The Beautiful Wolf-Hybrid
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Meadow Pipit - Anthus Pratensis
The meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis) is a small passerine bird which breeds in much of northwestern Eurasia, from southeastern Greenland and Iceland east to just east of the Ural Mountains in Russia, and south to central France and Romania; there is also an isolated population in the Caucasus Mountains. It is migratory over most of its range, wintering in southern Europe, North Africa and south-western Asia, but is resident year-round in western Europe. However, even here, many birds move to the coast or lowlands in winter.
It is primarily a species of open habitats, either uncultivated or low-intensity agriculture, such as pasture, bogs, and moorland, but also occurs in low numbers in arable croplands. In winter, it also uses saltmarshes and sometimes open woodlands. It is a fairly terrestrial pipit, always feeding on the ground, but will use elevated perches such as shrubs, fence lines or electricity wires as vantage points to watch for predators.
The estimated total population is 12 million pairs. It is an abundant species in the north of its range, and generally the commonest breeding bird in most of upland Britain, but less common further south. Breeding densities range from 80 pairs per square kilometre in northern Scandinavia, to 5–20 pairs per square kilometre in grassland in the south of the breeding range, and just one pair per square kilometre in arable farmland. There are a small number of isolated breeding records from south of the main range, in the mountains of Spain, Italy, and the northern Balkans.
There has been a general decline in the population over the past 17 years, most notable in French farmland, with a 68% drop.
An estimated 20.000 Sand Hill Cranes spend the winter here in Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area near McNeal, Arizona.
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster
(Red-bellied Grackle / Cacique candela)
The red-bellied grackle is endemic to Colombia where it is found in all three Andean ranges at altitudes of 800 to 2,400m (2,600 to 7,900ft) above sea level.
Its natural habitat is tropical forest, but the trees are increasingly being felled for timber and to make way for agriculture, and little virgin forest remains within its range.
H. pyrohypogaster was formerly classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature but in 2012 the threat level was lowered to "vulnerable". This is on the basis that, although its forest habitat remains under pressure, it has been found at some new locations where it was not known before. The total population is now estimated to be in the range 2,500 to 9,999 individuals.
Istanbul is Turkey's most populous city as well as its cultural and financial hub. Located on both sides of the Bosphorus, the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Istanbul bridges Asia and Europe both physically and culturally. Istanbul's population is estimated to be between 12 and 19 million people, making it also one of the largest cities in Europe and the world.
Memories from the past.
It’s been 12 years since I encountered these ladies in Lhasa, Tibet and yet this photo still warms my heart. I found the Tibetans to be a friendly and helpful people, as are most of the folks I have met on my travels.
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Tibet:
The Tibetan people are an East Asian ethnic group native to Tibet. Their current population is estimated to be around 6.7 million. In addition to the majority living in Tibet Autonomous Region of China, significant numbers of Tibetans live in the Chinese provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Yunnan, as well as in India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Lhasa is the second most populous urban area on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining.
At an altitude of 3,656 meters (11,990 ft), Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world. The city has been the religious and administrative capital of Tibet since the mid-17th century. It contains many culturally significant Tibetan Buddhist sites such as the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka Palaces.
Tibet is the highest region on Earth, with an average elevation of 5,000 m (16,000 ft) Located in the Himalayas, the highest elevation in Tibet is Mount Everest, Earth's highest mountain, rising 8,848 m (29,029 ft) above sea level.
Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, lies on the Lhasa River's north bank in a valley of the Himalayas. Rising atop Red Mountain at an altitude of 3,700 m, the red-and-white Potala Palace once served as the winter home of the Dalai Lama. The palace’s rooms, numbering around 1,000, include the Dalai Lama’s living quarters, as well as murals, chapels and tombs.
(Canon PowerShot SD4000, 1/200 @ f/2.0, ISO 125, edited to taste)
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster
(Red-bellied Grackle / Cacique candela)
The red-bellied grackle is endemic to Colombia where it is found in all three Andean ranges at altitudes of 800 to 2,400m (2,600 to 7,900ft) above sea level.
Its natural habitat is tropical forest, but the trees are increasingly being felled for timber and to make way for agriculture, and little virgin forest remains within its range.
H. pyrohypogaster was formerly classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature but in 2012 the threat level was lowered to "vulnerable". This is on the basis that, although its forest habitat remains under pressure, it has been found at some new locations where it was not known before. The total population is now estimated to be in the range 2,500 to 9,999 individuals.
P1100558 - Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee)
# 365 - 13 Aug '2019 - 18:45 (13:15 GMT)
Image taken from an open jeep safari at a close distance 🐾
At - Kaziranga National Park - UNESCO World Heritage Site - Eastern Himalayas.
Kaziranga is recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International ...
WONDERFUL FACTS - The Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee) - also called Asian Buffalo, Asiatic Buffalo and Wild Asian Buffalo.
Is a large bovine native to the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
It has been listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List since 1986, as the remaining population totals less than 4,000.
A population decline of at least 50% over the last three generations (24–30 years) is projected to continue.
The global population has been estimated at 3,400 individuals, of which 3,100 (91%) live in India, mostly in Assam.
