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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.

Tuesday 1 January 2019

Hilbre Island and West Kirby Marine Lake 1st January 2019

Little Eye, Little Hilbre Island and Hilbre Island seem a long way away.
Following tracks to Little Eye.
A deserted Little Eye.
Brent geese and Oystercatchers on Middle Eye.
An egret but is is a Great white or Little egret?
It looked big for a Little egret, but I think it is still a Little egret.
Grey seals on the sand bank South west of Hilbre Island.
Brent Geese and an Oystercatcher North of the Lifeboat slip way on Hilbre Island.
A sheltered spot for lunch on the South east corner of Hilbre Island.
Looking North West from our lunch spot.
Looking towards Little Hilbre Island from our lunch spot.
Crossing the sand back to West Kirby Marine Lake.
Looking South west from the causeway around West Kirby Marine Lake.
Walk stats: Distance: 5.8 miles. Climb: 412' (GPS Wind assisted), probably about 120'.
Time: 2 hour 56 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Phil, Wendy and Ian.
 It was great to have Phil join on our New Year's day Walk, having come down from Scotland to visit family in Cheshire. It was good to have Ian join us too, despite needing to get back to go to an important local football match.
We set off just before 10-00, and ignoring all of the weather forecasts it a started to drizzle and the outline of Hilbre Island Island could just about be made out in the distance.
 Thankfully as arrived at Little Eye, it became much brighter and by the time we stopped for lunch we were basking in warm sunshine.
 Arriving at Middle Eye, Oystercatchers and Brent geese seemed to be everywhere and this proved to be so all along the water edge as far a the Lifeboat causeway.
 As we followed the concrete causeway up the West side o Hilbre Island we were fortunate o about ten Grey seals on the sand bank in the estuary towards the South west of the island
 It is worth noting that near the Lifeboat House, there is a wooden shelter with benches. After making use of the nearby PC units, we headed back across the Hilbre Island towards Middle Eye.
 just around the corner from the concrete causeway, we found a perfect spot for lunch, sheltered from the wind and now bathed in Sunshine. Fruit cake and chocolate covered ginger cookies were shared before we headed back towards Middle Eye. 
 So far we had only seen a hand full of people and one or two dogs, but it wasn't long before w could encountered a steady .of people and dogs heading across the sands towards us, so many that it could be described as being like a crowd leaving a football stadium after a match. 
 Arriving back at the Marine Lake we did follow the causeway on the West side, but no chance of seeing a birds on the water as a dingy race was in full swing, taking advantage of what was now quite a strong wind.
 Birds seen or heard today included: Brent goose, Red breasted merganser, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Little egret, Common redshank, Great cormorant, Eurasian curlew and Great black backed gull.
 Overall a very enjoyable walk, a superb walk to start us off in 2019.
 We decided to miss out our usual visit to a local hostelry and headed straight home where I am now enjoying a cup tea, containing a little whisky of course!
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