Just hanging out at the beach provides some great opportunities.

Thank you for taking the time to visit and as always, your views, comments, faves, and support are greatly appreciated!! :)

If you have any questions about this photo or about photography in general, I will do my best to help, just post a comment or send me a Flickr mail and I will respond as quickly as possible.

From green to brown to red, the cycle goes on every year. This tree, one among several, provides this street with colour and character.

Fog and the sun rising can provide a nice opportunity to capture a scene. This picture of the tug boat slowly moving through the fog was taken a number of years ago in the Greek Isles. I just rediscovered the image in my archives and re-edited it.

Saulsalito Marina provides such a beautiful view of the water and boats while having a wonderful dinner on the dock. Great memories for cold days.

In 1911, the Old Elbe Tunnel was built to provide a more direct route for dock workers over to the southern banks of the Elbe river from the Landungsbrücken piers in St. Pauli. A technical innovation at the time of its construction, the tunnel became a tourist attraction when the 'new' Elbtunnel and several bridges were built in the 1970s. Now pedestrians and bicyclists wishing to cross below the river can ride a free lift into the deep, and cars can use hydraulically driven cages for a small fee.

Explore the southern banks

The green dome at the Landungsbrücken points towards the 426 metres long underpass. The tunnel is used by city-dwellers to explore the remote corners of the port area or to get to Wilhelmsburg or Altes Land. The observation platform south of the river is also held in high regard among tourists and locals alike for its magnificent panoramic views of the city.

A historic site

Modern tunnels can’t compare to the Alter Elbtunnel, which has been a preserved historic site since 2003. The lamps symmetrically lining the arched tunnel walls create an otherworldly yet cosy atmosphere 24 metres below the river’s surface. The Alter Elbtunnel’s Art-Deco beauty, combined with the unique reliefs lining the bricked walls, make this attraction particularly popular with photographers.

Source www.hamburg.com

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This species provides an example of sex role reversal with the females being more brightly coloured than the males. Females will also choose a male and then defend him against other females and when the chicks have arrived, the female scarpers and the male raises them on his own.

Thank you for taking a look at my images

Tumbling boulders provide a rock boundary for the waters of Burbage Brook; an incredibly scenic feature of Sheffield’s Padley Gorge and the Longsaw Estate; Hathersage, Peak District.

NB: It would be a crime as a photographer to visit this place without a camera of any description.

Created using: Topaz Labs, and Topaz Studio

The game provides a Kalah board and a number of seeds or counters. The board has 6 small pits, called houses, on each side; and a big pit, called an end zone, at each end. The object of the game is to capture more seeds than one's opponent.

provide us with memories. Broken as they may become; they endow hope by freeing us to embrace... gratitude.

- Katherine Walsh

South Hadley, MA

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Cary Larrabee - www.flickr.com/photos/c_larrabee/12162062053/

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– Hat, blazer, skirt:

:Dernier: "Fascinator" Hat - FATPACK. It is coordinated with the blazer and skirt. It provides a HUD of 20 colors and 5 gloss levels. Copy, Mod., Resizable

:Dernier: "Kris" Blazer - FATPACK. Fitted for Maitreya, Legacy, eBody Reborn and Kupra Original. The HUD comes in 12 colors + 3 exclusive pattern in the Fatpack. You can also choose from 5 degrees of gloss.

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📘 Credits:♥ Ty ♥ Blog 🌸 ♥ Ty Storm Linktr.ee♥

The Eastern Meadowlark provides a bright splash of color on Florida's open grassy fields and prairies. Scan fence posts, low bushes or power lines for the adult bird with its yellow throat, breast and belly, and black "V" across the chest. Or listen for the sweet, melodious song: a plaintive, clear, descending whistle.

The eastern meadowlark breeds throughout eastern and central North America and in Mexico and parts of Central America and the Caribbean. This year-round Florida resident is not a lark, as its name suggests, but is in the same family as blackbirds and orioles. In size and shape, a perched meadowlark resembles a starling, but it is quail-like in its explosive take-off from the ground. Insects make up the bulk of the meadowlark's diet, but grass and weed seeds are also consumed.

I found this one perched on a fence post greeting the day just after Sunrise along Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, Florida.

