Red backed Shrike - Lanius collurio

The red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae. The breeding range stretches from Western Europe east to central Russia but it only rarely occurs in the British Isles. It is migratory and winters in the western areas of tropical Africa.

Once a common migratory visitor to Great Britain, numbers declined sharply during the 20th century. The bird's last stronghold was in Breckland but by 1988 just a single pair remained, successfully raising young at Santon Downham. The following year for the first time no nests were recorded in the UK. But since then sporadic breeding has taken place, mostly in Scotland and Wales. In September 2010 the RSPB announced that a pair had raised chicks at a secret location on Dartmoor where the bird last bred in 1970. In 2011, two pairs nested in the same locality, fledging seven young. In 2012 there was another breeding attempt, this time unsuccessful, probably due to a prolonged spell of wet weather. In 2013 breeding was again confirmed in Devon, with two young fledged at a new site.

This return to south western England has been an unexpected development and has raised speculation that a warming climate could assist the bird in re-colonising some of its former haunts, if only in small numbers.

Population:

UK breeding:

1-3 pairs

UK passage:

250 birds

Red backed Shrike - Lanius collurio

The red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae. The breeding range stretches from Western Europe east to central Russia but it only rarely occurs in the British Isles. It is migratory and winters in the western areas of tropical Africa.

Once a common migratory visitor to Great Britain, numbers declined sharply during the 20th century. The bird's last stronghold was in Breckland but by 1988 just a single pair remained, successfully raising young at Santon Downham. The following year for the first time no nests were recorded in the UK. But since then sporadic breeding has taken place, mostly in Scotland and Wales. In September 2010 the RSPB announced that a pair had raised chicks at a secret location on Dartmoor where the bird last bred in 1970. In 2011, two pairs nested in the same locality, fledging seven young. In 2012 there was another breeding attempt, this time unsuccessful, probably due to a prolonged spell of wet weather. In 2013 breeding was again confirmed in Devon, with two young fledged at a new site.

This return to south western England has been an unexpected development and has raised speculation that a warming climate could assist the bird in re-colonising some of its former haunts, if only in small numbers.

Population:

UK breeding:

1-3 pairs

UK passage:

250 birds

Red backed Shrike - Lanius collurio

The red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae. The breeding range stretches from Western Europe east to central Russia but it only rarely occurs in the British Isles. It is migratory and winters in the western areas of tropical Africa.

Once a common migratory visitor to Great Britain, numbers declined sharply during the 20th century. The bird's last stronghold was in Breckland but by 1988 just a single pair remained, successfully raising young at Santon Downham. The following year for the first time no nests were recorded in the UK. But since then sporadic breeding has taken place, mostly in Scotland and Wales. In September 2010 the RSPB announced that a pair had raised chicks at a secret location on Dartmoor where the bird last bred in 1970. In 2011, two pairs nested in the same locality, fledging seven young. In 2012 there was another breeding attempt, this time unsuccessful, probably due to a prolonged spell of wet weather. In 2013 breeding was again confirmed in Devon, with two young fledged at a new site.

This return to south western England has been an unexpected development and has raised speculation that a warming climate could assist the bird in re-colonising some of its former haunts, if only in small numbers.

Population:

UK breeding:

1-3 pairs

UK passage:

250 birds

Red backed Shrike - Lanius collurio

The red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae. The breeding range stretches from Western Europe east to central Russia but it only rarely occurs in the British Isles. It is migratory and winters in the western areas of tropical Africa.

Once a common migratory visitor to Great Britain, numbers declined sharply during the 20th century. The bird's last stronghold was in Breckland but by 1988 just a single pair remained, successfully raising young at Santon Downham. The following year for the first time no nests were recorded in the UK. But since then sporadic breeding has taken place, mostly in Scotland and Wales. In September 2010 the RSPB announced that a pair had raised chicks at a secret location on Dartmoor where the bird last bred in 1970. In 2011, two pairs nested in the same locality, fledging seven young. In 2012 there was another breeding attempt, this time unsuccessful, probably due to a prolonged spell of wet weather. In 2013 breeding was again confirmed in Devon, with two young fledged at a new site.

This return to south western England has been an unexpected development and has raised speculation that a warming climate could assist the bird in re-colonising some of its former haunts, if only in small numbers.

Population:

UK breeding:

1-3 pairs

UK passage:

250 birds

Red backed Shrike - Lanius collurio

The red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae. The breeding range stretches from Western Europe east to central Russia but it only rarely occurs in the British Isles. It is migratory and winters in the western areas of tropical Africa.

Once a common migratory visitor to Great Britain, numbers declined sharply during the 20th century. The bird's last stronghold was in Breckland but by 1988 just a single pair remained, successfully raising young at Santon Downham. The following year for the first time no nests were recorded in the UK. But since then sporadic breeding has taken place, mostly in Scotland and Wales. In September 2010 the RSPB announced that a pair had raised chicks at a secret location on Dartmoor where the bird last bred in 1970. In 2011, two pairs nested in the same locality, fledging seven young. In 2012 there was another breeding attempt, this time unsuccessful, probably due to a prolonged spell of wet weather. In 2013 breeding was again confirmed in Devon, with two young fledged at a new site.

This return to south western England has been an unexpected development and has raised speculation that a warming climate could assist the bird in re-colonising some of its former haunts, if only in small numbers.

Population:

UK breeding:

1-3 pairs

UK passage:

250 birds

Red backed Shrike - Lanius collurio

The red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae. The breeding range stretches from Western Europe east to central Russia but it only rarely occurs in the British Isles. It is migratory and winters in the western areas of tropical Africa.

Once a common migratory visitor to Great Britain, numbers declined sharply during the 20th century. The bird's last stronghold was in Breckland but by 1988 just a single pair remained, successfully raising young at Santon Downham. The following year for the first time no nests were recorded in the UK. But since then sporadic breeding has taken place, mostly in Scotland and Wales. In September 2010 the RSPB announced that a pair had raised chicks at a secret location on Dartmoor where the bird last bred in 1970. In 2011, two pairs nested in the same locality, fledging seven young. In 2012 there was another breeding attempt, this time unsuccessful, probably due to a prolonged spell of wet weather. In 2013 breeding was again confirmed in Devon, with two young fledged at a new site.

This return to south western England has been an unexpected development and has raised speculation that a warming climate could assist the bird in re-colonising some of its former haunts, if only in small numbers.

Population:

UK breeding:

1-3 pairs

UK passage:

250 birds

Red backed Shrike - Lanius collurio

The red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae. The breeding range stretches from Western Europe east to central Russia but it only rarely occurs in the British Isles. It is migratory and winters in the western areas of tropical Africa.

