The foothills of the mountains in the Southern Lakes are covered in trees. The acid soils and humid conditions encourage ferns and moss, sessile oaks and the most wonderful beech trees, many of which are copper beech. Holly, rowan and hazel grow here too - the perfect environment for wildlife. Bird song everywhere - just magic. Red squirrels also abide here, unseen (by me, quiet as I was), as they are small and quick.

We even had a pair of nuthatches visit our bird feeder. They became used to me, coming out for the special food I put out for them. They were raising families of course, and so their food was rich in protein. Not cheap, but worth it !

Taken from the top of our 'holiday retreat' path one morning. The light was so lovely.

Thank you as always for your kind comments, faves and invites - hope you feel inspired to visit this wonderful place.

My own texture used - processed in PicMonkey with a touch of Topaz Glow.

SMALL and compact bird with a relatively short. dark tail. This male was seen at Sandwich Bay Kent and was the only bird of note seen today, and a bit distant, hope you enjoy it!

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Trust you are staying safe and well, thanks for your visit, please leave a comment, it is always appreciated, and find it encouraging . God bless.........................Tomx

At the rear of the services on the M6 Toll road. There is a path which climbs a knoll overlooking the service area and where people are encouraged to walk their dogs. As we passed through yesterday there was a digger on the mound putting in the foundation of a new monument to the air ambulance crews. Despite all the noise I took the path and was astonished to see these deer to the rear of the site where the new housing has been built. Although it was wonderful to see it is perhaps another indication of just how far we have encroached on wildlife habitat.

DAZZLINGLY ATTRACTIVE bird, not often seen in our corner of Kent UK, and was not expecting to see it in the Grove Ferry Feast Hide, but what a joy when it landed, he caught a couple of tiddlers and was off, leaving me with the biggest grin ever.

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THANK YOU for your visit and friendship, please leave a comment, it is always appreciated, and find it very encouraging

.The weekend is coming on strong, stay safe, may God bless you.............................Tomx

THE SUPPORT, in your faves, and much more than that, your wonderful encouraging comments mean so much . Your photography has shown so much dedication, and quality in the final image is so impressive. Our united bond with a camera and Gods beautiful nature, pushing the boundaries of achievement every year, being transported around the world with Flickr is amazing. In you and the others I follow, have made many good friends, many I have met, some I will maybe never meet, but we are one in Nature.

Do hope and pray, you will have a joyous time, but please remember the reason for this celebration.

For unto us a child was born,

The Messiah who saves the world. We are blessed to have Christ from this day onward.

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS.

......................Tomx

THEY may be widespread and rather nondescript, streaked brown bird, but I have a real affection for them, as a ground-dwelling species, it is quite approachable with care. Feeds on invertebrates as seen, a bit harder in the capture in the winter when they often form loose flocks.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, please leave a comment, they are always very appreciated and find encouraging, and will look forward to seeing your latest images......In the UK we are in lockdown again from Thurs, not sure if this means not visiting nature reserves?

Please take great care folks, put your trust in our Lord, and we will get through this................God bless you...............Tomx

BUCKINGHAM PALACE lake to the humblest farm pond, the little grebe- often called a dabchick- is the most widespread of its family in Britain as well as the smallest. It is home in any still or fast flowing fresh water, that has a lush growth of vegetation. IT dives at the smallest alarm, coming to the surface some distance away. Love their powder puff tail feathers. Captured in the summer but not shown before !

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THANK EVERYONE, who takes their time to view and comment on my image, it is appreciated and find very encouraging. Will look forward to doing the same on your latest postings.

Keep that smile on your face, and love in your heart for everyone, enjoy every day God made, bless you all............

.............................................Tomx.

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Ask Jesus into your life, you will never regret it !

Brown Hare - Lepus europaeus

Norfolk

Double Click to view

The brown hare is known for its long, black-tipped ears and fast running - it can reach speeds of 45mph when evading predators. It prefers a mosaic of farmland and woodland habitats and can often be spotted in fields.

Thought to have been introduced into the UK in Roman Times (or even earlier), the brown hare is now considered naturalised. It is most common in grassland habitats and at woodland edges, favouring a mosaic of arable fields, grasses and hedgerows. It grazes on vegetation and the bark of young trees and bushes. Brown hares do not dig burrows, but shelter in 'forms', which are shallow depressions in the ground or grass; when disturbed, they can be seen bounding across the fields, using their powerful hind legs to propel them forwards, often in a zigzag pattern. Brown hares are at their most visible in early spring when the breeding season encourages fighting or 'boxing'. Females can produce three to four litters of two to four young (known as leverets) a year.

