Uploads from law_keven, tagged leedscastle

Who's a pretty boy then???...HFF...Everybody..:O))

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:51:32 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Highest Explore Position #132 ~ On September 20th 2008.

Scarlet Macaw - Leeds Castle, Kent, England - Sunday September 14th 2008.
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Happy Feathery Friday to one and All...:O)))

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ~ The Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) is a large, colorful parrot, It is native to humid evergreen forests in the American tropics, from extreme eastern Mexico locally to Amazonian Peru and Brazil, in lowlands up to 500 m (1,640 ft) (at least formerly up to 1,000 m (3,281 ft). It has been widely extirpated by habitat destruction and capture for the pet trade. Formerly it ranged north to southern Tamaulipas. It can still be found on the island of Coiba. It is also the Honduran national bird.

Description ~ It is about 81 to 96 cm (32 to 36 inches) long, of which more than half is the pointed, graduated tail typical of all macaws. The average weight is about a kilogram (2 to 2.5 pounds). The plumage is mostly scarlet, but the rump and tail-covert feathers are light blue, the greater upperwing coverts are yellow, the upper sides of the flight feathers of the wings are dark blue as are the ends of the tail feathers, and the undersides of the wing and tail flight feathers are dark red with metallic gold iridescence. There is bare white skin around the eye and from there to the bill. The upper mandible is mostly pale horn in color and the lower is black. Sexes are alike; the only difference between ages is that young birds have dark eyes, and adults have light yellow eyes.

Scarlet Macaws make loud, low-pitched, throaty squawks, squeaks and screams designed to carry many miles.

Behaviour ~ The Scarlet Macaw can live up to 75 years, although, a more typical lifespan is 30 to 50 years.

Diet ~ Scarlet Macaws eat mostly fruits and seeds, including large, hard seeds. A typical sighting is of a single bird or a pair flying above the forest canopy, though in some areas flocks can be seen. They may gather at clay licks. They like apples, nuts, bananas, and fruits. They also feed on nectar and buds.

Breeding ~ The Scarlet Macaw lays two or three white eggs in a tree cavity. The female incubates the eggs for about 28 days, and the chicks fledge from the nest about 90 days after hatching and leave their parents about a year later.

Distribution and habitat ~ Scarlet Macaws originate in the humid lowland subtropical rain forests, open woodlands, river edges, and savannas of Central and South America. The habitat of the Central American Scarlet Macaw runs through the extreme eastern and southern regions of Mexico and Panama, but also through Guatemala and Belize, while the South American population has an extensive range that covers the Amazon basin; extending to Peru east of the Andes, to Bolivia, and Paraguay. While generally infrequent on the mainland, great colonies of Scarlet Macaws can still be found on the islands of Coiba.

Before the Scarlet Macaw's decline in population, its distribution included much of Costa Rica. However, by the 1960s Scarlet Macaws had been decreasing in numbers due to a combination of factors, particularly hunting, poaching, and the destruction of habitat through deforestation. Further, the spraying of pesticides by companies cultivating and selling bananas for export played a significant role in decreasing Scarlet Macaw populations.

The combined factors stressed the population of Scarlet Macaws in Costa Rica, where they had previously occupied approximately 42,500 km² of the country's total national territory of 51,100 km²,[5] leaving viable populations in the early 1990s isolated to only two regions on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica; the Carara Biological Reserve and Peninsula de Osa. By 1993 surveys had shown Scarlet macaws occupied only 20% (9,100 km²) of their historic range in Costa Rica.

The habitat of Scarlet Macaws is considered to be the greatest latitudinal range for any bird in the genus Ara, as the estimated maximum territorial range covers 6,700,000 km². Nevertheless, the Scarlet macaw’s habitat is fragmented, and colonies of the bird are mostly confined to tiny populations scattered throughout Central and South America. However, as they still occur in large numbers in some parts of their territory, where they are described as "common," the World Conservation Union evaluated the species in 2004 as "Least Concern".

2008....A vintage year...if you like your wine wet..lol..:O))

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:30:57 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Highest Explore Position #385 ~ On September 18th 2008.

