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Kingfisher - Alcedo Atthis
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The common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) also known as the Eurasian kingfisher, and river kingfisher, is a small kingfisher with seven subspecies recognized within its wide distribution across Eurasia and North Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter.
This sparrow-sized bird has the typical short-tailed, large-headed kingfisher profile; it has blue upperparts, orange underparts and a long bill. It feeds mainly on fish, caught by diving, and has special visual adaptations to enable it to see prey under water. The glossy white eggs are laid in a nest at the end of a burrow in a riverbank.
The female is identical in appearance to the male except that her lower mandible is orange-red with a black tip. The juvenile is similar to the adult, but with duller and greener upperparts and paler underparts. Its bill is black, and the legs are also initially black. Feathers are moulted gradually between July and November with the main flight feathers taking 90–100 days to moult and regrow. Some that moult late may suspend their moult during cold winter weather.
The flight of the kingfisher is fast, direct and usually low over water. The short rounded wings whirr rapidly, and a bird flying away shows an electric-blue "flash" down its back.
The common kingfisher is widely distributed over Europe, Asia, and North Africa, mainly south of 60°N. It is a common breeding species over much of its vast Eurasian range, but in North Africa it is mainly a winter visitor, although it is a scarce breeding resident in coastal Morocco and Tunisia. In temperate regions, this kingfisher inhabits clear, slow-flowing streams and rivers, and lakes with well-vegetated banks. It frequents scrubs and bushes with overhanging branches close to shallow open water in which it hunts. In winter it is more coastal, often feeding in estuaries or harbours and along rocky seashores. Tropical populations are found by slow-flowing rivers, in mangrove creeks and in swamps.
Like all kingfishers, the common kingfisher is highly territorial; since it must eat around 60% of its body weight each day, it is essential to have control of a suitable stretch of river. It is solitary for most of the year, roosting alone in heavy cover. If another kingfisher enters its territory, both birds display from perches, and fights may occur, in which a bird will grab the other's beak and try to hold it under water. Pairs form in the autumn but each bird retains a separate territory, generally at least 1 km (0.62 mi) long, but up to 3.5 km (2.2 mi) and territories are not merged until the spring.
Very few birds live longer than one breeding season. The oldest bird on record was 21 years.
They are also listed as a Schedule 1 species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act offering them additional protection.
Population:
UK breeding:
3,800-6,400 pairs
The Queen of Spring is also the Queen of legends
La pivoine chez les Grecs
Dans leur culture, la pivoine est bien plus qu’une jolie fleur des beaux jours, elle est d’abord considérée comme une plante médicinale. Cette faculté a par ailleurs nourri un mythe grec, où se mêlent colère des dieux et guérison. Son nom d’après les rumeurs, lui viendrait du médecin Péon, disciple d’Asclépios, dieu de la médecine. Ce dernier aurait trouvé un remède à la douleur des femmes durant leur accouchement. Son maître jaloux de son talent, se dit que finalement, il mériterait bien de mourir celui-ci. Fort heureusement pour Péon et pour nous, Zeus proposa une punition moins dramatique et changea le jeune médecin en la fleur qu’il avait découverte : une pivoine. Aussi réputée pour ses couleurs vives, ses teintes et nuances ont également inspiré une légende qui continue d’exister dans notre monde moderne, à travers l’expression : “rougir comme une pivoine”.
L’histoire parle ici de la nymphe Péone, qui comme la plupart des naïades était d’une incroyable beauté. Courtisée par tous les dieux, elle eut la mauvaise idée d’en faire un peu trop et d’enfreindre le code divin de la pudeur. Un faux pas, provoquant l’indignation des tout-puissants, qui décidèrent alors de la changer en une fleur extraordinaire : une pivoine. Quant à son erreur de jugement, pour l’inscrire à jamais dans l’histoire, ils donnèrent à ses pétales la couleur de la honte, le rouge. D’où l’expression…
La pivoine au pays du Soleil Levant
L’ Asie regorge de mythes et légendes, qui nous en apprennent un peu plus sur notre fleur préférée. La première, raconte en partie pourquoi le printemps est la saison favorite des pivoines. En Chine durant la dynastie Tang, un jour de grand froid d’hiver, l’impératrice Wu Zetian après avoir bu un peu trop de vin, exigea des fleurs de son jardin qu’elles fleurissent pendant la nuit, pour la satisfaire au petit matin. Le calendrier des fleurs était apparemment le cadet de ses soucis...
