ALTHOUGH it's very wary nature ensures that its attractive plumage is seldom viewed to the best effect and the raucous calls are heard more often than the bird itself is seen. A joy to see as I always consider this to be my Neminis bird.

=====================

THANK YOU for your visit, friendship, and comments, hope you are all keeping well, God bless.................Tomx

I let Azizi clamber over some very new, very hard cherry tomatoes (room temp) to show how tiny he is. He's supposed to eat fruit but like most Tenrec owners, they are faddy so any fruit and veg has to be fed via the bugs! It's called gut loading and it ensures that my 6 quilled wonders get all the nutrients they need.

Dunnock - Prunella Modularis

aka Hedge Sparrow

The dunnock (Prunella modularis) is a small passerine, or perching bird, found throughout temperate Europe and into Asia. Dunnocks have also been successfully introduced into New Zealand. It is by far the most widespread member of the accentor family, which otherwise consists of mountain species. Other common names of the dunnock include the hedge accentor, hedge sparrow, or hedge warbler.

Dunnocks are native to large areas of Eurasia, inhabiting much of Europe including Lebanon, northern Iran, and the Caucasus. They are the only commonly found accentor in lowland areas, all the others inhabit upland areas

Dunnocks were successfully introduced into New Zealand during the 19th century, and are now widely distributed around the country and some offshore islands. Favourite habitats include woodlands, shrubs, gardens, and hedgerows where they typically feed on the ground often seeking out detritivores as food.

The dunnock possesses variable mating systems. Females are often polyandrous, breeding with two or more males at once, which is quite rare among birds. This multiple mating system leads to the development of sperm competition amongst the male suitors. DNA fingerprinting has shown that chicks within a brood often have different fathers, depending on the success of the males at monopolising the female.Males try to ensure their paternity by pecking at the cloaca of the female to stimulate ejection of rival males' sperm. Dunnocks take just one-tenth of a second to copulate and can mate more than 100 times a day. Males provide parental care in proportion to their mating success, so two males and a female can commonly be seen provisioning nestlings at one nest.

Population:

UK breeding:

2,300,000 territories

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

Please follow me on Instagram as well @gregtaylorphotography

All images are the property of Greg Taylor Photography. Do not copy, reprint or reproduce without written consent from me.

Thanks so much to all who choose to look at and comment on my images. It's very much appreciated.

The crew begin their maintenance routine to ensure the loco is ready for its next duties.

The two forms of black-tailed deer that occupy coastal woodlands in the Pacific Northwest of North America are subspecies of the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). They have sometimes been treated as a species, but virtually all recent authorities maintain they are subspecies. The Columbian black-tailed deer is found in western North America, from Northern California into the Pacific Northwest of the United States and coastal British Columbia in Canada. The Sitka deer is found coastally in British Columbia, southeast Alaska, and southcentral Alaska (as far as Kodiak Island).

These two subspecies thrive on the edge of the forest, as the dark forest lacks the underbrush and grasslands the deer prefer as food, and completely open areas lack the hiding spots and cover they prefer for harsh weather. One of the plants that black-tailed deer browse is western poison oak, despite its irritant content. This deer often is most active at dawn and dusk, and is frequently involved in collisions with automobiles. (Wikipedia)

This is the Columbian sub-species. Based on maps of sightings in iNaturalist, the Sitka sub-species is not found on Vancouver Island.

There were three deer roaming the parking lot at our hotel. They then just ambled across the road to the flower beds on the other side, totally oblivious to the traffic. Thankfully, no collisions ensured.

Ucluelet, British Columbia, Canada. May 2022.

Eagle-Eye Tours Ultimate British Columbia.

Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax Nivalis

Snow buntings are large buntings, with striking 'snowy' plumages. Males in summer have all white heads and underparts contrasting with a black mantle and wing tips. Females are a more mottled above. In autumn and winter birds develop a sandy/buff wash to their plumage and males have more mottled upperparts.

Globally, they breed around the arctic from Scandinavia to Alaska, Canada and Greenland and migrate south in winter. They are a scarce breeding species in the UK, in Scotland, making them an Amber List species. They are more widespread in winter in the north and east when residents are joined by continental birds.

They are listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act.

