View allAll Photos Tagged RESIDES
This particular bird resides at the Alberta Bird of Prey Centre in Coaldale, southern Alberta, a wonderful place that rehabilitates and releases (whenever possible) various birds of prey - hawks, owls, Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures, and Golden Eagles. Some of these birds act as Wildlife Ambassadors, too, educating the public.
It had been a few years since my last visit to the Alberta Bird of Prey Centre - I've only been maybe three or four times - and I had been longing to go back. Much too far and all new driving territory for me to even think about driving there myself. However, a month ago, on 9 September 2016, that is exactly what I did. A friend had said she would come along, too, but she emailed me at 1:00 am that morning to say that she assumed our trip had been cancelled, as she hadn't heard back about the time to meet. In fact, I had sent two emails giving the time, so I don't know what happened there. Very unfortunate, as it would have been great to have had company on such a long drive, and I know she would have had great fun with her camera.
I knew it would be a long day and further than I would normally drive - and in a brand new car that I have yet to learn to drive! It doesn't look or feel quite as new now, after travelling 481 km, plus a long trip the next day! Only got lost twice, one minor and the other major. Must have taken a wrong turn somewhere way down south and I ended up in the city of Lethbridge, that I had very carefully planned to avoid. After driving for three and three-quarter hours, I finally arrived, to my huge relief.
Despite getting there later than I had hoped, I still had more than enough time to wander round the grounds and photograph the various raptors. Some were tethered out in two grassy areas and others were in outdoor cages. Wonderful to get such a close look at the various majestic birds.
I took a slightly different way home via #845 (?), making absolutely sure that I didn't accidentally find myself in Lethbridge again and it wasn't too long before I found myself in the area that I had driven a few weeks before, when I went SW of Vulcan to look for Common Nighthawks (without any luck).
Just so happy that I finally made myself do this drive. When I Googled the Centre's website, I had discovered that they were closing two days later for the winter. So, it was either a case of going the next day or not at all till next May onwards.
The day after this adventure, 10 September 2016, I took my daughter on a long drive in Kananaskis. This was yet another place that I had longed to be able to drive for many years - and finally I did it! I had been lots of times with various friends, but this was the very first time I had ever driven myself. We had planned to do this a few weeks earlier, but then my car had major repairs that needed to be done. Instead, I knew I just couldn't put any more money into my 17-year-old car, and I ended up replacing it. So glad we went to the mountains on this particular day, as it snowed the following day.
This particular bird resides at the Alberta Bird of Prey Centre in Coaldale, southern Alberta, a wonderful place that rehabilitates and releases (whenever possible) various birds of prey - hawks, owls, Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures,and Golden Eagle. Some of these birds act as Wildlife Ambassadors, too, educating the public.
I often see Bald Eagles flying wild, both in the city and in the surrounding areas. Usually when I see one, it is flying or perched far away. Too far away to see any detail at all, which is why I love going to this Centre, to see raptors up close.
It had been a few years since my last visit there - I've been maybe three or four times - and I had been longing to go back. Much too far and all new driving territory for me to even think about driving there myself. However, three days ago, on 9 September 2016, that is exactly what I did. A friend had said she would come along, too, but she emailed me at 1:00 am to say that she assumed the trip had been cancelled, as she hadn't heard back about the time to meet. In fact, I had sent two emails giving the time, so I don't know what happened there. Very unfortunate, as it would have been great to have had company on such a long drive.
I knew it would be a long day and further than I would normally drive - and in a brand new car that I have yet to learn to drive! It doesn't look or feel quite as new now, after travelling 481 km! Only got lost twice, one minor and the other major. Must have taken a wrong turn somewhere down south and I ended up in the city of Lethbridge, that I had very carefully planned to avoid. After three and three-quarter hours, I finally arrived, to my huge relief.
Despite getting there later than I had hoped, I still had more than enough time to wander round the grounds and photograph the various raptors. Some were tethered out in a grassy area and others were in large outdoor cages. Wonderful to get such a close look at the various majestic birds.
I took a slightly different way home via #845 (?) making absolutely sure that I didn't accidentally find myself in Lethbridge again and it wasn't too long before I found myself in the area that I had driven a few weeks ago, when I went SW of Vulcan to look for Common NIghthawks (without any luck). Just so happy that I finally made myself do this drive. When I Googled the Centre's website a few days ago, I discovered that they were closing two days later for the winter. So, it was either a case of going the next day or not at all till next May onwards.
The very next day, 10 September 2016, I took my daughter on a long drive in Kananaskis. This was yet another place that I had longed to be able to drive for many years - and finally I did it! I had been lots of times with various friends, but this was the very first time I had ever driven myself.
Appleton is a city in Outagamie (mostly), Calumet, and Winnebago counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. One of the Fox Cities, it is situated on the Fox River, 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Green Bay and 100 miles (160 km) north of Milwaukee. Appleton is the county seat of Outagamie County. The population was 72,623 at the 2010 census. Of this figure, 60,045 resided in Outagamie County, 11,088 in Calumet County, and 1,490 in Winnebago County. Appleton is the principal city of the Appleton, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, Wisconsin Combined Statistical Area. Appleton is home to the two tallest buildings in Outagamie County, the Zuelke Building and the 222 Building, at 168 and 183 feet, respectively. Appleton serves as the heart of the Fox River Valley, and is home to the Fox Cities Exhibition Center, Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, Fox River Mall, Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium, Appleton International Airport, and the Valley's two major hospitals: St. Elizabeth Hospital and ThedaCare Regional Medical Center–Appleton (better known as "Appleton Medical Center"). It also hosts a large number of regional events such as its Flag Day parade, Memorial Day parade, Christmas parade, Octoberfest, Mile of Music, and others.
Excerpt from brantfordcr.ca:
According to the documentation found in the Municipal Office in Brantford, the Sanctuary of the present church is the oldest part and it dates back to 1880.
All the Catholic Parishes in Brantford belong to the Diocese of Hamilton. In the first years of the twentieth century, Brantford’s population was over 15,000. In 1902, about 30 Polish families settled here. Living away from their homeland, clinging to the faith of their fathers and faithfully nurturing the ancient traditions – these Polish families yearned for a church, where they could pray in Polish. At the time being, there were no available priests who spoke Polish, so the first of our immigrants gathered for the Liturgy at St. Basil’s Church. During and after the First World War, a large wave of Polish immigrants came to Canada. As Brantford was a major center of farm implement manufacture and other diversified industries, many of these immigrants from Poland took up residence in here.
