Okay, it's not actually within our backyard, but it's just beyond it. The yard behind our house borders a large park that is just being developed. The park was recently seeded, and the straw was put down as mulch. I took this shot while standing on our backyard deck. I think these Sandhill Cranes must have been eating the grass seed.

I know that there's not a lot going on in this image. But I rather like the repetitive poses of the birds, and I thought it was kind of cool that I could get this shot without leaving home, so I decided to go with it. The abundance of Sandhill Cranes in the area near our new home in Michigan has been one of the pleasant surprises of living here.

The Mute swan actually gets its name from the fact that its is less vocal than other swan species and is one of the heaviest flying birds. A male swan is known as a Cob while the female is known as a Pen and has a lifespan of around 12 years in the wild and can reach 30 years if in an protected environment. One of three species of wild swans to be found in the UK and is the national bird of Denmark. The Mute Swan is unique in making a vibrant throbbing sound with the wings when in flight. A large group of swans can be called , school, ballet and regatta. No swan has ever broken any ones arm, this is a actually a complete myth.

The Mute swan actually gets its name from the fact that its is less vocal than other swan species and is one of the heaviest flying birds. A male swan is known as a Cob while the female is known as a Pen and has a lifespan of around 12 years in the wild and can reach 30 years if in an protected environment. One of three species of wild swans to be found in the UK and is the national bird of Denmark. The Mute Swan is unique in making a vibrant throbbing sound with the wings when in flight. A large group of swans can be called a school, ballet and regatta. No swan has ever broken any ones arm, this is a actually a complete myth.

This thing is actually the roof of a "light well" or "skylight" that provides daylight to the mezzanine level of the U-Bahn station "Harthof", located at the southern end of that station.

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

The Mute swan actually gets its name from the fact that its is less vocal than other swan species and is one of the heaviest flying birds. A male swan is known as a Cob while the female is known as a Pen and has a lifespan of around 12 years in the wild and can reach 30 years if in an protected environment. One of three species of wild swans to be found in the UK and is the national bird of Denmark. The Mute Swan is unique in making a vibrant throbbing sound with the wings when in flight. A large group of swans can be called, school, ballet and regatta. No swan has ever broken anyone's arm, this is a actually a complete myth.

Jay - Garrulus Glandarius

Although they are the most colourful members of the crow family, jays are actually quite difficult to see. They are shy woodland birds, rarely moving far from cover. The screaming call usually lets you know a jay is nearby and it is usually given when a bird is on the move, so watch for a bird flying between the trees with its distinctive flash of white on the rump. Jays are famous for their acorn feeding habits and in the autumn you may see them burying acorns for retrieving later in the winter.

The word jay has an archaic meaning in American slang meaning a person who chatters impertinently.

The term jaywalking was coined in 1915 to label persons crossing a busy street carelessly and becoming a traffic hazard. The term began to imply recklessness or impertinent behavior as the convention became established.

In January 2014, Canadian author Robert Joseph Greene embarked on a lobbying campaign among ornithologists in Europe and North America to get Merriam-Websters Dictionary to have a "Jabber of Jays" as an official term under bird groups.

Population:

UK breeding:

170,000 territories

A quick snap shot through the undergrowth at the Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I was actually following a hawk that kept moving away from me.

Actually not. This is a Douglas C-47 Skytrain mounted above the roof terrace of the Deutsches Technikmuseum (German Museum of Technology).

This particular C-47 was delivered to the USAF in 1945 and was initially used by the weather service based on Jamaica.

From 1962 to 1977 it was used by the Spanish Air Force, in 1986 it went back to the USAF, who displayed it on Tempelhof Airport to remember the Berlin Air Lift.

In 1994 it was handed over to the Deutsches Technikmuseum.

Click here for a different perspective.

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

Actually, we have like a spring time just before Christmas, the weather is behaving strangely ...

I don't know what the snow looks like in reality :)

I wish you all a wonderful White Christmas time !

Not the tree actually, but the parasitic birds in the tree, Brown-headed Cowbirds. The dark-colored birds in the picture are the males, light-colored ones are females. More specifically, they are "brood parasites", laying an egg in another bird's nest, leaving the care and feeding of the hatchling to the host bird.

The cowbird eggs often hatch faster than the host bird's, and displace the other hatchlings. One would think that the host bird would recognize that it was feeding a different species in its nest, but I witnessed a Northern Cardinal nesting in my backyard, feeding a cowbird, the only hatchling to survive in the nest. (shown in first picture in the comments below)

LOL actually he was picking his nails but a sunday morning giggle is always nice! Photographed at Port Lympne, UK. Home to some incredible wild animals and some incredible photography experiences.

This is actually my friend Wanna Not but this is one of my "starter pics" for this series.

Random Faces Series on the blog

Be on the lookout... you could be next!!