Once a common migratory visitor to Great Britain, numbers declined sharply during the 20th century. The bird's last stronghold was in Breckland but by 1988 just a single pair remained, successfully raising young at Santon Downham. The following year for the first time no nests were recorded in the UK. But since then sporadic breeding has taken place, mostly in Scotland and Wales. In September 2010 the RSPB announced that a pair had raised chicks at a secret location on Dartmoor where the bird last bred in 1970. In 2011, two pairs nested in the same locality, fledging seven young. In 2012 there was another breeding attempt, this time unsuccessful, probably due to a prolonged spell of wet weather. In 2013 breeding was again confirmed in Devon, with two young fledged at a new site.

This return to south western England has been an unexpected development and has raised speculation that a warming climate could assist the bird in re-colonising some of its former haunts, if only in small numbers.

Population:

UK breeding:

1-3 pairs

UK passage:

250 birds

Red backed Shrike - Lanius collurio

The red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae. The breeding range stretches from Western Europe east to central Russia but it only rarely occurs in the British Isles. It is migratory and winters in the western areas of tropical Africa.

Once a common migratory visitor to Great Britain, numbers declined sharply during the 20th century. The bird's last stronghold was in Breckland but by 1988 just a single pair remained, successfully raising young at Santon Downham. The following year for the first time no nests were recorded in the UK. But since then sporadic breeding has taken place, mostly in Scotland and Wales. In September 2010 the RSPB announced that a pair had raised chicks at a secret location on Dartmoor where the bird last bred in 1970. In 2011, two pairs nested in the same locality, fledging seven young. In 2012 there was another breeding attempt, this time unsuccessful, probably due to a prolonged spell of wet weather. In 2013 breeding was again confirmed in Devon, with two young fledged at a new site.

This return to south western England has been an unexpected development and has raised speculation that a warming climate could assist the bird in re-colonising some of its former haunts, if only in small numbers.

Population:

UK breeding:

1-3 pairs

UK passage:

250 birds

Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a mushroom and psychoactive basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita.

This quintessential toadstool is a large white-gilled, white-spotted, usually red mushroom, and is one of the most recognisable and widely encountered in popular culture. Several subspecies with differing cap colour have been recognised, including the brown regalis (often considered a separate species), the yellow-orange flavivolvata, guessowii, formosa, and the pinkish persicina. Genetic studies published in 2006 and 2008 show several sharply delineated clades that may represent separate species.

Although classified as poisonous, reports of human deaths resulting from its ingestion are extremely rare. After parboiling—which weakens its toxicity and breaks down the mushroom's psychoactive substances—it is eaten in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. Amanita muscaria is noted for its hallucinogenic properties, with its main psychoactive constituent being the compound muscimol. The mushroom was used as an intoxicant and entheogen by the peoples of Siberia, and has a religious significance in these cultures. There has been much speculation on possible traditional use of this mushroom as an intoxicant in other places such as the Middle East, Eurasia, North America, and Scandinavia.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanita_muscaria

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All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, or edited without my written explicit permission.

Red backed Shrike - Lanius collurio

The red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae. The breeding range stretches from Western Europe east to central Russia but it only rarely occurs in the British Isles. It is migratory and winters in the western areas of tropical Africa.

Once a common migratory visitor to Great Britain, numbers declined sharply during the 20th century. The bird's last stronghold was in Breckland but by 1988 just a single pair remained, successfully raising young at Santon Downham. The following year for the first time no nests were recorded in the UK. But since then sporadic breeding has taken place, mostly in Scotland and Wales. In September 2010 the RSPB announced that a pair had raised chicks at a secret location on Dartmoor where the bird last bred in 1970. In 2011, two pairs nested in the same locality, fledging seven young. In 2012 there was another breeding attempt, this time unsuccessful, probably due to a prolonged spell of wet weather. In 2013 breeding was again confirmed in Devon, with two young fledged at a new site.

This return to south western England has been an unexpected development and has raised speculation that a warming climate could assist the bird in re-colonising some of its former haunts, if only in small numbers.

Population:

UK breeding:

1-3 pairs

UK passage:

250 birds

Red backed Shrike - Lanius collurio

Male - Sutton CF

The red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae. The breeding range stretches from Western Europe east to central Russia but it only rarely occurs in the British Isles. It is migratory and winters in the western areas of tropical Africa.

Once a common migratory visitor to Great Britain, numbers declined sharply during the 20th century. The bird's last stronghold was in Breckland but by 1988 just a single pair remained, successfully raising young at Santon Downham. The following year for the first time no nests were recorded in the UK. But since then sporadic breeding has taken place, mostly in Scotland and Wales. In September 2010 the RSPB announced that a pair had raised chicks at a secret location on Dartmoor where the bird last bred in 1970. In 2011, two pairs nested in the same locality, fledging seven young. In 2012 there was another breeding attempt, this time unsuccessful, probably due to a prolonged spell of wet weather. In 2013 breeding was again confirmed in Devon, with two young fledged at a new site.

This return to south western England has been an unexpected development and has raised speculation that a warming climate could assist the bird in re-colonising some of its former haunts, if only in small numbers.

Population:

UK breeding:

1-3 pairs

UK passage:

250 birds

Red backed Shrike - Lanius collurio

Male - Sutton CF

The red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae. The breeding range stretches from Western Europe east to central Russia but it only rarely occurs in the British Isles. It is migratory and winters in the western areas of tropical Africa.

Once a common migratory visitor to Great Britain, numbers declined sharply during the 20th century. The bird's last stronghold was in Breckland but by 1988 just a single pair remained, successfully raising young at Santon Downham. The following year for the first time no nests were recorded in the UK. But since then sporadic breeding has taken place, mostly in Scotland and Wales. In September 2010 the RSPB announced that a pair had raised chicks at a secret location on Dartmoor where the bird last bred in 1970. In 2011, two pairs nested in the same locality, fledging seven young. In 2012 there was another breeding attempt, this time unsuccessful, probably due to a prolonged spell of wet weather. In 2013 breeding was again confirmed in Devon, with two young fledged at a new site.

This return to south western England has been an unexpected development and has raised speculation that a warming climate could assist the bird in re-colonising some of its former haunts, if only in small numbers.

Population:

UK breeding:

1-3 pairs

UK passage:

250 birds

Introduced from Eurasia this a bird of the high plains of western North America, I didn't know what it was when it showed up in my yard six years ago. Read about a few reports of these birds around the province when I realized what it was, speculation was they may have been raised from eggs as game birds and escaped. It's the national bird of both Pakistan and Iraq.

Braman Hill is a popular spot for scenic views of Northport Bay and Autumn color. At this time of year, there is a lot of speculation in my area about when the fall color will reach its peak. It was clear that the color was not at peak when a friend and I went up to Braman Hill a few days ago. However, since then, it has been windy and rainy. I am so grateful that we got to enjoy this view before the weather changed!

De vliegenzwam (Amanita muscaria)

Commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a mushroom and psychoactive basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita. Native throughout the temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, Amanita muscaria has been unintentionally introduced to many countries in the Southern Hemisphere, generally as a symbiont with pine and birch plantations, and is now a true cosmopolitan species. It associates with various deciduous and coniferous trees.

