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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 Birdie Group - Jan 2020
by Trevor Kay - 16:51 on 18 January 2020
On Wednesday 15th January, six stalwarts of the birdie group met at the second Churchill barrier and after bravely emerging from our vehicles, we spotted a black backed gull and a couple of other feathery things.
The weather was atrocious. The wind was gusting at speeds which were disgusting, the temperature was Baltic and the sky was filled with an large black rain cloud.
After a very brief discussion the group made a unanimous decision to allow common sense to rule and we decided to retreat to Trevor and Fiona’s house where we drew up the rota for the 2020.
Whilst indoors we observed a colony of gannets, an oyster catcher and a couple of divers in addition to a pair of lapwings. Certainly more bird sightings than we would have made outdoors.
We warmed ourselves with bowls of soup with pieces of French bread.
One of our small band, who shall remain nameless, remarked that this was his idea of a perfect birdie walk!
Hopefully the weather will be better for our next outing.
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