Harris Hikers Adventures (still solo for some) Tuesday 30th June 2020

A Welsh Riverside Afternoon Stroll.

A Comon blackbird, still singing at The Riverside on River Lane.

The first Grey heron spotted today.

The Walws Coast Path on the left - the next part of my walk.

A Grey heron quietly goes fishing.

Bath time for two.

Two Herring gulls show that they can enjoy splashing about in the river.

A Lesser black back gull struggles to eat an eel.

A Red admiral tries to hide in the long grass.

The start of the Wals Coast Path with Moel Famau on the skyline between the trees.

Distance: 5.0 miles. Climb: 83'.

Time: 2 hours 12 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.7 m.p.h, Overall walk average: 2.2 m.p.h.

This afternoon turned out to be pleasantly warm with short spells of sunshine and the occasional gentle breeze.

The walk today was notable, not for birds but for butterflies, not many different ones, but they seemed to flittering about everywhere, especially along the Wales Coast Path.  Most evaded having their photo taken. Butterflies included: Small white, Speckled wood, Painted lady and Red admiral.

Birds seen or heard included: Common blackbird, House sparrow, Goldfinch, Pied wagtail, Chiffchaff, Blaclcap, Common whitethroat, European robin, Carrion crow, Oystercatcher, Black headed gull, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull, Jackdaw, Raven, House martin, Barn swallow and Grey heron.

i was amused by a Lesser black back gull doing its best to eat an eel, but apearing to have any success.

A very pleasant and enjoyable walk and no complaints about lycra loony cyclists - I must be going soft!

Ed's Welsh Wanders

A Llanfair Talhaiarn Loop.

Distance: 6 miles,

Foxglove track.

Bullocks not bothering about me walking past.

Sheep in the ferns.

Overcast in Snowdonia.

Headless scarecrow has moved.

Harris Hikers Adventures (still solo for some) Monday 29th June 2020

An afternoon Stroll to Exercise My Watch.

Rosebay willowherb dancing in the breeze.

Looking along the empty Wales Coast Path towards Queensferry.

Little egrets.

One Little egret.

One of the Little egrets going fishing.

Moel Famau kissing the clouds.

I saw a Barn swallow exit from the small gap at the top of the "boarded up" chapel window.

It must be home time for some pupils at Saltney Ferry Primary School.

Distance: 3.9 miles. Climb: 90'.

Time: 1 hour 47 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.9 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 21 m.p.h.

It was well after mid-day before I set off on my daily walk. The morning showers seemed to have gone away, so hopefully it would only be the wind that I would have to battle against. It was very blustery with gusts of upto 40 m.p.h., so predictably cyclist were few and far between,walkers were even less, just two joggers and a few dog walkers.

The wind made bird spotting difficult and even harder to identify the exact location of any bird song/call heard. 

Birds seen or heard today included: Woodpigeon, Black billed magpie, House sparrow, Blackcap, Barn swallow, House martin, House sparrow, Common swift, Pied wagtail, Goldfinch, European robin, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Lesser black back gull, Great cormorant, Lapwing, Great cormorant, Oystercatcher, Common starling, Grey heron and Little egret.

Only one Grey heron today, but Little egrets were out in force (five of them).

On my rerturn journey, I went past Saltney Ferry Primary School where parents/guardians were going in on one side of the school, collecting their children and leaving the grounds through a different gate.

At least one small boy told his mum that he had had a good first day back at school. I hope the teachers can say they had a good day back as well.

Although the wind was pretty strong for most of the walk, it never felt cold, although I was wearing a light jacket!

A good walk, home and still dry and hopefully my watch had had enough exercise to keep it going for a couple of days.

Harris Hikers Adventures (still solo for some) Sunday 28th June 2020

Ed's Welsh Wanders.

A Damp Dawdle Around Llangernyw.

Distance: 6 miles with Evelyn

Had more than human company in this hill.

Foxgloves by Afon Elwy.

Pont Sylltu.

Wild flowers and Evelyn in Saint Digain's churchyard.

Harris Hikers Adventures (still soo for some) Saturday 27th June 2020

A Welsh Riverside Walk Between Showers.

Moel Famau from Mold Junction Road Bridge, Saltney Ferry.

Common buzzard, west of Mold Junction Road Bridge, Saltney Ferry.

I thought the Common buzzard was worth a closer view.

The Chester skyline from Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

Gulls a plenty - >100 Lesser black back, Herring and Black headed gulls seem to like this mud bank on most days when the tide allows.

Approaching the end of my walk for today, the start of the Wales Coast Path with Saltney Quay in the background.

This Oystercatcher joined the gulls for a snooze.

The grass is getting long.

Distance: 4.9 miles. Climb: 100'.

