hanappa

Happy Monday(ish). I haven't had much of a chance to get out with the camera to catch spring here, but did pop by a zoo the other day. No hand of man in the shot, but yes, it is captive.

Good morning. I do miss the morning stories and inspiration, though I still enjoy the photos. I will add a Peninsular Rock Gecko (Cnemaspis peninsularis) today. This fellow was hanging out just outside a cave on Bukit Timah, but each time I approached, he would scurry up and behind the rocks. While hiking back down the hill, I thought I'd give it another shot and see if he was still there. I had to use the on-camera flash, and only had time for one picture before he was gone again. From the literature, these lizards are now restricted in Singapore to the central part of the island, in the hills and remaining rainforests.

Here are three that may not be the most aesthetic of images, but highlight the potential "dangers" of hiking to Bukit Timah summit. I never did see a monkey, despite the warnings, but saw a Malayan Colugo, a few Common Goldenbacks, several Straw-Headed Bulbuls, the Greater Racket-Tailed Drongo, the Little Spiderhunter, and a Peninsular Rock Gecko, among others. Still working on those images, though they may be for MiN...

 

 

Here is a Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) from Singapore last week. Nearby I also saw a Water Monitor running along, but unfortunately it crossed a manicured lawn and sidewalk, so was out of bounds for MIN.

I'll jump in from Monday in New Zealand nature. Here is a Tui, who sports a white cravat and blue smoking jacket when he goes out.

<p>And a final</p><div></div>

<p>Another</p><div></div>

<p>Here are some from "way" back in 2005. Taken with a CoolPix 7900, my first purpose-bought little digital (my film camera at the time was my trusty Pentax K1000). </p><div></div>

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<p>Didn't have my macro with me this weekend, so not the cleanest shot, but after all the rain we had here last week, looks like its time for a little love among the lower plants.</p><div></div>

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<p>An American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana) flew up and posed for a few seconds during a recent hike along a less-traveled section of Bull Creek in Austin.</p>

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<p>We had around 30 inches of sun down here this weekend, but it was rainy and cloudy last weekend, and just after clearing saw this fellow flying overhead down near Port Lavaca. I thought they looked odd on the ground, but in the air there is something a bit prehistoric about the canard-like bill, a little pterosaur-ish... </p><div></div>

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<p>Shun and Chip,<br>

Yes, the twin colors are the ginger beer below, and the dark rum above. Was a little rainy this time of year, but I thought this shot could at least capture the ideal relaxation of an island visit. </p>

<p>Dark and Stormy in Bermuda</p><div></div>

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<p>Appreciating not only what I encounter far from home, but also much closer. Here is a Greater Earless Lizard (Cophosaurus texanus), pausing before continuing his chase of his intended beau across the pink granite of Enchanted Rock. </p><div></div>

<p>It is springtime in Texas, after what has to be the longest winter in the nearly two decades since I have been down here (though we didn't get the snow they got up north, so I really cannot complain). The birds are out and amorous. The first two below are the Red-Winged Blackbird, taken with the big Tamron 150-600 on the D800, the last is a scissor-tailed flycatcher, which showed itself on the sideline of a wedding. Just the walk-around 28-300 on for that. Wish I had the bigger lens at the time. When I travel to Australia, I am jealous of the beautiful and brightly colored birds they have, but then I come home, and remember we still have some attractive, if a bit less ostentatious, birds right here. <br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18005172-lg.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="467" /><br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18005173-lg.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="467" /></p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18005174-lg.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="420" /></p>

 

<p>Afternoon all,<br>

I did not have the right equipment, it was overcast, and there were of course frequent power lines in the shots, but there were a trio of scissor-tailed flycatchers dancing around that I had the opportunity to watch the other day on the sidelines of a wedding. Not the best image, but I find them quite a stunning bird nonetheless. </p>

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<p>Can't tell what season it wants to be down here in Texas. One day it is nearly 80, two days later we barely break freezing. In between the extremes, here's a field sparrow out harvesting seed.</p><div></div>

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<p>These are from a few weeks ago. We took a group of youth to visit a paleo lab, and this gives some of the less glamorous views of the tools and slow, meticulous work needed even for preparing large specimens (in this case, a 6-foot triceratops skull).<br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17970144-lg.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="420" /><br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17970148-lg.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="420" /><br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17970146-lg.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="420" /></p>