Click below to hear Eastern Meadowlark!

www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/201...

Storms always seem to provide me with... a lesson from Brother Fear and Sister Awe. To the east the darkening clouds & wind rushed to engulf the landscape while to the west the sun was setting...

Katherine Walsh

“It’s not a bad lesson to learn in the bleaker months: how you view a storm is a question of perspective; provided you find the right rock to watch it from, it could be the most incredible thing you’ll ever witness.”

― Dan Stevens

A recent Spring storm on the farm fields in Sunderland, MA

Textures added by:

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Paree Erica - www.flickr.com/photos/pareeerica/4228014136/in/set-721576...

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This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.

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– the better to provide an alibi for all the despair we are going to feel anyway.

Albert Camus

Topaz Studio

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Please, don't fave and run, you will get yourself blocked.

clustered bellflower - Campanula glomerata

Challenge 117 - NATURE'S GIFTS (2020 Art) - 5th place winner!

www.flickr.com/groups/1336746@N23/discuss/721577148493689...

My attempt at the "Crazy Tuesday" theme "Numbers"

Shows a tiny part of a grapevine. They really create interesting shapes in their growth.

Shot with a Tamron "(Noritsu) 48.5 mm F 2.8" (enlarging) lens on a Canon EOS R5.

This area is my favorite on the west coast of Norway, since it provides opportunities for many beautiful landscapes. The light, and not least the weather, by the sea is changing rapidly. When the storms come, the waves can reach 100 feets high by the old lighthouse that you can glimpse far out on the horizon. Here many ships have lost their way. But not in beautiful moments like this...

Wishing you a great summer, my friends!

Visite mi favorito en la costa oeste de Noruega. Brinda oportunidades para muchos paisajes hermosos. La luz, y no menos importante el clima, junto al mar está cambiando rápidamente. Cuando llegan las tormentas, las olas pueden alcanzar los 30 metros de altura junto al viejo faro que se puede vislumbrar en el horizonte. Aquí muchos barcos se han perdido. Pero no en momentos hermosos como este. Haz realidad tu sueño ...

¡Disfruta tu verano, amigo!

Visitez mon préféré sur la côte ouest de la Norvège. Il offre des opportunités pour de nombreux paysages magnifiques. La lumière, et surtout le temps, au bord de la mer change rapidement. Lorsque les tempêtes arrivent, les vagues peuvent atteindre 100 pieds de haut près du vieux phare que l'on aperçoit au loin à l'horizon. Ici, de nombreux navires se sont égarés. Mais pas dans de beaux moments comme celui-ci. Réalisez votre rêve...

Profite bien de ton été, mon ami !

Some rather old and damaged Galerina mushrooms (Galerina autumnalis?) provide contrasting color with the saucer shaped and rarely seen fruiting bodies of the Green-stain fungus (Chlorociboria sp.).

The characteristic turquiose colored stain of wood infected by Chlorociboria has been prized for centuries for use in decorative woodworking such as intarsia and parquetry.

For more information on the fungi illustrated here see:

botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/jul2008.html

and

botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/may2003.html

Single shot image taken with Olympus EM I and 60mm f2.8 lens

West Quebec, Canada

PB063860

The rising and setting sun provides a warm glow to the skies and clouds; however, the opposite horizon is often over looked. As earths shadow recedes during sunrise (or advances at sunset), a band of soft pink pastels forms above it - know as the Belt of Venus.

Above, the Fort Lauderdale, FL skyline was imaged about 10mins before sunrise.

DSC_2162_APc2_66r95q.jpg (crop - resolution 66%)

Mesa Arch in Canyonlands, provides the frame for a stunning Utah landscape. Along the mesa to the east is another arch, named Washing Woman Arch. Below the mesa is the prominent white rim of spectacular canyons carved by the Colorado River and a breathtaking view of the Island in the Sky. Rounding out the view, the snow-capped peaks of the La Sal Mountains meet the sky at the horizon.

The Arch is right on the edge of a 500-foot cliff, part of a 1,200-foot drop into Buck Canyon.

