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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.
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THANK YOU for your visit, friendship, and comments, hope you are all keeping well, God bless.................Tomx
This puma gave us a glance to ensure we were not approaching her cache of a previous kill. (There was no chance of that !)
Puma / Mountain Lion / Cougar - Patagonia Chile
At one time confined to Wales as a result of persecution, a reintroduction scheme has brought red kites back to many parts of England and Scotland. Central Wales, central England - especially the Chilterns, central Scotland - at Argaty and along the Galloway Kite Trail are the best areas to find them.
In 1989, six Swedish birds were released at a site in north Scotland and four Swedish and one Welsh bird in Buckinghamshire. Altogether, 93 birds of Swedish and Spanish origin were released at each of the sites, with the last birds released in 1993 in Scotland and 1994 in England.
The first successful breeding was recorded at both sites in 1992, and two years later kites reared in the wild themselves reared young for the first time. Successful breeding populations have become established in both locations.
These early successes justified the next stages of the programme with the aim to produce five self-sustaining breeding populations of red kites in Britain by year 2000. The eventual aim is to ensure that the red kite breeding population expands to colonise all suitable habitat throughout the UK.
Taken at Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forest Mid Wales.
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
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Thanks so much to all who choose to look at and comment on my images. It's very much appreciated.
Southern Rockhopper penguin family - - Bleaker Island - - Falklands
These poor birds have such a challenge ensuring their chicks survive - - the Brown Skua is relentless at distracting them off the nest and then snatching their chicks.
We witnessed it a number of times - - just awful - - but it is nature
C'est la vitesse acquise durant le vol en piqué qui assure le succès de la chasse du martin-pêcheur. Le piqué est accéléré par de rapides battements des ailes, et l'oiseau, après avoir crevé la surface, peut atteindre une profondeur de 1 m, bien que celle-ci ne dépasse généralement pas quelques centimètres. La proie est capturée par surprise et le martin-pêcheur remonte aussitôt à la surface.
De retour sur son perchoir, le martin-pêcheur assomme vigoureusement sa proie contre le sol ou une branche puis la place adroitement dans son bec, dans le sens de la longueur, et l'avale tête la première, de façon à ce que les nageoires n'opposent aucune résistance. Parfois, les circonstances l'obligent à lancer le poisson en l'air pour le rattraper dans la bonne position.
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It is the speed acquired during the dive flight that ensures the success of the kingfisher hunt. The dive is accelerated by rapid flapping of the wings, and the bird, after having punctured the surface, can reach a depth of 1 m, although this one does not generally exceed a few centimeters. The prey is caught by surprise and the kingfisher goes back to the surface.
Back on its perch, the kingfisher vigorously kills its prey against the ground or a branch and places it deftly in its beak, in the sense of the length, and swallows it head first, so that the fins do not oppose any resistance. Sometimes, circumstances force him to throw the fish in the air to catch him in the right position.
Grand pic - Femelle
Pileated Woodpecker - Female
Dryocopus pileatus
En dépit des intempéries, la faune doit continuer ses recherches intensives de nourriture pour assurer sa survie.
Despite the bad weather animals must continue their intense searches for food to ensure their survival.
Merci pour votre visite, vos favoris et vos commentaires. Je les apprécie grandement!
Thanks for stopping by, for your faves and comments everyone!
Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax Nivalis
Double click to View
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
** Image d'archives : Octobre 2018 **
Les oiseaux consacrent beaucoup de temps à entretenir leur plumage. L'imperméabilité est assurée grâce à leur glande uropygienne,située à la base de la queue. Elle secrète un liquide gras dont ils s'enduisent les plumes. Sans que nous en connaissions la raison, certains oiseaux s'exposent volontiers au soleil, queue et ailes étalées. D'autres espèces aiment à prendre des bains de terre sèche et poudreuse. Les geais des chênes et étourneaux sansonnet préfèrent les fourmis. Ces dernières font un apport en acide formique qui a des propriétés insecticides. Après le bain, le lissage pour réajustement des plumes est une opération importante qui exige du temps. Un plumage bien entretenu est le gage de la survie .
Image prise dans un milieu naturel et depuis la tente affût .
