Travel to Java
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There's quite a population of Canada Geese...
Schloss Blutenburg (Blutenburg Castle) was first mentioned in 1432 though it's origins reach back to a moated castle from the 13th century.
In the years 1438–39 Duke Albert III, Duke of Bavaria rebuild the castle as a hunting-lodge.
Nowadays it houses the International Youth Library (Internationale Jugendbibliothek) and the library of the Michael Ende Museum.
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
Unique sparrow with incredible variation between populations. Generally patterned with gray, white, and shades of tan. All have pinkish bills and white outer tail feathers. Juveniles are streaky. Breeds in a variety of forested habitats, especially with conifers. Found in any wooded habitat in the winter, often in flocks. Usually forages on the ground for seeds, but also fond of brushy thickets or weedy fields. Visits feeders. Subspecies include: Slate-colored (widespread), Oregon (West), Pink-sided (Rockies), Gray-headed (Rockies and southwest U.S. to Mexico), Red-backed (central Arizona and New Mexico), and White-winged (breeds in Black Hills, winters mainly Colorado). (eBird)
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I've finally broken the junco curse. After years of them disappearing even if I though the word "camera", I got several great shots this year. I may never get another, but I am very happy with this most recent shot. He's probably planning on the trip home for breeding, as he now has to compete with the recently arrived Song Sparrows.
Shirley's Bay, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. April 2023.
Unique sparrow with incredible variation between populations. Generally patterned with gray, white, and shades of tan. All have pinkish bills and white outer tail feathers. Juveniles are streaky. Breeds in a variety of forested habitats, especially with conifers. Found in any wooded habitat in the winter, often in flocks. Usually forages on the ground for seeds, but also fond of brushy thickets or weedy fields. Visits feeders. Subspecies include: Slate-colored (widespread), Oregon (West), Pink-sided (Rockies), Gray-headed (Rockies and southwest U.S. to Mexico), Red-backed (central Arizona and New Mexico), and White-winged (breeds in Black Hills, winters mainly Colorado). (eBird)
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Usually, this sub-species looks black or dark grey, but the light has caught it just right to show the feather definition. He was competing against the squirrels, gtree sparrows and jays for sunflower seeds. This winter, the snow has been deep enough to bury most of the seed heads.
Jack Pine Trail, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. March 2023.
Gouldian Finch, sometimes called Rainbow Finch, is endemic to Australia, but is found in many aviaries, like the Toledo Zoo Aviary, Toledo, Ohio.
Like the familiar story of declining populations of wildlife, the Gouldian Finch has been the victim of habitat destruction, "collecting" for cages/aviaries, and being an easy target for predators.
There are many color variations of Gouldian Finches, especially in captive populations.
Nieuwpoort
municipality of Liesveld (population approx. 9,585)
The name Nieuwpoort is derived from the Latin ‘Nova Portus’, freely translated as the ‘New Harbour’. Nieuwpoort is one of the smallest Dutch fortified towns and was founded around 1200 by the Lords of Liesveld and Langerak. Nieuwpoort had a part to play in the functioning of the old Hollandse Waterlinie. In the 17th century, on the recommendation of Prince William of Orange, Nieuwpoort was given ramparts and canals in a fortress with six bastions. A pleasant walk along the fortifications can be combined with a visit to the Oudheidkamer [Antiquities Room] in the town hall, where the history of Nieuwpoort is relived. Nieuwpoort, with its protected townscape, is a part of the municipality of Liesveld, together with Groot-Ammers, Langerak and Streefkerk.
a fantastic little place with a big history. Nice for a photograper. I hope you like this shot here.
Pine Marten - Martes martes
Pine martens are found in the Scottish Highlands and Grampians, with isolated populations in southern Scotland. In England and North Wales pine martens seem to be on the verge of extinction. They are widespread and relatively common in Ireland. Although they occur in a wide range of habitats, pine martens prefer well-wooded areas with plenty of cover.
Diet: Pine martens are generalist predators, feeding on small rodents, birds, beetles, carrion, eggs and fungi. In autumn, berries are a staple.
