Covent Garden
London, England

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© Melissa Post 2025

Tags:   Covent Garden twilight blue hour London autumn October 2024

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Eastern White Pelican
St James Park
London, England

A Bit of History
At the height of the Cold War, when the Russian ambassador to the UK extended the hand of friendship by offering some Russian pelicans for the park, the US ambassador got wind and decided they had to match the offer. A move that only exacerbated tensions.

As the story goes, the pelicans that the Americans sent didn’t get on with the Russians.

True to the age, there was a lot of posturing about whether either side were trying to sabotage the other. Until it turned out that the US pelicans were of a saltwater species and just didn’t like the fresh waters of St James’s Park.

Mistake realised and pelicans recalled, the Americans sent a fresh batch that ended up getting along just fine with their Russian counterparts. True again to the age, the story remains shrouded in the clandestine, with neither side confirming its truth.

For more information about the history of these imposing birds, visit www.londonxlondon.com/pelicans-of-st-james-park/

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© Melissa Post 2025

Tags:   Eastern White Pelican bird pelican St James Park London England UK autumn October 2024 COTH coth5

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Mission San Antonio de Padua
Jolon
California

This 12-foot-tall sculpture of a great oak tree was created by Max Randolph. Set in the garden of the mission, it is made from thousands of pounds of hand-forged iron adorned with a canopy of hand formed copper leaves. It was made to honor donors who supported the seismic refit of the mission.

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© Melissa Post 2025

Tags:   sculpture art mission San Antonio de Padua winter January 2025 COTH5

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Bighorn Mountain Sheep
Palm Canyon
Agua Caliente Indian Reservation
Palm Springs, California

Best viewed large to see the bighorn mountain sheep near the top of the image.

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© Melissa Post 2025

Tags:   Palm Tree animal bighorn mountain sheep sheep Palm Canyon desert Palm Springs winter January 2025 Sunrays+5 coth5

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California Fan Palms
San Andreas Canyon
Agua Caliente Indian Reservation
California

A perennial creek helps keep this oasis lush.

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© Melissa Post 2025

Tags:   oasis California Fan Palm palm tree creek water winter January 2025 coth5

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