Dog Walking

For those concerned about spelling and morphophonemics don't be so pedantic. This is just typed quickly as the day proceeds.






This is my 10 month old Border Collie Ben. I have had him for 3 weeks. His previous owners were moving into the town and felt it wasn't fair to keep him.
Ben is my fourth Border Collie. The others were called Tweed, Max and Glen. He is a well behaved dog. He isn't though allowed into the house and sleeps in a Kennel.
I take him for a walk every day. In the morning after mucking out and watering the cows along the old seas defenses at Southport (called the bank) and the evening on the beach at the North end of the Town. This morning as on most mornings there were hundreds of widgeon to look at. These are nice to eat as well. I had two for tea last week. They are best roasted as they are very oily. Also saw a pair of stone chats today (8th January).
We see plenty of Mallards, pink footed Geese, Grey lags, Teal, Hare, Rabbits all of which make very good eating. I don't shoot them myself as this is a RSPB reserve. I have a friend who shoots on his own farm and on wild fowl trust land and he lets us have loads of Game.
Just returned from evening walk (went out about a mile on the beach) saw 6 Shell Ducks.
Someone on out Marsh training their gun dog.

10th January ... Had to take Ben on the Beach at 6.30am today as I was going to Warrington. It is surprising how many people walk their dogs in the dark. You do have to be careful where you put your feet. It was peeing down with rain, cold and windy.
This evening took Ben on Beach...well the road that the wagons use for the Sand Plant which goes out to sea for a couple of miles.
It was very wet (see pic)
On this road you get a good view of Blackpool. On a clear day people think they can walk across. Some try and they actually get there...Most try and drown. It wasn't clear today but I have shown a pic of how close it seems. The trouble is the Ribble estuary lies in between. The sand winning which goes on here has been controversial but it really does not cause any harm to the coast line. I think the RSPB would like it stopped so that they can extend their reserve.

A brief note about Sandwinning in the area.

Sand was extracted commercially from many parts of the Sefton coast during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and continues today at the Horse Bank, Southport. Areas from which un-established quantities of sand were removed include Crosby shore until the 1960's, Fort Crosby in the 1960's, Hightown shore and dunes until the 1960's and Formby dunes south of Lifeboat Road until 1959.
At Ainsdale in the 1950s contractors were allowed to excavate a channel between the frontal and second line of sand dunes. It was thought that the resultant slack would fill in and that the process could be repeated. Channels were dug from the Ainsdale/Freshfield boundary to 700 metres south of Shore Road and from 700 metres north of Shore Road to 200 metres south of Selworthy Road. They did not fill in at an acceptable rate and because the erosion at Formby was moving north work was stopped in 1963. 816,467 tons of sand was removed from the Ainsdale dunes between 1953 and 1963.
In 1966, it was agreed that 100,000 tons of sand per year could be won from the Ainsdale foreshore by scraping from the tops of the ridges between Shore Road and Selworthy Road. A washing plant was established in the dune slack north of Shore Road, on a site used from the 1960's to the 1980s as a dump for foreshore refuse. Heavy lorries were out of place on the foreshore, particularly in the holiday season and, partly as a result of this, work ended on Ainsdale foreshore in 1973, when sand was beginning to be won from the Horse Bank and from the Big Balls Hill area adjoining the Coastal Road at Ainsdale. 570,135 tons of sand was removed from Ainsdale beach between 1966 and 1973.
In order to meet the demand for a long-term source of sand contractors were invited to sample material from the Horse Bank. After a public Town Planning Inquiry in June 1968, a contract was let to win sand from 563 acres opposite Marshside Road on the approach to the Horse Bank. Extraction began in February 1972, with a limit of 200,000 tons of sand per annum. Only a small part of the area was of worthwhile quality and, from 1976, various permissions were granted for sand winning further seaward, until the quality was found satisfactory.
In December 1977, permission was granted for the winning of 400,000 tonnes per annum from 955 acres on the Horse Bank. Due to a restrictive covenant in the original sale of land, only the northern part of the area was worked until February 1981, when the restriction was lifted.
Sand has continued to be extracted from the Horse Bank since 1977. Southport sand has exceptional qualities for the foundry trade and for polishing glass. At present 20% to 30% of the sand extracted is transported to Doncaster where it is used to polish safety glass. In 2001 a Public Inquiry was held into a planning application to continue sand winning. The Inquiry determined that a further 10 years sand winning was permissible under monitored and controlled conditions, following which it could be reconsidered.
Evidence during the Inquiry demonstrated that the volume of Horse Bank had not declined since sand extraction commenced. The level of the shore was rising slowly and the crest of the Bank was flattening. The Horse Bank was slowly moving landward, but not at a rate that gave cause for concern. These trends were evident long before sand extraction commenced. It was established that the predominant source of shoreline accretion was from the bed of the Irish Sea. About 5% to 10% of the sand eroded from Formby moved onto the Horse Bank. Dredging deposits from the River Mersey provided a further source of accretion.
Mud deposition and saltmarsh development were also evident long before the start of sand winning. They result from the large quantity of silt suspended in the River Ribble that is deposited on the shore whenever water conditions are calm.
The Planning Inspector concluded that sand winning from the Horse Bank had no demonstrable effect on coast erosion at Formby and no adverse effects on beach amenity or the coastal defenses at Southport. In granting permission, a detailed monitoring programme was specified to ensure that adequate warning could be detected of any adverse physical or environmental trends. One of the trucks picture taken 10th Jan 2006


