Another West Kirby Round 22nd December 2011

Turmstones by the Marine Lake Causeway, West Kirby

The Marine Lake, West Kirby

Looking across Hilbre towards the Point of Ayr Lighthouse.

On the beach between Red Rocks and Hoylake Lifeboat Station.

On the extension through Caldy.

Distance: 9.2 miles. Climb: 527'.

Time: 4 hours 14 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.7 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.2 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Roger, Annie H., Sue and Michel, Phil, Wendy and Dave J.
What a glorious sunny day this turned out to be, not the dull overcast weather forecast.  We arrived at the Marine Lake becalmed and the Sun shining.  This was more like a Spring day than a Winter day, and we should have been in shorts, alas I listened to the forecast, but at least I didn't have to wear a fleece or waterproof!
The Marine Lake provided the birds of the day with two male Goldeneye and close up views of Turnstone, although perhaps the sight of the day was the swirling flocks of Dunlin as they twisted and turned over the water's edge.
It was such a good day that we extended the walk along the beach beyond Red Rocks as far as the Lifeboat Station at Hoylake, before cutting inland through the houses and eventually arriving at the Gilroy Nature Reserve.
Lunch was taken at the Grange Hill memorial where the views towards Hilbre and beyond to North Wales were superb.  In the other direction, Leasowe lighthouse and the cathedrals in Liverpool could easily be seen.
Once again Roger produced some of Margaret's excellent Mince Pies for everyone, another reminder that it really was December and not June!
The final extension was across Caldy Hill from the Beacon and back along the Wirral Way, with the final few hundred yards back along the beach to the Hoylake Yacht Club.
Birds seen or heard today included: Turnstone, Goldeneye, Red breasted merganser, Black-heade gull, Herring gull, Dunlin, Common redshank, Curlew, Great black backed gull, Oystercatcher, Knot, tonechat, Skylark, Shelduck, Kestrel, European robin, Common starling, Pied wagtail, Shoveler, Black-tailed godwit, Common coot, Moorhen, Greylag goose, Carrion crow, Common teal, Chaffinch, House sparrow, Canada goose, Long-tailed tit, Great tit, Blue tit and Blackbird.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the very popular Wheatsheaf at Raby where the Brimstage brew Trappers Hat went down well.
Overall a fantastic walk, a contender for the walk of the year!

Around Halkyn Mountain - A Christmas Lunch Walk 15th December 2011

The start of the walk.

Llama watching!

At the trig point on Halkyn Mountain.

Nearly home and two more have joined the group!

Pre-meal drinks at the Britaania Inn.

Main courses nearly finished.

Walk stats: Distance: 5.8 miles. Climb:695'.

Time: 3 hours 0 Minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Group:Martyn, Roger, Phil, Paul, Annie H., Sue and Michel, Tito, Sue and Dave, Carol and Tim, Wendy, Sylvia and Dave (caught up with group about a mile from the end), Fran, Sheila and Gordon (joined us for the meal).

Once again we had the best of the weather, a couple of showers that didn't last too long.  The only wind we experienced was on the top of Halkyn Mountain, and even then it wasn't very strong and just a little on the cool side for one or two of the group.

Good views were seen from the trig point on Halkyn Mountain, especially across the Dee estuary to Liverpool and towards the Clwydian hills with their slight dusting of snow.

A bonus today was the absence of any really muddy sections and when some of the group were wondering if they could last 'till lunch at 13-30, Tim came to the rescue with some excellent Danish pastries for everyone, just enough to revive those that had started to flag a little.

Back at the Britania Inn, we had about an hour to chat with a drink in the bar before going into the conservatory for the Christmas lunch.  The Lunch went down well with everyone, although Phil's "Yorkshire" pudding looked rather sad.  Everyone was give a free mince pie and coffee at the end of the meal. A nice gesture as it wasn't expected.  

Another bonus for me was that the rest of the group wouldn't let me pay! Thanks everyone.

Birds seen or heard today included: Great tit, Blue tit, Carrion crow, Woodpigeon, Fieldfare, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Long-tailed tit, European robin and Black-billed magpie.

The Marine Lake, Brickfield Pool, Rhuddlan Nature Reserve, Afon Clwyd and the Foryd 10th December 2011

The Marine Lake, Rhyl.

