Chester Zoo...... again!!

Yes it was back to one of my favourite places today.... Chester Zoo... and those big cats! Todays mission was to try and get some shots of the Black Jaguar, but typically there was no sight of him! Sharon wanted to see the Red Pandas, and we managed that, hoping she will paint one and you may see it at some point on her blog HERE
It was a great day, but can someone please explain why I can spend all day climbing in the mountains and feel fine, 5 hours walking round the zoo and I was knackered and ached all over!!!!
Hope you enjoy todays shots, as always your comments are gratefully received.

A lovely Moel Famau evening

Earlier this week Sharon and I had an evening wander up to our favourite place... Moel Famau, this being the highest point on the Clwydian range of mountains in North Wales, and we are so lucky to have it right on our doorstep, hence we spend a lot of time here. It is a very special place for many reasons, my younger sister loved coming here, and when she passed away a few years ago we buried her ashes here, and every time we come up here I cant help but remember all the good times, and how desperately I miss her. Although we walk here a lot every time we visit it is always different, whether it be the weather, the light or whatever, its just a beautiful place, and late in the evening when there is no one around and you have it all to yourselves its a magical place, a few pictures below from the evening.



I never tire of seeing this view, the main path to the Jubilee Tower at the top



The tower starts to glow as the sun sets





Nice clear views tonight, zoomed in across to the Runcorn bridge above, and below across the Wirral to Liverpool





Holly loves it just as much, her black coat shimmering in the red sunlight





The sun starts to set out over the Irish Sea off the North Wales coast



A stunning end to a lovely evening with Sharon x

A Bird of Prey day to remember

A small confession before I start, the previous Barn Owl pic is not a wild bird, although I wish it was, I have always had a real love of birds, and more especially getting them in front of my camera, but I have a real affinity with birds of prey, they really do fascinate me, and I take every opportunity I get to see and photograph them. With this in mind, when my mum told me about Eaton Hall, the home of the Duke of Westminster, that they had a garden open day, and there was a falconry display, that was it we were going. So Sharon and I went there Sunday last, and what a great day it was, the birds of prey on display were stunning, and the guy whose birds they were, Terry Large, was brilliant, so knowledgable and eager to help me with my photography, to the point were he let me in to his enclosure to photograph the birds close up, and little did I know then but he called me into the arena during the show so that I could photograph the falcons diving for the lures. A great day, lots of photos, a real happy bunny!!!



Eagle Owl



Buzzard





Peregrine/Saker swooping in







Sharon with a Harris Hawk











Bengalese Eagle Owl





A beautiful Barn Owl nicely sitting in an Oak tree

















Buzzard



This is related to our own Barn Owl, but comes from the Dominican Republic





Sharon in the court yard in the Hall



In for the kill, right down the camera!!



Eagle Owl