As the number of Poles increased, the need was felt for accommodating them with a Polish-speaking priest. In December 1917 Rev. Lawrence Dogorski was assigned to St. Basil’s Parish and made responsible for the Polish Catholics of Brantford.
This lasted for a period of eighteen months, but the Poles wanted to have their own church. Their big dream slowly became a viable reality. Through a joint effort, they bought land, where they built a small wooden church. In June 1919, Fr. Dogorski opened the Church of St. Joseph which was located on Terrace Hill Street, with the rectory at 36 Lyons Ave. But the joy of our countrymen did not last too long.
At the end of the 20s and early 30s, Canada suffered from a global economic crisis. Many people lost their jobs and could not find new ones. Unable to provide for their families, the Poles unfortunately were not able to maintain their own church. In 1928, the prevailing situation led to the closure of St. Joseph’s Church, which had functioned for only 10 years. This painful experience made the local Polish community even more determined to recreate a native parish at the next available opportunity.
As of that time (November 1935), the newly revived desires of the Poles in Brantford, arriving in increasing numbers to the city, became the re-establishment of a Polish speaking church. Their strenuous efforts came to fruition on December 19, 1936, when the new Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton, John McNally, directed Fr. Tarasiuk to take up the spiritual care of Catholics of Polish descent. He was to reside at St. Basil parish, where he could have Masses on Sundays and Holidays. As of that day, Fr. Tarasiuk energetically began to organize a Polish Church in our city. After eight months he had registered over 130 families, among whom there were 400 adults. The pastor quickly realized that he could start thinking about building or buying a suitable building for the church.
An opportunity came along soon. At the intersection of Brant Avenue and James Street, a former St. Andrew Presbyterian Church had been vacant since 1925.
Fr. Tarasiuk assured the bishop, that the creation of a Polish church, would not incur any debt. Through his personal donation of ten thousand dollars, Brantford Polonia was able to buy the church building at the end of 1937, along with a small house which became the rectory.
After extensive restorations, the church was solemnly consecrated on February 21, 1938 by the new Bishop Joseph Ryan. The Church was given the name St. Joseph’s. On June 20, 1947, Fr. Tomasz Tarasiuk legally handed over the land and the church buildings as a donation to the Diocese of Hamilton.
In the heart's realm, where shadows reside,
A battle unfolds, where darkness and light collide.
Within each soul, a dance of duality takes flight,
The eternal struggle between day and night.
Light, a beacon, radiant and pure,
Kindling hope, a cure to endure.
It illuminates the path, unveiling truth's art,
Guiding weary souls from darkness to embark.
Yet darkness, a shroud, seductive and deep,
Whispering secrets, its promises to keep.
It tempts with allure, with mysteries untold,
Ensnaring hearts, making them wander bold.
Within every human, these forces clash,
A symphony of contrasts, in harmony they mesh.
For the battle of light and dark we all partake,
In our choices and actions, the path we make.
With each step forward, light's triumph we seek,
To banish the shadows, restore what's unique.
Yet let us remember, in darkness there's grace,
For it is in contrast, our growth finds its place.
So let us embrace both sides of the coin,
For without shadows, the light can't fully join.
In this human condition, a dance we embark,
Embracing the battle, embracing the dark…
by me…
Rolleiflex Automat RF 111A + Kodak Portra 800
Collab with LC Nevermind
When I resided in Wyoming 30 years ago and in my prime I could have climbed to the peak of the center rock formation. Now a bit older I best just use a longer lens to capture the moment.
In N Norfolk on Tuesday I was hoping to see the White-Tailed Eagle currently residing in our area. There were some sightings by others but sadly not for me on that day. I did however see some Kites (already posted). I was happy with them but thought I could do better so went out again on Wednesday, back to the same spot to try and get some more shots of them.
However.... 'what is that huge looking silhouette rising from the trees??.... It can only be one thing, surely.'
There it was, in the distance in an area where early evening the previous day a Warden from Holkham Estate told me he had seen in it 30 mins earlier. I took a few very very distant shots not knowing if I would see it again. On inspection, it was carrying 'lunch' in it's talons (a pigeon I think) and was being mobbed by Kites and Gulls were joining in too! Perhaps it had stolen the Kite's prey?
I had read somewhere that the best way to spot birds of this magnitude is to look for their shadow rather than the bird itself and sure enough you could always see the eerie sight of this very large shadow gliding across the trees even though the bird itself went in and out of view.
I decided to take my chances and took a footpath alongside the woods in the optimistic hope that it may reappear.
As if on cue it glided out still being harassed by two Kites, and presumably having devoured its prey.
By chance it circled around slowly towards me and I was able to get a good number of decent shots as it circled above me, climbing with each revolution without barely a beat of its massive wings. I even managed to record a video of it on my phone. It climbed higher and eventually headed off SW soaring above, going at its own pace.
The ring clearly shows the ID G393 which I believe is one of the IOW reintroduced birds.
I'll post some more photos of it being mobbed later.
Thanks for taking the time to view some of my images.
Residing in the constellation Pegasus are two unique galaxy groups. In the upper right of this image is the “Deer Lick Group” which consist of NGC 7331 (the largest galaxy) and four smaller galaxies. Their close alignment to the larger galaxy is simply by chance.
In the lower left of this image you will see “Stephan’s Quintet”. It consists of five galaxies, four of which form the first compact galaxy group ever discovered. These four galaxies form a physical association and eventually, astronomers believe, they may merge into a single galaxy.
OTA: Skywatcher Esprit 120
Camera: Atik 460ex
Filters: Astrodon LRGB gen2
Mount: AP Mach1
Exposure: L:R:G:B 180m:90:90:90 (RGB bin 2x2)
Data obtained: October 7 &22, 2016
The Raja Mahal (King's Palace), where the kings and the queens had resided till it was abandoned in 1783, was built in the early part of 16th century. Its exterior is simple and unembellished, but the interior chambers of the palace are elaborately royal in their architectural design, decorated with murals of social and religious themes of gods, mythical animals, and people. In the upper floor of the palace, there are traces of mirrors in the ceilings and walls. Its windows, arcaded passages, and layout plan are designed in such a way that the "sunlight and shadow create areas of different moods and temperatures throughout the day". The interior walls of the Mahal have murals of Lord Vishnu. The Mahal has several secret passages.
The Orchha Fort complex, which houses a large number of ancient monuments consisting of the fort, palaces, temple, and other edifices, is located in Orchha town in Madhya Pradesh. The fort and other structures within it were built by the Bundela Rajputs starting from the early 16th century by King Rudra Pratap Singh of the Orchha State and others who followed him.
