www.perufotoguia.com
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2nd Place , Beautiful Capture Group , Week 37 contest , Oct 2012
www.flickr.com/groups/beautifulcapture/discuss/7215763165...
It's just a normal pelican, nothing special, but I was so happy to finally be able to go to the zoo again.
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Es ist nur ein normaler Pelikan, nichts besonderes, aber ich war so glücklich, endlich wieder mal in den Zoo gehen zu können.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6-Y1WIkaYY
Song dedicated to my Love, Deril ♥
DP-Poses ~ Kiss Me, Hug Me @ POSEvent, open now : POSEvent
Flickr : POSEvent
Main Store : DP Poses
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I wanna fall asleep forever
I wanna learn to disappear
Can you take away the mess, that’s been building in my chest
Drowning out the song I used to hear
Love’s a violent word, don’t you forget it
I ain’t saying that you ever could
I’ve seen my seasons change
I was crying out your name
Remember when we used to feel so good
So don’t forget to love me in damnation
For the living I have earned on love gone wrong
And we’ll open up old wounds in celebration
If we don’t bleed, it don’t feel like a song
You got your honest intuition
You got your cigarette smoke
And I’m all your oldest fears, the black mark on last year
But I got the hope you let me hold
So let them judge and shove us under
And let them do the devil’s work
Let them calculate the crimes in all our broken rhymes
But let us find the heaven following the hurt
So don’t forget to love me in damnation
For the living I have earned on love gone wrong
And we’ll open up old wounds in celebration
If we don’t bleed, it don’t feel like a song
Rufus wainwright - Chelsea Hotel
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9JpY2quTPc
Truth's view here: www.flickr.com/photos/truthwizardly/33155208438
Was about to say few things about this pic and what it means, well, i m ot sure it would catch anybody's attention ;) but let s talk with pics: www.flickr.com/photos/eloracpaule/6187242185/in/dateposted/ and www.flickr.com/photos/eloracpaule/6040948920/in/dateposted/ , 2 of my faves of us ...
Avarosa Willow Skin for Kustom9 (december round)
Posed Poses I'm Dreaming of a Wine Christmas for Shop & Hop (december round)
Rezz Room Ferret Adult Animesh for Kustom9 (december round)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGrLb6W5YOM
“If you follow your dreams, it means you follow your heart. If you do follow your heart, I don’t think you can go wrong.” - Celine Dion
This picture and song are dedicated to a very special person in my life, whose life was forever changed at age three from cancer. Love you Jill. 💙
Photographed at Family Farm
My bicyclet is from NUTMEG : Cargobike.
Available at Epiphany.
Pose and wine glass is from ANA POSES : Bordeaux 1.
Available at Epiphany.
The old ladies dog in the charette is from REZZROOM : Poodle toy.
Available at Equal10.
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Eine Waldohreule (Asio otus) im Böhmerwald.
My "explored" album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/LzXVPNJ098
My Owl album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/c6H5w912H9
My 2019-2023 tours album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/SKf0o8040w
My bird album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/1240SmAXK4
My nature album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/27PwYUERX2
My Canon EOS R / R5 / R6 album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/bgkttsBw35
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Waldohreule (Asio otus) - (northern) long-eared owl
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldohreule
Die Waldohreule (Asio otus) ist eine Vogelart, die zu den Eigentlichen Eulen (Strigidae) gehört. Sie ist eine der häufigsten Eulen in Mitteleuropa.
Aussehen
Die Waldohreule hat mit einer Körperlänge von etwa 36 cm und einer Flügelspannweite von 95 cm etwa die Größe eines Waldkauzes. Sie ist jedoch wesentlich schlanker als der Waldkauz und mit einem Gewicht von 220 bis 280 Gramm (Männchen) bzw. 250 bis 370 Gramm (Weibchen) erheblich leichter. Auffallende, große Federohren kennzeichnen diese Art. Die Federohren haben keine Funktion im Zusammenhang mit der Hörleistung der Eule. Zur Verstärkung der Hörleistung dient vielmehr der bei der Waldohreule auffällige Gesichtsschleier. Die Iris der Waldohreule ist leuchtend orangegelb. Das Gesicht wird durch eine auffällig hervorstehende Stirnbefiederung geteilt. Die Flügel sind relativ schmal. Das Gefieder der Waldohreule ist auf hellbraunem bis ockergelbem Grund schwarzbraun gestrichelt und gefleckt. Die Hand- und Armschwingen sind deutlich dunkel quergebändert. Allgemein überwiegen bei den Weibchen dunkle, rostbraune Farbtöne. Die Männchen sind dagegen in ihrer Grundfärbung etwas heller. Die Färbung des Gefieders dient der Tarnung; ruhende Vögel im Geäst sind kaum zu entdecken. Die Augen werden durch ein oberes und ein unteres Augenlid sowie durch eine Nickhaut, die das Auge bedecken kann, geschützt.
