American Red Squirrel.

Between 10 5/8 and 15 1/4 inches long. The smallest tree squirrel in its range. Rust-red to grayish red above, brightest on sides; white or grayish-white below. In winter black lines separate reddish back from whitish belly. Tail is similar to back color, but is outlined with broad black band edged with white. In summer its coat is duller. In winter has prominent ear tufts.

They are often abundant in any kind of forest: natural coniferous forests, pine plantations, mixed or hardwood forests; often around buildings.

They range throughout much of Alaska and Canada; in the continental United States south through the Rocky Mountain states and east from Iowa to north Virginia. They are also in the Alleghenies.

Kensington Metropark, Livingston County, Michigan

Excerpt from gpsmycity.com:

Mauthalle (Former Customs House), Nuremberg:

This medieval building has served as a granary and customhouse throughout its centuries-old history. It was built as a granary around 1498 on the site of the former city moat. At the time, this was the largest grain house in the city and stored food for times of crisis.

The Former Customs House features a gabled roof. The eastern gable has an intricate network of blind ogee arches. The city's coat of arms, with the imperial eagle, is featured in the lancet-arched portal.

The impressive roof has five stories and rests on top of the three-story sandstone building.

The granary began serving as a customhouse in 1572. The building was heavily damaged during WWII but has been restored. The original builders used half-timbers on the facade; the remaining half-timbered facade can be seen on the building's easter wing. The rest of the building was rebuilt using brick.

The cellar features 26 pillars and now houses the Barefoot brewery and restaurant.

The path of the moon was photographed throughout the night of Sept 18th to the early morning hours of Sept 19, 2021. This was a day before the infamous "full harvest moon" of 2021. A photograph above the corn field was taken near the end of the blue hour and used for the background. Using an intervalometer, the moon was photographed every 15 minutes using a Canon 80D and a Canon 8-15 mm f/4L lens @ 13 mm. (ISO 400, 3.2 sec, f/6.3 was used for each moon exposure)

Burrowing Owl

The Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) is a small, long-legged owl found throughout open landscapes of North and South America. Burrowing owls can be found in grasslands, rangelands, agricultural areas, deserts, or any other open dry area with low vegetation. They nest and roost in burrows, such as those excavated by prairie dogs. Unlike most owls, burrowing owls are often active during the day, although they tend to avoid the midday heat. Like many other kinds of owls, though, burrowing owls do most of their hunting from dusk until dawn, when they can use their night vision and hearing to their advantage. Living in open grasslands as opposed to forests, the burrowing owl has developed longer legs that enable it to sprint, as well as fly, when hunting.

Burrowing owls have bright eyes; their beaks can be dark yellow or gray depending on the subspecies. They lack ear tufts and have a flattened facial disc. The owls have prominent white eyebrows and a white "chin" patch which they expand and display during certain behaviors, such as a bobbing of the head when agitated.

For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrowing_owl

From The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Burrowing_Owl/overview

Full title is: 2020-2021 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp. It is purchased annually by both hunters and conservationists (Me) to protect habitat throughout USA for migratory ducks. For years it has proven to be a successful partnership of hunters and conservationists in protecting critical habitat for ducks both as they migrate and during breeding season. $25 per stamp and is well worth it! Not used in the US postal system. Need to sign your name across the stamp to use it for hunting or as a pass to a National Wildlife Refuge. For more info. visit www.recreation.gov. A different species is featured each year. Size of stamp is 2 in wide, 1.5 in high.

Theme: "Stamp"

Thank you for taking the time to view my photo, and for the faves and comments you make, thank you.

A fairly common raptor found throughout the Australian continent.

Cumberland Lagoon, Queensland, Australia

Giant Grassland Cicada at Denver Botanic Gardens

"Occasionally, M. dorsatus (giant grasslands cicada) can be heard calling from fence posts or grassland shrubs throughout eastern Colorado and including some open space grassland areas along the Front Range."

Colorado State University Extension

Mourning Dove.

A 12 inch long bird with a soft, sandy buff color. They have a long pointed tail bordered with white and withblack spots on the wings.

It inhabits open fields, parks, and lawns with many trees and shrubs.

They range throughout the United States and Canada and winters in the northern United States.

Kensington Metropark, Livingston County, Michigan.

Seemed throughout our adventure of being in the desert, the trees may have stood as tall as the clouds. Many trees we came across appeared to have been struck by lightening as you could see the burn marks i n the New Mexico desert

surname Effinger

in der mitte , middle; Tablett Vassoio tray

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why beer?

i love

my grandfather (( Moritz EFFINGER) was professionell beer brewer

and EFFINGER BEER til 1966, as i know !

dbythelake.blogspot.com/2007/01/relax-and-enjoy-effingers...

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Warum Bier?

ich mag es!

Mein Großvater ((Moritz EFFINGER) war Bierbrau Meister.

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www.facebook.com/Effinger-Beer-99008282356/posts?ref=page...

Ferdinand Effinger, Sr., a German immigrant, founded the family brewing business in Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisconsin in 1885. One of about 300 small breweries in Wisconsin when founded in the late nineteenth century, the Effinger Brewing Company was one of only 19 small breweries in the state in 1966, when the firm ceased brewing due to declining sales.

