View allAll Photos Tagged Offer.
Ravens Roost Overlook, Milepost 10.7
Elevation: 3200'
Offers views of Torrey Ridge and the Shenandoah Valley to the west. To the left a path heads from the overlook to a broad rock ledge which is a typical raven’s roost. Ravens and buzzards are frequently seen from this point. At the base of the ridge are the ruins of the old Torrey iron furnace, significant until after the 1880s.
Source: www.virtualblueridge.com/parkway-place/ravens-roost-overl...
Blue Ridge Parkway
America's Favorite Drive
A Blue Ridge Parkway experience is unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. The Parkway meanders for 469 miles, protecting a diversity of plants and animals, and providing opportunities for enjoying all that makes this region of the country so special.
Source: www.nps.gov/blri/index.htm
......life offers you an amazing opportunity in every single moment to see and experience Who You Really Are.
Neale Donald Walsch
The sand dunes at Stovepipe Wells offer some dramatic photo opportunities. Arriving at first light after an evening of high winds will assure you of a pristine landscape, free of others' footprints. As the day wears on, the light is flat and undramatic and footprints of countless others will make your photography that much more difficult in searching out dunes that haven't been walked upon. A long lens, such as used above, will compress the dunes into very dramatic patterns and colors. Death Valley National Park, California.
View on black or gray / B l a c k M a g i c
View my photo stream on Flickr Hive Mind</a
Offer closes midnight tomorrow
1st person who gets it right -not all of you or the person it is
The cheque will be written out to the charity, not the winner - it must not be a reg charity 'for feeeeed me i'm a greedy piggy' account
Please read small print - for all rules
67027 leads a Network Rail test train through the picturesque station at Bath Spa. 67023 was bringing up the rear. I came very close to being bowled by a pigeon who saw me crouching down and thought there was food on offer!
Hardly took any photos in whistler this time, but had a great time skiing in one of the best ski resorts the world has to offer!
XVII
ENIGMAS
You ask what the crab offers, between its claws of gold,
and I say: The sea will tell you.
You ask what the sea-squirt hopes for in its translucent bell.
What can it hope for?
I say that it waits on its time, as you do.
You question for whom the algal Macrocystis offers its embraces.
Unloose it, unloose it, in a certain ocean, and a certain time, that I know.
Though you turn, for my answer to the narwhal’s malicious ivory,
I say that you wait for a darker reply,
how the sea-unicorn suffered the lance.
It may be you question the halcyon’s plumage,
tremoring,
in the pure womb of the southern seas?
Now, on the crystalline house of the polyp you twine
new demands, threshing it to the husk?
You want to know the matter electric, caught on the forks of the deep?
The stalactite’s armour that extends as crystal?
The spear of the angler-fish, the music stretched-out
in the gulf, like a thread amongst waters?
I say to you that the ocean knows it, the life
of its circlings vast as the sands, pure and innumerable,
and between the red vine-clusters, time has brightened
the stone of the petals, the light of medusas,
and the branches are threshed in the web of the corals,
from the flowing horn’s infinite nacre.
I am the empty net that hangs,
beyond men, rendered dead by the shadowy waters,
fingers grown used to the triangle, measured
by the shy hemisphere of orange-flowers.
I came, like you, penetrating
the interminable starlight,
in the net of the self, in the night, and found naked self,
the sole catch, the fish noosed in the wind.
Jemaa el-Fna, the main square in the old city of Marrakech.
"During the day it is predominantly occupied by orange juice stalls, water sellers with traditional leather water-bags and brass cups, youths with chained Barbary apes and snake charmers despite the protected status of these species under Moroccan law.
As the day progresses, the entertainment on offer changes: the snake charmers depart, and late in the day the square becomes more crowded, with Chleuh dancing-boys (it would be against custom for girls to provide such entertainment), story-tellers (telling their tales in Berber or Arabic, to an audience of locals), magicians, and peddlers of traditional medicines. As darkness falls, the square fills with dozens of food-stalls as the number of people on the square peaks."
When offered one of these cupcakes, should I be polite and take one of the small ones? No, my belly says no, the big one 😀😉😋
Venice's Grand Canal offers one of the most beautiful locations for a winter city sunrise This shot was taken from the Academia Bridge which spans the canal just as the sun was rising over the Basilica Santa Maria della Salute The 3 minute exposure was just long enough to smooth the water and remove the boat traffic which even at this early hour was beginning to build
Time for those weekend sales Spookies!! We have alot to offer this weekend!! So come on down to the mainstore and shop till you drop! Also make sure to have an amazing weekend!