General Ecology: Marten dens are commonly found in hollow trees or the fallen root masses of Scots pines, an association that probably earned pine martens their name; cairns and cliffs covered with scrub are frequently used as alternative den sites. Martens have territories that vary in size according to habitat and food availability. For males, these are about 10-25 square kilometres and for females about 5-15 square kilometres. They mark their territories with faeces (known as scats) deposited in places where they are conspicuous to other martens; they are frequently left along forestry trails.
Breeding: Young martens are born blind and hairless, in litters of 1-5, in early spring and stay with their mothers for about six weeks. Their eyes open at the end of May and by mid-June they begin to emerge from their den. Male martens play no direct part in rearing the young.
Conservation Status: Martens and their dens are fully protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981); martens must not be trapped, sold or disturbed except under licence from Scottish Natural Heritage, the Countryside Council for Wales or Natural England. Despite this legal protection, poisoned baits and traps, often set for hooded crows and foxes, still probably account for many marten deaths each year. Others are also shot at hen houses, and some are killed when mistaken for mink.
Until the 19th Century, pine martens were found throughout much of mainland Britain, the Isle of Wight and some of the Scottish islands. Habitat fragmentation, persecution by gamekeepers and martens being killed for their fur, drastically reduced this distribution. By 1926, the main pine marten population in Britain was restricted to a small area of north-west Scotland, with small numbers in N Wales and the Lake District. They have now increased their range in Scotland, and now occur throughout the Highlands, N of the Central Belt but remains one of the rarest native mammals in Great Britain, with a total population of around 3-4,000, but Ireland probably also has as many.
Okavango Delta
Botswana
Southern Africa
Happy Caturday!
Lions are commonly seen in most parts of Botswana. Even though lions don't like water, sightings of lions in the northern Okavango Delta are spectacular. The lions have learned to thrive there - mainly due to the large buffalo population.
The Lions of Botswana have torn up the rule book as we know it. Lions don't like water, lions seldom, if ever, hunt elephants, hippos and lions need water to survive - these are some of the ideas that we have learnt over the years. In Botswana lions take to the water regularly, lions do hunt elephant and hippo and in some areas of the country lions can go for months without drinking water.
Home ranges of the lions vary in size for the same reasons - availability of food. In the arid areas the home ranges will be much larger and a great deal of overlapping with neighbouring prides occurs.
Lions in the Okavango Delta are adept at negotiating the channels and floodplains in order to hunt. Prey moves between the islands and lions have to cross the water to follow. Because of this water activity the front quarters of the Okavango Delta lions are more developed than those of other lions. From buffalo to hippo and even adult elephant. there are prides that have adapted to preying on all. – Internet
With a population of just over 300 Reine has to be one of the most stunning villages in the world. Located over 100 km above the Arctic Circle this villiage has so much activities to offer such as kayaking, biking, and skiing. The traditional red and white fishermen’s cabins sit beautifully along the shoreline and the enormous peaks of granite dominate the skyline.
We had lovely golden light the morning we visited it and for a few minutes were lucky enough to take advantage of the calm morning by shooting the beautiful reflection in the water. You can not go to Lofoten without making a stop at this incredible location.
Please feel free to favourite and follow.
Greenfinch - Chloris chloris
The European greenfinch, or just greenfinch (Chloris chloris), is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.
This bird is widespread throughout Europe, north Africa and south west Asia. It is mainly resident, but some northernmost populations migrate further south. The greenfinch has also been introduced into both Australia and New Zealand. In Malta, it is considered a prestigious song bird, and it has been trapped for many years. It has been domesticated, and many Maltese people breed them.
Woodland edges, farmland hedges and gardens with relatively thick vegetation are favoured for breeding. It nests in trees or bushes, laying 3 to 6 Eggs.
This species can form large flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes mixing with other finches and buntings. They feed largely on seeds, but also take berries.
The protozoal parasite Trichomonas gallinae was known to infect pigeons and raptors but beginning in Britain in 2005, carcases of dead European greenfinches and common chaffinches were found to be infected with the parasite. The disease spread and in 2008 infected carcases were found in Norway, Sweden and Finland and a year later in Germany. The spread of the disease is believed to have been mediated by chaffinches as large numbers of the birds breed in northern Europe and winter in Britain. In Britain the number of infected carcases recovered each year declined after a peak in 2006. There was a reduction in the number of greenfinches from around 4.3 million to around 2.8 million but no significant decline in the overall number of chaffinches. A similar pattern occurred in Finland where, after the arrival of the disease in 2008, there was a reduction in the number of greenfinches but only a small change in the number of chaffinches.
