The Antarctic Cormorant also referred to as the Antarctic Shag - - they were quite plentiful in some parts of the Antarctic - - in this particular sighting the one was the receiving party at Neko Harbour - - I was still on the zodiac when I took this shot, I really wanted the glacier background which would have been impossible once standing on the beach.

Antarctic Cormorant / Antarctic Shag - Neko Harbour

Allium ursinum

The Latin specific name ursinum translates to 'bear' and refers to the supposed brown bear's taste for the bulbs; folk tales describe the bears consuming them after awakening from hibernation.

(Source Wikipedia)

The photo was created with a historical manual lens from the 1970s. 50mm and aperture F1.8

Alberta Provincial Highway No. 734, commonly referred to as Highway 734, [leading to Luscar-Cadomin Coal Mining area] is a highway in western Alberta, Canada that travels through the forested foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It used to be part of Forestry Trunk Road and is still colloquially referred to as such. Wikipedia

** This does not refer to anyone or anything in particular **

" I'm jealous of the rain

That falls upon your skin

It's closer than my hands have been

I'm jealous of the rain

I'm jealous of the wind

That ripples through your clothes

It's closer than your shadow

Oh, I'm jealous of the wind

'Cause I wished you the best of all this world could give

And I told you when you left me

There's nothing to forgive

But I always thought you'd come back

Tell me all you found was heartbreak and misery

It's hard for me to say

I'm jealous of the way

You're happy without me... "

- Labrinth -

www.youtube.com/watch?v=50VWOBi0VFs

Thank you so very much to my gorgeous friend Ms. B for posing for me. Hugs 💗

Mittelmeermöwe (Larus michahellis)

The yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) sometimes referred to as western yellow-legged gull (to distinguish it from eastern populations of yellow-legged large white-headed gulls) is a large gull of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, which has only recently achieved wide recognition as a distinct species.What do Mediterranean gulls eat... Mediterranean gulls are among the omnivores.

Their diet includes fish, crustaceans, bird chicks, bird eggs, carrion, fruit, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals and Biskuits... yes Biscuits! they are even very popular, hundreds of them accompany the ferries And the passengers feed them with small treats.

But you should be careful, because they like to bomb sometimes.🙊😆

Die Gelbfußmöwe (Larus michahellis) manchmal auch als westliche Gelbfußmöwe bezeichnet (zur Unterscheidung von den östlichen Populationen der gelbbeinigen Großmöwen) ist eine große Möwe aus Europa, dem Nahen Osten und Nordafrika, die erst in jüngster Zeit breite Anerkennung als eigenständige Art erlangt hat.

Was fressen Mittelmeermöwen… Mittelmeermöwen gehören mit zu den Allesfressern.

Zu Ihre Nahrung gehören Fische, Krebstiere, Vogelkücken, Vogeleier, Aas, Obst, Amphibien, Reptilien, Kleinsäuger und Kekse… ja Kekse! die sind sogar sehr beliebt, zu hunderten begleiten sie die Fähren

Und die Passagiere füttern sie mit Kleine Leckereien.

Man sollte aber vorsichtig sein, den sie Bombardieren auch mal gern.😆🙊

Thanks for your Visit Views Faves and Comments, have all a Nice Weekend. 🌞✌

Deep Cove refers to the community in the easternmost part of the District of North Vancouver, in British Columbia, Canada, and is also the geographic name of the small bay beside the town. It is affectionately referred to as "The Cove" by local residents. Wikipedia.

This is Vancouver: Snowy mountains and mainly green shoreline in winter

I'm referring here of course to the rather rare occurrence of deep blue sky and water that seems to only happen in the fall. Photo is taken in one of the quarries of the Rockport area.

We are getting pummeled by a Noreaster right now so I'm just going to sit back and look at this image of tranquility :)

They're estimating about 4 inches of rain and the wind will pick up tonight.

Wollongong informally referred to as The Gong, is a city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Wollongong lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 68 kilometres (42 miles) south of central Sydney. Wollongong had an estimated urban population of 302,739 at June 2018, making it the third-largest city in New South Wales after Sydney and Newcastle and the tenth-largest city in Australia by population. The Wollongong metropolitan area extends from Helensburgh in the north to Shell Cove in the south. It sits within the Wollongong Statistical District, which covers the local government areas of Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama, extending from the town of Helensburgh in the north, to Gerroa in the south. Geologically, the city is located in the south-eastern part of the Sydney basin, which extends from Newcastle to Nowra. Wollongong is noted for its heavy industry, its port activity and the quality of its physical setting, occupying a narrow coastal plain between an almost continuous chain of surf beaches and the cliffline of the rainforest-covered Illawarra escarpment. It has two cathedrals, churches of many denominations and the Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. Wollongong has a long history of coal mining and industry. The city attracts many tourists each year and is a regional centre for the South Coast fishing industry. The University of Wollongong has around 38,000 students and is internationally recognised. 49905

I refer to myself as a lazy photographer (poking fun at me) and the truth is I usually am. But I had to work for this one!! We visited a very unique area of the Western slope of Colorado called Escalante Canyon. It reminded me of the very popular visitor attraction the Cliff Dwellings which were populated by ancient people a very long time ago. We climbed a pretty steep hill with loose red rock and many cactus's and no trail!! The guys were ahead of us not being very chivalrous, of coarse. I felt pretty proud of my sister in law and myself that we made it to the top. Up above us were the red cliffs and scattered around us were these gnarly old cedar trees. I noticed to the corner of my eye this impressive ancient looking cedar. You could tell it has had a hard time surviving in its tough surroundings. It's amazing how life has a will to survive!!

