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When? Started: 1993 Who? Started with staff and friends from U H S, Chester. Organiser: Martyn Harris We walk every Wednesday and Saturdays, New Years day and May Day. How many walk? Walks take place as long as there are at least 2 wanting to walk on that day. More walk on a Wednesday than on a Saturday. Most ever: 29. Current group size walking: 2-7 in mid-week and 2-4 on Saturday. Where do we walk? Saturday: Anywhere in North and Mid-Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Long Mynd and as far North as the Trough of Bowland. Thursday: Anywhere within about 40 miles of Chester. Type of walk: Distance: 6 – 14 miles (but usually under 10 miles). Climb: up to 4000’ (but usually very much less!). People involved on walks in 2024:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage,, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Winston Feather.

Wednesday, 20 February 2019

Rhuddlan to Rhyl via Brickfield Pond N.R. along the Riverside Path 20th February 2019

Rhuddlan Castle from the road bridge over Afon Clwyd.
A pair of Goosander on the Afon Clwyd.
A few Great cormorantswaiting for the tide to go out.
Tufted duck, Mallard and Coot on Brickfield Pond.
A single Dunlin with Lapwing on the Rhyl "Marine Lake".
Dunlin with Lapwing on the Rhyl "Marine Lake".
Approaching the Foryd Road Bridge on the riverside path.
On Rhyl's Pont y Draig.
On Rhyl's Pont y Draig.
"Does anyone want their photo taken?"
Rhyl front from Horton's Nose.
The partially drained Marine lake at Rhyl from our lunch spot.
Wigeon on the ebbing Afon Clwyd
Walk stats: Distance: 8.9 miles. Climb: 380'. 
Time:  hours 59 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.7 m.p.h. (2.9 m.p.h. on my nest GPS). Overall walk average: 2.2 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Roger and Margaret, Paul and Scrumble.
The first surprise today, was having Margaret S joining us on a walk, having last walked with the group in 1995!
The forecast for today, was sufficiently good to walk in shorts. in fact it was almost perfect weather for walking in that it wasn't to hot or cold, breezy at times on the way back and only a few spots of rain.
 High tide today was around 11-20, sufficiently large to need a Nation Resources Wales employee to come out to check that the sluice gates were holding the rising tide back and the nearby caravan park wasn't in any danger of flooding.
 As usual  we made the short detour to visit the Brickfield Pond where at this time of the year invariably attracts a variety of Winter visiting birds. We weren't disappointed with several Goosanders showing well.
 The second surprise of the day was to find Rhyl Marine Lake in the process of being drained for maintenance, but it did mean that more waders were taking advantage of the exposed area of the lake.
 After crossing the Pont y Draig and visiting the the beach at Horton's Nose, we decided head back to the station at the Marine Lake for lunch.
 Margaret provide us with delicious rich fruit, but I'm not sure our efforts so far justified the extra calories.
 The return route was a little more direct, and once on the riverside tarmac path, Margaret decided to test her Nordic walking skills and soon disappeared into the distance.
 We were back at the cars quite early, and I was even home early enough to watch the start of the West Indies V England ODI
 Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Carrion crow, Mallard, Teal, Great cormorant, Black headed gull, Herring gull, Jackdaw, Common starling, Canada goose, Eurasian curlew, Black-billed magpie, Goosander, Linnet, Common coot, Moorhen, Tufted duck, Wigeon, Common blackbird, Blue tit, Great ti, European robin, Dunnock, Bullfinch, Mute swan, Collared dove, Common redshank, Woodpigeon, Shelduck, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Dunlin and Little egret.
 Overall a very enjoyable walk and even ending with clean boots - always a bonus.
  After walk drinks were enjoyed at home watching the cricket.

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