Looking across West Kirby Marine Lake towards Hilbre.
A tractor heads across the sand at low tide.
6 Goosanders, but 5 dived as I took the photo!
The Winter plumage Slavonian grebe ion West Kirby Marine Lake.
Hilbre ahead.
Fran's reminder of he slippery section on the way to Hilbre.
Grey seals on the sandbank.
Mike by the stone arch on Middle Eye / Little Hilbre Island.
On Middle Eye / Little Hilbre Island.
Brent geese on the rocks between Little Hilbre Island and Hilbre Island
The information board on Hilbre Island.
One of the Gannets seen from Hilbre Island.
The cranes at Liverpool Docks on the skyline.
Looking towards North Wales from Hilbre Island.
Grange Hill War Memorial seen from Hilbre Island.
Coffee break in the shelter on Hilbre Island.
Little Hilbre Island from Hilbre Island.
The Common kestrel hunting on Hilbre Island.
Little Eye ahead.
Leaving Little Eye.
Lunch time.
Mole Famau from our lunch spot.
The Rock pipit from our lunch spot.
Th Rock pipit again.
Little Hilbre Island and Hilbre Island from the beach on the way to Red Rocks.
Red Rocks ahead.
Grange Hill War Memorial.
Afternoon coffee break.
Plenty of Autumnal coloured leaves in West Kirby.
Nearly back at the car.
T*his is what the locals do!
Distance: 10.3 miles.Climb: 881’.
Time: 5 hours 24 minutes
On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.
Overall wall average: 1.9 m.p.h.
Temperature: 13.4 Celsius (17.2) Celsius. Max 20.2 Celsius at West Kirby Marine Lake at the end of the walk.
BWF: Max 3. A 9.2 m.p.h. Gentle breeze.
Birds seen or heard today included: Herring gull, Black headed gull, Lesser black back gull, Eurasian curlew, Common redshank, Rock pipit, House sparrow, Common kestrel, Pied wagtail, Brent goose, Oystercatcher, Gannet, Goosander, Grey heron and Slavonian grebe.
With the Low tide at 12-44, we decided it would be a good time to visit Hilbre Island, rather than just going around West Kirby Marine Lake. The star bird of the day was a Winter plumage Slavonian grebe, but seen 6 Goosander was good as well.
We all started off wearing fleeces / jackets, but we soon realised that they weren’t really needed and removed them as soon as we reached Hilbre Island.
As usual, we didn’t take the best route between Middle Eye (Little Hilbre Island) and Hilbre Island, and found it quite slippery crossing some of the rocks that were covered with a layer of mud. We didn’t make the same mistake going back.
Grey seals could be heard calling as they were hauled on the distant sandbank, and you just about make them when looking through binoculars.
The best bird spot from Hilbre Island, was two Gannets diving.
Distant views were rather hazy, but the Great Orme, Moel Famau could easily be recognised, as were the crains at Liverpool docks.
Lunch was taken by West Kirby Marine Lake, where for the first time we took advantage of the benches in the wind shelter.
After lunch, we crossed the sand to Red Rocks, a popular walk for many.
The last climb of the day was to the top of Grange Hill and the War Memorial, an impressive monument that could even see from Little Eye.
Overall, a very enjoyable walk, celebrated afterwards by visiting the Wheatsheaf at Raby. Mike enjoyed sampling Timothy Taylor Landlord and Brimstage Amber Ale, Fran, teetotal for 10 days, enjoyed a tonic water with extra water added and a slice of lemon, and I enjoyed a pot of tea (my go to tipple when I am the driver).
Lunch was taken by West Kirby Marine Lake, where for the first time we took advantage of the benches in the wind shelter.
After lunch, we crossed the sand to Red Rocks, a popular walk for many.
The last climb of the day was to the top of Grange Hill and the War Memorial, an impressive monument that could even see from Little Eye.
Overall, a very enjoyable walk, celebrated afterwards by visiting the Wheatsheaf at Raby. Mike enjoyed sampling Timothy Taylor Landlord and Brimstage Amber Ale, Fran, teetotal for 10 days, enjoyed a tonic water with extra water added and a slice of lemon, and I enjoyed a pot of tea (my go to tipple when I am the driver).
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