The local guide instructs!
A pair of Mallards and their brood.
A Mallard family on the Weaver Navigation Canal.
One of many Ramson flowers seen and smelled throughout the walk today.
A good display of Bluebells next to the Weaver Navigation Canal.
A pair of Mute swans at the nest in the reeds.
A Moorhen sitting on the nest in the reeds.
Elevenses!
One of the Grey herons seen today.
Walking next to a field of Oilseed rape.
St. Michael and All Angels Church at Little Leigh.
Ducklings entertaining us on the Trent and Mersey Canal.The same ducklings still entertaining.
Are they trying to catch insects or are they going round in circles just for fun?
The waiting game.
How many Buzzards, most counted five, but eagle-eyed Sue counted six!
Walk Stats:
Distance: 8.3 miles. Climb: 725’.
Time: 3 hours 45 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 2.2 m.p.h.
Temperature: At the start – 10. 0 Celsius. At Lunch – 15.0 Celsius. At the end of walk – 14.0 Celsius
Beaufort Wind force: 0 – 1. Mainly calm, as we left our lunch spot the breeze was just about detectable.
Group: Martyn, Ed, Sue and Michel, David S, Fran and Nigel...
The forecast today was pretty good, although I think we did get more sunshine than was predicted. DS decided he would complete the walk in the opposite direction to that which we had done when MD led the walk post covid.
Today the Spring flowers showed well. These included: Ramson, Jack by the hedge, Bluebell, Lesser stitchwort, Wood anemone, Common daisy, May flower, Lesser celandine, Dandelion and Red campion,
Birds seen or heard today included: Blackcap, Great tit, Blue tit, Common chaffinch, Wood nuthatch, Chiffchaff, Willow warbler, Mallard, Cetti warbler, Pied wagtail, Great crested grebe, Eurasian jay, Black billed magpie, Woodpigeon, Sedge warbler, Winter wren, Common blackbird, Common buzzard, Grey heron, Barn swallow Great spotted woodpecker, Moorhen, Common coot and Carrion crow.
Lunch was taken next to the path, just before the Leigh Arms, where we sat on the steps leading to the Weaver Navigation from the local Rowing Club Boat House.
Overall a very enjoyable walk, worthy of visiting the Rake Hall at little Stanneyfor refreshments. There was a debate by some as to which beer was best, Weetwood’s Cheshire Cat or the Salopian’s Lemon Dream. Ed had no doubt - it was Titanic’s Chocolate Vanilla Porter!
DS and I didn’t even debate as to whether the coffee or tea was the better choice. Today, I think the coffee would have won!
Overall a very enjoyable walk made all the better by all of the flowers seen, especially the displays of Bluebells and Ramsons. The number of bird seen or heard today was quite impressive, but hearing several Cetti warblers was a bonus and it was a joy to see so many ducklings dashing across the surface of the water.
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