The original brewery complex, erected in 1885, housed Effinger's family and a saloon in addition to beer-making facilities. Eleven years later, Effinger was one of the earliest brewers in the state to begin producing bottled beer.

In 1911 Effinger reorganized the firm as a corporation owned by family members. In 1913-1914 the brewery was remodeled and expanded, providing space for new cellars, keg washrooms, and a mechanical refrigeration system.

With the advent of Prohibition in 1920, the company began producing root beer and near-beer. In 1921 the firm successfully converted to ice cream making and sales. Ten years later, the firm sold its ice cream business to the Borden Company and began reconverting the plant for beer production, which began in 1933. The firm continued its expansion program through 1948 when a new brewery building was completed and new bottling equipment was installed.

Throughout its 81-year existence, the Effinger Brewing Company remained a family-owned and managed business. The sons and grandsons of the founder served as corporate officers and as managers of the brewery. After the death of the founder in 1945, Ferdinand Effinger, Jr., became the firm's president and brewmaster, positions he occupied until the firm went out of business. Frederick J. Effinger, a grandson of the founder, served as secretary-treasurer and director (plant manager) from 1945 to 1966.

“To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” -Mary Davis

We count ourselves very lucky to live just a few miles from a state park and although we take a hike in it almost every day, we still haven’t grown tired of it. Things change throughout the year and each season has its own miracles. The way the sun makes the marsh almost sparkle while it sets has been one of my favorite sights to see lately.

Sydney, AUSTRÀLIA 2023

Angel Place is a small alley located in Sydney's central business district, between George and Pitt Streets. It is known for its art installation "Forgotten Songs," featuring a series of empty birdcages suspended above the pedestrian path. This piece honors the bird species that once inhabited the area before urban development. As you walk through the alley, you can hear recorded calls of 50 bird species that used to reside in Sydney, with sounds changing throughout the day to reflect diurnal and nocturnal birds. This installation prompts reflection on urban transformation and the loss of natural habitats within the city.

Common and widespread large gull found throughout North America. Adults have a fairly pale gray back, pale eye, and dull pinkish legs. Takes four years for immatures to progress from mostly brown to fully white and gray adult plumage; intermediate plumages are often mottled and messy. Usually shows a dull pinkish base to the bill by the first winter, and develops a pale eye by the second winter. Some immature birds can fade to almost white, especially in their first or second summer, but they always show darker wingtips. Occurs inland and along the coast, frequenting fishing boats, beaches, lakes, and landfills. Often forms large flocks with other gulls. (eBird)

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These gulls had noticed that we had fish for the shearwaters and petrels and wanted in on the action. They effortlessly kept pace with our boat while watching all the time for some free food.

Grand Manan, New Brunswick, Canada. July 2013.

AlwaysAnAdventure.

Smoke from forest fires throughout western and northern North America is spreading across the continent, requiring air quality warnings in communities hundreds of miles from the fires. This is one of the clearest manifestations of climate change to occur at least to date. The clear summer skies we've historically enjoyed will likely be more rare in the future. The new norm will be smokey skies during a progressively longer fire season, at least until most of the fuel is gone.

This view is of a light smoke layer in central Colorado, looking from the northern Sawatch Range towards the Gore Range, with Vail nestled in one of the distant valleys. The day before the Gore Range was only faintly visible, and on bad days this summer completely invisible from this vantage point.

Follow me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/itsandreaperego/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MrPeregus

And Instagram: www.instagram.com/andreaperego_scrittore/

Illuminated by winter sun, this resilient bramble stays red all throughout winter.

Although we had less butterflies throughout the cooler months in Florida, butterfly season never completely ended. Monarch's, gulf fritillaries and zebra longwings were flitting about in small numbers even during the winter months. Although winter is not officially over, I am pleased to say the number of butterflies in the yard has started increasing. I look forward to the return of the spicebush, giants, tigers and more. It won't be long :)

"Ringworm was never an issue". J.J.

Marcel and James noticed a tendency to morph back and forth between each other during the installation. Marcel put this down to 'Infrathin'.

Dolly remained Dolly (ish) throughout this five-hour-long performance piece.

Bearded Tits are found in reed beds throughout the temperate regions of Europe, Asia and North Africa. For this reason they are also called Reed Buntings. It is not a tit as such, but belongs to a unique group of its own. The way they move about reeds beds, however, in small groups, they are more like long-tailed tits. They feed on small reed aphids and small insect, but come autumn and winter they switch to reed seeds. This one is the male of the species. It has more of a moustache than a beard, a feature lacking in females.

Throughout the day were these micro rain bursts that added such cool shadow effect on the landscape.

Sony Alpha 7Riv paired with Sigma 24-70mm zoom

SN/NC: Hibiscus, Malvaceae Family; Syn. Hibiscus syriacus, Hibiscus Rosa Chinensis

Hibiscus is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. The genus is quite large, comprising several hundred species that are native to warm temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world. Member species are renowned for their large, showy flowers and those species are commonly known simply as "hibiscus", or less widely known as rose mallow. Other names include hardy hibiscus, rose of sharon, and tropical hibiscus.

