Urban Vegetation (or nature strikes back)
View allAll Photos Tagged vegetation
Few birds in Britain can match the visual appeal of the Kingfisher, yet it can be very hard to spot when perched in bankside vegetation.
Spent a couple days this last summer camping on Storm Mountain, Colorado and was able to enjoy this tremendous view. Being on a hillside without trees led to a generally windy time; luckily, however, the wind was at least cooperative on this day!
Actually not a jungle, but the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
A zoo on the Gold Coast. Queensland, Australia.
Tres tomas, una para la flor y dos para el fondo. / Three shots, one for the flower and two for the background.
Tour Kieswerk Thönse / 27.05.2018 / Niedersachsen / lower saxony
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Unterordnung Großlibellen (Anisoptera)
Überfamilie Libelluloidea
Familie Segellibellen (Libellulidae)
Unterfamilie: Sympetrinae
Gattung Crocothemis
Art Feuerlibelle
Wissenschaftlicher Name Crocothemis erythraea (Brullé, 1832)
Feuerlibelle
Die Feuerlibelle (Crocothemis erythraea) ist eine ursprünglich vor allem afrikanisch und mediterran verbreitete Libellenart aus der Familie der Segellibellen (Libellulidae), die zu den Großlibellen (Anisoptera) gehören. 2011 wurde sie in Deutschland zur Libelle des Jahres gekürt.
Merkmale
Die reifen Männchen der Feuerlibelle sind signalrot, wobei die Intensität der Rotfärbung offenbar mit der Umgebungstemperatur zusammenhängt. So wirken mitteleuropäische Tiere manchmal bräunlich-rot, anders als in den Mittelmeerländern. Die Weibchen sind ockerfarben bis hellbraun; sie weisen außerdem einen auffälligen hellen Dorsalstrich zwischen den Flügelansätzen auf. Feuerlibellen werden in der Regel zwischen 40 und 45 Millimetern lang. Sie erreichen Flügelspannweiten von 65 bis 70 Millimetern. Bei beiden Geschlechtern befindet sich auf der Basis der Hinterflügel ein deutlicher gelb-oranger Fleck, auf der Basis der Vorderflügel ein kleinerer. Das Pterostigma (Flügelmal) ist gelblich bis braun.
Man kann Feuerlibellen aufgrund der Färbung mit roten Heidelibellen-Arten (Sympetrum spp.) verwechseln, insbesondere mit der Blutroten Heidelibelle. Allerdings unterscheiden sie sich von diesen durch ihren flacheren Hinterleib und ihren relativ großen Körper. Außerdem sind bei den Männchen selbst die Beine rot. Die noch nicht ausgefärbten Imagines und die Weibchen sehen manchen Blaupfeil-Arten (Orthetrum spp.) ähnlich. Im Unterschied zu diesen weisen die Feuerlibellen-Weibchen aber einen ungefähr senkrecht abstehenden Legebohrer auf. Ebenso sieht auch der Gefleckte Sonnenzeiger (Trithemis kirbyi) der Feuerlibelle ähnlich, bei diesem sind allerdings auch die Flügeladern rot gefärbt.
Lebensweise:
Die Art lebt hauptsächlich an stehenden Gewässern, in denen auch die Larvenentwicklung stattfindet. In Mitteleuropa sind dies vor allem Stillgewässer mit einer üppigen Ausstattung an submerser Vegetation, wie z. B. Tausendblatt (Myriophyllum spp.), etwa Altwasser und Sandgrubenweiher. Im wärmeren Mittelmeerraum entwickeln sich die Larven jedoch in fast jedem Stillgewässer bis hin zu kurzlebigen Kleintümpeln.
Die Männchen sitzen gerne am Boden oder in der bodennahen Vegetation. Wie alle Libellen lebt auch diese Art räuberisch und jagt insbesondere kleine Insekten.
Die Paarung wird in wenigen Sekunden im Flug vollzogen. Die Weibchen tauchen die Eier gleich anschließend im Flug mit der Spitze des Hinterleibes ins Wasser, wobei die Eier gerne an flutenden Wasserpflanzen oder Algenwatten abgestreift werden. Dies geschieht oft fern vom Ufer. Die Männchen bewachen die Weibchen dabei nicht.
Verbreitung:
Feuerlibellen sind ursprünglich in den warmen Regionen Südeuropas, Afrikas und Vorderasiens verbreitet. In den 1990er-Jahren hat die Art sich auch nach Süddeutschland ausgebreitet, wo sie mittlerweile nicht selten ist. Die Feuerlibelle erweitert ihr Areal in Mitteleuropa derzeit kontinuierlich weiter und dürfte mittlerweile in fast ganz Deutschland zu finden sein. Die Flugzeit reicht hier von Ende Juni bis Mitte/Ende August, in Südeuropa bei mindestens zwei Generationen vom Mai bis in den Oktober hinein.
