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Growth: figwort is met by woods, clearings of forests, meadows, along fences, bushes humid swamps and creeks edge, from the plain to the mountains.
Body plant used: rhizome and aerial parts of the plant.
Harvest time: figwort, can be harvested in July-August.
Internal use.
In internal use figwort, is used to treat angina diphtheria, helminiatiazei tonsillitis inflamed adenitei, hemorrhoidal inflammation.
External use.
In external use medicinal herb is used to treat hemorrhoids, wounds, scrofulous lymph, skin diseases.
Figwort Tea (infusion):
A teaspoon of herb, crushed or ground leaves make 100 ml boiling water.
Cover for 10 minutes, then strain.
You can drink three servings of these a day in small sips.
The tea can be used in the treatment of tonsillitis, in the form of a gargle several times per day, the latter of which at bedtime. …read more…
[order] Ciconiiformes | [family] Ardeidae | [latin] Egretta garzetta | [UK] Little Egret | [FR] Aigrette garzette | [DE] Seidenreiher | [ES] Garceta Común | [IT] Garzetta comune | [NL] Kleine Zilverreiger | [IRL] Éigrit bheag
spanwidth min.: 88 cm
spanwidth max.: 106 cm
size min.: 55 cm
size max.: 65 cm
Breeding
incubation min.: 21 days
incubation max.: 22 days
fledging min.: 40 days
fledging max.: 45 days
broods 1
eggs min.: 3
eggs max.: 5
Status: Resident along coasts and rivers throughout Ireland, but still scarce in the Midlands and north-west of the country. Little Egret was considered rare in Ireland until it first started breeding here in 1997. It has since expanded and now occurs in almost every coastal county, as well as at a number of inland sites.
Conservation Concern: Green-listed in Ireland. The European population is considered to be Secure.
Identification: Medium-sized white heron, with long black legs, yellow feet, black bill and blue-grey lores, and two elongated nape-feathers in breeding plumage.
Similar Species: Unmistakable in Ireland. Great White Egret is a rare visitor from Continental Europe, but is twice the size.
Call: Rook-like hoarse 'aaah' on alighting from the ground. At colonies, hoarse hard gargling 'gulla-gulla-gulla…' often heard.
Diet: Takes a wide variety of animals including small fish, frogs, snails and insects and forages across a range of wetland habitats from lakes to flooded grassland. Often forages alone; but maybe encountered in small groups.
Breeding: Clutch: 4-5 eggs (1 brood) Incubation: 21-22 days.Fledging: 40-45 days (Altrical). Age of first breeding: not known. Breeds in lakes, marshes, flooded fields & estuaries.
Wintering: Little Egrets use a variety of wetland habitats, including shallow lakes, riverbanks, lagoons, coastal estuaries and rocky shoreline.
Where to See: Sites in Counties Cork and Waterford regularly support most birds - Cork Harbour, Blackwater Estuary, Bantry Bay, Ballymacoda and Courtmacsherry Bay, Broadstrand Bay & Dunworley are among the best sites (up to 30 birds).
Physical characteristics
Little Egret is a small and elegant white egret, showing slender neck, fine pointed black bill and black legs with yellow feet. Adult in breeding plumage has bluish face and reddish lores. We can see two long fine white hindcrown feathers, extending from the nape to the mid-neck. It also has "aigrettes", long feathers of upper breast and recurved scapular feathers. At this time, Little Egret has greyish base of lower mandible. Feet turn bright yellow-orange, even pinkish for short time. In winter plumage, bill is black, lores are greyish, and feet are pale yellow or greenish-yellow. And it lacks long feathers on nape, and "aigrettes" in scapulars and breast. Eyes are pale yellow. Both sexes are similar. Juvenile resembles adult in winter plumage, with duller or greenish bill and legs, and grey-green feet, less contrasting.
Habitat
Little Egret is found in a wide variety of open inland and coastal wetlands, shallow water around lakes, rivers, streams and estuaries. Little Egret breeds in warm temperate parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Most birds are residents. But northern populations migrate to Africa and Southern Asia. Little Egret starts to colonise the New World, breeding in Bahamas, and seen in Caribbean and Surinam.
Other details
Egretta garzetta is a widespread but patchily distributed breeder in southern Europe, which accounts for less than a quarter of its global breeding range. Its European breeding population is relatively small (<94,000 pairs), but increased between 1970- 1990. Although there were declines in a few countries during 1990-2000, populations across most of its European range-including sizeable ones in Spain, France, Italy and Azerbaijan-increased or were stable.
This bird has a wide distribution in the southern parts of Europe and Asia, in northern, eastern and southern Africa, on the Cape Verde Islands, in Indonesia and Australia. European populations winter mainly in northern Africa, but since 1950 an increasing number of individuals remain during the winter along the European coasts of the Mediterranean. The population of the European Union amounts to about 22700 breeding pairs. It is increasing in Spain, France and Italy, decreasing in Greece
Feeding
Little Egret feeds on small fishes, frogs, lizards, worms, crustaceans, molluscs and a wide part of insects.