Please DEMO everything before purchasing! And also please take a moment to read the ADS to make sure your buying for the right bodies!
Cult Mainstore: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Champ/189/200/17
Want to keep up on all things Cult? Click the links below!
Get ready for the BackBone Summer Splash Sale, where prices are so cool, even flamingos are trading their fancy feathers for fantastic discounts!
With a jaw-dropping 50% off everything (excluding gift cards and new releases), this sale will have you flapping your wings in excitement.
Available from NOW until July 8th at BackBone Main Store:
This image offers some scale perspective for the falls and for the interesting rock formation situated to the left of the falls.
If you look closely along the top of the cliff face, at the point it slopes down to the water, you can see three people that had hiked over to the top of the falls. The most easily seen individual in the blue pants is right in the middle of the trio.
(Watch out for that one step back !)
Excerpt from the plaque:
Prayers Offered at the Tomb of Imam Husayn: This folio and its accompanying text emphasize the importance of sharing water resources. A 14th-century prince of the Jochid Mongols and a group of commanders are shown praying at the tomb of Imam Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the third Imam of Shik Muslims. The prince is expressing his gratitude for receiving a share of water. The painting and its accompanying text allude to the Battle of Karbala in 61 AH / 680 AD where Husayn and his companions were denied access to water of the Euphrates River by the Opposing army.
According to medieval Islamic political theory and practice, one of the ways to establish oneself as a just and legitimate ruler was to ensure everyone in the kingdom had access to water and that wells are irrigation were maintained.
Ermita Sant Antoni del Tossal, Cerc, La Seu d'Urgell, Alt Urgell, Catalunya, Spain
More Alt Urgell images: Follow the group links at right side.
....
About this image:
* Full frame format 3x2 quality image
* Usage: Large format prints optional
* Motive is suitable as symbol pic
* "Catalunya authentic" edition (10 years decade 2008-2018)
* Advanced metadata functionality on dynamic websites or apps
* for large metadata-controlled business collections: photo-archives, travel agencies, tourism redactions
More Catalunya images: Follow the album links at right side.
We offer 100.000+ photos of Andorra and North of Spain. The largest professional image catalog of Andorra from the newer history: all regions, all cities and villages, all times, all seasons, all weather(s). HighRes & HighColor GeoCoded stock-photo images including metadata in 4-5 languages. Prepared for an easy systematic organising of large image portfolios with advanced online / print-publishing as "Culture-GIS" (Geographic Info System). The big stockphoto collection from the Pyrenees.
More information about usage, tips, how-to, conditions: www.flickr.com/people/lutzmeyer/. Get quality, data consistency, stable organisation and PR environments: Professional stockphotos for exciting stories - docu, tales, mystic.
Ask for licence! lutz(at)lutz-meyer.com
(c) Lutz Meyer, all rights reserved. Do not use this photo without license.
Old woods offer so much to the imagination. I had decided to go to Little Wittenham Woods before dawn to try some long exposure shots, as it drew light I wandered more into the old part of the wood It is amazing how your senses work overtime in the low light, every sound is a potential threat and you look for a safe place to hide...
Really needs to be viewed full size.
Situated in Uyuni, HOTEL BOUTIQUE ATIPAX offers air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi. Among the various facilities are a garden, terrace and shared lounge. The tour desk is available to help you plan your days away.
The hotel features a seating area, flat-screen satellite TV, a kitchenette, dining area and a private bathroom with complimentary toiletries and a bidet. Some rooms at HOTEL BOUTIQUE Atipax have a balcony, and all are equipped with a coffee maker. All rooms include a work desk.
The daily breakfast offers buffet and American-style options. In the accommodation you will find a restaurant serving Cajun Crioula cuisine. Vegetarian and vegan options may also be requested.
The property features a whirlpool.
Staff at the 24-hour front desk can provide information about the area.
The nearest airport is Uyuni Airport, 1.5 km from the property. Free pick-up at the airport and early check-in.
This accommodation is rated for the best price in Uyuni! The money of the guests is worth more, when compared to other accommodations in this city.
