Category: April

Part 26 sharing a fortnight of daily treks down and around Whaligoe Steps, Caithness, which is an additional blog entry to the ongoing ‘Whaligoe Steps 365’ challenge which began on May 1st, 2023.

From Monday, April 15th, up to and including Sunday, April 28th, 2024, this blog entry hopes to share photographs of highlights captured around this remarkable bit of Scottish coastline, and incorporating wee video clips too.

Previous blog entry – April Full of Primrose Promise and So Much More! – Whaligoe Eye (April 1st, 2024 up to and including April 14th, 2024)

A blog entry was published recapping all my fortnightly trekking experiences, it can be viewed here – Recap Magic for a Second Time! – Whaligoe Eye

By the time I publish this blog entry, I’ll have tackled three hundred and sixty four consecutive days of exploring, documenting and experiencing the region directly relating to Whaligoe Steps.

Above is a clip of an oystercatcher, a seabird that has been challenging for me to photograph since beginning the whaligoeeye.co.uk website. So fleeting when perched on rocks, they hop around, poke the landscape in search of food, but nevertheless seem so restless and camera-shy.

April 15th, 2024: Birds were the highlight during this fortnight, as different species began settling on the ledges and in the North Sea. Below, I captured some razorbill swimming around just off the coastline, plus a fulmar is pleasantly relaxed on a rocky ledge and enjoying some sunshine.

April 16th, 2024: With tides shimmering and the weather certainly calming down, there’s been more nautical activity out to sea. Also below, a pied wagtail (Motacilla alba) skips on the pavement at the top of Whaligoe Steps enjoying some sunny spells.

April 17th, 2024: One of the resident rabbits bathed in the glow of some morning sun, while in another part of this coastal community a pair of fulmars communicate with each other.

April 18th, 2024: After another April shower, primrose and fulmar added their presence to a hopeful and rustic landscape.

April 19th, 2024: Shag (Gulosus aristotelis) gather nesting materials, razorbill (Alca torda) looks out to sea and a dramatic sky of cloud smothers hints of sunnier weather.

April 20th, 2024: The Whaligoe Steps waterfall…

April 21st, 2024: A clip looking out from the Bink (grassy platform at the base of the six flights of zig-zagging stone steps). The North Sea which hosts Beatrice wind farm, located just over eight miles from the mainland coastline.

April 22nd, 2024: Signs that spring have truly landed on Earth. Below, is a sighting of a baby bunny.

In the evening of April 22nd, the moon caught my eye.

April 23rd, 2024: A young seagull checks out the view as marsh buttercups blossom.

Like the night before, moon and clouds danced in the dark skies above Whaligoe steps.

April 24th, 2024: Seabirds put on a show during this particular morning trek.

Black guillemot (Cepphus grylle) beside a rusty relic, eider duck (Somateria mollissima) – female is brown, male with black and white plumage – out and about on the silky sea. Finally in this feathered gallery is the distinctive oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus).

April 25th, 2024: Slightly blinded by the glare of the sun, I was perched on a large rock on the pebble shore looking out across the shimmering sea… Keep watching, there’s a surprise on the horizon.

April 26th, 2024: Temperatures were a little low during this daily trek challenge, despite it being late April. Yet almost despite the chilled ambience, the sun relented. Below is another lovely sky photograph and one of my favourite dandelion sightings.

On this specific Friday morning trek, while I stood on the shoreline perusing the landscape I took the moment to film a panning clip of the shallow cave ending it with a distant shot of the Bink.

April 27th, 2024: Primrose and sunshine during a breezy Saturday morning.

April 28th, 2024: Waves were well-paced on the sea this Sunday morning, plus abundant seabirds still arriving and settling on the rocky ledges.

Beautiful cloud too…

One more blog entry to summarise and complete this epic challenge will be forthcoming, a whole three hundred and sixty five or more days of walking down or/and around Whaligoe Steps.

