Mixmaster Challenge 43:

www.flickr.com/groups/artisticmanipulation/discuss/721577...

➤ Your image must be an open-card-style diptych (not just side-by-side panels … see first two entries below for examples).

➤ Your diptych must portray an illustrated, self-created haiku** with the haiku on one side panel and the illustration on the other (though it’s okay if your illustration bleeds onto the haiku side).

➤ Your illustration must include purple and/or blue flower(s).

➤Also one or more black or dark-colored silhouettes (human and/or animal).

➤ NO WATER of any kind.

( **A haiku is a short poem of 17 syllables, typically in three lines of five, seven and five syllables.)

Thank you for your kind visit. Have a wonderful and beautiful day! ❤️❤️❤️

東風吹かば　匂い起こせよ　梅の花　主なしとて　春な忘れそ

菅原道真

Michizane was very fond of ume and composed the waka (a traditional Japanese poem of thirty-one syllables) to the ume tree in his garden, 'Kochi fukaba Nioi okoseyo ume no hana aruji nasitote haruna wasureso (recently haruwo wasuruna)' (Whenever the east wind blows, my dear plum blossoms remember spring, even if your master won't be here), following his demotion and exile to Dazaifu.

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day

To the last syllable of recorded time,

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more: it is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing."

from that Scottish play, written by You Know Who.

Sometimes it is really hard to find and say things that signify something, anything

"AH KAR AH MÉ DU TRI SU NAK PO ZHI ZHI MAL MAL SO HA."

Because this is the Essence Mantra of the Tul ku, it is related to the sutric view. This mantra is commonly called the DU TRI SU mantra. The first four syllables represent the Dershek Tsozhi, the Four Principal Enlightened Ones of Yungdrung Bön who are Satrik Érsang, Shenlha Ökar, Sangpo Bumtri and Lord Tönpa Shenrap. The following syllables represent purification of the lower realms and protection from inner and outer negative forces. According to the Great Lama Drenpa Namkha, if this mantra is recited and blown to the sole of the feet of a sentient being that is dying, it is pushing the being’s conscious towards the crown of the head and that being will not be born into the lower realms. Also, if one experiences nightmares, reciting this mantra in the morning will dispel the negative energy.

In the Himalayan region, it is traditional for a Bönpo family to have one or all of these Three Essence Mantras carved into wood or stone and hung above the entrance to the home. Carving these mantras into stone, printing them on prayer flags or wearing amulets containing these mantras brings immeasurable blessings and protection.

Titanfall 2

Went birding today at Horsethief Canyon State Wildlife Area. Parked my car, got out and there he was, singing for all he was worth. A Lazuli Bunting! I still can't believe it.

Just like we each have our own voice, each male Lazuli Bunting sings a unique combination of notes. Yearling males generally arrive on the breeding grounds without a song of their own. Shortly after arriving, they create their own song by rearranging syllables and combining song fragments of several males. The song they put together is theirs for life.

(CornellLab)

Photographed at Horsethief Canyon SWA, Western Slope, Colorado.

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,

To the last syllable of recorded time;

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,

And then is heard no more. It is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing.

-Macbeth, Act 5, scene 5

By William Shakespeare

For Mixmaster Challenge 15 at the Artistic Manipulation Group:

HAPPY WEDNESDAY WINE, MY FRIENDS....

© All rights reserved

"Forgive me, everybody," whispered the hunger artist, only the overseer, who had his ear to the bars, understood him.

"Of course," said the overseer, and tapped his forehead with a finger to let the attendants know what state the man was in, "we forgive you."

"I always wanted you to admire my fasting," said the hunger artist.

"We do admire it," said the overseer, affably.

"But you shouldn't admire it," said the hunger artist.

"Well then we don't admire it," said the overseer, "but why shouldn't we admire it?" "Because I have to fast, I can't help it," said the hunger artist.

"What a fellow you are," said the overseer, "and why can't you help it?"

"Because," said the hunger artist, lifting his head a little and speaking, with his lips pursed, as if for a kiss, right into the overseer's ear, so that no syllable might be lost, "because I couldn't find the food I liked. If I had found it, believe me, I should have made no fuss and stuffed myself like you or anyone else."

