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.

First passion flower in bloom today , a one day wonder apparently though .

 

Juvenile Male Sparrowhawk on my back garden fence this evening, taken through the kitchen window

 

Edited August 28, 20204 yr by Winsford Soul

Silhouette of a Collared Dove wing on my kitchen window,  the Dove flew away unharmed 

 

Grandson Thomas all ready for school next week,  can't believe how time flies,  only seems like yesterday when I was posting his first picture 

 

Just flew in the garden 

Springer not happy 

Out in southern snowdonia today in what can only be described as glorious weather with views for miles

 

Edited August 31, 20204 yr by Soulandy

Blue Tit in the garden

 

Last nights full moon over Manchester. Not the clearest moon picture I,ve ever taken but  it was hand held with the 500mm lens

 

Using feature on my Galaxy S10+ 

 

6 minutes ago, Soulfulmerlin said:

 

Using feature on my Galaxy S10+ 

 

I know it's a fantastic feature.  Love it on mine 

12 hours ago, Soulfulmerlin said:

Using feature on my Galaxy S10+ 

Can’t see it on my iPad. 

7 minutes ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

Can’t see it on my iPad. 

Ok here on iPhone 8

 

we did a similar thing with a waterfall in slow motion it’s a good effect.

Edited September 3, 20204 yr by Dylan

57 minutes ago, Dylan said:

Ok here on iPhone 8

That doesn’t help. 🤔🤣

15 hours ago, Soulfulmerlin said:

 

Using feature on my Galaxy S10+ 

 

old person warning
Help I’ve just worked out how to get pictures into SS how the hell do you get videos in ? I tried but it said wrong format blah blah blah - am on a ip7 -  Please wizz kids help out 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Sunset tonight at Pete & Dave's.

Dx

Just spent nearly 5 hours on Rivington pike searching for a very rare bird called a Wyrneck  only the 2nd ever recorded in Greater Manchester unfortunately along with 27 other birders  didnt manage to locate it

 I did manage to get pictures of a juvenile Whinchat and a Redpoll along with a sighting of a Weasel.

Tomorrow i,m finally going to see the Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture as its more commonly known  that,s been present in the Peak district for nearly two months

 

4 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Just spent nearly 5 hours on Rivington pike searching for a very rare bird called a Wyrneck  only the 2nd ever recorded in Greater Manchester unfortunately along with 27 other birders  didnt manage to locate it

 I did manage to get pictures of a juvenile Whinchat and a Redpoll along with a sighting of a Weasel.

Tomorrow i,m finally going to see the Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture as its more commonly known  that,s been present in the Peak district for nearly two months

 

Hope you get a good photo or two Steve. I'm hoping to catch sight of a pine Martin or Scottish wild cat from Sunday 👍

Edited September 4, 20204 yr by Soulandy

33 minutes ago, Soulandy said:

Hope you get a good photo or two Steve. I'm hoping to catch sight of a pine Martin or Scottish wild cat from Sunday 👍

Thanks bud. Here's hoping.  Pine Martin are quite easy to locate via Google, think there's a few hotels and guest houses advertise as such.  Wildcats well that is a different ball game  think the Scottish Wildcat breeding Centre will be your only chance.  I know lads who have been trying to see them  in the wild for 30 years with out sniff.  Enjoy your time away.  👍  not sure how far away you are  from here 

https://www.forestholidays.co.uk/locations/scotland/wildlife/pine-martens/facts/

Edited September 4, 20204 yr by Winsford Soul

44 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Thanks bud. Here's hoping.  Pine Martin are quite easy to locate via Google, think there's a few hotels and guest houses advertise as such.  Wildcats well that is a different ball game  think the Scottish Wildcat breeding Centre will be your only chance.  I know lads who have been trying to see them  in the wild for 30 years with out sniff.  Enjoy your time away.  👍  not sure how far away you are  from here 

https://www.forestholidays.co.uk/locations/scotland/wildlife/pine-martens/facts/

We're going to Kilchoan, Ardnamurchan, last there in 2017 and thought we saw the wildcat then but the wildcat society couldn't confirm as the photo wasn't very clear 😟. Unfortunately I lost my camera last week in Wales so only a phone but I do have a new toy, a trail cam, but the forecast is for lots of the wet stuff, a nice break anyway 😁

5 minutes ago, Soulandy said:

We're going to Kilchoan, Ardnamurchan, last there in 2017 and thought we saw the wildcat then but the wildcat society couldn't confirm as the photo wasn't very clear 😟. Unfortunately I lost my camera last week in Wales so only a phone but I do have a new toy, a trail cam, but the forecast is for lots of the wet stuff, a nice break anyway 😁

Oh wow.  That's amazing   , sorry too hear about your camera mate. But how exciting to have a trail cam. Waiting to see the results,  infact I can't wait now i know  weather and Scotland go together but the forecasts are never right.  

