Halkyn Limestone.Lead and More Wednesday 22nd July 2020

Halkyn Limestone.Lead and More

The folly behind the old Halkyn Stables.

View towards the Dee Estuary from Halkyn Mountain.

Another views towards the Dee Estuary from Halkyn Mountain.

At the trig point on Halkyn Mountain.

Rock rose and thyme.

Moel Famau as we headed towards Moel-y-Crio.

Looking across Halkyn Mountain from near the Halkyn radio masts.

Distance: 7.0 miles. Climb: 872'.

Time: 4 hours 5 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and David S.

Overall this was a good day for walking, although we did ger a brief shower just as we set off and while we were having lunch at Rhes-y-Cae.

It was good to be out again in an area that we hadn't been able to walk in for 12 weeks or so, and one that we we had to drive to get to the start.

Crossing Halkyn Mountain, we did get good views across the Dee Estuary  in one direction and Moel Famau and the Clwydian Hills in a more southerly direction.

Lunch was taken at the playground next to Rhes-y-cae school, where we took advantage of the picnic table. Had any children arrived, we were prepared to vacate the area so that they could play on the adventure structures that were there. None arrived, so we spent plenty of time enjoyiny lunch, as we kept an eye on the rain clouds heading our way. Thankfully, we only seemed to catch the edge, hardly enough to justify putting on our waterproof tops.

We did, however cut the walk shorter than originally planned, but everyone was happy, especially as I was able to have a pint of Lees Bitter at the Brit, sitting outside in the warm sunshine.

Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Meadow pipit, Common swift, Barn swallow, Common buzzard, Black billed magpie, Jackdaw and Woodpigeon.

Having enjoyed my first pint of real ale, and one of my favorites as well, i had to indulge myself and have a carry out, after all there was something else to celebrate tonight - LFC lifting the Premiership Trophy!

Nigel's Canal Walk With Celia Monday 13th (?) July 2020

Nigel's Canal Walk With Celia Monday 13th (?) July 2020.

A smiling Celia on the canal towpath.

Last week Celia and I walked along the canal to Croughton but then took a different route from Wendy , choosing to go along the North Cheshire Way to Backford Hospice  and then back to canal via A41. A lovely walk and great to be able to do it with a friend.

A Riverside Walk in Search of Egrets Saturday 18th July 2020

A Riverside Walk in Search of Egrets.

Common poppies in flower.

A Rowen with plenty of berries at The Riverside on River Lane, Saltney.

A defiant cow, but I had no intention of going any further anyway, as the egrets had flown off.

The immature Little egret on the grassy bank of the River Dee.

The immature Little egret on the grassy bank of the River Dee.

Heading towards the Saltney Ferry Bridge on my way home.

Distance: 4.1 miles. Climb: 41'.

Time: 1 hour 56 minutes.

On the move walking average: 2.7 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.1 m.p.h.

I had hoped to walk around the Great Orme today, but the forecast forced me to change the walk to one around Delamere Forest which on Friday had the better forecast.

After sitting in the cars at The Yeld with light rain falling (seemed more like heavy rain), both Roger and myself decided to abandon the walk at 10-00 and head for home.

As you might expect as I arrived at home, the rain stopped and with the clouds not looking threatening, I decided to embark on one of my riverside walks from home.

i set off with waterproofs in my small rucksack and an umbrella at the ready, just in case the rain came back.

It was pretty quiet, very few people out walking, but one did tell me that he had seen a Cattle egret in a field beyond the pumping station towards Cop House Farm.

 The prospect of rain doesn't seem to put cyclists off as much, and there seemed to a steady stream of them on the Wales Coast Path going in both directions.

This encouraged me to extend my walk a little to see if I could spot this Cattle egret.  I did see two egrets on the grassy river bank towards Cop House Farm Cottages, but thanks to a dog walker I never got quite near enough to see both of them before the dogs disturbed them and they flew off.  However I did see one of them clearly, and that was a juvenile Little egret, so I will never no, if the other one was a Cattle egret or not.

Despite this disappointment, I did see some Common sandpiper, always a nice spot.

Birds seen or heard today included: Moorhen, Common blackbird, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Common starling, Barn swallow, House martin, Woodpigeon, Carrion crow, Grey heron, Oystercatcher, Black billed magpie, Lapwing, Black headed gull, Lesser black back gull. Common sandpiper and Little egret.

A Rowen tree at the Riverside and one at Saltney Ferry Primary School were laden with berries, so does that mean we are in for a hard winter?

It started to rain again just as I arrived at the Saltney Ferry Footbridge, and continued on and off until I arrived home, when again as expected it stopped.

It was well worth venturing out, and I was home early enough to watch the cricket that I missed yesterday!

Thurstaston Hill Revisited Wednesday 15th July 2020.

Thurstaston Hill Revisited, Finishing With A Stroll Along The Beach.

Setting off on the Wirral Way from Thurstaston Country Park car park.

Wales cis over there somewhere!

At the toposcope doing their best to social distance.

The lunch spot for most of the group.

The view from my lunch spot - the beach from Caldy towards Thurstaston.

A Common kestrel trying to spot some food on the cliff by Caldy Beach.

A slightly different shot of the same Common kestrel.

A Common coot trying to distract us from the nearby chicks.

A female Mallard with one remaining large duckling.

Distance: 6.8 miles. Climb: 526'.

Time: 3 hours 36 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, David S., Wendy, Sue and Michel.