Conservation
This species has a large range, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 1,000,000-10,000,000 km². It has a large global population estimated to be 640,000-3,100,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2002). Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern. [conservation status from birdlife.org]
Breeding
Little Egret nests in colonies, with other heron and wetland species. They nest in reedbeds, wetland scrubs or trees near water, up to 20 metres above the ground. Nest is a platform made with twigs or reeds. Male brings material to female which builds the nest. Female lays 3 to 5 pale greenish blue eggs, at intervals of one or two days. Incubation starts with the first egg laid, and lasts about 21 to 25 days, shared by both parents. Each adult sits 3 to 4 hours on the nest, and when it is time to change, both adults fluff their feathers and bow in front of each other, while they utter their grating elongated sound. Chicks hatch covered with white down, with pink bill and legs, turning quickly to bluish-grey. They are fed by both adults, with regurgitated food into their bills. At about three weeks, young leave the nest to move into nearly branches. They are not able to fly, but they are very agile to walk on branches. They perform their first flight with parents at about 5 weeks of age, learning to fly and to hunt in shallow water. They roost with the colony every night until they are independent.
Migration
Extensive post-breeding dispersal. Palearctic breeders partially migratory: West populations winter around Mediterranean, Middle East and particularly tropical Africa. East populations migrate to South of China, South East Asia and Philippines, although large numbers remain in Japan. Populations of Africa, India and Australia sedentary, with some dispersal or nomadism. Birds ringed in East Australia recovered in New Zealand and New Guinea. Races gularis/schistacea apparently resident and dispersive; accidental to Europe and USA. Race dimorpha strictly sedentary. Migratory populations prone to overshooting in spring.
Explore 109
Common name: Crape myrtle, Saoni सावनी (Hindi), Dhayti (Marathi), Chinagoranta (Telugu) Pavalakkurinji (Tamil)
Botanical name: Lagerstroemia indica Family: Lythraceae (Crape myrtle family)
Crape myrtle is the smaller version of Lagerstroemia speciosa, commonly known as Pride of India or Queen crape myrtle. The deciduous crape myrtle is among the longest blooming trees in existence with flowering periods lasting from 60-120 days. Crapes come in heights as short as 18 in (46 cm) and as tall as 40 ft (12 m) Leaves are alternate and smooth, but leaf size depends on variety. Flowers are borne in summer in big showy clusters and come in white and many shades of pink, purple, lavender and red.
Medicinal uses: Seeds are narcotic. In Manipur, flowers and leaves are used as purgatives. Bark is stimulant and febrifuge (fever removing) Roots are astringent and used as gargle.
Blackthorn, also known as 'sloe', is a small deciduous tree native to the UK and most of Europe. It is spiny and densely branched, mature trees can grow to a height of around 6-7m, and live for up to 100 years. The dark brown bark is smooth, and twigs form straight side shoots, which develop into thorns. The twigs are black and spiny with leaf buds along the spines. The leaves are slightly wrinkled, oval, toothed, pointed at the tip and tapered at the base. Blackthorn is a hermaphrodite, meaning both male and female reproductive parts are found in one flower. White flowers appear on short stalks before the leaves in March and April, either singularly or in pairs. Once pollinated by insects, the flowers develop into blue-black fruits measuring 1cm across. Blackthorn is native to Europe and western Asia. It can also be found in New Zealand and eastern North America. It grows best in moist, well drained soil and thrives in full sunlight. It grows naturally in scrub, copses and woodlands, but is commonly used as a hedging plant. Early flowering, blackthorn provides a valuable source of nectar and pollen for bees in spring. Its foliage is a food plant for the caterpillars of many moths, including the lackey, magpie, common emerald, small eggar, swallow-tailed and yellow-tailed. It is also used by the black and brown hairstreak butterflies. Birds nest among the dense, thorny thickets, eat caterpillars and other insects from the leaves, and feast on the berries in autumn. === The expression "sloe-eyed" for a person with dark eyes comes from the fruit, and is first attested in A. J. Wilson's 1867 novel Vashti. Blackthorn was long associated with witchcraft, and it is said that witches' wands and staffs were made using blackthorn wood. The shrub, with its savage thorns, is traditionally used in Britain and other parts of Northern Europe to make a cattle-proof hedge. The timber is hardwearing and tough, light yellow with a brown heartwood. It was traditionally used for making walking sticks and tool parts. It burns well, and is often used as firewood. Blackthorn is used as a hedging shrub, particularly in wildlife gardens. The sloes are used for wine making and preserves, and, most commonly, flavouring gin. In the British Army, blackthorn sticks are carried by commissioned officers of the Royal Irish Regiment; the tradition also occurs in Irish regiments in some Commonwealth countries. Some people apply blackthorn flower directly to the skin for rashes, “skin impurities,” and “blood purification.” In foods, blackthorn flower is used in herbal teas as a colouring agent. A marmalade made from the berry is used for upset stomach. Blackthorn berry is used as a mouth rinse (gargle) for mild sore throat and mouth Wine made from fermented sloes is made in Britain, and in Germany and other central European countries. Sloes can also be made into jam and, used in fruit pies, and if preserved in vinegar are similar in taste to Japanese umeboshi. The juice of the fruits dyes linen a reddish colour that washes out to a durable pale blue. === Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Rosids Order: Rosales Family: Rosaceae Genus: Prunus Subgenus: Prunus Section: Prunus Species: P. spinosa Binomial name Prunus spinosa
A tea of the leaves is very valuable as an asthma remedy, croup, bronchitis, all lung afflictions, bleeding of the lungs, difficult breathing, colds, flu, dry cough and hay fever.
