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#383 on Explore
First place Winter Photographs contest www.flickr.com/groups/myphotographicmemory/
Diamond Of The Week www.flickr.com/groups/goldenworth1000words/
2nd place winner www.flickr.com/groups/806980@N23/
Photo of the week -
www.flickr.com/groups/1236192@N22/discuss/721576228745526...
2nd place THE FOUR SEASONS ~ WINTER CONTEST - www.flickr.com/groups/1216504@N22/
Psalm 103
What's going on?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NXnxTNIWkc
Location, Kastoria, Hellas.
For maximum viewing experience please use the image's original size 1600x1328. Please note that its accurate colour profile is best viewed in google chrome.
**This image is protected by copyright and it is not for use on any site, blog or forum without my explicit written permission.**
...and trees line the unique park of Crathes Castle in Scotland. Have a nice time at Flickr
Akkurat geschnittene Hecken...
..und Bäume säumen den einzigartigen Park vom Crathes Castle in Schottland. Euch eine Schöne Zeit bei Flickr
Or more accurately, gazing at the glorious autumn moon from the vantage point of these peaceful hay fields for me, and howling at it's mystical, spherical beauty for Wolfie. He likes to try to look as ferocious as possible no matter the particulars of the endeavor! But it works for him...look how cute he is!
Missing Melody is a must visit...and revisit SL destination. After scampering around through meadows filled with sunflowers, and walking along a sweetly secluded shoreline, Wolfie and I were getting tired, so we kicked back here in this pretty field where we were surrounded by bales of luscious fresh hay. Hay fields are something that I have vast familiarity with in my real life, so this was a little sliver of RL mixed within the SL realms for me, and it definitely flipped a happy switch to spend time here. We can't wait to return! 💖🍁 🐺
And speaking of happy...Happy Tuesday, everyone! 💕
During sunset, a cloud flew in in an amazing shape (a bird, a dragon, and maybe an angel ...)
A little understanding of the physics of cloud formation underscores the complexity of the atmosphere and sheds light on why predicting weather for more than a few days is such a challenge.
Six types of clouds you can see and how they can help you understand the weather.
1) Cumulus clouds - On a sunny day, rays warm the earth, which heats the air located directly above it. The heated air rises upward due to convection and forms cumulus clouds. These “good weather” clouds are like cotton wool. If you look at the sky filled with cumulus clouds, you can see that they have a flat bottom, located at the same level for all clouds. At this altitude, air rising from ground level cools down to the dew point. It usually doesn't rain from cumulus clouds, which means the weather will be good.
2) Cumulonimbus clouds.
Small cumulus clouds do not rain, but if they grow and grow in height, it is a sign that heavy rain is coming soon. This often happens in summer when morning cumulus clouds turn into cumulonimbus during the day. Cumulonimbus clouds often have a flat top. Air convection occurs inside such a cloud, and it gradually cools until it reaches the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere. At this moment, it loses its buoyancy and can no longer rise higher. Instead, it spreads out to the sides, forming the characteristic anvil shape.
3) Cirrus clouds form in very high layers of the atmosphere. They are smoky because they are composed entirely of ice crystals falling in the atmosphere. When cirrus clouds are carried by winds moving at different speeds, they take on a characteristic curved shape. And only at very high altitudes or at high latitudes, cirrus clouds give out rain that reaches the ground.
4) Stratus Clouds - A low-lying, continuous cloud sheet that covers the sky. Stratus clouds are formed by slowly rising air or gentle winds that cover the cold land or sea surface with moist air. Stratus clouds are thin, therefore, despite the gloomy picture, it is unlikely to rain from them, a little drizzle at most. Stratus clouds are identical to fog, so if you've ever walked in a mountainous area on a foggy day, you've been inside a cloud.
5) Lenticular clouds. Smooth and lenticular lenticular clouds form when air is blown up and over a mountain range, and as it travels over a mountain, the air descends to its previous level. At this time, it heats up and the cloud evaporates. But it can slip further, as a result of which the air rises again and forms another lenticular cloud. This can result in a chain of clouds extending far beyond the mountain range. The interaction of wind with mountains and other surface features is one of the many details that must be taken into account in computer simulations to obtain accurate weather predictions.