You remind me of Yoda's great philosophy: "No try, There is no try. Do or do not. " Bruce Sorrell

Please view in Large screen!!

Helgeland is the most southerly district in Northern Norway. Generally speaking, Helgeland refers to the part of Nordland county that is located south of the Arctic Circle. It is bordered in the north by the Saltfjellet mountains and Svartisen glacier, which form a natural border with the Salten district. In the south, Helgeland borders Trøndelag county.

The district covers an area of about 18,832 square kilometres (7,271 sq mi), with nearly 79,000 inhabitants. There are four towns in the district: from south to north these are Brønnøysund, Mosjøen, Sandnessjøen, and Mo i Rana.

Helgeland is characterized by pointed mountains and Strandflaten, a shallow lowland area, sometimes just above the sea surface, and sometimes just below the surface. People living on the coast have settled on this lowland (while inland towns, such as Mo and Mosjøen, are situated in valleys). A consequence of the Strandflaten is thousands of islands, and shallow waters going far into the sea. This has provided some shelter from stormy weather, which might occur in winter. Some islands are fairly large, often with unique mountains, such as Torghatten, De syv søstre (The Seven Sisters), Hestmannen, Rødøyløva (in Rødøy), Dønnamannen (picture), and Træna. There are several sea bird colonies, such as Lovund (picture) with thousands of puffins. The Solvær Islands (Solværøyene) in Lurøy consists of about 300 small and flat islands and has the highest densities of Eurasian eagle-owls in Europe.

The highest mountains, are located inland, where Oksskolten is the highest mountain in Northern Norway. There are many valleys inland, such as the Dunderland Valley, Vefsndalen, and Hattfjelldal. Røssvatnet is the second largest lake in Norway. There are three large national parks in Helgeland: Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park (partly), Børgefjell National Park (partly), and Lomsdal–Visten National Park (created in May 2009).

Mullerthal

Often referred to as the Little Switzerland of Luxembourg, Mullerthal - or Mëllerdall in Luxembourgish – owes its name to its hilly landscape reminiscent of Switzerland. The Mullerthal Region is above all a unique biotope characterized by rock formations that are as beguiling as they are surprising. It is the unique composition of the rock and soil erosion that have contributed to the creation of this landscape so typical of Luxembourg's Little Switzerland.

The western honey bee or European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is the most common of the 7–12 species of honey bees worldwide. The genus name Apis is Latin for "bee", and mellifera is the Latin for "honey-bearing", referring to the species' production of honey.

Like all honey bee species, the western honey bee is eusocial, creating colonies with a single fertile female (or "queen"), many normally non-reproductive females or "workers", and a small proportion of fertile males or "drones". Individual colonies can house tens of thousands of bees. Colony activities are organized by complex communication between individuals, through both pheromones and the dance language. (Wikipedia)

My title refers to the group Colorful Nature, of which I am a member. Every Sunday they choose a colour theme, today it's red and green, and I happened to take these pictures yesterday ...

Do join the group: it's fun!

The term Geranium refers, in general, to a group of herbs and small shrubs of the genera Geranium and Pelargonium. It gathers about 300 species, many native to temperate and tropical regions of altitude, of which several are cultivated as ornamentals or for the extraction of tannins and tinctures.

Geranium can be divided into groups, such as: upright geranium; pending geranium; English geranium; fragrant geranium; herbaceous geranium and succulent geranium.

The photos presented in this series are from Pelargonium peltatum (pending geranium), Geraniums with narrow stems and leaves similar in shape to ivy are called “Ivy-leaved Geraniums” or “Pelargonium peltatum”. It behaves like a vine and the flowers have narrower petals and fewer floral heads.

The flowers can be single or folded and can be colored crimson, scarlet, salmon, pink and white. The strong colors and double flowers are the preference of the majority of the public in southern Brazil.

Helgeland is the most southerly district in Northern Norway. Generally speaking, Helgeland refers to the part of Nordland county that is located south of the Arctic Circle. It is bordered in the north by the Saltfjellet mountains and Svartisen glacier, which form a natural border with the Salten district. In the south, Helgeland borders Trøndelag county.

The district covers an area of about 18,832 square kilometres (7,271 sq mi), with nearly 79,000 inhabitants. There are four towns in the district: from south to north these are Brønnøysund, Mosjøen, Sandnessjøen, and Mo i Rana.

Helgeland is characterized by pointed mountains and Strandflaten, a shallow lowland area, sometimes just above the sea surface, and sometimes just below the surface. People living on the coast have settled on this lowland (while inland towns, such as Mo and Mosjøen, are situated in valleys). A consequence of the Strandflaten is thousands of islands, and shallow waters going far into the sea. This has provided some shelter from stormy weather, which might occur in winter. Some islands are fairly large, often with unique mountains, such as Torghatten, De syv søstre (The Seven Sisters), Hestmannen, Rødøyløva (in Rødøy), Dønnamannen (picture), and Træna. There are several sea bird colonies, such as Lovund (picture) with thousands of puffins. The Solvær Islands (Solværøyene) in Lurøy consists of about 300 small and flat islands and has the highest densities of Eurasian eagle-owls in Europe.

