Happy Valley

Today, after another long day of work, not doing what I had hoped to be doing, I was feeling a little tired and frazzled.

So I went to Happy Valley.

For tree lovers living on a group of islands with virtually no trees, Happy Valley is a quiet oasis, where there is a lush green ceiling above you , a burn winding its way through white and purple flowers, old stone ruins, new stone sculpture, all combining to transport you, in an almost Alice in Wonderland like way, to another world.

Perfect for soothing a slightly grumpy Lorna.

Stronsay

Next day, next island. After a brief couple of hours in Kirkwall, I was back on a ferry and heading to Stronsay. I seem to be taking a lot of pictures of beaches but when there are beaches such as these, why not? A barefoot wander along one of them in the evening, a rest before work and a ferry to catch at ten past nine the next morning.

Eday

Last Sunday I went to Eday for the first time. It was a lovely evening, the boat journey I spent outside looking for orca as there have been a few reports in the seas around Orkney recently - but no luck. It's very different to alot of the islands - it's mostly moorland with a bit of farmland around the coast. It was smaller than I expected so work didn't take too long. It also has some beautiful beaches. In the morning I got the chance to go on a walk and do some bird watching - red throated divers, shelduck, Arctic terns, bonxies to name a few.

London Bay

Papay and Westray

I couldn't stay away from Papay very long. It was lovely being back, even if it was only for one night. I took the big ferry up to Westray and then the Golden Mariana to Papay. It was a lovely day, I visited the reserve, had a wander to the beach and then got on with some work! The next day I managed to squeeze in a visit to Wednesdays coffee morning. -every Wednesday there is a coffee morning in the local church, the doctor also visits on a Wednesday, so you can wait for your appointment with a cake. Visitors and islanders gather to have a blether and enjoy a coffee and some home bakes all in the name of charity. Chocolate brownies, carrot cake, banana cake, pancakes ... the list goes on. A bit more work to do and it was time to head to Westray.

Wheelie's Taing - a tidal pool at North Wick beach

Looking south down Papay from the coastguard hut

Back to Westray on the Golden Mariana, pitched the tent at the camp site and then it started raining and didn't stop. All night. No good for corncrakes. Nor me in a tent. On the bright side, as it was a Wednesday, the newly opened chip shop was open and I had a very good dinner (the fish is meant to be amazing - scallops and chips are an option on the menu). Not the healthiest days food I admit but it certainly hit the spot.

Flowers

The first day of the survey season arrived (20th May) and so did a very lovely bunch of flowers from Libi. Thankyou! :)

Shapinsay and Sanday

For the first night of the corncrake surveys (corncrake surveys are done between midnight and 3 o'clock in the morning) I went out to Shapinsay. As Shapinsay is quite small I decided that it would be a good idea to cycle, as I would hear more. I caught the small ferry from Kirkwall, visited the RSPB reserve on the island and rested until it was time to work. 25ish miles later I was slightly tired. To say the least.

Later that day I headed to Sanday for the next night's work. A slightly larger ferry, quite a bit larger island and the car this time. And the first trip out for my new tent.

Sanday's name is very descriptive. Although Papa Westray (and others) have lovely sandy beaches - Sanday has the sandy beaches of Orkney, the island is practically just beach after connecting beach. It is also the Island of Rabbits. I was quite surprised how much I liked Sanday although it is a bit flat for my liking and you don't really get the views across to other islands like you do in other places but beautiful none the less.

It's not obvious on this photo but the lighthouse is stripey - black and white vertical stripes!

The next few nights proved frustrating work wise - too much rain and wind for corncrake surveys but then the weather improved and next islands beckoned.