Thank you for your comments,

Gemma

Smuggler Cove and the shape it provides, inspires many images. It was evident early on that the clouds were going to deliver, so I made sure to get out to catch them. This time, the better shot was going to come from the cliff in the area rather than from the waters edge.

I made sure to visualize the photo prior and set up my tripod at the right spot. The clouds certainly delivered and their reflections were also terrific. Albeit unexpected, the absolute stillness of the ocean added to the final image.

www.photographycoach.ca/

* * *

The Riffelsee lake trail provides scenic views of the highest mountains in the Alps, a lake surrounded by majestic mountains, unspoiled Alpine nature.

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Panorama of the Pennine Alps and Riffelsee lake, Valais, Switzerland. View from a height of 2815 m.

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See my new photos in the My Travels album:

Bedruthan Steps provides one of my favourite views on the north coast of Cornwall. This stretch of coast lies between Newquay to the south and Trevose Head to the north and features a number of headlands and sea stacks with numerous caves at the base of the cliffs. At low tide there are gorgeous golden sandy beaches revealed but at high tide when there is a strong wind blowing, the sea can be spectacular.

The people there behind the falls help provide some scale to this location and waterfall there in Oregon.

Walking in fog often provides a visual representation of my thought process. My brain constantly brings different topics into view, but in the process lets others slide into the periphery. Most of the time they are all still there, competing for my attention, but all in varying degrees. In fog I respond to the overall loss of clarity, but also the nuance that is created by relative distance. It's this layering effect I find most appealing as more distant objects eventually recede into nothingness...exactly the same as my mind reacts.

Walking outdoors this morning felt otherworldly. I love seeing familiar places rendered as ones I'm visiting for the very first time. A rich dichotomy as the serenity of fog is ripped apart by this visceral reaction. In these moments I invariably come up with camera angles that never would have occurred to me in normal circumstances.

Ich melde mich für ein paar Tage ab. Tolle Motive erwarten mich und euch, wenn ich dann wieder zurück bin. Bis bald!

I'm signing off for a few days. Great motifs await me and you when I get back. See you!

Peter's Pool is a kettle lake made by Franz Josef Glacier, in the Westland National Park in the South Island of New Zealand. Together with Fox Glacier—located 20 kilometres away—the glaciers extend from the Southern Alps to the valley floor less than 300 metres above sea level.

The lake was formed by melting glacial ice around 200 years ago. The water is highly reflective and provides stunning views of the glacial valley containing Franz Josef Glacier.

To provide a transparent coffin so as to be visible even if a posture of loved one is put in the coffin.

The Arcade　

FORGET / anc.Ltd

{anc} forget. Swallow [sunyellow] 5Li

{anc} forget. Swallow [maronnbrown] 5Li

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{anc} forget. Swallow [leafgreen] 5Li

{anc} forget. wing leaf [blue]

{anc} forget. wing leaf [gray]

{anc} forget. wing leaf B [clear]1L

{anc} forget. wing leaf/pose [pink] 2Li

{anc} forget. wing leaf A [yellow]

ANC main store

{anc} cirque de reverie .2/ blanc / tent 41Li [W22/D18/H8] RARE

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The decisive battle starts on June 1!

thearcadesl.com/shopping-guides/June-2016/

ANC main store

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model：bisou

location:Home

3. Last light on Monte Rosa

November 2022

90 × 60 cm, Alu-Dibond

Italiano

Mentre la valle è già avvolta nell’ombra, le cime più alte del Monte Rosa vengono illuminate un’ultima volta dalla luce del tramonto. Un momento di quiete sopra un paesaggio in costante trasformazione.

Il ghiacciaio del Grenz scende dal massiccio del Monte Rosa e si unisce al ghiacciaio del Gorner, che all’altezza del Gornersee (a sinistra nell’immagine) è ormai quasi scomparso. Questo lago temporaneo d’acqua di fusione appare in estate al confine tra i due ghiacciai, quando l’acqua si accumula in una depressione naturale sul ghiaccio. Non appena le temperature scendono, il lago scompare.

Ciò che rende il Gornersee così particolare è il suo svuotamento naturale, a volte improvviso. Quando il livello dell’acqua raggiunge un punto critico, essa scorre attraverso canali subglaciali verso valle, in direzione del fiume Vispa. Un evento simile è noto come GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood), in cui enormi quantità d’acqua possono essere rilasciate in brevissimo tempo.