One or two Lapwings above the Marine Lake.

Rhuddlan Castle from our lunch spot in Rhuddlan Local nature Reserve.

Walk stats: 10.0 miles. Climb: 839'.

Time: 4 hours 56 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.7 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Roger.

Down to two walking today, but it had the bonus that Martyn  had a few more of Margaret's excellent mince pies to enjoy!

A bright and sunny day, but on the cool side, much better than lashing rain and gale force winds that greeted us on Thursday.

The Marine Lake had been allowed to drain and quite a bit of mud was exposed, consequently there great numbers of Lapwing, Oystercatchers and quite a few Redshank too.  The star birds on the Marine Lake were the 12 Red breasted mergansers.

This walk was largely on the North Wales Path and new tarmacked paths around nature reserves, so we arrived back at the ca with clean boots, always a bonus.

Paths on both sides of the Afon Clwyd were open and we completed a small extension along the North Wales path to the coast and back around by the harbour.

Birds seen or heard today included: Carrion crow, Black-billed magpie, Feral pigeon, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, House sparrow, Winter wren, Common redshank, Lapwing, Goosander, Red breasted merganser, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Little grebe, Great crested grebe, Herring gull, Great cormorant, Grey heron, Dunlin, Kestrel, Curlew, Little egret, Blue tit, Great tit, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Pied wagtail, Teal, Wigeon, Greylag goose, Mute swan, Shelduck. Tufted duck, Common coot, Moorhen, Black-headed gull, Ringed plover, Meadow pipit, Goldfinch, Common starling and Dunlin.

Overall a good walk, especially if you like bird watching too!

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where the Lees bitter went down well and people were enjoying meals.

Rhuddlan and the Clwyd Estuary 8th December 2011

Only Martyn, Roger, Gordon, Annie H, Sue and Michel arrived at the Marine Lake car park at Rhyl.  We sat in the car for about half  an hour, hoping that the rain would stop and the gale force wind would abate a little. The rain got worse and the wind got stronger so it was a unanimous decision to abandon the walk and head for home and for me soup and corned beef butties for tea!

Beyond Llanfor and Y Bala 3rd December 2011.

Llanfor church, sadly no longer in use.

Our lunch-time view across Llyn Tegid.

One of the rainbows seen today.

Underground Craig Y Fron quarries above Bala.

Walk stats: Distance: 10.6 miles. Climb: 1570'.

Time: 5 hours 24 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Celia and Dave J.

Today we had sunshine and showers all day, thankfully none of the showers lasted very long and were never enough to wet us!  However the same couldn't be said for conditions underfoot as we grossed quite a few boggy and at times muddy fields and a ford that was a little deeper than we really wanted!  The wind was a little on the cool side, so winter gear and gloves were appropriate for most of the walk!

Nevertheless this was a good walk with the light and views constantly changing.  We also had the occasional rainbow appearing.

The Afon Tryweryn was quite full and flowing quite rapidly, ideal for canoeing, but to our surprise two Dippers were constantly in and out of the water.  In fact one of them seemed to be swimming on the surface of the water before diving under it, and repeating it time and time again, behaviour that neither Dave or myself have ever seen before.  This deep fast flowing water we thought was not "Dipper territory".

Lunch was taken alongside Llyn Tegid, where we took advantage of the many seats provided.

The underground quarries Craig Y Fron quarries were the most interesting feature on the after lunch part of the walk. The limestone quarried being used to build Capel Tegid and many other buildings that we saw on our history tour of Bala later in the walk.

Birds seen or heard today included: Blue tit, Great tit, Long-tailed tit, Collared dove, Black-headed gull, House sparrow, Pied wagtail, Carrion crow, Raven, Jackdaw, Common buzzard, Black-billed magpie, Eurasian jay, European robin, Mallard, Meadow pipit, Grey heron and Dipper.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Bridge Inn at Pontybodkin, where two good brews from the Cottage brewery were on offer.

Birds heard or seen on walks in 2011

Updated 3rd December 2011.  Total to date:126.

Red Kite, the bird of the day on 4th June.

(Picture from Wikipedia)

The hundreth different species of bird seen on our walks this year.

