Wanderings: January 2016

Shetland 365

As some of you might know I've been doing this photo-a-day malarky for rather a long time - I've taken at least one picture each day since late 2004, sometimes on a phone but usually on one of the numerous cameras digital cameras I've contrived to own.

When I look back through the collection of photographs of the day I get reminder of what I've been doing, the projects I've been working on, the mood I've been in - and very often where I've been.

As I was picking through the latest batch of pictures from Shetland, I realised that I've reached the 365 day landmark for pictures taken around the Shetland Islands.

My first picture of the day from Shetland was taken in January 2007 outside the Sumburgh Hotel looking towards the Sumburgh Head Lighthouse.

Sum burgh Head Lighthouse, January 2007

And Number 365 was taken earlier this week (January 2016) on Scat Ness, less than a mile (as the puffin flies) from Number 1.

Waves at Scat Ness, January 2016

In the intervening 9 years I've taken pictures on almost all the Shetland Islands, from Fair Isle in the south to Unst in the North, and from Foula to Whalsay.

South Harbour, Fair Isle, June 2010

Da Noup, Foula, September 2014

I've taken pictures of the Sumburgh Head Light and Muckle Flugga Lighthouse.

Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, August 2015

Muckle Flugga Light, Unst, June 2007

I've seen lots of boats - of various vintages and in various states of repair.

Europa off Sumburgh Head, July 2011

Solas, Olna Firth, October 2011

Subsea Viking, Lerwick, February 2011

Quendale Shipwreck, January 2007

I've got pictures of beaches covered in snow, and bathed in sunlight.

Quendale Beach, November 2010

St Ninian's Beach, August 2015

I've taken pictures at sunrise (occasionally) and sunset (regularly).

Sumburgh Head sunrise, February 2014

Hestingott sunset, January 2015

I've photographed wild days and calm days.

Scat Ness, April 2014

Scat Ness, January 2012

I've seen the Northern Lights and several Up Helly Aas.

Mirrie Dancers, January 2012

Up Helly Aa, January 2014

I've seen Shetland ponies, Shetland sheep, Shetland seals - and a beached pilot whale.

Whalsay, March 2012

Scat Ness, February 2015

Seal (outside Tesco, Lerwick), October 2013

Quendale Beach, June 2013

I've seen lots of birds - and taken an awful lot of puffin pictures.

Oystercatcher, June 2013

Gannets, May 2010

Arctic Skua, June 2013

Puffin, April 2015

Puffin, June 2013

Since 2010 my pictures of the day have appeared on Blipfoto - and if you want to explore more (without the one-a-day limit) there are lots more pictures on Flickr.

Shetland January 2016

The first trip to Shetland of 2016 turned out to be between the weathers, or at least between the storms.

For a few days the wind didn't blow (two much) and low cloud sat sullenly over the south end of Shetland - this mean that both the boats and the planes were, for a few days at least, able to go back and forward on time.

The weather this didn't offer too much in the way of photographic excitement but it did ensure that I had plenty of chance to walk the south end beaches to see what changes the early winter storms had brought.

The southern headlands of Scat Ness and Sumburgh Head both point due South, and between them attempt to catch the waves from half the compass. Scat Ness and Quendale Bay catch the waves from the southwest of Shetland, West Voe piles up when the wind is from the south and the cliffs around Sumburgh see winds and waves from the southwest, south and southeast.

In January the sea cliffs at Sumburgh are quiet - a few fulmar are always around with one or two early guillemots driven in the from sea. Around the bays and beaches are turnstones and oystercatchers with a few curlew floating overhead.