The snow bunting lives in very high latitudes in the Arctic tundra. There is no apparent limit to its northern range, while the southern range is limited by the duration of daylight, which influences their reproductive activity. This species is found in the high Arctic tundra of North America, Ellesmere Island, Iceland, higher mountains of Scotland, Norway, Russia, North Greenland, Siberia, Novaya Zemlya, and Franz Josef Land. During the winter, this bird migrates to the circumglobal northern temperate zone including the south of Canada, north of the United States, north of Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and east to central Asia. During the last ice age, the snow bunting was widespread throughout continental Europe.

During the breeding period the snow bunting looks for rocky habitats in the Arctic Since the vegetation in the tundra is low growing, this bird and its nestlings are exposed to predators, and in order to ensure the survival of its offspring, the snow bunting nests in cavities in order to protect the nestlings from any threat. During this period, buntings also look for a habitat rich in vegetation such as wet sedge meadows and areas rich in dryas and lichens. In the winter, they look for open habitats such as farms and fields where they feed on seeds in the ground.

Population:

UK breeding:

60 pairs

UK wintering:

10,000-15,000 birds

On 21 August 2017, Big Ben's chimes were silenced for four years to allow essential restoration work to be carried out on the tower.

The aim of the renovation is to repair and conserve the tower, upgrading facilities as necessary, and ensuring the tower's integrity for future generations. The last significant renovation work to the tower was carried out during 1983–85.

The original cost of the project was estimated to be roughly £29 million, but this was then more than doubled, to reach about £80 million.

In a statement, UK authorities said: “The Elizabeth Tower conservation project is due to complete in the second quarter of 2022.

A grainy photo showing an Inuit camp at night on an island in lake Tasiujaq (formerly Richmond Gulf and Lac Guillaume-Delisle), Nunavik, Canada.

Lake (lac) Tasiujaq drains several large rivers and is bordered on its west shore by steep cliffs (Hudsonian Cuestas) that are the highest in the province of Quebec.

Lake Tasiujaq is a vast brackish water lake with a narrow opening (called the Goulet) between cuestas to Hudson’s Bay. A large volume of water surges through this bottleneck and is driven by the rise and fall of the tides. The powerful flow ensures that the waters of the Goulet never freeze in winter. Lake Tasiujaq is one of the largest natural lakes in Quebec and is included in the boundaries of Tursujuq national park.

For more information see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Tasiujaq

Photo taken 29 August 2018 on a kayaking expedition.

Camera: Olympus EM1 Mark II

Lens: Olympus 12- 40mm f2.8

P8290294

The awe-inspiring sight of a family of five majestic elephants in the stunning Maasai Mara National Reserve. This captivating photo captures the essence of the bond and harmony shared among these gentle giants, towering against the backdrop of the vast savannah. With their large, flapping ears and gracefully swaying trunks, they navigate the golden grasslands, creating a remarkable sight that embodies the harmony and strength of family bonds in the animal kingdom.

As you take in this mesmerizing scene, imagine the intricate social dynamics, the shared knowledge passed down through generations, and the profound sense of protection and love that unites these magnificent creatures. Let this extraordinary moment in Maasai Mara remind us of the importance of preserving and respecting the natural world, ensuring that future generations can witness the beauty and wonder of these incredible animals.

"Port Moody has one of the few remaining large mudflats in Burrard Inlet. It is an environmentally sensitive area that is home to many nesting shoreline species such as purple martins, osprey, and great blue heron. The mudflats are home to a biodiverse community of fish, shellfish, and other significant tidal species that are sensitive to disturbance. The city’s trail system, including wooden boardwalks that wrap the head of the inlet, is designed so visitors can experience and enjoy the wildlife that live there, while staying off the mudflats. Residents and visitors can stay out of danger, and ensure this special place remains for future generations, by remaining on the designated trails and keeping dogs on a leash."

Nothing makes it feel more like the holidays are truly here than getting the chance to spend time with the friends we love. So you can just imagine my delight when Pengy and Pengu arrived for a Christmas visit with me and Corgsz! Happy twirlszzz! It was a joyful afternoon, filled will laughter and fun!

Little Pengy is so thoughtful, and brought me such lovely gifts! He knows I’m a Georgia Peach, and a mad crazy football fan, so he gifted me the most amazing peach cocktail set, I’m in love with it! And as if that wasn’t incredible enough, he also gave me a magical, good luck football themed handbag that would help ensure wins for my Bulldogs! He also insisted on modeling it for me, and put it around his neck as soon as I opened it! That little rascal!

