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Papaya Tree, Hickatee Cottages, Punta Gorda, Toledo District, Belize
Copyright © 2007 Tony Rath Photography
www.digitalrailroad.net/trphoto - Belize Stock Images
Flora:
The vegetation is confined to inter-dune areas around springs and at the base of large dunes. The vegetation cover is made of 13 species of perennial plants and a few individuals of Calligonum comosum and Zygophyllum album.
Fauna:
The area is especially important because it accommodates the world's only known population of the endangered Slender-horned Gazella leptoceros. The Dorcas Gazella is still found in the area in small numbers while both the Fennec Vulpes zerda and Ruppell's Sand Fox V. rueppelli are scarce. There are 11 species of reptiles, 9 species of mammals, 13 species of resident birds, and 26 migrant and vagrant birds.
Tall grass and other greenery inside the Okhla Bird Sanctuary in Noida, in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. In the distance some cows can be seen. In the distance is a toll bridge over the river Yamuna with vehicles passing over the bridge. Also, some cows can be seen in the distance. The river Yamuna is very close by, lapping on the edges of the sanctuary.
I am on the Phi Phi Islands tour just off Phuket, Thailand, and we have just made our first stop of the tour at Maya Bay, which was the location where the 1999 Hollywood movie The Beach was filmed. Sadly, the sheer crowds and the consequent over tourism after the movie was released led to much damage to the coral reefs around Maya Bay and the environment, so much so that the authorities have closed the beaches on Maya Bay to tourists till 2021 at least. That does not however stop scores of tour boats disgorging large numbers of tourists here for swimming and snorkeling- so much for environmental protection. I was frankly getting a tad bored here as the stop has been longer than I had bargained for, but as you can see most boats have been calling their passengers back. But there are still a few splashing about, unconcerned about others on the boat. Sad. Detailed notes about the Phi Phi Islands National Park appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Phuket, Thailand, Oct/ Nov. 2019)
Light at the end of the tunnel- literally! We are just coming out of an incredibly low cave at Ko Hong in the Phang Nga Bay near Phuket, Thailand. We had been leaning back as it is, on our way in, but even before our return, just five minutes later, the tide had risen considerably and we had to lie down flat to be able to pass! A hong ('room' in Thai) refers to a collapsed cave system in the interior of each island in the Phang Nga Bay. These can be accessed by with inflatable kayaks like the one I am on, and only at low tide. I am on the Ao Phang Nga National Park speedboat tour, known more popularly as the James Bond Island tour, and we have made our second halt for the day here, for a spot of kayaking through these caves. I have just endured a very unnerving transfer from my speedboat onto an incredibly unstable little rubber kayak and have just manged to find my bearings and sit down, almost on the floor of the boat, without tumbling into the Andaman Sea. We are taken through several of these low caves- these are low enough as it is, but high tide and the consequent rise in water levels made these caves even lower! Notes about the Ao Phang Nga National Park appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Phuket, Thailand, Oct/ Nov. 2019)
A chipmunk pauses on a weathered tree trunk, gazing curiously at something just out of frame. With its tiny paws and alert expression, the scene captures a fleeting moment of natural curiosity in the forest. The aged texture of the bark contrasts with the smooth fur of the chipmunk, creating a charming and detailed wildlife image. Perfect for themes involving nature, animal behavior, woodland creatures, and forest photography.
