The Flickr Pecked Image Generatr

Sand Island Panels and the nearby Sand Island Campground are just west of the tiny community of Bluff, Utah. Bluff is about 50 miles west of Four Corners in Southern Utah. I am fascinated by the petroglyphs and want to emulate some of these designs in my folk art. I continue to study Southwest petroglyphs in hope of finding inspiration here.

Much of the work is indecipherable. When it is decipherable it is modern graffiti or vandalism. Also many of the designs are quite faint. The longer you look the more designs you may perceive. Sand Island Campground nearby faces the San Juan River. Sand Island and the campground are just west of Bluff in southern Utah. It is also only 24 miles north of the Arizona border.

I see a parrot (possibly an eagle) head on the right side of this photo which appears to be scratched into the rock. At left is another figure that may be arrows or an array of something or possibly a teepee. If indeed this is the work of an artist it is in a style much more recent than ancient petroglyphs. This rock panel was discovered along Long Valley Road northwest of Potash Rd. near Moab, Utah.

Trip Log Of A Cyclepath - 3202 Km.

I've had many happy years of whistling duets with the local Magpies in our garden. Providing water for them and their mates, sharing leafy shade, and occasionally even turning up a bit of tucker as they follow me around when I'm gardening and snapping up the odd insect or worm. In general getting along amiably well with the cheery, cheeky, warbling avians, whose good nature seems totally at odds with their red eyed glare.

So, the bird that swooped and struck me on a path in a Melbourne park, as I cycled along, obviously hadn't got the good word about me being a Maggy mate, and fair enough, I suppose, I don't think they've ever darted me with a tracking tag or some such to warn off the other birds. (Note: must look into that!)

I heard the first rush of wings behind me and instinctively sped up, but seconds later got struck on the right side of the head. Felt like being punched, but I knew what it was, thanks to the ranging pass, and kept riding, accompanied by a few choice words from me, and likely some snarky squawks from the bird.

It's actually quite an impressive feat of beaks, considering. I'm helmeted, of course, and wearing padded calf/knee guards and the same on forearms and elbows. I don't do lycra, and it was cool out, so I also had on a jacket and hi-vis vest, trousers, and light but sturdy motorbike gloves, as well as my glasses. In spite of all that, the Mag nipped in an absolutely nailed one of the few uncovered areas of skin, on the side of my noggin. Bad luck to ride through the territory of the local Luke Skywalker, I guess: "I used to bullseye womp rats in my T-16 back home. They're not much bigger than two meters."

It is the nesting season here, and the park has ample 'Ware Swoopy signage, and I've never had any trouble before so didn't have cable ties or google eyes on the helmet, a shoulder mounted Colonial Marine Sentry-Gun or a stuffed Whovian Black Guardian Raven on my backpack, so my bad. Eyes thoughtfully my Roman or Starfleet Security Guard helmets with comfy cheek guards, full Ned Kelly helmet or even the Hannibal Lector Prisoner Transport mask. (Tony Stark: "There is no problem that cannot be solved by the proper application of appropriate armour.")

Yes, I had a tetanus booster shot, just in case, and will change my route for the next several weeks to avoid the area.

Still 'n all, a palpable hit, my lord, or lady! Add another bit of Aussie flora and fauna to the ones that have drawn blood over the years. I'm still happy to host all feather friends at home, though I am certainly regarding those blood red eyes with a bit more respect!

I was wandering around the parking area at Pike’s Peak reading the story boards snapping pics of views and wild flowers. As I approached this rock I saw a lady bending to capture a photo. Thinking she was capturing a critter or plant I engaged her in conversation about what she was seeing. She pointed out this signature on the rock. We decided that it was unique and likely the park knew nothing of it. My reasoning was that the bolder appeared to have been placed there randomly to fill a void along with several tons of other boulders. I looked around and discovered that the asphalt in the area was cracked and the boulders seemed to have been placed in a sink hole. As the lady was walking away a park ranger approached and I flagged him down. I told him of the find and asked if the park was aware of the signature. He did not know. I showed him and as we looked at the signature we both began to wonder about the clearly scribed date. Most of the history of Pike’s Peak is either about Pike’s 2nd expedition (1806-07) and its later development in the 1870’s. One report says Dr. Edwin James made the first recorded summit in June of 1820. The ranger mused that the date was well before the civil war. I reminded him about the fur trade and competition between the Spanish, French, British including the early exploration by Lewis and Clark further north. I suppose that makes this 1859 date quite plausible. However, the fact that this signature is part of a rubble fill in a parking lot would seem to indicate that the park administration know nothing of this early dated signature.

I see a parrot or some kind of bird. The style is much different than indigenous petroglyphs, leading me to believe that either I am mistaken or it is of much more recent vintage. There is more detail but I am unable to discern more than graphic lines. I edited this image a second time by accident. I cropped and edited it is a manner to make the image more obvious. It also has a different title.

Giant Logs Trail in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, USA

Petroglyph panel at Newspaper Rock in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, USA

Petroglyph panel at Newspaper Rock in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, USA

Ruins of Hackberry Pueblo in Hovenweep National Monument, Colorado, USA

Ruins of Hackberry Pueblo in Hovenweep National Monument, Colorado, USA

Ruins of Hackberry Pueblo in Hovenweep National Monument, Colorado, USA

Ruins of Hackberry Pueblo in Hovenweep National Monument, Colorado, USA

Spectacular panel of a stylized human figure at McKee Spring Petroglyph Site, Dinosaur National Monument on border of Utah and Colorado, USA [color added by photographer]

Spectacular panel of stylized human figures at McKee Spring Petroglyph Site, Dinosaur National Monument on border of Utah and Colorado, USA [color added by photographer]

Spectacular panel of stylized human figures at McKee Spring Petroglyph Site, Dinosaur National Monument, Utah, USA

Abstract design, or perhaps a shield, at McKee Spring Petroglyph Site, Dinosaur National Monument on border of Utah and Colorado, USA

Spectacular panel of stylized human figures at McKee Spring Petroglyph Site, Dinosaur National Monument, Utah, USA

Spectacular panel of stylized human figures at McKee Spring Petroglyph Site, Dinosaur National Monument, Utah, USA