The wild water buffalo is the probable ancestor of the domestic water buffalo
(Wikipedia)
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Happy birding 🍁
This baby, estimated to be two months old, was rescued from the rubble after 128 hours.
It is as if the pain of this great disaster is hidden in the eyes of this baby...
Note -1 : Ethically, apart from this photo, I will not share any photos related to the earthquake that may adversely affect human psychology.
Note -2 : This photo is an excerpt.
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İki aylık olduğu tahmin edilen bu bebek, 128 saat sonra enkazdan kurtarıldı.
Bu büyük felaketin acısı sanki bu bebeğin gözlerinde saklı.
Not -1 : Etik olarak bu fotoğraf dışında deprem ile ilgili insan psikolojisini olumsuz etkileyebilecek herhangi bir fotoğraf paylaşmayacağım.
Not -2 : Bu fotoğraf alıntıdır.
Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster
(Red-bellied Grackle / Cacique candela)
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
The red-bellied grackle is endemic to Colombia where it is found in all three Andean ranges at altitudes of 800 to 2,400m (2,600 to 7,900ft) above sea level.
Its natural habitat is tropical forest, but the trees are increasingly being felled for timber and to make way for agriculture, and little virgin forest remains within its range.
H. pyrohypogaster was formerly classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature but in 2012 the threat level was lowered to "vulnerable". This is on the basis that, although its forest habitat remains under pressure, it has been found at some new locations where it was not known before. The total population is now estimated to be in the range 2,500 to 9,999 individuals.
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster
(Red-bellied Grackle / Cacique candela)
The red-bellied grackle is endemic to Colombia where it is found in all three Andean ranges at altitudes of 800 to 2,400m (2,600 to 7,900ft) above sea level.
Its natural habitat is tropical forest, but the trees are increasingly being felled for timber and to make way for agriculture, and little virgin forest remains within its range.
H. pyrohypogaster was formerly classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature but in 2012 the threat level was lowered to "vulnerable". This is on the basis that, although its forest habitat remains under pressure, it has been found at some new locations where it was not known before. The total population is now estimated to be in the range 2,500 to 9,999 individuals.
I’m estimating that these baby Alligators are a few weeks old. Saw them as I was hiking towards an area known for perching Bald Eagles. Not an eagle in sight, but found these babies, as consolation.
Young alligators remain in the area where they are hatched and where their mother protects them. After two to three years, they leave that area in search of food or when driven out by larger alligators.
Alligators measure 6-8” when they hatch, then juveniles grow about a foot in length each year.
A few of the estimated 25,927 Sandhill cranes currently stopped over around the Muscatatuck NWR area. It is as of their estimate 3 days ago…I have no idea how they come up with that number! It is an amazing to be in the middle of so many!
This small owl was introduced to the UK in the 19th century. It can be seen in the daylight, usually perching on a tree branch, telegraph pole or rock. It will bob its head up and down when alarmed. In flight it has long, rounded wings, rapid wingbeats and flies with a slight undulation.
Breeding Bird Survey data suggest that little owl numbers are declining, with the UK population estimated to be down by 24 per cent between 1995 and 2008. What they eat: Small mammals and birds, beetles and worms.
The little owl can be found in England and Wales, with a few in southern Scotland. It likes lowland farmland with hedges and copses, parkland and orchards. Most common in central, southern and south eastern England and the Welsh borders (Courtesy RSPB).
Thanks for viewing my photos and for any favourites and comments, it’s much appreciated 👍
Two Harbor Seal Lions on an iceberg calving from Red Stone glacier, a tidewater glacier in the Northwestern Fjord, Kenai Fjords National Park - Alaska
Harbor seals, Phocidae family, also called “common” or “hair” seals by some locals. They are covered with short, stiff, bristle-like hair. Coloration varies, but two basic patterns occur: light gray sides and belly with dark blotches or spots, or a dark background with light rings. They can be distinguished from other pinnipeds, such as fur seals and sea lions, by the absence of external ear flaps; only a small hole (the external pinnae, or opening to the ear canal) is visible on either side of their head. Harbor seals are mammals and therefore breathe air, but they are well adapted to life in the ocean.
The first white settlers to Alaska in the 1700s established a massive fur trade based on the pelts of harbor seals and nearly wiped them out completely, but since the Marine Mammal Protection Act, their numbers have rebounded and are now estimated at between 200,000-300,000.
- Pose - R.Bento ::R.B:: -Charlie's Angel- 5 Bento static stands
- Pants - Key Style - Katya Pant Black @ SWANK Event
- Top - Key Style - Katya Shirt Top Black @ SWANK Event
If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.
Marcus Aurelius
The Little Owl is not a native species, having been introduced to Britain in the 1870s, but it appears to have occupied a vacant niche without having any detrimental impact on other species. Numbers and breeding distribution increased gradually, reaching an estimated breeding population of between 4,000 and 8,500 pairs at the time of Project Barn Owl. The current distribution extends across England, north to the Scottish borders and west into Wales, where it is largely confined to Anglesey and to eastern parts of the country. There have been very few records from Ireland.
Pairs remain on their breeding territories throughout the year, with territorial calling evident during autumn – when young birds are searching for breeding territories – and again during spring. Small cavities are favoured for breeding, these often located within hedgerow trees or the walls of old agricultural buildings. Favoured nesting chambers tend to be located some distance from the cavity entrance and with little daylight reaching them. The male will often perch close to the nest cavity while his mate is incubating her clutch of eggs.
