Here and there...

Last night my friend and I were busy moving Märta from Gremista marina in Lerwick up to Voe. We couldn't have had a much worse evening with constant wind and rain. Still, we got her onto her new birth up at Voe with no bother, but we were glad of the chance to dry out and warm up in The Pier Head Inn over a pint and some food afterwards...

Today the weather has been much better and while I was out and about I took a few photos. Here's a couple of mute swans near Quarff where I had my dinner...

There were plenty of other birds there too with oyster catchers, turnstones, swallows and a couple of seals in the bay.

Further south near Boddam were a number of ponies with their foals along the roadside. I took some photos of a couple of them. Very cute...
 

And down at Sumburgh Head for all most of the puffins were out at sea some were still about like this one doing a bit of house work...

They're probably photographed into a daze, but you can see why they're so popular...

And here's a short video of a couple doing their puffiny thing...

It's nearly the weekend and we've got no plans other than may be have some friends round for a laugh watching the Eurovision Song Contest, but I'm sure we'll be out somewhere...

A few pretty birdies...

I was out the other day round Eswick and Ling Ness and the birdies were all geared up for the summer. The fulmars were on nests like this one siting pretty...

The black guillemots were either on the sea or lining up on the ledges on the cliffs...

And there was plenty more bird life I didn't capture well like the great northern diver just off shore, arctic terns fishing and the curlews, or perhaps whimbrels that I never seem to get near. I did get near some of the wheatears that were flitting about on the banks and walls though.

Mr Wheatear...

Mrs Wheatear...

I passed a couple of otter holts on the walk too. I never saw any, but they still looked active so I know a few places to go back to one good day.

I'm still pretty shattered after a busy week last week so the mixed weather has been a bit of a blessing. It'll be an exciting day tomorrow though as our boat Märta is getting lifted to a new berth at Voe. She had her mast and rigging over hauled, been anti-fouled and a number of other jobs in readiness for the move. Once we're there the western coast of Shetland will be at our finger tips and that will be exciting for a summers sailing!

Sea birds and Seals; a fantastic trip on the Dunter III

Clare and I got the chance of a trip on the Dunter III from Lerwick around Bressay and Noss at short notice, luckily Beren was having a sleep over and party at his friends so we were doubly lucky to get the trip and time to ourselves.

It was a stunning day when we set off for what is around a 3 hour trip looking at seabirds, seals and the impressive cliffs of Bressay and Noss. Here's a video of the trip...

First stop was a bunch of grey seals near Shetland Catch...

Heading out of the north mouth we stopped at a few skerries and small islands to see what was about.

Shags...

Terns...

 

 Some common seals this time...

The distinctive head of a grey seal popped up nearby too...

And as well as various gulls there were Eiders, or Dunters which the boat is named after...

 As we headed around the back of Bressay we could see Noss in the distance...

 Near the entrance to Noss Sound we saw some more common seals hauled out...

And were followed by a few Bonxies...

 In the shelter of the sound we stopped for a cuppa in sight of the warden's house on Noss...
 

They have a lovely beach...

Round at the cliffs of Noss the birds were very active...

There were groups of guillemots on the water and the cliffs...

Various gulls, black guillemots, shags, razor bills and even the odd puffin, but the bird that impresses most here is the gannet...

 

 

 

They even bring you flowers!

Then it was a dash across to The Bard on Bressay...

 

The Bard...

And below it The Giant's Leg...

And on past the Bressay Light at Kirkabister...

It was a fantastic trip out and many thanks to my friend Tom who was skippering and doing a great job.