Life's a RIOT!!
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While I highly doubt it's the case, it looks to me like the fish in this shot asked the osprey to take him somewhere -- and is going along for a fun ride while copying the expression of the bird carrying him!
female looking for fish from the edge of a bridge across a small stream in Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India
also called Eurasian Kingfisher
alcedo atthis
ijsvogel
martin-pêcheur d'Europe
Eisvogel
Your views, favorites and supportive comments are highly appreciated.
All rights reserved. ButsFons©2019
Please do not use my photos on websites, blogs or in any other media without my explicit permission.
"The highly specialized Snail Kite flies on broad wings over tropical wetlands as it hunts large freshwater snails. These handsome gray-and-black raptors have a delicate, strongly curved bill that fits inside the snail shells to pull out the juicy prey inside. "
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Photographed in the wild, Estero Palo Verde, Cayutlan, Colima, Mexico
Photographed in the wild, Estero Palo Verde, Cayutlan, Colima, Mexico
Fotografiado en la naturaleza, Estero Palo Verde, Cayutlan, Colima, México
Pendant de longues années, la fauvette a été un oiseau très répandu en Europe, mais sa population a subi une forte chute à la fin des années soixante et au début des années soixante-dix. La cause en est la sécheresse de ses quartiers d'hiver africains situés au Sahel dans l'Ouest africain. Après cette diminution des effectifs, l'espèce semble en voie de se reconstituer, mais elle reste très vulnérable aux changements climatiques.
La fauvette apprécie les haies, les buissons et les espaces ouverts, et n'est donc pas un oiseau des jardins. C'est un oiseau migrateur régulier et il lui arrive lors de ses vols de visiter un jardin, surtout au printemps ou en automne.
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For many years, the warbler was a widespread bird in Europe, but its population fell sharply in the late sixties and early seventies. The cause is the drought of its African winter quarters located in the Sahel in West Africa. After this decline in numbers, the species appears to be recovering, but remains highly vulnerable to climate change.
The warbler appreciates hedges, bushes and open spaces, and is therefore not a garden bird. It is a regular migratory bird and it happens during its flights to visit a garden, especially in spring or autumn.
See my "About" page on Flickr for the link to support my efforts... just the price of a cup of coffee is appreciated. Thank you. www.flickr.com/people/jax_chile/
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© John B Fotografía
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Flores de Santa Gemita - 021322 - Enhanced-6
Kingfisher - Alcedo Atthis
Double click
The common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) also known as the Eurasian kingfisher, and river kingfisher, is a small kingfisher with seven subspecies recognized within its wide distribution across Eurasia and North Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter.
This sparrow-sized bird has the typical short-tailed, large-headed kingfisher profile; it has blue upperparts, orange underparts and a long bill. It feeds mainly on fish, caught by diving, and has special visual adaptations to enable it to see prey under water. The glossy white eggs are laid in a nest at the end of a burrow in a riverbank.
The female is identical in appearance to the male except that her lower mandible is orange-red with a black tip. The juvenile is similar to the adult, but with duller and greener upperparts and paler underparts. Its bill is black, and the legs are also initially black. Feathers are moulted gradually between July and November with the main flight feathers taking 90–100 days to moult and regrow. Some that moult late may suspend their moult during cold winter weather.
The flight of the kingfisher is fast, direct and usually low over water. The short rounded wings whirr rapidly, and a bird flying away shows an electric-blue "flash" down its back.
The common kingfisher is widely distributed over Europe, Asia, and North Africa, mainly south of 60°N. It is a common breeding species over much of its vast Eurasian range, but in North Africa it is mainly a winter visitor, although it is a scarce breeding resident in coastal Morocco and Tunisia. In temperate regions, this kingfisher inhabits clear, slow-flowing streams and rivers, and lakes with well-vegetated banks. It frequents scrubs and bushes with overhanging branches close to shallow open water in which it hunts. In winter it is more coastal, often feeding in estuaries or harbours and along rocky seashores. Tropical populations are found by slow-flowing rivers, in mangrove creeks and in swamps.
Like all kingfishers, the common kingfisher is highly territorial; since it must eat around 60% of its body weight each day, it is essential to have control of a suitable stretch of river. It is solitary for most of the year, roosting alone in heavy cover. If another kingfisher enters its territory, both birds display from perches, and fights may occur, in which a bird will grab the other's beak and try to hold it under water. Pairs form in the autumn but each bird retains a separate territory, generally at least 1 km (0.62 mi) long, but up to 3.5 km (2.2 mi) and territories are not merged until the spring.
