Acacia dealbata

IMG_0048 [Acacia dealbata]

 

A cropped section of the previous picture.
 

 

Acacia dealbata, commonly known as Mimosa,

is not a tree I often see in my area

but whenever I see one, especially when they are in full bloom,

I stop and enjoy the look of it, as I find it unusual and impressive.

Probably because of the beautiful contrast

between its green leaves and the fragrant, bright yellow flowers.

 

It starts blooming in February when other flowering plants are still dormant.

 

This medium-size tree is native to Australia

but has also naturalized in Mediterranean countries.

 

 

 

804_2387 [Acacia dealbata]

A closeup of dealbata flowers.

Each yellow bead-like flower is about 5mm wide. 

  

Larus michahellis flying over Athens

304_3846 [Larus michahellis]

 

 A swarm of birds crossing the sky of Athens and going … I have no idea where!

 

The more I looked at them in the sky, the more they reminded me

of … a group of fighter aircraft on mission flying in a V formation!

 

What disagreed with my imagination, though,

was that two birds were out of alignment,

unlike fighters which are always perfectly aligned to each other

when flying in a V formation.

 

So later, in the post processing stage,

making use of “poetic license”

I relocated the two birds in the frame

so that they would match the image I had imagined!

 

As to the name Larus michachellis,

it refers to the big, handsome, Mediterranean sea-bird we call a "Gull".

 

It is relatively easily identified

from its grey back, white head, long black wingtips, pale to deep yellow legs, and vivid yellow beak.

 

It may live up to 10 years with a varied diet 

that consists mainly of aquatic animals, but also of plants and leftovers!

 

 

301_9011 [Rarus michahellis]

 A mature bird in flight

 

 

 

301_9039 [Larus michahellis]

 

Scanning the sea from above for a fresh fish.

No preference for a specific kind or size! Any will do!

 

 

 

302_9138 [Larus michahellis]

A juvenile exploring the aquatic environment.

Juvenile gulls have to wait for up to 4 years since birth

before they are considered adults! 

304_4486 [Larus michahellis]

In search for food on the mainland, far from their natural environment, the sea. 

 

Are they fed-up with their daily fish diet

or are they starving to death and are desperately looking for food

on unexplored territories?  

Gagea graeca

IMG_1729 [Gagea graeca]

 

Gagea graeca is a slender and hairless perennial plant

that grows in Central and South Greece,

including the Aegean islands and Crete.

It blossoms from March to May

in habitats like stony grasslands, cliffs, waysides

and occasionally in open pine woodland.

The flower heads are funnel-shaped, 10-15mm long,

with 6 white tepals that have purple stripes on the outside.

[See above].

 

 

DSCN4290 [Gagea graeca]

 

The Corinth canal

301_5231 [Corinth canal]

The Corinth canal is about 70 km west of Athens

and connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic gulf.

Since its completion in 1893,

it has allowed ships to continue their voyage through a canal of only 6,4 km,

instead of having to sail for an extra 700 km in order to bypass the Peloponnese.

 

I have been at the canal a number of times but

only once have I had the chance to see a ship being towed.

For a moment,

the view looked strange and I started wandering why it was towed,

but as I was told later,

whether a ship is towed or not

depends on its size, the nature of its cargo, and its mechanical state.

On the other hand,

small commercial and recreational vessels navigate the canal using their own engines.

That was for me a unique, personal photographic experience

which I thought I could share with you.

 

By the way,

recreational boats navigate the canal every weekday

and they provide probably the best way for one to explore the canal

and experience the scale of the limestone walls which rise 79 m above the water

or

to see bridges submerging into the water to let ships sail unimpeded!