Die Feuerlibelle galt vor ihrer in jüngster Zeit zunehmenden Bodenständigkeit in Mitteleuropa als ausgesprochene Wanderlibelle, die in warmen Sommern zahlreich aus dem Mittelmeerraum nach Zentraleuropa einflog. Die Ausdehnung ihres Areals nach Norden wird mit dem Klimawandel in Verbindung gebracht.
Quelle:
Just a simple Snapograph taken at Dungeness Romney Marsh Kent UK of a discarded & dilapidated boat that is just one of the many things that are scattered about the beach that have just been left behind to rot. I've deliberately gone for a higher contrast gritty look for this snap to emphasize the rot & decay etc.
I'm also working on a personal project called Things Left Behind and this will be one of the shots included.
"THANK YOU KINDLY" to anyone who finds this shot good enough to put amongst their "FAVES".
"THANK YOU KINDLY" to anyone who finds this shot good enough to leave a "Comment", I'll do my very best to reply to you individually.
A Eurasian Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo, sis on a fallen, moss and lichen covered grey tree stump, red and green vegetation iin the background. Early morning light.
Piz Bernina and the Morteratsch Glacier (romansh: Vadret da Morteratsch). Switzerland. No. 8271a..
"The Morteratsch Glacier (romansh: Vadret da Morteratsch) is the largest glacier by area in the Bernina Range of the Bündner Alps in Switzerland.
It is, just after the Pasterze Glacier and Gepatschferner, the third largest and by volume (1.2 km3) the most massive glacier in the eastern alps. The Morteratsch Glacier is a typical valley glacier with a pronounced ice front. The accumulation zone lies between the peaks of Piz Morteratsch, Piz Bernina, Crast' Agüzza, Piz Argient, Piz Zupò and Bellavista. From Piz Argient to the ice front in the Val Morteratsch, its horizontal extent is about ~7 km (4.3 mi), with an altitude difference of up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft). Together with the Pers Glacier, originating at Piz Palü, which joins the Morteratsch just below the rock formation Isla Persa ("Lost Isle"), it covers an area of about 16 km2 (6.2 sq mi). The volume of the ice is estimated to be about 1.2 km3. The Morteratsch Glacier drains through Inn River and Danube into the Black Sea.
In spring, depending on the snow conditions, a 10-km-long ski-run accessible to skilled skiers is marked on the glacier. It leads from the Diavolezza aerial tramway terminus to the Morteratsch inn and has an altitude difference of 1,100 m (3,600 ft). The RhB Station Morteratsch used to be situated directly at the ice front of the glacier. The ice front has receded over 1,800 m (5,900 ft) in the meantime, and cannot be seen from the station today.
Yearly length change measurements have been recorded since 1878. For the period to 1998, the overall retreat was over 1.8 km (1.1 mi) with a mean annual retreat rate of approximately 17.2 m (56 ft) per year. This long-term average has markedly increased in recent years, receding 30 m (98 ft) per year from 1999–2005. Substantial retreat was ongoing through 2006 as well.[1]
During the time that measurements have been taken, the glacier has advanced a few meters in only four years. Since the large glaciers react slowly to short-term climate changes, these advances cannot be accounted for by increased precipitation in the accumulation zone. On the high moraines to the left and right of the ice front, which are still nearly free of overgrowth, the enormous quantities of ice which were still being pushed down here at the end of the "Little Ice Age" in the middle of the 19th century can be seen.
Der Morteratschgletscher (rätoromanisch Glatscher dal Morteratsch oder Vadret da Morteratsch) ist ein Alpen-Gletscher in der Berninagruppe im Kanton Graubünden in der Schweiz. Zusammen mit dem Persgletscher ist er mit einem Volumen von rund 1,2 Kubikkilometern der volumenstärkste Gletscher der Ostalpen. Seit Beginn der systematischen Beobachtungen im Jahr 1878 hat der Gletscher 2,2 Kilometer an Länge eingebüsst, er ist heute noch rund 6,4 Kilometer lang und damit der drittlängste Gletscher der Ostalpen, nach Pasterze und Gepatschferner in den österreichischen Alpen.
Die beim Gletscherrückgang im Gletschervorfeld hinterlassenen Spuren gelten als typisch für die Alpen. Ein Gletscherlehrpfad erklärt an 20 Stationen Glaziologie, Geomorphologie und Vegetation. Entlang dieses Wanderweges stehen darüber hinaus Schilder zur Dokumentation des Gletscherrückgangs. Im Frühjahr führt eine Skiroute von der Diavolezza über den Gletscher.
Le glacier Morteratsch (en romanche : Vadret da Morteratsch) est le plus grand glacier de la chaîne de la Bernina. Il se situe dans le canton des Grisons en haute-Engadine.
