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!

59 minutes ago, Okehsoul1952 said:

Nice Reed Warbler photo.......guess Thomas dosen't take too much  shit off of you?!!!!

Thanks mate. Really appreciate it 🙏. 

He definitely his own little man.  He also loves bird watching and his Dad wants me to take them both fishing but I'm not sure he,s quite ready for it yet but saying that I was 5 when I first went fishing and my Son Thomas wasn't much older so maybe time. 

Ste

My son in law filmed this today, any ideas as to the bird of prey? 

 

2 hours ago, Twoshoes said:

My son in law filmed this today, any ideas as to the bird of prey? 

Looks like a female sparrow hawk. 

8 hours ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

Looks like a female sparrow hawk. 

Thank you for taking the time to reply  Russ, he will appreciate the info. 

Quick March

 

Just a good sunny blue sky day today

Wanted a decent walk and didn't fancy the central Lakes on a Bank Holiday so re-walked round Ennerdale Water - but this time rather than skirting round it lower down via Robin Hood's Seat I went up and over Fisherman's Crag (given I've been doing little other than salmon fishing - unsuccessfully - for the last month I HAD to really) - I then stayed high-ish on what petered out into no more than a deer track in the fabulous ancient woods. Ennerdale really is one of the prettiest of the lakes - but it was damned hot - over 20ºC. Dx

PS Interestingly the high fells above Fisherman's Crag (the final pic with the sun on it) were full of Cuckoos - I heard at least four separate birds (doing their usual call, the roadrunner oil can glug noise and the rasping call) in the sparse spread of trees just below the tops - strangely none at all in the woods. Try as I might I didn't see any of them, even though they were calling to each other all the time.

Edited May 30, 20213 yr by Davenpete

12 hours ago, Davenpete said:

Wanted a decent walk and didn't fancy the central Lakes on a Bank Holiday so re-walked round Ennerdale Water - but this time rather than skirting round it lower down via Robin Hood's Seat I went up and over Fisherman's Crag (given I've been doing little other than salmon fishing - unsuccessfully - for the last month I HAD to really) - I then stayed high-ish on what petered out into no more than a deer track in the fabulous ancient woods. Ennerdale really is one of the prettiest of the lakes - but it was damned hot - over 20ºC. Dx

PS Interestingly the high fells above Fisherman's Crag (the final pic with the sun on it) were full of Cuckoos - I heard at least four separate birds (doing their usual call, the roadrunner oil can glug noise and the rasping call) in the sparse spread of trees just below the tops - strangely none at all in the woods. Try as I might I didn't see any of them, even though they were calling to each other all the time.

Wow. Looks like you had the best of days, did that walk many years ago

and never forgot it , amazing experience.

thanks  for sharing 😊

Coming out of the Runway 2 tunnel next to the River Bollin, Manchester airport on a glorious bank holiday Monday 

Edited June 1, 20213 yr by Soulandy

Couple of shots from Bolehills, Sheffield from their recent track re opening jam. 

 

Edited June 1, 20213 yr by Geeselad

3 hours ago, Soulandy said:

Coming out of the Runway 2 tunnel next to the River Bollin, Manchester airport on a glorious bank holiday Monday 

Wow great picture 👍thanks for sharing 

3 hours ago, Neil Austin said:

Wow great picture 👍thanks for sharing 

Thanks Neil 👍

Sedge Warbler. Portrait and Singing

 

Absolutely stunning images courtesy of the finalist in the Nature TTL Photographer of the Year 2021 competition.

Winning image, which is actually a reflection in water and titled The World is Going Upside Down, below.

Source: BBC News / © Thomas Vijayan

Link to photos here:

https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-57335458

Edited June 3, 20213 yr by Amsterdam Russ
spelin

Last night's hike - from Stonethwaite in Borrowdale, up over the back of Castle Crag (1000 very steep feet up through the trees - nearly killed me!), over the top past Dock Tarn and down to Watendlath, then back up and down past Rossthwaite. Total about 6 miles - didn't get back to the car til about 7.30pm. Never seen Borrowdale quite so lush, the greens are almost fluorescent. Dx

Beautiful photography, as ever!

Opposite ends of the Speed spectrum. Though our tortoise does scoot about. 

Felt a bit rough post-jab 2 (not as bad as last time) so have spent all day lying around the house. Anyway here's tonight's sunset across the meadow from downstairs at home. Dx

9 hours ago, Davenpete said:

Felt a bit rough post-jab 2 (not as bad as last time) so have spent all day lying around the house. Anyway here's tonight's sunset across the meadow from downstairs at home. Dx

Nice pic Dave , hope you feel better 

After being a bit duff yesterday post-jab 2 I thought I'd take it easy and just walk up to Scale Force above Crummock Water. Turned out that Buttermere was insanely busy (they really ought to ban motorhomes from these tiny hill roads - particularly with 90% being rented by inexperienced motorhome drivers they were causing absolute chaos trying to get past each other) - it was like Blackpool on a Bank Holiday

Really enjoyed the walk up to Scale Force - despite the hundreds of cars (on top of the ample parking at Buttermere they'd converted three whole fields into car parks too - all full) everyone had headed for the lake so it was fairly quiet at the waterfall.

