Not All That Glitters Is Gold
View allAll Photos Tagged iridescence!
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos - making his presence known
Many thanks to those that take the time to visit and/or comment and fav...it is sincerely appreciated!
Colouring in the sky! :)
Found this when looking for something else, pretty beautiful iridescence that day, although I have brightened it show off the brilliant colours.
Sine I said it was flight week and my truck for HTT ( happy Truck Thursday) really can't fly - I doubled up and added this lovely bird.
Its blue has a wonderful iridescence!
At a distance the Glossy Ibis will seem somewhat dark in appearance, but catch it closeup with a full overhead sunlight, and the iridescence produces wonderful green and rust highlights. Its dark brown eye (among other features) distinguishes the Glossy from the White-faced Ibis that is seen in the Western States.
Glossy Ibis, seen at Merritt Island NWR.
The purple sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) is a small bird in the sunbird family found mainly in South and Southeast Asia but extending west into parts of the Arabian peninsula. Like other sunbirds they feed mainly on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. They have a fast and direct flight and can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird but often perch at the base of flowers. The males can appear all black in harsh sunlight but the purple iridescence is visible on closer observation or under good light conditions. Females are olive above and yellowish below.
This small sunbird has a relatively short bill, a dark and short square ended tail with distinctive sexual dimorphism. Less than 10 cm long they have a down-curved bill with brush-tipped tubular tongues that aid in nectar feeding. The male is glossy metallic bluish to purplish black on the upper parts with the wings appearing dark brown.
The purple sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) is a small sunbird. Like other sunbirds they feed mainly on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. They have a fast and direct flight and can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird but often perch at the base of flowers. The males appear all black except in some lighting when the purple iridescence becomes visible. Females are olive above and yellowish below
Glossy Ibis when seen from a distance appear to be black, but their feathers become iridescent in light that strikes them obliquely.
Here, the ibis is backlit, but he turned slightly to give a nice view of his face and iridescent chestnut-colored feathers on his shoulder.
Solitary birds in the marsh always seem to be "waiting" for something to happen : -)
Well, cheers made with a brewery's output after finally recognizing this Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus). This picture taken in "butterfly garden" of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.
I wish I could give an exotic reason why the background is orange, but it was simply the background blur of the Nature Center's brick wall.
Life Bird Photograph #254
Blackish ibis with white neck and underparts, beautiful iridescence on upper parts visible in good light. Adult has ‘straw-like’ plumes on neck, which are absent in juveniles. Often flies in formation at high altitudes, with flock sizes varying greatly. Typically feeds in grassland habitats, farm paddocks, and sporting fields. (eBird)
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We had seen these birds in large flocks during our trip, but always from the van. Finally, a chance to get close and to see its beautiful iridescent feathers.
Adelaide River, Northern Territory, Australia. October 2022.
Eagle-Eye Tours - Tropical Australia.
Gambia tour 2020
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BULKY dark ibis with a white crescentic cheek stripe. Feeds on molluscs, aquatic worms and diving beetles by either probing or picking up food from the surface. Often solitary, and I have failed to show its metallic bronzy-green iridescence on the wings, stand out only in certain lights. A real joy to catch up with one of these, often hard to find.
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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, AND LEAVING A COMMENT, will look forward to doing the same on your latest posting.
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Have lost my holiday to Florida, but to expect me to SELF ISOLATE FOR UP TO FOUR MONTHS, being over 70 years will drive me mad after one day.
May GOD keep you well and safe, my prayers are going out to you all...............................................Tomx
Showing slight damage to the wings due to old age, always catches up with us in the end. The Blue Morpho's upper wings are not actually blue but appear blue to us by the way the light reflects off the microscopic scales that are diamond shaped and produce the phenomenon which is known as 'iridescence. A common and wide spread butterfly found in central and south America and in the islands of West Indies.
Having tried and failed to get these birds in flight, I was happy this Tree Swallow was perched on a wire. He posed nicely for his photograph on a countryside road in rural Alberta, Canada.
Tree Swallows winter farther north than any other American swallows and return to their nesting grounds long before other swallows come back. They can eat plant foods as well as their normal insect prey, which helps them survive the cold snaps and wintry weather of early spring.
- Tachycineta bicolor
The Blue Morpho's upper wings are not actually blue but appear blue to us by the way the light reflects off the microscopic scales that are diamond shaped and produce the phenomenon which is known as 'iridescence. A common and wide spread butterfly found in central and south America and in the islands of West Indies.
I have another star in my sky, I lost my dearest mother-in-law the first of January. She was a remarkable person, an incredible woman, mother, grandmother and grand grandmother. She will always be in my heart.
Los Angeles. California.
Australia is home to several pigeon species and this is one of my favourites. Gorgeous iridescence in the wings
Réalisé le 18 mars 2021 au Domaine de Maizerets, ville de Québec, Québec.
cliquez sur l'image pour l'agrandir / click on the photograph to enlarge it.