Widespread, but absent from northern Scotland and the Scottish islands, except Islay, I'm reliably informed.

Brown Hare - Lepus europaeus

Norfolk

Best View Large, double click!

The brown hare is known for its long, black-tipped ears and fast running - it can reach speeds of 45mph when evading predators. It prefers a mosaic of farmland and woodland habitats and can often be spotted in fields.

Thought to have been introduced into the UK in Roman Times (or even earlier), the brown hare is now considered naturalised. It is most common in grassland habitats and at woodland edges, favouring a mosaic of arable fields, grasses and hedgerows. It grazes on vegetation and the bark of young trees and bushes. Brown hares do not dig burrows, but shelter in 'forms', which are shallow depressions in the ground or grass; when disturbed, they can be seen bounding across the fields, using their powerful hind legs to propel them forwards, often in a zigzag pattern. Brown hares are at their most visible in early spring when the breeding season encourages fighting or 'boxing'. Females can produce three to four litters of two to four young (known as leverets) a year.

Widespread, but absent from northern Scotland and the Scottish islands, except Islay, I'm reliably informed.

Another variant of Pasque is Pulsatilla pratensis. It is beautifully shaped like a bell, a little darker than the common Pasque, growing wild on a few sites in southern Sweden. I found it on the island of Öland. Texture Flypaper.

Compare with Common Pasque, Pulstailla vulgaris, in the first comment box.

Thank you very much for kind visit, comment and fav. It´s always encouraging and appreciated! :)

Star bird on a trip to Sri Lanka was the rare and exquisite Serendib Scops Owl. This bird was seen hidden deep in bamboo and, less than a minute after this shot was taken, a thunderstorm broke overhead and I was drenched in seconds!

This owl is the most recently discovered bird of Sri Lanka. It was originally located by its unfamiliar poo-ooo call in rainforest by prominent Sri Lankan ornithologist Deepal Warakagoda. Six years later, it was finally seen by him on 23 January 2001 in Sinharaja, and formally described as a species new to science in 2004. It is the first new bird to be discovered in Sri Lanka since 1868.

Thanks for your visit… Any comment you make on my photograph is greatly appreciated and encouraging! The image is copyright - please do not use without my written permission.

Pink, small, and punctual,

Aromatic, low,

Covert in April,

Candid in May,

Dear to the moss,

Known by the knoll,

Next to the robin

In every human soul.

Bold little beauty,

Bedecked with thee,

Nature forswears

Antiquity.

Emily Dickinson

Warm thanks and greetings to all Flickr friends, who encouraged me yesterday when I was down.

Texture: My own.

Ann Magnolias [?]

With beautiful four-inch-wide blossoms in striking shades of medium pink or reddish-purple, this is an elegant flower that blooms very early and gets up to ten feet in height.

Magnolia flowers belong to the Magnoliaceae family and have around 210 species. They’re considered as the most ancient flowering plants, appearing before bees did. Fossilised specimen of one type of magnolia dated 20 million years while another dates back 95 million years. [...]. It is believed that they have evolved to encourage pollination by beetles. The flowers don’t yield true nectar but protein-rich pollen. www.homestratosphere.com/types-of-magnolias/

The unmistakable endemic Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, also called Ceylon Blue Magpie, in Sinharaja National Park.

Thanks for your visit… Any comment you make on my photograph is greatly appreciated and encouraging! But please do not use this image without permission.

The Imperial Moth is a member of the Saturniidae family and is found from Mexico to Canada and from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Coast. This captive bred female has a wingspan of 11cm and emerged on 05.07.2016.

Thanks for your visit… Any comment you make on my photographs is greatly appreciated and encouraging! But please do not use this image without permission.

Kirby Hill village is situated approximately one mile North of Boroughbridge, in a rural location surrounded by farmland.

Set in the heart of this delightful North Yorkshire village, the Church is very active, full of inspiration and welcoming to newcomers. There are social & children’s activities as well as worship. We have a real interest in providing a wildlife haven and in encouraging everyone to share their talents for the benefit of all. We have an induction loop system and ramp access for wheelchairs.

All Saints' Church is a Grade 1 Listed building with Saxon origins. There has been a settlement in Kirby Hill for over a thousand years and All Saints' Church possesses many interesting historical features including stones dating back to the Saxon era.

