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Camera: Minolta X-300
Lens: Minolta 50mm F1.7
Filter: Hoya Red (25A)
Film: Ilford Pan 400 (Expired 06/2013, shot at 250ISO)
Processing and Scanning: Gulabi Photo Lab, Glasgow
Post Processing: Photoscape X
www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/b...
A familiar sight with its pointed wings and long tail, hovering beside a roadside verge. Numbers of kestrels declined in the 1970s, probably as a result of changes in farming and so it is included on the Amber List. They have adapted readily to man-made environments and can survive right in the centre of cities.
Overview
Latin name
Falco tinnunculus
Family
Falcons and allies (Falconidae)
Where to see them
Kestrels are found in a wide variety of habitats, from moor and heath, to farmland and urban areas. The only places they do not favour are dense forests, vast treeless wetlands and mountains. They are a familiar sight, hovering beside a motorway, or other main road. They can often be seen perched on a high tree branch, or on a telephone post or wire, on the look out for prey.
When to see them
All year round.
What they eat
Small mammals and birds
Population
UK Breeding:- 46,000 pairs
Feeding
With their keen eyesight, sharp talons and strong beak, kestrels are well adapted to catching small agile prey.
Kestrels are masters of stationary flight, and hover-hunt extensively. They also hunt from perches, altering their hunting method to suit prey type, weather conditions and energy requirements. On farmland kestrels have learned to watch farming operations, waiting for the tractors to flush prey.
Voles are by far the most important food for kestrels, although they regularly take other small mammals such as woodmice and shrews, small birds, insects and earthworms. In towns they take birds more frequently because of lower availability of small mammals.
A kestrel is capable of locating its prey at remarkable distances - it can see and catch a beetle 50 m from its perch. Kestrels need to eat 4-8 voles a day, depending on the time of the year and the amount of energy-consuming hover-hunting they do. They have a habit of catching several voles in succession and cacheing some for later.
The stored food is usually eaten the same day just before dusk. This reduces the risk that the bird would have to go to roost on an empty stomach.
Legal status
The kestrel is fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to kill, injure or take a kestrel, or to take, damage or destroy an active nest or its contents.
Population trends
Mortality among the young birds is high - only around 20 per cent survive two years to breeding age. Those that do, will on average live for a further two and a half years, while a very few can survive well into their teens.
Starvation is the biggest cause of death, especially of juveniles during their first autumn and winter. Collisions and accidents, shooting, poisoning and disease are other important causes of mortality.
Kestrel numbers fluctuate, and are closely linked to vole numbers. The UK population was estimated at 52,000 breeding pairs for the 1988-91 Breeding Bird Atlas.
Like many other birds of prey, kestrels were persecuted heavily in the late 19th and early 20th century by gamekeepers, even though they rarely take game bird chicks. Reduced persecution during World War II allowed kestrel numbers to recover. They suffered a serious decline in late 1950s and in 1960s from effects of persistent organochlorine pesticides such as DDT and dieldrin, particularly in eastern England.
Although kestrels recovered following the withdrawal of these pesticides, the numbers started to decline again in 1980s. Kestrel numbers in England have fluctuated since the mid-1980s with no evidence of any long-term decline. Kestrel numbers in Scotland have declined markedly since the mid 1990s, the cause of which is unknown.
The kestrel is included on the Amber List of Birds of Conservation Concern due to the moderate decline of the UK breeding population and its adverse conservation status Europe-wide. The cause of the recent decline since 2005 has not been identified
The kestrel's year
Breeding activity starts in February as birds re-establish their territories. It is a time of display, courtship and pair formation. Although kestrels mature when they are a year old, many do not manage to secure a mate and a breeding territory until their second year.
Kestrels defend only a small territory immediately around the nest. The larger home range where the birds find most of their food is often partly shared with neighbouring pairs. The home range is at least 1 km square, but can be as large as 10 km square. Food availability and number of other kestrels in the area determine the size.
