View allAll Photos Tagged SACRED
Sacred Kingfisher, Todiramphus sanctus
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Always good to find these birds have returned for summer nesting.
Sacred Kingfisher
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We've had high hopes of finding the Kingfishers at nest.
But so far they seem intent more on feeding than nesting.
Sacred Kingfisher
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The real interest in this picture is the nest hole.
If you look carefully you'll note the first signs of white-wash around the hole opening.
Conclusion: We have Young!
As the little dudes begin to grow and move around, they back up to the the edge of the hole and vent out.
Now things will get exciting and very busy for the parents
Your sacred space is where you can find yourself again and again.
Joseph Campbell
"Mine Is my garden space, a space with a constant renewal of life that I can mold with my hands"
• The Lotus is a sacred flower for Buddhists.
• The Lotus flower is quoted extensively in Puranic and Vedic literature.
• The Lotus is one of the eight auspicious signs of Buddhism - an eight petalled lotus used in Buddhist mandalas symbolizes cosmic harmony, a thousand petalled Lotus, spiritual illumination. • A bud symbolizes potential. The well-known Buddhist mantra, "Om mane padme," refers to the jewel in the lotus, enlightenment.
• In Egyptian mythology, the Lotus is associated with the sun, because it bloomed by day and closed by night. The Lotus is even believed to have given birth to the sun.
• The roots of the Lotus are planted in the soil of the pond or river bottom, while the leaves float on top of the water surface.
• The Lotus flowers are usually found on thick stems rising several centimeters above the water.
• The Lotus flowers, seeds, young leaves and rhizomes are all edible. In Asia, the petals are sometimes used for garnish, while the large leaves are used as a wrap for food.
• Various parts of the sacred Lotus are also used in traditional Asian herbal medicine.
• The Lotus fruits are a conical pod with seeds contained in holes in the pod. Nucifera means having hard fruit. When the seeds are ripe, they become loose in the pod. The pod then tips down towards the water, releasing the seeds.
• When the Lotus flower's petals fall, they are replaced by a flat-topped seed pod divided into compartments, resembling a wasp's hive. The tender seeds are munched happily in north-east India.
• The Lotus stem is eaten almost in all parts of India, and pickled too.
• Nelumbium luteum is the American Lotus, with pale, small flowers.
• The Indian or Chinese Lotus, nelumbium nelumbo, usually has pink flowers although white, rose and double varieties are available.
Sacred Kingfisher
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Their flight from the nest was simply too fast for the best of my lenses and D500 to keep up with.
In the end, I changed to manual focus, and pulled the focus back a little from the nest, and hoped that when I pressed the shutter the bird would be in the focus zone.
Hmm. This was one of few successes.
Sacred Kingfisher
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With no notice of intention, it was next to impossible to catch her leaving the nest.
And in the blink of an eye she was gone.
Sacred Kingfisher
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For the first week or so on the wing the young ones kept seperate perches.
So it was good to find them at least in the same area.
Many thanks for your visits, faves and comments. Cheers.
Sacred Kingfisher
Scientific Name: Todiramphus sanctus
Description: The Sacred Kingfisher is a medium sized kingfisher. It has a turquoise back, turquoise blue rump and tail, buff-white underparts and a broad cream collar. There is a broad black eye stripe extending from bill to nape of neck. Both sexes are similar, although the female is generally lighter with duller upper parts. Young birds are similar to the female, but have varying amounts of rusty-brown edging to feathers on the collar and underparts, and buff edges on the wing coverts.
Distribution: The Sacred Kingfisher is common and familiar throughout the coastal regions of mainland Australia and less common throughout Tasmania. The species is also found on islands from Australasia to Indonesia and New Zealand.
Habitat: The Sacred Kingfisher inhabits woodlands, mangroves and paperbark forests, tall open eucalypt forest and melaleuca forest.
Seasonal movements: In Australia, Sacred Kingfishers spend the winter in the north of their range and return south in the spring to breed.
Feeding: Sacred Kingfishers forage mainly on the land, only occasionally capturing prey in the water. They feed on crustaceans, reptiles, insects and their larvae and, infrequently, fish. The birds perch on low exposed branch on the lookout for prey. Once prey is located, the Sacred Kingfisher swoops down and grasps it in its bill, returning to the perch to eat it.
Breeding: For most of the year Sacred Kingfishers are mainly solitary, pairing only for the breeding season. Usually two clutches are laid in a season. Both sexes excavate the nest, which is normally a burrow in a termite mound, hollow branch or river bank. The nest chamber is unlined and can be up to 20m above the ground. Both sexes also incubate the eggs and care for the young.
