CUBA EN FOTOS
View allAll Photos Tagged WESTINDIES
Saba island seen from a flight from St. Kitts to St. Martin, I have still never been to that island, perhaps one day, (not on top of my list because of the cost of getting there) the top of Mount Scenery on that island is also the highest point in the Netherlands, though I'm not sure if the former Dutch Antilles can be considered a part of the Netherlands, most of the islands have gone their own ways.
on these cold, damp spring days, i long to be back on nevis, unplugged and immersed in nature. yet that longing fades and i remember how much i love my friends, community, work, and play; how i'm immersed in nature each time i step into my backyard.
Can anyone please identify this moth seen at Green Castle Estate in Jamaica in March 2015?
Thanks for your visit… Any comment you make on my photograph is greatly appreciated and encouraging! But please do not use this image without permission.
Basseterre, founded in 1627 is the capital of the Caribbean island federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis and is one of the chief commercial depots of the Leeward Islands. Print Size 13x19 inches. HFF.
when someone gives me their full attention--listens with their whole being--i feel buoyed; buoyed by this rare gift. i try to bring genuine presence to all my interactions. nature is my role model. when i'm outside, i feel connected. the natural world is present and awake--it knows no other way to be. nature is an attentive, wise, beautiful teacher.
the wind was strong on nevis. it was a cooling companion and comforting background hum. photography became a practice in patience: notice and wait; breathe with the wind; capture the rare stillness. it was a practice in being and abiding--abiding while pulsing with aliveness.
[13:52, on the ground]
while on nevis, i read stacks of books--novels, non-fiction, and dharma. i encountered this question from a meditation teacher: since death alone is certain and the time of death uncertain, what is most important? that shook me awake. after reflection, i found some answers: kindness, connection, integrity, forgiveness, awareness, and love.
[14:52, on the ground]
i was captivated by the leaves on nevis. whether on the trees or the ground, the leaves are hefty and thick. this particular leaf showed both strength and tenderness, light spilling through its veins. it reminded me that to be brave is to be vulnerable. and that's a beautiful thing.
[15:52, on the ground]
The effects of tropical storm Tomas on small craft in Carlisle Bay, Barbdos, West Indies, Saturday October 30, 2010. The sail boat was eventually thrown on to the beach where it remained partially overturned.
portsmouth, dominica, wi
They drive on the wrong side of the road, from a yank perspective anyway. This rooster was out my window as we parked. Guarding the hill I suppose.
This is part of Dieppe Bay where the Golden Lemon Inn and Villas are located.
The bay got it's name from the Hugenots who arrived here from France in the late 1500's.
The coconut grove on the beach, of which part is visible in this photo, was planted by the present owner, Arthur Leaman.
For more info on this beautiful little get away, click on this link:
“wild geese” by mary oliver:
you do not have to be good.
you do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
you only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
tell me about despair, yours, and i will tell you mine.
meanwhile the world goes on.
meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting—
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
Here's a brief holiday from birds: saw this moth the other night- it looked brown in the night light. However, when I processed the image some more colours emerge. Have no idea what species it is, but makes a good picture!
The large green-blue eyespot on the hind wing of this butterfly was interesting, as well as the blue heart-shaped spots (with yellow borders) on the forewing. I was also fascinated by the thin map-like lines on both wings.
Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center
Westminster, Colorado
SERIES:
New series starting this week. But I thought I would let you take a guess at where I am. Hint: It seems like I've gone back in time a bit. And there are two attractions on this one site. "Choo Choose" your answer carefully....
If you know Barbados (or you've been on my instagram), feel free to comment below with your answers. If you don't know Barbados, see if you can guess what this building is. Good luck!
To all of you, hope you enjoy the weekend and have an awesome week ahead, wherever you are! Let me know what you think!
Catch me also on:
Website: NickyHighlanderPhoto (dot) Com
Twitter: @nhighlanderfoto
Instagram: @nickyhighlander
Camera: NIKON D7200
Lens:Nikon 50mm F1.8 G Auto Focus-S Lens (Prime)
Shutter speed: 0.00025 sec (1/4000)
Aperture: f/1.8
ISO setting: 160
© Nicky Highlander Photography 2019
All Rights Reserved
Clouds and pilot approaching
GTS Celebrity Summit is a Millennium-class cruise ship owned and operated by Celebrity Cruises and as such one of the first cruise ships to be powered by more environmentally friendly gas turbines.
Nikon D810A + 14-24mm f/2.8G | Maunabo, PR, 30 Jul 2017
© 2017 José Francisco Salgado, PhD
Do not use without permission. DSC3228
after 5 weeks unplugged on a quiet carribean island, re-entry is a slow process. i'm trying to stay mindful. gradually, i'll connect again with you all. until then, i send you sunshine and warmth. and much, much love.
