Everyone's photos, videos and docs, with the keywords: "soil"

BtC - digger been here {1 of 2}

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 18:00:23 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

When I wasn't looking, Bella set off for Australia - either that, or she was in search of coal. Nothing interesting found ...

The result of her efforts was twice the depth of my best border spade !
The soil under these trees is so dry, filling the pit took some doing. In the end, I "borrowed" some molehills and then raked up enough of the top layer of dusty soil to get a smooth finish.
Funnily enough, apart from hinting at another attempt, she hasn't dug here again.

{two images using different settings on the camera}

BtC - digger been here {2 of 2}

nobody@ipernity.com (StoneRoad2013) — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 18:00:25 +0000

StoneRoad2013 has posted:

When I wasn't looking, Bella set off for Australia - either that, or she was in search of coal. Nothing interesting found.

The result of her efforts was twice the depth of my best border spade !
The soil under these trees is so dry, filling the pit took some doing. In the end, I "borrowed" some molehills and then raked up enough of the top layer of dusty soil to get a smooth finish.
Funnily enough, apart from hinting at another attempt, she hasn't dug here again.

{two images using different settings on the camera}

PXL 20241011 103750825-001-Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu

nobody@ipernity.com (MJ Maccardini (trailerfullofpix)) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 22:24:46 +0000

MJ Maccardini (trailerfullofpix) has posted:

Mural by Dr Esther Mahlangu, made of pigment mixed with clay, soil and cow dung, outside the Serpenting Gallery, Kensington Gardens. More info in PiP.

IMG 0930-001-My Body My Choice

nobody@ipernity.com (MJ Maccardini (trailerfullofpix)) — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 17:45:51 +0000

MJ Maccardini (trailerfullofpix) has posted:

Frieze Sculpture 2023, Regent's Park

IMG 0931-001-Ghada Amer

nobody@ipernity.com (MJ Maccardini (trailerfullofpix)) — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 17:45:46 +0000

MJ Maccardini (trailerfullofpix) has posted:

Frieze Sculpture 2023, Regent's Park

Disturbance (11.02.2022)

nobody@ipernity.com (Siebbi) — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 19:32:19 +0000

Siebbi has posted:

Just a spoonful

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 01:33:47 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

For Macro Mondays 216 - 2 August 2021: "Erde/Boden - Soil". Wikipedia defines soil as "... a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life".

Well, as I live near the beach, I guess it's hardly surprising that the soil here is derived mainly from sand.

two grounds

nobody@ipernity.com (polytropos) — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 05:23:00 +0000

polytropos has posted:

Makro Mondays 02.08.2021 – Topic: "Erde/Boden / Soil"

Die Aufgabe war "Erdboden/Erdreich; aus verwittertem Gestein, organischen Stoffen und Mineralien bestehendes, feinkörniges Gemisch, das einen Teil der Erdoberfläche bildet und die Grundlage des Pflanzenwachstums darstellt" in einem Makro auzuzeigen.
Da kam mir als erstes meine ► Sandsammlung (PiP – Klicke für mehr Infos) in den Sinn. Über die Jahre habe ich Sand aus allen Teilen der Welt gesammelt und in kleine Gläser abgefüllt.
Oben sieht man links den Sand in der Nähe der Aare in meinem Wohnort in Bern und rechts einen Querschnitt durch die Böden des Südwestens der USA.

Ich hoffe, das wird der Aufgabenstellung gerecht. :-)

Ich bin quasi ► Mister Sandman ·, aber Träume, insbesondere süsse, kann ich nicht versprechen. ;-)

Day 6, Northern Cardinal male / Cardinalis cardinalis

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Fri, 10 May 2019 18:18:32 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

Sorry for posting SO many photos today! I think it's the only way I will ever get through all the images from this Texas trip.

On Day 6 of our birding holiday in South Texas, 24 March 2019, we left our hotel in Kingsville, South Texas, and started our drive to Mission, where we would be staying at La Quinta Inn & Suites for three nights. On the first stretch of our drive, we were lucky enough to see several bird species, including a Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Hooded Oriole, Red-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, Harris's Hawk, Pyrrhuloxia male (looks similar to a Cardinal) and a spectacular Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. I'm not sure if this stretch is called Hawk Alley.

