Another Great Orme Round 5th December 2020

Another Great Orme Round.

Misty views towards Anglesey as we set off along Marine Drive.

The Monks' Path.

On the limestone plateau of the Great Orme.

At the trig point on the Great Orme.

Guess who - at the trig point on the Great Orme.

At the trig point on the Great Orme.

Looking over Happy Valley towards Llandudno Bay and the Little Orme.

The Sun startin to set over the Carneddau.

West shore from the "invalids walk" path.

A sad looking boating lake without any water.

Distance: 7.5 miles. Climb: 1427'.

Time: 4 hours 41 ninutes. On the move waking average: 2.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Mike.

A later start than ususual, as the forecast suggested rain upto about 10-00, so we didn't leave Saltney until just after 09-00.  It proved the right decision as the rain had moved on by the time we arrived at the West Shore. 

It seems strange to see the boating lake drained, presumeably to allow necessary work to be carried before the Summer season 2021.

Our walk today started by following Marine Drive and then using the Monk's Path to reach the summit plateau.

We had the trig point to ourselves, a rarity in itself, before descending into Happy Valley where we had lunch in the shelter with views down the valley towards the pier.

After a leisurely lunch, we returned to the summit plateau using the path on the south side of the ski slopes, before descending the "Igam ogam" to the "invalids walk" path and back to the West Shore and the start.

Distant views weren't crystal clear, but at times the light was quite atmospheric, especially towards the end of the walk and the Sun had started to go down.

Birds seen or heard today were very few, but did include: European robin, Carrion crow, Meadow pipit, Common blackbird, Jackdaw, Herring gull and Red billed chough.

Overall a very enjoyable walk and the first time for a long time that I have been able to walk with a friend from across the border! It needed to be celebrated with a suitable drink from a local hostelry, but alas the Welsh Government has banned all pubs from selling all alcoholic drinks!

Llanfairfechan, Traeth Lafan and The Spinnies Nature Reserves 2nd December 2020.

Llanfairfechan, Traeth Lafan and The Spinnies Nature Reserves

A pair of Red breasted merganser on the Llanfairfechan boating lake.

Four Mute swan at Llanfairfechan boating lake.

The Horse Memorial located in the Morfa Madryn Nature Reserve.

It must be a pair of Mute swans in the Morfa Madryn Nature Reserve,

Conservation workers on the Morfa Madryn Nature Reserve.

Wigeon and Brent geese east of Morfa Aber Nature Reserve.

Penmon Lighthouse in the Sun.

Oystercatchers taking tothe air.

Birds on the feeders at the Riley Hide at The Spinnies Nature Reserve.

Beaumaris Castle in the Sun.

Ed decides to go round the "mud climb challenge"!

The latest approach to coastal erosian,

Distance: 11.9 miles. Climb: 322'.
Time: 5 hours 28 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.7 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.1 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Ed.

A good day for walking, and not quite as cold has the forecasts suggested. In fact when the Sun appeared out of the clouds it was pleasantly warm.

The tide was pretty close to shore so we had plenty of birds to see. Ed decided he wante to find the "Horse Memorial" , so we made a detour around the Morfa Madryn Nature Reserve.  The unusual memorial to Kingsford (1922-32) and Kinnaird (1920-31), were two racehorses partly owned by Henry Platt who owned lots of property around Llanfairfechan.

Views across the Irish Sea improved as the morning progressed with Anglesey appearing to be in sunshine for most of the day. However the lower hills of the Carneddau in contrast were in cloud/mist for most of the time.

Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Oystercatcher, Black headed gull, Red breasted merganser, Mallard, Turnstone, Shelduck, Mute swan, Eurasian curlew, Wigeon, Teal, Herring gull, Brent goose, Common blackbird, Lapwing, Common chaffinch, Moorhen, Coal tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Bullfinch, Collared dove, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Common redshank, Black tailed godwit, European robin and Pintail.

Lunch was taken at he coastal ca park near The Spinnies where we took advantage of the one remaining picnic table. Once again we were blessed with the Sun shining on us throughout lunch.

After lunch, we visited The Spinnies before before returning to Llanfairfechan along the Wales Coast Path. despite the "mud" hazard located west of Morfa Aber.

We arrived back at llanfairfechan to be met by two of Ed's friends who gave him a certificate that Ed had for being a member of their doubles bowling team (competion was just before all of the covid restrictions were put in place in March 2020).

