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Trying something new with manips. Nothing new in concept, but different editing techniques. The more I grow in knowledge, the longer these seem to take.
Railwaywise Scarborough is a shadow of its former existence which can be seen in this comparison with this pre -electrifcation early 80s scene taken from the same location.
079105 13 Nov 2016
Frisco, NC. October 2023.
If you would like to use THIS picture in any sort of media (such as newspaper or article) please send me a Flickr mail or an e-mail at natehenderson6@gmail.com.
Photo of the Painted Hills captured via Minolta MD Tele Rokkor-X 135mm F/2.8 Lens. John Day Fossil Beds National Monument: Painted Hills Section (managed by the National Park Services). John Day/Clarno Uplands Area. Blue Mountains Region. Wheeler County, Oregon. Early April 2017.
Exposure Time: 1/30 sec. * ISO Speed: ISO-200 * Aperture: F/11 * Bracketing: None
An alien looking, underwater world revealed by low tides Windansea Beach. With the storm clearing by the horizon and the setting sun lighting up those monsoon clouds, it was a perfect setting. All I needed to do was walk barefooted in knee deep water, one step at a time over those extremely slippery moss patches to make it to this location just in time!
The theme this month is Outer Space - Science Fiction - since there are so many holidays and space events this month why not :D
Remember this month I'm doing a "GIVEAWAY" so really get creative and have a super sonic blast!!!
I'm posting this a bit early so you can have some time to get all your ideas and supplies together - for those participating in April BaD please continue with your lovely pictures and May 1st I will be looking forward to some out of this world fun!!!!!
I'm off to Roswell NM so if I happen to be abducted by Aliens please know I have someone on standby with your prizes :D
A 15-inch Rodman gun, together with two 8-inch Rodmans on the left flank of Fort McHenry's Outer Battery.
None of these cast-iron guns were present during the 1814 bombardment, being mounted after the American Civil War and serving until 1912, although never fired in anger! However, the earthen banks have always mounted the Fort's heaviest artillery.
The 15-inch piece required a crew of 14, including four men just to carry each spherical explosive projectile. The gun, a muzzle-loader, weighed over 22 tonnes and required up to 23 kg of powder to fire the 200 kg projectile out to a maximum range of just five kilometres!
Designed by Frenchman Jean Foncin in 1798 and named after James McHenry, a Scots-Irish immigrant and surgeon-soldier who became Secretary of War under President Washington, Fort McHenry was built after America won its independence to defend the important Port of Baltimore from future enemy attacks. It was positioned on Locust Point peninsula which juts into the opening of Baltimore Harbor, and was constructed in the form of a five-pointed star surrounded by a dry moat. The moat would serve as a shelter from which musketmen might defend the fort from a land attack. In case of such an attack on this first line of defence, each point, or bastion, was fortified, so that the invading army would be caught in a crossfire of cannon and musket fire.
Of course, the fort is best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from a half-hearted attack by the Royal Navy on 13-14 September 1814. It was during the bombardment of the fort that Francis Scott Key was inspired to write "The Star-Spangled Banner," the poem that would eventually be set to the tune of "To Anacreon in Heaven" and become the national anthem of the United States.
Outer facade of the northern city wall
The ramparts are pierced by five gateways. The main south and north gates lead onto the main north—south street, parallel to the Euphrates river.
Halabiye, Syria
Tucked away in the heart of Tokyo, the Tsukiji Outer Market buzzes with life, offering a sensory overload of sights, sounds, and flavors. While the famed wholesale fish market has relocated, the outer market remains a bustling hub of culinary culture and history. Strolling through its narrow alleys feels like stepping into an earlier era, where tradition and modernity collide. Vendors, housed in compact wooden stalls and semi-enclosed storefronts, display a dazzling array of fresh seafood, artisan goods, and handmade ceramics.
Architecturally, the market retains its postwar charm, with many of the structures showcasing weathered wooden facades and corrugated metal roofs. These timeworn features blend seamlessly with the vibrant signage, lanterns, and cloth banners, creating a striking juxtaposition of old and new. Shops are often crammed to the brim, with wares spilling out onto the streets, drawing locals and tourists alike into an intimate, immersive shopping experience.
The energy here is unmatched. Fishmongers deftly slice glistening cuts of tuna, vendors shout their daily specials, and the air fills with the enticing aroma of freshly grilled seafood skewers. Beyond the seafood, stalls offer a treasure trove of Japanese staples—handcrafted knives, artisanal teas, and delicate ceramics, each telling a story of Japan’s rich cultural heritage.
Whether you’re sampling buttery uni or admiring the fine details of hand-thrown pottery, the Tsukiji Outer Market offers a quintessential Tokyo experience. Its enduring charm lies in its ability to preserve tradition while welcoming the contemporary, making it a must-visit destination for anyone craving a slice of authentic Japan.
Turdus migratorius
The American Robin begins to breed shortly after returning to its summer range. It is one of the first North American bird species to lay eggs, and normally has two to three broods per breeding season, which lasts from April to July.
