Show us your great photos (2017)

[Amsterdam Russ]

Happy New Year everyone. I hope your Yuletide and New Year celebrations have been plentiful and that the year ahead offers you good health, prosperity, happiness and endless photo opportunities.

To kickstart the new edition of the fabulous "Show us your great photos" thread, I offer not a pic but a video. We took this last night and it shows, in all its glory, the incredible firework display we offered our neighbours from the comfort of our balcony. If you watch the video you'll see our neighbours' fantastic fireworks going off in the background - and then there's ours. 

This is what you get when you buy a box of mini fireworks from your local cheapskate supermarket (Albert Heijn) for the princely sum of 10 euros!  Still, it was so crap it was a laugh, which means it actually offered great value for money. I hope the vid of our box of damp balcony squibs also raises a smile with you.

Happy New Year!

 

[Mr Smithy]

Admirable. Let's hope it's symptomatic of the next year. I could do without all the blood & thunder of the last couple
and settle for the odd damp squib to keep me awake now and then.

Happy Happy to everyone and hopefully an uneventful one.
 

[Martyn Pitt]

Russell ... London have been on the phone ... what are you doing on the 31st December this year  

Anyway my first effort for 2017 a Pied Wagtail

[Amsterdam Russ]

2 hours ago, martyn pitt said:

Russell ... London have been on the phone ... what are you doing on the 31st December this year  

Anyway my first effort for 2017 a Pied Wagtail

Haha - London, New York, Sydney… they've all been on the phone after seeing my vid and have begged me… to stay away! 

Cracking photo. Martyn. A great first photo for this year's thread. 

[Soulandy]

Good to see another year of photo's. Not posted for a bit but keep looking and there's some great shots from around the world. Just missed last years end so out of the two today I have included a shot taken from the Summit of Moel Siabod on December 28th 2016 looking across to Snowdon and the Glyderau mountains, Snowdonia. The second picture is looking across to Moel Siabod from Snowdon on New Years Day 2017. Two great days in the mountains over the festive break. Happy soulful new year to all :-)

[Hornet]

Thirsty bird struggling with tap

[Winsford Soul]

Been out and about today chasing Waxwings around north Manchester to no avail. But as I'm not in work until Wednesday, you never know I may get lucky tomorrow.

Steve

[Martyn Pitt]

15 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Been out and about today chasing Waxwings around north Manchester to no avail. But as I'm not in work until Wednesday, you never know I may get lucky tomorrow.

Steve

You should get lucky Steve, they appear to be moving south ... I had 30 of them on my roof a few years back, unfortunately the tree they were feeding on does not have many berries on this year, still stick at it Steve it will be well worth it when you get them, especially if you have some decent light.

I managed to get a nemesis of mine yesterday, they seem to have a sixth sense that I am trying to get an image of them, he was too occupied in stripping the seeds off this stem to worry about me.

 

Edited January 3, 2017 by martyn pitt

[soulpaul0]

On 1/1/2017 at 16:31, Russell Gilbert said:

Happy New Year everyone. I hope your Yuletide and New Year celebrations have been plentiful and that the year ahead offers you good health, prosperity, happiness and endless photo opportunities.

To kickstart the new edition of the fabulous "Show us your great photos" thread, I offer not a pic but a video. We took this last night and it shows, in all its glory, the incredible firework display we offered our neighbours from the comfort of our balcony. If you watch the video you'll see our neighbours' fantastic fireworks going off in the background - and then there's ours. 

This is what you get when you buy a box of mini fireworks from your local cheapskate supermarket (Albert Heijn) for the princely sum of 10 euros!  Still, it was so crap it was a laugh, which means it actually offered great value for money. I hope the vid of our box of damp balcony squibs also raises a smile with you.

Happy New Year!

 

ohh arh thats s*it, make me laugh hope you new year does'nt fizzle out so easy 

[Amsterdam Russ]

22 minutes ago, soulpaul0 said:

ohh arh thats s*it, make me laugh hope you new year does'nt fizzle out so easy 

Haha - after that little display the only way is up! 