The weather was just nice - not too hot - so I thought 'right I wonder if you can see Loweswater from the head of the Scale Beck valley?' and off I went - you can't - then I thought 'how nice the view must be from the Knott on the other side' - so I did that (just looked it up, surprise, surprise it's Scale Knott) - though now 2/3 up Melbreak I resisted the temptation and made my way back. 

Dx

PS Included the road/parking purely out of interest - really impressed with this cheapish Sony 'bridge' camera (50x optical Zeiss zoom) - my car is the red one taken at a distance of at least 2 1/2 miles from the top of Scale Knott - no extra sharpening or cropping.

 

 

Edited June 6, 20213 yr by Davenpete

Half past four in the morning and I'm awake. Still, the view out the window makes it worthwhile.

This photograph was so frustrating to try and take. I was kneeling down 2 feet from a sheer  200 foot drop on top of a Sea cliff but there was a slight rock outcrop a few feet below where i was hence the whiteish  cast on the bottom left but if i stood up their was a overhang stopping me getting the picture of the Female Peregrine Falcon which was perched about 30 feet down  so i can only apologise . Hopefully i will be able to return next weekend to try and get a better view and some decent picture as the cliffs are on MOD property and are normally closed to the public  

Edited June 7, 20213 yr by Winsford Soul

Adult Wren with food for two of the many fledglings that i could see and  hear with one of them perfectly framed 

 

 

Adult Male Swallow  gleaming iridescently in the sun 

 

Nice pics again....can't get over that bluey sheen on the Swallow! Do you regulaly trespass on MOD property and scare the shit out of Peregrine Falcons whilst endangering your life?!!!!....just being facetious Steve!!

9 minutes ago, Okehsoul1952 said:

Nice pics again....can't get over that bluey sheen on the Swallow! Do you regulaly trespass on MOD property and scare the shit out of Peregrine Falcons whilst endangering your life?!!!!....just being facetious Steve!!

Thanks mate 👍.  The Swallow are stunning when you catch the light properly.  .

The MOD land is open some weekends but normally closed as its the Tank regiment training ground the area was closing at 10pm yesterday and as we where leaving they where running a few Challenger tanks around. Man they are big when your close up and bloody noisy and as for scaring the shit out of the Peregrine its pretty scary😱 trying to peer over that drop with a big lens precariously balancing in your hands 

On 06/06/2021 at 19:05, Davenpete said:

After being a bit duff yesterday post-jab 2 I thought I'd take it easy and just walk up to Scale Force above Crummock Water. Turned out that Buttermere was insanely busy (they really ought to ban motorhomes from these tiny hill roads - particularly with 90% being rented by inexperienced motorhome drivers they were causing absolute chaos trying to get past each other) - it was like Blackpool on a Bank Holiday

Really enjoyed the walk up to Scale Force - despite the hundreds of cars (on top of the ample parking at Buttermere they'd converted three whole fields into car parks too - all full) everyone had headed for the lake so it was fairly quiet at the waterfall.

The weather was just nice - not too hot - so I thought 'right I wonder if you can see Loweswater from the head of the Scale Beck valley?' and off I went - you can't - then I thought 'how nice the view must be from the Knott on the other side' - so I did that (just looked it up, surprise, surprise it's Scale Knott) - though now 2/3 up Melbreak I resisted the temptation and made my way back. 

Dx

PS Included the road/parking purely out of interest - really impressed with this cheapish Sony 'bridge' camera (50x optical Zeiss zoom) - my car is the red one taken at a distance of at least 2 1/2 miles from the top of Scale Knott - no extra sharpening or cropping.

 

 

Does it get any better , looks like a really

great day out 

A few more from today. Wild Bee,s nest in a old Tawny Owls nest hole looking like they are ready to swarm. Juvenile male Woodpecker on a telegraph pole  and a Jay the UK,s most colourful member of the Corvid family and a massive predator of young birds 

 

Edited June 7, 20213 yr by Winsford Soul

Guillemots on Stack Rocks ( Elegug Stacks ) Pembrokeshire

Believe it or not there's actually eggs and chicks in that lot. Unbelievable 

 

Edited June 8, 20213 yr by Winsford Soul

Green Bridge of Wales. First attempt at using my Big stopper filter. It was taken in bright sunlight and its used to blur the movement of the water by allowing a much slower shutter speed, bit more practice and bigger waves / rougher seas

 

 

Edited June 8, 20213 yr by Winsford Soul

21 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

A few more from today. Wild Bee,s nest in a old Tawny Owls nest hole looking like they are ready to swarm. Juvenile male Woodpecker on a telegraph pole  and a Jay the UK,s most colourful member of the Corvid family and a massive predator of young birds 