Greenfinch populations declined during the late 1970s and early 1980s, but increased dramatically during the 1990s. A recent decline in numbers has been linked to an outbreak of trichomonosis, a parasite-induced disease which prevents the birds from feeding properly.
Population:
UK breeding:
1,700,000 pairs
Any finite number divided by infinity is as near to nothing as makes no odds, so the average population of all the planets in the Universe can be said to be zero. From this it follows that the population of the whole Universe is also zero, and that any people you may meet from time to time are merely the products of a deranged imagination :-)
Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
HFF!! a little statistical humor for these infinitely unusual times ;-)
narcissus, 'Sweet Smiles', j c raulston arboretum, ncsu, raleigh, north carolina
Pine Marten - Martes martes
Pine martens are found in the Scottish Highlands and Grampians, with isolated populations in southern Scotland. In England and North Wales pine martens seem to be on the verge of extinction. They are widespread and relatively common in Ireland. Although they occur in a wide range of habitats, pine martens prefer well-wooded areas with plenty of cover.
Diet: Pine martens are generalist predators, feeding on small rodents, birds, beetles, carrion, eggs and fungi. In autumn, berries are a staple.
General Ecology: Marten dens are commonly found in hollow trees or the fallen root masses of Scots pines, an association that probably earned pine martens their name; cairns and cliffs covered with scrub are frequently used as alternative den sites. Martens have territories that vary in size according to habitat and food availability. For males, these are about 10-25 square kilometres and for females about 5-15 square kilometres. They mark their territories with faeces (known as scats) deposited in places where they are conspicuous to other martens; they are frequently left along forestry trails.
Breeding: Young martens are born blind and hairless, in litters of 1-5, in early spring and stay with their mothers for about six weeks. Their eyes open at the end of May and by mid-June they begin to emerge from their den. Male martens play no direct part in rearing the young.
Conservation Status: Martens and their dens are fully protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981); martens must not be trapped, sold or disturbed except under licence from Scottish Natural Heritage, the Countryside Council for Wales or Natural England. Despite this legal protection, poisoned baits and traps, often set for hooded crows and foxes, still probably account for many marten deaths each year. Others are also shot at hen houses, and some are killed when mistaken for mink.
Until the 19th Century, pine martens were found throughout much of mainland Britain, the Isle of Wight and some of the Scottish islands. Habitat fragmentation, persecution by gamekeepers and martens being killed for their fur, drastically reduced this distribution. By 1926, the main pine marten population in Britain was restricted to a small area of north-west Scotland, with small numbers in N Wales and the Lake District. They have now increased their range in Scotland, and now occur throughout the Highlands, N of the Central Belt but remains one of the rarest native mammals in Great Britain, with a total population of around 3-4,000, but Ireland probably also has as many.
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster
(Red-bellied Grackle / Cacique candela)
The red-bellied grackle is endemic to Colombia where it is found in all three Andean ranges at altitudes of 800 to 2,400m (2,600 to 7,900ft) above sea level.
Its natural habitat is tropical forest, but the trees are increasingly being felled for timber and to make way for agriculture, and little virgin forest remains within its range.
H. pyrohypogaster was formerly classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature but in 2012 the threat level was lowered to "vulnerable". This is on the basis that, although its forest habitat remains under pressure, it has been found at some new locations where it was not known before. The total population is now estimated to be in the range 2,500 to 9,999 individuals.
The population of birds at The Ocean City Welcome center in New jersey has really shifted this year. There were way more Egret Nests, White Ibis have taken over the place, at least 50 juvs. The Night Herons were few and far between.
A view of the west side of the square (200 block of Washington St.) looking south from W. 2nd St. The buildings on this block appear to be the most heavily altered of the buildings on the four sides of the square.
