The Lemon Fool

Spotted a kingfisher on a local river during the week. It didn't hang around long enough for me to take a decent picture, but nice to see all the same.



Scott.

Well this is my personal favourite photo of 2019.

I really don't think I've actually got over what happened on that night at Anfield on the 8th of May, and seeing this photo brings it all rushing back - a proper 'hair on the back of your neck' moment, and a great reminder to me personally about how powerful photographs can be in our lives...

There's been some great photos posted here over the year, and I hope to have more input myself in 2020.

I'd like to wish all of the 'pic of the day' posters and readers a Merry Christmas, and very best wishes for the coming New Year.

Cheers,

Itsallaguess



Source - https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/30/lionel-m ... -11244838/

OK, Snorvey, you're obviously getting some nice walkies there (congrats).

What daylight do you currently have for them? I'd suspect it to be tending to rather less than adequate for doing that much!

Off for another ramble today



The locals are friendly



I'm in Snorvey Territory



Findhorn in the afternoon sun

Ah yes..... the locals. From slightly further round the coast*, still friendly but sometimes a little too obsessed about other people's fins...












VRD

(The Farne Islands)

vrdiver wrote:
From slightly further round the coast*, still friendly but sometimes a little too obsessed about other people's fins...

"Hello Sir, we've come regarding an investigation into compliance with the 1968 trade-descriptions act...."



Great photos VRD...

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

Walking along the canal yesterday, I grabbed a few photos of some Canada Geese that have "moved in". I didn't realise that they were the bad boys & gals of the bird world..according to https://www.pitchcare.com/news-media/canada-geese.html

"Should there ever be a prize for Britain's most hated bird, then, surely, it would go to the Canada goose. If Canada geese were human, they would be lounging around all day doing nothing, claiming every welfare benefit in the book, driving their neighbours out of town and notching up ASBOs around the clock."


Well, it was an old Daily Fail article





The photo was taken at 4pm using my MotoG phone - light was fading fast. The birds had been snoozing on the canal bank and then were leisurely stretching their wings and entering the cold water for a swim.

They didn't seem too worried by my presence..maybe they were thinking "watch it.... come an hav a go if you fink yer hard enuff!"

Snorvey wrote:Lightning streak over Batangas as Taal Volcano continue its eruption

Is that near Lossie? (I'm seeking clarification just in case our southern readers are a bit hazy over the geography up here)

scotia wrote:Is that near Lossie? (I'm seeking clarification just in case our southern readers are a bit hazy over the geography up here)

It's what parents scare their children with if they don't eat up their vegetables. Big green smoking electric monster with big yellow eyes is going to come down from the sky and eat them for you.

BJ

Snorvey wrote:US Navy Virginia class nuclear attack submarine glides into Faslane in the early morning.

Morning Nicola.

https://twitter.com/DougieCoullPics/sta ... 30721?s=20

In my dafter, younger days I used to go fishing for winter Cod on the Gare Loch opposite Faslane. On arrival back at base, after a tour of duty, the RN submarines had their crew in full uniform, lined up and standing to attention on the deck.
In the photos of the US submarine it looks like a bunch of day trippers on deck.

scotia wrote:

Snorvey wrote:US Navy Virginia class nuclear attack submarine glides into Faslane in the early morning.

Morning Nicola.

https://twitter.com/DougieCoullPics/sta ... 30721?s=20

In my dafter, younger days I used to go fishing for winter Cod on the Gare Loch opposite Faslane. On arrival back at base, after a tour of duty, the RN submarines had their crew in full uniform, lined up and standing to attention on the deck.
In the photos of the US submarine it looks like a bunch of day trippers on deck.

I wonder if they are on deck as a mooring party. Health and safety concerns probably explain the life jackets. I'd still expect them to have some semblence of military bearing rather than looking like a gang of blokes having a fag break outside an office building.

Back before 911 I was lucky enough to be driving a RIB down Loch Fyne when a Norwegian submarine hove into view. We matched speed and course with her and drew up alongside, exchanged pleasantries and carried on with our trip whilst they went their own way.

Similarly, driving a RIB leaving Plymouth harbour we met a submarine just coming in. Another memorable moment, greeting the deck crew and being made to feel welcome visitors.

Wind the clock forward past 911 and we saw a British submarine, stationary in Plymouth harbour. As I drove the RIB towards her a dirty great black RIB bore down on us out of nowhere, with a bunch of hard-nuts in military uniform aboard. They "parked" their bow on top of our tubes and made it very clear that our best interests were to head away from any submarine we might notice.

It's a poorer world for 911, in so many ways.

VRD

I’m sure most Snuglets know of RIBs but for those, like me, who don’t, they are Rigid Inflatable Boats.

And again, back in my dafter days while fishing opposite Faslane, a RIB came over and motored up and down, giving me the once over. The occupants were dressed in black with balaclavas and they were sporting sub machine guns. It was a bit intimidating, but no self respecting angler could be put off by such a small matter - or could they? I didn't ask them to pose for a photo.

Snorvey wrote:

scotia wrote:

Snorvey wrote:Lightning streak over Batangas as Taal Volcano continue its eruption

Is that near Lossie? (I'm seeking clarification just in case our southern readers are a bit hazy over the geography up here)

It is actually - just up the road in Elgin.

For those that don't know, Elgin is twinned with Mordor

Haven't they all lost their marbles up there?

GS

Snorvey wrote: and had climbed all of the world including being part of a team that had successfully summited Mount Everest.......

Well - there's a challenge. I bet you could get some spectacular photos for the Snug from the top of Everest .

Those are good
Nothing as scenic in west Berkshire - although I may post a few Kennet and Avon canal photos at some point (you have been warned)

Snorvey wrote:Just couldn't pass up the light opportunity AC.

I might just have to invest in a proper camera (and learn how to use it).

Was that Duffus Castle - near the town twinned with Mordor?

Boudicca returns.... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-51235975

Amazing picture

--kiloran

Snorvey wrote:You could get a fair rate of knots up sliding down there.

Just think - a Scottish-Norman noble built you a hill 850 years ago so that you could slide down it. That was foresight