INDIAN ART -sculpture , painiting and architecture
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SITS UPRIGHT and motionless for long periods on a favored perch, from which it swoops on its insect prey, follows cattle, and bushfires. A real joy to see this one early on at the start of our visit.
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THANK YOU for your visit and friendship, hope you enjoy, keep safe and well, and enjoy the weekend, God Bless. Tomx
SITS MOTIONLESS for long periods on a favored perch, this one waiting for a herd of cattle to approach, bringing with them loads of flying insects to swoop on,. You can with a very slow approach get fairly close, we left it in place with an ear-to-ear grin.
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THANK YOU for your visit, friendship, and kind comments, enjoy your new week, and stay safe and well, God bless you.. ...............Tomx
GAMBIA TOUR feb 2020
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FREQUENTS dry open grassland with scattered trees, also road and tracks with telegraph wires. Often solitary, occasionally in loose groups . Attracted to bush fires, sits up-right and motionless for long periods on a favoured perch, from which it swoops on its prey.
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, comments and faves, will look forward to seeing your latest posting very soon.
"STAY STRONG !" my dear friends, may God bless and keep you all safe...........................................................Tomx
Point Abino Lighthouse
Keeping a proud watch over Lake Erie, the Point Abino Lighthouse is one of the greatest of its kind in Canada.
Built in 1917-1918, the lighthouse and keeper’s dwelling are a local, provincial, and federal landmark with a unique history. This light station was one of 40 built during the last period of manned lighthouse construction.
Preservations want this 'keeper's dwelling' for the historic Point Abino Lighthouse kept in public hands.
At the end of Point Abino, a large rocky shelf projects into the lake making it necessary to build the lighthouse at a considerable distance from the shoreline. In stormy weather and at high-water periods, the lighthouse was inaccessible on foot. For that reason, the keeper’s dwelling required a site on the adjoining shore.
The day was raining with brief periods of sun in between, so the greens were quite saturated and made for excellent backdrop. The birds were also wet and some of them were drying out.
There was a large flock of these birds on one of the bare trees and some of them were sort of drying themselves I suppose in the gentle breeze. The hair was standing up in the wind and made for some nice shots.
Thanks in advance for your views and/or feedback. Much appreciated.
I am an optimist, although in my life, like so many others, there have been dark moments and long periods when hope has been just a small star in a black sky. But that star has given light and led forward. Therefore, as soon as possible, I like to look at colors. Even though through rose colored lenses 😍 In this photo, the colors are real, no edited colors or filters. And everything looks pink. Suits me. Only Mother Nature's creativity and imagination can come up with such wonderful colors for the sky and as reflections on the surface of the water.
Mansikkalahti, Kotka, Finland, Baltic Sea. At the sunset time.
👱♀️🎧 Rose Colored Lensses ( Miley Cyrus ).
Le martin-pêcheur se nourrit principalement de poissons pris depuis un perchoir au-dessus de l'eau. L'oiseau reste posé pendant de longs moments, regardant attentivement l'eau à la recherche de proies, tournant et inclinant la tête et le corps. Quand la proie est détectée, il plonge à pic et capture le poisson sous l'eau, pouvant aller jusqu'à un mètre de profondeur. Ensuite, utilisant ses ailes, il se propulse vers la surface et s'élève, le bec tendu vers le ciel, et retourne sur son perchoir.
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The kingfisher feeds mainly on fish caught from a perch above the water. The bird remains resting for long periods of time, looking carefully at the water for prey, turning and tilting the head and body. When the prey is detected, it plunges sharply and captures the fish under water, up to one meter deep. Then, using its wings, it propels itself towards the surface and rises, the beak stretched towards the sky, and returns on its perch.
Le martin-pêcheur se nourrit principalement de poissons pris depuis un perchoir au-dessus de l'eau. L'oiseau reste posé pendant de longs moments, regardant attentivement l'eau à la recherche de proies, tournant et inclinant la tête et le corps. Quand la proie est détectée, il plonge à pic et capture le poisson sous l'eau, pouvant aller jusqu'à un mètre de profondeur. Ensuite, utilisant ses ailes, il se propulse vers la surface et s'élève, le bec tendu vers le ciel, et retourne sur son perchoir.
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The kingfisher feeds mainly on fish caught from a perch above the water. The bird remains resting for long periods of time, looking carefully at the water for prey, turning and tilting the head and body. When the prey is detected, it plunges sharply and captures the fish under water, up to one meter deep. Then, using its wings, it propels itself towards the surface and rises, the beak stretched towards the sky, and returns on its perch.
