Reflections

 

 

In southern Nepal, a huge marsh area is found along the great Kosi River. After a night’s catch in these marshes, fishermen are hanging up their nets to dry in the sun. The grazing animals are water buffaloes, described on the page Animals: Animals as servants of Man. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Kindergarten children, visiting a town park, Taichung, Taiwan. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

An illuminated restaurant is reflected in Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The beautiful spotted deer, or chital (Axis axis), is native to the Indian Subcontinent, including Sri Lanka, but is found nowhere else. It is fairly common in most of the distribution area, though declining in places due to habitat destruction. It has been introduced elsewhere, including Australia, United States, and several South American countries.

A medium-sized deer, males may weigh up to 100 kg, whereas the females are much lighter. The name chital is derived from Sanskrit citrala (‘spotted’).

 

 

On a hot September day, these spotted deer hinds, and a peahen (Pavo cristatus), are drinking from a waterhole in Sariska National Park, Rajasthan, India. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Ripples on a pond distort the reflections, Crystal Lake Conservation Area, Massachusetts, United States. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Passenger ferry on the Ayeyarwadi (Irrawaddy) River, Bagan, Myanmar. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Lake Mono, eastern California, is characterized by hundreds of whitish rock spires, so-called tufas. Over thousands of years, these rocks were formed from deposited calcium carbonate below the water surface. However, as this lake constitutes a major source of drinking water for the huge population of coastal California, the water level has shrunk, revealing the tufas.

 

 

Tufas, Lake Mono, California. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The great black-backed gull (Larus marinus) is the largest gull in the world, up to 79 cm long, and with a wingspan up to 1.7 m. It is a very aggressive hunter, pirate, and scavenger, breeding in extreme north-western Russia, coastal Scandinavia, along the Baltic Sea coasts, north-western France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the North Atlantic, southern Greenland, and along the Atlantic coast of Canada and the United States, southwards to North Carolina.

 

 

Juvenile great black-backed gull, Kerteminde, Funen, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

The women are paddling, while the man is relaxing, Phewa Lake, Pokhara, Nepal. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Farms and houses, reflected in Lake Grundlsee, near Bad Aussee, Austria. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Boat and anglers, Mill Neck Creek, Long Island, New York. The bird on the boat is an American herring gull (Larus smithsonianus), described on the page Animals – Birds: Birds in the United States and Canada. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The Hindu-Buddhist Khmer Empire, which flourished between the 9th and the 15th Century A.D., left a superb legacy in the form of the Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom ruins, in present-day Cambodia. In the 19th century, when European travelers visited these ruins, they were overgrown by rainforest. Since then, most of the vegetation has been removed, with the exception of Ta Prohm, which has been preserved in the state it was found.

 

 

Ruins of Angkor Wat, reflected in an ancient moat. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

Zebu cattle and trees, reflected in a moat, surrounding Angkor Wat. The zebu ox is described on the page Animals: Animals as servants of Man. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

Boats, reflected in the same moat as above. The people are clearing the moat of water plants. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

Elephants with tourists, reflected in a moat, Angkor Thom. The sad fate of elephants is described on the page Animals – Mammals: Rise and fall of the mighty elephants. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The Chinese stripe-necked turtle (Mauremys sinensis) is distributed in south-eastern China, Hainan, Taiwan, and northern and central Vietnam. It may be identified by the yellow and black lines on the neck.

This species is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, due to over-collecting for the pet trade, and competition from the introduced red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta ssp. elegans), which is native to the southern United States and northern Mexico.

Due to its popularity as a pet around the world, the red-eared slider has escaped and become established in the wild in numerous countries – or people have simply gotten tired of their pets and have released them. It has been included in the list of the world’s 100 most invasive species, published by IUCN.