The highest mountains, are located inland, where Oksskolten is the highest mountain in Northern Norway. There are many valleys inland, such as the Dunderland Valley, Vefsndalen, and Hattfjelldal. Røssvatnet is the second largest lake in Norway. There are three large national parks in Helgeland: Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park (partly), Børgefjell National Park (partly), and Lomsdal–Visten National Park (created in May 2009).

The platypus, sometimes referred to as the duck-billed platypus, is a semiaquatic, egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. The platypus is the sole living representative of its family (Ornithorhynchidae) and genus (Ornithorhynchus), though a number of related species appear in the fossil record.

Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. Like other monotremes, it senses prey through electrolocation. It is one of the few species of venomous mammals, as the male platypus has a spur on the hind foot that delivers a venom, capable of causing severe pain to humans. The unusual appearance of this egg-laying, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed mammal baffled European naturalists when they first encountered it, and the first scientists to examine a preserved platypus body (in 1799) judged it a fake, made of several animals sewn together. (Wikipedia)

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Wow! What a privilege to see a platypus in the wild. There were several in this pond, well-known for platypus. It reminded me of an otter as it swam and dove through the water.

Yungabarra, Queensland, Australia. October 2022.

Eagle-Eye Tours - Eastern Australia.

Refers to the pools of water which are frozen over.

The Shard, also referred to as the Shard of Glass, Shard London Bridge and formerly London Bridge Tower, is a 95-storey skyscraper in Southwark, London

oliver@br-creative | @facebook | @500px | @Getty & Flickr Market

Its devilish cultivar name (via Spanish) refers to the dark purplish leaves that this shrub bears in spring, with dark colors being loosely associated with the devil.

The common name "ninebark" comes from the plant's peeling bark. Several shades of brown are displayed as it peels. As an outer layer of bark peels, a new layer with a slightly different color is revealed. The "nine" refers to the number of such layers, although nine seems to be an arbitrary figure.

Written by David Beaulieu

Stanford Memorial Church (also referred to informally as MemChu) is located on the Main Quad at the center of the Stanford University campus in Stanford, California, United States. It was built during the American Renaissance[2] by Jane Stanford as a memorial to her husband Leland. Designed by architect Charles A. Coolidge, a protégé of Henry Hobson Richardson, the church has been called "the University's architectural crown jewel".[3]

Designs for the church were submitted to Jane Stanford and the university trustees in 1898, and it was dedicated in 1903. The building is Romanesque in form and Byzantine in its details, inspired by churches in the region of Venice, especially, Ravenna. Its stained glass windows and extensive mosaics are based on religious paintings the Stanfords admired in Europe. The church has five pipe organs, which allow musicians to produce many styles of organ music. Stanford Memorial Church has withstood two major earthquakes, in 1906 and 1989, and was extensively renovated after each.

North façade of the Stanford Memorial Church from the Main

Just after arriving at Reine.

This is a simple shot processed under the scene-referred paradigm with Darktable from RAW. You can read additional technical information in my profile (about section).

Wollongong informally referred to as The Gong, is a city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Wollongong lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 68 kilometres (42 miles) south of central Sydney. Wollongong had an estimated urban population of 302,739 at June 2018, making it the third-largest city in New South Wales after Sydney and Newcastle and the tenth-largest city in Australia by population. The Wollongong metropolitan area extends from Helensburgh in the north to Shell Cove in the south. It sits within the Wollongong Statistical District, which covers the local government areas of Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama, extending from the town of Helensburgh in the north, to Gerroa in the south. Geologically, the city is located in the south-eastern part of the Sydney basin, which extends from Newcastle to Nowra. Wollongong is noted for its heavy industry, its port activity and the quality of its physical setting, occupying a narrow coastal plain between an almost continuous chain of surf beaches and the cliffline of the rainforest-covered Illawarra escarpment. It has two cathedrals, churches of many denominations and the Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. Wollongong has a long history of coal mining and industry. The city attracts many tourists each year and is a regional centre for the South Coast fishing industry. The University of Wollongong has around 38,000 students and is internationally recognised.

Wollongong Harbour is a great spot to relax and take in amazing coastal views. There are also plenty of paths, pools and parks around the harbour if you prefer to be active. The small sandy beach at Wollongong Harbour is known as Brighton Beach. Although the waters may seem calm most of the time, this is an unpatrolled beach and is not a suitable location for swimming. It can also have water quality issues, particularly after rain. 50456

Hampi or Hampe, also referred to as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Hampi (City), Vijayanagara district, east-central Karnataka, India. Hampi predates the Vijayanagara Empire; it is mentioned in the Ramayana and the Puranas of Hinduism as Pampa Devi Tirtha Kshetra. Hampi continues to be an important religious centre, housing the Virupaksha Temple, an active Adi Shankara-linked monastery and various monuments belonging to the old city.

Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century. It was a fortified city. Chronicles left by Persian and European travellers, particularly the Portuguese, say that Hampi was a prosperous, wealthy and grand city near the Tungabhadra River, with numerous temples, farms and trading markets. By 1500 CE, Hampi-Vijayanagara was the world's second-largest city, after Beijing, and probably India's richest at that time, attracting traders from Persia and Portugal. The Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by a coalition of Muslim sultanates; its capital was conquered, pillaged and destroyed by sultanate armies in 1565, after which Hampi remained in ruins.

Located in Karnataka near the modern-era city of Hosapete, Hampi's ruins are spread over 4,100 hectares (16 sq mi) and it has been described by UNESCO as an "austere, grandiose site" of more than 1,600 surviving remains of the last great Hindu kingdom in South India that includes "forts, riverside features, royal and sacred complexes, temples, shrines, pillared halls, mandapas, memorial structures, water structures and others".

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampi

I'm not referring to my favorite childhood TV show about a crime-fighting rancher with a plane. While "Sky King" was a beloved icon for many in the 1950's, especially in the aviation community, that's not the King I'm talking about.

I'm talking about the Peregrine Falcon, the fastest animal on Earth. These incredible birds typically cruise at 25-34 mph, but when they execute their hunting dive, known as a "stoop," they can exceed 200 mph—even reaching speeds of 240 mph! To achieve this breathtaking velocity, they tuck their wings and streamline their bodies. They even have specialized cones in their nostrils to protect their lungs from the intense forces at such high speeds.

(Nikon Z8, Nikkor 600/6.3, 1/1000 @ f/8.0, ISO 720, edited to taste)

The history of Quaglietta begins when, to stop the Saracen incursions in the Sele Valley, it was decided to build 3 fortresses: Valva, Senerchia and Quaglietta, (which however at the time was called castrum Quallectae).

The first settlement was therefore a military fortress built on a rocky spur (284 m above sea level) to which a village was added over time.

The name has nothing to do with quails as many believe but with the ancient Latin name of the area or Acque electe which translates as pure water and refers to the richness and purity of the waters that flow in the area.

Although the town is closely linked to the municipalities of the Sele Valley belonging to the province of Salerno, it is part of the province of Avellino and is a fraction of the municipality of Calabritto.

The 1980 earthquake hit this town hard but it was renovated with great attention and today the ancient medieval village retains its ancient splendor and is a tourist attraction.

La storia di Quaglietta inizia quando per frenare le incursioni di saraceni nella Valle del Sele fu decisa la costruzione delle 3 fortezze: Valva, Senerchia e Quaglietta, (che però all'epoca si chiamava castrum Quallectae) .

------------------------------

Il primo insediamento fu quindi una fortezza militare costruita su uno sperone roccioso (284 m sul livello del mare) a cui nel tempo si aggiunse un borgo.

Il nome non ha nulla a che fare con le quaglie come in molti credono ma con l'antico nome latino della zona ovvero Acque electe la cui traduzione è acqua pura e fa riferimento alla ricchezza e purezza delle acque che sgorgano in zona.

Pur essendo il paese strettamente legato ai comuni della Valle del Sele appartenenti alla provincia di Salerno fa parte della provincia di Avellino ed è una frazione del comune di Calabritto.

Il terremoto del 1980 ha colpito duramente questo paese che però è stato ristrutturato con grande attenzione e oggi l'antico borgo medievale conserva l'antico splendore ed è una attrazione turistica.

Heather refers to a soft, muted color created by blending different colored fibers into one fabric yarn, giving it a mélange effect. It is one of the world’s most popular fabric types.

Tom Cosmos splendidly embraces this Heather fabric in this stunning two-piece Katja Top & Skirt outfit.

Within the Katja Fatpack, you will happily discover an array of 12 different colors to choose from for both the top and skirt – giving you the versatility of combining them together or treating them as separates.

Fits: Reborn, Reborn Juicy, Legacy, Maitreya, and Kupra mesh bodies.

Cosmos Apparel In-World Store Landmark:

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cosmic%20Valley/60/82/556

Sansia Old Street” generally refers to the southern section of Minquan St., and is about 200 meters long. The buildings have stood since the earliest period of the Republic of China. Various words on the building fronts represent surnames, names, and shop names, and their signage is very different to today’s. The buildings are equipped with magnificent verandahs, which are the most impressive parts of the buildings along this street. Their decorated archways are rich in culture and they play a valuable role in reminding people of the need to preserve historical relics. The outer walls of the buildings are　built with red brick, while the inner walls were made of clay. The outer parts of the buildings are decorated with a variety of patterns, and in particular the second-floor windowsills, making them all the more beautiful. There are many with traditional Chinese patterns, animal motifs, and even foreign patterns. Opposite Minquan St. is a smaller wall, known for its unique styling, featuring solid, hollow, and framed styles of decoration.

Referring to the “throughline” that makes it all make sense. Oegstgeest, The Netherlands

Often referred to as a 'gold badge' official's hat.

Often referred to as one of the most tranquil places in New York City, High Rock Park is noted for its quiet ponds and deep woods. High Rock Park is one of nine parks in Staten Island’s 2,500 acre Greenbelt and has been recognized as a Natural Environmental Education Landmark.

