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…
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.
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.
Since the 1st of May, 2023, I’ve thus far achieved a visit down and around Whaligoe Steps each day as planned. This blog entry is going to share my daily encounters with the ever-changing palette of nature here on the Scottish coastline, right up in the north of the mainland. From Monday the 12th of June up to Sunday 25th of June… Buckle up!
June 12th, 2023: Our first two photographs representing a warm and sunny day here on the northern coastline of Scotland. Flying seabirds above and pink campion below.
June 13th, 2023: Sea campion (Silene maritima) breaks up the hints of grassy terrain as the sunshine bathes the cliffs…
June 14th, 2023: A warm and mild Wednesday morning witnesses seabirds welcome a new day… Black guillemot found something to laugh about.
June 15th, 2023: Beautiful orchid plays peek-a-boo amongst the blades of grass, whilst on the pebble shoreline I found a stone doing an impression of a Highland Cow!
June 16th, 2023: There are several points of interest here at Whaligoe Steps. Wildlife, natural wonders, history, politics, personalities, landscape, wind farm, etc.
On this Friday morning trek down and around the ‘Steps I decided to capture the greenery which enveloped the landfall. This can be found behind the remaining boat winch, tucked away in a corner before you find yourself on the pebble shoreline.
Also captured for posterity are these fabulous wildflowers. Mayweed and thrift party the daylight hours away.
June 17th, 2023: How about two photographs showcasing the Whaligoe Steps? One shares the sight of the ‘Steps zig-zagging down the cliff. Remember, there are six flights in total. The other snapshot is of the Bink and the salt house remains.
June 18th, 2023: Breakfast for the great black-backed gull.
I found out there are seventeen types of thistle, but when trying to identify this one which grows on the verge of a flight of the ‘Steps, the closest resemblance was a ‘marsh thistle’. Not known for growing in this region of the United Kingdom.
June 19th, 2023: Family of shags which includes two parents and three young ones have been growing up and evolving rapidly. On this Monday morning, I noted it was drizzly and muggy.
June 20th, 2023: During this new challenge, I’ve been presented with quite a series of new adventures. One of which saw me venture to grounds I’ve not seen in many years. The revelation that some rabbit warrens were rife with life and with several quirky characters was fun.
The soft orange glow of sunlight captures the silhouette of a seabird departing a cliff shelf.
June 21st, 2023: This particular Wednesday morning was about the spooky ambience which accompanied the incoming ‘haar’. Some people call it ‘sea fret’.
It’s when warm air passes over the cold North Sea and is most commonly associated with the months of April to September.
June 22nd, 2023: Razorbill ponders life, whilst a trek to the far side of the top of the ‘Steps provided a beautiful sight of another sunrise.
June 23rd, 2023: Rock pipit and three rabbits all take in a sunrise along this rustic coastline of the UK mainland.
June 24th, 2023: Striking blue shades embrace the view over the North Sea, as a wild rose almost goes unnoticed growing in the verge beside a flight of the Whaligoe Steps.
June 25th, 2023: A baby seagull plays hide and seek behind some greenery, as dandelions make a ravishing display elsewhere.
The next blog entry all going well, will take us out of June and into July, 2023.
Changes taking place which I’ve observed include the passing of the primrose, daffodils, eider ducks seem to be in hiding, grey seals too. Family of shags have grown up rapidly, young ones have just left the nest. Rabbits are rife, seabirds are doing well. Offshore, pods of orca have been sighted often along the coastline at Caithness.
Thank you for your kindness and company during this time, it has been a challenge on several levels but rewarding too. I sincerely hope you join me on this unfolding adventure as I continue capturing the images from down and around Whaligoe Steps.
Here’s another photograph of another sunrise I caught during these past couple of weeks…
Since the 1st of May, 2023, I decided I was going to capture images for a daily visit down Whaligoe Steps over a whole year. That’s the equivalent of around 365 visits or more. Thus far, I’m still on target to reach this ambitious goal.
This next blog entry reveals some highlights selected for May 29th, 2023 and every consecutive day until June 11th, 2023… Nature in all of it’s proverbial glory, rain or shine!