Kestrels are adaptable in their use of nest sites, but do not build their own nests. Old or disused nests of crows and other stick nesters are often used, as are ledges on cliffs and buildings. They are also regular hole-nesters and readily accept nestboxes. The same nest site is often used in successive years with some sites used for decades.
The timing of egg laying is dependent on the weather, but the female normally lays her clutch of 3-6 eggs in late April or early May. She is only able to produce eggs if she can get enough food. In years when vole numbers are low, many kestrels fail to nest at all.
The female lays the eggs at two-day intervals, and usually starts to incubate as she lays the third egg. Incubation takes 27-29 days per egg, which hatch over a period of a few days. The chicks require constant brooding for the first 10-14 days, after which they are able to control their own body temperature.
The male provides the female and the chicks with food throughout the nesting period. The female will only hunt if food is short, risking the loss of eggs or young chicks. Only as the young get bigger, can she safely start to hunt close to the nest.
The chicks fledge gradually when they are around four weeks old. They explore increasing distances from the nest, but return to it to roost for another couple of weeks. Adults continue to feed the young for a month after fledging, during which time they will learn to catch their own food.
Unusually for birds of prey, there is no aggression between the chicks, which tend to fly, perch and roost together even for some time after fledging.
In the autumn, kestrels readjust their territories to make best use of winter food supply. In good vole habitat kestrels tend to stay within their home ranges throughout the autumn and winter, while elsewhere many move to areas with a better winter food supply. The size of the winter territory is dependent on food supply and the number of other kestrels, but is at least 1 km square. Although it is defended, neighbouring territories sometimes overlap.
龜殼花 Pointed-scaled pitviper【學名：Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus】有鱗目 / 蝰蛇科；俗名：烙鐵頭、筍殼班等、老鼠蛇和惡烏子等，為台灣六大毒蛇之一，相似種為：擬龜殼花(體色紋路相似)。
記得以前上生物課時，龜殼花屬出血性的毒蛇，攻擊性強，屬二級保育類。蛇在生態平衡上扮演著極為重要的角色，雖很多人都懼怕蛇，但我卻對牠們相當地著迷，牠們真的是很美麗的生物，以前有跟馴養過的蛇玩，真的是很可愛，不過牠們畢竟還是屬危險的野生動物，大家還是應抱持敬畏並保育牠們的心態來面對，沒有牠們在制衡一些物種，那才是真的恐怖。
下次見到牠們時，只須冷靜面對，然後離開即可，其實蛇很少主動去攻擊比牠體型大的生物，大部份會遇到蛇害，大都是蛇受到生命威脅時才不得已出手的。
SN/NC: Hibiscus Tiliaceus, Malvaceae Family
Hibiscus tiliaceus, commonly called sea hibiscus or mahoe, is an evergreen shrub or small tree that is native to tropical regions of Asia where it is often found growing along coasts and in low moist areas. It is now grown as an ornamental in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. Flowers last only one day, opening in the morning as lemon yellow with dark maroon throats, but turning dull red by evening when they drop to the ground. Simple, heart-shaped leaves (to 8"long and 6" wide) with pointed tips are bright green above and hairy gray-green beneath. Fruits are brown ovoid dry capsules. Roots and flowers have medicinal value. In Asia, mahoe is harvested for the fiber in its trunk which is made into rope. Genus name is the old Greek and Latin name for mallow.
Specific epithet comes from tilia, the genus of basswood/linden, in reference to leaf similarity.
Hibiscus tiliaceus, gewoonlijk zeehibiscus of mahoe genoemd, is een groenblijvende struik of kleine boom die inheems is in tropische regio's van Azië, waar hij vaak langs kusten en in vochtige gebieden groeit. Het wordt nu gekweekt als sierplant in tropische en subtropische gebieden over de hele wereld. Bloemen gaan maar één dag mee, openen 's ochtends als citroengeel met donkere kastanjebruine kelen, maar worden' s avonds dof rood als ze op de grond vallen. Eenvoudige, hartvormige bladeren (tot 8 "lang en 6" breed) met puntige uiteinden zijn heldergroen aan de bovenkant en harig grijsgroen aan de onderkant. Vruchten zijn bruin eivormige droge capsules. Wortels en bloemen hebben geneeskrachtige waarde. In Azië wordt mahoe geoogst voor de vezels in de stam die tot touw worden verwerkt. Geslachtsnaam is de oude Griekse en Latijnse naam voor kaasjeskruid.Specifieke bijnaam komt van tilia, het geslacht van basswood / linde, met betrekking tot bladgelijkenis.