Our time on Ko Mai Pai or Bamboo Island is up and it's now time to leave. This is the first post lunch stop on the Phi Phi Islands tour and there was really nothing else to do here except grab a coffee, which I already did from a shack on the island. This is apparently a good snorkeling spot, but we had stopped for that earlier in the day elsewhere on this trip (see previous pictures earlier in this album), and being the fag end of the trip, all of us are pretty tired anyway. I decided to get a selfie next to the Ranger Station sign on Bamboo Island. A passing tourist obliged me with this picture. Notes about the Ko Mai Pai or Bamboo Island as well as detailed notes about the Phi Phi Islands National Park appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Phuket, Thailand, Oct/ Nov. 2019)
Tourists getting down from a mini-bus inside the Eravikulam National Park. Once the bus reaches its final point, tourists can climb the winding road that climbs up the hillside (as can be seen with tourists at a higher point at the path) to go to higher locations in the park. A fog or mist is rolling down the hillside, to be followed by rain soon after. These are grasslands, with grass and the occasional trees. Eravikulam National Park is a relatively small national park located in the Idukki district of Kerala, being a part of the Western Ghats. Small because the area of the park is 97 sq. km, while traditionally the sanctuaries located in other parts of India can be many hundreds of sq. km or more. The park is interesting to visit, since it is located at a higher altitude, with the park being located at a height of around 2000 meter, on a hill plateau. The park has a number of animals, the most famous inhabitants of the park being the endangered Nilgiri Tahir (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) with a number of different predators also being found in the area. The park has 3 different regions of greenery - forests in some of the lower sections, grasslands and shrublands (located at higher levels and in rocky areas). Visitor vehicles are not allowed inside the park, with entry into the park being through mini-buses that are run by the park authorities. These buses take the visitor to a higher point, and from there visitors can climb higher on the turning and winding road and even come into contact with the Nilgiri Tahir who come close to the road.
Wild Rhinos in the distance- a mother an calf. Well, another guide coming from the opposite side told my guide something, about a couple of Rhinos spotted 'very close' Well, we did not find any Rhinos anywhere, they had wandered off by ten. But seemingly on instinct, my guide stopped suddenly and pointed out in the distance and said there, a rhino and a calf. I could not make out anything till a French gentleman and his two female companions came along to see what the fuss was all about. I spotted the mother and calf looking through their binoculars- that's a pretty large rhino there, mostly submerged in water, and her calf. If you see this picture in full screen or expanded mode, you can spot them at dead centre, just below those clumps of heather. Spotting is made more difficult because the fading light of dusk notwithstanding, the upper part of the Rhino's back is also dark as she has been wallowing in water. Inundation by regular flooding of the alluvial plains along major rivers creates conditions favorable for the quick appearance of sprouts and germination to maintain the dominance of various plants including the Saccharum spontaneum (a type of grass). This makes the monsoon flood very critical for maintaining Rhino habitat. Oxbow lakes and other open water bodies are also important because the Rhino spends about 8 hours in a day wallowing in open water and streams, especially during the months of August-September when the humidity is rather high. (Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)
I joined an eco-tourism daytrip from Guyana's capital Georgetown to the Arrowpoint Nature Resort. We drove out of town to marina on the Demerarr river, where we boarded a speedboat and crossed the river, then, taking about 45 minutes, navigated the Kamuni River into the Santa Aratack Amerindian Reserve, stopping at Santa Mission Amerindian community and the reaching Arrowpoint, where we had the options of walking in the rainforest, kayaking, swimming among activities.
Inside one of the caves at Ko Hong in the Pha Nga Bay on the Andaman Sea just off the coast of Phuket, Thailand. We are still sitting upright, but not for long. Another boatman coming in from the opposite side warned our boatman that the tide is rising rapidly, so to watch out. We had to return lying down on the boat, to avoid hitting our head on the rocks. I am on the Ao Phang Nga National Park speedboat tour, known more popularly as the James Bond Island tour, and we have made our second halt for the day here, for a spot of kayaking through these caves. I have just endured a very unnerving transfer from my speedboat onto an incredibly unstable little rubber kayak and have just manged to find my bearings and sit down, almost on the floor of the boat, without tumbling into the Andaman Sea. We are taken through several of these low caves- these are low enough as it is, but high tide and the consequent rise in water levels made these caves even lower! Notes about the Ao Phang Nga National Park appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Phuket, Thailand, Oct/ Nov. 2019)
Another shot from our inflatable kayak as we are about to exit from one of the low sea caves at Ko Hong in the Phang Nga Bay near Phuket, Thailand. We went in leaning back severely, but had to actually lie down on our way back just five minutes later as the tide rose dramatically A hong ('room' in Thai) refers to a collapsed cave system in the interior of each island in the Phang Nga Bay. These can be accessed by with inflatable kayaks like the one I am on, and only at low tide. I am on the Ao Phang Nga National Park speedboat tour, known more popularly as the James Bond Island tour, and we have made our second halt for the day here, for a spot of kayaking through these caves. I have just endured a very unnerving transfer from my speedboat onto an incredibly unstable little rubber kayak and have just manged to find my bearings and sit down, almost on the floor of the boat, without tumbling into the Andaman Sea. We are taken through several of these low caves- these are low enough as it is, but high tide and the consequent rise in water levels made these caves even lower! Notes about the Ao Phang Nga National Park appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Phuket, Thailand, Oct/ Nov. 2019)
The lesser kestrel breeds in the palearctic in Europe and northern Asia roughly between 30 and 50 degrees North latitude. The distribution includes altitudes of up to 500m above sea level. It is a migratory species, spending its winter in Africa, south of the Sahara. From February to April this bird is most numerous in northern Tanzania and southern Kenya.
