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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: 2-10 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 2020:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage, Wendy Peers, Celia de Mengle, Wendy and Ian Peers, Roger Smith, Paul Collinson, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Celia de Mengle, Sue Pearson.

Thursday 16 May 2013

Moore Nature Reserve and More 16th may 2013

A gull or two on Birchwood pool, Moore nature Reserve.
Oh the joys of a happy bush!
"Where's me Mum?"
Bluebells, but not the sort we want!
Lunchtime at the golf course, well nearly!
Bluebells that we do want.
A good hare day!
More Bluebells that we love.
The Moore Lane swing bridge opening.
The leisure boat passing along the Ship Canal.
Walk stats: distance: 10.0 miles. Climb: 375'.
Time: 5 hours 5 minutes. On the Move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Roger, Sue Pelissier, Phil, Tim, celia, Wendy and David S.
Weather forecast generally good, but with a possibility of a showers around midday, and that's just what we got. The only time I put my waterproof on was as I ate my lunch!
We started the walk around Moore Nature Reserve, a little bit of self indulgence really, a not everyone in the group is a twitcher!  Nevertheless this reserve is just lovely to walk around, the paths are well maintained, and today the Spring flowers were blooming, although sadly today several patches of Bluebells seen today were the Spanish or hybrid variety.  Thankfully we saw many other woodlands where the the Bluebells were the native variety, and appeared in carpets that were a joy to behold.
The absolute bonus of the day was seeing the antics of five Brown hares performing in one field, and later on we saw two more Also seen was a Rabbit (in the field opposite our lunch spot) and a Weasel (in the wood by Warrington cricket ground).
Birds seen or heard today included: Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit, Long-tailed tit, Black-billed magpie, Eurasian jay, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Barn swallow, Sand martin, Tufted duck, Great crested grebe, Gadwall, Lesser black-backed gull, Herring gull, Little grebe, Common coot, Blackcap, Sedge warbler, Mallard, Moorhen, House sparrow, Lapwing, Rook, Jackdaw, Wood nuthatch, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Common blackbird, Grey heron, Goldfinch, Common pheasant, Black-headed gull, European robin, Winter wren, Greylag goose, Canada goose and Dunnock (Sue P spotted and identified this juvenile bird).
Considering that we were so close to a major town, we saw very little of it, and as we have experienced before it's just like a delightful stroll in the countryside!
Thanks to Roger, we decided to miss out the Daresbury section of the walk, and consequently arrived at the Moore Lane swing bridge a little earlier than otherwise expected.  On heading home the barriers across the road came down and our way across the swing bridge was closed to traffic, so we were able to witness the bridge swinging open and the ship passing through before allowing us on our way.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Netherton Hall at Frodsham, but not before the drink of MPA was rejected as being undrinkable! The barman agreed, exchanged our drinks the usual Lees bitter that went down well, as did the Drayman's Promise, the other brew on offer. 

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