Changing of the seasons has been most insightful, the physicality of walking up and down the steps has been quite an experience, witnessing the natural highlights and those storms which battered the United Kingdom were ferocious at times.

Above is a close-up of hailstones from the morning of April 25th. Funny how the sunshine has been so present between April showers, yet the temperatures plunged to such low degrees that hail made an appearance.

Thank you as always for your time and support, your kindness and for being You.

FACEBOOK: Whaligoe Eye | Lybster | Facebook

X (Formerly TWITTER): (2) Whaligoe Eye (@WhaligoeEye) / X (twitter.com)

X (Formerly TWITTER – GARY): (2) Gary (✌🙄 busy) (@floodland08) / X (twitter.com)

EMAIL: WhaligoeEye@gmail.com

Link to what has been achieved thus far with my ‘Whaligoe Steps 365’ challenge – Recap Magic for a Second Time! – Whaligoe Eye (May 1st, 2023 up to and including March 31st, 2024)

Salutations, time for Part 25 documenting my attempts of daily treks down and around Whaligoe Steps, covering the fortnight of April 1st, 2024, up to and including April 14th, 2024…

What a wonderful couple of weeks here in Caithness, complete with plenty of April showers, a solar eclipse, daffodils, primroses and more unveiling signs of spring this year.

April 1st, 2024: With the tide out, I took the opportunity to snap a photograph of the shallow cave (far left) and before you reach it, the pebble shoreline.

April 2nd, 2024: Whilst observing the varied forms of daffodil around Whaligoe Steps, I began to research them a little. Apparently there are 36 species of daffodil, and over 26,000 cultivated varieties!

April 3rd, 2024: The Whaligoe Steps waterfall was entertaining during this fortnight. (Mute your volume as the gusty weather plays havoc with the noise!)

Below, I captured a wee video clip of the wind challenging the flow of water as it descends two hundred and fifty feet.

April 4th, 2024: Waves on the North Sea are so expressive and varied in shape and texture.

April 5th, 2024: Captured during my daily trek, below is a primrose of which many are seen down and around Whaligoe Steps. These splashes of natural beauty and colour, really bring an ambience that spring has truly settled here.

The other photograph shows the descent on to the Bink which at the time of this blog entry remains muddy with wear and tear. With the rainfall over this period, the surface of the Bink was certainly a challenge due to the slippery surface.

April 6th, 2024: Another blustery video clip for you below. Looking out across the North Sea, wave watching.

April 7th, 2024: I recall saying to myself “Hello yellow” as the sporadic appearance of dandelion, buttercup, daffodil and primrose all broke up the rustic charm of the local landscape.

April 8th, 2024: Several mornings during these two weeks I found myself squinting due to the glare of the sun. On this particular trek, I was greeted with just such an outcome.

April 8th, 2024 (in Missouri): My gratitude goes out to a kind contribution from a fan of this humble blogging website, who sent me their photograph of the solar eclipse witnessed in America on this day.

It was only a partial sighting here in the United Kingdom, but as you can see below, it must have been quite an experience to witness such a cosmic event from Mexico to the eastern tip of Canada.

The next partial solar eclipse where about thirty to forty percent will be viewable from the United Kingdom is due on March 29th, 2025.

April 9th, 2024: April showers caught for posterity, creating a subtle waterfall down Whaligoe Steps.

April 10th, 2024: Below are two photographs representing typical highlights of this past fortnight. One is the landfall which is showing many signs of new growth and life despite the landscape changing due to recent storms these past few months.

The other is the presence of seabirds which are populating the rocky ledges of the cliffs here. Thus far, sightings of black guillemots, great black-backed gulls, oystercatchers, herring gulls, fulmars, shags and even razorbills give hope for a busy bird-watching time ahead.

April 11th, 2024: More examples of the coastal feathered activity, plus the winding third flight of Whaligoe Steps.

There are six flights of stone steps here at Whaligoe Steps, each one has a personality. The first three back in 2022 were given a makeover by the stonemason, Charlie Juhlenski.