The quintessential toadstool, it is a large white-gilled, white-spotted, usually red mushroom, one of the most recognisable and widely encountered in popular culture. Several subspecies with differing cap colour have been recognised, including the brown regalis (often considered a separate species), the yellow-orange flavivolvata, guessowii, formosa, and the pinkish persicina. Genetic studies published in 2006 and 2008 show several sharply delineated clades that may represent separate species.

Although classified as poisonous, reports of human deaths resulting from its ingestion are extremely rare. After parboiling—which weakens its toxicity and breaks down the mushroom's psychoactive substances—it is eaten in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. Amanita muscaria is noted for its hallucinogenic properties, with its main psychoactive constituent being the compound muscimol. The mushroom was used as an intoxicant and entheogen by the peoples of Siberia, and has a religious significance in these cultures. There has been much speculation on possible traditional use of this mushroom as an intoxicant in other places such as the Middle East, Eurasia, North America, and Scandinavia.

Blick auf Struktur1

Calakmul (auch Kalakmul) war während der klassischen Periode eine mächtige Stadt der Maya. Zusammen mit El Mirador und Tikal ist Calakmul eine der größten jemals entdeckten Maya-Städte. Calakmul befindet sich rund 300 km südöstlich der Stadt Campeche (Mexiko) im gleichnamigen Bundesstaat.

Calakmul erstreckte sich auf einer Fläche von ca. 30 Quadratkilometern und besaß über 100 Kolossalbauten; es sind insgesamt mehr als 5000 Gebäude bekannt. Dominierend sind hier vor allem die sogenannten „Strukturen“ I und II. Letztere besitzt eine Höhe von ca. 45 Metern. Der Großteil von Calakmul ist jedoch bisher weder ausgegraben noch eingehender erforscht worden. Über die Einwohnerzahlen lassen sich nur Spekulationen anstellen. Für den Stadtkern etwa wird eine Bevölkerung von etwa 50.000 Menschen angenommen.

Calakmul (also Kalakmul) was a powerful Mayan city during the classical period. Along with El Mirador and Tikal, Calakmul is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered. Calakmul is located around 300 km southeast of the city of Campeche (Mexico) in the state of the same name.

Calakmul spread over an area of approximately 30 square kilometers and had over 100 colossal buildings; a total of more than 5000 buildings are known. The so-called "structures" I and II dominate here. The latter has a height of approx. 45 meters. However, most of Calakmul has not been excavated or explored in depth. Only speculations can be made about the population. A population of around 50,000 people is assumed for the city center.

Calakmul (auch Kalakmul) war während der klassischen Periode eine mächtige Stadt der Maya. Zusammen mit El Mirador und Tikal ist Calakmul eine der größten jemals entdeckten Maya-Städte. Calakmul befindet sich rund 300 km südöstlich der Stadt Campeche (Mexiko) im gleichnamigen Bundesstaat.

Calakmul erstreckte sich auf einer Fläche von ca. 30 Quadratkilometern und besaß über 100 Kolossalbauten; es sind insgesamt mehr als 5000 Gebäude bekannt. Dominierend sind hier vor allem die sogenannten „Strukturen“ I und II. Letztere besitzt eine Höhe von ca. 45 Metern. Der Großteil von Calakmul ist jedoch bisher weder ausgegraben noch eingehender erforscht worden. Über die Einwohnerzahlen lassen sich nur Spekulationen anstellen. Für den Stadtkern etwa wird eine Bevölkerung von etwa 50.000 Menschen angenommen.

Calakmul (also Kalakmul) was a powerful Mayan city during the classical period. Along with El Mirador and Tikal, Calakmul is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered. Calakmul is located around 300 km southeast of the city of Campeche (Mexico) in the state of the same name.

Calakmul spread over an area of approximately 30 square kilometers and had over 100 colossal buildings; a total of more than 5000 buildings are known. The so-called "structures" I and II dominate here. The latter has a height of approx. 45 meters. However, most of Calakmul has not been excavated or explored in depth. Only speculations can be made about the population. A population of around 50,000 people is assumed for the city center.

....and regrets

youtu.be/oUFJJNQGwhk

It is not the earthquake to kill, are the houses.

Time of evaluations and regrets, now, as always after an earthquake.

In Italy we spend more on reconstruction rather than prevention, it is also true that it is difficult to prevent in what we have to oldest.

Curious and tragic is to observe that churches of 1200 have a wall fall only and the houses have crumbled entirely.

Restructuring in Italy today have very strict laws, but many modifications of the houses were in years past.

The houses of the old town centers, very large and sparsely populated, have been reduced, divided into smaller apartments, opening windows, doors, they certainly have weakened the supporting structure.

The god of money and speculation always commands, above everyone and everything.

"In Italy we build earthquake resistant only after a severe earthquake"

It is the case of Norcia, Umbria Italy after the earthquakes of 1979 and 1997 had reconstructed respecting the seismic provisions. Just 17 kilometers from the linear distance from the epicenter of the earthquake of August 24, no casualties.

Damage to churches and houses but no casualties.....

Calakmul (auch Kalakmul) war während der klassischen Periode eine mächtige Stadt der Maya. Zusammen mit El Mirador und Tikal ist Calakmul eine der größten jemals entdeckten Maya-Städte. Calakmul befindet sich rund 300 km südöstlich der Stadt Campeche (Mexiko) im gleichnamigen Bundesstaat.

Calakmul erstreckte sich auf einer Fläche von ca. 30 Quadratkilometern und besaß über 100 Kolossalbauten; es sind insgesamt mehr als 5000 Gebäude bekannt. Dominierend sind hier vor allem die sogenannten „Strukturen“ I und II. Letztere besitzt eine Höhe von ca. 45 Metern. Der Großteil von Calakmul ist jedoch bisher weder ausgegraben noch eingehender erforscht worden. Über die Einwohnerzahlen lassen sich nur Spekulationen anstellen. Für den Stadtkern etwa wird eine Bevölkerung von etwa 50.000 Menschen angenommen.

Calakmul (also Kalakmul) was a powerful Mayan city during the classical period. Along with El Mirador and Tikal, Calakmul is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered. Calakmul is located around 300 km southeast of the city of Campeche (Mexico) in the state of the same name.

Calakmul spread over an area of approximately 30 square kilometers and had over 100 colossal buildings; a total of more than 5000 buildings are known. The so-called "structures" I and II dominate here. The latter has a height of approx. 45 meters. However, most of Calakmul has not been excavated or explored in depth. Only speculations can be made about the population. A population of around 50,000 people is assumed for the city center.

Calakmul (auch Kalakmul) war während der klassischen Periode eine mächtige Stadt der Maya. Zusammen mit El Mirador und Tikal ist Calakmul eine der größten jemals entdeckten Maya-Städte. Calakmul befindet sich rund 300 km südöstlich der Stadt Campeche (Mexiko) im gleichnamigen Bundesstaat.