This shot of a gorgeous Torch Ginger was taken at the Asa Wright Nature Centre on our first day there, Day 4 of our trip (excluding our day of travel to get from Alberta to Tobago, via Toronto). Before this trip, I had only ever seen and photographed this plant in the Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo. Our very first morning, 16 March 2017, we were taken on a walk along one of the trails, where we were able to see a few interesting species of bird, including two of the three species of beautiful Trogons and the fascinating Bellbird.
"The torch ginger lily (Etlingera elatior) is a showy addition to the tropical landscape, as it is a large plant with a variety of unusual, colorful blooms. Torch ginger flowers may reach 17 to 20 feet in height. The torch ginger flowers may be red, pink or orange — blooming from colorful bracts. White blooms have been reported in some torch ginger plant information, but these are rare. Buds are edible, flavorful and used in Southeast Asian cooking." From the link below.
www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/torch-ginger-li...
"The flowers emerge between the bracts and are red with yellow margin. The bracts are tough and shiny and so perfect the flower looks artificial. Seeds are numerous. The flowers attract butterflies, bees and birds. The flower buds, bracts and seeds are used in Asian cuisine." From myjunglegarden.
myjunglegarden.com/2012/07/etlingera-elatior/#.WO5OT_nytaQ
"Now cultivated throughout the tropics, torch ginger is thought to be native to Indonesia, Malaysia and southern Thailand (via Flora of China), though other sites suggest a native distribution restricted to a few islands in Indonesia. Whatever its origin, widescale planting of Etlingera elatior has made torch ginger the hallmark species of this genus of approximately 70 species. That's a very loose approximation, because researcher Dr. Axel Dalberg Poulsen reports that Borneo alone contains 29 species...." Information taken, with thanks, from the UBC Botany Photo of the Day website for May 31, 2007.
This adventure was only the second holiday (or was it actually my third?) of any kind, anywhere, that I have had in something like 30 or 35 years! The other holiday was a wonderful, one-week trip with my great friends from England, Linda and Tony, when we went down south to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons in September 2012. I have had maybe half a dozen weekends away, including to Waterton National Park, which have helped keep me going.
Six birding/photographer friends and I decided that we would take this exciting trip together (from 12-21 March 2017), spending the first two or three days on the island of Tobago and then the rest of the time at the Asa Wright Nature Centre on the nearby, much larger island of Trinidad. We decided to take a complete package, so everything was included - flights (we were so very lucky to get Black Friday prices, which were 50% off!), accommodation at both places, all our food, and the various walks and day trips that we could chose from. Two of my friends, Anne B. and Brenda, saw to all the planning of flights and accommodations, which was so very much appreciated by the rest of us. I could never have done all this myself!
What a time we had, seeing so many beautiful and interesting things - and, of course, everything was a lifer for me. Some of these friends had visited Costa Rica before, so were familiar with some of the birds. There was a lot more to see on Trinidad, so we were glad that we chose Tobago to visit first and then spend a longer time at Asa Wright. It was wonderful to be right by the sea, though, at the Blue Waters Inn on the island of Tobago. Just gorgeous.
The Asa Wright Nature Centre, on Trinidad, is such an amazing place! We stayed in cabins up or down hill from the main building. Really, one doesn't need to travel away from the Centre for birding, as so many different species visit the Hummingbird feeders that are right by the huge, open veranda, and the trees of the rain forest high up a mountainous road. The drive up and down this narrow, twisting, pot-holed road was an adventure in itself! Never would I ever do this drive myself - we had a guide who drove us everywhere in a van/small bus. I had read many accounts of this road, lol! There was just enough room for two vehicles to squeeze past each other, and the honking of horns was almost continuous - either to warn any vehicle that might be coming fast around the next bend or as a sign that drivers knew each other. The drive along this road, from the coast to Asa Wright, took just over an hour each way.
Even after more than three weeks, I still miss the great food that was provided every single day at Asa Wright and the Rum Punch that appeared each evening. I never drink at all, so I wasn't sure if I would even try the Punch - glad I did, though, as it was delicious and refreshing. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all served buffet-style, with a great variety of dishes from which to choose. To me, pure luxury. So very, very grateful to have been invited to be part of this amazing adventure.
SERIES: BRUCE
I have the chance to share some old work that I was keeping on ice for a bit. A while back, a dear friend (and fellow photographer) asked me about doing a photoshoot for his website and Facebook profile picture. I thought this was a great time to do something a bit different, as well as help out a friend. It's funny but if you had asked me a few years ago about portraiture, I would have been skeptical of my abilities. But there's nothing like jumping into a project with an open mind. Bruce is an avid nature photographer and I wanted to get an image that reflected that for his website.
