i'm pretty sure no one is looking at this site anymore, so i'm not going to bother with a "Pic of the Week" this week.

 

This week I've been in Bridlington, England, on the Northeast coast of the country.  A few days ago I had the pleasure of checking out an old estate called Sewerby Hall, built around 1714.  To my delight -- and equally to my dismay -- there was a small zoo located on the Hall's grounds.

I took this photo inside a large-bird aviary.  Obviously it's a peacock, a male Peafowl.  In the past when I've seen a peacock in person it's been totally disinterested, but on this occasion the grand bird fanned its beautiful tail feathers for my camera.

If you've seen the Birds of Paradise portion of the "Planet Earth" series you know that these birds go to great lengths to attract a lady-friend.  Since I saw no peahens around, I'm going to assume it just liked me.

And that's why this is my "Pic Of The Week."

;-)

 

earlier this week i rode around West Yorkshire, England taking in the countryside.  it was mostly rolling green hills highlighted by lots of sheep, an occasional poppy field and the rugged moors of Wuthering Heights fame.  i thought the place quite beautiful and unspoiled. 

i took this photo of my little friend Blythe atop one of the extensive stone walls that line the area.  it was one of the few days where the rain ceased long enough to take a clear shot or two.  for those of you in America right now, it's a lovely Summer here in northern England -- right now it's breezy and 59 degrees Fahrenheit.  eat your heart out  ;-)

 

I took this picture today while walking through the bird sanctuary of Harewood House near Harrogate, England.  In case you don't know, Harewood House is the current home of Queen Elizabeth's cousin, the Earl of Harewood.  It's an impressive estate filled with original, specially-commissioned Chippendale and fabulous oil paintings by the likes of Titian and Picasso, but in the gardens the birds stole the show. 

This photo is of a conure, which may look relatively ordinary, but it's not the bird's appearance that struck me -- it was the bird's personality.  Unlike most of the birds, which hid within their habitats or turned their butts to my camera like assholes, this conure flew directly to me and clung to the bars watching me watching it for as long as I stood there.  It followed me if i stepped to the left or right -- quite the friendly and curious fellow. 

Despite the fact that I despise photographing birds (mainly due to previous bad luck) and also despite the fact that this photo was taken through bars of a human-built habitat, I like how the conure is looking right into the camera.  I also dig how it's position on the bars really shows-off its body coloring.  It really was brilliant.  For these reasons, it's my "Pic Of The Week."