Son nom signifiant “celle qui discipline le ciel”, cette dernière était persuadée qu’aucune variété fleurie n'oserait lui désobéir. Le lendemain, seule la pivoine avait décidé de n’en faire qu’à sa tête et d’attendre le printemps. La reine de la saison apparaît alors pour la première fois, comme une fleur au caractère bien trempé. Folle de rage, l’impératrice exila toutes les pivoines du pays à Luoyang, où finalement, elles s’épanouirent fièrement, donnant lieu à un merveilleux spectacle fleuri. La ville est depuis la capitale de la pivoine, et organise chaque année un festival qui lui est dédié.
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The peony among the Greeks
In their culture, the peony is much more than a pretty flower for sunny days, it is first and foremost considered a medicinal plant. This faculty also nourished a Greek myth, where anger of the gods and healing mingle. Its name, according to rumors, comes from the doctor Péon, disciple of Asclepius, god of medicine. The latter would have found a remedy for the pain of women during childbirth. His master, jealous of his talent, said to himself that in the end, he deserved to die this one. Fortunately for Peon and for us, Zeus proposed a less dramatic punishment and changed the young doctor into the flower he had discovered: a peony. Also famous for its bright colors, its shades and shades have also inspired a legend that continues to exist in our modern world, through the expression: “blush like a peony”.
The story here is about the nymph Péone, who like most naiads was incredibly beautiful. Courted by all the gods, she had the bad idea to do a little too much and break the divine code of modesty. A false step, provoking the indignation of the all-powerful, who then decided to change it into an extraordinary flower: a peony. As for its error of judgment, to inscribe it forever in history, they gave its petals the color of shame, red. Hence the term...
Peony in the Land of the Rising Sun
Asia is full of myths and legends, which teach us a little more about our favorite flower. The first, partly tells why spring is the favorite season for peonies. In China during the Tang Dynasty, on a very cold winter day, Empress Wu Zetian after drinking a little too much wine, demanded flowers from her garden to bloom during the night, to satisfy her in the early morning. . The flower calendar was apparently the least of his worries...
Her name meaning "she who disciplines the sky", the latter was convinced that no flowering variety would dare to disobey her. The next day, only the peony had decided to do as it pleased and to wait for spring. The queen of the season then appears for the first time, like a flower with a strong character. Mad with rage, the Empress exiled all the peonies in the country to Luoyang, where they finally blossomed proudly, giving rise to a marvelous flowery spectacle. The city has since been the capital of the peony, and organizes a festival dedicated to it every year.
Also called Bibliothèque de François Mitterrand as this was one of the iconic architectural projects of this french president.
São Vicente (Portuguese for "Saint Vincent"), also Son Visent or Son Sent in Cape Verdean Creole, is one of the Barlavento islands of Cape Verde off the west African coast..
The island, of volcanic origin, is fairly flat. Its highest point is Monte Verde (green mountain), located in the northeast-central part with an altitude of 725 metres (2,379 feet).
Mount Hehuan, also called Joy Mountain, is a 3,416-metre-high (11,207 ft) mountain in Central Taiwan. The peak lies on the borders of Nantou and Hualien counties and is located within Taroko National Park. Hehuanshan is a popular destination in central Taiwan. The 3,421-metre east peak and 3,422-metre north peak of Hehuanshan are both higher than the main peak. Mount Hehuan is part of the Central Mountain Range.
Kingfisher - Alcedo Atthis
The common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) also known as the Eurasian kingfisher, and river kingfisher, is a small kingfisher with seven subspecies recognized within its wide distribution across Eurasia and North Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter.
This sparrow-sized bird has the typical short-tailed, large-headed kingfisher profile; it has blue upperparts, orange underparts and a long bill. It feeds mainly on fish, caught by diving, and has special visual adaptations to enable it to see prey under water. The glossy white eggs are laid in a nest at the end of a burrow in a riverbank.
