Mallard ducks in the park-duck pictures

One of the park's attractions in my city are the mallard ducks swimming in the calm water of the lake.
They are very noisy but their beautiful colors compensate for the shouting quack.
Male and female ducks usually look very different.

This is a female mallard duck. Though, her mottled brown plumage is not as beautiful as the drake's, she still has a white tail and iridescent purple-blue wing feathers that are visible as a patch on her sides.And this is the male mallard, or drake.

With his green head, white neck ring, chestnut colored breast and yellow bill is the more distinctively colored of the mallards. He also has two dark tail feathers with an upward curl.

Mallard duck grooming itself.People are feeding bread to the ducks so they come closer. Unfortunately, this is a very bad habit as the ducks become dependent on human handouts or they eat too much and unhealthy, like the duck bellow.The water is cold, so this mallard duck pair decided to take a rest and warm up a little.

Visit the Mallard family with the new baby ducks settled in our Botanical Garden.

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Make way for the sun! - autumn sky photos

Today, all day long, big dark clouds were gathering over the city.
It is not sunset time but this big fat cloud tries to overshadow the sun.
Here it comes; make way for the sun!

A few minutes later the moon is up and the evening silence is a good
time for summing up and reflecting on the day's actions and thoughts.

Here is another sunset with red clouds.

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Mushrooms in autumn-tree fungi pictures

On my quick Sunday walk I found this crop of stump mushrooms in the nearby woods.
I don't know much about mushrooms, they are just beautiful photo subjects for me, a typical autumnal scene.
We often see fungi growing on the ground or on the side of trees.

Here is an old tree with fungi growing on it's sides. These shelf or bracket fungi have a really sculptural appearance.
They are slowly consuming this dead stump, a beautiful example of the rhythm of life.

"In autumn, the return to unity begins - there is a gentle melancholy in autumn, a peace not found in spring, in which all things seem to return to the one Life of God from which they came."

Dr. J. J. Van Der Leeuw - Fire of creation.

Have a look at this stump covered with moss and mushrooms.


See also the interesting shelf-like brackets of the Artist's fungus - Ganoderma applanatum

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Self-made ATV upgrade with roof-street scene photos

Look what the cat brought in the town!
It is an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), as you can see. Normally ATVs or guard bikes are street-legal vehicles in my country but I don't know about the strange roof.
Anyway, many thanks to the owner for the photo.
At the beginning of October when all universities start their activities, thousands of students invade the town from all over the world.
That is when we can see all kind of results of creative imagination like this ATV with a self-made roof upgrade.
Secured with a theft proof chain, the instrument display on the handlebar provides the rider with the bare essentials.
Thought it is easy to guess without speedometer what speed is needed for the attached roof to take off.

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Big clouds on the sky-sky photos

The weather was changing from one minute to another on this day and there were so many beautiful clouds on the sky.

These big clouds behind the church look almost unreal.

See some night shots of this church in holiday lights.

This statue is in front of the church. I wonder how does traffic look like from above?

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Sunflower pictures-fluffy sunflower

Not many flowers can be so cheerful as sunflowers.
I love the brown sunflower head surrounded by the bright yellow, silky petals.

Sunflower detail close-up

and this fluffy sunflower with it's many petals is quite pretty and ornamental too.

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Red sky-October sunset pictures

Sunset comes with red clouds on the sky, after a windy October day.

Sunset scenery with red cloud reflection.
October sunset from my window

See another golden sunset from my window.

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Autumn leaves-pictures of fall foliage

The colorful falling autumn leaves are a delight to the eye while walking outdoors in the fall.
There are great differences in autumnal hues around the world.
Here are some autumn color pictures, capturing the magic in the air of this colorful, transitioning season of the year; autumn.

Golden autumn leaves, rusty-red fall leaves.

In Europe fall foliage and autumn leaves are mostly yellow.

The leaves are just beginning their change in October, turning from yellow-green to yellow-golden, orange and rusty red leaves.

Do you remember this beautiful song inspired by autumn?

The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold

Since you went away the days grow long
And soon Ill hear old winters song
But I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall

Lyrics by Johnny Mercer,
Music by Joseph Kosma.

You can see beautiful scenery photos from all around the world by visiting Scenic Sunday.

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Flowers for Libra natives-rose close-up pictures

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIBRANS!

I am a Libra and today is my birthday.
You are all invited to my birthday party; I have no cake to offer but some beautiful rose pictures and a few birthday jokes and sayings.
Astrology specialists say that

particularly appropriate blooms for Libra include roses (white or pink), daisies, violets, asters and orchids, love-in-the-mist, primrose as well as the mallow and vervain.

Which one than, is my favorite? And they say that Libra natives are indecisive.
It's OK. I love all flowers.
Still, roses are......... roses.
My favorite photos are macro flower pictures, so here they are, for you all and for me:

Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.
--Satchel Paige

Don't worry about temptation -- as you grow older, it starts avoiding you.

The most effective way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once.

"Doctor, I get heartburn every time I eat birthday cake."
"Next time don't eat the candles."

You know you're getting older when...
it takes longer to rest than it did to get tired.

I wish you all a beautiful weekend!

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Bells and towers in the sky - sky and cloud pictures

Beautiful blue sky today in the afternoon and many beautiful clouds too.
Here are a few sky photos and cityscapes captured on a sunny day.

Cluj Napoca cityscape - Hero's Avenue

Cumulus cloud - Cluj Napoca cityscape
St. Michael church on the left.

Bell in the sky

BRD Bank Cluj Napoca - Clouds outside, clouds inside.

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Sunset on the river - Sunset photos

The last sun rays before sunset brighten nature's autumn colors along the river.
It is only a five minutes walk from my home to this bridge I'm taking these shots from. I like this place, it offers a beautiful perspective and many beautiful nature scenes.

Day's journey is done, but the light of day, now almost buried in the night, refuses to let go.

The Moon, the jewel of the night, is waiting to take over, on the other side of the mighty sky. She is the one to give light in the emptiness of the night.
The sun fades before her wild beauty and greats her creating a special glow that swirls upon the water.

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