On the corner is an old commercial building now repurposed as the Casa De Dios Para Las Nacinones (House of God for the Nations) church. A large pork slaughterhouse is a major employer and has attracted a substantial immigrant population to Beardstown in recent years. According to the 2020 census, 36 percent of the population of Beardstown is now Hispanic or Latino.
Located in West Central Illinois, Beardstown had a population of 5,951 at the 2020 census making it the largest city in Cass County.
Cairns is a city in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It is on the east coast of Far North Queensland. The city is the 5th-most-populous in Queensland and ranks 14th overall in Australia. Cairns was founded in 1876 and named after Sir William Wellington Cairns, Governor of Queensland from 1875 to 1877. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but declined when an easier route was discovered from Port Douglas. It later developed into a railhead and major port for exporting sugar cane, gold and other metals, minerals and agricultural products from surrounding coastal areas and the Atherton Tableland region. The population of the Cairns urban area at June 2018 was 152,729, having grown on average 1.1% year-on-year over the preceding five years. Based on 2015 data, the associated local government area has experienced an average annual growth rate of 2.3% over the last 10 years. Cairns is a popular tourist destination because of its tropical climate and access to both nearby tropical rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. 22119
Blue Ridge Mountain Clouds just off the Parkway at a scenic spot some rain clouds are blowing in, you can see some sparse population in this remote area.
Rhinoceros: since 1973 the population has recovered well and increased to 544 animals around the turn of the century. To ensure the survival of the endangered species in case of epidemics animals are translocated annually from Chitwan to the Bardia National Park and the Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve since 1986. However, the population has repeatedly been jeopardized by poaching: in 2002 alone, poachers killed 37 individuals in order to saw off and sell their valuable horns.[6] Chitwan has the largest population of Indian rhinoceros in Nepal, estimated at 605 individuals out of 645 in total in the country.
Der Park ist bekannt für die Population des Panzernashorns, die bis zur Jahrtausendwende auf 544 Tiere und bis zum Frühjahr 2015 auf 645 Nashörner[6] angewachsen war. Seit 1986 werden alljährlich Tiere von Chitwan in den Bardia-Nationalpark und in das Suklaphanta-Wildreservat übersiedelt. Die Population war aber immer wieder durch Wilderei stark gefährdet: allein im Jahre 2002 haben Wilderer 37 Tiere grausam getötet, um das kostbare Horn absägen und verkaufen zu können. Die letzte Zählung im Jahr 2011 ergab insgesamt 503 Nashörner im Park, im selben Zeitraum starben zwei Tiere durch Wilderer. Bei der Zählung im Frühjahr 2015 wurden 645 Tiere in Nepal gefunden[6], davon 605 im Chitwan-Nationalpark[8], während gleichzeitig in den letzten drei Jahren kein Tier durch Wilderer ums Leben kam.
Located in Devonport, building architecture is impressive. Devonport is a city in northern Tasmania, Australia. It is situated at the mouth of the Mersey River. Devonport had an urban population of 23,046 at the 2016 Australian census. A larger urban area, including Latrobe has a population of 30,297 at June 2018, having grown at an average annual rate of 0.17% year-on-year over the preceding five years. The main CBD is on the west side of the Mersey River and includes a pedestrian mall, cinema, speciality stores, chain stores such as IGA and hotels. There are several local restaurants and cafes. 29419
Otavalo, has a population largely made up of the Otavalo indigenous group. They are famous for weaving textiles, usually made of wool, which are sold at the famous market. During the market's peak, almost one third of the town becomes full of stalls selling textiles, tagua nut jewelry, musical instruments, dream catchers, leather goods, fake shrunken heads, indigenous costumes, hand-painted platters and trays, purses, clothing, spices, raw foods and spools of wool.
Newman, Douglas County, Illinois. Population 778. Within its city limits you'll find all the ingredients for a quintessential Illinois hamlet. Quiet brick-and-mortar mainstreet, grain elevator complex, railroad splicing through the center. An unerring formula for small towns all across the Prairie State. The corn and soy crops encroaching on Newman's borders serve as the primary economic driver, as they do for a wide majority of Illinois' 58k square miles. Watco's aptly-named Decatur and Eastern Illinois Railroad earns its keep transporting the region's farm product to market, utilizing former B&O rails spun off from CSX in 2018 to forward large quantities of agricultural goods east from the processing epicenter of Decatur. The rails through Newman are hot on this unseasonably warm winter morning with DREI's eastbound road train #101, its pair of flares moving another 9 carloads towards points east via the CSX interchange at Terre Haute, IN.