I took this photo of my favourite bridge at Derrybawn from the opposite bank of the Gleanealo river just for a change. I think it works ok though the light is always tricky here. It is my most favourite bridge but Im sure you know that already! Lol! Honestly though, so many here seem to like it too so your all to blame for encouraging me!

I find the name Derrybawn somewhat magical It comes from the Gaelige. " Derry " which is a corruption of the word "Daoire" [ Dirra } which means "Oak Trees " and " Bawn " {Bonn} means White.

So it means " The White Oaks ". Now you are all speaking Irish!!! In Ireland sessile oak trees are often referred to as white oaks. There is one giant tree still standing here which was obviously part of a great forest and I have some photos of it on here.

I do hope you like it.

Im off on holidays shortly for two weeks so Ill catch up when I get back.

Best of everything to all of you!

P@t.

Heres Mark Knofler and the late Liam O Flynn playing " An Droichead "- The Bridge;

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLoAqCIS22o

Enjoy.

P.

My photos are also on Flickriver below on attaches link;

www.flickr.com/redirect?url=http://flickriver.com/photos/...

Im honoured that 2 of my photos of Bridges have been chosen for Giorgis Rodinos`s Stone Arched Bridges Gallery.

www.flickr.com/photos/141916128@N05/galleries/72157704494...

Dear Flickr friends all over the world,

this is my last upload in 2009.Will be off to my home island the next two weeks! I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I thank you all for the encouraging comments, faves and warm regards!

May the light be with you in 2010! Keep safe and healthy!

Yours

Fossibear

GAMBIA FEB 2019

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LIVELY MALE SUNBIRD, with a broad violet brest-band. Habits coastal scrub, attracted to small flowering bushes, probing for nectar always on the move, flies with rapid wing beats and a dipping flight, am very happy to have nailed this one, because its no easy job. Zoom in to see its amazing plumage !

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT AND KIND COMMENTS, it is very appreciated, and find encouraging. Stay safe, God bless..........

.............................................Tomx

Apologies for my lack of activity on Flickr - we were away for a few days and on returning, I found my grandson had unwittingly shared his daycare cooties, to which I am defenseless. In any case, a snowy Sunday afternoon and morale boosting hot toddy found me playing with pictures again. This one is from last September just outside Fundy National Park. I like the composition and have come back to it a few times but it's not a great image - there was no sky, it was getting late so the light was poor, and there was a breeze stirring the grasses. Sliders Sunday seemed a good excuse to push the limits and see what would happen - though I was probably encouraged a bit by the toddy. Thanks for your patience.

I would like to thank everyone who take the time to view and comment on my photographs it is greatly appreciated and encouraging

Fog/mist and light frost encouraged me out the other day to a location I've never ventured to before, even though it's reasonably local to me, Risby Warren, in North Lincolnshire.

Being slightly elevated, yes parts of Lincolnshire does have hills, the mist was thinner, and was burning back quick as the sun shone through.

Unfortunately the fencing restricted where I could actually get to. I had seen some great trees (behind me from this viewpoint) but I just couldn't get the composition I wanted. Nevertheless this shot attracted me due to the various leading lines of the power cables, fences, hills and clouds.

NO FAVE WITHOUT COMMENT PLEASE! // DISTINCTIVE FINCH, and a familiar garden resident in many parts of the U.K. The greenfinch has a relatively large, pinkish and conical bill. In all plumages, the yellowish patch on the wings- seen as a yellow bar on the closed wing. Greenfinches are associated with parks, gardens and hedgerows, resident all year round, A beautiful bird that is in charge, when it gets to the feeder, excluding smaller species.

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THANK YOU for your visit and comment, it is always appreciated and find encouraging, Am praying we get some sunshine soon, its so dull and wet. please keep well and warm friends, God bless........ ......Tomx.