The ability of the camel to survive in desert conditions without water for long periods of time is rivalled by none. The many physiological adaptations the dromedary have even earned it the title "ship of the desert". Dromedaries can glean much of their needed water from desert vegetation, and can survive after losing over 40 percent of their body weight in water. When water is available, whether fresh or brackish (salty), camels drink well - up to 57 litres at a time.
Lycoptera (fish fossil) 11x12x.4 cm
Liaoning Prov, China.
Lycoptera were small, freshwater fish that lived from the late Jurassic to Cretaceous periods (125-135 million years ago), in present-day China, Korea, Mongolia, and Siberia. This species is a member of the Jehol Biota, a prehistoric ecosystem known for its early birds and feathered dinosaurs.
After enduring periods of heavy rain, I finally got some nice opportunities of this rare visitor. We waited for long periods of time for him to make returns . Getting somewhat clean captures was the challenge and making sure the white details weren't blown out. Really nice to get this lifer.
I put my project fog in the forest or better forest in the fog .... I do not know .... Continue. For some weather types, it is sometimes just short periods that stay for photographing. Whether sunrises or sunsets, certain lighting situations or just this fog. Yesterday, I said that this atmosphere reminds me very much about the fairy tales of the Brüder Grimm: A visit to the "Grimmwelt" in Kassel is definitely worth learning more about these interesting brothers and their work. Enjoy it.
The thunderstorm and its cumulonimbus approach, they are behind me. But the first clouds over this field are very esthetic also he seems to me. Before the rain, small last ones bright periods of blue sky disappear.
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L'orage et ses cumulonimbus arrivent, ils sont derrière moi. Mais les premiers nuages au-dessus de ce champ sont très esthétiques aussi il me semble. Avant la pluie, les dernières petites éclaircies de ciel bleu disparaissent.
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Charente, France
Thank you to all for your kind words! I really appreciate each one of them !!!
See my shots with 1,000+ faves, in Explore or my 3 best.
Some of the groups which invited this photo :
**Innamoramento - BY INVITATION only
Magic Landscapes (Invite Only)
NATURE by Flickr - Invitation Only
International Amateurs Photos (Invite Only)
Best Friends Photographer - INVITATION ONLY -
Best Of... Stunning Colors !!! (INVITE ONLY)
All that Glitters..(Admin Invitation Only) ~
HIMMELSBILDER - sky pictures ONLY !!!
The Gold Collection ~ Invited photos
GORGEOUS: commented with gorgeous
...
Museum will be established as a permanent institution with an international scope and mission. It is dedicated to the collection, research, preservation and display of works of art, objects and artifacts of artistic, cultural and historical significance from various periods and geographic areas of the Muslim world.
Grey Heron - Ardea Cinerea
The grey heron (Ardea cinerea) is a long-legged predatory wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but some populations from the more northern parts migrate southwards in autumn. A bird of wetland areas, it can be seen around lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes and on the sea coast. It feeds mostly on aquatic creatures which it catches after standing stationary beside or in the water or stalking its prey through the shallows.
The birds breed colonially in spring in "heronries", usually building their nests high in trees. A clutch of usually three to five bluish-green eggs is laid. Both birds incubate the eggs for a period of about 25 days, and then both feed the chicks, which fledge when seven or eight weeks old. Many juveniles do not survive their first winter, but if they do, they can expect to live for about five years.
In Ancient Egypt, the deity Bennu was depicted as a heron in New Kingdom artwork. In Ancient Rome, the heron was a bird of divination. Roast heron was once a specially-prized dish; when George Neville became Archbishop of York in 1465, four hundred herons were served to the guests.
The grey heron has a slow flight, with its long neck retracted (S-shaped). This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes, and spoonbills, which extend their necks.
Fish, amphibians, small mammals and insects are taken in shallow water with the heron's long bill. It has also been observed catching and killing juvenile birds such as ducklings, and occasionally takes birds up to the size of a water rail. It may stand motionless in the shallows, or on a rock or sandbank beside the water, waiting for prey to come within striking distance. Alternatively, it moves slowly and stealthily through the water with its body less upright than when at rest and its neck curved in an "S". It is able to straighten its neck and strike with its bill very fast.
Small fish are swallowed head first, and larger prey and eels are carried to the shore where they are subdued by being beaten on the ground or stabbed by the bill. They are then swallowed, or have hunks of flesh torn off. For prey such as small mammals and birds or ducklings, the prey is held by the neck and either drowned, suffocated, or killed by having its neck snapped with the heron's beak, before being swallowed whole. The bird regurgitates pellets of indigestible material such as fur, bones and the chitinous remains of insects. The main periods of hunting are around dawn and dusk, but it is also active at other times of day. At night it roosts in trees or on cliffs, where it tends to be gregarious.
