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The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus common throughout Europe and Asia. The red squirrel is an arboreal, primarily herbivorous rodent.
In Great Britain, Ireland, and in Italy numbers have decreased drastically in recent years. This decline is associated with the introduction by humans of the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) from North America. However, the population in Scotland is stabilising due to conservation efforts, awareness and the increasing population of the pine marten, a European predator that selectively controls grey squirrels.
The red squirrel has a typical head-and-body length of 19 to 23 cm (7+1⁄2 to 9 in), a tail length of 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 in), and a mass of 250 to 340 g (9 to 12 oz). Males and females are the same size. The red squirrel is somewhat smaller than the eastern grey squirrel which has a head-and-body length of 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) and weighs between 400 and 800 g (14 oz and 1 lb 12 oz).
The long tail helps the squirrel to balance and steer when jumping from tree to tree and running along branches and may keep the animal warm during sleep.
The red squirrel, like most tree squirrels, has sharp curved claws to help it to climb and descend broad tree trunks, thin branches, and even house walls. Its strong hind legs let it leap gaps between trees. The red squirrel also can swim.
The coat of the red squirrel varies in colour with time of year and location. There are several coat colour morphs ranging from black to red. Red coats are most common in Great Britain; in other parts of Europe and Asia different coat colours coexist within populations, much like hair colour in some human populations.
The underside of the squirrel is always white-cream in colour. The red squirrel sheds its coat twice a year, switching from a thinner summer coat to a thicker, darker winter coat with noticeably larger ear-tufts (a prominent distinguishing feature of this species) between August and November. A lighter, redder overall coat colour, along with the ear-tufts (in adults) and smaller size, distinguish the Eurasian red squirrel from the American eastern grey squirrel.
The red colour is for camouflage when seen against the bark of pine trees.
Red squirrels occupy boreal, coniferous woods in northern Europe and Siberia, preferring Scots pine, Norway spruce and Siberian pine. In western and southern Europe they are found in broad-leaved woods where the mixture of tree and shrub species provides a better year-round source of food. In most of the British Isles and in Italy, broad-leaved woodlands are now less suitable due to the better competitive feeding strategy of introduced grey squirrels.
Throughout the past few months, there has been a closure on the famous Kořenov cog railway and services between the Polish town of Szklarska Poręba and Czech Tanvald were broken up. A quick solution was found by employing a fleet of railbusses owned by various private companies - among them KŽC.
The tiny motor wagons were transported from Czechia the long way around to avoid the track closure and 5 of them found their way onto the short stretch of track between Szklarska Poręba Górna and Kořenov. We photographed 2 of them on the 27.08.2025 on the RMM 97065 Szklarska Poręba Górna - Harrachov (-Kořenov) as they were snaking around the track between Szklarska Poręba Huta and Polana Jakuszycka - one of the highest (above sea level) points on the Polish railway network. We were lucky enough to see two of the railbusses in the old livery - the 810.618 and 810.157. Simultaneously to each train, there is also a bus service running on the very same route, albeit omitting a couple of harder to reach spots on the line and also continuing further down the closed section of track.
Just recently the railbusses were withdrawn as the line has (to my knowledge) been closed on its entire length for more repair works
In the background the Karkonosze/Krkonoše/Riesengebirge mountain chain. The predominant landscape feature in this region. The most recognisable peak in the background is the Łabski Szczyt/Violík/Veilchenstein.
Photo by Piotrek/Toprus
The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus common throughout Europe and Asia. The red squirrel is an arboreal, primarily herbivorous rodent.
In Great Britain, Ireland, and in Italy numbers have decreased drastically in recent years. This decline is associated with the introduction by humans of the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) from North America. However, the population in Scotland is stabilising due to conservation efforts, awareness and the increasing population of the pine marten, a European predator that selectively controls grey squirrels.
The red squirrel has a typical head-and-body length of 19 to 23 cm (7+1⁄2 to 9 in), a tail length of 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 in), and a mass of 250 to 340 g (9 to 12 oz). Males and females are the same size. The red squirrel is somewhat smaller than the eastern grey squirrel which has a head-and-body length of 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) and weighs between 400 and 800 g (14 oz and 1 lb 12 oz).
The long tail helps the squirrel to balance and steer when jumping from tree to tree and running along branches and may keep the animal warm during sleep.
The red squirrel, like most tree squirrels, has sharp curved claws to help it to climb and descend broad tree trunks, thin branches, and even house walls. Its strong hind legs let it leap gaps between trees. The red squirrel also can swim.
The coat of the red squirrel varies in colour with time of year and location. There are several coat colour morphs ranging from black to red. Red coats are most common in Great Britain; in other parts of Europe and Asia different coat colours coexist within populations, much like hair colour in some human populations.
The underside of the squirrel is always white-cream in colour. The red squirrel sheds its coat twice a year, switching from a thinner summer coat to a thicker, darker winter coat with noticeably larger ear-tufts (a prominent distinguishing feature of this species) between August and November. A lighter, redder overall coat colour, along with the ear-tufts (in adults) and smaller size, distinguish the Eurasian red squirrel from the American eastern grey squirrel.
The red colour is for camouflage when seen against the bark of pine trees.
Red squirrels occupy boreal, coniferous woods in northern Europe and Siberia, preferring Scots pine, Norway spruce and Siberian pine. In western and southern Europe they are found in broad-leaved woods where the mixture of tree and shrub species provides a better year-round source of food. In most of the British Isles and in Italy, broad-leaved woodlands are now less suitable due to the better competitive feeding strategy of introduced grey squirrels.
The storm raged throughout the night. When morning came, the rain continued, but the wind calmed down a bit, allowing us to take the cruise along the entire length of Milford Sound out to the Tasman Sea.
Mountains across Milford Sound were gushing water everywhere I looked at. All of the mountains turned into waterfalls!
Although the quality of the photos was severely impacted by the wind and continuous rain, it was an amazing experience.
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Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand
© All rights reserved Rui Baptista. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.
Throughout Thailand and it would seem Vietnam too there are always an enormous amount of these brushes for sale. They are a lot more practical than vacuum cleaners on bare floors
"Radiolarians are amoeboid protozoa that produce intricate mineral skeletons. They are found as zooplankton throughout the ocean, and their skeletal remains cover large portions of the ocean bottom as radiolarian ooze".
(magnification: 800 X @ (5 X 7 inches)
EN: Once found throughout the country, Portuguese Railways 1900s are now hard to find. There are currently only 3 locomotives left in the entire country, all of them wearing a different livery.
Eva, the yellow locomotive 1903, was a first attempt to give the diesel locomotives a new outfit some years ago. Basically, it was a model for a special paint scheme, which had not been seen at Medway before. Apparently it was only an idea, because there was no other locomotive of any series in this livery anymore.
