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I think these gorgeous Pine Grosbeaks were the highlight of the day for me, five days ago. We had been told about a farm family who had lots of these Grosbeaks at their feeders, and we are so glad that we called in. We also saw a Gray Jay there, to add to our species list. My small group of 4 friends and myself, travelling in two cars, did see 5 Golden Eagles, too, which was a real thrill, but they were way off in the distance and I couldn't get any close photos like this one : ) Much as I prefer to not have feeder shots, I was still happy to get the chance to photograph these birds up close.
Some years, the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count for the town of Nanton is held late in December. Other years, it ends up being held early January, sometimes delayed because of really bad weather. The Count that took place on 3 January 2016, was part of the 2015 Bird Count.
As you can see, the weather was bright and sunny for us this day. What you can't see was that it was very cold for the first part of the day, then warming up to a more pleasant cold later on! I think it was -21C when we started. Two year's ago, on the trip in January (for the 2013 Count, but delayed), on the hour-long drive south of Calgary, we hit -34C (-29.2F)!!!!! Again, this year, there was no or very little wind, which makes all the difference. Also, the only walking we had to do was when we called in at various farms.
We drove through such beautiful scenery when we were covering the SW quadrant of the Christmas Bird Count circle that centered on the town of Nanton, Alberta. A landscape over which the occasional Golden Eagle soars (my small group saw 5!) and in which some years - but definitely not on this day! - numerous Sharp-tailed Grouse wander on the ground or perch in trees. I absolutely love this area SW of Nanton! Some of these backroads are extremely steep and almost look vertical when seen from a distance. Some years, the whole area is white, covered in deep snow, so that you can't tell where the roadside ends and the ditch begins. This Count, it wasn't too bad, thank goodness, though I might have felt differently if I had been one of the two drivers for our group!
Around lunch time, we returned to the Truch family's place as we were very nearby, and ate our lunch in the warmth of their cosy home.
After driving (being driven, for me, which is always pure luxury) the backroads from about 8:00 a.m. till around 3:30 p.m., we returned to the wonderful home of the Truch family. Not only do Bill and Leah Truch and their son, Mike, always welcome everyone with open arms, they also provide a much-appreciated breakfast snack for us and then, at the end of the day, a delicious supper. Have to say that I love travelling these scenic backroads, but I also really enjoy getting together with everyone afterwards. This is one of my favourite Bird Counts, and perhaps the most favourite.
Just before leaving for Calgary at the end of the day, we were shown the family's Llamas, two Donkeys, Peacocks, and several tiny white Quail. I should have taken photos of these animals when it was daylight - but maybe I can do it next year.
Thanks so much for doing all the driving, Tony and Andrew, and thanks, Leah, Bill and Mike for all the effort and time you put into your warm welcome! It was another well-organized Count, Mike, as usual - thanks. Can't wait for next Christmas!
List of species seen by our small group, from Andrew Hart:
Nanton general area
Jan 3, 2016
8:45 AM
Traveling
113.00 km
360 Minutes
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: -14 to +1 deg C sunny. Nanton CBC area D
32 Sharp-tailed Grouse
5 Golden Eagle
1 Bald Eagle
12 Rough-legged Hawk
50 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
2 Eurasian Collared-Dove
8 Downy Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)
3 Northern Shrike
4 Gray Jay
100 Black-billed Magpie
28 Common Raven
16 Black-capped Chickadee
4 European Starling
2 American Tree Sparrow
105 Pine Grosbeak -- First 60 In a yard with feeders. Balance seen elsewhere along route. Another 35 in a yard off Williams Coulee.
3 White-winged Crossbill
220 Common Redpoll
4 Hoary Redpoll
40 House Sparrow
Number of Species: 20
Sometimes I think I have nothing to write about a photograph, then I start writing, and stuff comes out. This is one. It's a complex composition, almost like two photographs in one. My idea was to try to link the curved pipes in the foreground with the pink, white, and cyan stripes on the building in the background. I couldn't get a seamless transition but visually I think the concept comes through and maybe a perfect alignment would seem too contrived anyway. The frame felt right when I snapped it; afterwards I spotted some of the things that for me make the image "work," such as the repeating vertical elements starting at the left with that big tank and thinner structure next to it, and ending at right with the tree. The dynamic shadow of the fire escape stairs speaks for itself and maybe draws the eye in from one angle, while the shadow of the fence posts, perpendicular to the stair shadow, pulls from another angle and relates to some of the other angled elements like wires, stripes, pipes, branches, and stair shadows. The strong color contrast between almost all cool to warm agrees with me, and then there's things I always like in the frame--brick, deterioration, fire hydrant, wires, brown overgrown weeds, tires, and bollards.
I think someone said that today was Thursday, so to mark the occasion here's an offering. L&N 1043 emerges from the forest preserve that surrounds the north side of Glenwood, IL on a dark dreary March day, just one month short of 40 years ago. The Old Reliable has a couple of high wides on the head end as it travels south on the joint L&N/MoPac ex C&EI. Next stop will be Danville for a little work and a crew change.
I think that my reactions to the things and situations that i have to face is an outcome of the war between heart and mind, feeling and logic.. Is there any balance around those two? Which shower do you use most? Left or right?
My son's dog Maggie refuses to let her big brother Leo hog all the fun. When Leo got the stick away, Maggie chased him till she could jump up and grab hold again.
Explore - Highest position: 35 on Sunday, September 30, 2012
This was my highest positioned Explore photo. Not even a macro which is my passion.
I think it's safe to say that this is probably my best car spot thus far!
EDIT: this car is actually for sale for 7,900 euros!
