Shanghai Tower and it's neighbours.

Festive clad in red for new years eve...

Here is a blue tower.

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Usually I shoot flying birds with just the single central focussing point and partial metering around the central point. Aim correctly and I have a great chance of getting an in-focus and properly exposed shot.

But for this outing I switched to the automatic AF selection mode where the camera guesses at my intentions. It was not a great success with most of my shots focussing on the background rather than the flying birds. This is one of the rare exceptions.

Usually the single young Fallow deer are born from June to July. Native to the Mediterranean, due to introductions and escapes found over much of the UK and Europe. One of six species to be found in the UK with the Red and Roe deer being the only native species . The name Fallow refers to the light brown colour of the pelt.

Usually the first wild orchid in the UK to appear in the spring and will flower from April to May. The flowers fragrance is pleasant at first but will later have the smell of an animal-like odour. This orchid prefers to grow in colonies in semi shaded grassy places such as wooded scrub and sometimes out in open grassland. The flowers here are more pale pink than usual and this orchid may well have hybridized with another species of orchid such as a Common Spotted Orchid for example.

Usually, this mandarin pass 2 times a year near to my home.

He stays here during 3 weeks then he flies away.

But this year he didnt pass in spring, I hope to see him next october. Old photo of this winter.

You can zoom in 2 times for more details.

(_DSC1536-DeNoiseAI-SH5050cnv_DxO-4KNsh100m+crbdn3015llm+DNllm+)

Wood Warbler - Phylloscopus sibilatrix

The wood warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) is a common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe, and just into the extreme west of Asia in the southern Ural Mountains.

This warbler is strongly migratory and the entire population winters in tropical Africa.

It is a summer visitor to the United Kingdom, seen from April until August. It has declined there in recent years. It is now very rare in Ireland, where only one or two pairs are recorded breeding in most years, usually in County Wicklow.

Various factors associated with forest structure, including slope, forest cover, proportion of broad-leaf forest, canopy height and forest edge length, all influenced the occupancy rates of this declining forest species. Conservation measures are therefore required that provide and maintain the wood warblers preferred forest structure. There is also a preference for forest in the non-breeding season, however this habitat is declining in wintering areas such as Ghana. Despite the decline in forest habitats, there has been no change in number of wood warblers as it appears that this species can use degraded habitats, such as well-wooded farms. However, further loss of trees will likely have a negative impact on this species in the future

they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said :-)

Author unknown

HPPS!! take care friends :-)

lilac, in the neighborhood, cary, north carolina

Usually very shy & retiring, the Water Rail spends most of its time hidden deep in the reed bed. This individual, however, was very kind to me here, as it stayed out in the open for several minutes, before disappearing again.

Taken at RSPB Lakenheath fen.

Usually don't see these butterflies this late in the season so I followed it around the yard and took a few pictures.

Bateleur Eagles usually come down to the water in the middle of the day.

They are a colourful species with a very short tail which, together with its white underwing coverts, makes it unmistakable in flight. The tail is so small the bird's legs protrude slightly beyond the tail during flight.

Size: The average adult Bateleur is 55 to 70 cm long with a 186 cm wingspan. The wing chord averages approximately 51 cm. Adult weight is 2 to 2.6kg. (Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Botswana)

Many thanks to everyone who chooses to leave a comment or add this image to their favorites, it is much appreciated.

©Elsie van der Walt, all rights reserved. Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. If you are interested in using one of my images, please send me an E-mail (elsie.vdwalt@gmail.com).

Paws for thought… Portrait of a beautiful Sand Cat. In the wild these cats inhabit sandy and stony deserts far from water sources. With its sandy to light grey fur it is well camouflaged in a desert environment. The Sand Cat usually rests in underground dens during the day and hunts at night.

This captive example was seen at Exmoor Zoo.

Usually this road is pretty busy, but not on a Sunday. Just a slightly overloaded tricycle passing by.

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Tsessebe belong to the same family as Wildebeest and Hartebeest, all of whom are characterised by an ungainly appearance because their shoulders are higher than the withers. In Southern Africa the tsessebe are confined to northern savannah woodlands.

Territorial males rub the sides of their faces on the ground, usually on a termite mound or on a sandy patch, dropping to their knees to do so. I saw this fine specimen in the south west of the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

I usually need a lot og work in Lightroom to find a color balance for this type of photography. The AI of modern smartphones helps a lot in these type of scenea as they can detect a sunrise or sunset and take the appropriate actions for stunning images right out of the box.

Marmosets will usually live in small groups which tend to contain several unrelated adult males and females. Only one breeding female will be in this group and will often mate with more than one male and give birth to twins with all members of the group caring for the young including the unrelated males. Common Marmosets are native only to East-central Brazil but have also been introduced into other areas.

