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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, 29 April 2023

Lower Gronant, Talacre, Point of Ayr and Little Terns 29th April 2023

Sand dune management or deliberate vandalism?
One Talacre getting ready for the 6th May, just like Fran!
The first information board on our extension along the paths around the former Point of Ayr colliery site. 
A winding wheel from around the former Point of Ayr colliery.
Reminders of the around the former Point of Ayr colliery. 
Shingle fenced off at Pont of Ayr / Talacre, indicating that some of the Little terns have relocated.
Looking west towards the Point of Ayr Lighthouse.
Mist rising over Presthaven Sands Beach.
Tried to get the call of a Cetti warbler, but had to do with a more persistent Sedge warbler!
Sedge warbler and a Grasshopper?
A Peackock enjoys a snack on a a flowering Butterfly Bush (Buddlieia).
Walk Stats:
Distance: 9.8 miles. Climb: 204'
Time: 4 hours 49 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Temperature: At the start – 14.4 Celsius. At Lunch – 19.2 Celsius. At the end of walk – 14.5 Celsius
Beaufort Wind force: 0 – 2. Mainly calm, but occasionally managed to rise t a Light Breeze.
Group: Martyn and Ed.
The forecast today for the originally planned Moel Famau walk was not very good with the prospect of thunder and rain.
After a last minute rethink we decided on a walk from Lower Gronant as we knew of two options where we could have lunch under cover. In the end we didn’t need it, as we had bright sunshine for most of the day, and not even a hint of any rain.
The only unusual aspect of the weather was in the middle of the afternoon when a sort of mist that seemed to be rising up out towards the sea and seemed to be rolling in over the sands. Even so it was still misty over the inland hills and when we arrived at the old Little tern viewpoint Prestatyn couldn’t be seen..
Once again, we decided to complete the walk in the opposite direction to that which we usually do, but today, we missed out Prestatyn altogether!
Today the Spring flowers seen included: Ramson, Bluebell, Common daisy and May flower,
Birds seen or heard today included: Chiffchaff, Willow warbler, Mallard, Cetti warbler, Black billed magpie, Woodpigeon, Sedge warbler, Winter wren, Common blackbird, Little egret, Wheatear, Stonechat, Reed bunting, Skylark, Meadow pipit, Greenfinch, Canada goose, House sparrow, Barn swallow, Moorhen, Common coot, Mute swan, Little tern, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Ring plover, Common pheasant and Carrion crow.
Lunch was taken along the path from the RSPB Hide to Talacre where we took advantage of one of the available picnic tables.
As expected there were lots of people on the beach from Talacre to Gronant, taking advantage of the pleasant warm sunshine. We even spotted some brave souls in swimming gear heading for the distance sea!
We had no rain, but arriving at the Blue Bell in Halkyn, the ground was pretty wet, suggesting that they had experience a fair bit of rain.
Overall a very enjoyable walk made all the better by being able to celebrate with a pint of Lees Bitter when I got home.











 




 

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