The tea is also good as a throat gargle and also for toothache, as well as an excellent remedy for washing open sores on the skin. How to aid sleep is asked by many day by day, so a tea made from the flowers will induce sleep, relieve pain, and in large doses will act as a laxative. So it can also be seen as a laxative herb.
What you don't know is that I had to spit and gargle with water several times after this photo was taken. Wind + sand + open mouth = sexy spitting.
Toen er nog een Sjah was: meer dan 7,5 Liter gorgelen - When there was still a Persian Sjah: more than 7,5 liters gargling.
[order] Ciconiiformes | [family] Ardeidae | [latin] Egretta garzetta | [UK] Little Egret | [FR] Aigrette garzette | [DE] Seidenreiher | [ES] Garceta Común | [IT] Garzetta comune | [NL] Kleine Zilverreiger | [IRL] Éigrit bheag
spanwidth min.: 88 cm
spanwidth max.: 106 cm
size min.: 55 cm
size max.: 65 cm
Breeding
incubation min.: 21 days
incubation max.: 22 days
fledging min.: 40 days
fledging max.: 45 days
broods 1
eggs min.: 3
eggs max.: 5
Status: Resident along coasts and rivers throughout Ireland, but still scarce in the Midlands and north-west of the country. Little Egret was considered rare in Ireland until it first started breeding here in 1997. It has since expanded and now occurs in almost every coastal county, as well as at a number of inland sites.
Conservation Concern: Green-listed in Ireland. The European population is considered to be Secure.
Identification: Medium-sized white heron, with long black legs, yellow feet, black bill and blue-grey lores, and two elongated nape-feathers in breeding plumage.
Similar Species: Unmistakable in Ireland. Great White Egret is a rare visitor from Continental Europe, but is twice the size.
Call: Rook-like hoarse 'aaah' on alighting from the ground. At colonies, hoarse hard gargling 'gulla-gulla-gulla…' often heard.
Diet: Takes a wide variety of animals including small fish, frogs, snails and insects and forages across a range of wetland habitats from lakes to flooded grassland. Often forages alone; but maybe encountered in small groups.
Breeding: Clutch: 4-5 eggs (1 brood) Incubation: 21-22 days.Fledging: 40-45 days (Altrical). Age of first breeding: not known. Breeds in lakes, marshes, flooded fields & estuaries.
Wintering: Little Egrets use a variety of wetland habitats, including shallow lakes, riverbanks, lagoons, coastal estuaries and rocky shoreline.
Where to See: Sites in Counties Cork and Waterford regularly support most birds - Cork Harbour, Blackwater Estuary, Bantry Bay, Ballymacoda and Courtmacsherry Bay, Broadstrand Bay & Dunworley are among the best sites (up to 30 birds).
Physical characteristics
Little Egret is a small and elegant white egret, showing slender neck, fine pointed black bill and black legs with yellow feet. Adult in breeding plumage has bluish face and reddish lores. We can see two long fine white hindcrown feathers, extending from the nape to the mid-neck. It also has "aigrettes", long feathers of upper breast and recurved scapular feathers. At this time, Little Egret has greyish base of lower mandible. Feet turn bright yellow-orange, even pinkish for short time. In winter plumage, bill is black, lores are greyish, and feet are pale yellow or greenish-yellow. And it lacks long feathers on nape, and "aigrettes" in scapulars and breast. Eyes are pale yellow. Both sexes are similar. Juvenile resembles adult in winter plumage, with duller or greenish bill and legs, and grey-green feet, less contrasting.
Habitat
Little Egret is found in a wide variety of open inland and coastal wetlands, shallow water around lakes, rivers, streams and estuaries. Little Egret breeds in warm temperate parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Most birds are residents. But northern populations migrate to Africa and Southern Asia. Little Egret starts to colonise the New World, breeding in Bahamas, and seen in Caribbean and Surinam.
