Rarely do I get to do street photography, or garden photography as it were .... but right off I ran into two friends there together, two painters, painting this gorgeous place. So I took shots and painted my shots. Can't paint like they can, but how fun for me. This is back in March. I had their contact information so I could send them photos ... but a hard year and I've long ago lost the information.

Anyway a painter in Kraft Azalea Garden, Winter Park, FL. How fun for me!

Just another frame of this scene I like at a rarely shot location.

The dusk is enveloping the scene as Reading and Northern Railroad train WHFF (West Hazleton Fast Freight) works south on their overnight turn to North Reading and back. The four unit consist of three SD40-2s and a lone SD50M led by snoot nosed RBMN 3058 (blt. Mar. 1978 as UP 3426) is curling through Ryan's Cut at MP 109 on modern day RBMN's Hazleton Line which diverges from the mainline at Haucks. Historically this trackage was the Reading Railroad's Catawissa Branch that once reached west via Lofty Tunnel another 95 miles to the far western edge of the system at Newberry Junction where connections were made with the New York Central and Erie-Lackawanna.

But those days are gone and the old RDG ends about a half mile behind the train where they came south off a section of new trackage built in 1989 called the Lofty Connection which joined the ex RDG with the former Lehigh Valley Delano Secondary and provided access to the concentration of ex LV lines around Hazleton. This 1.5 mile line connected the two routes that never had a historic physical connection and opened up a direct north-south thru route to Reading for the first time in history. It took some time to buid up but when the RBMN took over serving the busy and growing Humboldt Industrial park the connection finally began to prove its worth as illustrated by this nightly 'Fast Freight.'

Delano Township, Pennsylvania

Friday June 30, 2023

It rarely happens in good light, and it is a plan that fails as often as it succeeds: spot some shorebirds moving along the shore of the Ottawa River, hope they keep moving 8n their current sweeping direction and then lie down and hope stillness is its own camouflage. This Least Sandpiper, coming out of breeding colours, was diligent and patient and gave me some great looks.

I rarely ever see any Cedar Waxwings at my place, but there was a large flock of them this morning. They would all be in the air like a bunch of bats catching insects on the wing. And when I first saw them I thought they were bats, until I realized that bats aren't out in the daytime feeding. So I went in and got the camera and got a few shots!

I rarely see Common lizards with ticks, so seeing this one with well over 20 (including those on his other side,) was a little worrying. He also had several red mites on him. Went back and spotted him a week later and all but a couple of the parasites had dropped off and he looked alert and well. Watched him catch and eat a couple of the many Heather flies that were about, so it looks like his little infestation hasn't done him any long term harm.

Rarely do I see these sparrows perching in a tree. In my yard in NE Oklahoma.

I rarely get good photographs of Small Heaths. Apart from their small size, they also don't come to rest very often, and when they do it is often low down amongst the grasses so an unobstructed shot is hard to come by. I spent quite a while following this one by a local reservoir in South Yorkshire before I managed to

get a clear photograph.

The Anhinga lives in shallow, slow-moving, sheltered waters and uses nearby perches and banks for drying and sunning. It's rarely found out of freshwater except during severe droughts. Generally not found in extensive areas of open water, though it may nest on edges of open bays and lakes. Breeds near freshwater, often in association with other waterbirds such as herons, egrets, ibises, storks, and cormorants. The Anhinga may also breed in saltwater colonies and feed in fresh water.

The Anhinga dives from the surface of the water and swims slowly underwater stalking fish around submerged vegetation. The diet consists of many small- to medium-sized wetland fishes, with very small amounts of crustaceans and invertebrates. Anhingas typically spear fish through their sides with a rapid thrust of their partially opened bill. Usually stabs with both mandibles, but may use upper mandible only on small fish. The side-spearing habit of the Anhinga suggests that the usual hunting method is by stalking rather than pursuit.

The male begins nest construction before it has a mate, by placing large sticks and green material in the forks of trees. The male collects nearly all nesting the material, and the female then finishes building nest. The nest is a bulky platform of sticks, somewhat more compact than heron nests. It is often lined with fresh leaves, green twigs, willow leaves, and catkins. With age, excrement can build up on the outer rim of the nest giving it a white appearance.