Little Owls often hunt from a perch, taking small mammals and large invertebrates, including earthworms, cockchafers and other beetles. There is evidence to suggest that breeding success is linked to the availability of small mammals, though some pairs evidently do well on other prey; a pair breeding on the island of Skomer, for example, took a large number of Storm Petrels (Courtesy BTO).
Thanks for viewing my photos and for any favourites and comments, it’s much appreciated 👍
Der alte Baumstamm verrottet. Grob geschätzt geht man von einem Jahr Verrottungszeit je zehn Zentimeter Strunkhöhe aus.
The old tree trunk is rotting. A rough estimate is one year of rotting time for every ten centimeters of stalk height.
The construction of this brick church (parish church) is estimated at the middle of the 15th century.
In the following centuries, the church was damaged many times as a result of hostilities and by fires. Large losses were caused by the fire of 1629, during which almost the entire city of Września burnt down. As a result of destruction and looting during the Swedish invasion (1655-1656), the northern wall of the nave and the vaults collapsed. After the reconstruction and removal of damage in 1672, the shape of the inter-nave arcades was changed and the naves were covered with wooden ceilings. During the German occupation in 1939-45, the church was turned into a military warehouse, and its equipment was devastated. After the war, the necessary renovation and restoration works were carried out. Currently, it looks magnificent, showing its original late Gothic character.
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Powstanie tego murowanego kościoła (fary) szacuje się na połowę XV wieku, zaś dobudowaną później wieżę na koniec tego samego wieku.
W następnych stuleciach kościół był niejednokrotnie niszczony w wyniku działań wojennych oraz przez pożary. Duże straty spowodował pożar 1629 roku, podczas którego spłonęło nieomal całe miasto Września. W wyniku zniszczeń i grabieży podczas najazdu szwedzkiego (1655-1656) zawaliła się ściana północna nawy głównej oraz sklepienia. Po odbudowie i usunięciu zniszczeń w 1672 roku, zmieniono kształt arkad międzynawowych a nawy przykryte zostały drewnianymi stropami. W okresie okupacji niemieckiej w latach 1939-45, kościół zamieniono na magazyn wojskowy, a jego wyposażenie zostało zdewastowane. Po wojnie wykonano niezbędne prace remontowe świątyni oraz restauracyjne. Obecnie prezentuje się okazale, pokazując swój pierwotny późnogotycki charakter.
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
The red-bellied grackle is endemic to Colombia where it is found in all three Andean ranges at altitudes of 800 to 2,400m (2,600 to 7,900ft) above sea level.
Its natural habitat is tropical forest, but the trees are increasingly being felled for timber and to make way for agriculture, and little virgin forest remains within its range.
H. pyrohypogaster was formerly classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature but in 2012 the threat level was lowered to "vulnerable". This is on the basis that, although its forest habitat remains under pressure, it has been found at some new locations where it was not known before. The total population is now estimated to be in the range 2,500 to 9,999 individuals.
Wollongong informally referred to as The Gong, is a city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Wollongong lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 68 kilometres (42 miles) south of central Sydney. Wollongong had an estimated urban population of 302,739 at June 2018, making it the third-largest city in New South Wales after Sydney and Newcastle and the tenth-largest city in Australia by population. The Wollongong metropolitan area extends from Helensburgh in the north to Shell Cove in the south. It sits within the Wollongong Statistical District, which covers the local government areas of Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama, extending from the town of Helensburgh in the north, to Gerroa in the south. Geologically, the city is located in the south-eastern part of the Sydney basin, which extends from Newcastle to Nowra. Wollongong is noted for its heavy industry, its port activity and the quality of its physical setting, occupying a narrow coastal plain between an almost continuous chain of surf beaches and the cliffline of the rainforest-covered Illawarra escarpment. It has two cathedrals, churches of many denominations and the Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. Wollongong has a long history of coal mining and industry. The city attracts many tourists each year and is a regional centre for the South Coast fishing industry. The University of Wollongong has around 38,000 students and is internationally recognised.
Wollongong Harbour is a great spot to relax and take in amazing coastal views. There are also plenty of paths, pools and parks around the harbour if you prefer to be active. The small sandy beach at Wollongong Harbour is known as Brighton Beach. Although the waters may seem calm most of the time, this is an unpatrolled beach and is not a suitable location for swimming. It can also have water quality issues, particularly after rain. 50456
There are an estimated 2000 arches in Arches National Park, but this one is quite unique. Unlike many of the others that are in wide open space, and even some of them being free standing, this one was tucked away in one of Utah's many beautiful slot canyons. It is not what you would expect to see in a place like this. However, the unexpected can be incredibly beautiful! Many times life takes unexpected turns and we have no idea what the end outcome will be. We feel as if we have lost control. Thank goodness that the all powerful and supreme Creator of the universe steers the ship and at the end there is a beauty beyond words with no comparison!
