Mad in America (and the world)
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CHARMING little reedbed specialist has a rather compact, rounded body and a proportionately very long tail. The distinctive call has earned the species the affectionate nickname of "pinger" which utters a diagnostic, high-pitched ping call.. Was overjoyed to get this chance encounter at Oare Marshes in Kent of a male, as I normally only see the female or juveniles, a bit of a nemesis bird for me.
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, its a joy seeing your images and being transported around the world without leaving my armchair. Beautiful sunshine in the U.K at last, enjoy but stay safe............God bless......................Tomx
Small, active warbler with diagnostic yellow face, dark collar, and orange crown. Flashes white outer tail feathers while foraging for insects. Found in montane forest and edges, often in pairs. Follows mixed feeding flocks, often moving quickly through the middle levels of the trees. Sexes alike. (eBird)
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One of my favourite warblers! This little cutie popped up along the trail and entertained us for quite a while. They are bold and are known for being friendly towards people. Such a welcome change after some of the skulky birds we had seen earlier on the trail.
Here’s the link to our Costa Rica trip list: ebird.org/tripreport/477692
San Gerardo de Dota, San José, Costa Rica. February 2026.
Eagle-Eye Tours.
The diagnostic black-white-black patch on the edge of the wings can be seen stretched out in this capture of the Woodlark which I watched preening itself in a clearing within a mixed woodland area of the New Forest.
Thank you all for your views, faves and comments.
This margined calligrapher is a miniature fly, feeding here on the pollen from a bloodroot blossom. Those delightful decorations on its abdomen look like they've been drawn on by a calligrapher. That black spot at the back is diagnostic for this species. Females have a space between their eyes at the top - males eyes would touch. Their larvae eat harmful plant pests like aphids and thrips.
A small, round, brownish owl that is often active by day. It has white speckles on its back and tail; white spots (not bars) on the crown and head are diagnostic. The presence of white-ringed, black blobs on the back of the head give the impression of “false eyes”. Singles and pairs are common in moist and arid wooded savanna, including near villages. It calls an accelerating series of upslurred, piping “fwooo” notes, followed by a set of downward “puuueeeww” whistles. The similar African Barred Owlet is larger; it has bars (not spots) on the head, and it lacks “false eyes”. (eBird)
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He just looks so worried, with the frown and the big sad eyes. So wonderful to see him sitting here in the open, very near to our lodge so that we had time and opportunity to admire him.
Also, it was the first and only time that we saw this lovely species.
Mole National Park, Ghana. March 2019.
Ashanti African Tours.
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.
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Diagnostic Crimson-backed Tanager, Ramphocelus dimidiatus dimidiatus, 17.5cm / 6.75in. COMMON in semi-open areas, forest edge and plantations; locally up to the subtropics.
Hotel Tinamu Birding Nature Reserve, Departamento de Caldas, Colombia.
©bryanjsmith.
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 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.
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.
Pinal county, AZ.
8-30-17.
Photo by: Ned Harris
Note the outer 1/3 of the top of his wing is pale all the way across the wing including the upper wing coverts. This is a diagnostic field mark for Juvenile Red-tailed Hawks.
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.
Vadiúj mérővonat kirándul a Kisalföldön
Under the steep hills of Kisalföld with a brand new diagnostic train.
Mateo es un bebé de ocho meses al que le han diagnosticado leucemia, es nieto de Arturo y necesita un transplante de médula, es probable que hayáis visto, o leído, algo sobre él en los medios de comunicación, por favor dad un vistazo a estos link
medulaparamateo.com/
medulaparamateo.com/ayudanos-a-difundirlo
Ruinas del castillo de Palenzuela (Palencia) que tiene a orgullo haber sido cabeza de alfoz y después cabeza de la merindad del Cerrato castellano con anterioridad a la villa de Baltanás, donde además convivieron en armonía judíos, moriscos y cristianos en sus diferentes aljamas, poblados y aldeas, que eran muchas.
El castillo se vio implicado en las guerras de sucesión del siglo XV, no saliendo bien parado de ellas. Fue prisión reservada para grandes delitos o «delitos políticos», quedando terminantemente prohibido encerrar en él a ningún vecino de la mencionada villa.
