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
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