SMALL and compact bird with a relatively short. dark tail. This male was seen at Sandwich Bay Kent and was the only bird of note seen today, and a bit distant, hope you enjoy it!

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Trust you are staying safe and well, thanks for your visit, please leave a comment, it is always appreciated, and find it encouraging . God bless.........................Tomx

It was a relatively long wait for this individual to emerge in front of the wetland hide at Calke Abbey Park, though eventually when it did decide to put in an appearance, it popped out quite frequently during late afternoon. However, it never ventured far into the feeder clearing in front of the hide, always lurking on the fringes and very skittish, scuttling back into the undergrowth at the first hint of risk..

A different foray to the first shot I posted, on this occasion it emerged down the narrow path on the far side of the hide clearing, again without straying too far. A squirrel sent it rather rapidly back into the undergrowth.

A relatively small swallow of western North America. Adult males have a white face and show turquoise-green upperparts and a purple rump in good light. Females and immatures are duller on the upperparts, sometimes just dusky-gray. In flight, note the prominent white "saddlebags" extending up from the underparts to the sides of the rump. Fairly common in a variety of open habitats, often foraging over meadows or ponds. Can be seen in large flocks, sometimes mixed with other species of swallow. Breeds as far north as Alaska; winters primarily in Mexico and northern Central America. (eBird)

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Same barbed wire fence as the Barn Swallow, but different building as a backdrop. the bold colour really shows off the fabulous colours of this beautiful swallow. This really is its colour - I colour-matched it against other photos on eBird. We had seen these beauties a few times before but never in such good light :-)

Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada. May 2022.

Eagle-Eye Tours - Utlimate British Columbia.

RELATIVELY bulky but unobtrusive wetland warbler whose loud, explosive song is often the first indication of its presence in the area, and if like above it breaks cover, this is the only time of the year to see it, while looking for a mate. The rest of the time is spent skulking around in deep bramble patches.

Thank God I got lucky !!!! Seen at Stodmarsh N.R Kent U.K.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, being transported around the world by your amazing images, while sitting in my armchair. Enjoy the rest of the week, keep a smile on your face and love in your heart for everyone......God bless you...Tomx

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"Ask JESUS into your life you will never regret it !"

This is a relatively low-res shot consisting of two iPhone 6 captures just after sunset in upstate South Carolina, USA. The two captures have been stitched together and cropped. Beyond that, this shot has been very minimally edited (as nature provided great conditions that did not require much!). There's some very minor HDR to help the treeline stand out a bit, plus I slightly adjusted shadows faintly darker so the parking lot on the right in the foreground wasn't as noticeable. Other than that, these colors - from the deep purples and reds to the slivers of yellow - are unaltered and are indicative of the beautiful sky that evening.

Neoscona oaxacensis is a relatively large spider, females being about 9–18 mm (0.35–0.7 in) long overall, with a carapace of about 4–8 mm (0.15–0.3 in) long by 3–6 mm (0.1–0.25 in) wide. Males are smaller, being about 6–13 mm (0.25–0.5 in) long overall, with a carapace of about 3–6 mm (0.1–0.25 in) long by 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. Specimens from the Galápagos are among the largest found. The black-and-white pattern on the upper (dorsal) surface of the abdomen is considered to be distinctive. South American specimens have a more slender abdomen than North American ones, with a more distinct light central band, which has a wavy border. Females have an epigyne appearing 2.5 times as long as wide when viewed from the rear. Males have a palp with an S-shaped conductor.

Spider from Spider Pavilion Natural History Museum. Los Angeles. California.

A relatively small salt lake and sand dunes in Central Australia about 330 km northwest of Alice Springs taken from the air. The unvegetated sand is a mobile sand dune.

The smoke in the distance is from fires which have been deliberately lit. Small scale planned burning in the cooler months of the year can reduce the risk of wildfires occurring during the very hot summers.

Thanks for visiting. I am very grateful for the very kind comments and faves which have been left.