Other details
Egretta garzetta is a widespread but patchily distributed breeder in southern Europe, which accounts for less than a quarter of its global breeding range. Its European breeding population is relatively small (<94,000 pairs), but increased between 1970- 1990. Although there were declines in a few countries during 1990-2000, populations across most of its European range-including sizeable ones in Spain, France, Italy and Azerbaijan-increased or were stable.
This bird has a wide distribution in the southern parts of Europe and Asia, in northern, eastern and southern Africa, on the Cape Verde Islands, in Indonesia and Australia. European populations winter mainly in northern Africa, but since 1950 an increasing number of individuals remain during the winter along the European coasts of the Mediterranean. The population of the European Union amounts to about 22700 breeding pairs. It is increasing in Spain, France and Italy, decreasing in Greece
Feeding
Little Egret feeds on small fishes, frogs, lizards, worms, crustaceans, molluscs and a wide part of insects.
Conservation
This species has a large range, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 1,000,000-10,000,000 km². It has a large global population estimated to be 640,000-3,100,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2002). Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern. [conservation status from birdlife.org]
Breeding
Little Egret nests in colonies, with other heron and wetland species. They nest in reedbeds, wetland scrubs or trees near water, up to 20 metres above the ground. Nest is a platform made with twigs or reeds. Male brings material to female which builds the nest. Female lays 3 to 5 pale greenish blue eggs, at intervals of one or two days. Incubation starts with the first egg laid, and lasts about 21 to 25 days, shared by both parents. Each adult sits 3 to 4 hours on the nest, and when it is time to change, both adults fluff their feathers and bow in front of each other, while they utter their grating elongated sound. Chicks hatch covered with white down, with pink bill and legs, turning quickly to bluish-grey. They are fed by both adults, with regurgitated food into their bills. At about three weeks, young leave the nest to move into nearly branches. They are not able to fly, but they are very agile to walk on branches. They perform their first flight with parents at about 5 weeks of age, learning to fly and to hunt in shallow water. They roost with the colony every night until they are independent.
Migration
Extensive post-breeding dispersal. Palearctic breeders partially migratory: West populations winter around Mediterranean, Middle East and particularly tropical Africa. East populations migrate to South of China, South East Asia and Philippines, although large numbers remain in Japan. Populations of Africa, India and Australia sedentary, with some dispersal or nomadism. Birds ringed in East Australia recovered in New Zealand and New Guinea. Races gularis/schistacea apparently resident and dispersive; accidental to Europe and USA. Race dimorpha strictly sedentary. Migratory populations prone to overshooting in spring.
Grootwaterhoender
(Gallinula chloropus)
The common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) (also known as the waterhen and as the swamp chicken) is a bird species in the family Rallidae. It is distributed across many parts of the Old World.
The common moorhen lives around well-vegetated marshes, ponds, canals and other wetlands. The species is not found in the polar regions or many tropical rainforests. Elsewhere it is likely the most common rail species, except for the Eurasian coot in some regions.
The closely related common gallinule of the New World has been recognized as a separate species by most authorities, starting with the American Ornithologists' Union and the International Ornithological Committee in 2011.
The name mor-hen has been recorded in English since the 13th century.[5] The word moor here is an old sense meaning marsh;[5] the species is not usually found in moorland. An older name, common waterhen, is more descriptive of the bird's habitat.
A "watercock" is not a male "waterhen" but the rail species Gallicrex cinerea, not closely related to the common moorhen. "Water rail" usually refers to Rallus aquaticus, again not closely related.
The scientific name Gallinula chloropus comes from the Latin Gallinula (a small hen or chicken) and the Greek chloropus (khloros χλωρός green or yellow, pous πούς foot).
The moorhen is a distinctive species, with dark plumage apart from the white undertail, yellow legs and a red frontal shield. The young are browner and lack the red shield. The frontal shield of the adult has a rounded top and fairly parallel sides; the tailward margin of the red unfeathered area is a smooth waving line. In the related common gallinule of the Americas, the frontal shield has a fairly straight top and is less wide towards the bill, giving a marked indentation to the back margin of the red area.
The common moorhen gives a wide range of gargling calls and will emit loud hisses when threatened. A midsized to large rail, it can range from 30 to 38 cm (12 to 15 in) in length and span 50 to 62 cm (20 to 24 in) across the wings. The body mass of this species can range from 192 to 500 g (6.8 to 17.6 oz).