The Red Rock Ranch in the Beach Mountains, two miles north of Van Horn, is one of the only public tours offered on private land in West Texas. Some of the rocks on the ranch are more than a billion years old, among the oldest in Texas.
The Pre-Cambrian sandstone outcropping found at Red Rock is one of only four natural Precambrian sandstone exposures in the Western Hemisphere. Who knew something like this existed in West Texas let alone Van Horn. And with that, you might even be asking yourself where in the world is Van Horn? The easy answer is Van Horn is right near Sierra Blanca, which you will not know either. If you travel Interstate 10, however, you would have no choice except to pass through Van Horn either on your way to or from El Paso.
Back to the fascinating Red Rock Ranch, which is home to Darice McVay. If we are to believe her, a host of imaginary friends dot the wide expanse landscape. “Imagination can be as creative as one wishes,” according to ranch owner Darice McVay. “E. T. under a camel’s chin, Donald Duck or Puff the Magic Dragon, an Indian satellite dish and Red Rock Ranch’s very own Easter Island rock” are all rock formations created by wind erosion over millions of years. If you dive into the stories with Darice, you'll not only chuckle but also be mesmerized by the natural beauty that will surround you.
Many of these formations are naturally balanced, as if a sculptor has worked magic.
I help aspiring and established photographers get noticed so they can earn an income from photography or increase sales. My blog, Photographer’s Business Notebook is a wealth of information as is my Mark Paulda’s YouTube Channel. I also offer a variety of books, mentor services and online classes at Mark Paulda Photography Mentor
All images are available as Museum Quality Photographic Prints and Commercial Licensing. Feel free to contact me with any and all inquiries.
Follow My Once In A Lifetime Travel Experiences at Mark Paulda’s Travel Journal
KiB Designs - Sereia Minidress
32 Colors in Hud
Maitreya, Legacy, Venus, Isis, Freya, Kupra, Physique and Hourglass Bodies.
New Release only in Mainstore and Marketplace!
MAINSTORE
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lost%20Dreams%20Island/177...
MARKET
marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/176944
Fatpack 99L Special Offer Limited Time (17th June - 20th June)
Last day to dive into incredible deals with BackBone Summer Splash Sale! Hurry, the 50% Mega Sale ends at MIDNIGHT SLT! maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/BackBone/34/174/2106
The death toll from the 8.0-magnitude earthquake that jolted southwest China's Sichuan Province had risen to 69,197 and a total of 374,176 people were injured and 18,379 others were still missing.
Im very expect you to offer a different language translation, thanx in advance ^_^
Chinese:
无情的地震是我们没法回避的，但带来的创伤是我们可以面对的。此时此刻，我相信全国人民心都紧紧凝聚到了一起。“一方有难，八方支援“绝对不只是一句口号！让我们用爱和勇气去迎击这场突如其来的灾害！相信一切都会过去的！有爱就有希望！相信爱----就在身边！！
English:
We are trapped by this terrible earthquake but have the strength to survive and overcome the pain we face. I believe that all our hearts are joined together because "when one suffers, all others come to their aid." This slogan has a new meaning for us. Love and courage will help us to overcome this terrible calamity. All our present pains will eventually pass. And with your love there will always be hope. Believe in love and it will be with you!
French:
Nous n'avons pas pu échapper à l'impitoyable tremblement de terre, mais nous avons la force pour faire face à la douleur qu'il a provoqué.Je pense qu'en ce moment, nos coeurs sont attachés les uns aux autres.On lui dit que "quand quelqu'un souffre, tous les autres offrent leur aide". Ce n'est pas simplement un slogan vide. Laissez l'amour et le courage nous guider dans cette confrontation !Quand il y a de l'amour, il y a de l'espoir. Les douleurs disparaîtront avec le temps. L'amour est près de chacun de vous et avec vous!
Polish:
Nie udało nam się uciec przed bezlitosnym trzęsieniem ziemi, ale mamy siłę stawić czoła sprowadzonemu na nas cierpieniu. W tej chwili wierzę, że wszystkie serca są blisko ze sobą związane. Mówi się, że "kiedy jeden człowiek cierpi, wszyscy oferują mu pomoc". To nie są tylko puste słowa. Niech miłość i odwaga pozwoli nam przezwyciężyć tę straszną katastrofę! Wierzymy, że ból w końcu zniknie! Z miłością zawsze jest nadzieja! Uwierz, że miłość jest obok Ciebie i z Tobą!