These were his last words, but in his dimming eyes remained the firm though no longer proud persuasion that he was continuing to fast.

(Franz Kafka, "The Hunger Artist")

The leiothrix can usually be found in a group of about ten to thirty birds during the non-breeding season; however, during the breeding season the birds break off into pairs and become territorial. These birds have a song which consists of short powerful notes that are repeated continuously throughout the year but it is more persistent during the breeding season. This period usually lasts from early April until September and they are usually found around well watered areas. The males sing long complex songs with a wide array of syllables to attempt to attract the female

EMERALDS

serrated green leaves

across the cool forest path

cut through the sadness

As this is the start of a new Album and a different form of poetry to what I have shown on Flickr so far I thought I would do a small introduction to the poetry form of Haiku. From here on in we will just go with it and see what happens.

Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry that consists of three lines of poetry, traditionally containing 17 syllables, and this usually took the form of the first line being 5 syllables, the second 7 syllables and the third line, 5.

This major form of Japanese poetry flourished in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries and was written to strict rules. But as with all things, especially within creativity, and the gradual emigration of ideas to the West, the Haiku has adapted.

The English language can convey meaning in a more economical way, which can result in Haiku of fewer syllables, as well as the traditional format. There is more of a willingness to change and develop. The English syllable can be of varying length, providing more expression and possibilities with different meanings.

As with using less syllables in some cases, the standard 3 lines is not always used either. Sometimes only 2 lines are used. And in some cases, the use of space on the page is utilised in its design to explore and emphasise the meaning further.

Haiku has been described as the poem of the single breath. Where we experience the transiency of life. They are open-ended, pointing out the mystery, and depth of emotional experience, and the paradox that can govern our lives, the ambiguity, joy and sometimes futility of any given moment.

In some ways Haiku is a creative expression of what can come directly from the heart.

But this does not mean that intellectualisation and philosophical meanings cannot form part of the Haiku’s approach, or that further conventions cannot be expanded and develop.

Some western poets have explored other topics rather than traditional seasonal forms, and are using more modern ideas to broaden the poem’s form.

The present tense is often used however, to promote a sense of immediacy to the poem, highlighting that moment of insight, which is the Haiku’s main function.

Any poetical form conforms to some conventions, and with Haiku this often shows itself by keeping it simple grammatically, ie, no title, punctuation or capital letters.

I shall try and keep to some conventions, as this is entering into the spirit of Haiku. However, I have opted to give my Haiku’s a title, as well as a number, otherwise it will completely trash my filing systems and I won’t be able to find anything afterwards in my filing systems, let alone on Flickr! Not only that of course, but the use of images is a break away from convention itself, but my poetry has always been written in direct response to the image in front of me, as well as the experience of taking the image.

I have found them to be a delight and a challenge to write in the past, so I thought I would use the brain cells and write some more. It is also an opportunity to use some images I might not otherwise have considered, which gives rise to some interesting correlations. And I may or may not, use music to go with it. It has got to hit just as hard as the poem. I have found that the poetry form of Haiku seems to suit my poetry style, which is all about the many emotions we humans go through in life, in our pursuit of understanding, happiness, faith and peace.

On some of the works there might be a small introduction. But its power is in keeping it simple. So I shall have to curb my writing tendencies.

To see my other poetry and images, have a look at my website at:

www.shelleyturnerpoetpix.com

blue sky warm sun frothy clouds

drifts of white blossom

frivolous in the springtime

- on this day I found inspiration with my iPhone in the garden centre car park......

HSS!

heartfelt thanks for all your visits

for: Smile on Saturday: from right above

bunches of flowers

wait multicoloured and bright

to tempt customers

gratitude for all visits

The Falknis is a mountain in the Rätikon range of the Alps, located on the border between Liechtenstein and Switzerland. It is 8406 ft. (2562 m) at its highest peak.

The nearest locality is Balzers.

The Falknis is one of two mountains named in Johanna Spyri's 1881 novel "Heidi". The title character describes them to her grandfather after having seen them both from the meadow where the goats are taken daily to graze, and he tells her their names. The other mountain is the Schesaplana, some 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) away to the east.

