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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.
Botany Group - July 5th Outing
by Beryl - 19:07 on 07 July 2016
Come July it was time for the Orkney U3A Botany Group to visit the islands. As we headed for the Rousay Ferry through torrential rain it did not seem like a good idea but as we reached the island the sun came out and we were set for a dry and interesting day.
Negotiating the first style on the way to Faraclett Head was challenging as the support for the bottom step had disintegrated but once over we were soon walking over a beautiful and colourful carpet of vegetation. We had great fun looking at flowers, trying to give them reasonably precise and hopefully accurate names.
Lunch was eaten overlooking Saviskaill Bay before we turned northeast and headed up to the summit of Faraclett Head gazing across sparklingly blue sea to Westray and the other north isles. Not far beyond the summit we paused to watch the activities of the many Bonxies nesting in the area beneath our perch and the comings and goings of Arctic Terns that we judged must be nesting not far away.
Descending the slope we witnessed an ill tempered spat between two Bonxies and an Arctic Skua while the protests at our presence revealed where the Arctic Terns were nesting.
Once back at our car it was time for a quick drive around the island followed by a brief visit to the Craft Hub, a cup of tea at the Pier Café and the boat back. Orkney had been at its best.
NOT A WINDMILL IN SIGHT - overlooking Saviskaill Bay
PLANTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED
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Shepherd’s-purse |
Carnation Sedge |
Mountain Everlasting |
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Meadow Vetchling |
Lousewort |
Field Woodrush |
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Corn Spurrey |
Eyebright |
Flea sedge |
|
Selfheal |
Slender St John’s Wort |
Cross Leaved heath |
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Lady’s-smock |
Milk Wort |
Ling |
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Marsh Thistle |
Heath Speedwell |
Bog Ashphodel |
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White Clover |
Limestone Bedstraw |
Spring Squill |
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Tormentil |
Mouse-ear-hawkweed |
Butterwort |
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Daisies |
Fairy Flax |
Northern Marsh Orchid |
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Buttercup |
Creeping Willow |
Dandelion |
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Thyme |
Bell Heather |
Grass of Parnassus |
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Birds-foot-trefoil |
Common Bog Cotton |
Ladies Bedstraw |
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Sweet Vernal Grass |
Forget-me-not |
Alpine Meadow Rue |
|
Sorrel |
Crowberry |
Ragged Robin |
|
Heath Spotted Orchid |
Tufted Vetch |
Yellow Flag Iris |
MOUSE-EAR-HAWKWEED
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