The Anhinga swims lower in the water than many other birds due to its reduced buoyancy—a result of wetted plumage and dense bones. When at the surface, they tend to swim low in the water, often with only the neck and head above the water and sometimes with only the bill exposed. The Anhinga is also an adept soarer. While soaring, it holds its wings flat and straight, its neck outstretched or held with a slight kink; its long, straight tail is conspicuous. Anhingas often use thermals for soaring, and may achieve altitudes of several thousand feet.

Source : Cornell University

I rarely upload 2 in a day, but I couldn't decide which one I liked better....so, for a change I choose both ;)

....for macro Monday's ~weathered or worn~

HMM & have a wonderful week =D

65/100 ~reflections~

Rarely have I seen the female Common Yellowthroat so clearly out in the open, it was not for long.

Rarely seen at bright daylight but this snake was slowly moving through the mangrove forest at the coast of Singapore.

Here is a rarely seen view of Zion National Park.

No, actually, there were about 40 photographers all lined up shoulder to shoulder shooting this sunset. This was from last Friday, that magical day of shooting in Zion. The morning started up rainy and crappy, then in came the low storm clouds that swirled around the park all day. It finally ended with THIS! Spectacular sunset.

I was there with Chaybert and Rob. They had been there the night before, when the sky was gray and the light was flat. I hadn't arrived yet. The two of them were alone on this bridge, hoping for a sunset. Chaybert cracks me up! While the three of us were shooting this, along with 37 other people, he yells out... "Where were all you people last night, when it SUCKED!?"

View Large, On Black

White-Tailed Deer.

From between 27 to 45 inches tall and 6 to 7 feet long and weighing 150-310 pounds (male) and 90 to 211 pounds (female). Tan or reddish brown in summer and grayish brown in winter. Belly, throat, nose band, eye ring and inside of ears are white. Tail brown and edged with white above often with a dark stripe down the center and white below. Black spots on side of chin. Buck's antlers can spread to 3 feet. Does rarely have antlers. Fawns are spotted.

The White-Tailed Deer inhabits farmlands, brushy areas, woods, suburbs and gardens.

They range throughtout the southern half of the southern tier of Canadian provinces and through most of the United States except for the Southwest.

Kensington Metropark, Livingston County, Michigan.

I rarely post more than one image from a day's shoot but this experience was so special. At least 8 males basking after heavy showers. Before anyone gets worried that we were too close; the picture was taken with a 500mm lens and then enhanced and cropped in PS. We spotted them and then moved away without disturbance.

Rarely see photos from this side of the hill, seeing how the housing rises in part into the hill in Epping Forest.

I rarely use the vertical (or portrait) format for my landscape pictures, but here the various elements of the picture were simply asking for it.

Boscastle has the only significant harbour for 20 miles along the north Cornish coast. The harbour dates from the 16th century when two stout stone piers were built by Sir Richard Grenville. This was once a busy small port (similar to many others on the north coast of Cornwall), importing limestone and coal, and exporting slate and other local produce. But these days it is simply home to a handful of small inshore fishing boats and a couple of small pleasure craft. Tourism is the most important local industry, as it is elsewhere in Cornwall.

Rarely see Bushtits alone, here they are all crowded together in the corner of the bird bath.

My wife and I rarely argue anymore. By the time you reach our age, it simply takes too much energy.

That said, there is one issue we have been going back and forth on. As my body and reflexes have slowed down about as much as an aging NFL running back after a decade of hits from other behemoths, I have been pushing for us to buy a convertible to use year-round in my quest for the perfect wildlife shot.

Unfortunately, when I spot a potential shot of a bird or animal that is fairly unique, by the time I go through my responses and squeeze out of our vehicle to get a good perspective, the wildlife object of my camera is already in Iowa.

However, there are times when an individual bird cooperates when they recognize my growing frailties.

This eagle was lunching on a freshly run-over raccoon, located in the middle of a busy road. As we approached, it looked up, hesitated, then took off right in front of our vehicle to escape the traffic.

I quickly asked my wife to grab the steering wheel, pressed the down button on my window, leaned out like a short giraffe, and took this shot. I may be wrong, but I thought I saw a slight grin on the eagle’s face as it glimpsed me.

A convertible would have saved me a lot of effort.

(Photographed near Cambridge, MN)

The Common Rose is a swallowtail butterfly belonging to the genus Pachliopta, the roses, or red-bodied swallowtails. It is a common butterfly which is extensively distributed across south and southeast Asia.

