Squamish, BC, Canada
This page simply reformats the Flickr public Atom feed for purposes of finding inspiration through random exploration. These images are not being copied or stored in any way by this website, nor are any links to them or any metadata about them. All images are © their owners unless otherwise specified.
This site is a busybee project and is supported by the generosity of viewers like you.
These rich sapphire blue flowers with their black centres are revered in the paintings of many Dutch masters. Wikipedia
Prime among the fine beaches Lagos is blessed with is the picturesque Praia Dona Ana and Praia do Camilo beaches secluded by golden-hued rock formations and lapped by crystal clear sea waters. Praia da Dona Ana is easily arrived at by walking through a hand-made tunnel from Paria do Camilo. Google
Before heading down to the beach, we continued walking straight ahead on a narrow path that opened onto the top of cliffs with magnificent views of the sea, beach and caves.
Lagoa, Algarve, Portugal
The Eurasian hoopoe is the most widespread species of the genus Upupa. It is a distinctive cinnamon coloured bird with black and white wings, a tall erectile crest, a broad white band across a black tail, and a long narrow downcurved bill. Its call is a soft "oop-oop-oop". Wikipedia
Guia, Algarve, Portugal
The Iberian (Azure-winged) Magpie (Cyanopica cooki) Pega-azul is one of the conundrums of the Birdwatching World. There is a large population of this species on the east Asian seaboard and a smaller population here in Iberia with no individuals anywhere in between. This is explained currently as a larger population having been separated by the Pleistocene ice sheet as the two extant populations seem to have split apart over 1 million years ago. The Iberian population is definitely natural and not the introduction in the 17th century of individuals brought back from the east.
Sexes are similar and with a black head, grey-brown back and blue wings with a long blue tail, this species is unmistakeable. It is resident throughout the southern half of Portugal but absent from the majority of the north. They travel in loud and noisy loose flocks through recognized territories, often foraging on the ground where they hop from one place to the next. Their flocks are often accompanied by Jays who steal food found by the Magpies. Though they are very wary, shy and easily spooked in the countryside, in "false" habitats such as Quinta do Lago in the Algarve, they are oblivious to Man and can be approached with ease. They nest colonially with one nest per tree. Google
The Algarve boasts soaring cliffs with hiking trails, sea caves, golden beaches, scalloped bays, sandy islands and opportunities for many watersports.
Aloe arborescens, the krantz aloe or candelabra aloe, is a species of flowering succulent perennial plant that belongs to the genus Aloe [...]. The specific epithet arborescens means "tree-like". Aloe arborescens is valued by gardeners for its succulent green leaves, large vibrantly-colored flowers, winter blooming, and attraction for birds, bees, and butterflies.
Description
Aloe arborescens is a large, multi-headed, sprawling succulent, and its specific name indicates that it sometimes reaches tree size. A typical height for this species is 2–3 metres (6.6–9.8 ft) high. Its leaves are succulent and are green with a slight blue tint. Its leaves have small spikes along its edges and are arranged in rosettes situated at the end of branches. Flowers are arranged in a type of inflorescence called a raceme. The racemes are not branched but two to several can sprout from each rosette. Flowers are cylindrical in shape and are a vibrant red-orange color. Wikipedia
The Iberian (Azure-winged) Magpie is one of the conundrums of the Birdwatching World. There is a large population of this species on the east Asian seaboard and a smaller population here in Iberia with no individuals anywhere in between. This is explained currently as a larger population having been separated by the Pleistocene ice sheet as the two extant populations seem to have split apart over 1 million years ago. The Iberian population is definitely natural and not the introduction in the 17th century of individuals brought back from the east.
Sexes are similar and with a black head, grey-brown back and blue wings with a long blue tail, this species is unmistakeable. It is resident throughout the southern half of Portugal but absent from the majority of the north. They travel in loud and noisy loose flocks through recognized territories, often foraging on the ground where they hop from one place to the next. Their flocks are often accompanied by Jays who steal food found by the Magpies. Though they are very wary, shy and easily spooked in the countryside, in "false" habitats such as Quinta do Lago in the Algarve, they are oblivious to Man and can be approached with ease.
They nest colonially with one nest per tree.
Not sure but this could be Bracket Fungi:
"... a bracket (shelf) fungus, fruiting bodies of wood decay fungi that are found both on standing and fallen trees and form a hard outgrowth with a spore producing surface facing downward. Unlike most mushrooms (gill fungi) that produce spores on linear rows (gills) (see Agaricus), these fungi produce spores in a tissue perforated with numerous cylindric pores [see image below], generally from 0.2 to 2 mm in diameter, through which the spores are shed. Fungi producing such structures are called polypore (‘many pores’) fungi, and while there are a few polypore fungi that do produce a ‘ mushroom’ shaped fruiting body, the majority of polypore fungi are bracket fungi, growing off trees trunks and branches like a shelf or a ‘bracket’." Google
Ambleside Park
Spotted in Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Phaeolus schweinitzii, commonly known as velvet-top fungus, dyer's polypore, dyer's mazegill, or pine dye polypore, is a fungal plant pathogen that causes butt rot on conifers such as Douglas-fir, spruce, fir, hemlock, pine, and larch. Wikipedia
The generic name Phaeolus comes from the prefix Phae- meaning dusky or obscure, and olus which modifies the meaning to 'somewhat' - so fungi in this genus are described as 'somewhat dusky' or perhaps darkish. The specific epithet schweinitzii honours American botanist-mycologist Lewis David von Schweinitz (1780-1834), considered by some to be the founding father of North American mycological science.
