West Kirby Marine Lake, Red Rocks and More 31st January 2024

Common redshank and Turnstnes on the Old Bath Rocks.

A male Goosander puts in an appearance on West Kirby Marine Lake.

On the beach at West Kirby.

Natterjack toads live here, but we would have to come back after Sunset to see or hear them!

The view to Hilbre Island as we approached Red Rocks.

A quick stop for "elevenses" - a rarity only allowed on short walks!

St. Hildeburgh's Church, Hoylake.

Back at West Kirby Marine Lake to find the wind surfers were out.

West Kirby Marine Lake, the new parade sea defences and seats.

A Great cormorant joins Common redshank on a West Kirby Marine Lake pontoon.

Some wind surfers are better than others.

A Turnstone on the rocks at the West Kirby Old Baths. 

Walk Stats:
Distance: 5.1 miles. Climb: 266’
Time: 2 hours 5 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.8 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 2.4 m.p.h.
Temperature: 7.6 – 8.6 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: 3/4, just a L Gentle to Moderate Breeze
Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Mike, David S, Nigel and Elaine and Fran.
A dry day, feeling cool was forecast for our walk today. Thankfully it didn’t feel as cold as the 5 Celsius suggested it might be.
There seemed to be lower clouds on the Welsh hills seen across the Dee Estuary, so walking here on the Wirral was a good choice.
Not many birds were on the Marine Lake this morning, so I didn’t slow people down as much birdwatching.
Heading to Red Rocks we stayed on the lower beach path rather than taking the boardwalk through the dunes.
A Red Rocks e had a short refreshment break before setting off up the road to Hoylake Station.
I decided to miss out the path across the Royal Liverpool Golf Course to avoid the possibility of getting muddy boots as we used the grassy path in front of the club house.
Instead we used the hard surface path Hoylake Station that runs between the former public golf course and the railway line.
Arriving back at the Marine Lake we found the wind surfers were out, but no yachts.
Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Common blackbird, Black billed magpie, Goosander, Oystercatcher, Black headed gull, Herring gull, Common redshank, Turnstone and Eurasian curlew.
Back at the cars, happy to have relatively clean mud-free boots, having had an enjoyable morning walk and ready for refreshments at the Wheatsheaf Inn at Raby. Everyone enjoyed their drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), their meals and some even had room a pudding! We were in The Cowshed, so it wasn’t as toasty as the main bar area!