitate a run-around move to move required at Weldon, NC to move from the North End Subdivision to the Portsmouth Subdivision, a problem that was being addressed at the time of this image with a new connection. A helper with two C&O SD40's was shoving hard on the rear.
This is islad Santorini in Greece. This island of Santorini is a volcanic island. The island has gone through many volcanic eruptions eruptions and earthguakes in history. The geological structure of the Island of Santorini was formed as a result of the volcanic activities that occurred about 3600 years ago. 3600 years ago, the volcano in Santorini, the Minoan civilization as a result of the expolision has disappered. Santirini is a must-see place.
I visited the island of Santorini four times and photographed the island of Santorini with different cameras.
Fujifilm