High Rock Park contains five ponds and various wetlands, including Stump Pond, Hourglass Pond, Walker Pond and Loosestrife Swamp.

Referring to this daughter, Helios said,

“Again I make day balanced equally with dark on my homeward course when I bring in the leafshaking course of the autumn Season Phthinoporon, and drive with lesser light to the lower turning-point in the leafshedding month.”

bit.ly/1Lehltg

Estany de les Obagues de Ratera - Lagunas Llosas

This is a long exposure shot (8 seconds) processed under the scene-referred paradigm with Darktable from RAW. It was taken with:

- Haida Neutral filter of 10 steps (3.0 ND)

- 'Gobe' CPL Polarizer Filter.

You can read additional technical information in my profile (about section).

Nycticorax is a genus of night herons. The name Nycticorax means "night raven" and derives from the Ancient Greek νύκτος, nuktos "night" and κοραξ, korax, "raven". It refers to the largely nocturnal feeding habits of this group of birds, and the croaking crow-like call of the best known species, the black-crowned night heron.

These are medium-sized herons which often are migratory in the colder parts of their ranges.

Adults are short-necked, relatively short-legged and stout herons; the two extant species both have a black crown and a whitish belly, while the wings, chest, neck and auriculars are grey or rufous depending on the species. Young birds are brown, flecked with white and grey, and are quite similar to each other in the extant species. At least some of the extinct Mascarenes taxa appear to have retained this juvenile plumage in adult birds.

Night herons nest in colonies on platforms of sticks in a group of trees, or on the ground in protected locations such as islands or reed beds. Three to eight eggs are laid.

They stand at the water's edge, and wait to ambush prey, mainly at night. They primarily eat small fish, crustaceans, frogs, aquatic insects, and small mammals. During the day they rest in trees or bushes.

East County overview from my rooftop.

Some Native American tribes referred to October’s Moon as the Full Hunter’s Moon, as it was the time to go hunting in preparation for winter.

Bushido refers to the attitudes, morals and behaviours of the samurai. Here is a list of the Bushido codes:

i. Rectitude or Justice

ii. Courage

iii. Benevolence or Mercy

iv. Politeness

v. Honesty and Sincerity

vi. Honor

vii. Loyalty

viii. Character and Self-Control

Posed portrait taken at the Sydney Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour.

July, 2022

Reconnaître un grimpereau des jardins ou des bois à sa morphologie

Il est possible également de distinguer un grimpereau en se référant à son plumage. Les deux espèces présentes des apparences différentes, qui peuvent toutefois se révéler plus trompeuses que prévu. Il se peut, en effet, que l’identification visuelle d’un seul critère soit suffisamment proche de l’autre espèce pour porter à confusion. Vous devrez alors être en mesure de retrouver au moins trois critères parmi les listes suivantes pour justifier votre observation.

Le bas-ventre est-il brun sale ? Il s’agit du grimpereau des jardins. Le bas-ventre est-il d’une nuance allant du blanc immaculé au léger brun ? C’est un grimpereau des bois – vous reconnaîtrez surtout son apparence bien propre.

Identifiez la barre alaire et les motifs. S’agit-il de gradins sombres, en escalier inégaux ? C’est un grimpereau des bois. Le grimpereau des jardins, lui, a un motif clair et régulier.

L’oiseau a-t-il un sourcil blanc marqué, qui tire vers la nuque ? C’est un critère qui identifie un grimpereau des bois.

Observez les pointes des rémiges. S’il y a de nettes tâches blanches, il s’agit d’un grimpereau des jardins. Autrement, les tâches confuses, sales, rappellent davantage un grimpereau des bois.

L’alula est-elle blanche ? Pensez grimpereau des jardins. Si elle est noire, ou seulement avec quelques traces de blanc, c’est un grimpereau des bois.

Enfin, c’est le bec qui pourra vous aider à finaliser votre observation. S’il est long, avec des griffes courtes, vous observez sûrement un grimpereau des jardins. L’autre espèce aura un bec court avec des griffes plus longues.

Être attentif à l’environnement de l’espèce : jardins ou bois ?

Il peut sembler évident, à la lecture des noms des deux espèces, de savoir comment les différencier. Bien sûr, c’est par l’environnement de l’oiseau que vous saurez, en premier lieu, s’il s’agit davantage d’un grimpereau des jardins ou des bois. Pour autant, ce n’est pas aussi évident que cela. Si les ornithologues ont mis du temps à distinguer deux espèces, c’est avant tout parce que des zones de sympatrie existent. Dans ces régions, les deux espèces se voient alors cohabiter. Cela ne se fait pas toujours dans la bonne entente : elles peuvent se montrer agressives l’une envers l’autre.

Toutefois, dans la majorité des cas, c’est bien le milieu qui vous permettra de distinguer un grimpereau des jardins à celui des bois. Dans le premier cas, il se trouvera généralement dans des boisements de petites tailles. Il apprécie les parcs, les vergers, les bosquets. Vous le trouverez facilement dans des lieux où les hommes vivent et sont en contact fréquent, étant de nature anthropophile. Il se trouvera plutôt dans les plaines et les vallées du territoire européen, ne grimpant pas au-delà des 1500 mètres d’altitude.

