Here we are together, experiencing a daily taste of life around Whaligoe Steps.
This blog entry is thrilled to celebrate the duration from Monday, 26th of June, 2023, up to and including Sunday, the 9th of July, 2023.
A fortnight which provided some results regarding photographic evidence of grey wagtails and curlews, the elusive oystercatcher too, plus some stunning views along the way.
Rabbits are prolific, but not all plain brown wild bunnies. For some reason, this area has a culture of providing many different looking rabbits.
Enough of the introduction, let’s get on with checking out some images.
June 26th, 2023: Two gull chicks enjoy the rays of a glowing sunrise. In another part of Whaligoe Steps, a wild rose tries not to draw attention.
June 27th, 2023: You don’t often see birdlife relaxing with bunnies, but on this particular morning stroll around the ‘Steps, such a thing was caught by the camera. In the other snapshot of life around this northerly part of the United Kingdom coastline, a black guillemot swims rapidly by an unimpressed razorbill.
June 28th, 2023: Whaligoe Steps is made up of six flights, here are two of them. Flight number four goes in a nice straight line downwards, although it’s not in great condition like the first three from the top. The other photograph is what is affectionately called the ‘forgotten’ flight as it’s not as large as the others, and is the fifth flight overall starting from the top of the ‘Steps.
June 29th, 2023: Wild rabbits seem to be commonplace along the top of Whaligoe Steps. I wonder if they’re partial to mayweed? I used to call them large daisies, don’t tell anyone I said that.
June 30th, 2023: Talking of the flora around this area, captured for posterity on this particular Friday morning were some Turk’s cap lilies. Plus in the other photograph, what is called red campion befriending cow parsley. I enjoy the gentle ambience of seeing photographs of flowers blooming.
July 1st, 2023: You know how I said there are six flights which make up Whaligoe Steps, this is a photo of the second flight. It was recently repaired and maintained by the stonemason, Charlie Juhlenski. There’s a plaque in the stone work which is a tribute to his Mum, Etta. In the other photograph during this drizzly morning, I photographed the horizon as you look out across the North Sea. According to some sources online, the North Sea is made up of 290,000 square miles of liquid and life.
July 2nd, 2023: An interesting looking wild rabbit, plus one of the pebble shores. When you stand on the Bink (grassy platform at the base of the zig-zagging ‘Steps), there are three notable areas sectioned off by coastal rock. This marks out three areas.
July 3rd, 2023: I’m so pleased to share with you these next photographs. The local oystercatchers have been quite a challenge as they are either early birds, or they enjoy the rough weather of wind and rain. This has made photographing them tricky. At long last, a fairly decent photo.
The wee brown bird is a rock pipit I believe. I’ve seen two pairs of them hopping about around the pebble shoreline.
July 4th, 2023: Not so early during this particular Tuesday morning, I got caught in a light shower during my trek. A cute bird on the actual Whaligoe Steps, hopping around and enjoying life.
Out to sea, one of many boats which navigate the tides along this coastline.
July 5th, 2023: A thistle full of joy along the side of a flight of ‘Steps, plus a photograph of the Bink in front of the impressive cliff face. You may also note the shallow cave which makes up the third area along the pebble shoreline. The wall incidentally on the right within this image is part of the salt house remains, which are merely a shell of their former glory.
July 6th, 2023: What a stunning sunrise during this particular Thursday morning trek. Caught the sun and silhouettes in quite a spectacular moment. I then headed down the Whaligoe Steps to witness the glow over the North Sea.
July 7th, 2023: It brings me a lot of pleasure to share these next photographs. On the left is the distinctive appearance of a curlew standing proudly on a lonely boulder. To know they exist here is another lovely discovery.
Also captured for posterity during this specific visit down and around the ‘Steps, I caught sight of this beautiful grey wagtail skipping around with another one. Sighted around the first pebble shore.
July 8th, 2023: Star, the resident moggy here at Whaligoe Steps has been great company during my treks since the beginning of May. She is certainly not bored of seeing rabbits and rodents!
For about a week or more, the young shags have left their respective nests and have huddled together on a rocky island in the North Sea. From here, they are sampling life as independent young seabirds.
July 9th, 2023: Another intense but brief sunrise. To see the sun like this is quite something.
The other photograph is another angle of the Bink which takes in a bit of the final flight of Whaligoe Steps. Those flat stones next to the flight of ‘Steps are all that remains of what was a boat winch. In early black and white photographs, a boat winch was evident in that location. Luckily, if you visit the Whaligoe Steps, there’s still a boat winch on display. Situated to the side of the Bink, overlooking the first pebble shore.
All going well, my next blog entry covering the challenge of visiting down and around Whaligoe Steps every day for twelve months, shall reveal photos from Monday the 10th of July, up to Sunday, July 23rd.
Wherever your life is sailing to, I hope that you’re safe and have a positive journey. Thank you for your company to this point, it means a lot. I hope you’ve enjoyed these moments and snapshots of nature and life down and around these fabulous ‘Steps. With a history dating back to the 1600s, they are a feat of engineering and stories.
Take care, until next time…
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