Sunday, August 31, 2014

Boston's Shine

Boston was sparkeling in the summer sun and was presenting itself to us in beautiful weather while we were there in August.








Saturday, August 30, 2014

Joker-Time

Boston was hoasting a comic convention and we were meeting lots of heros and antagonists all over the place.



The Joker was really nicely colorful.



Friday, August 29, 2014

Turkeys in Town


We were walking a bike path in Arlington, MA, when we encountered these 2 turkeys with a chick. They were just picking at the plants left and right, looked at us curiously and at some point crossed the bike path. Amazing to see them so close and unstressed in the middle of a major town.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Is he mad at me?


He is so fluffy and cute. But I can not avoid the feeling that he is mad at me. Do you see that stare? He was too cute, though, to take it personal.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Pirates in the Bay

You can not explain what pirates do in the bay of Boston, can you? Well, I did not think so. But I spotted them, anchored right infront of the Aquarium.


Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Jelly Fish in Blue

This is a very interesting display of jelly fish in the New England Aquarium. The blue light - or the lack of more light - makes them hard to photograph but also great to look at.






Monday, August 25, 2014

Penguin Couple

We are just back from another trip to New England and we did get to go to the New England Aquarium in Boston angain.

Here is a really cute penguin couple that we got to watch as they are preening eachother.




Sunday, August 24, 2014

The Endless Stairs



When hiking along the levadas you usually hike without much elevation or falling path since you keep up with the water running softly.
In this spot on the hike to the 25 Springs Cauldron you descende quite deeply, cross a canyon on a bridge and then climb back up. What the water does? The open levada is funneled into a pipe and goes by the path to then surface back on the other side in an open pipe. That all works with natural pressure.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Levada View


The levadas are the veins of life and water for Madeira. The amazing agriculture is possible through the good and really old watering system installed on the island.

Friday, August 22, 2014

Another Goldcrest

We found several goldcrests on Madeira. Those little guys are so fast and so shy that you can hardly make out where they are going. If you are lucky to spot them you have to look hard to find out what it was.







Thursday, August 21, 2014

A tunnel of heather

I had never seen heather trees before. I know heather as low bushes and shrubs but not as solid trees and whole forrests.

The tunnels formed along the levada canals are at their most amazing with the light falling in hard between the branches and painting patterns.



Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Trees reaching out

The trees on the steep hills of Madeira have the heather trees growing straight out into the open on most spots. So the trees do not grow up but across. This makes for some interesting views.





Tuesday, August 19, 2014

the goldcrest

We found several really cute and very busy birds on Madeira. 

Here is a goldcrest that is rummaging around in the heather trees in the highlands.








Monday, August 18, 2014

Driftwood


The pebble beaches on Madeira are not quite the usual beaches of the south that people search out. But I love them for the very visible structure and the repetition. This piece of gnarly driftwood caught my attention.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Callas

I had callas in my bridal bouquet. I was not expecting them in a park anywhere. 

This image was taken on Madeira this year at easter.







Friday, August 15, 2014

Dragonfly


This dragonfly was posing in the sun for me quite nicely. I bet the flower was more attractive to the dragonfly and it did not even notice me.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

A classic view

Taking the boat out of Hamburg we came by this classic view of the river bank.

Blohm + Voss Docks








Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

A Gannet in Flight

On Helgoland we got to visit a large collony of gannets this summer. These are amazing birds and we got to get up close.








Monday, August 11, 2014

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Römer Lippe Route

The Romans were setteling along this river. These days there is a bike path called Römer Lippe Route that makes you experience this area. This is where some of the bird hides are we are going to.











Saturday, August 9, 2014

Waterlanding



Waterlanding with specatular noise and splashing. The grey goose was stretching out the landing gear way before the touchdown.

Friday, August 8, 2014

Golden Flower

These flowers in our garden just look so intense in the evening sun.





Thursday, August 7, 2014

Nutria


There are several nutria in the river meadows as we know. We have seen some in the past. Last week while we were at the bird hide we got to see a good number of them in the same area. This one here is poking a funny nose out of the water.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

The deer season

When we were in the bird hide we had a really good and elevated view over the river meadow. We got to see several deer. Two of them were quite busy as you can see here.











Tuesday, August 5, 2014

The Golden Goose


We went to a local bird hide last week right around sunset. We were rewarded with quite a bunch of good images!

These geese are taking over in the region. The have no predators here and each year we see more and more of them. It will get to a point of overpopulation before long.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Water Reflection

View onto the north side of the Lofoten coming from Vesteralen. Summer 2013







Sunday, August 3, 2014

Fjord Scapes


When you have traveled the Lofoten for a few days, these mountain scapes in the fjords look so familiar that you forget how special this is. Here is another image of amazing mountains across the fjord.

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Friday, August 1, 2014

The Place on Earth

I do not know why this sign was standing there. But it was. On the place on earth. So I took its picture. And never found out why.

Can anyone tell me?