EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Review WOW!

We have thistle here in the U.S. and it is a WEED! The thing is though, I LOVE this weed, not only do I find it beautiful, it always has some of the best insects, bees, butterflies, bugs that you would find anywhere, they are my go to plant if I am doing macro or close-ups.
The only thing is that here we don't have castles to put behind our weeds.
Beautiful weed pictures by all!

Randy

Reminds me of one of stand up comic Danny Bhoy's lines. They were handing out national flowers to the British Isles and the Scotts were late. The reps ran up out of breath and asked what was left. They said sorry only the thistle. He replied in a Scottish accent "Ahh, its free".

Reposted from a while ago, but in the spirit of thistle loving

Photo from MatthewK's gallery.

bidkev wrote in post #18213693
Okay then. Remember It's the Scottish National emblem so treat it with respect

Just before blooming

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/wQK5​HC 1Z0A1870 by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/vQ96​GW Mottisfont House1Z0A1871 by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

And an Australian brother

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/A7Gh​xT 1Z0A4784 by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

Err, actually it's a Mexican brother, Argemone mexicana, another naturalised weed and big problem in Australia.

...so weed is legal in Scotland now?

Illegal weed...illegal lens.

bidkev wrote in post #18213693
Okay then. Remember It's the Scottish National emblem so treat it with respect

Just before blooming

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/wQK5​HC 1Z0A1870 by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/vQ96​GW Mottisfont House1Z0A1871 by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

And an Australian brother

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/A7Gh​xT 1Z0A4784 by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

That last one is a great photograph, Kev. Even if it is another foreign weed.

dodgyexposure wrote in post #18214149
That last one is a great photograph, Kev. Even if it is another foreign weed.

Thanks Damien. It's pretty rampant down by the Pine River

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/z9Sq​qz

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/z9S2​xa

Sorry this is not a thistle shot

George Zip wrote in post #18214191
Sorry this is not a thistle shot

Hosted photo: posted by George Zip in
./showthread.php?p=182​14191&i=i256923970
forum: Canon Lenses

Cool bird. Good shot of it too. What is it?

Jack Dawe wrote in post #18214237
Cool bird. Good shot of it too. What is it?

Looks like a very immature satin bower bird to me but I've not seen this variation before so I could be wrong

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/x9yD​ty

Jack Dawe wrote in post #18214237
Cool bird. Good shot of it too. What is it?

I'll go with Kev's assessment as I do not know

I was in my shed listening to records, the bird landed on another garden shed next to my big shed and I shot it through the open door.

I love the colour.

bidkev wrote in post #18214239
Looks like a very immature satin bower bird to me but I've not seen this variation before so I could be wrong

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/x9yD​ty 2015_08_10_9999_55 by Kevin Dickinson, on Flickr

George Zip wrote in post #18214247
I'll go with Kev's assessment as I do not know

Thanks! We don't have anything like that here.

Another lovely shot there, Kevin.

George Zip wrote in post #18214191
Sorry this is not a thistle shot

Hosted photo: posted by George Zip in
./showthread.php?p=182​14191&i=i256923970
forum: Canon Lenses

Very nice, I had a look in my bird book and it looks like a 'Green Catbird', related to the bowers.

hqqns wrote in post #18214263
Very nice, I had a look in my bird book and it looks like a 'Green Catbird', related to the bowers.

I've just Googled images of that and it sure looks a good match.

hqqns wrote in post #18214263
Very nice, I had a look in my bird book and it looks like a 'Green Catbird', related to the bowers.

It is indeed a Green Catbird.