(northern) Long-eared owl
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-eared_owl
The long-eared owl (Asio otus), also known as the northern long-eared owl, is a species of owl which breeds in Europe, Asia, and North America. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, family Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping of owls are the barn owls, family Tytonidae.
The scientific name is from Latin. The genus name Asio is a type of eared owl, and otus also refers to a small eared owl.
Description
The long-eared owl is a medium-sized owl, 31–40 cm (12–16 in) in length with an 86–100 cm (34–39 in) wingspan and a body mass of 178–435 g (6.3–15.3 oz).[3][4] It has erect blackish ear-tufts, which are positioned in the centre of the head. The ear-tufts are used to make the owl appear larger to other owls while perched. The female is larger in size and darker in colouration than the male. The long-eared owl's brownish feathers are vertically streaked. Tarsus and toes are entirely feathered. Eye disks are also characteristic in this species. However, the eye disks of A. otus are darker in colour or rusty-orange. This nocturnal species is perhaps most easily seen perched in a tree in its daytime roost, sometimes in small groups during the winter months. There are about six thousand long eared owls in the United States, and fifty thousand in the whole world.
I want to have another beautiful summer day
For see the green of nature
I want to live a hot summer night
For see the moon being born from a passion
I wish I could rule the time
Candy sky and summer
I wish I could rule the Earth
to make a big heart of her
Yes, it's love and compassion
Not war and loneliness
Yes, it's love and compassion
The world and all it's beauty
The wind blows, the storm comes
That will wash me from all evil
With the clouds you can not see
The blue sky that's above us
And the lights that will come to light us
I want to have another beautiful summer day
For see the green of nature
I want to live a hot summer night
For see the moon being born from a passion
(my own translation from Bruno Mad - Dia de Verão/Summer day)
*a coo-production and lessons between great friends:
- pose made by Sandi Benelli <333
- dog trainer & PS brush teacher - shakespeare (skinny) :)))) Maxie Daviau gave me a first lesson... <333
- i had sooo much fun... feel blessed for have so great friends!! and this is my first official exercise with PS brushes: www.brusheezy.com/
Visit this location at Crystal Garden Estates in Second Life
Frägsta Hälsingegård
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Pentax K-5
SMC PENTAX-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR
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© 2017 stefanorugolo | All rights reserved.
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Thank you for your visit, most appreciated!
Credits
Bloody outfit: Emily Dress by Wicca’s Originals:
Available @ Eclipse
Outfit comes with a Hud which comprises bloody and clean version
Mask: Phantom Mask (Hunt Prize) by Wicca’s Originals: Available @ Hallow Manor
Please Note:
Hood and Cape not included
Created for ~ Water Treatment! ~ The Award Tree ~
All images and textures used are my own exepct Hummingbird: PD.
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In the evening sun and after the rain: Großer Brachvogel (Numenius arquata) - (eurasion) curlew
My "explored" album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/LzXVPNJ098
My 2019-2023 tours album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/SKf0o8040w
My bird album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/1240SmAXK4
My nature album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/27PwYUERX2
My Canon EOS R / R5 / R6 album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/bgkttsBw35
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Großer Brachvogel (Numenius arquata) - (eurasion) curlew
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gro%C3%9Fer_Brachvogel
Der Große Brachvogel (Numenius arquata) ist eine Vogelart aus der Familie der Schnepfenvögel (Scolopacidae). Es werden zwei Unterarten unterschieden. Die Nominatform ist in Mitteleuropa ein zunehmend seltener Brut- und Sommervogel. Die Rote Liste der Brutvögel Deutschlands von 2015 führt die Art in der Kategorie 1 als vom Aussterben bedroht.[1] Er ist während der Zugzeiten ein regelmäßiger Durchzügler und Rastvogel, der gebietsweise auch überwintert.[2]
In Deutschland war der Große Brachvogel im Jahre 1982 Vogel des Jahres.
