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!

1 hour ago, Winsford Soul said:

Got a few more pictures to go through, i will post them a bit later

Lou,s birthday so we going out for a Curry first

Happy birthday Lou 🎂👍

3 hours ago, Soulandy said:

Happy birthday Lou 🎂👍

Lou said. Thank you both 💓 

 

Edited October 9, 20213 yr by Winsford Soul

3 hours ago, Soulandy said:

Great shot. I can imagine you lying down out of sight to get that 🙂 nice one

 

3 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Thanks Andy. I slowly walked to about 15 metres away then  kind of knelt down and moved slowly closer to within about 10 metres  then i took the picture

Steve yes very chuffed as well 👍 

Just now, Neil Austin said:

 

Steve yes very chuffed as well 👍 

Thanks Neil. Much appreciated mate

On 06/10/2021 at 14:13, Winsford Soul said:

Buzzard . Taken from about 300 metres away and the 2nd picture was as i tried to get a bit closer it just took off , they are so skittish. Both pictures are heavily cropped 

 

Steve this is the picture exquisite ..

Just now, Neil Austin said:

 

Steve yes very chuffed as well 👍 

And talking of Choughs. Britain's rarest Covid and one of the UK,s rarest Birds which thanks to its Pembrokeshire stronghold has been re introduced to Cornwall ( its county bird ) and the white cliffs area

 

Stonechat perched on the Pembrokeshire coast path direction post , wondering if it can make the 186 miles to Amroth and the end of the Pembrokeshire coast long distance path

 

Common Earthball . This particular specimen was about 7 " high and about 4 " across. Absolutely stunning to see and no dickheads about to kick them into pieces 

 

This morning from the Battlements of Fort Greyhair, Silloth church steeple on the horizon. Dx

Lovely views over the Humber estuary..

Ed

18 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Lou said. Thank you both 💓 

 

Happy belated birthday Lou

 

Atlantic Grey Seal and Pup that had just been born , the umbilical cord is plainly visible on the first picture and there is blood still visible on its coat and it was possibly its first ever feed . All these photographs are heavily cropped as i was over 200 feet above them on the Cliff top 

 

 

59 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Atlantic Grey Seal and Pup that had just been born , the umbilical cord is plainly visible on the first picture and there is blood still visible on its coat and it was possibly its first ever feed . All these photographs are heavily cropped as i was over 200 feet above them on the Cliff top 

 

 

Looks like you had a good time in Pembrokeshire Steve.  

22 minutes ago, Soulman58 said:

Looks like you had a good time in Pembrokeshire Steve.  

Thanks Neil. Still got a week to go before i return back up to Manchester mate

3 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Thanks Neil. Still got a week to go before i return back up to Manchester mate

Even better then😀

Sun about to set over the sea from our hotel in Pafos, Cyprus. 

1 hour ago, Winsford Soul said:

Atlantic Grey Seal and Pup that had just been born , the umbilical cord is plainly visible on the first picture and there is blood still visible on its coat and it was possibly its first ever feed . All these photographs are heavily cropped as i was over 200 feet above them on the Cliff top 

 

 

Superb mate 👍

9 minutes ago, Soulandy said:

Sun about to set over the sea from our hotel in Pafos, Cyprus. 

 

Hope you and Gill have  a great time mate, look forward to seeing the pictures 

Tried to capture image of large Hawk . Which I disturbed whilst exercising my dog . Flew to lower branches of Central Tree . Nice background image nevertheless . 

59 minutes ago, Soulfulmerlin said:

Tried to capture image of large Hawk . Which I disturbed whilst exercising my dog . Flew to lower branches of Central Tree . Nice background image nevertheless . 

Guessing that it would be a Buzzard mate

36 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Guessing that it would be a Buzzard mate

I think so . Rather large . Other birds rather quiet while it was in area . Crows left it alone . 

21 minutes ago, Soulfulmerlin said:

I think so . Rather large . Other birds rather quiet while it was in area . Crows left it alone . 

The crows will leave it alone if its there local Buzzard,  but you can guarantee that if a Osprey flew through or a Red Kite, something they are not used to  they would be giving it grief 

I have finally got a picture of a Dipper in half decent light, they normally frequent dark and shaded parts of rivers and streams so to see one this morning at the Botanical Garden of Wales out in the open was a bonus

 

1 hour ago, Winsford Soul said:

The crows will leave it alone if its there local Buzzard,  but you can guarantee that if a Osprey flew through or a Red Kite, something they are not used to  they would be giving it grief 

Not seen Osprey yet . Although may have seen one Month so ago . Certainly big enough . Up by Waddington Bridge . 

20 minutes ago, Soulfulmerlin said:

Not seen Osprey yet . Although may have seen one Month so ago . Certainly big enough . Up by Waddington Bridge . 

You will know mate. The wings are so long and thin compared to most other birds of prey, 

12 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

You will know mate. The wings are so long and thin compared to most other birds of prey, 

Used to see Young Osprey when lived at Longridge  . Regular occurred in Sky! Think nesting in Forest of Bowland . Would regularly soar above the Reservoir.  