Population:
UK breeding:
13,000 nests
UK wintering:
63,000 birds
Thanks to all who take the time to view, Comment or Fav, It is Always Appreciated.
Due to my health condition, I am unable to hold or stabilize a camera for extended periods of time. Additionally, using a tripod has never been enjoyable for me, as it would cause pain when trying to position it correctly and constantly bending over to check the viewfinder. Consequently, I have chosen to explore digital AI artwork as an alternative. I understand that this may not be everyone's cup of tea, as it diverges from traditional photography. However, I have always granted myself the freedom to exercise artistic license and pursue whatever brings me joy. Currently, digital AI artwork fulfills that purpose, at least for the time being.
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An isolated iron lighthouse shining out to sea at night as it sits on a rocky stone island being battered by huge ocean waves, smoky orange clouds sci-fi - by Adobe Express
The day was raining with brief periods of sun in between, so the greens were quite saturated and made for excellent backdrop.
There was a large flock of these birds in the open ground and they were actively looking for insects in the grass. As soon any vehicle or person comes close, they would fly en masse. Grabbed this shot during one such flight.
Thanks in advance for your views and feedback. Much appreciated.
Neshat Bagh (Garden) is one of the historic and traditional gardens of Iran and belongs to the the late Qajar and early Pahlavi periods (19-20th centuries) . In the past many kinds of ornamental and fruit trees were planted in this garden, only a few of them are left now. The central building of Bagh Neshat is decorated with beautiful brickwork. It is said that the famous Iranian painter and artist Kamal al-Mulk lived in this place at the end of his life.
This historical garden is now abandoned
Neshat Bagh mansion is located 22 kilometers west of Neishapur city and in the neighborhood of Taghiabad village - Razavi Khorasan Ostan (Province) - Iran
باغ نشاط یکی از باغ های تاریخی و سنتی ایران و متعلق به اواخر دوره قاجار و اوایل دوره پهلوی (قرن 19-20) است. در گذشته باغ پوشیده از درختان کاج، پسته و… بوده است.. بنای مرکزی باغ نشاط با آجرکاری های زیبایی تزئین شده است. گفته می شود کمال الملک نقاش و هنرمند مشهور ایرانی در اواخر عمر خود در این مکان زندگی می کرد.
این باغ تاریخی اکنون متروکه است
عمارت باغ نشاط در 22 کیلومتری غرب شهر نیشاپور و در همسایگی روستای تقی آباد - استان خراسان رضوی - ایران واقع شده است.
این باغ در صورت توجه و رسیدگی میتواند به یکی از مراکز دیدنی اطراف نیشابور تاریخی تبدیل شود ، امیدوارم میراث فرهنگی شهر نیشابور و استان خراسان رضوی توجه بیشتری به حفظ و مرمت این باغ از خود نشان بدهند تا این باغ برای نسلهای آینده نیز باقی بماند
The rich history of the castle, of more than seven centuries, boasts glorious periods as well as darker ones. Nowadays, Doorwerth Castle shines in all its 17th century glory, including a gatehouse, coach house and stables. The vegetable garden is managed so beautifully that you’d expect it to still supply the lord’s kitchens with vegetables and flowers.
Source: Doorwerth Castle
Wish you all a very nice weekend
Thanks for your visit and comments, I appreciate that very much!
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission.© all rights reserved.
Regards, Bram van Broekhoven (BraCom)
The Pantanal
Brazil
South America
Although caimans cannot breathe underwater, they are able to hold their breath for long periods of time while submerged. Usually, these creatures are able to hold their breath anywhere from 4 to 15 minutes; however they have been known to remain underwater for longer periods of time if necessary. The longest time a caiman has been known to hold its breath varies from 30 minutes to 2 hours. It has been suggested that they may even be able to hold their breath for longer than an hour or two if needed.
Typically when a caiman goes underwater it does so by submerging itself in the water or sinking to the bottom of the water. Afterwards they generally hold their breath and remain there for 10-15 minutes. When a caiman submerges itself, a flap that the creature is equipped with automatically closes off the caiman’s ears and nostrils.