In the background you can see mineira de Neves-Corvo, one of the largest copper mines in Europe. Every day Medway runs 2 - 3 trains to bring the valuable freight to the port of Setubál. Expansion plans of foreign investors are already on the table, we are eagerly awaiting how it will continue in the Portuguese Algarve with copper mining.
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DE: Einst im ganzen Land anzutreffen, sind die 1900er der Portugisischen Eisenbahn heute schwer zu finden. Es gibt aktuell nur noch 3 Loks im ganzen Land, welche alle eine andere Farbe tragen.
Eva, die gelbe Lok 1903, war vor einigen Jahren ein erster Versuch den Dieselloks ein neues Outfit zu geben. Quasi ein Modell für eine spezielle Bemalung, welche bei Medway so noch nicht zu sehen war. Anscheinend blieb es bei dem Versuch, den es gab von keiner Baureihe eine andere Lok in dieser Bemalung.
Im Hintergrund ist die Mineira de Neves-Corvo zu sehen, eine der grössten Kupferminen in Europa. Täglich führt Medway 2 - 3 Züge ab um die wertvolle Fracht an den Hafen von Setubál zu bringen. Ausbaupläne der ausländischen Investoren liegen bereits auf dem Tisch, wir warten gespannt wie es in der portugisischen Algarve weitergeht mit dem Kupferabbau.
"Throughout the ages, it has been the simple buildings that solve a problem that become the representative buildings of their time."
- William "Bill" Robb
This is the Fort Collins Savings and Loan Building, built in 1970. It is an example of one of Bill Robb’s “simple buildings” in Fort Collins, Colorado. I chose it for the We’re Here! theme today – Black and White Architecture.
It is also fitting topic 5/123, "Angles” for 123 pictures in 2023
I found an article about Bill Robb and learned he was the only architect in town when he set up shop in 1953, and it stayed that way for some years. Fort Collins was an agricultural town and quite conservative. The area never broadly embraced Googie, New Formalist, or Brutalist design, but its offices, residences, and churches reflect some profound local examples of Modern architecture. The key, defining examples of the movement for Fort Collins, largely Contemporary or Usonian in inspiration, in many cases, sprang from the desk of William Robb.
- Jim Bertolini, Historian/City Planner – City of Fort Collins
docomomo-us.org/news/the-simple-buildings-the-career-of-w...
The ruddy darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) is a species of dragonfly of the family Libellulidae...The ruddy darter is to be found in temperate regions throughout Europe[as far east as Siberia and as far south as the northern Sahara. Its conservation status is regarded as secure, and indeed numbers seem to be increasing in some locations such as central England.
Throughout the course of these travelogue posts about the trip, I’ve used the word sacred quite a few times. Yes, it’s out of necessity and objective truth, as native tribes hold these public lands as sacred in their creation myths, but I’ve also felt that these lands should be sacred to everyone for these cultural reasons and for their sheer beauty. It should come as no surprise, then, that Mesa Verde National Park also fits into this category and might be the undisputed superlative of the whole collection of places that we visited. Situated high on a verdant mesa in the Colorado wilderness that’s rife with natural beauty, the anthropological side of Mesa Verde is far beyond anything that I’ve ever experienced: hiking and climbing and crawling (more on that later) to get in and out of 700 year old dwellings. Wooden beams and art that’s withstood the elements and tests of time even though they’re exposed to the elements because those elements (desert heat and elevation!) helped preserve them. Ornate pottery remains in cliff dwellings and preserved in stellar museum exhibits. All of this and more felt like I was stepping into a page in one of my history books. So yes, Mesa Verde is sacred for the fact that it is a place of cultural heritage, but it’s also sacred for any visitor that comes to it and revel in the experience of this special National Park.
Keep calling your reps. Public lands and the National Park Service budget is still at risk. Experiences like this must be kept for all.
Mesa Verde is in the southwestern corner of Colorado was constructed throughout the thirteenth century by cliff-dwelling Ancestral Puebloans. Cliff Palace, which is the largest cliff-dwelling in North America, is believed to have sustained a population of about 100 people until a drought lasting longer than two decades forced relocation. Mesa Verde is still thought to inhabit the spirits of the ancestors of the Pueblo.
This Christmas bauble was hand beaded with sequins and pins by me. In usually make these baubles for others as gifts, but on occasion I make one or two baubles for myself. This is one such bauble.
The theme for "Looking Close on Friday" for the 20th of December is "sequins", so I thought I would show you this special bauble I chose to make for myself. If you would like to see the other baubles I have made as gifts for friends over the years, you can find them in this album: www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/albums/72157649901152375/. I hope you like my choice of subject for this week's theme, and that it makes you smile!
As this is the last "Looking Close on Friday" before Christmas, I should just like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in the group a very happy Festive Season. May it be filled with happiness and joy for you all.
Each bauble I make is 15 centimetres in diameter and contain hundreds of sequins, varying in number depending upon the complexity of the pattern and the type of sequins I use. Most sequins in this bauble are 5mm in diameter, except the large star sequins which are 10mm, the sunburst sequins which are 12 mm and the small gold border sequins which are 2mm and very, very fiddly. The sunburst sequins are French and are known as "éclate de soleil" - "sunbursts". Depending upon the colour of the sequin, I will use either a gold or a silver pin to attach it to the bauble.
These baubles are smaller than some others I do, however because it is a complex pattern which starts from the inside and is worked outwards in ever larger circles, each bauble takes approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hours per side.
It is however, a labour of love which I do to pass the time throughout the year.
"The Coastal Carpet python is the single largest snake species encountered throughout the Brisbane and Ipswich regions. It is non venomous and represents one of two pythons species found in the south east corner.
The Carpet Python is a large, heavy bodied snake with a highly variable, mottled & blotched pattern and color. Mostly white to cream on the underside, the head is distinct from the neck. A specimen recorded by Snake Catcher Brisbane from Pine Mountain, Ipswich measured in at 3.9 metres and 14.5 kg! The largest reliable record for the species comes in at 4.2 metres in length.
A highly adaptable species it occupies all habitats from rainforest, wet sclerophyll forests and dry woodland through to suburban backyards and the periphery of highly disturbed farmland. It’s ability to not only persist in the highly modified suburban and rural environment but to thrive throughout, makes the Carpet Python the most commonly encountered snake for residents and subsequently snake catchers. The parallel proliferation and success of native mammals and introduced rodent species in these modified environments has provided feeding and refugial resources at every level for the Carpet Python.
Although active on occasion by day, The predominately nocturnal habits of Carpet Pythons facilitates the stealth and ambush type predatory modes it incorporates when actively seeking its next meal. The preferred prey of this species changes with respect to size of individual animals with juvenile carpet pythons feed predominately on skinks and small rodents such as introduced mice. Sub adult specimens target larger mammals such as rat species, smaller flying foxes, caged birds, guinea pigs and Ring-tailed Possums."
Costa Rica - Found throughout most of Costa Rica, especially near the coast, rainforest, dry forest, and cloud forest.