Hobart is the capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. With a population of approximately 240,342 (over 45% of Tasmania's population), it is the least populated Australian state capital city, and second smallest if territories are taken into account (after Darwin, Northern Territory). The city is located in the state's south-east on the estuary of the River Derwent, making it the most southern of Australia's capital cities. Its skyline is dominated by the 1,271-metre Mount Wellington, and its harbour forms the second-deepest natural port in the world, with much of the city's waterfront consisting of reclaimed land. The metropolitan area is often referred to as Greater Hobart, to differentiate it from the City of Hobart, one of the five local government areas that cover the city. Founded in 1804 as a British penal colony, Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney, New South Wales. 30122
Bei unseren heimischen Rotfüchsen ist es nicht immer der Fall, dass man so viele gesunde Tiere antrifft, wie dieses Jahr.
Die heimtückische Fuchsräude geht immer mal wieder um und so werden oft ganze Familienbestände ausgelöscht.
In particularly harsh winters, Wren populations can deplete significantly by up to as much as 25%. Despite this startling statistic, this is often countered by the large broods created throughout the breeding season. I hope this little guy is one of the lucky ones their fantastic little birds and only weigh as much as a 2p coin .
Audubon’s Oriole is primarily a species of both coasts of Mexico, with a small population in southern Texas, USA. This individual was seen at the Salineno Birding Area near the Rio Grande, in keeping with a preference for riparian areas.
When I went out looking for a Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher in the foothills of Tubac what I found was a 'population explosion' of Cassin's Kingbirds...they were Everywhere!
My thoughts and prayers are with the state of Florida and my friends and contacts that live there.
Thank you for your visit and comments.
Otavalo, has a population largely made up of the Otavalo indigenous group. They are famous for weaving textiles, usually made of wool, which are sold at the famous market. During the market's peak, almost one third of the town becomes full of stalls selling textiles, tagua nut jewelry, musical instruments, dream catchers, leather goods, fake shrunken heads, indigenous costumes, hand-painted platters and trays, purses, clothing, spices, raw foods and spools of wool.
All of the different troupial populations were formerly regarded as representing a single species, but nowadays three different species are recognized, of which the Orange-backed Troupial is the most widespread and the southern and western representative. It is found over much of the lowlands of northern and western Amazonia, and south to Paraguay and northeastern Argentina, and the species is generally found in close proximity to water. This one was photographed near Rio Pixaim - Mato Grosso - Brazil.
Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated!
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Member of Nature’s Spirit
Good Stewards of Nature
With a population of 653 (as of 2019) the small rural town of Cove is located in Union County, Oregon. I really liked the character of this tiny library. Built in 1923.
If You're Curious: coveoregon.org/cove-library/
Jimmy Buffet: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdCQBoMamJM
Washington is a city in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States, located on the northern bank of the Pamlico River. The population was 9,744 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Beaufort County. It is commonly known as "Original Washington" or "Little Washington" to distinguish it from Washington D.C. The closest major city is Greenville, approximately 20 miles (32 km) to the west.
Established in 1776 on land donated by Col. James Bonner, Washington is the first city named after George Washington, the first president of the United States.
Washington has a range of historical buildings and landmarks, with some dating back to colonial times and others of Victorian and Arts and Crafts design. A self-guided Historic Walking Tour allows visitors to explore the neighborhoods. A Farmer's and Artisan's Market is held regularly on the town's green areas on the waterfront.
The North Carolina Estuarium, located on the Pamlico River, includes more than 200 scientific and historic exhibits relating to the ecology of North Carolina's estuaries, the Tar-Pamlico River and Pamlico Sound. The Estuarium also includes a 3/4 mile boardwalk along the Pamlico River.
