Please take a photograph of your group "in action." Don't forget to ask for permission from everyone for the photo to be published on the web. Then email it to the address below and we will upload it to the gallery.
Walking Group One 25th April 2024
Five hardy souls collected today at Happy Valley for the first Hill Walk of the year .The temperature was cool with a North Easterly wind blowing and a hint of rain on arrival.
Off we set heading towards Russadale Quarry, spotting a Buzzard on the way.Turning into the footpath we remained sheltered from the wind all the way to the top of the hill.
The sun was out at the Quarry and a Greenshank was feeding at the edge of the Lochan. Then it was up the Peat road to the summit with spectacular views across Stenness and Harray Lochs, plus a view of the Closed Road beyond the Watch Stone. On the other side we looked over the Flow and down towards the Oil Platform and South Ronaldsay
Then it was back down after a stop for a snack and finally a walk around Happy Valley itself. The Daffodils planted by James and others were looking lovely and the Bluebells are days away from opening. Then it was on to a well deserved lunch at the Pier Cafe, having walked 4 miles and gone up 800 feet (and down again )
The next walk will be on Friday 24th May and hopefully more hills and views.
Keep moving.
Bird Group- april
by Unknown - 17:38 on 17 April 2013
17/4/13
14 birders walked from the Foveran ;many thanks to the Doulls for their courtesy in allowing us to park there;back to Scapa Crescent via Dyke End, Scapa beach & the Crantit trail. We can report that spring is here;kingcups, lesser celandine & primroses in abundance
and 2 Bonxies & 1 beautiful pale phase arctic skua and a swallow, en route.The Slavonian grebes are into their chestnut summer plumage and we were able to detect ear-tufts & imagined we could see that they were gold boo! to no sun!
I have been asked to list the other 39 species for folk who are new to our group & want to check the birds out in their field guides.They were:- Hooded crow;rook;raven;jackdaw;wren ;singing ;pheasant ;calling;;wood pigeon;rock dove;mallard;eider;teal;long-t duck;wigeon;tufted duck;meganser;shelduck;lapwing;oystercatcher;redshank;turnstone;ringed plover;curlew;black guillemot;tystie;;shag;gannet;meadow pipit;
pied wagtail;moorhen;heron;mute swan;starling;common gull;GtBBG; black headed gull;herring gull; fulmar; coot;blackbird;kestrel.43 species.Soup & sandwiches with Liz & David ;and a lot of help from Margaret,thanks; rounded off a pretty satifactory outing.
Add your comment