Calakmul erstreckte sich auf einer Fläche von ca. 30 Quadratkilometern und besaß über 100 Kolossalbauten; es sind insgesamt mehr als 5000 Gebäude bekannt. Dominierend sind hier vor allem die sogenannten „Strukturen“ I und II. Letztere besitzt eine Höhe von ca. 45 Metern. Der Großteil von Calakmul ist jedoch bisher weder ausgegraben noch eingehender erforscht worden. Über die Einwohnerzahlen lassen sich nur Spekulationen anstellen. Für den Stadtkern etwa wird eine Bevölkerung von etwa 50.000 Menschen angenommen.

Calakmul (also Kalakmul) was a powerful Mayan city during the classical period. Along with El Mirador and Tikal, Calakmul is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered. Calakmul is located around 300 km southeast of the city of Campeche (Mexico) in the state of the same name.

Calakmul spread over an area of approximately 30 square kilometers and had over 100 colossal buildings; a total of more than 5000 buildings are known. The so-called "structures" I and II dominate here. The latter has a height of approx. 45 meters. However, most of Calakmul has not been excavated or explored in depth. Only speculations can be made about the population. A population of around 50,000 people is assumed for the city center.

Calakmul (auch Kalakmul) war während der klassischen Periode eine mächtige Stadt der Maya. Zusammen mit El Mirador und Tikal ist Calakmul eine der größten jemals entdeckten Maya-Städte. Calakmul befindet sich rund 300 km südöstlich der Stadt Campeche (Mexiko) im gleichnamigen Bundesstaat.

Calakmul erstreckte sich auf einer Fläche von ca. 30 Quadratkilometern und besaß über 100 Kolossalbauten; es sind insgesamt mehr als 5000 Gebäude bekannt. Dominierend sind hier vor allem die sogenannten „Strukturen“ I und II. Letztere besitzt eine Höhe von ca. 45 Metern. Der Großteil von Calakmul ist jedoch bisher weder ausgegraben noch eingehender erforscht worden. Über die Einwohnerzahlen lassen sich nur Spekulationen anstellen. Für den Stadtkern etwa wird eine Bevölkerung von etwa 50.000 Menschen angenommen.

Calakmul (also Kalakmul) was a powerful Mayan city during the classical period. Along with El Mirador and Tikal, Calakmul is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered. Calakmul is located around 300 km southeast of the city of Campeche (Mexico) in the state of the same name.

Calakmul spread over an area of approximately 30 square kilometers and had over 100 colossal buildings; a total of more than 5000 buildings are known. The so-called "structures" I and II dominate here. The latter has a height of approx. 45 meters. However, most of Calakmul has not been excavated or explored in depth. Only speculations can be made about the population. A population of around 50,000 people is assumed for the city center.

Calakmul (auch Kalakmul) war während der klassischen Periode eine mächtige Stadt der Maya. Zusammen mit El Mirador und Tikal ist Calakmul eine der größten jemals entdeckten Maya-Städte. Calakmul befindet sich rund 300 km südöstlich der Stadt Campeche (Mexiko) im gleichnamigen Bundesstaat.

Calakmul erstreckte sich auf einer Fläche von ca. 30 Quadratkilometern und besaß über 100 Kolossalbauten; es sind insgesamt mehr als 5000 Gebäude bekannt. Dominierend sind hier vor allem die sogenannten „Strukturen“ I und II. Letztere besitzt eine Höhe von ca. 45 Metern. Der Großteil von Calakmul ist jedoch bisher weder ausgegraben noch eingehender erforscht worden. Über die Einwohnerzahlen lassen sich nur Spekulationen anstellen. Für den Stadtkern etwa wird eine Bevölkerung von etwa 50.000 Menschen angenommen.

Calakmul (also Kalakmul) was a powerful Mayan city during the classical period. Along with El Mirador and Tikal, Calakmul is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered. Calakmul is located around 300 km southeast of the city of Campeche (Mexico) in the state of the same name.

Calakmul spread over an area of approximately 30 square kilometers and had over 100 colossal buildings; a total of more than 5000 buildings are known. The so-called "structures" I and II dominate here. The latter has a height of approx. 45 meters. However, most of Calakmul has not been excavated or explored in depth. Only speculations can be made about the population. A population of around 50,000 people is assumed for the city center.

Red backed Shrike - Lanius collurio

Male - Sutton CF

The red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae. The breeding range stretches from Western Europe east to central Russia but it only rarely occurs in the British Isles. It is migratory and winters in the western areas of tropical Africa.

Once a common migratory visitor to Great Britain, numbers declined sharply during the 20th century. The bird's last stronghold was in Breckland but by 1988 just a single pair remained, successfully raising young at Santon Downham. The following year for the first time no nests were recorded in the UK. But since then sporadic breeding has taken place, mostly in Scotland and Wales. In September 2010 the RSPB announced that a pair had raised chicks at a secret location on Dartmoor where the bird last bred in 1970. In 2011, two pairs nested in the same locality, fledging seven young. In 2012 there was another breeding attempt, this time unsuccessful, probably due to a prolonged spell of wet weather. In 2013 breeding was again confirmed in Devon, with two young fledged at a new site.

This return to south western England has been an unexpected development and has raised speculation that a warming climate could assist the bird in re-colonising some of its former haunts, if only in small numbers.

Population:

UK breeding:

1-3 pairs

UK passage:

250 birds

Calakmul (auch Kalakmul) war während der klassischen Periode eine mächtige Stadt der Maya. Zusammen mit El Mirador und Tikal ist Calakmul eine der größten jemals entdeckten Maya-Städte. Calakmul befindet sich rund 300 km südöstlich der Stadt Campeche (Mexiko) im gleichnamigen Bundesstaat.

Calakmul erstreckte sich auf einer Fläche von ca. 30 Quadratkilometern und besaß über 100 Kolossalbauten; es sind insgesamt mehr als 5000 Gebäude bekannt. Dominierend sind hier vor allem die sogenannten „Strukturen“ I und II. Letztere besitzt eine Höhe von ca. 45 Metern. Der Großteil von Calakmul ist jedoch bisher weder ausgegraben noch eingehender erforscht worden. Über die Einwohnerzahlen lassen sich nur Spekulationen anstellen. Für den Stadtkern etwa wird eine Bevölkerung von etwa 50.000 Menschen angenommen.

Calakmul (also Kalakmul) was a powerful Mayan city during the classical period. Along with El Mirador and Tikal, Calakmul is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered. Calakmul is located around 300 km southeast of the city of Campeche (Mexico) in the state of the same name.

