A Walk in Search of Sue and Wendy's Grebe.
Oxeye daisies in the Old Overleigh Cemetery.
The Grosvenor Bridge from near the Brown's Lane entrance to Edgar's Field.
A Grey heron hides in a Weeping willow on the banks of the River Dee north west of Edgar's Field.
The Old Dee Bridge from Edgar's Field.
Sue and Wendy's Great crested grebe.
The Great crested grebe on the River Dee below the weir.
A bit more of the Great crested grebe on the River Dee below the weir.
Looking over the weir towards The Groves and Chester Suspension Bridge.
Distance: 78 miles. Climb: 83'.
Time: 3 hour 39 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.1 m.p.h.
The forecast was for the temperature and humidity to rise during the day, so I decided to set off just after 08-00 before it became too uncomfortable.
I set off along the main road as far as Overleigh roundabout, and then walked through the Old Cemetery and Edgar's Field to the Old Dee Bridge, where hopefully the grebe would still be there.
I saw only one person along the main road, and and that was at the roundabout. Going into the Old Cemetery I expected to have the place to myself, but three other people decided this was a good place to wander through as well.
The Oxeye daisies have certainly found a place they like, they seem to have taken over the grounds of the Old Cemetery wherever they can.
It is a log time since I have seen the Old Dee Bridge from Edgar's Field, bot scanning the river, no grebe was in sight. Never mind a Grey heron flew across the river and landed in a tree opposite.
However looking throuh the arches of the Old Dee Bridge, a grebe-like bird could be seen. Standing on the Old Dee Bridge this bird was indeed a Great crested grebe - objective of the day, done.
Arriving at the Old Dee Bridge made me think the tourists had returned to Chester, lots of people were taking advantage of the pleasantly warm weather and so far no cyclists.
This was about to change from the Roodee onwards there was a steady steam of cyclist all the way to the Saltney Ferry Footbridge where I could escape to the quiet side of the river. One cyclist on the Wales Coast Path lost his balance and careered off the path down the steep embankment heading towards the river. Thankfully he was able to recover sufficiently to remain on the bank above the river. Apparently his seat had come loose and this was the cause of him loosing his balance. I don't blame him for sitting on the bank afterwards to allow time to recover from his near miss.
Birds seen or heard today included: Common swift (the most that I have seen this year), House sparrow, Collared dove, Woodpigeon, Winter wren, Song thrush, Mistle thrush, Common blackbird,Common chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common whitethroat, Winter wren, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Mallard, Moorhen, European robin, Black billed magpie, Dunnock, Black headed gull, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull, Great cormorant, Barn swallow, House martin, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Oystercatcher, Carrion crow, Jackdaw and Great crested grebe.
It was great to see the Great crested grebe, but seeing so many Common swifts topped it for me.
Overall a very enjoyable walk, but surprised to see that most groups of cyclists, joggers and groups of walkers now seem to think there is a new social distancing of less than a metre!
Ed's Welsh Wanders.
A Llanrwst Loop.
Distance: 9 miles.
Stile to nowhere on Afon Conwy path.
Storm was brewing but thankfully it didn't rain.
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