North Umpqua by the Steamboat Inn

North Umpqua by the Steamboat Inn, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

For no other reason than it is a beautiful place.

angel baby holding a skull

angel baby holding a skull, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

For no particular reason. I'm just in an mood for the absurd.

Wies'n 2008 - Hofbräu Festhalle

Wies'n 2008 - Hofbräu Festhalle, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

I could use one of these very large beers available here at Wies'n at the Hofbräu Tent. What is interesting is that the Hofbräu is a state-owned brewery. I like that beer is important enough that the government considers it worthwhile to participate. The beer is quite tasty.

I have no idea why some one would want this above their door

I have no idea why some one would want this above their door, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

This reclining nude soldier is wearing what appears to be a German helmet and throwing a potato-masher grenade. On the street where our apartment was in Budapest, Hungary.

I think this wins the oddest thing by a door competition.

Red leaves on the way to Broken Top

Red leaves on the way to Broken Top, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

For a number of reasons we have not travelled much in the last year, I now have an itch to see some things and to go out an photograph. Shots like this remind me of why I have the urge.

Yoink

Yoink, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

I was increasing the delinquent behavior of jay jays letting them take food from my hand.

Nuzzling with mum

Nuzzling with mum, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

Cute aren't they, but like many things there is often more than meets the eye. Look in the lower right. Those claws, perfect for climbing trees can also be useful for expressing displeasure or protecting the baby. It reminds me to keep an open mind for hidden beauty and open eyes about dangers to avoid.

Australian sea lion

Australian sea lion, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

It's time for a snooze on a beach. It's been a long time since we have gotten away and I think we need it. Someplace remote and quiet. It would be nice to get back here. Kangaroo Island, South Australia.

Keeping your eyes open II

Untitled, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

A planting that is undistinguished most of the year, but in the fall it is spectacular. Outside Taylor Hall, University of Wisconsin - Madison.

wine goblet mushrooms

wine goblet mushrooms, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

On every turn in Costa Rica there is something amazing. These striking cup mushrooms were along the trail. Keep your eyes open. Beautiful things aren't always bright red.

Reflection

Reflection, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

Van Hise Hall and a tree showing its fall colors in wind-blown puddle left by last night's rain. A spot color in an otherwise gray patch.

Never blog directly from the Flickr Blog tool

Ibis taking flight, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

I had written a post associated with this photo and when I tried to post, it told me the action had failed, and I lost the post. It is too late for me to recreate it. Perhaps another time.

Bald Eagle in flight

Bald Eagle in flight, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

It was an overcast day, so I was not having much luck with a long, slowish lens and action shots, this one worked out OK. A bald eagle in the channel between Vancouver island and BC mainland.

wing patch

wing patch, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

These are everyday ducks. We see them everyday, but I love this close up as a reminder that it is important to keep an eye out for the details.

Evening on Douglas Lake

Evening on Douglas Lake, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

The end of a long week. A canoe ride on a lake with a beautiful sunset would be really nice. Not this week, unfortunately. Have a good weekend everyone.

It's coming

Waiting for next year, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

There was a definite snap in the air this morning. I know what that means, soon we will see this. I don't really mind the cold though, it is a nice break from the heat, and winters, despite some of there extremes of recent years are getting shorter.

the terrible poison frog

the terrible poison frog, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

Phyllobates terribilis, is more commonly called the golden poison frog. It generates some of the strongest frog toxins, and in the wild it is unwise to handle them with your bare hands, lest you absorb the poison through any small scratch. When I was an active herpetologist I was speaking with a friend who studies dendrobatids in the field. He told me that is was common practice in the field to test the strength of the toxin by touching the tip of your tongue to the frog to see if it went numb. This practice largely stopped upon the discovery of how toxic this frog is, as doing that with this animal in the wild might kill you. They quickly lose toxicity in captivity because they are not fed the insects from which they derive the toxins. Still, better safe than sorry, I always wore gloves when handling its congener, Phyllobates bicolor. Taken at the Audubon Aquarium, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Hyacinth macaws

Hyacinth macaws, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

Such lovely birds. They are residents of the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are too rare in the wild, in part because their striking coloration makes them in high demand in the illegal pet trade.

Racing through the cold

Racing through the cold, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

Why? all of a sudden, this became a hot photo. I do not know why.

Buttress roots

Buttress roots, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

The roots on many of the jungle trees are these amazing buttress roots which help hold up the trees. Few were as impressive as these, the large one up front about three feet high.

Using cellphone as a clicker

Using cellphone as a clicker, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

It's interesting how these mundane shots with the right keywords become popular. It is probably also helpful that it licensed as CC-By so that anyone can use it. Using cellphones to gather audience response is quite a popular topic.

Desktop photos

Desktop photos, a set on Flickr.

These are photos that I have used as my desktop photos and enjoyed. I don't know if it is because of the time surrounding when it was taken, but I hope others might enjoy them too.

Young spiny softshell turtle

Young spiny softshell turtle, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

A young turtle from a nest recovered at Fish Lake, Livingston Co, Michigan in 1993. This one is about 1.5 inches (carapace length) at this point. It was about 3 inches when released back to the lake. Even at this size they are quite ill-tempered.

Budapest market

Budapest market, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

I love this market, fantastic selection and lots of goose liver.

Black-crowned night heron

Black-crowned night heron, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

I love the red eye. That is all.

Yellow jacket on nest comb

Yellow jacket on nest comb 3, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

I had to get some yellow jackets to move along as they found a spot right in an area where we needed to be. I think these were native yellow jackets so I would not have bothered them, but they posed a bit of a danger to us. I have been stung a few time this summer and more did not appeal to me. I dug them out on a cool night and it offered me the opportunity to get a few shots of the combs that make up the nest.

Tuatara

Tuatara, a photo by alumroot on Flickr.

A Tuatara at the Toledo Zoo. It's interesting because it is not a lizard (squamate), but a relative to snakes and lizards. Toledo Zoo was one of the first US zoos to have them, and this was taken before they were placed on display. They like it cool and moist and needed a special enclosure, that they were calling the tuataratarium. They also are great diggers, which is why the glass of the cage is so dirty. There are now two species of tuataras recognized, but I am not sure which this was a more recent discovery. This is likely Sphenodon punctatus as it is the more common of the two.