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!

 

Mushrooms are my second passion after Music, now this is the season of "girolles" (Cantarellus cibarius) : http://mushroom-collecting.com/mushroomchanterelle.html and yesterday afternoon I picked plenty of them in the woods. They are some delicious mushrooms, me and my cats love them  !

 

 

Edited June 11, 20177 yr by Philippe
I forgot one picture

Wood Pigeon.

Portrait

Steve

Edited June 12, 20177 yr by Winsford Soul
Spelling mistake

59 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Wood Pidgeon.

Portrait

Steve

The much maligned pigeon. You've captured its beauty there Steve.

Great photo Sir.

Pete

21 hours ago, Philippe said:

Mushrooms are my second passion after Music, now this is the season of "girolles" (Cantarellus cibarius) : http://mushroom-collecting.com/mushroomchanterelle.html and yesterday afternoon I picked plenty of them in the woods. They are some delicious mushrooms, me and my cats love them  !

 

 

You can send some to me Philippe, I love mushrooms

22 hours ago, Philippe said:

Mushrooms are my second passion after Music, now this is the season of "girolles" (Cantarellus cibarius) : http://mushroom-collecting.com/mushroomchanterelle.html and yesterday afternoon I picked plenty of them in the woods. They are some delicious mushrooms, me and my cats love them  !

 

 

You sound like a real fun guy Philippe.  Here's a toadstool that was recently made in a clay hand building session by my daughter....

2 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Wood Pidgeon.

Portrait

Steve

Pidgeon....the other French people's name !

17 minutes ago, milliontearsoul said:

Pidgeon....the other French people's name !

You spotted the spelling mistake

Steve

4 hours ago, TattooDave said:

You can send some to me Philippe, I love mushrooms

Hey Dave, I send the pictures it's not that bad ! ;o)

To send them to you I'd have to dry them, but I never did that. I give the girolles to friends and neighbours, and also I cook them and put them in boxes in the freezer, though not too long : it's better to eat them in the next 6 months.

I believe in Spain there are a lot of mushrooms lovers, right ?

36 minutes ago, Philippe said:

Hey Dave, I send the pictures it's not that bad ! ;o)

To send them to you I'd have to dry them, but I never did that. I give the girolles to friends and neighbours, and also I cook them and put them in boxes in the freezer, though not too long : it's better to eat them in the next 6 months.

I believe in Spain there are a lot of mushrooms lovers, right ?

A lot of mushroom lovers and lots of mushroom hunters, if you know where to look and when you can eat well for weeks.  I'll just have to make do with dried ones from the shop.  Enjoy your harvest.

Participated in a raku firing last Thursday.  Quite illuminating.....

13 minutes ago, Steve S 60 said:

Participated in a raku firing last Thursday.  Quite illuminating.....

Was it a success?  I'd be interested to see the results, I collect raku pieces.

7 minutes ago, TattooDave said:

Was it a success?  I'd be interested to see the results, I collect raku pieces.

I'll send you the piece I did, Dave....

Pic du midi 

Edited June 12, 20177 yr by milliontearsoul

1 hour ago, Steve S 60 said:

I'll send you the piece I did, Dave....

It's always a hit and miss process, pinch pots often crack, try making some tea bowl type bowls if you do it again.

21 minutes ago, TattooDave said:

It's always a hit and miss process, pinch pots often crack, try making some tea bowl type bowls if you do it again.

We'll have to get some stoneware clay next time Kathryn orders some clay, as we only have earthenware clay in the shop.  Here's one she threw with some school buff wedged with a bit of commercial white earthenware.....

11 hours ago, Steve S 60 said:

We'll have to get some stoneware clay next time Kathryn orders some clay, as we only have earthenware clay in the shop.  Here's one she threw with some school buff wedged with a bit of commercial white earthenware.....

Nice crackle, that looks good for first attempts at raku.  I bought a large piece in Rethymno, Crete, a bowl, same colour but with a wide oxidised stripe through it.  It's still unwrapped at my father's. 

Something a bit different from me

Common Orchid ?

Steve

 

Can we have one of your sausages please? How to lose weight the easy way. Get two smooth fox terriers.

49 minutes ago, HARRY CROSBY said:

Can we have one of your sausages please? How to lose weight the easy way. Get two smooth fox terriers.

Harry. No keeping indoors with these two mate

Steve

Just now, Winsford Soul said:

Harry. No keeping indoors with these two mate

Steve

Too bloody right Steve, the one on the left Rosie is 2 years old and the one on the right is Bob, he`s 10 months old, they are not related we got Rosie from a rescue centre when she was 1 year old, and we got Bob this April, from a Breeder in Exmouth, he`s royalty lol, he`s got a massive pedigree, 5 generations, his grandad was Best in Terrier group at crufts 2007. To be honest Steve, ive had Jack russells all my life, and had never heard of this breed, had heard of the wire haired fox terriers, but not the smooth haired. They are one of britains oldest breeds, ive traced them back to the 1700`s, really fascinating, apparently the jack russells were bread down from these and other terriers. They are real working dogs, the older one is teaching young Bob how to hunt at the moment, it`s great to watch, she shows him rabbit runs and rat holes under bushes. I have a mate who has a farm with a big hay barn, last year i took Rosie, he used an old stihl saw engine, with a length of hose from the exhaust into the rat holes to flush them, and Rosie & his two Jack russells were left to it, great fun. 39 came out that day. We are going back in a few months and taking Bob this time. 

