The rabbit population in Elliðaárdalur, Reykjavík was decimated last year by some sickness but of course they seem to multiplying again. They're cute but they really shouldn't be living wild here, it's a bad life for them.

An endemic and highly threatened New Zealand species of wattle bird. More like a squirrel than a bird, they are noisy and conspicuous forest dwellers, preferring to hop and scuttle through foliage rather than fly. Introduced mammal pests have decimated their numbers, meaning they only survive on a few offshore islands or in heavily trapped or fenced mainland sanctuaries. Their growing numbers and breeding success in heavily protected reserves so they can rebound so-long as they're just given a chance.

During the feathered-hat fashion craze of the early twentieth century, Little Blue Herons’ lack of showy “aigrette plumes” saved them from the hunting frenzy that decimated other heron and egret populations.

In the early to mid 1900's there were a number of whaling stations operating on the islands of South Georgia. Based on records, it is believed that between 1904 and 1965, about 175,250 whales were killed and processed.

On top of the decimation of the southern ocean whale population, because there were no trees or other fuel available, whalers burned millions of penguins to render the much more valuable whale oil.

This image shows the mostly abandoned site of a Norwegian whaling station called Grytviken. It is the final resting place for the bones of the famous Ernest Shackleton and tens of thousands of whales and penguins.

Currently, the UK is maintaining Grytviken as an historic site, with a few well maintained buildings, including a post office, small museum, and a church. There are quite a few oil storage tanks on the site. They were used for the whale oil and some for fuel for the ships and heating.

On the shore and grass, there are a number of brown blobs. Those are mostly Antarctic fur seals. The islands are now a massively important location for wildlife and is protected. There is even an active rat eradication programme underway.

It is sad to see the state of some of the ancient trees on the Limestone Scars of the Yorkshire Dales. The Ash trees are decimated with die back and these old Hawthorns all seem to be on an "end of life" programme.

John Bleakley and I wandered around Twisleton Scar in the misty gloom of dawn and both shot lots of these statuesque trees as we waited in forlorn hope of some sunrise light.

I was drawn to this tree, which I shot many years ago in much better health, it looked a bit like the "Road Runner" cartoon character from a distance. It had lost one of its limbs in the recent storms and cut a lonely figure with the backdrop of Ingleborough completely shrouded in early morning mist.

The busy section of GWML through Sonning Cutting near Reading was always a draw for photographers. Unfortunately the onward march of electrification meant that this popular location was only weeks away from decimation by the growing number of masts through the area - the summer of 2016 being the final year of photography possible at this spot. Thankfully, my swansong visit here coincided with a day of sunshine and plenty of freight in a 4-5 hour window, with the pleasant inclusion of additional liners, not normally found in large numbers on this route, due to diversions via London.

The best of the day was of one of the regular workings, featuring 59101 "Village of Whatley" atop a uniform rake of Hanson JHA wagons on the 6V18 11.20 Allington-Whatley empty aggregates. Nearly bowled by a unit heading in the opposite direction, it was a "relief" for the huge gallery assembled on this bridge (comprised of around 30 people) who just about got away with it (re-upload of a previous image).

Last year around this time this little almond tree became my favorite flowering tree. It is scrubby, neglected and the lower branches and flowers get decimated by the local deer. My challenge this year is to come up with a different image from those I came up with last year. These almond blossoms reaching for the sky are one such photo, with added texture. Taken at sunset.

So, I know next to nothing about Zod. But I think I managed to make a pretty cool bearded, balding guy in a black spacesuit. :P

Backstory, backstory, backstory... I guess it just has coincide with what me, LC and Jeklarr came up with for Superman.

After Superman came to Earth as an ambassador he discovered he got super powers and the rest of Krypton was like: "Ooh, we want some of that!" But being the greedy people they apparently are, they wanted to take over the Earth, but Superman couldn't let that happen. The following battle (war?) left the city of Metropolis decimated. Despite Superman's victory, some thought he still needed to pay for the destruction he caused. (COUGHBATMANVSUPERMANCOUGH) Wait, I didn't mention Zod at all in there... Well, Zod was the main dude attacking earth... yeah.

BNSF's Denver to Provo manifest train ambles through the siding at Tolland, Colorado, on Union Pacific's Moffat Tunnel Subdivision, October 12, 2020, to run around a maintenance project on a road crossing ahead. Leading the train is 25th Anniversary unit ES44C 6163. Photo by Joe McMillan.