Hibiscus tiliaceus es una especie de árbol perteneciente a la familia Malvaceae, originaria de los trópicos del Viejo Mundo. Conocida con el nombre de majagua común de Cuba o majahua. Su epíteto se refiere al parecido de sus hojas con las de los tilos.
La madera de H. tiliaceus tiene un peso específico de 0,6. Se ha utilizado en una variedad de aplicaciones , como la construcción de canoas, leña, y tallas de madera. Con su resistente corteza se puede hacer en duradera cuerda, para el sellado de grietas en los barcos. La corteza y raíces se pueden hervir para hacer un té para enfriar fiebres y con sus jóvenes y frondosas brotes se pueden comer como verdura. Los nativos de Hawái utilizan la madera para hacer Iako (palos) para Wa'a (canoas), mouo (redes de pesca flotantes), y 'au ko'i (asas de azuelas)
Uma das mais lindas flores. Tem semelhança com o quiabo e o algodão e só dura 24 horas e já cai do pé. De raríssima beleza e muito delicada. O algodoeiro-da-praia, algodoeiro-da-índia ou majagua é uma árvore que atinge até 08 metros de altura, da família das malváceas, também conhecida pelos nomes de aguaxima-do-mangue, baru, embira, embira-do-mangue, guaxima-do-mangue, ibaxama, manhoco, quiabo-do-mangue e uacima-da-praia. Madeira frágil usada para embalagens delicadas e também para canoas já que é uma madeira flexível. Em algumas áreas é considerada invasiva. Na Ásia se usa muito para fazer cordas, já que é muito forte para isso.
Hibiscus tiliaceus, comunemente chiamato ibisco di mare o mahoe, è un arbusto sempreverde o piccolo albero originario delle regioni tropicali dell'Asia dove si trova spesso a crescere lungo le coste e in zone a bassa umidità. Ora è coltivato come ornamentale nelle aree tropicali e subtropicali di tutto il mondo. I fiori durano solo un giorno, aprendosi al mattino come giallo limone con gola marrone scuro, ma diventano rosso opaco la sera quando cadono a terra. Le foglie semplici a forma di cuore (lunghe fino a 8 pollici e larghe 6 pollici) con punte appuntite sono verde brillante sopra e grigio-verde pelose sotto. I frutti sono capsule secche ovoidali marroni. Radici e fiori hanno un valore medicinale. In Asia, il mahoe viene raccolto per la fibra nel suo tronco che viene trasformata in corda. Il nome del genere è l'antico nome greco e latino della malva.L'epiteto specifico deriva da tilia, il genere di tiglio / tiglio, in riferimento alla somiglianza delle foglie.
Hibiscus tiliaceus, communément appelé hibiscus de mer ou mahoe, est un arbuste à feuilles persistantes ou un petit arbre originaire des régions tropicales d'Asie où il pousse souvent le long des côtes et dans les zones peu humides. Il est maintenant cultivé comme plante ornementale dans les régions tropicales et subtropicales du monde entier. Les fleurs ne durent qu'un jour, s'ouvrant le matin en jaune citron avec une gorge marron foncé, mais devenant rouge terne le soir lorsqu'elles tombent au sol. Les feuilles simples en forme de cœur (jusqu'à 8 "de long et 6" de large) avec des extrémités pointues sont vert vif au-dessus et poilues gris-vert en dessous. Les fruits sont des capsules sèches ovoïdes brunes. Les racines et les fleurs ont une valeur médicinale. En Asie, le mahoe est récolté pour la fibre dans son tronc qui est transformé en corde. Le nom du genre est l'ancien nom grec et latin de la mauve.L'épithète spécifique vient de tilia, le genre de tilleul / tilleul, en référence à la similitude des feuilles.