Grapes - Leeds Castle, Kent, England - Sunday September 14th 2008.
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Yes....we have vineyards in England as well...California eat your heart out..lol..:O)))
Alright we don't have the same amount of sun as they do....especially this year where we have next to none...which makes these grapes all the more special for surviving the great British "Summer"...:O)))

Anyhoo.....a very nice man at AOL spent 20 mins with me yesterday on the phone, at very reasonable BT rates (LoL) and sorted out my broadband, I now have an always on connection...so Ya Boo Sucks to a certain Insane Manc out there who took great delight in the fact I had to use dial up for 2 days...I'm Baaaaaaack...lol...:O)))

So once again "Happy Boring Wigan" to you all...Oooops I mean...Happy Bokeh Wedneaday...lol..:O)))
Hope you all have a great one...share a grape or two with me...but not too many lol..:O)))

Some More Bokeh for you Sherry..lol..:O))

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 03:05:34 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Forget me Nots - Leeds Castle, Kent, England - Sunday June 22nd 2008.

For my wonderful friend and Bokeh addict Sherry...see her awesome images here - www.flickr.com/photos/8545275@N06/ - Hope your weekends going well my friend, too bad the YS won the 2nd game though..Oh well...we can't have everything in life..lol..:O)))

Myosotis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae that are commonly called Forget-me-nots.

There are about fifty species in the genus, with considerable variation. A considerable number of the species have small (1 cm diameter or less) rather flat 5-petalled blue flower growing profusely on straggly stems, flowering in spring. Colour variation is somewhat frequent within species, and white or pink forms are common. They are popular in gardens, and cultivated forms often show a mixture of colours. Forget-me-nots prefer shade.

Forget-me-nots can be annual or perennial plants. Their root systems are generally diffuse. Their seeds are found in small, tulip shaped pods along the stem to the flower. The pods attach to clothing when brushed against and eventually fall off, leaving the small seed within to germinate elsewhere. Seeds can be collected by putting a piece of paper under the stems and shaking them. The seed pods and some seeds will fall out.

They are widely distributed. Most Myosotis species are endemic to New Zealand, though one or two European species, especially the Wood Forget-me-not, Myosotis sylvatica have been introduced in most of the temperate regions of Europe, Asia and America. Myosotis scorpioides is also known as scorpion grass.

In the United States of America, Myosotis alpestris is the state flower of Alaska. Forget-me-nots are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Setaceous Hebrew Character.

The name was borrowed from Old French "ne m'oubliez pas" and first used in English in c.1532. Loans and translations of it can be found in most European and some non-European languages, like German "Vergissmeinnicht", Italian "Nontiscordardimé", Polish "Niezapominajka", Slovak "Nezábudky", Danish "Forglem-mig-ej", Icelandic "Gleym-mér-ei", Swedish "Förgätmigej", Dutch "vergeet-mij-nietje", Spanish "no-me-olvides", Russian "Незабудки", Bulgarian “Незабравки”, Lithuanian "Neužmirštuolės", Greek "Μη με λησμονείς" (also connected to the people who died during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus), Esperanto "neforgesumino", Chinese "勿忘草" (Mandarin: wù wàng cǎo), Korean "물망초" (勿忘草, mul mang cho), Japanese "勿忘草" (Wasurenagusa), Hebrew "זכריני" (Zichrini), Hungarian "Nefelejcs", Turkish "Unutma Beni", Albanian "Lule-mos-me-harro", Czech "Pomněnka" etc.

In the 15th century Germany, it was supposed that the wearers of the flower would not be forgotten by their lovers.

Legend has it that in medieval times, a knight and his lady were walking along the side of a river. He picked a posy of flowers, but because of the weight of his armour he fell into the river. As he was drowning he threw the posy to his loved one and shouted "Forget-me-not". This is a flower connected with romance and tragic fate. It was often worn by ladies as a sign of faithfulness and enduring love.

It is also told in pious legend that the Christ Child was sitting on Mary's lap one day and said that he wished that future generations could see her eyes. He touched her eyes and then waved his hand over the ground and blue forget-me-nots appeared, hence the name forget-me-not.

Looking up at the sky......Again..:O))

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:09:04 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Pink flowers - Leeds Castle, Kent, England - Sunday June 22nd 2008.

