travel
tags: Curve-Billed Thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Curve-Billed Thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre, photographed in Arizona. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Richard Ditch, 9 April 2009 [larger view].
Date Time Original: 2009:04:09 16:05:57
Exposure Time: 1/319
F-Number: 4.50
ISO: 400
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
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tags: nature, mammals, Antarctica, blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus, David Attenborough, streaming video
This amazing video clip from BBC's remarkable multi-part TV program, Blue Planet, shows the awesome size of the Blue Whale, Balaenoptera musculus, the largest creature in the sea and the largest creature that has ever lived. Narrated by the incomparable David Attenborough.
Dear Reader, if you are in the Netherlands, in England or in Finland and you either a) want to meet me, or b) want to avoid meeting me, I have some important information for you. I am planning to visit those countries over the coming seven weeks. Beware or drop me a line. You have been warned/encouraged.
19-23 September. Maastricht. Sachsensymposium.
2-5 October. London. The Amazing Meeting.
29-31 October. Helsinki. Nordic Bronze Age symposium.
tags: flowers, Gardening, Horticulture, Botany, nature, Helsinki, image of the day
Flower box in Rautatientori (downtown Helsinki, Finland).
Image: GrrlScientist, 3 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
tags: Superb Blue Wren, Blue Fairywren, Malurus cyaneus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Non-breeding male Superb Blue Wren, also known as the Blue Fairywren, Malurus cyaneus, photographed at Grafton, Australia. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Steve Duncan, 14 August 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200 w/ Nikkor 300mm f/4.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
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tags: flowers, Gardening, Horticulture, Botany, nature, Helsinki, image of the day
Dahlia blossom.
Photographed in downtown Helsinki, Finland.
Image: GrrlScientist, 3 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
tags: African Green-pigeon, Treron calvus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] African Green-pigeon, Treron calvus, photographed drinking on the Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Dan Logen, 31 August 2006 [larger view].
Nikon D2X, Nikon 200-400 mm lens, ISO 200, f/7.1, 1/45 sec.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
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tags: birds, parrots, Quaker Parrot, Monk ParakeetGrey-Breasted parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus, NYC events, NYC Life, Brooklyn, Wild Parrot Safari
Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Image: Magnus Manske, 10 May 2008, Wikipedia [larger view]
Even though NYC is located in the armpit of hell where, during the summers, the air is a humid miasma of fetid human sweat and decomposing dog shit, and the winters possess the cold and wind of Antarctica with none of its natural charms, there is a brave group of illegal aliens who not only live here, but are actually thriving…
tags: flowers, Gardening, Horticulture, Botany, nature, Helsinki, image of the day
Dahlia blossom.
Photographed in downtown Helsinki, Finland.
Image: GrrlScientist, 3 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
tags: birds, parrots, Quaker Parrot, Monk ParakeetGrey-Breasted parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus, NYC events, NYC Life, Brooklyn, Wild Parrot Safari
Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Image: Magnus Manske, 10 May 2008, Wikipedia [larger view]
Even though NYC is located in the armpit of hell where, during the summers, the air is a humid miasma of fetid human sweat and decomposing dog shit, and the winters possess the cold and wind of Antarctica with none of its natural charms, there is a brave group of illegal aliens who not only live here, but are actually thriving…
tags: Crested Tern, Great Crested-tern, Swift Tern, Thalasseus bergii, identify this bird, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Crested Tern, also known as the Swift Tern or Great Crested-tern, Thalasseus (Sterna) bergii, photographed at Michealmas Cay, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Steve Duncan, 24 August 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200 w/ Nikkor 300mm f/4.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.
tags: travel, nature, Antarctica, Beneath the Frozen World, television, Jacques+Cousteau, streaming video
This video presents an exclusive full-length movie of Captain Cousteau's expedition to Antarctica (this is the third of four parts -- couldn't find any of the others). Narrated by Jacques Cousteau.
Jacques-Yves Cousteau (1910-1997) was a French naval officer, explorer, ecologist, filmmaker, innovator, scientist, photographer, author and researcher who studied the sea and marine life. He co-developed the aqua-lung, pioneered marine conservation and was a member of the Académie franç…
tags: flowers, Gardening, Horticulture, Botany, nature, Helsinki, image of the day
Dahlia blossom.
Photographed in downtown Helsinki, Finland.
Image: GrrlScientist, 3 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
tags: Burrowing Owl, Speotyto cunicularia, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Burrowing Owl, Speotyto cunicularia, photographed on Antelope Island, a wonderful birding location north of Salt Lake City, Utah. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Terry Sohl, 27 July 2009 [larger view]
Canon 50D, 400 5.6L lens.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
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tags: flowers, Gardening, Horticulture, Botany, nature, Helsinki, image of the day
Wild rose, Rosa acicularis.
Photographed at the gardens at the Tarvaspää Café at the Gallen-Kallela Museum
near Tarvon Salmi in Helsinki, Finland.
Image: GrrlScientist, 2 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
This is one of a large group of wild rose flowers that were blooming outside the front door of the cafe. The scent they produced was unbelievably strong and sweet and -- dare I say it? -- otherworldly.
tags: birds, parrots, Quaker Parrot, Monk ParakeetGrey-Breasted parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus, NYC events, NYC Life, Brooklyn, Wild Parrot Safari
Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Image: Magnus Manske, 10 May 2008, Wikipedia [larger view]
Even though NYC is located in the armpit of hell where, during the summers, the air is a humid miasma of fetid human sweat and decomposing dog shit, and the winters possess the cold and wind of Antarctica with none of its natural charms, there is a brave group of illegal aliens who not only live here, but are actually thriving…
tags: Eastern Meadowlark, Sturnella magna, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Eastern Meadowlark, Sturnella magna, photographed at Brazoria Wildlife Refuge, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 31 July 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/500s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
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tags: travel, nature, environment, cities, Munkkivuori, Helsinki, Finland
Gifts of chocolate and licorice from my host.
Image: GrrlScientist, 3 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
Ah, the breakfast of champions: licorice and chocolate. Well, and coffee (not pictured, but you get the idea).
My host finally awoke (I had been awake for hours, watching birds, playing on my laptop, and torturing the cat) and he gave me a meal consisting of licorice, chocolate and coffee. Dessert was a bowl of yogurt topped with muesli. A perfect way to start the day in beautiful Helsinki.
After a relaxing…
tags: flowers, Gardening, Horticulture, Botany, nature, Helsinki, image of the day
Common Burdock (Thistle), Arctium pubens, blossoms.
Photographed at the gardens at the Tarvaspää Café at the Gallen-Kallela Museum
near Tarvon Salmi in Helsinki, Finland.
Image: GrrlScientist, 2 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
tags: Speckled Pigeon, Columba guinea, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Speckled Pigeon, Columba guinea, photographed drinking at the Lake Manyara Serena Lodge swimming pool, in Tanzania, Africa. [I will identify these birds for you in 48 hours]
Image: Dan Logen, 8 August 2006 [larger view].
Nikon D2X, Nikon 200-400 VR lens at 400. ISO 800. F/4.5 1/160.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.