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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 April 2016
by Tim Wright - 20:41 on 21 April 2016
A three day trip to Inverness for four members of the U3A bird group started early with a smooth crossing of the Pentland Fifth, followed by a look in at Loch Fleet down at Golspie. The hide gave excellent views of Shelduck, Pinkfeet geese and a Sparrow Hawk. Moving to the Mound, we spotted the Osprey on her nest and at Nigg we had a Little Grebe with a fish ready to be swallowed. We then met up with six other members in Inverness for a two night stay. The next morning we joined up with the nature walking group of Inverness U3A and walked around Merkinch Nature
Reserve on a very windy morning. Lots of sheltering Red Shanks to be seen and some Widgeon on Muirtown Basin. Then off to Loch Ruthven for excellent views of five Slovain Grebes in all their summer glory feeding like mad. Following this we went to Udale Bay to a lovely new hide on the Black Isle. Very close observation of Pink Feet Geese and Teal. In the evening we met up with the Scottish Trustee of the U3A and his wife plus the Chairlady of the local U3A for dinner. The following day we went to Tarbet Ness near Tain on a beautiful sunny day. Lots of little birds to puzzle us including Yellow Hammers, Stone Chats and the usual LBJs that fooled us all ! Out at the point the Gannets were cascading down on a shoal of fish.The highlight was no less than four groups of Dolphins going by heading South. After a picnic in Portmahanock it was back to the Mound to look for Ospreys and also catch a glimpse of displaying Peregrine falcons. Four who had not been to Loch Fleet on the way down, who were catching a later ferry, had a look there and were rewarded with seeing another osprey nest, quite close, with two osprey. After that, the happy and very satisfied band of ten headed home to Orkney again.
Tim
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