Pengy loves his snacks, so I gave him a deluxe French fry vending machine, so he can always have hot fries on hand, and I balanced that with some healthier homemade soup and a set of penguin themed mugs...he loves to drink hot chocolate, so that’s what he and Corgsz sipped while Pengu and I indulged in delish peach cocktails! And like all kiddos, lil Pengy likes things that twinkle, so Corgsz chose to gift his friend a light up bunny!

We all had such a lovely day, and our favorite little penguin shows us with each stop on his friendship holiday tour that what matters most in life is our connections to those we hold dear. Thank you my dear Pengu and Pengy, for the treasured gift of friendship, all year through. And for including me in your beautiful, heartwarming holiday series. Love to you both, and to beautiful Andie girl....happiest of holidays to you all!

Wishing everyone a wonderful, magical week! 💕🎄🐇🐧🍑🍷🍟🏈🐶💕

The typical houses of the Ribeira of Porto, in a nonexistent perspective created as fusion of several images (one for each house façade) taken from ground level and always maintaining the focus plane parallel to itself, to ensure maximum resolution from left to right edge. The consequent parallax shifts and perspective distortions were eliminated in post-processing [Nikkor 16-35mm at 16mm, original size 185 megapixels]

In Casa Mila, the two atriums ensure ample lighting in all areas on all floors. Structurally, are key as supporting elements of interior facades. In the courtyards, there are traditional elliptical beams and girders, but Gaudí applied an ingenious solution of using two concentric cylindrical beams with stretched radial beams, like the spokes of a bicycle. They form a point outside of the beam to two points above and below, making the function of the central girder a keystone and working in tension and compression simultaneously. This supported structure is about 3,60 meters (12 feet) in diameter and is considered "the soul of the building" with a clear resemblance to Gothic crypts.

*info and adapted text credits: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casa_Mil%C3%A0

Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax Nivalis

Snow buntings are large buntings, with striking 'snowy' plumages. Males in summer have all white heads and underparts contrasting with a black mantle and wing tips. Females are a more mottled above. In autumn and winter birds develop a sandy/buff wash to their plumage and males have more mottled upperparts.

Globally, they breed around the arctic from Scandinavia to Alaska, Canada and Greenland and migrate south in winter. They are a scarce breeding species in the UK, in Scotland, making them an Amber List species. They are more widespread in winter in the north and east when residents are joined by continental birds.

They are listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act.

The snow bunting lives in very high latitudes in the Arctic tundra. There is no apparent limit to its northern range, while the southern range is limited by the duration of daylight, which influences their reproductive activity. This species is found in the high Arctic tundra of North America, Ellesmere Island, Iceland, higher mountains of Scotland, Norway, Russia, North Greenland, Siberia, Novaya Zemlya, and Franz Josef Land. During the winter, this bird migrates to the circumglobal northern temperate zone including the south of Canada, north of the United States, north of Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and east to central Asia. During the last ice age, the snow bunting was widespread throughout continental Europe.

During the breeding period the snow bunting looks for rocky habitats in the Arctic Since the vegetation in the tundra is low growing, this bird and its nestlings are exposed to predators, and in order to ensure the survival of its offspring, the snow bunting nests in cavities in order to protect the nestlings from any threat. During this period, buntings also look for a habitat rich in vegetation such as wet sedge meadows and areas rich in dryas and lichens. In the winter, they look for open habitats such as farms and fields where they feed on seeds in the ground.

Population:

UK breeding:

60 pairs

UK wintering:

10,000-15,000 birds

THE "PONTE VISCONTEO" on Mincio river,

also called long bridge (ponte longo in local dialect), the Visconti bridge of Borghetto sul Mincio was built in 1393 and completed in 1395 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, in order to ensure the impenetrabilità of the eastern borders of the duchy. It was a time connected to the overlying Castello Scaligero by two tall embattled curtains and integrated into the fortified complex said Serraglio, that stretched for about 16 km in the Veronese plain up to the marshes of Grezzano. The central cone is situated almost astride on the Mincio, into the underlying zone were present the mouths of sliding of the River (built by diverting the flow of the water course) made skip in 1701 by the French, now are visible the lateral parts of the arches and the bases for resting on the bottom of the River Mincio.

© All rights reserved

it seems very likely that St Anthony's Chapel was closely associated with Holyrood Abbey, which stood just a few hundred yards away to the north-west. The two were linked by a well-made stone track (now heavily worn) with prominent kerbstones that can in places still be seen, and about three quarters of the way along this track up to the chapel is the spring and carved stone bowl known as St Anthony's Well.