The name Falknis is said to come from Latin falcula f. 'small sickle' or correspondingly altratoromanic falclas' small sickles', from which after the language change alemannic by consonant dissimilation and vowel elevation in the secondary syllable became Falknis. The name originally referred to today's Falknisturm well below the summit.

Please, no invitations to award/forced comment groups or to those with large/animated comment codes.

Robust, gregarious, and black-trimmed large white pigeon. Inhabits coastal forests on small offshore islands, only making occasional forays to mainland areas to forage and to roost. Often perches high on the bare branches of trees or on power/telephone lines; often found in flocks of ten or more. Song is very low in pitch and includes “woo-oo-woooo,” with the last syllable drawn out; loud at first and then trailing off. Compare with Silver-tipped and Torresian Imperial-Pigeons where overlap exists; no similar species in introduced range in the Caribbean. (eBird)

----------------

This tiny speck of land in the middle of the Andaman Sea had a surprising variety of pigeons. Not only did we see the beautiful Nicobar Pigeon, we also saw the only Green and Pied Imperial-Pigeons there. Great looks at these usually shy birds.

Here's a link to our Thailand bird trip list: ebird.org/tripreport/328567

Mu Ko Similan National Park - Ko Miang, Phangnga, Thailand. February 2025.

Rockjumper Birding Tours.

Robust, gregarious, and black-trimmed large white pigeon. Inhabits coastal forests on small offshore islands, only making occasional forays to mainland areas to forage and to roost. Often perches high on the bare branches of trees or on power/telephone lines; often found in flocks of ten or more. Song is very low in pitch and includes “woo-oo-woooo,” with the last syllable drawn out; loud at first and then trailing off. Compare with Silver-tipped and Torresian Imperial-Pigeons where overlap exists; no similar species in introduced range in the Caribbean. (eBird)

--------------

We saw these pretty pigeons only a couple of times during our time in Singapore. Always high up in a tree, in small groups. We'd seen the Torresian Imperial-Pigeon in Australia, and honestly, I can't tell the difference between the two.

Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore. March 2024.

Birding Singapore.

"To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark."

Victor Hugo

bubbles in waiting

safe in the wine rack

Macro Mondays: B&W

HMM!

thank you for all visits , faves, comments...

Behind me on the branch I want to see you.

Little by little you became a fruit.

It was not difficult for you to climb from the roots

singing with your syllable of sap.

And here you will be first in fragrant bloom,

in the statue of a kiss converted,

until sun and earth, blood and sky,

grant you delight and sweetness.

On the branch I will see your hair,

your sign ripening in the foliage,

bringing the leaves closer to my thirst,

and your substance will fill my mouth,

the kiss that came up from the earth

with your blood of fruit in love.

by Pablo Neruda

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/REKA%20NUTMEG/233/125/22

“There is only one page left to write on.

I will fill it with words of only one syllable. I love. I have loved. I will love.”

― Dodie Smith

Location: .:: Supernatural ::. (Moderate)

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Supernatural/84/141/21

Blog Post

sllorinovo.blogspot.com/2019/10/i-love.html#more

The leiothrix can usually be found in a group of about ten to thirty birds during the non-breeding season; however, during the breeding season the birds break off into pairs and become territorial. These birds have a song which consists of short powerful notes that are repeated continuously throughout the year but it is more persistent during the breeding season. This period usually lasts from early April until September and they are usually found around well watered areas. The males sing long complex songs with a wide array of syllables to attempt to attract the female.

The leiothrix is an open cup nester. The nests of the red-billed leiothrix are composed of dry leaves, moss and lichen; however, they are not well hidden because concealment isn't really a primary factor when determining a nest site.Several nests are found between April and June and are placed within ten feet of the ground. Dense vegetation provides the shrub nesting species protection against predators.

The eggs of the leiothrix are found in clutches of two to four eggs with an average of three.They are broad and blunt in shape with some gloss on the outside and they also have a pale blue color and red like brown spots that encircle the larger end of the eggs. The newly hatched birds have bright red skin and a rich orange red gape.

