A New Year means a new Soul Source photography thread! Starting in 2013, "Show us your great photos" has proved to be a long-lived favourite - all because of the continued contributions and involvement of its enthusiastic participants. Here's looking forward to yet another year of fab photos - and don't forget that you don't need to be a photographer to post up pics. Whether taken with top-of-the-line gear or the camera on your smart phone, if you've got interesting pics, please feel free to share.

To kick off, here's a batch of pics I took today while out on a cold and misty walk in a place called the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen. I'd not heard of it until just very recently. Apparently it's a natural water table from which Amsterdam gets most of its fresh water. At the same time, it's a nature reserve, so now that I know of its existence, I'll have to make a point of visiting regularly.

It wasn't a good day to be out with a camera, especially with a zoom lens. The light was poor, it was misty (heavy fog overhead - we could hear geese flying over but could barely see them, even though they were quite low), and it was cold. Hopefully conditions will be better on my next visit.

Here's wishing you all a happy New Year and lots of happy shooting across the next 12 months.

Just now, Uk Soul said:

Thanks Ste

When all this is over would love to try this place out 

Many thanks Eric

Your welcome mate, Definitely  worth it. Cant wait to return but not until next June unfortunately 

Some pictures taken on walks and cycle rides near the Thames mostly at Putney where I live.

Yellow sky at night... not a sunset, but courtesy of a large-scale greenhouse probably a mile or two away and where they'll be force growing fruit and veg or flowers.

It's not usually this bright, but the light's reflecting off the evening's thick, low cloud. 

 

1 hour ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

Yellow sky at night... not a sunset, but courtesy of a large-scale greenhouse probably a mile or two away and where they'll be force growing fruit and veg or flowers.

It's not usually this bright, but the light's reflecting off the evening's thick, low cloud. 

 

Not quite as bright as the one in the film Saving Grace, but quite eerie looking all the same

42 minutes ago, Tattoodave said:

Not quite as bright as the one in the film Saving Grace, but quite eerie looking all the same

Haha - I wondered whether I’d posted a nearly identical pic before; same situation, same balcony location, and probably same time of year.
 

I know now that I did, because I recall now that you mentioned Saving Grace then as well! Still not seen the film, though. ☹️
 

Starlings starting to gather for a mermuration.  Unfortunately it was too dark for recording when there was approximately 20,000 birds flying around . Hopefully this is just a sample and I get chance to return and capture it properly.  Watch this space 

 

49 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Starlings starting to gather for a mermuration.  Unfortunately it was too dark for recording when there was approximately 20,000 birds flying around . Hopefully this is just a sample and I get chance to return and capture it properly.  Watch this space 

 

Is this at Pennington Flash Steve?

Phone pics of another good walk along the canal on another good Autumn day 

1 hour ago, Soulandy said:

Is this at Pennington Flash Steve?

No mate. Marbury Park. Called this afternoon to see the 2 bittern .Unfortunately  it was almost dark when the starlings turned up and then it was to dark to see the bittern catching them. Going back on Thursday afternoon as the weather is forecast good 👍 

Edited November 10, 20204 yr by Winsford Soul

Scanning new dog walks i guess . 

On 10/11/2020 at 19:19, Amsterdam Russ said:

Haha - I wondered whether I’d posted a nearly identical pic before; same situation, same balcony location, and probably same time of year.
 

I know now that I did, because I recall now that you mentioned Saving Grace then as well! Still not seen the film, though. ☹️
 

It was up on YouTube for a while, your memory has similar holes in it to mine.  It's worth a watch, if you get the opportunity.

On my recent trip back from Spain I stayed in Salamanca on route to Santander, and was surprised at it's beauty.

54 minutes ago, Tattoodave said:

It's worth a watch, if you get the opportunity.

I made a point of getting it, so it's lined up to watch one evening very soon. 👍

Another big surprise on the trip was seeing cotton being grown in fields in Spain.

Another one of Salamanca, the Cathedral

A cork oak in Central Spain with alien looking fruit created by an oak gall wasp, which can be used to make ink, though it's probably easier to buy ink elsewhere.

34 minutes ago, Tattoodave said:

A cork oak in Central Spain with alien looking fruit created by an oak gall wasp, which can be used to make ink, though it's probably easier to buy ink elsewhere.

Dave. My old junior school field boundary was a ditch with plenty of oak trees and climbing them was always a discovery,  acorns,  oak apples with the hole in them made by the oak gall wasp. My god that was 55 years ago. 

16 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Dave. My old junior school field boundary was a ditch with plenty of oak trees and climbing them was always a discovery,  acorns,  oak apples with the hole in them made by the oak gall wasp. My god that was 55 years ago. 

