View allAll Photos Tagged SUCCESSFUL
I can't say the same thing about the photographer, since I forgot to reset the shutter speed on my camera and had a lot of blurry shots! (I'm surprised I got any in focus). The Red-tailed hawk flew across the road in front of me and caught a mouse or vole. It proceeded to devour its prey in all its bloody goriness. Those of you who hate that kind of shot will be happy to know they all came out blurry. It took less than a minute for the prey to be devoured.
RKO_1348. Born to be wild! Kingfisher spam !
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Great White Egret - Ardea Alba
The great egret is generally a very successful species with a large and expanding range, occurring worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. It is ubiquitous across the Sun Belt of the United States and in the Neotropics. In North America, large numbers of great egrets were killed around the end of the 19th century so that their plumes could be used to decorate hats. Numbers have since recovered as a result of conservation measures. Its range has expanded as far north as southern Canada. However, in some parts of the southern United States, its numbers have declined due to habitat loss, particularly wetland degradation through drainage, grazing, clearing, burning, increased salinity, groundwater extraction and invasion by exotic plants. Nevertheless, the species adapts well to human habitation and can be readily seen near wetlands and bodies of water in urban and suburban areas.
The great egret is partially migratory, with northern hemisphere birds moving south from areas with colder winters. It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
In 1953, the great egret in flight was chosen as the symbol of the National Audubon Society, which was formed in part to prevent the killing of birds for their feathers.
On 22 May 2012, a pair of great egrets was announced to be nesting in the UK for the first time at the Shapwick Heath nature reserve in Somerset. The species is a rare visitor to the UK and Ben Aviss of the BBC stated that the news could mean the UK's first great egret colony is established. The following week, Kevin Anderson of Natural England confirmed a great egret chick had hatched, making it a new breeding bird record for the UK. In 2017, seven nests in Somerset fledged 17 young, and a second breeding site was announced at Holkham National Nature Reserve in Norfolk where a pair fledged three young.
In 2018, a pair of great egrets nested in Finland for the first time, raising four young in a grey heron colony in Porvoo.
In a friend's office, each time that they have a successful business, they ring the bell as a way to motivate their team.
I wish it sounds many times this year for him and every of you too.
pic uploaded for FlickrFriday theme #ring.the.bell.
Last in series of these. This one overhead drifting towards edge of frame but catching the setting sun full on her face :-)
A Barred Owl takes shelter from some very upset squirrels with his catch -- another of their species.
Pen y Gogarth (The Great Orme), Llandudno, North Wales.
The Great Orme is 2 miles long, 1 mile wide and rises 207 metres (679 feet) from the sea. The geology, wildlife, archaeology and landscape is of such importance that much of the headland has been designated a Special Area of Conservation, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Heritage Coast. In order to ensure the successful coexistence of all interests, the Great Orme is managed as a Country Park and Local Nature Reserve by Conwy Countryside Service.
A large falcon that is endemic to South Asia including parts of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. This is as large as a Peregine Falcon and taller than Saker Falcon, but more leaner unlike the bulky build of Saker Falcon or Peregrine Falcon. We sighted them on two days in action - they were hunting in the area and one of them was fighting with the Saker Falcon.
The 2nd day, we sighted 3 of them - most likely a family and this one is the immature one judging by the size and plumage. The adult - likely a female was teaching the bird how to hunt and they both stuck together for almost an hour or more after which they disappeared together.
This immature one tried to hunt on its own, but wasn't successful, so it landed back on this perch briefly. The fog was so thick and heavy that it was challenging to shoot. We enjoyed the experience of watching them in action though.
Many thanks in advance for your views, faves and feedback - very much appreciated.
Thank you for your lovely best wishes messages. I missed you!
Explore #407 April 4th 2009. Thx Brendamb
Direct Rail Services (DRS) 66427 and 37716 pass Ely, working the first successful 3S01 0922 Stowmarket D.G.L. to Stowmarket D.G.L. East Anglia RHTT run.
Epipogium aphyllum, Aflenz, Steiermark, Austria. The rain during the last week was very helpful for these rare orchids. Unlike last year, they showed up in abundance. Nice and fresh.
After a successful day spent in the Iskar Gorge we took a night train from Sofia towards Povelyanovo.
When we arrived in Povelyanovo we hopped out of our sleeper coach towards the sitting coach which was now attached to our sleeper coach, after a stop of around 20 minutes the journey continued towards a little village named Valchi Dol, this is where we had planned our first photo of the day. When the train pulled into the station we had already opened the door as we had to run in order to catch the departure of our train. Though it seems like a short distance, it can be tricky, especially with suitcases, as the train departs almost immediately. Luckily, in our case the train had to wait for some elderly people to board the train.
At 07:52 AM BDZ 07 111 departs from Valchi Dol hauling the BV 2637 bound for Dobrich
Continuing my Slovakia series...
After two successful days on the electrified mainline, I decided to try something a bit more challenging since I already had many good shots in the bag. The southern Slovakian mainline between Kosice and Zvolen is still unelectrified and still hosts a fair number of freight trains. The most scenic segment is between Turna and Bodvou and Roszvana where the line climbs a steep grade to traverse the Slovak karst mountain range.
On this segment there are still a number of daily freight trains, though in reality some trains only operate when there is demand. A relatively sure bet is the loaded limestone train Pn 51154 from Turna nad Bodvou to the cement works in Slavec. The heavy train (by European standards) is still the domain of the 751 class Bardokta locomotives, with 1-2 pushers needed.