The Common Carder Bee - Bombus pascuorum - is a species of Bumble Bee found widespread throughout most of Europe and can be found in many habitats, feeding on a variety of wildflowers.
This Sedum plant - Sedum spectabile, now classified as Hylotelephium spectabile - is a plant in the stonecrop family Crassulaceae and is native to China and Korea. It is also known as Butterfly Stonecrop, Showy Stonecrop or Ice Plant.
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None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.
The storm raged throughout the night, with torrential rain and cyclonic winds. When morning came, the rain continued, but the wind calmed down a bit, allowing the departure of the cruise along the entire length of Milford Sound out to the Tasman Sea, sliding past granite peaks rising thousands of feet from the water’s edge.
Mountains across Milford Sound were gushing water everywhere I looked at. All of the mountains turned into waterfalls!
**********
Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand
© All rights reserved Rui Baptista. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.
Throughout global folklore and mythology, powerful females appear as deities, formidable creatures, and legendary warriors who command respect and fear. Their influence often governs the natural world, the cycle of life and death, and the fates of both mortals and gods.
For example -
From Greek mythology.
Hecate: A Titaness, goddess of magic, witchcraft, and the night, with a vast sphere of influence and authority over the earth, sea, and heavens.
Norse and Celtic mythology.
Freyja: A prominent goddess associated with love, beauty, fertility, and war. She presides over her hall, Sessrúmnir, in the afterlife, receiving half of the warriors who die in battle.
And more recently - Sanae Takaichi set to become Japan's first female prime minister.
Mid Devon show 2025, Tiverton, Devon, UK.
========== A Journey Throughout Europe [4] ==========
Austria -
Belgium -
Bulgaria -
Croatia -
Cyprus -
Czech Republic -
Denmark -
Estonia -
Finland -
France -
Germany -
Greece -
Hungary -
Ireland -
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
The Netherlands
A Journey Throughout Europe: HOF
==================================================
There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of abandoned homes strewn throughout the countryside in Alberta. They did not fall out of the sky, but rather, were thoughtfully placed with the intentions of building a life within the four walls and a roof - a very long time ago.
When I come across these homesteads, I just have to stop. I don’t know why I am drawn to these old relics. Fossils of the past. It is as if can hear their heart beat in the solitude of the countryside.
Who lived here? What kind of life did they have? Did they conquer their hardships or challenges? It is without a doubt that the occupants encountered insurmountable struggles.
I try to imagine the essence of the house. Were there moments of joy and contentment despite the harshness and difficulties of the environment? I find it incredulous that it still stands even though it has been ravaged by time.
My imagination begins to percolate.
I want to hear the happy, contagious squeals of children giggling as they raced to the warmth of their beds at night; the sound of Mother humming as she lovingly brushed her daughter’s hair by the fire, or Father whistling with an air of fulfillment at a satisfying day of work that had been done and in anticipation of the hot meal waiting for him as he walked in, through the door. Goals, dreams and aspirations were quietly shared in the secrecy of night. Stolen kisses and affirmations of love and commitment were whispered as the children slept.
I wonder if this house had been enough for them? Why did they leave? What were their parting thoughts as they turned the key for that one last time? So many questions. No answers…
I snap a photo of the old gal.
I start driving down the lonely road but take one last look in my rearview mirror. I see a house surrounded by mass plantings of flowers, a thriving garden, chickens milling about and a clothesline that has a congregation of well worn clothes that are being gently seduced by an unusually warm summer breeze. The children are playing Kick-the-can out in the fields.
The joy of their laughter is a welcome sound to their Mother and Father who are sitting together on the porch sipping lemonade and enjoying a respite from the monotony of chores. No words pass between them. They bask in the silence of their mutual contentment.
I see a house that was once brimming with life and love. It stands proud and tenacious as a testament to those who happen to pass by on this lonely country road and those who have the ears to hear the echoes of laughter wafting in the wind, proclaiming that this house was more than four walls and a roof - it was a home…
The most common resident shrike found throughout the year in our region. They are aggressive birds and we often sight them chasing the pesky drongoes which spare no effort to trouble other birds including the raptors.
The birds prefer to perch on dry trees with thorns or fence posts around 3 m high and survey the area around for insects. Usually beetles, crickets, small lizards, skinks, dragonflies etc... Once the prey is sighted they dive and get back to the perch for eating - maybe about 50% of the time. If the perch is a thorny perch, the chances of them coming back are much higher since they pierce the prey onto the thorn and then tear them to consume it. This is a behaviour to compensate for the weak legs that cannot hold the prey to tear.
Appreciate all your views and feedback. Many thanks in advance.
The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus common throughout Europe and Asia. The red squirrel is an arboreal, primarily herbivorous rodent.
In Great Britain, Ireland, and in Italy numbers have decreased drastically in recent years. This decline is associated with the introduction by humans of the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) from North America. However, the population in Scotland is stabilising due to conservation efforts, awareness and the increasing population of the pine marten, a European predator that selectively controls grey squirrels.
The red squirrel has a typical head-and-body length of 19 to 23 cm (7+1⁄2 to 9 in), a tail length of 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 in), and a mass of 250 to 340 g (9 to 12 oz). Males and females are the same size. The red squirrel is somewhat smaller than the eastern grey squirrel which has a head-and-body length of 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) and weighs between 400 and 800 g (14 oz and 1 lb 12 oz).
The long tail helps the squirrel to balance and steer when jumping from tree to tree and running along branches and may keep the animal warm during sleep.
The red squirrel, like most tree squirrels, has sharp curved claws to help it to climb and descend broad tree trunks, thin branches, and even house walls. Its strong hind legs let it leap gaps between trees. The red squirrel also can swim.
The coat of the red squirrel varies in colour with time of year and location. There are several coat colour morphs ranging from black to red. Red coats are most common in Great Britain; in other parts of Europe and Asia different coat colours coexist within populations, much like hair colour in some human populations.
The underside of the squirrel is always white-cream in colour. The red squirrel sheds its coat twice a year, switching from a thinner summer coat to a thicker, darker winter coat with noticeably larger ear-tufts (a prominent distinguishing feature of this species) between August and November. A lighter, redder overall coat colour, along with the ear-tufts (in adults) and smaller size, distinguish the Eurasian red squirrel from the American eastern grey squirrel.
The red colour is for camouflage when seen against the bark of pine trees.
Red squirrels occupy boreal, coniferous woods in northern Europe and Siberia, preferring Scots pine, Norway spruce and Siberian pine. In western and southern Europe they are found in broad-leaved woods where the mixture of tree and shrub species provides a better year-round source of food. In most of the British Isles and in Italy, broad-leaved woodlands are now less suitable due to the better competitive feeding strategy of introduced grey squirrels.