PS : Un grand merci à toutes celles et ceux qui choisissent de regarder , de commenter et d'aimer mes photos . C'est très apprécié , comme vous l'avez constaté , je ne répond plus directement suite à votre commentaire juste pour dire en fait " merci et bonne journée " , mais en retour je passe laisser une petite trace chez vous sur une ou plusieurs de vos éditions .
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** Archive image: October 2018 **
Birds spend a lot of time caring for their plumage. The impermeability is ensured thanks to their uropygian gland, located at the base of the tail. It secretes a fatty liquid with which they smear their feathers. Without our knowing the reason, some birds are willing to expose themselves to the sun, their tail and wings spread out. Other species like to take dry, powdery earth baths. Eurasian jays and starlings prefer ants. The latter provide formic acid which has insecticidal properties. After bathing, smoothing to readjust the feathers is an important operation that requires time. Well-maintained plumage is the guarantee of survival.
Image taken in a natural environment and from the lookout tent.
PS: A big thank you to all those who choose to look at, comment on and like my photos. It is much appreciated, as you have noticed, I no longer respond directly to your comment just to say in fact "thank you and have a good day", but in return I will leave a small trace with you on one or more of your editions.
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.
Thanks to the persistant pioneering of the Frisian-Groninger farmers and monks the current dyke construction ensures that the low hinterland can no longer flood by the sea.
But nevertheless, the sea can still be furious in this area.
Pay attention to the water level of the sea and the level of the hinterland, which is clearly below sea level at high tide!!
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Brunnby Church lies in the countryside to the north of Höganäs. It is one of the most popular churches for weddings in the region. The church was built of granite at the turn of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The exterior is whitewashed. It is the interior that provides the main attraction, however. Fifteenth century frescoes cover the walls, ensuring that there are more saints watching over you here than in any other church in Skåne.
For Swedish visitors:
The Passetto di Burgo is an elevated passage from Castel Sant'Angelo to the Vatican. It was built in 1277 to ensure safe passage to and from the castle. This is from the top of the Castel Sant'Angelo. #B&W #Rome #Italy #PassettoDiBurgo #urban #city #イタリア #街
"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! 💕🎄🐇🐧🍑🍷🍟🏈🐶💕
A new version of yellow daffodil for the "one-of-a-kind" flower images project.
Did you know...
If you present someone with a single daffodil, legend has it bad luck may be on the horizon. Instead, deliver a whole bunch of them: a gift of several daffodils is believed to ensure happiness to the recipient. But that’s no surprise to us! It seems impossible not to feel just a little bit of joy at the sight of them.
Daffodil bulbs contain a compound called narciclasine. Scientists have discovered this substance may actually be effective in treating brain cancer!
"Madame Meilland" est un trésor végétal sauvé de la seconde guerre mondiale. Voici son histoire:
Afin de protéger sa création de l'invasion de la France par l'Allemagne en juin 40, Francis Meilland fit parvenir ses boutures à des amis basés en Turquie, en Italie et en Allemagne.
La plante fut aussi envoyée aux Etats-Unis sous forme de quelques greffons, via le consul américain qui utilisa le dernier avion à quitter la région lyonnaise en 1942. La variété fut ainsi préservée par Robert Pyle, un rosiériste de Pensylvanie, ami américain de la famille Meilland depuis 1933.
A l'automne 1942, F. Meilland publia cette nouvelle rose dans le catalogue de l'entreprise, lui attribuant le nom de sa mère décédée 10 ans plus tôt: Madame A. Meilland.
Après la signature de l'armistice le 8 mai 1945, F. Meilland reçut une nouvelle inattendue de la part de Robert Pyle: Il avait officiellement lancé la commercialisation du rosier N°3-35-40 sous le nom de "PEACE". Le baptême avait été organisé par l'American Rose Society à Pasadena en Californie en présence de vedettes de cette époque.
C'était le jour de la chute de Berlin, date considérée officiellement comme marquant la fin de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale en Europe !
La nouvelle "Rose Peace" fut offerte aux 49 personnes des différents pays, qui, le 26 juin 1945 se réunirent à San Francisco pour constituer l'ONU.
Une "ROSE de la PAIX" était posée sur le bureau de chacun des délégués, accompagnée de cette note; "NOUS ESPERONS QUE LA "ROSE PEACE" PORTERA LES PENSEES HUMAINES VERS UNE PAIX DURABLE DANS LE MONDE"...
