Orkney U3A | Blog

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.

[email protected]

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.

u3a Photo Group One - April 2024 u3a Walking Group One - March 2024 u3a Walking Group 2 - March 2024 u3a Photography Group One - February 2024 u3a Walking Group One - February 2024 Index

Bird Watching Group

by Ken O'Connor - 22:22 on 31 May 2012

Outing to Hoy 16th May

Nine of the birdie group did a walk in Hoy mainly up at the 1200 to 1500 feet level above Trowie Glen, to view red throated divers, we did see 5 and that was it. Other birds the Bonsies but not in their numbers that used to be. One golden Plover and then when got back to Moannese saw a great northern diver. So not a lot for the days outing but the company and chat kept all going through the difficult sections.

Ken

Comment from Ken O'Connor at 16:11 on 20 June 2012.

On the 20th June the' Birdie Group' enjoyed a lovely walk in glorious sunshine. Starting off from the Viking Centre in Orphir, with our leader Allan, we set off along the coastal path of Scapa Flow . The first birds to be seen were a pair of sand martins which are gradually increasing in population about Orkney. Next we saw a red throated diver, not far out in Scapa Flow, and then on to a raven's nest where the young had already flown, but it was very evident that there had been young hatched out this year. We ambled along the shore seeing all the usual birds and then at the Bu loch we stopped to view the Terns, Dunlin and Coot, also a pair of Arctic Skua who were watching to see if they could grab any of the food that the terns were bringing home.
We had a tea break at Swanbister Pier before working our way back, via the small wood at Ghia where we saw a family of wrens, and then on back to the cars, ready for a rest!
The next walk will be the 18th July around Hunda led by Barbara and Peter.
Ken

Add your comment

Please note that whenever you submit something which may be publicly shown on a website you should take care not to make any statements which could be considered defamatory to any person or organisation.