After my walk, I headed to the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where I was able to enjoy a pint of Lees Bitter, before the Welsh Government latest covid restrictions that prevents pubs from selling alcochol unless it is with a substantial meal.

Talacre, The Warren and Big Pool Wood N.R. Thursday 26th November 2020

Talacre, The Warren and Big Pool Wood N.R.

A Carrion crow tries to hide in the tree.

Looking across The Warren towards the Point of Ayr Lighthouse.

A male Stonechat poses in The Warren.

Local residents taking part in consedrvation work.

A Mistle thrush in field near Big Pool Wood Nature Reserve.

A camorflaged open hide overlooking the reedbed.

A close up of the camorflarged open hide.

Open water and the reedbed near the entrance to the Big Pool Wood Nature Reserve.

The usual view as you head east along the beach toward the Point of Ayr Lighthouse.

A speeding boat heads towards the wind turbines.

Hardly any wind, but it still overpowers the sound of the sea and speeding boat.

Looking over Hilbre Island towards the Wirral amd Liverpool.

The large cranes at Liverpool docks can easily be identified.

Distance: 4.8 miles. Climb: 50'.
Time: 2 hours 22 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn.

Another good day for going for a walk, dry, hardly any wind, but on the cool side, but with sunny spells.

On a walk earlier in the week, I noticed a signpost to Big Pool Wood Nature Reserve, so visiting it was my objective for the day.

I set off from Talacre using the path through The Warren Nature Reserve to Presthaven Sands Caravan Park to pick up the path heading south and signposted to the reserve.

It was a steady stroll, as I took every advantage to do a bit of birdspotting as I went.

Big Pool Wood Nature Reserve was well worth a visit and seems well looked after by the Wildlife Trust. There was much evidence of maintenance work going on.  Several small hides were dotted around the reserve, many overlooking feeding stations with well topped up feeders as well as overlooking the reeds and open water. Unusually many of the windows or openings in the hides were draped in camouflage netting to peer through.

On my visit today, I didn't see or hear many birds, but that won't stop me visiting this delightful reserve again in the future.

My return route took me along the beach, but again the sea edge was a long way off. However distant views were good, and Hilbre, the Wirral and Liverpool were easy to identify.

Walking along the beach did however give me my bird of the day as four Whooper swans flew over my head flying inland in a south easterly direction.

Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, European robin, Dunnock, Common blackbird, Song thrush, Woodpigeon, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Blue tit, Great tit, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Collared dove, Eurasian curlew, Stonechat, Rook, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Mistle thrush, Pied wagtail, Common redshank, Whooper swan with Common buzzard and Common starling seen on my way home.

An enjoyable walk, easily extended to visit the Point of Ayr Bird Hide, but today, the call of a pint of Lees bitter at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn was too great!

Talacre, Point of Ayr and Tyn-y-Morfa Saturday 21st November 2020

Talacre, Point of Ayr and Tyn-y-Morfa.

The view from the Talacre path towards the bird hide at Point of Ayr.

A Little egret and two Red breasted mergansers in a gully  south west of Point of Ayr bird hide.

The Eurasian curlew seen from the Point of Ayr bird hide.

Autumn leaves on the path on the south side of the gas terminal.

Another Rook in fields south of Talacre - the second one on the blog this week!

The Great Orme from Prestahaven Sands, Talacre.

Is the Point of Ayr Lighthouse there in the distance?

The north side of the Point of Ayr Lighthouse,  the first time that I have ever seen it!

The distant ocean,  Oystercatchers and a Eurasian curlew.

A Little egret near the beach car park at Talacre.

A Common redshank near the beach car park at Talacre.

The stainless steel artwork at Talacre.

What I love to remember about my visits this delightful part of Flintshire.

Distance: 5.5 miles. Climb: 145'.
Time: 2 hours 4 minutes. On the move walking avwerage: 3.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.6 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn.

The weather looked dry, windy but fairly warm and only a slight chance of a shower, so I thought it was worthwhile taking a walk that wasn't too far away.

I arrived at the Talacre Car Park, and was only the second car there, a contrast to when I finished my walk to find it pretty full. 

It was quite dull as I started the walk, although the Sun did show itself as I headed towards the bird hide at Point of Ayr.