Smallest Australian nocturnal bird, primarily gray-brown with large eyes, relatively long tail, and "whiskers" on the face. During the day, usually seen only if one is peering out of a roosting hollow. Small size and near lack of eyeshine make this species also difficult to locate at night; the call, a loud, brief "chew," is the best way to locate one. (eBird)

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Our guide had identified a suitable cavity in a tree that might just house an Owlet-Nightjar, so he went to take a look. As he stood on his toes to look into the hole, he knocked softly on the tree trunk. All of a sudden, he yelled and fell backwards. We all thought he had been bitten by something. Instead, this lovely little bird flew right at him, and then swerved and left the tree through another exit. It then landed on this branch and glared at us as our guide recovered his balance and his dignity :-)

Being a relatively normal human being, I gravitated to the biggest waves when I originally (and subsequently) checked out my storm shots and dumped sub par waves in a separate folder. Well I just went through that folder and there are some shots with the most amazing lighting that I ignored because of the "small" waves, what a complete donut I must have been back then!

Here is one that I particularly liked. I should mention that I have in no way desaturated this image, just the colour of the day - grey.

Porthcawl Lighthouse in stormy weather.

Of relatively insignificant height (232m/761ft), but high in archaeological significance since the summit has two interlocking hill-forts plus cup-and-ring marked rocks a short distance away, It has pretty stunning views to the Cheviots too!

A relatively large and shallow lake in the Deschutes National Forest, it is located toward the south end of the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, near Oregon Route 58 and U.S. 97. The lake is known as one of Oregon's best bass lakes.

Davis Lake was formed by a lava flow within the nearby volcanic field blocking Odell Creek. The blockage results in the lake, which can cover over 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) acres in the winter months. In the summer, however, the inflow from Odell and Ranger creeks cannot fill up the lake as fast as the water escapes through the lava blockage, resulting in the lake covering a much smaller area. It is unknown where the water goes that escapes through the lava dam.

We have had a great snow melt leading to all of our high lakes being overfilled. By August there will be no water in this area. But it was lovely with the colorful sunrise and the drifting fog.

Small sandpiper with relatively long, droopy bill (longer on females). In breeding plumage, shows rich rufous tones on shoulders, cheeks, and crown. Nonbreeding is plain pale gray above and white below. Juveniles look pale-faced and have a bright strip of rufous feathers on the upper edge of the wings. Most similar to Semipalmated Sandpiper, which averages shorter-billed and duller grayish-brown overall. Extremely difficult to distinguish in winter; note Western is somewhat larger-headed and more front-heavy. Droopy bill might recall Dunlin, but Western is smaller and paler. Breeds on high Arctic tundra in Alaska. In migration and winter, occurs in large flocks on mudflats and beaches. Much more common in western North America; uncommon to rare on the east coast. Occurs in the winter in the U.S., unlike Semipalmated Sandpiper; regularly winters as far south as Peru, rare to Chile. (eBird)

We missed the shorebird migration by a couple of weeks, so were very pleased to come across this Western Sandpiper on the mudflats.

Tofino, British Columbia, Canada. May 2022.

Eagle-Eye Tours - Ultimate British Columbia.

Relatively large-headed and chunky. Gray and green overall, lacking buffy or orangey tones. Males have shocking magenta head, which appears dark when not catching the light. Females have dingy grayish underparts and often show a dark patch in the center of the throat. Note relatively short, straight bill compared with Black-chinned or Costa’s Hummingbird. Common year-round in the Pacific states of the U.S., mainly in relatively open or scrubby habitats including desert scrub and chaparral. Frequently seen in suburban yards and gardens, often visiting sugar water feeders. Expanding its range northward into British Colombia, even regular in southeast Alaska. Winters to southern Baja and locally elsewhere in Mexico. Listen for male’s scratchy, metallic song, given when perched. (eBird)

Both females and males have a little patch of colour on their throats. Given the time of year, this is more likely an adult female. I could not get an angle that shows her full bill, but the rest of the bird is here.

Delta, British Columbia, Canada. June 2022.

Eagle-Eye Tours - Ultimate British Columbia.

