But a Christmas Eve snow

A day early this year...

___________

Even though we remain hovering right at the freezing point, early this morning big, fluffy, and wet snowflakes began to fall, continuing even now and providing a beautiful, fresh white accent to the landscape...the northwoods' annual celebration of the season. This shot, as with so many others over the years, taken from my deck.

[This is also the time of year at which I get confused as to whom I've wished Season's Greetings and to whom I have not. Forgive me if I repeat myself and, in the spirit of the holidays, be patient with an old man, accepting good wishes however often they may be repeated. It's the thought, not the memory, that counts. ;-))]

For Macro Mondays # Just white paper

Bought 500 sheets of white paper ... tried tearing, piling, lighting from different sides, almost burned my house down trying to capture the edges burning in flames ...

Then i just took a small shred, wrapped it around my finger waiting for inspiration ... and suddenly i discovered how beautiful this torn shred looked against one of my placemats.

Gullfoss

City park, Karlovac, Croatia

Eurasian Nuthatch, sometimes called Wood Nuthatch or simply Nuthatch

sitta europaea

boomklever

sittelle torchepot

Kleiber

Trepador Azul

Picchio muratore

Trepadeira-azul

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2023

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

Patagonia, Chile

Vanellus chilensis

Chileense kievit

Vanneau téro

Bronzekiebitz

Avefría Tero / Queltehue / Tero común

Pavoncella del Sudamerica

Quero-quero

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2023

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

This owl had been staring intently at the ground off and on for a period of time but never actually left its perch.

20230102 4867

I'm home for the weekend, but took this New Year day when I stopped by the house to grab a few things. The parking lot is where I stop when I have a trailer and only staying for a few hours. It's only a couple of miles from the house. Kmart was here, but closed a few months ago. Anyway, I was leaving but wanted to get a picture of the mountains and clouds, I noticed a father with his kids playing with a radio controlled car, this being one of the few places nearby with a little dry pavement, and competently empty... well, except for the big semi and trailer.

while I was taking images of a Snipe this one begged for some attention ..

also called Eurasian Moorhen or just Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus

waterhoen

Gallinule poule-d'eau ou Poule-d'eau

Teichhuhn

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2021

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

Surrounded by nothing but turquoise lagoon which melts into sapphire blue, the Maldives island of Anantara Kihavah and its pure white sands rise up out of the ocean like a mirage.

For centuries, this was where Arab traders sailing to the Far East took shelter; a lush paradise blessed by coconut, papaya and mango trees. Navigating archipelago to archipelago by the stars, the seafarers were also drawn by the riches of the ocean surrounding the island – where a prehistoric volcano sank back into the depths, leaving blooming corals within a house reef and a wealth of lagoon fish.

Wishing to keep the pristine nature of the island intact, not one tree has been moved – as evidenced by the villas growing up around them. The design pays homage to the seafarers of old, fusing Indian Ocean, Arab and Portuguese motifs with indigenous materials.

... but it was just a paper bag

My Jam

Skylark - Alauda Arvensis

Skylarks are characteristic of semi-natural grassland systems from sand dunes through heathland to marginal upland, but are most common in arable farmland, making use of the nesting cover and bare ground for feeding that crops themselves provide throughout the year. Males are highly territorial, using long song flights at high altitude to broadcast to rivals and potential mates because the open landscapes they prefer are devoid of high perches. The stamina required to sustain long song flights has led to song flight length being used as an “honest signal” of male quality by females, allowing male Skylarks to advertise themselves without bright plumage, so they have kept the cryptic, brown and streaked coloration that affords them protection from predators on the ground.

Although migratory in much of northern Europe, British breeding Skylarks are believed not to move far between seasons, although upland birds move to lower latitudes. They can then often begin to breed in March and continue into July, making up to three breeding attempts. In winter, they mostly use crop stubble and fallow fields, in which they forage for weed seed and spilled grain, often in large flocks. Throughout the year, the Skylark’s heritage as a steppe species is apparent in its avoidance of vertical structures, which restricts the suitability of farmland with a high density of hedgerows.

Thanks to all who take the time to Comment/fav etc, it is always Appreciated.