Per i glaciologi, il Gornersee è di grande interesse. Il lago offre preziose informazioni sul mondo nascosto sotto il ghiaccio: come si muove l’acqua di fusione, come si formano i canali di drenaggio sotterranei e quale ruolo gioca il cambiamento climatico in questi processi.

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Deutsch

Während das Tal bereits im Schatten liegt, werden die höchsten Gipfel des Monte Rosa ein letztes Mal vom Sonnenlicht erfasst. Ein stiller Moment über einer Landschaft, die sich ständig verändert.

Der Grenzgletscher fliesst vom Monte Rosa Massiv hinab und trifft auf den Gornergletscher, der auf Höhe des Gornersees (links im Bild) bereits fast verschwunden ist. Dieser temporäre Schmelzwassersee entsteht im Sommer an der Grenze der beiden Gletscher, wenn sich Schmelzwasser in einer natürlichen Senke auf dem Eis sammelt. Sobald die Temperaturen sinken, verschwindet der See wieder.

Besonders am Gornersee ist sein gelegentlich plötzliches natürliches Ablassen. Wenn der Wasserstand eine kritische Höhe erreicht, bahnt sich das Wasser über subglaziale Kanäle den Weg hinab in Richtung Fluss Vispa. Ein solches Ereignis wird als GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood) bezeichnet, dabei können in kurzer Zeit enorme Wassermengen abfliessen.

Für Glaziologen ist der Gornersee von grossem Interesse. Der See liefert Einblicke in die verborgene Welt unter dem Eis: Wie sich Schmelzwasser bewegt, wie unterirdische Abflusskanäle entstehen und welche Rolle der Klimawandel dabei spielt.

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English

While the valley is already in shadow, the highest peaks of Monte Rosa are lit one last time by the setting sun. A moment of stillness above a landscape in constant motion.

The Grenzgletscher flows down from the Monte Rosa massif and connects with the Gorner Glacier, which has already almost vanished near the Gornersee (left in the image). This temporary meltwater lake appears in summer on the boundary between the two glaciers, as meltwater accumulates in a natural depression on the ice. When temperatures drop, the lake disappears again.

What makes the Gornersee remarkable is its sometimes sudden natural drainage. When the water level reaches a critical height, it carves its way through subglacial channels downhill toward the Vispa River. Such an event is known as a GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood), during which immense volumes of water can be released in a short time.

For glaciologists, the Gornersee is of great value. It provides insights into the hidden world beneath the ice: how meltwater moves, how subsurface drainage channels form, and what role climate change plays in these processes.

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.

Mahatma Gandhi

The world says: "You have needs -- satisfy them. You have as much right as the rich and the mighty. Don't hesitate to satisfy your needs; indeed, expand your needs and demand more." This is the worldly doctrine of today. And they believe that this is freedom. The result for the rich is isolation and suicide, for the poor, envy and murder.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.

Socrates

When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom that profit loses.

Shirley Chisholm

Thank you for your kind visit. Have a wonderful and beautiful day! ❤️❤️❤️

Interesting juxtaposition of a cattle farm against a Wind Farm. I captured this image while visiting the southernmost point in the Big Island of Hawaii and, for that matter, in the United States.

The Tawhiri Power LLC is an independent power producer that supplies electricity for the State of Hawaii. The Pakini Nui Wind Farm is Tawhiri's principle project and is located near South Point on the Big Island of Hawaii. Since 2007, the wind farm has supplied approximately 18,000 Hawaiian homes per year with a green and renewable source of electrical power.

About the Wind Farm:

The south point area of Hawaii is one of the best places in the world for a wind farm because of its exceptionally strong and consistent trade winds. As as result, Tawhiri Power LLC selected this location for the Pakini Nui Wind Farm.

Construction of the wind farm began in August of 2006 and was completed in early 2007. On April third, 2007 the wind farm began commercial operation. There are a total of fourteen General Electric 1.5 Mega-Watt SE turbines at Pakini Nui. These turbines can provide nearly 21 Mega-Watts of electricity for the Big Island of Hawaii.