The fourth, fifth and sixth flights remain a little more rustic and unkempt. During my daily treks I would say that the most demanding one is the fourth, so please be aware and tread carefully as signs of deterioration at the time of this blog entry are evident.

April 12th, 2024: A serene moment of calm ambience as I caught an image of a silhouette negotiating a sunny glare over the North Sea.

April 13th, 2024: During this specific Saturday morning trek, wildlife was restless and enjoying some sunshine.

Wild rabbits can be seen hopping around in various locations around the top of the cliffs here, with of course more seabirds providing some amusement on the ledges. Fulmars below.

April 14th, 2024: This Sunday morning with a backdrop of a shimmering sea, two shags (Gulosus aristotelis) perform in the ambience.

A glaring sun provides torchlight for a new day.

Thank you for your kindness and support up to this point, we’re nearly there!

Here’s that link where I gathered the previous parts of my adventures altogether – Recap Magic for a Second Time! – Whaligoe Eye

I began on May 1st, 2023, tackling the local landscape down and around Whaligoe Steps. Documenting the seasons, weather impact, various storms, coverage of wildlife, birds, flora, and I still feel like I’ve only just scratched the surface. Two more blog entries will complete my ‘Whaligoe Steps 365’ challenge.

It’s been an amazing achievement for so many reasons, and has been a highly demanding and rewarding endeavour. More to follow on all of this. There are plenty of ideas swirling around at Whaligoe Eye HQ.

Take care, stay safe and thank you for being You

FACEBOOK: Whaligoe Eye | Lybster | Facebook

X (Formerly TWITTER): Whaligoe Eye (@WhaligoeEye) / X (twitter.com)

X (Formerly TWITTER – GARY): Gary (✌🙄 busy) (@floodland08) / X (twitter.com)

EMAIL: WhaligoeEye@gmail.com

Welcome to my challenge of venturing down and around Whaligoe Steps for each and every day for an entire year. As my adventures continue, I’m accumulating quite a few photographs and also documenting a lot of activity. Therefore, I felt it only appropriate to provide you with links from my previous blogs…

Here are some links to previous blog entries showcasing my visits from May 1st, 2023, up to and including Sunday, November 12th, 2023…

Enjoy!

New Challenge (Part 1) – Whaligoe Eye

New Challenge (Part 2) – Whaligoe Eye

New Challenge (Part 3) – Whaligoe Eye

New Challenge (Part 4) – Whaligoe Eye

New Challenge (Part 5) – Whaligoe Eye

New Challenge (Part 6) – Whaligoe Eye

Daily Challenge (Part 7) – Whaligoe Eye

Daily Challenge (Part 8) – Whaligoe Eye

Daily Challenge (Part 9) – Whaligoe Eye

Whaligoe Steps 365 (Part 10) – Whaligoe Eye

Whaligoe Steps 365 (Part 11) – Whaligoe Eye

Whaligoe Steps 365 (Part 12) – Whaligoe Eye

Whaligoe Steps 365 (Part 13) – Whaligoe Eye

Whaligoe Steps – Three Hundred and Sixty Five (Part 14) – Whaligoe Eye

The first fourteen blogs covering my daily treks down and around Whaligoe Steps since May 1st, 2023 up to and including November 12th, 2023.

I hope you find it interesting, maybe beautiful and also stimulating. To focus attention on one specific location and watch it evolve and change over the seasons thus far, has proved most intriguing.

Nature continues to share changes and new revelations. I’m currently in the process of sorting two more blogs bringing us up to speed with the calendar as I have successfully maintained my daily treks to this very point in time.

Thank you, only always for dropping by and supporting my endeavours and for being You.

Until the next one, take care and be safe.

