Tags: Primavera flor Artwork
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The facade of the European Maritime Safety Agency, Lisbon, in the early morning light.
Tags: Peter Hill EMSA European Maritime Safety Agency Lisbon Monochrome black & white IR Infrared
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Adding another five images from my archives. If I wrote a description under a previously posted photo taken on the same day, I will add it under this morning's posts.
Winter returned, but it is now a sunny Spring day! More snow is forecast for the next two days, though, adding to the snow that is already on the ground. Can't go anywhere, anyway, as excruciating pain that may be caused by the sciatic nerve (?) or bursitis (?) on the right side of my body is making it almost impossible to walk even a few steps indoors. One thing after another after another after another .... Last time I went out was 22 February.
"On 20 November 2014, I went on a birding walk with friends in the morning. The weather had been reasonably mild recently, with sunshine and blue skies, perfect for a leisurely walk. Ten days later, our weather changed, and snow returned along with brutally cold temperatures again.
After the walk, I paid another visit to where the Long-tailed Weasel could sometimes be seen. Various friends were there, too, and we were treated to a few good photo opps, including with some of the eight or so Meadow Voles it caught while we were there. Some days you are lucky, and others you are not! It is an amazing hunter, moving so rapidly over the uneven, snowy ground with tangles of dead plants and fallen logs. A few times, it ran up the embankment, through the metal fence and then back down again.
"Counting its tail, a large Long-tailed Weasel male, the largest of the three species in Canada, stretches nearly half a metre (20 in) in length, yet can slip into a hole just 3 cm (1.25 in) across. This enables it to enter small rodent tunnels used by mice and voles. In summer, it enters ground squirrels burrows in search of its favourite food. Average males measure 406 mm (16 in), their tail is 135 mm (5.25) long and they weigh 225 g (12.6 oz). Males are approximately 25 per cent larger than females, which on average weigh only 102 g (5.7 oz).
When winter approaches, within 30 days it grows a coat of white, giving it perfect camouflage against the snow -- all except for the tip of its tail, which stays black. A hungry predator, such as a hawk or owl, aims for that black tip, enabling the weasel to escape. Towards spring, between late February and April, in only 25 days, it reverses the process, acquiring the cinnamon-brown topcoat it will use all summer. This includes brown feet, unlike the other two species which retain white feet. The underside is usually buff-coloured." (Taken from the old weaselhead.org website)."
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada Fish Creek Park nature wildlife animal mammal Weasel Long-tailed Weasel Mustela frenata winter coat white white fur in a log fallen log with Meadow Vole predator prey Meadow Vole outdoor 20 November 2014 Panasonic Lumix FZ200 annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2014 © All Rights Reserved P1180904
© All Rights Reserved
Adding another five images from my archives. If I wrote a description under a previously posted photo taken on the same day, I will add it under this morning's posts.
Winter returned, but it is now a sunny Spring day! More snow is forecast for the next two days, though, adding to the snow that is already on the ground. Can't go anywhere, anyway, as excruciating pain that may be caused by the sciatic nerve (?) or bursitis (?) on the right side of my body is making it almost impossible to walk even a few steps indoors. One thing after another after another after another .... Last time I went out was 22 February 2024.
This photo of a Barred Owl was taken on a visit to the Calgary Zoo, on 6 October 2014. I always love to see the dark eyes of this species.
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada Calgary Zoo nature avian ornithology bird bird of prey owl Barred Owl Strix varia close-up looking over its shoulder dark eyes perched tree enclosure outdoor 6 October 2014 Panasonic Lumix FZ200 annkelliott Anne Elliott P1160349
© All Rights Reserved
Adding another five images from my archives. If I wrote a description under a previously posted photo taken on the same day, I will add it under this morning's posts.
Winter returned, but it is now a sunny Spring day! More snow is forecast for the next two days, though, adding to the snow that is already on the ground. Can't go anywhere, anyway, as excruciating pain that may be caused by the sciatic nerve (?) or bursitis (?) on the right side of my body is making it almost impossible to walk even a few steps indoors. One thing after another after another after another .... Last time I went out was 22 February 2024.
"This photo was taken at the Calgary Zoo on 15 April 2008. The old Conservatory was a favourite place of mine to visit. The newer replacement is also a place I enjoy greatly, though I haven't been able to get to the Zoo the last few years."
I still really miss the old building that included a cacti/Burrowing Owl room. When they replaced the old Conservatory with a new building, they did not include a cacti/Burrowing Owl section, where I had photographed these beautiful cactus flowers.
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