Philippines:
Sa di inaasahang pangyayari na dulot ng kalikasan tulad ng malakas na lindol na nangyari sa ating bansa na kumitil ng maraming buhay.Sa pagkakataong ito kailangan nating mag kapit bisig at magtulungan para sa mga nangangailangan ng tulong.Kami ay patuloy parin na umaasa na malalampasan nating lahat ang nangyaring trahedyang ito.Ngayon na ang panahon para tayo magtulungan at magkaisa!
Turkish:
Merhametsiz depremden kaçamazdık; fakat yüzlerin üstündeki o dayanılmaz acıya dayandık. Afet boyunca, herkesin kalbi tutuldu. Bu, şunu söyledi Bu boş bir slogan değil ve ben inanıyorum ki sevgi ve cesaret yardımı bu dönüm noktasından sonra bize ulaşacaktır. Er geç, tamamımızın yaraları iyileşecek ve sevgi ile birlikte burada her zaman umutlar olacak! İnanıyorum ki sevgi hep yanınızda ve sizin ile!
Urdu:
hum apnay aapko bay raham zalzalay se bachanay se qasir thay.laikin hum main is dard ko bardasht karnay ki himmat thee.jab se ye qayamat barpa hui hai , mujhay yaqeen hai k har aik ka dil bhut zayada ghamgeen huwa hai, .kaha jata hai k "jab aik insan museebat main mubtala hoata hai ,to baqee sub madad ki paishkash kartay hain" . ye sirf aik khali naara nai hai hai , aur main yaqeen rakhta hoon k muhabbat aur himmat hamain is museebat se nijat dilaey gee.waqiatan hamaray tumam masaib hal hoa jaen gay. aur umeed ki kiran baqi hai.
Russian:
Мы не могли избежать землетрясения, но мы мужественно встретили ту боль, которая обрушилась на нас!После случившегося,я верю что сердца всех людей стали ближе друг к другу!Говорят, "когда одни страдают,другие помогают!"Это не пустые слова, я верю что любовь и храбрость поможет нам всем!Время лечит!Там где есть любовь,всегда есть надежда! Любовь всегда с тобой рядом!
Creole:
Nou pas inne capav sové depi sa tremblément de terre sans merci la, mais nou ena la force pou fer face a sa peine qui nou inne gagner la. A sa moment la, mo croire, Zot tous zot l'ecoeur bien attaché et lezot. Ine deja dire ki "kan ene dimoune souffert, zot tou offert zot l'aide". Sa pas ene slogan vide. Laisse lamour et courage amene nous pou confronte sa calamité la! Nous penser tous la pleine pou disparaitre lerla !
Italian:
Siamo impossibilitati a scappare da questo impietoso terremoto, ma abbiamo la forza di affrontare il dolore che è stato portato su di noi. Da quanto c'è stato questo disastro, credo che il cuore di ognuno si sia legato di più. Si dice che "quando uno soffre, tutti gli altri si offrono di aiutarlo". Non è uno slogan vuoto e credo che l'amore e il coraggio ci dovrebbero proteggere da questi eventi catastrofici! In ogni caso le nostre ferite si cureranno e con l'amore c'è sempre la speranza. Credi sempre che l'amore sia con te e che vegli su di te!
Spanish:
Nos fue imposible escapar a la ciega devastación del terremoto, pero tuvimos la fuerza para afrontar la pena que nos impuso. Creo que después del desastre se estrecho un fuerte vinculo en nuestros corazones. Se dice "al dolor verdadero todos nos abrimos y ayudamos". No es una frase que se dice por decir; creo que el coraje y el amor nos permitió superar esta catástrofe. Con el tiempo nuestras heridas cicatrizaran y el amor continuará a darnos esperanza. No dejen de creer en el amor: el se encuentra a tu lado y dentro de ti!