The fort complex, which is accessed from an arched causeway, leads to a large gateway. This is followed by a large quadrangular open yard surrounded by palaces. These are Raja Mahal or Raja Mandir, Sheesh Mahal, Jahangir Mahal, a temple, gardens and pavilions. The battlements of the fort have ornamentation.
The mountainous areas embracing the Himalayan, Karakorum and Hindukush Ranges are rich in fauna and flora, as compared to other parts of the country. These areas provide an excellent habitat for wildlife in the form of alpine grazing lands, sub-alpine scrub and temperate forests. These habitats support a variety of wild animals. The areas are difficult for human beings to access, hence, most wildlife is present in reasonable numbers though some are endangered for other reasons. Some of the main wildlife species are the snow leopard, the black and the brown bears, otter, wolf, lynx, Himalayan ibex, markhor, bharal, Marco Polo's sheep, shapu/Urial, musk deer, marmots, tragopan and monal pheasants. The snow partridge and snowcock reside at higher elevations. The Rhesus monkey, common langur, red fox, black bear, common leopard, a variety of cats, musk deer (over a limited area), goral, several species of flying squirrels, chakor, partridge and pheasants (koklass, kaleej and cheer) live in the lower elevations. Amongst these the snow leopard, musk deer, Marco Polo's sheep, and the brown bear are endangered. The Tibetan wild ass and the blue sheep populations have been reduced drastically. The cheer pheasant is reported to be extinct from within Pakistan's boundaries, and is included in the IUCN Red Data Book. The western horned tragopan was reported to have disappeared from within Pakistani territory, but has now been relocated to Indus Kohistan, although its numbers are low.
The main threats to the population of wild animals in the northern mountainous regions include, the competition with domestic livestock for existing natural forage, increasing human interference in the form of cultivation, the construction of roads, and hunting.
The Himalayan foothills and the Potohar region, including the Salt Range and Kala Chitta Range, are covered with scrub forests, which have been reduced to scanty growth in most places. Medium-sized animals like the Punjab urial, barking deer, goral, chinkara, partridges (grey and black), seesee and chakor are supported in these habitats. A variety of songbird fauna also occurs in these areas.
Vast Indus flood plains have been cleared of natural vegetation to grow crops. Very little wildlife habitat has been left untouched. Only animals like the jackal, mongoose, jungle cat, civet cat, scaly anteater, desert cat and the wild hare occur in these areas. Hog deer is found in riverine tracts. The crop residues and wild growth support reasonable populations of black and grey partridges.
Little vegetative cover, severity of climatic conditions and the great thrust of grazing animals on the deserts have left wild animals in a precarious position. Parts of Thall and Cholistan are now being irrigated, with the situation almost identical to that of the flood plains. Chinkara is the only animal, which can still be found in average numbers in Cholistan, but rarely in Thall. The blackbuck, once plentiful in Cholistan has now been eliminated. However, efforts are being made to reintroduce them back into the country. A small number of blue bulls are found along the Pak-Indian border, and some parts of Cholistan. Grey partridge, species of sand grouse and the Indian courser are the main birds of the area. Peafowl occur in some areas in Cholistan.
The Thar Desert supports a fair population of the Chinkara gazelle. Peacocks are only found in the wild, mainly because of the protection they enjoy in Hindu communities. The wild ass migrates from the Indian part of the Rann of Kutch to the Pakistani part in search of food.
The Houbara bustard is a regular winter visitor to the desert. Visiting diplomats have hunted and reduced their numbers. The great Indian bustard is sporadically sighted. The imperial sandgrouse is another migrant visiting these areas. Grey partridges are frequently sighted. The python is also threatened with extinction.
The Sulaiman and Kirthar Ranges present habitats manifesting unique characteristics. The former supports the straight-horned markhor, chinkara and urial, whereas Sindh ibex, urial, chinkara and common leopard occupy the latter. The straight-horned markhor, which is almost extinct from within settled boundaries of Pakistan, occurs in somewhat fair numbers in the Tribal Areas. The chakor, seesee and grey partridge are birds commonly found in the tracts.
The reed beds and tamarisk bushes along the rivers support hog deer and black partridge populations. However, due to occasional heavy floods their numbers have also been reduced. The Indus dolphin, fishing cat, and smooth otter are found in the Indus River waters below the Chashma Barrage. The gavial has become extinct in Pakistan. The crocodile is found in small numbers in lower Sindh. Wild boar numbers have increased because of the immunity they enjoy in a Muslim society that forbids its consumption by humans.
The animals found in the south-western mountains of Balochistan are: Sindh ibex, Chiltan markhor, straight horned markhor, wild sheep, leopard, marbled pole cat, Blandford's fox, chinkara, goitered gazelle and the marsh crocodile. The cheetah, is believed to be extinct and the Makran (baluchistan) bear critically endangered. The Houbara bustard (migratory), sandgrouse, black and grey partridges, and the chakor and see see partridges are also found here.
Irrigated forest plantations have emerged as the prevailing land use practice for the last 100 years. These ideally provide excellent habitat for chinkara, hog deer and blue bull. Forest management does not cater to the needs of these wild animals. This, coupled with the poor implementation of laws has resulted in the extinction of species in the irrigated plantations. Due to habitat disturbances, the ungulates have failed to establish themselves, whereas the partridges have flourished well.
The striped hyena and the wolf are widely distributed in the sparsely populated parts of the country. However, information about them is scanty. Information about carnivores in general is difficult to obtain because of their nocturnal mode of life and high mobility. The black bear and brown bear populations are also not understood completely.
Birds of prey like the peregrine, cherrug or saker falcons, tawny eagle, imperial and greater spotted eagles, osprey, shikra, and the black-winged kite occur throughout Pakistan but their population statuses are unknown.
Pakistan's coastline of 1,050 km consists of a variety of habitat types, supporting a wide range of animals, of which over 1000 are fish species. Pakistan's marine flora and fauna have not been studied properly. Hence, detailed information on these species is deficient. Along the shores, there are four species of marine turtles: the ridley, green, leather back and hawksbill turtle, which are of high economic importance. Due to loss of habitat and human disturbances, their population is also decreasing.
About eight species of freshwater turtles are found in Pakistan. Sand lizards, monitors, geckos, agamas, diamond snakes, sand snakes, vipers, cobras, kraits and the famous Indian python constitute the other reptilian fauna.
