Harris Hikers Solo Walks 13th April to 19th April 2020

A Saltney Riverside Walk via Balderton 18th April 2020.

Looking across "The Commons" towards Hope Mountain.

The start of the Sandy Lane to Balderton Path - looking promising.

There are plenty of horses grazing on "The Commons" these days.

The narrowest section through the reeds.

Some large lambs, on the move but not exactly gambolling!

Not many on the A55 this morning - all obeying the instruction to stay at home.

Bluebells on the roadside at Balderton.

The usual residents at Green Lane, donkey sanctuary.

Lesser periwinkle on the roadside in Green Lane.

I was briefly forced to become a train spotter at Green Lane Crossing.

A Greenfinch by the Riverside, Saltney.

Unexpected vandalism on the Riverside Path next to the Mold Junction Sleuce Gates.

A Song thrush next to the Riverside Path, south east of the Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

Distance: 6.7 miles. Climb: 64'.

Time:  hours 22 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

The weather today was overcast and on the cool side, so definitely not a shorts day or a day for wearing sandals. Dry for most of the walk, but by the time I arrived at the Riverside it had started to rain, not much, but enough to annoy you if you were wearing spectacles. 

As a variation, I decided to walk from sandy Lane through to Balderton along a footpath that I last walked on over fifty years ago. The path was on slightly raised ground dyke cross what we called "The Commons" , an area of land that was usually wet and often flooded. I didn't hold any hope of it being a good route.

I was pleasantly surprised and the track was good, a little uneven in places, but pretty firm underfoot. The only problem encountered was a fallen tree, but thankfully it was easy enough to get over.

 There was a good bit of road walking from Balderton to Green Lane, but the traffic was relatively quiet and most slowed down as they passed me.

 The bonus on this section was to hear a Song thrush singing from a tree near Decoy Farm and bitter further on hear Skylarks sing over the fields on both sides of the road, and at last I managed to see my first Skylark of the year. Two Barn swallows were seen in this area as well.

Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, Goldfinch, Collared dove, Woodpigeon, Greenfinch, House sparrow, Great tit, Blue tit, Dunnock, Carrion crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Black billed magpie Reed bunting, Sedge warbler, Pied wagtail, Song thrush, Mallard, European robin, Chiffchaff, Lesser whitethroat, Lesser black back gull, Herring gull, Skylak, Canada goose, Linnet, Long tailed tit and Barn swallow.

Overall  very enjoyable walk and I will use the path across "The Commons" again.

The Usual Short Saltney Riverside Walk.

Bluebells at the Riverside, River Lane, Saltney.

Bluebells at the Riverside, River Lane, Saltney.

Looking towards the Chester Football Stadium from the Riverside Path near Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

Pied wagtai with nesting material.

Distance: 2.4 miles. Climb: 80'.

Time: 1 hour  minutes. On the move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.1 m.p.h.

Again quite leasant for walking, with the occasional breeze. The birds seemed much queter today, perhaps some of them have established nesting sites and have now become more secretive

Birds seen or heard included: Chiffcaff, Blackcap, Common blackbird, Goldfinch, Pied wagtail, Greenfinch, Herring gull, Lesser black back, Moorhen, Mallard gull and Oystercatcher.

The most surprising encounter was coming across two trucks on the Riverside Path- they were on official business. They were working for National Resources Wales and were checking the sleuce gates to make sure all was as it should be. Apparently it is a daily check, but this is the first time that I have come across them.

i looked carefully at the Bluebells and I am pretty sure that they are the British variety.

A Saltney and Queensferry Riverside Round 16th April 2020.

Green leaves are shooting up everywhere - they have a beauty of their own.

A male Common chaffinch.

The best I could get with the the male Blackcap!

A Lapwing in a recently ploughed field.

A pair of Mute swans on the banks of the River Dee near Queensferry.

Approaching Queensferry Road Bridge.

Hawarden Railway Bridge and the new Flint Bridge from the Blue Queensferry Bridge.

What no cyclists on the Wales Coast Path!
This delightful experience didn't last long!

Walk stats: Distance: 9.5 miles. Climb: 120'.

Time: 4 hours 51 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.o m.ph.

Another superb day for walking, so much so I decided to walk to Queensferry and back along the river in the hope of spotting Yellow wagtails and Skylarks. I didn't see either, but mI did hear a couple of Skylarks singing.

The bonus today was the butterflies.  Small tortoiseshells and Small whites were everywhere, but the star turn was a Brimstone.

As i walked along the Wales Coast Path towards Queensferry it was very noticeble that cyclists were out in force, some obviouslyly thinkink it was their racing track. On the return from the blue Queensferry Bridge I decided to count the number of cyclists - it came to 122 as I arrived at the Higher Ferry Footbridge. By the time I arrived at home another 34 past me on the Riverside Path. I think that more than 300 cyclists must have past me while I strolled along the Wales Coast Path in both directions as in the morning they seemed to be passing every minute or so.

Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Dunnock, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull, Black headed gull, Chiffchaff, Blue tit, Great tit, Greenfinch, Blackcap , Common chaffinch, Mallard, Carrion crow, Lapwing, Winter wren, Common starling, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Collared dove and Mute swan. My bird of the day was a singing male Blackcap, although it was great to see a pair of Mute swans.

Ed's Welsh Wanders 
Around Llanfair Talhaiarn 15th April 2020.

Distance: 9 miles.

The bridge over the Afon Elwy at Llanfair Talhaiarn.

A footpath obsticle.

The new footbridge over the Elwy.

The Snowdonia skyline.

Can you guess what bit is yet? 

No, it's not Ed's friend.

A Saltney Riverside Walk And wales Coast Path to Bumper's Lane 15th April 2020.

Spring is blooming everywhere.

A Dunnock near Balderton Brook, Bridge Street, Saltney.

Connah's Quay Power Station anf the new Flint road bridge on the skyline.

The Saltney Ferry / Higher Ferry Footbridge from the Wales Coast Path.

A large Rabbit basking in the warm sunshine.

Why don't birds sing when you want to sing - the almost slent Chiffchaff.

A Eurasian jay ina field west of Bumper's Lane.

Bumper's Lane from the Wales Coast Path.

A Common blue butterfly on Lesser celandine.

Moel Famau on the skyline again.

One flower showing job done!

Walk stats: distance: 4.1 miles. Climb: 85'.

Time: 2 hours 22 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

This was a perfect day for strolling, enjoying the singing birds and the many flowers that had sprung up along the sides of the path. even the Grey heron had taken up its place on the mud bank. The most unusual sight I had was a Black billed magpie hitching a lift on some drifting vegetation, but flew off before I could take a photo.
Birds seen or heard today included: Mallard, Woodpigeon, Dunnock, Winter wren, Eurasian jay, Chiffchaff, Common chaffinch, Common blackbird, Herring gull, Carrion crow, Goldfinch, Grey heron, Canada goose, Lesser black back gull, Collared dove, Common redshank, Black billed magpie, Mistle thrush and House sparrow.
Noticeable today were butterflies including: Orange spot, Small white and several Common blues.
Lots of flowers adorned the hedgerows and margins next to the path, but like most species trying to identify them from books afterwards is never easy.

An Even Shorter Saltney Riverside Walk 14th April 2020.

Bluebells nearly out, but not the British variety!

The Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

The Riverside Path to the Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

I have never noticed this gate before, where does it lead to?

A Goldfinch near the Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

Moel Famau as usual - distant views, recognisable, but not crystal clear.

Bluebells nearly out, but not the British variety!

Distance: 2.3 miles. Climb; 38'.

Time: 1 hour 12 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.
A little on the cool side as I set off (7 Celsius on the outside thermometer at home), but thankfully there was little or no wind and by the time I reached the Riverside it was pleasantly warm and sunny.
Again not that many birds around, but those i did see or hear included: Mallard, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Carrion crow, Common buzzard, House sparrow, Goldfinch, Common blackbird, winter wren, Chiffchaff, Lesser black back gull, Herring gull, Greenfinch, Dunnock, Black billed magpie and Oystercatcher.
 Once again Bluebells were starting to show, but unfortunately they were not the British variety! Will all this social distancing / lockdown mean that for 2020 the magnificent blue carpets of British bluebells in some of our local woods will be only be in our memories. May is a few weeks away, so hopefullt we may be released to go on one of our usual Bluebell Wood Walks.

A Short Saltney Riverside Curcuit 13th April 2020.

A Common blackbird near Balderton Brook, Bridge Street Saltney.

Red campion next to the Riverside Path, west of River Lane, Saltney.

An empty Riverside Path near Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

The barriers are still up at the small parking area south of the Saltney ferry Footbridge.

Moel Famau from Flint Road, Saltney Ferry.

Moel Famau on the skyline. 

Walk stats: Distance: 2.5 miles. Climb: 50'.

Time: 1 hour 12 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.7 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.1 m.p.h.

Plenty of sunshine today, but the cool wind made sure that there was no  chance of overheating.

 Not so many birds seen or heard today, even the Grey heron had abandoned its usual spot on the mud bank by the river.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Mallard, Moorhen, Common blackbird, Chiffchaff, Winter wren, Collared dove, Woodpigeon, Blue tit, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull, Black headed gull, European robin, House sparrow, Jackdaw, Goldfinch, Common starling and Common buzzard.

The only different flower seen today was a small clump of Red campion next to the Riverside Path, west of River Lane, Saltney.

Not really a shorts day, but I survided the walk without too much discomfort.

An enjoyable walk, made all the better by encountering a few walkers, most of which were cheerful and smiling. We may be socially distancing, but it is always good to be nice to each other.