The line is not easy to photograph without a car as local passenger services were discontinued years ago, but after figuring out that there was atleast some local bus service I put together a plan. The morning was rather unproductive with thick fog in Turna nad Bodvou, but the skies cleared and I headed for my planned shot at Lipovník. Running only about 20 minutes behind schedule, Pn 51154 starts it descent from the crest of the grade in the Jablonovský tunnel and is about to reenter the double track at the long closed for passenger service Lipovnik station. This shot is of course hardly original, as evidenced by the trees chopped by other fans (Thanks! :D) but getting such a cool train at such a location makes it an easy shot of the trip for me!
Two of the most successful US aircraft of WW2, P-47D Thunderbolt, closely followed by a P-51D Mustang - both in US Army Air Forces markings.
During the War, the USAAF allowed pilots to decorate and personalise their aircraft, as it helped with morale and aided visual identification. The US Navy, on the other hand, did not approve of such decoration, and it is unusual to see pictures of USN aircraft of the era with any non-official markings.
Sacred Kingfisher with a very small fish from the Sandy Camp Road Wetlands. This went straight to its brood in a termite-mound nest nearby.
Tyrone Wright (aka Rone) is one of Australia’s best known and most successful street artists. His new exhibition, “Time”, includes 12 installations inside one of Melbourne’s most iconic buildings, the Flinders St railway station.
The building has been empty for some time, and Rone has transformed a forgotten wing, including the magnificent ballroom into an amazing exhibition taking visitors back to post-World War II Melbourne.
The building used to be used for many different purposes, classrooms, offices, industry and these and much more are remembered in the exhibition.
The exhibition employed a core team of 5-10 people, with up to 120 Victorian creatives and professionals working on the project. Rone has worked on the project for three years. Callum Preston was set builder director and Carly Spooner the set decorator.
Of course the installations are adorned with Rone’s world famous ethereal portraits of his muse, model Teresa Oman, and these combine with meticulous details in the sets, along with the ambience created by original music that makes this a magnificent experience.
Adrienne and I visited yesterday, and I’ll post photos over the next week or so, here’s the first five.
This is The Library.
“Time” is on show until April 23, 2023, more information can be found here rone.art
Explored! 11 Nov 2022 # 175
Patience paid off for a great egret when it grabbed a fish and some salad from a marsh at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Stafford County, Ks.
The rare Showy Lady's Slipper grow in the fen in west central Ohio. The State planned a 4 lane divided highway thru the fen, which would have destroyed the remaining 450 acres of a once 7,000 acre fen. A group of nature lovers from Urbana fought the state and created the preserve. A mile long boardwalk takes one through the area that contains 40% of Ohio's rare endangered plant species. A wonderful effort and successful effort by the Cedar Bog Membership...and we've been members going on 20 years. We're the Kentucky members.
The southbound Denali Star exits one of the most maintenance prone sections on the Alaska Railroad. The are just about to the location of the former Moody Tunnel daylighted in 2008 I believe.
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Conowingo Dam Harford County, Maryland.
Sometimes the successful timing of a photograph can be measured by mere milliseconds; and such was certainly the case for this image, which flirted dangerously close to a one-way trip to the trash bin. Let me explain.
See, the afternoon run of North Bay to Englehart train no. 113 on the Ontario Northland Railway doesn't offer too many options for photographic purists chasing the "perfect light" that so many of us desire. The sun is mostly behind or to the side of the train, save a few locations on the north end for most of the run. But truthfully, none of this concerns me all that much anyhow. And for what may be lacking in ideal sun angles, opportunities to get creative and explore the rich lineside character of the railway abound. One of the signature locations along the line is the town of Latchford, Ontario, with its endowment of natural beauty and, evidently, some humorous residents. When you enter the town, the entrance sign proclaims: "The Best Little Town by a Dam Site!"
So, in an effort to put their slogan to the test, I found myself set up beside the Latchford Dam and the handsome Sgt. Aubrey Cosens VC Memorial Bridge. Anticipation of the approaching train ran high as the fast-moving waters of the Montreal River flowed by while the minutes ticked away. The highway was abnormally quiet, I thought, as I waited, with not a single car passing by.
Moments later, the familiar sound of an approaching train filled the quiet northern air. Just as the headlights of a tractor-trailer and a single pickup truck appeared on the horizon, seemingly pacing alongside the train. "Oh no," I thought, as I ran some quick mental calculations on whether I'd walk away empty-handed, or if the timing would work. It was a roll of the dice. As the train cleared the first span (at 40 MPH), the RAM 1500 that had trailed close behind the transport, and induced momentary heart palpitations, was centre frame. By the time the train hit the next span, the 1500's tailpipe had exited frame left, not a second prior. PHEW, was that ever close!
Anyhow, there's seldom a dull moment on the photographic trail, and these are the experiences that sometimes break, but usually one way or another, make the photo.
Successfully used in combat in the Battle of France, accounting for about a third of the AdLA victories.
Typically French, the throttles had to be modified to operate in the opposite direction to aircraft for the US and UK.....
Just up the shoreline from the Least Terns, this is a Forster's I think. On this May Gray day, the lone fisherman nailed one. I was a little slow finding the water exit (behind it), but I'm still pretty happy with the 2x on my little 300. It's actually lighter than my big 200-600 zoom by a few ounces, my new walkabout lens.