We had a long drive further south towards Mission, with only a couple of drive-by photos taken en route (of a strangely shaped building that turned out to be a deserted seed storage building). Eventually, we reached our next planned stop, the National Butterfly Centre. This was a great place, my favourite part of it being the bird feeding station, where we saw all sorts of species and reasonably close. Despite the name of the place, we only saw a few butterflies while we were there. May have been the weather or, more likely, the fact that I was having so much fun at the bird feeding station. We also got to see Spike, a giant African Spurred Tortoise. All the nature/wildlife parks that we visited in South Texas had beautiful visitor centres and usually bird feeding stations. And there are so many of these parks - so impressive!

nationalbutterflycenter.org/nbc-multi-media/in-the-news/1...

"Ten years ago, the North American Butterfly Association broke ground for what has now become the largest native plant botanical garden in the United States. This 100-acre preserve is home to Spike (who thinks he is a butterfly) and the greatest volume and variety of wild, free-flying butterflies in the nation. In fact, USA Today calls the National Butterfly Center, in Mission, Texas, 'the butterfly capitol of the USA'." From the Butterfly Centre's website.

The Centre is facing huge challenges, as a result of the "Border Wall". The following information is from the Centre's website.

www.nationalbutterflycenter.org/about-nbc/maps-directions...

"No permission was requested to enter the property or begin cutting down trees. The center was not notified of any roadwork, nor given the opportunity to review, negotiate or deny the workplan. Same goes for the core sampling of soils on the property, and the surveying and staking of a “clear zone” that will bulldoze 200,000 square feet of habitat for protected species like the Texas Tortoise and Texas Indigo, not to mention about 400 species of birds. The federal government had decided it will do as it pleases with our property, swiftly and secretly, in spite of our property rights and right to due process under the law."

"What the Border Wall will do here:
1) Eradicate an enormous amount of native habitat, including host plants for butterflies, breeding and feeding areas for wildlife, and lands set aside for conservation of endangered and threatened species-- including avian species that migrate N/S through this area or over-winter, here, in the tip of the Central US Flyway.

2) Create devastating flooding to all property up to 2 miles behind the wall, on the banks of the mighty Rio Grande River, here.

3) Reduce viable range land for wildlife foraging and mating. This will result in greater competition for resources and a smaller gene pool for healthy species reproduction. Genetic "bottlenecks" can exacerbate blight and disease.

IN ADDITION:

4) Not all birds can fly over the wall, nor will all butterfly species. For example, the Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, found on the southern border from Texas to Arizona, only flies about 6 ft in the air. It cannot overcome a 30 ft vertical wall of concrete and steel.

5) Nocturnal and crepuscular wildlife, which rely on sunset and sunrise cues to regulate vital activity, will be negatively affected by night time flood lighting of the "control zone" the DHS CBP will establish along the wall and new secondary drag roads. The expansion of these areas to vehicular traffic will increase wildlife roadkill.

6) Animals trapped north of the wall will face similar competition for resources, cut off from native habitat in the conservation corridor and from water in the Rio Grande River and adjacent resacas. HUMANS, here, will also be cut off from our only source of fresh water, in this irrigated desert.

Day 7, Green Jay / Cyanocorax yncas

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Tue, 07 May 2019 00:43:10 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

On Day 6 of our birding holiday in South Texas, 24 March 2019, we left our hotel in Kingsville, South Texas, and started our drive to Mission, where we would be staying at La Quinta Inn & Suites for three nights. On the first stretch of our drive, we were lucky enough to see several bird species, including a Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Hooded Oriole, Red-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, Harris's Hawk, Pyrrhuloxia male (looks similar to a Cardinal) and a spectacular Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. I'm not sure if this stretch is called Hawk Alley.

We had a long drive further south towards Mission, with only a couple of drive-by photos taken en route (of a strangely shaped building). Eventually, we reached our next planned stop, the National Butterfly Centre. This was a great place, my favourite part of it being the bird feeding station, where we saw all sorts of species and reasonably close. Despite the name of the place, we only saw a few butterflies while we were there. May have been the weather or, more likely, the fact that I was having so much fun at the bird feeding station. We also got to see Spike, a giant African Spurred Tortoise. All the nature/wildlife parks that we visited in South Texas had beautiful visitor centres and usually bird feeding stations. And there are so many of these parks - so impressive!

nationalbutterflycenter.org/nbc-multi-media/in-the-news/1...

"Ten years ago, the North American Butterfly Association broke ground for what has now become the largest native plant botanical garden in the United States. This 100-acre preserve is home to Spike (who thinks he is a butterfly) and the greatest volume and variety of wild, free-flying butterflies in the nation. In fact, USA Today calls the National Butterfly Center, in Mission, Texas, 'the butterfly capitol of the USA'." From the Butterfly Centre's website.

