Happy New Year everyone. I hope your Yuletide and New Year celebrations have been plentiful and that the year ahead offers you good health, prosperity, happiness and endless photo opportunities.

To kickstart the new edition of the fabulous "Show us your great photos" thread, I offer not a pic but a video. We took this last night and it shows, in all its glory, the incredible firework display we offered our neighbours from the comfort of our balcony. If you watch the video you'll see our neighbours' fantastic fireworks going off in the background - and then there's ours. 

This is what you get when you buy a box of mini fireworks from your local cheapskate supermarket (Albert Heijn) for the princely sum of 10 euros!  Still, it was so crap it was a laugh, which means it actually offered great value for money. I hope the vid of our box of damp balcony squibs also raises a smile with you.

Happy New Year!

 

15 hours ago, NCFC said:

Swifts are on the move. Large numbers heading south over Norfolk. 

Seen plenty today in Lancashire.  Due to leave anytime soon.  Last year was I think 7th August when I saw the last one's. 

Steve 

Dog Otter. Taken at daft o clock this morning at Leighton Moss in terrible light . Gutted really, its the closest that I have ever seen one 

Steve

Here's a few pictures I took from last Sunday at the Mopar National's which is held every year on the last weekend of July at Santa Pod Raceway, this is a very popular event with owners of American Muscle Cars, much better than a static car show as you have the chance to drive or watch the cars in action on the pods famous quarter of a mile drag strip.        

Little Egret ( Juvenile )

Steve

Edited August 5, 20177 yr by Winsford Soul

Grey Wagtail ( Juvenile )

Steve

Some more butterfly pics Meadow Brown, Comma and Small Tortoiseshells

A change from the usual flora and fauna, here's my daughter (on the left) and some of her friends at Carlisle Races Ladies Day....

1 hour ago, Steve S 60 said:

A change from the usual flora and fauna, here's my daughter (on the left) and some of her friends at Carlisle Races Ladies Day....

Stunning mate. Bet your a proper proud Dad

Steve 

6 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Stunning mate. Bet your a proper proud Dad

Steve 

I do know I'm a soft touch with her Steve.  I looked after her shop on Monday and Tuesday while she went out gallivanting.  That photo was taken for the Evening News and Star, the Carlisle local rag, and they cropped her two mates off and put Kathryn on the front page with the headline "Here Come The Girls".

On 03/08/2017 at 23:36, NCFC said:

Swifts are on the move. Large numbers heading south over Norfolk. 

Seen a few yesterday morning on my way to work.  None today . Maybe see the odd stragglers but not expecting any really.  Sad . Hate it when they go, sign of thing's to come. 

Steve 

10 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Stunning mate. Bet your a proper proud Dad

Steve 

Yep, she's a beautiful girl for sure.

After the Red Arrows left Falmouth the clouds left their own score on the event 😜

 

 

and sunset at Sennen 

On 09/08/2017 at 18:04, Winsford Soul said:

Seen a few yesterday morning on my way to work.  None today . Maybe see the odd stragglers but not expecting any really.  Sad . Hate it when they go, sign of thing's to come. 

Steve 

Seen plenty of Swifts yesterday over Pennington Flash

Steve

View from the Stratosphere LV

 

Ed

11 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Seen plenty of Swifts yesterday over Pennington Flash

Steve

Not seen any for days here in Norfolk.House martins are starting to group.

Saturday at the VW Festival near Leeds and Sunday a walk in the Lakeland Fells of Helvellyn and chums :-)

On 12/08/2017 at 19:16, stevegods said:

After the Red Arrows left Falmouth the clouds left their own score on the event 😜

 

 

and sunset at Sennen 

Nice photos of the red arrows we were watching this whilst camping at tregedna farm near meanporth.

Dylan ,

Nice.... we went to Falmouth to see Martha Reeves at the Pavillion ... but where camping at Trevedra Farm in Sennen about two miles from Lands End ... been going there since my 20's ... love Cornwall 

On ‎05‎/‎08‎/‎2017 at 17:40, Bruv said:

Here's a few pictures I took from last Sunday at the Mopar National's which is held every year on the last weekend of July at Santa Pod Raceway, this is a very popular event with owners of American Muscle Cars, much better than a static car show as you have the chance to drive or watch the cars in action on the pods famous quarter of a mile drag strip.        

 

Great post of the Mopar Nats Barry, no need to ask if you had a good time! Best wishes Bruv!

 

Edited August 14, 20177 yr by BabyBoyAndMyLass

 

47 minutes ago, stevegods said:

Dylan ,

Nice.... we went to Falmouth to see Martha Reeves at the Pavillion ... but where camping at Trevedra Farm in Sennen about two miles from Lands End ... been going there since my 20's ... love Cornwall 

Same 'ere, lived 'ere now twenty years nearly, never regretted moving down from the north-west, different way of life, values etc...Spiritual heartland, gave up on the rat race and everyday visit somewhere awesome, pay bills playing in bands and doing car repairs/sales from a rundown old shed.

11 hours ago, BabyBoyAndMyLass said:

 

Yes, I had a good time at the Nats, first time I have been able to get there for a couple of years so really enjoyed it. 

 Couple of pictures here from the gig of Dodge Challenger's and two Winged cars that were there, best wishes Baz.    

sorry forgot the text.

this is the view from our garden, it is in las nunas, Ecuador.

I could post pics of wonderful birds and butterflies that we have in abundance in the garden, but there are so many it would never end.

we are moving to a beach house at the weekend, oh happy days !

