Lovely display in the Evolution Garden @nhm-london.bsky.social. #Wollemia nobilis, #Wollemi Pine, in front a a dinosaur. A living fossil, thought extinct and only discovered in Australia in 1994, is a member of the Araucariaceae family. As is the monkey puzzle (Araucaria araucana) planted nearby.

What a great night it was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the ascent of Everest the Hard Way with Sir Chris Bonnington and his climbing mates at the @rgsibg.bsky.social.
All in support of Community Action Nepal, the great charity founded by Doug Scott who did the first climb with Dougal Haston.

Not Nepal or Colorado but watching this in the Tyrolean Alps is the next best thing. Using the home cinema of the Anton Hotel, Arlberg to watch the amazing #SnowLeopardSisters by Ben Ayers (@jetbutterflies.bsky.social),
Sonam Choekyi Lama and Andrew Lynch. Beautifully told story of remote Nepal.

#GalapagosCormorant or #FlightlessCormorant (Nannopterum harrisi) is endemic to the islands of Fernandina, and the northern and western coasts of Isabela.. The largest and only flightless cormorant is considered one of the rarest birds in the world. #SeamanJourney

The #WesternCattleEgret (Ardea ibis) is a species of heron (Ardeidae) found from the tropics to warm temperate zones. It is naturalized on #Galapagos. Nesting in the mangrove forests it moves during the day to the highlands where it feeds on ticks on cattle but also giant tortoises. #SeamanJourney

The #Red-FootedBooby (Sula sula) is the smallest of the three boobies found on #Galapagos. with distinctive red feet and a pale blue beak. The plumage can be grey or white with black wing feathers. Unlike the other two species it builds nests on bushes and trees. #SeamanJourney

The endemic #GalápagosHawk (Buteo galapagoensis) is a large hawk found on most of the isles with distinctive size differences between the islands. It is the apex predator feeding on a wide variety from insects , rodents to hatchlings of iguanas turtles and birds.
#Galapagos #SeamanJourney

The monotypic subspecies #GalapagosWhite-cheekedPintail (Anas bahamensis galapagensis), a dabbling duck. Requiring some level of salt in the water it is found in mangrove swamps and brackish lakes. It nests year-round when finding suitable conditions. #Galapagos, #SeamanJourney

The #MagnificentFrigatebird (Fregata magnificens), the largest species of frigatebird. One of the fastest birds in the world, with flying speeds up to 150km/h. Also known as Pirate bird as it does not hunt fish but mugs other birds of their food.
#Galapagos #SeamanJourney

The endemic #GalápagosPenguin (Spheniscus mendiculus), the only penguin found in the northern hemisphere though this male is from south of the equator off the Floreana coast.
It belongs to the group of banded penguins with the closest relative being the #HumboldtPenguin. #Galapagos #SeamanJourney

The #Galapagos #BlueFootedBooby (Sula nebouxii ssp.excisa) is endemic to Galapagos and one of the three species found on the islands. The foot colour is determined by carotenoid pigments from its fish diet and is therefore an indicator for fitness and used for female selection. #SeamanJourney

#GalápagosBrownPelican (Pelecanus occidentalis urinator) at the marina of San Cristóbal.
One of five subspecies, this one is endemic to the #Galapagos

#NazcaBooby (Sula granti), the largest of the three booby species found on #Galapagos, the only endemic one. Fishermen follow the booby to find marlins in the open sea. Considered a subspecies of the masked booby until 2002 when genetic studies showed them to be distinct.

Breeding pair with chick of #SwallowTailedGull (Creagrus furcatus), the only fully nocturnal gull. Main breeding ground is on #Galapagos mainly on the eastern isles Hood, Tower and Wolf. Near-endemic breeding bird with a few pairs nest on Malpelo Island off the coast of Colombia.
#SeamanJourney

Juvenile red-billed #tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) on #Genovesa island.
Sometimes predated by the short-eared owl they shelter under some igneous rock.
#Galapagos #SeamanJourney

#Wollemia nobilis, the Wollemi Pine, a member of the Araucariaceae family.
A living fossil as thought extinct and only discovered in Australia in 1994.
It grows surprisingly well in colder climates, producing protective caps on their buds.
The Champion Tree of Wales at #Cardiff #ParcBute #ButePark

#FountainsAbbey in North Yorkshire. This former Cistercian abbey became one of the wealthiest monasteries in England. Involved in the wool trade as far away as Italy it fell on hard times in the 13th century after forward selling the wool crop that failed due to the mite Psoroptes ovis.

Denali from flight ANC.to MCG June 1990. The true and only name for this magnificent mountain.