Taken on March, 18th / 2021 at Domaine de Maizerets, Quebec city, Quebec.
This one showing purple iridescence. Sometimes they show green. As the colour is produced by feather structure rather than pigment, this is due to the angle of the light
After a string of chilly, cloudy, rainy days, the sun finally came out last Saturday afternoon. Yay!! I grabbed my camera and macro lens and went out to shoot one of my favorite macro subjects, Milkweed Pods!
Common and widespread throughout most of North America, breeding as far north as Alaska and wintering to Panama. A medium-sized swallow, with gleaming white underparts. Adult males are bright iridescent blue-green above; females and immatures are duller brownish with limited or no iridescence. Always note compact shape, fairly broad wings, and slightly notched tail. Occurs in a variety of open habitats including grassy fields, lakes, and marshes. Often in flocks, sometimes mixed with other species of swallows. Breeds in cavities, including human-made nest boxes. Listen for cheery gurgling calls. Compare especially with Violet-green Swallow; note Tree Swallow does not show extensive white wrapping around the cheek or the sides of the rump. (eBird)
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Taking a break and watching the parade of people and kids passing by.
John E. Poole Wetlands, St. Albert, Alberta, Canada. June 2022.
Although they are attractive in any light, the iridescence of Long-tailed Skippers (Urbanus proteus) really pops when the illumination angle is just right. The long-tailed skipper is a spread-winged skipper butterfly found throughout tropical and subtropical South America, south to Argentina and north into the southern part of the United States of America. On a Ebbinge's Silverberry leaf (Elaeagnus x ebbingei) in my garden on a beautiful Autumn day
This shot showcases the outstanding iridescence present in Barn Swallow plumage!
Member of Nature’s Spirit
Good Stewards of Nature
… der gerne meinen Schmuck hält ! 😊
... who likes to hold my jewellery ! 😊
Smile on Saturday: SHADES OF GOLD
A large and very distinctive longhorn beetle with a golden iridescent bloom. Length around 20mm (not including the length of it's antennae).
Many thanks to all who take the time to view, comment or fave my images.
Common Grackles are beautiful to view as they make their calls and courtship displays.
This is not a current shot as I have not seen any since the fall but a reminder of who I may see this spring!
Thank you for your visits
Just a cloud...
I thought I’d shoot this as it looked lovely against the blue sky, with the setting sun behind it. When I uploaded from my camera to my iPad, I realised that there were pearlescent edges around the cloud: Wiki informs me it’s a type of photometeor, a topic in atmospheric optics...Apparently, this phenomenon is caused by individual water droplets or ice particles diffracting sunlight.
Aye, I just thought it was a wee fluffy cloud.
I almost called this shot, “Lenticular Iridescence” but thought that was a little pretentious...Well, it IS named after the shape of a lentil...😉
Ghost In The Music - a beautiful song by Nancy Griffith:
“Tell me, where is ...the refuge for these poor and these fallen?
It rests in the lines like a ghost in the music
The soul of America’s pride.”
Hoping for peace at all the borders around the world.
From my garden,
South Carrick Hills
SW Scotland
Taken for Smile on Saturday theme Iridescence. Despite many efforts, failed to get the iridescence all around the disc. Stiil, pretty colourful.
Keep well everyone.
Twist this little pebble in sunlight and deep peacock blues flash from deep inside it.
The molten rock that formed it cooled and crystallized into alternate stacked layers with two different compositions. They produced the iridescence - or 'schiller' - by multilayer interference.
For Macro Mondays "Blue". FOV is 2.8" wide.
A common gray pigeon that is easily identified by the long pointed crest on the top of its head. Mostly pale gray with bright iridescence on wings. Feeds only on the ground. Takes flight with noisy wing-claps, and in flight has a wing-whistle which makes it sound like a wind-up toy. Common in open habitats and is often present in suburban areas. (eBird)
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Ridiculously tame, these beautiful pigeons were all over the Yulara Town Square, looking for food and mates. We had to keep an eye out for them as we walked across the grass. Although the descriptions say that male and female are alike, there were many birds that were more brown than grey. I'm fairly sure, from their behaviour, that they were males.
Yulara, Northern Territories, Australia. September 2022.
A perfect opposite on the colour wheel. Full marks to this Longhorn Moth for landing and posing on this spot on a Gorse flower.
A noisy, somewhat aggressive bird, a male Common Grackle is quite striking in full sunlight. The bluish iridescence of his head, and bright yellow eyes contrast sharply with his dark wings and abdomen.
Grackles are common summer visitors that migrate to Southern states in the winter.
The wonderful coloring of the male Common Grackle adds a nice relief to the muted landscape as spring begins.
I'm still going with the "bronze" variety unless someone knows more definitively....
Thank you for your visits and inspiration!