Things That Fly - Thematic Photography

There is a bit of a mixture in this post. Some can fly, some have flown and some never have or will. I'll let you decide which is which.

Andrew Mynarski VC, RCAF

This statue stands in front of what was once the Officers' Mess at wartime RAF Middleton-Saint- George.You may read about him at hero's salute

During WWII my elder brother served on aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean.  I do not know where this shot was taken.

Ready for war

The new town (well it was once) of Thornaby-on-Tees has swallowed up the wartime aerodrome but there is a reminder on a roundabout of what happened there.

The Thornaby Spitfire

I wrote about this replica spitfire in a Sepia Saturday post here

I've had a few helicopter trips during my working life but few were as pleasant, or should I say 'nice,' as in one of these.

Air Monaco helicopters at Nice Airport

Despite our expertise none of our machines are as manoeuvrable as nature's designs.

Dragonfly - ready for take-off.

Landing isn't always as easy as it seems even when you have the controls.

Young Collared Dove touches down

It has rained for over 36 hours non-stop where I live in the North East of England; the sun is just breaking through for the first time. However it's still too early for snow so there is no need for the robin to take refuge like this one two Christmases ago.

Christmas Robin

Now it's time for you to fasten your seat belts, take off and fly to meet other fliers at Carmi's thematic-photographic-223.

Grounded - Thematic Photography

We have had 36 hours of continuous rain and it's still raining; my golf course is waterlogged so I'm grounded today - Sob!

Carmi couldn't have come up with a more appropriate theme in the circumstances. I have a lot of my brother's WWII photographs which show grounded aircraft like this one in the desert (probably Egypt).

Grounded in the desert

I hope it landed intentionally; this one with a military connection certainly did.

Chalk-Fronted Corporal Dragonfly

This is the time of year in the UK for conkers, a lot of which you find on on the ground.

Horse Chestnuts (Conkers)

OK, so I cheated by throwing them on the grass.

Others though like the dragonfly can choose where they land.

Brown Butterfly and a Bee on Greater Knapweed

I'm sure you'll agree that this one has every right to show off.

Peacock Butterfly

Mind you this one from America is a contender in the grounded beauty stakes.

Red-spotted Purple Butterfly

It seems to have the wrong name as the spots on its wings are orange.

I'm pleased to take part this week and to be able to select subjects that can choose when to be grounded. Not all will have that honour on Carmi's thematic-photographic-214 as you can see.

Michigan Wildlife

It's only the second day of our visit to my daughter's home in Michigan and already I've had my camera out. However with four boisterous dogs to contend with photographing birds has proved impossible. I did succeed with this butterfly though, if  I only knew what it was.

I had no problem identifying these birds on Oxford Hills golf course today, even if the photo is from last year.

Sand Cranes

My next task is to gets some pictures of the 'hundreds' of dragonflies round the lake in the grounds - watch this space.

Can anyone identify the butterfly? Just leave a comment please.

Michigan Wildlife Singles

 I make fairly regular trips to Michigan and over the years have collected a few wildlife shots that meet the 'Singles' theme. These shots, except the squirrel, were taken within 100 yards of where we stay.

American Green Frog (Rana Clamitans)

I couldn't resist adding a second picture of him (or her).

Harry, a great blue heron visits the same lake as well:

 Away from the lake a dragon fly hangs on to a conifer bush:

 This one wants all the nuts for himself:

And finally one I had to wait for:

 

I've lots of others, but perhaps that's enough for now.

 To some others 'Singles' check out the hosts post and links at: Thematic Photographic - 133