Tuesday 17th December 2019...
Just after dawn, on the island of Westray, a bright and calm day of unexpected Winter sunshine.
Wednesday 18th December 2019...
Lunchtime, investigating the dragonfly pools up Wee Fea on the island of Hoy. Ice and frost and an 'interesting' journey for the van.
Friday 20th December 2019...
After a 'lumpy' overnight ferry trip to Shetland, I arrived in Lerwick before dawn. The weather was not as benign as in Orkney, and although it is now milder, the damp air seems to extract all the heat from my body as soon as I step outside. Travelling around the town, I am constantly reminded that this is Mad Friday, with shoppers and commuters dashing to and fro in a soulless pursuit of frantic festiveness. The heavy clouds overhead mean that, even at midday, the atmosphere is dark and foreboding, typified by a trip to a supermarket where the aisles are full of jostling trolleys, whilst the car park and roads are seething with short-temperedness. As I navigate my way back to my car on foot, I notice that on a tiny patch of grass, surrounded on all sides by unforgiving tarmac, austere paving, growling cars, wobbling trolleys and determined humans, there is wildlife here. A single bird, a wader, is trying to ignore the melee and is busy searching the ground for food. It is a Turnstone, making itself as small and dull as possible to escape attention. I, along with the other shoppers and cars, pass within a few feet of it, and I know that if I stop to watch it, the bird will take fright and flee. I content myself with watching from the corner of my eye as I wander by, marvelling at the creature's bravery (or desperation) to look for food in such a desolate spot. As I join the traffic queue to exit the car park, I circumnavigate the patch of grass again, glimpsing once more the little bit of wildness bringing hope to a dystopian nightmare. In a weird sort of Pavlovian response, I reason that I must now find a cafe and some cake.
Saturday 21st December 2019...
Back home once more, the sun sets behind the rooftops of Hurtiso Farm, marking the southerly extent of its voyage along the western horizon. In the fading light of dusk, the mountains of Morven and Ben Klibreck are softly silhouetted.
Sunday 22nd December 2019...
Lunchtime, it's midday on Midwinter's Day. The low sunlight picks out features in the landscape. More s-oil-stice than solstice.
At this turning point of the year, may I take this opportunity to wish you all the best for festive frolics with family and friends.
6 comments:
Amazing Turnstone. Hope he found food. Have a good celebration. See you on the other side :) B
In a week of few wildlife moments, it really cheered me up. Our weather is set to remain dry and calm (I know!), so we're hoping to be out and about a bit more.
Wompum! I've climbed Ben Klibreck twice and would never have believed that Tense Towers was visible from the trig point. We send you our very best wishes from North Uist.
Oh yeah, now I remember, you said you'd be in the north west for Crimble. We hope you're having a great time!
Some fantastic sunset pictures in this post and love the play on words re the winter s-oil-stice, very good.
Merry festive frolics to you and your family too.
All the best, Alyson. Wishing you and yours a happy 2020.
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