Relatively large-headed and chunky. Gray and green overall, lacking buffy or orangey tones. Males have shocking magenta head, which appears dark when not catching the light. Females have dingy grayish underparts and often show a dark patch in the center of the throat. Note relatively short, straight bill compared with Black-chinned or Costa’s Hummingbird. Common year-round in the Pacific states of the U.S., mainly in relatively open or scrubby habitats including desert scrub and chaparral. Frequently seen in suburban yards and gardens, often visiting sugar water feeders. Expanding its range northward into British Colombia, even regular in southeast Alaska. Winters to southern Baja and locally elsewhere in Mexico. Listen for male’s scratchy, metallic song, given when perched. (eBird)

Cypress Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada. May 2022.

Eagle-Eye Tours Ultimate British Columbia.

Pennan in the north of Scotland is put out constantly to the tides of the sea. In my visit in early autumn it meant the weather still humanly, the sea remained relatively quiet. I ask myself how it looks fine here if sometimes a storm gathers.....

You to all good light and a nice week-end

Immer den Gezeiten ausgesetzt

Pennan im Norden Schottlands ist ständig den Gezeiten des Meeres ausgesetzt. Bei meinem Besuch im Frühherbst meinte es das Wetter noch human, die See blieb verhältnismäßig ruhig. Ich frage mich, wie es hier wohl aussieht wenn mal ein Sturm aufzieht.....

Euch allen gutes Licht und ein schönes Wochenende

A landscape that is a little wilder than the previous image.This photo shows the relatively level plateau between Wrynose Pass and Hardknott Pass in Cumbria. It's the most direct rouse between Langdale and Eskdale. Although it is certainly spectacular it's one of the most difficult drives I have undertaken for a long time . Wrynose Pass is steep and winding but Hardknott is a devil of a road. If you look at the image large you can see the road quite well in the background on the darker part of the landscape.

The single track road shares the title of steepest road in England with Rosedale Chimney Bank in North Yorkshire. It has a maximum gradient of 1 in 3 (about 33%). The pass is described as one of the most challenging roads in Britain. A series of hairpin bends make visibility difficult in various places. Traffic ascending the pass has priority as advised by the Highway Code. It was very difficult at times getting in the correct gear and you were hoping you would not hit a sheep or have to reverse . The view from the top is amazing you can see across the Irish sea. However next time I go to Wast Water I will take the longer but somewhat easier route on the coast road

THANKS FOR YOUR VISIT TO MY STREAM.

I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD NOT FAVE A PHOTO WITHOUT ALSO LEAVING A COMMENT .

I liked how relatively cooperative she was that day.

Sorrento was relatively quiet when we were there in Spring 18. Summer is when hordes of tourists descend upon the spectacular Amalfi Coast. My personal preference has always been to travel to the Mediterranean in Spring or Autumn when it is neither too hot nor cold and more importantly less busy :)) I wish you all a splendid weekend. I am really behind in my posts and thank you always for your interest in my shots :))

This is a rose glowing in the evening sun. I processed the image in Snapseed. The original image wasn’t perfectly sharp. I hope I’ve disguised that by enhancing the glorious colour. One from the archives but new to Flickr.

I am a relatively new convert to roses. I love the colours, the scents, the robustness. Not too keen on the thorns. Can anybody in the U.K. recommend gloves / gauntlets without leather?

A relatively small diving duck with a tall peaked crown. Males are handsome with glossy black head and back, clean gray sides, and a brighter white spur on the side. Females are grayish-brown, often with a paler patch at the base of the bill and a white eyering. Both sexes have a white band near the tip of gray bill. Also note gray, not white, wingstripe in flight. Usually favors small bodies of water, such as beaver ponds and cattail marshes, but also occurs on larger lakes, rivers, and bays. Can be found in mixed flocks with other diving ducks, although usually in smaller numbers than scaup. Compare with both species of scaup and Redhead (especially females). (eBird)

Presqu'ile Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. April 2022.

This relatively small arch is located in a tight slot canyon (this is by far the widest part of the slot) in Arches National Park in Utah, USA. Thanks for the views!