The tide was well out, so I didn't expecto see many birds, a Eurasian curlew was the best I got close up and lots of Shelduck feeding on the exposed mud a good way off.

I decided to follow the path around the gas terminal and head for tyn-y-Morfa, hoping to see a way of visiting the Big Pool Wood NR, but failed t spot how to get to it - a case of try harder next time!

Arriving on the beach at Presthaven Sands, the sea was a long way away, so I took advantage and walk along the firm wet sand as far as the lighthouse.

With the wind at my back, the odd spot of rain was hardly noticeable and for once I actually went on the seaward side of the lighthouse.

Back at the car in just over 2 hours, I suppose my walk could be described as just a morning stroll.

Birds seen or heard today included: Eurasian jay, Common buzzard, Common kestrel, Common starling, Little egret, Canada goose, Eurasian curlew, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Carrion crow, Rook, Great cormorant, Mute swan, Common blackbird, Herring gull,  Black headed gull, European robin and Common redshank.

An after stroll drink was enjoyed at the Blue Bell Inn at Halkyn, where a good pint of Lees Bitter went down well.  I was surprised to see so many cars parked opposite the Blue Bell and in the Blue Bell car park, but haf way through my pint, all was revealed, the Saturday Flintshire Wellbeing Walks had resumed and a few of the walkers (including the leaders) came in for refreshments.

Harris Hikers Walks: Wednesday 8th July 2020

Mynydd Marian from Llanddulas.

A Common scoter off Llanddulas shore.

A Great cormorant drying out its feathers off Llanddulas shore.

Looking towards Abergele from Llanddulas Beach Car Park.

Loking towards the Great Orme from Llanddulas Beach Car Park.

A few Great cormorants on the stone quarry jetty.

A first ever sighting for me - bicycle repair sation.

The start of the traverse of a limestone escarpment on the way to Craig y Forwyn.

 A sheep descends after conquering Craig Y Forwyn.

Ed about to head through the bracken on the North Wales Path below Craig y Forwyn.

The North Wales Path below Craig y Forwyn.

Distance: 8.0 miles. Climb: 704'.

Time: 4 hours 4 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Ed.

I jhad hoped that this would be the first of Harris Hikers group walks, but currently the Welsh Government  still keep giving contradictory statements, saying you can travel as far as you want for any reasons and then saying you essential travel only, only meeting people from one other household keeping to social distancing and also saying visitors are welcome. Hopefully the Welsh Governments statement on Friday about what you can and can't do will be a little clearer.

Back to my walk today, still keeping with the Welsh social distancing guidelines.

Ed couldn't make it until just after 11-20, but I arrived about an early to do a litte sea birdwatching.  I made a good decision, as one of the first birds I saw was a Common scoter quite close to shore, normally you would need to use a scope to see them.

We set off just before 11-30, very overcast and somewhat muggy, but it was great to be by the sea and experience a different environment to the one I had enjoyed over the last 13 weeks or so. The higher hills were shrouded in mist all day. Within the first mile along the Wales Coast Path, 10 cyclists past us and to my amazement all ten had bells and used them towarn of their approach.

Distant views were never good, but at least it never rained until we were in the cars at the end of the walk.

Everyone we encountered on the walk and chatted to were pleasant and cheerful, keeping to the appropriate social distance, although occasionally their dogs wanted to give us a more close welcome.

Lunch was taken on the Llysfaen side of Mynydd Marian, where we took advantage the large stones on either side of the track leading to the signal station.

What I initially thought was my bird spot of the day was seen after lunch, when what appeared to be a Lesser spotted woodpecker flew across in front of us into an old Yew tree. It was disappointing later to find on checking its jizz, it was just a Greater spotted woodpecker.

As it was my first walk involving anything that could be described as a climb, I resisted the temptation to walk over the top of Crag y Forwyn, and instead followed the North Wales Path past the few spieks of Orchids that were still in flower.

Birds seen or hard today included: Common scoter, Herring gull Oystercatcher, Black headed gull, Common blackbird, Great cormorant, Winter wren, Barn swallow, Mute swan, Eurasian curlew, Common buzzard and Greater spotted woodpecker.

In all, a very enjoyable walk, seeing Ed for the first time in 3 months, seeing a Lesser spotted woodpecker for the first time since I retired and the only rain experienced was as I was driving home listening to the cricket on the radio.