But did you know that there's a wasp that actually preys on the larvae of the oak gall wasp by laying it's egg in the gall to eat the larvae when it hatches?  Nature is fascinating, but sometimes not that pleasant.

11 minutes ago, Tattoodave said:

But did you know that there's a wasp that actually preys on the larvae of the oak gall wasp by laying it's egg in the gall to eat the larvae when it hatches?  Nature is fascinating, but sometimes not that pleasant.

Not until recently.  It was on a natural history program earlier this year.  Cant remember what one though.  Could have been springwatch mate

Forgot to post this from my recent visit to Marbury Park just a mile North of Northwich. Cheshire. Just a small amount of the approximately 20000 Starlings that where coming into roost in the reedbed at the western end of the mere

 

On 12/11/2020 at 07:58, Tattoodave said:

It was up on YouTube for a while, your memory has similar holes in it to mine.  It's worth a watch, if you get the opportunity.

If did . Not seen Dave or recall seeing . Felt compelled to post looking at him . Little Centurion . That put a lisp to my vocaaablurry 

.Cant think why . Whome I thhhhinking about .

 

Couldn't place as one of my best . Though is an interesting picture . Taken by Ribble line . Power line post . Been used as scratch post . By Cattle . Assume relieved from Horse Flies .

I though was Bears that did this . For sure the amount of wear . Subject to power cut at  nearby Sewage Works . If it goes over at some point . 

Scotland doing the North Coast 500 couple of weeks ago - great weather 12 to 15 degrees no tourist except me 👍🏻

1 hour ago, Soulfulmerlin said:

Couldn't place as one of my best . Though is an interesting picture . Taken by Ribble line . Power line post . Been used as scratch post . By Cattle . Assume relieved from Horse Flies .

I though was Bears that did this . For sure the amount of wear . Subject to power cut at  nearby Sewage Works . If it goes over at some point . 

With all the rain it could have been a beaver.

Found this butterfly hiding inside one of the storage containers at work was moving the box carefully when it opened its wings. 

37 minutes ago, Greedy Mick said:

Found this butterfly hiding inside one of the storage containers at work was moving the box carefully when it opened its wings. 

Peacock butterfly Mick. They tough to overwinter in semi hibernation then as soon as it warms up they wake up looking for nectar,  before they lay there eggs.  

Well I put it back into the container, tucked away so hopefully it will be ok. It was just a beautiful thing to see on a grey November lockdown day 

Edited November 20, 20204 yr by Greedy Mick

20 hours ago, Greedy Mick said:

Found this butterfly hiding inside one of the storage containers at work was moving the box carefully when it opened its wings. 

I would have shit myself, 😂🤣😂🤣 looks massive - great pic 

Heron taking flight from a rival

 

 

Towpath Wagtail

 

First time out on the bike today since July, and only the fourth time this year. Didn't go very far, but I'm knackered.

Still, it was worth it. The light became nicely golden as the afternoon drew to a close, and I managed to get a few pics into the bargain.

Magpie

Kestrel

Autumnal berries (name, please)

Moss growing on a bench made from part of a tree trunk

Grasses/wild flowers (name, please) - nicely backlit against a dark background

Nicely lit reeds against a backdrop of industrial greenhouses

One of three windmills on our little 'borough'. This one's Molen de zwarte ruiter (Windmill the black rider)

 

27 minutes ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

First time out on the bike today since July, and only the fourth time this year. Didn't go very far, but I'm knackered.

Still, it was worth it. The light became nicely golden as the afternoon drew to a close, and I managed to get a few pics into the bargain.

Magpie

Kestrel

Autumnal berries (name, please)

Moss growing on a bench made from part of a tree trunk

Grasses/wild flowers (name, please) - nicely backlit against a dark background

Nicely lit reeds against a backdrop of industrial greenhouses

One of three windmills on our little 'borough'. This one's Molen de zwarte ruiter (Windmill the black rider)

 

Great pictures  Russell.  The berries look like Hawthorn berries,  but not a expert. Tattoo Dave  is the man. 

34 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Great pictures  Russell.  The berries look like Hawthorn berries,  but not a expert. Tattoo Dave  is the man.

Thank you kindly. Not much in the way of birds. I did bump into a local birdwatcher who told me (in Dutch) that he'd seen snipe, woodcock, owls and more. I didn't, so must be looking in the wrong places. Next time, maybe!

Hawthorn - I'll take your word for it unless told otherwise by our resident expert.