6) Kelvin - Helmholtz like a breaking ocean wave. When air masses at different heights move horizontally at different speeds, their state becomes unstable. The boundary between the air masses begins to ripple and form large waves, such clouds are quite rare.
The photo was taken in the city of Konakovo. Russia. On the banks of the Volga River.
...and trees line the unique park of the
Drummond Gardens and Castle in Scotland,
north of Stirling.
Have a nice time with Flickr...
Akkurat geschnittene Hecken...
..und Bäume säumen den einzigartigen Park vom
Drummond Gardens und Castle in Schottland,
nördlich gelegen von Stirling.
Euch eine Schöne Zeit bei Flickr..
Alaska Queen ll - Fishing Vessel
(IMO: 5232907) is a Fishing Vessel that was built in 1943 (78 years ago) . Her length overall (LOA) is 22.34 meters and her width is 6.53 meters.
Currently sailing under the flag of Canada. Formerly also known as MERMAID II. It's gross tonnage is 106 tons.
* Please note, This Information has been taken from online sources and has not been verified to be accurate.
Steveston is an ever so romantic fishing village that is situated in Richmond BC, on the Mighty Fraser River
Canada
Definitely one of British Columbia's best kept secrets.
If you enjoy quaint fishing villages, combined with light and vibrant colours, I am pleased to extend an invitation for you to browse through my.... 'I 💖 Steveston album'
www.flickr.com/photos/120552517@N03/albums/72157677404584764
Thank-you for all the overwhelming support and many friendships. Wishing you all health during this difficult time.
Stay Healthy
~Christie
*Best experienced in full screen
where nothing seems to matter.
Location, Lemnos island, Hellas.
For maximum viewing experience please use the image's original size 1600x1328. Please note that its accurate colour profile is best viewed in google chrome.
**This image is protected by copyright and it is not for use on any site, blog or forum without my explicit written permission.**
. . . like lovers do. It's a nice spot even if we were cheated out of a true sunset view last evening. The clouds look threatening, but we trusted the weather forecast: No rain. (And the forecast was accurate, too.) This is the point at the north end of Bamberg's central island (known here as Erba Island). It's where the canal (to the right) and the river (on the left) come together. Sort of a romantic spot. Or at least a nice place to relax in the evening, which is what numerous people do. I thought of the Eurythmics song (Here Comes the Rain Again, 1984) when I saw the couple in this image. [DSC04409_lr_2000]
In Explore 14 May 2022 (#60)
Thank you all for the clicks, comments & faves.
Gannet - Morus Bassanus
Bempton Cliffs
The gannets are large white birds with yellowish heads; black-tipped wings; and long bills. Northern gannets are the largest seabirds in the North Atlantic, having a wingspan of up to 2 metres (6.6 ft). The other two species occur in the temperate seas around southern Africa, southern Australia and New Zealand.
Gannets hunt fish by diving into the sea from a height and pursuing their prey underwater. Gannets have a number of adaptations which enable them to do this:
no external nostrils, they are located inside the mouth instead;
air sacs in the face and chest under the skin which act like bubble wrapping, cushioning the impact with the water;
positioning of the eyes far enough forward on the face for binocular vision, allowing them to judge distances accurately.
Gannets can dive from a height of 30 metres (98 ft), achieving speeds of 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) as they strike the water, enabling them to catch fish much deeper than most airborne birds.
The gannet's supposed capacity for eating large quantities of fish has led to gannet becoming a description of somebody with a voracious appetite.
Gannets are colonial breeders on islands and coasts, normally laying one chalky, blue egg. Gannets lack brood patches and they use their webbed feet to warm the eggs. It takes five years for gannets to reach maturity. First-year birds are completely black, and subsequent sub-adult plumages show increasing amounts of white.