As I made it up Doddick Fell's initial steep grassy slope onto the bottom of its broad ridge I was blessed with a very brief burst of sunshine. As I crested the slope I was gobsmacked to see a complete rainbow - below me, I stood transfixed for a moment before fumbling for the camera safely stowed from the rain in my coat. Thankfully I got off a couple of shots before the sun and rainbow disappeared from sight.

The sky line (top left) is Hall's Fell ridge which scores a bulls-eye on Blencathra's summit (actually Hall's Fell Top).

Actually, if you look closer, there are two trees.

Actually, the plant was already dried, but our good care and enough water help sometimes miracles

<3H - BINARYHEARTS

<3H - BINARYHEARTS - StoneCat

[Eternus]

Eleanor dress

Compatible with:- Maitreya+Petite- Legacy+Perky- Kupra Original+Kups

Heartsdale Jewellery

[HJ] Mangalsutra Collection

all info in the blog

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Actually, I wanted to visit a good friend up there in the region to spend a few nice holidays.

It was hell on earth...

A total of 45,412 hectares have been practically turned to ashes… Why! 😔

Dadia-Lefkimi-Souflion-Nationalpark.

Thanks for your Views Faves and Comments, have all a Nice Weekend. 🌞✌

Actually these are the new shoots from springtime.

Actually it marked the fish for this Tricolored Heron.

Actually it's in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon but I couldn't help but think of that great water storage that kept so many invaders outside the walls of Constantinople. You can see it in that great movie Topkapi

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Antiquorum/159/139/22

We actually got a good day today, and a nice sunset tonight. I found a nice spot with loads of swans but just wanted the one in it. Have you ever tried to control the movement of swans.....no....well dont.

Actually Saturday was Sundae!

Happy Ice cream what ever day it is!! :))

This was actually taken a couple of weeks ago during a snow storm as I scurried around the valley floor trying to get as many shots as possible before the storm broke up. I was fortunate enough to set up my tripod at the tunnel that morning at 6 AM next to Willie Huang and Aaron Meyers among several others.

More snow covered Yosemite photos and my top 10 tips for shooting Yosemite in the snow may be found at:

The Resonant Landscape: Tips On Shooting Yosemite In The Snow

I will definitely be missing the snowstorm that's moving in today at Yosemite with a snow level down to almost 2000 feet tonight as I will be with my wonderful family. I wish safe travels to all who are out there tonight, and a very Merry Christmas to all of you!

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I actually worked on this image last year on my return from NZ/Canada. This shot was taken on a wet day re-tracing my steps to my primary school. The tree ferns were all along the pathway and they sheltered me from the rain. I have added the water to this image - i wasn't wading through it!

Posted for Sliders Sunday

Actually, I wanted to photograph dew-wetted insects, but at this time of day it doesn't work out so well. At least the lavender is still glittering a little (probably it hadn't moved enough yet as it was fixed with the spider's thread). Happy weekend everybody ☀️

Olympus E-M1 Mark II + Olympus 60mm F2.8 Macro

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to watch or leave a comment or award :)

All my photos are © All Rights Reserved. The pictures are for viewing, not to be downloaded and shared on any other site or for personal use without my explicit permission. And definitely do not post ads in my photos!!! Thank you! :)

- Living Jewels of Nature 14, Precious Living Jewels of Nature 12, Members Choice 11

- Nature's Carousel 10, Nature's Golden Carousel 10, Nature's Platinum CArousel 13

I actually have a title in mind for this one, but the theme for this week's Looking Close on Friday group is "Title Wanted."

So have at it. :-)

Also for Our Daily Challenge: "In A Box"

HLCoF

Addendum: Thanks to Ben Edge for the title!

Spotted on a walk through Sarasota's Selby Gardens, this fellow oversees his own pond. I'm guessing he's from Central America, but am completely open to being corrected on that.

EDIT See below for a more accurate attribution.

Actually not a jungle, but the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

A zoo on the Gold Coast. Queensland, Australia.

This will be the last of the Tempe Town Lake Bridge Daylight Series for me.

This particular bridge is the Union Pacific steel truss bridge It was built in 1912 and is still being used today.

There is a park on the left of the lake where people frequent. Its actually pretty amazing that none were in this shot :)

Actually it was a little warm on this late summer evening by the river ... but the cool tones of blue hour were quite soothing. A pretty place to sit and enjoy the sounds of the flowing river ... and nothing else.

Actually, this is before it rained (again!) today. I had just refilled the birdbath when I saw this bedraggled dandelion seed head. It isn't the prettiest specimen but it sure held the water drops nicely. Steve said it looks like a wet poodle, lol! : )

Ok, it's not what you think...

Ok... it is actually what you are thinking! 😅

We were spending the afternoon at home chit-chatting about nonsense as usual and listening to very good music when Adam's belly growled, unhappy bear style, I mean, it literally screamed and scared me. We didn't see the time pass, the man was HUNGRY! And I knew the minutes were counted before hungry turned into hangry...