I think it was in the days leading up to Lent while awaiting a friend that I found myself wandering about the market in Margao selling sausages.
She was working quietly in her stall, arranging sausages in time for customers returning from attending Sunday Mass at the local church when for no apparent reason she looked out on the road outside at nothing in particular.
I wonder what it was that she was thinking in that moment when she looked into the distance with a faraway look in her eyes.
Travel Blog: windyskies.blogspot.com
More from Meadow Road in this upload, starting off with the 'real deal' where the depot staff kindly brought B7L decker 21 out for me and tr_nt. to have a look at. I uploaded a photo of this from the start of the year so I won't bother repeating myself from that, but damn this was good.
A year or two back I'd see on Bustimes that one of these 'Nordic' tri-axles would go through Stapleford on their way to pick up a school route, and at some point I wanted to cycle over and phot one, but the chance never arose. The only one I ever did see was an Omnidekka, and eventually on the tracking all I was ever seeing were single deckers.
Come to think of it, I've actually seen both of N&D's East Lancs Nordics at Meadow Road, because although this is my first time seeing 21, in 2018 I got photo of some vehicles lined up inside the workshop and one was 20. That same year I also saw TM Travel 1170 at Autokarna, so three spotted in total isn't bad going, even if none were in service.
SA52 DVZ
Meadow Road, Derby
29.12.23
Forget ‘Manic Monday’, Think ‘Magic’ (In Memory Of ONJ & My Earliest Loves) - IMRAN™
Yes, it was another Manic Monday as The Bangles sang. But as the hot day came to an end — after being cooled by typical Florida summer thunderstorms — a Magic Monday emerged. The misty quiet mood of the impending sunset also marked the sad end of an era.
The beautiful, talented, brave cancer warrior, movie star, and singer Olivia Newton-John passed away. She sang some of the top pop songs of the 70s and 80s, including one that has deep sentimental value to me.
Her song Magic was released as a single on May 23, 1980, on my 18th birthday. It includes the lyrics, “You have to believe we are magic, Nothin' can stand in our way.”
My first-ever (teenage) crush (S.A) and I were on the phone, and had just said “I Love You” to each other for the first time, and this song started playing on the radio in Karachi, Pakistan. It was the first time saying those words for both of us, and she started crying with emotion.
Of course it was a puppy crush — and we were very young. Later, we carried on with our lives in different cities, provinces, and eventually different countries and continents. But the song has always been a source of pure joy, in addition to the beautiful memories.
Over the years I experienced far deeper loves. Each of those most powerful later loves in my life had a song or two associated with them. But those are stories for other days. Tonight, it’s all about Magic.
I am grateful for all the love I have received and expressed since the first time I said “I Love You” with this song. Thank you, Olivia Newton-John. Rest In Peace.
© 2022 IMRAN™
PS What songs have most sentimental and/or romantic value in your life?
#songs #ONJ #romance #love #IMRAN #Karachi #Pakistan #autobiography #lifestory #history #music #May23 #1980s #teenage #memories #gratitude #sentimental #tribute #OliviaNewtonJohn #Magic #ILoveYou
Think about the natural rhymes of the world
The seasons don’t rush
Winter does not apologize for its stillness
For the slowing down and resting that allows Spring to bloom in full force
A river may seems calm on the surface
But beneath that stillness
The waters are flowing redirecting shaping the earth
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Yh7Ey0FB0E
Stillness in nature is never stagnation
It’s preparation reflection in renewal
Stillness is where resilience is built
When you stop and let the dust settle
You can see clearly what remains standing
Brene Brown
© All rights reserved Anna Kwa. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission
I think this is my favorite photo I've ever taken of myself
It is not fake or forced or planned out
I had done something crazy a few moments before and I couldn't help laughing at myself
Moments like these, along with all the hurt, angry, melancholy moments we experience
These are what make us human. These are what make us who we are
And sometimes, it's all right to let ourselves feel happy and silly and ridiculous
Because what is life without those feelings? Those fleeting moments when there is hope in our lives, within our grasp?
I think people have this skewed idea that they're supposed to be sad all the time, constantly mourning with those that mourn
Because in some way, that makes them real
Well, maybe it does make you real, but it's also thin. We are not humans without the bitter along with the wonderful sweet
Sometimes people are such strange things
And sometimes, sometimes I follow their example, and I realize the need to change
We all need to change sometimes, don't we?
And sometimes we just need to write to get words out of our head, and it ends up making no sense at all
But it's all right, isn't it? If that's what we need to do to make ourselves feel better, by God we do it
Now isn't that strange?
Spring is finally here, although I found this more suitable in view of current global events...
Texture by Liliana Sanches: princess-of-shadows.deviantart.com/art/vintage-grunge-tex...
I think this was this fledgling's first outing - very unsteady and "mom" not happy with how close he was sitting to me. Love the tuffs, fluff and the chest feathers soon to be all red
The man stands between life and death.
The man thinks,
The horse thinks,
The sheep thinks,
The cow thinks,
The dog thinks.
The fish doesn't think.
The fish is mute.
Expressionless.
The fish doesn't think,
Because the fish knows
(Emir Kusturica)
Taken for the Canon photo5 Competition. This is using the ribbon as the item in my shot. I had this idea basically from the beginning, but today's group for Flickr Group Roulette is Flying Feet, so here I am levitating! I think it finished the shot off nicely.
It only took 10 shots to coordinate my jumping and Eliza to look half decent! I don't like the way my pyjamas look uneven but I guess we could just say it's that frazzled mother look! :P
I'm not set on the title yet, any help?
I'm thinking along the lines of "mum on a rope" "she says jump. i say how high?" etc...
28 weeks & 5 days old.
Eplored #86.