Happy New Year to one and all. Let's hope 2021 sees some sort of return to normal as the weeks and months roll on

Running annually since 2013, this is the 9th photography thread. Thanks to everyone who has participated and made this such a popular and long-running thread. I'm sure we can look forward to lots of great contributions.

Given the restrictions we've been facing for so long now, getting out and about hasn't always been easy or even possible. But, with a bit of good fortune hopefully we'll get opportunities to revisit new and familiar places with greater ease. Certainly I've hardly been beyond my immediate environment during much of last year, so I'm opening this thread with a couple of favourite photos from some years back.

Both were taken in Elie on the Fife coast in Scotland.

 

Happy snapping, everyone!

I rang the Police.  The organiser was fined £10,000 for holding an illegal gathering.  The policeman rang me back and told me he'd snailed 'em.   They were very upset apparently because they'd shelled out a fortune for the event.  As can be seen from the photographic evidence, a gangster and his mollusc were bricking it and tried to escape through a secret passage behind a wall but they were too slow. I felt a bit mean, but rules are rules.  If we cant have soul dos, they shouldn't be allowed snail dos. And that's all there is to it. 👍🏼

 

But they're not the only ones climbing the walls 😞

16 hours ago, Flamingemeralds said:

I rang the Police.  The organiser was fined £10,000 for holding an illegal gathering.  The policeman rang me back and told me he'd snailed 'em.   They were very upset apparently because they'd shelled out a fortune for the event.  As can be seen from the photographic evidence, a gangster and his mollusc were bricking it and tried to escape through a secret passage behind a wall but they were too slow. I felt a bit mean, but rules are rules.  If we cant have soul dos, they shouldn't be allowed snail dos. And that's all there is to it. 👍🏼

 

But they're not the only ones climbing the walls 😞

Think plod should stamp down on them 👍

15 minutes ago, Shinehead said:

Think plod should stamp down on them 👍

Graham.  You can't do that.  I know one of them .Her name is Michelle . 

Tonight,s Moon over Manchester. Cant remember the last clear night we had here when there was a visible Moon

 

Wolf Moon coming this Sunday Steve, and the winds look to be westerly / SSW,  I think this weekend is gonna blow fishing wise...

Caught this very old Carp yesterday at my local pool, which I walked to with all my kit btw, nearly killed me!   There are about 40-50 carp in this 4 acre pool, and they do not get caught regularly, so if you catch one they are always full of character and it's well worth the wait, I had blanked 8 times here before this one, thats how hard it is... they also have a big head of Tench in there as well, some well up to 8lb.

 Mal

 

Edited February 23, 20214 yr by Mal C

3 hours ago, Mal C said:

Wolf Moon coming this Sunday Steve, and the winds look to be westerly / SSW,  I think this weekend is gonna blow fishing wise...

Caught this very old Carp yesterday at my local pool, which I walked to with all my kit btw, nearly killed me!   There are about 40-50 carp in this 4 acre pool, and they do not get caught regularly, so if you catch one they are always full of character and it's well worth the wait, I had blanked 8 times here before this one, thats how hard it is... they also have a big head of Tench in there as well, some well up to 8lb.

 Mal

 

It looks like it's made of bronze and gold lustre! The fish....not Cap'n Bird's Eye.   Could make a nice handbag out of that...

It's a dog's life!  My friend's dog, Bruce, who sadly passed away.  The best dog in the world.  If Carlsberg made dogs.....

And some photographs of snow in Greece, sent by my friend Kathryn.

....and finally....  I can't catch fish but I can make a Bakewell tart...

8 hours ago, Mal C said:

Wolf Moon coming this Sunday Steve, and the winds look to be westerly / SSW,  I think this weekend is gonna blow fishing wise...

Caught this very old Carp yesterday at my local pool, which I walked to with all my kit btw, nearly killed me!   There are about 40-50 carp in this 4 acre pool, and they do not get caught regularly, so if you catch one they are always full of character and it's well worth the wait, I had blanked 8 times here before this one, thats how hard it is... they also have a big head of Tench in there as well, some well up to 8lb.

 Mal

 

Nice one Mal. These old carp , like you say are full of character. If only they could talk, be like catching up with some of the scenes more colourful people and hearing their stories.  

 

My mates grandson looks like he is hooked..

Ed

19 minutes ago, Tomangoes said:

My mates grandson looks like he is hooked..

Ed

 Brilliant Ed. I started fishing when I was 5 . Never lost my love of it 57 years later. Still one of life's greatest pleasures.  Had some amazing times,  Had a kingfisher perch on my fishing rod,  watched Badgers rolling bedding into their sett . Hope he gets as much fun and enjoyment out of it as I have 

On 23/02/2021 at 13:16, Flamingemeralds said:

....and finally....  I can't catch fish but I can make a Bakewell tart...

Yeah but you do make an exceedingly good Bakewell tart 🙂

Captain Birdseye 🙂

3 hours ago, Mal C said:

Yeah but you do make an exceedingly good Bakewell tart 🙂

Captain Birdseye 🙂

Absolutely, that's why it's called bake well tart... because it bakes well....and......tart.😲.. I didn't think that through at all 🙄.   