The most important nesting ground for northern gannets is the United Kingdom with about two thirds of the world's population. These live mainly in Scotland, including the Shetland Isles. The rest of the world's population is divided between Canada, Ireland, Faroe Islands and Iceland, with small numbers in France (they are often seen in the Bay of Biscay), the Channel Islands, Norway and a single colony in Germany on Heligoland. The biggest northern gannet colony is on Scotland's Bass Rock; in 2014, this colony contained some 75,000 pairs. Sulasgeir off the coast of the Isle of Lewis, St. Kilda, Grassholm in Pembrokeshire, Bempton Cliffs in the East Riding of Yorkshire, Sceilig Bheag, Ireland and Bonaventure Island, Quebec are also important northern gannet breeding sites.
Young gannets were historically used as a food source, a tradition still practised in Ness, Scotland, where they are called guga. Like examples of continued traditional whale harvesting, the modern day hunting of gannet chicks results in great controversies as to whether it should continue to be afforded exemption from the ordinary protection afforded to sea birds in UK and EU law". The Ness hunt is currently limited to 2,000 chicks per year, and dates back at least to the Iron Age. The hunt is considered to be sustainable, as between 1902 and 2003 Gannet numbers in Scotland increased dramatically from 30,000 to 180,000.
Population:
UK breeding:
220,000 nests
(or more accurately, close to the crest?) This Ruby-crowned Kinglet was lured in by our misting sprinkler a week ago or so. He does a great job of keeping his assets under wraps-- there is only a hint here of what he's got hidden away, and frankly it's more than I've been able to get an image of in the past. I've always wondered why on earth they were called 'ruby-crowned'... stay tuned for more! Glendale, Missouri
Emerald Damselfly :-
Damselflies are very difficult to ID accurately so we have made a best guess on their names to the best of our ability, we are happy to be corrected by anyone with more knowledge. (Gordon & Maureen)
Damselflies are insects in the sub-order Zygoptera (meaning "paired-wings"). All four wings are near enough equal in size and shape. They are usually small, weakly flying insects that stay close to the water margins or water surface. When at rest, most species hold their wings along the length of their abdomen. The Emerald Damselflies are an exception and usually hold their wings partly open when at rest. They are therefore known as Spreadwings in North America. The eyes are always separated, never touching. The larvae have external plates (lamellae) at the end of the abdomen, which act as accessory gills.
In Great Britain and Ireland there are about 20 species that may be encountered and a few that are now extinct. These species fall into 4 families and 9 genera. A partial taxonomic "tree" for the damselflies is shown below.
(Courtesy of the British Dragonfly Society website)
This clock is located in the Jardin Angais near Lake Geneva. Its a real clock and keeps accurate time, besides being one of the largest flower clocks in the world.
A closed potato flower, or more accurately a not yet opened one. This bud is about 5mm in size
Thanks for stopping
Canadian Shore is an aluminum vessel suited for any trip or adventure in the Pacific Northwest. Whether on the inside passage in BC or the fjords of Alaska, Canadian Shore is highly functional with efficient and reliable equipment.
Shore Boat Builders, built this John Brandlmayr designed vessel in 1989 and in 2002 it was extended and converted to the unique vessel it is. The vessel has well appointed interiors, full navigation systems, is even capable of changing it’s draft.
Info. is from online sources and not verified accurate.
An accurate astronomical observatory.
Like other platforms on the island, including the lone moai of the Ahu Huri a Urenga, the Ahu Akivi was built following a precise astronomical orientation. In this way they controlled the change of seasons and the most appropriate times for agricultural tasks.
In Akivi the axis of the platform was oriented from north to south, getting the faces of the moai look exactly at the point where the sun sets during the equinox of the austral spring (September 21st) and their backs face the sun of the dawn during the autumn equinox (March 21st).
***
The best time to visit and take pictures is at sunset, which is when the setting sun illuminates the seven statues and highlights their features.
***
The legend of the seven explorers:
In the recent literature on Akivi, the seven statues of the platform are related with the seven young people who were sent to explore the island before its first colonization by King Hotu Matu’a.