Very few birds live longer than one breeding season. The oldest bird on record was 21 years.
They are also listed as a Schedule 1 species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act offering them additional protection.
Population:
UK breeding:
3,800-6,400 pairs
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a highly agile aircraft, designed to be a supremely effective dogfighter in combat. Later production aircraft have been increasingly better equipped to undertake air-to-surface strike missions and to be compatible with an increasing number of different armaments and equipment, including Storm Shadow and Brimstone missiles. The Typhoon had its combat debut during the 2011 military intervention in Libya with the UK's Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Italian Air Force, performing aerial reconnaissance and ground-strike missions.
The aircraft is waiting on the thresold for permission to line up on the runway.
Everglades Snail Kites are a highly endangered bird in Florida! They are now referred to as Snail Kites and get their name for the fact that they feed almost exclusively on Apple Snails! They are a victim of poor water management, including water quality, high water levels, extremely low water levels. The water that is of extremely poor quality is because of recycling of farm water!
We were luck enough to see these Snail Kites mating on one of our trips to STA 5 in the wonderful early morning light!! As always thanks for looking and we will see you on Thursday!!
Mar & April: Photography exhibit at the J. N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Visitor's Center, Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel, Florida
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If you would like to use one of our images for commercial use or if you find a picture that you would like for framing, please contact us at klshells@mindspring.com for services we have available.
“Highly sensitive people are too often perceived as weaklings or damaged goods. To feel intensely is not a symptom of weakness, it is the trademark of the truly alive and compassionate. It is not the empath who is broken, it is society that has become dysfunctional and emotionally disabled. There is no shame in expressing your authentic feelings. Those who are at times described as being a 'hot mess' or having 'too many issues' are the very fabric of what keeps the dream alive for a more caring, humane world. Never be ashamed to let your tears shine a light in this world.”
― Anthon St. Maarten
Kingfishers are highly territorial. They have to eat about 50% of their body weight a day . They are solitary for most of the year forming pairs in the autumn ready to breed in the spring . Only between 3,500-4,700 pairs breed in the UK . I think they are one of the most beautiful and interesting birds .
This one was photographed at Dungeness RSPB (arc) .
a beautiful and highly recommended national park not far from the city of Luoping/Yunnan/South West China.
Danke für deinen Besuch! Thanks for visiting!
bitte beachte/ please respect Copyright © All rights reserved
A red-headed wood pigeon (Columba janthina nitens) is a subspecies of the Japanese wood pigeon, has a dark-pink head and a green/blue breast, and lives only in Bonin Islands, Japan. Although it is highly endangered, its number has increased from around 40 to hundreds after efforts of conservation, which include translocation of stray cats. I was fortunate to look at them during my short visit to the island.
小笠原で出会ったアカガシラカラスバトです。熱心な保護活動の結果、数を増しつつあるようです。
A highly elusive and shy bird hard to spot and get a clear shot. They blend in the reeds on the edge of water bodies and fly away when spotted.
On this very cloudy day, we sighted almost half a dozen of them flying around the reeds. I believe they were nesting and collecting food quite frequently. All 3 bitterns were present in the area - the black bittern, Cinnamon and Yellow. But the cloudy weather, occasional drizzle and slippery country roads and low light all made it difficult to navigate around for a better view.
Thanks in advance for your views and feedback. Much appreciated.
If you have time I would highly recommend you taking a steep climb out of Broadway Tower towards the Broadway village. This really enjoyable walk is going to take you through the Cotswolds fields full of lambs and absolutely breathtaking views. If you get tired on your way down you can enjoy a little break on one of the benches (if it’s not already taken by the local lambs) and get lost in the tranquility of the Cotswolds view. If you like picture-postcard villages with honey coloured buildings, Broadway village is going to delight you with its rich cultural heritage.
Next time you watch TV look out for Broadway Tower which has been featured in a number of movies and television programs including Sherlock Holmes, The Gemini Factor, Interceptor and Crush.
All of your kindest likes and comments are highly appreciated, my dear Flickr friends. Wish you all the best and happy Thursday!
HMBT
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl0q8f8nC8Q
One look at love and you may see
It weaves a web over mystery,
All ravelled threads can rend apart
For hope has a place in the lover's heart.
Hope has a place in a lover's heart.
Whispering world, a sigh of sighs,
The ebb and the flow of the ocean tides.
One breath, one word may end or may start
A hope in a place of the lover's heart.
Hope has a place in a lover's heart.