The common rose is active much earlier in the morning than most butterflies and remains so throughout the day until dusk. It flies just as readily in the shade as in the sun, and frequently visits flowers.

The red body, slow peculiar flight, bright colouration and pattern of the wings are meant to indicate to predators that this butterfly is inedible, being well protected by the poisons it has sequestered from its larval food plant. It also emits a nasty smelling substance when handled to further enhance its unappealing qualities. Hence it is rarely attacked by predators, a strategy so successful, that edible butterflies have evolved to mimic it, the classic example being that of the female morph of the common Mormon that is Papilio polytes, female form stichius. (Wikipedia)

I rarely manage a shot of a Tree Swallow most times I see them because they dart around continuously, but not at the Patuxent Research Refuge (South Tract, Maryland) .... they nest there and seem quite content to perch near their nest for extended periods. They are such beautiful birds when you get a good look.

View Large for the best look.

It's rarely that nature really disappoints. From beautiful sunrises/sunsets with all their colour, to grey stormy skies, mist and rainbows.

We all at sometime in our lives take nature for granted, sometimes not even noticing the beauty.

Im one of those people and I must admit that until I took up photography (a little too late, may I add) I never noticed much of what I now see.

So not only does photography give me so much pleasure, its opened my eyes to so much more.

A secret location in Dorset that has been rarely photographed.

Rarely seen such a spacious bicycle car park.

Selten so einen großzügigen Fahrradparkplatz gesehen.

Rarely have I seen a barrel flare so round and perfectly....so I was very excited to pop out the back of this wave, check my little screen, and see that I GOT IT! haha :P

I rarely see these little ones. This one came to me - he didn't see me hiding in the shadows.

I liked the background, so I didn't crop the photo very much. Best enlarged.

American Bushtit

Psaltriparus minimus

Member of the Nature’s Spirit

Good Stewards of Nature

© 2018 Patricia Ware - All Rights Reserved

I rarely found a sky like that while shooting in this precise spot. So I feel really lucky to witness this light show with autumn colors at its best.

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Canon EOS 6D

Canon 16-35 f4 IS USM L

20mm | ƒ9 | 1/40s | ISO 100

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It rarely snows, especially on the beach.

Website : www.createdbykarindebruin.com/

Instagram : www.instagram.com/karin.debruin

Explore, April 1, 2022 #20

Rarely see these anymore! the soft top makes it rarer.

Same owner since 2009.

1999 making it a late model

Rarely seen on the northwest Washington coast, I photographed this Wandering Tattler on the breakwater rocks at Westport on the Washington northwest coast last spring. The Tattler is more commonly seen further south on the coast. Westport Washington is on its migratory route.

Rarely am I so confused about the situation when I was taking a picture.

One day I ran into the Łódź Photo Festival. There was a looped film projection in one of the side rooms. Two young people watched it. The scene looked compositionally ok (although it was very dark) so I photographed it. My frustration in the subject of the description comes from the transmission of the material, for me it reminded me of an endoscope inserted into a tube. Maybe I don't know much about art or maybe I'm just not in the target group of recipients of this film material (even for sure).

I rarely ever see any Cedar Waxwings at my place, but there was a large flock of them this morning. They would all be in the air like a bunch of bats catching insects on the wing. And when I first saw them I thought they were bats, until I realized that bats aren't out in the daytime feeding. So I went in and got the camera and got a few shots!

Rarely seen but often heard. (Sounds like the cracking of a whip)

Rarely do I take just one photo, most the time it is a series and I select the best one to share. I really liked the images I got of this Belted Kingfisher and a Eurasian Collard-dove. It is difficult to capture images of Belted Kingfishers and I did not want to forget this experience.

I rarely see two male hummingbirds together. They sat side by side for a very short time. I was lucky to fire off a couple of shot before one of them disappeared. This was in my back yard, Yakima County, Washington. One of the rare days recently that I was able to see blue sky. IMG_0625

Rarely seen now and this one was pretty rough, no MOT and untaxed since 2012, abandoned and rusting away....

I rarely make Explore - thanks guys! #102 =D

It was so cool to see the balloons lift off, I had so much fun that day!

Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas

Ballunar Festival

Added to the Cream of the Crop pool as most favorited.