A legend says that Hau Maka, the priest of Hotu Matu’a had a dream in which his soul flew across the ocean when he sighted the island. Next, he sent seven explorers sailing through the sea to locate the island, study its conditions and the best area to disembark.
Although the idea that the legend was remembered in stone is attractive, it seems that it can not be true. The moai statues belong to a quite late sculptural period, after the year 1440 AD and historians consider the hypothesis that the first settlers arrived on the island towards the fifth century, so they rule out a possible relationship between both facts.
The restoration that boosted Rapa Nui:
Ahu Akivi was the first ahu to be restored after a small group of islanders, at the request of Thor Heyerdahl, erected the statue of the Ahu Ature Huki on the beach of Anakena in 1956. As a member of that Norwegian expedition was the American anthropologist William Mulloy, who from then on would devote a large part of his life to studying the mysteries of Easter Island.
The reconstruction work in Ahu Akivi began in March 1960 and continued until October of that year. William Mulloy and his Chilean colleague Gonzalo Figueroa worked with an archeologic team of 25 Rapanui people in various phases of excavation and reconstruction. This was the first serious archaeological excavation and the first complete restoration of a ceremonial site in Rapa Nui.
The works were done with hardly any material means, they only used wooden poles, stones and a pair of oxen. But with perseverance, ingenuity and effort they achieved their goal. To raise and place the first moai, they used a stone ramp and two large wooden levers. This operation took a month. However, after perfecting the technique and with the experience gained, it took less than a week to raise the seventh statue.
When the work was finished, Father Sebastian Englert himself gave the blessing at a very emotional opening ceremony. After 150 years the islanders could observe again several moai standing on an ahu.
The restoration of Ahu Akivi is considered a turning point in Rapa Nui. From that moment, other works of restoration of more platforms began. The Ahu Akivi was followed by the ahu of Hanga Kio’e, Tahai, Anakena and Tongariki. The ancient platforms regained their former glory and the small and remote Easter Island attracted the attention of other researchers and travelers. And what is more important, it unleashed a true cultural renaissance, an economic development and a renewed sense of pride in being Rapanui.
Good evening everyone and just wanting to say that this series will be of 3 images to attest to the ability of the camera to follow focus, much faster and more accurate than I can ever be.
Have a wonderful evening everyone, thank you also for visiting and commenting and also very much appreciated.
The Aqueduct of Segovia (or more accurately, the aqueduct bridge) is a Roman aqueduct in Segovia, Spain. It is one of the best-preserved elevated Roman aqueducts and the foremost symbol of Segovia, as evidenced by its presence on the city's coat of arms. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqueduct_of_Segovia
The Salish called the great mountain Tahoma, or Mother of Waters, which is pretty darn accurate IMHO. On clear days it towers over Washington's third largest city that bares a derivative of the same name, Tacoma. The view from here is spectacular, more so when you start learning the names of the ridges and peaks and realize where you've stood. For reference, check out the pick in comments taken from Spray Park and note Echo Rock prominently to the left and then spot it to the left here. Pretty darn awesome. :-)
......Bread catching Gulls! HWW!
Happy Wing Wednesday :-)
They were great fun to watch and photograph as they swooped and bumped into each other while all diving for the piece of bread thrown into the air by my husband. ..... thank you hubby, always there to help me!! We only stayed at the reservoir for about an hour before the sun started it's decent and the temp dropped quickly! Brrrrrr and we made a sharp exit back to the car for a cup of our hot milky flasked coffee.....Mmmmm!
Belated seasons greetings to you all! Wishing you all a healthy and very happy 2017! xx
The forest is located near the rainiest location on the earth and thus "rain forest" is a most accurate description. It is not far from the border with Bangladesh. This was a sacred forest for the Khasi people and it abounds with relics and stones that were religious symbols in the past. Death is the curse placed upon anyone who removes anything from this forest. Since it is very wet, many different species of fungi are growing profusely.