It's tempting to think of St Anthony's Chapel as an outlying chapel for Holyrood Abbey, perhaps constructed as a means of getting pilgrims out from under the feet of the monks in the abbey. It has also been suggested that the chapel served as a sort of religious beacon, designed to be clearly visible to sea-borne pilgrims coming to Holyrood Abbey as they sailed up the River Forth.

As for dating, there are references to a grant paid for repairs to St Anthony's Chapel by the Pope in 1426, suggesting the building could date back into the 1300s or beyond. Details of its demise are equally unclear, but presumably, like Holyrood Abbey itself, St Anthony's Chapel fell into disuse and disrepair after the Reformation in 1560.

Today, all that remains of the chapel are parts of the north wall plus remnants of another building a little to the south-west, which has sometimes been called a hermitage but was probably just a store room. The remaining chapel wall shows signs of vaulting, and it is thought that when complete the building would have comprised a small three-bay chapel, with a three-storey tower at its west end. This odd shape, almost as tall as it was long, supports the idea that the chapel was designed as much to ensure distant visibility as to accommodate worshippers.

The Krimml Waterfalls (German: Krimmler Wasserfälle), with a total height of 380 metres (1,247 feet), are the highest waterfall in Austria.[1] The falls are on the Krimmler Ache river and are located near the village of Krimml in the High Tauern National Park in Salzburg state.

Krimmler Waterfalls is a tiered waterfall. The waterfall begins at the top of the Krimmler Ache valley, and plunges downward in three stages. The upper stage has a drop of 140 metres, the middle of 100 metres, and the lowest a drop of 140 metres. The highest point of the waterfall is 1,470 metres above sea level.

The Krimmler Ache is a glacial stream whose flow varies greatly with season. Its volumetric flow in June and July is 20,000 m³/h (about 5.28 million gallons per hour), while in February it is only 500 m³/h (about 0.13 million gallons per hour). The greatest measured flow was on 25 August 1987, when it was 600,000 m³/h, or almost 160 million gallons per hour.

After the falls, the river joins the Salzach, which flows to the Inn, then into the River Danube and finally to the Black Sea.

To ensure that tourists could see more of the waterfall without difficulty, Ignaz von Kürsinger, from Mittersill, created a path to the upper part of the waterfall. In 1879, the Austrian Alpine Club improved the road to provide a more panoramic view. About 400,000 people visit the falls annually. The misty spray of the waterfall creates ideal growth condition for hundreds of mosses, lichens and ferns. The surroundings are the habitat for 62 bird species.[3]

There is a negative impact on the local residents due to the high traffic level in a small village, and because of erosion to the road.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krimml_Waterfalls

Les larves rouge de Trombidiidae (Allothrombium fuliginosum) dont le principal objectif est de trouver un hôte (pucerons ou papillons) pour s’y fixer en parasite externe. Elles ont une semaine pour le faire, si elles échouent elles sont condamnées. Une fois l’hôte trouvé, la larve se fixe indifféremment sur n’importe quelle partie du corps sur lequel elle prélève, en 3 ou 4 jours suffisamment de nourriture pour assurer la suite de son développement.

www.european-lepidopteres.fr/L-acarien-rouge-Trombidiidae...

The red larvae of Trombidiidae (Allothrombium fuliginosum) whose main objective is to find a host (aphids or butterflies) to attach themselves as an external parasite. They have a week to do it, if they fail they are doomed. Once the host is found, the larva attaches indifferently to any part of the body from which it takes, in 3 or 4 days, enough food to ensure the continuation of its development.

COLOURFUL AND DISTINCTIVE bird, although its wary nature ensures that its attractive plumage is seldom viewed. This was a rare chance of a capture, which I took. Utters a loud and harsh scream when disturbed, a woodland bird that buries acorns in the autumn, for winter months, and a fact that this bird is rather shy nature because they are still persecuted in many parts. Zoom in to see that beautiful plumage!

=====================

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND KIND COMMENTS, it is very appreciated. Please stay safe, keep well, God bless................. ...............Tomx

Rhinoceros: since 1973 the population has recovered well and increased to 544 animals around the turn of the century. To ensure the survival of the endangered species in case of epidemics animals are translocated annually from Chitwan to the Bardia National Park and the Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve since 1986. However, the population has repeatedly been jeopardized by poaching: in 2002 alone, poachers killed 37 individuals in order to saw off and sell their valuable horns.[6] Chitwan has the largest population of Indian rhinoceros in Nepal, estimated at 605 individuals out of 645 in total in the country.