The female is identical in appearance to the male except that her lower mandible is orange-red with a black tip. The juvenile is similar to the adult, but with duller and greener upperparts and paler underparts. Its bill is black, and the legs are also initially black. Feathers are moulted gradually between July and November with the main flight feathers taking 90–100 days to moult and regrow. Some that moult late may suspend their moult during cold winter weather.
The flight of the kingfisher is fast, direct and usually low over water. The short rounded wings whirr rapidly, and a bird flying away shows an electric-blue "flash" down its back.
The common kingfisher is widely distributed over Europe, Asia, and North Africa, mainly south of 60°N. It is a common breeding species over much of its vast Eurasian range, but in North Africa it is mainly a winter visitor, although it is a scarce breeding resident in coastal Morocco and Tunisia. In temperate regions, this kingfisher inhabits clear, slow-flowing streams and rivers, and lakes with well-vegetated banks. It frequents scrubs and bushes with overhanging branches close to shallow open water in which it hunts. In winter it is more coastal, often feeding in estuaries or harbours and along rocky seashores. Tropical populations are found by slow-flowing rivers, in mangrove creeks and in swamps.
Like all kingfishers, the common kingfisher is highly territorial; since it must eat around 60% of its body weight each day, it is essential to have control of a suitable stretch of river. It is solitary for most of the year, roosting alone in heavy cover. If another kingfisher enters its territory, both birds display from perches, and fights may occur, in which a bird will grab the other's beak and try to hold it under water. Pairs form in the autumn but each bird retains a separate territory, generally at least 1 km (0.62 mi) long, but up to 3.5 km (2.2 mi) and territories are not merged until the spring.
Very few birds live longer than one breeding season. The oldest bird on record was 21 years.
They are also listed as a Schedule 1 species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act offering them additional protection.
Population:
UK breeding:
3,800-6,400 pairs
Protea is both the botanical name and the English common name of a genus of South African flowering plants, sometimes also called sugarbushes or fynbos. The family is Proteaceae. In local tradition, the protea flower represents change and hope. The extraordinary richness and diversity of species characteristic of the Cape flora are thought to be caused in part by the diverse landscape, where populations can become isolated from each other and in time develop into separate species. The main vectors responsible for the transfer of pollen in protea cultivation are birds, insects, and wind. Some Protea species exhibit both self-pollination and cross-pollination as a method of reproduction. Cross-pollination is preferred, though, as a method of reproduction because it provides genetic diversity in the population. When cultivating proteas, breeders use hand pollination as a controlled method to transfer pollen from one flower to another. Proteas usually flower during spring. The general structure of their flower heads consists of a mass of flowers on a woody receptacle. The ovary is protected by the receptacle, thus is not seen when looking at the flower, but the anthers are present at the top of the flower, which can then easily transfer the pollen to the vectors. 11113
Amaiur, Valle del Baztán, Navarra, España.
Amaiur/Maya es un lugar de la Comunidad Foral de Navarra (España), situado en el valle del Baztán, en la Merindad de Pamplona y a 65 kilómetros de Pamplona.
Ya en el siglo XII aparece con el nombre de Amaiur, como una de las "tenencias" o distritos nobiliarios del reino de Navarra.
Fue villa en 1665 cuando se segregó del Baztán hasta su nueva agregación al mismo en 1969.
En lo alto de su monte Gaztelu, se encontraba el Castillo de Maya en donde se produjo una de las últimas resistencias de los navarros a la Conquista de Navarra. En el lugar del castillo hay un monolito en recuerdo a estos. En julio de 2007 se inauguró, además, el Monumento al Resistente Desconocido, impulsado por el ayuntamiento del valle, que se encuentra en el pueblo, al pie del monte.
Amaiur/Maya is a place in the Comunidad Foral de Navarra (Spain), located in the Baztán valley, in the Merindad de Pamplona and 65 kilometers from Pamplona.
Already in the twelfth century it appears under the name of Amaiur, as one of the "holdings" or noble districts of the kingdom of Navarre.
It was a town in 1665 when it was segregated from Baztán until its new addition to it in 1969.