2nd October 2002  ....2 years ago the sand winning ceased
11th January 2006
Cold walk this morning. Better this evening. Moon nearly full it will be full on Saturday 14th.
12th January 2006
Cold wind this morning. Frost on ground. Tokk a circular walk along the bank across the golf to the early sea defenses and then back around the back of the golf. Sometimes have trouble with golfers. I try to keep Ben on the path but sometimes golfer will call hm onto to the fairway and play with him which does not help with his training. At another time I stopped to watch a put. Ben was a little restless and the golfer said to me 'Walk on'. No please .

Later on passed Stanley School which is a centre of excellence for Sport and watch the rugby training.









15th January 2006
Plenty of birdlife about this am including Reed Buntings, Stone Chat, Goldfinch, Curlew,Godwits, Widgeon, Mallards, Magpie, Starlings. As it is Sunday lots of dog walkers about.
This evening chatting to the RSPB ranger. He had been counting bird. He had counted 12,000 Widgeon on one Marsh and guessed that there must be 10,000 on the other. It was a windy and wet walk walk. The wind had moved to direct South and so it was a hard walk back. I have shown a pic of some widgeon I took earlier in the month. As I have said they are very tasty.




16th January 2006
Not much different today except for some Dunlins. Meet a woman with with 2 alsatians each morning . The younger one likes to chase Ben and Ben encourages it but she has difficulty controlling it as it is only 2 months old. I think her heart sinks when she sees Ben approaching.
After speaking about the Rosary (see spirituality page) at Victoria Methodist took Ben right out on the Beach for about a mile and a half. Plenty of Shell Ducks out there and Oyster Catchers. Too late to get changed and water the cows so Tom had to do it.
17.January 2006
Didn't take Ben for a walk today as been to Warrington to have coffee with a friend and ended up at the Dentist having a filling. Julie took Ben for his walks.
18th January 2006
Plenty of birds around again including ones above but also Dunlin and Redshank .. someone brought 2 dozen Widgeon and 2 Pink Footed Geese to pluck and freeze. Was going to have a couple of Widgeon for tea but didn't get round to them as late taking Ben for a walk as changing my office round to take out the enormous desk and put in a tiny one. Anne wants more space in office for a bedroom. Mark and John are coming to stay with us. John has sold his house and is living with us until he finds a new one. That of course means that Mark comes as well with his dog Arnie as Mark lives with John. We are looking forward to having them at home with us again.Not sure if Mark coming as he will have to commute to Warrington but that is fine as well. We want what best suits them.John is my oldest Son and Mark my youngest. I have a son Alan and a daughter Julie.
19th January 2006
Had a longwalk both this am and pm. Met loads of people. Most dog walkers like to chat and the dogs in the main like to chase each other getting exercise. This pm found a dead oyster catcher probably died of botulism. Many swans on the marine lake dying prob. of the same thing.
Walked well out in pm and saw several shell ducks. See picture you can just make them out.
Marine Lake swan riddle
Jan 18 2006
By Ronnie Parry, Midweek Visiter


A MYSTERY illness has led to the death of eight swans on the Marine Lake in Southport.Up to 18 swans have now been recovered from the lake and eight have since died.
Ten are described as very sick and have been sent to the RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Hospital.
The Environment Agency is currently carrying out sample tests on the water at the site and post mortems on the dead birds.
The latest deaths were reported by Swan Rescue member John Dolby who has been closely monitoring the site for a week.


By Sunday, two dead swans were recovered and Mr Dolby contacted the RSPCA.
Mr Dolby said that he recovered a live swan yesterday (Tuesday), which died shortly after.
He told the Visiter: "The situation seems to be snowballing.
"Whatever it is does seem to be affecting the swans very quickly.
"I picked up a sick cob, and fed it some bread and three days later he died.







This is the view of Southport from the end of the walk.

I am going away tomorrow and my daughter will be taking Ben for a walk. In the evenings Aaron and Luke will probably be going with them.

Well Anne and I have been to Prestatyn to see our friends Alan and Eleanor Weatherspoon. We had a good time ..good food (including an Indian), good company and plenty to drink.

Came back tonight 22nd January took Ben for a walk on the bank in the dark. Eyes get accustomed to it. Heard the Widgeon whistling and the Curlew calling.

23rd January 2006
Cold wind this morning but plenty of dog walkers about. Ben enjoyed a chase with two Alsatians whilst I had a chat with their owner. Last night took a pic of an Iris in the dark and BBC Look North showed it as signs of spring. Pic aside.
Cold again this pm nothing of interest to report. Off to Llangollen tomorrow so Julie will be walking Ben.

24th January 2006

Just a quick note before I go off to Llangollen. Here are pics of today's walk..