Another flap closes off the back of the caiman’s throat. This flap blocks water so that it does not enter the creature’s stomach and/or lungs. The caiman also has transparent eyelids that cover its eyes so that they can see under water. When a caiman is not active or when the weather is colder, caiman are able to hold their breath even longer. This enables them to wait for prey to come to them before they even realize that the caiman is there. - Wikipedia
Cold and windy with periods of snow, sleet and freezing drizzle and wishing I was in Carolina (preferably South Carolina)
Barn Owl - Tyto Alba
Like most owls, the barn owl is nocturnal, relying on its acute sense of hearing when hunting in complete darkness. It often becomes active shortly before dusk and can sometimes be seen during the day when relocating from one roosting site to another. In Britain, on various Pacific Islands and perhaps elsewhere, it sometimes hunts by day. This practice may depend on whether the owl is mobbed by other birds if it emerges in daylight. However, in Britain, some birds continue to hunt by day even when mobbed by such birds as magpies, rooks and black-headed gulls, such diurnal activity possibly occurring when the previous night has been wet making hunting difficult. By contrast, in southern Europe and the tropics, the birds seem to be almost exclusively nocturnal, with the few birds that hunt by day being severely mobbed.
Barn owls are not particularly territorial but have a home range inside which they forage. For males in Scotland this has a radius of about 1 km (0.6 mi) from the nest site and an average size of about 300 hectares. Female home ranges largely coincide with that of their mates. Outside the breeding season, males and females usually roost separately, each one having about three favoured sites in which to conceal themselves by day, and which are also visited for short periods during the night. Roosting sites include holes in trees, fissures in cliffs, disused buildings, chimneys and haysheds and are often small in comparison to nesting sites. As the breeding season approaches, the birds move back to the vicinity of the chosen nest to roost.
Once a pair-bond has been formed, the male will make short flights at dusk around the nesting and roosting sites and then longer circuits to establish a home range. When he is later joined by the female, there is much chasing, turning and twisting in flight, and frequent screeches, the male's being high-pitched and tremulous and the female's lower and harsher. At later stages of courtship, the male emerges at dusk, climbs high into the sky and then swoops back to the vicinity of the female at speed. He then sets off to forage. The female meanwhile sits in an eminent position and preens, returning to the nest a minute or two before the male arrives with food for her. Such feeding behaviour of the female by the male is common, helps build the pair-bond and increases the female's fitness before egg-laying commences.
Barn owls are cavity nesters. They choose holes in trees, fissures in cliff faces, the large nests of other birds such as the hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) and, particularly in Europe and North America, old buildings such as farm sheds and church towers. Buildings are preferred to trees in wetter climates in the British Isles and provide better protection for fledglings from inclement weather. Trees tend to be in open habitats rather than in the middle of woodland and nest holes tend to be higher in North America than in Europe because of possible predation.
This bird has suffered declines through the 20th century and is thought to have been adversely affected by organochlorine pesticides such as DDT in the 1950s and '60s.
Nocturnal birds like the barn owl are poorly monitored by the Breeding Bird Survey and, subject to this caveat, numbers may have increased between 1995-2008.
Barn owls are a Schedule 1 and 9 species.
Population:
UK breeding:
4,000 pairs
Europe:
110-220,000 pairs
Grey Heron - Ardea Cinerea
Best viewed .....Double click!
The grey heron (Ardea cinerea) is a long-legged predatory wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but some populations from the more northern parts migrate southwards in autumn. A bird of wetland areas, it can be seen around lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes and on the sea coast. It feeds mostly on aquatic creatures which it catches after standing stationary beside or in the water or stalking its prey through the shallows.
The birds breed colonially in spring in "heronries", usually building their nests high in trees. A clutch of usually three to five bluish-green eggs is laid. Both birds incubate the eggs for a period of about 25 days, and then both feed the chicks, which fledge when seven or eight weeks old. Many juveniles do not survive their first winter, but if they do, they can expect to live for about five years.
In Ancient Egypt, the deity Bennu was depicted as a heron in New Kingdom artwork. In Ancient Rome, the heron was a bird of divination. Roast heron was once a specially-prized dish; when George Neville became Archbishop of York in 1465, four hundred herons were served to the guests.
The grey heron has a slow flight, with its long neck retracted (S-shaped). This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes, and spoonbills, which extend their necks.
Fish, amphibians, small mammals and insects are taken in shallow water with the heron's long bill. It has also been observed catching and killing juvenile birds such as ducklings, and occasionally takes birds up to the size of a water rail. It may stand motionless in the shallows, or on a rock or sandbank beside the water, waiting for prey to come within striking distance. Alternatively, it moves slowly and stealthily through the water with its body less upright than when at rest and its neck curved in an "S". It is able to straighten its neck and strike with its bill very fast.
Small fish are swallowed head first, and larger prey and eels are carried to the shore where they are subdued by being beaten on the ground or stabbed by the bill. They are then swallowed, or have hunks of flesh torn off. For prey such as small mammals and birds or ducklings, the prey is held by the neck and either drowned, suffocated, or killed by having its neck snapped with the heron's beak, before being swallowed whole. The bird regurgitates pellets of indigestible material such as fur, bones and the chitinous remains of insects. The main periods of hunting are around dawn and dusk, but it is also active at other times of day. At night it roosts in trees or on cliffs, where it tends to be gregarious.
Population:
UK breeding:
13,000 nests
UK wintering:
63,000 birds
Thanks to all who take the time to view, Comment or Fav, It is Always Appreciated.
Superfluous were the Sun
When Excellence be dead
He were superfluous every Day
For every Day be said
That syllable whose Faith
Just saves it from Despair
And whose "I'll meet You" hesitates
If Love inquire "Where"?
Upon His dateless Fame
Our Periods may lie
As Stars that drop anonymous
From an abundant sky.
Emily Dickinson
Due to my health condition, I am unable to hold or stabilize a camera for extended periods of time. Additionally, using a tripod has never been enjoyable for me, as it would cause pain when trying to position it correctly and constantly bending over to check the viewfinder. Consequently, I have chosen to explore digital AI artwork as an alternative. I understand that this may not be everyone's cup of tea, as it diverges from traditional photography. However, I have always granted myself the freedom to exercise artistic license and pursue whatever brings me joy. Currently, digital AI artwork fulfills that purpose, at least for the time being.
Museum will be established as a permanent institution with an international scope and mission. It is dedicated to the collection, research, preservation and display of works of art, objects and artifacts of artistic, cultural and historical significance from various periods and geographic areas of the Muslim world. 164
Oyster catcher closeup....These Florida birds don't move for incredibly long periods of time. I didn't want to post one of him doing nothing so this is his 'action' shot:)
Thanks for your visit, enjoy the new week!....Pat...xo
Due to my health condition, I am unable to hold or stabilize a camera for extended periods of time. Additionally, using a tripod has never been enjoyable for me, as it would cause pain when trying to position it correctly and constantly bending over to check the viewfinder. Consequently, I have chosen to explore digital AI artwork as an alternative. I understand that this may not be everyone's cup of tea, as it diverges from traditional photography. However, I have always granted myself the freedom to exercise artistic license and pursue whatever brings me joy. Currently, digital AI artwork fulfills that purpose, at least for the time being.
Plantation de menhirs vers Erdeven (pas très loin de Carnac), ceux-ci sont issus de graines spécifiques semées en terrain celtique il y a quelques siècles ! Je me substitue à Wikipédia pour rétablir la vérité sur cette spécialité bretonne (en dehors de l'humour caractéristique), la pousse est donc très très longue, par périodes sèches on préconise un peu d'arrosage parcimonieux (faire pipi dessus entre minuit et 2h du matin uniquement les nuits de pleine lune). Voilà ! maintenant vous savez comment poussent les menhirs !
Plantation of menhirs towards Erdeven (not very far from Carnac), these come from specific seeds sown in Celtic land a few centuries ago! I replace Wikipedia to restore the truth about this Breton specialty (apart from the characteristic humor), the growth is therefore very very long, during dry periods we recommend a little sparing watering (wee on it between midnight and 2 a.m. morning only on full moon nights). So ! now you know how menhirs grow!
Barn Owl - Tyto Alba
Like most owls, the barn owl is nocturnal, relying on its acute sense of hearing when hunting in complete darkness. It often becomes active shortly before dusk and can sometimes be seen during the day when relocating from one roosting site to another. In Britain, on various Pacific Islands and perhaps elsewhere, it sometimes hunts by day. This practice may depend on whether the owl is mobbed by other birds if it emerges in daylight. However, in Britain, some birds continue to hunt by day even when mobbed by such birds as magpies, rooks and black-headed gulls, such diurnal activity possibly occurring when the previous night has been wet making hunting difficult. By contrast, in southern Europe and the tropics, the birds seem to be almost exclusively nocturnal, with the few birds that hunt by day being severely mobbed.
Barn owls are not particularly territorial but have a home range inside which they forage. For males in Scotland this has a radius of about 1 km (0.6 mi) from the nest site and an average size of about 300 hectares. Female home ranges largely coincide with that of their mates. Outside the breeding season, males and females usually roost separately, each one having about three favoured sites in which to conceal themselves by day, and which are also visited for short periods during the night. Roosting sites include holes in trees, fissures in cliffs, disused buildings, chimneys and haysheds and are often small in comparison to nesting sites. As the breeding season approaches, the birds move back to the vicinity of the chosen nest to roost.
Once a pair-bond has been formed, the male will make short flights at dusk around the nesting and roosting sites and then longer circuits to establish a home range. When he is later joined by the female, there is much chasing, turning and twisting in flight, and frequent screeches, the male's being high-pitched and tremulous and the female's lower and harsher. At later stages of courtship, the male emerges at dusk, climbs high into the sky and then swoops back to the vicinity of the female at speed. He then sets off to forage. The female meanwhile sits in an eminent position and preens, returning to the nest a minute or two before the male arrives with food for her. Such feeding behaviour of the female by the male is common, helps build the pair-bond and increases the female's fitness before egg-laying commences.
Barn owls are cavity nesters. They choose holes in trees, fissures in cliff faces, the large nests of other birds such as the hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) and, particularly in Europe and North America, old buildings such as farm sheds and church towers. Buildings are preferred to trees in wetter climates in the British Isles and provide better protection for fledglings from inclement weather. Trees tend to be in open habitats rather than in the middle of woodland and nest holes tend to be higher in North America than in Europe because of possible predation.
This bird has suffered declines through the 20th century and is thought to have been adversely affected by organochlorine pesticides such as DDT in the 1950s and '60s.
Nocturnal birds like the barn owl are poorly monitored by the Breeding Bird Survey and, subject to this caveat, numbers may have increased between 1995-2008.
Barn owls are a Schedule 1 and 9 species.
Population:
UK breeding:
4,000 pairs
Europe:
110-220,000 pairs
Due to my health condition, I am unable to hold or stabilize a camera for extended periods of time. Additionally, using a tripod has never been enjoyable for me, as it would cause pain when trying to position it correctly and constantly bending over to check the viewfinder. Consequently, I have chosen to explore digital AI artwork as an alternative. I understand that this may not be everyone's cup of tea, as it diverges from traditional photography. However, I have always granted myself the freedom to exercise artistic license and pursue whatever brings me joy. Currently, digital AI artwork fulfills that purpose, at least for the time being.
Due to my health condition, I am unable to hold or stabilize a camera for extended periods of time. Additionally, using a tripod has never been enjoyable for me, as it would cause pain when trying to position it correctly and constantly bending over to check the viewfinder. Consequently, I have chosen to explore digital AI artwork as an alternative. I understand that this may not be everyone's cup of tea, as it diverges from traditional photography. However, I have always granted myself the freedom to exercise artistic license and pursue whatever brings me joy. Currently, digital AI artwork fulfills that purpose, at least for the time being.
Due to my health condition, I am unable to hold or stabilize a camera for extended periods of time. Additionally, using a tripod has never been enjoyable for me, as it would cause pain when trying to position it correctly and constantly bending over to check the viewfinder. Consequently, I have chosen to explore digital AI artwork as an alternative. I understand that this may not be everyone's cup of tea, as it diverges from traditional photography. However, I have always granted myself the freedom to exercise artistic license and pursue whatever brings me joy. Currently, digital AI artwork fulfills that purpose, at least for the time being.
This is, for a fixed couple of periods every summer, one of our more common meadow inhabitants. It is enjoying the Viper’s Buglass plant at the moment I secured this image - a plant that is toxic to cows and horses, oddly enough.
There are two ways to identify the species, and to tell it apart from the incredibly similar Question Mark butterfly. The harder one in the field, depending on the butterfly’s behaviour, is to see the eponymous typography on the under side of the wing: as expected, the Comma has a comma and the Question Mark, well, a question mark.
But that can be trickier to see in some specimens. And the under or ventral side of the Eastern Comma’a wing is extremely variable throughout its flying season, going from near-black to a beige or woodland camouflage.
The upper or dorsal wing pattern is visible from farther away, and has a pretty simple way of distinguishing the two species. One the forewing portion there is an L-shaped pattern of black dots, five in all for the Eastern Comma. In the Question Mark, there is a sixth dot: a blurry or misshapen fourth dot in the line parallel to the leading edge of the wing.
I am pretty obviously pining for some warm weather and some green in our still-snow-covered environment.
As I walked around the park I saw a number of Mallard ducks resting on the grass.
I found this information about this process:
Moulting is a process of shedding and regrowing feathers. Adult birds are shedding their worn out feathers from this year's breeding season and growing new, strong, warm feathers to see them through the winter. This year's young are losing their first feathers and moulting into their adult coats.
Feathers wear out during a bird's busy year. Flying, rubbing against neighbouring feathers or trees, general weakening due to exposure to sun, along with parasites, such as feather lice, all cause damage to feathers.
A comparison of feather wear shows that pigmented (dark) feathers wear more slowly than white ones.
Feathers grow from follicles in the skin (like hair) and the growth of a new feather from the bottom of the follicle pushes the old one out. The process is a gradual one and occurs in sequence across an area of skin to ensure that there are no ‘bald’ patches.
This means that a full moult may be spread out over a considerable time period, which is fine if there is a plentiful food supply, and if the bird is not a migrant.
Most birds will moult completely during a year, sometimes split into two or three moult periods, usually before and after breeding.
Moulting is a drain on a bird’s resources. It takes energy to grow new feathers, there may be heat loss when feathers are shed, affecting insulation, and when flight feathers are lost, more energy may be needed for flight.
Unlike most other birds, ducks, geese and swans lose all their flight feathers at once, rendering them flightless for a period.
In ducks, to provide some protection for the brightly-coloured males, the moult starts with their bright body feathers. These are replaced by dowdy brown ones, making them look much like females.
This eclipse plumage is why in mid- to late summer, it seems that all the drakes have gone. Once the flight feathers have regrown, the birds moult again, and by October the full colours have been regained and the various species of ducks are easily recognisable.
Female ducks lose their flight feathers later, after the young become independent.
This is the time of year when they moult.
(source: RSPB website)
Mit der Apfelblüte hält der Vollfrühling Einzug. Jetzt ist die Zeit der Blütenfülle. Es blühen nicht nur die Obstbäume, sondern auch viele Wildpflanzen und Ziersträucher, z.B. der Flieder. Auch die spät austreibenden Laubbäume entfalten jetzt ihr Laub und Raps und Wintergetreide wachsen schnell in die Höhe. Die steigenden Temperaturen und die längere Sonneneinstrahlung sorgen für eine allgemein stürmische Pflanzenentwicklung. Der phänologische Beobachter muss jetzt sehr aufmerksam sein, damit er die vielen phänologischen Phasen mitbekommt.
Full spring arrives with the apple blossom. Now is the time for blooms. Not only the fruit trees are in bloom, but also many wild plants and ornamental shrubs, e.g. lilacs. The deciduous trees that sprout late are now unfolding their leaves and rapeseed and winter cereals are growing quickly. The rising temperatures and longer periods of sunshine ensure a generally stormy plant development. The phenological observer must now be very attentive in order to notice the many phenological phases.
Vatadage is a unique architectural building which completely housed the Stupa. These building were constructed at the very early periods as the Stupas in this time were quite small.
This Vatadage at Medirigiriya is built on a small rock. The entrance to this is on the northern side. At the bottom of the staircase is a massive stone frame. This is 9’9” feet tall and 4’9” feet in breath. After climbing 27 stone steps you come to a resting area. Thereafter there are 4 more steps to reach the Stupa house. Around the Stupa house is a stone wall which is about one meter in height. On the four sides are four beautifully carved Buddha statues in the seated position. In the centre there has been the Stupa which is in ruins today.
The roof of the Stupa house has been built on three concentric circles of stone pillars most of which still can be seen in the original state. The inner most circle of 16 pillars are 17 feet in height and the other two circles are 16 and 9 feet in height and 20 and 32 in numbers respectively. There are many opinions of what the roof would have looked like by many archaeologists. Some even believe there never has been a roof considering the sizes and the number of pillars. Anyway this site remains one of the best examples of local craftsmanship of the ancient Sri Lanka.
5.30am this morning. A very watery looking sunrise. Had a dull day so far with the odd bright periods.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR FAVS AND LOVELY COMMENTS. THEY ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED
Church of the Exaltation Holy Cross in Sulechów is the oldest in the city. The building combines elements of almost all periods, starting from the 13th century, when granite blows were used for construction. In 15th century, a new nave was added and the presbytery was enlarged. In 16th century, a tower was added, and at the end of 19th it was topped with an octagonal superstructure.
It is a late-Gothic building, made of brick and stone, has three naves, the presbytery is closed on three sides and has a tower built from the south. In the main nave and presbytery there are star-shaped vaults, in the aisle - a vault. East and west facade of the nave body, are decorated with peaks with rich blend decoration.
In a modest, hall-like interior there is a beautiful main altar (19th century) with a painting "Photo of Christ of the Cross" painted by Bernard Rode from the 17th century.