An elderly white pine on the shoreline of Keefer Lake during the golden hour at sunset. I estimate she is 80 to 100 years old. She enlarges well. :)
- Keefer Lake, Ontario, Canada
Wilson’s Snipe look so stocky thanks in part to the extra-large pectoral (breast) muscles that make up nearly a quarter of the bird’s weight—the highest percent of all shorebirds. Thanks to their massive flight muscles this chunky sandpiper can reach speeds estimated at 60 miles an hour.
Wave-cut cliff of Ani-jima with Chichi-jima as background. The cliff is located near a snorkelling site facing Ani-jima Seto. Height of the cliff (rock without vegetation cover) is estimated to be around 30m according to Google Earth.
The hilltop on the Chichijima side is the Nagasaki lookout.
A view of the east side of the 100 block on N. Kickapoo St. in downtown Lincoln as seen from Broadway St. The properties in this view lie within the Lincoln Courthouse Square Historic District that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
The three buildings in this view are early 20th century commercial designs constructed in the 1910s. On the corner of N. Kickapoo and Broadway St. is the former Lincoln Savings & Building Association Building completed in 1914. The center building appears to be commercial-use only while the building on the end was designed with commercial space on the ground floor and apartments above. All three buildings are contributing properties in the historic district.
Lincoln is the seat of Logan County, which is situated in central Illinois approximately 26 miles northeast of Springfield, the state capitol. The estimated population of Lincoln in 2018 was 13,685.
The Highland is a Scottish breed of rustic cattle. It originated in the Scottish Highlands and the Outer Hebrides islands of Scotland and has long horns and a long shaggy coat. It is a hardy breed, bred to withstand the intemperate conditions in the region.
Highland cattle descend from the Hamitic Longhorn, which were brought to Britain by Neolithic farmers in the second millennium BC, as the cattle migrated northwards through Africa and Europe. Highland cattle were historically of great importance to the economy, with the cattle being raised for meat primarily and sold in England.
The 1885 herd book describes two distinct types of Highland cattle. One was the West Highland, or Kyloe, originating and living mostly in the Outer Hebrides, which had harsher conditions. These cattle tended to be smaller, to have black coats and, due to their more rugged environment, to have long hair. These cattle were named due to the practice of relocating them. The kyles are narrow straits of water, and the cattle were driven across them to get to market.
The other type was the mainland; these tended to be larger because their pastures provided richer nutrients. They came in a range of colours, most frequently dun or red. These types have now been crossbred so that there is no distinct difference.
Since the early 20th century, breeding stock has been exported to many parts of the world, especially Australia and North America.
It is estimated that there are now around 15,000 Highland cattle in the United Kingdom.
In the 1980s, the total number of all giraffe in Africa was estimated at more than 155,000 individuals. Today, GCF estimates the current Africa-wide giraffe population at approximately 111,000 individuals. This is a drop by almost 30%, a slightly less bleak picture than previously portrayed in the 2016 IUCN Red List assessment that estimated giraffe at less than 100,000 individuals. However, this updated information is based more on improved data rather than on actual increases in numbers. Unfortunately, in some areas traditionally regarded as prime giraffe habitat, numbers have dropped by 95% in the same period.
In 2016, the giraffe as a species was uplisted to Vulnerable from Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. In 2018, seven of the nine currently recognised subspecies were assessed and are now listed on the IUCN Red List. Two subspecies (Kordofan and Nubian giraffe), are now listed as Critically Endangered, Reticulated giraffe as Endangered, Thornicroft’s giraffe as Vulnerable, while Angolan giraffe are listed as Least Concern. Both the West African and Rothschild’s giraffe were down-listed from Endangered to Vulnerable and Near Threatened, respectively, due to targeted conservation efforts in their core habitats.
More information and how you can help to save these wonderful animals at Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) !
An estimate of 15,780 individuals of reticulated giraffes remain in the wild – a decline of over 50% from the approximate 36,000 three decades ago.
Reticulated Giraffe / Netzgiraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) in evening sunlight
Samburu National Reserve, Kenya, Africa
More pictures of these fascintaing animals in my Giraffe Album !
It is estimated that 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions are the result of deforestation. Natural Climate Solutions focuses on strategies for protecting and restoring ecosystems and incentivizing more sustainable land uses in order to avoid emissions and/or enhance biological sequestration of carbon. Latest research suggests such strategies are capable of mitigating a third of human emissions, making them critical to achieving climate stabilization of 2 degrees or less. Read more about The Nature Conservancy’s work on this issue:
global.nature.org/our-global-solutions/lands
www.nature.org/science-in-action/our-scientists/bronson-g...
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster
(Red-bellied Grackle / Cacique candela)
The red-bellied grackle is endemic to Colombia where it is found in all three Andean ranges at altitudes of 800 to 2,400m (2,600 to 7,900ft) above sea level.
Its natural habitat is tropical forest, but the trees are increasingly being felled for timber and to make way for agriculture, and little virgin forest remains within its range.
H. pyrohypogaster was formerly classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature but in 2012 the threat level was lowered to "vulnerable". This is on the basis that, although its forest habitat remains under pressure, it has been found at some new locations where it was not known before. The total population is now estimated to be in the range 2,500 to 9,999 individuals.
The Arabian oryx is a medium-sized antelope with a distinct shoulder bump, long, straight horns, and a tufted tail. It is a bovid, and the smallest member of the genus Oryx, native to desert and steppe areas of the Arabian Peninsula. The Arabian oryx was extinct in the wild by the early 1970s, but was saved in zoos and private reserves, and was reintroduced into the wild starting in 1980.