Look to love you may dream,
And if it should leave then give it wings.
But if such a love is meant to be;
Hope is home, and the heart is free
Under the heavens we journey far,
On roads of life we're the wanderers,
So let love rise, so let love depart,
Let hope have a place in the lover's heart.
Hope has a place in a lover's heart.
Look to love and you may dream,
And if it should leave then give it wings.
But if such a love is meant to be;
Hope is home, and the heart is free.
Hope is home, and the heart is free.
quoted from Enya's Hope Has a Place
I felt sure that a low down, max DOF shot was the way to go with this, but this simple composition seemed to work best!
This is my slightly dusty electric guitar which is always a great way to unwind.
HMM!
Hobby
Electricity Pylons, West Sussex
Sony A7r (720nm IR) Carl Zeiss Jena 29mm f/2.8 @ f/8
Firecrest Ultra 16 stop ND
Island Of Madagascar
Off The East Coast Of Africa
Berenty Reserve
The ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) is a large strepsirrhine primate and the most recognized lemur due to its long, black and white ringed tail. It belongs to Lemuridae, one of five lemur families, and is the only member of the Lemur genus.
Like all lemurs it is endemic to the island of Madagascar. Known locally in Malagasy as maky ([makʲ] , spelled maki in French) or hira, it inhabits gallery forests to spiny scrub in the southern regions of the island. It is omnivorous and the most terrestrial of extant lemurs.
The ring-tailed lemur is highly social, living in groups of up to 30 individuals. It is also female dominant, a trait common among lemurs. To keep warm and reaffirm social bonds, groups will huddle together.
Like other lemurs, this species relies strongly on its sense of smell and marks its territory with scent glands. The males perform a unique scent marking behavior called spur marking and will participate in stink fights by impregnating their tail with their scent and wafting it at opponents.
As one of the most vocal primates, the ring-tailed lemur uses numerous vocalizations including group cohesion and alarm calls. The ring-tailed lemur, despite the lack of a large brain (relative to simiiform primates), can organize sequences, understand basic arithmetic operations and preferentially select tools based on functional qualities. Wikipedia
Went a different direction here. Used the same base photo as yesterday’s posting...an old photo of mine from April of 2018. Don’t recall now how much initial editing took place. Just now I used normal oil painting effect at 75%, then Adobe photoshop express leaves effect LE11. Again no border on purpose.
"Already got a Oscar for the casa
Runnin' down Grammys with the family
Prolly give a Tony to the homies
Prolly get a Emmy dedicated to the
Highly melanated, ArchAndroid orchestrated
Yeah, we highly melanated, ArchAndroid orchestrated
Yeah, Gemini they still jammin'
Box office numbers, and they doin' outstandin'
Runnin' outta space in my damn bandwagon
Remember when they used to say I look too mannish.
Black girl magic, y'all can't stand it
Y'all can't ban it, made out like a bandit
They been trying hard just to make us all vanish
I suggest they put a flag on a whole 'notha planet.
Jane Bond, never Jane Doe
And I Django, never Sambo
Black and white, yeah that's always been my camo
It's lookin' like y'all gon' need some more ammo
I cut 'em off, I cut 'em off, I cut 'em off like Van Gogh
Now, pan right for the angle
I got away with murder, no Scandal
Cue the violins and the violas." - Janelle Monáe ♫
Gi fixes her braids for Zailau's camera once again as she poses...❤️
The wide angle lens is probably the most often used, but also misused, lens in landscape photography. It is a powerful lens, as long as it is used with forethought and for the right scenes. In my article I share with you useful tips for composing powerful wide angle images and I hope it encourages you to go out there and capture the beauty! Please feel free to read the article at this link. I hope you enjoy!
Highly cropped at Lettuce Lake Park, Tampa, Florida, USA.
This photograph/image is copyrighted and may not be used in any way without my permission. If you would like to use it, please contact me via Flickr mail.
Thanks for visiting and for your faves and comments.
Little Owls (Athene noctua) are a highly sedentary species in the UK. They are particularly territorial in the breeding season and consequently very vocal, with a wide variety of vocalisations. Typical calls include a plaintive ‘kew’ ‘kew’ and a loud ‘wherrow’, repeated at regular intervals:
Little Owls establish their territory in the late winter and early spring, when males can be particularly noisy. Territory size varies throughout the year but is at its greatest prior to the breeding season when individuals may cover nearly 40Ha in the UK. This reduces to as little as 2Ha, as pairs provision young.