Der Park ist bekannt für die Population des Panzernashorns, die bis zur Jahrtausendwende auf 544 Tiere und bis zum Frühjahr 2015 auf 645 Nashörner[6] angewachsen war. Seit 1986 werden alljährlich Tiere von Chitwan in den Bardia-Nationalpark und in das Suklaphanta-Wildreservat übersiedelt. Die Population war aber immer wieder durch Wilderei stark gefährdet: allein im Jahre 2002 haben Wilderer 37 Tiere grausam getötet, um das kostbare Horn absägen und verkaufen zu können. Die letzte Zählung im Jahr 2011 ergab insgesamt 503 Nashörner im Park, im selben Zeitraum starben zwei Tiere durch Wilderer. Bei der Zählung im Frühjahr 2015 wurden 645 Tiere in Nepal gefunden[6], davon 605 im Chitwan-Nationalpark[8], während gleichzeitig in den letzten drei Jahren kein Tier durch Wilderer ums Leben kam.

Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax Nivalis

Snow buntings are large buntings, with striking 'snowy' plumages. Males in summer have all white heads and underparts contrasting with a black mantle and wing tips. Females are a more mottled above. In autumn and winter birds develop a sandy/buff wash to their plumage and males have more mottled upperparts.

Globally, they breed around the arctic from Scandinavia to Alaska, Canada and Greenland and migrate south in winter. They are a scarce breeding species in the UK, in Scotland, making them an Amber List species. They are more widespread in winter in the north and east when residents are joined by continental birds.

They are listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act.

The snow bunting lives in very high latitudes in the Arctic tundra. There is no apparent limit to its northern range, while the southern range is limited by the duration of daylight, which influences their reproductive activity. This species is found in the high Arctic tundra of North America, Ellesmere Island, Iceland, higher mountains of Scotland, Norway, Russia, North Greenland, Siberia, Novaya Zemlya, and Franz Josef Land. During the winter, this bird migrates to the circumglobal northern temperate zone including the south of Canada, north of the United States, north of Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and east to central Asia. During the last ice age, the snow bunting was widespread throughout continental Europe.

During the breeding period the snow bunting looks for rocky habitats in the Arctic Since the vegetation in the tundra is low growing, this bird and its nestlings are exposed to predators, and in order to ensure the survival of its offspring, the snow bunting nests in cavities in order to protect the nestlings from any threat. During this period, buntings also look for a habitat rich in vegetation such as wet sedge meadows and areas rich in dryas and lichens. In the winter, they look for open habitats such as farms and fields where they feed on seeds in the ground.

Population:

UK breeding:

60 pairs

UK wintering:

10,000-15,000 birds

Details

Howden Reservoir seen from Abbey Bank.

Two images blended together to try to ensure sharpness throughout the whole scene.

The blue connection

The construction of the blue connection began in 2012 and continued until 2020.

It is a special connection between the South Park in Rotterdam , the landscape Buijtenland in Rhoon and Zuidpolder in Barendrecht , South Holland , the Netherlands .

It is a complete recreational navigable route to and at the same time functions as an ecological connection between the green areas in and around Rotterdam . The blue connection, also ensures clean water that comes from the Oude Maas and serves as a climate buffer .

A grand project , which is something different than the mega buildings major cities normally construct.

The blue connection is a recreational route for people with their canoes , small rowing boats and electric little boats and also is an attractive place for swimmers and fishermen. The shorelines are made as naturally as possible.

The plant and animal life to flourish will come through this connection. It's a matter of time before we can identify the beaver. There already live rabbits , bats , songbirds and waterfowl in the area. In addition to the herons , we can also find the spoonbill and they even hope that the bittern returns. Highland cattle is grazing in the Koedood , which is also a part of this structure .

The Pendrechtse Mill is a true photographic attraction in the Southern Border Park , the part of the connection between Rotterdam and Barendrecht . This is mainly because the sunset and sunrise, during a few weeks each year , are behind the mill

Areas to enjoy , photograph and just that piece of nature that we need in our overpopulated country.

De blauwe verbinding

De aanleg van de blauwe verbinding startte in 2012 en was klaar in 2020.