Hibiscus tiliaceus, allgemein als Seehibiskus oder Mahoe bezeichnet, ist ein immergrüner Strauch oder kleiner Baum, der in tropischen Regionen Asiens heimisch ist und häufig an Küsten und in Gebieten mit geringer Feuchtigkeit wächst. Es wird heute als Zierpflanze in tropischen und subtropischen Gebieten auf der ganzen Welt angebaut. Die Blüten halten nur einen Tag und öffnen sich morgens zitronengelb mit dunkelbraunen Kehlen, färben sich aber abends matt rot, wenn sie zu Boden fallen. Einfache, herzförmige Blätter (bis 8 "lang und 6" breit) mit spitzen Spitzen sind oben hellgrün und unten haarig grau-grün. Früchte sind braune eiförmige trockene Kapseln. Wurzeln und Blüten haben medizinischen Wert. In Asien wird Mahoe für die Faser in seinem Stamm geerntet, der zu einem Seil verarbeitet wird. Der Gattungsname ist der altgriechische und lateinische Name für Malve.Spezifisches Epitheton stammt von Tilia, der Gattung der Linde / Linde, in Bezug auf die Blattähnlichkeit.
الكركديه tiliaceus ، المعروف باسم الكركديه البحري أو mahoe ، هو شجيرة دائمة الخضرة أو شجرة صغيرة موطنها المناطق الاستوائية في آسيا حيث توجد غالبًا تنمو على طول السواحل وفي المناطق الرطبة المنخفضة. يزرع الآن كزينة في المناطق الاستوائية وشبه الاستوائية حول العالم. تدوم الأزهار يومًا واحدًا فقط ، وتفتح في الصباح بلون أصفر ليمون مع حلق كستنائي داكن ، ولكنها تتحول إلى اللون الأحمر الباهت في المساء عندما تسقط على الأرض. أوراق بسيطة على شكل قلب (حتى 8 بوصات طويلة و 6 بوصات) ذات أطراف مدببة تكون خضراء زاهية من الأعلى وخضراء رمادية مشعر أسفلها. الثمار عبارة عن كبسولات جافة بنية بيضاوية الشكل. الجذور والزهور لها قيمة طبية. في آسيا ، يتم حصاد الماهو للألياف الموجودة في جذعها والتي تتحول إلى حبل. اسم الجنس هو الاسم اليوناني واللاتيني القديم للملوخية.صفة محددة تأتي من التيليا ، جنس الزيزفون / الزيزفون ، في إشارة إلى تشابه الأوراق.
We were a bit lost when we went off trail bushwhacking at Curry Canyon Ranch to look for the Volvon cave. However, this tree seemingly pointed us back to the civilization. We didn't find the cave, of course. But I know now that we were actually closer than we had thought. We just went off too far.
A set of star-shaped cutters for cookies and hors d'oeuvres.
Seeing stars - Our Daily Challenge
65/365 pictures in 2019
© All Rights Reserved. Please do not use or reproduce this image on Websites, Blogs or any other media without my explicit permission.
Your comments and faves are greatly appreciated. Many thanks.
Cockatiel
Scientific Name: Nymphicus hollandicus
Description: The Cockatiel is an unusual member of the cockatoo family. It is small in size, and has a slender body and long pointed tail, which is more characteristic of the smaller parrots. Its plumage is mostly grey, paler below, with a white wing patch, orange cheeks and a distinctive pointed crest. The male can be identified by its bright yellow forehead, face and crest. Young Cockatiels resemble the adult female, although the young males usually have a brighter yellow face. The Cockatiel is not found naturally in any other country, but is a popular cage bird, second only to the Budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulates. The Cockatiel does not have the screeching voice of many other parrots and may learn to 'speak'.