 (Picture from Wikipedia)

Ring ouzel - at least 7 different birds were seen in the area around Tal y Fan on 16th April.

Bird of the year so far!

 (Picture from Wikipedia)

European shag, our bird of the on Saturday 12th March 2011.
(Picture from Oiseaux.net)

Greenshank, the bird of the day on Saturday 5th March 2011.
(Picture from Wikipedia)

A female Ring-necked parakeet, our most unexpected sighting this year to date.

A pair of Ring-necked parakeets, but we only saw one.
(Picture from Wikipedia.)

Barb swallow, Bar-tailed godwit, Black-billed magpie, Blackbird, Blackcap, Black-headed gull, Black-tailed godwit, Blue tit, Brent goose, Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, Chough, Coal tit, Collared dove, Common buzzard, Common coot, Common crossbill, Common gull, Commom redstart, Common sandpiper, Common starling, Common tern,Common whitethroat, Cuckoo, Curlew, Dipper, Dunlin, Dunnock, Eider duck, European robin, Feral pegeon, Fieldfare, Fulmar, Gadwall, Ganet, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander, Grasshopper warbler, Great black-backed gull, Great cormorant, Great spotted woodpecker, Great tit, Great crested grebe, Green woodpecker,Greenfinch, Greenshank, Grey heron, Grey wagtail, Greylag goose, Guillemot, He harrier, Herring gull, House sparrow, House martin, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Kittiwake, Knot, Lapwing, Lesser black-backed gull, Linnet, Little egret, Little grebe, Little gull, Long-tailed tit, Mallard, Meadow pipit, Mistle thrush, Moorhen, Muscovy duck, Mute swan, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pheasant, Pied wagtail, Pintail, Puffin, Purple sandpiper, Raven, Razorbill, Red grouse, Red-breasted merganser, Red-legged partridge, Red kite, Redpoll, Redshank, Redstart, Redwing, Reed bunting, Ringed plover, Ring ouzel,Ring-necked parakeet, Rock dove, Rock pipit, Rook, Ruff, Sand martin,Shag, Sedge warbler, Shelduck, Short-eared owl, Skylark, Snipe, Song thrush, Stonechat, Sparrowhawk,Tawny owl, Teal, Tree sparrow, Tufted duck, Turnstone, Wheatear, Widgeon, Willow tit, Willow warbler, Winter wren, Treecreeper, Woodpigeon, Wood warbler, Yellowhammer.

Moel Arthur and Penycloddiau 1st December 2011

On the top of Moel Arthur.

Dave Evans's "creation" nearing completion.
All photographs taken by Phil.

Walk stats: Distance: 9.0 miles. Climb: 1576'.
Time: 4 hours 37 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Group:Martyn, Roger, Dave J., Annie H., Phil and Paul.
What should I wear?  Arriving at the Llangwyfan Forestry car park with temperatures around 5 Celsius and a cool wind, I opted for the "Paramo" gear. It was the decision, although at one point when we were in the shelter of Moel Arthur I did have my doubts!
Anyway this turned out to be yet another great day weather wise to be walking in the Clwydiands.  Lots of others thought so too, but as far as we were concerned they were all going in the wrong direction!
The views all day were superb, not perfect, but it was all there, the Berwyns, the Moelwyns,  the Snowdon group, the Glyders,  the Carneddau , the Great Orme and later the Anglican cathedral in Liverpool, not forgetting the Clwydians North towards Moel y Parc and South towards Mole Fammau.
What a blessing it is to be able to walk in these hills on a day like this.  Even the variety of birds seen and heard today were a bonus as was seeing Dave Evans dream house being near completion, although alas for Dave it is someone else that is completing it!
Lunch was enjoyed by the cars at Llangwyfan Forestry Car Park, before setting off on the second part of the walk. Both walks taken today were walked in a clockwise direction, opposite to the usual route. It almost seemed like a new walk and has much to commend it.
Birds seen or heard today included: Kestrel, Raven, Common buzzard, Meadow pipit, Blue tit, Long-tailed tit, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Fieldfare, Redwing, Blackbird, Carrion crow, Bullfinch, Greenfinch and Yellowhammer.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where the Lees bitter was in particularly good form!