View allAll Photos Tagged RELATED
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.
Thank you for your visits and wonderful comments...sorry, I am a bit behind on groups and visits to all your photostreams. I will be back in 2 weeks...until then, take lots of pix!
Happy Friday to my Flickr Friends...have a peaceful weekend!
EXPLORE/June 6, 2008 -- Thank you all!
LISTEN TO IZ (Somewhere Over the Rainbow): www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OMLoAtC9RY&feature=related
Finally, something NOT fire related. The haze is just that -- not smoke. =)
I have had an interesting week or so, since the fire was contained on 7/27. I am just now beginning to get back to work and my various interests. The emotional impact of something like this is hard to assess, but finally, I feel as if I am coming out of it, enjoying the more mundane parts of my existance and experience. Thus, I wanted to share this more "classic" shot of the home I love so much
A fresh start (:
First most important, i want to apologize to everybody i may have let down, let wait or anything related to my absence.
A lot has happened in my life, good and bad, either way, it was busy!
I am a volunteer for shelters and take dogs into my home to find them a happy family, but i must train them etc, which is super fun but takes some time! :D
Then there is sl, well, i am not very social in game, i have amazing friends in real life, and sure i met awesome people in sl also, however, certain people think it is alright to say bad things about you. Or screw you over. Well, i will not let my guard down anymore!
It is hard to let people close, they make it even harder, if they lie.
I mean there is already so much bs going on in the world. Can we have and keep online as a safe space. Stop the gossip, stop the lying. Lets not go evil just because you are hiding behind screen.
Rant rant rant :p
Anyway i needed a break from all this. Now i am happy and refreshed! And ready for a new start. With this new beginning i wanted a new name.
Mori.
Hope ya`ll dig it!
With love,
Nalena. ♥
Flickr Lounge ~ Food Related Utensils
Stay safe and well everyone.
Thank you to everyone who pauses long enough to look at my photo. Any comments or Faves are very much appreciated
Parei de escrever, pois nao posso escrever assim.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oltzgY2eTqg&feature=related
Boa viajem...
Have a good trip, enjoy it loud...
Escutem bem alto...
Possivelmente fazendo amor, fara a sua vida melhor....
Sally and I independently had the same reaction to this cat. We only see it occasionally, and it is elusive, but I happened to have my phone in hand for this encounter with a neighborhood cat.
All three of our tabbies came about as a result of an ex-neighbor who had 2 tabby sisters. She thought it was funny that they "[kept] getting pregnant at the exact same time" and was indiscriminate about their care and who she gave them to. So that's two litters each before Camille brought her kittens to us (and the sister had another litter). This cat could easily be from one of those litters.
We have Camille (one of the mama cats), Camille's son Cricket, and Camille's "nephew" Cousin. When we first got them, we had to get a good look at their faces to tell them apart. But Cricket's nose is longer, and he has more red in his face, Camille's eyes are larger, etc. This cat has some of all three cats.
(All of our cats--including "the stripes"--are neutered.)
1.
the state or fact of being present, as with others or in a place.
2.
attendance or company: Your presence is requested.
3.
immediate vicinity; proximity: in the presence of witnesses.
Welcome to Lunar Industries (Three Year Stretch)♫
Costretto ma anche affascinato dal lo-fi, dalla resa delle polaroid scadute, dal foro stenopeico (e da altro che ora e qui tralascio), ho finito per avvicinarmici sempre di più; con mezzi esoterici, con la Rifotografia e con gli espedienti propri della Fotoigienica (tecniche espressive universalmente riconosciute e che non sto qui a spiegare), sino ad approdare infine alle polaroid con una vecchia Automatic e alla fotografia stenopeica con la costruzione della Dippold pinhole camera.
Ora manco arrivato comincio a tornare indietro, facendo il percorso inverso. Dalle polaroid e dal pinolo alla Rifotografia e alla Fotoigienica. Come in questa foto scattata in principio con la Dippold pinhole, “rifotografata” e con aggiunta di Fotoigienica realizzata con busta di grissini, appena mangiati nell’ultima sessione di insonnia notturna.
... just an old good song ;)
Devenir gris
Devenir gris
One man on a lonely platform
One case sitting by his side
Two eyes staring cold and silent
Show fear as he turns to hide
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Un homme dans une gare isolée
Une valise a ses cotés
Des yeux fixes et froids
Montre de la peur lorsqu'il
Se tourne pour se cacher
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Sent la pluie comme un été Anglais
Entends les notes d'une chanson lointaine
Sortant de derriere d'un poster
Espérant que la vie ne fut aussi longue
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Feel the rain like an English summer
Hear the notes from a distant song
Stepping out from a back shop poster
Wishing life wouldn't be so long. . .
Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus (M)
(Double click)
The common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel, or Old World kestrel. In Britain, where no other kestrel species occurs, it is generally just called "the kestrel".
This species occurs over a large range. It is widespread in Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as occasionally reaching the east coast of North America.
Kestrels can hover in still air, even indoors in barns. Because they face towards any slight wind when hovering, the common kestrel is called a "windhover" in some areas.
Unusual for falcons, plumage often differs between male and female, although as is usual with monogamous raptors the female is slightly larger than the male. This allows a pair to fill different feeding niches over their home range. Kestrels are bold and have adapted well to human encroachment, nesting in buildings and hunting by major roads. Kestrels do not build their own nests, but use nests built by other species.
Their plumage is mainly light chestnut brown with blackish spots on the upperside and buff with narrow blackish streaks on the underside; the remiges are also blackish. Unlike most raptors, they display sexual colour dimorphism with the male having fewer black spots and streaks, as well as a blue-grey cap and tail. The tail is brown with black bars in females, and has a black tip with a narrow white rim in both sexes. All common kestrels have a prominent black malar stripe like their closest relatives.
The cere, feet, and a narrow ring around the eye are bright yellow; the toenails, bill and iris are dark. Juveniles look like adult females, but the underside streaks are wider; the yellow of their bare parts is paler. Hatchlings are covered in white down feathers, changing to a buff-grey second down coat before they grow their first true plumage.
Data from Britain shows nesting pairs bringing up about 2–3 chicks on average, though this includes a considerable rate of total brood failures; actually, few pairs that do manage to fledge offspring raise less than 3 or 4. Compared to their siblings, first-hatched chicks have greater survival and recruitment probability, thought to be due to the first-hatched chicks obtaining a higher body condition when in the nest. Population cycles of prey, particularly voles, have a considerable influence on breeding success. Most common kestrels die before they reach 2 years of age; mortality up until the first birthday may be as high as 70%. At least females generally breed at one year of age; possibly, some males take a year longer to maturity as they do in related species. The biological lifespan to death from senescence can be 16 years or more, however; one was recorded to have lived almost 24 years.
Population:
UK breeding:
46,000 pairs
Where is my Mind? - Pixies
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfcW_cPDCHo&feature=related
Thank you all for your visits, faves, invites and wonderful comments !
Related to the Cuckoos, this guy suffers a nose-bump that I am sure a good cosmetic surgeon could cure!
A small, dark heron arrayed in moody blues and purples, the Little Blue Heron is a common but inconspicuous resident of marshes and estuaries in the Southeast. They stalk shallow waters for small fish and amphibians, adopting a quiet, methodical approach that can make these gorgeous herons surprisingly easy to overlook at first glance. Little Blue Herons build stick nests in trees alongside other colonial waterbirds. In the U.S., their populations have been in a gradual decline since the mid-twentieth
Source:
All About Birds, The Cornell Lab of Omithology
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRtmkNuQ7h8&feature=related
Break this bittersweet spell on me
Lost in the arms of destiny
I saw these in the store last year, and thought they were so cute. They have a whole line of food-related stuffed toys. You will probably see more for future themes. Here is another pic: flic.kr/p/2pG9HKo You can see the whole product line here: us.jellycat.com/amuseables/amuseables-food-drink?_gl=1*w7...
For Looking Close on Friday theme "Plush Toys"
Almost gull-like, this grey and white seabird is related to the albatrosses. The fulmar flies low over the sea on stiff wings, with shallow wingbeats, gliding and banking to show its white underparts then grey upperparts. At its breeding sites it will fly high up the cliff face, riding the updraughts. They will feed in flocks out at sea. They defend their nests from intruders by spitting out a foul-smelling oil. They eat: Fish waste, crustaceans and sand eels (Courtesy RSPB).
Thanks for viewing my photos and for any favourites and comments, it’s much appreciated.
An Asian bird closely related to our North American Wood Duck, which is from the same genus. This male Mandarin has been observed pursuing a female Wood Duck at Burnaby Lake, which makes me wonder if it's possible they can mate and produce hybrid offspring. That would be quite wonderful to see.
