One of the world’s smallest raptors; the #collaredfalconet (Microhierax caerulescens). We spotted it by chance, and then it was a mad scramble to get our gear out of the car, set up, and to start shooting. The light was fading and this falconet was already appearing anxious; looking left to right, left to right. A few minutes later, it flew off. What a wonderful sighting and thankful to have been able to get a few shots. #falconet #BirdsSeenIn2023 #birding #birdphotography

Vasilii Surikov, 'The Bronze Horseman' (1870)

#Monument to #PeterTheGreat on Senate Square in front of Saint Isaac's #Cathedral, #SaintPetersburg, #Russia

"Pressed to the railings. Darkness filled
His eyes. The prey of passions blazing
Within him, he stood sullenly
Before the royal effigy;
And quivering with fury, raising
His fist, as if compelled by some
Dark force to blind, impulsive action,
He hissed through teeth clenched in distraction:
‘You ... builder of grand schemes! I’ll come
And get you!’ – and then ran off, numb
With terror from a sudden vision:
He thought the fearsome tsar had turned
By slow degrees his face, which burned
With righteous anger and derision..."

#art #Russian #equestrian #statue #french #Falconet #sculpture #tsar #night #snow #winter #moon #poem #Pushkin #Surikov #FullMoon #horse #painting