Strong winds have decimated the fall colors in the high elevations.

The leaves are about as big as a thumb nail.

I saw these tiny flies landing around my Berberis and I could put my finger tip up to ones head without it being troubled at all. I inspected more and the internal leaves were stripped off making the bush skeleton like.

I took this picture and Googled. Its a Berberis Sawfly. Not native to England. Turns out that in 2003 they were first seen on our south coast spreading northwards. I live 260 miles from the south coast. Probably brought in by somebody carrying a plant off a ferry. I had to notify an Ecology group of this sighting with my picture and date etc.

I read that the Sawfly Grubs can decimate a 10ft Berberis in 8 days.

"Chafer the Gaffer"

I'm the garden chafer,

the metallic green gaffer,

i'll buzz and spray,

so keep out my way,

i'll trample your pansies,

spoiling all your fancies,

i'm big, i'm green, seldom seen,

i'm chafer the gaffer know what I mean! 🐞

Original Poetry

by: Sean

"Gaffer = Boss"

Metallic green rose chafer beetle, amid the blossoms, looking resplendent, they are considered a pest and can decimate flora, still they do look impressive like mini shining tanks.

They nibble pollen and sip nectar, but these little chaps

decimated my roses last year so they can definitely cause damage to the gardeners pride and joy!

A word of warning don't try grabbing them or you may get squirted, they have a nasty defence.

Of course they fly too buzzing about like small airborne tanks,

marvellous insects really, but the larvae are really ugly .... lets not go there! 😁

Metallic - Insect

This is going to be my choice for Macro Mondays this week I chose Metallic from the first five words and Insect from the second five words, hopefully concluding with ....

Metallic Insect

A green metallic beetle, a "Green Chafer Beetle."

Ticket costs US$ 3.34

Ramses III’s magnificent memorial temple of Medinat Habu, fronted by sleepy Kom Lolah village and backed by the Theban mountains, is one of the west bank's most underrated sites. This was one of the first places in Thebes closely associated with the local god Amun. At its height, Medinat Habu contained temples, storage rooms, workshops, administrative buildings, a royal palace and accommodation for priests and officials. It was the centre of the economic life of Thebes for centuries.

Although the complex is most famous for the funerary temple built by Ramses III, Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis III also constructed buildings here. They were later added to and altered by a succession of rulers through to the Ptolemies. When the pagan cults were banned, it became an important Christian centre, and was still inhabited as late as the 9th century AD, when a plague was thought to have decimated the town. You can still see the mud-brick remains of the medieval town that gave the site its name (medina means ‘town’ or ‘city’) on top of the enclosure walls.

The original Temple of Amun, built by Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis III, was later completely overshadowed by the enormous Funerary Temple of Ramses III, the dominant feature of Medinat Habu. But a chapel from the Hatshepsut period still stands on the right after you have passed the outer gates.

Ramses III was inspired in the construction of his shrine by the Ramesseum of his illustrious forebear, Ramses II. His own temple and the smaller one dedicated to Amun are both enclosed within the massive outer walls of the complex.

Also just inside, to the left of the gate, are the Tomb Chapels of the Divine Adorers, which were built for the principal priestesses of Amun. Outside the eastern gate, one of only two entrances, was a landing quay for a canal that once connected Medinat Habu with the Nile.

You enter the site through the unique Syrian Gate, a large two-storey building modelled after a Syrian fortress: as with the images of the pharaoh smiting his enemies, this harks back to the famous battles between Egyptians and Hittites, particularly at the time of Ramses II. If you follow the wall to the left, you will find a staircase leading to the upper floors. There is not much to see in the rooms but you’ll get some great views out across the village in front of the temple and over the fields to the south.

The well-preserved first pylon marks the front of the temple proper. Ramses III is portrayed in its reliefs as the victor in several wars. Most famous are the fine reliefs of his victory over the Libyans (whom you can recognise by their long robes, sidelocks and beards). There is also a gruesome scene of scribes tallying the number of enemies killed by counting severed hands and genitals.

To the left of the first court are the remains of the Pharaoh’s Palace; the three rooms at the rear were for the royal harem. There is a window between the first court and the Pharaoh’s Palace known as the Window of Appearances, which allowed the pharaoh to show himself to his subjects.

The reliefs of the second pylon feature Ramses III presenting prisoners of war to Amun and his vulture-goddess wife, Mut. Colonnades and reliefs surround the second court, depicting various religious ceremonies.