C’est tout le contraire du grimpereau des bois qui s’épanouira davantage dans les hauteurs. Il apprécie les environnements montagneux et, surtout, les forêts de conifères. Vous le trouverez sans doute dissimulé sur l’écorce d’épicéas, de mélèzes, de sapins ou encore de pins. Puisqu’il apprécie être seul, caché au possible, il se sent le plus à l’aise au sein de forêts denses. Des randonnées en montagne jusqu’à 2200 mètres, alpines par exemple, vous permettront sans doute de le croiser.

Le chant, meilleur moyen d’identifier un grimpereau

C’est, pour les véritables amateurs parmi vous, la méthode d’identification d’un grimpereau la plus efficace. Plusieurs autres facteurs permettent, en effet, de différencier un grimpereau des jardins d’un grimpereau des bois, mais le plus évident sera son chant. Surtout si vous êtes déjà sur le terrain, car il n’y aura alors qu’à tendre l’oreille pour distinguer l’un de l’autre. La diversité acoustique de la famille des Certhiidés, en effet, permet d’explorer largement votre potentiel en ornithologie acoustique.

Spoonbills are a genus, Platalea, of large, long-legged wading birds. The spoonbills have a global distribution, being found on every continent except Antarctica. The genus name Platalea derives from Latin and means broad, referring to the distinctive shape of the bill. Six species are recognised, which although usually placed in a single genus have sometimes been split into three genera. All spoonbills have large, flat, spatulate bills and feed by wading through shallow water, sweeping the partly opened bill from side to side. The moment any small aquatic creature touches the inside of the bill—an insect, crustacean, or tiny fish—it is snapped shut. Spoonbills generally prefer fresh water to salt but are found in both environments. They need to feed many hours each day. The spoonbills are most distinct from the ibises in the shape of their bill, which is long and flat and wider at the end. The nostrils are located near the base of the bill so that the bird can breathe while the bill is submerged in water. The eyes are positioned to provide spoonbills with binocular vision, although when foraging tactile senses are important too. Like the ibises the spoonbills have bare patches of skin around the bills and eyes. The six species of spoonbill are distributed over much of the world. 46166

The scientific name Chrysochus auratus means “made of gold” and refers to the fantastic metallic hues of blue, green, gold, and red on surface of the beetle. This beetle has no accepted common name, but it is often referred to as the dogbane beetle due to its habit of feeding almost exclusively on plants in the genus Apocynum, herbaceous plants we refer to as dogbane.

Dogbane grows along roadsides and trails near the forest edge. It is a perennial with clusters of small white flowers. If you damage a leaf or stem, it oozes a white sticky sap. There in full view of all you will find the dogbane leaf beetle. It is a wonder that an insect so conspicuous can survive in a world where birds, toads, and mice dine on insects with gusto.

There is a secret to the dogbane beetle. The dogbane plant, is full of highly poisonous compounds known as cardenolides. These compounds are toxic to a variety of animals, including humans. Cardenolides are also known as cardiac glycosides and they can have profound and lethal effects on the heart if ingested. It is likely that these compounds evolved to keep leaf-munching animals from eating dogbane. The Chrysochus has the ability to eat the leaves of dogbane unscathed. Instead it ingests cardiac glycosides, stores them in glands, and then secretes them when threatened by its own predators.

It is believed that these toxic compounds confer protection from hungry predators that would otherwise devour Chrysochus. The conspicuous color and tendency for the beetle to feed and rest in full sight of its enemies are probably the beetle's way of advertising its nasty chemical defense. (Bugoftheweek) : )

Nikon D7100

Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X AF Pro D Macro

100mm - f11.0 - 1/125 - ISO 100

The French phrase “lèche-vitrine” translates literally as “window-licking” and refers to window shopping. I love the expression, and attempt to engage in that activity as often as possible, no matter where I am!

Callistemon species have commonly been referred to as bottlebrushes because of their cylindrical, brush like flowers resembling a traditional bottle brush. They are mostly found in the more temperate regions of Australia, especially along the east coast and typically favour moist conditions so when planted in gardens thrive on regular watering. However, two species are found in Tasmania and several others in the south-west of Western Australia. At least some species are drought-resistant and some are used in ornamental landscaping elsewhere in the world.

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This is a long exposure shot (15 seconds) processed under the scene-referred paradigm with Darktable from RAW. It was taken with:

- Haida Neutral filter of 10 steps (3.0 ND)

- 'Gobe' CPL Polarizer Filter.

You can read additional technical information in my profile (about section).

Usually in The Netherlands our Bright Flower goes by the Latin name 'Primula'. Once in a while you'll hear it referred to as 'Sleutelbloem', Key Flower. That name comes from the way Primula veris (Cowslip) hangs in clusters much in the way of keys on a keyring. Primulas in 'the wild' are generally colored in various shades of yellow and white. But horticulturalists have had a hay day with Primula vulgaris in developing cultivars in many bright colours. So also these in the Hortus's garden shop. And, of course, they're grown for all seasons, early and late. On any glum day, a joy to see...