Quand la petite histoire rejoint la grande Histoire...
J'aurai toujours un rosier Madame Meilland dit "Rose Peace" dans mon jardin...
Here is the History of the rose "Madame Meilland" or "PEACE ROSE":
The history of "Peace Rose" and how it came about is a fascinating story wich is well worth telling.
In 1935, the French rose breeder Françis Meilland chose fifty seedlings from his seed beds. One of which was labelled 3-35-40. Over the next few years, F. Meilland watched its development with interest and planned to launch the new rose as "Madame Antoine Meilland" in honour of his mother.
However, a few months later, Hitler invaded France and the future of the rose nursery looked dire. To ensure that the new rose was not lost forever, F. Meilland managed to get 3 parcels of budwood out of the country, one of which was smuggled out in a diplomatic bag on the last plane out of France. The budwood was sent to another rose breeder, Robert Pyle, in Pensylvania, USA.
Over the next few years, F. Meilland launched his new rose in France as "Madame Antoine Meilland". He was not aware that some of the budwood had reached Germany, and Italy and the rose was being sold under different names. In Germany, it was called "Gloria Dei", and in Italy "Gioia".
F. Meilland had not had any word from America and had no idea the fate of his rose over there.
It was not untill liberation of France in 1945, that F. Meilland finally heard from Robert Pyle that the rose had survived the war and was being grown successfully.
In the meantime, F. Meilland had decided to change the name of the rose. He wrote to Field Marshall Alan Brooke to thank him for his part in the liberation of France, and to ask him if he would give his name to the rose. The Field Marshall declined stating that a far more fitting name would be "PEACE".
The new name "Peace" was publicly announced in America by Robert Pyle on the 29th April 1945, the very day that Berlin fell and was officialy considered the end of Second World War in Europe.
Towards the end of 1945, "Peace Roses" were given to each of the delegations at the inaugural meeting of the UNITED NATIONS in San Francisco each with a note which read
"We HOPE THE "PEACE ROSE" WILL INFLUENCE MEN'S THOUGHTS FOR EVERLASTING WORLD PEACE"...
I will always have a rosebush "Peace Rose" in my garden...
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
Eine Grubenlampe ist eine Leuchte, die bei der Arbeit unter Tage eingesetzt wird. Jeder Bergmann hat seine „persönliche“ Grubenlampe. Nach der Schicht ist der Bergmann dafür verantwortlich, dass er üblicherweise selbst die Grubenlampe ordnungsgemäß zum Wiederaufladen in der Lampenstube in den beschrifteten Stellplatz in der Ladestation einsetzt, damit er zur nächsten Schicht wieder eine vollgeladene Grubenlampe zur Verfügung hat. Zum Schichtbeginn wird die Grubenlampe sofort angeschaltet und erst zum Schichtende an der Ladestation wieder abgeschaltet.
A miner's lamp is a lamp that is used when working underground. Every miner has his "personal" miner's lamp. After the shift, the miner is responsible for ensuring that he himself uses the miner's lamp properly for recharging in the labeled parking space in the charging station so that he has a fully charged miner's lamp available for the next shift. At the start of the shift, the miner's lamp is switched on immediately and only switched off again at the charging station at the end of the shift.
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
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.
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.
Stood among the conifers, juggling position and exposure to ensure I didn't blow out parts of the tree I was shielding the lens behind, this was a tricky but satisfying shot. Sometimes when I shoot sun rays I am in awe and its easy to forget to take the shot :)
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
Dignity (a.k.a. Dignity of Earth & Sky) is a sculpture on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River near Chamberlain, South Dakota.[2] The 50-foot (15.24 meter) high stainless steel statue by South Dakota artist laureate Claude Lamphere[3] depicts an Indigenous woman in Plains-style dress receiving a star quilt. According to Lamphere, the sculpture honors the culture of the Lakota and Dakota peoples who are indigenous to South Dakota.[4] Assisting Lamphere were sculptors Tom Trople, Jim Maher, Andy Roltgen, and Grant Standard. Automotive paint expert Brook Loobey assisted with the colors for the quilt, and Albertson Engineering of Rapid City, SD ensured the sculpture would endure the strong winds common in the area. Wikipedia. She is truly stunning.
Configuration: Mid-Engine
Engine: 400 C.I. V8 (6.6 L)
Transmission: 3 speed automatic
Original Engine: 4 rotor Wankel
Weight: 2600 lbs
The Aerovette started life as the XP-882, a mid engined Corvette, with a 6.2L Wankel rotary engine with four chambers that developed around 400hp. Under the design team of Bill Mitchell, the car was first unveiled as “The Four Rotor Corvette” during the 1970 New York Auto Show. The car featured bi-folding gull-wing doors and a clear cover showcasing the engine bay. Eventually, GM abandoned their rotary technology and replaced the four rotor with a small block Chevy V8, because they anticipated the gas crisis of the 1970s.
The Aerovette’s styling was formed through a wind tunnel to give it a streamlined form. The body of the car was constructed with fiberglass along with a steel and aluminum tubular frame. The Aerovette had an advanced rectangular headlight design that allowed the driver to see the road from further away, while remaining aerodynamic and in a low position. The Aerovette’s doors were a bi-folding gullwing
design that allowed the driver and passenger to enter and exit the vehicle quickly. The “V” design on the windshield was angled at 72° and wrapped around the doors to conceal the front pillars of the car. Glass louvers were placed on the rear quarter panel to aid with vision, and allow heat to be dispersed from the engine compartment. Cool air was channeled into the carburetors from the apertures that were located in front of the rear wheels. The engine’s radiator and air conditioning unit were mounted at the front of the car near the wheels to ensure maximum cooling and efficiency.
The technology in the Aerovette was quite advanced for the time. The interior of the car featured a telescopic steering wheel and digital display that allowed the driver to adjust it to their comfort level. The seats of the car were in a fixed position for weight distribution, but could be adjusted up and down. The driver would press a lever to move the pedals further away or closer to them. The Aerovette came with a number of safety and digital features as well. These included, a warning system that alerted the
driver if the doors were open or closed, if the seatbelts were unfastened, and front and rear energy absorbing bumpers that provided protection in car-to-car impacts up to 10 mph. A button could also be pressed to check on the fuel supply, water temperature, oil pressure, and voltage. The dashboard of the car had small lights to indicate what rpm the engine was spinning at, and would change from green to red when the driver was approaching redline. Additionally, the car had a built in lap timer, clock, calendar, and an am/fm radio.
Source: Audrain Auto Museum
Standing 18 metres (59 feet) tall and 200 metres (656 feet) long, the walkway affords a stunning bird’s eye view across the Gardens as well as offering an opportunity to experience the ecosystem of the forest canopy.
Designed by the team behind the London Eye, the construction has been deliberately aged and weathered to blend with its surroundings and to ensure that it enhances the landscape rather than detracting from it. As result, the supporting steel columns with their rust colours take on the form of the surrounding tree trunks.
The walkway itself is designed to move slightly in the wind, so visitors will experience a certain amount of ‘bounce’ as they immerse themselves in the foliage of chestnut, beech and oak trees of different species. Visit in early spring or late autumn and your views are unimpeded by foliage.
There are 118 steps to the walkway’s platform and a lift is available for the visitors who are unable to use stairs easily, or for customers in wheelchairs. Buggies or strollers are not permitted on the walkway so must be left in the designated area on the ground.
Opened in 2008, The Treetop Walkway is one of Kew’s most popular attractions, especially with our younger visitors and families.
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.
A Wood Stork coming in for a landing (virtually over my head)
From Florida Audubon
The Wood Stork is one of Florida’s signature wading birds, a long-legged, awkward-looking bird on land that soars like a raptor in the air.
Wood Stork
Like many Florida birds associated with wetlands, the Wood Stork has suffered from the destruction and degradation of our state’s wetlands. Today, the Wood Stork is classed “Threatened” by the State of Florida and the federal government.
It feeds in shallow water, stirring the bottom with its unlikely pink feet and snapping up small prey that are unlucky enough to encounter the bird’s sensitive bill. They nest in early spring, just in time for the traditional season of lowest water when prey items will be concentrated in shrunken wetlands, providing good hunting so the storks can feed their young.
Now, we have altered the natural cycle of high and low water in our wetlands and Wood Storks often can’t find enough food for their young, who eventually succumb to starvation.
