Mad in America (and the world)
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Forest-living kingfisher with a white belly and vibrant multi-tone blue wings and back. Note bright white spot in front of the eyes that does not extend back over the eye. In flight shows diagnostic large white wing panels. Often perches prominently, including on powerlines and trees. (eBird)
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Seen and heard quite frequently during our travels. Our first view of this beautiful kingfisher was "wow!" as he sat out in the open for us to admire.
Bicentennial Park, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. October 2022.
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LICKED - Sticky Catsuit
CHARM By Sibilla - Le Cheval Nuda (sold out limited edition)
Sibilla - California Tips 2 Toenails
Kibitz - Lory's collar - gold
KROVA - Tedril - Animesh Companion Bot
Phy.Ka - 038 - Queen Latex Gloves
Phy.Ka - 039 - Queen Rings 18k
Evil Baby. - Rave Babe Goggles
1990 - Classic LV Set - Coffin - XL
DOUX - Thais Hairstyle
BACKGROUD, PROPS & POSE:
PALETO Backdrop - kTX Studio
Khaos Muse - Kronos Ultra B1ke
Black Cats poses - Floating Screens
Uncommon to locally fairly common on sandy heathland and clearings in mixed and coniferous woodland. Inconspicuous, rather shy, and easily overlooked, often not seen until flushed up from the ground. Rather chunky, and shorter tailed than Eurasian Skylark. Overall brown and streaky with short bushy crest; black-and-white mark at bend of wing diagnostic but difficult to see. In flight has white tail corners but lacks skylark’s white tail sides and white trailing edge to wings. Like many larks, often best detected by voice.
Dyulino, Bulgaria. May 2016.
Diagnostic Male Purple Grenadier, Granatina ianthinogaster, 14cm / 5.5in. COMMON within range in open woodland, bush and cultivation, as well as semi-arid areas. Nice to see this bird in the wild rather than in a pet shop.
Maasai Mara, Trans Mara, Rift Valley, Kenya.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Male Stejneger's Scoter, Melanitta stejnegeri, 55 cm. / 21.65 in. UNCOMMON visitor to coastal waters. Population numbers seem to be declining recently. Split from Velvet Scoter.
Betsukai, Notsuke Peninsula - North End, Nemuro, Hokkaido, Japan.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Fringe-backed Fire-Eye, Papa-taoca-da-bahia, Pyriglena atra, 17 cm / 6.7 in. RARE ENDEMIC in understory of forest edge and tall, second-growth. Really shy bird!
Bahia, Brazil.
©bryanjsmith.
Remains of barley (Hordeum vulgare) grains found at archaeological sites in the Fertile Crescent indicate that about 10,000 years ago the crop was domesticated there from its wild relative Hordeum spontaneum. The domestication history of barley is revisited based on the assumptions that DNA markers effectively measure genetic distances and that wild populations are genetically different and they have not undergone significant change since domestication. The monophyletic nature of barley domestication is demonstrated based on allelic frequencies at 400 AFLP polymorphic loci studied in 317 wild and 57 cultivated lines. The wild populations from Israel-Jordan are molecularly more similar than are any others to the cultivated gene pool. The results provided support for the hypothesis that the Israel-Jordan area is the region in which barley was brought into culture. Moreover, the diagnostic allele I of the homeobox gene BKn-3, rarely but almost exclusively found in Israel H. spontaneum, is pervasive in western landraces and modern cultivated varieties. In landraces from the Himalayas and India, the BKn-3 allele IIIa prevails, indicating that an allelic substitution has taken place during the migration of barley from the Near East to South Asia. Thus, the Himalayas can be considered a region of domesticated barley diversification.
EXPLORED
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UPDATE: I think I finally discovered the actual species. According to this excellent site, it looks like it's a Cotton Harlequin Bug (Tectocoris diophthalmus).
I've never seen one of these before and apparently it's a Harlequin Beetle. I can't find much information or even the botanical name for it, so I did a search for quotes that referred to harlequins.
Imagine my delight when I found a quote from Battlestar Galactica! Here's the quote in full from Wikiquote:
Hybrid: Two protons expelled at each coupling site creates the mode of force, the embryo becomes a fish though we don't enter until a plate, we're here to experience, evolve the little toe, atrophy, don't ask me how, I'll be dead in a thousand light years, thank you, thank you, genesis turns to its source, reduction occurs step wise though the essence is all one, end of line. FTL system check. Diagnostic functions within parameters repeats the harlequin, the agony exquisite, the colors run the path of ashes...