Thai:
เราไม่สามารถรอดพ้นหายนะจากเหตุแผ่นดินไหวนี้ไปได้แต่เราก็ยังต้องจำใจเผชิญหน้ากับความเจ็บปวดเหล่านั้น ตั้งแต่หายนะครั้งนั้น ผมเชื่อว่าหัวใจของเราทุกคนก็กระโจนเข้ามาใกล้กันมากขึ้น ดั่งสโลแกนที่ว่า " แค่เพียงคนหนึ่งเจ็บ, เราทุกคนก็พร้อมช่วยเหลือ." นี่ไม่ใช่เพียงแค่คำพูดที่ไร้การกระทำ แต่ผมเชื่อว่า ความรักและความหาญกล้า จะนำพาเราออกจากความวิบัติวิปโยคนี้ไปได้สุดท้ายนี้
เราหวังใจอยู่เสมอว่าทุก ๆ รอยแผลจะได้รับการเยียวยาและรักหาจนหายด้วยความรักที่เรามี.
เชื่อ ความรักจะอยู่ข้างคุณและอยู่กับคุณ.
Korean:
우리는 참담한 지진에 갖혀있습니다. 하지만 우리는 이 고통을 극복해 살아 남을 힘을 가지고 있습니다. "슬픔을 나누면 반이 된다"는 말처럼 우리는 모두의 가슴은 하나로 슬픔을 나누고 있다는 것을 믿고 있습니다. 이 말은 저희에게 큰 의미입니다. 사랑과 용기는 이 비극을 극복할 수 있도록 도와줄 것입니다. 지금의 고통은 결국엔 지나갈 것입니다. 당신의 사랑으로 우리에겐 언제나 희망이 있습니다. 사랑을 믿고 당신과 함께하겠습니다!
German:
Wir konnten dem schrecklichen Erdbeben nicht entkommen, aber wir hatten die
Stärke, dem Schmerz, der uns begegnete, ins Gesicht zu sehen. Seit dieser
Katastrophe glaube ich, dass jedermanns Herz zutiefst berührt wird. Man
sagt, wenn einer leidet, kommen alle um zu helfen. Das ist nicht bloß ein
leerer Spruch, und ich bin überzeugt, Liebe und Mut werden uns helfen, diese
grausame Naturkatastrophe hinter uns zu lassen. Vielleicht werden eines
Tages alle unsere Wunden geheilt sein, und mit der Liebe ist immer die
Hoffnung! Glaube mir, Liebe ist immer bei dir und wird mit dir sein!
Japanese:
情けない地震は避けられないが、我々が地震の傷を直面することができる。今、我々中国人の心は凝集し、“一方有难，八方支援“、これはただのスローガンではないことを私が信じている。我々は愛と勇気を持って、この突然にやってきた災害を迎え撃ちに行く！愛さえあれば、困難を克服できる。愛さえあれば希望がある！愛は、我々の心にある。
Português:
Não nos foi possível escapar à cega devastação do terramoto, mas tivemos força para enfrentar a dor que nos impulsionou. Creio que depois do desastre estreitou-se um forte vínculo nos nossos corações. Costuma dizer-se "perante a dor verdadeira todos nos dadmos e ajudamos". Não é uma frase que se diga por dizer; creio que a coragem e o amor nos permitiram superar esta catástrofe. Com o tempo nossas feridas cicatrizarão e o amor continuará a dar-nos esperança. Não deixem de acreditar no amor: encontarmo-lo em todo o lado e dentro de ti!
Hindi:
Hum sub is bhayanak bhunkamp main phase huain hain, per phir bhee humn sub main is mushkil samay kaa saamnaa karne kee himmat aur shaktee hain. Mujhe vishwaas hain kee hum sub kae dil is kathanaaee kee ghatdee main saath hain, kyon kee ek insaan kaa dukh subhee loggon kaa dukh hain, sub ek doosre kee madad karne ko vyaakool hain Prem aur himmat is mushkil ghadee kaa saamna karne main hamaara sahayak hain, yeh tukleef door hogee. Yeh kathin waqt avashya guzrega. Aapke pyaar kaa saath is samay main subko vishwaas dilaayega, himmat dega. Prem, insaanee mohabbat per vishwaas kayam rakhain aur yeh insaanee prem humara saath dega.
Special thanks to Jarosław Pocztarski, shutterskull, Edmond CV218, fredalix, Globality, armaganorki, savroi, Alan46, _G e r m á n .. , Fabio ® , Massy75,(:-]H-Live Your Life [:p , sweetlog, Pakueye, luqingyu, sonja_valentina, Mister seven for the translation!