Large water bodies in the country support a variety of waterfowl both resident and migratory. The extent of wetlands is constantly being changed. On one hand, swamps and marshes are being drained to reclaim land, whereas on the other hand, new dams (large water bodies) have been created for irrigation purposes. Canal irrigation through seepage has also contributed towards increasing the land area under water in the form of water logging. Such areas support a great number of waterfowl by providing them with an excellent habitat. The wetlands are one of the most important wintering areas and "green routes" of Asia. The important waterfowl in Pakistan are the ducks (mallard, pintail, shoveler, pochard, gargeny, ruddy shellduck, teals, tufted and gadwall), geese (grey lag, bar-headed), coots, flamingoes, pelicans, spoon bills, storks, ibises, plovers, curlews, sand pipers, snipes, and herons. The marbled teal and white-headed duck have decreased in number and now visit the wetlands infrequently. Among the waterfowl are (resident) gallinules, moorhens and rails, gulls, terns, water cock, grebes, cormorants, egrets, bitterns, and jakanas. The spot-billed lesser whistling teal and the cotton teal are resident ducks. A rich wader fauna visits the coastline during the winter.
Efforts have been made to document the status of wildlife and in some cases, the correct status is known, whereas most of the information about their populations is sketchy. With the strengthening of wildlife organisations in the country more reliable information can be obtained.
After residing here at Toton for the last nineteen(!) years 60081 has now been moved into position for removal by road next week. The cosmetically restored loco is seen enjoying one of its last Sun rises on 4th March at the south end of the depot
Rail Operation Group’s class 37s No. 37501 (previously 37601) ‘Teesside Steelmaster’ and 37800 ‘Cassiopeia’ reside in platform 1 at Dereham on the Mid Norfolk Railway attracting a crowd during the final day of their Diesel Gala. The pair were not able to run except for one service on this day due to a staff illness. They were providing entertainment at Dereham throughout the day thrashing up and down the platforms and allowing cab visits. 26/05/2025.
M 27 is a planetary nebula, and is also known as the Dumbbell Nebula. It resides more than 1200 light years away from Earth in the constellation of Vulpecula and is about 3 light years in diameter. M27 hosts many knots of gas and dust, some of which are elongated and seen trailing away from the central star. Their sizes typically range from 17 billion to 56 billion kilometers, which is several times larger than the distance from the sun to Pluto. Also seen here is the faint outer shell of the nebula which makes its presence known when photographed using hydrogen alpha and oxygen III narrowband filters. These filters are designed to pass the spectrum of light associated with ionized hydrogen and ionized oxygen gasses.
Processed using Pixinsight using this workflow:
WBPP > Graxpert > BXT > SPCC > BXT > SXT > NXT > GHS > Curves and masks > HDRMT > MLT
Telescopes Astro-Tech AT8RC
Imaging Cameras QHYCCD QHY268 Pro M
Mounts iOptron CEM70G
Filters Astrodon Gen2 E-series Tru-Balance Blue 36mm · Astrodon Gen2 E-series Tru-Balance Green 36mm · Astrodon Gen2 E-series Tru-Balance Red 36mm · Astrodon H-alpha 5nm 36 mm · Astrodon OIII 5nm 36 mm · Astrodon SII 5nm 36 mm
Frames:
Astrodon Gen2 E-series Tru-Balance Blue 36mm: 31×120″(1h 2′)
Astrodon Gen2 E-series Tru-Balance Green 36mm: 31×120″(1h 2′)
Astrodon Gen2 E-series Tru-Balance Red 36mm: 31×120″(1h 2′)
Astrodon H-alpha 5nm 36 mm: 129×300″(10h 45′)
Astrodon OIII 5nm 36 mm: 124×300″(10h 20′)
Astrodon SII 5nm 36 mm: 122×300″(10h 10′)
Integration: 34h 21′
A light resides above a prize.
It's seen by all, a mystery,
a building with no entrances?
What lies beneath, a crypt to see.
A new found treasure chest received
for one who's worthy of its sight.
(Victory At Last - What Lies Beneath)
Na Floresta de Cèdre Gouraud, na cordilheira do Médio Atlas, Marrocos, reside uma subpopulação significativa de macacos-de-gibraltar (Macaca sylvanus), primatas também conhecidos como macacos-berberes. Esta espécie, endémica do Norte de África e a única de macacos a viver naturalmente no continente africano fora das regiões subsarianas, encontra-se ameaçada de extinção. O nome da floresta deriva de um cedro-do-atlas centenário em homenagem ao general Gouraud, cujo tronco permanece como atração turística após a sua morte. Os macacos adaptaram-se à presença humana, interagindo frequentemente com os visitantes. Este ecossistema, dominado por cedros-do-atlas, é crucial para a conservação da biodiversidade, servindo como habitat vital para estes primatas. A sobrevivência dos macacos-de-gibraltar enfrenta desafios como a perda de habitat e a pressão humana, sendo fundamental a consciencialização para práticas responsáveis e respeito pelo ecossistema local.
The Cèdre Gouraud Forest, in the Middle Atlas mountains of Morocco, is home to a significant subpopulation of Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus), primates also known as Barbary apes. This species, endemic to North Africa and the only monkey that lives naturally on the African continent outside the sub-Saharan regions, is threatened with extinction. The forest's name derives from a century-old Atlas cedar named after General Gouraud, whose trunk continues to be a tourist attraction after his death. The monkeys have adapted to the presence of humans, frequently interacting with visitors. This ecosystem, dominated by Atlas cedars, is crucial for the conservation of biodiversity, serving as a vital habitat for these primates. The survival of Barbary macaques faces challenges such as habitat loss and human pressure, making it essential to raise awareness about responsible practices and respect for the local ecosystem.
The lake that resides at the seasonal caravan park I stay at, planed this shot a long time ago and finally took it on 13th, very little done to it except drop highlights and bring shadows up ... you could just imagine fairy's in it
This old abandoned house resides in an old gold town of Michigan Bluff in the Sierra Foothills. We have friends in town and I found the history of Michigan Bluff which, as so many other gold towns has gone through a lot to go from a thriving town of over 10,000 to a small hamlet of about 25 people.
www.teviscup.org/the-trail/trail-locations/21-the-trail/t...
Previously residing around the corner at Roberts Rd , 88010 had been dragged into Doncaster by 66303 for a trip back north . Prior to departure a problem occurred and the two locos parted company , tail lamp being applied by the driver before heading off in 66303 .
7 4 21
The Gilded Flicker resides mostly in the Sonoran Desert in the northwest of Mexico, up through southern Arizona and down the Baja peninsula where I found this bird and her mate.
The GF is smaller than the Northern Flicker and resides near cacti and palm trees.
Notice the cinnamon cap which is distinct from the Northern Flicker.