De Zalmhaven, also referred to as Zalmhaven Toren, is a project that includes a 215m residential tower in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Other parts of the project are two buildings of 70m each. The project was approved by the city in February 2010.

The 215m high residential tower houses 295 apartments and a parking garage. The tower and a second office building are designed by Dam & Partner architects, with Claus en Kaan Architecten designing a residential unit it is one of the tallest residential towers in Europe and the tallest building in the Netherlands.

In September 2016, the Rotterdam city council approved the plan. After fifteen years of preparation, construction started on 25 October 2018. With Zalmhaven I, the Zalmhaven has a height of 215 meters. The building itself is 203 m and the mast takes up the last 12 m.

On December 15, 2020, the construction of Zalmhaven II and III reached the highest point. Zalmhaven I reached its highest point in September 2021 and the entire project is completed in 2022.

De Zalmhaven contains 452 apartments and penthouses, 33 townhouses, a parking garage, offices, commercial spaces and a restaurant. The townhouses have a private roof terrace and the apartments and penthouses all have one or more outdoor spaces. The basement accommodates a five-story parking garage with 456 spaces. An inner garden will be realized in the lobby. A roof garden will be realised on the parking garage that is only accessible to the residents of De Zalmhaven. The apartments and penthouses in De Zalmhaven II and III have their own entrance at Gedempte Zalmhaven, but residents also use the facilities in De Zalmhaven I.

The Mass Rapid Transit, abbreviated and referred to in local parlance as the MRT, is a heavy rail rapid transit system that constitutes the bulk of the railway network in Singapore, spanning—with the exception of the forested core and the island's rural northwest—the length and width of the city-state's main island. The first section of the MRT opened on 7 November 1987, and the network has since grown rapidly in accordance with Singapore's aim of developing a comprehensive rail network as the backbone of the country's public transportation system, with an average daily ridership of 3.384 million in 2019, approximately 83% of the bus network's 4.099 million in the same period. The MRT is the oldest, busiest, and most comprehensive rapid transit system (both by length and number of stations) in Southeast Asia. The MRT is also unique in that the vast majority of underground stations in the network double as purpose-built Singapore Civil Defence Force bunkers and air raid shelters, being built with hardened boundary walls, reinforced concrete floor and roof slabs, and concrete or steel doors for the purpose of withstanding conventional aerial bomb and chemical attacks. The system has the added distinctions of having the longest fully automated and driverless network in the world, as well as some of the longest and deepest subway tunnel sections in the world. 31753

Stanford Memorial Church (also referred to informally as MemChu) is located on the Main Quad at the center of the Stanford University campus in Stanford, California, United States. It was built during the American Renaissance[2] by Jane Stanford as a memorial to her husband Leland. Designed by architect Charles A. Coolidge, a protégé of Henry Hobson Richardson, the church has been called "the University's architectural crown jewel".[3]

Designs for the church were submitted to Jane Stanford and the university trustees in 1898, and it was dedicated in 1903. The building is Romanesque in form and Byzantine in its details, inspired by churches in the region of Venice, especially, Ravenna. Its stained glass windows and extensive mosaics are based on religious paintings the Stanfords admired in Europe. The church has five pipe organs, which allow musicians to produce many styles of organ music. Stanford Memorial Church has withstood two major earthquakes, in 1906 and 1989, and was extensively renovated after each.

North façade of the Stanford Memorial Church from the Main Quad

The title refers to a dip in the dock or a dip in the water or both. It is funny that the dock only fell in right in the middle. It looks like a lot of the decking boards are missing. I think the entire dock would have to be repaired which is running about twenty thousand dollars right now. My guess is that this is a dangerous, deteriorated, decayed, defunct dock. I am sure I am missing some descriptive “D” words. Have at it please. The more the better.

RAW, Capture One post processed

www.esmadrid.com/informacion-turistica/edificio-capitol?u...

Edificio Capitol

Madrid's Gran Vía. The building, with fourteen floors, was designed by the architects Luis Martínez-Feduchi Ruiz and Vicente Eced and Eced and built between 1931 and 1933. It is art deco style, uses materials such as marble and granite and the decoration and furniture were provided by of the firm Rolaco-Mac.

But the highlight in its time were the technological advances that it incorporated, such as the use of concrete beams of Vierendel type, the use of fireproof fabrics or the cooling system, the first centralized one in Madrid and which occupied an entire plant, which allowed to receive several awards of architecture and design.

The original project housed 64 apartments, a hotel (the Capitol, now Vincci group), a cafeteria, a bar, a restaurant, a selz water factory and offices and party halls. In its lower floors it has three cinemas for almost 1,300 spectators, the Capitol cinemas. In 2007, directed by the architect Rafael de la Hoz, a total rehabilitation was completed that removed all the advertisements from its facade, retaining only that of Schweppes and a more modern one of the Vodafone mobile phone company on the roof.

In April 2018, it was declared a Property of Cultural Interest (BIC) by the Government of the Community of Madrid, both for its architectural style and for its iconic character on the Gran Vía.

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Conocido también como edificio Carrión, es uno de los edificios más conocidos de la Gran Vía madrileña. El edificio, de catorce plantas, fue proyectado por los arquitectos Luis Martínez-Feduchi Ruiz y Vicente Eced y Eced y construido entre 1931 y 1933. Es de estilo art déco, utiliza materiales como mármol y granito y la decoración y los muebles corrieron a cargo de la firma Rolaco-Mac.

