Winsford Soul

Great Crested Grebes

Whilst I was at Pennington flash today i achieved a lifetime ambition and was so lucky to see a male and female great crested grebes doing their courtship dance. I will post some pictures later when i have gotten over the excitement. Steve

Look at me. All grown up now that I'm 1.

Here's one of me at the top of the highest single drop waterfall in Wales Steve

Grandson Thomas latest picture playing in his sand pit today on his first Birthday

Bloody hell George. Can't believe you're selling it. Great record. Steve

Well the Swallows have finally arrived in the northwest of the UK. Managed to see five together today at Pennington Flash. Equalling the earliest that I have ever seen them. 27th March. Two years on the run Steve

I've never been sure of the day / week. I must be one of those divs. Personally think it's all the gear, all the nighters including last Saturday.  When do you convert from a tourist to a real soulie that's a very interesting question. Or how do you ? Steve

Looking good Baz. Steve

Somewhere in Australia is my old copy of ordinary Joe. With the sleeve signed by Terry Callier. To Steve your just a Ordinary Joe lots of love . T C. My old Cameo issue of Night Owl. Signed by Bobby Paris. To Steve one of the original Night Owls. Is also out their somewhere. Would love the record sleeves back if nothing else. Steve

Dave. I will be wrong but it looks like cherry blossom to me. Steve

That today Suz. Looks lovely. Grey and overcast skies here in Manchester. Steve. X

Remember being offered one a few year's ago for £800. Unfortunately didn't have that sort of spare spending money in those days. Great record. Sure I remember it way back in time costing £400 Steve

Russell. That's fantastic news. Swallows back in Europe. My first sighting last year was March 27 th. Which incidentally was my earliest ever sighting. Steve

Not music related but happened at the Casino. 39 years ago I was meeting my then girlfriend there and happened to take a friend to the Casino who had never been before. Who just happened to be a girl. When my girlfriend who was waiting on the stairs to the balcony saw me with this friend she just walked off . I never ever saw her again even though she lived in my home town of Widnes . I would give anything to explain to her what really happened even after all this time. Steve

I will carry on as long as I possibly can. Its the only way of life that I know . I've been going nighters since 1975 ( age 16 ) and still go them now. ( 58 ) going on 16 Its cost me wives, girlfriends etc. . God knows how much money travelling to venues, not counting how much I've actually spent on records. In all that time I've probably spent nearly as many weekends without sleep as I have with.( Wide awake club fully paid up member ). Wouldn't change it for anything Steve

Dave I,m not sure about adding anything else. But I,m sure the clever guys and girls on here will know ? over to you lot. steve

Dave. . All my pictures are copyrighted and have exif data embedded. As previously mentioned its easy to crop out a name unless it's across the important part of the picture, which spoils it somewhat. Steve

Nuthatch. Also heard today my first Chiffchaff of the year calling Steve

I happened to see my first Bumble Bee of the year today, seeing the Queen wasp picture reminded me Steve

Managed to achieve a UK lifetimes bird watching ambition today and got to see a very rare winter visitor. Great Grey Shrike. Unfortunately it was about half a mile away across two fields but just visible with the naked eye with the sun reflecting off it. The picture below was taken with the 500mm lens . The building on the right of the picture is a full size double shipping container so you can judge the scale and distance. The second picture is 100 % cropped just to show the Shrike, which is about 10" tall Steve

Russell. Just had a look, there's some great pictures there. Steve

Andy. I'm not on Facebook yet. But there's so many FB groups in the northwest dedicated to birds and wildlife that aren't on any other places that it seems increasingly inevitable that I will have to join. Loving your posts from your upland wandering. Steve

Well I have just signed up to a flickr account after quite a few people have asked me when I have been out and about on my travels. I was wondering who else on here is a member ? Steve

Ha Ha 😊 Steve I would have expected something like that off Martyn but you have beaten him to it. Steve