Diagnostic Chestnut-eared Bunting, Emberiza fucata fucata, 12.5 cm. / 4.92 in. UNCOMMON resident. Grassy meadows and river beds. Very distant bird.
Swan Park, Tofutsu Lake, Abashuri, Hokkaido, Japan.
©bryanjsmith.
Always nice to find this species. The diagnostic ocelli can both be seen in the inset - this individual had an undeveloped antenna on the LH side.
Eardington NR, Shropshire.
As with all wild equines, zebra have barrel-chested bodies with tufted tails, elongated faces and long necks with long, erect manes. Their elongated, slender legs end in a single spade-shaped toe covered in a hard hoof. Their dentition is adapted for grazing; they have large incisors that clip grass blades and highly crowned, ridged molars well suited for grinding. Males have spade-shaped canines, which can be used as weapons in fighting. The eyes of zebras are at the sides and far up the head, which allows them to see above the tall grass while grazing. Their moderately long, erect ears are movable and can locate the source of a sound.
Unlike horses, zebras and asses have chestnut callosities only on their front limbs. In contrast to other living equines, zebra forelimbs are longer than their back limbs. Diagnostic traits of the zebra skull include: its relatively small size with a straight profile, more projected eye sockets, narrower rostrum, reduced postorbital bar, a V-shaped groove separating the metaconid and metastylid of the teeth and both halves of the enamel wall being rounded.
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The diagnostic feature for separating Brown Argus from female Common Blue, is two spots on top of one another at the top edge of the Brown Argus hindwing, creating a figure of 8 like this: www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/5990925447/in/photolist But this Brown Argus that I photographed in my friend's Rutland garden, lacks this feature and so superficially resembles a Common Blue like this: www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/5799969922/in/photolist The spot in question appears to be slightly comma-shaped so maybe the two spots have merged. To add to the confusion the Brown Argus was nectaring on Bird's-foot Trefoil, which is the larval foodplant of Common Blue. An additional identification feature is the marginal orange lunules on the forewing. In Common Blue they usually peter out towards the tip, whereas on Brown Argus they are solidly orange right to the tip, as they are here.
Here's a Glaucous Gull attempting a long jump. The dark background was the from the shadowy base of the dark basalt seabird cliffs at Alkefjellet in Svalbard. They breed in the far north right around the Arctic and its scientific name hyperboreus translates as far north. But they often wander south during winter, particularly young birds, and are a regular but scarce visitor to Britain. It is a bit like a large, pale Herring Gull but you can see here its diagnostic white wing tips. Glaucous is an old adjective used to describe this pale grey gull as it means a greyish green or greyish blue, though it is also used to describe the powdery bloom like you get on grapes. An old sailors' name for Glaucous Gull was Burgomeister (or Burgomaster, which means master of the town) but this hasn't really been used since about the 1930s. My old copy of Wayside and Woodland birds by TA Coward (1936) is the only book I have that still called it Burgomaster Gull.
Diagnostic Eurasian Linnet, Carduelis cannabina mediterranea, 12.5 - 14cm. Areas thick with bushes in gardens and coastal heath with gorse.
Castello Branco, Portugal.
©bryanjsmith.
Vadiúj mérővonat kirándul a Kisalföldön
Under the steep hills of Kisalföld with a brand new diagnostic train.
The Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health (LRCBH), officially the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, opened on May 21, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada that is operated by the Cleveland Clinic and was designed by the world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. Keep Memory Alive (also known as KMA) was founded by Larry Ruvo, senior managing partner of Southern Wines and Spirits, in memory of his father, Lou Ruvo, a victim of Alzheimer's Disease, together with his wife Camille, Mirage Resorts CEO Bobby Baldwin (who also lost his father to Alzheimer's Disease), and Bobby Baldwin's wife Donna. KMA supports the mission of the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and has held several star-studded galas, attended by celebrities and notables from around the world. It has become one of Las Vegas' most important charity initiatives and a key participant in the nation fight against Alzheimer's disease. Since its inception, the event has raised more than $20 million towards achieving its goal – the realization of the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Funds committed by such supporters as the Spector Family Foundation, the Roland and Terri Sturm Foundation, Steinberg Diagnostics, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and America Online will be utilized for the construction and operation of this state-of-the-art facility. The Center is planned to become a national resource for the most current research and scientific information for the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington 's Diseases, Multiple Sclerosis and ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) as well as focusing on prevention, early detection and education. The ceremonial groundbreaking of the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health occurred on February 9, 2007. Dignitaries who attended the groundbreaking ceremonies for the $70 million project included founder Larry Ruvo, Frank Gehry, U.S. Senator Harry Reid and John Ensign; U.S. Representative Shelley Berkley, Jon Porter and Dean Heller, Gov. Jim Gibbons, Mayor Oscar Goodman, former Gov. Kenny Guinn, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kevin Spacey, and John Cusack. The Center operates as an outpatient treatment and research facility in downtown Las Vegas on land deeded to Keep Memory Alive, the fund raising arm of LRCBH, by the City of Las Vegas as part of its 61 acres (25 ha) Symphony Park. The Center is approximately 65,000 sq ft (6,000 m2) and includes 13 examination rooms, offices for health care practitioners and researchers, a "Museum of the Mind," and a community auditorium. The Center will also serve as the headquarters for Keep Memory Alive, the Las Vegas Alzheimer's Association and the Las Vegas Parkinson's Disease Association. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Ruvo_Center_for_Brain_Health
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Diagnostic Yellow-collared Lovebird, Agapornis fischeri, Blue mutation. Most likely an escaped cage-bird. Native to Tanzania. Eating lichens on the distant cliff face near the waterfall.
Walter Sisulu National Botanic Gardens, Gauteng Province, South Africa.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic African Hawk-Eagle, Aquila spilogaster, 68 cm / 27 in. Record shot of a quite distant bird. Fairly COMMON in open woodland, bush and semi-arid habitat but none came in close.
Arabuko Sokoke Forest, Kilifi, Coast, Kenya.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Spix's Spinetail, Chicli Spinetail, Joao-teneném, Synallaxis spixi, 17 cm / 6.7 in. COMMON in undergrowth of shrub, cerrado, woodland edge and grassy habitat with shrub.
Bahia, Brazil.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Bonaparte's Gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia, 13.5 in / 34.29 cm. RARE at this location, this time of year. COMMON locally on lakes, rivers and ocean.
Lake Cochise, Willcox, Cochise County, Arizona, USA.
©bryanjsmith.
This image features Orionid meteors (9 inc. here) and zodiacal light. If you are not familiar with zodiacal light/false dawn, it's from sunlight reflecting off dust grains that move in outer space, creating an eerie triangular shaped diffuse glow in the night sky. The glow seen here occurred before the beginning of morning twilight. Get tips on viewing zodiacal light yourself here:
earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/look-for-the-zodiacal-l...
This was taken in the foothills west of Fort Collins (Cherokee) and shows off diagnostic light pollution in addition to zodiacal light.
Image Notes: 476 consecutive 28 second, f/3.2, 14 mm, ISO 2500 exposures taken. Nine with meteors were used here for a composite image achieved via lightness blending methods.
Diagnostic Cape Starling, Lamprotornis nitens, 25 cm / 9.8 in. COMMON resident in savanna, mixed woodland and gardens; often in quite arid habitat.
Zaagkuild Rift Road, Gauteng Province, South Africa.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Okinawa Rail, Gallirallus okinawae, 30 cm. / 11.8 in. ENDANGERED endemic. "Discovered" in 1981. Sub-tropical forest in northern Okinawa-jima. The population is thought to be 1,500 birds.
Yanburra National Park, Okinawa, Japan.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Long-tailed Jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus pallescens, 15 in / 38.1 cm. UNCOMMON to RARE, but we saw lots of them on Arctic Tundra, nesting in loose colonies, once spotting about 30 in a group, some on the road. Photographed through the vehicle window and the rain.
Council Road, Nome, Alaska, USA.
©bryanjsmith.
record shots
Diagnostic feature review : Brown under tail covert
Bohemian Waxwing BOWA (Bombycilla garrulous)
Duncan BC
DSCN2505
Congrats and Kudos to Liam S. on this a Lifer for him !!!
as we 'covered' some areas together
Fun day to team up on the Christmas Bird Count at Duncan.
I am always learning from this young man.
Lottsa fun.
Mary R. & Rick S were also able to view this (presumably) bird somewhat later in the afternoon.
Quite a thrill to have good views and obvious & clear vocalizations of this impressive species.
DSCN2760
Liam was tuned into this bird and relocated it in a holly farm after his initial discovery in a residential back yard.
We had stopped the vehicle to explore a waxwing flyby .
As we stood out front with our gear ,the friendly homeowners invited us into the back yard .
Shortly thereafter Liam excitedly exclaimed Bohemian Waxwing!
Woot!