So, a couple of years ago some bod thought it would be a good idea to confuse us by declaring the Grass snake we get here in Blighty as a new (more accurately, renamed species) the BBC then declared it to be two different species... One you get in central and Eastern Europe, Natrix natrix and Natrix helvetic - The Barred Grass snake. So it's now got a country cousin named after a Swiss font... Great.
Half the time I spent trying to work that out could have been better spent eating cake...
But we do get Natrix natrix here too, I find it bloomin' hard to tell them apart, because of the lack of definitive information on the subject, the fact that some sources say the barred doesn't have a yellow collar and some do, some say the barred's collar is incomplete with a gap at the top, some say natrix natrix doesn't have bars, some do,.... bla bla bla... Well, I often see all these things rolled into one snake, bars, a bright yellow collar with a gap, and a duller more grey overall appearance, (not associated with sloughing). Anyway... I bet they interbreed, so we probably have loads of hybrids. :@)
Better read this... www.thebhs.org/publications/the-herpetological-bulletin/i...
Wailua River State Park consists mainly of the lush Wailua River Valley and the Wailua River, which is the only navigable river in Hawaii. Visitors can take boat tours to see the rainforest.
I took 3 photos on a tripod and blended them together in Lightroom to produce the panorama which accurately depicts the view of the Wailua River valley complete with many kayakers, and a traditional Hawaiian village can just be made out to the bottom right.
In retrospect I would have loved to have had more time in Kauai and would have liked to return to this scene around sunset or sunrise.
World's first steam powered clock
The insides of this clock is where the magic begins....
Raymond Saunders' first steam clock was built in 1977 to solve the issue of a steam vent in a popular sidewalk for the renovated Gastown district of Vancouver. Owned by the City of Vancouver, BC Canada
In memory of Raymond Saunders who sadly passed away - November 24, 2024
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/gastown-steam-clo...
The steam clock's plaque reads:
THE GASTOWN STEAM CLOCK
Designed and built by
Raymond L. Saunders
Horologist
The world's first steam powered clock has been created for the enjoyment of everyone. The live steam winds the weights and blows the whistles. Every 4.5 minutes one steel weight will travel by steam power to the top of the clock. The gravity driven "falling ball" drive was 'engineered' by Douglas L. Smith. Each quarter hour the clock will sound the Westminster Chimes. The large whistle will sound once on the hour. The steam is supplied by the underground system of Central Heat Distributor's Limited. The component parts cost $42,000 and the clock weighs over two tons.
A few years ago the clock was refit and is not entirely steam powered. It also has three small electric motors to help operate two internal fans, one of which blows the steam out the top, and another that controls the valves that play the tunes on the five steam whistles mounted atop the clock case.
The large central whistle, which was taken off the CPR steam tug Naramata, counts off the full hours while the four auxiliary whistles chime the Westminster Quarters every quarter hour. The number of chimes matches the number of quarter hours that have passed.
Gastown is the original settlement that became the core of the creation of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Currently, it is a national historic site and a neighbourhood in the northwest end of Downtown Eastside, adjacent to Downtown Vancouver.
Wikipedia and various other online sites.
*Please note : Information has not been verified accurate
Best experienced in full screen.
Thanks so much for comments and visits
~Christie
OWO! someone asked for an accurate Arcane Jinx
here she is and she is mega expressive!
i made the shape with the though to be compatible with the face animations of the lelutka hud n-n aesthecally too!
comes with eyebrow shape and 3 different shapes for bodies
n-n enjoyyy <3
get it here!! stylecard included
marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Jinx-shape-Lelutka-Gaia/2319...
I try and give accurate information about the images I post but the complexity of the Sukhothai Historical Park rather defeated me. There are such a multitude of temple ruins it was hard to know when one began and ended. I think these Chedi are part of the Wat Mahathat they will be from the Fourteenth Century before Thailand existed as a state
Sukhothai Historical Park covers the ruins of Sukhothai, literally 'dawn of happiness', capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom in the 13th and 14th centuries, in north central Thailand. It is near the new city of Sukhothai,The city's walls form a rectangle about 1.2 square miles There are 193 ruins within the old city, including the remains of the royal palace and twenty-six temples, the largest being Wat Mahathat. It is a UNESCO it a World Heritage Site. Originally, Sukhothai was a Khmer empire's outpost named Sukhodaya. During the reign of Khmer Empire, the Khmers built some monuments there, several of them survived in Sukhothai Historical Park such as the Ta Pha Daeng shrine, Wat Phra Phai Luang, and Wat Sisawai.