Beschreibung
Der Große Brachvogel ist etwa 50 bis 60 cm lang und wiegt zwischen 600 und 1000 Gramm. Die Flügelspannweite beträgt 80 bis 100 cm. Die Vögel sind die größten Watvögel, und sie sind in Europa die häufigsten Vertreter der Brachvögel. Charakteristisches Kennzeichen des Großen Brachvogels ist der lange und stark nach unten gekrümmte Schnabel. Das Weibchen ist etwas größer als das Männchen und hat einen deutlich stärker gebogenen und längeren Schnabel. Ansonsten sehen die Geschlechter gleich aus.
Große Brachvögel sind eher unscheinbar gefärbt. Der Kopf, der Hals, die Brust die Körperoberseite sind fahl beigebraun mit dunklen Streifen und Flecken. Die Wangen sind dunkel gestrichelt und kontrastieren dadurch mit dem hellen Kinn- und Kehlfleck. Die Brust ist etwas kräftiger gestreift und wird zum Bauch hin heller. Im Flug wird der weiße Bürzel sichtbar, der mit dem weißen Rücken einen weißen Keil bildet.
Eurasian curlew
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_curlew
The Eurasian curlew or common curlew (Numenius arquata) is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across temperate Europe and Asia. In Europe, this species is often referred to just as the "curlew", and in Scotland known as the "whaup" in Scots.
This is the largest wader in its range, at 50–60 cm (20–24 in) in length, with an 89–106 cm (35–42 in) wingspan and a body weight of 410–1,360 g (0.90–3.00 lb).[2] It is mainly greyish brown, with a white back, greyish-blue legs and a very long curved bill. Males and females look identical, but the bill is longest in the adult female. It is generally not possible to recognize the sex of a single Eurasian curlew, or even several ones, as there is much variation; telling male and female of a mated pair apart is usually possible however.
The familiar call is a loud curloo-oo.
The only similar species over most of the curlew's range is the whimbrel (N. phaeopus). The whimbrel is smaller and has a shorter bill with a kink rather than a smooth curve. Flying curlews may also resemble bar-tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica) in their winter plumages; however, the latter have a smaller body, a slightly upturned beak, and legs that do not reach far beyond their tail tips. The Eurasian curlew's feet are longer, forming a conspicuous "point".
The curlew exists as a migratory species over most of its range, wintering in Africa, southern Europe and south Asia. Occasionally a vagrant individual reaches places far from its normal range, such as Nova Scotia[3] and the Marianas.[4][5] It is present all year in the milder climates of Ireland and the United Kingdom and its adjacent European coasts.
Bien dissimulés dans nos affûts respectifs avec www.flickr.com/photos/143937078@N03/ , on attend tranquillement l'arrivée des petits passereaux et quelle surprise de voir débarquer ce joli gallinacé sortant de nulle part qui se gave royalement au sol des miettes tombées de la cantine .
Sa contenance est fière, sa démarche grave, son naturel hardi, courageux, son tempérament chaud, vigoureux. Son chant est l'horloge de la campagne, jour et nuit, sa voix tire du bas de la trachée-artère. La poule est sa femelle. Au milieu de son sérail, tantôt en amant doux, complaisant, attentif, il est aux petits soins : avertit les poules du danger, les appelle pour partager avec lui sa bonne fortune, pousse même la galanterie jusqu'à leur abandonner tout entière ; tantôt c'est un souverain jaloux qui ne souffre pas la présence d'un rival. Si l'on contrefait le chant du coq, il est inquiet, en alarmes, rassemble ses poules, veille sur elles avec assiduité. Le coq est un oiseau très lubrique et coche la poule en plein air et jusqu'à cinquante fois dans un jour.
image réalisée en milieu naturel et depuis la tente affût .