Biogeographic Regionspalearctic native ethiopian native
Habitat
Lesser kestrels are found in bushed, wooded, and open grassland and cultivation. They nest on mountain slopes, gorges, deep ravines, and other rocky terrain, all of which must have open areas around them for the birds to hunt. They are found most numerously in highland farming regions and on grassy plains during the winter range.
Terrestrial Biomesdesert or dune savanna or grassland forest scrub forest
Physical Description
This small falcon has a length of 30-36 cm with long pointed wings. The long tail has a broad black terminal band. This falcon has strong sexual dimorphism in its plumage. Males have a chestnut back and a blue-grey crown, neck, rump, and tail. Their belly is a creamy pink with small brown streaks. The eye ring is bright yellow while the feet are an orange-yellow. The undersides of the wings are white with a black tip. Females have a brown back and head with a pale belly. Both the back and belly are streaked with brown. The wings are also light with dark barring and black tips. Juvenile lesser kestrels look similar to the females.
Other Physical Featuresendothermic bilateral symmetry
Reproduction
Breeding occurs during the months of March through June. Kestrels do not build nests. Instead they lay their eggs in a depression they scrape in the trees of the nesting location. They breed in colonies of up to 100 pairs. Females invest more time in nesting activities than males. Kestrels have a normal clutch size of 4 to 6, laid over a two day interval, but the range in number of eggs is 1 to 7. Incubation starts after the third egg is laid and lasts 28 to 31 days. Because incubation is delayed until the after the third egg, the first three eggs usually hatch on the same day with the rest following in the next couple of days. This means the last bird hatched is smaller than the rest. The difference in size allows the brood to be reduced by sibling rivalry if sources of food are short. Kestrel nestlings have been seen to kill and eat brood-mates, but most deaths occur because of failure to compete for food. Parents continue to feed their young for 2 to 4 weeks after hatching.
The fabulous sunset we missed the previous evening due to the rains. Well, it was way past sunset, this is dusk, and night has just set in. After returning from the jeep safari, we have to walk another couple of hundred metres to the banks of the East Rapti river. And just when I thought we were done with uncomfortable canoe rides for the day, sitting cramped up at almost floor level on stools just a couple of inches high on an unsteady canoe, here we are, faced with the last last boat ride for the day- we need to get across the river to our hotel. I missed taking a shot of a boat that had just left with a previous lot of passengers but the nice Chinese lady who was in our group had managed a lively shot which I saw on her WeChat feed. Well, that officially ends the Chitwan wildlife trip- what remains now is a Charu tribe cultural show, which I will proceed to after freshening up a bit at the hotel. (see subsequent pictures later in this album). (Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal, Oct/ Nov. 2019)
Communities use stupas to mark boundaries between natural forest and farming land, in West Bali National Park (WBNP), in accordance with their religious beliefs. This stupa is located between Palengkong and Pejarakan villagers' fields inside WBNP, Bali, Indonesia.
Photo by Aulia Erlangga/CIFOR
If you use one of our photos, please credit it accordingly and let us know. You can reach us through our Flickr account or at: cifor-mediainfo@cgiar.org and m.edliadi@cgiar.org
A Pengerak villager crosses a river in Kenasau forest, Danau Sentarum National Park, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Photo by Ramadian Bachtiar/CIFOR
If you use one of our photos, please credit it accordingly and let us know. You can reach us through our Flickr account or at: cifor-mediainfo@cgiar.org and m.edliadi@cgiar.org