So I jumped on the phone, dialed the delivery place and started to happily order when my gaze met his and he was shaking his hands, trying to gesture something...

it was either " more more more, and a burger, a very big one" or he was attempting to mimic that very strange dance that he does when he has 5 Rums in his system...

God knows!

So I listened to the man and ordered us a freaking feast!

All was good, the mood uplifted until, while putting it all on the table, we realized there was only one portion of french fries and not two...

Then the chaos started and all I could remember was this crazy one screaming at the top of his lungs :

" DON'T TOUCH MY FOOD WOMAN! "

I don't recall it all after that, I just know that he got the fries and didn't share them at all, not even one... 😭

----

This is another crazy collab with Adam

I prepared the scene, poses, and shot it and he edited the picture as flawlessly as usual!

Thank you so much for this my dear ✨

♫ Old school mood !

This Was Actually Taken Spotted One Late Evening After Taken Laurel Home ... Mother And I Both Saw It ... Mother Said " It Will Be Beautiful When The Sun Is Hitting It" She Was Right ..

The Next Day I Came And Got the Pic ... I Do Think It Was One Of The Prettiest Trees In All Of Roane County ..

Not Much Of A Story .. But Proved To Be A Swell Shot .. And Not Sweltering ...

Right Now In My Neck Of The Woods... We Are Rejoicing For the Rain ... We Are Getting Hard Rains - ( Much Needed At That ) ... The Mountains Are On Fire.. All Around Us ..

God Shows Up, And Off, Just In The Nick Of Time ..

.

HAVE A TREE MENDOUSLY WONDERFUL TUESDAY ... Cindy

Actually our storks should have migrated south by now, but an increasing number of them decide to stay here during the winter. Right now lots of meadows are flooded and they seem to find enough food.

Actually there is a nice pile of rusty junk out front and on the porch. Anyone need a wheel barrow? I think someone ran into the left side of this house with a lawn tractor. HWW

Actually, lemon blossom buds.

I had promised myself that I would not post any flower shots on Flickr until spring, but due to a variety of reasons, I have not taken a single photograph during the whole year so far (all 8 days). So here are some more flowers from last year. Atleast, it's not a rose.

well... actually this one is in Las Vegas... :-)

haven't done an hdr in a long time, so I thought, it may be fun...

thank you, my dear Flickr friends, for all your comments, favs and invites! you guys are the BEST!!

DO ENJOY ON BLACK!! :-) "L"

please visit my web site or Facebook

29:52 Collaboration - It doesn't matter what you shoot - anything you like. But you will send your unedited image to another person in the group to do the processing.

This beautiful image was sent to me by Judi www.flickr.com/photos/28992287@N03/

This was quite an intimidating challenge actually... I so hope you like my edit Judi.

Link to original www.flickr.com/gp/jennilou101/f5134G

I actually wanted to go to sleep, but then the light from outside shone very brightly. I could not resist and took my camera, but since our balcony is currently somewhat crowded, I had no place for the tripod. So this is a freehand capture.

ⓒRebecca Bugge, All Rights Reserved

Do not use without permission.

View of the centre of the Belgian town of Ypres. Actually the town is in the Flemish speaking part of Belgium and there the name is Ieper - but the French name of the town were made quite (in)famous during the First World War.

The view here includes the Cloth hall (Lakenhalle van Ieper or Les Halles aux draps d'Ypres) originally built in the 13th century and St Martin's cathedral (Sint-Maartenskathedraal or Cathédrale Saint-Martin) begun in the same century, to be finished in 1370. Both these building were more or less completely destroyed in the First World War and the buildings you see now are (very well done) copies of the originals (the cathedral built in the 1920s and the Cloth hall 1930s-60s).

This is a pic for my new website so I'm sharing it on here

Harajuku Top & Skirt by DeadDollz

KOHAKU Hair by ARGRACE

Pose by Le Poppycock

Pic was taken @ Whimberly

Actually its Snowhill Manor.

I actually photographed this fence for the first time in April 2010 for one of my first ever Fence Fridays. See that picture here.

Happy Fence Friday! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. :)

This curved line in the foreground is actually a mushrooms.

www.youtube.com/channel/UC0BQ0qjA8W5z59rwlfi6Rjg

As always, thank you so much for your visits, comments and faves!

Do not use this image on any media, without my permission!

actually this is only

of a 2p peice, tiny

Actually the blue hour lasts a very long time at this latitude in June

Actually the fluffy white turned out to be feathers, probably of a night heron, so the young owl was telling the truth😄.

Actually, I do not want to have people in this picture. But this place is a place for everyone to do it, and this man is still sitting quietly. That's a long shutter. The photo was taken, he was sitting still.

The feeling may be similar to this song.

youtu.be/6X2Nvx--k1U

I love how this turned out. I used a texture in the background by Skeletal mess. The sparkly bokeh on the flower is straight out of the camera. I love it.