It seems that's what they are. Not native this side of the Atlantic but introduced early 1900s and now widespread around the Mediterranean. I've certainly never seen them around the UK.

I think you're right about the identification. Wikipedia says that they were introduced to the Mediterranean.

Some kind of swimming crab seen in a ditch on the Ebro Delta.

While watching the black-winged stilt posted earlier, I noticed the ditch was full of these swimming crabs. It was fascinating watching them. They aren't the velvet swimmers we get around the UK, so I'm a bit lost. Anyone know what this is? (Ebro Delta, Spain)

Seen/heard quite a few others, including Hoopoe, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Wryneck, Crested Lark, European Serin and Sardinian Warbler. No decent photos so far, though.

A small wading bird with black and white plumage and very long reddish legs, very probably a black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Finally got a decent shot of a lifer on this trip. I'm pretty sure this is a Black-Winged Stilt. Seen on the Ebro Delta, Spain.

#birds #photography

You don't see this kind of thing growing wild where I'm from.

Don't let the bot play doctor! AI gets early diagnoses wrong 80% of the time 'LLMs should not be trusted for patient-facing diagnostic reasoning,' boffins advise People ask AI for all kinds of advice, including the kind of questions you'd ask a physician. However, the next time you're tempted to query ChatGPT if that growth on your face is skin cancer, consider this: research shows today's leading AI models fail at early differential diagnosis in more than 8 out of 10 cases.…

Don't let the bot play doctor! AI gets early diagnoses wrong 80% of the time

Sunrise starts to show in the Val d'Azun

Early signs of sunrise, Val d'Azun, Haute Pyrenees.

The village of Arrens, commune of Arrens-Marsous, Hautes-Pyrénées.

This is the delightful village in which I've been staying for the last couple of days - Arrens, Hautes-Pyrénées.

Tomorrow I'm off to Spain. Je pars pour l'Espagne.

Loads live/lived in Formby, Rafa lived on the Wirral. I like a lot of what Simon Hughes has to say (followed him on the other place) but he's clutching at straws here,

A red kite (Milvus milvus) in the sky above the French Pyrenees.

Finally managed a few shots of a red kite.

#birds #photography

A multi-coloured paraglider in front of a snowy Pyrenean mountain.

Not the large flying things I was really looking for, but a cool shot anyway.

#photography

Chabrior Sweet Orange Jaffa Cake lookalikes.

These are quite possibly better than the originals.

Driving up these cols gives a new appreciation of how hard the Tour is.

At first glance, with my less-than-perfect eyesight, I thought top left was wearing one of those Groucho Marx glasses/nose/tache things.

Snowy mountain peak from Arrens-Marsous, Occitania, Hautes-Pyrénées

This morning's view - Arrens-Marsous, Occitania, Hautes-Pyrénées.

Snowy Pyrenees from the top of the Col d'Aubisque.

The views at the top of the Col d'Aubisque were spectacular.

Had a fun day yesterday. Drove up the Col d'Aubisque (elevation 1,709 m (5,607 ft)) only to find the road closed just over the summit.

Did a U-turn and back down, then took the Col du Soulor (1,474 m (4,836 ft)).

If I don't see another hairpin bend for a very long time that'll be fine with me.

View of snow high up a mountain in the Pyrenees, from Izeste, Pyrenees-Atlantique

Further to my earlier post, it's lovely and warm here, 22℃ (about 72℉), but it must be quite a bit cooler higher up!

Occitan language - Wikipedia

No idea. And Wikipedia is no help either. If I was to guess, I'd suggest it's maybe from Occitan.

Occitan language - Wikipedia share.google/OdgFahsMRtBi...

Gave d'Ossau flowing through Izeste in the Pyrenees

Today's view - Izeste, French Pyrenees

A pied wagtail flies towards the camera above grass lit by the sun.

The #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #LeafandLight any bird captured in sunlight with leaves in frame. Grass counts as leaves, right? Anyhow, this is a pied wagtail.

#birds #photography

It's very context dependent. My French is rudimentary at best. Am in France right now. Watched some TV last night and picked up the odd word. And yet in the past, in one job, I could handle incoming phone calls from France pretty well, due to the limited scope of the conversation.

Chateau de Saumur almost hidden in thick mist.

This was the scene a few minutes later.

Chateau de Saumur, Saumur, Pays de la Loire, France, in the early morning sunshine with traces of river mist coming off the Loire.

Chateau de Saumur this morning, before the river mist got too thick.

Aah, ok. That's a relief. Just that, given how local Liverpool is, I was hoping to be bang on, or at least a bit nearer. Good game, though.

Is that not allowed?

6km (not all that great, since I only live 36km away)

www.maptap.gg April 10
97🔥 100🎯 98🎯 92🏆 98🎯
Final score: 963

As well as those already mentioned, Chris Amoo, Brian Epstein & Ian Broudie are there. I think Frankie Vaughan is, and I'm desperately looking for Freddie Garrity, who should be.

Search begins to fill 'unique job' of planning 2032 Preston Guild Only held every 20 years, Preston's ancient civic celebrations will next be staged in 2032.

Might be a while until 2032 but the Guild Merchant only happens once every 20 years.