The nest is most commonly located 1.5–4.5 meters (5–15 ft) above the ground in a dense bush or in a fork between two tree branches, and is built by the female alone. The outer foundation consists of long coarse grass, twigs, paper, and feathers. This is lined with smeared mud and cushioned with fine grass or other soft materials. A new nest is built for each brood, and in northern areas the first clutch is usually placed in an evergreen tree or shrub while later broods are placed in deciduous trees. The American Robin does not shy away from nesting close to human habitation.
Newly hatched chicks
A clutch consists of three to five light blue eggs, and is incubated by the female alone. The eggs hatch after 14 days, and the chicks leave the nest a further two weeks later. The altricial chicks are naked and have their eyes closed for the first few days after hatching. While the chicks are still young, the mother broods them continuously. When they are older, the mother will brood them only at night or during bad weather.
The chicks are fed worms, insects, and berries. Waste accumulation does not occur in the nest because adults collect and take it away. Chicks are fed, and then raise tails for elimination of waste, a solid white clump that is collected by a parent prior to flying off. All chicks in the brood leave the nest within two days of each other.Even after leaving the nest, the juveniles will follow their parents around and beg food from them. Juveniles become capable of sustained flight two weeks after fledging.
Chick
The adult male and female both are active in protecting and feeding the fledged chicks until they learn to forage on their own. The adult Robin gives alarm calls and dive-bombs predators, including domestic cats, dogs and humans that come near the young birds. The fledglings are able to fly short distances after leaving the nest. The wings of juvenile birds develop rapidly, and it only takes a couple of weeks for them to become proficient at flying. The cryptically colored young birds perch in bushes or trees for protection from predators.
Bird banders have found that only 25% of young Robins survive the first year. The longest known lifespan in the wild of an American Robin is 14 years; the average lifespan is about 2 years.
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
National Express Alexander Dennis Enviro 400MMC 6121 (SN15 LGJ) Victoria Joyce.
11c Outer Circle (clockwise) Kings Heath & Selly Oak seen on the Swan Island Yardley Birmingham.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Piping plover
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Charadriiformes
Family:Charadriidae
Genus:Charadrius
Species:C. melodus
Binomial name
Charadrius melodus
(Ord, 1824)
Subspecies
C. m. circumcinctus
C. m. melodus
The piping plover (Charadrius melodus) is a small sand-colored, sparrow-sized shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches in North America. The adult has yellow-orange legs, a black band across the forehead from eye to eye, and a black stripe running along the breast line. This chest band is usually thicker in males during the breeding season, and it is the only reliable way to tell the sexes apart. The bird is difficult to see when it is standing still, as it blends well with open, sandy beach habitats. It typically runs in short spurts and stops.
There are two subspecies of piping plovers: the eastern population is known as Charadrius melodus melodus and the mid-west population is known as C. m. circumcinctus. The bird's name is derived from its plaintive bell-like whistles which are often heard before the bird is visible.
Total population is currently estimated at about 6,510 individuals. A preliminary estimate showed 3,350 birds in 2003 on the Atlantic Coast alone, 52% of the total.[2] The population has been increasing since 1999.
Their breeding habitat includes beaches and sand flats on the Atlantic coast, the shores of the Great Lakes, and in the mid-west of Canada and the United States. They nest on sandy or gravel beaches or shoals. These shorebirds forage for food on beaches, usually by sight, moving across the beaches in short bursts. Generally, piping plovers will forage for food around the high tide wrack zone and along the water's edge. They eat mainly insects, marine worms, and crustaceans.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies are recognized, including nominate C. m. melodus of the Atlantic Coast and C. m. circumcinctus of the Great Plains. On average, circumcinctus is darker overall with more contrastingly dark cheeks and lores. Breeding male circumcinctuses show more extensive black on forehead and bill-base and more often shows complete breast-bands. Some overlap exists.
Description
On the Atlantic coast, Cape May, New Jersey, USA
The piping plover is a stout bird with a large rounded head, a short thick neck, and a stubby bill. It is a sand-colored, dull gray/khaki, sparrow-sized shorebird. The adult has yellow-orange legs, a black band across the forehead from eye to eye, and a black ring around the neck during the breeding season. During nonbreeding season, the black bands become less pronounced.[3] Its bill is orange with a black tip. It ranges from 15–19 cm (5.9–7.5 in) in length, with a wingspan of 35–41 cm (14–16 in) and a mass of 42–64 g (1.5–2.3 oz).[4]
Vocalizations
The piping plover's light call is a soft, whistled peep peep given by standing and flying birds. Its frequently heard alarm call is a soft pee-werp, which the second syllable lower pitched.
Habitat and distribution
The piping plover lives the majority of its life on open sandy beaches or rocky shores, often in high, dry sections away from water. They can be found on the Atlantic Coast of the U.S. and Canada on the ocean or bay beaches and on the Great Lakes shores. It builds its nests higher on the shore near beach grass and other objects. It is very rare to see a piping plover anywhere outside of sand or rocky beaches/shores while not migrating. Piping plovers are often found to migrate south to The Bahamas during winter months.[5]
Piping plovers migrate from their northern range in the summer to the south in the winter months, migrating to the Gulf of Mexico, the southern Atlantic coast of the United States and the Caribbean. They begin migrating north beginning in mid-March. Their breeding grounds extend from southern Newfoundland south to the northern parts of South Carolina.[6] Migration south begins in August for some adults and fledglings, and by mid-September most piping plovers have headed south for winter.
