Archipelago 2

On the one island above them all

August 11th

The weather was pretty foul on our second day on Unst. A walk before everyone else was up took Barry and me off down the damp lanes leading vaguely west. Meadow pipits were everywhere - and swallows and bonxies over the hillside. Here's a damp meadow pipit... Meadow Pipit

...and a few bonxie shots. Bonxie Bonxie Bonxie

These greylags were very wary - probably genuine wild geese. Greylags Sign near Saxa Vord Saxa Vord was once an RAF base and the local roads still feature a few vestiges of that era.

The group visited the boat museum and the craft centre before going swimming at the sports centre. I took this shot of a mural in the boat museum as I really liked the atmosphere it replicated of times past. Mural Unst Boat Haven, Haroldswick While the gang was swimming Barry and I went for another drizzle walk. The wild angelica plants can be very attractive. Wild Angelica I saw the diminutive devil's bit scabious everywhere. Devil's-bit Scabious Hooded crows seem to elude me photographically and getting a really good flight shot is tricky [for me at least!]. Here's an attempt. Hooded Crow This young rabbit seemed mesmerised by the rain.

Rabbit A lone bonxie flew past us against the backdrop of purple heather.

Bonxie Outside the sports centre common gulls were lazing on the soccer pitch. Common Gull Common Gull

Before we left we spotted a couple of rock doves - one landed in a field nearby. It was very nervous and I photographed it crouching behind a stone wall. I mean I was crouching. Rock doves rarely crouch. Rock Dove, Unst

August 12th

Mainland

Just as the UK calls its principal island 'the mainland' on occasion, so too does Shetland. Not just a part of Scotland, Shetland clearly has aspirations!

Transfer day. We took the two ferries back south to Lerwick. Whilst waiting for the Belmont [Unst to Yell] ferry I watched fulmars in the old quarry by the car park. A tiny abandoned quarry yards from the sea, you can get really close. Unfortunately shutter speeds in the poor light and rain didn't help but here's a couple: I just love fulmars. There may be more later! Fulmar Fulmar

The ferries are frequent and you normally don't need to book. There are a few crossings that are marked pre-booked only as the ferry won't run if no-one has pre-booked. We always had little time to wait. Here's the small Unst to Yell ferry that thinks it's really huge! Unst ferry

Eventually we settled in at the wonderful Islesburgh House Hostel. I wandered down to  the port [after Tesco shopping. They get everywhere!]. I was astonished to see a cruise ship off the harbour. This boat is just a shadow compared to the Unst ferry. After all, it's named the Celebrity Silhouette! [What a daft name for a ship!] Lerwick Cruise Ship

A few black guillemots were about but not as close as I hoped.

Black Guillemot

August 13th: Sumburgh!

A day to remember...

We drove South to Sumburgh and parked half way up the steep climb. For me the climb was a killer. In more ways than one. Beware opening times in Shetland! Everything of a tourist nature seems to start at 11am or, if you're lucky, 10.30. Perhaps its all to do with 'simmer dim' and late nights drinking and waiting for the sun to set just before dawn!

We hung around in the mist. I guess Barry was concerned the mist would never clear. He needn't have worried. Barry  I enjoyed the fulmars once the mist began to clear but here's a few in the mist.

Fulmar Fulmar Leaning over the precipitous [i.e. steep! Why use a short word when there's an under-used long one lying idle?] cliff, I spotted to my amazement a rabbit. When I got home I realised there were two of them. I wonder how many fall off? Rabbit This damp but very smart blackbird was also on the cliff face. Sumburgh Blackbird We had a coffee and then the sun shone, the mists were rolled up and stashed away. The fulmars came out to play... Fulmar Fulmar ...and pose... Fulmar ...and gossip about the neighbours! Fulmar A late youngster.

Fulmar Suddenly the cry went up from 'Hawkeye' Barry. 'Here be whales!'*

Here they be... Orca Or is it just a black triangle?

Orca There she blows! 2 whales. Killer whales! Orca Orca Orca Above: 3 whales! Orca Orca We went to the beautiful West Voe beach with its turquoise waters. Almost Caribbean... Tombolo At the north end, away from all the humans I found some waders. Sanderling. Sanderling Sanderling Waders' meeting. 'Hello! Doctor Turnstone, I presume!' Sanderling & Turnstone Turnstone Sorry folks! it's time for another break. How else will we ever get rid of all this ice cream?

Intermission

Archipelago 3 will follow soon