Agassiz, BC Canada
Mount Cheam offers a spectacular view from Harrison Mills, BC. On clear days, the peak stands majestically against the skyline, providing a stunning backdrop to the Fraser Valley. The combination of the mountain's rugged beauty and the serene surroundings of Harrison Mills makes it a favorite spot for photographers and nature enthusiasts alike.
Mount Cheam, also known as Cheam Peak, is a stunning mountain located in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, near Chilliwack. It stands at an elevation of 2,104 meters (6,903 feet) and offers breathtaking 360-degree views of the Fraser Valley, Jones Lake, Mount Baker, and the surrounding peaks.
The hike to the summit is a popular activity, especially from July to October, when the trail is most accessible. The trail is about 9.5 kilometers round-trip with an elevation gain of 700 meters, making it a moderately challenging hike. Along the way, you'll pass through meadows filled with wildflowers, Spoon Lake, and switchbacks leading to the summit.
Reaching the trailhead requires a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle due to the rugged forest service road. The summit offers incredible views, but hikers are advised to stay cautious near the edges, as the terrain can be loose and steep.
Cheam Peak is another name for Mount Cheam—so it's the same breathtaking mountain! It's part of the Cheam Range in the Fraser Valley, known for its majestic presence and stunning panoramas. The peak is a favorite for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a rewarding hike with views of the Fraser River, the city of Chilliwack, and beyond.
Thank you for your visit and any faves or comments are always greatly appreciated!
~Sonja
I offer commercial and editorial pet photography on a commissioned basis. And with a pet picture database of more than 200 images, I might already have what you are looking for. All pictures here can be licensed.
For licensing and commission requests: info@elkevogelsang.com
________________________
Elke Vogelsang
Commercial and editorial pet photographer
info@elkevogelsang.com
________________________
All pictures: © Elke Vogelsang
20201115_Scout_AlwaysHaveASlothWithYouInIsolation
Private Rail Cars offers the Oliver Hazard Perry for hire or charter.
"Pullman built in 1954 for the Canadian National's "Super Continental", the car was rebuilt in 1982 and 1993 - 95. It was acquired by its current owner in 1997 and refurbished again in 2000.
The Oliver Hazard Perry features a master bedroom, two bedrooms with Captain's beds, two showers, a full kitchen, dining room for full meal service and a spacious lounge with large observation windows. Equipped with stereo sound system, a DVD player and wide-screen plasma TV.
Decor is a wealth of ribbon and burled mahogany woodwork throughout.
Modavia Fashion Marketing is pleased to offer an exclusive group gift by Del May – the pose used for the group advertising image on the latest MFD – only available at her gallery on MODAVIA.
The gift pack includes also a variant of the same pose - be sure to stop by and check out her gallery and her artwork upstairs.
To grab the gift, remember to have your Modavia Fashion Marketing group tag active. To find the group either click on the inviter in the Del May Gallery at Modavia, click here or copy and paste the following link into the local chat in-world and click to join:
secondlife:///app/group/b821995e-f38e-6968-26de-753a78b92b8a/about
Happy shopping at Modavia!
rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdg...
Smaller than blackbirds, with a short tail, pointed head, triangular wings, starlings look black at a distance but when seen closer they are very glossy with a sheen of purples and greens. Their flight is fast and direct and they walk and run confidently on the ground. Noisy and gregarious, starlings spend a lot of the year in flocks. Still one of the commonest of garden birds, its decline elsewhere makes it a Red List species.
Overview
Latin name
Sturnus vulgaris
Family
Starlings (Sturnidae)
Where to see them
Conspicuous and widespread in the UK, occurring everywhere except for the highest parts of the Scottish Highlands. They are most abundant in southern England and are more thinly distributed in upland areas with moorland. Still one of the UK's commonest garden birds. Huge roosts are found in plantations, reed beds and city centres.
When to see them
All year round. Large numbers arrive in autumn to spend the winter here.
What they eat
Insects and fruit.
Population
UK Breeding:- 804,000 territories
Breeding
Starlings nest in holes and cavities, especially in trees, but often use holes in buildings, including occupied houses, and nestboxes.
They nest in loose colonies and do not establish and defend a proper territory - only the immediate area around the nesting cavity is defended. The whole colony feeds communally in what is termed a home range.
To attract a mate, the male builds the base of the nest from dry grass and leaves in a hole and sings from perches close to the nest entrance. The female completes the nest by making a nest cup and lining it with fine grasses, moss and feathers.