[Winsford Soul]

7 hours ago, martyn pitt said:

You should get lucky Steve, they appear to be moving south ... I had 30 of them on my roof a few years back, unfortunately the tree they were feeding on does not have many berries on this year, still stick at it Steve it will be well worth it when you get them, especially if you have some decent light.

I managed to get a nemesis of mine yesterday, they seem to have a sixth sense that I am trying to get an image of them, he was too occupied in stripping the seeds off this stem to worry about me.

 

Martyn. There has been 6-9 birds reported daily about a mile from me . now disappeared. Plenty in and around Salford ( Regent Rd area ) Plenty in the Wigan and Bolton areas. Managed to see one last year and get this picture but wanted to improve on it.

Get Bullfinches in my garden occasionally but see loads of them every time I go Pennington Flash. Great picture by the way mate

Steve

[Guest BabyBoyAndMyLass]

I don't contribute to this thread, I do like photography but rarely do it. I know a few wrinkles about Ornithology, Zoology and Entomology, I look in on this thread often, very good work, I hope, well I know, that you guys submit your sightings to the relevant county recorders, you do good work.

You birders would absolutely love Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly!

Best wishes lads and lasses!

[Suzannek]

Happy New Year to you all  Sunrise at Wham 3.1.17 out of my bedroom window 

Edited January 6, 2017 by suzannek

[Winsford Soul]

Out and about today to see my grandson Thomas and on the way just had to call into Warrington town centre to se if I could catch up with some waxwings.

Must admit it was the worst light that I think I have ever tried to take a photograph in.

Mistle thrush thinking which berry next. then decides that one

Steve

 

[Winsford Soul]

Six Waxwings perched at the top of a tree against the most miserable  grey sky possible. Going back tomorrow morning hoping for some better light

Steve

[Suzannek]

A few from today's 6 mile walk out where I live. Nice wintry sunshine 

[Tattoodave]

7 hours ago, suzannek said:

A few from today's 6 mile walk out where I live. Nice wintry sunshine 

Nice one Suz, the attractively named Yellow Brain Fungus and the Honey Fungus (just for those that weren't aware).

[Winsford Soul]

9 hours ago, suzannek said:

A few from today's 6 mile walk out where I live. Nice wintry sunshine 

Suzanne. Oh for blue skies like that. It's so miserable here and I'm unfortunately back in work tomorrow. Lovely pictures as always, it's a beautiful place where you live. 

Steve

[Winsford Soul]

Ten years ago I would have been extremely lucky to get a shot of this Little Egret in the UK more so in the north west. Today I saw three separate birds at Leigh in Lancashire ( Pennington flash )

Steve

[Martyn Pitt]

A couple of shots of Waxwing, a scarce visitor to our shores from northern Europe and Scandinavia, some years we get good numbers other years they are few and far between, this year has been quite good for them.

Birdwatchers travel miles to see them ... I took these shots from my bedroom window , saved going out in the rain and sleet.

Edited January 12, 2017 by martyn pitt

[Philippe]

Beautiful, Martyn !!!

[Tattoodave]

4 hours ago, martyn pitt said:

A couple of shots of Waxwing, a scarce visitor to our shores from northern Europe and Scandinavia, some years we get good numbers other years they are few and far between, this year has been quite good for them.

Birdwatchers travel miles to see them ... I took these shots from my bedroom window , saved going out in the rain and sleet.

You were helped by having a good food plant outside your window though Martyn, that Sorbus hupehensis is always going to attract winter visitors.  Do you get Nutcrackers up your way? The bird, rather than the wooden soldier or metal kind, in case someone was feeling like being sarcastic, I've only ever seen one and that was probably 30 years ago.

[Martyn Pitt]

23 minutes ago, TattooDave said:

You were helped by having a goo  Do you get Nutcrackers up your way? 