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: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Burrowing_Owl/overview
Here in Calabasas is only 6.5 miles (in a straight line) from Pacific ocean and is a special microclimate zone, so it is covered in fog, usually every morning throughout the year. And there is no rain at all from May to November for seven months each year (No rain for 8 months in 2024). However, wildflowers and plants can survive due to dense fog and marine layers create the morning dew
Zoom all the way in, I captured beautiful detail throughout, from the focus stacking.
This is another dinosaur back, grand, Granite Dike. Nestled in the foothills of the East Spanish Peaks, a lone barn sits in ruins below one of many Granite Dikes. Behind the Dike is a drop off with a valley below. (hard to tell because of the telephoto image compression) Then it juts back up to a very large ridge that towers above. This forms one of the many huge undulations in the topography of the Foothills. The Spanish Peak mountains are quite beautiful all year round. Notice the Deer laying down to the right of the barn, I see 3, maybe 4.
Throughout the fog, I was able to capture a few good images of the close conjunction of the Moon, Venus and Regulus on September 19, 2025. The image was taken with a Canon R6 mark II and a Canon 200 mm f/2.8L II lens. I spent about a half hour imaging Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) and turned my attention the the moon and Venus near the end of astronomical twilight before sunrise. The earthshine was really dramatic this morning!
The Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco, California, is a popular feature of Golden Gate Park, originally built as part of a sprawling World's Fair, the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894. Though many of its attractions are still a part of the garden today, there have been changes throughout the history of the garden that have shaped it into what it is today.
The oldest public Japanese garden in the United States, this complex of many paths, ponds and a teahouse features plants and trees pruned and arranged in a Japanese style. The garden's 3 acres contain sculptures and structures influenced by Buddhist and Shinto religious beliefs, as well as many elements of water and rocks to create a calming landscape designed to slow people down
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A dedication to Sian Ford, who inspired me throughout the project, and continues to do so through to this day, I miss her. Goodbye Babe Tim.
Early morning - at Paracas, Peru, for a Peaceful Bokeh Wednesday.
Near Threatened - Breeding in saline lakes throughout the southern Andes and the lowlands of Argentina, the Chilean is the most common of the three strictly South American species of flamingo. Where all three co-occur in the altiplano of Peru, Bolivia and Chile, the Chilean Flamingo is best separated from other species by its blue grey legs with bright pink "knees," and by the pink base to its bill. Another potentially useful clue is its faster foraging rate, typically walking while feeding almost twice as fast as the other two species. This more rapid pace stirs the water sufficiently so that small groups of Wilson’s Phalaropes (Phalaropus tricolor) will cluster around their feet and feed on the prey that is churned up. doi.org/10.2173/bow.chifla1.01
Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated!
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Throughout history, tobacco has been one of the most important agricultural crops for Herzegovina, a source of finance and the foundation of development. Today, growing tobacco in Herzegovina has no economic justification, and placing it on the list of protected products opens up possibilities for protection through tourism.
Tobacco in Herzegovina was produced on small plots with the old technology of drying in the sun, which all required a lot of human work. Everyone in the family, aged from 7 to 77, was involved in the tobacco business.
The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus common throughout Europe and Asia. The red squirrel is an arboreal, primarily herbivorous rodent.
In Great Britain, Ireland, and in Italy numbers have decreased drastically in recent years. This decline is associated with the introduction by humans of the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) from North America. However, the population in Scotland is stabilising due to conservation efforts, awareness and the increasing population of the pine marten, a European predator that selectively controls grey squirrels.
The red squirrel has a typical head-and-body length of 19 to 23 cm (7+1⁄2 to 9 in), a tail length of 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 in), and a mass of 250 to 340 g (9 to 12 oz). Males and females are the same size. The red squirrel is somewhat smaller than the eastern grey squirrel which has a head-and-body length of 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) and weighs between 400 and 800 g (14 oz and 1 lb 12 oz).
The long tail helps the squirrel to balance and steer when jumping from tree to tree and running along branches and may keep the animal warm during sleep.
The red squirrel, like most tree squirrels, has sharp curved claws to help it to climb and descend broad tree trunks, thin branches, and even house walls. Its strong hind legs let it leap gaps between trees. The red squirrel also can swim.
The coat of the red squirrel varies in colour with time of year and location. There are several coat colour morphs ranging from black to red. Red coats are most common in Great Britain; in other parts of Europe and Asia different coat colours coexist within populations, much like hair colour in some human populations.
The underside of the squirrel is always white-cream in colour. The red squirrel sheds its coat twice a year, switching from a thinner summer coat to a thicker, darker winter coat with noticeably larger ear-tufts (a prominent distinguishing feature of this species) between August and November. A lighter, redder overall coat colour, along with the ear-tufts (in adults) and smaller size, distinguish the Eurasian red squirrel from the American eastern grey squirrel.
The red colour is for camouflage when seen against the bark of pine trees.
Red squirrels occupy boreal, coniferous woods in northern Europe and Siberia, preferring Scots pine, Norway spruce and Siberian pine. In western and southern Europe they are found in broad-leaved woods where the mixture of tree and shrub species provides a better year-round source of food. In most of the British Isles and in Italy, broad-leaved woodlands are now less suitable due to the better competitive feeding strategy of introduced grey squirrels.
Throughout the current storm, rest assured, the supply chain is working. Hording toilet paper and other commodities is totally ridiculous and only adds to the unnecessary panic. As a trucker and just a regular guy, I recommend staying calm, behave safely, there's no need to panic, doing the smart little things that our leaders, doctors and scientists ask. Everyone working together will make a huge difference in how well we all get past this difficult time.
I'm home until Monday, got here Thursday. Just hanging out with my mom for the most part. No visiting the grandkids this time just to be safe, not wanting to expose my mom (or myself I suppose) to those beautiful little petri dishes.
Hope all of you are well. Looking forward to spending much of the rest of my time home visiting as many of you on Flickr as I can. Interested in hearing how you're dealing with this pandemic and seeing what you've been doing photography wise.
Together we will get past this and hopefully be better prepared for the next one. Finally, stock up on food and other supplies after things settle down, not right now.
I've been to this ranch/park many times. Typically you see no cows or few cows roaming in the gates or freely. You can enter pastures throughout freely through closed gates open to the public. This last time , we decided to go through a section of the ranch with a closed gate. This photo was close to where we entered, as you can see quite a few cows up on a hill. As we continued around the bend over halfway through at the top of the hill to the other side, we were now amongst literally 100s of cows!!! I couldn't take any more photos at this point as panic started to set in lol. . I knew that we were probably safe as these cows are used to people, and there was no sign saying we could not enter, right?.. I've been around cows but never 100s, it's very intimidating!. The cattle started to notice the 3 of us, and my goodness the mooing was so loud it was a sight and sound I'll never forget..., all now turning and looking at us , so many cows, young cows , pregnant massive cows, ...was there a bull??? yup that's when the panic started to set in. luckily the other 2 people I was with were logical and calm and helped me through it. lol... but in order to get to the other side we had to walk through the herd only a few feet (if even) away and between them. Many that were lying down were also getting up. They sounded mad or protective. There was no turning back as we were almost to the exit. .... Finally made it to the exit but the gate was locked! ...we had to climb the fence! ... and yes there was a sign on this side saying "Do Not Enter , Cattle at Large, Area Closed"!
not sure why there was no sign on the side we entered, but I'm never entering again, sign or no sign! 💙 lol ...Cows are amazing!
