Tag: Pied wagtail

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.

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Welcome to part 24 documenting my daily treks down and around Whaligoe Steps. This fortnight covers Monday, March 18th up to and including Sunday, March 31st, 2024.

My intention is to tackle three hundred and sixty five consecutive trips around this region of the northern Scottish coastline, photographing and documenting the changing of the seasons, and to get a better insight into what it must have been like for the fishing industry and general life within this picturesque location over the previous centuries.

There were plenty of ‘new-to-2024’ moments this couple of weeks, like primrose blossoming, Eider duck swimming, pied wagtail in snow or a sighting of a rock pipit among other delights. As usual, I have photographs and also a couple of small clips to share.

March 18th, 2024: Sunlight shimmers on the tides.

Birdlife at Whaligoe Steps is rejoicing in the humble beginnings of Spring. Below is a windswept gull taking in a view.

March 19th, 2024: Clouds formed to create such varying canvas for light. Silhouettes found opportunities to spread their wings.

March 20th, 2024: A fulmar plays peek-a-boo to a clear blue sky, whilst a fishing boat slips by almost unnoticed behind a foreground of daffodils.

March 21st, 2024: Primroses are popping up in the grass and vegetation around Whaligoe Steps. These splashes of colour and vibrancy really add to the ambience of spring.

The moon on this Thursday evening was serene.

March 22nd, 2024: A silhouette whispers to a backdrop of overcast sky.

Below, you can also see the generous flow of the top section of the waterfall. During this fortnight, it has been chilled by a cold spell, windswept and soaked in sunshine.

March 23rd, 2024: Mute your volume for the clip before you play it. Blustery conditions while standing 250 feet up from the North Sea, panning along the horizon from the South section of the coastline view to eventually end up at the waterfall.

March 24th, 2024: On my ascent and wrapping up another daily trek, I suddenly became aware of a beautiful birdsong. During my first daily treks in 2023 tackling what seemed like an impossible challenge, a feathered friend kept me company.

Below, is my first encounter in 2024 of the wee wren which frequents this part of the coastline.

March 25th, 2024: Another fulmar looks on during a chilly morning trek.

There have been some beautiful moon-related moments during this fortnight in late March, and on this occasion I had my camera handy. A bright moon shines above some fluffy cloud formations which add personality to the lights which litter the distant horizon.

March 26th, 2024: What a Tuesday morning this one proved to be! I ventured onwards during a snowfall and was successful in capturing a moment with a local pied wagtail, as primrose felt burdened by the frozen tears of a brief winter flurry.

The sixth flight of Whaligoe Steps which descends directly onto the Bink, communicated the lightweight tone of this last gasp of freezing weather.

March 27th, 2024: Within a few hours, the snow had melted. During a wet Wednesday I was spoilt by the appearance of a skipping rock pipit.

In conjunction with birdwatching, the view was sporadically distracted with primrose flowers bursting through the rustic landscape.

March 28th, 2024: Eider duck according the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, are the heaviest and fastest flying ducks in the United Kingdom – Eider Duck Facts | Somateria Mollissima (rspb.org.uk)

Also below, an example of some waves reaching upwards to grab sunlight.

March 29th, 2024: It really was a ‘Good Friday’, with a radiant daffodil and a couple of contented rabbits enjoying the beginning of an Easter weekend.

Happy Easter!

March 30th, 2024: Plenty of early morning sunshine compliments the wildlife and flowers. Beautiful bloom and glowing plumage.

Visitors were certainly out and about around Whaligoe Steps as minor congestion built up outside my window. My parking space was used by those who needed it, and there was an active and positive atmosphere in the air.

March 31st, 2024: Easter Sunday began with a beautiful sunrise, as the moon was off to my right. It’s such a special ambience when both the sun and the moon come out to play simultaneously.

I wasn’t the only spectator who had the good fortune to witness this sunrise…

So that’s another fortnight covering my daily trek challenge, as I walk down and around Whaligoe Steps. Aiming for 365 consecutive days of documenting my findings and observations. Spring has most certainly arrived, and there are many examples of wildlife and flora showing signs of new life around these parts.

There are more signs of life on the North Sea too, as the tides are calmer and the sun is brighter.

Traffic in the car park and the only access point has significantly increased, so please keep that in mind if you’re planning to visit.

Thought I’d share this observation from March 31st. Not only more vehicles on the roads around here and in the North Sea with boating activity, but also an aeroplane or two in the sky.

Before I leave you with this blog entry, if you have a moment I filmed a relaxing clip as I sat on the pebble shore with the tide out. In the foreground are rock pools as your eye travels out to sea…

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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.