Starlings usually lay 4-6 eggs in mid-April. All birds within a colony start to lay eggs within a few days. The female does the majority of the incubation; the chicks hatch 12 days later.
Only the female broods the chicks, although both parents feed them. They are fed entirely on insects and their larvae, spiders and earthworms for 12 days, after which the diet is more varied.
The young fledge when about three weeks old and are fed for a week or two until they are independent. Because the nests are in holes, they are protected from predators and many other dangers. As a result, over 70% of eggs laid produce fledged young.
Most failures are caused by infertility, and at the chick stage by starvation. Normally, only one brood is raised in a year, but if the first clutch is laid early and is successful, a second clutch may follow.
Feathers and moulting
All birds change their feathers every so often.
They get dull and worn out, so to look good, keep warm and stay airborne, they need to be replaced.
This is called 'the moult' or 'moulting'.
Because of the different coloured feathers they grow, it's really easy to spot in starlings.
Starling flocks: a wild spectacle
A murmuration of starlings is an amazing sight - a swooping mass of thousands of birds whirling in the sky above your head.
What's going on?
It's basically a mass aerial stunt - thousands of birds all swooping and diving in unison. It's completely breathtaking to witness.
We think that starlings do it for many reasons. Grouping together offers safety in numbers – predators such as peregrine falcons find it hard to target one bird in the middle of a hypnotising flock of thousands.
They also gather to keep warm at night and to exchange information, such as good feeding areas.
They gather over their roosting site, and perform their wheeling stunts before they roost for the night.
When and where?
Autumn roosts usually begin to form in November, though this varies from site to site and some can begin as early as September.
More and more birds will flock together as the weeks go on, and the number of starlings in a roost can swell to around 100,000 in some places.
Early evening, just before dusk, is the best time to see them across the UK. You don't need any special equipment as it's all visible by just looking to the skies.
They roost in places that are sheltered from harsh weather and predators, such as woodlands, but reedbeds, cliffs, buildings and industrial structures are also used. During the day, however, they form daytime roosts at exposed places such as treetops, where the birds have good all-round visibility.
Several of our reserves make great viewing spots for murmurations. Other popular sites to see starlings include Gretna Green in Dumfries and Galloway, and Brighton Pier, Sussex.
Watch them swoop the loop
Don't just take our word for it, check out this amazing video of a starling murmuration.
Don't be fooled by big flocks
Despite the incredible size of the flocks, starling numbers are just a fraction of what they used to be. Huge starling flocks used to gather over Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast, but today you have a much better chance of seeing the birds in rural areas.
The starling population has fallen by over 80% in recent years, meaning they are now on the critical list of UK birds most at risk.
The decline is believed to be due to the loss of permanent pasture, increased use of farm chemicals and a shortage of food and nesting sites in many parts of the UK.
Legal status
Starlings are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it illegal to intentionally kill, injure or take a starling, or to take, damage or destroy an active nest or its contents.
Preventing the birds from gaining access to their nests may also be viewed as illegal by the courts. It is therefore important to check for active nests before any repairs to roofs and soffits are carried out during the breeding season.
The provision to control starlings under a general licence was removed from the Act in England and Wales, making the species fully protected in England and Wales.
Starlings are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
However, general licences issued under the Act are still in place in Scotland, and under the Wildlife Order in Northern Ireland. These allow an authorised person to control starlings to prevent serious damage to agriculture or preserve public health and safety. The RSPB believes that this should only be done if there is no alternative solution.
An 'authorised person' is usually the landowner or occupier or his/her agent. Do note that nuisance or damage to property are not legitimate reasons for control, and as such a roof nest cannot legally be removed in the RSPB's opinion, unless it can be demonstrated that removal was undertaken under the terms of one of the government licences.
Population trends and conservation
Starlings are taken by a wide variety of predators.
In the past, one third of juveniles survived their first year of life, but this has reduced to only 15 per cent. Birds that survive to breeding age can expect to live a further two or three years. The oldest known wild individual was 21 years old.
Starlings are very tenacious and adaptable birds. Over the centuries they have expanded their numbers and range in the wake of farmers, wherever suitable conditions became available. They used to be uncommon birds in the UK.
