Shetland Wool Week .. pt 3 .. a croft visit and St Ninian's Isle ..

We have enjoyed a really engaging visit to West Lynne Croft, run by Cecil and Sue Tait – Cecil is a sixth generation Shetlander living in Ireland, whose family originally arrived on Mainland because of the highland clearances. Along with the sheep and the wool making – the working croft is also the location of Paparwark Furniture and we were shown around the workshop by the young apprentice to the craft.

Both of us were completely captivated by the pair of working sheepdogs - Ness and Bell, who rounded up the flock with only the briefest of commands from Cecil. A joy to watch.

After the Croft, we took lunch overlooking the tombola linking St Ninian’s Isle to mainland. As we ate, we were entertained by three Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) fly-catching from a large rock below us. White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) passage migrants no doubt heading back from Iceland were also on the wing.

On the tombola itself distant waders flushed as walkers or their dogs intruded on their strandline forage.

Walking across the thin stretch of white sand the waders’ identities were clarified, Dunlin (Calidris alpina), Sanderling (Calidris alba), Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula), a Redshank (Tringa totanus), Turnstone (Arenaria interpres), and a single Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) following the tide line pickings.

At St Ninian’s Kirk we congratulated a couple who announced that they had just got engaged – he proposing as they explored the sacred site. It was a touching moment.

Approaching the “well” we got distracted by the marginal and aquatic plants in the seeps and drains. Encountering a new plant to both of us: Montia arvensis ... colloquially known as Blinks.

Blinks

Water Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis scorpioides)

Marsh Willowherb (Epilobium paluster)

Bulbous Rush (Juncus bulbosus)

Lesser Spearwort (Ranunculus flammula)

Broad-leaved Pondweed
(Potamogeton natans)

Marsh Bedstraw (Galium palustre)

Crossing back to mainland on the tombola our eyes were drawn to the wreck of jellyfish (Aequora vitrina) and a couple of dead Gannet (Morus bassanus) of the latter we worried that they might be an indication of Avian Bird-flu?

Northern Gannet - deceased

Aequora vitrina

Returning to Lerwick we grabbed a couple of pints at The Noost Bar followed by a swift a pint of 60O North at The Lounge Bar. Although welcoming, the latter watering hole was somewhat tired and the few local customers all very much the worse for wear, despite the time of day.

Back at the cottage, we’ve broken the seal on the Shetland Reel and I’m sampling the Tushkar Oatmeal Stout brewed by The Lerwick Brewery so perhaps I should not be too judgemental?