Time: 2 hours 11 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.9 m.p.h. Overall wal average: 2..2 m.p.h.

i wasn't sure whether I would get any walk in today, showers were forecast for most of the day and heavy at times.  The morning was just like that, so I was glad to have delayed setting off until after 12-30.

I was very fortunate that it didn't rain whilst I had my 2 hour and a bit walk, although it started to spot a couple times. I just made it home before a slightly more heavy shower developed.

Less cyclist on the Wales Coast Path than usual on a Saturday, and most of them were just pootling along, not that I am complaining. A few walkers, most of them in twos and the odd jogger were out as well. On the saltney side of the river, therfe wee a few more family groups walking, including some with push chairs.

I did see a few butterflies, white ones and brown ones that flitted by without giving me a chance to identify them, leaving only the Red admiral being the only butterfly that I identified.

Rabbits were out early grazing in their usual field, east of Higher Ferry.

Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Jackdaw, Barn swallow, House martin, Common  chaffinch, Goldfinch, Common buzzard, Oystercatcher, Greenfinch, Common blackbird, Moorhen, Chiffchaff, Common whitethroat, Dunnock, European robin, Black billed magpie, Woodpigeon, Carrion crow, Blackcap, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull and Black headed gull.

in all I was delighted to get a walk in, stretch my legs, all without getting wet. Time to have a glass and continue celebrating LFC being Champions of the Premier League for 2020.

Harris Hikers Adventures (still solo for some) Friday 26th June 2020

A Walk Around the Bock to Get the i.

Is that a rainbow I can see?

A Winter wren still singing.

A Winter wren singing early in the morning.

The rising Sun, seen from Mold Junction Road Bridge.

Looking towards Chester from the Riverside Path, south east of saltney ferry footbridge.

The Sun rises above the Deva stadium.

Looking across the River Dee towards Chester from The Riverside, River Lane, Saltney.

My birds of the day - four young Barn swallows perching on the gutter.

Whenever you try to take a photo, thee is always one that won't coperate!

Distance: 2.4 miles. Climb: 34'.

Time: 1 hour 24 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Up at dawn, I noticed that the temperature outside didn't feel too oppressive, so I decided to set of early and do a short walk and buy a newspaper at the same time. Morrisons Petrol Station opens pretty early, so if I went past it on the way back, it might be open.

The Met Office suggested there could be rain at between six and seven, but I didn't believe it. It was a good job, I had an umbrella with me otherwise my hair would have got wet!

I set off at about 05-00 and was quite surprised to see quite a lot of traffic even at this early hour. Quite a few people were on their bikes, but i got the impression that most of them were on their way to work, rather than being on a time trial.

 Walking along Chester Road, Saltney Ferry, part of a feint rainbow could be see towards the south west. Was this telling me the rain has stopped in the south west, but its heading towards me?

As I went across Mold Junction Road Bridge at Saltney Ferry, the Sun was beginning to rise, probably giving the best views of the Sun as it came up.

Birds seen or heard today included: Collared dove, Woodpigeon, Common starling, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Black billed magpie, Carrion crow, Common blackbird, House sparrow, Winter wren, Jackdaw, Barn swallow, House martin, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull, European robin, Chiffchaff, Common whitethroat, Mallard and Great cormorant.

I arrived at Morrisons to find the Petrol station had opened early, so I could get my newspaper.

Arriving home, I was grateful to have completed my walk when the rain was extremely light and could almost be described as spotting with rain, but it was still enough to cause that once familiar smell of damp pavement to enter my nostrils and test my sense of smell.

Perhaps the birds of the day were seen from my back garden, when four young Barn swallows perched on the gutter waiting to be fed or want further parental guidance on what to do next.

Harris Hikers Adventures (still solo for some) Thursday 25th June 2020

A Fifteen Grey Heron Walk.

A male Common blackbird on the path at The Riverside on River Lane, Saltney, with a Dunnock skulking in the grass.

A male Greenfinch at The Riverside on River Lane, Saltney.

One of the many Grey herons on the banks of the River Dee this morning.

It pays to be patent when you go fishing.

A Little egret by the river.

A Common buzzard surveying its territory.

Heading along the Wales Coast Path towards the Higher Ferry Footbridge on the return journey.

Bridge maintenance still ongoing.

A Common whitethroat singing from a bush next to the railway.

I could still hear it singing from my back garden when I arrived home.

Distance: 7.1 miles Climb: 100'.

Time: 3 hours 46 minutes. On the move walking avwerage: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk aveage: 1.9 m.p.h.

Once again, I decided on an early start to avoid the anticipated unpleasant heat around mid-day. Having experienced wet feet yesterday, the walk today would not include any grassy paths.

I set off just before six when the temperature was a very pleasant 16 Celsius. It had risen to 21 Celsius by the time that I got home just before ten, but with the occasional welcome breeze, I never felt it was uncomfortable to walk.