Het is een bijzondere verbinding worden tussen het Zuiderpark in Rotterdam, het landschapspark het Buijtenland in Rhoon en de Zuidpolder in Barendrecht, in Zuid-Holland , Nederland.

Het is een compleet recreatieve bevaarbare route worden en tegelijkertijd fuctionert het als een ecologische verbinding tussen de verschillende groengebieden in en om Rotterdam. Ook zorgt de blauwe verbinding voor schoon water, wat afkomstig is van de Oude Maas en dient het als klimaatbuffer.

Een groots project, wat wel even iets anders is dan de megagebouwen die de grote steden normaliter neerzetten.

De blauwe verbinding , of aansluiting, wordt een vaarroute voor recreanten met hun kano’s, kleine roei- en elektrische motorbootjes. Ook is de verbinding een aantrekkelijke plek voor zwemmers en sportvissers. De oevers worden natuurlijk ingericht.

Het planten en dierenleven zal tot een grote bloei komen door deze verbinding. Het is een kwestie van tijd voordat we de bever kunnen signaleren. Er leven al konijnen, vleermuizen, zang- en watervogels in het gebied. Naast de reigers, kunnen we ook de lepelaar vinden en ze hopen zelfs dat de roerdomp terugkeert. Schotse Hooglanders grazen in de Koedood, wat ook een onderdeel van deze structuur is.

De Pendrechtse Molen is een ware fotografische attractie in het Zuidelijk Randpark, het deel van de verbinding wat tussen Rotterdam en Barendrecht ligt. Dit komt vooral omdat, gedurende enkele weken per jaar, de zonsondergang en zonsopkomst de molen prachtig tot zijn recht laten komen.

Gebieden om van te genieten, te fotograferen en net dat stuk natuur wat we in ons overbevolkte land nodig hebben.

Having endured the 1957 F1 season without winning a race, Ferrari introduced the 246 Dino in 1958 to try and stop the decline in their racing fortunes.

The 1958 regulations made the use of AvGas (aviation gasoline) instead of alcohol mandatory. Ferrari looked to the 2.4ltr v6 engine (the first v6 in F1) that was designed from scratch with AvGas as the fuel, instantly providing an advantage over its rivals that had to be modified from running alcohol. (reduction in engine size to 2.5ltrs for normally aspirated engines happened in 1954.)

Mike Hawthorn won the F1 drivers championship that year in the Dino, mainly due to consistency rather than outright pace, taking a number of second places during the season to ensure that he lifted the drivers trophy. Vanwall took the constructors championship having managed to win 6 of the seasons races

Previous shot of this car (and two others) can be seen here.

________________________________

Dave Adams Automotive Images

This is a female cheetah with cubs on a termite mound in the Masai Mara region of Kenya. Yes, a classic scene from the region!

She is scanning the environment looking for prey for her youngsters. She ended up being successful later that evening, catching an impala just before sunset.

Most baby cheetahs don't survive as a result of predator threats. This mother is truly amazing, having raised all her cubs from her last litter to adulthood.

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All images are copyright protected so please do not use any of my work for commercial purposes. Prints are available. For info please contact me directly until I have a website.

Cologne’s extensive public transport network ensures convenient and fast travel around the town. The Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe (KVB) local transport company moves daily around 800,000 people with almost 60 lines, a good 380 trams and 320 buses. Most local train stations are linked to tram stops and are equipped with live departure boards.

Almost all KVB trams and buses are provided with ticket machines. You can pay with coins or “Geldkarte” money card/e-purse. Besides, tickets are available at ticket machines next to public transport stops and at any KVB travel desk.

(Text source: KVB website)

Nearly walked past this, at Hastings beach. Needed the right angle and a very careful crop to ensure it wasn't just me photographing someone else's art

..HBM!!

This restaurant chain is new to Austin. The setting is pretty cool. You can get you food and wonder outside to eat it in a pretty setting. Here's some info from the Internet

A health-driven, seasonal restaurant merging nutrient-rich ingredients with a flavor-forward menu that rotates regularly to let guests experience great-tasting ingredients at the peak of their freshness. Our open kitchen brings guests closer to our culinary craft while showcasing that there’s nothing secret about the way we prepare our dishes.

Our scratch bar is brimming with a selection of wine, local beers and seasonal cocktails made using fresh-pressed fruit and vegetable juices paired with organic spirits.

We take great pride in a menu that caters to nearly every food preference with a variety of gluten-free, naturally organic, vegetarian and vegan offerings.