The Turnage Theatre, a restored historic vaudeville and movie theater, reopened in the downtown area in 2014 and hosts plays and other types of live entertainment. Between 1993 and 2017 a downtown music and art festival called "Music in the Streets" was held every third Friday during summer to attract people to downtown shops and restaurants. A cannonball from the Union attack on Washington during the American Civil War is displayed in an attorney's office on Water Street, and many nearby towns also contain Civil War artifacts and museums. Civil War re-enacters meet in the outskirts of Washington every year. (Wikipedia)
Sandhill Crane,
Between 34 to 48 inches in length with a wingspan of nearly 7 feet. They are very tall with a long neck and long legs. Largely gray with a red forehead. Juveniles browner with no red on head. Plumage often appears a rusty color because of iron stains from water of ponds or marshes.
They inhabit large freshwater marshes, prairie ponds and marshy tundra. They are also on prairies and grain fields during migration and in winter.
They range from Siberia and Alaska east across arctic Canada to the Hudson Bay and south to western Ontario. There are isolated populations in the Rocky Mountians, northern prairies, and the Great Lakes region along with in Mississippi, Georgia and Florida. They winter in California's Central Valley and across the southern states from Arizona to Florida. They can also be found in Cuba.
Kensington Metropark, Livingston County, Michigan.
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
A small ground bird whose population is fast decreasing due to disappearing grasslands and development. This is a beautiful bird and found in small groups as they forage for insects in dry open grasslands. They frequent those areas where the grass is smaller than their height so that it doesn't block their view of the surroundings. I love the bird and its beautiful colors.
The grasslands we visited had a good population of them and many concluded nesting maybe last month - we sighted several juveniles with their incomplete plumage running around. Some were quite bold and wouldn't walk / run away when we came close. They were out in the open foraging on the ground sometimes in a driving path. This is not the season of raptors yet, so guess they are quite comfortable exposing themselves in short grass. Once the winter sets, the area gets several raptor visitors - all of which prey on this bird.
Thanks in advance for your wonderful feedback and likes - very much appreciated.
Tecopa, California, population 150, is near Death Valley on the Old Spanish Trail, and feels very remote, though there is an RV park and several run-down private spas in town.
We actually saw a bobcat in an empty lot while driving through town in the middle of the day! He stopped and stared at us about 3 seconds, then sprinted away.
The Elvis (red-shouldered hawk) population is doing well in the area. I often see three or four as they fly by together. It's starting to look like Las Vegas around here. Just kidding of course, these Elvis' don't wear sequins.
It's always nice when Elvis stops in. Over the years, I have come to trust Elvis a lot more than I used to. He is sticking to the rules and eating frogs and lizards. Of course, I believe he would eat a bird if given the chance but I have not witnessed such an event. So he shall get the benefit of the doubt.
Elvis was looking all around and seemed pretty intent on getting a snack. The clicking of my camera didn't seem to distract him at all. He actually focused in on a snack, swooped down and came back with a frog. I continued to watch him but let him eat in peace without the clicking of the camera.
With any luck, this Elvis may become as friendly as the one that used to visit on a regular basis. Personality is the only way I know that Elvis doesn't visit anymore. He was so friendly I often had to back up to get images because he would come so close to me when I was out.
Have a Happy Easter and happy snapping.
There are over 500 aphid species in the UK, and several are common garden pests. Typically they have pear-shaped bodies and range in colour from black to pink, though most are green or brown.
Aphids secrete honeydew, which ants love. You may see ants milking (stroking) aphids to encourage this secretion.
In spring, aphid eggs hatch into wingless females that do not mate but produce live young (a process known as parthenogenesis) – some of these young have wings and fly off to other host plants. Several generations of aphid are produced during the summer and aphid populations can increase rapidly.
In autumn, males and females are born. After mating, females lay eggs that hatch in spring. Plants infested with aphids are often distorted with weak-looking leaves and shoots.
For licensing on my images see: Getty images.
www.gettyimages.co.uk/search/2/image?artist=sandra%20stan...
The picturesque town of Stanley (population 553), sits below the amazing prominence known as "The Nut". This is in fact the plug of an extinct volcano that rises 143 metres above sea level. Stanley is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Tasmania (when tourism is operating!). In the distance at the far right you can make out the huge jetty of Port Latta and the smelter, with the hills of Rocky Cape. In 2016 Stanley was converted to a film set for the historic movie, "Light Between Oceans".
