France

Explore! 44 ⭐ June 28, 2023 /Explore surprise 🌟April 25, 2025,t hank you !

This photo was taken at the edge of the pond in the last rays of the sun when the foliage is reflected in the water and gives it beautiful colors .

Cette photo a été prise au bord de l'étang aux dernières lueurs du soleil quand le feuillage se reflete dans l'eau et lui donne de belles couleurs .

Der See Jökulsárlón, deutsch „Gletscherflusslagune“

ist der bekannteste und größte einer Reihe von Gletscherseen in Island. Er liegt am Südrand des Vatnajökull auf dem Breiðamerkursandur zwischen dem Skaftafell-Nationalpark und Höfn. Mit 248 Metern ist er der tiefste See Islands.

I believe this is a female Anna's Hummingbird casting her tongue, briefly, for an insect, perhaps. The bold and brash Rufous Hummingbirds seem to have moved north in their wide circle back to to Mexico. The Anna's seem to linger all year,

Thanks for your comments.

The dismount and crossing of the swords

Click twice to enlarge

Turf Church Hofskirkja, Island

With few trees near the sides of our house, we collect dead tree limbs to use for snags.

I was surprised to see a robin--or any bird--perched on this northern stick, with another robin in an adjacent dead tree (snag). That's just tall grass in fields behind it.

Could only get one shot at a too-slow shutter speed before it flew.

Thanks for looking. Headed back outdoors for now. Feel less anxious and grumpy there.

Finally a bit of sun this morning. Nice to have a little color. Watched him catch about a dozen fish in a period of 2 hours. Not only the most entertaining in the marsh, but the best fisherman. Click to enlarge.

Ce guêpier était présent en Namibie aussi mais plus facile de le photographier en France !(image de l'an dernier dans le Loiret !)

Following on from yesterday's inflight series here is one of the highly attentive curlew mother.

The more you get to watch nature the more you learn.

Last year I watched the ring plover parents frantically calling to draw me away from their young chick. This year I have seen this bird perform a similar routine on several visits.

Only the lapwings have been successful thus far this year in hiding their young from my camera.

Let's hope her chicks are successful in surviving as curlews are currently red listed in the UK.

Curlew - Numenius

Yorkshire Dales - Near lower barn

Many thanks as always to all those who stop by and are kind enough to comment on or fave my photos. It is sincerely appreciated and welcome.

DSC_3575. Explore 20th June 2020 #420.

I think this is a Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) perched on wild grass on today’s sunny (but chilly) morning. Sun! My fingertips might lose those bathtub-type wrinkles. Until tomorrow’s lovely rain.

Happy Palindrome day! 02202020

Larger view:

www.flickr.com/photos/jan-timmons/49478393581/sizes/k/

Large crop. 850mm, f/6.7, 1/1000, ISO 560

Curlew - Numenius

Yorkshire Dales -Near lower barn

Many thanks as always to all those who stop by and are kind enough to comment on or fave my photos. It is sincerely appreciated and welcome.

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Red-winged Blackbirds performing without a net.

The millet sprig has taught new tricks to certain birds. See Dark-eyed Juncos (in previous photos).

700.0 mm (in 35mm: 700.0 mm)

1/1000 sec; f/8; ISO 4000

Manual; Spot metering

Still practicing placing my left hand on the long lens. Lens and camera mounted on Jobu-Design gimbal head or swing-head or tripod-head on heavy duty tripod.

Thanks for looking!

Image taken near TWEE RIVIEREN

The last 2 days of our trip were cloudy and the very particular landscapes of the Kalahari desert where the red-orange sand of the dunes contrasts wonderfully with the azure blue of the sky, seemed different: all the tones, yellow, red, green ...seemed exacerbated, more beautiful! So we stopped to photograph animals which usually did not necessarily hold our attention like this male ostrich which seemed to pose for us!

Image prise près de TWEE RIVIEREN

Les 2 derniers jours de notre voyage ont été nuageux et les paysages si particuliers du désert du Kalahari où le sable rouge-orangé des dunes tranche à merveille avec le bleu azur du ciel ,semblaient différents :toutes les tonalités ,jaunes ,rouges ,vertes ...semblaient exacerbées ,plus belles !Nous nous sommes donc arrêtés pour photographier des animaux qui d'habitude ne retenaient pas forcément notre attention comme cette autruche mâle qui semblait poser pour nous !