The genus includes both annual and perennial herbaceous plants, as well as woody shrubs and small trees. The generic name is derived from the Greek name ἰβίσκος (ibískos) which Pedanius Dioscorides gave to Althaea officinalis (c. 40–90 AD).Several species are widely cultivated as ornamental plants, notably Hibiscus syriacus and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Hibiscus é um gênero de plantas com flores da família das malvas, Malvaceae. O gênero é bastante grande, compreendendo várias centenas de espécies nativas de regiões temperadas, subtropicais e tropicais quentes em todo o mundo. As espécies membros são conhecidas por suas flores grandes e vistosas e essas espécies são comumente conhecidas simplesmente como "hibisco", ou menos conhecidas como malva rosa. Outros nomes incluem hibisco resistente, rosa de sharon e hibisco tropical.

O gênero inclui plantas herbáceas anuais e perenes, bem como arbustos lenhosos e pequenas árvores. O nome genérico é derivado do nome grego ἰβίσκος (ibískos) que Pedanius Dioscorides deu a Althaea officinalis (c. 40–90 dC).

Várias espécies são amplamente cultivadas como plantas ornamentais, notadamente Hibiscus syriacus e Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Hibiscus es un género de plantas con flores en la familia de las malvas, Malvaceae. El género es bastante grande y comprende varios cientos de especies que son nativas de las regiones templadas cálidas, subtropicales y tropicales de todo el mundo. Las especies miembros son famosas por sus flores grandes y llamativas y esas especies se conocen comúnmente simplemente como "hibisco", o menos conocidas como malva rosa. Otros nombres incluyen hibisco resistente, rosa de sharon e hibisco tropical.

El género incluye plantas herbáceas anuales y perennes, así como arbustos leñosos y árboles pequeños. El nombre genérico se deriva del nombre griego ἰβίσκος (ibískos) que Pedanius Dioscorides le dio a Althaea officinalis (c. 40–90 d. C.).

Varias especies se cultivan ampliamente como plantas ornamentales, en particular Hibiscus syriacus e Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Hibiscus est un genre de plantes à fleurs de la famille des mauves, les Malvaceae. Le genre est assez vaste et comprend plusieurs centaines d'espèces originaires des régions tempérées chaudes, subtropicales et tropicales du monde entier. Les espèces membres sont réputées pour leurs grandes fleurs voyantes et ces espèces sont communément appelées simplement "hibiscus", ou moins largement connues sous le nom de mauve rose. D'autres noms incluent l'hibiscus rustique, la rose de sharon et l'hibiscus tropical.

Le genre comprend des plantes herbacées annuelles et vivaces, ainsi que des arbustes ligneux et de petits arbres. Le nom générique est dérivé du nom grec ἰβίσκος ( ibískos ) que Pedanius Dioscorides a donné à Althaea officinalis (vers 40–90 après JC).

Plusieurs espèces sont largement cultivées comme plantes ornementales, notamment Hibiscus syriacus et Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Hibiscus è un genere di piante da fiore della famiglia delle malva, Malvaceae. Il genere è piuttosto ampio e comprende diverse centinaia di specie originarie delle regioni temperate calde, subtropicali e tropicali di tutto il mondo. Le specie membri sono rinomate per i loro fiori grandi e vistosi e quelle specie sono comunemente conosciute semplicemente come "ibisco", o meno conosciute come malva rosa. Altri nomi includono ibisco resistente, rosa di sharon e ibisco tropicale.

Il genere comprende piante erbacee sia annuali che perenni, nonché arbusti legnosi e alberelli. Il nome generico deriva dal nome greco ἰβίσκος (ibískos) che Pedanius Dioscoride diede ad Althaea officinalis (c. 40–90 d.C.).

Diverse specie sono ampiamente coltivate come piante ornamentali, in particolare Hibiscus syriacus e Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Hibiscus is een geslacht van bloeiende planten in de malvefamilie, Malvaceae. Het geslacht is vrij groot en omvat enkele honderden soorten die inheems zijn in warme gematigde, subtropische en tropische gebieden over de hele wereld. Ledensoorten staan ​​​​bekend om hun grote, opzichtige bloemen en die soorten zijn algemeen bekend als "hibiscus", of minder algemeen bekend als rozenkaasjeskruid. Andere namen zijn winterhibiscus, roos van Saron en tropische hibiscus.

Het geslacht omvat zowel eenjarige als meerjarige kruidachtige planten, evenals houtachtige struiken en kleine bomen. De generieke naam is afgeleid van de Griekse naam ἰβίσκος (ibískos) die Pedanius Dioscorides aan Althaea officinalis gaf (ca. 40-90 AD).

Verschillende soorten worden op grote schaal gekweekt als sierplanten, met name Hibiscus syriacus en Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Hibiskus ist eine Pflanzengattung aus der Familie der Malvengewächse Malvaceae. Die Gattung ist ziemlich groß und umfasst mehrere hundert Arten, die in warmen gemäßigten, subtropischen und tropischen Regionen auf der ganzen Welt heimisch sind. Mitgliedsarten sind bekannt für ihre großen, auffälligen Blüten und diese Arten sind allgemein einfach als "Hibiskus" oder weniger bekannt als Rosenmalve bekannt. Andere Namen sind winterharter Hibiskus, Rose von Sharon und tropischer Hibiskus.

Die Gattung umfasst sowohl einjährige als auch mehrjährige krautige Pflanzen sowie verholzende Sträucher und kleine Bäume. Der Gattungsname leitet sich vom griechischen Namen ἰβίσκος (ibískos) ab, den Pedanius Dioscorides Althaea officinalis (ca. 40–90 n. Chr.) Verlieh.