These large antelopes usually drink water several times a day and also prefer the quality grass that grows along river edges. My aim was to capture a unique version of the Waterbuck, then the wind suddenly changed, the Waterbuck turn and flee in paranoia.

Size: Shoulder Height: 1.2 – 1.4 m. Length: 1.4 – 2.4 m. Mass: Male: 200 – 300 kg, Female: 160 – 200 kg

(Kruger National Park, RSA).

Many thanks to everyone who chooses to leave a comment or add this image to their favorites, it is much appreciated.

©Elsie van der Walt, all rights reserved. Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. If you are interested in using one of my images, please send me an E-mail (elsie.vdwalt@gmail.com).

Usually botanists are not given to much exuberance in their descriptions. Johannes Snippendaal (1616-1670), prefect of the Amsterdam Hortus Medicus, clearly showed his delight. In his Catalogue of plants (1646) he says of our Cranesbill that it has 'pretty striped flowers'; as indeed it does. Those lines, of course, are so-called insect lines that lead those animals to succor.

I'm not sure whether Cinnamon Bug partakes of such sweetness and nutrition. But I noticed it lurking in Geranium's foliage. Then it took flight, landed on a petal, but quickly scurried back into green.

Dahlia flower usually symbolizes the bond between two people that will last forever. That’s why this flower is commonly used in wedding ceremonies and other arrangements. It symbolizes that the love of a couple that is going to get married will be eternal.

The dahlia flower may also mean that we should stay strong and graceful, even in the most difficult situations. We need to face our problems and overcome all the challenges that exist in our lives.

Have a safe and beautiful weekend everyone! 💝

Thank you for your visits, kind comments, awards and faves. Always greatly appreciated.

Copyright 2020 ©️ Gloria Sanvicente

Usually, Roses are red

But this Rose is blue

And this unique one

Is only glowing for You

Although ...

This BLUE-tifulness

Is not genuine, I guess

(Caren)

[Dedicated to CRA (ILYWAMHASAM)]

Macro of a small translucint plastic rose (1 ½ x 1 ½ “) backlit with a blue light, taken 10 Oct 2020 and

uploaded for the group

Macro Mondays #Translucent

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200

ƒ/2.8

4.5 mm

1/40 Sec

ISO 400

[Text and image copyright Caren (©all rights reserved)]

please respect my ©copyright : Do not use any image or text without my previous written authorization, NOT even in social networks. If you want to use a photograph, please contact me!

Bitte mein ©Copyright beachten! Meine Fotos und Texte sind ©copyright geschützt (alle Rechte vorbehalten) und dürfen ohne meine vorherige und schriftliche Zustimmung NICHT von Dritten verwendet werden, auch nicht in sozialen Netzwerken. Falls Interesse an einem Foto besteht, bitte ich um Kontaktaufnahme!]

Usually in winter, I photograph birds outside, but the kowhai tree flowering last spring was incredible... and the best view is from inside, where it's elevated and I can photograph straight into the tree. So I spent some time photographing through double glazing! Not my favourite glass... but... the glimpse into birdworld was too strong to resist :-)

Silvereyes are very communal birds, often visiting in small family groups and pairs. Some preening pairs are family, some couples, and some just dating ;-) If one preens too roughly the moment is soon over!

I glimpsed this pair through my lcd quite far back in the tree... I didn't see them at all with my bare eyes. They were there maybe only a minute, but seeing minutes like these makes a lot of happiness :-)

Here's to the world beyond the window...

and to moments of joy 🌼

whether quiet or aloud

my thanks for being here

on the other side of the glass!! :-)

Usually the last phase of the color season in fall, a step back a few days to that period before the wind, rain, and now snow erased the color from the trees. Only the oaks hold onto their brown leaves which some will do all winter long.

[Large puts you on the path.]

Skippy Blends In the squirrel heard me or saw me, they usually freeze until they know where your going, very cautious group, shot in North Carolina.

Usually, I like to watch a sunset from beginning to end. ON this evening, we were out shopping. When we came out of the store, we could see a fantastic sunset, but were not at a good location to photograph it. By the time we reached this open field, much of the color had left the sky. But there was just enough to make the stop worth the effort.

Usually covered in curious humans, the Burlington Pier is quiet tonight.

Not a bird I would usually photograph but I couldn't resist the glow on the feathers.

The Water rail is usually a skulking, secretive bird, that's more often heard than seen.

This one was kind to me here though, as it ventured out from among the reeds to feed in the open. It was fascinating to see it probing around beneath the surface, particularly when it discovered this Caddisfly larva.

RSPB Lakenheath fen reserve, in Suffolk.

Usually November can mean dark skies and brown across the baron landscape. A week or so ago, I came across a beautiful scene with some amazing clouds crossing the landscape. Perfect for mono with the trees looking like ballet dancers across the horizon!