I'm so used to seeing these by the shore in Scotland, that it seemed somehow surreal to see one up close on my English doorstep

Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)

Yorkshire Dales - England

Many thanks to all those who take the time to comment on and fave my photos. It is truly appreciated.

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Wood Duck

The Wood Duck or Carolina Duck (Aix sponsa) is a species of perching duck found in North America. It is one of the most colorful North American waterfowl.

The Wood Duck is a medium-sized perching duck. A typical adult is from 19 to 21 inches in length with a wingspan of between 26 to 29 inches. This is about three-quarters of the length of an adult Mallard. It shares its genus with the Asian Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata).

The adult male has distinctive multicolored iridescent plumage and red eyes, with a distinctive white flare down the neck. The female, less colorful, has a white eye-ring and a whitish throat. Both adults have crested heads.

For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_duck

A quick cuppa mid walk at our favourite cafe.

The birds like the humans were waiting patiently for their turn to be fed.

Chaffinches are a much overlooked bird despite their beautiful colours.

Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs

Ben Lora Cafe Benderloch - Scotland.

As always I extend my thanks and appreciation to all those who view, fave and comment on my photos.

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Dunnock - Prunella Modularis

Our Garden - Guiseley

Many thanks to all those who take the time to comment, fave and view my photos. It is truly appreciated.

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Surf scoters, one of the high octane diving ducks. Other than Buffleheads, ruddy ducks, and other scoters, can't think of any other ducks that have the same high energy level. Probably my favorite duck, and you gotta love the big orange/black paddlers and the whistling sound their feathers make when they fly.

Click twice to enlarge.

But sadly, heading across fields rather than in my direction.

No increased vibrance or saturation. As shot from RAW, except to crop vertically.

Photo 2 of 2

She is the stern looking one on the bottom. Homer is on the top and his philosophy is 'whatever.'

Peregrine Falcons of New Jersey

The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-grey back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache". As is typical of bird-eating raptors, Peregrine Falcons are sexually dimorphic, females being considerably larger than males. The Peregrine is renowned for its speed, reaching over 200 mph during its characteristic hunting stoop (high speed dive), making it the fastest member of the animal kingdom. According to a National Geographic TV program, the highest measured speed of a Peregrine Falcon is 242 mph.

For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peregrine_falcon

Up close with the hoodies

Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) (also called hoodie)

Oban Bay Argyll - Scotland

Many thanks to all those who take the time to comment on my photos. It is truly appreciated.

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The snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large, white owl of the true owl family. Snowy owls are native to Arctic regions in North America and Eurasia. Males are almost all white, while females have more flecks of black plumage. Juvenile snowy owls have black feathers until they turn white. This is a young male.

Coastal Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) pounces after a salmon. She was a first-time mom with two spring cubs to feed. Caught 4 huge fish in an hour and a half. Very successful fishing bear. Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

The Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea, formerly placed in the genus Nycticorax), also called the American Night Heron or Squawk, is a fairly small heron. It is found throughout a large part of the Americas, especially (but not exclusively) in warmer coastal regions; an example occurrence is the Petenes mangroves of the Yucatan.

A related heron, the Bermuda night heron, was endemic to Bermuda, but became extinct following human colonisation.

For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-crowned_night_heron

The Cornell Lab: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-crowned_Night-Heron/ov...

"Reddish Egret at sunrise."

Reddish Egret

The Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) is a medium-sized heron. It is a resident breeder in Central America, The Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Gulf Coast of the United States, and Mexico. There is post-breeding dispersal to well north of the nesting range. In the past, this bird was a victim of the plume trade.

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, there are only 1,500 to 2,000 nesting pairs of reddish egrets in the United States — and most of these are in Texas. They are classified as "Threatened" in Texas and receive special protection.

Egrets are herons which have white or buff plumage and develop fine plumes (usually milky white) during the breeding season. Egrets are not a biologically distinct group from the herons and have the same build.

For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reddish_egret

From The Cornell Lab: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Reddish_Egret/overview

Seems so long now since I saw this guys northern cousins the hoodies.

Carrion Crow - (Corvus Corone)

Golden Acre Park - Leeds

As always I am grateful to all those who take the time to drop by and view my photos. Your comments and faves are all very much appreciated and welcome.

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1st light, female brings in sticks that actually fit into the scheme of making a nest. Male brings in these huge branches that don't really work well with nest building, at least from my viewpoint.