Calakmul spread over an area of approximately 30 square kilometers and had over 100 colossal buildings; a total of more than 5000 buildings are known. The so-called "structures" I and II dominate here. The latter has a height of approx. 45 meters. However, most of Calakmul has not been excavated or explored in depth. Only speculations can be made about the population. A population of around 50,000 people is assumed for the city center.

Coronavirus is an objective problem, but it can be defeated. We have to follow virtuous behavior and avoid acting in a subjective way. We must temporarily give up a life of society, but the stakes are high. Perhaps, the virus will serve, if ever, to rebuild a collective and supportive fabric that we are slowly losing. Let's team up, without speculation, without geographical or political borders. Unity will make strength!

Blick auf Struktur1

Calakmul (auch Kalakmul) war während der klassischen Periode eine mächtige Stadt der Maya. Zusammen mit El Mirador und Tikal ist Calakmul eine der größten jemals entdeckten Maya-Städte. Calakmul befindet sich rund 300 km südöstlich der Stadt Campeche (Mexiko) im gleichnamigen Bundesstaat.

Calakmul erstreckte sich auf einer Fläche von ca. 30 Quadratkilometern und besaß über 100 Kolossalbauten; es sind insgesamt mehr als 5000 Gebäude bekannt. Dominierend sind hier vor allem die sogenannten „Strukturen“ I und II. Letztere besitzt eine Höhe von ca. 45 Metern. Der Großteil von Calakmul ist jedoch bisher weder ausgegraben noch eingehender erforscht worden. Über die Einwohnerzahlen lassen sich nur Spekulationen anstellen. Für den Stadtkern etwa wird eine Bevölkerung von etwa 50.000 Menschen angenommen.

Calakmul (also Kalakmul) was a powerful Mayan city during the classical period. Along with El Mirador and Tikal, Calakmul is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered. Calakmul is located around 300 km southeast of the city of Campeche (Mexico) in the state of the same name.

Calakmul spread over an area of approximately 30 square kilometers and had over 100 colossal buildings; a total of more than 5000 buildings are known. The so-called "structures" I and II dominate here. The latter has a height of approx. 45 meters. However, most of Calakmul has not been excavated or explored in depth. Only speculations can be made about the population. A population of around 50,000 people is assumed for the city center.

Blick auf Struktur1

Calakmul (auch Kalakmul) war während der klassischen Periode eine mächtige Stadt der Maya. Zusammen mit El Mirador und Tikal ist Calakmul eine der größten jemals entdeckten Maya-Städte. Calakmul befindet sich rund 300 km südöstlich der Stadt Campeche (Mexiko) im gleichnamigen Bundesstaat.

Calakmul erstreckte sich auf einer Fläche von ca. 30 Quadratkilometern und besaß über 100 Kolossalbauten; es sind insgesamt mehr als 5000 Gebäude bekannt. Dominierend sind hier vor allem die sogenannten „Strukturen“ I und II. Letztere besitzt eine Höhe von ca. 45 Metern. Der Großteil von Calakmul ist jedoch bisher weder ausgegraben noch eingehender erforscht worden. Über die Einwohnerzahlen lassen sich nur Spekulationen anstellen. Für den Stadtkern etwa wird eine Bevölkerung von etwa 50.000 Menschen angenommen.

Calakmul (also Kalakmul) was a powerful Mayan city during the classical period. Along with El Mirador and Tikal, Calakmul is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered. Calakmul is located around 300 km southeast of the city of Campeche (Mexico) in the state of the same name.

Calakmul spread over an area of approximately 30 square kilometers and had over 100 colossal buildings; a total of more than 5000 buildings are known. The so-called "structures" I and II dominate here. The latter has a height of approx. 45 meters. However, most of Calakmul has not been excavated or explored in depth. Only speculations can be made about the population. A population of around 50,000 people is assumed for the city center.

The Racetrack Playa — a barren lakebed in Death Valley National Park — is home to one of the world’s natural wonders: “sailing stones” that mysteriously meander across the dried mud, leaving tracks in their wake. Since the 1940s, these rocks have fueled wonder and speculation because no one had seen them in action — until now.

Recently, a team of U.S. scientists recorded the first observation of these boulders in motion, using GPS monitors and time-lapse photography. By meticulously tracking weather data, scientists also explained how these rocks slog across the playa. What was one of the world’s natural wonders now appears to be the perfect combination of rain, wind, ice and sun.

After leaving Valley of Fire, Wayne and I headed to Death Valley for some night photography out on the Playa and when we arrived there it was 114 degrees. We still had a long 3 hr dirt road drive ahead of us and we also wanted to stop off at Ubehebe Crater for a couple of photos. Most of my time here was spent traveling to the Racetrack Playa so I didn't get any time to shoot photography during the day, but what a blast it was to shoot on a dry lake bed under the stars at night. We spent about an hour looking for the famous Sailing Stones when we came across a couple other photographers that were on their way out and pointed us in the right direction. I can't wait to get back here, preferably during sub triple digit temps. :)

Thanks for taking the time to take a look at my photos, and as always, your views, comments, faves, and support are greatly appreciated!! Have a great weekend!! :)

If you have any questions about this photo or about photography in general, I will do my best to help, just post a comment or send me a Flickr mail and I will respond as quickly as possible.

... Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill. Without books, the development of civilization would have been impossible. They are engines of change, windows on the world, and (as a poet has said) "lighthouses erected in the sea of time." They are companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of the mind. Books are humanity in print.

Barbara Tuchman, Papyrus to Paperbacks: The World That Books Made, Washington Post, December 30, 1979.

Gullfoss is a waterfall located in the canyon of the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland.

The Hvítá river flows southward, and about a kilometre above the falls it turns sharply to the right and flows down into a wide curved three-step "staircase" and then abruptly plunges in two stages into a crevice 32 metres deep. The crevice, about 20 metres wide and 2.5 kilometres in length, extends perpendicular to the flow of the river. The average amount of water running down the waterfall is 141 cubic metres per second in the summer and 80 cubic metres per second in the winter. The highest flood measured was 2,000 cubic metres per second.

During the first half of the 20th century and some years into the late 20th century, there was much speculation about using Gullfoss to generate electricity. During this period, the waterfall was rented indirectly by its owners, Tómas Tómasson and Halldór Halldórsson, to foreign investors. However, the investors' attempts were unsuccessful, partly due to lack of money. The waterfall was later sold to the state of Iceland, and is now protected.

Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the daughter of Tómas Tómasson, was determined to preserve the waterfall's condition and even threatened to throw herself down. Although it is widely believed, the very popular story that Sigríður saved the waterfall from exploitation is untrue. A stone memorial to Sigriður, located above the falls, depicts her profile.

Gullfoss is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland. Together with Þingvellir and the geysers of Haukadalur, Gullfoss forms part of the Golden Circle, a popular day excursion for tourists in Iceland.