Wikipedia
One of several Blackthorn shrubs in the Hill Barton industrial estate of Exeter, UK. === Blackthorn, also known as 'sloe', is a small deciduous tree native to the UK and most of Europe. It is spiny and densely branched, mature trees can grow to a height of around 6-7m, and live for up to 100 years. The dark brown bark is smooth, and twigs form straight side shoots, which develop into thorns. The twigs are black and spiny with leaf buds along the spines. The leaves are slightly wrinkled, oval, toothed, pointed at the tip and tapered at the base. Blackthorn is a hermaphrodite, meaning both male and female reproductive parts are found in one flower. White flowers appear on short stalks before the leaves in March and April, either singularly or in pairs. Once pollinated by insects, the flowers develop into blue-black fruits measuring 1cm across. Blackthorn is native to Europe and western Asia. It can also be found in New Zealand and eastern North America. It grows best in moist, well drained soil and thrives in full sunlight. It grows naturally in scrub, copses and woodlands, but is commonly used as a hedging plant. Early flowering, blackthorn provides a valuable source of nectar and pollen for bees in spring. Its foliage is a food plant for the caterpillars of many moths, including the lackey, magpie, common emerald, small eggar, swallow-tailed and yellow-tailed. It is also used by the black and brown hairstreak butterflies. Birds nest among the dense, thorny thickets, eat caterpillars and other insects from the leaves, and feast on the berries in autumn. === The expression "sloe-eyed" for a person with dark eyes comes from the fruit, and is first attested in A. J. Wilson's 1867 novel Vashti. Blackthorn was long associated with witchcraft, and it is said that witches' wands and staffs were made using blackthorn wood. The shrub, with its savage thorns, is traditionally used in Britain and other parts of Northern Europe to make a cattle-proof hedge. The timber is hardwearing and tough, light yellow with a brown heartwood. It was traditionally used for making walking sticks and tool parts. It burns well, and is often used as firewood. Blackthorn is used as a hedging shrub, particularly in wildlife gardens. The sloes are used for wine making and preserves, and, most commonly, flavouring gin. In the British Army, blackthorn sticks are carried by commissioned officers of the Royal Irish Regiment; the tradition also occurs in Irish regiments in some Commonwealth countries. Some people apply blackthorn flower directly to the skin for rashes, “skin impurities,” and “blood purification.” In foods, blackthorn flower is used in herbal teas as a colouring agent. A marmalade made from the berry is used for upset stomach. Blackthorn berry is used as a mouth rinse (gargle) for mild sore throat and mouth Wine made from fermented sloes is made in Britain, and in Germany and other central European countries. Sloes can also be made into jam and, used in fruit pies, and if preserved in vinegar are similar in taste to Japanese umeboshi. The juice of the fruits dyes linen a reddish colour that washes out to a durable pale blue. === Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Rosids Order: Rosales Family: Rosaceae Genus: Prunus Subgenus: Prunus Section: Prunus Species: P. spinosa Binomial name Prunus spinosa
The drink deals in Playa de las Americas were totally mad. The champagne couldn't have been real, the pints of cocktail must have been mixed in a bath with a toilet plunger, and the shots were probably gargled and sieved through someone's teeth.
It was a vicious and thinly veiled charade. Worth experiencing once, perhaps twice but definitely not for a third night. We learnt slowly and suffered for it.
Lesser Whistling Duck & Common Moorhen (Juvenile)
Lesser Whistling Duck
The lesser whistling duck (Dendrocygna javanica), also known as Indian whistling duck or lesser whistling teal, is a species of whistling duck that breeds in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. They are nocturnal feeders that during the day may be found in flocks around lakes and wet paddy fields. They can perch on trees and sometimes build their nest in the hollow of a tree. This brown and long-necked duck has broad wings that are visible in flight and produces a loud two-note wheezy call. It has a chestnut rump, differentiating it from its larger relative, the fulvous whistling duck, which has a creamy white rump.
This chestnut brown duck is confusable only with the fulvous whistling duck (D. bicolor) but has chestnut upper-tail coverts unlike the creamy white in the latter. The ring around the eye is orange to yellow. When flying straight, their head is held below the level of the body as in other Dendrocygna species. The crown appears dark and the sexes are alike in plumage. They fly slowly but with rapid wing-flapping and usually produce a repetitive wheezy seasick call as they circle overhead. They are very nocturnal and often rest during the day. The outermost primary feather has the inner vane modified. They produce very prominent whistling sound while flying.
This is a largely resident species distributed widely across lowland wetlands of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The species also occur on islands in the region including the Andamans, Nicobars and Maldives. They sometimes make local movements in response to weather and changes in water availability and the more northern birds winter further south. They are found in freshwater wetlands with good vegetation cover and often rest during the day on the banks or even on the open sea in coastal areas. Downy chicks are black with a white eyebrow and white patches on the back of the head, the wing, lower back and rump. Albino individuals have been seen in the wild.
Large numbers are sometimes found in urban wetlands such as in Kolkata and Goa, particularly during winter. In the Alipore Zoological Gardens, captive individuals were introduced in the 1930s and wild birds joined this nucleus subsequently.