Only one complaint about a cyclist who shouted "get out of the f...... way" as he went passed me. I was stationary on the edge of the path, looking at a bird on the hedge, and he took exception to having to slow down because another cyclist was approaching in the opposite direction. Another cyclist approached just at the wrong time, as I was about to take a photo of a Mistle thrush, he rang his bell ant the Mistle thrush flew off! "Thanks for that" I thought, but I soon came down to earth, after all the cyclist was only doing what I ould appreciate all cyclists doing. Had the first one rung a bell, perhaps I could have moved out of his way.

This was a day when the Grey herons came out in force, I saw fifteen in all, at one point it looked like there was a fishing match going on with Grey herons every hundred yards or so on the river bank close to the water north west of the Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

O one occasion, I saw Great cormorant with a fish in its beak, walk out of the water to at it, when one Grey heron approached presumeably to steal the fish. It didn't succeed. There seemed to be a good number of juvenile Grey herons amongst the fifteen that I saw.

Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, Woodpigeon, Black billed magpie, Pied wagtail, Lesser black back gull, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Dunnock, Winter wren, Chiffchaff, Common whitethroat, European robin, Barn swallow, House martin, Chiffchaff, Carrion crow, Rook, Oystercatcer, Moorhen, Goldfinch, Common chaffinch, Common swift, Lapwing, Common buzzard, Skylark, Little egret, Great cormorant, Common redshank and Grey heron.

The only butterflies seen today were Red admiral, Meadow brown and a white butterfly (probably a Small white).

Even though I was on the Wales Coast Path before seven, plenty of cyclists and jogers were early birds too.

A very pleasant walk if the hot spell continues, it lookas though I will be doing a few more early morning walks.

Ed's Welsh Wanders.

Little Orme Little loop and Llandudno Town.

Distance: 6 miles + 3 with Evelyn.

Little Orme Trig point View.

The Old Watch Tower/gun site.

Angel Bay with only 2 seals in the water today.

The Penrhynside snake.

A friendly Pied wagtail outside Llandudno Library.

Harris Hikers Adventures (still solo for some) wednesday 24th June 2020

An Early Morning Walk to Beat The Heat.

Blue skies over the Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

The "Butterfly bush" coming into flower.

The only other mover on the Saltney Quay footpath.

A Red admiral warms up before take off.

The view towards Chester from the Curzon Park side of the railway footbridge over the River Dee.

The first Grey heron near Crane W.harf.

The second Grey heron perched in a tree.

The third Grey heron - no just a Carrion crow.

There was another Grey heron, but that was nearby next to the river.

Three or four stones maybe, this many!  

Did a bird leave these behind? if so, what bird?

Nearly home, the Saltney Ferry Footbridge in my sights.

The lone fisherman patiently waiting for a bite.

One of three large Rabbits still grazing on a field near Higher Ferry.

Loking towards Saltney from the Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

The parking area on Flunt Road, Saltney Ferry, south of the footbridge now appears to be open again - no bollards in sight.

Distance: 7.0 miles. Climb: 101'.

Time: 3 hours 28 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

I set off just after 06-00 when the temperature was a very pleasant 15 Celsaius and with no wind, it was just perfect for walking.

However I made the mistake of doing the walk in an anti-clockwise direction, forgetting that the path north east from Saltney Quay was a grassy track.  OK really, but not after a heavy dew and yo are wearing sandals. Wet feet was the order of day with my socks remaining wet to the end of the walk, and that was even with a stop to take off my socks and ring as much water as I could out of them. I can now see the need of adding a spare pair of socks to my rucksack on each walk.

I didn't see anyone on my outward journey, until I arrived at Chester Golf Course where even at 07-20 a few golfers were already out.

However on the Dee Coastal Path side of the river, therfe was a lot more activity, lots of people out on bikes, a good number of joggers, the odd walker and one or two dog walkers.

Surprisingly,  I saw five Grey herons on te walk today, but I can't say that they were five different Grey herons as birds to have a habit of moving from one place to another. Unusualy I saw more female Blackbirds than male Blackbirds, many of them with beakes full of grubs, so obviously feeding young.

Birds seen or heard today included: Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Mallard, Moorhen, Pied wagtail, Barn swallow, House martin, Greenfinch, Oystercatcher, Carrion crow, Goldfinch, European robin,  Blackcap, Wren, Comon pheasant, Winter wren, Common whitethroat, Grey heron, Lesser black back gull, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Common swift, Black billed magpie, Chiffchaff and Little egret.

A few Rabbits were out in the field near Higher Ferry and a Red admiral decided to sunbathe on the path only six inches away from my foot.

The other first for the day was seeing a lone fisherman near Saltney Ferry Footbridge, not the best fisging around, but being below the weir you don't need to have a license.

Home before ten just as the temperature was rising towards the mid twenties. O what joy to have dry feet and sit down with a cup of tea!