Wood Stork strolling in Sweetwater Wetlands Park, Gainesville, Florida. Uncommon in the United States, these large primitive-looking birds reside year round in Florida, and are relatively plentiful in the Sweetwater Wetlands.
In a clandestine realm concealed behind the walls of human abodes, resided diminutive beings who referred to themselves as "Borrowlings." Their world was minuscule, their attire fashioned from fabric remnants, and their headwear comprised delicate mushroom caps. These Borrowlings harbored a peculiar vocation in life, one they deemed their life's calling: they borrowed tiny items from humans.
Within this world, there were three remarkable Borrowlings: Lumius, Flora, and Pippin. Lumius was aged and sagacious, Flora his affectionate spouse, and Pippin their inquisitive offspring. The passage of years did not mark the Borrowlings, for they attained the venerable age of 111, unless they happened to be mistaken for a mouse by an unwary cat. Their objective was to borrow diminutive treasures from the human realm, such as needles, threads, scissors, and screwdrivers. Yet, they were not without flaws.
The Borrowlings possessed an unfortunate proclivity: they tended to place the borrowed items in unusual locations. When humans sought these possessions, it spawned chaos and bewilderment.
One day, as Lumius, Flora, and Pippin had once more borrowed a minuscule ruler, they overheard the desperate dialogue of a solitary human gentleman whom they designated the "Seeker."
"Damnation, where is my ruler?" muttered the Seeker to himself. "I employed it last evening, and now it has vanished without a trace."
The Borrowlings realized that the time had come to make amends for their imperfections. They resolved to locate the ruler and return it, sparing the Seeker further vexation.
Upon finding the ruler at last, Lumius raised it aloft and declared, "Here is your ruler. We borrowed it and inadvertently misplaced it elsewhere."
The Seeker, taken aback by the sight of the diminutive Lumius, inquired, "Who are you?"
Flora responded, "We are the Borrowlings, and it is our duty to borrow items and subsequently return them. Regrettably, we sometimes deposit them in unconventional places."
The Seeker smiled and said, "You are indeed unique. I thank you for returning the ruler."
The Borrowlings handed over the ruler to the Seeker, who rejoiced at recovering the lost item. As the Borrowlings embarked on their journey back, one could overhear the Seeker engaging in introspective soliloquies, contemplating the significance of tolerance and forgiveness.
The tale of the Borrowlings and the Seeker transformed into a parable and allegory for the fallibility and distinctiveness of humanity. It imparted lessons on cherishing tolerance and forgiveness and recognizing that everyone possesses their own flaws. And so, the Borrowlings and humans continued to coexist harmoniously, with the Borrowlings inadvertently sowing chaos in the lives of humans, all while bearing smiles on their diminutive countenances.
Inspired by Mary Norton
The Main-Prompt:
Lilliputian, Piezoelectric hums, Halloween's near, sony a72, 24mm wide angle lens, aperture f/2.8, unreal engine 5, extrem photorealstic::, Whimsical:: --ar 3:2 --s 800 --style raw
Lilliputian,
Piezoelectric hums,
Halloween's near
➡️ is a Haiku
Beauty resides in imperfection & chaos is a law of nature. This Hellebore gains distinction from aging. When my life seems like a whirl of chaos, comfort & serenity can be found in my garden.
"Chaos is a friend of mine."
~ Bob Dylan
"There is a kind of beauty in imperfection."
~ Conrad Hall
Some of the best beaches on Earth I dare say reside in a stretch of land in the south-western part of England - Cornwall. I always loved rocky beaches and back home I would try and get to some beaches which had some small arrangement of rocks some where...but when I went to Cornwall, I couldn't believe my eyes that there were so many beautiful beaches one after another from Looe to all the way to Bude.
It was a pretty tough trip mainly because the weather was not too good but I braved through the weather and managed some decent outings. There are plenty of photo ops and Cornwall is one place one should visit if they are in the UK. We were jokingly saying its a poor man's Scotland as there were many beautiful beaches that can be rivaled only by the pristine Scottish beaches.
'Nuff Said! This was shot in a quiet little beach called the Mullion Cove near Lizard. I loved the turquoise waters and the rocks that were peppered along the coast. The light was a bit tricky and the exposure I was aiming was difficult to pull off at that time of the day but nonetheless gave it a shot. This is just one RAW image developed in Lightroom. Its been a while since I did multiple exposures..gone are those days I guess...For some reason, the EXIF is not giving the details I desire..anyway here it is..
203secs@F11/11mm/ISO 100
Adjustments Made in Lightroom- ISO increase and fill lights added in the foreground to compensate for the dynamic range.
Thanks for viewing and have a nice week everyone!
This sign resided on Santa Fe's Bakersfield, California roundhouse for some years. I'm quite sure that the roundhouse has been razed. I wonder what happened to the emblem?
I thought that with a custom glass top this would have made a killer card table.
July, 12 1991. Canon F-1, Kodachrome 25.
I created this image from birds that regularly visit or permanently reside in Ottawa-Gatineau. Of course, there are many more varieties that can be found here, but I pictured these favourites of mine together in a single tree. (In this particular case, it's nine birds in an oak tree. Sounds like a Christmas carole doesn't it?) This image was created on my iPad Pro in an app called Procreate over a long period of time. I would work on it during short coffee breaks and other moments when I had more serious blocks of time available. Procreate tells me that I took over 23 hours to 'paint' it. Bah! There must be something wrong with the app because it didn't feel like much of a burden. My idea in creating this image was to have each bird placed so that it could exist as a separate painting. Maybe someday I'll take this notion forward and create a larger oil painting or nine paintings (my iPad tells me that this one is about 26 x 26 cm or 10 x 10 inches in physical width and height). It was great fun to create this image.
J'ai créé cette image à partir d'oiseaux qui visitent régulièrement ou résident en permanence à Ottawa-Gatineau. Bien sûr, il existe de nombreuses autres variétés que l'on peut trouver ici, mais j'ai imaginé mes favoris ensemble dans un seul arbre. (Dans ce cas particulier, il s'agit de neuf oiseaux dans un chêne. Cela ressemble à un chant de Noël, n'est-ce pas ?) Cette image a été créée sur mon iPad Pro dans une application appelée Procreate sur une longue période. J'y travaillais pendant de courtes pauses-café et d'autres moments où j'avais des blocs de temps plus sérieux disponibles. Procreate me dit que j'ai mis plus de 23 heures pour le « peindre ». Bah ! Il devait y avoir quelque chose qui n'allait pas avec l'application car elle ne semblait pas être un fardeau. Mon idée en créant cette image était de placer chaque oiseau de manière à ce qu'il puisse exister en tant que peinture distincte. Peut-être qu'un jour je ferai avancer cette notion et créerai une plus grande peinture à l'huile ou neuf peintures (mon iPad me dit que celle-ci mesure environ 26 x 26 cm ou 10 x 10 pouces de largeur et de hauteur physiques). C'était vraiment amusant de créer cette image.