I rarely go out to photograph trains with flashes, but thanks to a heads up of CSX W944 heading north on the Toledo Sub with a YN2 geep leading, an exception can be made. This evening's ammonia train blasts through Tipp City, OH at midnight with CSXT 6151 leading. 6151 is the last remaining YN2 painted GP38-2S on the roster.

Rarely perched out in the open, this owl brought out excited screeches of delight from onlookers. Magee Marsh Boardwalk.

And once again I had to react quickly: it had snowed the night before (which caused a good deal of traffic chaos in the region, because many trucks were driving with summer tires) and snow rarely stays in my area for long. So the next morning I climbed the pier tower to photograph snowy Friedrichshafen in the early morning blue hour.

Whilst it would be lovely to get closer to these birds we must remember that they are 'Schedule 1' and it is now pretty much time to leave them and other similarly categorised birds in peace to their mating, nest-building, and rearing of their young in the hope they can flourish in numbers. We owe them that. Feather detail alone rarely makes a photograph anyway.

Thank you for taking the time to view some of my images.

One of my favorite animals to photograph; though rarely seen. These little guys can be so cute with their distinctive masks.

One of my favorite animals to photograph; though rarely seen. These little guys can be so cute with their distinctive masks.

on this cloudy dull day I happened across 3 youngsters that were just walking into the woods and i was able to get a few shots of them on the snow, followed by many in the trees.

TIA for all comments

If you enjoy Raccoon pics please visit my album dedicated to Raccoons at www.flickr.com/photos/black_cat_photography/albums/721577...

Santa Lucia town - Puno Region

this lake is located in the high Andes at 4.174 mt altitude, it's home to wildlife including the extremely rare Andes Flamingo - the only ones in the world with yellow legs and feet - which is stunning because the weather here rarely rises above around 20 degrees. even during the summer.

Got even better during the next few minutes.

Picture of the Day x 2

This rarely encountered mantis species is restricted to the East Coast of Australia, but is almost certainly far more common than we realise as it’s small size (little more than 2.5cm/1 in for an adult) and pale green colouration that closely matches the leaf colour of many Eucalyptus and Angophora species means that finding it is rarely an easy task.

Just a bird in flight, but a bird rarely seen in Niagara. This one was spotted by Josh Vandermeulen who was kind enough to share.

While it's believed to be the first spotted in the Niagara area, I think its the second lol. Personally photographed one in Dunnville August 2013!

www.flickr.com/photos/earl_reinink/9628212368/in/album-72...

Dave: Um, guys, what's going on?

Eva: I was about to ask you the same thing.

Bruno: I rarely know what's going on.

Agnes: I want to know why the door is closed.

Dave: Well, I was about to go the the bathroom.

Agnes: Well, you're actually in the bathroom.

Eva: Yeah, now that you've successfully entered the bathroom, why don't you open the door so we can join you?

Dave: Because I was hoping for some privacy.

Eva: Karen and the kids are downstairs so you can have privacy with just us.

Agnes: Yup just the four of us.

Bruno: Did you bring cake?

Dave: Bruno, I did not bring cake into the bathroom.

Bruno: That's almost as disappointing as you not wanting to spend time with us.

Dave: I'll be out soon. You guys can just wait.

Eva: Is there another exit in there?

Dave: There is a small window.

Agnes: That's not good. You might escape through it. I really think I should be in there with you.

Dave: Seriously, can I have 5 minutes in the bathroom?

Bruno, Eva and Agnes: Sure.

Dave: Thank you.

Eva: Now open the door. That 5 minutes includes us. You watch us poop, so we get to watch you poop. It was part of the adoption contract.

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Sometimes I think there is no privacy when you have 3 dogs. Here they all are wanting to join me in the bathroom. This was admittedly a staged recreation of what happens when the bathroom door is only partly closed.

I very rarely use a tripod for shooting macro as my images are generally hand held spur-of-the-moment captures made in good natural light. However, on this occasion I set up my camera on a small table-top sized tripod, and shot some images using a cable release to cope with the slow shutter speed. My desk top lamp provided the main source of light, and a small led torch added the blue accents.

I did find it rather difficult to get in as close as I normally do shooting hand held, as these sporophytes were in a planting pot which I had to balance on props to meet the lowest height of the tripod and jut of three extension rings plus lens. The upside was that I could extend the exposure time without fear of camera shake or wind movement.