The Wirral Way is a walking and cycling path which runs for 12 miles along the route of the old Birkenhead Railway line from Hooton to West Kirby. We oldies don’t walk for 12 miles of course, just the first couple of miles and back again. The Wirral Way opened in 1975, so it is now 50 years old. Last summer we spotted stockpiled materials and a sign saying the pathway was to be re-surfaced and widened during the winter. And so it has been. What a transformation! Probably the first time it’s been “tidied up” in those 50 years. I have walked it occasionally for about 20 years and John thinks he might have been doing so for over 40, and we have never seen it cleared like this.
I’m sure it needed doing, but words like “depleted” and “denuded” sprang to mind, with the low bushes and undergrowth all thrashed back severely, sometimes just to woodchip and Bramble.
Although it was a sunny afternoon, we saw no Butterflies or Bumble Bees at all. But the birds were unaffected, Great Tits and Blackbirds were singing from the tall trees on either side. We spotted a Goldcrest low down, pecking at everything, and a Wren disappearing into the edge. Chiffchaffs were calling all along the way. Between Hooton and Hadlow Road (1.7 miles) there were eight of them, giving an average territory length of about 375 yards. This is exactly the same as when I did the same exercise three years ago, on 3rd April 2022. We only spotted one Chiffchaff briefly, but here’s a quizzical Robin, watching us closely.
Plenty of people were out, some with the kids, some on bikes, lots with dogs and some riding horses. The trees were starting to leaf out and flower. Hawthorn, Goat Willow, possible Oak, Bird Cherry and Horse Chestnut.
In one spot at the back of the hedge were bushes with masses of little white flowers coming out. Was it Blackthorn? The date was right and the flowers were right, but the twigs weren’t black and there were no thorns. But it has to be Blackthorn, I think.
Some early flowers were showing on the verges. Coltsfoot (going over), Green Alkanet, Wild Strawberry, Yellow Archangel (the garden escapee with the silver streaky leaves) and some big patches of Lesser Celandine.
The only insect I saw was this one on a large Dandelion flower. It was about 10-12mm long and probably one the flies – the Diptera.
We were also looking out for Hares today, peering into the neighbouring fields whenever there was gap to see through. No success, sadly. But an unlooked-for pleasure was a flock of about 20-30 Pink-footed Geese, flying over near Hadlow Road. They were in a V formation, calling as they flew, and appeared to be heading slightly south of west. That’s an odd direction for birds starting their migration back to Iceland, or were they heading for the Dee Estuary to fuel up on their way north?
Public transport details: Train from Central at 10.15, arriving Hooton Station at 10.42. Returned from Hooton at 2.45, arriving Central at 3.18.
Next week we plan to go to Princes Park, meeting 10am at Elliot Street