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley,_Tasmania
We'll return to Stanley in a week or so.
Húsavík Port 20210720
Húsavík town, part of the Norðurþing munipalicity with a population of 2.815 in 2016, is a beautiful fishing town in the Northern Region in Iceland. Húsavík is Nr. 1 on our list of the most interesting towns and villages in Iceland. It is located near the most beautiful and most interesting tourist attractions and natural wonders in Iceland. Jökulsárgljúfur canyon, the home of many natural wonders and breathtaking places. Places like Dettifoss waterfall, Hólmatungur, Ásbyrgi and Mývatn to name a few. Historically it is also a place of great importance. One could argue that Húsavík (the bay of houses) is the first place inhabited by people in Iceland. The second Viking Explorer, who arrived in Iceland in the second half of the 9th century, built the first house by the bay and stayed her for one winter. Garðar Svavarsson named the island Garðarshólmi after himself, but the name didn’t stick. Historically Húsavík has been an important place in Iceland ever since Vikings started to settle here.
Source Hit Iceland.
Rogue Valley - Jackson County - Oregon - USA
Habitat : Open Woodlands
Food : Insects
Nesting : Tree
Behavior : Ground Forager
Conservation : Low Concern
"The quintessential early bird, American Robins are common sights on lawns across North America, where you often see them tugging earthworms out of the ground. Robins are popular birds for their warm orange breast, cheery song, and early appearance at the end of winter. Though they’re familiar town and city birds, American Robins are at home in wilder areas, too, including mountain forests and Alaskan wilderness... An American Robin can produce three successful broods in one year. On average, though, only 40 percent of nests successfully produce young. Only 25 percent of those fledged young survive to November. From that point on, about half of the robins alive in any year will make it to the next. Despite the fact that a lucky robin can live to be 14 years old, the entire population turns over on average every six years."
- Cornell University Lab of Ornithology
Okavango Delta
Botswana
Southern Africa
Happy Caturday!
Lions are commonly seen in most parts of Botswana. Even though lions don't like water, sightings of lions in the northern Okavango Delta are spectacular. The lions have learned to thrive there - mainly due to the large buffalo population.
The Lions of Botswana have torn up the rule book as we know it. Lions don't like water, lions seldom, if ever, hunt elephants, hippos and lions need water to survive - these are some of the ideas that we have learnt over the years. In Botswana lions take to the water regularly, lions do hunt elephant and hippo and in some areas of the country lions can go for months without drinking water.
Home ranges of the lions vary in size for the same reasons - availability of food. In the arid areas the home ranges will be much larger and a great deal of overlapping with neighboring prides occurs.
Lions in the Okavango Delta are adept at negotiating the channels and floodplains in order to hunt. Prey moves between the islands and lions have to cross the water to follow. Because of this water activity the front quarters of the Okavango Delta lions are more developed than those of other lions. From buffalo to hippo and even adult elephant. there are prides that have adapted to preying on all. – Internet
Shot for the March Most Versatile Challenge in Compositionally Challenged. Inverted a fancy stemmed wine glass, put a wee bit of soap/glycerine water on the base, used a straw to blow the bubbles, and lit them with grow lights.
Rockport is a seaside town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,992 in 2020. Rockport is located approximately 40 miles (64 km) northeast of Boston at the tip of the Cape Ann peninsula. Rockport borders Gloucester to its west, and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean in all other directions.
The Labor Movement in Rockport Quarries
Rockport, especially the Pigeon Cove area, has historically been home to many immigrant communities, notably Finns, Swedes, Italians, and Portuguese immigrants. Scandinavian immigrants often worked in the quarries, located at what is now Halibut Point State Park. Mediterranean immigrants arrived in the Early Republic, and the first Finnish and Swedish immigrants in the 1870s. Finns and Swedes were often lumped together as one group, and as Historian Jonathan Schwartz suggests, “a generalized "Scandinavian" identity for the Swedish and Finnish immigrants, at least in the eyes of the New England community”. These ethnic divisions were important pieces of working-class identities, and became more important as quarry workers become more involved in labor activism against the Rockport Granite Company, which first opened on February 10, 1865, and dissolved on December 31, 1933.
