Mynydd Marian from Llanddulas.
A Common scoter off Llanddulas shore.
A Great cormorant drying out its feathers off Llanddulas shore.
Looking towards Abergele from Llanddulas Beach Car Park.
Loking towards the Great Orme from Llanddulas Beach Car Park.
A few Great cormorants on the stone quarry jetty.
Distance: 8.0 miles. Climb: 704'.
Time: 4 hours 4 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Ed.
I jhad hoped that this would be the first of Harris Hikers group walks, but currently the Welsh Government still keep giving contradictory statements, saying you can travel as far as you want for any reasons and then saying you essential travel only, only meeting people from one other household keeping to social distancing and also saying visitors are welcome. Hopefully the Welsh Governments statement on Friday about what you can and can't do will be a little clearer.
Back to my walk today, still keeping with the Welsh social distancing guidelines.
Ed couldn't make it until just after 11-20, but I arrived about an early to do a litte sea birdwatching. I made a good decision, as one of the first birds I saw was a Common scoter quite close to shore, normally you would need to use a scope to see them.
We set off just before 11-30, very overcast and somewhat muggy, but it was great to be by the sea and experience a different environment to the one I had enjoyed over the last 13 weeks or so. The higher hills were shrouded in mist all day. Within the first mile along the Wales Coast Path, 10 cyclists past us and to my amazement all ten had bells and used them towarn of their approach.
Distant views were never good, but at least it never rained until we were in the cars at the end of the walk.
Everyone we encountered on the walk and chatted to were pleasant and cheerful, keeping to the appropriate social distance, although occasionally their dogs wanted to give us a more close welcome.
Lunch was taken on the Llysfaen side of Mynydd Marian, where we took advantage the large stones on either side of the track leading to the signal station.
What I initially thought was my bird spot of the day was seen after lunch, when what appeared to be a Lesser spotted woodpecker flew across in front of us into an old Yew tree. It was disappointing later to find on checking its jizz, it was just a Greater spotted woodpecker.
As it was my first walk involving anything that could be described as a climb, I resisted the temptation to walk over the top of Crag y Forwyn, and instead followed the North Wales Path past the few spieks of Orchids that were still in flower.
Birds seen or hard today included: Common scoter, Herring gull Oystercatcher, Black headed gull, Common blackbird, Great cormorant, Winter wren, Barn swallow, Mute swan, Eurasian curlew, Common buzzard and Greater spotted woodpecker.
In all, a very enjoyable walk, seeing Ed for the first time in 3 months, seeing a Lesser spotted woodpecker for the first time since I retired and the only rain experienced was as I was driving home listening to the cricket on the radio.
1 comment:
Great to see you again Martyn and that you could do something different walking wise. Hopefully Mr Drakeford will relax who can meet outside soon as it's awkward with the 2 household policy for the members of your group.
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