Middleton Hall and Gardens

My usual day out in this neck of the woods is to the Middleton Hall Lakes RSPB reserve. Today, I was out for a leisurely coffee and a wander with a good friend, so we didn't head out into the expanse of the bird reserve.

To our surprise, and pleasure, we found that they have now opened the Hall to visitors, and that the garden is far more extensive and tended than in the past. The Hall is used for weddings and is geared to (not very authentic) stately photos. The Gardens and the Nature Walk are a total delight.

It had threatened rain, but we had a splash of pure blue sky and sunlight just before we headed for home. Egrets, herons, terns, dragonflies - and a cute little coot, made for plenty to watch as we just sat and enjoyed the view.

If you're from (or near) the West Midlands, then this is a place to put on your list for a delightful day out - they are charging but it is not much and parking is free.

And I managed to spot two Commas, a Gatekeeper and a lot of Large Whites, so the Big Butterfly Count was completed yet again.