The red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. It is sometimes known as French partridge, to distinguish it from the English or grey partridge. The genus name is from Ancient Greek alektoris a farmyard chicken, and rufa is Latin for red or rufous.

It is a rotund bird, with a light brown back, grey breast and buff belly. The face is white with a black gorget. It has rufous-streaked flanks and red legs. When disturbed, it prefers to run rather than fly, but if necessary it flies a short distance on rounded wings.

This is a seed-eating species, but the young in particular take insects as an essential protein supply. The call is a three-syllable ka-chu-chu.

This partridge breeds naturally in southwestern Europe (France, Iberia and northwest Italy).[1] It has become naturalised in flat areas of England and Wales, where it was introduced as a game species, and has been seen breeding as far north as Aberdeenshire. It is replaced in southeastern Europe by the very similar rock partridge (Alectoris graeca). It is a non-migratory terrestrial species, which forms flocks outside the breeding season.

This species breeds on dry lowlands, such as farmland and open stony areas, laying its eggs in a ground nest. They have been known to cohabit with wild rabbits.

The Falknis is a mountain in the Rätikon range of the Alps, located on the border between Liechtenstein and Switzerland. It is 8406 ft. (2562 m) at its highest peak.

The nearest locality is Balzers.

The Falknis is one of two mountains named in Johanna Spyri's 1881 novel "Heidi". The title character describes them to her grandfather after having seen them both from the meadow where the goats are taken daily to graze, and he tells her their names. The other mountain is the Schesaplana, some 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) away to the east.

The name Falknis is said to come from Latin falcula f. 'small sickle' or correspondingly altratoromanic falclas' small sickles', from which after the language change alemannic by consonant dissimilation and vowel elevation in the secondary syllable became Falknis. The name originally referred to today's Falknisturm well below the summit.

dried herbs fresh

pink paper-clipped

safe in the packet

posting for: Macro Mondays: fastener

thank you for visits

nerines

pink shimmer

Guernsey lilies

toxic and beautiful

posting for: Sliders Sunday -- Post Processed To The MAX!

- on my recent visit I found clumps of these flowers growing in the garden at the Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty

HSS!

thank you for your visits, faves, comments

Fuji X-E2 with Fujinon XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS

Fortrose (/fɔːrtˈroʊz/; Scottish Gaelic: A' Chananaich, Scots: Chainry) is a town and former royal burgh in Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom.[2][3] It is on the Moray Firth, about 6 miles (10 km) north-east of Inverness. The town is known for its ruined 13th century cathedral, and as the home of the Brahan Seer. In the Middle Ages it was the seat of the bishopric of Ross, and formerly called Chanonry, for being the Chanory of Ross.[4] The cathedral was largely demolished in the mid-seventeenth century by Oliver Cromwell to provide building materials for a citadel at Inverness.[5] The vaulted south aisle, with bell-tower, and a detached chapter house (used as the tollbooth of Fortrose after the Reformation) remain. These fragments, though modest in scale, display considerable architectural refinement, and are in the care of Historic Scotland (no entrance charge). The burgh is a popular location for trying to spot bottlenose dolphins (see Chanonry Point) in the Moray Firth.

Fortrose shares a golf course with Rosemarkie. Set on the Chanonry Ness the course stretches out into the Moray Firth and offers good views of Fort George. The course is well known for its signature 4th Hole "Lighthouse". The lighthouse in question is the Chanonry Point lighthouse which was designed by Alan Stevenson and was first lit 15 May 1846.

Public buildings in Fortrose include a leisure centre, library and the only secondary school on the Black Isle, Fortrose Academy.

The correct pronunciation of the town's name in accordance with local usage is with the stress on the first syllable.

www.wikipedia.com

in full summer bloom

pink lit with yellow

scent of ripe peaches

for:

Octubre Rosa

Friday flora

thank you for all your visits

Looking close... on Friday! ~ Birds

Edited: These are the natural colours and not changed in any way in a program.

