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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.
BIRD WALK NOVEMBER
by Ken O'Connor - 17:15 on 22 November 2013
The Birdie group had a good trip to Shapinsay today, Friday 22nd November, having postponed it from Wednesday when the weather forecast was rather grim. We arrived in Shapinsay at 1010 and back out on the1330 ferry . We covered a good distance to Vasa Loch and then on to Mill Dam .
We were lucky in viewing a heron straightaway feeding among the resting seals then through the village caught sight of chaffinches and green finches, starlings and blackbirds, before heading up the hill to see some moorhens on their own little patch of water. We walked to Parkhall and down the road to Vasa loch, which was disappointing as only a few tufted ducks remained after the gales. Ray had seen lots of mute swans and teal on his earlier visit
On to Mill dam and the hide where everyone got the chance to view a wonderful array of water fowl with the sun lighting up the wonderful plumage colours. Teal, Widgeon, Mallard, Tufted, Pintail etc. too numerous to list them all.
After a snack it was a wander past the Mains of Balfour and back in time for the ferry.
Weather was kind, not too cold and no wind with a light shower of drizzle just to make sure we had the right clothes on for a winters day ! All thanked the leader, Ray, for his time and enjoyable walk.
Ken
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