The grass is greener on the other side...

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:40:13 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Highest Explore Position #404 ~ On June 28th 2008.

Kent Countryside - Leeds Castle, Kent, England - Sunday June 22nd 2008.

A Hint of Pink...

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:16:15 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Forget me nots - Leeds Castle, Kent, England - Sunday June 22nd 2008.

Who says Bokeh is just for Wednesday's lol....HBT everybody...(That's Happy Bokeh Thursday)...lol...:O))))

Myosotis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae that are commonly called Forget-me-nots.

There are about fifty species in the genus, with considerable variation. A considerable number of the species have small (1 cm diameter or less) rather flat 5-petalled blue flower growing profusely on straggly stems, flowering in spring. Colour variation is somewhat frequent within species, and white or pink forms are common. They are popular in gardens, and cultivated forms often show a mixture of colours. Forget-me-nots prefer shade.

Forget-me-nots can be annual or perennial plants. Their root systems are generally diffuse. Their seeds are found in small, tulip shaped pods along the stem to the flower. The pods attach to clothing when brushed against and eventually fall off, leaving the small seed within to germinate elsewhere. Seeds can be collected by putting a piece of paper under the stems and shaking them. The seed pods and some seeds will fall out.

They are widely distributed. Most Myosotis species are endemic to New Zealand, though one or two European species, especially the Wood Forget-me-not, Myosotis sylvatica have been introduced in most of the temperate regions of Europe, Asia and America. Myosotis scorpioides is also known as scorpion grass.

In the United States of America, Myosotis alpestris is the state flower of Alaska. Forget-me-nots are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Setaceous Hebrew Character.

The name was borrowed from Old French "ne m'oubliez pas" and first used in English in c.1532. Loans and translations of it can be found in most European and some non-European languages, like German "Vergissmeinnicht", Italian "Nontiscordardimé", Polish "Niezapominajka", Slovak "Nezábudky", Danish "Forglem-mig-ej", Icelandic "Gleym-mér-ei", Swedish "Förgätmigej", Dutch "vergeet-mij-nietje", Spanish "no-me-olvides", Russian "Незабудки", Bulgarian “Незабравки”, Lithuanian "Neužmirštuolės", Greek "Μη με λησμονείς" (also connected to the people who died during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus), Esperanto "neforgesumino", Chinese "勿忘草" (Mandarin: wù wàng cǎo), Korean "물망초" (勿忘草, mul mang cho), Japanese "勿忘草" (Wasurenagusa), Hebrew "זכריני" (Zichrini), Hungarian "Nefelejcs", Turkish "Unutma Beni", Albanian "Lule-mos-me-harro", Czech "Pomněnka" etc.

In the 15th century Germany, it was supposed that the wearers of the flower would not be forgotten by their lovers.

Legend has it that in medieval times, a knight and his lady were walking along the side of a river. He picked a posy of flowers, but because of the weight of his armour he fell into the river. As he was drowning he threw the posy to his loved one and shouted "Forget-me-not". This is a flower connected with romance and tragic fate. It was often worn by ladies as a sign of faithfulness and enduring love.

It is also told in pious legend that the Christ Child was sitting on Mary's lap one day and said that he wished that future generations could see her eyes. He touched her eyes and then waved his hand over the ground and blue forget-me-nots appeared, hence the name forget-me-not.

The answer is blowing in the wind...

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:30:15 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Highest Explore Position #500 ~ On June 25th 2008.
Update ~ New Position now #475 / #462 ~ June 26th 2008.
Update ~ New Position #236 ~ On June 27th 2008.

Castle through the swaying grass - Leeds Castle, Kent, England - Sunday June 22nd 2008.

As I said below, it was blowing a gale in England on Sunday and this image was taken in a gale, hense it's a little out of focus, but I kinda liked the out of focus look, I wanted to get across how windy it was..:O))

The black sheep of the family...

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:20:09 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Highest Explore Position #256 ~ On June 24th 2008.
Update ~ New position #'227 ~ On June 25th 2008.