2 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Oh wow.  That's amazing   , sorry too hear about your camera mate. But how exciting to have a trail cam. Waiting to see the results,  infact I can't wait now i know  weather and Scotland go together but the forecasts are never right.  

Cheers mate 👍 I used to follow this blog but since the people moved away it's not updated anymore but a mine of info all the same https://kilchoan.blogspot.com/2014/02/ardnamurchan-wildcat-project_21.html

18 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Just spent nearly 5 hours on Rivington pike searching for a very rare bird called a Wyrneck

Wryneck... 😉

Hope you get lucky and spot it.

I haven't posted on here for some time, so here are my grandson Ronnie and my dad Denis at the allotment,

lots of books and lots of biscuits 

Ste.

8 hours ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

Wryneck... 😉

Hope you get lucky and spot it.

Unfortunately it didn't show up for the 5 hours I was there.  It did appear 15 minutes after I left.  . On a good note I have managed to see the Bearded Vulture ( lammergeier ) today . Its huge 10ft wingspan is a sight to behold , it really is a massive bird. Biggest bird thats  visited the UK ever. Not sorted out any pictures yet,  infact I haven't even checked yet to see if they're any good . I was so excited 😁.  I even seen approximately 20 Ring Ouzel which in itself is unbelievable,  countless Mistle Thrush. Whinchat  Red Grouse.  

9 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Unfortunately it didn't show up for the 5 hours I was there.  It did appear 15 minutes after I left.  . On a good note I have managed to see the Bearded Vulture ( lammergeier ) today . Its huge 10ft wingspan is a sight to behold , it really is a massive bird. Biggest bird thats  visited the UK ever. Not sorted out any pictures yet,  infact I haven't even checked yet to see if they're any good . I was so excited 😁.  I even seen approximately 20 Ring Ouzel which in itself is unbelievable,  countless Mistle Thrush. Whinchat  Red Grouse.  

Don't be too long with the photos, even not so good will be 👍

9 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Unfortunately it didn't show up for the 5 hours I was there.  It did appear 15 minutes after I left.  . On a good note I have managed to see the Bearded Vulture ( lammergeier ) today . Its huge 10ft wingspan is a sight to behold , it really is a massive bird. Biggest bird thats  visited the UK ever. Not sorted out any pictures yet,  infact I haven't even checked yet to see if they're any good . I was so excited 😁.  I even seen approximately 20 Ring Ouzel which in itself is unbelievable,  countless Mistle Thrush. Whinchat  Red Grouse.  

A lammergeier. Blimey, what a treat! Will look forward to the pics. And better luck next time for spotting the wryneck.

Just gone through the 150 pictures i had taken and guess what. Somehow the image stabilisation managed to get knocked off and the pictures  where terrible . I,m absolutely gutted 

These are heavily cropped because it never came closer than probably 500 metres

For a size comparison the bottom picture shows it actually sat on a Ravens old nest and they are a big bird 

 

Edited September 6, 20204 yr by Winsford Soul

1 hour ago, Winsford Soul said:

Just gone through the 150 pictures i had taken and guess what. Somehow the image stabilisation managed to get knocked off and the pictures  where terrible . I,m absolutely gutted 

These are heavily cropped because it never came closer than probably 500 metres

For a size comparison the bottom picture shows it actually sat on a Ravens old nest and they are a big bird 

 

They come across ok mate but I feel your pain. I know how you feel when you think you've got at least a few decent pics when you think all is set up right. Still a privilege to  see in real time though and the photos are a great memory.  A great sight that i need to see, nice one 👍

2 minutes ago, Soulandy said:

They come across ok mate but I feel your pain. I know how you feel when you think you've got at least a few decent pics when you think all is set up right. Still a privilege to  see in real time though and the photos are a great memory.  A great sight that i need to see, nice one 👍