With a wide distribution range between 1 and 10 million km², they are considered to have a secure global population of between two and twenty million individuals. They are not threatened by hunting as they are not considered good to eat. Hunters in Assam however have been known to raise the chicks to serve as live decoy.
Lesser whistling duck are usually gregarious. They feed mainly on plants taken from the water as well as grains from cultivated rice apart from small fish, frogs and invertebrates such as molluscs and worms. They dabble as well as dive in water. They will often waddle on the land and Common mynas have been noted to follow them on grass. Courtship involves the male facing the female and dipping and raising its bill in the water and swimming around the female. They breed during the monsoon or rainy season and may vary locally in relation to the food availability. The nest site may be a tree hole lined with twigs and grass or built in the fork of a large tree, sometimes reusing an old nest of a kite or heron or even on the ground. The clutch varies from 7 to 12 white eggs that are incubated by both the parents. Large clutches of up to 17 have been noted although these may be indications of intraspecific brood parasitism. The eggs hatch after about 22–24 days. More than one brood may be raised in a single season. Young birds may sometimes be carried on the back of the parents.
Local names like sili and silhahi in India are based on their wheezy two-note calls. They become very tame in captivity, walking about and responding to whistles. Individuals in captivity in the USA have lived for up to 9 years.
Several endoparasitic cestodes including Hymenolepis javanensis and Cittotaenia sandgroundi have been described from lesser whistling duck hosts apart from ectoparasitic bird lice and mites.
Common Moorhen (Juvenile)
The common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) (also known as the waterhen and as the swamp chicken) is a bird species in the family Rallidae. It is distributed across many parts of the Old World.
The common moorhen lives around well-vegetated marshes, ponds, canals and other wetlands. The species is not found in the polar regions or many tropical rainforests. Elsewhere it is likely the most common rail species, except for the Eurasian coot in some regions.
The closely related common gallinule of the New World has been recognized as a separate species by most authorities, starting with the American Ornithologists' Union and the International Ornithological Committee in 2011.
The moorhen is a distinctive species, with dark plumage apart from the white undertail, yellow legs and a red frontal shield. The young are browner and lack the red shield. The frontal shield of the adult has a rounded top and fairly parallel sides; the tailward margin of the red unfeathered area is a smooth waving line. In the related common gallinule of the Americas, the frontal shield has a fairly straight top and is less wide towards the bill, giving a marked indentation to the back margin of the red area.
The common moorhen gives a wide range of gargling calls and will emit loud hisses when threatened. A midsized to large rail, it can range from 30 to 38 cm (12 to 15 in) in length and span 50 to 62 cm (20 to 24 in) across the wings. The body mass of this species can range from 192 to 500 g (6.8 to 17.6 oz).
This is a common breeding bird in marsh environments, well-vegetated lakes and even in city parks. Populations in areas where the waters freeze, such as eastern Europe, will migrate to more temperate climes.
This species will consume a wide variety of vegetable material and small aquatic creatures. They forage beside or in the water, sometimes walking on lilypads or upending in the water to feed. They are often secretive, but can become tame in some areas. Despite loss of habitat in parts of its range, the common moorhen remains plentiful and widespread.
The birds are territorial during breeding season. The nest is a basket built on the ground in dense vegetation. Laying starts in spring, between mid-March and mid-May in Northern hemisphere temperate regions. About 8 eggs are usually laid per female early in the season; a brood later in the year usually has only 5–8 or fewer eggs. Nests may be re-used by different females. Incubation lasts about three weeks. Both parents incubate and feed the young. These fledge after 40–50 days, become independent usually a few weeks thereafter, and may raise their first brood the next spring. When threatened, the young may cling to the parents' body, after which the adult birds fly away to safety, carrying their offspring with them.
In the shadow of the Cathedral in Lincoln, even the graffiti is posh...
Dulce et decorum est by Wilfred Owen:
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame, all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.
Gas! GAS! Quick, boys! — An ecstasy of fumbling
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime.—
Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams before my helpless sight
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin,
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs
Bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, —
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
Rogerstown Estuary,
County Dublin 27-03-2021
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Pelecaniformes
Family:Ardeidae
Genus:Egretta
Species:E. garzetta
Binomial name
Egretta garzetta
[group] Herons and egrets | [FR] Aigrette garzette | [DE] Seidenreiher | [ES] Garceta Comun | [NL] Kleine Zilverreiger | [IRL] Éigrit bheag
Status: Resident along coasts and rivers throughout Ireland, but still scarce in the Midlands and north-west of the country. Little Egret was considered rare in Ireland until it first started breeding here in 1997. It has since expanded and now occurs in almost every coastal county, as well as at a number of inland sites.
Conservation Concern: Green-listed in Ireland. The European population is considered to be Secure.
Identification: Medium-sized white heron, with long black legs, yellow feet, black bill and blue-grey lores, and two elongated nape-feathers in breeding plumage.
