Orkney U3A | Blog

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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 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

Birdie Group - March 2017

by Margaret Rinder - 15:41 on 15 March 2017

8 intrepid folk met at Echnaloch to brave the cold, strong, westerly winds, but with blue skies and sun. We looked at Echnaloch and bay, then walked the 4th barrier beach and dunes,noting the flowering coltsfoot. We looked over the Scapa side of Watersound. With wind and tide conditions as they were, we abandoned a visit to Oyce of Quindry and went instead to Eastside, where the peedie loch there provided much of interest.

Altogether we saw 33 species. Highlights were mainly at Eastside where we saw over 20 jackdaws, 30 lapwings , 100 curlew, 6 male shovellers and 2 females, 2 shelduck, 6 teal and on the beach, one pied wagtail and some meadow pipits. At the 4th barrier we watched 2 ravens doing their acrobatic flights, and one snipe repeatedly sped past. At Echnaloch bay we peered through Tim's telescope at 2 slavonian grebes, a great northern diver and a razorbill.

So, complete with our sand and wind exfoliated faces, and despite binocular rock, we thought we'd had a good bird outing.

Once home, the wind had suddenly dropped, the sea was calm on the east and the local cattieface swooped around!

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