Kirkwall is the principal town in the Orkney Islands. It is famous for the anchorage in Scapa Flow where the German U Boat commander Gunther Prein penetrated the harbour defenses and sank the battleship Royal Oak at the opening of WW II. Most of the wildlife is found on the surrounding islands.
On the car ferry to Westrey
Around 6:00 am there's a mass exodus back to the ocean.
This northwest point of Westrey drops 250 feet abruptly into the sea. Seemingly perpetual winds create endless soaring conditions for sea birds.
Juveniles have spotted plumage
Seemingly loads of space..
Pruning on the fly
Sea thrift wild flowers add splashes of color in early spring
An all-day jam session at the Stromness Hotel...
A fabulous folk group from Quebec who stole the show!
...that reaches into the wee hours of the morning.
Neolithic structure on the west coast of the Orkney mainland, Dates from around 3180 BC, before the Egyptians built the pyramids.
The center of neolithic Orkney
Lerwick is the principal town of the Shetland Islands which lie to the north of the Orkneys. It is the jump off point to the islands that stretch into the North Sea like stepping stones.
Sumburgh head is the southernmost point of the principal Island. All kinds of seabirds concentrate there. It's a sight that should not be missed.
Atlantic Puffins populate abandoned rabbit burrows at the crest of the cliffs.with some competition
Some Puffins just enjoy the sun and the Sea Thrift gardens
At the base of Sumburgh Head
Noss Island is a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) reserve. It is reached by ferry from Lerwick to Bressay, then by rubber dinghy across the channel. The island is uninhabited except for the RSPB hut and is a paradise for wildlife.
Steep climb to the refuge
A rare day when the sun shines and the wind doesn't blow
With severe halitosis...
A relentless predator of the far North
The bird is also called a "bonxie" because it attacks humans. The remedy is to wave a walking stick above your head to ward it off.
Cruising Noss Island
Possibly a Common Tern. They are beautiful when captured in flight from the cover of an RSPB blind.
Exploring the Fetlar moors
Unst is the farthest north island in the Shetlands, The most northerly point of Britain is the Muckle Flugga Lighthouse. The Arctic Skua has a white collar and grey plumage
Make yourself at home - there are no buses...
on Unst
Britain ends here
Fair Isle lies between the Orkney and Shetland Islands. It reached by air or ferry from Lerwick and has a permanent population of around 35 souls. There is a bird observatory and guest house that keeps track of migrant birds, many blown off-course by the incessant winds. The guest house was upgraded in 2009.
Puffins are a major attraction from May to mid-August when they return to the ocean for the winter months
The island population turns out to see a Great Reed Warbler migrant blown off course..
Heligoland traps (from the German island of the same name) are large funnel traps made of wire mesh to capture birds for study and banding. There are many of these traps on the Island checked frequently by resident ornithologists.
The box on the left holds the trapped bird.
Checking the bird trap (top right)can be a climbing challenge for an ornithologist (bottom left)
Traps can be built into natural sheltered features like this gully.
Be flexible. If Sheep Rock is not visible by noon, you may be in for an extended stay
The north and south lighthouses on the island were built by David and Charles Stevenson, relatives of the prolific and famous author Robert Louis Stevenson.
Note the American ensign and the San Francisco registry. Many travelers on the North Sea stop at Fair Isle. The "Good Shepherd" ferry is moored in the background.