Peace and goodwill to you and your family at Christmas and throughout the New Year!!!
Christmas Light 2015 In Uberlândia - MG / Brazil
Throughout the July 4th weekend hot-air balloonists from all over the country converged on our region to float en masse above the Hudson River.
The launches take off from the banks of the Hudson River soon after sunrise and before sunset.
Thank you for your comments,
Gemma
Copyright ©Maria Gemma June, 2014
A species of monkey found throughout the Himalayan belt. We sighted a family of them foraging on the roadside and trees in the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary. This one seemed like the alpha, but these species are quite docile compared to the more aggressive Bonnet and Rhesus Macaques which often attack people and raid their homes stealing food.
There are eight species of the Langur in India, I think this is either the Northern Plains gray langur or the Nepal Gray Langur. The differences between the variants are very subtle and the region I visited has a few different species. Both these Langurs are common to the region and I cannot tell the difference. Both are large and apparently adults weight around 18 Kg (40 lb). They are also tall and are almost 2 -2.5 feet and the tail is almost 3-4 feet alone.
Thanks in advance for your views and feedback. Much appreciated.
When traveling throughout Ontario, I will look for any local waterfalls to shoot as there are not very many close to where I live. This year while in the Kawartha region of the province I discovered Burleigh Falls...a wide low elevation group of cascades near Peterborough.
Hopefully if circumstances and time permit I will have a chance to photograph at least another one of two before the end of the year. Thanks for viewing and have a great day!
Albizia julibrissin, the Persian silk tree, pink silk tree, or mimosa tree, is a species of tree in the family Fabaceae, native to southwestern Asia and eastern Asia. The genus is named after the Italian nobleman Filippo degli Albizzi, who introduced it to Europe in the mid-18th century. It is sometimes incorrectly spelled Albizzia. The specific epithet julibrissin is a corruption of the Persian word gul-i abrisham (گل ابریشم), which means "silk flower" (from gul گل "flower" + abrisham ابریشم "silk").
Albizia julibrissin is a small deciduous tree with a broad crown of level or arching branches, growing to 5–16 m (16–52 ft) tall. Its bark is dark greenish grey, becoming vertically striped with age. Its leaves are large and frond-like: They are bipinnate, divided into 6–12 pairs of pinnae, each with 20–30 pairs of leaflets. Individual leaflets are oblong, 1–1.5 cm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) broad. The true leaves are 20–45 cm (8–18 in) long and 12–25 cm (5–10 in) broad.
The flowers bloom throughout the summer in dense inflorescences, which resemble starbursts of pink silky threads. The true flowers have small calyx and corolla (except the central ones), with a tight cluster of prominent stamens, 2–3 cm long and white or pink with a white base. They have been observed to attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.[2] Its fruit is a flat brown pod 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long and 2–2.5 cm (0.8–1.0 in) broad, containing several seeds inside. R_27003
There were a few things throughout my photography career I never seemed to be in the right place to shoot. These CP Barns were one of those things. I did finally find one in my scanning process! The UP got the Ford contract out of St. Paul after the IC&E couldn't compete with it. The trains ran down the Spineline from Dayton Bluffs to Kansas City on the UP as AHAKS. They were usually daylight trains through Iowa. Here one closes in on Des Moines as they pass through Cambridge. The bridge abutments are what's left of the old MILW mainline from Green Island to Council Bluffs.
Scanned slide on 4-08-03.
Their holes are filled with water so they take to the land!
The natural range of the land crab is Bermuda, throughout the Caribbean Sea, Texas, and southern Florida. In southern Florida, these crabs occur in low-lying areas of coastal counties. They rarely are found more than 5 miles from the coast.
As adults, land crabs are terrestrial (land-dwelling) and live in burrows several feet deep or at least to a level that will allow water to seep in for moisture. Giant land crabs are primarily vegetarians, preferring tender leaves, fruits, berries, flowers and some vegetables. Occasionally they will eat beetles or other large insects.
Blue land crabs reach sexual maturity in approximately 4 years. Peak reproductive activity occurs during full moons in summer. After mating, an adult female lays her eggs but carries the egg mass beneath her body for approximately 2 weeks prior to migrating to the ocean and releasing the eggs into shallow inshore waters. A female may produce 300,000–700,000 eggs per spawn, but very few larvae survive to become small crabs. The larvae are eaten by fish and other aquatic animals.
Blue Land Crab, Cardisoma Guanhumi
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
#AbFav_VIRTUAL_TRAVEL
HOME. Above the white cliffs of Dover in Kent, THE CASTLE.
Dover Castle is a medieval castle in Dover, Kent, England.
It was founded in the 11th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history.
Some sources say it is the largest castle in England, a title also claimed by Windsor Castle.
Always nice to go and good to come home!
Came in during the night after a long and enjoyable journey, the night makes travelling special, different. From the Ferry this is what we saw on top of the cliffs.
We still had a 6 hour drive ahead.
So, here we are, tired, content and replete.
Hope all is well with all, M, (*_*)
For more: www.indigo2photography.com
IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN (BY LAW!!!) TO USE ANY OF MY images or TEXT on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit permission.
If you do, without accreditation, it is STEALING © All rights reserved
#Castle #Dover #Landscape #Magda Indigo #Night #Nikon D7000 #Uk #colour #horizontal
Manzanitas are a ubiquitous tree throughout the West from Southern BC to Texas. No matter where I've lived in the west, there have always been Manzanitas, and the one thing that has always amazed me is the curling bark on really smooth trunks (flic.kr/p/2kTFsUr). Three years ago, I came upon a Manzanita that I had seen for at least 15 years, but this time in bloom! (flic.kr/p/2mXSMmS) (flic.kr/p/RtyE7w) It reminded me of Lily of the Valley.
I was at the Garden in late February, and for the first time in quite a while, I was there in the afternoon. As I passed under their Manzanita, the sun backlit the leaves. I had to capture that, but the wind was blowing. Big deal. This is digital. No worries as they say in the U.K.
And this is the resulting gem. There are many of these trees in the gardens at Heather Farm and on Mt. Diablo. One of my favorites has three trunks and is at least 18' tall. These are not bushes.
Manzanita is a common name for many species of the genus Arctostaphylos. They are evergreen shrubs or small trees present in the chaparral biome of western North America, where they occur from Southern British Columbia and Washington to Oregon, California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas in the United States, and throughout Mexico. Manzanitas can live in places with poor soil and little water. They are characterized by smooth orange or red bark and stiff, twisting branches. There are 105 species and subspecies of manzanita, 95 of which are found in the Mediterranean climate and colder mountainous regions of California, ranging from ground-hugging coastal and mountain species to small trees up to 20 feet (6m) tall. Manzanitas bloom in the winter to early spring and carry berries in spring and summer. The berries and flowers of most species are edible, but no by me. So all you need now is one more image of the trum of the 18 foot tree at HF (flic.kr/p/YTf6Cn).
