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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.

Saturday, 6 February 2021

A Repeat of The Saltney Ferry, Thornleigh Park Farm and the Wales Coast Path 6th February 2021

A Repeat of The Saltney Ferry, Thornleigh Park Farm and the Wales Coast Path.
Woodpigeons in trees adjacent to Thornleigh Park Caravan Park.
A Little egret in one o the Thornleigh Park Farm fields.
A female Pied wagtail looking for insects/grubs on the rotting horse manure and bedding.
A raven on the top of a pollareded tree next to Thornleigh Gutter.
The surprise of the day, clumps of Snowdrops on the bank of the River Dee, near Higher Ferry Footbridge
Distance: 9.7 m.p.h. Climb: 85'.
Time: 3 hours 50 minutes. On the move walking average: 3.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.5 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn.
Initially I was going to do a short 5 mile walk, put once on the Wales Coast Path , I ended up talking to a local "birder" as far as the Queensferry Road Bridge. He never stopped talking all the way to the Quuensferry Road Bridge, but at least I found out where I would have the best chance of seeing a Merlin. Needless to say we didn't see one today.
As I set off, it was pleasantly mild and large parts of the sky were blue, but iy didn't last and as I turned to retrace my steps back to the Higher Ferry Footbridge it began to rai, but only lasted for about half an hour or so.
Once again several motorbies were racing up and down the Wales Coast Path, all driven by youths that looked too young to hold a driving license and some including a pillion rider didn't where helmets.
Many cyclists can annoy me by the way they behave on the path, but at least they have a legitimate right to be there, as far as I know motorbikes don't.
Birds seen or heard today included: Moorhen, Mallard, Common blackbird, Blue tit, Great tit, European robin, Collared dove, House sparrow, Long tailed tit, Grey heron, Little egret, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Common starling, Common kestrel, Common buzzard, Raven, Carrion crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Oystercatcher, Pied wagtail, Common redshank, Common chaffinch, Great cormorant, Greenfinch, Black headed gull, Lesser black back gull, Herring gull, Winter wren and Lapwing.
I arrived home, having had a good informed walk and ready for a good cup of tea.

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