May 29th, 2023: Sunny morning stroll down Whaligoe Steps, met a lovely Canadian couple who made a new friend of Star (the resident cat). During my relaxing expedition I saw a glimpse of a grey seal, in and among soaking up the ambience.
May 30th, 2023: Seabirds were active during this Tuesday morning. The photo above shows a triple dose of male eider ducks mingling with a shag and a great black-backed gull. As I captured the moment of social interaction, behind me was an angle of the shallow cave from a lower location than is usually observed. The pebble shores in this instance are submerged beneath the surface of the North Sea.
May 31st, 2023: Rock pipit on one of the remaining walls still standing for the old salt house on the Bink. I thought I’d share the other photo as it has a puffin hanging out with guillemots as they all go swimming. There’s a wee colony of puffins not far from Whaligoe Steps, and occasionally one is sighted within this inlet.
June 1st, 2023: Above are photos of some striking thrift which is abundant at the moment, plus on this particular trek down Whaligoe Steps, a sighting of two boats passing each other on the North Sea. Due to the calmer waters at this time of year, I’ve observed a lot more traffic using this picturesque stretch of sea.
June 2nd, 2023: Charlie Juhlenski, the Stonemason who worked on the restoration of the first three flights of Whaligoe Steps in recent years, has set up a touching tribute to his Mother Etta. This can be found located at the top of Whaligoe Steps. Next to the plaque is an authentic example of Caithness slab stone which has scribed in yellow chalk – “In 1792, the Steps were built. 230 years old”.
June 3rd, 2023: Razorbill dancing in the North Sea, while a little later during some birdwatching I noticed an oystercatcher exploring some rock.
June 4th, 2023: A dandelion attracts some curious flies, oblivious to the crowd of guillemots which hustle and bustle along some coastal rock at Whaligoe Steps.
June 5th, 2023: The sea during my trek on Monday was so clear and so still, it was beautiful. In my other photo, a close up of mayweed doing an impression of the Three Tenors.
June 6th, 2023: Abundant Cow parsley crowds some thrift. Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) enjoying moments of sun, I bet they have quite a view too!
June 7th, 2023: A ‘Cirrocumulus’ cloud formation greeted me on my trek providing quite a beautiful sky. Visibility of Beatrice offshore wind farm was good for a few days, and I took a photo of a seabird between wind turbines. There are eighty-four wind turbines which are just over eight miles from the Caithness coastline. It became operational back in 2019.
June 8th, 2023: Don’t tell anyone, but I have a wishlist of natural wonders I would love to catch in a photograph. Since beginning this challenge, I’ve already exceeded expectations with a photo of a local deer, an otter and now resident bunnies!
Before I fully descended Whaligoe Steps on this particular morning, my periphery was drawn to a white splodge which caught the bright sunshine. It became apparent that this was no seagull, but a rabbit going about it’s business! I believe it’s being sociable with a jackdaw whilst the other photo showcases a more predictable rabbit image which was situated further along the top of the cliff edge.
June 9th, 2023: There used to be more than one boat winch at the base of Whaligoe Steps, but if you visit at the time of this blog entry you’ll only see one. Birdwatching and identifying has taken me on quite a learning journey which I’m thankful for. The photo above is of a pied wagtail.
June 10th, 2023: Black headed gull flies in the beautiful azure skies, while on the ground a razorbill ponders over the magic of sunbathing.
June 11th, 2023: Some beautiful wildflowers to finish this blog entry. During my Sunday afternoon trek, I observed pink campion being radiant despite overcast skies. Meanwhile, a wild rose graces the verge of the zig-zagging Whaligoe Steps…
Keeping my fingers crossed, I hope to be sharing another fortnight with you at some point as I continue my challenge to capture images of nature and events here at Whaligoe Steps each day for a whole year.
Thank you again to those who stop and talk to me, it’s always appreciated and enjoyable.
I’ll keep updating the ‘Postcards’ section as and when I get photographs of visitors. Thank you to those who are happy to share in the moment, it’s appreciated and really communicates a memory.