Due to current events, I feel compelled to interrupt my series on Morocco. Because after almost exactly a year, I managed to visit my favorite tree on the small mt. Winter in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains again this morning.

The decision was made relatively spontaneously last night. And since it was already too late to go to bed, I just stayed awake and set off at 1:30 a.m. When I got back at 7:30 a.m. I had to get some sleep. That's why I'm a little late today.

It wasn't until I was there that I really realized how much I missed standing up here alone, watching the changes in the light, listening to the birds (and watching them, because a couple of very curious blackbirds were hopping constantly around me) and watch the day as it was born.

I really hope that it won't be too long before I return to this beautiful place.

Aus aktuellem Anlass fühle ich mich genötigt, meine Serie über Marokko zu unterbrechen. Denn nach so ziemlich genau einem Jahr ist es mir heute früh wieder einmal gelungen meinen Lieblingsbaum auf dem kleinen Winterberg im Elbsandsteingebirge zu besuchen.

Die Entscheidung fiel relativ spontan gestern Abend. Und da es schon zu spät war noch ins Bett zu gehen, bin ich einfach wach geblieben und habe mich 1:30 Uhr auf den Weg gemacht. Als ich dann 7:30 Uhr wieder zurück war musste ich erst einmal etwas schlafen. Darum bin ich heute auch etwas später dran.

Erst als ich vor Ort war wurde mir richtig bewusst, wie sehr es mir gefehlt hat allein hier oben zu stehen, die Veränderungen des Lichts zu beobachten, den Vögeln zu lauschen (und Ihnen zuzusehen, denn ein paar sehr neugierige Amseln sind permanent um mich herum gehopst) und dem Tag bei seiner Geburt zuzusehen.

Ich hoffe sehr, dass nicht wieder so viel Zeit vergehen wird, bis ich an diesem wunderschönen Ort zurück kehre.

more of this on my website at: www.shoot-to-catch.de

La Ceja, Colombia; Central Andes; 2.300 meters above sea level.

Ortalis columbiana (Colombian Chacalaca / Guacharaca)

Endemic to Colombia, as its name would suggest, and the only chachalaca within its now relatively limited range in the central (Cauca and Magdalena) valleys of the country. It is found in both humid and deciduous forests, but the species’ range and population are both almost certainly declining, and it survives only in pockets.

Source: Neotropical Birds Online: neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p...

A relatively larger woodpecker found in several parts of the country and easily identified by the moustachial stripes on both sides of the chin. There were plenty of Woodpeckers in the forest we visited - 6-7 types of India including the superbly beautiful Heart Spotted Woodpecker which eluded my camera!

These Flamebacks - just like other woodpeckers - are always seen in pairs and since the trees had tall cover and looked healthy, the birds were quite busy pecking much of the day. They are best seen during day time unlike some of the birds which are more active during few hours in the morning and evening. I believe they are beginning their breeding season, so I may have witnessed some courting activity happening - which was a bit hard to follow in the canopy! This one is a female noted by its black crown with spots, while the male sports a bright red crown.

Thank you so much in advance for your views, feedback and faves.

.

Aurora Feuerwerk im Mondschein --- Aurora Fireworks in the moonlight

Meine ersten Polarlichter: An einem einzigen Abend hatten wir klare Sicht. Links über den Bergen tobte ein Sturm, vor uns begann ein großartiges Polarlicht.

My first Northern Lights: We had a clear view in one evening. A storm raged to the left over the mountains, a great aurora began before us.

My "explored" album is here:

www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/LzXVPNJ098

My Tromsö / Tromsø album is here:

www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/K12U1Y9TvW

Pine Marten - Martes martes

Pine martens are found in the Scottish Highlands and Grampians, with isolated populations in southern Scotland. In England and North Wales pine martens seem to be on the verge of extinction. They are widespread and relatively common in Ireland. Although they occur in a wide range of habitats, pine martens prefer well-wooded areas with plenty of cover.

Diet: Pine martens are generalist predators, feeding on small rodents, birds, beetles, carrion, eggs and fungi. In autumn, berries are a staple.