Wren. 

 

Just had a Bee on my window outside.  Not sure of the ID it could be a hairy footed flower Bee.  I would love to know because if it is its extremely rare 

 

PS. Just been informed that it's probably a Tree Bumblebee.  They only arrived in the UK in 2001 and are slowly moving north and are active from Early spring 

 

Edited February 26, 20214 yr by Winsford Soul

Glasson Dock today.....

32 minutes ago, Flamingemeralds said:

Glasson Dock today.....

Looks fab 

2 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Just had a Bee on my window outside.  Not sure of the ID it could be a hairy footed flower Bee.  I would love to know because if it is its extremely rare 

 

PS. Just been informed that it's probably a Tree Bumblebee.  They only arrived in the UK in 2001 and are slowly moving north and are active from Early spring 

 

saw a honeybee yesterday, well it looked like one as it buzzed around the garden looking for flowers. I'll have to go and check on the wild bee hive to see if there starting to get out and about.

Tonights Snow Moon.

I have set the alarm for 6am to try and photograph the Moon as it sets behind the trees as its at 100% full and i will hopefully post a picture for comparison

Second picture taken at 6.30am today

 

 

Edited February 27, 20214 yr by Winsford Soul

On 23/02/2021 at 19:33, Winsford Soul said:

 Brilliant Ed. I started fishing when I was 5 . Never lost my love of it 57 years later. Still one of life's greatest pleasures.  Had some amazing times,  Had a kingfisher perch on my fishing rod,  watched Badgers rolling bedding into their sett . Hope he gets as much fun and enjoyment out of it as I have 

Indeed.

A bit like norvun...you get it or you don't.

There's a video that goes with the catch, what the hell, here it is.

The trepidation of the catch and the learning of the skill in landing fish that weigh more than the breaking strain of the line...

Ed

Edited February 26, 20214 yr by Tomangoes

9 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Tonights Snow Moon.

I have set the alarm for 6am to try and photograph the Moon as it sets behind the trees as its at 100% full and i will hopefully post a picture for comparison

 

 

Surely you will just be wrapping up a virtual all nighter at 6am tomorrow morning?

The age of the wolf...Susan Coleman might be playing!

Ed

1 minute ago, Tomangoes said:

Surely you will just be wrapping up a virtual all nighter at 6am tomorrow morning?

The age of the wolf...Susan Coleman might be playing!

Ed

🤣🤣🤣. The virtual nighter is Saturday night  🌙 otherwise your right mate. . I remember posting a picture last summer as I had a brew sat in the garden on my way home from the virtual nighter 🙃.  

17 minutes ago, Tomangoes said:

Indeed.

A bit like norvun...you get it or you don't.

There's a video that goes with the catch, what the hell, here it is.

The trepidation of the catch and the learning of the skill in landing fish that weigh more than the breaking strain of the line...

Ed

That's brilliant 👏. He is so chuffed 😀

Snow Moon picture edited to add this mornings picture . See earlier post for comparison pictures

Female Greenfinch in the garden at lunch time . There was a stunning coloured Male that refused to show for a photograph and stayed behind a branch. As normal with my garden bird pictures this was taken through the kitchen window

 

Tree Bumblebee.  Much better photo than the earlier ones.  Taken in the garden today.  European species of Bee that was first recorded in the UK in 2001 and has slowly spread North 

 

 

A glorious spring day today - went for another Loweswater walk - half of it on the normal route along the lake shore, but then doubling back to go straight up the fell and back in a long loop totalling about 6.5 miles. Dx 

1 hour ago, Davenpete said:

A glorious spring day today - went for another Loweswater walk - half of it on the normal route along the lake shore, but then doubling back to go straight up the fell and back in a long loop totalling about 6.5 miles. Dx 

Fantastic 👍 I for one can't wait to get back in the high fells and mountains and just watch it be a crap weather summer 😒

Had to share this.  A white Stork ( wild bird ) has been sighted Monday near Kirkham, Lancashire and over Warrington, Cheshire  today. Simply amazing 

Photo taken by Paul Bennett 

 

 

 

Went for what turned out to be a 17km+ mondo slog today - not one I'll be repeating in a hurry - a full circuit of Wastwater - the trouble is that about 1/5 of that was on very steep screes and boulder fields (what the south bank of Wastwater is famous for - think 60º slopes made up entirely of loose jagged rocks varying in size from suitcases to fridges and small cars - see pics)... Definitely the toughest thing I've done.

On the way back down the easy side I was amazed to see that virtually every piece of standing water - including roadside puddles! - was crammed full of frog spawn - aside from being early, I'm surprised there's ANY frogs in the highly acidic peaty water - let alone what is clearly a massive abundance.

A grotty grey day for photos - but managed a few OK ones.

Dx

Despite your exertions....photography is delightful.....as always!