C GP 031222 IMG_8389 C_edited
www.patrimoine-lyon.org/lyon-est/lyon-6e/tete-d-or/parc_t...
Toutes mes photos et créations sont protégés par le droit d'auteur et tous droits réservés.
+ 41.000.000 affichages des albums, galeries et photos !
Merci pour vos visites, commentaires, récompenses, invitations et favoris.
All my photos and creations are protected by copyright and all rights reserved.
+ 41.000.000 views of albums, galleries and photos !
Thank you for your visits, comments, awards, invitations and favorites.
oil on canvas, 50x50 cm
www.instagram.com/p/DSayT7RjWbN/?img_index=1
La sede della preveggenza nell'arte astratta risiede nell'anima dell'artista, nel suo universo interiore di emozioni, intuizioni e spiritualità, da cui scaturisce la necessità di liberare una "verità più profonda" che va oltre la realtà visibile, usando forme e colori puri per comunicare concetti e stati d'animo, come sosteneva Kandinskij, pioniere di questa ricerca di una dimensione "interiore" dell'arte.
In sintesi, la preveggenza nell'arte astratta non è predizione del futuro, ma la capacità dell'artista di percepire e comunicare l'essenza nascosta delle cose, attingendo a un livello di conoscenza intuitivo e spirituale, rendendo l'opera un ponte tra il mondo interiore e la percezione dello spettatore.
MUJER CON FLOR POR YKAY LEDEZMA - publication: youtu.be/Fo81laDkZRo Musica: Ykay Ledezma; Arte: Alice Alicja Cieliczka; Poesia: Ludovico Silva
..'cus it's a witching hour.
Fever Ray - Keep The Streets Empty For Me
‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧
✎ Featuring: Cosmopolitan Event (Until June 25th)
✎ Credits:
» Streetside Building Set - by Killer's at Cosmopolitan Event
» Beyonce HD Crystals Eyeshadow - by Poema at Cosmopolitan Event
» Sexy Mami Lipstick (The Pink Palette) - by Poema at Cosmopolitan Event
» Anna Set (top) - by FashionNatic at Cosmopolitan Event
» Shaman Pipe - by Bad Ideas at Cosmopolitan Event
» Karina Bracelet - by EarthStones at Cosmopolitan Event
✎ Others:
» L19 - by barberyumyum
» Kristina shape - by Shaperr at PO$H Event
I was surprised to get this great focus with just a monopod and my 18-200 lens, usually for this type of pictures I take the 60mm Nikon macro lens.
my web site: www.mifleurdesign.com
my facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Mifleur-Design/325854114183719
♫ My Favourite Time of Year - The Florin Street Band ♫
Verse 1
Lanterns lighting up the town,
Peace on earth is all around,
Everything is calm on Christmas Eve.
There's goodwill in the air tonight,
Angels sing by candle light,
Their voices carried on the wind.
When carol singers gather round,
When I hear that festive sound,
I wanna join with them and sing!
Chorus
They sing a merry song and we all sing along,
A festive melody that tells us Christmas time is here.
See the stars tonight; they're shining bright,
'Cause it's Christmas time and it's my favourite time of year.
Verse 2
Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Give me mistletoe; it's the season to be jolly,
Wrapping presents, writing cards, helping decorate the tree,
But there's one thing that makes it all for me.
When carol singers gather round,
Angel voices fill the town,
It's like the world is joining in!
(Noel, Noel, Noel)
Chorus
They sing a merry song and we all sing along,
A festive melody that tells us Christmas time is here.
See the stars tonight; they're shining bright,
'Cause it's Christmas time and it's my favourite time of year.
Middle 8
Christmas Eve,
Still believe,
So excited,
Can't sleep,
When the morning comes,
Church bells ring,
And he's been!
Chorus
They sing a merry song and we all sing along,
A festive melody that tells us Christmas time is here.
See the stars tonight; they're shining bright,
'Cause it's Christmas time and it's my favourite time of year.
And it's my favourite time of year
(Noel, Noel)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb-tslSbnZk
Júrame
Que aunque pase mucho tiempo
Nunca olvidaré el momento
En que yo te conocí
Mírame
Pues no hay nada mas profundo
Ni más grande en este mundo
Que el cariño que te dí
Bésame
Con un beso enamorado
Como nadie me ha besado
Desde el día en que nací
Quiéreme
Quiéreme hasta la locura
Así sabrás la amargura
Que estoy sufriendo por ti...