Mehrere Arten werden weithin als Zierpflanzen angebaut, insbesondere Hibiscus syriacus und Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

ハイビスカスはアオイ科アオイ属の顕花植物です。この属は非常に大きく、世界中の温暖な温帯、亜熱帯、熱帯地域に自生する数百種からなります。メンバー種は大きくて派手な花で有名であり、これらの種は一般に単に「ハイビスカス」として知られているか、あまり広くはアオイ科の植物として知られています.他の名前には、丈夫なハイビスカス、ムクゲのバラ、トロピカル ハイビスカスなどがあります。

この属には、一年生および多年生の草本植物のほか、木質の低木や小さな木が含まれます。属名は、Pedanius Dioscorides が Althaea of​​ficinalis (c. 40–90 AD) に与えたギリシャ語の名前 ἰβίσκος (ibískos) に由来します。

いくつかの種は観賞用植物として広く栽培されており、特にハイビスカス・シリアカスとハイビスカス・ローザ・シネンシスが有名です。

الكركديه هو جنس من النباتات المزهرة في عائلة الملوخية ، Malvaceae. الجنس كبير جدًا ، ويتألف من عدة مئات من الأنواع التي تنتمي إلى المناطق الدافئة المعتدلة وشبه الاستوائية والمدارية في جميع أنحاء العالم. تشتهر الأنواع الأعضاء بأزهارها الكبيرة المبهرجة وتعرف هذه الأنواع عمومًا باسم "الكركديه" أو أقل شهرة باسم الملوخية. وتشمل الأسماء الأخرى الكركديه هاردي ، وردة شارون ، والكركديه الاستوائية.

يشمل الجنس كل من النباتات العشبية السنوية والمعمرة ، وكذلك الشجيرات الخشبية والأشجار الصغيرة. الاسم العام مشتق من الاسم اليوناني ἰβίσκος (ibískos) الذي أعطاه Pedanius Dioscorides إلى Althaea officinalis (حوالي 40-90 م).

تُزرع العديد من الأنواع على نطاق واسع كنباتات للزينة ، ولا سيما الكركديه السرياني والكركديه روزا سينينسيس.

Throughout the week I'll try to put up pics of the walk down the pier to the little house at the end of the pier.

El Viejo Hospital de Peregrinos, actual Parador de San Marcos

El flujo de viajeros que peregrinaban a Santiago durante toda la Edad Media supuso un gran enriquecimiento cultural para los Reinos por los que atravesaba la ruta. El Camino de Santiago fue un factor determinante para el desarrollo del Arte Románico. La arquitectura, la escultura, la pintura, las artes industriales, o la literatura, y otros saberes y disciplinas, circularon a lo largo de la ruta, de la mano de los artistas y sabios peregrinos, y dejaron su huella en ciudades de paso, como León, España.

The Old Hospital of Pilgrims, present Parador of San Marcos

The flow of travelers who traveled to Santiago throughout the Middle Ages was a great cultural enrichment for the Kingdoms that crossed the route. The Camino de Santiago was a determining factor for the development of Romanesque Art. Architecture, sculpture, painting, industrial arts, or literature, and other knowledge and disciplines, circulated along the route, by the hand of artists and wise pilgrims, and left their mark on cities of passage, such as León, Spain.

Throughout December I visited the local sites that Robins and Cedar Waxwings have fed on ripe Toyon berries in previous years. No luck. Yesterday Alice and I decided to try one more time at a local park. BINGO! There we found both Robins and Cedar Waxwings assaulting Toyon berries in waves. For nearly 2 hours we each took over 950 shots. Cedar Waxwings Bombycilla cedrorum; San Luis Obispo

Happy Holidays dear All of You!

Thank you for all your support and faves and comments throughout this year.

I am thankful to you!

Tryin' to post image for you in the new year as well.

Have a great light!

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Buy my gear:

Walrus tusks keep growing throughout its life, so it is possible to guess how old an individual is by the length of its teeth. This one has moderately long tusks, and the scarring round the neck also show it has been in a few fights so also indicates age. The tusks are modified canine teeth but they also have a variable number of rudimentary teeth that aren't used much. This is because Walruses eat shellfish (bivalve molluscs like clams) by sucking out the contents, which they swallow without chewing, then discard the empty shells. Though they sometimes eat other invertebrates such as crabs, shrimps, and even octopuses, and occasionally slow-moving fish. I took this in Svalbard where they are a common and familiar sight. I quite liked the little streams of water from each tusk tip.

The title (Looking a bit long in the tooth) is an expression meaning that someone is getting a bit old for what they are doing. It comes from horses, whose gums recede as they get older, making their teeth appear longer. So before buying a horse, the purchaser would look in its mouth to check the length of its teeth, and to gauge how much working life it had left. This is also where we get the expression that you should not look a gift horse in the mouth. And one final thing, the first time I ever heard the "long in the tooth" expression was from a teacher in my first year at secondary school, more than fifty years ago. It was the day of parents' evening and he said he preferred these for the younger classes because by sixth form the mothers were getting a bit long in the tooth. I imagine that would be a sackable offence today.

The grey heron (Ardea cinerea) is a long-legged predatory wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa.