For Week 202 in Poetography... A weekly Inspiration. The word/theme this week is thankful

Textures thanks to Shadowhouse Creations; Filters by Topaz

~~~ Thank you all for viewing, kind comments, favs and awards - much appreciated! ~~~

A view of stormy clouds over the Merced River Canyon. Note the red conifers in the middle of the image -- they are victims of bark beetles encouraged by the 4 year California drought. There are many groves of pine and fir trees throughout the Sierra Nevada -- sad to see and a threat to wildfire. And the bark beetles are not limited to the Sierra -- they have laid waste to millions of acres of trees from the Rockies west and from Canada to Colorado.

Hope you have a great day whenever you see this! Thanks, as always, for stopping by and for all of your kind comments -- I appreciate them all.

© Melissa Post 2016

All rights reserved. Please respect my copyright and do not copy, modify or download this image to blogs or other websites without obtaining my explicit written permission.

For the TMI: your ART & NATURE Group Challenge

WE ARE FAMILY

BiG THANKS to EVERYONE for your personal comments and also your support from selected groups.

Awards are always encouraging and especially appreciated from those add my work to their collection of 'faves'.

BiG THANKS to EVERYONE for your personal comments and also your support from selected groups.

Awards are always encouraging and especially appreciated from those add my work to their collection of 'faves'.

Cheerz G

I would like to thank everyone who take the time to view and comment on my photographs it is greatly appreciated and encouraging

Not one I encourage normally, but when they stare at you with such intelligence & confidence and display plumage of such perfect beauty, it's impossible not to offer something. Our house already bears too many cockatoo scars so I need to resist their charming ways.

I was much encouraged by a friend's appreciation to attempt more shots at relatively slow shutter speeds for panning with an 800mm focal length, hand-held lens. I am glad I did as I got several pictures that I wouldn't otherwise have attempted - this is one such taken at 1/60th seconds.

The Gladiator was the last biplane fighter to enter RAF service, in 1937 - the same year as the far more capable Spitfire. Despite looking rather old fashioned, it has a very sprightly performance, compared to other biplanes of the era, but even so, was already pretty much obsolescent when it entered service. It had some relatively novel features such as landing flaps (seen in the lowered position in the picture) and an enclosed cockpit. This latter was not very popular with pilots of the day as 'real flying' involved being in the open air. Later aircraft that flew higher and faster in much colder air soon put paid that attitude! The cockpit hood was kept in the open position for this display.

Watching the sun set on the other side of Ploumanac'h Lighthouse on the Pink Granite Coast

Cotes d'Armor, Brittany

Thank you for your views, encouraging comments and faves!

Please, no invitations to award/forced comment groups or to those with large/animated comment codes.

Morris Island Conservation Area is located along the Ottawa River near the community of Fitzroy Harbour. This 47 hectare site consists of forested woodlands and wetlands. With 6 km of trails, this beautiful island encourages you to enjoy the best of Ontario’s weather throughout the seasons: Hike, canoe, kayak, dog walk, jog, fish, snowshoe, cross country ski and much more. Morris Island Conservation Area is managed by MVCA and jointly owned by Ontario Power Generation and the City of Ottawa. (mvc.on.ca)

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Looking out onto the mighty Ottawa River from the woodland trail. A favourite location for dragonflies, butterflies and orchids during the summer birding doldrums.

Morris Island Conservation Area, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. July 2024.

Eastern Ontario Birding.

Photo taken at: Sol Existance

Kade and I explored Sol a few days ago and vowed to return to capture the beautiful photo opps that were waiting. I truly fell in love with this sim, it has such a draw to me starting with the fact that I wouldn't have even had to change WL as it uses my fav to begin with. It has a mixture of a water color feel to it yet it has a hazy feel that leaves you feeling like you've stepped back in time. Flowers? Got em. BIkes? Got those. Beautifully placed features? Mmhmm most definitely. Love the stone buildings, Light houses? Indeed. Character ? Yep .. in spades. All beautifully done ... and so much more. Cannot wait to snap and hoard more photos ..lol.

Thank you Kade for encouraging me to dig deeper and find shadows and lights .. to find ways to add depth ..I truly appreciate you!!!

on black

i picked these on my way back home tonight, put them in a little beaker next to my computer, next to a simple lampshade... and proceeded to check my email and flickr.

i intended to do a quick, very closeup macro shot of one of them, but i liked the light on them from the lamp -- i decided to go with this.

i'm still posting and running... tired but feeling encouraged.

thank you.

on the blog: toomanytribbles.blogspot.com/2009/09/4-fl-oz.html

I found out on Facebook that my friend, who I originally became friends with on Flickr, has passed away. I never met him, but he was very kind and encouraging to me during my own health problems. He was no longer active on Flickr, but we still occasionally commented on each other’s Facebook posts. R.I.P. Marcel!

