Lorna at North Hill

Tuesday, 1 June 2010

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.

Saturday, 29 May 2010

A summer of islands

One of the many fanatastic things about living and working in Orkney is the chance to get to visit amazing islands, each with their own individual character. Sometimes places where not many people get a chance to visit. Earlier this year I visited Hoy, Westray and Papa Westray. At the beginning of May I got the chance to go to Copinsay again.... a beautiful day, great birds and a rather slippery walk out to Corn Holm and Black Holm, with a chance to see the rare oyster plant. A magical place.

Looking back to Corn Holm and Copinsay from Black Holm

The bay infront of Copinsay House, looking towards the Holms

Black Holm from Corn Holm with the Mainland behind

Oyster plant

Since then I've visited Swona and Pentland Skerries both very different islands, now uninhabited. Swona is green with small cliffs and a slightly eerie abandoned village. Pentland Skerries is a flat rock covered in grassy hummocks - difficult walking! It also has a lighthouse. Both with seabird colonies. However, I don't have any photos as my camera needed a new memory card ...

I have have been to other islands since then and am soon to go to more but more about them later...