The Centre is facing huge challenges, as a result of the "Border Wall". The following information is from the Centre's website.

www.nationalbutterflycenter.org/about-nbc/maps-directions...

"No permission was requested to enter the property or begin cutting down trees. The center was not notified of any roadwork, nor given the opportunity to review, negotiate or deny the workplan. Same goes for the core sampling of soils on the property, and the surveying and staking of a “clear zone” that will bulldoze 200,000 square feet of habitat for protected species like the Texas Tortoise and Texas Indigo, not to mention about 400 species of birds. The federal government had decided it will do as it pleases with our property, swiftly and secretly, in spite of our property rights and right to due process under the law."

"What the Border Wall will do here:
1) Eradicate an enormous amount of native habitat, including host plants for butterflies, breeding and feeding areas for wildlife, and lands set aside for conservation of endangered and threatened species-- including avian species that migrate N/S through this area or over-winter, here, in the tip of the Central US Flyway.

2) Create devastating flooding to all property up to 2 miles behind the wall, on the banks of the mighty Rio Grande River, here.

3) Reduce viable range land for wildlife foraging and mating. This will result in greater competition for resources and a smaller gene pool for healthy species reproduction. Genetic "bottlenecks" can exacerbate blight and disease.

IN ADDITION:

4) Not all birds can fly over the wall, nor will all butterfly species. For example, the Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, found on the southern border from Texas to Arizona, only flies about 6 ft in the air. It cannot overcome a 30 ft vertical wall of concrete and steel.

5) Nocturnal and crepuscular wildlife, which rely on sunset and sunrise cues to regulate vital activity, will be negatively affected by night time flood lighting of the "control zone" the DHS CBP will establish along the wall and new secondary drag roads. The expansion of these areas to vehicular traffic will increase wildlife roadkill.

6) Animals trapped north of the wall will face similar competition for resources, cut off from native habitat in the conservation corridor and from water in the Rio Grande River and adjacent resacas. HUMANS, here, will also be cut off from our only source of fresh water, in this irrigated desert.

Ferruginous Hawk

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 17:09:09 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

This Hawk was so far away that I almost didn't notice it. A lot of zoom and I ended up with a grainy photo, but hopefully it is enough to get a positive ID. The bird looks large, white front, white face with an eye stripe and the kind of location would be right for a Ferruginous Hawk. A happy sighting if I'm right.

"Wednesday, August 22, 2018, 4:55 PM -Air quality statements blanket parts of western Canada as smoke from the more than 500 wildfires burning in British Columbia coats the region in some of the worst air quality in the world." From the Weather Network. Apparently, this is the smokiest year on record for Calgary!!

As you can tell by the photos I posted this morning, I got out of the forest and into the dry prairies. Two days ago, on 21 August 2018, it turned out to be such a great day, with some much-appreciated sightings. I must have spent about 8 or 9 hours driving and almost every inch of my body aches like crazy. Now, each summer, I try and do two or three longer (for me) drives, making sure I don't lose confidence to get there.

Weather-wise, it was around 24C, so not too hot. Yes, it was still smokey from the British Columbia wildfires, making distant hills barely visible and deleting mountains from view, but it didn't have too much effect on closer photography.

It was a good day for Hawks, seeing three on the way south and a few on the way home. I almost missed two immature Red-tailed Hawks, as the hay bale they were standing on was way out in a large field. At first, I thought there were three hawks together, but when I stopped to take a few photos, I realized that there were only two - one looked almost like two hawks close together, but then I saw that it had its wings mantled. I guess it wanted to make sure that the second hawk behind it couldn't steal any of the food from it.

A Horned Lark, a Western Meadowlark juvenile, and an unidentified sparrow gave me the chance for a photo or two. I probably would have seen more if I had driven a lot of back roads, but this was such a long drive, there just was not time.