:)
-at top of tree as in following post
Diagnostic Chubb's Cisticola, Cisticola chubbi chubbi, 14cm. / 5.5in. Mainly western distribution in East Africa.
Kakamega Forest Nature Reserve, Nandi, Western, Kenya.
©bryanjsmith.
... for a current build. As much fun as fighters and stuff are, non-violent space always holds a special place in this old spacers heart.
Diagnostic Swallow Tanager, Sai-andorinha, Tersina viridis viridis, 15 cm / 5.9 in. Humid forest borders and woodland.
Santa Eliza Trails, Sao Paulo State, Brazil.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Olive-backed Pipit, Olive Tree-Pipit, Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni, 15 cm. / 6.3 in. UNCOMMON for Yunnan, found in open wooded habitats.
River Walk, Yingjiang area, Yunnan Province, China.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Male Red-headed Bluebill, Seermophaga ruficapilla ruficapilla, 14cm. / 5.5in. Locally COMMON in forest, secondary growth and moist thickets. Not eating berries, those are the bill colors.
Kakamega Forest, Vihiga, Western, Kenya.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic feature review : besides red which is also on Cedar Waxwing - this species also has white and yellow wing features
record shots
Bohemian Waxwing BOWA (Bombycilla garrulous)
Duncan BC
DSCN2505
Congrats and Kudos to Liam S. on this a Lifer for him !!!
as we 'covered' some areas together
Fun day to team up on the Christmas Bird Count at Duncan.
I am always learning from this young man.
Lottsa fun.
Mary R. & Rick S were also able to view this (presumably) bird somewhat later in the afternoon.
Quite a thrill to have good views and obvious & clear vocalizations of this impressive species.
DSCN2791
Liam was tuned into this bird and relocated it in a holly farm after his initial discovery in a residential back yard.
We had stopped the vehicle to explore a waxwing flyby .
As we stood out front with our gear ,the friendly homeowners invited us into the back yard .
Shortly thereafter Liam excitedly exclaimed Bohemian Waxwing!
Woot!
:)
-at top of tree as in following post
Diagnostic Pelagis Cormorant, Urile pelagicus pelagicus, 73 cm. / 28.7 in. WS: 98 cm. / 38.6 in. Locally COMMON resident on rocky coasts. It was very windy, cold and rain was falling sideways, we were sheltering in the leeward side of the lighthouse.
Nosappu Point, Hokkaido, Japan.
©bryanjsmith.
GP had to go for diagnostic imaging today at the Smiths Falls site of the Perth and District Hospital seen here. I brought my camera as it was ironic we would be once again going to the Smtihs Falls hospital entering via the ER doors on February 13th and I wanted to take a photo of the hospital for my 365.
The irony of going there on this day was that it was 23 years ago today that I entered the same doors with GP and our middle daughter to say goodbye to my dad.
My dad lived with us and he was always in and out of the Smiths Falls Hospital - he had COPD. He used to laugh and say they should put him on the payroll - he knew all the nurses and janitorial staff by name, their life stories and they knew him.
Doctors or nurses would always call me saying I should get in as his time was short. Every time, over the years he beat their odds. If he went in on a Friday he would be coming home on the Monday despite medical professionals thinking he was on his last legs so-to-speak.
23 years ago today, it would be no different. They called me and said I should come in right away. We got up and left thinking they are wrong he will be coming home. When we arrived though, it would not be the case.
I think he was waiting for me to get there just so I could say goodbye. I held his hand as I told him it was okay for him to go, that I would be okay without him and he took his last breath.
That was the biggest lie I ever told my dad in all my years because, after 23 years I am still not okay without him. My mom passed in 1986 and I am an only child so basically I am an adult orphan I guess. I still miss him terribly as does Mike and our kids.
I did not post this long blurb for anyone's sympathy rather, for a diary I guess of my day on this 365 journey.
SOC no edits other than resized for the web.
I appreciate each and every visit, comment and fave here on my little corner of Flickr. Have a super day!
Diagnostic Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis pratensis, 14 - 15.5cm / 5.5 - 6.1in. Very COMMON in open country, on heaths and moors, coastal meadows, pastures and bogs.
Salina do Sambouco, Alochete County, Setubal, Portugal.
©bryanjsmith.
I pass this structure at times. However, with a stormy day Saturday I took a few images of this building. When converted into black and white, the drama came out! Plus kudos to the groundskeepers for giving me leading lines!
Varlens / Auto Mode / CLASSIC NEG
Lightroom Mobile.