Andy. Easy mate A568 Woodhead to Crowton car par. Walk back up lane to top turn left go  past  farm with it on your r/h side up the track until you reach a sign post for Pennine way,  turn right to follow path through about 4 gates and just keep on the path for about 1 mile then in front of you you will see 2 rocks up on a little hill , climb up and just wait around,  it will eventually be there , plenty of birders and walkers will put you right 

I will definitely be returning.  Enjoy Scotland mate

 

19 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Just gone through the 150 pictures i had taken and guess what. Somehow the image stabilisation managed to get knocked off and the pictures  where terrible . I,m absolutely gutted 

These are heavily cropped because it never came closer than probably 500 metres

For a size comparison the bottom picture shows it actually sat on a Ravens old nest and they are a big bird 

 

 

As a distance scale   here's the rocks from my position with a slight crop  where the Vulture is sat on the Ravens old nest and a view back down the valley to where the car is parked somewhere.  The dark shape half way down the right hand side is where the Vulture was sat

 

Edited September 6, 20204 yr by Winsford Soul

Waterfall coming down from the ridge above me yesterday in the Peak District

 

On 05/09/2020 at 17:29, Amsterdam Russ said:

A lammergeier. Blimey, what a treat! Will look forward to the pics. And better luck next time for spotting the wryneck.

Russell.  Looks like the Wryneck has gone . No sighting since Friday evening.. Such a rare visitor    I've never ever seen one. . 

50 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Russell.  Looks like the Wryneck has gone . No sighting since Friday evening.. Such a rare visitor    I've never ever seen one. . 

That's a shame, but still got to be somewhere. Maybe it'll turn up again in a few days.

5 minutes ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

That's a shame, but still got to be somewhere. Maybe it'll turn up again in a few days.

Probably on its way to southern Europe/ North Africa by now mate

3 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Probably on its way to southern Europe/ North Africa by now mate

Maybe, but it has to do it in little flight hops...

4 hours ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

Maybe, but it has to do it in little flight hops...

I saw one in the New Forest in early October about 40 years ago, so they do hang around if the weather isn't too bad.  Ugly thing really, and quite difficult to see.

Up in Scotland at the moment over looking the sound of Mull. Two very different photos from the living room window or live tv as we call it, one when we arrived yesterday in the most perfect weather with the isle of mull on the right and one from this morning in not so perfect weather but still a great view. 👍

Edited September 7, 20204 yr by Soulandy

My lads first carp from my local water, 13lb common, haven’t seen a smile on him like that all summer 🙂 

Edited September 7, 20204 yr by Mal C

Another sunset, but I have to say this was from a really balmy two minuets of light, you know how it sparkles just before the light dips, no filters straight point and click... 

40 minutes ago, Mal C said:

My lads first carp from my local water, 13lb common, haven’t seen a smile on him like that all summer 🙂 

Brilliant mate. 

38 minutes ago, Mal C said:

Another sunset, but I have to say this was from a really balmy two minuets of light, you know how it sparkles just before the light dips, no filters straight point and click... 

Stunning picture 

On 05/09/2020 at 10:55, Widnes63 said:

I haven't posted on here for some time, so here are my grandson Ronnie and my dad Denis at the allotment,

lots of books and lots of biscuits 

Ste.

Wow where has that little baby gone? Ronnie has shot up so quickly. 🥰

 

A Tortoiseshell in the patio garden this afternoon - must do some gardening this week some time. Dx

50 minutes ago, Davenpete said:

A Tortoiseshell in the patio garden this afternoon - must do some gardening this week some time. Dx

Nice one 👍. Got good weather forecast for the rest of the week Dave 

22 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Nice one 👍. Got good weather forecast for the rest of the week Dave 

Unfortunately - I'm just about emotionally ready to have a day salmon fishing but there's no water in the South Tyne - plus I've got a painter coming IF it rains. Dx

Buster , Call of the wild . Young Hearts Run Free .

 

 

Another great sunset tonight...

A few from my recent trip to Ardnamurchan, Scotland. All off my phone as I lost my camera in wales a couple of weeks back ☹️

A couple of strange rock formations, Sanna Bay and the view down to our base in Kilchoan from above

Our grey looking at bunnies last night. 

Budleigh Salerton beach.