The largest heron in Europe is a bird of wetland areas, it can be seen around lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes and on the sea coast.

The grey heron feeds mostly on aquatic creatures which it catches after standing stationary beside or in the water or stalking its prey through the shallows.

Standing up to a metre tall, adults weigh from 1 to 2 kg. They have a white head and neck with a broad black stripe that extends from the eye to the black crest. The body and wings are grey above and the underparts are greyish-white, with some black on the flanks. The long, sharply pointed beak is pinkish-yellow and the legs are brown.

De blauwe reiger (Ardea cinerea) is een vogel uit de reigerfamilie. De blauwe reiger is tevens de bekendste vertegenwoordiger van de familie in België en Nederland. De vogel komt daarnaast voor in de gematigde streken van Europa, Azië en delen van Afrika.

De blauwe reiger is een vlees- en viseter die vissen en amfibieën eet, maar ook andere dieren als insecten en kleine zoogdieren worden wel buitgemaakt. De vogel is een veel geziene soort in ondiepe plekken van stadssingels en poldersloten en in weilanden; de reiger wordt vliegend gezien langs grachten, beken en bij meren; de broedkolonies bevinden zich midden in de stad in hoge bomen of juist in volstrekt afgelegen bospercelen.

De blauwe reiger zoekt in stedelijke gebieden regelmatig de rand van tuinvijvers op, waarin vissen rondzwemmen. Door liefhebbers van goudvissen of koi wordt de reiger dan ook beschouwd als een plaagsoort en wordt zo veel mogelijk geweerd. In strenge winters hebben de blauwe reigers het zichtbaar moeilijk. Een blauwe reiger wordt gemiddeld 5 jaar oud.

De blauwe reiger is een grote vogel met een lengte van ongeveer 90 à 98 cm en kan een lichaamsgewicht bereiken van 1 à 2 kg. Het mannetje en het vrouwtje zien er ongeveer hetzelfde uit. Beide geslachten hebben een grijze bovenzijde, vleugels en staart en de vleugeleinden zijn zwart. De kop is wit met een zwarte band door het oog, die doorloopt in een kuif. Ook de hals heeft een witte kleur maar is voorzien van lengtestrepen aan de voorzijde. De buikzijde is grotendeels lichtgrijs van kleur. De kop draagt een gele, dolkvormige snavel. De poten zijn lang en bruin van kleur en net als de snavel roodachtig.

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All rights reserved. Copyright © Martien Uiterweerd (Foto Martien). All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission.

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These bottles are hanging in the trees throughout the Burntshirt property.

Burntshirt Vineyards was voted 2015 NC Winery of the Year at the NY International Wine Competition. It is located in Hendersonville, NC

Thanks so much for looking.

Comments are so appreciated.

www.fluidr.com/photos/mturnau

Burrowing Owl

The Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) is a small, long-legged owl found throughout open landscapes of North and South America. Burrowing owls can be found in grasslands, rangelands, agricultural areas, deserts, or any other open dry area with low vegetation. They nest and roost in burrows, such as those excavated by prairie dogs. Unlike most owls, burrowing owls are often active during the day, although they tend to avoid the midday heat. Like many other kinds of owls, though, burrowing owls do most of their hunting from dusk until dawn, when they can use their night vision and hearing to their advantage. Living in open grasslands as opposed to forests, the burrowing owl has developed longer legs that enable it to sprint, as well as fly, when hunting.

Burrowing owls have bright eyes; their beaks can be dark yellow or gray depending on the subspecies. They lack ear tufts and have a flattened facial disc. The owls have prominent white eyebrows and a white "chin" patch which they expand and display during certain behaviors, such as a bobbing of the head when agitated.

For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrowing_owl

Cornell Lab of Ornithology: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Burrowing_Owl/overview

One great ball of fire displayed in a building engulfed by fire ten years ago .

This is the sculpture " Helios " by Luke Jerram being displayed for a few days at Clandon Park House which was engulfed by fire in April 2015 . This is just one of many locations that Helios can be viewed and at Clandon this is the first time the building has been open to the public I believe - although as the place is still a building site visitors are very limited to 20 at a time by advanced ticket only . And of course , everyone visiting has to have a hard hat , hi-viz waistcoat , goggles and gloves !!!

A link to a BBC news report can be seen here with some news footage videos within the report ---

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-32524445

Helios itself is a seven metre globe of the sun based on some 400,000 photos .

The sun has inspired people throughout history as a symbol of life, light and renewal. Combining light, sound and design to highlight the suns intricate details, Helios succeeds Luke's previous large-scale installations, Museum of the Moon and Gaia.

Each centimetre of Helios represents 2000 kilometres of the sun’s surface. It features detailed sunspots and the origins of real solar flares, while the immersive soundtrack includes NASA recordings to take you even closer to the sun.

Here is a you tube official about Helios at a previous location with an interview with Luke Jerram -

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youtu.be/ut9yY0gvPKg?feature=shared

A pair of wood bison seen in northern British Columbia. They are noticeably larger than our Plains Bison. Another fine specimen in comments.