On ‎15‎/‎08‎/‎2017 at 16:32, jules said:

sorry forgot the text.

this is the view from our garden, it is in las nunas, Ecuador.

I could post pics of wonderful birds and butterflies that we have in abundance in the garden, but there are so many it would never end.

we are moving to a beach house at the weekend, oh happy days !

Jules. That looks idyllic . 

Steve

 

 

Kingfisher. Pennington Flash

Steve

What a mixed bag of weather we've been having. Glorious sunsets one day, and early morning fog the next. Today it's tipping it down, but I don't think you need a photo to know what that looks like. 

 

 

View from the balcony last night...

 

On ‎17‎/‎08‎/‎2017 at 12:08, Russell Gilbert said:

Today it's tipping it down

This made me smile and brought back memories of my dear departed Mum and Dad who used the term, not heard it used for a long time, thanks for the memory Russ

4 hours ago, Russell Gilbert said:

View from the balcony last night...

 

Lovely picture Russell 

Steve 

12 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Lovely picture Russell 

Steve 

Thanks, Steve. Some geese flew over the other evening, very low. Thought it'd make for a great pic, but didn't have a camera to hand. Heard geese again last night, so went out on the off chance and a minute or two later these ones came along. 

1 hour ago, Twoshoes said:

This made me smile and brought back memories of my dear departed Mum and Dad who used the term, not heard it used for a long time, thanks for the memory Russ

I'm delighted it brought back a happy memory. No idea where I picked that up from, but it's one I've always used. It probably comes from my own parents. 

One from today.

Nuthatch posing for me

Still plenty of Swifts about today at Pennington Flash

Steve

Biggin Hill Air Show ...

and who should be there ...👍

 

 

That scoot is worth telephone numbers now ... all original TV 200 ... priceless .. 

Edited August 20, 20177 yr by stevegods

Few pictures of some friends Yank Tanks that were at another one of our pub meets recently.   

Just outside Vegas.....something different to ride in!

Just finished a bit of a refresh jobbie on this 1971 Kawasaki H1A.  Only 3 owners from new and old MOT's going back to 1979.

 

 

1 hour ago, Zed1 said:

Just finished a bit of a refresh jobbie on this 1971 Kawasaki H1A.  Only 3 owners from new and old MOT's going back to 1979.

 

 

Very nice Zed, thank you for sharing.    

On 03/08/2017 at 23:36, NCFC said:

Swifts are on the move. Large numbers heading south over Norfolk. 

Chris. Still Swifts about over Pennington flash. Must admit I have never seen them this late in August. Normally see the last around 7th

Steve

7 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Chris. Still Swifts about over Pennington flash. Must admit I have never seen them this late in August. Normally see the last around 7th

Steve

None here for a couple of weeks. Might be something to do with gulf stream. 

My mate lost all 14 pigeons he sent to Guernsey Saturday. 

All the swifts in our little corner of the Netherlands disappeared about 10 days ago or so. 

8 hours ago, NCFC said:

None here for a couple of weeks. Might be something to do with gulf stream. 

My mate lost all 14 pigeons he sent to Guernsey Saturday. 

14 pigeons is a big loss. Something must have happened.  

Talking to one of the regular birders at Pennington flash and he actually has records of Swifts in September.  It's a big freshwater lake full of insect life and in the West of the country and I think further south than Norfolk so perfect fueling point before migration 

Steve 

4 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

14 pigeons is a big loss. Something must have happened.  

Talking to one of the regular birders at Pennington flash and he actually has records of Swifts in September.  It's a big freshwater lake full of insect life and in the West of the country and I think further south than Norfolk so perfect fueling point before migration 

Steve 

Think swifts follow the food source rather than climate.He thinks his pigeons ended up in France or ditched in North Sea.

Edited August 23, 20177 yr by NCFC

This picture was on Flickr.  Sand sculpture like I have never seen before. Simply stunning. Antonio Cha not sure if he's the sculpture or the photographer but it was on the beach at Marbella 

Steve 

Edited August 23, 20177 yr by Winsford Soul

12 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

This picture was on Flickr.  Sand sculpture like I have never seen before. Simply stunning. Antonio Cha not sure if he's the sculpture or the photographer but it was on the beach at Marbella 

Steve 

He's the photographer Steve, Antonio Chacon, well known for landscapes and sunsets on the coast.

Dave

Out cycling with a friend and came across this bewt of nature. Lovely it hadn't been vandalised or stolen.

 

Edited August 24, 20177 yr by Chris L

3 hours ago, Chris L said:

Out cycling with a friend and came across this bewt of nature. Lovely it hadn't been vandalised or stolen.

 

Nice photo Chris but is it just me getting the photo upside down ?

4 minutes ago, Widnes63 said:

Nice photo Chris but is it just me getting the photo upside down ?

No, it's upside down on my tablet.  If I quickly turn my tablet upside down, I get it the right way up until the gyro kicks in and it flips.

Was on a lovely beach this week in Tenby saw this Wookiee Sea Weed... :-)

I'm in South Wales, the Dollie gave it away :-) 

7 minutes ago, Steve S 60 said:

No, it's upside down on my tablet.  If I quickly turn my tablet upside down, I get it the right way up until the gyro kicks in and it flips.

Funny downloaded upside down then I flipped in my Photo Manager and if I click it on my PC i's the right way up but on here can't seem to flip it !!!

Edited August 24, 20177 yr by Chris L