frogesque

There hasn't been a 'Bonspiel' grand curling match on Loch Leven since 1959. Could 2010 be a year for another historic event? It probably needs another week of good sub zero temperatures to be safe. The ice apeared to be about 3" thick and felt very solid (please be extremely careful on frozen ponds and lakes, they can be, and are, lethal)

Missed out on a white Christmas but at least managed a snowballfight after Christmas dinner. Made up for it with a little fresh snow today!

Yeah, but some like it hot, hot, hot! Let's see that sun with more spots than a nerdy 15yr. old! http://nwstatic.co.uk/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

Fair point Barry. Any scientific study would need to measure and compare like for like.

I guess it's kind of like buses, you wait around for ages then 3 appear together! 1035, 36 & 37 http://www.spaceweather.com/

Well, at least the sun is trying to wake up. Been a right old sleepy head this last couple of years Still a ways off Earth directed X class flares though, and me waiting to get the camera out and snap some auroras. By the time cycle 25 comes round I'll be in me 70's http://nwstatic.co.uk/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

It is possible to have a bit of fun with water drops though. :lol: Fallen Angel Just don't belive everything you think you see through a camera lens! It's a drip from a tap. Lighting was by way of a halogen spot coupled with an out of sync flash and the background was an out of focus blue plate stood at the back of the sink. Cropped and otherwise unmodified except for the canvas look which was added in GIMP

Really, since I discovered HOW easy it is to capture 'orbs' and 'rods' I serioulsly lost interest in the subject. Most of these atifacts, like lens flare, would have been cropped out, airbrushed or the picture rejected in the VERY expensive days of pre-digital.

This was taken way back on 21st July 05. It was a deliberate attempt to capture 'orbs' I was at Loch Leven photographing the sunset and was getting eaten by midges and mossies so I turned the camera on them. No fake, no PS, just exactly as taken.

One of the best sightings of geese on the wing today, probably over a thousand! They rose en masse wheeling and honking when a hot air balloon flew over and spooked them. This was at Milnathort today, near Loch Leven opposite RSPB Vane Farm. I think they are Greylag geese but I've also seen pink footed geese before.

Snap! Just a clump of tatty Michaelmas daisy but they're a butterfly magnet at this time of year. Well worth planting some in a quiet corner of the garden

Only seen one decent example of a Holepunch and didn't have a camera. Yours is about as good as they get Jurgen. Well spotted

Nice link Mondy, does what it says on the tin!

"From The Times September 24, 2009 India’s lunar mission finds evidence of water on the Moon Jeremy Page in Delhi Dreams of establishing a manned Moon base could become reality within two decades after India’s first lunar mission found evidence of large quantities of water on its surface. ...." Full article from Times Online at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/space/article6846639.ece How soon before we see Virgin Bottled Moonwater?

Another link for you Mondy! Fancy flying one? http://cloudappreciationsociety.org/mg1/ Somewhere on the web is also a reference to a Morning Glory seen over the West coast of Ireland

More saggy bottoms! There didn't seem any particular reason for this formation today. Just a very dull, grey end to the afternoon when these appeared.

Peacocks, Painted Ladys, Whites and a Red Admiral all in brilliant fresh colours today. Seems to be a shortage of Tortoiseshells though

Well I've searched the web and I can't find any referece to hornets being found in Scotland - so here goes! Last weekend at Mennoch Pass, Dumfriesshire (near the White Cross Bridge beside Glenclach Burn) I was surprised to find one of these gentle beasties basking on a rock in the heather. Unfortunately I didn't have a camera but several other folk saw it as well so it wasn't my imagination. Either they are getting hardier or the winters are warming up 'because the Mennoch is close to Wanlochhead, the UK's higest village at 1500ft!

sunny starry skies: Those a really fantastic panramic shots of the city. I definitely have to try harder :lol:

Superb pics - and thanks for the kind comments We definately had a very interesting time weatherwise yesterday with a fine sunny morning, thunderstorms and torrential rain then ending the day with a beautifull display of NLCs. All we needed was some snow :blink:

Love the atmospheric shots Storm! I've gotten too lazy to take the car out at that time of night - must try harder Kar: was very lucky to get a clear view myself as we'd had a thunderstorm pass over only an hour before and it's tipping down again this morning

something is messing up the image links! maybe a mod can edit the rubbish please? Try again!

Has to be last pic I'm afraid - have to get some sleep!

Got it wrong last night :lol: but! A brilliant display on the go tonight! More pics to follow :lol:

On the back edge of a thunderstorm at approx 9.30pm tonight: enjoy! Ooops! Sorry, two ms in Mammatus :lol: