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When? Started: 1993 Who? Started with staff and friends from U H S, Chester. Organiser: Martyn Harris We walk every Wednesday and Saturdays, New Years day and May Day. How many walk? Walks take place as long as there are at least 2 wanting to walk on that day. More walk on a Wednesday than on a Saturday. Most ever: 29. Current group size walking: 2-7 in mid-week and 2-4 on Saturday. Where do we walk? Saturday: Anywhere in North and Mid-Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Long Mynd and as far North as the Trough of Bowland. Thursday: Anywhere within about 40 miles of Chester. Type of walk: Distance: 6 – 14 miles (but usually under 10 miles). Climb: up to 4000’ (but usually very much less!). People involved on walks in 2024:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage,, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Winston Feather.

Saturday, 23 April 2011

Around the Great Orme 23rd April 2011

The western edge of the Great Orme.
Two new kids on the block!
Nesting Fulmars.
Another bird to identify!
The Little Orme from the Marine Drive.
How many birds can you identify?
Walk stats: distance: 9.8 miles. Climb: 1364'.
Time: 5 hours 8 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Roger.
As there was only two of us, at last minute decision was made to take the sorter trip to Llandudno, and reserve the Peak District trip to another day.
The weather, as forecast was somewhat overcast, but at least we didn't have any rain and on this occasion the wind was manageable!  I fact as far as walking is concerned, the weather was good and we were in no danger of over heating and pleasantly comfortable for most of the time!
The walk around the Great Orme is always delightful, especially the area to the West around the limestone pavements.  We didn't see any Dotterels, but the Wheatears did us proud!
As we had started walking by 09-00, we were about a third of the way along the Marine Drive  before we decided it was time to take lunch. Although it was on the the roadside, we did have the luxury of a bench seat overlooking the sea, but Great Cormorants were the only birds that seemed to be flying by.
Lunch finished and with extra energy after devouring a "Bubbly Bunny" provided by Margaret, there was no excuse for a slow pace, unless the pull of a little birdwatching was to take precedence!
The highlight was what seemed to be a feeding frenzy involving Guillemots, Gulls and Great cormorants.  What they were feeding on we will never know.
As we dropped down the path from the road to the gun emplacement site we encountered a herd of goats with several kids, with the adults watching us carefully until we had gone past.
We arrived back at the car, having had a great walk.
Birds seen or heard today included: Herring gull, Mute swan, Jackdaw, Fulmar, Carrion crow, Raven, Blackbird, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Barn swallow, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Great cormorant, Winter wren, Chaffinch, Stonechat, Great tit, Great black-backed gull,  Great cormorant, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Kittewake and Guillemot.
After walk drinks were enjoyed as usual at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn. Despite the Lees bitter being on good form, we were still home before 16-00!
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