SN/NC: Congea Tomentosa, Verbenaceae Family
Congea tomentosa is a large tropical evergreen vine, commonly referred to as wooly congea, shower orchid, or shower of orchid. (Despite the name, it is not closely related to orchids). It is called lluvia de orquideas or terciopelo in Spanish, krua on in Thai, and rong bao teng in Chinese. Native to Myanmar and Thailand, it can be found elsewhere in South Asia, including Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia (Kedah), China (Yunnan), Bangladesh, and India (Assam, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal). Its native habitat is mixed forests 600–1200 meters above sea level. This tropical vine has been naturalized elsewhere, including the islands of the Caribbean, southern Florida, and southern California. In the United States, wooly congea can be grown outdoors in USDA zones 10 and 11. It does not tolerate frost.
Congea tomentosa é uma grande trepadeira perene tropical, comumente referida como congea lanosa, orquídea de chuva ou chuva de orquídea. (Apesar do nome, não está intimamente relacionado com orquídeas). É chamada de lluvia de orquideas ou terciopelo em espanhol, krua on em tailandês e rong bao teng em chinês. Nativo de Mianmar e Tailândia, pode ser encontrado em outras partes do Sul da Ásia, incluindo Laos, Vietnã, Malásia (Kedah), China (Yunnan), Bangladesh e Índia (Assam, Manipur, Tamil Nadu e Bengala Ocidental). A congéia é uma trepadeira muito vigorosa e exuberante, com textura delicada. Apesar de tropical, ela se encaixa em diferentes estilos de jardins, e pode cobrir cercas, grades, caramanchões, pérgolas, pórticos e coroar muros. Também pode ser conduzida como arbusto e cerca-viva. Seu habitat nativo são florestas mistas 600–1200 metros acima do nível do mar. Esta videira tropical foi naturalizada em outros lugares, incluindo as ilhas do Caribe, sul da Flórida e sul da Califórnia. Não tolera geadas.
Congea tomentosa es una gran enredadera tropical de hoja perenne, comúnmente conocida como congea lanuda, orquídea de ducha o ducha de orquídea. (A pesar del nombre, no está estrechamente relacionado con las orquídeas). Se llama lluvia de orquideas o terciopelo en español, krua on en tailandés y rong bao teng en chino. Originario de Myanmar y Tailandia, se puede encontrar en otras partes del sur de Asia, incluidos Laos, Vietnam, Malasia (Kedah), China (Yunnan), Bangladesh e India (Assam, Manipur, Tamil Nadu y Bengala Occidental). Su hábitat nativo son los bosques mixtos a 600-1200 metros sobre el nivel del mar. Esta vid tropical se ha naturalizado en otros lugares, incluidas las islas del Caribe, el sur de Florida y el sur de California. En los Estados Unidos, la lana congea se puede cultivar al aire libre en las zonas USDA 10 y 11. No tolera las heladas.
Congea tomentosa is een grote tropische groenblijvende wijnstok, gewoonlijk wollige congea, doucheorchidee of orchideedouche genoemd. (Ondanks de naam is het niet nauw verwant aan orchideeën). Het wordt lluvia de orquideas of terciopelo genoemd in het Spaans, krua on in het Thais en rong bao teng in het Chinees. Inheems in Myanmar en Thailand, kan het elders in Zuid-Azië worden gevonden, waaronder Laos, Vietnam, Maleisië (Kedah), China (Yunnan), Bangladesh en India (Assam, Manipur, Tamil Nadu en West-Bengalen). Zijn oorspronkelijke habitat is gemengde bossen op 600-1200 meter boven zeeniveau. Deze tropische wijnstok is elders genaturaliseerd, waaronder de eilanden van het Caribisch gebied, Zuid-Florida en Zuid-Californië. In de Verenigde Staten kan wollige congea buiten worden gekweekt in USDA zones 10 en 11. Het verdraagt geen vorst.
Congea tomentosa est une grande vigne tropicale à feuilles persistantes, communément appelée congea laineuse, orchidée de douche ou douche d'orchidée. (Malgré son nom, il n'est pas étroitement lié aux orchidées). On l'appelle lluvia de orquideas ou terciopelo en espagnol, krua on en thaï et rong bao teng en chinois. Originaire du Myanmar et de la Thaïlande, on le trouve ailleurs en Asie du Sud, notamment au Laos, au Vietnam, en Malaisie (Kedah), en Chine (Yunnan), au Bangladesh et en Inde (Assam, Manipur, Tamil Nadu et Bengale occidental). Son habitat naturel est constitué de forêts mixtes situées à 600–1200 mètres d'altitude. Cette vigne tropicale a été naturalisée ailleurs, notamment dans les îles des Caraïbes, dans le sud de la Floride et dans le sud de la Californie. Aux États-Unis, le congea laineux peut être cultivé à l'extérieur dans les zones USDA 10 et 11. Il ne tolère pas le gel.