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But than did not register... yet :)
Wonderful people... honest, fun loving, hard working, enjoy life and beauty… existentialists...
The Black Hmong are the 3rd largest minority in Vietnam with nearly 900,000 people. In the Sapa region there are about 35,000 Black Hmong residing in the surrounding 17 villages and they account for about 50% of the area population. Most reside at an altitude of 1,600 – 1,700 meters above sea level in this stunningly beautiful region they call “the city above the clouds”. The Hmong started migrating to Vietnam from China in the last 300 years.
In this region about half the Hmong are Catholic and half animistic. They live of the land growing rice and corn and they all believe in the spirits.
See more Hmong portraits here
[ENG] The Sorolla Museum resides in the house where the painter and his family lived in Madrid at the beginning of the 20th century, in the Chamberí neighborhood, preserving the original atmosphere of the house, the workshop and the garden . It is one of the most complete and best-preserved artist houses in Europe. It brings together a rich collection of his works and most of the objects of sculpture, ceramics, popular jewelry and old photography that Sorolla collected while alive. The painter Joaquín Sorolla Bastida was born in Valencia in 1863 and died in Cercedilla (Madrid) in 1923, he was a prolific artist, he left more than 2200 cataloged works and his mature work has been labeled as impressionist, post-impressionist and luminist. More photos in the album Sorolla Museum, Madrid (Spain).
[ESP] Escultura representando a Joaquín Sorolla, realizada por Paul Petrovich Troubetzkoy
El Museo Sorolla reside en la casa en el que el pintor y su familia vivieron en Madrid a principios del siglo XX, en el barrio de Chamberí, conservando el ambiente original de la vivienda, del taller y del jardín. Es una de las casas de artista más completas y mejor conservadas de Europa. Reúne una rica colección de sus obras y la mayoría de los objetos de escultura, cerámica, joyería popular y fotografía antigua que Sorolla reunió en vida. El pintor Joaquín Sorolla Bastida nació en Valencia en 1863 y murió en Cercedilla (Madrid) en 1923, fue un artista prolífico, dejó más de 2200 obras catalogadas y su obra madura ha sido etiquetada como impresionista, postimpresionista y luminista. Más fotografías en el álbum Museo Sorolla, Madrid (España).
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"The Archbishop's Palace (formerly the Bishop's Palace) in Olomouc is the seat of the offices of the Olomouc Archbishopric; the Archbishop himself does not currently reside there. The palace is the largest residential building in the historic core of the city of Olomouc and is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.
The Archbishop's Palace is the fourth residence of the Olomouc bishops and was originally built as a Renaissance palace by Bishop Stanislav Thurz. This Renaissance palace, completed by Bishop Dubravio and further modified by Bishop Pavlovský at the end of the 16th century, was devastated during the Thirty Years' War, especially during the Swedish occupation of Olomouc in 1642–1650.
Only Bishop Charles II of Liechtenstein-Kastelkorn, after a fire in 1661, began the Baroque renovation of the palace in 1664 after his accession to the episcopal see. The repairs were carried out according to the plans of the imperial architect Filiberto Lucchese (1606–1666) and, after his death, Giovanni Pietro Tencalla by the Olomouc master masons Petr Schüller and Melchior Thoneck. The author of the stucco decoration of the interiors is Baltazar Fontana, the original wall paintings, whose authors were Carpoforo Tencalla and Innocenzo Cristoforo Monti, have survived only in fragments. An ornamental garden was established on the fence. The reconstruction work was not completed until 1685. In 1836, the interior was expanded with the so-called Throne Room, the design of which was contributed by Antonín Arche.
The palace acquired its present form and decoration after the fire of 1904, when it was restored and partially rebuilt according to the design of Vladimír Fischer at the instigation of Cardinal Bauer in the years 1906–1910. After a thorough reconstruction, the palace was opened to the public as a sightseeing object in the spring of 2011.
The terraced complex consists of two longitudinal palaces, whose two-storey wings create two unequally sized enclosed courtyards. The facade of the longer building with the main entrance faces Biskupské náměstí, the adjacent building continues into the narrow Wurmova Street. The opposite fenced wing above the city walls is oriented towards the Bezručovy sady city park.
The long street facade has a richly architecturally structured front with 21 large windows facing the street and three portals. The roof is gabled, the central raised part is decorated with a turret. The main entrance is equipped with a stone balcony portico with the coat of arms of Bishop Liechtenstein and the year 1669. In the roof above it is a gable extension with a clock face. Similar signs with commemorative inscriptions are above the portals at the edges of the building.
The palace character of the building is underlined by the representative staircase and ceremonial halls. The original Baroque stucco decoration of the rooms has been preserved in the interior.
Olomouc (UK: /ˈɒləmoʊts/, US: /ˈoʊloʊ-/, Czech: [ˈolomouts]; German: Olmütz) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 102,000 inhabitants and its larger urban zone has a population of about 400,000 inhabitants (2024).
Located on the Morava River, the city is the ecclesiastical metropolis and was a historical co-capital city of Moravia, before having been occupied by the Swedish army during the Thirty Years' War. Today, it is the administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and the sixth largest city in the Czech Republic. The historic city centre is well preserved and is protected by law as urban monument reservation. The Holy Trinity Column was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 for its quintessential Baroque style and symbolic value.
Moravia (Czech: Morava [ˈmorava]; German: Mähren) is a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic and one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia.
The medieval and early modern Margraviate of Moravia was a crown land of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown from 1348 to 1918, an imperial state of the Holy Roman Empire from 1004 to 1806, a crown land of the Austrian Empire from 1804 to 1867, and a part of Austria-Hungary from 1867 to 1918. Moravia was one of the five lands of Czechoslovakia founded in 1918. In 1928 it was merged with Czech Silesia, and then dissolved in 1948 during the abolition of the land system following the communist coup d'état.
Its area of 22,623.41 km2 is home to about 3.2 million of the Czech Republic's 10.8 million inhabitants. The people are historically named Moravians, a subgroup of Czechs, the other group being called Bohemians. The land takes its name from the Morava river, which runs from its north to south, being its principal watercourse. Moravia's largest city and historical capital is Brno. Before being sacked by the Swedish army during the Thirty Years' War, Olomouc served as the Moravian capital, and it is still the seat of the Archdiocese of Olomouc. Until the expulsions after 1945, significant parts of Moravia were German speaking." - info from Wikipedia.
