Black-headed Ibis on a Rocky River

Low water levels in the river in Bera expose the rocky landscape, but still provide pockets of water for a black-headed Ibis – a large wader with a white body and bare black head and neck. Males and females look similar and both have grayish tail feathers.

A Rocky River
Black-headed Ibis Reflections

Baby Nilgai at a Watering Hole

A baby Nilgai weighs some where between 13.6 to 15.9 kilograms. Nilgai’s attain maturity at the age of eighteen months. The gestation period lasts for nearly eight months. The mother Nilgai usually gives birth to twins. In some cases, the number of young ones may also be one or three. Blue bulls of India are herbivores, and consume grasses, leaves, buds and fruits.

Here is a baby Nilgai at a watering hole in Gir National Park.

Baby Nilgai at a Watering Hole

Lake Arenal Costa Rica

Lake Arenal sits at the base of the Arenal Volcano in the northern highlands of Costa Rica. It is the country’s largest landlocked body of water, with a surface that covers nearly 33 square miles (85 square km) and a depth that reaches some 200 feet (60 m).

In 1979, Lake Arenal was enlarged to three times its original size with the construction of a hydroelectric dam. Nowadays, Lake Arenal’s dam is hugely important to the country, as it produces nearly 12% of Costa Rica’s electric energy.

Lake Arenal

Tadoba – Water Bodies

Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) is one of the most sought after tiger-sighting and watching destinations in India. Tadoba is a wonderful habitat and the state flagship tiger reserve. Its most important asset is its ever present water resource in a geographical area that is a byword for water scarcity. It has a wealth of water bodies and lakes, both big and small, and the whole area is drained by the Irai and Andhari rivers, with the Tadoba draining into the Irai reservoir. 

Reflections on the Lake

Indian Flower Water Bowl

In Asian countries such as Bali, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand it is quite common to find a water bowl filled with an arrangement of floating flowers and foliage as a form of reverence towards nature, a sign of welcome to visitors and a way to adorn your home with something beautiful.

Flower Decorations

Teton Reflections at Jenny Lake

Jenny Lake is one of the most visited areas in Grand Teton National Park. Tucked away at the base of the Teton Range, it is considered the focal point of Grand Teton’s National Park, Jenny Lake is home to numerous hiking trails, scenic boat rides and major climbing routes that must be seen to be believed. As you might expect, many of the things to do in Jenny Lake mainly focus upon the area’s natural beauty.

While the reflections of the Teton are hazy, the water at the shore is crystal clear.

Teton Reflections at Jenny Lake

Yellowstone – Excelsior Geyser Crater

Excelsior Geyser Crater is a 200 x 300 foot crater that constantly discharges more than 4,000 gallons of water per minute into the Firehole River.

In Yellowstone National Park’s recorded history, Excelsior Geyser and Sapphire Pool in Biscuit Basin have exceeded Steamboat in size.

Excelsior Geyser Crater

Yellowstone – Norris Geyser Basin Formations

Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park is home to the largest active geyser in the world, Steamboat Geyser. Steamboat can reach 380 feet and its steam phase can be heard miles away. Unfortunately, Steamboat is rare, the last major eruption was in 1991. 

Norris Geyser Basin Formations

There are several spots with bubbling hot water …..

Hot Water Bubbling

Yellowstone – Steam Rising

The landscape at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is populated by areas with volcanic activity causing flowing water to boil and create steam.

Heat and volcanic gases from slowly cooling magma rise and warm the dense salty water that occupies fractured rocks above the Yellowstone magma chamber. That brine, in turn, transfers its heat to overlying fresh groundwater which is recharged by rainfall and snowmelt from the surface.

A Steaming Stream
Steaming Down the Rocks
Steam Rising

Yellowstone – Bison

Yellowstone is the only place in the United States where bison have continuously lived since the prehistoric age, according to the Interior Department. Between 2,300 and 5,500 bison live in Yellowstone, according to the Park Service.

Since our visit was in September, most bison had already left Hayden Valley, but here are some by a watering hole.

Herd of Bison
Bison at the Water
Bison Closer

Flowers – Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are some of the most beautiful flowers in the world with over 75 species. “Hydor” means water and “angos” means jar or vessel, emphasizing the need to water this particular flower often. Hydrangeas don’t have petals, but sepals, which are leaves that protect the flower bud. Only after they age do they turn from green to the pigmented colors you see. Here is a sampling from Hickory, North Carolina.

Colors of Hydrangeas