La congea tomentosa è una grande liana sempreverde tropicale, comunemente chiamata congea lanosa, doccia orchidea o pioggia di orchidee. (Nonostante il nome, non è strettamente imparentato con le orchidee). Si chiama lluvia de orquideas o terciopelo in spagnolo, krua on in tailandese e rong bao teng in cinese. Originario del Myanmar e della Thailandia, può essere trovato altrove nell'Asia meridionale, tra cui Laos, Vietnam, Malesia (Kedah), Cina (Yunnan), Bangladesh e India (Assam, Manipur, Tamil Nadu e Bengala occidentale). Il suo habitat naturale sono le foreste miste a 600-1200 metri sul livello del mare. Questo vitigno tropicale è stato naturalizzato altrove, comprese le isole dei Caraibi, la Florida meridionale e la California meridionale. Negli Stati Uniti, la congea lanosa può essere coltivata all'aperto nelle zone 10 e 11 dell'USDA. Non tollera il gelo.
Congea tomentosa ist eine große tropische immergrüne Rebe, die allgemein als wollige Congea, Duschorchidee oder Orchideendusche bezeichnet wird. (Trotz des Namens ist es nicht eng mit Orchideen verwandt). Auf Spanisch heißt es lluvia de orquideas oder terciopelo, auf Thai krua on und auf Chinesisch rong bao teng. Sie ist in Myanmar und Thailand beheimatet und kommt in anderen Teilen Südasiens vor, darunter Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia (Kedah), China (Yunnan), Bangladesch und Indien (Assam, Manipur, Tamil Nadu und Westbengalen). Sein ursprünglicher Lebensraum sind Mischwälder 600-1200 Meter über dem Meeresspiegel. Diese tropische Rebe wurde anderswo eingebürgert, darunter die Inseln der Karibik, Südflorida und Südkalifornien. In den Vereinigten Staaten kann wollige Congea in den USDA-Zonen 10 und 11 im Freien angebaut werden. Sie verträgt keinen Frost.
Congea tomentosa عبارة عن كرمة استوائية كبيرة دائمة الخضرة ، يشار إليها عادةً باسم كونجيا الصوفي ، أو أوركيد الاستحمام ، أو دش الأوركيد. (على الرغم من الاسم ، فإنه لا يرتبط ارتباطًا وثيقًا بساتين الفاكهة). يطلق عليه lluvia de orquideas أو terciopelo باللغة الإسبانية ، و krua on باللغة التايلاندية ، و rong bao teng باللغة الصينية. موطنها ميانمار وتايلاند ، يمكن العثور عليها في أماكن أخرى في جنوب آسيا ، بما في ذلك لاوس وفيتنام وماليزيا (كيدا) والصين (يونان) وبنغلاديش والهند (آسام ومانيبور وتاميل نادو والبنغال الغربية). موطنها الأصلي هو الغابات المختلطة 600-1200 متر فوق مستوى سطح البحر. تم تجنيس هذه الكرمة الاستوائية في أماكن أخرى ، بما في ذلك جزر الكاريبي وجنوب فلوريدا وجنوب كاليفورنيا. في الولايات المتحدة ، يمكن أن تنمو كونغيا الصوفية في الهواء الطلق في مناطق وزارة الزراعة الأمريكية 10 و 11. وهي لا تتحمل الصقيع.