General Ecology: Marten dens are commonly found in hollow trees or the fallen root masses of Scots pines, an association that probably earned pine martens their name; cairns and cliffs covered with scrub are frequently used as alternative den sites. Martens have territories that vary in size according to habitat and food availability. For males, these are about 10-25 square kilometres and for females about 5-15 square kilometres. They mark their territories with faeces (known as scats) deposited in places where they are conspicuous to other martens; they are frequently left along forestry trails.

Breeding: Young martens are born blind and hairless, in litters of 1-5, in early spring and stay with their mothers for about six weeks. Their eyes open at the end of May and by mid-June they begin to emerge from their den. Male martens play no direct part in rearing the young.

Conservation Status: Martens and their dens are fully protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981); martens must not be trapped, sold or disturbed except under licence from Scottish Natural Heritage, the Countryside Council for Wales or Natural England. Despite this legal protection, poisoned baits and traps, often set for hooded crows and foxes, still probably account for many marten deaths each year. Others are also shot at hen houses, and some are killed when mistaken for mink.

Until the 19th Century, pine martens were found throughout much of mainland Britain, the Isle of Wight and some of the Scottish islands. Habitat fragmentation, persecution by gamekeepers and martens being killed for their fur, drastically reduced this distribution. By 1926, the main pine marten population in Britain was restricted to a small area of north-west Scotland, with small numbers in N Wales and the Lake District. They have now increased their range in Scotland, and now occur throughout the Highlands, N of the Central Belt but remains one of the rarest native mammals in Great Britain, with a total population of around 3-4,000, but Ireland probably also has as many.

The (relatively) flat sandstone bench at the La Sal Mountains Viewpoint gives a marvelous 360° view in the southern area of Arches National Park. This panoramic view is looking to the northwest with rock tower formations including The Organ, Courthouse Towers, Three Gossips, and the east side of Park Avenue. This scenic vista also displays the distant views and visibility in the clean air and blue skies of Southern Utah.

I recently re-discovered this photo as it wasn't in my main catalog. I believe I took this on my Nokia N8 Symbian phone with Carl Zeiss optics and the panorama app.

Lincoln County-Washington State.

The Channeled Scablands at one time were a relatively barren and soil-free region of interconnected relict and dry flood channels, coulees and cataracts eroded into Palouse loess and the typically flat-lying basalt flows that remain after cataclysmic floods within the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington. The channeled scablands were scoured by more than 40 cataclysmic floods during the Last Glacial Maximum and innumerable older cataclysmic floods over the last two million years. These cataclysmic floods were repeatedly unleashed when a large glacial lake repeatedly drained and swept across eastern Washington and down the Columbia River Plateau during the Pleistocene epoch. The last of the cataclysmic floods occurred between 18,200 and 14,000 years ago.

Wat Plai Laem on Koh Samui, Thailand. The temple is relatively new, built in 2004, and situated very near the Big Buddha statue at Wat Phra Yai in Samui’s northeast on route 4171 near the airport.

One of the Buddhas at this temple, the 18 armed Buddha, can be seen here.

Please visit my Buddhas, Monks and Temples set where I've compiled all my temple and temple ruin images.

One of two posts today, the other is here.

I was off Flickr for several days, I've missed your images, but will be catching up on your streams now. Hope you had a great weekend (almost over for me in cloudy Bangkok).

* Given that Spurn Point is relatively close to Hull I guess it's surprising I do not go there often. It is the oddest and wildest part of East Yorkshire with huge skies. However I find it too desolate to really enjoy, though some of my friends who are serious birders love it . This shot was taken on the narrowest parts of the spit. On the left hand side is the North Sea and on the right the waters of the Humber estuary . The little wooden cabin is a shelter in case a high tide cuts you off from the mainland which is not uncommon. You can see the lighthouse which is about four miles further along the spit.

Its a hard place to describe so I will borrow some text from the Yorkshire wildlife trust .