Wood bison, the largest animal in the Americas, once roamed throughout present-day Alaska and western Canada. But unregulated hunting in the 1800s nearly wiped them out, and by the middle of the 20th century some thought the animals were extinct. But then, in 1957, a small herd was found in a remote part of Alberta by the crew of a plane flying overhead. Since then, their numbers have rebounded to around 11,000 in Canada, as governmental organizations have helped breed and repatriate them to a few parts of their former range. May they thrive and prosper.

Have a wonderful Spring week!

Looking north at Granite Mountain from Whiskey Bottle Trail - McDowell Sonoran Preserve North. East of Scottsdale

I went out to the Fraesfield Trailhead to scout for sunrise locations. Leaving my house the sky was mostly clear so I figured this was going to be mostly hiking and not much photography so I left my tripod at home. As I hit Happy Valley Road and crossed over the mountains the clouds were rolling in over the Superstitions and the Salt River. Made me regret not bringing my tripod.

I found some spots on the Whiskey Bottle Trail for sunrises. I'm going to scout the Granite Mountain Trailhead. So far I still like the spot on the Marcus Landslide Trail.

I stopped at the Brown's Ranch Trailhead to scout for sunset spots. Some potential.

www.scottsdaleaz.gov/preserve

www.mcdowellsonoran.org/fraesfield/

Offering access to a variety of easy to moderate scenic trails in the Preserve’s northern area, this trailhead provides plenty of parking for hikers and mountain bikers, as well as an equestrian staging area.

hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=19208

The Whiskey Bottle Trail is a new trail in the expanded northern section of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The trail starts at the Fraesfield Trailhead and heads northwest across the northeast side of Fraesfield Mountain and terminates at Powerline Road #2. From there, you can go back the way you came, or continue throughout the system of trails making a larger loop back to the Fraesfield Trailhead.

www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/whiskey-bottle-trail

Throughout my years, cat eyes have always been a special fascination in trying to capture their gaze... this local kitty was watching me through his window...

Waimea Valley, Botanic Gardens

"Through the efforts of men and women who appreciate the plant that blooms for us every day of the year, Hawaii may rightly be called the Land of the Hibiscus."

- Gerrit P. Wilder, 1921

Modern tropical hibiscus hybrids are truly spectacular, with large flowers and wide variety in color and form, as seen in this section.

These botanical treasures simply would not exist without Hawai'i's pioneering hibiscus breeders. Their impact on the world is clear: Nearly every modern hybrid descends from an early Hawaii hybrid!

Today, breeders throughout the islands and around the world continue to perpetuate Hawaii's legacy of creating and sharing beauty.

The besra is a widespread resident breeder in dense forests throughout southern Asia, ranging from the Indian subcontinent eastwards across Southeast Asia and into East Asia. It nests in trees, building a new nest each year. It lays 2 to 5 eggs.

This bird is a medium-sized raptor (29 to 36 cm) with short broad wings and a long tail, both adaptations to fast maneuvering through dense vegetation. The normal flight of this species is a characteristic "flap–flap–glide".

This species is like a darker version of the widespread shikra with darker upperparts, strongly barred underwing, broader gular stripe and thin long legs and toes. The adult male besra has dark blue-grey upperparts, and is white, barred reddish brown below. The larger female is browner above than the male. The juvenile is dark brown above and white, barred with brown below. In all plumages have 3-4 equally sized dark bands on uppertail.

In winter, the besra will emerge into more open woodland including savannah and cultivation. Its hunting technique is similar to other small hawks such as the sparrowhawk and the sharp-shinned hawk, relying on surprise as it flies from a hidden perch or flicks over a bush to catch its prey unaware.

The prey is lizards, dragonflies, and small birds and mammals.

Wat Benchamabophit - also know as the Marble Temple - is a beautiful buddhist temple in the middle of Thailands capitol Bangkok.

Bangkok has countless temples throughout the city. Some are crowded by tourists while others (like this one) are relatively quite.

A true wetland with water peeking through in all areas. The tanin in the water added contrast to emphasize the water under the reeds.

Throughout millennia evil used to hide its own existence as a defense strategy. Now there is a Change:

Evil publicly manifests its scheme in broad daylight now, right in front of everyone’s face!

🇫🇷

Changement

Pendant des millénaires, le mal cachait sa propre existence comme stratégie de défense. Maintenant, il y a un changement :

Le mal manifeste publiquement son schéma en plein jour maintenant, juste devant le visage de tout le monde !

A sunny Sunday afternoon in the Kurpark.

Bad Oeynhausen is a nice little town in East Westphalia, famous as a spa centre for more than a century. My favourite place in town is the Kurpark (spa gardens) with beautiful garden architecture and historical buildings of the early days of the spa era. This Saturday we enjoyed the perfect Autumn sun in the park.

photo rights reserved by B℮n

Tbilisi is the capital and largest city of Georgia, situated in the eastern part of the country along the banks of the Kura River. The city has a rich history that spans over 1,500 years and has been influenced by various cultures and civilizations throughout the centuries. Tbilisi was founded in the 5th century by the Georgian King Vakhtang I Gorgasali. According to legend, the king discovered the warm sulfur springs during a hunting expedition and decided to build a city at that location. Over the centuries, Tbilisi has been influenced by different empires, including the Persians, Arabs, Mongols, Ottomans, and Russians, leading to a rich and diverse cultural mix. The old town center is a maze of narrow streets with traditional houses, balconies, and churches, and it also houses the famous sulfur baths. From the entrance portal of the church you can see the old city walls and the Semeba Cathedral. The Sameba Cathedral, also known as the Holy Trinity Cathedral, is the largest church in Georgia and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world. Situated on Elijah Hill, the cathedral dominates the landscape of Tbilisi. Construction began in 1995 and was completed in 2004, as a symbol of Georgian religious revival after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The cathedral, with its golden dome, incorporates both traditional and modern elements in its architecture, and serves as the spiritual center of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