Starling numbers have declined markedly across much of northern Europe and the UK. The decline in the UK started during the early 1980s and has continued ever since. Recent data from the Breeding Bird Survey suggest continuing population declines affecting starlings in England and Wales since 1995. The cause of the starling decline in the UK is unknown.
Starlings are heavily dependent on soil invertebrates like earthworms and leatherjackets, and it is possible this food supply has either declined or perhaps become less available during dry summers.
Long-term monitoring by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) shows that starling numbers have fallen by 66 per cent in Britain since the mid-1970s. Because of this decline in numbers, the starling is red listed as a bird of high conservation concern.
Relations with man
The fortunes of starlings are closely linked to human activities.
By converting other habitats such as woodland into open farmland, and erecting buildings, people have provided them with food and nest sites. People have, therefore, been instrumental in creating the present high population in Europe and Asia.
Starlings eat large numbers of invertebrates, many of which are crop pests. Therefore, in many countries starlings are considered to be beneficial and encouraged with nest boxes. The preference for crops during the autumn and winter months brings the starling into conflict with people.
Within their winter range there have been many failed efforts to reduce starling numbers to protect crops. The main conflict areas are cherry orchards (and on the continent also vineyards), autumn sown cereal, and cattle feeding troughs. The droppings produced at the roost can make a large roost unwelcome, whether it is in a woodland or in a town centre.
"Need a light, soldier?"
Z. had requested "something noir" for his birthday. So, um, happy birthday, Z.
Would you accept the weight of a great power?
Place - Viking Settlement of Rungardvik- maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rungardvik/164/168/24
One thing I have had difficulty with is finding the same dramatic, sweeping views of the monorail that I love at WDW (Epcot especially). Thanks to Gregg and Bill, I finally found a very tight location that offers that view I have been looking for.
[Fr] Nous sommes généreux alors nous vous offrons 🎁 un deuxième coucher de soleil sur la Loire. 🌄 Il vous plaît celui ci ? 😍 [En] We are too generous today so we offer you a second amazing sunset 🎆 ! Do you like it 😘 ? . #igersfrance #france #ig_france #instapics #loire #jaimelafrance #hello_france #france_photolovers #photodujour #super_france #loves_france_ #ilovefrance #picoftheday #nature_perfection #naturelover #landscapes #sunsets #igersanjou #anjou #sunset #amazing #love
About a couple weeks ago I was offered a new career position at a major university. I thought and agonized about it for a few days. I made a list and I weighed the pros and cons of staying in Southern Utah or moving elsewhere. In the end, I turned down the career move.
One reason why I turned down the job offer is because of scenes like this and the ease and accessibility of getting to it whenever I want. It might not be a big reason for some but as a photographer outside of my day job this is important to me. I’m very fortunate to live in such a beautiful and unique part of the world. Many landscape photographers would love to live where I am. Heck, people from all over the world come and visit Utah as a once in a lifetime trip.
This was photographed earlier in the summer but I haven’t released this photo until now. I’m excited to hike and photograph the Narrows one final time this weekend. I’m hoping to get a couple more pictures of a couple places I missed earlier in the summer.
Southern Utah will draw you in with its beauty and it will keep you coming back. In my case the beauty of Southern Utah kept me here for the foreseeable future.
Equipment:
- Nikon D800e
- Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR
Software and Processing:
- Initial edits in Adobe Lightroom
- Shot 4 images at different focus points for focus stacking. Stacked in Helicon Focus
- Final post-processing in Adobe Photoshop (adjusted curves, orton effect, saturation boost, burn, dodge, added slight vignette sharpen)
Maggies Centres are a place which offers those involved with cancer, be they a patient, family, friends or others can be offered emotional, social and practical support.
They are staffed by professionals, well skilled in cancer treatment and care, where those concerned can be offered practical advice and a meeting place for others who are involved in some way.
The first centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996 and there are now over 20 centres in the UK and abroad, in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Barcelona. They also have an online counselling and advice All the centres are individually designed by internationally well known architects and are designed to be friendly and welcoming places. They are places where people can just drop in with tea and coffee making facilities and comfy seats to relax in and meet others.
The name comes from Maggie Keswick Jencks who had advanced cancer and who died in 1995. She was appalled by the services and support offered in some places to those with cancer and she used her knowledge, experience and research to come up with a totally new approach in the care for those involved. It is not a place for the actual diagnosis and treatment of the disease.