绒苞藤是一种大型热带常绿藤本植物，通常被称为“绒毛绒苞藤”、“兰花瀑布”或“ Orchid Shower”。（尽管名字如此，它与兰花并无密切关系）。在西班牙语中它被称为“lluvia de orquideas”或“terciopelo”，泰语中称为“krua on”，中文则称作“绒苞藤”。它原产于缅甸和泰国，也分布于亚洲其他地区，包括老挝、越南、马来西亚（吉打州）、中国（云南）、孟加拉国和印度（阿萨姆邦、曼尼普尔邦、泰米尔纳德邦和西孟加拉邦）。其原生栖息地为海拔600至1200米的混交林。这种热带藤本植物已在其他地区归化，包括加勒比海岛屿、美国佛罗里达州南部和加利福尼亚州南部。在美国，绒苞藤可在美国农业部植物耐寒区10区和11区户外种植。它不耐霜冻。
コンゲア・トメントサ（Congea tomentosa）は、大型の熱帯性常緑つる植物で、一般に「ウーリー・コンゲア」、「シャワー・オーキッド」、「シャワー・オブ・オーキッド」と呼ばれます（名前にも関わらず、ラン科とは近縁ではありません）。スペイン語では「リュビア・デ・オルキデアス」または「テルシオペロ」、タイ語では「クルア・オン」、中国語では「绒苞藤（ロンバオトン）」と呼ばれます。ミャンマーとタイが原産で、ラオス、ベトナム、マレーシア（ケダ州）、中国（雲南省）、バングラデシュ、インド（アッサム州、マニプル州、タミル・ナードゥ州、西ベンガル州）など、南アジアの他の地域でも見られます。原生地は海抜600～1200メートルの混交林です。この熱帯性のつる植物は、カリブ海の島々、米国フロリダ州南部、カリフォルニア州南部など、他の地域にも帰化しています。アメリカ合衆国では、USDAプラントハーディネスゾーン10と11で屋外栽培が可能です。霜には耐性がありません。
Here's another one of those SoCal exotics, the Mandarin on the right a native of Asia. It is, however, distantly related to our Wood Duck. The females of the two species are so similar it's difficult to tell them apart. No females today, musta been Boys' Day Out, or Off.
Flickr Lounge ~ Food Related Utensils
366/2020 - 2020 Vision ~ 255/366
It's Apple Crumble for tea today.
Stay safe and well everyone.
Thank you to everyone who pauses long enough to look at my photo. Any comments or Faves are very much appreciated
1. Rays and skates are flattened fish closely related to sharks. All belong to a group of fish called Elasmobranchs.
2. These guys are pretty unique as they have no bones in their body – their skeleton is made up of flexible cartilage (the bendy stuff that your ears and nose are made from!).
3. Although they look near identical, rays and skates are actually different. Stingrays are ovoviviparous, meaning the young are hatched from eggs that are held within the body, whereas skates are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs – these eggs are protected by a hard, rectangular case often called a “mermaid”s purse“!
4. There are many different types of ray including stingrays, electric rays, butterfly rays, round rays, manta rays, guitarfish and sawfish.
ipiccy.com and me
My ornaments have come out of their hiding spot in the attic once again and are waiting for their time in the spotlight. Traditionally in Austria, the tree does not get decorated until the late afternoon or evening of the 24th. The "Christkind", the Christ Child, brings the presents, not Father Christmas or Santa. We will read the story of christmas from the bible, light the candles on the tree and then sing the most famous Austrian Christmas song, Silent Night. If you don't know the story of the song, it is a nice one. Here is a clip at a church which has a similar celebration to the one here in my town.
I wish you all a wonderful Christmas, full of love from my family to yours.
surname Effinger
in der mitte , middle; Tablett Vassoio tray
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why beer?
i love
my grandfather (( Moritz EFFINGER) was professionell beer brewer
and EFFINGER BEER til 1966, as i know !
dbythelake.blogspot.com/2007/01/relax-and-enjoy-effingers...
.de
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Warum Bier?
ich mag es!
Mein Großvater ((Moritz EFFINGER) war Bierbrau Meister.
Amerikanisches Effinger Bier war etwa bis 1966 zu haben:
EFFINGER BEER erhalten!
thanks Mike Effinger
Brauerei Gäule (Pferde) mit Effinger Biere
www.co.sauk.wi.us/dept/arts/_gallery/_images/baraboo1.jpg
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© The Best of Today ©
Better © View
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www.facebook.com/Effinger-Beer-99008282356/posts?ref=page...
Ferdinand Effinger, Sr., a German immigrant, founded the family brewing business in Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisconsin in 1885. One of about 300 small breweries in Wisconsin when founded in the late nineteenth century, the Effinger Brewing Company was one of only 19 small breweries in the state in 1966, when the firm ceased brewing due to declining sales.
The original brewery complex, erected in 1885, housed Effinger's family and a saloon in addition to beer-making facilities. Eleven years later, Effinger was one of the earliest brewers in the state to begin producing bottled beer.