Pero lo más destacado en su época fueron los adelantos tecnológicos que incorporaba, como el uso de vigas de hormigón tipo Vierendel, la utilización de telas ingnífugas o el sistema de refrigeración, el primero centralizado de Madrid y que ocupaba toda una planta, lo que le permitió recibir varios premios de arquitectura y diseño.

El proyecto original albergaba 64 apartamentos, un hotel (el Capitol, en la actualidad del grupo Vincci), una cafetería, un bar, un restaurante, una fábrica de agua de selz y oficinas y salas de fiesta. En sus plantas inferiores dispone de tres salas de cine para casi 1.300 espectadores, los cines Capitol. En 2007, dirigida por el arquitecto Rafael de la Hoz, se terminó una total rehabilitación que eliminó todos los anuncios publicitarios de su fachada, conservándose sólo el de Schweppes y uno más moderno de la compañía de telefonía móvil Vodafone en la azotea.

En abril de 2018 fue declarado Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) por el Gobierno de la Comunidad de Madrid, tanto por su estilo arquitectónico como por su carácter icónico en la Gran Vía.

This is a sego lily or a mariposa lily. "Sego" is a Shoshone word, meaning "edible bulb," referring to the root organ that the Native American tribe considered a delicacy. "Mariposa" is a Spanish word for "butterfly," referring to its most colorful pollinators. About 60 species of sego lilies are native to western North America -- This is Gunnison's sego lily, Calochortus gunnisoni, named after explorer Capt. John Williams Gunnison, who was also honored by the naming of the Gunnison River and Black Canyon of the Gunnison. It thrives from mesas at the lower edge of the ponderosa pine belt to high mountain meadows.

Photographed in Cement Creek, near Crested Butte, Colorado.

Besides the obvious, there are certain benefits to being what some of my former colleagues would refer to as "careful" with money. The more kindly former colleagues that is, I should add. Others wasted no time in coming up with rather more abusive terms for my steadfast refusal to throw away my hard earned on fast cars, champagne lunches and visits to Monte Carlo, but I would just smile and remind them that they'd still be working long after I'd retired. That tended to either stop them in their tracks with dumbstruck expressions, or had the opposite effect of exacerbating the tirade. Still, I'd just smile as I opened my home made cheese salad while whichever friend it was lavished another fiver on a disappointing looking sandwich and an overpriced coffee.

I often earned similar brickbats for refusing to join in the incessant charge along the highways and byways, driving at a benign pace rather than hammering along the outside lane at eighty-five miles an hour. I prefer to watch the fuel consumption reading rather than the speedometer you see. When I was younger, and very probably heading for a midlife crisis, I owned a white Vauxhall Astra GTE. It was very fast and it made me drive like a fool. It also used a lot of petrol. Now I have a modest Skoda that can get halfway across the country and back to Luton Airport without me having to refill the tank.

So there are aspects of Iceland that suit me, despite the fact that things are generally quite expensive in comparison to where I live. The jaw dropping landscape is something of course that very much ticks my boxes, but while many visitors seem to struggle with the fifty-five miles per hour speed limit, I don't. I simply pop the rental car into cruise control, set the speed and steer contentedly through the beauty around us - trying to concentrate on the road of course - the scenery can be distracting.

Other aspects of Iceland can be a trifle worrisome though. Last time we were here, we parked freely and quite legitimately on a patchy pull in, before walking the short distance to the triple waterfall of Kirkjufellsfoss. It was close to midnight under the twenty-four hour daylight glow, and only a small number of togs were around to compete for position with. On the other side of the pull in was another bit of scrubby ground beside the beach where we could also have parked for free. But three years on, things have changed. A brand new car park with number plate recognition cameras awaits the visitor, and swiftly relieves them of a thousand krona, regardless of how long they're planning to stay for. Needless to say, the waterfall was surrounded by a large number of visitors, many of them armed with tripods and cameras, all after that classic shot of Kirkjufell that looks so familiar. Admittedly there was still a pull in nearby, but there was also a sign that suggested our car might get towed away if we parked there, so we didn't stop for long.

But on the plus side, this aversion to parting with money for no good reason eventually added some unexpected shots to the catalogue, including my previous post, "Night Traffic." Our irritation at the prospect of coughing up the cash had taken us to a generous lay-by overlooking the sea. From there it was a leisurely fifteen minute amble along a footpath back towards the waterfall, and directly past the lake, where Kirkjufell gives away mirrorlike reflections on still days without charging a bean. And when the sky is doing interesting things at the end of a wet and grungy day, that seems like a reward worth grabbing with both hands.

We took a number of shots here, starting well before sunset and pushing on into the blue hour. I'd had a plan to revisit a patch of marshy ground I'd found the previous evening, but the presence of a growing number of togs along the bank of the lake appealed to my better nature as I wondered how easily they'd be able to clone me out of their sunsets. So here I stayed, enjoying the fact that I hadn't paid a thousand crowns for the privilege. It wasn't a bad spot from which to watch the day ebb away.