At the top of its mount Gaztelu, was the Castle of Maya where one of the last resistances of the Navarrese to the Conquest of Navarre took place. In the place of the castle there is a monolith in memory of these. In July 2007, the Monument to the Unknown Resistance was also inaugurated, promoted by the valley council, which is located in the town, at the foot of the mountain.
Also know as, vermillionaire, firecracker or cigar plant. At least the deer have been leaving it alone so it is frowing back.
Lowell Township, Michigan
also called Long-tailed Bushtit
aegithalos caudatus
staartmees
orite à longue queue
Schwanzmeise
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Hiking the trail in the Lost Forty forest. Funny (and rather ironic) thing is, is that I did get lost for a short time while I was hiking the Lost Forty trail.
This section of forest lies within the Chippewa National Forest near Bigfork, Minnesota. A Minnesota DNR Scientific and Natural Area, the 32 acre Lost Forty SNA, is also part of this beautiful site.
Due to a surveying error back in 1882, this 144 acre section was never logged. As a result, there are numerous 300-400 year old magnificent old-growth red and white pines in this special place.
The sight of these incredible trees isn't the only thing you experience here. The smell of this forest is unique. The sound is also unique. The breeze blowing through the crowns of these old pines make this piece of the north woods sing a totally different tune than most other sections of forest up here. You have to experience it to understand what I am saying.
For more information about the Lost Forty, go to the Chippewa National Forest's Lost Forty Website or the Minnesota DNR's Lost Forty SNA Website.
"The Syndics," also known as "The Sampling Officials," is a renowned painting created by the Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn in 1662. It is an exceptional example of group portraiture from the Dutch Golden Age, depicting five men gathered around a table, engaged in their duties as syndics (officers) of the Amsterdam Drapers' Guild.
The painting is notable for its meticulous attention to detail and Rembrandt's skillful use of light and shadow. The figures are positioned in a semi-circle around the table, with their faces illuminated by a strong light source from the left. This dramatic lighting technique creates a sense of depth and dimensionality, drawing the viewer's attention to the individual expressions and gestures of the syndics.
Each syndic is portrayed with distinctive characteristics, capturing their roles and personalities within the guild. Rembrandt expertly renders their varied facial features, clothing, and accessories, demonstrating his mastery in capturing human likeness and conveying individuality. The syndics are shown examining fabric samples, which symbolize their responsibility for regulating quality and standards within the textile industry.
"The Syndics" is regarded as one of Rembrandt's most celebrated works and is highly regarded for its technical brilliance and psychological depth. The painting exemplifies his ability to infuse ordinary subjects with dignity and introspection, elevating them beyond mere representation. It also reflects the artist's deep understanding of human nature, emphasizing the individuality and humanity of each syndic.
Today, "The Syndics" is housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it continues to captivate visitors with its remarkable craftsmanship and profound insight into the human condition. It stands as a testament to Rembrandt's enduring legacy as one of the greatest painters in Western art history.
Also celebrating Day Of The Dead!
Blog Post
sllorinovo.blogspot.com/2016/11/its-my-rl-birthday-so-i-h...
The barasingha, also called swamp deer, is a deer species distributed in the Indian subcontinent. Populations in northern and central India are fragmented, and two isolated populations occur in southwestern Nepal. It has been extirpated in Pakistan and Bangladesh, and its presence is uncertain in Bhutan.
The swamp deer differs from all other Indian deer species in that the antlers carry more than three tines. Because of this distinctive character it is designated bārah-singgā, meaning "twelve-horned" in Hindustani. Mature stags usually have 10 to 14 tines, and some have been known to have up to 20.
In Assamese, barasingha is called dolhorina; dol meaning swamp. (Wikipedia)
Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India. March 2016.
Morning glory (also written as morning-glory) is the common name for over 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae. Most morning glory flowers unravel into full bloom in the early morning. The flowers usually start to fade a few hours before the petals start showing visible curling. They prefer full solar exposure throughout the day, and mesic soils. Because of their fast growth, twining habit, attractive flowers, and tolerance for poor, dry soils, some morning glories are excellent vines for creating summer shade on building walls when trellised. It was first known in China for its medicinal uses, due to the laxative properties of its seeds. 34712
The Shard, also referred to as the Shard of Glass, Shard London Bridge and formerly London Bridge Tower, is a 95-storey skyscraper in Southwark, London
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The canals of Bruges can also be enjoyed on foot by walking through their docks, crossing their bridges and enjoying their views. You can also enjoy the "flea market" in the Dijver canal, where you will find authentic relics.