Similar Species: Unmistakable in Ireland. Great White Egret is a rare visitor from Continental Europe, but is twice the size.
Call: Rook-like hoarse 'aaah' on alighting from the ground. At colonies, hoarse hard gargling 'gulla-gulla-gulla…' often heard.
Diet: Takes a wide variety of animals including small fish, frogs, snails and insects and forages across a range of wetland habitats from lakes to flooded grassland. Often forages alone; but maybe encountered in small groups.
Breeding: Clutch: 4-5 eggs (1 brood) Incubation: 21-22 days.Fledging: 40-45 days (Altrical). Age of first breeding: not known. Breeds in lakes, marshes, flooded fields & estuaries.
Wintering: Little Egrets use a variety of wetland habitats, including shallow lakes, riverbanks, lagoons, coastal estuaries and rocky shoreline.
A project to create retail packaging for three fictional drinks as part of promotional events within the Odeon Cinema. The drinks chosen were Butterbeer of Harry Potter, Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Fizzy Lifting Drink of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory.
This photo is from the Dublin City Photographic Collection. This unique collection is an educational resource and provides a basis for original research on the history of Dublin in the second half of the twentieth century.
The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) (also known as the "swamp chicken") is a bird in the Rallidae family with an almost worldwide distribution.The Common Moorhen lives around well-vegetated marshes, ponds, canals and other wetlands. The species is not found in the polar regions, or many tropical rainforests.The Moorhen is a distinctive species, with dark plumage apart from the white undertail, yellow legs and a red facial shield. The young are browner and lack the red shield. It has a wide range of gargling calls and will emit loud hisses when threatened. A mid-to-large sized rail, it can range from 30 to 38 cm (12 to 15 in) in length and span 50 to 62 cm (20 to 24 in) across the wings. The body mass of this species can range from 192 to 500 g (6.8 to 18 oz). (SOURCE - WIKIPEDIA).
Ref. IS 10bis_20
Iceland 2003
Fotografías tomadas a las 12 de la noche, bajo una ténue luz solar reflejada. Llegar a la explanada de Namaskard en plena noche, sin nadie alrededor, sobrepone, se oye respirar la Tierra. Ritmicamente los diversos pozuelos humeantes lanzan ruidos gorgogeantes, como de respiración pesada y lenta mientras se forman bulbos de agua que se hinchan y explotan para soltar los gases que salen de las entrañas. Cada expiración fotografiada ofrece formas distintas como en una danza ininterrumpida. Es la respiración de la tierra.
© Manel Armengol
Contact: armengol.manel@gmail.com
Bulldog Drummond aka John Ward with Fiona Doyle aka Modesty Blaze relaxes at Matin B Slatterys Rathmines Dublin. You can meet our smooth operators using the password " let me buy ya a gargle". Cheers! e-mail bulldog@proinbox.com to arrange rendezvous and share enlighten thoughts.
Bulldog on world poletics: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHUt2yGitZY
The fruits are very hard and astringent and very unpleasant to eat raw, though they do soften and become less astringent after frost (when they are said to be "bletted"). They are, however, suitable for making liqueurs, as well as marmalade and preserves, as they contain more pectin than apples and true quinces. The fruit also contain more vitamin C than lemons (up to 150 mg/100 g).
The true quince (Cydonia oblonga) possesses several therapeutic properties and many parts of the tree are used to treat different conditions. The bark of the quince stem has astringent properties and is recommended for the treatment of ulcers. The seeds of the quince fruit possess gentle, but dependable laxative, anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. The seeds puff up when placed in water and forms a sticky substance that has a comforting and softening action when used internally. This sticky mass formed by soaking the seeds in water is used to heal respiratory ailments, particularly in children. In addition, this gelatinous substance is also applied topically to heal minor burns and bruises.
The quince fruit possesses astringent, cardiac, digestive, carminative (relieving flatulence), anti-vinous (treating alcohol addition), emollient (softening), diuretic, pectoral (treating lung ailments), peptic (promoting digestion), expectorant, refrigerant (alleviating fever), stimulant, restorative (curative) and tonic properties. Raw quince fruits have a very caustic flavor and syrup prepared with it is used to treat diarrhea. This herbal remedy is considered to be safe for use by children. In addition, the quince fruit as well as the juice extracted from it also acts as an effective mouthwash or gargle to heal gum problems, tender throats as well as mouth ulcers. The leaves of this tree enclose pectin and tannin. While the tannin present in quince leaves can be utilized as astringent, pectin has positive impact on the circulatory system as it helps to lower blood pressure.