The grey go-away-bird (Crinifer concolor), also known as grey lourie, grey loerie, or kwêvoël, is a bold and common bird of the southern Afrotropics. They are present in arid to moist, open woodlands and thorn savanna, especially near surface water. They regularly form groups and parties that forage in tree tops, or dust bathe on the ground. Especially when disturbed, they make their presence known by their characteristically loud and nasal "kweh" or "go-way" calls, with the last syllable typically a descending drawl. Within range, their unique combination of appearance and habits precludes confusion with other bird species.

posting for: Crazy Tuesday: peg

sun came out

a little breeze

pegging out washing

😄 HaPpY CrAzY Tuesday 😄

thank you for all views, faves, comments

A lot of early migrants are pretty frantic in their search for food, and this species is no different. They spend a lot of time in the canopy, and while they are easy to hear (they are quite loud, and their piercing two-syllable song is unique) seeing them is another story. In the big wave of migrants that arrived during my three days in Prince Edward County, they were present and moving around in significant numbers.

As is often the case, I found this opportunity for photography while trying to be available for something else. A small flock of male Scarlet Tanagers had arrived in a huge Willow beside Lake Ontario. They were swooping out and catching flying insects. I struggled through some brush and found a sheltered place under the branches, looking out over the water.

Not being a leading candidate for multi-tasking (an overrated ‘skill’, imho) I was frankly oblivious to this bird, as it settled nearby and assessed its insectivore options. As the Tanagers failed to come close to me, or within range of the camera, I was about to get up when I heard it, and decided to watch its search for its next branch. Not a textbook portrait, but I like the behaviour it shows.

yellow and green

autumn seedhead

photographer's gift

I like the photographic possibilities of autumn...

posting for:

Macro Mondays: equinox

thank you for all visits, faves and comments

“I'm not anyone, I'm just myself; whatever I am, I am something, and now I'm something you can't help.”

― Ray Bradbury, The Martian Chronicles (1950)

Just take me in your arms and sedate me with syllables-disaster and kiss-references :)

(living art piece from “journey into communication” exhibition @ MetaLES..O..)

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Out of the bosom of the Air.

Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,

Over the woodlands brown and bare,

Over the harvest-fields forsaken,

Silent and soft and slow

Descends the snow.

Even as our cloudy fancies take

Suddenly shape in some divine expression,

Even as the troubled heart doth make

In the white countenance confession,

The troubled sky reveals

The grief it feels

This is the poem of the air,

Slowly in silent syllables recorded;

This is the secret of despair,

Long in its cloudy bosom hoarded,

Now whispered and revealed

To wood and field.

은행나무, Korean ginkgo leaves in autumn

@ 성균관 Seonggyungwan (Seong-gyun-gwan, three syllables)

flamboyant and standing proud

orange russet red

our garden flag irises

posting for:

Crazy Tuesday: a frame full of flowers

heartfelt thanks for all your visits, any faves and comments

😄 HaPpY CrAzY Tuesday 😄

of the gatepost

fence still standing

for Macro Mondays: imperfect

thank you for all visits, any faves and comments

It might have too many syllables to catch on...

To rouse prey out of their hiding places, the snowy egret does this little shuffle where they move their foot ahead and shake it in the water and sand.

sheepish white clouds

brilliant blue sky

light on yellow

thank you for all your visits

Mani (Prayer) Stones stacked outside of Namche Bazaar (3440m), Nepalese Himalaya, Nepal. Mani stones, a form of prayer in Tibetan Buddhism, are normally inscribed with the six syllabled mantra of Avalokiteshvara (Om mani padme hum), which loosely translates to "Hail to the jewel in the lotus". Taken on Fuji Velvia Slide Film.

www.robertdowniephotography.com

Love Life, Love Photography

autumn fire

a feast for birds

orange glow

for Saturday Self-Challenge: orange

thank you for all visits

The Chiloé Wigeon is a very popular bird in collections of wildfowl. In common with most southern hemisphere ducks, the plumage is similar in both sexes and it stays in colour year-round. It is undemanding and relatively peaceable, with a melodious three-syllable whistle. The scientific name, sibilatrix, derives from Latin, sibilare — to whistle.This duck is indigenous to the southern part of South America, where it is found on freshwater lakes, marshes, shallow lagoons and slow flowing rivers.

The above Chiloe Wigeon is living wild. Maybe an escapee.

top of the pile

in a red jumper

teddy seeking a home

I bought a purple scarf

Happy Teddy Bear Tuesdays!