 

 

Chinese stripe-necked turtles (the two animals to the right), and red-eared sliders, Tunghai University Park, Taichung, Taiwan. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Building, reflected in a paddyfield with newly planted rice plants, Jinshan, northern Taiwan. The rice plant (Oryza sativa) is described on the page Plants: Grasses. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The great white egret (Ardea alba) has an almost global distribution, found in Europe, Africa, most of Asia, Australia, and the Americas. Traditionally, it was placed in the genus Egretta, mainly due to its white plumage. Some authorities have also placed it in a separate genus, Casmerodius. However, it shows many affinities to large herons in the genus Ardea.

 

 

Feeding great white egret, Lake Awassa, Ethiopia. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Stain-glass window, reflected on a marble table inside the Rajput fort, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The dunlin (Calidris alpina) is a very widespread wading bird with a circumpolar distribution, breeding in Arctic, sub-Arctic and northern temperate regions, southwards to southern Alaska, Hudson Bay, Iceland, the British Isles, northern Germany, Poland, and the Baltic States, but is absent from southern Siberia and Central Asia. In later years, most European populations have declined drastically due to draining of suitable habitats.

The specific name refers to mountains of Lapland, from where Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), when he described the bird in 1758, had obtained a specimen. The common name stems from Old English dunling, first recorded around 1530. It is derived from dun (‘dull brown’), with the suffix -ling, meaning a person or another being.

 

 

Dunlins, resting during their southbound migration, Nature Reserve Tipperne, Ringkøbing Fjord, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Windows (and me), reflected in an antique mirror in the main hall, Selsø Castle, built in the 1700s, Zealand, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) is described on the page Animals: Animals as servants of Man.

 

 

Watering dromedaries, Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Orontium aquaticum, often called golden club, is the sole member of the genus, belonging to the arum family (Araceae). It is endemic to the eastern United States, growing in ponds, shallow lakes, and streams with slow-moving water.

 

 

Golden club, Oswego Forest, Pine Barrens, New Jersey. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Houses and boats, reflected in lakes Dal and Nagin, Srinagar, Kashmir, India. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

Waiting for customers, these traders on the shore of Dal Lake are having a chat. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Sunlight, reflected in a skyscraper, which is reflected in Lake Truc Bach, Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Landing bridge, reflected in waves, Jutland, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Hari Mandir, Golden Temple of the Sikhs, reflected in a sacred pond, Amritsar, Punjab, India. This temple is described in depth on the page Travel episodes – India 1997: Golden Temple of the Sikhs. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

White Sands National Park in New Mexico includes a huge area of white sand dunes, consisting of gypsum crystals. These dunes are the largest of their kind on the planet, some reaching a height of about 18 m.

 

 

Sand dune, containing gypsum, reflected in a pond, White Sands National Park. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Evening light, Pushkar, Rajasthan, India. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

In former days, the beautiful painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala) had a wide distribution in Asia, found in the Indus Valley in Pakistan, in India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and southern China. Today, however, it is only common locally in India and Sri Lanka, elsewhere it is either very rare, or has disappeared entirely.

The specific name is derived from Ancient Greek leukos (‘white’) and kephale (‘head’). The common name alludes to the bright pink tertials.

 

 

Breeding colony of painted stork, Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan, India. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Anchored pleasure boats, Christianshavns Kanal, Copenhagen, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

These bulbs are reflected twice through a window with double-layer glass, Hanoi Airport, Vietnam. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Previously, the American avocet (Recurvirostra americana) was breeding in most of the United States, but was extirpated from the eastern parts. Today, it breeds in south central Canada, in the western United States, and in central Mexico. Most populations are migratory, spending the winter along coasts of Mexico, Cuba, and the south-eastern United States.

 

 

Feeding American avocet, Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, California. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Mountain, reflected in a lake, Shigatse, Tibet. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The pitch pine (Pinus rigida) is a native of eastern North America, found from extreme southern Ontario and Quebec, southwards through New England to Kentucky and the northern tip of Georgia. The name pitch pine refers to the resin, which is extracted from it.