Distribution: The Cockatiel is widespread throughout mainland Australia, but is uncommon in Tasmania, with only a few sightings being reported to date.
Habitat: The Cockatiel is seen in pairs or small flocks, in most types of open country, usually near water. It is common throughout its range, especially in the north and the more arid inland areas.
Seasonal movements: Throughout its range, the Cockatiel is strongly nomadic, moving around in response to the availability of food and water.
Feeding: Cockatiels feed on a variety of grass seeds, nuts, berries and grain. They may feed either on the ground or in trees, and always in small to large numbers. Cockatiels roost in trees near water and travel from these areas in large flocks to feeding grounds.
Breeding: Cockatiels may breed at any time, in response to suitable periods of rain, especially in the more arid regions. Both sexes share the incubation of the eggs, which are laid in a hollow, high up in trees. Suitable trees are either in or close to water. Cockatiels enter the nest hollow tail first.
Calls: Although mostly silent, the Cockatiel gives a long and distinctive "queel-queel" in flight. It does not have the screeching voice of many other parrots and may learn to 'speak'.
Minimum Size: 30cm
Maximum Size: 33cm
Average size: 32cm
Average weight: 90g
Breeding season: Normally July to December in south of range
Clutch Size: 2 to 9, usually 5
Incubation: 19 days
Nestling Period: 30 days
(Source: www.birdsinbakyards.net)
© Chris Burns 2018
__________________________________________
All rights reserved.
This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.
Please write to ricseet@gmail.com if you like a FREE copy of this picture. In return please donate any amount and to any charity of your choice. Just trying to do the little we can help to the needy. Thank you for your generosity!
Thank you for viewing and have a happy day.
Explore #4, May 10 2012
When I visited my daughter on March 20 2011, my grandson, Aidan, was telling me about this bird with babies. I was excited and asked him to show me. He took me outside his home and pointed up - "there they are".
Wow - I saw how cute they were and grab my cam from the car.
Thank you Aidan!
Update: May10 2012
This pic is sold to Nat Geo for their coming book. Proceeds is going to charity.
The lady who bought the pic had a hard time tracking me down becos the person who downloaded this pic from my Flickr account without my knowledge, plastered this all over the internet and change my name from Ric Seet to Rik Seet. So no one can track the originator down. Now others are profiteering from this scam and here is the link to one such websites. You pay them to download my stolen pic:
pixdaus.com/under-her-wings-by-rik-seet-birds-aves-fauna-...
When I did a Rik Seet goggle search there are about 4 full pages of links to such websites !
www.google.com.sg/search?q=Rik Seet&ie=utf-8&oe=u...
This is one of the downside of the internet. To prevent such future mishaps, I have since disabled the download feature under Privacy & Settings. Base on the feedback this is not even safe. Additional advises is to add Watermarks and reduce file size to 800X800. From what I am hearing nothing is save on the net.
Thank you friends for your kind advise. .
Update: May13 2012
I managed to write to a few websites/blogs via email and FB.
1. A friend responded on FB and apologize for posting the pic on FB for Mother Day.
2. An Australian cyclist by the name of Craig plaster the pic for 2012 Mother Day. I wrote to inform him that the pic is my and he blocked me off immi'ly. Isn't that just great, steals your pic and ignores you!
3. What's even more interesting is Pixdaus.com has an option for you to complain if your are the owner of the intellectual property. Isn't this a laugh. I presume they believe they excuse themselves of any legal obligation in the eyes of the law by having this feature on their website! I have written to them and waiting for their reply.
Update June 1 2012
Today a caring Flickr friend brought to my attention that the above pic was stolen again and this pic was posted on Flickr. Wrote to the person to delete my picture which was done. Not a word of apology.
These people have no shame - steal other pictures and post it like theirs. Even took part in invites and participated at the various levels of award to claim credit for themselves.
here is the link if this shameful person and I have seen another couple of stolen pics as well becos they are too skillful for him. Even wrote to advise that these be remove. I am contacting the legal department of Yahoo in Singapore and making a few suggesting to them to apprehend such people.
by Pasckal2011
www.flickr.com/photos/69511790@N07/7293622534/
Since then more Flickr friends have alerted me. I am now no more angry becos I have learnt to share and come to realized this picture brings great memories & joy to others. One guy wrote to request for a print becos he wanted to place it next to his Bible.