THANKS FOR YOUR VISIT TO MY STREAM.
I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD NOT FAVE A PHOTO
WITHOUT ALSO LEAVING A COMMENT
Or more accurately, the aftermath of someone else's tea by the Windrush River. The loud, strong sound of rushing water made me bold enough to wander through and finally behind a little cafe in the town of Bourton on the Water, as I figured based on the sound that the river must change direction there. I was right. Once there, I was smitten with the leftover tea dishes, the sun-washed retaining wall by the river, and the industrial building just beyond.
Listening to Josh Rouse's "Some Days I'm Golden All Night": youtu.be/7XseJZc1cZ4
The yellow section, far right was actually bluish, as was the dark area at the top. I haven't learned how to capture true color in such a situation with my iPhone. The rose-y color shown here is pretty true to life--it was an amazing sky, however brief.
Maybe this should more accurately be labeled white and gold, but that doesn't sound as good as silver and gold, so I went with the latter.
Exploring the historically accurate pergola in Queen Eleanor's Garden at Winchester Castle, Hampshire.
The gardens are an authentic recreation of a medieval garden in the times of Henry III (Eleanor's husband) and Edward I (her son). The arbour is a tunnelled pergola, with flowers, grapevines and honeysuckle.
2-shot HDR, taken with a Nikon D7000 and a Nikkor AFS DX 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6G lens, blended in Photomatix, and processed in GIMP and Photoscape.
Go on guess :)
This was another experiment, or more accurately a double experiment, for my 2022 100x Wobbly Camera project.
It’s a panning ICM of fast-flowing water in a stream that feeds the old sheep wash in the village. The interesting thing about the water flow in channels and tubes is that it is not all at the same speed (it’s slower at the edges though that’s perhaps obvious), so if you take a panning ICM you only get it right for a section of the water flow. In this case, it was the centre white bit.
The result was a curious mixture of detail and blur. The water movement was from right to left in the published image (which was flipped horizontally to get a better story visually).
The second experiment was to develop it in Darktable. This is the only premier league raw converter that is free. It’s hugely capable (more so than the big three others: Lightroom (= Adobe Camera Raw); DxO’s Photolab, and Capture One). But it’s also much less intuitive to use than the others… which is perhaps an understatement. Great fun to try though and full of different possibilities :)
Thank you for taking the time to look. I hope you enjoy the image. Happy 100x :)
It's cold here in London, so damn cold. I haven't been out with a camera for what seems like ages. I have good intentions but every morning I look outside at the frost and it doesn't take long for the motivation to completely desert me. Maybe tomorrow...
Meanwhile here's one I prepared earlier. Last summer to be accurate, taken on a little jewel of a 35mm film camera that is just a joy to shoot with.
35mm film photography
Olympus OM2n camera
Olympus Zuiko 50mm f/1.8
Agfa Vista 200 film (expired 2015)
I have to admit that I am unsure how accurate my title is. This was growing at the pond's edge at my local park, so I am assuming it is a willow, as willow seem to love water.
I have been having a great time shooting new growth on trees, having never really looked that close before all that much.
This is a small focus stack. One of the challenges of macro shooting and especially focus stacking is that your subject needs to be still, and there was a slight breeze so I looked for growth down low and tried to block the breeze the best I could.
Normally I only upload 1600 px images when it comes to vertical shots, but went with my maximum 2048 px so that details could be their best in magnified view.
My Friday night was spent setting up my scope and targeting the Andromeda Galaxy. It is the furthest object visible to the naked eye as it lies relatively close to us at only ~2.5 million light years from Earth.