-Lyrics
Blog Post
ִֶָ☘︎♪. .. ࣪ ִֶָ་༘࿐Весна идет ִֶָ. .. ࣪ ִֶָ་༘☘︎♪࿐
"Morana, goddess of death and frost, would descend upon the world with her icy grip, whispering of eternity as she cloaked the land in snowbound silence. No matter how the people pleaded, she would not yield — her heart forged from frozen rivers and ancient sorrow. But Zimsterla, goddess of spring’s eternal dance, was never far behind. Daughter of Svantevit and beloved of Dogoda, bringer of gentle breezes, she emerged radiant and glorious, her presence a living promise of rebirth..."
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
www.gdecooman.fr - Photographe à Lille - portfolio, stages photo, mariages, naissance / bébé, évènements
Das Land der Bären und der Adler
Das Land, das uns Geburt und Segen gegeben hat
Das Land, das uns immer nach Hause gerufen hat
Wir werden über die Berge heimkommen
Wir werden heimkommen, wir werden heimkommen
Wir werden über die Berge heimkommen
Wir werden heimkommen, wir werden heimkommen
Wir werden über die Berge heimkommen
Das Land der Freiheit und der Helden
Das Land, das uns Hoffnung und Andenken gegeben hat
Hör uns singen, hör unsere Sehnsucht
Wir werden über die Berge heimkommen
Wir werden heimkommen, wir werden heimkommen
Wir werden über die Berge heimkommen
Wir werden heimkommen, wir werden heimkommen
Wir werden über die Berge heimkommen
Das Land der Sonne und des Mondlichts
Das Land, das uns Freude und Trauer gegeben hat
Das Land, das uns Liebe und Lachen gegeben hat
Wir werden über die Berge heimkommen
Wir werden heimkommen, wir werden heimkommen
Wir werden über die Berge heimkommen
Wir werden heimkommen, wir werden heimkommen
Wir werden über die Berge heimkommen
Und wenn dieses Land hier vor uns liegt
Dann sind wir über die Berge heimgekommen.
Wir werden heimkommen, wir werden heimkommen
Wir werden über die Berge heimkommen
Wir werden heimkommen, wir werden heimkommen
Wir werden über die Berge heimkommen
Verdi: Messa di Requiem, Elena Obraztsova, Shirley Verrett - (Budapest 1981)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzs4F6OzEXo
Elegie Op. 3 No. 1 , played by Rachmaninoff
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTUxrPJfpqk
The Editor in Chief of Lancet has this to say ( it takes only 1 minute or so )
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d5wxtAwn9Y
An American physician Rishi Desai, Md MPH Chief Medical Officer, an Infectious Disease Specialist and former Outbreak Investigator at the CDC, has this to say in a Fox News interview (1 minute or so ) : " We knew this on 31st December 2019..."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb_WzB1Wm2w
Despite explicit racial hostility, a Czech expert has this to say :
www.dimsumdaily.hk/czech-molecular-biologist-dr-sona-peko...
COVID-19 | Ask Me Anything with Rishi Desai, Md MPH
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aThkVKn_-Gg
Know More about Covid 19 through "The Virus Hunter" Professor Ian Lipkin from University of Columbia
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyIsLx4RJs8
* In min. 33, it actually says top experts ( apparently from US ) are adamant on the use of FACE MASK, which would reduce community infection by 70% ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DuZkK_trYY
It's impossible says pride!
It's risky says experience!
It's hopeless says reason!
Let's try whispers the heart
William Arthur Ward
-
C'est impossible dit la fierté !
C'est risqué dit l'expérience!
C'est sans issu dit la raison!
Essayons murmure le coeur
William Arthur Ward
- Shorts by AUREALIS
- Tanktop by ENRAGE
- Beard by EAGLELUX
- Skin for Kario body Marsellus by SIBILLA ANTON & SKING
NEW!
THE WOLF IS BACK!
