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Sand Castles

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These are sand sculptures from the Port Aransas, TX Gulf Coast SandFest.  A competition is held every year there in late April..  There are only two components to these sculptures;  Sand and water.  Wet sand is compacted in layers in wood forms.  After compaction the forms are removed and the delicate art of sculpture begins.

Bavaria, Germany and Austria

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Typical snow covered valley in Bavaria.  This was in early September And the requisite Brown Swiss cow with bell. Many old castle ruins are seen on hilltops in Southern Germany. Bridges span gorges in many places. A typical farmstead.  Note that the barn is attached to the house.  This is done for several reasons.  One is … Read more

Scenic and Miscellaneous

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These are the famous “Termite Mounds” that you have heard about in Africa. Africa is home to the largest structures ever built relative to the size of the builder. Termite mounds found in Africa can rise to heights of over thirty feet.  These are more like 10-12 feet high. This is a fruit bat with … Read more

Butts and Eyes of Africa

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This section is devoted to one of the most interesting features of birds and animals; their eyes.  And, yes, wildlife photography is full of challenges, most of them going the other way.  Wildlife just doesn’t understand Stop. Wait and Pose.  You get your shot set up and find the subject headed the other way.  I … Read more

Plants and Trees

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This tree which I assumed is dead, caught my eye as the roadway branched around it along with the bright blue sky we encountered that day. A leopard asleep in it would have been perfect.  Oh, well, we can’t have everything The Umbrella Thorn Tree has the classic, umbrella-shaped canopy associated with thorn trees. Many … Read more

Lions and Leopards

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Lions live for 10–14 years in the wild. Males can weigh up to 550 lb. In the wild, males seldom live longer than 10 years, as injuries sustained from continual fighting with rival males greatly reduce their longevity. Lions are unusually social compared to other cats. A pride of lions consists of related females and … Read more

Zebra

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What is black and white and read all over?An embarrassed zebra! Zebras are several species of African horse family united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns, unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds. Unlike their closest relatives, horses … Read more

African Elephant

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The African elephant is the largest living terrestrial animal. Its thickset body rests on stocky legs, and it has a concave back. Its large ears enable heat loss. Its upper lip and nose forms a trunk. The trunk acts as a fifth limb, a sound amplifier and an important method of touch. The African elephant’s … Read more

African Rhinoceroses

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Rhinoceros often abbreviated as rhino,of which two species are native to Africa. Members of the rhino family are characterized by their large size, as well as by a herbivorous diet; a thick protective skin, 1.5–5 cm thick, formed from layers of collagen positioned in a lattice structure; relatively small brains for mammals this size and … Read more

Canines of Africa

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I found three different species of Canines on my safari.  The Spotted Hyena, the Jackal and the beautiful but endangered  Painted Wild Dog. If you look closely at the Hyena pup’s eyes you will see the reflection of our safari van.  This photo was submitted to and  printed in one of the magazines that I subscribe to.. … Read more