He said that it is "God's Gift To Nature"
Update June 4 2012
Great to see that couple of my Flickr friends have added water mark to their pic. Very creative as they take the trouble to strategically position the watermark . I will borrow this idea. Thanks guys!
Update Dec 17 2012
Nat Geo is now printing double the number of copies and has agreed to denote US$300/ to charity of my grandson choice - SPCA. Thank you Nat Geo.
Update Dec 25 2012
Today I received a very touching letter from a mother who requested this print. I am glad that a picture is worth a thousand words and holds special meaning and brings great joy.
So if you need a print please drop me a Flickr mail and your mailing address. Thank you.
My heart goes out to this special lady and this picture is my gift to her. Some of you are aware that my daughter was critically ill. In her own works she told me she nearly died in Oct. Now I rejoice becos she is making slow recovery ----. A small step at a time!
Hi Ric,
I have been searching for the photographer who took the absolutely beautiful photo of the colorful momma bird with it's babies under its wings. I've actually been praying I would find the original photographer. I won't get into the details, but for the last almost 2 years, I've been going through a really hard time with my health due to a horrible medical mistake that I suffered at the hands of a doctor. I will not let anyone tell me I am not going to get better. My husband and my son need me back. This picture holds such meaning for me...I've found it on other websites, which I am so sorry that people are stealing your work, and I have gone back to look at it a lot over the last several months. It brings me great comfort and the colors are just so beautiful and bright. I was wondering if it would be possible to buy a large print of it from you so that I can frame it and have it matted with a verse so I can look at it every day in my house. Would you mind letting me know if it's possible to buy a print from you? If so, what are the size proportions that you could print out for me? The place I want to hang it could handle an overall size of 24"x24" or 24"x28", which would be framed and matted with an inscription matted under it. Hopefully that description makes sense. Would you mind contacting back?
Update April 11 2016
Today i received a very comforting email from this lady and I thank her for helping mereach out to others who may need this pic becos of the sentimental/special meaning this pic means to them. For me this pic means a world to me bcos I am a dad to two precious daughters that I love dearly. No matter what -- I will always be there for them as long as I am on this good earth.
Hi Ric,
I must confess I posted your beautiful picture of the bird shielding her babies under her wings on a tweet and my FB page. I didn't take it from Flickr, I (wrongly) assumed it was in the public domain. Would you like me to remove it or would it be mutually agreeable to post a link to you for your credit and publicity? I am a solicitor working from home writing wills and trusts, hence the family theme, I have not tried to profit directly from the photo, just thought it was a nice image of caring. Sorry.
Kind regards,
Elizabeth
Thank you Elizabeth. There are lots of caring people on this good earth.
Until friends pointed it out to me, I had many times walked right past a magical little area in the forest where there is a thick mattress of moss and these tiny purple orchids grow. They are not much bigger than daisies. Apparently, these Calypso orchids are quite rare as they need a safe and stable environment to develop their delicate symbiotic relationship with a specific fungus in the ground.
My friends found them because they were looking for mushrooms, which goes to show you that everybody sees different things and there is so much wonder to discover!
I’ve lived 2 miles away from Elgin Community College for ten years now, but I’d only visited when I was teaching my daughters to drive. As I walked into Building H for my daughter’s first class, I was struck by how many photo opportunities exist in the architecture. So, the next week when I dropped her off, I chose to walk around and capture a few of those images.
Falco Rusticolus
The gyrfalcon may reach 19 to 26 inches (48 - 65 cm) in length and a wingspan ranging from 43 to 63 inches (110 - 160 cm). They have broad and pointed wings, a relatively long tail, longer than that of the peregrine falcon. Because they live in quite a harsh and cold environment their legs are fully feathered.