The Pakini Nui Wind Farm is located 7 miles down South Point Road from its junction with Route 11.

Nanyuki

Kenya

East Africa

This monkey was photographed at The Mount Kenya Game Ranch animal orphanage founded by William Holden located near Nanyuki, Kenya.

The animal orphanage at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy is a unique facility to give orphaned, injured, neglected, abused or frightened wild animals a second chance. The orphanage provides shelter and professional care with the goal to release these creatures back into the wild where they belong.

Sykes' monkey (Cercopithecus albogularis), also known as the white-throated monkey or Samango monkey, is an Old World monkey found between Ethiopia and South Africa, including south and east Democratic Republic of Congo. It is named after English naturalist Colonel William Henry Sykes (1790-1872), and has been considered conspecific with the blue monkey (which in turn has included the golden and silver monkey), but has a large white patch on the throat and upper chest, and a grizzled (not blackish) cap. - Wikipedia

ENG: The Hörner gondola lift provides access from the Bolsterlang valley to the Weiherkopf peak at an altitude of 1665 meters and the Bolsterlanger Horn peak at an altitude of 1588 meters.

At an altitude of 1540 meters, the cable car ends between the two peaks and from here the very steep path then leads towards Weiherkopf. In the sloping terrain is then the launch site for the paragliders with a fantastic view - in good weather - over the Allgäu Alps in Germany to Tyrol in Austria.

•

GER: Die Gondelbahn „Hörnerbahn“ erschließt vom Bolsterlang Tal aus den Weiherkopf Gipfel in 1665 Meter Höhe sowie den Bolsterlanger Horn Gipfel in 1588 Meter Höhe.

In 1540 Meter Höhe endet die Seilbahn zwischen den beiden Gipfeln und von hier aus geht dann der sehr steile Weg Richtung Weiherkopf. Im Hanggelände ist dann der Startplatz für die Gleitschirme mit einem fantastischen Blick - bei guter Wetter - über die Allgäuer Alpen in Deutschland bis hin nach Tirol in Österreich.

Mono Lake, nestled in California's eastern Sierra Nevada, is renowned for its extraordinary saline environment, dramatic tufa towers, and the incredibly productive ecosystem it sustains.

This highly alkaline lake provides a unique habitat for brine shrimp and alkali flies, which in turn support millions of migratory birds.

The striking tufa towers, formed by mineral deposits, stand as iconic, otherworldly sentinels around its shores.

Even in the frigid winter, Mono Lake remarkably remains unfrozen, a testament to its high salt concentrations.

Adding to its geological intrigue, the Mono Lake volcanic field, with vents on its northern shore and on Paoha and Negit Islands, was last active mere centuries ago.

(Nikon Z6III, Nikon 28-400/f4-8, 1/800 @ f/13, ISO 500, edited to taste)

An American Robin (Turdus migratorius) provides an interesting silhouette on a snowy day in Maryland. A few days ago, I decided to take a walk in the snow near my house (snow in late March is pretty rare for Maryland). The snow was picturesque and it was fun seeing a few Robins feeding for worms in an exposed patch of grass. I got down on the ground and achieved just the right angle so that the nearby snow bank was in the foreground of my shot with distant snow in the background. This combination gave me a unique all-white background. I fixed my settings for a silhouette to give a bit of shadowy contrast to the high-key image. This shot was just what I had envisioned!

Situated at the base of the Coromandel Range, the Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway follows the old railway line between Paeroa and Waihi, giving access to impressive remains from the mining and railway eras.

This walkway features historic railway remains in a stunning natural gorge setting, including two steel truss bridges and a 1 km rail tunnel, and provide access to the relics of historic gold mining. The walkway follows the railway line through the gorge and then opens out alongside the Ohinemuri River, passing through the huge Victoria Battery complex and terminating at the Waikino Station where a cafe and train rides can be investigated.

I'm a bit busy at the moment, so as a result I am in delay with comments and replies!! I will try to catch up as soon as possible!! Thank you all for favs, comments and awards and for visiting my photo stream! Really appreciate each and every one! Thank you!