From the Yorkshire wildlife trust website

Spurn Point (or Spurn Head as it is also known) is a narrow sand spit on the tip of the coast of the East Riding of Yorkshire, that reaches into the North Sea and forms the north bank of the mouth of the Humber estuary. It is over 3 miles long, almost half the width of the estuary at that point, and as little as 50 yards wide in places. The southernmost tip is known as Spurn Head or Spurn Point and is the home to an RNLI lifeboat station and disused lighthouse. It forms part of the civil parish of Easington.

Spurn Head covers 280 acres above high water and 450 acres of foreshore. It has been owned since 1960 by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and is a designated National Nature Reserve, Heritage Coast and is part of the Humber Flats, Marshes and Coast Special Protection Area.

The peninsula is made up from sand and shingle as well as Boulder Clay eroded from the Holderness coastline washed down the coastline from Flamborough Head. Material is washed down the coast by longshore drift and accumulates to form the long, narrow embankment in the sheltered waters inside the mouth of the Humber estuary. It is maintained by plants, especially Marram grass . Waves carry material along the peninsula to the tip, continually extending it; as this action stretches the peninsula it also narrows it to the extent that the sea can cut across it in severe weather. When the sea cuts across it permanently, everything beyond the breach is swept away, only to eventually reform as a new spit pointing further south. This cycle of destruction and reconstruction occurs approximately every 250 years. The now crumbling defences will not be replaced and the spit will continue to move westwards at a rate of 2 metres per year, keeping pace with the coastal erosion further north.

THANKS FOR YOUR VISIT TO MY STREAM.

I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD NOT FAVE A PHOTO

WITHOUT ALSO LEAVING A COMMENT .

I've stayed relatively local in the last week or so and tried a few different locations and I found a couple of wonderful spots for "wild garlic", this being one of them.

It is amazing what you can find if you just look. Even yesterday I spent about 3 hours walking a small area near home and not only did I find some nice scenes, but I got to take a couple of shots of Deer grazing in a small clearing. I think the Ramsons have now reached their nadir and will start to get past their sell by in the next week or so here!

It is a relatively large-sized pheasant. The bird is about 70 centimeters long. The male weighs up to 2380 grams and the female 2150. The adult male has multicoloured plumage throughout, while the female, as in other pheasants, is dull in colour. Notable features in the male include a long, metallic green crest, coppery feathers on the back and neck, and a prominent white rump that is most visible when the bird is in flight. The tail feathers of the male are uniformly rufous, becoming darker towards the tips, whereas the lower tail coverts of females are white, barred with black and red. The female has a prominent white patch on the throat and a white strip on the tail. The first-year male and the juvenile resemble the female, but the first-year male is larger and the juvenile is less distinctly marked.

Laika went on a hike around Garrison, NY which is 1.5 hour away from New York City. It's a relatively easy trail and Laika enjoyed running back and forth on the trail because her humans are not walking fast enough. Here she is posing by a small bridge waiting for her humans to catch up.

More photos of travels on Laika's Instagram account

The Sword-billed Hummingbird is a charismatic species from Andean South America. It is found from Venezuela and Colombia in the north to Bolivia in the south. The species belongs to a monotypic genus, Ensifera, and is quite different from all other hummingbirds; metallic green and bronzed overall, with a black bill that is slightly upcurved and longer than the body length. This is the only bird species with a bill length that exceeds the body length. When seen perched, the species usually holds its bill quite upright, presumably because of balance issues stemming from this long and relatively heavy structure.

doi.org/10.2173/bow.swbhum1.01

For me one of the most amazing hummingbirds of Ecuador! Taken at the amazing Zuro Loma Reserve.

Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated!

© All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission. All rights reserved. Please contact me at thelma.gatuzzo@gmail.com if you intend to buy or use any of my images.

My instagram if you like: @thelmag and @thelma_and_cats

This relatively small gull is native to New Zealand and is found throughout the country. It has a white body and head with an all red bill, red eye ring, red legs and feet with pale grey wings and black wingtips (source: Wikipedia).