This is my third blog documenting highlights and outlining what was achieved around Whaligoe Steps, and in some isolated instances, further afield in the county of Caithness, during a The Wildlife Trusts | The Wildlife Trusts initiative called ’30 Days Wild’.
Since 2015, the Wildlife Trust has inspired individuals of all walks of life to appreciate and understand better the natural world which surrounds them.
So many highlights and revelations were taken from this thirty day duration of wildlife observation and study. There were moments of creativity like the stone painting and a little poetry. Times of celebrating specific wildlife or in the case of literature, celebrating the writings of author John Horne.
Expectations were dashed and simultaneously exceeded when no sighting of an orca during a tour of the north sea coastline took place, but yet despite not seeing deer during the ‘wild camp out’ a sighting was made several days later. The photo of a gannet (Morus bassanus) above on the very last trek down the Whaligoe Steps was a real gift, as were the images captured of butterflies from the garden here.
Snails were abundant one soggy morning eclipsing all other wildlife, as white-lipped snails danced in slow-motion on the prominent flora. Initial ideas for that specific day were sidelined as I photographed the snails moving about all around me.
Plenty of captured memories which give me a lot of pleasure in sharing with you. If you’ve visited this location before at Whaligoe Steps, maybe it’ll be of interest. On the other hand, if you simply enjoy viewing wildlife images including birdlife, wildflowers, the sea or even the skies, then I hope this blog entry with the previous two give you something of interest.
Locations during this month of natural appreciation ended up with most love landing at the door of Whaligoe Steps obviously, but you’ll also note the north coastline boat trip I took around the John O’Groats area, Dunnet Forest for some alternative terrain, two local gardens to the Whaligoe Steps and the recognition to the Wildlife Trust streaming section of their official website. This is where I tipped my hat to Norfolk (water voles) and ‘Scotland’ (Peregrine falcons).
Thank you only always for your time and interest, time for me to set sail again…
So June has arrived rather quickly, or is it just me?! With the presence of this month comes a wealth of activity which I shall share with your good self. Pull up a seat and make yourself ready with cosy attire and a warm beverage of your choice as I divulge the latest…
June 1st, 2022…June 1st, 2022…June 1st, 2022…The Stonemason plaque…
The above photos were all taken on the 1st of June, 2022 when I descended the Whaligoe Steps in the early hours. There were several reasons for my trek.
Firstly, the Stonemason is working on the Whaligoe Steps during the next six weeks or so. This maintenance is a continuation of Charlie’s valiant work last year.
The photos show you hessian sacks which are cut and shaped to make a covering for specific sections of the steps. There were two examples of this at the time I was present. The Stonemason explained that lime was used at this stage of the proceedings which can be hazardous or an issue to people and pets. With this in mind, please be aware that if and when you visit this attraction, that you need to make yourself aware of potential hazards. Please be safe.
This sign is located at the top of the Whaligoe Steps and has been there for several years…
Secondly, a fun month of wildlife and nature appreciation and education unfolds which everyone and anyone is welcome to participate in. Known simply as “30 Days Wild” and promoted by The Wildlife Trusts | The Wildlife Trusts and Scottish Wildlife Trust – Protecting and restoring Scotland’s wildlife it sets out an activity for every day of this month. So with the arrival of June and located on the coastline as Whaligoe Steps is, you can imagine the natural scope for surprises and discoveries!
Last year I succeeded in participating for about two weeks before I started a new job and had to cease my natural pursuits. During that fortnight, each and every day provided educational insights and bug bites! I filmed a clip of a young deer (which frustratingly I cannot lay my hands on right now) which was an amazing moment I will always treasure. So, with 2022 turning into an interesting year, I’m sharing each day via social media if you’re interested.
I would like to have a document on this website as it is themed around this location, so will work out a way to showcase photographs and video clips as the material gathers momentum.
Here is day one for you to process. The idea was to celebrate nature with a ‘wild breakfast’ experience. Photographs of my toast and marmalade with a coffee at various points dotted around Whaligoe Steps.
30 Days Wild: Wild Breakfast…30 Days Wild: Wild Breakfast…30 Days Wild: Wild Breakfast…
Only another twenty-nine days to go, wish me luck!