Our commitment to quality and creativity ensures a menu that encourages exploration all throughout the year. Every meal at True Food Kitchen is an opportunity to further your journey toward healthy living.

Buergbrennen is a celebration centred on a huge bonfire which takes place on the first Sunday in Lent in Luxembourg and surrounding areas. The burning of fires originated with pagan feasts in connection with the spring equinox on 21 March.The local authorities or youth organisations usually make the arrangements for the Buergbrennen. They collect wood, often old Christmas trees, from the inhabitants and make the buerg or bonfire, usually on the top of a neighbouring hill and clad with hay to ensure rapid burning. There is often a cross rising high above the centre of the fire. Torchlight processions to the bonfire sometimes take place and there are usually stands for food and drink. The firemen are present to ensure against accidents. In some areas, the most recently married couple have the honour of lighting the fire.

This Hoatzin pair were doing their bit to ensure the continuation of their kind, which may appear primitive to humans but which are successful in their environment. Hoatzin are fairly common through most of their quite large distributional range in South America. These birds were at Cocha Machuwasi, a small lake gained via a short trail off Manu Road in Peru.

Island of Madagascar

Off The East Coast of Africa

Palmarium Reserve

The Parson's chameleon (Calumma parsonii) is a large species of chameleon that is endemic to isolated pockets of humid primary forest in eastern and northern Madagascar.

A long-lived species, C. parsonii may not reach sexual maturity until they are 3 - 5 years of age and may live to be more than 20 years old. C. parsonii are native to the primary rainforests of the elevated eastern area of Madagascar, up to an altitude of about 7,000 feet. However, their range extends all the way down to the eastern coast, where trade winds bring moisture ladden air to the land.

Parson's are very stationary animals. Adults may go for long periods without moving except to eat, drink, mate or deficate. They also do not spend much time basking, like many other true chameleons. They will, however, sit in the sun for short periods and slightly flatten one side of their body toward the sun. These sunning sessions are rarely more than 10 - 15 minutes long and usually take place early in the morning as soon as sun is available.

Near threatened according to the IUCN red list. The loss of humid forest, mainly through conversion from slash-and-burn agriculture but also due to logging, is a threat to this species. Much of the habitat of this species is extremely fragmented, and small forest fragments are unlikely to be viable to ensure persistence of this large chameleon that occurs at low densities. – Wikipedia

Bundar is a 6 year old male Malayan tiger. With only about 250 remaining in the wild Malayan tigers are the most at risk tigers for going extinct. Without managed care to boost their numbers, and to ensure genetic diversity, they will most likely go extinct.

Brian ensures he keeps his slime-alcohol level below the Scottish legal limit of 0.05%. Because he always drinks responsibly, he is generally the designated crawler when out with his friends.

For Macro Mondays theme 'Beverage'.

No snails were harmed or became inebriated in the making of this photograph.

Insekten sind bei Blumen stets gern gesehene Gäste.

Insects ensure the existence in the plant world. Just because they are not petting animals, we shouldn't neglect them.

Taken for the Macro Monday theme of 'slices' of food.

A slice of toast loaded with Vintage Dundee Orange Marmalade.

"In 1797 the first jar of marmalade was produced in Dundee, Scotland. Mackays, a family business, is now the last remaining producer of the Dundee Orange Marmalade in the Dundee area - 'The Home of Marmalade'

Using traditional open copper pans, the highest quality bitter Seville oranges and their authentic methods, ensure rich fruit flavours in every batch and that special home-made taste you expect"

It was delicious!!

This is normally held in September, but moved up to May this year to ensure there would be enough water in the river!!

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

A hidden gem where nature flourishes amidst the busy urban is located in the center of Dubai. Greetings from Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, a sanctuary for both environment lovers and animal aficionados. Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, which is situated at the mouth of the ecologically significant Dubai Creek, is essential to the restocking of the fishing grounds for the neighboring communities of Deira, Shindhaga, and Bur Dubai. This sanctuary was created in 1985 and was formally designated as a protected area in 1998. Its ecological significance has won it acclaim on a global scale.