A bit surprised to see this kingfisher on the rocks sea fishing

 Not the best photo as its off my phone on full zoom. Watched it for about 20 minutes or so

2 hours ago, Soulandy said:

A bit surprised to see this kingfisher on the rocks sea fishing

 Not the best photo as its off my phone on full zoom. Watched it for about 20 minutes or so

Andy. Nice to see mate but you will never guess what i saw today. A kingfisher on Milford Haven waterway a tidal estuary, i actually stopped the car and reversed back to see it properly . Lou managed a glimpse of it before it flew off. How spooky is that. I do know they migrate to the coast in times of harsh weather when the lakes, canals and rivers freeze in the winter

Atlantic Grey Seal mother racing to save its Pup from a cauldron of white water

 

Steve ,

these are just the best pictures I’ve 

seen in 2021 

class 

1 minute ago, Neil Austin said:

Steve ,

these are just the best pictures I’ve 

seen in 2021 

class 

Now I'm blushing 😊.  Thanks Neil😁🙏

1 hour ago, Winsford Soul said:

Now I'm blushing 😊.  Thanks Neil😁🙏

No need to blush mate. Neil's right.You take some cracking pictures.

So much Wildlife . Bit of History . For the Burnley lads at Blackburn other week . Reminiscing on old days . 

Darlington Feethams 

Year we won Old Div 4 . 

 

Edited October 13, 20213 yr by Soulfulmerlin

The winners of the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year have been announced, and the chosen selections are stunning!

The winning image was taken by Laurent Ballesta.

Quote

His winning image, titled Creation, captures the rare sight of camouflage groupers leaving a mating frenzy which occurs once a year under a full moon.

Story and winning photos here:

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2021/october/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2021-winning-images.html

 

Rock Pipit among the rocks 

Dipper on the river Teifi at Cenarth

 

Praying mantis out on the prowl 

26 minutes ago, Soulandy said:

Praying mantis out on the prowl 

Brilliant mate

 I thought long and hard ( no pun intended ) about posting one of these pictures ( No 3 ) but i,m not sure its been photographed before  . Atlantic Grey Seals mating, the 2nd picture shows all the wounds and scars the Bull Seal has sustained in asserting his dominance on this particular harem. The 3rd picture is of them actually mating , of which i have a even more explicit picture   and No 4 is afterwards with the Bull showing her re-assurance

 

 

Edited October 13, 20213 yr by Winsford Soul

Had some very special encounters with , i think was nine different Red Squirrels so i managed a few pictures

More pictures to follow 

 

 

Edited October 14, 20213 yr by Winsford Soul

Managed to capture a picture of a true master of the skies. Raven as it was Cronking

 

30 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Managed to capture a picture of a true master of the skies. Raven as it was Cronking

 

Now that is one very special photo. Fabulous bird. Those wing tips 👍👍Thanks for that.

2 minutes ago, Geoffp said:

Now that is one very special photo. Fabulous bird. Those wing tips 👍👍Thanks for that.

Thanks Geoff. Much appreciated

Just gone through the Red Squirrel pictures and there,s ten that are ok for sharing 

12 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Brilliant Steve

22 minutes ago, Chalky said:

Brilliant Steve

Thanks Karl 😁 🙏 

11 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Just gone through the Red Squirrel pictures and there,s ten that are ok for sharing 

I saw a Red Squirrel recently, first time since the only time back in the 7ts,  are they making a come back Steve?

5 hours ago, Mal C said:

I saw a Red Squirrel recently, first time since the only time back in the 7ts,  are they making a come back Steve?

Mal. Of sorts there is a ongoing re-introduction of Pine Martins and as such they are predating the Grey Squirrels which are much heavier and slower than the Reds and cannot escape the Martins on the thinner branches like the Reds can plus the Greys spend more time on the ground which makes them even easier for the Martins to catch as a consequence the Reds are re-establishing themselves in certain areas of the UK 

The Pine Martin and the Red Squirrel have evolved together in the UK and as such there will always be a healthy equilibrium between the two species.

Did you see the Red Squirrel in the Forest of Dean area mate ? 

1 hour ago, Winsford Soul said:

Mal. Of sorts there is a ongoing re-introduction of Pine Martins and as such they are predating the Grey Squirrels which are much heavier and slower than the Reds and cannot escape the Martins on the thinner branches like the Reds can plus the Greys spend more time on the ground which makes them even easier for the Martins to catch as a consequence the Reds are re-establishing themselves in certain areas of the UK 

The Pine Martin and the Red Squirrel have evolved together in the UK and as such there will always be a healthy equilibrium between the two species.

Did you see the Red Squirrel in the Forest of Dean area mate ? 

Not in my back garden its like a grey squirrels all-dayer!!!!

Edited October 15, 20213 yr by Soulman58

Bank Vole

Jay

Well this is my last night down here in Pembrokeshire , Hate leaving but if you never leave you cant come back. Soon be January 

Another sunset from Pafos as a boat passes infront of the sinking sun