FACEBOOK: Whaligoe Eye | Lybster | Facebook

TWITTER (X) – Gary: Gary (@floodland08) / X (twitter.com)

TWITTER (X): Whaligoe Eye (@WhaligoeEye) / X (twitter.com)

EMAIL: WhaligoeEyeToo@gmail.com

A sunrise captured for posterity on the 29th of April, 2023. Not just golden in a visual sense, but an opportunity photographed and shared for what is a blog touching on historic postcards. Postcards regarding this coastline of the Highlands of Scotland, and the fishing industry which celebrated the ‘herring fisheries’ in a big way around the latter part of the 1700s.

Here, overlooking the area along the top of the Whaligoe Steps, not only am I going to share some postcards but I will also share some poetry and an update about some painted stones which I hid around the Steps. Thank you for your time, it’s always appreciated.

No writing on the other side of the above postcard, but it’s a personal favourite showing a sample of the culture. “A Scotch Fisher Lassie”. During the research for my batch of postcards, the number in the bottom left hand corner is identified as a series number, not a date.

This John O’ Groats postcard was sent to Gosport, Hampshire (England), and stamped by the local Post Office in 1929. John O’ Groats is a 31 minute drive (23 miles) from Whaligoe Steps according to ‘Google Maps’.

Another favourite is this postcard of Keiss Castle, posted to Bognor Regis (England) back in 1906. According to ‘Google’ it is a 20 minute drive from Whaligoe Steps to Keiss, which covers a distance of just over 14 miles.

The above postcard provides a glorious hint of the Wick Harbour area, enthusiastic with sea-going activity. Sadly, the year isn’t visible on the other side of the ‘card, but the address it was posted to resided on the Orkney Isles.

As a sample of my ever-growing collection of postcards, I wish to share this last one for now which showcases Wick Harbour (now known as ‘Wick Marina’). What looks like a clock on a building to the left of the above postcard as you look at it, has been identified as a barometer and it’s still there at the time of this blog entry.

Thanks to a gentleman via the Whaligoe Eye Facebook platform, he advised of a tragedy which became known as ‘Black Saturday’ (1848), where a calm night of fishing turned into a deadly storm. As a result of the following enquiry a barometer was installed.

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Recently, Stuart Matthews assembled some fabulous poetry from a community via the Twitter social media platform again, and I am thrilled to say I had two poems included among these talented souls.

‘Weave Words Within Waves’ is now available from all good book retail sources, and is known as the sixth release in his ‘Instant Eternal’ series.

I try to craft and share a poem once a day as often as I can via Twitter, and enjoy reading other contributions daily. These recent poems generally have a photograph I’ve taken included, to provide a context or art-related addition. Here are two of my recent poems which I shared with poetry enthusiasts during April, 2023…

“Like a Flower”

When sooner
meets
later
In poems
on
paper

Are you dawn,
where hope’s
reborn?

Are you day,
come what
may?

Are you dusk,
when needs
must?

Are you night,
losing
light?

Manifest moments
to make all
four
Like a flower writes
verses here on
the floor

The above photo was taken in my garden on the 14th of April, and the poem was crafted on the same day.

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“Ocean Wide”

Like gazing at
an ocean
wide
You seek a truth
that’s not
denied

To forgive when
heart so
blue
Would mean a
sacrifice from
you

What lengths
would you
go
To catch that
falling
star?

When you’ve
grown these
wings
In the near to
reach so
far

The above poem and photograph date to April 11th, 2023.

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During the 17th of April, 2023, one of the neighbours dropped by to assist with some stone-painting. Decorating stones and pebbles with all manner of designs proved both therapeutic and fun for all concerned. Some of these stones are pictured below, and I hid them in various locations dotted around Whaligoe Steps.

Painting these small rocks always provides entertainment in not only the creative process, but also hiding them, and then finding out where they went to. One specific painted stone proved popular and I was notified yesterday (April 30th) that it had made the journey back to Malta!!!

The painted stone you see above keeping the radiant primrose company, was on April 18th, 2023. It was relocated several times and then disappeared. Well, to know it landed in Malta is a lovely surprise, and I thank you for sharing your update and thank you for being You.