 

 

 

Small pitch pine, growing on a tree stump in Batsto Lake, Pine Barrens, New Jersey. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Evening atmosphere, Roskilde Fjord, Zealand, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Sagittaria is a genus of about 39 species of aquatic plants, usually called arrowhead due to the shape of the leaves of many members of the genus. Other common names include duck potato, swamp potato, and katniss. Most species are native to the Americas, with some members in Eurasia and Africa.

 

 

A species of arrowhead, reflected in a pond, Delaware, United States. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The fantastic Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) is native to India, southern Nepal, and Sri Lanka. However, it has been introduced to many other countries as a status symbol or as a pet. It figures in Indian mythology, and as it is revered and protected, it often becomes very confiding. It is the national bird of India.

The classical Greek word for peacock was taos, derived from Persian tavus. The famous Peacock Throne, in Persian known as Takht-i-Tavus, was a splendid piece of Mughal workmanship, covered in gold and jewels. It was commissioned in the early 17th Century by Emperor Shah Jahan (1592-1666), and located in the Diwan-i-Khas (Audience Hall) in the Red Fort in Delhi. It got its name from two dancing peacocks, depicted at its rear.

By the beginning of the 18th Century, the power of the Mughal Empire was crumbling, and in 1739 Nader Shah (1688-1747), a Turkoman Muslim from north-eastern Iran, invaded Delhi with his army, killing tens of thousands of its inhabitants. When they left in 1739, they brought with them the Peacock Throne and many other valuables as war trophies. When Nader Shah was assassinated by his own officers in 1747, the throne disappeared, most probably being destroyed for its valuables.

 

 

Peacock, drinking from a waterhole, Sariska National Park, Rajasthan, India. Indian date palms (Phoenix sylvestris) are also reflected in the pond. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

The gorgeous Tran Quoc pagoda is the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi, Vietnam, located at the edge of Ho Tay (‘West Lake’). It was founded around 544 A.D., during the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Chimneys, reflected in a village pond, Lyø, Funen, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

The cathedral and houses, reflected in Lake Søndersø, Viborg, Jutland, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Children, watching rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and eastern brook trout (Salvelinus frontalis, top) in an aquarium, L.L. Bean Shopping Centre, Portland, Maine, United States. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Tree, reflected in a pond, Jutland, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Nyborg Slot, eastern Funen, Denmark, is a castle, erected around 1170. It was originally square-shaped, with corner defence towers connected by a wall. In 1282, King Eric V Klipping signed Denmark’s first constitution, and until 1413, the castle functioned as a seat of the parliament.

During a war between Denmark and Sweden in 1657-1658, the castle was seriously damaged, and after the war most of the buildings were torn down, and the remaining buildings were used as store buildings. Parts of the castle were restored 1917-1923, and today they are a museum.

 

 

The western part of Nyborg Castle, reflected in a moat. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

Houses, reflected in the moat surrounding Nyborg Castle. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Vernal pond, East Meadow Brook Conservation Area, Haverhill, Massachusetts, United States. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Skyscrapers, reflected in the windows of another skyscraper, Dubai (top), and Taichung, Taiwan. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The northern plains langur (Semnopithecus entellus) is widespread in northern, central, and south-central India, from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal southwards to Telangana and northern Karnataka and Kerala, with a small population in western Bangladesh, which probably originated from a single pair, introduced by Hindu pilgrims on the bank of the Jalangi River.

This species is quite common, living in a variety of habitats, including forests, scrubland, temple groves, gardens, and towns, up to an altitude of c. 1,700 m. It is locally threatened by habitat loss due to intensified agriculture and fires, and by hunting for food by newly settled people in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek semnos (‘sacred’) and pithekos (‘monkey’), alluding to the sanctity of monkeys to Hindus. (This issue is described on the page Religion: Hinduism.)

A Hindu legend relates that a young man named Narad Muni went to participate in a Swayamwara, during which young girls can choose a husband. This young man was very proud of himself and was convinced that he was the most handsome among the men. However, as the day came to an end, he went away heartbroken, because none of the young girls had chosen him. On his way home, he got thirsty, so he went to a waterhole to quench his thirst. His reflection in the water told him that he now had a monkey’s head.