Asian Ladybird - Leeds Castle, Kent, England - Sunday June 22nd 2008.
Click
You wouldn't believe how difficult this it was to get this image!!...It was blowing a gale here in Kent, England yesterday. This bug was clinging on for dear life and I just managed to click inbetween the sways..lol..:O))
This was also my first Ladybird image, the last time I saw one was when one landed on me in the shop where I buy my Sunday papers...which was typical, as I didn't have my camera with me.
The ladybirds seem to be very few and far between at the moment, unless they are just hiding from me...lol.

Hmmm, it looks like I captured a killer..lol..perhaps I should have squished it after I photographed it!!!
This would also explain my story above...the reason I've not seen many is because these illegal immigrants have eaten them all!!!!!!

Also see here... -
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-487281/The-Asian-lady-se... - and here - www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2004/10...
Killer ladybirds in the capital
By James Stern

Asian Ladybirds - One of the unusual mainly black variants.

Killer ladybirds are invading London and are threatening the Capital's insects and plants.

The large Multivariate Asian Ladybird - a native of Japan and Siberia - has been spotted in London, and has brought with it a new threat of terror to the Capital's ladybird population.

It is not known how the foreign ladybirds entered the country, but the illegal immigrants are thought to have arrived via intercontinental rail, or on imported fruit and flowers.

Many of the foreign colonies have been spotted in south west London - including the Chelsea, Lambeth, Northern Wandsworth and Southwark boroughs, with experts believing the Harmonia axyridis - to give the species it's Latin name - will spread further east along the Thames as it breeds.

London residents have been asked to keep guard and look out for the large aphid - roughly 6-8mm long. The ladybird can be identified by its white patches down the side of the fore-body, usually coloured red or orange with up to 19 black spots. It may sometimes be coloured black with two to eight red patches.

The public has been asked to send specimens or photographs of unusual specimens for identification to Michael Majerus - address given below.

The exotic ladybirds are a known menace to North American residents, entering houses during the autumn and reproducing in massive numbers. Native ladybirds and insects are edged out, either starved by competition or eaten by the in-comer.

In the longer term there is a chance that the ladybird will prosper in London. However entomologist Paul Mabbott, Co-ordinator for Surveys of Ladybirds in London and Essex, hopes European predators and diseases will keep the growing Asian ladybird population down. It may, however, be necessary to import parasitoids or bacterial treatments to deal with the situation.

Information:

Michael Majerus, Dept of Genetics, University of Cambridge, CB2 3EH
Ladybirds travel well by post if securely packed in a small, strong container such as a photographic film tube.

A Star is born.....

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:07:47 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Sunlight through the grass - Leeds Castle, Kent, England - Sunday June 22nd 2008.

Peacock Suit....

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:56:55 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Peacock - Leeds Castle, Kent, England - Sunday June 22nd 2008.
Click
Paul Weller - Peacock Suit - uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iRRB-MS7gJY

Well, as you can see, today I went to Leeds castle in Kent, England - As I am still without my sigma 70-300mm long lens this was taken with the standard Canon kit lens...thankfully the Peacocks at the castle are tame and this one let me lay next to it without legging it away...Result..lol..:O)))
However, not having my long lens meant me missing loads of great shots, as there were baby ducks, baby geese (Not Canada ones), an aviary full of great subjects and flying and diving seagulls..Hmmm, in fact I was sooooo despondent at the stuff I wasn't able to get, I left early..:O((
I also got wet taking photos of baby black swans...when this overgrown idiot decided to jump across the moat whilst I was laying on the floor...he duly missed and ended up in the drink...splashing me in the process...mind you it was funny, I saw him sizing up the jump and knew he was going for it, I should have taken some shots, cause as I said, I knew he was going to miss...the angle and the speed of take off was all wrong....trust me I'm an expert...lol..:O)))))

Swan - Portrait - Leeds Castle - Kent, England - Sunday August 26th 2007

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 01:49:18 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Sheep Bokeh...Happy Furry Friday...or should that be wooly..lol..:O))

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:08:42 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Sheep - Leeds Castle, Kent, England - Sunday September 14th 2008.
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Well...this Sunday, after I got up at the crack of dawn to see the Sunrise over Greenwich Park, I scuttled off to Leeds Castle....It was as if Summer had arrived for the day...the sheep were out in force in the fields and I saw loads of butterflies, the most this year..perhaps they were making the most of the sun...making Hay whilst the sun was shining....and we are set to have more of the same this weekend...Yahhh...:O))

Anyhoo, I hope you all have an awesome weekend, whatever the weather...:O)))

In the air tonight....