If you have time to wander about the extensive ruins around the funerary temple, you will see the remains of an early Christian basilica as well as a small sacred lake and, on the south side of the temple, the outline of the palace and the window, looking into the temple courtyard, where Ramses would appear.

It is a wonderful place to visit, especially in the late afternoon when the light softens and the creamy stone glows.

Hawking Gulls

Bonaparte’s Gulls

(Named for Napoleon’s kin

Charles Lucien Jules Laurent

A French Ornithologist)

Decimate the last hatch of gnats.

Just back home from a little break at my daughters in the Cotswolds and I'll have to edit some shots I took down there before posting. So here is one I had in the archives from earlier this year.

This is a fallen silver birch tree that was nestling in the marvellous beds of Ramson's in Hollins Lane Wood, near Silverdale last month. The aroma of the Wild Garlic hits you as you get out of the car here. I popped back the following day when conditions were very different, only to find that all this area had been decimated by a tractor that had been brought in to take this tree away. I suppose that had to be done at some point, but it was a shame to see all the plants crushed!

July 13th, 1943.

In Kursk, there is the constant presence of Armor. There are tanks in one piece, tanks in 2 pieces, and tanks in a thousand pieces. It doesn't matter to me, as long as I stay alive. We were tasked with guarding a road today. All seemed calm, but a German squad showed up out of nowhere. They hit the hand of a T34 crew member that wanted to go out with us for patrol, but I am at a loss as to why he wished to go. That was our only casualty. The Germans weren't so lucky. When we got to them, they were decimated. I know for a fact I killed one. I did not have the righteous feeling I imagined I would. In fact, I felt a creeping sadness and gloom. Once we were done checking the bodies, we headed back. That is all I can write today.

-Yuri

The Reddish Egret is one of the rarest egrets in North America. It's easily distinguished from other egrets and herons by its shaggy appearance, hyperactive feeding behavior, and pink-and-black bill.

Reddish Egret numbers in the U.S. were decimated by plume hunters in the 19th century, and populations never fully recovered. Like Snowy and Wilson's Plovers, this species is dependent on coastal habitats for successful foraging and breeding—the same areas that are vulnerable to sea level rise caused by climate change. Habitat loss is another problem for this bird.

Ochre and Purple Sea Stars (both Pisaster ochraceus, just different pigmentation) cling to a rock face at low tide on Canada's west coast. I made this shot just before the wasting syndrome that decimated sea stars all along the coast; thankfully, there are signs that they're making a recovery. I hope to receive a report soon from friends who are camping there - just up the hill from where this photo was taken - this week.

I don't know why I decided to place the sea stars off-centre in this frame; I think it just felt right. The pano crop was an afterthought. Tripod, late afternoon light, Pacific Ocean to my back at low tide but my head was on a swivel. That tide comes in pretty fast when it turns.

Photographed at Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park, Vancouver Island, BC (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2013 James R. Page - all rights reserved.

Pieris brassicae

The Large White is one of two species (the other being the Small White) that can claim the title of "Cabbage White" that is the bane of allotment holders all over the British Isles. The larva of this species can reach pest proportions, and decimate cabbages to the point that they become mere skeletons of their former selves. The female is distinguished from the male by the presence of 2 black spots, together with a black dash, on the forewing upperside. This is one of the most widespread species found in the British Isles and can be found almost anywhere, including Orkney and Shetland. This species is also known to migrate to the British Isles from the continent, augmenting the resident population in the process.

(source: UK Butterflies www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/index.php)

Second in my multiples series, four Black-tailed Prairie Dog pups atop their burrow mound. Prairie dog pups and adults spread out and forage away from their burrows, but at the first sign of peril, they gather atop the burrow mounds ready to disappear in a split second. These pups decided that whatever they had perceived as a threat wasn't that bad and never disappeared. A short time after this shot, they went back to their foraging.

This shot was made in Badlands National Park. Unfortunately, shortly after our mid-May visit, the National Park Service confirmed a mass die off of prairie dogs due to the Sylvatic Plague. The disease has the potential to cause in excess of a 90% death rate in prairie dog colonies.

That's just part of the bad news in the Badlands. The bighorn sheep population has been decimated by a form of pneumonia. The herd is down to about 25% of its former population.

Damn!

P.S. During our most recent visit to BNP in October, we saw a lot of prairie dogs, not as many as we had seen in previous visits but enough to be encouraging.

Lymington

Is anyone else finding Flickr strange today. My usual traffic has been decimated.

Please see my other Photographs at: www.jamespdeans.co.uk

Trumpeter Swans are impressively large—males average over 26 pounds, making them North America’s heaviest flying bird. To get that much mass aloft the swans need at least a 100 meter-long “runway” of open water: running hard across the surface, they almost sound like galloping horses as they generate speed for take off.

Starting in the 1600s, market hunters and feather collectors had decimated Trumpeter Swans populations by the late 1800s. Swan feathers adorned fashionable hats, women used swan skins as powder puffs, and the birds’ long flight feathers were coveted for writing quills. Aggressive conservation helped the species recover by the early 2000s.

from allaboutbirds.org

This is part of the installation for the piece I recently posted by Ashby Carlisle. She and Jill Vaughn combined their pieces to represent both damage to the environment and the hope of restoration.

There are two memorials to the Battle of Naseby, but it was discovered that the original and vastly larger memorial was actually in the wrong place. This much smaller version overlooks the countryside where much of the decisive battle of the English Civil War took place across the rolling Northamptonshire countryside between Naseby, Clipston and Sibbertoft.

The battle was fought on the foggy morning of 14th June 1645. After almost three years of fighting, the 14,000 strong Parliamentarian New Model Army took on the Royalist army of King Charles I comprising less than 9,000 men, in what would to be the final key battle of the war.

At Naseby the main Royalist military force was decimated and the king lost his best officers, seasoned troops and artillery. All that now remained was for the Parliamentarian armies to wipe out the last pockets of Royalist resistance, which it did within the year. As everyone knows, Charles I was eventually executed in 1649.

The fencing ensures there is no wandering from the path and it just caught my eye and the path leads to the larger tree near to a bridge over a little stream .

I found this shot while out looking for some urban decay for SSC which would you believe is less than a a hundred yards behind me just under a railway bridge.

The two tone sky is down to the strong sun off to the left and the fact I had forgotten to adjust the polarising filter that lives of my 10/18 mm wide lens .

On both sides of the path the grassed areas have many many young trees growing having been planted to replace all the masses of trees that were decimated being felled when they should not have been !!

Our cats go mad for kiwi plants. We had one in the garden which was taking over, so Phill dug it out, or at least that's what he thought. Kaiser managed to find a new shoot and after decimating the bluebells proceeded to go wild rolling around and chewing it.

Storms break the foothold and they get washed ashore

Our resident Greater Roadrunner is really decimating the lizard population!

"Retreat? Hell we just got here." - Captain Lloyd W. Williams

During WWI when Germany was suffering defeat after defeat the Germans battled the US Marines in Belleau Wood, France. The battle was known as one of the bloodiest since the marines cut down many Germans at the beginning and charged at heavy machine gun fire. The marines did win the battle after decimating the Germans.

So I decided to try that "new" net technique for shits n giggles and it's honestly pretty good. This might be my last build for a while since I'm in the process of moving.

For those who don't know. I will be at BFVA.

Cheers guys

-Hunter.

Tree Hugger - Bobcat kitten strikes an adorable pose among the willows. Bobcats have been decimated with mange in much of California this year due to anti-coagulant rodenticides, so it was a treat to observe this healthy family with a friend.

IG: @sswildlife

Species: Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Location: California, USA

Equipment: Canon EOS R3 + RF 100-500mm IS

Settings: 1/1600s, ISO: 6400, f/7.1 @500mm, Handheld, Electronic Shutter

So local this was taken from our deck. Not as crisp as I'd like, the 200mm just doesn't take us close enough but still pretty happy to capture this. What a stunning creature. We're so lucky to have them back as they're still pretty rare. They nest on the ground so their numbers have been decimated by rodents.

It's really quite something to be able to watch karearea soaring overhead catching thermals! Their screech is rather distinctive and a little like a horror movie has come to town!

Happy weekend everyone. Thanks as always for your visits and comments. ❤

Six KCS engines drag M269 past the famous KCS Cafe, the triangular building next to the tracks, at Wilson's Alley in Shreveport, Louisiana. Opened in 1923, the cafe became known as the K.C.S. Restaurant after World War II and was located across the street from Shreveport Union Station which was served by both the Southern Belle, Flying Crow, and Shreveporter as well as Illinois Central's Southwestern Limited. The restaurant contained a massive billboard for the Southern Belle on its roof. The last Southern Belle departed Shreveport on November 2, 1969, and Union Station subsequently closed the very next day. The station's closure decimated the small business district on Lake Street, and the K.C.S. Restaurant closed its doors by 1972.