Esteros del Ibera / Ibera Wetlands,

Corrientes, Argentina

Rupornis magnirostris ( no longer placed in the genus Buteo )

wegbuizerd

Buse à gros bec

Wegebussard

Busardo Caminero / Taguató

Poiana delle strade

gavião-carijó

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2022

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

Iguazu , Misiones, Argentina

also called Gilded Sapphire

Hylocharis chrysura

gouden saffierkolibrie

Saphir à queue d'or

Goldsaphirkolibri

Zafiro Bronceado / Picaflor bronceado

Zaffiro dorato

Beija-flor-dourado

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2022

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

Manning Gorge, The Kimberley's, Western Australia.

A long hot walk to reach this oasis, but so worth the effort. The water was so cold it was hard to stay in long...although it didn't seem to bother the European backpackers, which you can just make out at the base of the falls.

These falls were far more substantial than they appear in this image.

also called Eurasian Kingfisher

alcedo atthis

ijsvogel

martin-pêcheur d'Europe

Eisvogel

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2022

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

female Common Kingfisher also called Eurasian Kingfisher

Alcedo atthis

ijsvogel

martin-pêcheur d'Europe

Eisvogel

Martín Pescador Común

Martin pescatore

guarda-rios

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2023

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

…But in My Dreams, I have Ocean Front Property : )

It was a lovely morning to put my toes in the sand; I left before the crowds arrived ; )

(Nikon, 30mm, 1.6 sec @ f/22, ISO 100)

But never too late for me! Robin in Kensington Gardens

today at the Baltic Sea -

Durch den steifen Ostwind vom Wasser her war es doch noch sehr kalt heute an der sonnigen Ostsee.

a pair of Wattled Lapwings nesting on rocks in the Kafue River were very nervous as there was an African Harrier-Hawk (Gymnogene) scanning the area.

One of their 2 chicks went immediately into hiding but this one wanted to stay on top of the rock

Taken from small boat in Kafue NP, Zambia

also called African Wattled Lapwing

vanellus senegallus

lelkievit

vanneau du Sénégal

Senegalkiebitz

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. ButsFons©2018

Please do not use my photos on websites, blogs or in any other media without my explicit permission.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZf_8_0bAGg

garrulus glandarius

gaai of Vlaamse gaai

geai des chênes

Eichelhäher

Nikon D850 with Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF + TC 1,4 III

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2021

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

Looking a little bit tacky here but this Robin is over two years old now which is a good age for a Robin. Always hanging around in the same area in one of my nature reserves I often go to visit. Ever since I first spotted this as a juvenile there has always been a dark patch below the right eye that is still there to this day. My little friend here has become very tame and always so very photogenic and hopefully will be around a bit longer yet. In the 1400's when the Robin was named the colour orange had not been classified and this is why we say that the Robin has a red breast and not orange. America has an eagle so it's about time the UK had the Robin as its national bird !!!!!!

female Puma in Torres del Paine, Patagonia, Chile

puma concolor

poema

Puma

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2022

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

taken yesterday in a forest. i had hoped to see a Brambling among the Chaffinches but there was hardly any activity because of the stormy weather

also called Common Chaffinch

fringilla coelebs

vink

pinson des arbres

Buchfink

Nikon Z7 with Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2021

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

** I enjoyed seeing a lot of flamingoes in flight over the bird reserve at Pont du Gau.

The Camargue was a super place to watch birds though in September it is the Greater Flamingoes that steal the show. They were there is very large numbers . I did not take a tripod so this and all the other birds shots were using the camera hand held. It could be sharper I know but I am fairly happy with it

THANKS FOR YOUR VISIT TO MY STREAM.

I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD NOT FAVE A PHOTO

WITHOUT ALSO LEAVING A COMMENT .

taken yesterday

rallus aquaticus

waterral

râle d'eau

Wasserralle

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2022

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

FAMILIAR SPECIES, but still in heavy decline, familiar because of its affinity for human habitations, found in small groups, can become remarkably tame. A constant source of entertainment on the trees and feeders around the cottage!