This fairly common polypore has a yellow felty margin and a brownish central region, usually concentrically zoned; [...] these fruitbodies [are] typically 15 to 25cm in diameter and 2 to 5cm thick. [...] Stems are short (up to 6cm in length) and stout (typically 3 to 5cm in diameter), tapering towards the base.
Initially the fruitbodies are soft and spongy, eventually becoming dry and hard. Often compound (several fused together), they tend to grow around and so enclose twigs, pine needles, grass and other objects as the caps expand. [...].
NB Phaeolus schweinitzii is the type species of the genus Phaeolus, in which this is the only species known to occur in Britain.
P. schweinitzii is native to North America and Eurasia, and has been identified as an exotic species in New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. It is not edible. Google
Many thanks to my Flickr contact, Caroline, for the ID. You may visit her photostream here: www.flickr.com/photos/43537433@N02/
As its name suggests, the stipe (-pes, Latin for foot) is rather short (Latin, brevi) compared to the cap diameter, so it often has difficulty getting its cap above the soil surface. Often it is found as “mushrumps,” particularly along the edges of trails and unpaved forest roads. The cap usually is somewhat to markedly vase-shaped, the spores are white, and the taste is mild to variably acrid. burkeherbarium.org/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Russul...
The Short Stemmed Russula (Russula brevipes) is white to slightly off white when fresh. The cap can have yellowish to yellowish-brown spots, is broadly funnel shaped and over time can become wavy at the margins. While surface color does not change due to handling, it will become a more dingy beige as it ages. www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/Russula_brevipes.html
Pleasant summer afternoon alpine lake overlook from Mount Rainier National Park.
Visitors: Invited to peruse my photostream & albums to view compilations of seasonal landscape/wildlife/floral images. And I welcome your comments and favs.
Please click to enjoy the details
Great Blue Herons. With their long beaks, long legs, and large wing span, they are easy to spot and often don’t flutter away as soon as you have them in sight. The Great Blue Herons can be spotted throughout the region, including near fairly urban areas like Stanley Park. The majestic birds can be seen standing in solitary near a creek, lake or shore, patiently waiting to strike for their prey.
North Vancouver
West Vancouver, BC, Canada
Brief fawn encounter within a forest opening.. Anoka County, central Minnesota.
Visitors: Feel free to peruse my photostream & albums for a tour of various seasonal wildlife/scenics/florals. As always, comments and favs are sincerely appreciated!
Moon Drop® grapes are a medium to large varietal that grows in loose bunches averaging 29 centimeters in length and 16 centimeters in width. Each grape has a distinct, elongated, uniform, and cylindrical shape, about 3 to 4 centimeters in length and 1 to 2 centimeters in diameter, and showcases a characteristic dimple on one end. The grape’s skin is smooth, semi-thick, glossy, and taut. The skin is also dark purple, often appearing black, and is covered in a medium to heavy blue-grey bloom. This bloom is natural and edible but can be easily wiped from the surface if preferred. Underneath the skin, the translucent purple-green flesh is crisp, seedless, and aqueous with a snap-like quality. [...]. Moon Drop® grapes are sweeter than standard black grape varieties and contain tannins to create a pleasant and balanced sweet-tart flavor.
Today Moon Drop® grapes are grown in the San Joaquin Valley in California and through select retailers in the United States and Canada. The grapes are not cultivated in home gardens as the variety is protected by its patent until at least June 2031.
Moon Drop® grapes are available for a few weeks in the late summer through early fall.
For more details you can check out their website here: specialtyproduce.com/produce/Moon_Drop_Grapes_12688.php
Inadvertently came upon young velvet antlered whitetail buck in Westwood Hills Nature Center.. St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
Visitors: Welcome to explore my photostream & albums for tours of various seasonal wildlife/scenics/florals. All comments sincerely appreciated!
In spite of the mainly cloudy sky, I was thrilled to be able to capture this special blue supermoon as it appeared above the horizon. Blue Moon refers to the second of two full Moons in a single lunar month. In lunar calendars, a lunar month is the time between two successive syzygies of the same type: new moons or full moons
The Moon will appear bigger and brighter for three days, from Sunday morning through early Wednesday morning! It is the first of four supermoons this year.
May your special day be filled with much joy, laughter and love. Here’s wishing you many more to come and, above all, continued good health!