Swans, Geese, Alpacas and more

To be fair, the Alpacas were domesticated.
Today it was a walk starting at Martin Mere. Later than normal, I'd been gardening in the morning, we set off from Martin Mere, via the Coach Parking lot to basically walk the East- side perimeter of the Mere.

We'd walked this path, in the opposite direction, in the past. As you'd expect, at a wetland centre, there were sightings of many different breeds of duck, moorhens, geese, and swans.

Sightings of flocks of Green Plovers rose up from the banks of the mere and flights of swans and geese, constantly passed overhead accompanied by a noise that has to be heard not described. 

The only time we couldn't hear the wetland residents was when we had a helicopter fly pass...

The gentle giants of Longhorn cattle, grazed the grassland between the stretches of water.

Crossing the Southport - Wigan line, for the first time,

we continued walking along good paths, 

albeit a little muddy in places,

we past mounds, yes I mean mounds of mushrooms.

I don't think all the wasted food had anything to do with it but, when, a little further on, we came across The Farm shop, tea room and B&B, we decided to have lunch.

The food was EXCELLENT!
Yes it was here we saw the alpacas, pigs, sheep and chickens, as we continued on our way.

The next part of the walk took us along the Leeds Liverpool Canal towards Burscough.
Passing a range of narrow boats, short boats and plastic tubs.

Passing 3 pubs between lunch and leaving the canal, we managed not to be side-tracked.
Near the Lathom Slipway was a field full of swans.

Back across the railway line, 

we headed back to Martin Mere via more mounds of food. This time carrots, some washed others not!.

The route of our 5.8099 miles walk can be found at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6150005