27th January 2006
Ben has a new friend living with him. An overweight 2 year old black Labrador called Arnold(AKA Arnie). He might be living with him for 2months whilst his owner Mark finds someonewhere to live. Arnie and Ben love to play together but I have to say because of Arnie's weight Arnie soon gets tired. Below are pics of Arnold.

28th January 2006
This morning lots of swans about. the swans are still dying on the Marine Lake and a solution not yet found. Swans look superb when they are flying
as shown above but I'm not really keen on them over-running the Marine Lake which is basically for boating.
31st January 2006
Went to Warrington and Padgate today so Julie took Ben for his am walk. I took him tonight but it was dark so nothing to see.


1st February 2006
Plenty of ReedBuntings around tonight. Ben found a wounded female one. Pic of female Reed Bunting shown.
Reed bunting
Emberiza schoeniclus
Sparrow-sized but slim and with a long, deeply notched tail, the male has a black head, white collar and a drooping moustache. Females and winter males have a streaked head. In flight the tail looks black with broad, white edges. This farmland and wetland bird suffered a serious population decline making it a Red List species.(seeRSPB)
A Kingfisher has been spotted on several occasions by a couple of fellow dog walkers. I haven't seen it but pic shown. This morning 7th Feb 2006 Julie took Ben for a walk and she tells me that he chasedthe sand wagon making it stop.
Below is a pic of some Gorse and I am told that Gorse is flowering somewhere in this country everyday of the year.



8th February 2006
Ben found this dead, deceased, expired weasel today and this am we had a helecopter circlingover us for ages.

B en playing with a stick

10th Feb 2006

Aclear day today so have included pics of the gas rig Lytham and St Annes and all seen from the walk'

14th Feb 2006
Had a long walk today. Looking on the Marsh to see if grass growing so that cows can be put out. Unfortunately the Widgeon and the geese have paddled it up so still a while before grass will be good enough the sustain the cattle.
Ben found a Teal with its head bitten off. Probably by a fox. It was near the reed beds see both pics.

The pic above is of course of the Southport Swans took am. There hsn't yet been any progress on the reason for their dying. Two pairs have started to stay together on the marsh obviously getting ready for breeding. The pic aside was taken by Anne. We have decided to take Arnie with us at night whilst Mark works late. He is quite a naughty dog but maybe we can make him behave better.
Whoops don't know how the pint got in there but that is for a friday and saturday night in the beer shed and has nothing at all to do with dog walking.
Ah well I had better drink it don't want it to go flat know do we!!!!

27th Feb 2006
This is Ben and Arnie after a walk. Arnie has started to behave himself but not without the help of a biscuit or two
!st March 1st 2006
Took this pic of a Canada Goose this am now they do make good eating.
Tonight saw a tawny owl (never eaten one of these) and the weather was so clear we could see the hills in the Lake District covered in snow. I took a pic but couldonly get Black Coombe (no snow on) see my pic and the pic off the internet from the top of Black Coombe
Looking north from Black Coombe towards the Scafells (left) and Coniston fells (right). Harter fell can be seen in centre with Bowfell and the Crinkles behind. Pillar is out of picture, surprisingly far to the west.

18th March 2005
When will this cold weather end?? Whilst Arnie is staying with us Anne comes with me at night and we have to take biscuits with us as Arnie sometimes takes it into his head to go on a mission and unless we have biscuits with us he goes on endlessly no matter how much we shout him back. This is because Mark and Abbie have been too soft with him. You must always master your dog and not let it master you. (on that note the farm dog died yesterday (he always did as he was told, a Border Collie called Fleet ) at the grand old age of 16. The pic shows Anne giving Arnie and Ben a biscuit. It is not a good habit to get into and when Ben comes out with me in a morning the only treat he gets is a pat a stroke and a "good dog".
5th April 2006
One swallow doesn't make a summer, but I saw one this morning. This is very early for this part of England. I texted the R.S.P. B. warden and he replied saying that he had seen 4 the previous evening.
The Widgeon have mainly gone now. Off to Russia and East of Moscow.
17th April 2006
Not much to report of late. Weather still either wet, cold or windy although over the last few days has started to improve. Ben persists in rolling in dog muck so has constant washes. Arnie still with us. He is a powerful dog. He had a go at me the other day but won't do it again. There have been some high tides and someone has broken the flag pole warning of danger.
Seeing different birds of late. Saw some comorants see pic and although Oyster Catchers are always around got a good pic of them in flight.
29th July 2006
Well it is a long time since I have edited this site. Still taking the dog out twice a day but in Summer not much to report. This month has of course been extremely hot.
Just one or two things I have noticed:
1. The samphire (sampi) is returning.
2. Where have all the House Martins gone. Usually diving past you after insects when walking on the marsh
3. The marsh has been re-named by the RSPB to Rimmer's Marsh and Sutton's Marsh.
4. A Pallid Harrier has been seen
5. I noticed a charm of Goldfinches today which suggests that the end of summer is not far away
2nd January 2007
Still dog walking but nothing new


October 2010...... 2 years ago Ihad to give my dog Ben to my son John ....I am no longer well enough to look after him.