• Hair: f u o e y - Bruno Hair V1 - Bruno Hairbase [V1] 04 - Black @Mancave
• Head: LeLUTKA - Luka Head 2.5
• Eyebrows: [Prolific] - Oliver Eyebrow HD @MOM
• Skin: f u o e y - Bruno Skin Light Brown / No Eyebrows @Mancave
• Body: Legacy - Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.0)
• Jacket: BlankLine - BlankLine Loose MA-1[FAT]Jake/Legacy @Mancave
• Short: flow - FOG Sweat Shorts Fatpack - Legacy @MOM
• Dog: [Rezz Room] - Siberian Husky Adult Animesh (Companion) v2.0.0 @Mancave
• Pose: BW POSES - BENTO STATIC POSE 017 (MALE) (3) @MOM
________________________________________________________________________________
DECOR
• Lighthouse: K&S -Lone Lighthouse striped green @Kustom9
• Perky Planters: [Bad Unicorn] - Pamela - Concrete - Perky - Richard - Sky - Perky PlantersPlanters - Kim - Pink - Perky Planters @FaMESHed
• Quirky Plant Pot Set: [Bad Unicorn] - Ben - Quirky Plant Pot Set - Bill - Quirky Plant Pot Set - Olly - Quirky Plant Pot Set - Spike - Quirky Plant Pot Set @Collabor88
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FOR SALE
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Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...
More TICINO/TESSIN Wildlife Photos (all taken in my garden in Monteggio/Ti, Switzerland): it.lacerta-bilineata.com/ramarro-occidentale-lacerta-bili...
If you're interested, you'll find a more detailed closeup here (it's the 8th photo from the top): www.lacerta-bilineata.com/western-green-lizard-lacerta-bi...
My latest ANIMAL VIDEO (it's very brief but pretty unusual: a tiny wall lizard attacks two young great tits): www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQqkSsyrm7E
THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: MY LONG AND ARDUOUS JOURNEY TO BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY
If you've set yourself the challenge of exclusively shooting the wildlife in your own back yard, you might find - as I did - that bird photography is really, really hard.
It's not that reptiles are easy to photograph either, mind - but at least the ones in my garden stay (for the most part) on the ground, and one can learn how to carefully approach them with a camera. They're also clearly egoists, which from a photographer's point of view is is a great character trait: if a lizard detects a human in its vicinity, it's only interested in saving its own skin, and it won't alarm its buddies.
But birds... oh man. Over the years, my feathered friends and I have developed a lovely routine that now defines our peaceful co-existence. As soon as I as much as open a window (let alone the door), I'm instantly greeted by an eruption of panicky fluttering and hysterical shouts from my garden: "SAVE YOUR WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND FLY FOR YOUR LIVES: THE HAIRLESS, PINK MONSTER IS COMING!!! (Yes, I speak bird, and I know that this is exactly what they are shouting 😉).
Needless to say, with the exception of the redstart I already showed here, all my efforts to get the kind of detailed shots I usually strive for with my nature photography ended in complete failure and utter disillusionment. I was ready to give up on stalking the winged misanthropes in my garden altogether, but then winter came - and changed everything.
One day this past January I observed my neighbor Signora P - a kind, elderly Italian lady - putting something on the low garden wall in front of my house. At first I thought she was just putting some treat there for her cat Romeo; the young tom patrols that wall constantly (it's his favorite spot in the garden, and during the warmer months he usually lurks in the thick foliage next to it to prey on lizards).
But once I detected a lot of movement on that wall through my window, I understood she had put a little pile of bread crumbs there; she was feeding the birds who soon arrived in flocks. This was certainly well-intended on my neighbor's part, but her noble action came with a catch, and I'm afraid quite literally.
When I took a stroll through my garden the next day I discovered a suspicious amount of feathers on the ground next to the wall. Romeo had apparently switched from his low-calorie summer diet (lizard) to more energy-rich meals consisting of "fowl" (it was winter after all, so from a nutritionist's point of view this made sense).
I would find fresh traces of Romeo's victims (mostly feathers, but also the odd wing) in my garden over the following days; so my first intuition that my neighbor was feeding her cat hadn't been that far off after all, as Romeo was now clearly being "served" fresh birds on a daily basis. And although the hungry visitors seemed to be aware of the danger and became slightly more prudent, they just couldn't resist the tasty snacks Signora P put on that wall - and neither could Romeo.
