Monday in Nature POTW

[janterpstra]

<p>Thanks for starting this. My 2 cents:<br>

<img src="http://www.bamestra.com/foto/800x600/Muurhagedis1.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[Jon Eckman]

<p>Just getting around to opening the current newsletter and found this link, which I can already tell is one more place I'll be returning to on a regular basis, on time in the future however! Thanks for adding to the enjoyment of the site Laura.</p><div></div>

[dzaebst]

<p>Thank you Laura for taking the lead on this idea and implementing it. It's one of those ideas that one thinks: "Now why didn't I think of that?" </p>

<p>Now I have something to really look forward to on a Monday. Here's my contribution, taken in January of this year at Ding Darling NWR. </p><div></div>

[colvinrunphotography]

<p><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=968830">Jon Eckman</a> - an amazing photo - the bee's colors really pop with the white flower background. And, handling the focus in that macro shot is just super.<br>

HG Miller</p>

[Laura Weishaupt]

<p>Haig, it's been awhile. Simply beautiful.<br>

Robert C., glad you found us. I thought you might. Good to see you got to the Columbines as I blew the chance.<br>

Kim, no problem. Thanks you for sharing such a striking bird.<br>

Jan, that ones got an eye on you.<br>

Dennis, pleasant surprise, it's been a long time......no problem. Your Cormorant is breath taking. </p>

<p>I think everyone here has thought of this in some way at some time. We're all out, in nature, doing what we do in our own unique way. Weather folks find out about this place in the newsletter, in another forum, by word of whatever, signal flags, or simply stumbling in, we're all here for the similar reasons.</p>

[stemked]

<p>I keep coming back and keep seeing more and more spectacular work here. Working backwards.</p>

<p>Dennis, do Cormorants really have eyes that intense Green? Wow! I need to pay them more attention.</p>

<p>Jon- very sublime flower bee shot.</p>

<p>Robert-great Columbine, I especially like the background.</p>

<p>Haig-fantastic hummingbird. Did you use a dual flash system to get it?</p>

<p>Stiegfred-love the depth of field in your shot, works wonders.</p>

<p>Roberta- I like the play of you female RRBB and the sunflower. I almost always ignore the female RRBB for the males, it looks like I need a better eye.<br>

David-your shot there is a once in a lifetime. Great catch and so well exposed!</p>

<p>Miha-lovely fog closeup (I have a thing for frogs and amphibians in general, ever since a Houston Toad possibly saved my life, but that's another story)</p>

<p>There are certainly more here, but I got to get back to cleaning the house.</p>

<p> </p>

[CoryAmmerman]

<p>Well I'm a little late to the party, as usual. Lovely photos all around in this thread. I'll add one of my own from a while back.</p><div></div>

[hagar]

@ Douglas Stemke, it was a set up with 4 flashes. Thanks Doug and Laura. This was a brilliant idea!

[dzaebst]

<p>Doug: Yes, the eyes are that bright aquamarine color. I often thought that their eyes seem to be adapted especially to vision underwater, because they are so incredibly adept at chasing down fast-moving fish.</p>

<p>But, it turns out, that isn't the case (see this <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0000639">research article</a>) and according to the article, their underwater vision is comparable to an unaided human's eyes, and they can detect prey only at close range, less than 1 meter. Interestingly, the inside of their mouths are bright blue, which isn't often seen.</p>

[stemked]

<p>Miha, obviosly I meant 'frog' closeup. Sorry about that.</p>

<p>Thanks for the information Dennis.</p>

[keith reeder]

<p><img src="http://www.capture-the-moment.co.uk/tp/tfu29/upload/gannets_bempton_4_700.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="467" /><br /> <strong>True love at the gannetry</strong><br /> <br /> Gannets - like these at the gannetry at Bempton in East Yorkshire, England (the largest mainland gannetry in the UK) - mate for life, and really work at it, indulging in this pair-bonding behaviour whenever either bird arrives at or (like the bird on the right) is about to leave the nest.</p>

<p>I'm not one to anthropomorphise, but they really do give the impression that they're delighted to see each other.</p>

<p><strong>Canon 7D, Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 OS and 1.4x TC, handheld at 420mm</strong>.</p>

<p>As an aside: wishful thinking, but I wish the forum could accept and present images bigger than 700px - this (and, I imagine, many other images in the thread) loses a lot from being viewed at postage-stamp size.</p>

[ShunCheung]

<p>Since it is Sunday, it is time to close this discussion. See you again on a new Nature Monday thread tomorrow.</p>