Lo mismo ocurre con la iglesia de Santa Eulalia, de estilo gótico ojival, y de la que hoy sólo se conserva su torre almenada y las ruinas consolidadas de su antigua fábrica, esas os la pongo otro día.
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.
A Do-It-Yourself asbestos sampling kit designed for use by home occupants.
While there are several interesting issues about this test kit, the basic premise of having untrained laypersons disturbing suspect (or moreover, actual) asbestos materials in their own home seems most concerning.
Governmental organizations have conducted thorough research and promulgated detailed laws & regulations with specific requirements for asbestos inspection protocols. Professional asbestos inspectors and surveyors are required to possess a requisite amount of asbestos-related experience, receive specialized training from a properly accredited and licensed training provider, and then also be properly licensed and accredited as asbestos inspectors themselves in their respective districts.
Further, properly trained, licensed and accredited asbestos inspectors are medically monitored for wearing specialized HEPA-filtered respirators and employ detailed sampling techniques that are intended to protect themselves and others in the sampling environment.
Professional asbestos inspectors also possess experience at determining adequate sampling strategies and sample quantities for statistically reliable results. Not to mention, the properly trained asbestos inspector utilizes asbestos-related experience to collect samples representative of the respective materials, comprising all layering and other related subtle material anomalies (e.g.- all layers of multi-layered plaster and surfacing materials, all layers of multi-layer pipe insulations, scooping "bottom" of installed vermiculite attic insulation, including joint-compound with gypsum-drywall, inclusion of mastics and adhesives, and many other material-specific sampling methods).
The idea of the general public haphazardly digging into asbestos materials and likely contaminating themselves and their families in their very own homes seems flawed, at the very least.
Also, is this kit suggesting to homeowners that there is no concern for asbestos in homes built after 1978?
Further, one might think a special health warning, cautionary statement, or conspicuous disclaimer about the danger(s) of asbestos exposure on the package would be essential for the purchaser of the asbestos sampling kit.
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 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.
Cmdr. Claude Anderson and Lt. Cmdr Patricia McKay operate on a patient aboard the hospital ship, USNS Comfort (T-AH 20). They performed over 55 surgeries on Iraqi and American personnel during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Comfort is one of two hospital ships operated by Military Sealift Command and is designed to provide emergency, on-site care for U.S. combatant forces deployed in war or other operations. USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) and Comfort each contain 12 fully-equipped operating rooms, a 1,000 bed hospital facility, digital radiological services, a diagnostic and clinical laboratory, a pharmacy, an optometry lab, a cat scan and two oxygen producing plants. Both hospital ships are converted San Clemente-class super tankers. Comfort set sail for New York City and provided housing, laundry, food, medical and other services to volunteers and rescue personnel for nearly three weeks in the wake of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Comfort was activated again in December 2002 and sailed to the Arabian Gulf to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Shane T. McCoy.
Diagnostic Eurasian Linnet, Carduelis cannabina mediterranea, 12.5 - 14cm. Areas thick with bushes in gardens and coastal heath with gorse.
Castello Branco, Portugal.
©bryanjsmith.
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 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 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 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 Chubb's Cisticola, Cisticola chubbi chubbi, 14cm. / 5.5in. Mainly western distribution in East Africa.
Kakamega Forest Nature Reserve, Nandi, Western, Kenya.
©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
... 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 Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Stelgidopteryx ruficollis, 13 cm. / 5 in. Widespread in semi-open areas in humid lowlands and lower subtropical zone.
Buenaventura Reserve, El Oro Province, Ecuador.
©bryanjsmith.
Diagnostic Green-and-Black Fruiteater (Green-and-Black), Pipreola riefferii riefferi, 18cm / 7in. COMMON at mid-levels to the canopy of subtropical and lower temperate forest.
Reserva Biologica Rio Blanco, Departamento de Caldas, Colombia.
©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 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.
Diagnostic Immature Pallid Harrier, Circus macrourus, 45cm / 18in; WS 110cm / 44in. Fairly COMMON Palearctic passage migrant and winter visitor to grasslands.
Maasai Mara, Trans Mara, Rift Valley, Kenya.
©bryanjsmith.