Quince fruits cannot be consumed fresh. Hence, they are usually used to prepare jam, jelly, marmalade and a type of pudding. Alternately, the fruits may also be peeled and subsequently roasted, baked or cooked as a stew. The flesh of quince fruits turns reddish when they are cooked for a prolonged period. As the fruits have a strong scent, small quantities of it may be added to jams and pies prepared with apples with a view to enhance their flavor. If you add a cube of quince fruit to apple sauce, it helps to enhance the flavour of the sauce. It may be mentioned here that the word ‘marmalade’ originally denoted a jam prepared with quince and is drawn from the Portuguese name for this fruit - ‘marmelo’. Like many other fruits, quince may also be fermented to prepare a variety of wine.
People in Iran and several other regions of the Middle East use the dried pits (the hard inner layer of the pericarp) for treating tender throats as well as drawing out cough. They soak the pits in water for some time and then drink the sticky substance produced as a cough syrup. This herbal medicine is usually used to treat children because it does not contain any alcohol and is completely natural.
DIPHTHERIA REMEDY
THE ONLY SAFE PREVENTIVE AND CERTAIN CURE IN THE MARKET FOR
DIPHTHERIA AND Membraneous Croup
The Remedy is taken internally, and does away with [?] Gargling, Burning and Vomiting. It is a POSITIVE PREVENTIVE!
And is certain to stop the spread of Diphtheria,
CROUP, WHOOPING COUGH, INFLAMMATION OF THE THROAT, TONSILLITIS, BRONCHITIS, CATARRH, AND SYPHILITIC SORE THROAT, TOGETHER WITH COUGHS, COLDS, HOARSENESS AND LOSS OF VOICE,
Yield readily to its influence!
CROUP is [completed?] and cured by a SINGLE DOSE. For COUGHs and COLDs no remedy can give quicker relief or perform a more speedy cure. A few doses will cure any Sore Throat.
PRICE, - - ONE DOLLAR PER BOTTLE
MACK & CO.,
SOLE AGENTS,
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
REGISTERED.
© Ioan C. Bacivarov
All the photos on this gallery are protected by the international laws of copyright and they are not for being used on any site, blog or forum, transmitted or manipulated without the explicit written permission of the author. Thank you in advance
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Many thanks for yours visits and comments!
FASCINATING FACTS:
- Yarrow is one of the most popular of herbs for use in herbal medicine
- Yarrow contains the alkaloid achilleine; occasionally used in present times to stop a menstrual cycle
- crushed roots were put on teeth to help toothaches, a tea from the leaves and stems was used to bathe in for those suffering from rheumatism, an astringent or tonic was also made from the yarrow
- to stop sore throats a concoction of all but the roots was gargled
- If you are heading into a period of stress or difficulty, use yarrow on a daily basis to avoid that post exam, moving house, or funeral cold.
The word "Gargoyle" shares a common root with the word "Gargle"; which comes from "gargouille", an French word for "Throat". A true gargoyle is a waterspout. The word “gargoyle” is also a derivative from the Latin word, “gurgulio”, which had a double meaning, “throat”, and the “gurgling” sound water makes as it passes through a gargoyle. A carved creature that does not serve the purpose of a drain pipe is frequently referred to as a "Grotesque". legend has it, that a fierce dragon named La Gargouille described as having a long, reptilian neck, a slender snout and membranous wings lived in a cave near the river Seine. The dragon caused much fear and destruction with its fiery breath, spouting water and the devouring of ships and men. Each year, the residents of Rouen would placate Gargouille with an offering of a victim, usually a criminal, though it was said the dragon preferred maidens. Around 600, the village was saved by St. Romanis, who promised to deal with the dragon if the townspeople agreed to be baptized and to build a church. Romanus subdued the dragon by making the sign of the cross and then led the now docile beast back to town on a leash made from his priest's robe. La Gargouille was then burned at the stake, it is said that his head and neck were so well tempered by the heat of his fiery breath, that they would not burn. These remnants were then mounted on the town wall and became the model for gargoyles for centuries to come. 3
(Excerpted from northstargallery.com/gargoyles/aboutgargoyles.htm)
If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,–
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
- Wilfred Owen, Dulce et Decorum Est
The war memorial at Hadfield
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Coronavirus is a large virus family that causes illnesses that ranges from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). Coronavirus has shown a collapse in our immunity, at both the levels – physical and psychological. As per the latest reports, 89,000 people are already infected by this deadly virus and now it has reached India where 39 people are affected till now.
Nowadays, Individuals are stressing and worrying about this deadly virus that and have looked towards Ayurveda, Yoga, and meditation to help balance mind, body, and soul.
Some of the basic protective measures everyone should follow are
Wash your hands with soap and running water
Avoid close contact with others
Drink Tulsi tea and Giloy Juice as it contain antioxidants
Gargling with saltwater clears your gut from bacteria
Regular Yoga and meditation for about 30 mins calms the mind and thus boosts the immunity
Staying at home if you are coughing or sneezing
Kairali Ayurveda, an Ayurveda company is following certain basic preventive measures in their properties to protect their guests from the virus.