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:07:04 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Seagull - Leeds Castle, Kent, England - Sunday September 14th 2008.
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The Garden of England...

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:48:35 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Kent Countryside - Leeds Castle, Kent, England - Sunday June 22nd 2008.

What could have been....:O(

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:19:28 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Family of Geese - Leeds Castle, Kent, England - Sunday June 22nd 2008.

Yup...it's images like this, that made me go home early on Sunday...without my long lens, this is the best I could do to catch a family of geese living in the lake surrounding the castle.

Good news for me though...I found out today that the part that they were waiting for was received today, and I should get my Sigma 70-300 mm lens back next Tuesday / Wednesday...YAHHHH..:O)))

HBW Everybody....:O)))

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:28:19 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Pink flower - Leeds Castle, Kent, England - Sunday June 22nd 2008.

I got this email from Flickr yesterday...No idea what the event is or why of all the images I have in my stream they chose this one..but hey...It's nice to be noticed I guess lol..:O))
I'll keep you posted should I hear more..I'm sure your all on tenter hooks..lol..:O)))

Photo Use for Flickr Promotion

Hi Keven,

I'm Jenna from the Flickr PR team. We're creating some samples (Holiday cards, stamps, etc.) for an upcoming media event using Flickr photos and I wanted to make sure you would be okay with us using the following photo. The samples will be given away to media (reporters/editors) but will not be used commercially.

flickr.com/photos/66164549@N00/2550786331/sizes/l/

I know this particular photo is "some rights reserved" but I wanted to get your permission anyway.

We are family...

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:05:38 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Australian black swans - Leeds Castle, Kent, England - Sunday June 22nd 2008.

This is what I was photographing when the idiot I mentioned on Sunday attempted to jump the moat....I'm laying on the grass at this point getting splashed...lol..:O)

As I said on my peacock image on Sunday, I saw this overgrown idiot sizing up the leap across the small moat that was near me, that joined the bigger lake where the swans were...the swans were near me when I started to take photos, but when the idiot missed his jump and hit the drink...he frightened the swans and got me wet!!!
I knew he was going to miss as soon as I saw him attempt the leap...cause the angle of his approach, the speed of the take off and trajectory were all wrong...trust me I'm an expert lol....I used to be a champion long jumper and triple jumper when I was a small person..:O)))

This was taken with the Canon EOS 400D kit lens..so isn't as clear as I could have done it with my Sigma 70-300mm lens...as these guys were just out of my focal range...Hopefully I'll get it back by the end of next week...Fingers crossed...when I do, I'm gonna fill my stream up with all the images I've been missing over the last 3-4 weeks...sooooooo expect flying seagulls n ducks galore..lol..:O)))

We will fight them on the beaches...

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:41:44 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

English Ladybird - Leeds Castle, Kent, England - Sunday June 22nd 2008.

Yup...on the same bush as the alien invaders was this outnumbered, backs to wall English Ladybird...If I had know then what I know now...I would have helped him/her out by getting rid of his / her aggressors..Fight the good fight my friend...Cry God for Harry, England and St George...NEVER SURRENDER..:O)))

Sorry this image is a little out of focus and blurry, but as I said below it was blowing a gale here in England on Sunday, and to be honest I was lucky to any images at all!!
I only put this image up because I wanted to show the juxtaposition between the native and the alien invader and this was the best of a very bad bunch..:O((
It's also the first time I've managed to capture a native ladybird as well...hopefully next time I see one it will be less windy...one can but hope..:O))
Hey ho...one can only try ones best I guess..:O(

Bird - On One leg - Leeds Castle - Kent, England - August 25th 2007

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 22:27:56 -0700

law_keven posted a photo:

Duck - Leeds Castle - Kent, England - Sunday August 26th 2007

nobody@flickr.com (law_keven) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 22:28:22 -0700

law_keven posted a photo: