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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.

Wednesday, 20 October 2021

Moore Nature Reserve amd Appleton Reservoir 20th October 2021

At the Lapwing Pool viewing screen, Moore Nature Reserve.


Yes it was raining as we set off through Moore Nature Reserve.
Birchwod Pool, Moore Nature Reserve.


A Great crested grebe on Birchwood Pool.
The Mancheser Ship Canal at Lower Walton.
Lunch on the wall next to the Appleton Reservoir path.


Appleton Reservoir from our lunch spot.
A Great crested grebe on Appleton Reservoir.
The Bridgewater Canal and the towpath leading back to Moore.
Striding away as I stopped to "feed the baby"!
"I've got my beady eye on you".
Grey heron take off taken by Fran.
A Grey heron trying to decide what to do next.
It's take off time.
Eurasian curlews foraging.
The only gosling we saw today.
A close encounter with an adult Mute swan.
Distance: 9.0 miles. Climb: 307'.
Time: 4 hours 33 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Temperature: 17.8 Celsius and 13.2 Celsius during the 14-00 downpour.
Beaufort Wind Force: 0 - 4 . More than a gentle breeze, especially as we had our umbrella up during the heaviest rain period towards the end o the walk.
Birds seen or heard today included: Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Gadwall, Wigeon, Great crested grebe, Tufted duck, Little grebe, Black headed gull, Common buzzard, Common blackbird, Common chaffinch, Wood nuthatch, Mute swan, Canada goose, Black billed mapie, Eurasian jay, Eurasian curlew and Grey heron.
The weather wasn't as bad as the Met Office and BBC suggested it would be on their forecasts. Light rain at the start, mainly dry before and after lunch, sunny as we walked along the canal towpath and one very heavy shower towards the end of the walk.
Lunch was taken at the southern end of Appleton Reservoir, where we were able to take advantage of a stone wall next to the path.
Some of the group were lucky enough to see a large fish jump out of the water and come down with a splash. A local fisherman said it was probably a Carp.
We arrived back at the car, just as the heavy rain stopped and ready to set off in search of a suitable hostery for refreshment.
This was Netherton Hall just outside Frodsham, where unfortunately the Lees Bitter wasn't available and we ended up drinking Lees MPA, liked by some, but not by me!






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