Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Raven Meols Hills

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1521082 will take you to a map of todays walk, the first in 2008.
Making the most of the fine 'Liverpool Bay Beach' and dune walking, our walk explored the National Trust Nature Reserve with its rare natterjack toad and red squirrel. Sad to say neither were on view today. The Red Squirrel have recently been hit hard by a 'squirrel pox' with lots of death among the colony.
Many waders, gulls and migrant birds feed along the shoreline here and both Chris and I have seen semi-fossilised hoofprints of the auroch, a huge, now extinct, beast that grazed the saltmarshes during Neolithic times, when they have been exposed in the inter-tidal sediments.
The reedy pond, a small wildlife area with ducks, coots and moorhens in abundance...
Wildlife pond
was crossed by a wooden bridge where we paused to take some pictures.
Spring is getting close
After passing Sandfield Farm we passed fields that sadly are no longer are used to grow the much praised 'Formby Asparagus'; what is the world coming to? Our path then took us through Nicotine Wood where, according to our guide, the path wanders agreeably. What does that mean? I think the author was trying too hard.
Upon returning to the car park we drove back for an ice cream and toilet stop at the entrance. Fat pigeons, magpies and crows were all that could be seen in this usually squirrel abundant area. I do hope the red squirrels recover from this outbreak of pox and that they return in great numbers.

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1 comment:

Lisa said...

A fossilised Auroch print - I'd love to see that. Any photos? Oh and Happy New Year - enjoy your holiday.