The forecast suggested that there was a >20% chance of rain after 10-00, alas at times in reality it was 100%. However each spell never lasted long, and usin an umbrella was all that was needed. Distant views were never clear, but on our second visit to the Thurstaston Hill toposcope we could just about make out the outline of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

Insteady of visiting Royden Country Park, we descended the north side of Thurstaston Hill towards Caldy Rugby Club, and followed field paths alongside several horse fields to reach the road leading to the shore at Caldy.

Lunch was taken on the beach, sheltering from the cool breeze behind the large stones near the steps.

We had good views along the beach towards Thurstaston as we had lunch, frequently being serenaded by the haunting call of the Eurasion curlews out on the mud flats.

Birds seen or heard today included: Goldfinch, Chiffchaff, Woodpigeon, European robin, Common blackbird, Mallard, Moorhen, Common coot, Carrion crow, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Lesser black back gull, Oystercatcher, Skylark, Song thrush, Greenfinch, House martin, Barn swallow, Little egret and Common kestrel.

We arrived back at the car, still dry and looking forward to a celebratory drink, but alas that would have to wait until we got home.

An enjoyable and interesting walk, even if it wasn't exactly the walk we were expecting.

The bonus today was finding that it was free parking at the Thurstaston Visitor Centre Car Park, as many of us have little change with using "contactless" for most of our transactions for the lastfour months.

A Very Quiet Riverside Walk 14th July 2020

A Very Quiet Riverside Walk.

Possibly the last solo walk.

A very quiet Wales Coastal Path.

Social distancing at its best - three Oystercatchers can do it, can we?

Must be trouble on Deeside Lane.

Couldn't get an appointment at the barbers.

Moel Famau - hopefully it won't be long before we get to visit it, rather than just look at it.

Distance: 4.8 miles. Climb: 106'.

Time: 1 hour 46 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.7 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.3 m.p.h.

Pleasantly cool today and very few people about, and only slightly more birds.

Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Common whitethroat, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Lesser black back gull, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Common blackbird, Barn swallow, Chiffchaff, House martin, Winter wren, Collared dove, Black billed magpie, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Grey heron, Common starling and Long tailed tit.

Barkby Beach to Talacre and Back Saturday 11th July 2020

Barkby Beach to Talacre and Back.

Looking back along Barkby Beach toward the Beach Hotel and the Great Orme beyond.

The Point of Ayr Lighthouse viewed across the Gronant Dunes Nature Reserve.

Sea holly almost in flower.

Looking across a swathe of Reedmace towards Prestaven Sands.

The cranes at Liverpool docks beyond Hilbre Island.

A jellyfish stranded on Prestahaven Sands beach.

The Point of Ayr Lighthouse and the cranes of Liverpool Docks on the skyline.

This path through The Warren to our surprise is described as the "low tide route".

Pyranidal orchids in The Warren.

Back on the Prestahaven Sands Coast with the Beach Hotel in sight.

A Grey heron near the Prestatyn Gutter.

A juvenile Little egret near the Prestatyn Gutter.

Mute swan and three cygnets on the Prestayn Gutter.

Distance: 9.0 miles. Climb: 367'. (Slightly wind assisted GPS reading).

Time:4 hours 31 minuts. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.jh.

Group: Martyn and Roger.

Arriving at Barkby Beach, as expected, the Beach Hotel was still on a process of getting ready to open as soon as the Welsh Government allowed, so we had to park at the Public Car Park nearby.  Unfortunatley the PC wasn't open, not good when there was a good number of visitors around.

Heading along the beach, what little wind the was assisted us, but with the Sun out it , it wasn't long before Roger decided to take off his lightweight fleece.

Although we did manage to see three Litle terns, the Gronant tern colony site has been fenced off a long way from the actual nesting site, and the usual manned view point was not accessible.

The tide was well out thoughout the walk, so were able to take advantage of walking on the firm beach sand, both before the tern colony and along Presthaven Sands to the Point of Ayr lighthouse.

Distant views were pretty good, with the cranes at Liverpool docks clearly seen beyond Hilbre Island as we headed towards the lighthouse. In the opposite direction the Great Orme and the Snowdonia mountains could be see, although some of the latter high tops were just in cloud.

We were unlucky to find our usual picnic table lunch spot on the way to the Pount of Ayre Bird Hides already occupied, so we ended up sitting on the posts that marked the boundary of the Talacre Beach Car Park. Our lunch time view was across the march towards the bird hide and the shingle bank, not brilliant, but better than looking in the opposite direction towards the parked cars.

This end was very busy with lots of cars on the overspill beach car park, and the cafe/food shops at Talacre doing some good trade.

On return through The Warren, we encountered lots of people and a good number of cyclists, but bit was on this section that we came across the Pyrimadal orchids, another iconic species in this area.

Birds see or heard today included: House sparrow, Common starling, Herring gull, House martin, Eurasian curlew, Great cormorant, Grey heron, Little egret, Woodpigeon, Lesser black back ull, Common redshank, Sedge warbler, Reed bunting, Stonechat, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Mallard, Moorhen and Mute swan.

An enjoyable walk, and back in time to listen to the cricket or football commentary - niether turned out the way I had hoped!

Harris Hikers Walks: Wendy's Special Friday 10th July 2020

No walk for me today, but at least one member of the group managed to get out.

An Upton Canal figure of 8 Walk. 

Beautiful flowers along the canal.

Atmospheric.

What a big foot for such a small chick.

What have you done now? 

Nothing Mum!

Managed to catch all 4 chicks and mum on this one.

Distance: 7.0 miles 

Wendy and Janet.

Down the bridleway, along the canal and back through Croughton, then back along the canal the other way to Countess Park.