Red Wolves of Alligator River

The Red Wolf is the world's most endangered Wolf. Once common throughout the Eastern and South-Central United States, Red Wolf populations were decimated by the early 20th century as a result of intensive predator control programs, as well as the degradation and alteration of the habitat that the species depends upon. When the Red Wolf was first designated as a species that was threatened with extinction under the Endangered Species Preservation Act in 1967, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiated efforts to conserve and recover the species. Today, about 15 to 17 red wolves roam their native habitats in eastern North Carolina as a nonessential experimental population, and approximately 241 Red Wolves are maintained in 45 captive breeding facilities throughout the United States.

For more Info: www.fws.gov/species/red-wolf-canis-rufus

The Red Wolf (Canis rufus) is a canine native to the Southeastern United States. Its size is intermediate between the coyote (Canis latrans) and Gray Wolf (Canis lupus).

The Red Wolf's taxonomic classification as being a separate species, a subspecies of the Gray Wolf Canis lupus rufus, or a Coywolf (a genetic admixture of Wolf and Coyote) has been contentious for nearly a century. Because of this, it is sometimes excluded from endangered species lists, despite its critically low numbers. Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service currently recognizes the Red Wolf as an endangered species and grants protected status. Since 1996, the IUCN has listed the Red Wolf as a Critically Endangered Species; however, it is not listed in the CITES Appendices of Endangered Species.

For more Info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_wolf

The Warm Fire was started by lightning in June 2006, north of the North Rim in the Kaibab National Forest. It was originally allowed to burn as a managed "wildfire use fire." After about two and a half weeks, though, the wind pushed the fire south of the management area, and about 39000 acres of the the Forest burned.

Then, "After a fire, aspen trees grow. Even if the tree itself has been decimated by fire, this fast-growing tree can easily sprout from the roots that have been left behind. The sunny spaces left behind by the fire give life to the new aspen trees. In turn, the trees’ roots hold the soil in place, and their leaves slow down the rainfall, reducing the danger of flash floods." (www.decodedscience.org/coming-back-life-the-forests-after...)

I could hardly breathe, let alone hold the camera in my hands fairly still when I saw this wonderful, combative creature in front of me. I have never seen such concentrated energy. The eyes fully focused on the essential and the whole body tense and ready to grab hold. The hawk is one of the most impressive and beautiful animals I have ever seen. The brief moments in which I encountered the hawk will probably always remain in my memory. This bird of prey really lives up to its name, because what it has grabbed, it does not let go. I was a witness to it. A magnificent animal full of power and very special abilities that left me completely amazed.

Rulers of the skies - birds of prey facing extinction?

Many species of birds of prey and owls are threatened with extinction. Their original habitat is being increasingly reduced. Poisoning from lead ammunition and pesticides is decimating their populations. How can humans save the birds and help them survive?

The hawk was hunted almost to extinction until the middle of the 20th century. The population was able to recover thanks to protection rights. It hunts larger birds such as magpies or pigeons, but will also occasionally take a rabbit.

Hawks are typical ambush hunters. They observe their surroundings from a higher point and strike silently when they spot prey. That is why they prefer wooded areas as their habitat, as these offer plenty of opportunities for hunting and nesting.

Be free like a bird in your thoughts, actions and feelings. This is how you will find happiness.

Your happiness in life is like a bird that you love. You feed it with the seeds of your heart and water it with the light of your eyes.

- Khalil Gibran

The Pillars of Hercules was the phrase that was applied in Antiquity to the promontories that flank the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. According to Homer, the pillars were created when Heracles broke the mountain that had connected Africa and Europe. The pillars formed the western limit of navigation for the ancient Mediterranean world. This midday photo lacks good light, but how often do you walk up a mountain from where you can see another continent? For me, it was special to realise that I was standing in the south of the Iberian Peninsula looking across the Mediterranean Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar to the Rif Mountains of Morocco on the African continent. I was surprised by the size of the Rock of Gibraltar, a monolithic limestone promontory that forms the northern pillar. Jebel Musa on the Moroccan side forms the southern pillar. In the foreground the remaining Portuguese oak trees (Quercus faginea subsp. alpestris) have been affected by years of charcoal making, an industry that decimated forests in the region. On steep slopes in the midground Spanish pines (Abies pinsapo) survive, a once widespread species that has suffered extensive timber harvesting for hundreds of years and is now only found in a few isolated locations. Pine and oak were the two most demanded species in the shipbuilding and construction industry. Congratulations to Morocco which just became the first African nation to reach a Soccer World Cup semi-final after defeating both Spain and Portugal, their northern neighbours on the Iberian Peninsula. The photo was taken from the tops of the Sierra de las Nieves, part of the Baetic Mountains in the south of Spain. You can mouse over the photo for landmarks and more information.