Hi Dave, not aware of any Nutcrackers in this part of the world

[Winsford Soul]

6 hours ago, martyn pitt said:

A couple of shots of Waxwing, a scarce visitor to our shores from northern Europe and Scandinavia, some years we get good numbers other years they are few and far between, this year has been quite good for them.

Birdwatchers travel miles to see them ... I took these shots from my bedroom window , saved going out in the rain and sleet.

Stunning photos Martyn. And from your bedroom window to. I've travelled hundreds of miles over the years to see them as you know. 

Steve ( jealous from Manchester ) 

[Peter99]

7 hours ago, martyn pitt said:

A couple of shots of Waxwing, a scarce visitor to our shores from northern Europe and Scandinavia, some years we get good numbers other years they are few and far between, this year has been quite good for them.

Birdwatchers travel miles to see them ... I took these shots from my bedroom window , saved going out in the rain and sleet.

I have heard some younger people use the word "wowser". But, hey, wowser! Those are beautiful pictures Martyn.  Well done Sir. Just when you're contemplating ending the day full of despair a pal pops up with something of real beauty and your day is changed.

Pete 

[Tattoodave]

11 hours ago, martyn pitt said:

Hi Dave, not aware of any Nutcrackers in this part of the world

I think they'd need a really hard winter, mine was round about 1990, and was with a load of Redwing.  It stuck out like a sore thumb, and was eating some apples that were rotten and still attached to a tree in an old orchard.

[Winsford Soul]

26 minutes ago, TattooDave said:

I think they'd need a really hard winter, mine was round about 1990, and was with a load of Redwing.  It stuck out like a sore thumb, and was eating some apples that were rotten and still attached to a tree in an old orchard.

Dave/ Martyn. There has been two recordings of spotted nutcrackers in Scotland ( Lothian ) last October 2016 and that's it for the UK unless you go back to 2009 when one was recorded in Kent.

Steve

[Tattoodave]

Just now, Winsford Soul said:

Dave/ Martyn. There has been two recordings of spotted nutcrackers in Scotland ( Lothian ) last October 2016 and that's it for the UK unless you go back to 2009 when one was recorded in Kent.

Steve

So a pretty rare sight, I consider myself lucky, I was within about 4 yards of it at one time, it didn't seem bothered by me at all.

[Philippe]

1 hour ago, Winsford Soul said:

Dave/ Martyn. There has been two recordings of spotted nutcrackers in Scotland ( Lothian ) last October 2016 and that's it for the UK unless you go back to 2009 when one was recorded in Kent.

Steve

What is a nutcracker ? Please can someone put a picture of it ?

[Tattoodave]

There you go

[Martyn Pitt]

10 minutes ago, TattooDave said:

There you go

Looks like a cross between a magpie and a starling 

[Winsford Soul]

4 hours ago, TattooDave said:

So a pretty rare sight, I consider myself lucky, I was within about 4 yards of it at one time, it didn't seem bothered by me at all.

Dave. The normal range of the bird is Scandinavia to Siberia and apparently only 300 confirmed sightings ever in the UK. Very rare visitors indeed

 

Steve

[Philippe]

5 hours ago, TattooDave said:

There you go

Thanks Dave, Martyn's description is perfect : a cross between a magpie and a starling

[Widnes63]

A Magling.... must admit that I had not heard of the Nutcracker before.

[Tattoodave]

5 hours ago, martyn pitt said:

Looks like a cross between a magpie and a starling 

To be honest Martyn, when I saw him I thought he was a woodpecker, they are just a bit bigger than a jay.

[Peter99]

1 hour ago, TattooDave said:

To be honest Martyn, when I saw him I thought he was a woodpecker, they are just a bit bigger than a jay.

Yes similar to a jay physically. Different colour and without the very distinctive blue eyes. I have a couple of jays who visit regularly - with about 12 other species.   

[Martyn Pitt]

1 hour ago, Peter99 said:

Yes similar to a jay physically. Different colour and without the very distinctive blue eyes. I have a couple of jays who visit regularly - with about 12 other species.   

