9th-16th August

August 26, 2016 • 78 Comments

Archipelago 1

To the islands above all others...

August 9th

We left York early morning on the train to Aberdeen: 6 students and 3 adults on a trip to Shetland with the school where I once pretended to work. The same trip as four years ago [in the blog back issues August 2012] but staying in different places.

August 10th

After a trouble free 14 hour crossing we were approaching Lerwick in the early morning. Fulmars and gannets escorted us. [All photos on this trip with either 150-500 Sigma or my iphone!] Gannet Gannet Fulmar Fulmar Fulmar Fulmar Fulmar Fulmar Passing Sumburgh Head: we would be there later on during the week!

Sumburgh Head, Shetland Nearing Lerwick we passed Bressay lighthouse on Kirkabister Ness.
Bressay Bressay The first ferry of the day was crossing the sound to bring Bressay residents to work in Lerwick. Bressay ferry Lerwick. Lerwick Lerwick We drove north in our hired minibus across Mainland, then a short ferry crossing to Yell and then finally another ferry to Unst. After Checking in to our accommodation at Saxa Vord we had provisions to buy. We stopped off at the viking longboat, the Skidbladner, a full size replica of the Gokstad ship, found in a burial mound in Norway in 1880. Skidbladner Skidbladner - Viking longboat

Copies of Viking carvings on the prow.
Skidbladner - Viking longboat

Autumn gentian near the shop at Baltasound... Autumn gentian ...plus an obligatory Shetland pony. Shetland Pony

It was a glorious day weather-wise and we visited two wonderful beaches: Skaw and Norwick.

Skaw

Great skuas everywhere although I think most people happily call them Bonxies. Bonxie Bonxie Bonxie Bonxie Bonxie Bonxie Eider with ducklings along the shoreline. Eider Eider Eider Eider Eider Eider Eider Eider Arctic terns on the rocks. Nice juvenile. Arctic Tern We disturbed some sanderlings.

Dunlin Dunlin Dunlin Dunlin

Walking up round the headland I spotted Barry. To tell the truth I spotted his socks first. Barry Barry A very young fledgling wheatear was on the beach. Wheatear juvenile Shags were on the rocks and seemed unconcerned by my approach. Shag Shag Shag Shag Impressive views. Lunda Wick Yacht off Unst The group walked back to the beach before we drove round to Norwick beach. Lunda Wick walk

Norwick

Gannets were seen at both beaches plunge diving. I spent quite a while trying to catch the action! Gannet Gannet The next sequence is all of the same plunge dive. Like a missile! Gannet Gannet Gannet Gannet Gannet Gannet Gannet Gannet Gannet Gannet Gannet Gannet Gannet Gannet

Archipelago 2

will follow after the Intermission

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