In 1986, the Arabian oryx was classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List, and in 2011, it was the first animal to revert to vulnerable status after previously being listed as extinct in the wild. It is listed in CITES Appendix I. In 2016, populations were estimated at 1,220 individuals in the wild, including 850 mature individuals, and 6,000–7,000 in captivity worldwide. (Wikipedia)
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We were delighted to be welcomed to Al Marmoom by this almost mythical creatujre - the Arabian oryx. There is a protected breeding population here, but this oryx was outside of the enclosure and appeared to be quite wild. I took this photo from the car so as not to spook him. Once he relaxed we able to get out the car and see him more clearly. A fabulous introduction to the Arabian Peninsula.
Here is the link to our Arabian Peninsula birding trip: ebird.org/tripreport/431495
Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Area, Dubai, UAE.
Rockjumper Birding Tours.
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster
(Red-bellied Grackle / Cacique candela)
The red-bellied grackle is endemic to Colombia where it is found in all three Andean ranges at altitudes of 800 to 2,400m (2,600 to 7,900ft) above sea level.
Its natural habitat is tropical forest, but the trees are increasingly being felled for timber and to make way for agriculture, and little virgin forest remains within its range.
H. pyrohypogaster was formerly classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature but in 2012 the threat level was lowered to "vulnerable". This is on the basis that, although its forest habitat remains under pressure, it has been found at some new locations where it was not known before. The total population is now estimated to be in the range 2,500 to 9,999 individuals.
On the right side the fresh demolition is clearly visible. I estimate the crash at 15-20m in height.
The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), also known as the lammergeier or ossifrage, is a bird of prey.
The acid concentration of the bearded vulture stomach has been estimated to be of pH about 1 and large bones will be digested in about 24 hours, aided by slow mixing/churning of the stomach content. The high fat content of bone marrow makes the net energy value of bone almost as good as that of muscle, even if bone is less completely digested. A skeleton left on a mountain will dehydrate and become protected from bacterial degradation and the bearded vulture can return to consume the remainder of a carcass even months after the soft parts have been consumed by other animals, larvae and bacteria.
Like other vultures it is a scavenger, feeding mostly on the remains of dead animals. It usually disdains the actual meat, however, and lives on a diet that is typically 85–90% bone marrow. This is the only living bird species that specializes in feeding on marrow. The bearded vulture can swallow whole or bite through brittle bones up to the size of a lamb's femur and its powerful digestive system quickly dissolves even large pieces. The bearded vulture has learned to crack bones too large to be swallowed by carrying them in flight to a height of 50–150 m (160–490 ft) above the ground and then dropping them onto rocks below, which smashes them into smaller pieces and exposes the nutritious marrow. They can fly with bones up to 10 cm (3.9 in) in diameter and weighing over 4 kg (8.8 lb), or nearly equal to their own weight. After dropping the large bones, the bearded vulture spirals or glides down to inspect them and may repeat the act if the bone is not sufficiently cracked. This learned skill requires extensive practice by immature birds and takes up to seven years to master. Its old name of ossifrage ("bone breaker") relates to this habit. More seldom, these birds have been observed to try to break bones (usually of a medium size) by hammering them with their bill directly into rocks while perched. During the breeding season they feed mainly on carrion. They prefer limbs of sheep and other small mammals and they carry the food to the nest unlike other vultures which feed their young by regurgitation.
Live prey is sometimes attacked by the bearded vulture, with perhaps greater regularity than any other vulture. Among these, tortoises seem to be especially favored depending on their local abundance. Tortoises preyed on may be nearly as heavy as the preying vulture. When killing tortoise, bearded vultures also fly to some height and drop them to crack open the bulky reptiles' hard shells. Golden eagles have been observed to kill tortoises in the same way. Other live animals, up to nearly their own size, have been observed to be predaciously seized and dropped in flight. Among these are rock hyraxes, hares, marmots and, in one case, a 62 cm (24 in) long monitor lizard. Larger animals have been known to be attacked by bearded vultures, including ibex, Capra goats, Chamois and Steenbok. These animals have been killed by being surprised by the large birds and battered with wings until they fall off precipitous rocky edges to their deaths; although in some cases these may be accidental killings when both the vulture and the mammal surprise each other. Many large animals killed by bearded vultures are unsteady young, or have appeared sickly or obviously injured. Humans have been anecdotally reported to have been killed in the same way. However, this is unconfirmed and, if it does happen, most biologists who have studied the birds generally agreed it would be accidental on the part of the vulture. Occasionally smaller ground-dwelling birds, such as partridges and pigeons, have been reported eaten, possibly either as fresh carrion (which is usually ignored by these birds) or killed with beating wings by the vulture. While foraging for bones or live prey while in flight, bearded vultures fly fairly low over the rocky ground, staying around 2 to 4 m (6.6 to 13.1 ft) high. Occasionally, breeding pairs may forage and hunt together. In the Ethiopian Highlands, bearded vultures have adapted to living largely off human refuse.