Bruce and I shifted location from the garden as you might have noticed. We hopped into the car to drive a short distance to a great location. That's the best thing about our friendship....the random adventuring. We ended up, standing in an empty lot which is next to another friend's house. I didn't realise that fact until I saw his dog (Tyson) who I photographed a few years back (Take a peek back in my Flickr shots or my Pet Photography album). Go figure!
This might have been one of my favourite shots of the day. I asked for one more shot at the end of the session. We were going to end off and go explore a nearby lighthouse and then the beach (behind where I stood to take the picture). I think it's his most confident shot. And he was perfectly calm. It's not the one he uses but it's the one I liked best. Plus the golden sunset light was stunning.
We will get through this, you guys. Remember..... breathe.
To read the full article on my photo session with Bruce, you can go here: https://www.nickyhighlanderphoto.com/blog/2020/2/8/portraiture-session-bruce
To all of you, here's to a peaceful weekend, wherever you are! Let me know what you think!
Catch me also on:
Website: NickyHighlanderPhoto (dot) Com
Twitter: @nhighlanderfoto
Instagram: @nickyhighlander
Camera: NIKON D7200
Lens: Nikon 85mm F1.8 G Auto Focus-S Lens (Prime)
Shutter speed: 0.0004 sec (1/2500)
Aperture: f/1.8
ISO setting: 160
© Nicky Highlander Photography 2019
All Rights Reserved
Or is this a White-chested Emerald?
The White-necked Jacobins always seemed to pose nicely, so I ended up with more photos of them than of most of the other Hummingbird species that friends and I saw on the islands of Trinidad & Tobago, in March 2017.
"The white-necked jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) is a large and attractive hummingbird that ranges from Mexico, south to Peru, Bolivia and south Brazil. It is also found on Tobago (sub-species F. m. flabellifera) and in Trinidad (sub-species F. m. mellivora)
Other common names are great jacobin and collared hummingbird.
The white-necked jacobin is a widespread inhabitant of forest, usually being seen at a high perch or just above the canopy. It is less common at lower levels, except near hummingbird feeders.
The approximately 12 cm long male white-necked jacobin is unmistakable with its white belly and tail, a white band on the nape and a dark blue hood. Immature males have less white in the tail and a conspicuous rufous patch in the malar region. Females are highly variable, and may resemble adult or immature males, have green upperparts, white belly, white-scaled green or blue throat, and white-scaled dark blue crissum (the area around the cloaca), or be intermediate between the aforementioned plumages, though retain the white-scaled dark blue crissum. Females are potentially confusing, but the pattern on the crissum is distinctive and not shared by superficially similar species.
These birds usually visit flowers of tall trees and epiphytes for nectar, and also hawk for insects." From Wikipedia.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-necked_jacobin
This adventure was only the second holiday of any kind, anywhere, that I have had in something like 30 or 35 years! The other holiday was a wonderful, one-week trip with my dear friends from England, Linda and Tony, when we went down south to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons in September 2012. I have had maybe half a dozen weekends away, including to Waterton National Park, which have helped keep me going.
Six birding/photographer friends and I decided that we would take this exciting trip together (from 12-21 March 2017), spending the first two or three days on the island of Tobago and then the rest of the time at the Asa Wright Nature Centre on the nearby, much larger island of Trinidad. We decided to take a complete package, so everything was included - accommodation at both places, all our food, and the various walks and day trips that we could choose from. Two of my friends, Anne B. and Brenda, saw to all the planning of flights and accommodations, which was so very much appreciated by the rest of us. I could never have done all this myself! We were so lucky with our flights, as we were just in time to get Black Friday prices, which were 50% off!
What a time we had, seeing so many beautiful and interesting things - and, of course, everything was a lifer for me. Some of these friends had visited Costa Rica before, so were familiar with some of the birds. There was a lot more to see on Trinidad, so we were glad that we chose Tobago to visit first and then spend a longer time at Asa Wright. It was wonderful to be right by the sea, though, at the Blue Waters Inn on the island of Tobago. Just gorgeous.
The Asa Wright Nature Centre, on Trinidad, is such an amazing place! We stayed in cabins up or down hill from the main building. Really, one doesn't need to travel away from the Centre for birding, as so many different species visit the Hummingbird feeders that are right by the huge, open veranda, and the trees of the rain forest high up the mountainous road. The drive up and down this narrow, twisting, pot-holed road was an adventure in itself! Never would I ever do this drive myself - we had a guide who drove us everywhere in a minibus. I had read many accounts of this road, lol! There was enough room for two vehicles to pass each other, and the honking of horns was almost continuous - either to warn any vehicle that might be coming fast around the next bend or as a sign that drivers knew each other. The drive along this road, from the coast to Asa Wright, took just over an hour each way.