In 1911 Effinger reorganized the firm as a corporation owned by family members. In 1913-1914 the brewery was remodeled and expanded, providing space for new cellars, keg washrooms, and a mechanical refrigeration system.
With the advent of Prohibition in 1920, the company began producing root beer and near-beer. In 1921 the firm successfully converted to ice cream making and sales. Ten years later, the firm sold its ice cream business to the Borden Company and began reconverting the plant for beer production, which began in 1933. The firm continued its expansion program through 1948 when a new brewery building was completed and new bottling equipment was installed.
Throughout its 81-year existence, the Effinger Brewing Company remained a family-owned and managed business. The sons and grandsons of the founder served as corporate officers and as managers of the brewery. After the death of the founder in 1945, Ferdinand Effinger, Jr., became the firm's president and brewmaster, positions he occupied until the firm went out of business. Frederick J. Effinger, a grandson of the founder, served as secretary-treasurer and director (plant manager) from 1945 to 1966.
Car: Wolseley 15/50.
Year of manufacture: 1958.
Date of first registration in the UK: 5th May 1958.
Place of registration: Not known, registration is an age-related reissue.
Date of last MOT: 11th July 2012.
Mileage at last MOT: 56,913.
Date of last change of keeper: 7th March 2022.
Number of previous keepers: 4.
Date taken: 14th June 2023.
Album: Carspotting 2023
Magnolia Plantation and gardens, SC
The elegant Great Egret is a dazzling sight in many a North American wetland. Slightly smaller and more svelte than a Great Blue Heron, these are still large birds with impressive wingspans. They hunt in classic heron fashion, standing immobile or wading through wetlands to capture fish with a deadly jab of their yellow bill. Great Egrets were hunted nearly to extinction for their plumes in the late nineteenth century, sparking conservation movements and some of the first laws to protect birds.
Source: All About Birds, The Cornell Lab of Omithology
A female Rose-breasted Grosbeak balances on a very slim branch following a freak spring snowstorm on the northern prairie. This seed-eater is related to the cardinals, which also includes the buntings and tanagers.
The snow was so bright that it made house windows extra-reflective, and a number of people here reported bird deaths from collisions. The most effective strategy seems to be to place colourful post-it notes at random on any large pane of glass; the birds then recognize it as a solid object and don't try to fly through it. This worked for two of my friends: no more collisions.
Reflected light from the snow was a bonus for this photographer, as it kept the birds' underparts bright. I made this shot in my artist friend Laureen Marchand's backyard, near her feeders, where hundreds of birds gathered in the aftermath of the freak May snowstorm. She is @laureenartist on Instagram.
One more to come from this amazing morning. Photographed in Val Marie, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2021 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Such a pretty colour!
Dichorisandra thyrsiflora
Fam: Commelinaceae
Not a true Ginger but it resembles a ginger in growth and habit. Related to spiderworts.
Siskins are quite closely related to Goldfinches and Redpolls, and often form winter flocks with these, particularly the latter. Although recent analysis of their DNA has resulted in them being placed in a separate genus (Spinus). When I first started birdwatching Siskins were mainly a northern bird but they have enjoyed a spectacular range expansion in the past 40 years or so (166% according to the latest Bird Atlas). I mainly used to see them on holidays to Scotland but now they are a widespread garden visitor. The name Siskin has been in use since William Turner in 1544 although the early writers also used the peculiar name Aberdavine. But in 1768 Thomas Pennant used Siskin as his standard, and it has been the standard name ever since. Its scientific name spinus was an unidentified bird mentioned by various ancient writers including Aristophanes and Dionysius and it was Linnaeus who chose the name for Siskin in 1758 (Fringilla spinus). There are 16 species of Siskin in the genus Spinus, all bar this one are found in the Americas, with our Eurasian Siskin being found across Europe and Siberia (but with a big gap in the middle. There are also three African Siskins (such as this Ethiopian Siskin www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/33087596534/in/photolist ) but these are in a different genera (Crithagra and Serinus). I photographed this male in spring on a Birch tree in my garden.
And one final thing, many years ago a farmer in Cheshire phoned me to say he had Cirl Buntings on his farm. Cirl Buntings are famously restricted to the south coast but he seemed to know his birds and he insisted they were exactly like Yellowhammers but with black throats www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/49629728342/in/photolist I was almost ready to travel down and take a look when I asked what habitat they were in. He told me they were feeding on the peanut bags in his back garden and the penny dropped that they were Siskins.