CRAZY MILD WEATHER ! look at the buds on its perch in December !

++++++++++++++++++++++++

THANK YOU for your visit, and kind comments , much appreciated indeed. Enjoy the weekend my dear friends, Stay safe, God bless .................Tomx

Hurray! This photo made it to Explore's front page. It is not photoshopped or superimposed or anything. I used a little digital enhancement to bring out the detail in the clouds and color in the backgroud. The balloon was sharp and detailed in the untouched version. © all rights reserved

Today there were 3 balloons up. I had 10 passengers. It was a pefect flight and a perfect day. Just the right amount of clouds and wind and sun and hassle-free landing fields.

This photo shows the Remax Balloon flown by Bill Baker with Black Mountain (San Diego city park open space area) in the background, and way to the back left can be seen Mount Woodson, between Poway and Ramona, a popular rock climbing spot.

Little Owl chick a week ago

Athene noctua

steenuil

Chevêche d'Athéna ou Chouette chevêche

Steinkauz

Mochuelo Europeo

Civetta

Mocho-galego

Nikon Z9

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2022

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort

in northern Serengeti, Tanzania.

a large and handsome antelope found in herds of a few to over 20 in grassy areas where water is available nearby.

The Defassa subspecies is declining rapidly and is classified as Near Threatened

Kobus ellipsiprymnus subspecies defassa

waterbok

cobe à croissant

Wasserbock

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Filip Buts©2018

Please do not use these photos on websites, blogs or in any other media without receiving our explicit permission.

On a road on the eastern side of Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA.

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Everlong/74/195/25

But every night I burn

Every night I call your name

Every night I burn

Every night I fall again

youtu.be/izUSpFYq5N8

House sparrow, but technically a weaver finch

Zoom to appreciate.

Thanks to everyone that views and comments on my images - very much appreciated.

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. On all my images, Use without permission is illegal.

... but I love you, I love you a hundred times stronger

a hundred times stronger than you don't love me... (c)

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

these Wildebeest had spent the night in the woodlands and were heading towards the Ndutu Marsh area (in the south east of the Serengeti, Tanzania )

The south east of the Serengeti is the most southern part of the annual Great Migration . It is the area where most of the Wildebeest calves are born.

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2023

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

Bronze-tailed plumeleteer (Chalybura urochrysia)

Region of Arenal, Costa Rica

Usually, Roses are red

But this Rose is blue

And this unique one

Is only glowing for You

Although ...

This BLUE-tifulness

Is not genuine, I guess

(Caren)

[Dedicated to CRA (ILYWAMHASAM)]

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

uploaded for the group

Macro Mondays #Translucent

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200

ƒ/2.8

4.5 mm

1/40 Sec

ISO 400

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

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

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

but my memories are in black and white

with diffuse sepia tones

BUT IT`S NOT MY FAULT !!!!!!!

If you don't know who the loreley was just listen to the song :-)

Dschinghis Kahn - Loreley www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx1pPJZQ9OE

Will but You Won't by Keith Richards and the X-Pensive Winos

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmPX6An4b70

… but luckily my garden is flooded

Challenge sur Flickr : 154 : Fire & wide angle

"I'm not addicted to coffee, we're just in a commited relationship."

=> "Baby" cami, shorts & sweater by .Lunar.

=> Coffee cup by Foxy

Hard to believe, but: yes! Those pretty multicolored, variegated Tulips are degenerating species of that flower. The first to note this (in 1576) is the eminent botanist Carolus Clusius (1516-1609). However, he didn't know the cause of that phenomenon. Today much study has been made of the so-called 'Tulip-breaking Virus' (TBV), that, once a bulb has been infected with it, gives rise to those strikingly colored flowers. One of those Viruses is named after Rembrandt, the ReTBV. The photo is of an affected flower in the Hortus Botanicus here in Amsterdam.

the very first of these pretty finches are now arriving from their northern breeding grounds.

This image was taken in March when the last birds had not yet left

sometimes called Mountain Finch

fringilla montifringilla

keep

pinson du nord

Bergfink

Pinzón Real

Peppola

Tentilhão-montês

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2022

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.