From the window of the entrance portal of the Metekhi Church, you are treated to a breathtaking view that includes both the ancient city walls of Tbilisi and the grand Sameba Cathedral. The historic city walls, winding along the hills, stand as a reminder of the city’s rich past, having defended Tbilisi through centuries of invasions and rebuilding. These ancient fortifications offer a glimpse into the resilient spirit of the old city. In the distance, the towering Sameba Cathedral, also known as the Holy Trinity Cathedral, rises above the modern parts of the city. One of the largest Orthodox churches in the world, it dominates the skyline with its golden dome, symbolizing the religious and cultural revival of Georgia after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Tbilisi is de hoofdstad en grootste stad van Georgië, gelegen in het oosten van het land aan de oevers van de rivier de Koera. De stad heeft een rijke geschiedenis die meer dan 1.500 jaar teruggaat en heeft door de eeuwen heen vele invloeden ondergaan van diverse culturen en beschavingen. Tbilisi werd gesticht in de 5e eeuw door de Georgische koning Vakhtang I Gorgasali. Volgens de legende ontdekte de koning de warme zwavelbronnen tijdens een jachtpartij en besloot hij op die plek een stad te bouwen. Door de eeuwen heen is Tbilisi beïnvloed door verschillende rijken, waaronder de Perzen, Arabieren, Mongolen, Ottomanen en Russen, wat heeft geleid tot een rijke en diverse culturele mix. Het oude stadscentrum is een doolhof van smalle straatjes met traditionele huizen, balkons en kerken, en herbergt ook de beroemde zwavelbaden. Het uitzicht vanaf de Metekhi Kerk in Tbilisi is adembenemend en biedt een panoramisch beeld van de historische stad en de omgeving. De kerk ligt op een hoge klif aan de oever van de rivier de Mtkvari (Kura), waardoor bezoekers een prachtig uitzicht hebben over het oude stadscentrum van Tbilisi. Vanuit het ingangs portaal van de kerk kun je de oude stadmuren en de Semeba Kathedraal zien. De Sameba Kathedraal, ook wel bekend als de Heilige Drievuldigheidskathedraal, is de grootste kerk in Georgië en een van de grootste orthodoxe kerken ter wereld. Gelegen op de Elia-heuvel, domineert de kathedraal het landschap van Tbilisi. De bouw begon in 1995 en werd voltooid in 2004, als symbool van de Georgische religieuze heropleving na het uiteenvallen van de Sovjet-Unie. De kathedraal, met zijn goudkleurige koepel, bevat zowel traditionele als moderne elementen in de architectuur, en fungeert als het spirituele centrum van de Georgisch-Orthodoxe kerk.

Known throughout the world as Big Ben, the Elizabeth Tower clock in London looks magnificent in the bright light of a crisp January afternoon. The tower (and, of course, the whole of the Palace of Westminster complex) was designed by Augustus Pugin in the mid-1800s.

Big Ben, by the way, is the nickname of the clock’s Great Bell, which weighs nearly 14,000 kg and sounds the internationally renowned ‘bongs’.

There are plenty of ridiculous names for iconic spots scattered throughout the Southwest. One of the most bizarre name is linked to this particular point of view. Of all possibilities it is linked to a cigarette company. Really?

Contrary, the Mesa located to the right of this image has one of the most poetic names in the Southwest - Island in the Sky. Standing there and taking in this view is as close as it gets to be in the sky.

Please, write ONLY honest/personal critiques. Attention seeking, pre-formatted critiques/logos without any personal words will be deleted!

Nikon D800E

Nikon 19 mm f/4

1s at f/9

RAW ISO 100

May 6, 2017

Interested in a photo tour through the American Southwest, Brazil, Bolivia, Namibia or Tuscany? I can help you with it and make you come back with unique shots.

_______________________________

Image is under Copyright by Peter Boehringer.

Contact me by email if you want to buy or use my photographs.

_______________________________

This image is included in 2 galleries 1) "Birds" curated by Rolf (rosch1949) and 2) "KINGFISHERS FROM OUR WORLD" by SØS'Nature.

The laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) is a bird in the kingfisher subfamily Halcyoninae. It is a large robust kingfisher with a whitish head and a dark eye-stripe. The upperparts are mostly dark brown but there is a mottled light-blue patch on the wing coverts. The underparts are white and the tail is barred with rufous and black. The plumage of the male and female birds is similar. The territorial call is a distinctive laugh that is often delivered by several birds at the same time, and is widely used as a stock sound effect in situations that involve a jungle setting.