It was obvious that I had to act, but talking to my neighbor - who is as stubborn as she is kind - would have been futile, I knew that much. I pondered the matter long and hard - until a light bulb went off in my head. The idea was genius. If successful, what I had in mind would not only increase the birds' chances of surviving Romeo's appetite, but also greatly benefit my own photographic endeavors.
I started to enact my master plan the very next day by buying a giant bag of bird feed (consisting mainly of sunflower seeds) from the store. Then I dragged a huge piece of a tree trunk (approx. 120 cm in height) that we normally chop firewood on from the shed out into the garden and emptied almost half of the bag's content on top of it. Signora P's buffet for birds (and cats) was about to get some serious competition 😊.
My reasoning was as follows: not only would the birds be lured away from the fatally low garden wall to a place where they were safe from the cat - there was nothing around that tree trunk that provided cover for a predator, and the birds had a nice 360° view around it at all times - but I was also able to photograph them while hiding in the shed.
However, in order for my plan to work there was one little extra measure I had to take, and it was one that risked lowering my own life expectancy considerably once the owner of the property - my mom - discovered it. You see, our shed is completely windowless, so if I wanted to use it as a blind, I had no choice but to cut a hole into one of its wooden walls... which I promptly did (I figured all's fair in love - and photography 😉).
Granted, I have absolutely zero carpentering skills, and it showed. That hole was an ugly mess: the shed's wall seemed to have had an encounter with Jack Nicholson's ax-wielding lunatic character from the film 'The Shining'. Needless to say, I was incredibly proud of my work (I mean, come on: there now was a hole where before there wasn't a hole, and it was big enough for the lens of my camera to peek through, so it was mission accomplished as far as I was concerned).
Now all I had to do was wait for the birds to discover the tree trunk. In the meantime I started to mentally prepare myself for the inevitable confrontation with my mom and go through possible explanations for that splintering hole in the wall (it was either gonna be a rabid woodpecker attack or an emergency rescue mission with a feeding tube for a little kid that had accidentally locked himself inside the shed - both seemed valid options, though I slightly preferred the locked-in kid due to the involved drama and heroism 😉).
A whole day went by, and not a single bird visited the sunflower seeds. I had expected that it might take a few hours until the first of the ever curious great tits or blue tits would show up, but given how tiny my garden is, an entire day seemed excessive. Then another day came and went: the birds kept flocking to the bread crumbs on the wall, and my tree trunk kept collecting dust. To add injury to insult, a few fresh feathers on the ground were proof that Romeo was still feasting.
It was incredibly frustrating: I provided my winged guests with a much better view - plus a higher chance of surviving the cuisine - than Signora P's place; I risked (almost) certain death at the hands of my own mother (OK, the act of vandalism on the shed I had committed for my own benefit, but still), yet the birds kept ignoring me.
Then, after three days, just before sunset, I spotted a single blue tit on the tree trunk picking away at the sunflower seeds.
When I got up the next morning I immediately realized that the loud noise that accompanies each and every tit activity had shifted from the wall to the shed. At last the dam had broken: there was a flurry of movement around the tree trunk, and I counted at least 5 different species of birds feasting on the sunflower seeds.
From day 4 onward my plan worked beautifully: the birds now indeed mostly ignored Romeo's "snack wall" and kept to the tree trunk. And yes, I was able to play peeping tom from behind the shed's wall and photograph them!! 😊
Thus, dear readers, I finally managed to produce some acceptable bird photos, and I had even saved my feathered friends from a deadly foe in the process. All through winter and spring I took advantage of my new bird hide, and in late May I started mixing some cherries with the sunflower seeds. The idea was to attract a Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius), and as you can see, it worked!
It took me almost three weeks and more than a few tricks to capture that clever fella, but given how long I've been rambling here already, that's a story for another day. As for my mom, she still doesn't know about the hole in the wall, so please don't snitch! 😉.
I hope you like the photo and wish you all a wonderful weekend! Many greetings from Switzerland, and as always: let me know what you think in the comments 🙏 😊 ❤!
P.S. if anyone has their own funny tale about the obstacles we photographers are prepared to overcome for a desired photo, please write it in the comments: I love such stories 😊