Another fabulous photo trip with Kev Morgans. This time it was photographing puffins in Shetland. I started off with the ferry then the bus to Aberdeen. Stayed at the Siberia Bar & Hotel which was walking distance from the bus station. I had the whole day on Tuesday to look around Aberdeen. Luckily I was able to leave my luggage at the ferry terminal. I spent the day at Footdee (Fittie) a historic former fishing village near Aberdeen Harbour. I then walked along the beach before some shopping a the mall near the ferry.
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| Footdee |
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| Cat happy to pose |
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| Cat not happy to pose |
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| Porpoise from the beach |
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| wind turbine blades |
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The ferry to Shetland
After a fairly comfortable journey to Shetland I arrived safely. Luckily for me Kev was on the ferry too and we had breakfast in Lerwick before he gave me a lift to the Sumburgh hotel. We stopped off at the lookout by the lighthouse first and spotted Risso dolphins. After lunch I had a wander around Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse settlement which is right by the hotel then made my way back up to the lighthouse. |
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| Jarlshof |
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| Sumburgh airport |
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| The lighthouse in the distance |
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| Fog stops flights |
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| A Shetland puffin |
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| Sailing in the fog |
I had met Claudia and Lindsay at the lighthouse in the morning. Met Richard that evening. Andy was supposed to have landed that morning but was delayed until the afternoon. The plane made it over to Sumburgh Head but was unable to land. Would have been fine before Brexit but the UK would not join the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) so we have loads of cancellations due to foggy weather. We took the 2 1/2 hour ferry trip to Fair Isle the next day arriving at 2pm. After a short rest we were out making images of puffins.
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| Good Shepherd IV |
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| Goodbye to Sumburgh head |
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| Hello to Fair Isle |
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| The Bird Observatory |
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| One of the many rabbits |
The next morning we went along with inspection of the traps. Unfortunately only one chiffchaff was caught. Went back to see her weighted and measured then let free.
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| checking there is enough body fat |
We walked over to the North lighthouse to make some more images of puffins and view the gannet colony.
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| Gannet colony |
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| Fulmar |
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| Behind the furthest arch is where we were for the sunrise and sunset shoots |
In the afternoon we were back in front of the Bird Observatory. As it was raining Kev had a good place to view the puffins against a darker background. Andy had finally joined us for lunch so our group was complete.
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| oops |
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| Of course some icm |
On Saturday we walked over to the South lighthouse and visited the shop. Met some artic terns. Had to hurry back for lunch. The meals at the observatory were amazing so you didn't want to miss them.
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| Oyster catchers |
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| Eider ducks |
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| Artic tern |
Kev, Sue (from Melbourne) and I went for a dip in the bay. Around 14 degrees so warm for me. Then after dinner it was out for our first proper sunset.
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| Puffin fight |
Up at 3 am on Sunday for the sunrise shoot. Luckily we were able to sleep from 5 am to 8 am before another delicious breakfast.
After breakfast we walked back towards the north lighthouse to see the great Skuas (bonxies).
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| Warning Kev and Claudia |
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| Dunlin |
A rest in the afternoon and another dip in the bay. Then it was another sunset shoot.
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| Coming to anchor at Fair Isle |
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| Shetland sheep |
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| A little breezy |
Another 3 am start and then another morning after breakfast for the last images of puffins.
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| Lindsay |
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| Bonxie waiting for a puffin meal |
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| grooming |
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| Claudia |
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| The Fair Isle plane from Tingwall |
We were given a lift to see Marie, the Fair Isle weaver's studio. Marie was showing her students from the Fair Isle knitting group shearing. We walked back.
Back on the ferry the next day and then I had a lift to Lerwick from Kev. Luggage at the ferry terminal then a wander around the town. Another uneventful journey back. I had to wait awhile for the bus to Inverness but was lucky enough to catch one an hour earlier. Then another bus to Ullapool and ferry back to Lewis. It was a wonderful trip with a good group and Kev was as usual an attentive coach and showed us all the good locations. He made sure we all achieved the images we wanted.
I am off to Australia later in August. Hopefully making images of the wild flowers in Western Australia before joining my sister's family in Brisbane.