There have been two previous blog entries which showcase some highlighted photographic moments which you can visit by clicking on these two links: New Challenge (Part 1) – Whaligoe Eye and New Challenge (Part 2) – Whaligoe Eye

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.

Until next time, take care and safe travels…

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( Summer is getting closer, photograph of the garden during the afternoon of June 11th, 2023…)

So far, so good. In my last blog entry I divulged my hopes to make a trek down Whaligoe Steps at least once every day for 365 days. To capture this momentous series of visits I was planning to take photographs of my adventures, and so it continues.

This is another blog entry showcasing some highlights from the past fortnight. Sit back and browse some newly photographed wildlife around Whaligoe Steps to be included on this website, plus some of the usual neighbours and some delightful ambience. Two photos for each day from May 15th to May 28th inclusively.

May 15th, 2023: Below are examples of the wildlife you may spot on a trek down Whaligoe Steps. A wren sings to the backdrop of a radiant sunrise, while the other other photograph showcases a first for this website, at the top of the Steps a roe deer ponders the morning.

May 16th, 2023: A shag (gulosus aristotelis) gives their wings a little stretch and on this particular visit I also noted how clear the North Sea was. The broken anchor submerged adds some nautical presence.

May 17th, 2023: Time for some vibrant colour and a contribution of flora thanks to the beautiful bluebell and marsh buttercup. During this fortnight, both flowers were prominent.

May 18th, 2023: There is a pebble shoreline at the base of the Whaligoe Steps which is divided into three sections. The furthest section has a shallow cave (pictured below), and the other photograph captures Star in full prowling mode.

May 19th, 2023: There’s a healthy quantity of seabirds to spot around the coastline here, and on day 19, I have these two photographs to share. A couple of black guillemot relax beside a calm North Sea, and trying to conceal their location behind vegetation is an attentive gull.

May 20th, 2023: A striking narcissus insists on being photographed in front of a bank of bluebells. In the other photograph, a typical example of the metalwork which is located at points within the local landscape. It was used for nautical purposes, especially during the ‘herring fisheries’ of the late 1700s onwards.

May 21st, 2023: A male eider duck taking a waddle along a grassy pathway along the top of Whaligoe Steps, whilst a little later during this particular morning trek, light filters through the prominent cloud to add textures to the surface of the sea.

May 22nd, 2023: On two trips down Whaligoe Steps on this specific day, different atmospheres were evident. In the afternoon a seagull swoops down only to get a surprise when a grey seal head breaks the surface of the sea! During my morning visit, I photographed a pied wagtail skipping along on the Bink.

May 23rd, 2023: Again I have examples of an afternoon and a morning in a day at Whaligoe Steps. Firstly, during an afternoon gazing at the movement in the North Sea not too far from the salt house, I caught a glimpse of an otter for the first time down here! Secondly, during a morning exploration beneath a soft sunrise, a pigeon of all things hops from one bit of coastal rock to the next.

May 24th, 2023: There are six flights of stone steps which make up the Whaligoe Steps. Here’s a taster of the first proper flight as you descend the cliff face. Once you have negotiated the six flights (at the time of these blog entries three have been expertly renovated and repaired by Charlie who is shown in previous blogs, while the remaining three are to be approached with vigilance due to their worsening state), there is a platform known as the Bink where you’ll find the remains of a salt house…

May 25th, 2023: Rock pipit unaware I was on a shelf of coastal rock above it, so fortunate to get that photo. Some ambience captured during a really bright sunrise…

May 26th, 2023: During these first 28 days of visiting the Whaligoe Steps, I’ve been privileged to share my journeys with the song of a friendly and enchanting wren on several mornings. In the second photograph below, a female eider duck swims eagerly through a shimmering sea confronted by a sunny glow.

May 27th, 2023: I believe this is a cabbage white butterfly clinging in the sea breeze to a dandelion. The other photograph below is a spectacle I’m enjoying as it unfolds, a couple of adult shags nurturing three babies. They give a distinct squeak at random intervals and at this stage are fluffy and gaining confidence of the wider world in the safety of their nest.

May 28th, 2023: During an afternoon visit, took a photograph of the sixth flight of Whaligoe Steps which takes you to the Bink (grass platform). You’ll notice the salt house which is situated behind. The other photo was a delight, as a grey seal relaxed on a section of coastal rock known as the Shoal o’ the head.

Thank you to those who have shared their well wishes for this adventure and challenge, it’s very much appreciated. To date, since May 1st, I’ve already been thrilled to get a photo of a roe deer, an otter, a good photograph of a rock pipit and a pied wagtail, plus the recent grey seal viewing. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the local nature continues to share some wonderful moments.

Look out for the next entry in this ongoing observation of life around Whaligoe Steps, as I hope to continue capturing images of my daily visits.

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