Diet consists primarily of crickets, grasshoppers and other invertebrates such as beetles and earthworms, as well as small mammals. Small birds are also taken during the breeding season.
Little Owls are most active at dawn and dusk, and after dark when most hunting occurs. However, they can frequently be seen during the middle of the day, basking in the sun on an exposed perch such as a telegraph pole, dead tree or isolated building. Rather than hunting on the wing, Little Owls usually hunt from a perch, typically a fence post. When prey is spotted they sometimes ‘bob up and down’ a few times before a typically short, low, undulating flight to the ground where they sometimes pursue prey on foot. Whilst perched on a post they blend into farmland environments extremely well and are easily overlooked (Courtesy Barn Owl Trust).
Thanks for viewing my photos and for any favourites and comments, it’s much appreciated 👍
Masai Mara Game Reserve
Kenya
East Africa
The plains zebra (Equus quagga), also known as the common zebra, or locally as the "quagga" is the most common and geographically widespread species of zebra. It ranges from the south of Ethiopia through East Africa to as far south as Botswana and eastern South Africa.
The plains zebra remains common in game reserves, but is threatened by human activities such as hunting for its meat and hide, as well as competition with livestock and encroachment by farming on much of its habitat.
The plains zebra is a highly social species, forming harems with a single stallion, several mares and their recent offspring; there are also bachelor groups. Groups may come together to form herds. The animals keep watch for predators rather than attempting to hide; they bark or snort when they see a predator, and the harem stallion attacks predators to defend his harem.\
The species population is stable and not endangered, though some populations such as in Tanzania have declined sharply. – Wikipedia
Famous, enchanting and highly toxic, Fly agaric is the home of fairies and magical creatures and a lover of birch woodland, where it helps trees by transferring nutrients into their roots, but if eaten can cause hallucinations and psychotic reactions.
Native to the UK, it grows in woodland and heathland on light soils among birch, pine or spruce.
Fly agaric is poisonous and infamous for its psychoactive and hallucinogenic properties, but reports of human deaths are extremely rare. It was traditionally used as an insecticide. The cap was broken up and sprinkled into saucers of milk. It's known to contain ibotenic acid, which both attracts and kills flies – which gave it its name.
Scientific name: Amanita muscaria.
So pleased to find this on one of Marnie and my walks. I didn't have my 'proper' camera with me so used my mobile phone.
~ Edited in Topaz Studio - no actual 'texture' and actually, the original is alright but can't resist trying for better ! I'm sure you know the feeling ! ~
Thanks so much, as always, for your comments and just for looking - autumn is REALLY here now in our northern climes.
Highly recommended read ... by Joseph Boyden en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Through_Black_Spruce
More black spruce in the first comment box.
- Nickie's Nature Trail, Star Lake, Ontario, Canada -
This highly distinguishable bird has been waking us up for several years now.
Normally he /she sits on our lodge roof, but today was down by the shore line.
I'm not sure if it's a birth defect or damage he/she has incurred.
Rook - Corvus Frugilegus
Tralee Bay - Scotland
Many thanks to all those who take the time to comment on and fave my photos. It is truly appreciated.
DSC_4456
The highly scented pink roses at the front are 'Boscobel'.
The deep red roses at the back are 'Dublin Bay': prolific bloomers but with little scent.
Elephants are highly social animals and are known for their complex social behavior, which includes a variety of communication methods, social bonding, and cooperation. One of the most important aspects of elephant social behavior is their family structure, which is centered around a matriarchal society.
Female elephants, called cows, form close bonds with their female relatives, such as their mothers, sisters, and daughters, and often live in multi-generational family groups. These groups are led by the oldest and most experienced cow, known as the matriarch, who is responsible for making decisions for the group, such as where to feed and drink and when to move to new areas.
Male elephants, called bulls, are more solitary and typically leave their family group around the age of 12 to 14 to join bachelor herds or to live alone. However, bulls do interact with family groups during the mating season, when they seek out receptive females to mate with.
When elephants socialize, they use a variety of communication methods, including vocalizations, body language, and chemical signals. They also engage in tactile communication, such as touching trunks or rubbing against each other.
Elephants are highly intelligent and are capable of exhibiting empathy and compassion towards each other. They have been known to show affection towards other elephants, comfort each other in times of distress, and even mourn their dead. Overall, elephants are complex social animals with intricate social structures and behaviors.
