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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.
Birdie Group - September
by Tim Wright - 21:03 on 16 September 2015
Amazingly, despite the rain and poor forecast ,Six intrepid souls set out from Tankerness Community Centre looking for birds .Not much was moving in the plantation but travelling towards the shore, lots of feeding waders were seen on the fields.At the sea ,many Widgeon and a solitary Mute Swan looked like the only things to see .However, walking right through the field showed many birds resting on rocks .Suddenly over 20 Snipe took to the air in alarm .Off then to the Tankerness Loch ,in even heavier rain ,we were rewarded with the sight of a Reed Bunting and a crowd of Curlews .Finally, to St Peter's Pool which had little on it so we walked across to Dingieshowe. Again it looked dead but the sharp eyed (and those who didn't have water streaming down their eyes )spotted something .At the far end was lots of activity .Sanderlings ,Turnstones ,Ring Plover and Oyster Catchers were in a feeding frenzy. We had excellent views, including of them all in flight, after three dogs put them up.It was a satisfactory end to a very damp day .
Next meeting is 16th October and will be arranged by Jack.Hopefully we will all be dried out by then !
Tim
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