 

 

This northern plains langur is quenching its thirst in a waterhole, Sariska National Park, Rajasthan, India. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Illuminated houses, reflected in Mill Neck Creek, Long Island, United States. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Brightly coloured buildings, reflected in Lake Birksø, Jutland, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Seven subspecies of the very common Canada goose (Branta canadensis) breed in North America, from Alaska and northern Canada southwards to the northern third of the United States. It has also been introduced to Britain, Sweden, New Zealand, Argentina, and other places. It is very bold and has been able to establish populations in urban areas, where it has no natural predators. In many areas, it has been declared a pest because of its noise, droppings, and aggressive behaviour, and its droppings are a nuisance in parks and on golf courses.

 

 

Reflected trees and Canada geese with goslings, Buttle Lake, Vancouver Island, Canada. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Masts of fishing vessels, reflected in harbour water, Gudhjem, Bornholm, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) is a common breeding bird in subarctic areas of Alaska and Canada, wintering in southern United States, Central America, and all of South America. It is a rare visitor to Europe. Apart from the leg colour, it is very similar to the Old World greenshank (T. nebularia), which, however, has greenish legs.

 

 

Greater yellowlegs, feeding in the Salt River, near Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

The Vietnamese flag and a temple flag, reflected in Lake Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

The Llaima Volcano (3125 m) is situated in Conguillio National Park, east of the town of Curacautin, Chile. In this picture, the volcano is reflected in a small lake, Laguna Captrén. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Thap Rua (‘Turtle Tower’), built in 1886 on a small island in Hoan Kiem (‘Sword Lake’), Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The generic name Phalacrocorax is derived from the Greek phalakros (‘bald’) and korax (‘raven’), thus ‘the bald raven’, where bald refers to the white crown of the great cormorant (P. carbo) during the breeding season, whereas raven refers to its predominantly black plumage.

This bird has an extremely wide, but rather patchy, distribution, found all over Europe and most of Asia, in Australia and New Zealand, and in north-eastern North America and Greenland.

In the 1800s, it was persecuted all over Europe, partly because it was competing with fishermen, partly because its guano destroyed the trees, in which it was breeding.

In nature reserve Vorsø, a small island in Horsens Fjord, Denmark, the bird returned in 1944, and, finally, a small colony was allowed to exist here. More about this issue is found on the page Nature Reserve Vorsø.

 

 

Colony of great cormorant in dead trees, Ranthambhor National Park, Rajasthan, India. This park was named after an old Rajput fort, which is seen atop the mountain in the background. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

Tree with resting great cormorants and oriental darters (Anhinga melanogaster), Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan, India. Coots (Fulica atra) and various ducks are feeding beneath the tree. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

Reflection of a young great cormorant in a pond, Nature Reserve Vorsø, Horsens Fjord, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Trees, reflected in sunglasses, displayed for sale, Lugang, western Taiwan. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Evening light on the extinct volcano Hverfell (left) and the mountain Bláfjall (1222 m), near Lake Myvatn, Iceland. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Stacks of densely packed straw, Ludhiana, Punjab, India. A Pariah kite (Milvus migrans ssp. govinda) is perched on top of one. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The western yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) is found in the Mediterranean Sea. It resembles the herring gull (L. argentatus), but can be identified by its yellow legs and very powerful beak. This bird is extremely common in Istanbul, Turkey, where it often breeds on house roofs, and if a window is left open, it may enter to search for edibles.

 

 

This narcissistic western yellow-legged gull is gazing at its reflection in a window pane, Istanbul. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) breeds from southern Greenland and Iceland across most of Europe and temperate areas of Asia, eastwards to Kamchatka, Russian Ussuriland, and north-eastern China. It is also a rare breeding bird in north-eastern North America. It winters in Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast and East Asia, Japan, and along the east coast of North America.

In former days, it was very common in most of Europe, but has declined drastically during the last 30 to 40 years. It does not breed on house roofs like western yellow-legged gull and herring gull, but often on islands, constructed in ponds in city parks.