Il a une longueur maximale de 7 km avec un dénivelé de 2 000 m et se termine au plus haut sur le Punta Perrucchetti à 4 020 m. Il couvre avec le glacier Pers environ 16 km2.
Entre 1878 et 1998, le glacier a reculé de 1,8 km avec une moyenne annuelle d'environ 17,2 mètres. Le recul s'est accéléré ces dernières années avec une moyenne de 30 mètres par an de 1999-2005.
À la confluence avec le glacier Pers, le glacier Morteratsch se comporte comme un barrage naturel bloquant les eaux de ruissellement et à l'origine d'un petit lac."
This informations was found at Wikipédia.
Many thanks for the visits, faves and comments. Cheers
Buff-banded Rail
Scientific Name: Gallirallus philippensis
Description: The Buff-banded Rail is a medium-sized stout rail with short legs. It has a distinctive grey eyebrow and an orange-brown band on its streaked breast. The lores, cheek and hindneck are rich chestnut. The chin and throat are grey, the upperparts streaked brown and the underparts barred black and white. The eye is red. Young birds are much paler to white underneath, with indistinct bars and only a faint orange-brown tint on the breast. Downy chicks are fluffy black. This rail walks slowly, with tail raised and flicking constantly.
Similar species: The orange-brown breast band distinguishes the Buff-banded Rail from the similar but smaller Lewin's Rail,Dryolimnas pectoralis, which has a rich chestnut crown and nape and a proportionally longer pink bill.
Distribution: The Buff-banded Rail is widespread in mainland Australia, particularly along the eastern coast and islands, and on Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands. It is also found in south-east Asia, New Guinea and New Zealand.
Habitat: The Buff-banded Rail is seen singly or in pairs in dense reeds and vegetation bordering many types of wetlands or crops. It makes widespread use of artificial wetlands like sewage ponds and drainage channels.
Seasonal movements: The Buff-banded Rail is resident and possibly locally nomadic, though little is known of these movements.
Feeding: The Buff-banded Rail feeds on crustaceans, molluscs, insects, seeds, fruit, frogs, carrion and refuse. It mostly feeds early in the morning and the evening.
Breeding: Breeding is poorly known, but the Buff-breasted Rail nests in long grass, tussocks, rushes or crops. It makes an unlined cup-shaped nest of grasses or reeds. Both parents incubate and the young will leave the nest within 24 hours. Both parents remain with the young, which usually feed themselves, though the female may feed them as well. Two broods may be raised in some seasons.
Calls: Loud creaky squeak when breeding but usually silent.
Minimum Size: 28cm
Maximum Size: 33cm
Average size: 31cm
Average weight: 130g
Breeding season: September to February
Clutch Size: 5 to 8 eggs
Incubation: 19 days
Nestling Period: 1 days
(source: www.birdsinbackyards.net)
© Chris Burns 2023
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This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.
Smoke on the horizon is from back burning. A method to reduce the amount combustible vegetation on the ground. View of Dales Gorge, Karijini National Park. Its climate can best be described as tropical semi-desert. A highly variable, mainly summer rainfall of 250–350 mm, often associated with thunderstorms and cyclones, is accompanied by temperatures frequently topping 40 degrees Celsius. The ideal times to visit the park are late autumn, winter and early spring. Winter days are warm and clear, but nights are cold and sometimes frosty.
Massive mountains and escarpments rise out of the flat valleys. The high plateau is dissected by breathtaking gorges, and stony, tree-lined watercourses wind their way over the dusty plain. Erosion has slowly carved this landscape out of rocks that are over 2,500 million years old. (information from Explore Parks W.A)
The River Ure near Bishop Monkton in North Yorkshire
The vegetation is slowly closing this gap on the near bank for this shot
The River Ure in North Yorkshire, England is approximately 74 miles long from its source to the point where it changes name to the River Ouse. It is the principal river of Wensleydale, which is the only major Dales now named after a village rather than its river
A Redhead male is just about to dive, which is signalled by a subtle flattening of the head and a slight ‘jump’ up before it enters the water. This beautiful bird was feeding on submergent vegetation in the Bow River in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, which has open water even in the coldest weather. Another diving duck in the same genus, Ring-necked Duck (A. collaris), was also feeding in the same area; there are two males visible in this image, the one on the right is in the midst of a dive. Both these species are more-or-less regular through the winter in Carburn Park, though they are often farther from shore and not as close for observation and photography.
Palm-fringed Ao Suan Yai Beach has a typical landscape of tropical coastline. There are beach resort hotels but the beach front is not tightly built up like White Sand Beach in Koh Chang. This photo was taken in the middle of peak season, but the tourist density was as you see in the photo.
So far, tourism seemed to be in a good balance with the local community of Suan Yai.