"St. Joseph's Church, Le Havre is a Roman Catholic church in Le Havre, France. From 1945 to 1954, the City of Le Havre commissioned Auguste Perret [(1874–1954)] and his studio to head the rebuilding of the entire city after it had been completely decimated by the British during World War II. St. Joseph's was built between 1951 and 1957/58 as part of this reconstruction. It acts as a memorial to the five thousand civilians fallen [...].

The church was designed by the chief architect for the reconstruction of Le Havre, Perret, who was the teacher and mentor to the Swiss architect Le Corbusier. A centrally-planned building, Saint Joseph's Church was envisioned as a beacon for the city. The church's single, central tower dominates the city skyline, easily visible from the city's port. Perret's vision created a building resembling a lantern, now fondly referred to as the “lantern tower” or the “lighthouse at the heart of the city.” Made of concrete, St Joseph's is a product of modern architectural innovation in Post-War France. The tower is 107 metres tall and acts as a beacon visible from out at sea, especially at night when illuminated.

Stained glass by Marguerite Huré

Perret brought in his previous colleague Marguerite Huré (1896-1967) for the stained glass in the new church. Their most notable collaborations were the Église Notre-Dame du Raincy and Saint Joseph's church in Le Havre. Huré contributed to the rebirth of sacred art in France in the early twentieth century through her introduction of abstraction into religious stained glass. She developed a style without images or words, using colour to convey her desired theme—much in the way music conveys feeling via sound. Huré and Perret shared a desire to reject decorative art in preference of constructive art that was collectively understated yet awe-inspiring and told a story or promoted further improvement/advancement.

The compact nave's architectural lines lead the eye to the altar and then up to a three-tiered, square base with triangular supporting structures. The triangular supports point the eye to the octagonal column that makes up the majority of the tower. A singular, chunky, spiral staircase rises from the base of the octagonal shaft to the bell room. Separated into 18 layers, each side of layers 2 to 17 exhibits an identical, geometric pattern made of wood and elongated stained glass. Revived in the nineteenth century, Huré used the “antique” glass making technique that involves mouth-blowing the coloured glass to achieve the desired shape. The repeated pattern reflects Huré's dedication to the symbolic power of colour and her rejection of iconographic representation. [...]"

(Wikipedia)

Photo in Explore 09.09.2021

From the website: www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_springbok.html :

"Springbok in their hundreds of thousands roamed the arid regions of southern Africa at the time the first settlers arrived, but the herds were quickly decimated and today they are only found in protected areas and farms."

In other words, the behaviour of settlers (as in many other parts of the world) was often deplorable.

These antilopes are formidable jumpers, but are easier to capture when resting :;)....

I don't think I have seen nearly as many this year as before. Hopefully this is not due to Avian Influenza which has decimated some of our seabird species, especially Great Skuas and Gannets. We'll know when WWT publish their goose count figures once all the data is in

This is an old image I took in 2013 but the relevance of it today in Australia is striking. The horrendous and tragic fires have decimated towns, communities and wildlife Australia wide. People have died, people are missing and the fires continued unabated. The air outside is toxic with smoke and breathing normally, even inside, is hazardous. Hearts have broken and lives shattered. The feelings of anxiety and fear are massive. However, through it all communities and individuals are pulling together, helping in whatever way possible and even the impossible. The firefighters and volunteer firefighters?? Their tireless efforts and their compassion will never be forgotten by Australians. Never.

The Failing Barn ...

Ona drive through Caledon i was shooting out the window, just north of the Cheltenham Brick works in Cheltenham: I spotted this old barn there are many like this in the area .most of rural farmland in and around Brampton and Caledon has succumbed to the lure of the dollar and have sold out to developers who plan to increase the urban sprawl that has decimated local farms and rural farmland. soon sprawling subdivisions will take over the once tranquil pasturelands of a bygone era. The few remaining farmers hold out of the biggest buck without spending any money for upkeep as the plan is to sell to the highest bidder,.