But a less touristy area is the area of the great canal surrounding the old town of Bruges. If we take a map of Bruges, we will see that the historic centre is a large oval-shaped area surrounded by a wide canal with dense vegetation on its banks. This canal is currently located where the former city walls (which no longer exist) stood.
This canal has many spacious green areas with few visitors, where there are normally no tourist boats. You will get here views of Bruges that are very different form the typical ones. Even to the northeast of the historic centre, on the banks of this canal, you can see four wooden windmills, so traditional at the time in this region.
The wide wingspan also sometime makes them look like a flying airplane ✈️ … do you see the similarity in this picture? ️ comments down below…
#PhotoOfTheDay #BirdWatching #YourShotPhotographer #BirdsOfPrey #BestPhotos #Discoverwildlife #animal #earthfocus #earth #birdingphotography #birdpics #bird_captures #osprey #ospreyphotography #animalphotography #natgeo #nature #wildlife #Discovery #naturelovers #photography #ukwildlifeimages #uk_wildlife_images
Common Kingfisher, also called Eurasian Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
ijsvogel
martin-pêcheur d'Europe
Eisvogel
Martín Pescador Común
Martin pescatore
guarda-rios
Nikon Z9 400mm f/3.2 1/4000
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Fons Buts©2026
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Also known as Rüppell's Griffon Vulture, this species was given an IUCN status of critically endangered in 2015. Only eight years prior, in 2007, its IUCN status was "near threatened", and it was subsequently degraded down through "vulnerable" and "endangered" to its current status. The BirdLife International Fact Sheet for this species estimates that there are only 22,000 individuals left in the world. The biggests threats are poisoning (a technique used to kill predators of livestock, this species and other carrion feeders are also impacted), medicinal purposes, and habitat loss. This species is also considered the highest flying bird in the world. There is documented collision with a commercial airliner at 37,000 feet (the bird was sucked into the engine, killing the bird; the engine was shut down and the plane landed safely).
Also, the view from the little mountain behind the house is very beautiful and far reaching. They would have seen people coming from a long way off.
The area is centered on the main valley of Wadi Rum. The highest elevation in Jordan is Jabal Umm ad Dami at 1,840 m (6,040 ft) high (SRTM data states 1854 m), located 30 kilometres south of Wadi Rum village. It was first located by Difallah Ateeg, a Zalabia Bedouin from Rum. On a clear day, it is possible to see the Red Sea and the Saudi border from the top.
Jabal Ram or Jebel Rum (1,734 metres (5,689 ft) above sea level) is the second highest peak in Jordan and the highest peak in the central Rum, rising directly above Rum valley, opposite Jebel um Ishrin, which is possibly one metre lower.
Khaz'ali Canyon in Wadi Rum is the site of petroglyphs etched into the cave walls depicting humans and antelopes dating back to the Thamudic times. The village of Wadi Rum itself consists of several hundred Bedouin inhabitants with their goat-hair tents and concrete houses and also their four-wheel vehicles, one school for boys and one for girls, a few shops, and the headquarters of the Desert Patrol.
Recently, Geoff Lawton has achieved success in establishing a permaculture ecosystem in Wadi Rum.
Although guess who is back? I hope y'all doing well during I was away. Since I was very absence for almost 3 months due to Covid-19. Now I feel a little bit better when I am back, but only a limited period of time this month. I just finally moved to new town in real life. I am starting to look for a job. Also, I'd like to say that I am so happy to see my family and friends on Second Life after I moved out rl. And I enjoyed seeing your amazing pictures on Flickr. Keep it up, all my dear friends. :)
also called Common Oystercatcher, European Oystercatcher or simply Oystercatcher
haematopus ostralegus
scholekster
huîtrier pie
Austernfischer
Ostrero Euroasiático
Beccaccia di mare
Ostraceiro
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened
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My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.