Breeding
The piping plover usually arrives at sandy beaches to breed in mid to late April.[7]
Males will begin claiming territories and pairing up in late March. When pairs are formed, the male begins digging out several scrapes (nests) along the high shore near the beach-grass line. The males also perform elaborate courtship ceremonies, including stone tossing and courtship flights featuring repeated dives.[3] Scrapes, small depressions in the sand dug by kicking the sand, are often in the same area that least terns choose to colonize. Females will sit and evaluate the scrapes, then choose a good scrape and decorate the nest with shells and debris to camouflage it. Once a scrape is seen as sufficient, the female will allow the male to copulate with her. The male begins a mating ritual of standing upright and "marching" towards the female, puffing himself up and quickly stomping his legs. If the female had seen the scrape as adequate, she will allow the male to stand on her back and copulation occurs within a few minutes.
Most first-time nest attempts in each breeding season are four-egg nests which appear as early as mid-to-late April. Females lay one egg every other day. Second, third and sometimes fourth nesting attempts may have only three or two eggs. Incubation of the nest is shared by both the male and the female. Incubation is generally 27 days and eggs usually all hatch on the same day.
After chicks hatch, they are able to feed within hours. The adults' role is then to protect them from the elements by brooding them. They also alert them to any danger. Like many other species of plovers, adult piping plovers will often feign a "broken wing display", drawing attention to themselves and away from the chicks when a predator may be threatening the chicks' safety. The broken wing display is also used during the nesting period to distract predators from the nest.[3] A major defense mechanism of the chicks is their ability to blend in with the sand. It takes about 30 days before chicks achieve flight capability. They must be able to fly at least 50 yd (46 m) before they can be considered fledglings.
To protect the nests from predators during incubation, many conservationists use exclosures, such as round turkey-wire cages with screened tops. These allow the adults to move in and out but stop predators from getting to the eggs. After the chicks hatch, many areas will put up snow fencing to restrict driving and pets for the safety of the chicks. Threats to nests include crows, cats, raccoons, and foxes, among others. Exclosures are not always used, as they occasionally draw more attention to the nest than would occur without the exclosure. Natural hazards to eggs or chicks include storms, high winds, and abnormal high tides; human disturbances can cause the abandonment of nests and chicks as well. It is best to stay away from any bird that appears distressed to prevent any unintended consequences.
Status and conservation
The piping plover is globally threatened and endangered; it is uncommon and local within its range, and has been listed by the United States as "endangered" in the Great Lakes region and "threatened" in the remainder of its breeding range.[8] While it is federally threatened, the piping plover has been listed as state endangered in Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The Parker River Refuge on Plum Island, Massachusetts is a national network of lands and rivers dedicated to the safety of its native wildlife and specifically the Piping Plover. Protecting the Piper with full beach closures, the Refuge now "has the second largest plover population on the North Shore".[9]
In eastern Canada, the piping plover is found only on coastal beaches. In 1985, it was declared an endangered species by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.[10] A large population in Ontario has disappeared entirely.[11] In 2008, however, piping plover nests were found at Wasaga Beach and near Sauble Beach, Ontario, along the Ontario Great Lakes shores.[12] There is also some evidence of nesting at other sites in Ontario, including Port Elgin, Ontario in 2014.[13][14]
In the 19th century and early 20th century, the piping plover was utilized for its feathers, as were many other birds at the time, as decorations for women's hats. These decorations, called plumes, became a symbol of high society, especially those from larger rare birds. This practice led to its initial population decline. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 helped the population recover through the 1930s.[15] The second decline in the piping plover's population and range has been attributed to increased development, shoreline stabilization efforts,[16] habitat loss and human activity near nesting sites in the decades following World War II.[15] The Great Lakes populations eventually shrank to only around two dozen.[11]
Critical nesting habitats are now being protected to help the population during its breeding season. Populations have seen significant increases since the protection programs began, but the species remains in serious danger. Current conservation strategies include identification and preservation of known nesting sites; public education; limiting or preventing pedestrian and/or off-road vehicle (ORV) traffic near nests and hatched chicks; limiting predation of free-ranging cats, dogs and other pets on breeding pairs, eggs and chicks;[17] and removal of foxes, raccoons, skunks, and other predators.[18]
In coastal areas such as Plymouth,[19] Cape Cod, Long Island, Sandy Hook,[20] Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware, North Manitou Island in Lake Michigan, and most recently, Cape Hatteras National Seashore on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, beach access to pedestrians and ORVs has been limited to protect piping plovers and their chicks at critical times of the breeding season.
Various environmental organizations are involved in aiding restoration efforts. The Goldenrod Foundation [1] unsuccessfully filed suit against the Town of Plymouth in 2010 and 2015 to restrict offroad vehicle access to breeding habitat.[21][22]