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek khroizo (‘to colour’) and kephale (‘head’), alluding to the dark head of many members of the genus in the breeding season. The specific name is from the Latin ridere (‘to laugh’), referring to one of its calls, ke-ke-ke, mostly heard in the breeding colonies. Despite its common name, the head (in the breeding plumage) is not black, but a dark chocolate brown.

 

 

Black-headed gull, resting on a toppled tree trunk in a pond, Nature Reserve Vorsø, Horsens Fjord, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

This black-headed gull is feeding in the moat surrounding Nyborg Castle, Funen, Denmark, in which buildings are reflected. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Kilchurn Castle is situated on a rocky peninsula in Loch Awe, Scotland. This castle, which dates back to the mid-1400s, was the base of the Campbells of Glenorchy, the most powerful branch of the Clan Campbell. From around the 1430s, they dominated the central Highlands for about 200 years. When the Campbells became Earls of Breadalbane and moved to Taymouth Castle, Kilchurn fell out of use and lay in ruins by 1770.

 

 

Kilchurn Castle, Loch Awe. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Following the Chinese invasion of Tibet in the 1950s, many Tibetans fled to Nepal and India, where they now constitute a significant minority, especially in the Himalaya, where their chortens (stupas), prayer flags, prayer wheels, and mani stones (stone slabs with carved mantras) are ubiquitous. These items are all described in depth on the page Religion: Buddhism.

 

 

Kumbum is a huge, pagoda-shaped chorten (stupa) in the Palcho Monastery, Gyantse, Tibet. The name is often translated as ‘one hundred thousand holy images’. It is seen as a three-dimensional mandala, depicting the Buddhist cosmos.(Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags, reflected in Gupha Pokhari, a small lake in eastern Nepal. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Cumulus clouds, reflected in the Bangweulu Swamps, northern Zambia. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is a striking wader, which is easily identified by its long, thin, reddish or orange legs. It is distributed in most temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions of the world, but is restricted to areas with shallow water. Northern populations are migratory.

The male is usually a little larger than the female, with black wings and back, often with a greenish sheen, whereas back and wings of the female are dark slate-coloured. Head and neck can be pure white, but have more or less extended parts of dark on many birds. Immature birds, up to one year old, have more greyish legs, but are difficult to distinguish from adults.

 

 

Feeding black-winged stilts, Lake Chilka, Odisha, eastern India. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Palms and Buddhist paper lanterns, reflected in Ho Tay (‘West Lake’), Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

This building, resting on pontoons, is utilized for production of pearls in saltwater oysters, Halong Bay, Vietnam. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

About a hundred years ago, the wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) lived up to its name, as it was a shy bird, restricted to forests. However, since the about the 1950s it has adapted to a life in cities, where it is now very common and confiding. It may be identified by the white patches on the hindneck and wings.

It is distributed all over Europe, the Middle East, and Morocco, with isolated populations in Central Asia and the western part of the Himalaya.

 

 

Wood pigeon, drinking from a puddle on the roof of a garage, Jutland, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The origin of peacock-plume grass (Chloris barbata), also known by the names purple top and swollen fingergrass, is uncertain. Some authorities maintain that it is native to Tropical America, others claim that it is indigenous in Tropical Africa.

Whatever its origin may be, it has been accidentally introduced to most warmer parts of the world and is regarded as an invasive in a number of countries, including Australia, Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, and India.

The generic name refers to the goddess Chloris, in Greek mythology the protector of plants. The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘bearded’, alluding to the inflorescence.

 

 

Peacock-plume grass, reflected in an electricity box, Hanoi, Vietnam. The reflection is to the left. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The large sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) is widely distributed in Asia, on the entire Indian Subcontinent, including Sri Lanka, and thence eastwards to southern China, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Sumatra, and Borneo.

