Shelby

Wow! Such a stunning photo, Jen!

The sun glows across the sky, not in fury but in quiet farewell…

#scape #seascape #sunsets #ECK
#Stunday #ImageandVerse #serenity #photography #glow
#Orangesun #ColorADay #photographersofBluesky
#Photographersunited #Melbourne

Thanks, Lynne. You too. Definitely not liking this high wind/pounding rain combo.

I don’t think unconditional surrender is imminent.

Strauss Centers With respect to mine usage in the Middle East, the Iran-Iraq Tanker War in the late 1980s provides examples of mine warfare utilized against commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf. Iran, in particular, took advantage of the anonymity mine warfare lends to aggressors, planting mines throughout the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz, plausibly denying responsibility to avoid direct U.S. retaliation. [v] In 1988, Iran deposited approximately 150 mines in the Strait of Hormuz, one of which succeeded in nearly sinking the USS Roberts. [xvi] The mine striking the Roberts was WWl vintage, clearly demonstrating that naval mines need not be sophisticated to prove effective. During the Persian Gulf War, the Iraqis laid 1,157 mines in a 100 mile wide stretch south of the Shatt al Arab. One of these mines struck the USS Tripoli and another the USS Princeton in February 1991. Europe and the U.S. responded immediately with more than a dozen mine counter-measure vessels, but it took more than two months to "clear" the nearby waters of the mine threat. [xvii]

Iran & Mines Stocks & Deployment Iran continues to heighten its threat for mine warfare in the Persian Gulf, in terms of both mine stocks and mine-laying capabilities. Iran holds an array of Soviet, Western, and Iranian-made drifting and moored contact mines. U.S. experts estimate that the Iranian stockpile contains at least 2,000 of these mines. Iran also maintains a substantial collection of newer, more advanced bottom and rising mines acquired from the Russians, Chinese, and North Koreans. Finally, reports suggest that Iran purchased the EM-52 rocket-propelled, rising mine from China. ranian Capabilities Considering the current state of Iran's mine threat and Iran's relative historical success using mines during the Tanker War, it remains well within reason that Iran would leverage mines as part of an integrated effort to inflict damage in the Strait of Hormuz. Relative to other weapons, such as torpedoes or anti-ship cruise missiles, mines are relatively easy to use and fairly simple to deploy. Even so, there exist several potential

If there was only some way the Trump administration could have foreseen the Iranians mining the gulf, such as an article from 7 years ago about the Iranians mining the gulf for decades & Iran stockpiling 2000 mines & many US Navy ships previously hitting mines www.strausscenter.org/strait-of-ho...

Thank you! 🐈‍⬛💜

You’re most welcome, Pam! 😊

The steep rocky walls of the Narrows at Zion.

One from Zion National Park for #RockinTuesday
#Parks
#Canyons

Not really breaking any news here.

Wow! Stunning sky and photo! 🧡

Gorgeous photo, Lauren! 👏👏

What a cute and amazing little bird! Thanks for sharing this.

Photo by Lauren Helton of a Micronesian Rufous Fantail being held by a certified and permitted bander. Text on the photo says "My, what fabulous rictal bristles you have!" with an arrow pointing to the bristles that says "check out those bristles"

🪶The "rictal bristles" around this Micronesian Rufous Fantail's beak act like a catcher's mitt to help the bird catch insects in its mouth. This species hunts insects in the understory of tropical woodlands and its large eyes help it see in the shady conditions. 1/2

A snowy Egret walks elegantly toward the camera. in a shallow blue ocean. His nuptial plume is prominent. A small, foamy wave breaks at the very top of the photo.

A proud #SnowyEgret for Alt #BirdoftheDay #LongNecks. The main theme today is #Corvidae.

Wishing you a beautiful Tuesday!

#ColorADay #BlueTue #TidesOutTuesday #SensoryArt #animals #EastCoastKin #bird #photography #photographersofbluesky #Florida

Indeed it is. Thank you. 😊

😂

Beautiful photo!

A small, pale-yellow butterfly sits atop a pink zinnia sipping nectar. His wings are marked with faint touches of pink, including on the outside edges.

The pink edges on this Clouded Sulphur's wings reflect the colours of the zinnia

A late September photo from my garden

Nature is amazing

#MacroMonday
#ColorADay
#PinkMon
#Bloomscrolling

In contrast to the coverup of the EPSTEIN crimes here in America, there are ongoing investigations in the UK, France, Turkey, Poland, Latvia & Lithuania that is sure to expose his central, filthy role in the largest crimes against humanity case in world history. #AccountabilityIsComing

The Aurora Tree apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap26030...
The unusual Earth-sky collaboration was witnessed in March of 2017 in Iceland.

Chickadee is perched in the entrance to the nest cavity (hole in a snag) feet outside and tail in the hole, with its beak overflowing with wood chips. It is looking at the camera. In the background is the forest, out of focus.

Black-capped chickadee with a beak full of wood chips as it excavates the nest cavity in spring #NestBuilders #birdoftheday #nature #wildlife #photography #birds

Western tanager bird has an orange head, yellow body, and black wings with yellow streaks. It is standing in wet grass from recent rain.

Western tanager on a rainy day #ColourfulCaptures #birdoftheday #nature #photography #birds

Spotted towhee perched on a branch looking to the right. The background is a jumble of thin , bare branches with light green behind them, out of focus. The towhee is mostly black with red eyes, white spots on its shoulder, and orange and white on its chest and belly. The branch it’s perched on has moss and lichen growing on it.

Spotted Towhee looking #photogenic. #birdoftheday #nature #photography #PNW #wildlife #birds

The fact that Donald Trump is going to try to subvert the 2026 elections doesn't mean he will be successful. We have shown before that we can fight back in court and win. The key is that we must educate everyone about what is going to happen and what they can do as well to defend democracy.

Ugh! I hate him beyond words.

Baturday
Bat World Sanctuary

Cat Changing The Clock Changing The Time GIF Alt: Cat Changing The Clock Changing The Time GIF

It's #Caturday AND #SpringAheadDay!

Don't forget to change your clocks tonight!

Lemon yellow and fire engine red tulips in foreground inspire me to try to recall what colors I might have planted last fall. The green grass leads toward a bed of daffs and more spring blooms. I try and add new bulbs each year as the animals work mightily to enjoy delicious bulbs they can uncover. This leads to lots of surprises 🤭

Eager to see what I planted last fall 👀🤔🌱
#Tulips #SixOnSaturday (at least) #SpringIsComimg #Gardening #Surprise

A precious moment as an Anna’s Hummingbird feeds her little hummers.

#birds #nature #wildlife #hummingbird

Burrowing owlets looking very angry, peeking out from their burrow.

Good morning! 🪶