The siskin is a relatively common, small finch of conifer woodlands and some mixed woods. In the winter, they gather in groups with lesser redpolls and feed on seeds in birch and alder woodland, as well as at birdtables. Many of our breeding siskins are residents, but they are joined by birds from Europe in winter. The female siskin builds her neat nest high-up in a conifer tree, using twigs, lichen and feathers. She incubates the eggs alone (usually two to six in a clutch) but both parents feed the chicks.

Azure-shouldered Tanager - Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near-threatened. Occurs mainly inside humid forest and is less able to utilize forest edge and second growth than are most others in the genus, a factor that has contributed to its severe range contraction and fragmentation following deforestation. Believed to be in decline. Possibly occurs in only relatively few areas outside protected sites. birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/azstan1

Happy Blue Monday!

Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated! If you want, check my instagram: @thelmag

© All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission. All rights reserved. Please contact me at thelma.gatuzzo@gmail.com if you intend to buy or use any of my images.

Visit my instagram if you like: @thelmag

A relatively hard to reach spot in Glacier National Park of Montana, but very scenic. The golden larches were at peak and fresh snow covered the high peaks. Fun day.

Dactylorhiza sambucina x Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Orchidaceae) 162 22

A genus of up to 60 superficially similar species that have a predominantly central and northern European distribution although a number of species do reach the Mediterranean and north Africa.

The Dactylorhiza genus is tricky and presents many problems of identification for even the experienced field botanist. At the morphological level the flowers of most species are relatively similar , within any species the flowers can show considerable variation in a single population and finally many species hybridize quite readily.

A relatively new venue Reid's Gin Distillery (when one door closes....) has weekly music series. Not always jazz and not always swing. This happened to be my second visit there and both time really swinging band 'Sonny Balcones' were on the menu. I guess, I like them. Corry sings in French and English and has several professions; one of them is making costumes for theatres. On the photo is also Jared Higgins and bassist Rachel Melas. I have seen both of them, several times this summer with different bands.

121. 2022-07 P1350491; Taken 2022 July 12. Uploaded 2022 Aug 07.

A short video with Corry Ouellette, Rachel Melas, Bob Stevenson and what looks like Great Bob Scott on drums.

www.facebook.com/thesonnybalcones/videos/2092983124302516/

Sand lizards are relatively rare because their populations have declined significantly in many regions. They are particularly strictly protected throughout Europe.

Sand lizards belong to the genus Green Lizards. In March/April, the animals emerge from their hibernation hiding places, first need to warm up, and then shed their skin.

At 18-20 cm in total length, with its vibrant green flanks and brown back coloration, this is a male in the picture. It is mating season.

During this time, only the males "green up." The basic color of both sexes is brown.

I'm happy that there are lizards in my garden. This is a positive sign that indicates that my garden has a high level of biodiversity.

The sand lizard was "Reptile of the Year 2020/2021."

Zauneidechse (Lacerta agilis)

Zauneidechsen sind relativ selten, weil ihre Populationen in vielen Regionen stark geschrumpft sind. Sie sind in ganz Europa besonders streng geschützt.

Zauneidechsen zählen zur Gattung der Smaragdeidechsen.

Im März/April kommen die Tiere aus ihren Winterruheverstecken, müssen sich zunächst aufwärmen und dann häuten.

Mit 18 - 20 cm Gesamtlänge, den prächtig grünen Flanken und der braunen Rückenfärbung ist dies auf dem Bild ein Männchen. Es ist Paarungszeit.

Während dieser Zeit "ergrünen" nur die Männchen. Die Grundfarbe beider Geschlechter ist braun.

Ich freue mich, dass Eidechsen in meinem Garten vorhanden sind. Denn dies ist ein positives Zeichen, das darauf hinweist, dass mein Garten eine große Artenvielfalt aufweist.

Die Zauneidechse war "Reptil des Jahres 2020/2021".

A relatively small wasp and if I am not wrong it\'s Cerceris - thanks again el.gritche! Early August.Sunny summer...

