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!

13 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

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 )

 

 

Steve like the picture of the red squirrel 

great shot , not seen any down south ,

the only one I ever saw was in the lakes 

thanks for sharing 👍

Caldy island Abbey 

 

A few from Pembrokshire where I met up with Winsford (steve) and Lou, hope you're enjoying the sunny weather 🙂

Not a great picture of a Chough, Red Kite in the clag, some girl jumping off at the Blue Lagoon and a good view from a great coastal walk

Thanks Andy. Likewise catching up again mate and meeting your lovely wife Gill. Weather has definitely improved 

22 C yesterday, 26 C today Sunny all week they reckon . Sorry mate

Nice pictures, so much to see, so little time

Called to see if the Peregrine Falcon was showing this evening but i had missed her by 30 minutes . As a consolation i had my  best ever view of a Grasshopper Warbler this evening, sat on a barbed wire fence reeling away in the late evening glow

 

Meadow Pipit again in the late evening glow but this time the sun was behind me 

 

Bumblebee on Polemonium caeruleum Brise D'Anjou

small tortoiseshell butterfly on Allium neopolitanum var. Cowanii 

One for Dave. 

Wild Strawberries, the fruit is only the size of a Pea but they are so good and full of flavour nothing like the majority of shop bought ones these days 

And last nights crescent moon over a very dark Pembrokeshire sky, i say dark but unfortunately not dark enough for any Milky Way pictures

 

 

1 minute ago, Winsford Soul said:

One for Dave. 

Wild Strawberries, the fruit is only the size of a Pea but they are so good and full of flavour nothing like the majority of shop bought ones these days 

And last nights crescent moon over a very dark Pembrokeshire sky, i say dark but unfortunately not dark enough for any Milky Way pictures

 

 

When I was having a summer in Romania a few years back I foolishly bought a plastic bucket of wild strawberries off of a gypsy woman, thinking it must have taken her ages to pick them, there was about an inch of wild strawberries, the rest was paper and a rather large rock.  How I laughed.

29 minutes ago, Tattoodave said:

When I was having a summer in Romania a few years back I foolishly bought a plastic bucket of wild strawberries off of a gypsy woman, thinking it must have taken her ages to pick them, there was about an inch of wild strawberries, the rest was paper and a rather large rock.  How I laughed.

I'll bet the gypsy woman laughed as well. 

This is very interesting.  While the owner of the farm I'm staying on was doing a bit of landscape work he moved a large boulder and this piece of fossilised tree / plant  was discovered 

 

Edited June 14, 20213 yr by Winsford Soul

Sunset tonight from from downstairs on the patio. Looks like the meadow is about due for the farmer to cut it. Dx

PS There's no over sharpening or the like on the foliage, it's just the beautiful tracery effect of the sun catching the edges of the leaves.

Green Bridge of Wales panoramic view 

 

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

Caldy island Abbey 

 

best beach in the UK on Caldy, had some great days lounging around in the sand dunes looking back at Tenby.. and you get a two way boat ride in with the day!

Great trip to Trinity Waters Fishery in Bridgewater over the wkd, caught one, lost two... hard water especially in the heat... you can see em, but like us they were just kicking back! lol   but the fishery is brilliant, and 30 quid for effectively 3 days fishing is really cost effective...

Coryton Cove Dawlish. I'm actually taking a picture of the train.

Edited June 15, 20213 yr by washlively
include text

Mal. Just for you mate. How big did you say they where . This big ? 

What a view the people on the Yacht must have had, if they seen it 

And something  almost surreal a lot further out at sea a Dolphin had breached and as it returned to the water it left a splash that,s the exact replica of its tail 

 

 

2 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Mal. Just for you mate. How big did you say they where . This big ? 

What a view the people on the Yacht must have had, if they seen it 

And something  almost surreal a lot further out at sea a Dolphin had breached and as it returned to the water it left a splash that,s the exact replica of its tail 

 

 

Steve amazing shot , best picture of the

week ,  bet you were very pleased to

capture them 😊

27 minutes ago, Neil Austin said:

Steve amazing shot , best picture of the

week ,  bet you were very pleased to

capture them 😊

Thanks Neil ☺🙏.  The dolphin in front of the yacht was the closest any came in today, all the others where about 1/2 kilometre out and trying to guess where they are going to surface is a  nightmare mate. 😀

56 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Thanks Neil ☺🙏.  The dolphin in front of the yacht was the closest any came in today, all the others where about 1/2 kilometre out and trying to guess where they are going to surface is a  nightmare mate. 😀

Great problem to have 😅👍luck day 

31 minutes ago, Neil Austin said:

Great problem to have 😅👍luck day 

Neil. This is how far away the Dolphins actually where from me. The pictures are rubbish but it gives a sense of scale 

 

16 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Mal. Just for you mate. How big did you say they where . This big ? 

What a view the people on the Yacht must have had, if they seen it 

And something  almost surreal a lot further out at sea a Dolphin had breached and as it returned to the water it left a splash that,s the exact replica of its tail 

 

 

yep I recognize that splash, maybe bigger? 