Happy Mono Monday!

usually the first one on the feeding place he always comes alone.he doesn´t like company...only me with my camera...

Baltimore orioles usually leave Lake Meyer Park by Labor Day -only three days away - so this is the last Baltimore oriole that I will photograph and post on Flickr this year. After spending the long holiday weekend with friends and family, I'm headed west for some fantastic fly fishing in Montana. With luck, I'll have a trout picture to share when I return in about three weeks. Thanks for all your great feedback on my photos!

Severe Tropical Storm "Kammuri" was standing some 60 nautical miles south of Zhuhai. The strong ocean swell caused huge waves to crash against the seawall of the promenade on Lovers Avenue (情侣路).

What's usually a crowded place with couples strolling in the warm evening breeze was now nearly deserted. Just a few daring people were out and got wet.

And this is only a tropical storm - rest assured: when we had a genuine Typhoon it looked different and nobody would be here at all.

Another "reactivated" archive shot.

And no, the photo is not taken in Macau, though the buildings in the background are already in Macau.

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Usually these kind of photos make it straight into my bucket - but somehow I like this one. Maybe someone else likes it too.

Camera: Nikon F90

Film: Kodak Portra 400

Scanner: Epson V850 Pro

Scannersoftware: SilverFast

Huge white bird with long neck and all-black bill. Immatures dusky gray-brown with pink on bill. Forages in shallow, vegetated wetlands reaching under the water for plants, and walks through corn stubble. Breeds in freshwater marshes and ponds. Winters on any open body of water where food is available. Extremely similar to Tundra Swan, but never shows yellow on bill. Also, note subtle features of face: facial skin is relatively broad where it meets eye, so the eye doesn't stand out, and border between white face and black bill is straight (curved on Tundra). From head-on, the border of the bill and forehead is usually pointed (straight or curved on Tundra). Often in pairs or family groups. Almost went extinct in early 20th century, but population has rebounded and been reintroduced to some areas. (eBird)

This swan was an unusual find in Victoria. It was nice to see one without wing tags - most of the Trumpeter Swans in Ontario have been re-introduced and so sport large yellow tags on their wings. Admittedly, this makes it easier to identify them if you can't see their face clearly.

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. June 2022.

Eagle-Eye Tours - Ultimate British Columbia.

Usually cats jump into every open box but it took an eternity to convince Linus to climb into this old suitcase. I found this suitcase in the basement when I cleared out two rooms there before the renovation started. It had belonged to my grandparents. I thought it could be fun to use it for taking photos of the cats. Not sure if Linus had fun, though. :)

For the last three years, usually starting up in December, I've heard the wintertime courtship of the Great Horned Owls as they begin to announce their breeding intentions with their very recognizable hooting patterns. The female has the higher voice and the male, the rich bass. The breeding couple often exchange a pattern of calls, or engage in a duet, for a good period of time. It's actually a very soothing sound and a reminder of how the life cycle continues throughout the year no matter how frigid it is outside!

I had imagined they have taken over a nest nearby but had not seen them until now. I was more than thrilled when I spotted this GHO out on a snag going down towards the meadow as it turned towards nightfall. With no hint of sun left in the sky and only the flat foreboding look of another very very cold night ahead, I took pictures in this lifeless atmosphere!

If you want to hear and see some of these behaviors, I have attached a link for you.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwZSZnYDoY8&ab_channel=Pachuc...

Bluebells usually have five petals, occasionally four, six or seven – but this one has nine! I wonder if the little spider that decided to construct its delicate scaffolding here realises what an extraordinary flower it has chosen as its support structure?

DSC08980_crop

Amsterdam - Ranonkelkade

Copyright - All images are copyright © protected. All Rights Reserved. Copying, altering, displaying or redistribution of any of these images without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

At a nearby lake, I sighted a pair of these birds quite by accident - assumed they were male / female. They were perched quietly on some fences in an area which had a Shikra, couple of Kingfishers and lots of babblers. There were probably some rats / moles in the fields and the Owlet made 2-3 rounds to check for them before diving.

I sat on the roadside under a tree to get a better view when one of them flew past this spot to get a view and perched again. It made an diving attempt to get one of the rodents and missed it, but gave me a couple of good shots.

These are resident birds in the country and usually active during the crepuscular times and late nights.

When I checked these birds last week, they are gone as their habitat was destroyed due to real estate development . A large ugly boundary fence was setup and the trees - home of these owlets - were destroyed.

Thank you so much in advance for your views, feedback and faves.

I usually place a little narrative, busy this morning. I took this with my D500, it has a DX sensor. I wanted to crop in tighter. Also, I had been watching this mushroom for about a week knowing the cap would turn as it aged. Then is was 3 days before the sun came out being January in the Pacific Northwest (rainy season).