As it says on the stone, “Let love sparkle”

I ended up taking a lot of nature-themed photographs throughout April around Whaligoe Steps, and here are just a few I wish to share with you…

As the season is upon us for visitors, nature and adventure, I’ll be adding more blog posts soon.

Until next time, thank you as always for your time and kindness. Sending you positive wishes.

FACEBOOK: (1) Whaligoe Eye | Lybster | Facebook

TWITTER: (5) Whaligoe Eye (@WhaligoeEye) / Twitter

TWITTER (Gary): Gary (@floodland08) / Twitter

YOUTUBE: Whaligoe Eye – YouTube

EMAIL: WhaligoeEye@gmail.com

Did you hear my teeth chattering and feel a wee tremble as the cold wrestled with the tips of my fingers? Well, this cold time of year has now faded away to unveil Easter celebrations and splashes of Spring, but here at Whaligoe Steps there’s been plenty going on since my last blog entry.

Join me if you will, to witness some beautiful Winter-themed photography of this picturesque area from several days in December ’22 and March ’23…

Living beside the North Sea means the winds bite with a bitter temperature, and most often tend to be the reason for lack of snow. Whilst watching/listening to the weather forecast, they speak of more inland areas receiving generous snowfall, but here on the coastline it’s a little less commonplace.

The photos above hopefully share an ambience and an idea of how this area looks when the snow does actually drop by and hang around for a day or two.

There’s a region where a landfall tucks itself away in a corner once you reach the base of Whaligoe Steps, which during these colder experiences showcases stunning icicles. I’ve included two photographs of this for your perusal.

One of the images above is a new ‘toy’ which arrived during the Festive period. A glass orb which creates some interesting photographs like an arty lens. Here are a couple more which I like, but I’m still experimenting with the globe.

I won’t bore you with events and activities which have been taking place over the past few months, but I will share with you that I’ve been collecting old postcards with connections to this rustic and ever-changing coastline. In fact, at the time of this blog it’s Easter weekend, so here’s an example of an old postcard which showcases celebrations of Easter back in 1914. If you’re pondering over the journey this specific postcard took I can tell you that it was sent from the U.S.A. to England back in the day.

Let’s not get caught up too much in that detour, as a blog will be forthcoming about old postcards.

It is April, 2023… This means the season of sunrise and daffodils is upon us. Here are some photographs embracing these enchanting sights.

The residential car park here at Whaligoe Steps has been getting busier since April 1st, and there are evidently more visitors during the ‘quiet time’ of the year (November – February) when temperatures have dropped and folk are recovering from the turning of a new year and Christmas festivities. The reputation of this area continues to reach more and more curious minds.

Remember, if you encounter the congestion or any frustrations regarding lack of facilities, infrastructure-related issues, that the Highland Council have announced they’re investing a tourist-based funding of £90,000 at some point over the next five years. This will definitely benefit visitors and residents alike.

(Residential car park at Whaligoe Steps, April 8th, 2023…)

On November 11th, 2022, I took these photographs of a Highland Council approved sign which can be seen here on the verge of the residential car parking facilities.

Naturally, when it gets very busy here this sign doesn’t seem to mean a lot. Nevertheless, it is a presence and possible indicator of Highland Council intentions to do what they can with the budgets they have. Keeping fingers and toes crossed.

As the season of activity and visitors has arrived in full flow, I’ll be active on this website more and of course there are social media updates going on too. Many extra photographs end up via social media platforms if you’re interested, but time is always against us. No pressure.

Take care, be safe and know I’m sending you positive wishes for a rewarding and precious day/night.

Thank you for being You.

Greylag goose (Anser anser) sighted on a loch nearby, April 7th, 2023…

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FACEBOOK: Whaligoe Eye | Lybster | Facebook

TWITTER: Whaligoe Eye (@WhaligoeEye) / Twitter

TWITTER (Gary): Gary (@floodland08) / Twitter

EMAIL: WhaligoeEye@gmail.com

YOUTUBE: Whaligoe Eye – YouTube