I’d like to dedicate this shot to a good friend of mine William McIntosh. I have spent the last 4 months shooting as much as I can with Bill and trying to gleen info from him about his weather prediction skills and gain some insight about his frame of mind about photography. He is a master of weather prediction IMHO and I have always admired his tenacity which has netted him some absolutely fantastic captures from Yosemite National Park and the Pacific Northwest. Bill contacted me during the week to see if I was up for a Banzai run to Yosemite Valley as he was predicting a passage in the storm which would provide a high probability of misty/snowy conditions like seen in many of his postings from there. Of course Bill was right on the money as was shown from some of the webcams provided there. But unfortunately I had to decline as I was starting to get sick with the Flu and didn’t want to drag him down with me. Today he contacted me again to see if I was up for some shooting at Corona Del Mar but I was still trying to fight off the Flu and as painful as it was had to opt out again. Later, today, as I was digging through my folder of processed photos I found this shot and the pain of declination returned. Sorry Bill, I was more worried about getting you sick then worsening my own condition. LOL. Thanks for the invite my friend and hope you had a great day at CDM. If you would like to see William’s amazing photography, you can visit his stream here.

www.flickr.com/photos/mtsacprof

Tale of the Take…

This is a side view of the arch found at Corona Del Mar, If you wanted to get a full view through the arch you would need to scramble along the cliffsides base there at a specific tide level, I say specific because if you time it incorrectly you wouldn’t drown but you would have to spend a long, cold night on the rocks or call the Coast Guard to come “fish” you out which carries along an $800 dollar or better rescue charge. I’m still hoping that Bill will show me the specifics of entering here at a time that would be safe to enter and exit during the sunset. See what I mean about his tenacity. :)

Please come over and check out my other photos, you might find something else you like. :)

Thanks for taking the time to take a look at my photos, and as always, your views, comments, faves, and support are greatly appreciated!! Have a great weekend everybody!! :)

Please do me a favor and follow me on my other social sites found below:

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Copyright 2016©Eric Gail

Beauty berries provide a treat for the birds and other wildlife around. The berries begin to turn purple in August and continue to ripen until devoured or through April, whichever comes first.

The bushes are deciduous but the berries remain. The bushes benefit from a heavy trim in the spring after the berries are gone or mostly gone. It helps them branch and grow more berries the following season.

People often make jam out of the berries. Although I am not sure why, they don't have a lot of flavor. I added some to a salad once and it was pretty but again, not much flavor so I believe beauty berries are best left as a food source for wildlife.

Have a splendid day and happy snapping :)

CREDITS - BLOG

Thistles are said to provide high quality nectar, and are a common source of food for insects such as this Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. We know that this Swallowtail is a female, as they have a splash of iridescent blue wash on their tails, which males do not have.

HWW

The All American Park in Quincy, Illinois provides this beautiful view of the Bay Bridge (on the left) and the Quincy Memorial Bridge (Highway 24, on the right). Large barges headed up the Mississippi River frequently pass beneath the bridges.

Quincy is a beautiful river city. According to Wikipedia, "In the fall of 2010, [it] was listed as eighth in the top fifteen small cities to raise a family in the United States by Forbes magazine for its commute times, high school graduation rate, median household income, home ownership rate and cost of living. Forbes compared 126 cities with a population under 100,000 and ranked them on these five quality-of-life measures."

I also found this to be of interest, "During the winter of 1838-1839, five thousand members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons, on their way west, were driven from their homes in Missouri and arrived in Quincy. Though vastly outnumbered by the new arrivals, the residents of Quincy provided them food and shelter. Joseph Smith then led his followers 40 miles (64 km) up river to Nauvoo, Illinois. The kindness extended by the people of Quincy continues to be remembered by Mormons. In 2002, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir gave a benefit concert in Quincy, with the proceeds donated to the city as an expression of gratitude."

_DSC6722

© Stephen L. Frazier - All Rights Reserved.

All material in my photo stream may NOT be reproduced, copied, edited, published, transmitted or uploaded in any way without my permission. My photos are Copyrighted "Stephen L. Frazier" and All Rights Reserved.