The Labor Movement in Rockport Quarries
Rockport, especially the Pigeon Cove area, has historically been home to many immigrant communities, notably Finns, Swedes, Italians, and Portuguese immigrants. Scandinavian immigrants often worked in the quarries, located at what is now Halibut Point State Park. Mediterranean immigrants arrived in the Early Republic, and the first Finnish and Swedish immigrants in the 1870s. Finns and Swedes were often lumped together as one group, and as Historian Jonathan Schwartz suggests, “a generalized "Scandinavian" identity for the Swedish and Finnish immigrants, at least in the eyes of the New England community”. These ethnic divisions were important pieces of working-class identities, and became more important as quarry workers become more involved in labor activism against the Rockport Granite Company, which first opened on February 10, 1865, and dissolved on December 31, 1933
Nieuwpoort
municipality of Liesveld (population approx. 9,585)
The name Nieuwpoort is derived from the Latin ‘Nova Portus’, freely translated as the ‘New Harbour’. Nieuwpoort is one of the smallest Dutch fortified towns and was founded around 1200 by the Lords of Liesveld and Langerak. Nieuwpoort had a part to play in the functioning of the old Hollandse Waterlinie. In the 17th century, on the recommendation of Prince William of Orange, Nieuwpoort was given ramparts and canals in a fortress with six bastions. A pleasant walk along the fortifications can be combined with a visit to the Oudheidkamer [Antiquities Room] in the town hall, where the history of Nieuwpoort is relived. Nieuwpoort, with its protected townscape, is a part of the municipality of Liesveld, together with Groot-Ammers, Langerak and Streefkerk.
a fantastic little place with a big history. Nice for a photograper. I hope you like this shot here.
The monarch population is really picking up in the garden and I have started collecting eggs so I can raise some in protective custody on my lanai. We will be getting one more little cold front tomorrow but it should warm up nicely and stay warm after that. Tiger Swallowtails have been flying high above the yard but the nectar I have does not seem to be enough to attract them to venture lower just yet. I will be heading out to Sweetbay Nursery this weekend in order to purchase a Sweetbay Magnolia for the tigers to host upon if they desire. Sweetbay Nursery is an all Florida Native plant nursery that is located about 45 minutes south of my home. I'm going to have to take the truck because I am sure I will be coming home with more than just one tree :)
Okavango Delta
Botswana
Southern Africa
The Giraffe of Botswana are of the southern Africa race or commonly known as the southern Giraffe. The Botswana giraffe population is stable.
Giraffe have the loosest social structure in the animal kingdom with the groups changing in size constantly as individuals move from one place to another. Despite this loose social structure male Giraffe tussle for dominance for it is the stronger that gets the females when they are in heat.
Giraffe in Botswana are preyed upon by lions and hyenas and leopards. They mainly attack youngsters under one year of age. In one instance, a leopard attacked a four day old giraffe and holding it by the throat until chased off by the mother. The baby slowly hobbled to its feet with help from the mother but it was very badly injured. The mother began to move off slowly for the baby to follow but it finally succumbed to its injuries. The mother hung around for some time before moving off.
The Giraffe of the Okavango Delta suffer from an eye infection that often blinds them in both eyes resulting in the particular animal staggering around until taken by a predator or falling and unable to stand up. This disease flares up at unspecified times.
Caerwent was the capital of the Silures, the most important and powerful British tribe of south Wales. The town was founded in the late 1st century beside the main road from Glevum (Gloucester) to the Roman fort at Isca (Caerleon), and was the first true town in Wales.
It grew to have a population of roughly 3000 inhabitants at the height of its prosperity in the 2nd century. Caerwent had all the facilities you might expect in a 'civilsed' Roman town; a combination forum and basilica complex, public baths, a temple, and town houses, each with their own central heating system via hypocausts.
The Asian populations of these wide-ranging heron species are primarily sedentary, except for occasional dispersive movements, whereas the Western Palearctic populations migrate between breeding and wintering habitats. The Purple Heron is a large bird though slender for its size, weighing only 0.5 to 1.35 kg (1.1 to 3.0 lb). The bird inhabits marshes, lagoons and lakes surrounded by dense vegetation and may frequent mangrove swamps on the coast but they usually choose freshwater habitats.