Arley Hall........................................................................... flowers and wildlife

A few more images of the flowers and insects from my visit to Arley Hall on Sunday.

All were captured on the flower borders above.

Peacock butterfly... the first I have seen this year.

Small Tortoiseshells were all over the place.. I've never seen so many.

I was composing this image when the little fella arrived on the scene.

Bees were in abundance in the sunshine... but busy bees don't stay still for very long.

There were so many Small Tortoiseshells I have far too many images to share.

I hope you like them.

Sunshine in a flower

I enjoyed a wonderful couple of hours in really hot sunshine.... just before the heavens opened.

It's a lovely place to visit... and just four miles from home.

Linking to Skywatch Friday,  FloralFridayFoto and Camera Critters

Sharing afternoon tea at Arley Hall...................................... with the sparrows

We had a refreshment break after wandering around the gardens at Arley Hall... tea and scones.

Please scroll down a post to view the gardens.

 Tea for two...

...a table outside...

...and scones with lashings of cream and strawberry jam.

The sparrows at the restaurant are very cheeky.

...picking up all the tit bits from under the tables...

...even perching on the bench beside me hoping for a feed.

Please scroll down to see my last post for more images of Arley Hall and Gardens.

I also have more images of the flowers and butterflies to share... 

Wild Bird Wednesday and The Bird D'pot

Sundays visit to Arley Hall and Gardens...........................................................

It's been a couple of years since my last visit to one of my local stately homes... Arley Hall.

It was a lovely sunny morning... but the forecast was to expect heavy showers.

The old Cruck Barn near the entrance dates from around 1470.

 We made the most of the sunshine... the gardens are stunning at this time of year.

...the summer flower borders are so colourful...

... and full of butterflies like this lovely Small Tortoiseshell. 

The rain did arrive... but luckily just as we got back to the car.

Our World Tuesday

Feed Me!!.........................................................................................................

 I heard a right racket going on in the garden last night.

                                           It was the baby Robin in my garden demanding to be fed.

                                                           ...so much noise from such a tiny bird.

Peace at last.

Not the clearest shots...  it was just one of those grab the camera moments.

The Bird D'pot

House Sparrow moulting..................................................................................

Some of the garden birds are losing their feathers... new will replace the old quite soon

This little House Sparrow is bearing it's chest to the world.

Camera Critters

My weekly food shop.................................................................... for the birds

 My garden is small... just 34ft x 22ft but I do get plenty of birds on the feeders.

I am fortunate to have a local store selling bird food for reasonable prices.

This lot cost me less than £15.

 For a small garden I am lucky to have nesting birds... the Robins have a baby for the second year running.

 Grumpy looking... but so cute to see.

 I provide a variety of food stuffs for my little friends... the Robins, Sparrows and Tits love the fat balls.

A bucket of 50 cost me £5.99.

The Blackbirds love the meal worms as do the Magpies...

 ...this juvenile Blackbird in the flower bed this morning also hatched in my garden.

Black Sunflowers Seeds are a real bargain at 69p for a 500g bag.

 Peanuts were 99p for 400g as was the Robin Seed Mix for 650g.

I am getting loads of young House Sparrows on the feeders and foraging on the floor.

They are never short of something to eat...

 ... except when I'm at work... and this little rascal turns up.

Linking to Our World Tuesday and Wild Bird Wednesday

A couple from my garden this morning..............................................................

I did a spot of sunbathing in the garden this morning.

 A bit of peace and quite just listening to and watching the birds.

The sparrows were making the most noise...

...until this flew over.

I live close to the flight path of Manchester Airport... but not usually this close.

Linking to Camera Critters and The Bird D'pot

Evening stroll alongside the River Weaver.............. highlight seeing a Cuckoo

My journey home from work takes over an hour... 

... so I am making the most of the good weather by getting out and about in the evenings.

 We had a walk alongside the river last night... and almost had the place to ourselves.

Just five minutes into the walk a Cuckoo flew past and landed on the wire ahead.

Too far away for a decent shot but this was the first I have seen locally for a couple of years.

I am trying to build up some strength in my knees... but am still suffering a bit the morning after.

To keep my mind off my knees we had a competition to capture images of small stuff.

Small Tortoiseshells were all over the place... bathing in the evening sunshine.

Then Mandy came up with this shot... a Ladybird with another little creature behind.

This competition may take all summer to decide.... when I am eventually declared the winner.

I am so pleased we spotted the Cuckoo... plus it was Mandys first ever.

Skywatch Friday

Greenfinch.......................................................................... I am getting closer

I recently shared a shot I took through the window of the Greenfinch that visits my garden.

 Well early this morning I managed to get a shot with the window open... 

...it's a flighty bird and disappears at the slightest movement... this is my best effort to date.

Wild Bird Wednesday

My Grandson Arthur...................................................... it's been a tough day

Linking to Our World Tuesday

Swallows nesting under Acton Bridge...............................................................

I have been sailing under Acton Bridge on the River Weaver for a few weeks and have seen the Swallows nesting in the girders underneath.

Acton Swing Bridge

I had the chance to get a closer look a couple of days ago and had a wander along the tow path.

Most of the nests are over the water but this one was above the path... 

...walkers and cyclists pass it by everyday... most of them probably don't even notice it.

I took a couple of images then carried on my way... from a distance I watched as the adults fed their young.

Swallows are all along the River Weaver and feeding alongside the Sand and House Martins.

They are nigh on impossible to capture in flight so it was nice to capture them on the wire.

Linking to Sky Watch Friday, Camera Critters and The Bird D'pot

The Woodpigeons............................... putting on a demonstration of Kung Fu

The Woodpigeons in my garden have been having a tiff for a few days now.

They make plenty of noise with all the wing slapping...

...and the posturing between scraps reminded me old Bruce Lee movies.

I managed a short video clip... please turn up the volume to appreciate the racket they make.
I have added a bit of slow motion... for effect?

I was going to have Carl Douglas singing "Kung Fu Fighting" over the clip but decided the birds own flapping and slapping made for a better soundtrack.

As it's the 1st anniversary of Wild Bird Wednesday I would like to thank Stewart for taking up the baton from  Springman when his World Bird Wednesday came to an end.
I have friendships all over the planet thanks to us all sharing our feathered friends every week.
So I will raise a glass to Stewart and... Happy Birthday Wild Bird Wednesday