These flies can lay 500 to 2,000 eggs in their short lifespan

Once a year, I lead a photography group as part of the Nikon School of Czech Republic. Even though I scout the area a day in advance to see what wildlife is around, there is always something that catches me by surprise. That was certainly the case last Sunday. Rain began falling heavily over Stromovka, one of Prague’s oldest parks. As our group ran to take shelter somewhere, we made one last stop at a tree where a young owl had been hiding earlier in the day. I scanned the canopy, searching for the fluffy ball of feathers among the branches, when my eyes spotted a bit of movement on the ground. There, at the base of the tree, a young Long-eared Owl stared up with brilliant orange eyes. Not even the downpour could spoil an opportunity like that!

Royal Caribbean has officially welcomed Legend of the Seas to the family, continuing the evolution of the Icon Class lineup designed to deliver the best family vacation experiences. After nearly two years of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, the third Icon Class ship is now ready to make its July 2026 European debut.

As Queen Mary 2 prepares to join Sail4th 250 this July – celebrating America’s 250th anniversary in New York Harbor – Cunard is inviting travelers to become part of its next historic milestone at sea. The British luxury cruise brand has launched a sweepstakes* to celebrate Queen Mary 2’s historic 450th Transatlantic Crossing this November – a voyage that continues Cunard’s enduring legacy of connecting the United Kingdom and the United States through ocean travel.