Rot and decay have started the process of demolition without the use of a wrecking ball. .

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Taking advantage of some shade. Happy our cottontails are making a comeback after being decimated by the hemorrhagic disease a couple of years ago.

(Image one of four): Walnut Creek has many ... old oak trees (the walnuts were removed for development, don't you know - every last one of them!). The oaks are 150 to 300 years old, gnarled although some should be poetic like, "Under the spreading Valley oak, the village smithy stands..."

Anyway, at Heather Farm Reserve, there are two particular oaks of interest. One is a heritage oak, over 200 years old - with at least a 75 foot canopy - and the one you see here which is host to mistletoe (a parasitic plant, but with redeeming features) and lichen and moss and a bee hive!

It is the bee hive that has attracted this Canada Goose. It flew up, surveyed its kingdom, and then began picking the bees off one by one. Sated, he crash landed and allowed more of the flock to decimate the hive. So, if you want to know about bee die off in Walnut Creek, it's those damn geese!

And every tree, understory and overstory. My old friend, an American Beech in the nature preserve, here seen beside the trail, from opposite directions. Beech Leaf Disease has been decimating its foliage, but to my casual eye, it is in better condition now than early last spring. See my prior photo, "Sad Story." flic.kr/p/2r5S2cY And Happy Tree-mendous Tuesday!

By the way, for pareidolia fans, I see a large squid in the image on the left. Either one of these, processed in a dark and atmospheric look, could make a nice Halloween-themed scary tree, too.

Cetona (Siena)

Cetona appartiene al gruppo dei "Borghi più belli d'Italia", borghi che possiedono una imbattibile bellezza assieme ad una vita paesana di qualità. La Toscana ha un gran numero di questi borghi antichi e belli, ben conservati e proiettati nel mondo di oggi con abitazioni e infrastrutture di oltre mille anni. Cetona è ubicata in provincia di Siena a poca distanza dal confine con l'Umbria; essa era già presente in epoca etrusca anche se in epoca paleocristiana documenti datati 1275 riportavano di un baptisterium Sancti Johannis de Queneto o de Queteno, forse in riferimento al torrente Chieteno che scorre poco a sud.

Nel 1207 si ha la prima menzione del castello di Cetona. Nel 1260 il borgo passa alla Repubblica di Orvieto, dopo una lunga contesa con quella di Siena. Nel 1418, conquistata dal capitano di ventura Braccio di Montone, signore di Perugia, Cetona venne da questi venduta alla Repubblica di Siena. Nel 1556, fedeli a Siena per quasi un secolo e mezzo, gli abitanti, decimati dalle pestilenze e dalle guerre, si arresero senza combattere all'esercito imperiale in Toscana quando questo si presentò sotto le mura. Il borgo venne così inglobato nel Granducato di Toscana.

Cetona belongs to the group of the "most beautiful villages in Italy", villages that possess an unbeatable beauty together with a quality village life. Tuscany has a large number of these ancient and beautiful villages, well preserved and projected into today's world with homes and infrastructures over a thousand years old. Cetona is located in the province of Siena not far from the border with Umbria; it was already present in the Etruscan era even if in the early Christian era documents dated 1275 reported a baptisterium Sancti Johannis de Queneto or de Queteno, perhaps in reference to the Chieteno stream that flows just south.

In 1207 there is the first mention of the castle of Cetona. In 1260 the village passed to the Republic of Orvieto, after a long dispute with that of Siena. In 1418, conquered by the mercenary captain Braccio di Montone, lord of Perugia, Cetona was sold by him to the Republic of Siena. In 1556, faithful to Siena for almost a century and a half, the inhabitants, decimated by plagues and wars, surrendered without fighting the imperial army in Tuscany when it appeared under the walls. The village was thus incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

© Riccardo Senis, All Rights Reserved

This image may not be copied, reproduced, republished, edited, downloaded, displayed, modified, transmitted, licensed, transferred, sold, distributed or uploaded in any way without my prior written permission.

Space Jam 2021

Category Animal / Pet companion

Bowgli lives with Maloo on the planet NeydisSlup. The planet has been deserted since the last war, which decimated much of the local wildlife. It has become necessary to survive with a perfectly trained pet that allows its master to spot dangers thanks to its highly developed eyesight.

Who is Bowgli ? Who is Maloo? Who is the pet?

Answer will follow in the comment :)

In memory of Ozzie the world’s oldest male gorilla, passed away at 61 the January 25, 2022.