Another visitor to the Pete & Dave's Greylag Zoo - a female Great Crested Newt on its way down our steps, presumably, looking how skinny it is, having been busy breeding in the old pond just over the lane from us. I gave it a lift down stairs as I presume it wasn't after coming in the house (though that's the front doorstep in the background). Dx

Grey Heron .Male  With full Streamers breeding plumage

 

Given all the rain I thought it was a good day to visit the fabulous Lodore Falls in full flow above Derwentwater. Bovine route planning meant I totally missed the easy path and essentially ended up scrambling straight up alongside the falls. I then continued up the river to Watendlath Tarn and returned in a big figure of eight - though the weather closed in and was really grotty by the time I was descending to the car. Dx

 

Edited March 13, 20214 yr by Davenpete

Manky weather again today so I just went for a wind blown, rain lashed trudge round Wedholme Flow, a couple of miles from home. It's a lowland heath, with about half of it partially abstracted for peat that is being re-wilded. Was hoping to capture some frisky frogs, toads and newts - I've obviously missed all the fun as it was much more 'Solway Land of Spawn' than 'Cumbria Amphibian World' today. Dx

On 30/01/2021 at 22:34, Winsford Soul said:

Rubbish one from today, Finally managed to see the stunning male Lesser Redpoll but a record shot will do until i can manage one in decent light and in the open or in flight

What a beauty, never seen one before 

thank you for posting 

I actually ventured up a real fell today - along the river and then up and over the long ridge of High Rigg between Thirlmere and Keswick. The weather was great once the low cloud burned off. Really chuffed with the first one. Dx

 

 

Edited March 20, 20214 yr by Davenpete

2 hours ago, Davenpete said:

I actually ventured up a real fell today - along the river and then up and over the long ridge of High Rigg between Thirlmere and Keswick. The weather was great once the low cloud burned off. Really chuffed with the first one. Dx

 

 

God country , wonderful pics 

spent. My childhood in the lakes ,now 

live in the smoke.

thirlmere my personal fav 🙂

The willow tree is starting to take shape along the canal. Swans have been nesting under the tree for the past few years but no sign of them yet.

Edited March 21, 20214 yr by Soulandy

A short video of the badgers and friends at the beginning of March

 

Early start at Elton this morning 5.50am. A few new sightings including a Brown Hare ( no picture ) sorry

Six Sand Martin over the Reservoir was the first of the year for me, about four or five Chiffchaff calling and a Cetti,s calling 

First time i,ve ever heard a Yellowhammer singing there. ( no picture ) But i managed a Male and Female Treecreeper one of them coming out of a nest hole in the Bark. Not sure which is Male or Female

Plus i seen 9 Roe Deer including this Buck and Doe

 

Edited March 23, 20214 yr by Winsford Soul

Great pics , thank you 👍

6 hours ago, Neil Austin said:

Great pics , thank you 👍

Thanks Neil.  Do you take any pics yourself  ? 

Ste

Edited March 23, 20214 yr by Winsford Soul

2 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Thanks Neil.  Do you take any pics yourself  ? 

Ste

 

2 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Thanks Neil.  Do you take any pics yourself  ? 

Ste

Hi ste 

no my daughter is a keen birder and has loads of pics, so it’s niw become an interest to me 

all the best 👍

Male and Female Gadwell

 

More 'fishy' pics from me, took my son Sam over to Mathern nr Chepstow last week just for a day session, had five carp in the end, all small nothing heavier than 16lb, but good for a day session.

3 hours ago, Mal C said:

More 'fishy' pics from me, took my son Sam over to Mathern nr Chepstow last week just for a day session, had five carp in the end, all small nothing heavier than 16lb, but good for a day session.

Very nice Mal. Nothing heavier than16.lb That's bigger than the biggest I have ever caught at 15 1/2 lb. But as a match angler thats probably not to bad. 😁

Edited March 25, 20214 yr by Winsford Soul

3 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Very nice Mal. Nothing heavier than16.lb That's bigger than the biggest I have ever caught at 15 1/2 lb. But as a match angler thats probably not to bad. 😁

cheers Steve 🙂  you lot catch like 200 fish per sitting! where us Carp Anglers catch five... if we are lucky!!

Great wkd coming, my local Liswerry Pool is having 40 x 6lb Carp added on Sat, so they will all be photographed and added to the stock, which is very old... the old guys and gals wont know what's hit em when these young guns rock up in formation!

Edited March 25, 20214 yr by Mal C

42 minutes ago, Mal C said:

cheers Steve 🙂  you lot catch like 200 fish per sitting! where us Carp Anglers catch five... if we are lucky!!

Great wkd coming, my local Liswerry Pool is having 40 x 6lb Carp added on Sat, so they will all be photographed and added to the stock, which is very old... the old guys and gals wont know what's hit em when these young guns rock up in formation!

Lol. The best thing about when there's a restocking program is the introduction brings on the residents to feed. Normally bumper times for at least a few days. Few weeks of your lucky. 

Today I walked up to Force Crag Mine up above Braithwaite near Keswick. It's an old lead, tin and bauxite mine. It was bloody windy but, good skies for photos. Dx

Can't believe what's turned up in Tenby. OMG 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM-eokaBPof/?igshid=10eoobiirqm7d

Edited March 28, 20214 yr by Winsford Soul