How Audubon is Helping
Everglades Restoration: the Everglades is a historical feeding and nesting ground for Wood Storks. By restoring the river of grass, we will ensure there will always be places for storks to feed, nest and raise their young.
Lake Okeechobee Recovery: Wood Storks forage in and nest around this beleagured big lake. Cleaning up the lake will help storks and a suite of other animals, as well as the Everglades itself.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary: This Audubon Sanctuary in Southwest Florida protects one of the state’s largest Wood Stork rookeries. Audubon actively manages the sanctuary for the storks’ benefit, and we advocate for their feeding grounds downstream.
There is a large rookery at Wakodahatchee Wetlands.
The largest group I've ever seen is at Harris Neck in Georgia - there they ride the thermals together many hundreds at a time. They also have a rookery there.
San Pedro de la Roca Castle, Santiago de Cuba
A fortress with sunsets so nice I had to show it twice, the fortress sits high above San Diego bay on the narrowest part of the entrance ensuring ideal gunnery range and mobility to target any ship before they could enter the wide inner harbor.
The castle itself is based on Italian renaissance design and is the largest most complete example of Spanish American military architecture in the world, should a captain make it past this entrance a score of Spanish warships would have awaited the interloper.
I took this with my D750 and Nikon 16-35mm f/4 Lens at 31mm 1/20s, f/8 ISO 200 processed in LR, PS +Lumenzia, Topaz Denoise
Disclaimer: My style is a study of romantic realism as well as a work in progress.
I've noticed in recent months that I've had problems with my 'go to' lens the EF 28-135 f3.5-5.6 IS. In certain cases there was a noticeable softening of focus affecting the left hand side of the frame which spoilt several otherwise good images which was a bit disheartening and probalbly why I have been a bit quiet lately. So I ordered two lenses second hand from Japan after doing plenty of research. The image above was a rush test shot shoot taken down at the river and was to check out these lenses. I quite liked this result so I thought I'd share it with you. The 28-80 f3.5-5.6 V USM is a beautiful little lens, very light and the auto focus is extremely quick. The price of 50 US Dollars ( mint condition ) was quite attractive too !!. I can see this as being my new 'go to' lens. The other lens I bought for 80 dollars US is a 28-70 f4.5-5.6 II lens and is reputed to be very sharp although there seems to be a little error problem when it's attached to the camera sometimes so I'll give it another run tomorrow to ensure it's o.k. or send it back.
Photo by Steve Bromley
taken by KHWD
want to see more images?
www.motorhome-travels.net/family-slides-20s
Sawley Marina, located near Nottingham, offers a picturesque setting with plenty of opportunities to capture stunning reflections of barges. Here are some tips to help you take great photos of barge reflections:
Golden Hour: As always, shooting during the golden hours (early morning or late afternoon) provides beautiful, warm light that enhances reflections.
Calm Waters: Look for calm, still water to get the clearest reflections. Early mornings are usually best for this, as winds tend to be lighter.
Composition: Use the rule of thirds to position the barge and its reflection. Experiment with different compositions to find the most visually appealing shot.
Symmetry: Emphasize the symmetry between the barge and its reflection. This can create a very balanced and pleasing image.
Depth of Field: Use a smaller aperture (higher f-number) to ensure both the barge and its reflection are in sharp focus. This will help capture details in both the barge and its mirror image.
Polarizing Filter: A polarizing filter can reduce glare on the water and enhance the colors of the barge and its reflection.
Perspective: Get low to the water's surface to accentuate the reflection. Shooting from different angles can provide unique and interesting perspectives.
Foreground Interest: Include elements in the foreground, like the marina's edge or other boats, to add depth and context to your photo.
Editing: In post-processing, enhance the contrast and colors to make the reflections more pronounced. Adjusting the clarity and sharpness can also help bring out details.
Sawley Marina's tranquil environment and the vibrant colors of the barges make it a fantastic spot for photography. Enjoy capturing the beauty of the reflections! 😊
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.
Explore 07 January 2009 # 113
Thank you to Brendaamb and to Liina for letting me know about Explore!!
I am back to photographing this Amaryllis again. There is still one bud to open, so it will last for awhile longer. I've had such fun with this Amaryllis. This is the third stalk of flowers it has graced me with. I'm planning to take extra good care of it to ensure that it will bloom next year as well.