The Little Owl was introduced to the UK in the 19th century. It can be seen in the daylight, usually perching on a tree branch, telegraph pole or rock. It will bob its head up and down when alarmed. In flight it has long, rounded wings, rapid wingbeats and flies with a slight undulation.
Breeding Bird Survey data suggest that Little owl numbers are declining, with the UK population estimated to be down by 24 per cent between 1995 and 2008.
Island of Madagascar
Off The East Coast Of Africa
Palmarium Reserve
Unlike most mammals, lemurs live their lives in trees making them harder to see and photograph. They are seldom out in the open. Click on image for a closer view.
The crowned lemur (Eulemur coronatus) is a lemur that is 31–36 cm (12–14 in) long and weighs 2 kg (4.4 lb). Its tail is about 42–51 cm (17–20 in) long.
The crowned lemur is endemic to the dry deciduous forests of the northern tip of Madagascar. It eats a diet of mostly flowers, fruits, and leaves. The population is estimated to 1000–10,000 individuals as of 2004, most of which live within the Ankarana Special Reserve, although there is also a population in the Montagne d'Ambre national park and also in the forest of Andrafiamena.
This species has a distinctive brown-orange crown on the top of the head. Females have a gray body with an orange crown, and males are a darker reddish brown, crowned with black and orange. Crowned lemurs have a life span of approximately 20 years and reach sexual maturity after 20 months.
The crowned lemur is in the order of Primates as it possesses characteristics such as pseudo-opposable thumbs, binocular vision and is highly intelligent. E. coronatus shares with others of the family Lemuridae long and slender limbs, a slightly longer nose, a smaller brain and a 'grooming comb' formed by the incisors and canine teeth.
The crowned lemur possesses a long non-prehensile tail, and lives in a closely knit, female-led social group. This member of the genus Eulemur is primarily diurnal but has periods of feeding activity at night too. – Wikipedia
El Obelisco de Buenos Aires es un monumento histórico considerado un ícono de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina, construido en 1936 con motivo del cuarto centenario de la llamada primera fundación de Buenos Aires por Pedro de Mendoza.
Está emplazado en la Plaza de la República, en la intersección de las avenidas Corrientes y 9 de Julio, en el barrio de San Nicolás en Buenos Aires.
(Avenida Corrientes, 1051, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic)
Address 9 de Julio Avenue and Corrientes Avenue
Coordinates 34 ° 36′14 ″ S 58 ° 22′54 ″ O Coordinates: 34 ° 36′14 ″ S 58 ° 22′54 ″ W (map)
General information
Complete Status
Lookout uses
Start March 20, 1936
Estimated completion May 23, 1936
Construction May 23, 1936
Cost 200,000 m $ n
Owner Flag of the City of Buenos Aires Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
Height of the top floor 67.5 m
Design and build
Architect Alberto Prebisch
Structural Engineer Alberto Prebisch
Siemens Contractor
[edit data on Wikidata]
The Obelisk of Buenos Aires is a historical monument considered an icon of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, built in 1936 on the occasion of the fourth centenary of the so-called first foundation of Buenos Aires by Pedro de Mendoza.
It is located in the Plaza de la República, at the intersection of Corrientes and 9 de Julio avenues, in the San Nicolás neighborhood in Buenos Aires.
The Chilehaus (Chile House) with its 2.800 windows is a ten-story office building and was one of the first "high rise buildings" in Hamburg, Germany. It is located in the Kontorhausviertel and is an exceptional example of the 1920s Brick Expressionism style of architecture.
It was designed by the architect Fritz Höger and built between 1922 and 1924.
It was commissioned by the shipping magnate Henry B. Sloman, who made his fortune trading saltpeter from Chile, hence the name Chile House. The cost of construction is difficult to determine, as the Chile House was built during the period of hyperinflation that struck Germany during the early 1920s, but is estimated to have been more than 10 million reichsmark. (Wikipedia)
Courtyard of Chilehaus, Fischertwiete, Hamburg, Germany
Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Botswana
Southern Africa
The South African giraffe or Cape giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) is a subspecies of giraffe ranging from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique.
In 2016, the population was estimated at 31,500 individuals in the wild.
The South African giraffe is found in northern South Africa, southern Botswana, southern Zimbabwe, and south-western Mozambique.
South African giraffes usually live in savannahs and woodlands where food plants are available. Giraffes are herbivorous animals. They feed on leaves, flowers, fruits and shoots of woody plants such as Acacia.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the body that administers the world’s official endangered species list, announced in 2016 that it was moving the giraffe from a species of Least Concern to Vulnerable status in its Red List of Threatened Species report. That means the animal faces extinction in the wild in the medium-term future if nothing is done to minimize the threats to its life or habitat. – Wikipedia
Tucked into the northwest corner of Illinois is the City of Galena, a small town known for its well-preserved 19th-century buildings, shopping, dining, entertainment, and an abundance of historic houses and mansions that are now bed and breakfasts. Galena also was the home of Ulysses S. Grant when he was elected the 18th President of the United States in 1868.
On the corner at 201 S. Main St. is the Schmohl Building, an Italian style two-part commercial block built in 1887. Next to it is another Italianate style commercial building whose name has been lost to history that was built in 1848. Nearly every building in this southerly view of the west side of the 200 block of S. Main St. is a contributing property in the Galena Historic District, which encompasses a remarkable 85 percent of the City of Galena and includes more than 800 properties. The Galena Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969, with modifications in 2013.