Gullfoss appears on the cover of the album Porcupine by the British band Echo and the Bunnymen. Additionally, the falls are referenced in the novella The Odd Saga of the American and a Curious Icelandic Flock; during a dinner, Snorri expresses a preference for Gullfoss, while Dr. Gustafsson favors Glymur. Gullfoss features in the music video for the single "Heaven" by the band Live. Gullfoss appears briefly in a sub-plot of the TV series Vikings, and one character kills herself by diving into it. The waterfall appears near the beginning of “The Bible: In the Beginning…”.

In the third season of the animated TV series, Avatar: The Last Airbender, in the episode “Sokka’s Master”, the character Sokka learns to sword fight by the Fire Nation swordsmaster, Piandao. In one scene of the episode, Piandao takes Sokka to a waterfall which was based on Gullfoss Waterfall.

Calakmul (auch Kalakmul) war während der klassischen Periode eine mächtige Stadt der Maya. Zusammen mit El Mirador und Tikal ist Calakmul eine der größten jemals entdeckten Maya-Städte. Calakmul befindet sich rund 300 km südöstlich der Stadt Campeche (Mexiko) im gleichnamigen Bundesstaat.

Calakmul erstreckte sich auf einer Fläche von ca. 30 Quadratkilometern und besaß über 100 Kolossalbauten; es sind insgesamt mehr als 5000 Gebäude bekannt. Dominierend sind hier vor allem die sogenannten „Strukturen“ I und II. Letztere besitzt eine Höhe von ca. 45 Metern. Der Großteil von Calakmul ist jedoch bisher weder ausgegraben noch eingehender erforscht worden. Über die Einwohnerzahlen lassen sich nur Spekulationen anstellen. Für den Stadtkern etwa wird eine Bevölkerung von etwa 50.000 Menschen angenommen.

Calakmul (also Kalakmul) was a powerful Mayan city during the classical period. Along with El Mirador and Tikal, Calakmul is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered. Calakmul is located around 300 km southeast of the city of Campeche (Mexico) in the state of the same name.

Calakmul spread over an area of approximately 30 square kilometers and had over 100 colossal buildings; a total of more than 5000 buildings are known. The so-called "structures" I and II dominate here. The latter has a height of approx. 45 meters. However, most of Calakmul has not been excavated or explored in depth. Only speculations can be made about the population. A population of around 50,000 people is assumed for the city center.

Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric (pronounced /ˈ or fly Amanita (pronounced , is a poisonous and psychoactive basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita. Native throughout the temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, Amanita muscaria has been unintentionally introduced to many countries in the Southern Hemisphere, generally as a symbiont with pine plantations, and is now a true cosmopolitan species. It associates with various deciduous and coniferous trees. The quintessential toadstool, it is a large white-gilled, white-spotted, usually deep red mushroom, one of the most recognizable and widely encountered in popular culture. Several subspecies, with differing cap colour have been recognised to date, including the brown regalis (considered a separate species), the yellow-orange flavivolata, guessowii, and formosa, and the pinkish persicina. Genetic studies published in 2006 and 2008 show several sharply delineated clades which may represent separate species.

Although generally considered poisonous, deaths are extremely rare, and it has been consumed as a food in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America after parboiling in water. Amanita muscaria is now primarily famed for its hallucinogenic properties, with its main psychoactive constituent being the compound muscimol. It was used as an intoxicant and entheogen by the peoples of Siberia and has a religious significance in these cultures. There has been much speculation on traditional use of this mushroom as an intoxicant in places other than Siberia; however, such traditions are far less well-documented.

Calakmul (auch Kalakmul) war während der klassischen Periode eine mächtige Stadt der Maya. Zusammen mit El Mirador und Tikal ist Calakmul eine der größten jemals entdeckten Maya-Städte. Calakmul befindet sich rund 300 km südöstlich der Stadt Campeche (Mexiko) im gleichnamigen Bundesstaat.

Calakmul erstreckte sich auf einer Fläche von ca. 30 Quadratkilometern und besaß über 100 Kolossalbauten; es sind insgesamt mehr als 5000 Gebäude bekannt. Dominierend sind hier vor allem die sogenannten „Strukturen“ I und II. Letztere besitzt eine Höhe von ca. 45 Metern. Der Großteil von Calakmul ist jedoch bisher weder ausgegraben noch eingehender erforscht worden. Über die Einwohnerzahlen lassen sich nur Spekulationen anstellen. Für den Stadtkern etwa wird eine Bevölkerung von etwa 50.000 Menschen angenommen.

Calakmul (also Kalakmul) was a powerful Mayan city during the classical period. Along with El Mirador and Tikal, Calakmul is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered. Calakmul is located around 300 km southeast of the city of Campeche (Mexico) in the state of the same name.

Calakmul spread over an area of approximately 30 square kilometers and had over 100 colossal buildings; a total of more than 5000 buildings are known. The so-called "structures" I and II dominate here. The latter has a height of approx. 45 meters. However, most of Calakmul has not been excavated or explored in depth. Only speculations can be made about the population. A population of around 50,000 people is assumed for the city center.

speculation building

Calakmul (auch Kalakmul) war während der klassischen Periode eine mächtige Stadt der Maya. Zusammen mit El Mirador und Tikal ist Calakmul eine der größten jemals entdeckten Maya-Städte. Calakmul befindet sich rund 300 km südöstlich der Stadt Campeche (Mexiko) im gleichnamigen Bundesstaat.

Calakmul erstreckte sich auf einer Fläche von ca. 30 Quadratkilometern und besaß über 100 Kolossalbauten; es sind insgesamt mehr als 5000 Gebäude bekannt. Dominierend sind hier vor allem die sogenannten „Strukturen“ I und II. Letztere besitzt eine Höhe von ca. 45 Metern. Der Großteil von Calakmul ist jedoch bisher weder ausgegraben noch eingehender erforscht worden. Über die Einwohnerzahlen lassen sich nur Spekulationen anstellen. Für den Stadtkern etwa wird eine Bevölkerung von etwa 50.000 Menschen angenommen.

Calakmul (also Kalakmul) was a powerful Mayan city during the classical period. Along with El Mirador and Tikal, Calakmul is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered. Calakmul is located around 300 km southeast of the city of Campeche (Mexico) in the state of the same name.

Calakmul spread over an area of approximately 30 square kilometers and had over 100 colossal buildings; a total of more than 5000 buildings are known. The so-called "structures" I and II dominate here. The latter has a height of approx. 45 meters. However, most of Calakmul has not been excavated or explored in depth. Only speculations can be made about the population. A population of around 50,000 people is assumed for the city center.

Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric (pronounced /ˈ or fly Amanita (pronounced , is a poisonous and psychoactive basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita. Native throughout the temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, Amanita muscaria has been unintentionally introduced to many countries in the Southern Hemisphere, generally as a symbiont with pine plantations, and is now a true cosmopolitan species. It associates with various deciduous and coniferous trees. The quintessential toadstool, it is a large white-gilled, white-spotted, usually deep red mushroom, one of the most recognizable and widely encountered in popular culture. Several subspecies, with differing cap colour have been recognised to date, including the brown regalis (considered a separate species), the yellow-orange flavivolata, guessowii, and formosa, and the pinkish persicina. Genetic studies published in 2006 and 2008 show several sharply delineated clades which may represent separate species.

