Were Have All The Birdies Gone!!!

That's not just on the Golf Course!!
That's not going too well either, but lets not go there, just on my last night of seven, then thankfully on a weeks leave, so have not been out and about, I know my Dearly Beloved, has told me that July and August would be very quiet (Bird wise that is)and we would be in persuit of Butterflies and Dragonflies but with wrong weather conditions, wrong shifts etc. etc., the list could go on! have not had a great deal of luck of late, so my blog has not seen a lot of action. (note to oneself) must do Better!!!

Packington Est

Heading for Ryton Woods for the day, had to make a quick de-tour to visit Packington Hall (friends in high places, what can I say!) and so glad we did as had far more luck there than Ryton, got some lovely shots of the house and grounds, also found more species of Butterflies than Ryton Woods, by the time we got there the wind was up and nothing was landing, but will certainly give it another chance, and hopefully if I did not disgrace myself will be able to return to Packington Hall as would love to get more shots of the Deer there.

Packington Estate.

Old Stable Block.

Packington Deer.

Estate Grounds.

Purple Hairstreak.

Gatekeeper.

Comma.

Mow Cop

Old Man of Mow is a crag rising more than 300m on the Cheshire/Staffordshire border, it is topped by a ruined tower called Mow Cop Castle, my first visit here and what a view, took a while to find the car park. Mow Cop is often referred to as the home of Primitive Methodism. The Memorial Church was built in 1862 on the site of the first open air meeting which took place on 31st May 1807 and attracted over 2000 people, it lasted from six in the morning until nine at night, marked now by a single stone inscription.
Inscription.

Mow Cop Castle.

Mow Cop Castle.

Mow Cop Castle.

Radnor Bridge

Thanks to a lovely couple we met at Greenbank, Kevin and Catherine, (you know who you are!!), we visited a Wetland Meadow along side the River Dane at Radnor Bridge today, not the right weather for what we wanted but holds great future promise, for both butterflies and dragonflies, although did get a shot of this Small Tortoiseshell and took a few scenic shots to mark the visit.
River Dane.

River Dane.

Small Tortoiseshell.

Brereton Heath NR.

After getting another set of nights out of the way, have managed to find two new places in my local area, that are well worth a visit if you are ever down this way Astbury Mear, unfortunately no photo's from there this time, hopefully back there in a day or two, so will post some soon, and Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve, they have a really nice mix of being both a place for wildlife and also a place for people, Lowland Heath is rare not only in Cheshire and they have area's protected while new growth is allowed undisturbed.
Desirable Des-Res found in the woods, I think it was one that Ray Mears had made earlier!!!!
Part view of the lake.

Des-res.

Comma.

Comma.

Southern Hawker.