Amsterdam Russ

Not been out and about much so far this year, so the photo opportunities have been few and far between. Having said that, there's quite a lot to be seen from the comfort of our 2nd floor apartment, even in the heart of a small town, if you keep your eyes open and place a camera where it's easy to get to in a hurry. Here's a few recent captures... A rather rain-soaked great crested grebe seen this afternoon on the waterway in front of us. Buzzard - seen when the sun was shining sufficiently for us to be sat on the back balcony. Heron - ditto. Herons are everywhere here and the Dutch seem to hate them with a passion. Collared dove sitting on top of a lamp post right outside one of our windows. This one's a regular visitor.

Interesting. Thanks, Matt. So four releases and one possibly uncatalogued recording thus far...

Lots of variations on this, Steve. Had a little look around online before finding the one I posted (as I couldn't remember what came after four ). From what I've read it seems every part of the country has their own version.

Ok, thanks for that. I'll see if I can make contact through Soundcloud and shed some light on the track.

How does it go? One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy, five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret, never to be told, eight for a wish, nine for a kiss, ten for a time of joyous bliss.

Here are some links to previous threads discussing both the glue treatment and cleaning records in general...

Thanks for the info, Bob. Turner appears to be alive and well, and - presuming it is him and not a family member who is airing their late relative's more recent musical offerings - has a channel on Soundlcloudthat's aptly named Spinning Top Records. https://soundcloud.com/willie-turner-15 My interest in Turner comes about because I just picked up an acetate that has 'Baby sitter' on one side and a seemingly uncatalogued uptempo track on the other. The acetate is blank, but it seems pretty certain the track is called 'Friendship or friends'. I'd like to find out more about it, so might look to contact whoever is behind the Soundlcoud channel. If it is unreleased, it would be interesting to learn why it was dropped in favour of an instrumental of the A side.

Still no stopping you on your adventures then, Steve? Had hoped the swifts might have brought just a little of that Saharan weather with them. No chance judging by our forecast for the week!

Just remembered that I was going to post up another photo of the starling as it arrived at its nest. This is it, and well chuffed I was with it, too.

Happy to report that they arrived here in our little corner of the Netherlands about a week ago.

Duke Turner had a couple of releases on Spinning Top c.1974 (I think). - (Let me be your) Baby sitter (Vocal/Instr) - Give me some sugar baby pt1/2 As far as I can tell from looking online, they were the only releases on the label, which appears to have been owned by Turner himself. Anyone got any info on the man or the label? Thanks...

That's Dutch.

One more from me. This was taken a couple of years ago when we had starlings nesting under the eaves of shed that was very close to us. I noticed that the birds were like clockwork in feeding their young, so set up the camera on a tripod and fired off shots using a remote. The birds were coming in to land so fast that it took a good number of attempts over quite a long while to get just a couple of decent shots. Even better, it was turning to evening and the birds were being silhouetted by the sinking sun. I got this one and another that I'll post in a bit. In the end it was well worth all the failed shots. Well, I think so, anyway!

Famous bird/wildlife photographer Eric Kosking lost an eye to a Tawny Owl that he was trying to get pictures of. That was very early on in his career, too. Didn't stop him though. Apparently he went back to the same place soon after to finish what he'd started!

Really like that warbler shot, Martyn. Very nice indeed.

Serious question, are they all legitimate, ie, properly licensed, releases?

Rare or not, it sounds to me like something I might have heard on Top of the Pops in the early-mid 70s when I was a kid.

Very well observed, Suz. Dunnocks also go by the name of Hedge Sparrows (and Hedge Accentors), so you're absolutely spot on!

Lovely looking garden, I must say!

Also released as Loma 2040 - April 1966. Credits on the label read as follows... Time: 2.35. Catalogue: JX70116. Writers: Freeman - King - Hughes. Jan Cris Pub. Co. BMI. Produced by G & G Productions. Arranged by Art Wright. Engineered by James Hilton. Source: https://www.lomarecords.com/loma2040-autographs.html

Come on then, show us. This is a photo thread, so get the camera out

Just got these... Argentina (think this might have been posted already. Apologies if so). Argentina Argentina Argentina Turkey

It was sent registered mail about 2 weeks ago, and I've provided you with a copy of all the details. The sooner the refund comes, the sooner we can close this situation that began with me buying a 20 euro 45 from you at the end of January.

I'd go for white, green and yellow in order of 'hardest', although with so many copies about of all three it's hardly hard at all. Now if someone can find me a green label copy of Loma 2087...