The weight of a stag is typically around 350 kg, although large specimens may weigh as much as 550 kg. Hinds are smaller, weighing 100-200 kg. Populations of this deer have declined substantially in most areas, mainly due to hunting and habitat destruction. It has been introduced to various countries around the world, including Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

The common name is derived from Sanskrit sambara (‘deer’).

 

 

Sambar calf, gazing at its reflection in a lake, Ranthambhor National Park, Rajasthan, India. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Reflection of a building (and me) in a steel kettle, Sanyi, Taiwan. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Piers of a bridge, leading to the Ngoc Son Temple, situated in Lake Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Mount Sinai (2285 m), in Arabic Jebel Musa (‘Mountain of Moses’), is one of several high peaks situated near the monastery of St. Catherine, Sinai. As legend has it, this was the mountain, where Moses received the tablets with the Ten Commandments inscribed.

“And he [God] gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.” (Exodus, 31:18)

This peak is ascended by 3,750 steps, known as the Steps of Repentance, carved by devout monks. The path leads past the Spring of Moses and a chapel, dedicated to Virgin Mary. Closer to the summit is the Spring of Elijah, according to tradition the place where the prophet Elijah was hiding when fleeing from his enemy Jezebel. (First Book of Kings, 19:8-9)

 

 

Mount Sinai, or Jebel Musa, reflected in the Spring of Moses. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) breeds mainly in the Rift Valley Lakes of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania, and three smaller breeding populations occur in West Africa, Namibia, and Gujarat, India. When not breeding, this species occurs in virtually every sub-Saharan country, across the Arabian Peninsula to India and Sri Lanka. The global population has been estimated at between 2.2 and 3.2 million. (Source: iucnredlist.org/details/22697369/0)

 

 

Resting flock of lesser flamingos, Lake Natron, Tanzania. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

Feeding lesser flamingos, Lake Abietta, Ethiopia. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The Andean flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus) is restricted to a rather small area in extreme southern Peru, south-western Bolivia, north-eastern Chile, and north-western Argentina.

 

 

Andean flamingos, feeding in Laguna de Chaxas, Salar de Atacama, Chile. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

This man in Hanoi Airport, Vietnam, is reflected in a floor, and in the reflection he seems to wear a broad-brimmed hat. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Common ivy (Hedera helix) is an evergreen, woody climber in the ginseng family (Araliaceae), native to most of Europe and western Asia. The specific name is Ancient Greek, meaning ‘twisted’ or ‘spiralled’, which of course refers to its climbing habit. The common name ivy is derived from Old English ifig, from the German Efeu, which is of unknown origin.

 

 

This tree, overgrown by common ivy, is reflected in the moat surrounding Nyborg Castle, Funen, Denmark. The birds are black-headed gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus). (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Boys, playing in the Rapti River, southern Nepal. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Manicaria is a genus of only two palm species, occurring in Central America and the northern part of South America. They grow in freshwater swamps or estuaries.

M. saccifera, in Spanish called palma real (‘the royal palm’), occurs in Central America, Trinidad, and northern South America, southwards to Peru and north-western Brazil. It has one of the largest known leaves, up to 8 m long. In several areas, these leaves are regarded as the best material for roof thatching.

 

 

Leaves of Manicaria saccifera, reflected in water, Tortuguero National Park, Limón, Costa Rica. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Most authorities recognize 3 small herons of the genus Butorides as separate species, the green heron (below), the widespread striated heron (B. striata), and the lava heron (B. sundevalli), which is endemic to the Galapagos Islands. Others regard them as being conspecific.

The green heron (B. virescens) is widespread in America, from southern Canada southwards through Central America and the Caribbean to Panama. Northern populations are migratory, spending the winter in Mexico and Central America.

 

 

Green heron, Everglades National Park, Florida. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Trees, reflected in Holtum River, near Lake Ejstrup, Jutland, Denmark. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Gravel hills, reflected in a lake, Háafell, near Akureyri, Iceland. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The grey heron (Ardea cinerea) is distributed in most of Asia, Europe, and Africa, and also occurs in Madagascar.