 

Hi Steve , love the colour of the jays 

we get them here, never tire of seeing 

them 👍

9 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Guillemots on Stack Rocks ( Elegug Stacks ) Pembrokeshire

Believe it or not there's actually eggs and chicks in that lot. Unbelievable 

 

Wow look at that gillmot Steve 

what a picture amazing close up

thanks

 

1 hour ago, Neil Austin said:

Hi Steve , love the colour of the jays 

we get them here, never tire of seeing 

them 👍

Wow look at that gillmot Steve 

what a picture amazing close up

thanks

 

Evening Neil.  Thank you as always. Really appreciated. The Jays really a stunning birds and this time of year very secretive normally the best time to see them is the Autumn when they are collecting Acorns

The Guillemot picture is really cropped to show it a bit better 

Greater Spotted Woodpecker ( Male ) 

 

 

Edited June 9, 20213 yr by Winsford Soul

Having been intrigued by Stonethwaite/the Langstrath Valley on Friday I went back there tonight: A typically Carne move to visit a spot within a couple of miles of the wetttest place in Britain on a rainy evening. It's an easy circular walk totalling about 3 1/2 miles from Stonethwaite up to Black Moss Pot and back. The extremely dull weather meant the shots are somewhat 'atmospheric'. Dx

23 minutes ago, Davenpete said:

Having been intrigued by Stonethwaite/the Langstrath Valley on Friday I went back there tonight: A typically Carne move to visit a spot within a couple of miles of the wetttest place in Britain on a rainy evening. It's an easy circular walk totalling about 3 1/2 miles from Stonethwaite up to Black Moss Pot and back. The extremely dull weather meant the shots are somewhat 'atmospheric'. Dx

Picture No 5 for me Dave. Atmospheric 

Couple of Badger pictures taken at ISO 16000 and a very short video clip

 

 

Edited June 10, 20213 yr by Winsford Soul

Wood Mouse. First time I've used the Conon Flash gun with the 500mm Lens and Tripod mounted 

Quite happy with the results from about 4 metres away 

 

Edited June 10, 20213 yr by Winsford Soul

This Male Greater Spotted Woodpecker loves this old post. They don't half give it some as you can see, its battered and splintered 

 

Edited June 10, 20213 yr by Winsford Soul

Out on the bike on a glorious afternoon. Took my camera with the intention of getting some shots of flowers.

Unfortunately, while a bright sunny day, it was also a bit breezy, which doesn't help if you're taking pics of flowers. Also, a spot I know that should have been awash with wild flowers had actually been recently mown. This, unfortunately, is the Dutch attitude to nature - it has to be managed.

Anyway, I didn't come back empty handed. Of the couple of dozen pics I kept, I'm really pleased with these 'flower portraits' - and the lone poppy in particular. Hopefully next time I go out it won't be windly and the flowers won't have been cut down!

 

Edited June 11, 20213 yr by Amsterdam Russ
Spelin

Not much about today, even less pictures that are any good 

Broad Bodied Chaser is about the best

 

Marsh Orchid 

 

Brilliant photo's guys....luv 'em!!

A couple of garden photos from me.

A couple of my mame bonsai

I intended to do the Langdale valleys today, but the weather looked bloody awful in the direction on the way so I plumbed for doing the upper circuit at Loweswater again - of course the sun broke out and it was a glorious half an hour into my walk. Was dead chuffed to see a Slow Worm up on the fell - never seen one in Cumbria before (picture came out crap - this camera doesn't seem to like closeups). Dx

 

Edited June 12, 20213 yr by Davenpete

17 minutes ago, Davenpete said:

I intended to do the Langdale valleys today, but the weather looked bloody awful in the direction on the way so I plumbed for doing the upper circuit at Loweswater again - of course the sun broke out and it was a glorious half an hour into my walk. Was dead chuffed to see a Slow Worm up on the fell - never seen one in Cumbria before (picture came out crap - this camera doesn't seem to like closeups). Dx

 

Are they Belted Galloways?  I'm yet to see a Dun Galloway, only ever see Blacks, beautifully gentle beasts!

Red Squirrel in strange red light filtered through the reddish brown branches of the Conifers

Lesser Black backed gull

Both taken hand held during a 10K walk with the image stabilisation off ( dick head me hadn't switched it back on from using it with the tripod )

 

 

Edited June 12, 20213 yr by Winsford Soul

This was the view I had today between swims. Sorry if my legs put you off your evening meal. 

 

3 hours ago, Tattoodave said:

Are they Belted Galloways?  I'm yet to see a Dun Galloway, only ever see Blacks, beautifully gentle beasts!

Here's one from another field - Grass Teds. Dx 

28 minutes ago, Davenpete said:

Here's one from another field - Grass Teds. Dx 

Nice small cow, I'd love one as a house cow if I drank milk