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Ball of Confusion

#WestKirby is blooming. Bookshop and banking hub both moving to larger premises. Kudos ๐ŸŽ‰ to the volunteers who do such an excellent job on the many plantings. #Wirral

A rectangular planter on a sidewalk is filled with vibrant pink, purple, and white flowers. Another in the background against a low wall leading to a shop.

First walk around the Marine Lake for a while (trifle damp in Wales), then off to the Banking Hub (how exciting not). Passed an escape room on the way (new to me). #WestKirby #Wirral www.westkirbyescaperoom.co.uk

Nice idea BBC News - Seaside stories sought for map to celebrate coastal gems - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/arti…

Good to see support for Heighington Station. BBC News - ‘World’s oldest’ railway station in County Durham saved - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/arti…

Walk through light drizzle in Birkenhead Park. Fencing up for weekend music festival (headliners Feeder, Example) and also spotted athletics track markings (doubtless for local school). Work on regeneration improvements in town centre much busier than on our last visit.

A grassy park with circular white track markings is bordered by trees.A line of metal fencing is set up in a grassy park area surrounded by trees.A large green park features benches, scattered trees, and a few people in the distance under a cloudy sky.

Fast walk/slow jog from Thurstaston to YOT via the Dungeon and Dales, about 3 miles in 50 min. Slow walk back via KC3P. Nice onshore breeze.

A lush, green forest scene features tall trees, a path, and logs on the ground, creating a serene and natural atmosphere.A crop field with a metal gate, a large stone, and a cloudy sky is depicted.A rustic stone building with wooden doors is situated beside a gravel path, surrounded by grass, with a house and a blue sky in the background.A path winds through a golden field leading towards the sea under a clear blue sky.

Sheltered from the heat in #Royden again where the heather is starting to bloom, the conkers are flourishing, the fungi are doing their stuff (early?) and the painted ladies are resolutely refusing to pose.

A forest path is surrounded by lush green trees and dappled sunlight.A scenic path winds through a landscape of purple heather and green foliage under a clear blue sky.A series of large, light-colored mushrooms are growing vertically on the trunk of a tree in a lush, green forest.A dark-colored butterfly is perched on tall, light-colored flower spikes against a backdrop of green foliage.

Pleasant walk in the shade at #Royden, coffee and raspberry scone at Benty’s then back via the Walled Garden. #Wirral

A sunlit forest path is surrounded by tall trees with lush green foliage.A tranquil pond surrounded by lush greenery and trees reflects the clear blue sky above.A green shelter beside a garden path, lined with plants and an informational board, leads to an archway with hanging flowers.Sunflowers in a garden with a tower and trees in the background.

Noodling around in the Domesday Book. For example, Robert of Rhuddlan’s entry: opendomesday.org/name/robe…

Views from #WestKirby Marine Lake this morning underlining the slightly weird way the tide comes in. And a very distant view of a cormorant. #Wirral

A vast sandy beach with scattered rocks under a clear blue sky stretches towards distant hills.A calm beach scene with a red marker pole standing in the shallow waters and distant hills on the horizon.A calm body of water stretches toward the horizon under a blue sky with scattered clouds, featuring a solitary post in the water with a bird on it.

Views of the Mersey from #NewBrighton earlier today.

A coastal landscape with a sandy shore in the foreground and a city skyline in the distance under a partly cloudy sky.A coastal city skyline is viewed from across a wide expanse of water.

Walk this morning from #Thurstaston, along the #WirralWay, up through the Dungeon, along and down through #Heswall Dales, stopping for coffee at YOT (except it’s closed Tuesdays ๐Ÿ˜•) and then back along the KC3P.

A large, naturally formed rock "cave" is surrounded by green foliage and rocky terrain.A lone tree stands in a vast field with a distant view of hills and a cloudy sky.A narrow dirt path winds through a grassy landscape with scattered trees, leading toward a distant view of water and hills under a partly cloudy sky.A dirt path lined with a wooden fence runs through a grassy field under a partly cloudy sky.

Welsh coast looking singularly picturesque this morning. #Wirral

A wooden walkway extends over a stone path with a serene pond and rolling hills in the background.A person is paragliding above a grassy field while another person walks nearby.A grassy field with bushes overlooks a wide estuary, with hills and a cloudy sky in the background.