Historical country house also to be opened to the public
As of 1 September, the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam will be using the historical country house, Trompenburg, as an extra location. Trompenburg, which is close to Hilversum, was built after 1677 by Admiral Cornelis Tromp (1621-1691), the son of the legendary Admiral Maarten Harpertsz Tromp. The residence, that was built to resemble a ship, will be open for use by the Rijksmuseum from 1 April to 1 October for holding lectures, small conferences and small-scale exhibitions. In addition, Trompenburg will also be opened to the public a few times each year.
A monument for the Tromp family
Throughout the years, Trompenburg House has been a home to different families, and has been in the care of the Government Buildings Agency as a monument since 1938. Cornelis Tromp, who was the commander-in-chief of the Dutch and Danish fleet, built Trompenburg as a monument for himself and his ancestors, his father in particular. The Tromp family's glory is the theme of the dome hall - which can be seen as the maritime answer to the Oranjezaal, the central chamber in Huis ten Bosch Palace. The dome hall contains the portraits of father and son Tromp and both their wives, portraits of the ships and the naval battles.
Decoration and exhibitions
Trompenburg will not be used for large exhibitions, as the country residence is too small. However, the Rijksmuseum is considering whether the house could be decorated with art works on a limited scale. Where possible, any art work that is selected will be in keeping with the themes of life on a 17th Century country estate and the maritime history of the period of 1630 and 1690.
Due to the limited capacity of Trompenburg House, the exhibitions as well as the lectures and conferences will all be small-scale. The house will be opened to the public once a month during the April-October season (six times in total). A steward will reside at Trompenburg House.
James’s Flamingo, also called the puna flamingo, is native to the Andes and the Altiplano area. Although they seem plentiful on the shores of Colorada, they are in fact very rare. During the mid-1950s, scientists had all but written them off as extinct, until a pack was found roaming South America. Today their habitat is continually threatened, and they are classified as a endangered species.
Bari Light, also known as Punta San Cataldo di Bari Lighthouse, is an active lighthouse placed at the base of Molo San Cataldo, on the west side of the harbour of Bari on the Adriatic Sea, in the southern region of Apulia, Italy.
Another for flighty Flyday! Very common in farming areas. Adults are mainly carnivorous, catching smaller insects, but they also eat nectar. As their name suggests, they lays their eggs mainly on cowpatties. Five image handheld stack.
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Common Starling also called European Starting
sturnus vulgaris
spreeuw
Etourneau sansonnet
Star
estornino pinto`
storno comune
estorninho-malhado
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My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.
Fall 2015...week 3, photo # 2...Peaks of Otter, Blue Ridge Parkway, Va
This one was also taken at the Peaks of Otter. The Fall colors are slowly coming to life. The view from this walkway is always a favorite, with Sharp Top prominent in the background. This time, Sharp Top was completed obscured by fog. But the walkway still provided a good opportunity for a creative view. Love the Peaks!
Pyrostegia venusta, also commonly known as flamevine or orange trumpetvine, is a plant species of the genus Pyrostegia of the family Bignoniaceae originally endemic to Brazil, but now a well-known garden species.
It is an evergreen, vigorously-growing climber, capable of reaching 5 m in height. The foliage is made up of opposite, pinnate leaves with two or three, 4 to 8 cm leaflets,, and a 3-branched tendril, which all arise together from the end of the leaf petiole. The orange flowers, which appear from winter to spring, are 5 to 9 cm long and densely clustered. They are pollinated by hummingbirds. The fruits are smooth, 3 cm long brown capsules. 38723
Also known as Redwood Sorrel. These are very tiny - only about an inch across. I love seeing the woodlands come to life in the Spring!
Autumn, also known as Fall in American English and Canadian English, is one of the four temperate seasons. Outside the tropics, autumn marks the transition from summer to winter, in September (Northern Hemisphere) or March (Southern Hemisphere). Autumn is the season when the duration of daylight becomes noticeably shorter and the temperature cools considerably. Day length decreases and night length increases as the season progresses until the Winter Solstice in December (Northern Hemisphere) and June (Southern Hemisphere). One of its main features in temperate climates is the striking change in colour for the leaves of deciduous trees as they prepare to shed.
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Alien Worlds Challenge - February 2018
Sponsoring Groups of this Challenge : Worlds Of Thrylium
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Thanks indeed everyone for your personal comments and also your support from selected groups.