5 minutes ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

Thank you kindly. Not much in the way of birds. I did bump into a local birdwatcher who told me (in Dutch) that he'd seen snipe, woodcock, owls and more. I didn't, so must be looking in the wrong places. Next time, maybe!

Hawthorn - I'll take your word for it unless told otherwise by our resident expert.

Thanks Russell.  Snipe and Woodcock.  You can almost stand on them before they move and when they do, if you're not expecting anything they frighten the life out of you . Supreme camouflage.  

57 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Great pictures  Russell.  The berries look like Hawthorn berries,  but not a expert. Tattoo Dave  is the man. 

It's a crab apple (Malus), wouldn't know the variety though, might be "Evereste", there's plenty of varieties.  The grass is difficult to identify too, as I'm not sure it's a grass, this time of year there's a plethora of plants in seed that have lost their leaves, rendering identification difficult without actually examining them.

Edited November 25, 20204 yr by Tattoodave
dementia

Just now, Tattoodave said:

It's a crab apple (Malus), wouldn't know the variety though, there's plenty of them.  The grass is difficult to identify too, as I'm not sure it's a grass, this time of year there's a plethora of plants in seed that have lost their leaves, rendering identification difficult without actually examining them.

Dave. They look tiny for crab apples ,is it a particular type hence the ( malus ) in brackets 🤔.  

12 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Dave. They look tiny for crab apples ,is it a particular type hence the ( malus ) in brackets 🤔.  

Malus is the scientific name of all apples, wild crab apples are about 1/3 size of apples, the cultivated varieties have tiny fruit, usually in profusion.  I'm amazed at the variety available, I'm collecting fruit at the moment to grow as small bonsai from seed.

Edited November 25, 20204 yr by Tattoodave
dementia

Great Crested Grebe. Drake Pochard

 

 

 

Edited November 26, 20204 yr by Winsford Soul

Scotland is the focus of a fine selection of photos sent in to BBC News for the week 20-27 November.

Here's one of the pics:

Source: BBC News / © Morag Allen

Click the link below to see all the photos:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-55042969

 

Two massive skeins of Pink footed  geese over lunt meadow nature reserve this evening. 

 

7 hours ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

Scotland is the focus of a fine selection of photos sent in to BBC News for the week 20-27 November.

Here's one of the pics:

Source: BBC News / © Morag Allen

Click the link below to see all the photos:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-55042969

 

Russell. Thanks for sharing. Two really stand out for me . The one above and the reflection from Loch Oich on the road from Skye 

Tonight's Sunset over Lunt Meadow nature reserve. Its only just now i have downloaded the picture i  noticed 100,s possibly 1000,s of Jackdaws or Rooks flying across the top of the photograph

 

Edited November 27, 20204 yr by Winsford Soul

Not had any pictures just lately but had the trail cam out for a couple of nites at the badger sett. This entrance is about 10 feet below the top entrance and just started being used by the three badgers these past couple of weeks. The "lights" are leafs being reflected from the cam. I think I'll have to trim them next time

 

Edited November 29, 20204 yr by Soulandy

35 minutes ago, Soulandy said:

Not had any pictures just lately but had the trail cam out for a couple of nites at the badger sett. This entrance is about 10 feet below the top entrance and just started being used by the three badgers these past couple of weeks. The "lights" are leafs being reflected from the cam. I think I'll have to trim them next time

 

 

Brilliant mate.  Well chuffed for you and  your hard work in getting it sorted 

15 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Brilliant mate.  Well chuffed for you and  your hard work in getting it sorted 

Cheers Steve. I really want to see if the foxes come back "next door" as they were sharing the same area in the spring but didn't have the cam then. Now the foliage is going it may be better to get a bit more of the area. I've seen a couple of places along the river that may be interesting more into the winter to see what goes on there 👍

Going through some old memorabilia and I found my Casino membership Card and the Keele original from the very first night when Neil and Jacqui Clowes were the promoters 

 

21 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Going through some old memorabilia and I found my Casino membership Card and the Keele original from the very first night when Neil and Jacqui Clowes were the promoters 

 

Still got my Keele card along with various others but my Casino card went awol years ago along with some records 😞

Wildlife Photographer of the Year - shortlisted selections in the ‘people’s choice’ category. Well worth checking out - there are some stunners!

https://news.sky.com/story/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-which-is-your-favourite-image-12147100

 

 

Edited December 1, 20204 yr by Amsterdam Russ

Had to share this.  The area mentioned is where I visit every year in Pembrokeshire and is where I took the Osprey pictures on my recent visit.  Its opposite the massive Valero refinery on the milford waterway which has s records of overwintering Swallows most years.