Coral Fungus

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 17:11:59 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

How wonderful it feels to have a cooler morning! A short while ago, it was just 11C, now 15C just before noon. Finally, I can get some cooler air inside my place. The last two days, I have had to go out in my car just to get the relief of air-conditioning. Yesterday, I more or less repeated my drive from the previous day, except that I called in at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park to see if there was any sign of fungi growing. It is still not the peak of the fungi season, so I was not too hopeful. I barely entered the forest, as it still gives me the creeps, - Bears, Cougar and Moose are seen there, and I have been told so many times not to go by myself. So far, I have only seen a very large Moose. I did find a cluster of very tiny mushrooms ad several clumps of orange Coral Fungus in their usual location. Took a few wildflower shots, too, which I don't do very often these days, unlike a few years ago.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clavarioid_fungi

Wild European Rabbit

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 14:58:37 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

My heart goes out to all those who have been affected by the devastating tragedy in the province to our east, after a collision on Friday (6 April 2018) between a Saskatchewan junior hockey team’s bus and a tractor-trailer in rural Saskatchewan. That afternoon, the Broncos junior hockey team of Humboldt, Saskatchewan, were en route to a playoff game in Nipawin. Twenty-nine people were on board the team bus. Fifteen people were killed, including the coach, assistant coach, bus driver and a team announcer. Others remain in hospital. The tractor-trailer driver survived. There has been such a huge outpouring from people across Canada, and beyond. Such sadness, especially at so many young lives lost.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are a number of Wild European Rabbits in Calgary, and this is just one of them. It always feels strange to see what look like pet rabbits wandering loose in people's gardens and around a neighbourhood. This one was seen on 23 July 2014, when I went on a botany walk at the Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area. It was busy eating the grass by this tombstone and then it took a good look at me before continuing to feed. Right next to this area is a Cemetery - funny, I do tend to see rabbits in cemeteries, either these Wild European Rabbits, which come in all sorts of colours, or the White-tailed Jackrabbits.

The town of Canmore, near Banff, in Banff National Park, has had a problem with these Wild European Rabbits. They attract Coyotes and other wildlife into the town. I know they did do something about this problem, but I don't know what the situation in Canmore is like now. I seem to remember reading that a fair number of them were sent to British Columbia to a sanctuary there and the rest were "got rid of".

Here is a link to a Calgary Herald newspaper article from 15th December 2010, about the problem with these Rabbits in the town of Canmore, near Banff: They were, of course, also eating the plants in people's gardens, which some home owners complained about.

"Canmore Mayor Ron Casey is taking aim at the picturesque Alberta town's rascally rabbits. Casey, who said the animals are attracting predators such as cougars, has secured support for a $50,000 budget to deal with feral rabbits."

Read more: www.calgaryherald.com/technology/Canmore+cull+bear+baitin...

Curious

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 16:55:37 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

I will add that this photo of two little Burrowing Owls was taken in captivity and not in the wild. I'm not sure if the front one is the female who is a foster mother to several babies who were brought into the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre. The owl that is peeping round the pipe is a young one. Only once have I ever seen Burrowing Owls in the wild, way down in south-eastern Alberta. What a thrill that was - many birders never get such a chance, so I know I'm very lucky.

""As a result of its ENDANGERED Species status in 1995, it has the focus of a variety of conservation efforts. Operation Burrowing Owl and other projects involving habitat preservation with landowners have been created. Populations are monitored by Fish and Wildlife departments. They have been reintroduced into the British Columbia interior, where it was extirpated. Outlook would improve if larger areas of habitat were preserved and harmful pesticides were banned in all areas of their range. Numbers could increase if an increased tolerance to burrowing mammals develops (i.e. badgers) – provides homes for the Burrowing Owl. Outlook: perilous." From burrowingowl.com.

burrowingowl.com/visit/index.php

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrowing_Owl

This summer, we have had practically no 'normal' summer days. They have been either far too hot thanks to our endless heatwave, or too smoky thanks to all the wildfires in British Columbia and Alberta. The weather forecast for six days ago looked good; sunshine all day, with rain forecast on several of the coming days. I decided to finally do a drive all the way down south to near Lethbridge, so that I could again visit the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale. Last year, I did this drive for the very first time on my own and I wanted to make sure I didn't lose my courage to do it again. During the 511 kms that I drove, I had to ask for help with directions twice - both times in the same small hamlet! It was a hot day, with a temperature of 31C when I was at the Centre.

The forecast was for sun all day, but there was no mention of the smoke haze that completely blocked out the mountains and pretty much the foothills, too. Very quickly, I was almost tempted to turn around and come home, but I had noticed rain in the forecast for some coming days. I reckoned I would still be able to photograph the fairly close birds at the Centre, which worked out fine.

Amazingly, I managed to make myself get up early that morning, 3 August 2017, and set off just before 8:30 am. My intention was to drive straight to Coaldale without stopping anywhere en route. Not an easy thing for me to do, as I much prefer driving slowly along the backroads rather than the less interesting highways. However, I knew it would take me a few hours to get there and I wanted to have as much time as possible down there. On the way home, I drove one dusty, gravel road, but saw nothing but a couple of Horned Larks perched on fence posts. A couple of old barns (that I had seen before) and a few scenic shots, were more or less all I took.