Calls: The voice of the Sacred Kingfisher is a loud "ek ek ek ek" repeated continuously throughout breeding season. Birds also give a "kee kee kee" in excitement and a series of chirring, scolding notes when alarmed.
Minimum Size: 19cm
Maximum Size: 24cm
Average size: 21cm
Average weight: 45g
Breeding season: September to December; occasionally extended to March, if conditions are favourable.
Clutch Size: 3 to 6
Incubation: 18 days
Nestling Period: 26 days
(Sources: www.birdsinbackyards.net and "The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds - Second Edition")
© Chris Burns 2018
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This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.
Dinant
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYjTvTO7MpY
You will be found ....
© All rights reserved Anna Kwa. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.
The Sacred Ibis once lived in Egypt, and was deeply rooted in Egyptian culture and religion. This ibis was believed to be representative of the god Thoth, the god of wisdom and knowledge. It now resides in sub-Saharan Africa and has been introduced throughout the world. Land reclamation projects throughout Egypt, which included drainage of swamps, lead to their local extinction. Thousands of these birds were included, mummified, in Egyptian burial chambers. In some areas of the world they are now invasive species that affect tern and egret populations. It certainly sounds like centuries of manipulation by man has changed the live of the Sacred Ibis. #iLoveNature #iloveWildlife #WildlifePhotography in #Tanzania #Nature in #Africa #Serengeti #SacredIbis #DrDADBooks #Canon #WildlifeConservation
Dressed by
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The New Zealand Sacred Kingfisher. Tried to get it in-flight but it was a little too quick for me to follow. Got it after it had landed on this post. Because mu shutterspeed was still at 3200/s the ISO shot up. Though DxO PhotoLab came to the rescue with the noise reduction.
Sitting patiently down in the creek bed. It was very hot and a lot of birds and animals were coming in for a drink. Sun was at its zenith so very harsh light.
Sacred Earth ॐ Sacred Mother
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uSV9nqNHPw
Sacred Earth are an Australian husband and wife - their music transcends beyond this world and takes me to another dimension to that place of Peace
and keeps me in the moment.
Sacred Earth ॐ- Dancing Shiva - Live in Concert
During a visit to Writing On Stone Provincial Park, last June, a First Nations Park Staff struck up a conversation with us. If I remember it right, he spoke of many people coming through this area long ago but never staying long. Apparently, they believed the hoodoos were spirits of their ancestors and warriors would sometimes spend the night laying on the flat tops to commune with them. It's one of many sacred places in the prairies with a rich cultural history.
Apologies if I'm not very active with comments on Flickr for the next few weeks. It's going to be a busy time for us and I'll have more time to catch up with everyone towards the latter half of October.
Please note for some reason, the map system placed this location in Montana, USA! It's actually in Alberta, Canada!
This elegant looking bird was once present in large numbers in Egypt where it was used as a votive offering to the god Troth, the god of wisdom and reason, who is depicted with the head of an ibis. Astoundingly, as many as 8 million birds were mummified and placed in tombs in ancient Egypt. Sacred ibis no longer exist in Egypt but they are found throughout sub-Sarahan Africa including in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania.
The sacred kingfisher is a medium-sized woodland kingfisher that occurs in mangroves, woodlands, forests, and river valleys in Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of the western Pacific
A #dagaba or #thupa is a dome which is built over sacred #Relics the bodily remains of the Lord
#Buddha. The #Mahathupa or Great Thupa is today known as the #RuwanweliDagaba and
according to the Chronicle its construction was prophesied by #Mahinda himself, when #KingTissa erected a tall stone pillar on the place for future building.
The legendary hero #Duthagamani in fulfilment of the prophesy decided to build a Great Thupa
on the site. He had already built the #Mirisaweti Dagaba and his magnificent Brazen Palace but
he wanted something bigger and better for his greatest work.
The Chronicle tells us that the King asked for designs and estimates from master builders and
chose one out of the five hundred who submitted tenders
Sacred Kingfisher
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The "S" Curve is beloved of those who assess photo quailty by rules.
A Sacred Summit
Mount Madison reflecting near symmetry at Star Lake
My girlfriend and I were very lucky to have such a calm morning here, as a reflection isn't usually this good. Strong prevailing winds tend to muddle reflections and kill the symmetry but I guess this morning was the exception!
EXPLORE Worthy - REMIX THIS PIX 30 (2021 Art)
Thanks to Temari 09 for Vintage Frame.
Thanks to Iezalel Williams for the beautiful Sacred Kingfisher.