Barkby Beach to Talacre and Back.
Looking back along Barkby Beach toward the Beach Hotel and the Great Orme beyond.
The Point of Ayr Lighthouse and the cranes of Liverpool Docks on the skyline.
Pyranidal orchids in The Warren.
Distance: 9.0 miles. Climb: 367'. (Slightly wind assisted GPS reading).
Time:4 hours 31 minuts. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.jh.
Group: Martyn and Roger.
Arriving at Barkby Beach, as expected, the Beach Hotel was still on a process of getting ready to open as soon as the Welsh Government allowed, so we had to park at the Public Car Park nearby. Unfortunatley the PC wasn't open, not good when there was a good number of visitors around.
Heading along the beach, what little wind the was assisted us, but with the Sun out it , it wasn't long before Roger decided to take off his lightweight fleece.
Although we did manage to see three Litle terns, the Gronant tern colony site has been fenced off a long way from the actual nesting site, and the usual manned view point was not accessible.
The tide was well out thoughout the walk, so were able to take advantage of walking on the firm beach sand, both before the tern colony and along Presthaven Sands to the Point of Ayr lighthouse.
Distant views were pretty good, with the cranes at Liverpool docks clearly seen beyond Hilbre Island as we headed towards the lighthouse. In the opposite direction the Great Orme and the Snowdonia mountains could be see, although some of the latter high tops were just in cloud.
We were unlucky to find our usual picnic table lunch spot on the way to the Pount of Ayre Bird Hides already occupied, so we ended up sitting on the posts that marked the boundary of the Talacre Beach Car Park. Our lunch time view was across the march towards the bird hide and the shingle bank, not brilliant, but better than looking in the opposite direction towards the parked cars.
This end was very busy with lots of cars on the overspill beach car park, and the cafe/food shops at Talacre doing some good trade.
On return through The Warren, we encountered lots of people and a good number of cyclists, but bit was on this section that we came across the Pyrimadal orchids, another iconic species in this area.
Birds see or heard today included: House sparrow, Common starling, Herring gull, House martin, Eurasian curlew, Great cormorant, Grey heron, Little egret, Woodpigeon, Lesser black back ull, Common redshank, Sedge warbler, Reed bunting, Stonechat, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Mallard, Moorhen and Mute swan.
An enjoyable walk, and back in time to listen to the cricket or football commentary - niether turned out the way I had hoped!
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