Summer 2019 I did a solo cycling tour across Europe through 12 countries over the course of 3 months. I began my adventure in Edinburgh, Scotland and finished in Florence, Italy cycling 8,816 km. During my trip I took 47,000 photos.
Now on Instagram.
I'm proud to be your new Bellisserian Honorary Ambassador to Corsica!
Come Visit the Bellisserian Embassy
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Timescape/199/56/69
If you reside in the continent of Bellisseria apply for a passport where you can learn about interesting places and receive custom stamps from your travels!
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Winters%20Elm/78/154/24
Abnor Mole: Dear Friends..
It is a great pleasure to have been asked to open this embassy.
Ever since the Great Time Out when Corsica was separated from Sansara and Heterocera to keep the Corsicans from fighting with them over over the prim mines of ANWR, it has long been a dream for many years that they would again reconnect. Bellisseria has become that connection... reaching across the voids to once again bring our brothers and sisters on the mainland together in harmony.
To further solidify those ties that bind us (no, not those ties... you're thinking of Zindra) we hereby dedicate this embassy in the hope that residents from all across this continent may explore new horizons and experiences. We hope that the new Ambassador from Bellisseria will help the residents of both continents get to know each other better and will foster close friendships between them.
"Your world. Your imagination." is an ideal that has always been a founding principles of Second Life and of the Second Life community.
Jack Vincent is one of of many volunteers who has committed themselves to the the SL community. Volunteers like Jack transform "Your world. Your imagination." into "Our world. Our imagination.". We wish him all the best in this endeavor.
Please join us in wishing Jack every success in his role as Honorary Bellisserian Ambassador.
And from this point on, the residents of Corsica may direct all IM's asking "How do I get a house?", "Why can't my Bellisserian friend turn on ban lines?", "Can I buy more prims in Bellisseria?" and "What is a Covenant?" to him. Thank you!
I declare this Embassy open and, Jack, I present you with this key.
ᴊᴀᴄᴋ ᴠɪɴᴄᴇɴᴛ: I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Abnor Mole for taking time out of his busy schedule to present me with this key.
I'd also like to thank Boo Rojyo and the entire staff of the Bellisserian Bureau of Bureaucracy for this opportunity to serve the residents of Bellisseria and Corsica.
Lindens, Moles, content creators, residents of Second Life,
It is with great pleasure that I accept this role of being your Bellisserian Honorary Ambassador to Corsica. Just as the continent of Bellisseria itself acts as a bridge between the surrounding continents of Second Life, I hope to serve as a bridge between the residents of Bellisseria and those residents of Corsica. Having had parcels in Corsica, with my first one back in 2017, and now my current parcel, while also being a new resident of Bellisseria, I feel uniquely situated for this role.
I look forward to working with the future ambassadors of each continent and those individuals who call them home, especially those of the Bellisserian and Corsican communities, to establish stronger creative and social connections between them all.
Thank you all for joining us to celebrate this important first step in that endeavor.
ᴊᴀᴄᴋ ᴠɪɴᴄᴇɴᴛ shouts: Now let us celebrate!
BÓÒ shouts: The Embassy is open, let's Party!
Squeeze | 4 Swatch
Legacy F | Reborn | Kupra | BBL | ( Squeeze avalible for all )
Taxi: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/CAKEDAY/116/120/27
(5pm SLT)
Yellow Creek Ohio... off the highway, down an access road, and behind the old relay box resides Control Point BRANCH 1. Branch 1 is a the south leg of the wye that is formed between the east-west Cleveland line banking west out of the Ohio River Valley, the north-south River Line meeting the Cleveland line, and a connector to form the third leg of the wye. Said connector is what the classic US&S PL-4 is protecting. Branch 1 once upon a time had a dwarf on this leg and the track just to the left where the train is. However in recent times the River Line PL-4 was stolen and a safetran dwarf took it's place. Branch 1 is now unique in its pole mounted safetran, safetran dwarf, and PL-4 set up. With recent signal upgrades taking place on the neighboring Cleveland line, the future for Branch 1 and potentially the Rockville diamond further south of here may be bleak. Only time will tell...
[ENG] The Sorolla Museum resides in the house where the painter and his family lived in Madrid at the beginning of the 20th century, in the Chamberí neighborhood, preserving the original atmosphere of the house, the workshop and the garden . It is one of the most complete and best-preserved artist houses in Europe. It brings together a rich collection of his works and most of the objects of sculpture, ceramics, popular jewelry and old photography that Sorolla collected while alive. The painter Joaquín Sorolla Bastida was born in Valencia in 1863 and died in Cercedilla (Madrid) in 1923, he was a prolific artist, he left more than 2200 cataloged works and his mature work has been labeled as impressionist, post-impressionist and luminist. More photos in the album Sorolla Museum, Madrid (Spain).
[ESP] Desnudo de Mujer, de Helena Sorolla, escultura en bronce sobre plinto de mármol negro vetado en blanco. Una de las obras más ambiciosas de Helena, figuró en la exposición celebrada en Madrid en 1916 en el Club Femenino Lyceum. Elena Sorolla García (firmaba como Helena) fue una escultora y pintora española de inicios del siglo XX, hija de Joaquín Sorolla y Clotilde García del Castillo.
El Museo Sorolla reside en la casa en el que el pintor y su familia vivieron en Madrid a principios del siglo XX, en el barrio de Chamberí, conservando el ambiente original de la vivienda, del taller y del jardín. Es una de las casas de artista más completas y mejor conservadas de Europa. Reúne una rica colección de sus obras y la mayoría de los objetos de escultura, cerámica, joyería popular y fotografía antigua que Sorolla reunió en vida. El pintor Joaquín Sorolla Bastida nació en Valencia en 1863 y murió en Cercedilla (Madrid) en 1923, fue un artista prolífico, dejó más de 2200 obras catalogadas y su obra madura ha sido etiquetada como impresionista, postimpresionista y luminista. Más fotografías en el álbum Museo Sorolla, Madrid (España).
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The common person residing in Esterdame would deny the existence of the Black Terrors, and they would be justified in that. There have been so few sightings of these monsters in the last 700 years that they have passed mostly into myth and superstition. Parents use their name to invoke fear in children, Commanders curse the terrors should a battle not go their way. Those who still believe that they exist are convinced that they reside in the Sleeping Caverns at the North-East-most point of Esterdame and that they protect Threndaugar the Deceiver himself. They are said to be as fast as wind, as elusive as the shadows and near invincible should they fight after dusk. After the Sacking of the Storm Hold in 728AV, rumours began to spread that it was not the Orcs, but the Black Terrors who captured the castle.
The Shadow Knight, pictured in the centre, was first spotted in 738AV, a year after King Davian III recaptured his family home. The Knight is an old friend of the King's uncle Baron (and that's all I'll say about that)
Fireworks of stellar starbursts
Fireworks of stellar starbursts
Featured in this new image from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope is the dwarf galaxy NGC 4449. This galaxy, also known as Caldwell 21, resides roughly 12.5 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici. It is part of the M94 galaxy group, which lies close to the Local Group that hosts our Milky Way.
NGC 4449 has been forming stars for several billion years, but it is currently experiencing a period of star formation at a much higher rate than in the past. Such unusually explosive and intense star formation activity is called a starburst and for that reason NGC 4449 is known as a starburst galaxy. In fact, at the current rate of star formation, the gas supply that feeds the production of stars would only last for another billion years or so. Starbursts usually occur in the central regions of galaxies, but NGC 4449 displays more widespread star formation activity, and the very youngest stars are observed both in the nucleus and in streams surrounding the galaxy. It's likely that the current widespread starburst was triggered by interaction or merging with a smaller companion; indeed, astronomers think NGC 4449's star formation has been influenced by interactions with several of its neighbours.
NGC 4449 resembles primordial star-forming galaxies which grew by merging with and accreting smaller stellar systems. Since NGC 4449 is close enough to be observed in great detail, it is the ideal laboratory for astronomers to study what may have occurred during galaxy formation and evolution in the early Universe.
This new image makes use of data from two of Webb’s instruments: MIRI (Mid-InfraRed Instrument) and NIRCam (Near-InfraRed Camera). Observations in the infrared reveal the galaxy’s creeping tendrils of gas, dust and stars. The bright blue spots reveal countless individual stars, while the bright yellow regions that weave throughout the galaxy indicate concentrations of active stellar nurseries, where new stars are forming. The orange-red areas indicate the distribution of a type of carbon-based compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (or PAHs) — the MIRI F770W filter is particularly suited to imaging these important molecules. The bright red spots correspond to regions rich in hydrogen that have been ionised by the radiation from the newly formed stars. The diffuse gradient of blue light around the central region shows the distribution of older stars. The compact light-blue regions within the red ionised gas, mostly concentrated in the galaxy’s outer region, show the distribution of young star clusters.
NGC 4449 was observed by Webb as part of a series of observations collectively titled Feedback in Emerging extrAgalactic Star clusTers, or FEAST (PI: A. Adamo). Two other targets of the FEAST programme, M51, and M83, were the subjects of previous ESA/Webb Picture of the Month images in 2023.
[Image Description: A close view of the central area of a dwarf galaxy. A huge number of stars fill the whole galaxy as tiny glowing points. They are brightest around the galaxy’s shining core. Thick clouds of gas and dust billow out across the scene, curling like moving flames. They glow in warm colours following their location: orange around the galaxy’s core, and around glowing star clusters in the bottom-left, and dark red elsewhere.]
Florida Poly resides on a 170-acre[6] campus designed by architect Santiago Calatrava. The university's Innovation, Science and Technology (IST) Building is home to a supercomputer,[7] 3-D printing lab, cyber gaming and media lab, cyber security lab, robotics lab, big data lab, and digital library. Florida Poly is the first university whose main library is completely digital.[8]
Sir Miles Long resides from the great city Toleberg, in the southern part of Lenfald, obviously the best land in all Rowia.
During his life, he has fought to defend his land, trained vigoursly, and intend to accomplish many more legendary feats.
So, while at Brickfair, I realized I had not entered LoR on the Merlin's beard forum. So after long consideration, I've decided to update my Sig for the new group, enjoy.
Builds coming soon.
Photo style credit to Mark of Falworth.
The Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) is a species of eagle-owl that resides in much of Eurasia. It is also called the European eagle-owl and in Europe, it is occasionally abbreviated to just eagle-owl. It is one of the largest species of owl, and females can grow to a total length of 75 cm (30 in), with a wingspan of 188 cm (6 ft 2 in), males being slightly smaller. This bird has distinctive ear tufts, with upper parts that are mottled with darker blackish coloring and tawny. The wings and tail are barred. The underparts are a variably hued buff, streaked with darker color. The facial disc is poorly developed and the orange eyes are distinctive.
Besides being one of the largest living species of owl, it is also one of the most widely distributed. The Eurasian eagle-owl is found in many habitats but is mostly a bird of mountain regions, coniferous forests, steppes and other relatively remote places. It is a mostly nocturnal predator, hunting for a range of different prey species, predominantly small mammals but also birds of varying sizes, reptiles, amphibians, fish, large insects and other assorted invertebrates. It typically breeds on cliff ledges, in gullies, among rocks or in other concealed locations. The nest is a scrape in which averages of two eggs are laid at intervals. These hatch at different times. The female incubates the eggs and broods the young, and the male provides food for her and when they hatch, for the nestlings as well. Continuing parental care for the young is provided by both adults for about five months.
Eagle-owls are distributed somewhat sparsely but can potentially inhabit a wide range of habitats, with a partiality for irregular topography. They have been found in habitats as diverse as northern coniferous forests to the edge of vast deserts. Essentially, Eurasian eagle-owls have been found living in almost every climatic and environmental condition on the Eurasian continent, excluding the greatest extremities, i.e. they are absent from humid rainforest in Southeast Asia, as well as the high Arctic tundra, both of which they are more or less replaced by other variety of Bubo owls. They are often found in the largest numbers in areas where cliffs and ravines are surrounded by a scattering of trees and bushes. Grassland areas such as alpine meadows or desert-like steppe can also host them so long as they have the cover and protection of rocky areas. The preference of eagle-owls for places with irregular topography has been reported in most known studies. The obvious benefit of such nesting locations is that both nests and daytime roosts located in rocky areas and/or steep slopes would be less accessible to predators, including man. Also, they may be attracted to the vicinity of riparian or wetlands areas, due to the fact that the soft soil of wet areas is conducive to burrowing by the small, terrestrial mammals normally preferred in the diet, such as voles and rabbits.[59] Due to their preference for rocky areas, the species is often found in mountainous areas and can be found up to elevations of 2,100 m (6,900 ft) in the Alps and 4,500 m (14,800 ft) in the Himalayas and 4,700 m (15,400 ft) in the adjacent Tibetan Plateau.
For more information, please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_eagle-owl