I still miss the great food that was provided every single day at Asa Wright and even the Rum Punch that appeared each evening. I never drink at all, so I wasn't sure if I would even try the Punch - glad I did, though, as it was delicious and refreshing. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all served buffet-style, with a great variety of dishes from which to choose. To me, pure luxury. So very, very grateful to have been invited to be part of this amazing adventure.
This is a video that I came across on YouTube, taken by Rigdon Currie and Trish Johnson, at many of the same places we visited on Trinidad and Tobago. Not my video, but it made me feel like I was right there still. Posting the link here again, so that I won't lose it.
I also came across the following 27-minute YouTube video of the flora and fauna of Trinidad, filmed by John Patrick Smith in February 2015.
Back to grabbing a few more photos from my archives. If I wrote a description under a previously posted image taken on the same trip/outing, I will add it under today's photos. These five images were all taken on 20 March 2017, during a trip to Trinidad and Tobago with friends.
"This photo was taken on 20 March 2017, while friends and I were staying for five days at the Asa Wright Nature Centre, on the island of Trinidad. These birds were always around. Spectacular birds when in flight, as the underneath of the tail is brilliant yellow. I love their blue eyes, and being able to see the bird's crest from this angle.
"The crested oropendola also known as the Suriname crested oropendola or the cornbird (Psarocolius decumanus) is a New World tropical icterid bird. It is a resident breeder in lowland South America east of the Andes, from Panama and Colombia south to northern Argentina, as well as on Trinidad and Tobago.
It is a common bird, seen alone or in small flocks foraging in trees for large insects, fruit and some nectar. The male is 46 cm long and weighs 300 g; the smaller female is 37 cm long and weighs 180 g.
The plumage of the crested oropendola has a musty smell due to the oil from the preen gland. Adult males are mainly black with a chestnut rump and a tail which is bright yellow apart from two dark central feathers. There is a long narrow crest which is often difficult to see. The iris is blue and the long bill is whitish. Females are similar but smaller, duller, and crestless.
The crested oropendola inhabits forest edges and clearings. It is a colonial breeder which builds a hanging woven nest, more than 125 cm long, high in a tree." From Wikipedia.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crested_oropendola
This adventure was only the second holiday of any kind, anywhere, that I have had in something like 30 or 35 years! The other holiday was a wonderful, one-week trip with my great friends from England, Linda and Tony, when we went down south to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons in September 2012. I have had maybe half a dozen weekends away, including to Waterton National Park, which have helped keep me going.
Six birding/photographer friends and I decided that we would take this exciting trip together (from 12-21 March 2017), spending the first two or three days on the island of Tobago and then the rest of the time at the Asa Wright Nature Centre on the nearby, much larger island of Trinidad. We decided to take a complete package, so everything was included - accommodation at both places, all our food, and the various walks and day trips that we could choose from. Two of my friends, Anne B. and Brenda, saw to all the planning of flights and accommodations, which was so very much appreciated by the rest of us. I could never have done all this myself! We were so lucky with our flights, as we were just in time to get Black Friday prices, which were 50% off!
What a time we had, seeing so many beautiful and interesting things - and, of course, everything was a lifer for me. Some of these friends had visited Costa Rica before, so were familiar with some of the birds. There was a lot more to see on Trinidad, so we were glad that we chose Tobago to visit first and then spend a longer time at Asa Wright. It was wonderful to be right by the sea, though, at the Blue Waters Inn on the island of Tobago. Just gorgeous.
The Asa Wright Nature Centre, on Trinidad, is such an amazing place! We stayed in cabins up or down hill from the main building. Really, one doesn't need to travel away from the Centre for birding, as so many different species visit the Hummingbird feeders that are right by the huge, open veranda, and the trees of the rain forest high up the mountainous road. The drive up and down this narrow, twisting, pot-holed road was an adventure in itself! Never would I ever do this drive myself - we had a guide who drove us everywhere in a minibus. I had read many accounts of this road, lol! There was enough room for two vehicles to pass each other, and the honking of horns was almost continuous - either to warn any vehicle that might be coming fast around the next bend or as a sign that drivers knew each other. The drive along this road, from the coast to Asa Wright, took just over an hour each way.
I still miss the great food that was provided every single day at Asa Wright and even the Rum Punch that appeared each evening. I never drink at all, so I wasn't sure if I would even try the Punch - glad I did, though, as it was delicious and refreshing. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all served buffet-style, with a great variety of dishes from which to choose. To me, pure luxury. So very, very grateful to have been invited to be part of this amazing adventure.
This is a video that I came across on YouTube, taken by Rigdon Currie and Trish Johnson, at many of the same places we visited on Trinidad and Tobago. Not my video, but it made me feel like I was right there still. Posting the link here again, so that I won't lose it.
I also came across the following 27-minute YouTube video of the flora and fauna of Trinidad, filmed by John Patrick Smith in February 2015.