Delightful wander around RSPB Burton this morning.

A lush, green wetland landscape with tall grasses and a partly cloudy sky stretches into the distance.A narrow path winds through a lush green landscape lined with tall grass and purple wildflowers.A butterfly with pale wings is perched on a purple thistle flower surrounded by green foliage.Large, flat, beige mushrooms with wavy edges are growing on the side of a tree surrounded by green foliage.

New Brighton this afternoon. A nice place to chill.

A boardwalk by the water features a railing with a life preserver, and buildings can be seen across the waterfront.A waterfront area is visible with a series of large red cranes along a distant industrial port under a cloudy sky.A lighthouse stands on a sandy beach with an industrial port and cranes visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

Benty’s in full-on strawberry mode today #wirral ๐Ÿ“

A rustic display featuring plants and a "benty farm tearooms" sign is adorned with red strawberry decorations and surrounded by wooden benches.

This afternoon I finally got a photo of the very flighty heron. It does its best to appear nonchalant as it crosses the road ahead of me before taking to the air and heading back in the direction of the mere (and ducklings). Fairly #crapNaturePhotography

Four ducks are foraging on a grassy area near some vegetation.A heron crosses a narrow road lined with lush green trees and grass under a blue sky with a few clouds.A heron is flying in front of dense green foliage.

It’s been a while since I last visited the cemetery mere. Trapped by an unexpected downpour, I spent some quality time with the ducks. Delighted to see three ducklings have survived thus far (zero last year) though the pesky heron is still around ๐Ÿฆ†

Three ducklings and their mum forage for food on a grassy and leafy ground.

Up early for a meander at #Thurstaston yet again. Field of barley (?) seems to be a magnet for skylarks. Hard to do justice to the sunbeams peeping through the clouds. Coffee at Flissy’s.

Sunbeams break through a cloudy sky over a vast, green field with a line of distant trees.A coastal landscape features a winding path alongside a grassy cliff overlooking a beach and the sea under a cloudy sky.Sunlight breaks through a cloudy sky over a vast, green field with a line of trees in the distance.Two coots are swimming on a peaceful pond surrounded by tall grasses and reeds.

Memo to self: visit Leasowe Lighthouse during an Open Day this year (assuming the old knees are up to the 130 steps).

leasowelighthouse.com/wp/

A solitary lighthouse stands on a grassy landscape under a cloudy sky, with a path and wooden fence leading towards it.A tall, weathered lighthouse stands on a grassy area under a cloudy sky.

Early clifftop walk to #Heswall Field via Tinker’s Dell making the most of a gentle sea breeze. Intriguing info board by #Thurstaston Visitors Centre fast becoming of largely historical interest itself.

A wooden pathway with fencing leads down to a vast, empty beach with a view of the distant shoreline under a clear blue sky.A lush, green meadow with scattered yellow wildflowers stretches towards rolling hills and a solitary tree beneath a clear blue sky.A faded informational sign displays text and images related to the lime kiln industry, sculpture, and wildlife legacy, with a shadow cast over it.

Morning spent zipping along the M53 chortling to #hmhb’s latest and pondering the magnificence of the northbound hard shoulder. #OblongOfDreams

Kicked a ball for the first time in far too long.

A yellow soccer ball with black and silver accents rests on a gravel surface.

A few more photos from yesterday’s walk. #Thurstaston #Heswall

A sandy beach with a curved coastline and grassy cliffs is dotted with people walking along the shore under a partly cloudy sky.A sailboat is stranded on a muddy coastline with distant hills visible under a partly cloudy sky.A lush green field of tall grass stretches towards a distant landscape of rolling hills and scattered houses.A lush green field dotted with yellow flowers is bordered by dense shrubs and trees under a partly cloudy sky.

Swallows were busy feeding juveniles perched on barbed wire on the perimeter of #Heswall sewage works down on the Dee estuary. Fun to watch. #Wirral

A lone bird is barely visible amidst tall grasses under a blue, cloudy sky.A bird is flying above tall, dry grasses under a blue sky with scattered clouds.A bird is flying over a field of tall grass with a blue sky in the background.