Deffo needed a bigger boat! lol

16 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Mal. Just for you mate. How big did you say they where . This big ? 

What a view the people on the Yacht must have had, if they seen it 

And something  almost surreal a lot further out at sea a Dolphin had breached and as it returned to the water it left a splash that,s the exact replica of its tail 

 

 

Joe from Dublin has just mentioned to me that the second picture is actually a Mermaids tail 🧜‍♀️ . Love that description 

Really struggling with the Badgers this year, they are not turning up until late when there is hardly any light even from the cottage windows. In previous years they where turning up at least 1 hour before dark and up to 9 of them so it was relatively easy now its only 4 and last night it was 10.43pm , still a bad photograph is better than no photograph

 

Edited June 16, 20213 yr by Winsford Soul

22 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Neil. This is how far away the Dolphins actually where from me. The pictures are rubbish but it gives a sense of scale 

 

Steve still amazing , you must have a quality camera to get pics from that

distance

2 minutes ago, Neil Austin said:

Steve still amazing , you must have a quality camera to get pics from that

distance

Thanks Neil.  The Canon 7d mk2 is a good camera but it's the Lens that makes the difference mate Canon 500mm f4 mk2 it's very special.  

Do a quick Google search and you will see it's the first choice lens for sports and wildlife by most of the world's top professional photographers 

30 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Thanks Neil.  The Canon 7d mk2 is a good camera but it's the Lens that makes the difference mate Canon 500mm f4 mk2 it's very special.  

Do a quick Google search and you will see it's the first choice lens for sports and wildlife by most of the world's top professional photographers 

Thanks Steve 👍

Fledgling female Blackcap. Keeping a close eye on me

 

Slightly better Badger pictures. This one had discovered the Wild Strawberries in the Rockery

 

 

 

 

Edited June 17, 20213 yr by Winsford Soul

Waves

 

Left late so did an easyish walk of 5 miles or so that I've done before - from Thirlmere to St John's in the Vale Church and then back up over High Rigg. Was a pretty dull day so I've gone arty on a couple of the shots. Dx

I was more than lucky today when i managed to see seven of the UK,s rarest birds on the sea cliffs at St Govans Head in Pembrokeshire . The Chough , apart from a few birds in Pembrokeshire and on South Stack on Anglesey was extinct in the rest of the UK until just a few years ago when it was successfully reintroduced to Cornwall  and i think on the South coast near Eastbourne . At one stage two fledgling where begging a adult for food , which i caught a quick photo of ,then  one adult feeding a young again photo and finally a adult on the very short grass and almost a silhouette except the bright red beak of one flying over  

I could hardly hold the camera / lens today on the cliff tops it was that windy but as a bonus there wasnt a cloud in the sky all day until this evening when it clouded over, just in time for my return home tomorrow ( Sadly ) but i will be returning in October for two more weeks

 

Edited June 18, 20213 yr by Winsford Soul

13 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

I was more than lucky today when i managed to see seven of the UK,s rarest birds on the sea cliffs at St Govans Head in Pembrokeshire . The Chough apart from a few birds in Pembrokeshire and on South Stack on Anglesey was extinct in the rest of the UK until just a few years ago when it was successfully reintroduced to Cornwall  and i think on the South coast near Eastbourne . At one stage two fledgling where begging a adult for food , which i caught a quick photo of ,then  one adult feeding a young again photo and finally a adult on the very short grass and almost a silhouette except the bright red beak of one flying over  

I could hardly hold the camera / lens today on the cliff tops it was that windy but as a bonus there wasnt a cloud in the sky all day until this evening when it clouded over, just in time for my return home tomorrow ( Sadly ) but i will be returning in October for two more weeks

 

Steve lovely picture of the bird in full flight, very unusual and unique.

4 minutes ago, Neil Austin said:

Steve lovely picture of the bird in full flight, very unusual and unique.

Thanks Neil as always mate 😁🙏. They are members of the Crow  family but a very specialised feeder of grubs buried in the  short grass on cliff tops that's grazed by sheep and cattle and rabbits.  That was the main reason why they disappeared from Cornwall among other places,  the cattle and sheep had been removed from the cliff tops and the scrub / bracken took over and the Chough couldn't feed. 

Beautiful, panoramic pictures from all of you....it's cheered my evening up...immensely....

12 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Thanks Neil as always mate 😁🙏. They are members of the Crow  family but a very specialised feeder of grubs buried in the  short grass on cliff tops that's grazed by sheep and cattle and rabbits.  That was the main reason why they disappeared from Cornwall among other places,  the cattle and sheep had been removed from the cliff tops and the scrub / bracken took over and the Chough couldn't feed. 

