Winsford Soul

Two more from today.Long tailed Tit. maybe not the cutest picture like the one i shared recently from Instagram ( quote flamingemeralds ) but i didn't have the snow. Well that,s my excuse and i,m sticking to it and a Nuthatch

Exotic Leigh 🤔. 🤣. I did need my sunglasses 😎though because there was a strange bright object in the sky.

This is a different take on the iconic Mute swan heart , which i have also managed to capture and have previously posted on here . Original picture followed by the new version, This second photograph was taken on the same lake about two years from the first one so they could very well be the same pair of Mute swans as they mate for life

Lapwing in breeding plumage. These Red listed endangered birds look stunning when the sunlight catches there iridescent plumage, which hopefully i,ve captured enough to do the birds justice ,

Andy. The Cynfal waterfalls are they the falls a few miles inland from the Shell island / Harlech area ? Nice pictures again mate as always. Happy New year to you too

Soulfulmerlin. Here's the copied and pasted reply from Pembrokeshire Bird Group regarding the Swift Thanks for the thoughts on the swift Steve. Just shows you can never be sure what's going to turn up. From the sightings, all by very experienced birders and photos it's looking like a Common swift. Probably pushed north on the strong southerlies the UKs been experiencing. Hope you enjoy reading the blog. I'm originally from the north-west though been in Pembs for 40 years. Eastern stonechat on my old stomping grounds Neumanns Flash. We'd never heard of such a thing back then. best wishes and good birding for 2020 Brian I've been out today around Pennington flash showing the swift pictures to birders who 100% to a man said common swift, these guys are the reference books on birding for me Steve

I also should have said that I don't remember who played them when I'm still out at the venue on the night😁

Len. I have broken 2 records in the 45 years I've been only half interested in this scene. 😎 Dropped one and snapped one😂

I was answering Karl's post regarding everyone who was active at the time😁. Plus I'm a nosey sod 😂

I didn't know who played what at Wigan really. Apart from a few of Richards, ive only found out afterwards what certain Djs played when ive read books. didn't care then, don't now. I love the Mello Souls but haven't got a clue about who owns the few copies

How sad. Rest in peace and thank you for your contribution to the sound track of my life.

Karl. I must be a exception to the everyone knew who was playing what bit. It's a side of the scene that I have never ever been bothered about , if I liked the record that was the start of the attraction then the curiosity regarding artist, label etc came second but regarding who played what. Not a clue, never particularly cared. Steve

It's less than 100 miles as the crow flies ( pun intended) from the birds location to the English Riviera. I've seen individual Swifts , flockless. My earliest date for Swifts was a solitary bird over the Dee estuary at rspb Burton mere wetlands centre I've contacted the Pembrokeshire Bird Group regarding your questioning of the common Swift against it being a American Swift. Which is a very pertinent question given the location. I will get back to you as soon as I recieve a reply

You get historical amnesia when you get smashed at weekends 😎

My earliest date for Swifts is the 21st April but they could be in somewhere else earlier and if your not out and about for a couple of weeks when they arrive obviously your sightings date will be influenced

Russell further investigation reveals this information

I don't think that Mike or Russell will mind as it is a wildlife themed topic mate.

Totally agree with you on that. I have a small garden. 3 miles away from Manchester city centre. Daily visits off Great, Coal, Blue and long tailed Tit. Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch and occasionally Greenfinch, Jays, Magpie, collared dove, wood pigeon, Dunnocks, Robin, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, House Sparrows, Starlings occasionally Mistle Thrush, Sparrowhawk , Tawny owl and last winter for the first time I had Siskins and Redwings. I also see Buzzards and the odd Peregrine falcon and Ring necked parakeets plus foxes and squirrel. So as Graham says, feed the birds, i only ever put sunflower hearts in the feeders which they seem to prefer Steve

Cheers Graham. Happy New Year

There are Swallows over wintering on the south coast of the U.K. and normally a few to be found on the Valero oil refinery site at Pembroke dock most years so why not Swift

Russell. Confirmation from Pembrokeshire Bird Group on their website as to 3 different birders seeing it. I've no doubts about it as this website is the go to one for any information when visiting the county Steve

Thanks Russel. Always good to get a New year off with a flyer. I'm sharing this photograph from my instragm feed that was posted today from an area of the Pembrokeshire coast that I know very well at Marloes. A Swift. It's not the end of April or September its the 1st of January. Can't believe that it's not only been sighted but they managed to get the picture

On the last day of 2019. May I take this opportunity to thank Mike who,s site it is. Russell for starting this thread off all those years ago, long may it continue but from someone who is a really a novice photographer who is lucky enough to have some nice lens and a bit of understanding of the natural world I would especially like thank everyone on here who actually like and comment on the pictures i post. It means a lot . Thank you Steve

Lovely picture mate as always

Lichens on a tree. Simply amazing to see