Other pictures, depicting this bird, may be seen on the pages Animals: Urban animal life, and Animals – Birds: Birds in Taiwan.

 

 

This grey heron is looking for fish in a moat near Christianshavn, Copenhagen, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica) is a large tree, native to swamps and floodplains in the south-eastern United States, from southern Virginia to eastern Texas. It is characterized by a swollen base, which tapers up to a long, straight bole, and its root are often under water.

The generic name relates to the nysiades, Greek nymphs of the mythical Mount Nysa. They were entrusted with the care of the infant god Dionysos. The common name is derived from the Creek ito (‘tree’) and opilwa (‘swamp’).

 

 

Swamp with water tupelos, Congaree National Park, South Carolina. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Pennent, reflected in water, Zealand, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Trees, reflected in a mill pond, Funen, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Pedal boat, shaped as a swan, Lake Truc Bach, Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Oil containers, Anadyr Airport, Chukotka, eastern Siberia. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Ruff and reeve (Calidris pugnax) are the names of a peculiar bird, where the male is called ruff, the female reeve. It is unique among waders in that the male in breeding plumage has a huge ruff of feathers around the neck.

When the breeding season begins, the males gather on an arena on a grassy spot, a so-called lek. When a female arrives at the arena, the males start fighting (in deep silence) to attract the attention of the female. She walks around to survey the entire group before choosing a male, which will mate with her. She then leaves to take care of nest-building, incubating, and chick-rearing by herself.

Formerly, this species was named Philomachus pugnax, but genetic research has shown that it is closely related to Calidris sandpipers. The former generic name is derived from the Greek philos (‘loving’) and makhomai (‘to fight’), whereas the specific name is derived from the Latin pugno (‘I fight’) and ax (‘inclined to’).

This bird is widely distributed in Arctic and Northern Temperate areas, from eastern England across northern Europe and Siberia, eastwards to around the Kolyma River. The wintering area includes southern and western Europe, Africa, southern Asia, and Australia.

 

 

Ruff in winter plumage, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Dead grey poplars (Populus x canescens), reflected in a pond, Nature Reserve Vorsø, Horsens Fjord, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Alpine grassland around Lake Michaelson, Gorges Valley, Mount Kenya, at an altitude of about 4,000 m, with many giant groundsels of the species Dendrosenecio johnstonii ssp. battiscombei. In the background Mount Batian (5199 m). (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Conifers and birches, reflected in a lake, Vejlsø Mose, Silkeborg, Jutland, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Trees, reflected in Lake Brassø, central Jutland. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Common alder (Alnus glutinosa), also known as black alder, belongs to the birch family (Betulaceae) and is native to the major part of Europe, south-western Asia, and northern Africa.

This tree thrives in wet locations, living in symbiosis with a nitrogen-fixing actinomycete bacterium, Frankia alni. These bacteria cause the growth of coral-like nodules on the roots of the trees, inside which thick-walled cells are formed, housing the bacteria. Protected here against the harmful oxygen of the air, the bacteria change nitrogen into nitrates, which can be utilized by the alder trees. This is the reason that these trees are able to grow in oxygen-poor soils. The nitrates enrich the soil, making it possible for other plants to grow in these poor soils.

Pictures, depicting a couple of old specimens, may be seen on the page Plants: Ancient and huge trees.

 

 

Common alders, reflected in a pond, Funen, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

Alder, reflected in a mill pond, Funen. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The Indian pond heron (Ardeola grayii), also called paddybird, breeds from southern Iran eastwards to the Indian Subcontinent and Myanmar.

It is very common, but is easily missed in its drab winter plumage when standing at the edge of lakes, ponds, or paddy fields. It relies on its camouflage to a degree that it can be approached closely before taking to flight. This behaviour gave rise to the Hindi name andha bagla (‘blind heron’). (Source: H. Yule & A.C. Burnell 1903. Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive. John Murray, London)

Formerly, this bird was shot for meat. In his book A New Account of the East Indies, from 1744, Alexander Hamilton writes the following: “They have also Store of wild Fowl; but who have a Mind to eat them must shoot them. Flamingoes are large and good Meat. The Paddy-bird is also good in their season.”