Canon 450D + Helios-44M4 58mm f/2 + Macro Extension Tubes (21mm) f/5.6 - 1/800 sec - ISO 400

Petunia is a genus in the family Solanaceae, subfamily Petunioideae. Well known members of Solanaceae in other subfamilies include tobacco (subfamily Nicotianoideae), and the cape gooseberry, tomato, potato, deadly nightshade and chili pepper (subfamily Solanoideae). It's a flowering plant of South American origin. Petunias can tolerate relatively harsh conditions and hot climates, but not frost. They need at least five hours of sunlight every day and flourish in moist soil and conditions of low atmospheric humidity. Petunias are generally insect pollinated. The Maya and Inca believed that the scent of petunias had the power to ward off underworld monsters and spirits. Their flower-buds were bunched together for magical drinks. 12098

Relatively recently hatched praying mantis on day lily.

Howard County, Missouri

sandhill cranes migrate through a relatively narrow corridor along the platte river in Nebraska every spring....feeding on leftover grains in the farm fields before continuing their migration...hundreds of thousands of birds this time of year and a sight one 'has to' see and hear to believe.

Still relatively recent after the Conrail split, train #TV-24 rolls east for "Tower Tuesday" passing the old "QD" tower as it arrives at the west end of Collinwood Yard. Bringing this now CSX train into town are two ex-Conrail SD-70MAC units wearing my favorite Conrail paint scheme. I could have been very happy with Conrail staying around wearing this image.

Flying relatively low this afternoon and caught on camera when it tried to land on my desk (three LED lights and the Mitakon Speedmaster manual lens at F0.95). I don't think Flappityquack's eyesight is very good and its wingspan is also not really convincing. But who am I to criticise - I can't even fly.

It's a relatively new song by LP, not nearly as famous as others in the group photo pool today, but I like it very much.

Here is the link:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=boeuk8N_Gsw

HMM!

The Red-headed Woodpecker is a gorgeous woodpecker bird with a bright red head from which it got its name. This North American species, with its boldly-patterned plumage, is popular among the bird-watchers and is widely spread almost all across the country, and is known in different names like ‘flag bird’ and ‘patriotic bird’. Once a very common bird in the country’s eastern part, this species has been showing long-term declines in a moderately rapid rate, which is primarily because of their degradation and loss of habitat in recent decades.

The red-headed woodpecker was a favorite to celebrated ornithologists like Alexander Wilson and Audubon.

These birds are ‘monomorphic’, which means, the males and females look so similar that, they are practically indistinguishable even when taken in the hand. To know the gender, you actually need to run a DNA test or a dissection of the bird.

This species is the only woodpecker in the eastern part that has a completely red head.

In 1996, the RHW was featured on a United States Postal Service 2-cent stamp.

These are one of the only four woodpecker species that cover their reserved foods with bark or wood. They would even store live stocks like grasshoppers wedged so tightly in a crevice that it is impossible for the insect to escape.

This species of woodpeckers is relatively small compared to others in its family.

The presence of white patches on its wings makes them especially noticeable when they are flying.

In this species, the annual adult survivorship is estimated to be around 62%.

This bird can dig holes that can measure up to 20 to 60 centimeters in depth.

A red-headed woodpecker takes 2-3 weeks or more to excavate one single hole.

I found this one along Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, Florida.

A relatively small, dark, compact, crested wading bird, the Green Heron is a common species of wetland thickets throughout much of North America. Although shy and retiring, it is a familiar sight to those spending time out of doors. Careful observers can see it stalking slowly through the water, perched quietly atop a branch, or as a dark form flying with slow wingbeats through the gathering dusk. Its flight call, an assertive skeow, is a sound typifying temperate and tropical wetlands of the Americas. Some of this bird's behaviors are especially well appreciated; flying away from human disturbance, for example, it often produces a scolding squawk and a stream of white defecation, giving it such vernacular monikers as "fly-up-the-creek," "shite-polk," and "chalk-line."

Green herons are one of the few birds that have been recorded using bait to lure fish to sites. They have been seen placing bread crusts, insects or feathers on the water surface and waiting quietly nearby for prey to approach the bait.

I found this one in my backyard on my dock!

Lake Wales, Polk County, Florida.