Reflections - A walk to Pex Hill
Up early, as I am most days, it would be easy to turn on the TV and watch the same old news roll on endlessly, or turn on the computer and with the help of iTunes embark on a little surfing. Of the two choices above the latter is usually the option I would take. I do however often motivate myself to take a third option and get out of the house to explore the local nature on show, it is ‘Free to View’ and high definition after all.
Yesterday was one such day and at 6:40am armed with camera, binoculars an apple and a bottle of water I left the news rolling behind me and for the start of the walk at least, my iPod provided the music. Aptly I was playing The Darwin Song Project, an excellent collaboration by folk singers charting the life of Darwin in song but perhaps that’s for another blog!
Luckily, although living on a housing estate, within a 10 minute stroll I can be in ‘another world’. Some days I will walk to Stadt Moers Country Park but yesterday I decided to take a ‘circular’ walk to Pex Hill and home again.
As I walk I tend to reflect on my life and the people who are close to me and the heavy showers provided an opportunity to sum that up in a photograph.
A reflective mood
Further along Blundells Lane a line of collared doves reminded me of a tale Bill Oddie told of excited birders heading off to Norfolk, I think it was, in great numbers to see these then unusual birds in the 50s.
A string of collared doves
Walking along the public footpath that runs through Blundells Hill golf course there was a heavy shower, a good place for this to happen as the tree canopy afforded great protection to me and two wren companions who had the same idea. I hoped that they may present me with a photo opportunity but sadly not.
Protective canopy
Turning left next to the M62 I saw a jay, one of my favourite birds, fly from the field into the trees and disappear as they do! The route continues to the right on Hall Lane where you cross over the motorway and walk the narrow lane into Cronton. In the fields to the right there was a flock of approximately 200 Canada geese grazing.
Some of the huge flock of Canada geese
Continuing along Hall Lane past the medieval cross into the estate I saw a flash of colour above a house – a great spotted woodpecker probably on the lookout for a friendly garden birdfeeder. Then came the obligatory photograph of a robin – why aren’t all birds as obliging!?
My little photogenic friend
Turning left by the church and the unusual ‘petrol pump’ you head along the path to Pex Hill.
Quirky!
Pex Hill is the home of Liverpool Observatory, a BTCV office, a disused quarry enjoyed by climbers and a diverse habitat of stunted oak woodland and lowland heath.
Observatory and BTCV Offices
Stunted oaks and heath
Pex Hill is topped by a covered reservoir and a fantastic view of the Mersey Estuary – well there was until the scrub was left un-managed.
A view to treasure - lost! The interpretion board is good though...
There was one gap however that revealed a nice panorama.
Not the view you should see but still nice
It’s also a shame that the notice board is not up-to-date with information on the visitor centre opening times or upcoming events. There is however seating and picnic tables to help on a family day out.
Next to the visitor centre I was treated to a brief and distant show with two buzzards and a kestrel providing the entertainment as they danced majestically in the open sky. Definitely the highlight of this days walk. Sadly the photographs are of specs in the sky…right place wrong lens.
Only specs here but beautiful birds in their element
Continuing past the reservoir I spotted these vivid red wildflowers at head height on the banks of the reservoir.
Striking! Orange hawkweed - also known as fox-and-cubs
The walk now is downhill back toward the M62 alongside farmland which is currently providing valuable stubble for farmland birds. The mixed hedge had recently been trimmed and was alive with birds including, Blue, great and long tailed-tits and warblers. I’m pretty sure I also glimpsed a diminutive goldcrest.
Nice habitat - biodiversity rules!
Crossing the motorway footbridge it is a short walk through more farmland to the pond alongside the Manor Farm pub where photographic 'reflections' returned.
Final reflections...
It was too early to take on any of the excellent refreshments available in the Manor Farm so I continued on towards home along Mill Lane before turning left down Blundells Lane with the iPod back in place and a song called Thinking Path sung by Emily Smith playing. Again very apt on this walk of reflections.
Not a great walk for photographic oportunities but still very enjoyable and I can reflect in the future on the Sunday morning I left the rolling news behind and was treated to a brief but excellent high definition display by three majestic birds of prey and all in stunning 3D!