Equipment:
SkyWatcher EQ6-R
Nikkor 500mm f/4 P AI-S at f/5.6
Sony a7RIII (unmodified)
ZWO 30mm Guide scope
GPCAM2 Mono Camera
Acquisition:
Taos, NM: my front yard - Bortle 3
36 x 210" for 2 hours, 6 min, and 30 sec exposure time.
5 dark frames
15 flats frames
15 bias frames
Guided
Software:
SharpCap
PHD2
DeepSkyStacker
Photoshop
Lightroom
My Sony a7RIII and adapted Nikkor 500mm f/4 P AI-S were mounted on an ADM vixen rail and secured to the SkyWatcher EQ6-R mount. I polar aligned my mount using SharpCap Pro. The guide scope/camera was attached to the camera's hot shoe. I used PHD2 to autogude during the imaging session. DeepSkyStacker was used to combine all frames, and then I processed the TIFF file in Photoshop. I stretched the 32-bit file using Levels. I then made it a 16-bit file and continued to stretch the file in levels and curves. I used the color sampler tool and levels to do my best to help keep colors accurate. I then used my skillset, including some dodging & burning, and relied on Astronomy Tools Action Set and Topaz Denoise to give the image a polished look. I brought it into Lightroom to do final color corrections and add EXIF data.
When I started birdwatching, and long before I started photographing them, I used to keep a field note book. Sketching birds was a great way of learning as you had to note exactly what the feather patterns were. It might sound daft but try drawing a Blue Tit from memory and see how accurate you are. I remember trying to sketch the flight pattern of the first few Great Grey Shrikes that I saw and it was frustratingly difficult as flight views are invariably brief. How far does the wing patch extend? What is the pattern of white and black in the tail? Does it have white rump and shoulders? A photograph like this is exactly what I needed to answer all of these questions. And just look at that beautiful fan-shaped tail with graduated feathers with the white reducing to a tiny spot in the central feathers.
As a style of bird photography I prefer smaller bird images that show it in the context of its environment. But they never seem to get much attention as they look uninteresting when viewed on a mobile. I liked the way the overgrown hedgerow sweeps away in the background and the grass adds a splash of colour, yet the striking plumage of the Great Grey Shrike still jumps out, even though it is small.
Great Grey Shrike has always been a scarce winter visitor to Britain, but it has become much rarer, with recent winters only producing about 10 birds. In fact, BirdGuides only currently lists two wintering Great Grey Shrikes, though a cluster of records in Hampshire may refer to more than one bird. The decline in the winter population here may be due to birds remaining in Fennoscandia in milder winters, but it may also be linked to a decline in the breeding population across Europe. This first-winter male bird has over-wintered on some farmland in Lincolnshire.
An Actual "Bald" Eagle. Bald eagles are not actually bald; the name derives from an older meaning of the word, "white headed". Some wish to change the name to a more accurate American Eagle, Its range almost exactly encompasses the extent of North America — Alaska, Canada, and the Lower 48. This is a uniquely American species.
Or more accurately, rocks that look a lot like dinosaur bones. Although carnivorous dinosaurs thrived on the Australian mainland up to about 100 million years ago, there was a large rift valley (now covered by the sea) between it and Tasmania. This prevented the dinosaurs from migrating south. However, there are fossilised bones of a large reptilian crocodile-like creature (about 250 million years old) that have been found on the island. This goes back to a period before the dinosaurs as we know it evolved.
Looking back at a time when Tasmania's ancient reptiles and dinosaurs packed a bite
www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-10/ancient-tasmanian-reptiles...
Or more accurately a metal fish being filled with plastic...we saw quite a few of these.
www.portugalresident.com/manta-rota-beach-unveils-giant-f...
"A giant fish-shaped wire sculpture, which aims to raise awareness about beach littering, has been unveiled at Manta Rota beach in Vila Real de Santo António.
The structure was donated to the local council by sculptor Carlos do Oliveira Correia."
I did try to find more information on sculpture behind, but they might be fancy night lighting rather than a sculpture.