Common Spotted Orchids and Blue Damselfly taken at Low Barns Nature Reserve on 11.6.17

1 hour ago, Winsford Soul said:

Something a bit different from me

Common Orchid ?

Steve

 

Hi Steve  beauriful pic.  I think it is a Southern Marsh Orchid rather than Common Spotted Orchid 

Suz x

Some of the flora I took from my visit to Bishop Middleham Nature Reserve. Salad Burnet and Northern Marsh Orchids, these can never be mistaken for any other Orchid.  

1 hour ago, suzannek said:

Hi Steve  beauriful pic.  I think it is a Southern Marsh Orchid rather than Common Spotted Orchid 

Suz x

Hi Suz.   I'm  down in Pembrokeshire at the moment so the Southern Marsh Orchid would fit in nicely. Thank you.

Got my most eagerly awaited trip of the year tomorrow, getting the boat over to Skomer island to see the Puffins , Guillemots, Razorbills etc and hopefully Short Eared Owls. So with a bit of luck I should have some pictures  to share 

Steve

4 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Hi Suz.   I'm  down in Pembrokeshire at the moment so the Southern Marsh Orchid would fit in nicely. Thank you.

Got my most eagerly awaited trip of the year tomorrow, getting the boat over to Skomer island to see the Puffins , Guillemots, Razorbills etc and hopefully Short Eared Owls. So with a bit of luck I should have some pictures  to share 

Steve

Great look forward to seeing the photos.  The Southern Marsh is similar to my Northern Marsh apart from it is taller and mine is darker.  The Northern Marsh hybridise with Common Spotted and other Orchids.  Wonderful flowers 

 

Suz x

Edited June 13, 20177 yr by suzannek

Great night last night at Union Chaple seeing The Impressions ... who I have to say , where amazing 😉!!!!

The harmonies are still as tight as they have ever been and even with a new " younger " lead singer .. they still produce a sound that's just like the original recording ...

Also a huge big thank you to Sam and Fred for allowing us back stage after the event , even though both where feeling very tired . 

100% Soul - 100% satisfaction... cheers guys !! 

How hot - even the swans got cooled down today - and before anyone asks at no time was any swan hurt while taking the photos 

 

 

2 minutes ago, ZoomSoulBlue said:

How hot - even the swans got cooled down today - and before anyone asks at no time was any swan hurt while taking the photos 

 

 

Wheres that mate?

 

Pete

A rare classic 

3 hours ago, Peter99 said:

Wheres that mate?

 

Pete

Back garden - onto river nene Stanground - great having swans visit / down site is they crap all over the place lol

1 hour ago, ZoomSoulBlue said:

Back garden - onto river nene Stanground - great having swans visit / down site is they crap all over the place lol

Wow! Nice back garden. Have you any other pictures to give us some context please mate?

thanks

Pete

Here,s a few Puffin Pic,s from Today

Steve

A couple of Short Eared Owl Pictures

Steve

Here is a couple of pictures I took while attending the Poole Quay Bike night on Tuesday evening.  

Puffins re affirming there bond to each other

Steve

17 hours ago, ZoomSoulBlue said:

How hot - even the swans got cooled down today - and before anyone asks at no time was any swan hurt while taking the photos 

 

I'm not sure if my cats would love this !

30° in the shade, it's Summer !

 

17 hours ago, NCFC said:

A rare classic 

That's something I don't miss.  One step up from newspaper.  The Royal Navy were still using it in the early 80's.  Luckily the introduction of sewage treatment plants on board meant the introduction of soft toilet paper.

Thrush in the bush

Steve

Repeat after me

Steve

Dave, Suz. This is a unknown flower to me could you please help me out with ID

Steve

2 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Dave, Suz. This is a unknown flower to me could you please help me out with ID

Steve

It's a potentilla of some kind Steve, is it a shrub? If so it's Potentilla fruticosa

Just now, TattooDave said:

It's a potentilla of some kind Steve, is it a shrub? If so it's Potentilla fruticosa

Its a Shrub Dave. Thank you

Steve

Just now, Winsford Soul said:

Its a Shrub Dave. Thank you

Steve

They've done wonders with getting different colours to it now too, red, orange, pink and white varieties, a nice adaptable plant, it makes a reasonably convincing bonsai too.

A couple of pics of white tail deer in our garden in New Jersey, a mother and two fawns. Cute to look at but we can't have any flower beds because they eat everything in sight!

Edited June 16, 20177 yr by MikeHinNewJersey

On 6/14/2017 at 21:48, Winsford Soul said:

Puffins re affirming there bond to each other

Steve

All of your pictures are great Steve. However, the Puffin collection are absolutely stunning - worthy of any wildlife magazine/website. 

Well done mate.

Pete

1 hour ago, Peter99 said:

All of your pictures are great Steve. However, the Puffin collection are absolutely stunning - worthy of any wildlife magazine/website. 

Well done mate.

Pete

Thank you my friend Your kind words are much appreciated .

Hope your keeping well.

Steve

Great Bentley in the village tonight...

Revelers on the Tor at the wkd...

Back from a week in Filey, had a fantastic few hours at Bempton Cliffs. Amazing spectacle if you like seabirds. Here are a few of the many (probably over 100 photos) i took there plus a couple of others from the week. Gannets, Puffins, Razorbills, Herring Gulls, Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Jackdaws.