Landscapes are usually about simplification of a scene and this shot of the Westertoren in the Grachtengordel neighborhood is a riot of detailed activity but for me it somehow works and is one of my favorite shots I so far have taken of Amsterdam.

The Ouwe Wester built in 1638 stands 87m high and is the tallest church tower in the city, the blue crown you see topping the tower represents the Imperial Austrian crown of Maximillian but from 1906-2006 it was the golden yellow of Rembrandt to honor him 300 years after his birth until recent renovations brought back the original blue color.

The Westerkerk that the tower is attached to is the largest protestant church of Holland and was designed by chief city architect and sculptor Hendrick de Keyser who had previously built the Zuiderkerk and the East India house, unfortunately Hendrick did not live long enough to see the completion of his greatest work but he did usher in the Dutch Classicism architectural style of the 17th century and left his mark on Amsterdam.

Rembrandt van Rijn was buried in the Westerkerk hence the color change to crown on the 300th anniversary of his death but nobody is sure where they buried him as he died a pauper and as is customary to the time the poor would be laid to rest in numbered kerkgraf or stone grave which would be emptied and the contents disposed of after a 20 year period.

Though they may lost the exact location of Rembrandt’s grave they honor him every year on his birthday July 15 with a concert of music from his period and flowers are hung on his memorial marker from 1909 taken from his famous painting the Nachtwacht or Nightwatch in English.

I took this on Sept 9th, 2017 with my D750 and Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens at 36mm 1/320 sec f/11 ISO1600 processed in LR, PS +Lumenzia, Topaz , Luminar and DXO

Disclaimer: My style is a study of romantic realism as well as a work in progress

Usually I dont like text on pictures, but I made an exception today :)

Please, no multi-group invites and graphic in comments! Thank you!

© All rights reserved

Please do not use this image without my permission!

Find out more about this picture. For credits and more click here

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And more...

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Mala Mala Game Reserve

Near Kruger National Park

South Africa

The African buffalo or Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large Sub-Saharan African bovine. Syncerus caffer caffer, the Cape buffalo, is the typical subspecies found in South and East Africa. The adult buffalo's horns are its characteristic feature: they have fused bases, forming a continuous bone shield across the top of the head referred to as a "boss".

Cape Buffalo are suspected to kill around 200 people every year. They typically will charge and gore their victims and have been known to trample people as well. When you see Cape Buffalo roaming in Africa, they're usually not alone. Weighing in at over 1500 lbs, even most lions don't dare bother hunting this aggressive beast unless the lions are in a huge pride. – Wikipedia

Getting a seat on a bench in any of the parks in my city is usually impossible. Now, however, the parks are empty and the benches are all vacant.

I took the photo that I used for this artwork some years ago as I'm now unable to go outside to take any photos. Spring has always been my favourite season and staying inside while the sunshine is out is not easy; however, we must all - whatever country we live in - practising social distancing and STAY INDOORS!

Created for Vivid Art group ~ Vivid Virus Art! ~

I usually prefer color in flower images, but somehow I liked this monotone treatment on a crabapple flower in late evening light.

"Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature."

-- Gerard De Nerval

Usually I don't like to edit my photos with PS or else except for enhancing contrast on Picassa... This time I had Picassa sharpen the picture. This is the outcome.

Genelde PS vb programlarla fotoğraflarıma müdahale etmeyi sevmem. Bu sefer Picassa'ya resmi keskinleştirttim. Sonuç bu.

I usually only see green herons on spring migration so was surprised to see this one in the middle of the summer. It must have been looking for a good place to eat. Myself, I will be taking a flickr break to go do some wandering myself.

I usually don't post bird images but having a great opportunity to capture some this year, here is An assortment of some f the winter birds hanging on edge of the woods..

Male Downy Woodpecker - has red patch on head While the Female does not.

The Red-Bellied Woodpecker - sometimes confused with a flicker

...and the Cardinals the bright red Male with its pretty female.

Usually the Western Grebes do not come close enough for me to get their photos. On this beautiful sunny morning this grebe was very cooperative and came close enough for a few photographs.

Taken at Frank Lake, Alberta, Canada

-Aechmophorus occidentalis

Okay so I usually decorate an area from scratch for my decor pics,

however this one is from my actual home..

Even though in SL it would be easy to live the high life with all fancy stuff, I love living in trailers and grungy old homes..

They somehow feel more real in the pixel world of fake.

but I love how they found their place in my home right away.

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KraftWork Bar Butler

for Saturday Sale (75L)!

→ KraftWork LM

KraftWork Portable Dishwasher

→ Now @ The Foodcourt event

→ KraftWork LM

[Cinoe] Comfort in early summer

→ Now @ The Foodcourt event

→ [Cinoe] LM

Kactus - Leo Cereal Holder

→ Kactus LM

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