Sheep Mountain, north of Greybull Wyoming, is a highly dissected anticline. At its center lies a prominent 15 mile long ridge which corresponds to the double plunging anticline’s crest. The photo is looking south from near the ridge at the head of Sheep Mountain Canyon where the Bighorn River through the anticline’s core. The red hills in the distance are hogbacks of the Triassic Chugwater Formation. These beds once bend up over the core of the anticline but have been eroded back to dipping ridges that encircle the crestal ridge. The red and white beds on the next hogback are the Jurassic Gypsum Springs formation which are overlain by the drab olive green strata that make up part of the Jurassic Sundance Formation. The cottonwood trees along the Bighorn River had just leafed out when this photo was taken near the end of May.
Picture nr 232/365
20.08-2014
Picture nr 232/365
20.08-2014
In Son there is a huge sailing community. This is highly appreciated from all the inhabitents of Son
shot and created by KHWD
21 challenge inspiration, AI vs Photorealism
FEEDBACK: I know which I prefer, cast your votes in the comments, I am incredibly interested to hear what you think, many thanks for your time, KeefH
Here is what 80s comedian and now angry 20s old man Ben Elton has to say ;)
youtu.be/xOTCSzMfcYo?si=bZ8YI2BDHXebUTB8
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Comparing AI-generated images with real photographs can be quite fascinating. Here are a few aspects to consider:
Realism
Photographs: Real photos capture the world as it is, with all its imperfections, nuances, and natural lighting.
AI Images: These can be incredibly realistic, but they may sometimes lack the subtle imperfections and natural lighting that real photos have.
Creativity
AI Images: AI can generate highly creative and imaginative visuals that don't exist in reality, which is great for artistic and conceptual purposes.
Photographs: Limited to what can be physically captured by the camera in the real world.
Detail
Photographs: Offer natural and intricate details that are true to life.
AI Images: Can be detailed as well, but sometimes the details may look artificial or too perfect.
Use Cases
Photographs: Best for documentation, realism, and capturing specific moments.
AI Images: Ideal for creative projects, concepts, and situations where real photos may not be possible or practical.
While AI-generated images can be impressive and useful in many contexts, they still can’t fully replicate the authenticity and natural beauty of real photographs. Have you tried using AI to create images before, or are you considering it? I know where my allegiances lie... its real photography and Flickr has a huge example of each
Highgate Common Staffordshire
What3Words
///vertical.ballots.renewals
The Magpie is a highly intelligent member of the corvid family (which includes crows and ravens) known for its striking black-and-white plumage and complex social behavior. While often unfairly branded as a "thief" or a bad omen in European folklore, it is revered as a symbol of good luck and prosperity in many East Asian cultures.
High Intelligence & Behavior
Self-Awareness:
The Eurasian magpie is one of the few non-mammal species to pass the mirror test, proving it can recognize its own reflection.
Problem Solving:
They are known to use tools, play games, and work in teams to fend off predators or hunt.
Social Memory:
Magpies can recognize individual human faces and may remember people who have been either kind or threatening in the past.
Grief:
They have been observed performing elaborate social rituals that resemble funerals when a member of their group dies.
Appearance & Identification
Iridescent Feathers:
While they look black and white from a distance, their black feathers actually have a blue, green, and purple iridescent sheen visible in sunlight.
Long Tail:
The tail makes up more than half of the bird's total length (approx. 45 cm total) and is used for balance and communication.
Vocalisations:
Their most common sound is a harsh, rapid "chacker-chacker" chatter, though they are also capable mimics of other sounds and even human speech.
Habitat & Diet
Adaptability:
They are found across Europe, Asia, and North America, thriving in suburban gardens, parks, and farmland.
Diet:
As omnivores, they eat a varied diet including insects, seeds, fruit, carrion, and occasionally the eggs or chicks of other birds.
Nesting:
They build large, domed nests of twigs and mud, usually high in trees or thorny bushes for protection.
This very widely distributed member of the "Flycatcher" family can be spotted in a variety of habitats that supply open spaces and are near water. They are considered monogamous and mated pairs will return to the same territory in succeeding years. They are highly territorial and do possess an aggressive nature and will not hesitate to release that aggression on even large birds like crows and hawks.
On their breeding grounds they construct a nest made of weeds, twigs and grasses lined with fine root fibers, hair and fur usually located in a stump, fence post or elm where a mated pair will incubate 2 - 5 eggs for 14 - 18 days. They do have the ability to recognize and will remove parasitized eggs laid in their nest by other species.
While feeding they like to perch on an elevated limb where they can dart out and capture flying insects but will also glean insects from green foliage.