I managed to capture this Fox just at the moment he stuck his tongue out though I think he was licking his lips. Foxes are found throughout Britain and Ireland. In fact they are found pretty much throughout the Northern Hemisphere. British Foxes were once thought to be a different subspecies (crucigera) with smaller, more widely separated teeth. But further work has shown that dentition varies and it is highly doubtful whether British Foxes are sufficiently different to merit being called a subspecies. Though Foxes from even warmer parts of Europe seem to develop longer coats compared with British Foxes. They are highly adaptable and can occur in many different habitats feeding on a wide variety of food especially rabbits, voles, birds, beetles, worms and fruit. Foxes living in urban areas tend to scavenge for food scraps just as they do for carrion in rural areas. But they will also take live food in urban situations. The one visiting my garden is partial to peanuts.
Foxes mate in the depths of winter when the Vixen can be heard making that familiar screaming bark. Gestation is just over 50 days and the young are fully weaned at about 10 weeks. The male usually helps provision the young with food. The cubs usually associate with their mother until autumn, when they disperse to find territories of their own.
SN/NC: Melanthera Biflora, Syn. Wollastonia Biflora, Asteraceae Family
Asteraceae, also called Compositae, the aster, daisy, or composite family of the flowering-plant order Asterales. With more than 1,620 genera and 23,600 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees distributed throughout the world, Asteraceae is one of the largest plant families.
Asteraceae is important primarily for its many garden ornamentals, such as ageratums, asters, chrysanthemums, cosmos, dahlias, marigolds (Tagetes), and zinnias. Other well-known garden plants and wildflowers include Boltonia, Brachycome, burdock (Arctium), butterbur (Petasites), Calendula, cat’s ear (Hypochoeris), cudweed (Filago and Gnaphalium), Gerbera, hawksbeard (Crepis), Inula, Matricaria, and Piqueria. Some genera include noxious weeds, such as dandelion (Taraxacum), ragweed (Ambrosia), and thistle (Carduus, Cirsium, and others). Several other members of Asteraceae have economic importance as food crops. Artichokes (Cynara), lettuce (Lactuca), endive(Cichorium), and salsify (Tragopogon) are commonly eaten as vegetables, and the edible seeds of safflower (Carthamus), and sunflower (Helianthus) are used in the production of cooking oils. Wormwood (Artemisia) is the source of the poisonous oil used to give the liqueur absinthe its distinctive character.
The leaves of Asteraceae are simple or occasionally compound, and their arrangement along the stem may be opposite, alternate, or, less commonly, whorled; not infrequently they are opposite toward the base of the stem and alternate above. (www.britannica.com/plant/Asteraceae)
Asteraceae, também chamada Compositae, a família áster, margarida ou composta da ordem de plantas com flores Asterales. Com mais de 1.620 gêneros e 23.600 espécies de ervas, arbustos e árvores distribuídas por todo o mundo, Asteraceae é uma das maiores famílias de plantas.
Asteraceae é importante principalmente por suas muitas plantas ornamentais de jardim, como ageratums, ásteres, crisântemos, cosmos, dálias, calêndulas (Tagetes) e zínias. Outras plantas de jardim e flores silvestres bem conhecidas incluem Boltonia, Brachycome, bardana (Arctium), butterbur (Petasites), Calendula, orelha de gato (Hypochoeris), cudweed (Filago e Gnaphalium), Gerbera, hawksbeard (Crepis), Inula, Matricaria e Piqueria. Alguns gêneros incluem ervas daninhas nocivas, como dente-de-leão (Taraxacum), ambrósia (Ambrosia) e cardo (Carduus, Cirsium e outros). Vários outros membros de Asteraceae têm importância econômica como culturas alimentares. Alcachofras (Cynara), alface (Lactuca), endívia (Cichorium) e salsifis (Tragopogon) são comumente consumidas como vegetais, e as sementes comestíveis de cártamo (Carthamus) e girassol (Helianthus) são usadas na produção de óleos de cozinha. O absinto (Artemisia) é a fonte do óleo venenoso usado para dar ao absinto licor seu caráter distinto.
Les Astéracées, également appelées Compositae, sont la famille des asters, des marguerites ou des composées de l'ordre des plantes à fleurs Asterales. Avec plus de 1 620 genres et 23 600 espèces d'herbes, d'arbustes et d'arbres répartis dans le monde entier, les Astéracées sont l'une des plus grandes familles de plantes.
Les Astéracées sont importantes principalement pour leurs nombreuses plantes ornementales de jardin, telles que les agératums, les asters, les chrysanthèmes, les cosmos, les dahlias, les soucis (Tagetes) et les zinnias. Parmi les autres plantes de jardin et fleurs sauvages bien connues, on trouve la Boltonia, la Brachycome, la bardane (Arctium), le pétasite (Petasites), le Calendula, l'oreille de chat (Hypochoeris), la filago et la gnaphalium, le gerbera, la crépis des oiseaux (Crepis), l'inula, la matricaria et la piquiria. Certains genres comprennent des mauvaises herbes nuisibles, comme le pissenlit (Taraxacum), l'ambroisie (Ambrosia) et le chardon (Carduus, Cirsium et autres). Plusieurs autres membres de la famille des Astéracées ont une importance économique en tant que cultures vivrières. Les artichauts (Cynara), la laitue (Lactuca), l'endive (Cichorium) et le salsifis (Tragopogon) sont couramment consommés comme légumes, et les graines comestibles de carthame (Carthamus) et de tournesol (Helianthus) sont utilisées dans la production d'huiles de cuisson. L'absinthe (Artemisia) est la source de l'huile toxique utilisée pour donner à la liqueur d'absinthe son caractère distinctif.
Asteraceae, también llamada Compositae, la familia de las asteráceas, margaritas o compuestas del orden de las plantas con flores Asterales. Con más de 1.620 géneros y 23.600 especies de hierbas, arbustos y árboles distribuidos por todo el mundo, Asteraceae es una de las familias de plantas más grandes.