Although generally considered poisonous, deaths are extremely rare, and it has been consumed as a food in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America after parboiling in water. Amanita muscaria is now primarily famed for its hallucinogenic properties, with its main psychoactive constituent being the compound muscimol. It was used as an intoxicant and entheogen by the peoples of Siberia and has a religious significance in these cultures. There has been much speculation on traditional use of this mushroom as an intoxicant in places other than Siberia; however, such traditions are far less well-documented.

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ᴀ ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀꜱ ꜰᴀʟʟᴇɴ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴛᴏᴡɴ

ɪ'ʟʟ ʀᴇꜱᴛ ᴏɴ ɴᴇᴛꜱ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ʙʏ ꜱᴘɪᴅᴇʀꜱ

ꜰᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴅʀᴜɢ ᴅᴏꜱᴇᴅ ꜰʟɪᴇꜱ

ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴘɪᴅᴇʀ ꜱɪɴɢꜱ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ

ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴘɪᴅᴇʀ ꜱɪɴɢꜱ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ

Song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=slph7poEkpA&list=PLifTJN9-SVY...

CREDITS:

ᴇʏᴇᴘᴀᴛᴄʜ: ᴇʀꜱᴄʜ - ɢʜᴏᴏʀʏ ᴇʏᴇᴘᴀᴛᴄʜ -ꜰᴀᴛᴘᴀᴄᴋ-

ᴇʏᴇʟɪɴᴇʀ/ʟɪᴘꜱᴛɪᴄᴋ: .{ᴘꜱʏᴄʜᴏ:ʙʏᴛꜱ}. ɪxᴄʜᴇʟ & ᴅʀᴜꜱɪʟʟᴀ

ᴇᴀʀʀɪɴɢꜱ: ᴡɪᴄᴄᴀ'ꜱ ᴏʀɪɢɪɴᴀʟꜱ - ᴘᴀɴᴅᴏʀᴀ ꜱᴇᴛ

ᴅʀᴇꜱꜱ: /ᴄᴜʀᴇᴍᴏʀᴇ/ ɪɴɴɪꜱᴛʀᴀᴅ ɢᴏᴡɴ / ʟᴇɢᴀᴄʏ /

Just returned from a visit to the Maasai Mara where I had the privilege to photograph Tira the rare spotted Zebra foal.He was named Tira after the guide who originally found him( Anthony Tira). This is a very rare occurrence and is the first recorded in the Mara.As I left there are reports that Tira has gone missing with speculation around the manner of his disappearance.

Calakmul (auch Kalakmul) war während der klassischen Periode eine mächtige Stadt der Maya. Zusammen mit El Mirador und Tikal ist Calakmul eine der größten jemals entdeckten Maya-Städte. Calakmul befindet sich rund 300 km südöstlich der Stadt Campeche (Mexiko) im gleichnamigen Bundesstaat.

Calakmul erstreckte sich auf einer Fläche von ca. 30 Quadratkilometern und besaß über 100 Kolossalbauten; es sind insgesamt mehr als 5000 Gebäude bekannt. Dominierend sind hier vor allem die sogenannten „Strukturen“ I und II. Letztere besitzt eine Höhe von ca. 45 Metern. Der Großteil von Calakmul ist jedoch bisher weder ausgegraben noch eingehender erforscht worden. Über die Einwohnerzahlen lassen sich nur Spekulationen anstellen. Für den Stadtkern etwa wird eine Bevölkerung von etwa 50.000 Menschen angenommen.

Calakmul (also Kalakmul) was a powerful Mayan city during the classical period. Along with El Mirador and Tikal, Calakmul is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered. Calakmul is located around 300 km southeast of the city of Campeche (Mexico) in the state of the same name.

Calakmul spread over an area of approximately 30 square kilometers and had over 100 colossal buildings; a total of more than 5000 buildings are known. The so-called "structures" I and II dominate here. The latter has a height of approx. 45 meters. However, most of Calakmul has not been excavated or explored in depth. Only speculations can be made about the population. A population of around 50,000 people is assumed for the city center.

The Hvítá river flows southward, and about a kilometre above the falls it turns sharply to the right and flows down into a wide curved three-step "staircase" and then abruptly plunges in two stages (11 metres or 36 feet, and 21 metres or 69 feet) into a crevice 32 metres (105 ft) deep. The crevice, about 20 metres (66 ft) wide and 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) in length, extends perpendicular to the flow of the river. The average amount of water running down the waterfall is 141 cubic metres (5,000 cu ft) per second in the summer and 80 cubic metres (2,800 cu ft) per second in the winter. The highest flood measured was 2,000 cubic metres (71,000 cu ft) per second.

During the first half of the 20th century and some years into the late 20th century, there was much speculation about using Gullfoss to generate electricity. During this period, the waterfall was rented indirectly by its owners, Tómas Tómasson and Halldór Halldórsson, to foreign investors. However, the investors' attempts were unsuccessful, partly due to lack of money. The waterfall was later sold to the state of Iceland, and is now protected.

Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the daughter of Tómas Tómasson, was determined to preserve the waterfall's condition and even threatened to throw herself down. Although it is widely believed, the very popular story that Sigríður saved the waterfall from exploitation is untrue.[citation needed] A stone memorial to Sigriður, located above the falls, depicts her profile.

Gullfoss is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland. Together with Þingvellir and the geysers of Haukadalur, Gullfoss forms part of the Golden Circle, a popular day excursion for tourists in Iceland. wikipedia

Restenneth Priory was a monastic house of Augustinian canons founded by Jedburgh Abbey, with the patronage of King Malcolm IV of Scotland, in 1153. Although there is little literary evidence, archaeological evidence strongly indicates that there was a monastery at Restenneth from very early times. There is also speculation that Restenneth may even have been the Pictish church dedicated to St Peter (mentioned in Bede) built in 710 for Nechtán mac Der Ilei, King of the Picts.

Augustinian Restenneth was always a small priory and very dependent on its mother-house at Jedburgh. In 1501 there were only two canons and an annual income of £120 (compare Arbroath Abbey, which had £10,924 in 1561). There was an attempt to incorporate it into the Royal Chapel in this year, but this failed to occur, and King James IV of Scotland suggested its incorporation into the archbishopric of St Andrews. This too evidently did not occur, as priors continue to be on record. The priory was, however, turned into a secular lordship for Thomas Erskine, Viscount Fentoun, in 1606. Among the owners of Restenneth following the Reformation was George Dempster of Dunnichen (1732-1818), who chose part of the choir as a burial site for his family.

The site was excavated in 1883 by William Galloway and Dr John Stuart.