View On Black

Using a medium format lens on a Canon APS-C. I t goes to the owner tomorrow. :-(.

Glass with nice colored fluid is always interesting to photograph. Shot by windowlight, the background camera is a Perkeo II from Voigtländer, built in Germany in the 1950's. It is a 120mm film camera, very sharp with its Color Skopar (Tessar Variation) lens, perhaps the smallest camera of its type. Voigtländer built very elegant and functional cameras during that period around the time when the Japanese Tsunami was gathering to decimate the European photographic industry. :-)

Vol plané au moment de l'atterrissage.

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Est une espèce d'oiseaux échassiers de la famille des Ardeidae. La Grande Aigrette est le plus grand de tous les hérons et aigrettes présents en Europe. Elle a failli disparaître, décimée par les chasseurs ou piégeurs qui en revendaient les longues plumes nuptiales pour décorer les chapeaux des dames de la fin du xixe siècle au début du xxe siècle. Ce sont ensuite la destruction des zones humides, les pesticides et la destruction des mangroves qui ont rendu sa survie difficile. Elle est maintenant protégée et reconstitue lentement ses populations. Ainsi, elle est classée comme "Préoccupation mineure" par l'UICN. Elle est partiellement migratrice dans l'hémisphère nord.

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Is a species of wading birds of the family Ardeidae. The Great Egret is the largest of all herons and egrets present in Europe. It almost disappeared, decimated by the hunters or trappers who sold the long nuptial feathers to decorate the hats of the ladies from the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century. It was then the destruction of wetlands, pesticides and the destruction of mangroves that made survival difficult. It is now protected and is slowly rebuilding its populations. Thus, it is classified as "Least Concern" by IUCN. It is partially migratory in the northern hemisphere.

Wheeling and Lake Erie train 535 takes 100 empty coal cars for loading at Rhino Resource's Nelms #2 mine at Hopedale, OH. The train is northbound in Martin's Ferry, OH through a smattering of forlorn buildings and long disused street lights.

Steel making was once the bread and butter of the upper Ohio River Valley and Wheeling Pitt Steel was king. Once the 6th largest steel producer in the US, jobs were plentiful and well paying. But the wolf finally came.

The 1980's saw a decimating decline in domestic steel production nationwide. But Wheeling Pitt had managed to navigate the hard times and remerged from the ashes of a bankruptcy restructuring not only once, but twice. The first in 1985 (re-emerging out of bankruptcy in 1991) and a second time in 2000, before re-emerging again in 2003.

Alas, luck had finally began to run out for Wheeling Pitt Steel. The downward spiral synonymous with the beginning of the end reached a critical point in November 2007, with Esmark Steel Group's successful proxy takeover of the company. Esmark, in return, announced less then a year later in May 2008 that they would idle 2 of the 3 plant's galvanizing lines.

In November 2008, less then 3 months after the announced idling, ownership wound change hands once again. Severstal Steel had bought Esmark's Wheeling Pitt holdings for $1.25B.

Severstal would go on to idle most of the former Wheeling Pitt operations in 2009 to the tune of over 3,100 layoffs in West Virginia and Ohio. It would remain this way until the end. RG Steel would end up later purchasing the former Wheeling Pitt operations from Severstal in 2011. Hopes were high that operations would restart soon there after. But things only got worse, and in a hurry. RG Steel filed for bankruptcy just 13 months later, ending any of the bleak remaining hopes for a large revitalization of steel in the Upper Ohio Valley.

In the post bankruptcy filings from RG Steel, a $2 million purchase by Quay Mull and Joseph N. Gompers led to the opening of a new Austin Master Services facility in the old plant. The company handles waste products from the fracking industry.

If you want evidence that our climate is indeed changing, for one reason or the other, then one only needs to visit the German Harz mountains. Several years of harsh summers with little rain, followed by snowless winters have decimated the once dense Spruce forests. The high temperatures also was a boon to the bark beetles who quickly killed off the surviving trees. Vast swaths of the mountas are now bare of trees, in other places the ghostly dead Spruce forest still stand, atleast until the next big windstorm. This has however opened up many new locations on the HSB, though in the traditional winter season the dead landscape is harldly photogenic. As another Spring arrives, the dead landscape comes to life as the undergrowth reclaims the old forest. Here an uphill train makes its way through the wide open landscape between Steinere Renne and Drei Annen Hohne.