Asteraceae es importante principalmente por sus numerosas plantas ornamentales de jardín, como ageratos, ásteres, crisantemos, cosmos, dalias, caléndulas (Tagetes) y zinnias. Otras plantas de jardín y flores silvestres conocidas incluyen Boltonia, Brachycome, bardana (Arctium), petasita (Petasites), Calendula, oreja de gato (Hypochoeris), cudweed (Filago y Gnaphalium), Gerbera, barba de halcón (Crepis), Inula, Matricaria y Piqueria. Algunos géneros incluyen malas hierbas nocivas, como el diente de león (Taraxacum), la ambrosía (Ambrosia) y el cardo (Carduus, Cirsium y otros). Varios otros miembros de Asteraceae tienen importancia económica como cultivos alimentarios. Las alcachofas (Cynara), la lechuga (Lactuca), la endibia (Cichorium) y el salsifí (Tragopogon) se consumen comúnmente como verduras, y las semillas comestibles de cártamo (Carthamus) y girasol (Helianthus) se utilizan en la producción de aceites de cocina. El ajenjo (Artemisia) es la fuente del aceite venenoso que se utiliza para dar al licor de absenta su carácter distintivo.
Asteraceae, auch Compositae genannt, die Aster-, Gänseblümchen- oder Korbblütlerfamilie der Blütenpflanzenordnung Asterales. Mit mehr als 1.620 Gattungen und 23.600 Arten von Kräutern, Sträuchern und Bäumen, die auf der ganzen Welt verbreitet sind, ist Asteraceae eine der größten Pflanzenfamilien.
Asteraceae ist vor allem wegen seiner vielen Zierpflanzen für den Garten wichtig, wie z. B. Ageratum, Astern, Chrysanthemen, Kosmeen, Dahlien, Ringelblumen (Tagetes) und Zinnien. Andere bekannte Gartenpflanzen und Wildblumen sind Boltonia, Brachycome, Klette (Arctium), Pestwurz (Petasites), Calendula, Katzenohr (Hypochoeris), Filzkraut (Filago und Gnaphalium), Gerbera, Habichtsbart (Crepis), Inula, Matricaria und Piqueria. Einige Gattungen enthalten schädliche Unkräuter wie Löwenzahn (Taraxacum), Ambrosia (Ambrosia) und Disteln (Carduus, Cirsium und andere). Mehrere andere Mitglieder der Asteraceae sind als Nahrungsmittel wirtschaftlich wichtig. Artischocken (Cynara), Salat (Lactuca), Endivien (Cichorium) und Schwarzwurzeln (Tragopogon) werden häufig als Gemüse gegessen, und die essbaren Samen von Färberdistel (Carthamus) und Sonnenblume (Helianthus) werden zur Herstellung von Speiseölen verwendet. Wermut (Artemisia) ist die Quelle des giftigen Öls, das dem Likör Absinth seinen unverwechselbaren Charakter verleiht.
Asteraceae, ook wel Compositae genoemd, de aster-, madelief- of composietenfamilie van de orde van bloeiende planten Asterales. Met meer dan 1.620 geslachten en 23.600 soorten kruiden, struiken en bomen verspreid over de hele wereld, is Asteraceae een van de grootste plantenfamilies.
Asteraceae is vooral belangrijk vanwege de vele sierplanten in de tuin, zoals ageratums, asters, chrysanten, cosmea, dahlia's, goudsbloemen (Tagetes) en zinnia's. Andere bekende tuinplanten en wilde bloemen zijn Boltonia, Brachycome, klis (Arctium), boterbloem (Petasites), Calendula, kattenoor (Hypochoeris), cudweed (Filago en Gnaphalium), Gerbera, streepzaad (Crepis), Inula, Matricaria en Piqueria. Sommige geslachten omvatten schadelijke onkruiden, zoals paardenbloem (Taraxacum), ambrosia (Ambrosia) en distel (Carduus, Cirsium en anderen). Verschillende andere leden van Asteraceae zijn economisch belangrijk als voedselgewassen. Artisjokken (Cynara), sla (Lactuca), andijvie (Cichorium) en schorseneren (Tragopogon) worden vaak gegeten als groente, en de eetbare zaden van saffloer (Carthamus) en zonnebloem (Helianthus) worden gebruikt bij de productie van kookoliën. Alsem (Artemisia) is de bron van de giftige olie die wordt gebruikt om de likeur absint zijn onderscheidende karakter te geven.
Asteraceae, anche chiamate Compositae, la famiglia delle aster, delle margherite o composite dell'ordine delle piante da fiore Asterales. Con oltre 1.620 generi e 23.600 specie di erbe, arbusti e alberi distribuiti in tutto il mondo, le Asteraceae sono una delle più grandi famiglie di piante. Le Asteraceae sono importanti principalmente per i loro numerosi ornamentali da giardino, come agerati, aster, crisantemi, cosmos, dalie, tageti (Tagetes) e zinnie. Altre piante da giardino e fiori selvatici ben noti includono Boltonia, Brachycome, bardana (Arctium), farfaraccio (Petasites), Calendula, orecchio di gatto (Hypochoeris), erba medica (Filago e Gnaphalium), Gerbera, barba di falco (Crepis), Inula, Matricaria e Piqueria. Alcuni generi includono erbacce nocive, come il tarassaco (Taraxacum), l'ambrosia (Ambrosia) e il cardo (Carduus, Cirsium e altri). Diversi altri membri delle Asteraceae hanno importanza economica come colture alimentari. I carciofi (Cynara), la lattuga (Lactuca), l'indivia (Cichorium) e la salsefrica (Tragopogon) sono comunemente consumati come verdure e i semi commestibili di cartamo (Carthamus) e girasole (Helianthus) sono utilizzati nella produzione di oli da cucina. L'assenzio (Artemisia) è la fonte dell'olio velenoso utilizzato per conferire al liquore assenzio il suo carattere distintivo.
キク科は、キク目（Asterales）のアスター、デイジー、または複合科とも呼ばれ、花を咲かせる植物のキク科に属します。世界中に分布する 1,620 属、23,600 種を超える草本植物、低木、樹木を擁するキク科は、最大の植物科の 1 つです。
キク科は、アゲラタム、アスター、キク、コスモス、ダリア、マリーゴールド（マンジュギク）、ジニアなど、多くの観賞用植物があることで主に重要です。その他のよく知られた庭の植物や野生の花には、ボルトニア、ブラキコメ、ゴボウ（Arctium）、フキ（Petasites）、キンセンカ、キャッツイヤー（Hypochoeris）、フキ（Filago および Gnaphalium）、ガーベラ、タカヒゲ（Crepis）、イヌラ、マトリカリア、ピケリアなどがあります。いくつかの属には、タンポポ（Taraxacum）、ブタクサ（Ambrosia）、アザミ（Carduus、Cirsium など）などの有害な雑草が含まれます。キク科の他のいくつかの種は、食用作物として経済的に重要です。アーティチョーク（Cynara）、レタス（Lactuca）、エンダイブ（Cichorium）、サルシファイ（Tragopogon）は野菜としてよく食べられ、ベニバナ（Carthamus）とヒマワリ（Helianthus）の食用種子は調理油の製造に使用されます。よもぎ（Artemisia）は、リキュールのアブサンに独特の特徴を与える有毒な油の原料です。
Asteraceae، وتسمى أيضًا Compositae، هي الفصيلة النجمية أو الأقحوان أو الفصيلة المركبة من رتبة النباتات المزهرة Asterales. مع أكثر من 1620 جنسًا و23600 نوع من الأعشاب والشجيرات والأشجار المنتشرة في جميع أنحاء العالم، تعد Asteraceae واحدة من أكبر فصائل النباتات.