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Kościół Podwyższenia Krzyża Świętego w Sulechowie jest najstarszym w mieście. Budowla łączy w sobie elementy niemal wszystkich epok, począwszy od XIII wieku, kiedy do budowy użyto granitowych ciosów. W XV wieku dobudowano nową nawę oraz powiększono prezbiterium. W XVI stuleciu dobudowano wieżę, a pod koniec XIX zwieńczono ją ośmioboczną nadbudową.
Jest to budowla późnogotycka, murowana z cegły i kamienia, posiada trzy nawy, prezbiterium jest zamknięte trójbocznie i posiada przybudowaną od strony południowej wieżę. W nawie głównej i prezbiterium znajdują się sklepienia gwiaździste, w nawie bocznej – sklepienie sieciowe. Fasada wschodnia i zachodnia korpusu nawowego, są ozdobione szczytami z bogatą dekoracją blendową.
W skromnym, halowym wnętrzu znajduje się piękny ołtarz główny (XIX w.) z obrazem "Zdjęcie Chrystusa z Krzyża" namalowany przez Bernarda Rode z XVII wieku.
It is beyond time to take action to:
1. Require universal background checks and waiting periods.
2. Ban assault weapons, high capacity magazines and bump stocks.
3. Authorize risk protection orders.
4. Repeal “Stand Your Ground” to discourage the unlawful and reckless use of firearms.
Thank you for your kind visit. Have a wonderful and beautiful day! ❤️❤️❤️
Striated pardalotes are more often heard than seen. The call is a clear, sharp, musical "witta-witta," with the second part slightly lower. It may go on for pretty long periods with no sign of the bird itself.
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Because they often live in harsh, arid and semi-arid habitats, Zebra Finches make the most of infrequent wet periods when they occur. It takes only a small quantity of rainfall to send these birds into a breeding frenzy, rapidly building nests and raising broods of young in quick succession. The young birds develop quickly, fledging about two weeks after hatching. The young finches are independent when they are 35 days old, and they soon begin breeding, contributing to the boom-and-bust cycle of inland Australia.
It was actually pretty cool with periods of clouds passing by during the eclipse today just north of Baltimore City. Here it was getting close to 70% coverage when clouds started to pass by ... making the sun and moon looking like friction was causing the moon to catch fire and smoke up the scene :)
Around this time you could also start to sense the reduction in light, and the blue color in the sky and clouds made them all appear like you were looking through a CPL filter.
As per Wikipedia: "To prevent scurvy during the 19th century, British sailors were issued a daily allowance of citrus, such as lemon, and later switched to lime. The use of citrus was initially a closely guarded military secret, as scurvy was a common scourge of various national navies, and the ability to remain at sea for lengthy periods without contracting the disorder was a huge benefit for the military. British sailors thus acquired the nickname "Limey" because of their use of limes."
Rundāle Palace is one of the two major baroque palaces built for the Dukes of Courland in what is now Latvia, the other being Jelgava Palace. The palace was built in two periods, from 1736 until 1740 and from 1764 until 1768. It is situated at Pilsrundāle, in Rundāle Parish, Bauska Municipality in the Semigallia region, 12 km west of Bauska
In 1735 Duke of Courland Ernst Johann von Biron bought land in Rundāle with an old medieval castle in the territory of a planned summer residence. The old castle was demolished and construction after the design of Bartolomeo Rastrelli started in 1736. Construction proceeded slowly because part of the materials and resources were transferred to the construction of Jelgava Palace, a project which was more important for the duke. Following Biron's fall from grace in 1740, the palace stood unfinished and empty until 1762 when Biron returned from his exile. Under the supervision of Rastrelli its construction was finished in 1768. Johann Michael Graff8 produced lavish stucco decorations for the palace during this time. Ernst Johann von Biron loved the palace and moved there almost immediately in 1768. He often visited the palace and spent summers there until his death in 1772.
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The palace is one of the major tourist destinations in Latvia. It is also used for the accommodation of notable guests, such as the leaders of foreign nations. The palace and the surrounding gardens are now a museum.
Latvia, Lithuania and Russia were all used as backdrops for BBC's six-part adaptation of Tolstoy's War and Peace. The Tsar ball was filmed at the spectacular Catherine Palace, outside of St. Petersburg, which is open to the public.
Due to high costs shooting in Russia, the team found alternative locations for other scenes, such as Latvia's vast baroque-style Rundāle Palace, which provided many of St Petersburg's interiors.
Described as being one of Latvia's hidden gems due to its difficult-to reach-location, the palace is well worth a day trip from the capital city, Riga.
The palace boasts a rose garden and a magnificent fountain, and in the summer becomes the venue for a Garden Festival.
www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3384069/Pa...