Galena is the seat of Jo Daviess County. This is the un-glaciated area of northwestern Illinois. The rolling hills, history and abundant 19th century architecture draws visitors from throughout the country. The estimated population of Galena in 2019 was 3,158.
There is estimated to be more than a hundred billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy. Again, experts suggest that there are more than a hundred billion galaxies like the Milky Way in the universe.
No one really knows for sure quite how many stars there are; apart from the original designer, of course!
Psalm 147:4-5
He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
Reddish Egret - One, from the estimated 2,000 pairs in the US.
Merritt Island Morning
From Audubon:
Numbers were decimated by plume hunters in late 1800s. Reportedly not seen in Florida between 1927 and 1937, but numbers have gradually increased under complete protection. Current United States population roughly 2000 pairs.
A conspicuously long-legged, long-necked wader of coastal regions, more tied to salt water than any of our other herons or egrets. Often draws attention by its feeding behavior: running through shallows with long strides, staggering sideways, leaping in air, raising one or both wings, and abruptly stabbing at fish. Also notable for its two color morphs. Reddish Egrets are either dark or white for life, beginning with the downy stage in the nest. Mated pairs may be of the same or different color morphs, and broods of young may include either or both morphs. Over most of range, dark birds are far more numerous.
Space Coast Photo #15
Dartford Warbler - Sylvia Undata
Juvenile
The Dartford warbler (Sylvia undata) iDs a typical warbler from the warmer parts of western Europe and northwestern Africa. It is a small warbler with a long thin tail and a thin pointed bill. The adult male has grey-brown upperparts and is dull reddish-brown below except for the centre of the belly which has a dirty white patch. It has light speckles on the throat and a red eye-ring. The sexes are similar but the adult female is usually less grey above and paler below.
Its breeding range lies west of a line from southern England to the heel of Italy (southern Apulia). The Dartford warbler is usually resident all year in its breeding range, but there is some limited migration.
The Dartford warbler was first described by the Welsh naturalist Thomas Pennant from two specimens that were shot in April 1773 on Bexley Heath near Dartford in Kent.
The species is naturally rare. The largest European populations of Sylvia undata are in the Iberian peninsula, others in much of France, in Italy and southern England and south Wales. In Africa it can be found only in small areas in the north, wintering in northern Morocco and northern Algeria.
In southern England the birds breed on heathlands, sometimes near the coast, and nest in either common gorse (Ulex europaeus) or common heather (Calluna
Dartford warblers are named for Dartford Heath in north west Kent, where the population became extinct in the early twentieth century. They almost died out in the United Kingdom in the severe winter of 1962/1963 when the national population dropped to just ten pairs. Sylvia undata is also sensitive to drought affecting breeding success or producing heath fires, as occurred during 1975 and 1976 in England when virtually all juveniles failed to survive their first year.
However, this species can recover well in good quality habitat with favourable temperatures and rainfall, thanks to repeated nesting and a high survival rate for the young. Indeed, they recovered in some areas of the UK, but numbers are once again on the decline in other regions of their natural range.
The range of the Dartford warbler is restricted to western and southern Europe. The total population in 2012 was estimated at 1.1–2.5 million breeding pairs. The largest numbers occur in Spain where there were believed to be 983,000–1,750,000 pairs. For reasons that probably include loss of suitable habitat, the Spanish population appears to be declining. The species is therefore classed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as being Near threatened.
A period of climatic warming since 1963 has seen the UK population increase to "more than 2,500 pairs in 2006 (Wotton et al. 2009). Expansion into patches of structurally suitable habitat (up to an altitude of 400m), more northerly areas and away from the core of the range, from Dorset and Hampshire to Derbyshire and Suffolk, is likely to have been facilitated by milder winter weather (Wotton et al. 2009, Bradbury et al. 2011)... The Dartford warbler population in the UK is expected to continue to increase. However, future climate-based projections for the European range indicate that by 2080, more than 60% of the current European range may no longer be suitable (Huntley et al 2007). There is evidence that this is happening already, with severe declines in Spain and France (Green 2017). For this reason, the species is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Global Red List. If the declines in southern Europe continue, the UK will become increasingly important for global conservation of this species".
Population:
UK breeding:
3,200 pairs
Iceland estimates there are over 8,000 arctic fox in the country. Most live in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve in the remote area of north western Iceland. People see them on rare occasions all over the country. I wasn't so lucky in my 12 days of travel. They are not very big and really blend into the terrain. This image I took at the Reykjavík Zoo.
Worldwide, it is estimated that there are about 650,000 Sandhill Cranes; 450,000-500,000 being Lessers. "The Merced NWR hosts the largest wintering concentration of Lesser Sandhill Cranes in the Pacific Flyway with as many as 20,000 cranes using the Refuge." Source: Merced NWR online brochure. "It takes a patient and sharp eye to discern the difference between Greater and Lesser Sandhill Cranes. They have a similar body shape, plumage and color. Lesser Sandhill Cranes stand four feet high, with a four-inch, dagger-like bill. The greater is five feet tall, with a five-inch bill. These sub-species both migrate northward. The lesser breeds in northern Canada and Alaska, and the greater breeds in northeastern California, the Northwest and Great Lakes states. Greater sandhill cranes are threatened due to the loss of wetlands." Source: cranefestival.com
Some give it two years; others say, half a year. The latest estimate is three months, at most ...