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.
For those of us crammed into the "little boxes on the hillside," a life in the great outdoors is less a dream and more a retirement plan that never quite materializes. So, while we're stuck in our "ticky-tacky" conformity, this Barn in the photo is clearly living its best, most adventurous life—and its story is certainly a tale worth telling.
Thomas Moulton first homesteaded this property in 1908 as a bachelor. He came over Teton Pass with his brother and a neighbor from Teton Basin, Idaho. The Moultons had moved to Idaho from Utah several decades before.
For the first few winters Moulton continued to return to the family holdings in Idaho. By 1912 though he had married and he brought his new wife, Lucille, over the pass to permanently settle in the Jackson Hole valley.
What remains from his homestead is only a barn, but the barn has created a legacy beyond anything Moulton or his children could have imagined. Billed as the “most photographed barn in America,” this structure had humble beginnings.
Moulton began construction on the central portion in 1913 in order to give his hard-working horses some shelter. The original barn had a flat roof, but it provided a necessary service for the Moulton family. In 1928 the hayloft and steeply pitched gable roof was added. By 1938 and 1939 two shed roofed lean-tos were added to the structure. First the north section for the horses, then the south section for the pigs. The continued addition of separate parts to make the whole gives the barn a unique, but unintentional character that is recognized nationally. Preservation efforts have been undertaken by both the Moulton family and the Grand Teton National Park to ensure that this barn continues to illustrate the trials and successes of homesteading in Jackson Hole.
(Nikon Z6, Nikkor 24-70/2.8 @ f24 mm, 1/50 @ f/22, ISO 110, edited to taste)
Sibling still in the egg.
This picture was carefully taken using a 105 mm lens at its maximum focal length and mounted on an extension tube to ensure a secure shooting distance and avoid endangering the parental caring of the nest...
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.
This is normally held in September, but moved up to May this year to ensure there would be enough water in the river!!
Une matinée passée avec ce magnifique merle d'eau. Ambiance assurée par ses prouesses de pêcheur.
A morning spent with this magnificent water robin. Atmosphere ensured by his prowess as a fisherman.
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.
It is a heritage-listed major 30-hectare botanical garden, event venue and public recreation area located at Farm Cove on the eastern fringe of the Sydney central business district, in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. Opened in 1816, the garden is the oldest scientific institution in Australia and one of the most important historic botanical institutions in the world. The garden is owned by the Government of New South Wales and administered by the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. The Botanic Garden, together with the adjacent Domain were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. The Garden and The Domain are open every day of the year and access is free. Its stunning position on Sydney Harbour, the Sydney Opera House and the large public parklands of The Domain ensure it is one of the most visited attractions in Sydney. The garden is bordered by the Cahill Expressway to the south and west, Macquarie Street to the northwest, Art Gallery Road to the east, and Sydney Harbour to the north. 5242
Kilarrow Church (Scottish Gaelic: Eaglais Cill an Rubha) is a Church of Scotland parish church, overlooking and serving Bowmore on the island of Islay.
The "Round Church", as it is often known, was built in 1767. It has a highly unusual circular design, copied by some churches built in the 1960s. It has been suggested that the circular design was intended to ensure that there were no corners in which the devil could hide. The roof is supported by a single massive central pillar.
The Church also contains some artifacts belonging to the Bowmore-born Rev Donald Caskie (1902-1983), former minister of The Scots Kirk, Paris and notable as the "Tartan Pimpernel" for aiding over 2,000 Allied personnel in their escape from occupied France.
The linked parishes of Kilarrow and Kilmeny are vacant following a reallocation of Ministers.
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
"Anselm had been installed in Mecklenburg some summers ago by Henry the Lion, shortly after Pribislav returned from accompanying the duke on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The appointment carried the weight of strategy rather than coincidence; Anselm stood in Mecklenburg as both bishop and watchman, ensuring that Pribislav’s restored favor remained firmly aligned with Saxon and ecclesiastical interests..."
HSS 😊😊😍
I know that AI has some beneficial qualities, and those I am delighted with. However, I am apprehensive about the harm it may cause.
With heartfelt thanks for your kind visit. Have a wonderful day, stay healthy, stay alert, appreciate the beauty around you, enjoy your creativity, stay safe, and laugh often! ❤️❤️❤️