Hi Steve I saw a program dedicated to them about two years ago and how rare they are , so they are in my radar to see 

thanks for sharing 👍

22 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

I was more than lucky today when i managed to see seven of the UK,s rarest birds on the sea cliffs at St Govans Head in Pembrokeshire . The Chough , apart from a few birds in Pembrokeshire and on South Stack on Anglesey was extinct in the rest of the UK until just a few years ago when it was successfully reintroduced to Cornwall  and i think on the South coast near Eastbourne . At one stage two fledgling where begging a adult for food , which i caught a quick photo of ,then  one adult feeding a young again photo and finally a adult on the very short grass and almost a silhouette except the bright red beak of one flying over  

I could hardly hold the camera / lens today on the cliff tops it was that windy but as a bonus there wasnt a cloud in the sky all day until this evening when it clouded over, just in time for my return home tomorrow ( Sadly ) but i will be returning in October for two more weeks

 

Great photos again mate. Saw quite a few myself along the cliffs last week which was good to see. Also managed to see a couple on the Lizard in Cornwll last year when other folk who were there, just didn't know, :-)

22 minutes ago, Soulandy said:

Great photos again mate. Saw quite a few myself along the cliffs last week which was good to see. Also managed to see a couple on the Lizard in Cornwll last year when other folk who were there, just didn't know, 🙂

Thanks Andy. I was at St Govans mate the next headland  across the bay from where you turned around.  The  cliffs are now open for Rock climbing after the nesting season and I wasn't expecting to see any at all because there was at least 20 climbers across different sections where they normally nest but they had moved out to a non climbing section.  Two actually flew across and landed within 15 metres of two climbers who as you say are totally oblivious. 

Having limbered up yesterday with St John's and High Rigg it was a proper jobby today - Harrop Tarn above Thirlmere, then (the other) Blea Tarn, over Standing Crags, up to Ullscarf and then what turned out to be a very long way back down via Green Coomb and Wythburn Head . At about 8.5 miles and peaking at 726m (just shy of 2400 feet) by far the toughest day out I've done to-date though the views were simply amazing (my prime reason for going up there). Thoroughly shagged out now. Dx

Not seen these characters in a while...

White Swan Ampleforth.

Ed

 

19 minutes ago, Tomangoes said:

Not seen these characters in a while...

White Swan Ampleforth.

Ed

 

Brilliant 🤩 

Two photos from Friday when I did the classic Snowdon Horseshoe. First is around 11.15am on my way towards Crib Goch and the second is after I had completed the horseshoe around 7pm. Left to Right - Y Lliwedd East & West peaks, Snowdon centre, Crib Goch. Llyn Llydaw is the lake

Edited June 20, 20213 yr by Soulandy

23 minutes ago, Soulandy said:

Two photos from Friday when I did the classic Snowdon Horseshoe. First is around 11.15am on my way towards Crib Goch and the second is after I had completed the horseshoe around 7pm. Left to Right - Y Lliwedd East & West peaks, Snowdon centre, Crib Goch. Llyn Llydaw is the lake

Stunning mate. Nice little workout for you. Did you do the Crib Goch ?.  

Picture of my Son Thomas running across it.  

 

Edited June 20, 20213 yr by Winsford Soul

Red Kite picture from last week, nearly forgot this, probably more picture when i have a proper look

 

 

29 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Stunning mate. Nice little workout for you. Did you do the Crib Goch ?.  

Picture of my Son Thomas running across it.  

 

Yes I did the full lot including the North Ridge of CG. another 10 liesurley hours, unlike your lad 🙂 A different breed these runners 🙂 

2 minutes ago, Soulandy said:

Yes I did the full lot including the North Ridge of CG. another 10 liesurley hours, unlike your lad 🙂 A different breed these runners 🙂 

Nice one. Wish I could do it . Asthma wouldn't let me . Would probably have to stay over night get there . Lol. 

Yeah Thomas and his mates do it regularly. They love it but all  only in their twenties . They actually rescued a American climber from the Crib a few years ago. A big storm just appeared and they had to climb down the crib because it was far too dangerous to cross and they found a lost and struggling climber who they got down to safety 

8 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Nice one. Wish I could do it . Asthma wouldn't let me . Would probably have to stay over night get there . Lol. 

Yeah Thomas and his mates do it regularly. They love it but all  only in their twenties . They actually rescued a American climber from the Crib a few years ago. A big storm just appeared and they had to climb down the crib because it was far too dangerous to cross and they found a lost and struggling climber who they got down to safety 

Yeah the weather can turn in an instant. Been caught out once or twice but thankfully nothing too serious 👍

Found a piccie of the beach at Caldey Island Steve...  I'd love to stay a night over there, there is a beach house  set just back off the main beach, anybody know whether you can rent out on the island?  

I did find their website, https://caldeyislandwales.com/ and you can submit a prayer request to the monks...  I'm not religious but that's kinda cool...

Edited June 21, 20213 yr by Mal C

44 minutes ago, Mal C said:

Found a piccie of the beach at Caldey Island Steve...  I'd love to stay a night over there, there is a beach house  set just back off the main beach, anybody know whether you can rent out on the island?  

I did find their website, https://caldeyislandwales.com/ and you can submit a prayer request to the monks...  I'm not religious but that's kinda cool...

Mal. Great picture mate. You can stay on the island as a sort of religious retreat. Not sure for how long or what the conditions are but definitely worth looking into.  It's such a special place.  There's still people who live on the island apart from the Monks. What a privilege that must be.

Can't wait to return in October 

 

 

Starlings, a frog and a bee - all seen in the woods of Amsterdam.