In 2007, it was designated as a Ramsar Site under the Ramsar Convention, highlighting its importance on a global scale. Additionally, Birdlife International has identified it as a Globally Important Bird Area (IBA), further solidifying its status as an exceptional wetland within the UAE. (DubaiTourVisa.com)

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We had a two day layover in Dubai on our way home from New Zealand and Singapore. So of course, we went birding. This is the view from the Mangrove Hide, one of three luxurious hides situated at the Sanctuary. These hides are the only access points for viewing and are managed carefully to ensure that the birds are not disturbed. We saw 31 species in just one morning, including one lifer and many flamingoes. An easy visit for any birder with a few hours to spare when visiting Dubai.

This is a two-image panorama.

Dubai, UAE. March 2024.

Macro Mondays: Anachonism (something that is out of place in modern time). Image is cropped to ensure it fits within the 3" size limits.

I seem to have misplaced or possibly thrown out :( all of our cassette tape collection. I texted my husband if he knows where it is and he is certain it is in the garage which is where one stereo that still plays cassette tapes is located. I looked in the garage but couldn't find the box of cassette tapes. While I was out there I decided to take a look in the stereo and I lucked out...one, dusty, old AC/DC tape to the rescue!

Thank you so much for your visit! Happy Macro Monday and have a great week!

From Wikipedia:- "The Guildhall and Stonebow, Lincoln, has been the meeting place of Lincoln City Council from Medieval times to the present. The term Stonebow, which is derived from the Danish word stennibogi, indicates a stone archway that visitors entering the city from the south, along the High Street, would have passed through. It is a Grade I listed building.

The first gateway on the site, which formed the southern gateway to the City on Lincoln on Ermine Street, the main road from London to York, was completed in the early 211 AD. The gateway would have become known as the Stonebow some time after the Viking invasion of England in the late 8th century. The Guildhall, which had been located in the south east corner of the city, was moved to a new location over the Stonebow in 1237. In 1386 King Richard II presented a sword to city officials who ensured that it was displayed in the building. The Guildhall and Stonebow were demolished in the late 14th century but, due to a shortage of funds, the present building was only completed around 1520."

Cottonwood Creek in Sierra County is a nice place to view the progression of Autumn. A heady dose of cottonwoods, willows, and aspens ensures your autumn needs are met. Watch out for the bears.

Sierra County CA

In this photo, a male and female dragonfly are seen connected after mating. The male remains attached to the female, a behavior called mate guarding. This ensures his sperm has the highest chance of fertilizing her eggs while they search for an ideal spot to lay them.

Eastbound CB&Q dinky makes a station stop at Highlands as a westbound express rolls through on the middle track. Trainman is likely standing at the crosswalk to ensure debarking passengers don't unwittingly walk into the path of the oncoming train. Hinsdale IL, June 1968.

196807KC11-31ef

Great Egret Landing,

Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. The bird life of Sri Lanka is very rich for its size and 505 species have been recorded. In addition to the many resident birds, a considerable number of migratory species winter in the country to escape their northern breeding grounds.

Great egret is a common but overlooked bird in Sri Lanka

I was taken this photo at Wewita Lake, Bandaragama, SriLanka.

This is Atticus, a male Regal Jumping Spider. We got him at the same time as Lucy, the female that I posted a photo of about a week ago. Atticus took a little longer to get acclimated to his new home. So, I waited longer to take photos of him. I wanted to ensure that I didn't frighten him any more than he already was. When I photographed him today, he was calm, curious, and full of charisma.

This species is found in the southeastern U.S., the Greater Antilles, and the Bahamas, but is most common in peninsular Florida. Atticus and Lucy were both captive bred by a professional breeder located here in the Eastern United States.

I enjoy participating in Macro Mondays challenges each week. Usually it takes a while to find a subject; sometimes I don't succeed.

But this week for 'corner' I have too many ideas.

Three in my triptych:

1 of 6 corners of a hexagonal small pottery coaster with leaf motif made by Clare

a book corner of a slim volume: Irène Némirovsky's 'Ida'

a corner of a flowery birthday gift bag

posted for Sliders Sunday -- Post Processed To The MAX!

My entries always need much processing, including a disproportionate amount to ensure that the macro fits within a strict size.

Waves and current have kept this section of the St. Lawrence River clear of ice. There's a warming trend now through Christmas, but there's enough snow to ensure a white one.

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118/100 Paddles, 2016.

Giant otters eat their prey face first. By starting at the head, otters can quickly disable their prey by crushing the fish's skull. This also ensures that the fish’s sharp fins, spines, or scales are swallowed in a more manageable way as the body follows head-first.

Captured during a photo tour with Juan Carlos Vindas of Neotropic Photo Tours. www.neotropicphototours.com.