The laughing kookaburra is native to eastern mainland Australia, but has also been introduced to parts of New Zealand, Tasmania, and Western Australia. It occupies dry eucalypt forest, woodland, city parks and gardens. This species is sedentary and occupies the same territory throughout the year. It is monogamous, retaining the same partner for life. A breeding pair can be accompanied by up to five fully grown non-breeding offspring from previous years that help the parents defend their territory and raise their young. The laughing kookaburra generally breeds in unlined tree holes or in excavated holes in arboreal termite nests. The usual clutch is three white eggs. The parents and the helpers incubate the eggs and feed the chicks. The youngest of the three nestlings or chicks is often killed by the older siblings. When the chicks fledge they continue to be fed by the group for six to ten weeks until they are able to forage independently.

A predator of a wide variety of small animals, the laughing kookaburra typically waits perched on a branch until it sees an animal on the ground and then flies down and pounces on its prey. Its diet includes lizards, insects, worms, snakes and are known to take goldfish out of garden ponds. (Wikipedia)

This bird seems happy to visit my back yard from time to time. This image was taken on an overcast winter afternoon.

Friday Frenzy Storm Photo Images captured throughout the night! First sets I was able to be outside to capture as still light rain with wind just starting to pick up! 2nd set I was sitting on my couch inside my living room. The window is to the left! The rains were intensifying! 3rd set was from my inside front porch to the right looking out my row of windows that overlook the right side of my yard. Stay tuned as I go through the night. Photo images credited to Vickie L Klinkhammer of Vickielynne Photography and Designs (VLP&Designs)

....όλα σε retro ύφος!

“Throughout the span of recorded human history, Pinecones have served as a symbolic representation of Human Enlightenment, the Third Eye and the Pineal Gland.”

“The number 3 was considered as the perfect number, the number of harmony, wisdom and understanding. ... It was also the number of time – past, present, future; birth, life, death; beginning, middle, end – the number of the divine.”

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VIEWS, COMMENTS, FAVES AND INVITES!

The Grade I Listed Lincoln Cathedral, in Lincoln, Lincolnshire.

Building commenced in 1088 and continued in several phases throughout the medieval period. It was reputedly the tallest building in the world for 238 years (1311–1549) before the central spire collapsed in 1549 and was not rebuilt.

It is highly regarded by architectural scholars; the eminent Victorian writer John Ruskin declared: "I have always held... that the cathedral of Lincoln is out and out the most precious piece of architecture in the British Isles and roughly speaking worth any two other cathedrals we have."

Remigius de Fécamp, the first bishop of Lincoln, moved the Episcopal seat there between 1072 and 1092. Up until then St. Mary's Church in Stow was considered to be the "mother church" of Lincolnshire (although it was not a cathedral, because the seat of the diocese was at Dorchester Abbey in Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire).

Bishop Remigius built the first Lincoln Cathedral on the present site, finishing it in 1092 and then dying on 9 May of that year, two days before it was consecrated. In 1141, the timber roofing was destroyed in a fire. Bishop Alexander rebuilt and expanded the cathedral, but it was mostly destroyed by an earthquake about forty years later, in 1185. The earthquake was one of the largest felt in the UK. The damage to the cathedral is thought to have been very extensive.

After the earthquake, a new bishop was appointed. He was Hugh de Burgundy of Avalon, France, who became known as St Hugh of Lincoln. He began a massive rebuilding and expansion programme. Rebuilding began with the choir (St. Hugh's Choir) and the eastern transepts between 1192 and 1210. The central nave was then built in the Early English Gothic style.

The cathedral is the 3rd largest in Britain after St Paul's and York Minster, being 484 feet by 271 feet. Until 1549 the spire was reputedly the tallest medieval tower in Europe, though the exact height has been a matter of debate. Accompanying the cathedral's large bell, Great Tom of Lincoln, is a quarter-hour striking clock.

The two large stained glass rose windows, the matching Dean's Eye and Bishop's Eye, were added to the cathedral during the late Middle Ages. The former, the Dean's Eye in the north transept dates from the 1192 rebuild begun by St Hugh, finally being completed in 1235.

After the additions of the Dean's eye and other major Gothic additions it is believed some mistakes in the support of the tower occurred, for in 1237 the main tower collapsed. A new tower was soon started and in 1255 the Cathedral petitioned Henry III to allow them to take down part of the town wall to enlarge and expand the Cathedral, including the rebuilding of the central tower and spire.

In 1290 Eleanor of Castile died and King Edward I of England decided to honour her, his Queen Consort, with an elegant funeral procession. After her body had been embalmed, which in the 13th century involved evisceration, Eleanor's viscera were buried in Lincoln cathedral, and Edward placed a duplicate of the Westminster tomb there.

Information Source:

wikishire.co.uk/wiki/Lincoln_Cathedral

Sunset light illuminates thin clouds overhead, creating a soft glow throughout Yosemite Valley...

is a butterfly found throughout much of North America. It is the state butterfly of Oklahoma, Michigan, and New Jersey. The species is named after the figure in Greek mythology, Polyxena, who was the youngest daughter of King Priam of Troy. Its caterpillar is called the parsley worm because the caterpillar feeds on parsley.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papilio_polyxenes#Behavior

Bidens alba, which belongs to the family Asteraceae, is most commonly known as shepherd's needles, beggarticks, Spanish needles. Bidens means two- toothed, describing the two projections found at the top of the seeds, and alba refers to the white ray florets. This plant is found in tropical and subtropical regions of North America, Asia, South America, and Africa.

B. alba leaves are edible and can be used as medicinal remedies.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidens_alba