تعتبر Asteraceae مهمة في المقام الأول للعديد من نباتات الزينة في الحدائق، مثل ageratums وasters وchrysanthemums وcosmos وdahlias وmarigolds (Tagetes) وzinnias. تشمل نباتات الحدائق والأزهار البرية الأخرى المعروفة Boltonia وBrachycome وburdock (Arctium) وbutterbur (Petasites) وCalendula وcat’s ear (Hypochoeris) وcudweed (Filago وGnaphalium) وGerbera وhawksbeard (Crepis) وInula وMatricaria وPiqueria. تشمل بعض الأجناس أعشاب ضارة، مثل الهندباء (Taraxacum)، والرجيد (Ambrosia)، والشوك (Carduus، Cirsium، وغيرهما). تتمتع العديد من الأعضاء الأخرى من عائلة Asteraceae بأهمية اقتصادية كمحاصيل غذائية. يتم تناول الخرشوف (Cynara)، والخس (Lactuca)، والهندباء (Cichorium)، والسالسفي (Tragopogon) بشكل شائع كخضروات، وتستخدم البذور الصالحة للأكل من القرطم (Carthamus)، وعباد الشمس (Helianthus) في إنتاج زيوت الطهي. الشيح (Artemisia) هو مصدر الزيت السام المستخدم لإعطاء المشروب الكحولي الأفسنتين طابعه المميز.
Kaziranga National Park
State Of Assam
India
The barasingha (Cervus duvaucelii), also called swamp deer, is a deer species distributed in the Indian subcontinent. Populations in northern and central India are fragmented, and two isolated populations occur in southwestern Nepal. It is extinct in Pakistan and in Bangladesh.The specific name commemorates the French naturalist Alfred Duvaucel.
The swamp deer differs from all the Indian deer species in that the antlers carry more than three tines. Because of this distinctive character it is designated barasingha, meaning "twelve-tined." Mature stags have 10 to 14 tines, and some have been known to have up to 20.
In the 19th century, swamp deer ranged along the base of the Himalayas from Upper Assam to the west of the Yamuna River, throughout Assam, in a few places in the Indo-Gangetic plain from the Eastern Sundarbans to Upper Sind, and locally throughout the area between the Ganges and Godavari as far east as Mandla.
Swamp deer are mainly grazers. They largely feed on grasses and aquatic plants. They feed throughout the day with peaks during the mornings and late afternoons to evenings. In winter and monsoon, they drink water twice, and thrice or more in summer. In the hot season, they rest in the shade of trees during the day. - Wikipedia
The red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a bird of prey that breeds throughout most of North America, from the interior of Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West Indies. It is one of the most common members within the genus of Buteo in North America or worldwide. The red-tailed hawk is one of three species colloquially known in the United States as the "chickenhawk", though it rarely preys on standard-sized chickens. The bird is sometimes also referred to as the red-tail for short, when the meaning is clear in context. Red-tailed hawks can acclimate to all the biomes within their range, occurring on the edges of non-ideal habitats such as dense forests and sandy deserts. The red-tailed hawk occupies a wide range of habitats and altitudes including deserts, grasslands, coniferous and deciduous forests, agricultural fields and urban areas. Its latitudinal limits fall around the tree line in the Arctic and the species is absent from the high Arctic. It is legally protected in Canada, Mexico, and the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
The red-tailed hawk is one of the largest members of the genus Buteo, typically weighing from 690 to 1,600 g (1.5 to 3.5 lb) and measuring 45–65 cm (18–26 in) in length, with a wingspan from 110–141 cm (3 ft 7 in–4 ft 8 in). This species displays sexual dimorphism in size, with females averaging about 25% heavier than males.
The diet of red-tailed hawks is highly variable and reflects their status as opportunistic generalists, but in North America, it is most often a predator of small mammals such as rodents. Prey that is terrestrial and diurnal is preferred so types such as ground squirrels are preferential where they naturally occur. Large numbers of birds and reptiles can occur in the diet in several areas and can even be the primary foods. Meanwhile, amphibians, fish and invertebrates can seem rare in the hawk’s regular diet; however, they are not infrequently taken by immature hawks. Red-tailed hawks may survive on islands absent of native mammals on diets variously including invertebrates such as crabs, or lizards and birds. Like many Buteo, they hunt from a perch most often but can vary their hunting techniques where prey and habitat demand it.
For more information, please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-tailed_hawk
Long-tailed Tit - Aegithalos Caudatus
The long-tailed tit is globally widespread throughout temperate northern Europe and Asia, into boreal Scandinavia and south into the Mediterranean zone. It inhabits deciduous and mixed woodland with a well-developed shrub layer, favouring edge habitats. It can also be found in scrub, heathland with scattered trees, bushes and hedges, in farmland and riverine woodland, parks and gardens. The bird's year-round diet of insects and social foraging bias habitat choice in winter towards deciduous woodland, typically of oak, ash and locally sycamore species. For nesting, strong preference is shown towards scrub areas. The nest is often built in thorny bushes less than 3 metres above the ground.
The nest of the long-tailed tit is constructed from four materials - lichen, feathers, spider egg cocoons and moss, with over 6,000 pieces used for a typical nest. The nest is a flexible sac with a small, round entrance on top, suspended either low in a gorse or bramble bush or high up in the forks of tree branches. The structural stability of the nest is provided by a mesh of moss and spider silk. The tiny leaves of the moss act as hooks and the spider silk of egg cocoons provides the loops; thus forming a natural form of velcro. The tit lines the outside with hundreds of flakes of pale lichens - this provides camouflage. Inside, it lines the nest with more than 2,000 downy feathers to insulate the nest. Nests suffer a high rate of predation with only 17% success.
Outside the breeding season they form compact flocks of 6 to 17 birds, composed of family parties (parents and offspring) from the previous breeding season, together with any extra adults that helped to raise a brood. These flocks will occupy and defend territories against neighbouring flocks. The driving force behind the flocking behaviour is thought to be that of winter roosting, being susceptible to cold; huddling increases survival through cold nights.
From July to February, the non-breeding season, long-tailed tits form flocks of relatives and non-relatives, roosting communally. When the breeding season begins, the flocks break up, and the birds attempt to breed in monogamous pairs. Males remain within the winter territory, while females have a tendency to wander to neighbouring territories.
Pairs whose nests fail have three choices: try again, abandon nesting for the season or help at a neighbouring nest. It has been shown that failed pairs split and help at the nests of male relatives, recognition being established vocally. The helped nests have greater success due to higher provisioning rates and better nest defence. At the end of the breeding season, in June–July, the birds reform the winter flocks in their winter territory.
Population:
UK breeding:
340,000 territories