From www.birdnote.org/listen/shows/nictitating-membranes-natur...

"For most birds, keen eyesight is absolutely critical — for finding food, spotting predators, and generally staying alive. But many birds lead lives that could be very hard on the eyes.

"Fortunately, birds have evolved a structure for protecting their eyes. Like humans, they have upper and lower outer eyelids. But beneath the outer eyelids lies an extra eyelid, called the nictitating membrane. Nictitating, for all its alliterative syllables, simply means “blinking”. This extra eyelid is hinged at the inner side of the eye and sweeps horizontally across the cornea. The nictitating membrane is largely transparent, and it helps keep the eye moist and clean while guarding it from wind, dust, and hazards.

“Reptiles and some mammals have the extra eyelid, too.”

—Bird Note

sunlit edges

silhouettes

rain cloud

for:Thursday monochrome (Donnerstagsmonochrom)

thank you for all visits

for: Sliders Sunday -- Post Processed To The MAX!

along the path

between the trees

shapes and colours

HSS!

to

mop

up

seasonal

chills

Crazy Tuesday: Boxes

gratitude for all visits

a gift

of flowers

from the neighbours

for Sliders Sunday!

thank you so much for all visits, faves and comments

Happy Sunday!

small jewel-like blossoms

invading all the air

scent of wisteria

thank you for all visits, faves and comments

There were prayer wheels everywhere in Nepal and we soon learned to spin them, and say a beautiful mantra taught to us by our guide. "Om Mani Padme Hum". Pronounced: "OHM-MAH-NEE-PAHD-MAY-HUM. This mantra, or prayer, means "Praise to the jewel in the lotus." This might not make any sense, but we learned that it's meaning is 'great and vast' because all the teachings of Buddha are wrapped up in this one phrase. Each syllable represents one of the six goals of Buddhist existence and helps heal or purify and bring forth the positive qualities associated with that goal.

Om: = the vibration or sound of the universe; represents divine energy and generosity and purifies the ego.

Ma: = represents ethics and purifies jealousy

Ni: = represetns patience and purifies want or desire

Pad: = represents diligence and purifies ignorance and judgement

Me: = represents concentration and purifies attachment

Hum: = the unity of all; represents wisdom and purifies hatred.

And now you know why I never missed an opportunity to spin a prayer wheel and say this chant, even though I'm not a Hindu or Buddhist. The mantra is something very special.

Since I’ve been busy with Holiday “Make Work” (that is activities that really don't produce anything but inner happiness, such as putting up Holiday Lights and Decorations) I had to dig through my archives to find this photo :-)

___________________________

The Beswick Wren:

Bewick’s Wren are noisy hyperactive little birds with bold white eyebrows. These master vocalists belt out a string of short whistles, warbles, burrs, and trills to attract mates and defend their territory, or scold visitors with raspy calls.

Bewick’s Wrens are still fairly common in much of western North America, but they have virtually disappeared from the East. The severe declines of Bewick's Wren in the eastern United States coincides with range expansion in the House Wren. It is suspected that the House Wren, which frequently removes eggs from nests in cavities, was directly responsible for the decline.

Courting Bewick’s Wrens normally form monogamous pairs. While they’re setting up house and even after the female has begun incubating eggs, the male and female often forage together. This may help the male prevent his partner from mating with another bird.

A young male Bewick’s Wren learns to sing from neighboring adult males while he is coming of age in his parents’ territory. The songs he develops differ from his father’s, with a note changed here, a syllable there. The melodious signature he acquires between the ages of about 30 and 60 days will be his for life.

A Bewick’s Wren’s life starts off perilously. House Wrens may eject eggs from its nest; both eggs and nestlings can become lunch for rat snakes and milk snakes, and domestic cats go after nestlings. Adulthood isn’t safe either: mature birds can fall prey to roadrunners, rattlesnakes, or hawks.

The oldest recorded Bewick's Wren was at least 8 years old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in California in 1986. It was banded in the same state in 1978.

(The Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

(Nikon Z6, 500 mm + TC 1.4, 1/1000 @ f/6.3, ISO 3200, processed to taste)