Encouraged by the images of others like Ay Naku and Artsee Fartsy I am going to try to be a little more brave and take street shots.

This is of a chess player deep into the game.

HBW

View On Black

Love the trees until their leaves fall off,

then encourage them to try again next year !!

This person is one of my Muslim student who is praying on the occasion of Eid Mubarak.

With divine joy in my heart and a big smile on my face, I am sending you Eid-ul-Fitr wishes. May the Lord help us all be kind and virtuous. Eid Mubarak.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is a holy month of fasting and considered auspicious. It is celebrated as the month during which Prophet Muhammad received the initial revelations of what became the Quran, from God. Muslims fast from dawn to dusk each day during Ramadan to purify the soul and have empathy towards the less privileged. They offer prayers and encourage charity. Ramadan teaches self-control and self-reflection. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated marking the end of the month of Ramadan.

This Eid, let us plead for the well-being of our earth and lead with integrity.

2017

a colourful installation in front of the main train station, Hannover, Germany. Artist: D.C.Nikolic. People are encouraged to walk through to experience a different path, other than their daily walks.

Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light.

Norman B. Rice

We want to reach out to those kids that are having a hard time..., we encourage them to talk to someone, a teacher, counselor, principle, anyone.

Jim Daly

We must reach out our hand in friendship and dignity to both those who would befriend us and those who would be our enemy.

Arthur Ashe

Thank you for your kind visit. Have a wonderful and beautiful day! ❤️❤️❤️

En estos dias con las tormentas de frio que azotan a toda Europa, parece que el lugar, este preparado para que vayamos a disfrutar del suave clima canario, alguien se anima.

In diesen Tagen mit den kalten Stürmen, die ganz Europa treffen, scheint es, dass der Ort bereit ist, um das milde Klima der Kanarischen Inseln zu genießen, wird jemand ermutigt.

En aquests dies amb les tempestes de fred que assoten a tot Europa, sembla que el lloc, aquest preparat perquè anem a gaudir del suau clima canari, algú s'anima

In these days with the cold storms that hit all of Europe, it seems that the place, is ready for us to enjoy the mild climate of the Canary Islands, someone is encouraged.

It's been such an interesting year, a very sad year, a year of happy things, and a year of discovery. Just like any other year i suppose, the best thing for me is that i discovered flickr and from just putting in some family shots for close friends to see i am now the owner of my lovely Nikon, looking at the world through the camera lens which makes it a more beautiful place, and wealthier in that i have met some amazing people who have encouraged me all the way. Thank you all - its been a great journey. I will be away now for 3 weeks in Florida and will take some pictures which i hope you will come over and see when i come back. HAPPY SNAPPING ALL. HWYL AM Y TRO

I would like to thank everyone who take the time to view and comment on my photographs it is greatly appreciated and encouraging

✈ Bitacora Viajera - SL Travel Blog ✈

Thank You Very Much all for your encouraging ♡♡♡

A male Four-spotted Chaser at Fermyn Woods, Northamptonshire.

Thanks for your visit… Any comment you make on my photograph is greatly appreciated and encouraging! But please do not use this image without permission.

thx 4 faves comments invites always encouraging bigger is good!

Created for Kreative People Treat This #224

This week's source images are brought to you by brillianthues and can be viewed in the first comment box below.

BiG THANKS to EVERYONE for your personal comments and also your support from selected groups.

Awards are always encouraging and especially appreciated from those add my work to their collection of 'faves'.

Cheerz G

I went to a forest called "Rude Skov" - yes, the name is weird in English but I assure you that it is not rude ;)

I had all my gear with me but decided only to shoot handheld and to do so in manual mode, so no help from anything but the meter inside the view finder; it was so much fun and actually not that hard. Going manual gave me a sort of peace of mind, knowing how the camera was set and that the shutterspeed or aperture wouldn't change unless I wanted them to. I really encourage you to try manual mode for landscape if you haven't already.

The shots are basically of the same subject around a small lake in the forest but with variations in perspective and composition. Hopefully it's not too boring to look at.

Here's to experimentation! I plan to do a lot more of that in the near future.

Thanks again to Adam and his Landscape Masterclass at First Man Photography - without that I really wouldn't have considered going manual and not even gotten the shot because going through that masterclass has made me rethink how I shoot landscapes. I am still learning; I still struggle when looking for interesting subjects and also the composition. Also, ISO, aperture and shutterspeed is something I still need to incorporate into my workflow for each shot because I tend to forget checking and setting them. Heh.