I have a couple of migrating Jays visiting the garden at the moment, easily spooked, love peanuts.

[Peter99]

18 minutes ago, martyn pitt said:

I have a couple of migrating Jays visiting the garden at the moment, easily spooked, love peanuts.

Apologies everyone. I got my Jay mixed up with my Jackdaw! It's the Jackdaws who feed regularly - very clever and inquisitive.

[Tattoodave]

A Sardinian Warbler taking Baloo's advice

[billb]

1st time I've been on here this year, well done, your photo's are fantastic. The pied wagtail at the begining just about pips it for me, not a rare bird but the loops on the wire, the greening/aging of the post and the frost, it's got the lot.

Well done and keep 'em comin'!

[Martyn Pitt]

Bill nice to know the images are appreciated, that is actually the corner post of a Tern raft that has been pushed in close to the shore in front of one of the hides by strong winds, one for us to tidy up and tow back out into the reservoir in the spring.

One of the waxwing visiting my house was ringed, have been informed it was ringed at Westhill Aberdeenshire on the 4th December 2016. 

Edited January 15, 2017 by martyn pitt

[Soulandy]

A couple from a walk round Kinder Scout above Edale on Saturday. Some great rock sculptures

A killer Whale eyeing up a seal hiding behind a rock :-)

Deep snow drifts and a moody sky

Couple of rock sculptures having a row :-)

Cheers

[Peter99]

1 hour ago, soulandy said:

A couple from a walk round Kinder Scout above Edale on Saturday. Some great rock sculptures

A killer Whale eyeing up a seal hiding behind a rock :-)

Deep snow drifts and a moody sky

Couple of rock sculptures having a row :-)

Cheers

Wow! Nice one Andy. Would have perhaps liked to have tried to step out of my self imposed hermit life for a walk with kindred spirits. The world and soul! And a flask of tea - like the olden days. 

Pete

 

[Winsford Soul]

1 hour ago, soulandy said:

A couple from a walk round Kinder Scout above Edale on Saturday. Some great rock sculptures

A killer Whale eyeing up a seal hiding behind a rock :-)

Deep snow drifts and a moody sky

Couple of rock sculptures having a row :-)

Cheers

Stunning, majestic and Moody. Andy 

Steve

[Sean Hampsey]

I caught this interesting symmetry a couple of sundowns ago in Playa Blanca.

Sean

[Suzannek]

This isn't my video, but is off you tube taken of the recent snow in my area.   I recognise Cockfield Fell, Woodland, Raby Castle and I think the village that is shown is Copley 2 miles from me (statistically the snowiest place in England and fifth snowiest in the UK) Not that much snow this time but still plenty of time for it

 

[Tattoodave]

8 hours ago, suzannek said:

This isn't my video, but is off you tube taken of the recent snow in my area.   I recognise Cockfield Fell, Woodland, Raby Castle and I think the village that is shown is Copley 2 miles from me (statistically the snowiest place in England and fifth snowiest in the UK) Not that much snow this time but still plenty of time for it

 

A nice reminder of why I'm living on the coast in sunny Spain.

[Amsterdam Russ]

Bit frosty out there this morning. In fact, a hoar frost, which is always wonderful to see.

Do excuse the car disappearing into a time vortex or something. It happens all the time round our way. 

[Tattoodave]

37 minutes ago, Russell Gilbert said:

Bit frosty out there this morning. In fact, a hoar frost, which is always wonderful to see.

Do excuse the car disappearing into a time vortex or something. It happens all the time round our way. 

I don't suppose the time vortex goes back to the early 70's does it?  I'd be on my way if it was, I could sort out my wants list quicker that way.

[Amsterdam Russ]

39 minutes ago, TattooDave said:

I don't suppose the time vortex goes back to the early 70's does it?  I'd be on my way if it was, I could sort out my wants list quicker that way.

Haha - if it did I'd be in there first without a doubt!