The only tree we have that actually provides us with fruit is this Victoria plum which grows in a sheltered corner of the garden. Every year we anxiously watch as the lovely white blossoms unfurl, and pray that there will not be a frost harsh enough to kill the flowers. If that happens there will be no fruit come September! This year we have had constant frosts, but so far the flowers have survived! So we have fingers crossed for a plum harvest once again!

Happy Bokeh Wednesday!

My Bokeh set: Here

my Plum blossom set: Here

Spring through the lens: Here

Short brake from Costa Rica.. family gathering in Florida provide another opportunity to get shots of this rarity. Dense morning fog overcome with with dehaze in Lightroom. Airboat tour.

From Wiki:

Nests and forages year-round in freshwater wetlands of southern Florida, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Locally endangered species in the Florida Everglades, with a population of less than 400 breeding pairs. Research has demonstrated that water-level control in the Everglades is depleting the population of apple snails. However, this species is not generally threatened over its extensive range. it might be locally increasing in numbers, such as in Central America.

This is a gregarious bird of freshwater wetlands, forming large winter roosts. Its diet consists almost exclusively of apple snails, (especially the species Pomacea paludosa in Florida, and species of the genus Marisa). Snail kites have been observed eating other prey items in Florida, including crayfish in the genus Procambarus, crabs in the genus Dilocarcinus, black crappie, small turtles and rodents. It is believed that snail kites turn to these alternatives only when apple snails become scarce, such as during drought, but further study is needed. On 14 May 2007, a birdwatcher photographed a snail kite feeding at a red swamp crayfish farm in Clarendon County, South Carolina.

The presence of the large introduced Pomacea maculata in Florida has led the snail kites in North America to develop larger bodies and beaks to better eat the snail, a case of rapid evolution.[17] These non-native snails provide a better food source over the smaller native snails and has had a positive effect on their population

Tunnel View provides one of the most famous views of Yosemite Valley. From here you can see El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall rising from Yosemite Valley, with Half Dome in the background. This viewpoint is at the east end of the Wawona Tunnel along the Wawona Road (Highway 41).

These boats provide a ferry service across the Looe River to East Looe when there is sufficient water. It saves a walk down to the bridge and back again on the other side. West Looe and East Looe were once separate towns, but became united at the end of the 19th century. East Looe is by far the largest of the two and was once an important port for the export of tin and copper ore from the mines on Bodmin Moor, as well as farm and other produce. Some of the former warehouses can be seen on the other side of the river. The arrival of the railway and the end of the mining industry led to Looe's decline as a port and it became a popular seaside resort.

A walk through the Ethnographic Museum Complex Etar, Bulgaria. You can see the Yantra River, which is still very small here, but together with the cool mountain air, it provides a refreshing atmosphere.

These trees are on Milner Lane adjacent to the Hetchell Wood Nature Reserve, West Yorkshire. The reserve lies between the villages of Wothersome, East Rigton, Thorner and Scarcroft

Hetchell Wood is a mix of woodland, species rich grassland and wet flushes, Hetchell Wood provides a tranquil retreat on the edge of the conurbation of Leeds. The variety of habitats provide refuge for the rare species which were once widespread in the local landscape.

Barbondale provides one of the western entrances to the Yorkshire Dales National Park and runs from the Lune Valley near Kirkby Lonsdale along to Dentdale. It is one of the Dales that is also in the county of Cumbria following the boundary re-organisation in 1974. A stream known as Barbon Beck flows south-west through the dale to join the River Lune. Barbondale is possibly one of the least well-known of the Yorkshire Dales, though it is one of my favourites. There is just the one settlement, the village of Barbon at the western entrance to the dale. This is a mile or so out of shot to the left. The surrounding fells rise to over 2,200 feet above sea level. Because of the nature of the countryside, sheep farming predominates and there are several small farmsteads dotted along the dale. The woods on the left of the picture are part of Barbon Manor Estate.

Hoot Suite is thrilled to have the multidimensional:

Eylinea Seabird

exhibiting - November 13

This creative Artist for me in a word embodies Play.

That lightness of being that brings you up and makes you smile.

Art party Wednesday October 27th at 12pm (SLT)

Adwehe will provide the musical tone for the party!

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