Elton John : Candle in the Wind
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdrRLTgavus
Heifetz plays Melodie by Gluck
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tenI_FyFeZ0
Rachmaninoff plays Melodie by Gluck
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2O0mVzmftY
Heifetz plays Wieniawski Scherzo Tarantelle
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv5XZbgNWEo
Heifetz, Tchaikovsky's Melodi
www.youtube.com/watch?v=22YUP0zQ3sA
*
Many music lovers find Horowitz and Martha Argerich spellbinding, yea, they are exciting but somehow I don't return to them often. Instead I would revisit Samuil Feinberg's Well-tempered Clavier from time to time. Needless to say, Mieczyslaw Horzowski and Maria Yudina's Bach are very inspiring too, particularly so for those who miss the chance of going to the Church:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=94XFV8X77U0
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAZJcpbDAxY
The French pianists of the older generation like Marguerite Long, Robert Casadesus, and Yves Nat or even Cortot are interesting too. Lesser known but equally amazing is
Lazare-Levy : Mozart Sonata in A Minor, K310
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK0GEXiWBN8
Later on, we have :
Marcelle Meyer: Complete Inventions & Sinfonias, Partitas, Toccatas, Italian Concerto ..
www.youtube.com/watch?v=spHBTyagfZ4
www.youtube.com/watch?v=maAQ-FI5gGk&list=RDCMUC2zlRzq...
Scarlatti
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Iiyzo9vdYA
And,
Yvonne Lefébure (among her pupils were Dinu Lipatti, Samson François) Mozart Concerto, No 20 with Furtwangler
www.youtube.com/watch?v=idX9c58bdZE
Reine Gianoli
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hga9MGCpJXk
Then,
Nikita Magaloff in recital 4/4/1991 Tokyo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CLrpIfatSg
Chopin Etudes Op.10 & 25
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQOK1MuTP8o
And then Samson Francois
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIw2mfcYpBM
Last but not the least, Brigitte Engerer who went the opposite direction of Magaloff who was first trained in Russia (by Siloti, Francis Lizst pupil, Rachmaninoff's cousin/mentor and assistant to Tchaikovsky ) ended up studying in France. Brigitte Engerer was first trained in France having won the first prize in Concours International Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud. She furthered her studies in Russia under Stanislav Heuhaus for 9 years:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU8_upVBnT4
There was also the Polish pianist with a little bit of French Veneer, Halina Czerny-Stefańska : Chopin complete Polonaises, Heroïque, Militaire, Brillante, Fantaisie
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wHiamaEen4&t=1639s
More French was Lithuania/Russia born Vlado Perlemuter who landed in France since he was three, who lost one eye and who actually spent quite sometime in an asylum:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zCli50F3xQ
86 Tokyo Recital
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-svcMlCIxJ0
Well, never say never, the finishing touch of the winner of 2015 Chopin Internation Piano competition, a Korean, was also done in Paris, even though the influence of the Russian School seems to be stronger than the French in his Chopin:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZYYoDDmg8M
*
I further stumbled into Edwin Fischer's WTC recorded in 1933-36 which I haven't gone through as yet. But Edwin Fischer, unlike his pupil Alfred Brendel, is almost always interesting despite his slips :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JysTlgUXuXk
Later on, we have Samuil Feinberg whom most serious pianists view as the best recorded WTC ever. After Feinberg, we have Tatiana Nikolayeva whose WTC ( www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNpwAZf6thY&t=72s ) is so fascinating. And then we have Evelyne Crochet, a more modern French reading of WTC and before her Walter Gieseking also recorded WTC. In between, I find Horszowski's WTC celestial. Wilhelm Kempff's WTC is appealing albeit in a totally different way from Yudin. But I'm unable to find the whole book of WTC from the latter two in record. Instead we have one from Canada and another lady pianist from US who was musically educated in Russia. Personally, I don't spend much time on the latter two. Oh, yes, Richter and Gulda recorded WTC as well. But it seems Bach music is so interwoven with spirituality, and by nature it snubs any showmanship at all...
These days, the grasslands are quite active in the evening with many Harriers gently gliding and hunting in the area. There are mix of Pallid and Montagu's Harriers these days. Last week during the weekend, sighted some action.
The White Pallid Harrier in this shot was perched in the grassland when an immature (Brownish plumage) attacked it. The White Pallid Harrier took flight and both tussled briefly in the air before flying away. I am not sure if this was a territorial attack or a friendly fight. There were around 25-30 harriers in the grasslands and few showed this kind of confrontation.
These are migratory birds from Central Asia that winter in India. They hunt the small birds like Larks, Pipits and reptiles like Lizards, Chameleons, frogs in the grasslands. The birds are sighted easily in the grasslands these days - around 15-20 of them and the numbers are slowly increasing. Due to the winter, the light fades pretty quickly. These Harriers converge to their roosting spots much earlier than usual and that is when we can get a reasonable estimate of their numbers.
Thanks in advance for your views and feedback. Much appreciated.