All except the tower is now in ruins, which are a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

For the tourist, Restenneth Priory is just outside the medium-sized town of Forfar. It shares an access road with the Angus Archives. There is a short path from the closest parking area to the priory. While at the priory, the town and the roads nearby are not visible, so the fields and the medieval (or maybe earlier) architecture are the only things to be seen.

It was about 10pm on the top of Mount Cook and we had all retreated to the hut for some wine and cards after a successful evening of shooting, when I decided to leave my camera sitting on the mountain for some star trails (yet to come).

An hour or so had passed and with the temp still dropping I thought I should carefully venture back out onto the mountain to check the progress of my shots.

I arrived at my camera under torchlight and having not looked to the sky, I started to check through my collection of photos when I noticed a strange pink glow appearing on some of the images.

This was my first time using Nikons new D810 for a star trail and my immediate speculation was that the cold was causing some type of sensor burn. It was then that I noticed the red tinge I was seeing was NOT only in my image but also in the sky in front of me. This was the Aurora Australis!!!

..and as quickly as that the dim red glow disappeared.

Photographing an Aurora has for many years been at the very top of my list and only a few days earlier Rob had been educating me on the recent global geomagnetic storm (Kp) index measurements over the Southern Alps so I knew a possibility existed but hadn’t given it much more consideration.

I returned to the hut and told the guys about my discovery and hoped that my camera (which was shooting outside) would catch a re-appearance of these famous southern lights.

This is potentially one of my proudest shots, not only because it worked but because I had been blessed with the privilege of experiencing one of the worlds most breathtaking natural wonders in one of the most scenic of locations.

View large and, as always, thanks for looking!

News Flash! I have finally got my act together and created my own facebook page. If you like what you see here jump over to my page and lets connect: www.facebook.com/jaydaleyphotography

Calakmul (auch Kalakmul) war während der klassischen Periode eine mächtige Stadt der Maya. Zusammen mit El Mirador und Tikal ist Calakmul eine der größten jemals entdeckten Maya-Städte. Calakmul befindet sich rund 300 km südöstlich der Stadt Campeche (Mexiko) im gleichnamigen Bundesstaat.

Calakmul erstreckte sich auf einer Fläche von ca. 30 Quadratkilometern und besaß über 100 Kolossalbauten; es sind insgesamt mehr als 5000 Gebäude bekannt. Dominierend sind hier vor allem die sogenannten „Strukturen“ I und II. Letztere besitzt eine Höhe von ca. 45 Metern. Der Großteil von Calakmul ist jedoch bisher weder ausgegraben noch eingehender erforscht worden. Über die Einwohnerzahlen lassen sich nur Spekulationen anstellen. Für den Stadtkern etwa wird eine Bevölkerung von etwa 50.000 Menschen angenommen.

Calakmul (also Kalakmul) was a powerful Mayan city during the classical period. Along with El Mirador and Tikal, Calakmul is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered. Calakmul is located around 300 km southeast of the city of Campeche (Mexico) in the state of the same name.

Calakmul spread over an area of approximately 30 square kilometers and had over 100 colossal buildings; a total of more than 5000 buildings are known. The so-called "structures" I and II dominate here. The latter has a height of approx. 45 meters. However, most of Calakmul has not been excavated or explored in depth. Only speculations can be made about the population. A population of around 50,000 people is assumed for the city center.

I had headed to the Glenmore Reservoir today on speculation, hoping to see interesting waterfowl, but didn't expect this amazing flyby...

The name Ana Kai Tangata has led to various speculations due to the different translations. On one hand, Ana, means “cave”; Tangata, means “man”; and Kai, means “to eat” in modern Rapa Nui. For which, the cave is referred to as “the cave of the cannibals” or of the “man-eaters”. However, there is no archaeological proof or any oral traditions that confirm that the Rapa Nui practiced cannibalism.

Calakmul (auch Kalakmul) war während der klassischen Periode eine mächtige Stadt der Maya. Zusammen mit El Mirador und Tikal ist Calakmul eine der größten jemals entdeckten Maya-Städte. Calakmul befindet sich rund 300 km südöstlich der Stadt Campeche (Mexiko) im gleichnamigen Bundesstaat.

Calakmul erstreckte sich auf einer Fläche von ca. 30 Quadratkilometern und besaß über 100 Kolossalbauten; es sind insgesamt mehr als 5000 Gebäude bekannt. Dominierend sind hier vor allem die sogenannten „Strukturen“ I und II. Letztere besitzt eine Höhe von ca. 45 Metern. Der Großteil von Calakmul ist jedoch bisher weder ausgegraben noch eingehender erforscht worden. Über die Einwohnerzahlen lassen sich nur Spekulationen anstellen. Für den Stadtkern etwa wird eine Bevölkerung von etwa 50.000 Menschen angenommen.

Calakmul (also Kalakmul) was a powerful Mayan city during the classical period. Along with El Mirador and Tikal, Calakmul is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered. Calakmul is located around 300 km southeast of the city of Campeche (Mexico) in the state of the same name.

Calakmul spread over an area of approximately 30 square kilometers and had over 100 colossal buildings; a total of more than 5000 buildings are known. The so-called "structures" I and II dominate here. The latter has a height of approx. 45 meters. However, most of Calakmul has not been excavated or explored in depth. Only speculations can be made about the population. A population of around 50,000 people is assumed for the city center.

Why do some of the ruby-throated hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) have orange or golden throats rather than the usual ruby red? This one currently feeding in McLean, Virginia appears to have gold and a tinge of orange. Studies and speculations on the internet indicate a number of possible contributing explanations related to genetics, lighting-iridescence-photography effects, feather wearing, molting, breeding, and/or bird age. The question is still under study.

Unfortunately I don't know the frog's ID. Fairly common throughout its large range, Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl inhabits the interior of humid lowland forest. There, they are the most common screech-owl, as Tropical Screech-Owl (Megascops choliba) favors edges and second growth. Strictly nocturnal, Tawny-bellied Screech-Owls generally stay in thick lower vegetation, making it often difficult to view. They occur in red, brown, and gray morphs. The red and brown morphs are distinctly dark overall, but all morphs share the distinguishing long ear-tufts, dark facial disk, and dark eyebrows. Compared to Tropical Screech-Owl, Tawny-bellied is darker overall, and the darker eyebrows are a good field mark. Their song is a long series of rapidly-delivered hoots on a steady pitch. The pace of the song is faster in northern Amazonia, leading to speculation that the Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl may include two distinct species, very similar in appearance but differing in vocalizations. From my files.

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A flower's appeal is in its contradictions - so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance, so small in size yet big in beauty, so short in life yet long on effect.

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"Ching Ling Foo was one of the early performers of the linking rings in the form known today. Speculation about the rings' origin has been traced to Turkey, Egypt and the Middle East and as far back as the 1st century."

Chinese linking rings - Popular Top 10%.