 

 

Indian pond heron, Haleji Wildlife Sanctuary, southern Pakistan. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

Indian pond heron, walking along the rail of a partly sunken boat, Phewa Lake, Pokhara, Nepal. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Trees, reflected in a pond, Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge, Long Island, United States. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The little cormorant (Microcarbo niger) is widely distributed, found from the Indian Subcontinent eastwards to southern and eastern China and Indochina, with an isolated population on Java.

The oriental darter (Anhinga melanogaster) is likewise widely distributed, from the Indian Subcontinent eastwards through Indochina to the Philippines, and also in Indonesia.

 

 

A little cormorant and an oriental darter, resting on branches, Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan, India. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

Little cormorant, resting on a rock, Sigiriya, Sri Lanka. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Ripples on a lake surface create wavy patterns in reflections of common club-rush (Schoenoplectus lacustris) and broad-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton natans), Jutland, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Silver birch (Betula pendula) and downy birch (B. pubescens) are both widespread and common in Europe, in the Caucasus, and eastwards across Siberia to the Pacific. Silver birch is also found in China and Japan.

In Norse religion, the birch represented Freya, the Great Mother Goddess, and among Celtic peoples the star goddess, Arianrhod, whose caer (‘throne’) was situated in the Corona Borealis (northern lights). She was invoked through the birch to assist in births and initiations.

The generic name is derived from Celtic betu (’glue’), referring to the fact that Celts extracted a glue-like substance from birch sap. In certain areas with Gaelic-speaking peoples, including Wales and Brittany, birch is still called bezuenn or bedwen.

The specific name pendula, meaning ’pendulous’ or ‘hanging’ in Latin, refers to the pendulous outer branches of silver birch, whereas pubescens is from the Latin pubes (’downy’), like the common name alluding to the downy twigs of downy birch.

The name birch is derived from Proto-Germanic berko, in all probability rooted in Sanskrit bhurja, the name of a species of birch.

 

 

Silver birch, reflected in a pond, Funen, Denmark. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

Downy birches, reflected in Lake Karlsø, central Jutland, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

The huge saddle-billed stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis), which may grow to 1.5 m tall, and with a 2.7 m wingspan, is a widespread resident south of the Sahara, from Gambia eastwards to Ethiopia and thence southwards to Namibia and north-eastern South Africa. It avoids rainforest and deserts.

The generic name is derived from the Greek ephippios (‘saddle’) and rhynkhos (‘bill’), alluding to the yellow, saddle-shaped shield on the bill.

It is a close relative of the black-necked stork (E. asiaticus), found in tropical Asia and Australia – the only other member of the genus.

 

 

Male saddle-billed stork, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania. The female has yellow iris. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Trees, reflected in Lake Borresø, Jutland, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Houses, reflected in Lake Truc Bach, Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

Almost all deceased Hindus are cremated. For the sake of the next reincarnation of the deceased, his or her relatives make a great effort to carry out the cremation rituals in a proper way. To increase the chances of the deceased to obtain moksha (liberation from being reincarnated), the ashes are strewn into a sacred river, preferably the mighty Mother Ganga, or one of her tributaries.

 

 

In Kathmandu, most cremations take place along the sacred Bagmati River, a tributary to the Ganga. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

The black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is distributed in most subtropical and tropical areas around the world. This one was observed along a drainage canal in Taichung, Taiwan. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

 

Buildings and paper lanterns, reflected in a canal, Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

During Daoist festivals in Taiwan, so-called lion dances often take place. It is performed by two men, hidden under a gaily coloured cloth, which acts as the body of the lion, whereas a lion mask is held by the man in front. More about this issue on the page Religion: Daoism in Taiwan.

 

 

Lion mask with a small mirror, in which I am reflected, Taichung, Taiwan. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)

 

 

 

(Uploaded March 2022)

 

(Latest update February 2024)