Twelve hours later, I finally arrived home, at 8:30 pm, totally tired out, and my car was just about out of gas. For the first time in the year that I have had this vehicle, the gas level warning light came on. Also, it surprises me that the oil change light has never come on, as I have done 8,500 km in just under 12 months. I was given free oil changes for the life of the car, but was told that I can't get them done until the light comes on, on the dashboard. Think I'd better contact the dealership and ask about this. Almost a year sounds far too long to not have an oil change. Later: after doing a bit of Googling, it seems that it is quite normal to have done this many km, or more, before the maintenance light comes on for getting a first oil change. My previous vehicle was 17 years old and things have obviously changed with newer cars!

Cross Section

nobody@ipernity.com (Keith Burton) — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 15:54:38 +0000

Keith Burton has posted:

Part of the old railway embankment at Langstone Harbour has succumbed to the wind and waves and has fallen away...........leaving this fascinating cross section of it's geological make up.

My new neighbour?

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 16:02:42 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

When I arrived home yesterday after a morning's walk at the Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area in the city, I noticed a pale brown 'shape' at the side of my front steps. When I zoomed in with my camera, I realized it was a Richardson's Ground Squirrel, aka Gopher! I've never seen one in my area before!I wonder how long it has been there, or if it has decided to stay under my steps. I have visions of a whole burrow system being created, which would not be good, even though they are cute little animals, lol! I guess I had better keep an eye on it.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richardson%27s_ground_squirrel

Yesterday, 27 July 2017. I decided to get up early and do a repeat botany walk at the Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area, not far from downtown. One of the reasons I did this, was that I really dislike doing this drive, especially knowing that I could so easily end up in the downtown area - which I avoid at all cost. So, a bit like getting back on a horse if one is thrown off, I hoped a second drive might make me feel more comfortable. Also, I really wanted to hopefully see a Wild European Rabbit or two, and sure enough, they didn't disappoint. Black and white, plain black, light brown, mid-brown. A few more photos of the Nodding/Musk Thistles were also on my mind.

The Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area, not far from downtown Calgary, is the richest botanical area, for its size, within the city. Over 385 species have been recorded in an area of about three hectares. (All of Fish Creek Provincial Park has only about 460 species). Eighty species, however, are aliens, now occupying 90+% of the area. It is such a shame to see how the area is being devastated by plants that include Baby's Breath, Creeping Thistle, Nodding Thistle, Yellow Clematis and other invasive species.

We are still under a Heat Warning. This morning, I happened to check the forecast for the coming week and, so far, the temperatures for next Thursday and Friday are 35C and 34C. The average high for the month of July is 22.9C. There are fire bans in many places in Alberta, as everywhere is bone dry.

My Office

nobody@ipernity.com (Indycaver (Norm)) — Wed, 24 May 2017 02:06:04 +0000

Indycaver (Norm) has posted:

My office today while eating lunch at my desk. ... and hunting for the elusive Cope Soil.

Earth Day

nobody@ipernity.com (Heidiho) — Sat, 22 Apr 2017 12:20:22 +0000

Heidiho has posted:

Saturday Self-Challenge April 22, 2017:
Today is Earth Day, so the subject for the challenge will be Earth Day related, such as beautiful landscapes, wild animals, flowers and trees, and anything else related to the environment. Processing is fine ....
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today the group "Saturday Self-Challenge" has moved to Flickr.
This decision is the result of a user-poll. A majority of group-members decided better to stay on Fl***r, and to leave IP. Because of the uncertain future of IP.
In my opinion a sad, a wrong decision. But I have to bow to the will of the majority.

So for myself I decided:
For the next time I will show my SSC-contributions also in IP.
If IP survives, I will leave Fl***r. Because IP is a home. Fl***r only is an asylum.

Coming Soon: Empty Lot

nobody@ipernity.com (MJ Maccardini (trailerfullofpix)) — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 23:01:49 +0000

MJ Maccardini (trailerfullofpix) has posted:

Turbine Hall, Tate Modern. New Hyundai Commission installation by Abraham Cruzvillegas.

Empty Lot

nobody@ipernity.com (MJ Maccardini (trailerfullofpix)) — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 23:01:55 +0000

MJ Maccardini (trailerfullofpix) has posted:

Turbine Hall, Tate Modern. New Hyundai Commission installation by Abraham Cruzvillegas. I'm not sure if plants are meant to grow in these boxes.