Awards are encouraging and especially from those that add my work to their 'faves'.
Cheerz G
Also known as the Pink- Checked Cattleheart, Mylotes Cattleheart, and the True Cattleheart. Found from central and south America.
The Indian pangolin, thick-tailed pangolin, or scaly anteater (Manis crassicaudata) is a pangolin found on the Indian subcontinent. It is not common anywhere in its range. Like other pangolins, it has large, overlapping scales on its body which act as armour. It can also curl itself into a ball as self-defence against predators such as the tiger. The colour of its scales varies depending on the colour of the earth in its surroundings.
It is an insectivore, feeding on ants and termites, digging them out of mounds and logs using its long claws, which are as long as its fore limbs. It is nocturnal and rests in deep burrows during the day.
The Indian pangolin is threatened by hunting for its meat and for various body parts used in traditional medicine.
The Indian pangolin is a solitary, shy, slow-moving, nocturnal mammal. It is about 84–122 centimetres (33–48 in) long from head to tail, the tail usually being 33–47 cm long, and weighs 10–16 kg. Females are generally smaller than the males and have one pair of mammae. The pangolin possesses a cone-shaped head with small, dark eyes, and a long muzzle with a nose pad similar in color, or darker than, its pinkish-brown skin. It has powerful limbs, tipped with sharp, clawed digits. It is an almost exclusive insectivore and principally subsists on ants and termites, which it catches with a specially adapted long, sticky tongue.The pangolin has no teeth, but has strong stomach muscles to aid in digestion. The most noticeable characteristic of the pangolin is its massive, scaled armour, which covers its upper face and its whole body with the exception of the belly and the inside of the legs. These protective scales are rigid and made of keratin. It has 160–200 scales in total, about 40–46% of which are located on the tail. Scales can be 6.5–7 cm long, 8.5 cm wide, and weigh 7–10 grams. The skin and scales make up about one-fourth to one-third of the total body mass of this species.
The Indian pangolin has been recorded from various forest types, including Sri Lankan rainforest and plains to middle hill levels. The animal can be found in grasslands and secondary forests, and is well adapted to desert regions as it is believed to have a tolerance to dry areas, but prefers more barren, hilly regions. This pangolin species may also sometimes reach high elevations, and has been sighted in Sri Lanka at 1100 meters and in the Nilgiri mountains in India at 2300 meters. It prefers soft and semi-sandy soil conditions suitable for digging burrows.
Pangolin burrows fall into one of two categories: feeding and living burrows. Feeding burrows are smaller than living burrows (though their sizes vary depending on the abundance of prey) and are created more frequently during the spring, when there is a greater availability of prey. Living burrows are wider, deeper, and more circular, and are occupied for a longer time than feeding burrows, as they are mainly used to sleep and rest during the day. After a few months, the pangolin abandons the burrow and digs a new one close to a food source. However, it is not uncommon for the pangolin to shift back to an old burrow.
Unlike its African counterpart, the Indian pangolin does not climb trees, but it does value the presence of trees, herbs, and shrubs in its habitat because it is easier to dig burrows around them. Features that promote an abundance of ants and termites (grasses, bare grounds, bases of trees, shrubs, roots, leaf litter, fallen logs and elephant feces) are often present in pangolin habitats.
Few details are known about the breeding behaviour of the Indian pangolin. During the animal's mating period, females and males may share the same burrow and show some diurnal activities. Males have testes in a fold of the skin located in their groin areas. The female's embryo develops in one of the uterine horns. The gestation period lasts 65–70 days; the placenta is diffuse and not deciduate. Usually, a single young is born, but twins have been reported in this species. The young weigh 235–400 g at birth and measure roughly 30 cm. The newborn animals have open eyes, and soft scales with protruding hairs between them. The mother pangolin carries her young on her tail. When the mother and young are disturbed, the young pangolin is held against its mother's belly and protected by the mother's tail.
Früh morgens am See, da kann es ganz mystisch werden wenn statt die Sonne gleichezeitig auch Nebel aufkommt.
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Early in the morning at the lake, it can be quite mystical when instead of the sun also evokes mist at the same time.
Thank you for all your Likes and comments, I am always very happy.