Tricolored Heron

The Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor), formerly known in North America as the Louisiana heron, is a small heron. It is a resident breeder from the Gulf States of the United States and northern Mexico south through Central America and the Caribbean to central Brazil and Peru.

There is some post-breeding dispersal to well north of the nesting range.

Tricolored heron's breeding habitat is sub-tropical swamps. It nests in colonies, often with other herons, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. In each clutch, 3–7 eggs are typically laid.

For more info: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tricolored_Heron/overview

Cornell Lab of Ornithology: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tricolored_Heron/overview

This Coastal Brown Bear was making the most of a healthy salmon run. On this morning she caught a half dozen large Silver Salmon. Here she closes the distance on a salmon (visible just outside her reach). This proved to be the salmon's final moments of life. The bear smacked it with her paws, stunned it, and grabbed it with her powerful jaws. The circle of life unfolded right in front of us. Un-cropped image. Silver Salmon Creek, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.

"Reddish Egret at sunrise."

Reddish Egret

The Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) is a medium-sized heron. It is a resident breeder in Central America, The Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Gulf Coast of the United States, and Mexico. There is post-breeding dispersal to well north of the nesting range. In the past, this bird was a victim of the plume trade.

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, there are only 1,500 to 2,000 nesting pairs of reddish egrets in the United States — and most of these are in Texas. They are classified as "Threatened" in Texas and receive special protection.

Egrets are herons which have white or buff plumage and develop fine plumes (usually milky white) during the breeding season. Egrets are not a biologically distinct group from the herons and have the same build.

For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reddish_egret

FCornell Lab of Ornithology: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Reddish_Egret/overview

From The Braes on the Isle Of Skye. The view across to Ben Tianavaig is something to enjoy especially when the water is lively and you want to feel the wind in your hair.

Curlew - Numenius

Yorkshire Dales -Near lower barn

Many thanks as always to all those who stop by and are kind enough to comment on or fave my photos. It is sincerely appreciated and welcome.

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Black Skimmer

The Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) is a tern-like seabird, one of three very similar birds species in the skimmer family. It breeds in North and South America. Northern populations winter in the warmer waters of the Caribbean and the tropical and subtropical Pacific coasts, but the South American races make only shorter movements in response to annual floods which extend their feeding areas in the river shallows.

For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_skimmer

Red foxes are very athletic and excellent jumpers. While the male shown is a pretty good jumper, his mate makes him look like a beginner. She jumps much further and higher than him. I think because she a bit more athletic and also more daring.

Click twice to enlarge

The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), or the hoot owl, is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an extremely adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas. Its primary diet is rabbits and hares, rats and mice, and voles, although it freely hunts any animal it can overtake, including rodents and other small mammals.

Wood Duck

The Wood Duck or Carolina Duck (Aix sponsa) is a species of perching duck found in North America. It is one of the most colorful North American waterfowl.

The Wood Duck is a medium-sized perching duck. A typical adult is from 19 to 21 inches in length with a wingspan of between 26 to 29 inches. This is about three-quarters of the length of an adult Mallard. It shares its genus with the Asian Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata).

The adult male has distinctive multicolored iridescent plumage and red eyes, with a distinctive white flare down the neck. The female, less colorful, has a white eye-ring and a whitish throat. Both adults have crested heads.

For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_duck

Ring Necked Pheasant - Phasianus Colchicus

Fountains Abbey - Yorkshire

As always I extend my sincere gratitude to all who are kind enough to comment and fave my photos or even stop by and just have a look. It is very much appreciated.

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Not yet on her own and still depending on parents to feed her and siblings.Getting quite good at flying and harassing other birds, but still needs to improve her hunting skills before she takes off on her own. Pacific Ocean in bg on an overcast morning.

Click twice to enlarge

Black-crowned Night Heron

The Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), commonly abbreviated to just night heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, except in the coldest regions and Australasia (where it is replaced by the closely related rufous night heron, with which it has hybridized in the area of contact).

For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-crowned_night_heron

Cornell Lab of Ornithology: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-crowned_Night-Heron/ove...

Yeah, I know, what the hell am I talking about. Just reminded me of the great line in the movie, 'Casablanca' by the great Humphrey Bogart to Ingrid Bergman. I didn't make it up, google it. Google wasn't even a word when the movie was made.