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Have just spent my first 24 hours in Orkney - the hills may be small but the wildlife here is incredible. Within two hours of arriving I had counted 30+ different bird species - including a short-eared owl.
Hill: Milldoe - Mid Tooin (Orkney Mainland)
Date: 15th May 2011
Company: Myself and BeinnI set off early this morning to ascend Milldoe – Mid Tooin before catching a ferry to Rousay to also ascend Blotchnie Fiold.
I parked at Graemshall below Hammars hill and then set off along a good track as far as Fibla Fiold.
Fibla Fiold and Milldoe from start of walk:
Looking back towards Hammars hill and start of walk:
Looking across Wide Firth to Wideford hill:
The walk as far as Fibla Fiold wasn't that interesting.
Looking back towards Hammars hill:
Signs of previous peat cutting on Fibla Fiold:
Approaching transmitter at top of Fibla Fiold:
Beyond the transmitter on Fibla Fiold, the ground was very mossy/spongy – but not that wet underfoot.
As I walked the short distance between Fibla Fiold and Milldoe – Mid Tooin, I saw Mallard, Greylag Geese, Curlew, Whimbrel, Oystercatcher and a Red-throated diver.
Milldoe – Mid Tooin from Fibla Fiold:
Trig Point and Summit mound of Milldoe – Mid Tooin:
Looking back to Fibla Fiold transmitter from trig point:
The grassy mound just beyond the trig point is the summit. I didn't hang around long as I did not want to be late for the Rousay ferry.
Beinn on top of summit mound of Milldoe – Mid Tooin:
After returning the same way back to the car, I dropped Beinn off back at our cottage and then made for Tingwall to catch the ferry to Rousay.
Hill: Blotchnie Fiold (Orkney, Rousay)
Date: Sunday 15th May 2011
Company: Just myselfTingwall jetty:
Tingwall to Rousay ferry:
The ferry crossing was really nice. Standing on the car deck, just a few feet above the water, I saw Guillemot, Cormorant, Terns, Gulls, ...
Blotchnie Fiold from ferry:
Arctic terns:
Approaching Brinian, Rousay:
On arriving at Brinian, I followed the route that my pal Colin had taken last year.
Ascending Knitchen hill:
Looking across to first hill of the day, Milldoe – Mid Tooin:
Wyre and Gairsay:
After walking alongside the stretch of gorse, I followed the white-topped marker posts to the summit of Knitchen hill.
Follow the marker posts up Knitchen hill:
During my ascent, I spotted an interesting caterpillar. Long white hairs on top, long orange hairs below with white spots along its side.
Garden Tiger Moth caterpillar:
About ten metres further on I spotted what I thought was the adult moth. From checking ID when I got back it would appear that the caterpillar was a Garden Tiger Moth caterpillar and the Moth was an Emperor Moth. Really cool caterpillar and moth!
Emperor moth:
Looking across to Wyre from ascent of Knitchen hill:
From the start of the walk to the summit of Blotchnie Fiold, I saw only one bird – a skylark.
It sang away while fluttering above me. I was thinking bit of a poor show for an RSPB reserve!
Skylark:
Summit cairn of Knitchen hill:
Blotchnie Fiold from Knitchen hill:
On reaching the summit of Blotchnie Fiold, the birdlife began to improve.
Looking back to Knitchen hill from Blotchnie Fiold:
Peerie Water and Muckle Water from summit of Blotchnie Fiold:
Peerie Water and Muckle Water (zoomed):
Kierfea hill from summit of Blotchnie Fiold:
In the distance, I saw a really large bird. At first I thought it was some kind of raptor, however, as it was joined by a second and then a third and they began to come closer I reckoned they were Great Skuas.
Great Skua:
It didn't take long before the Great Skuas started taking a bit of an interest in me but thankfully no attack. Two of the three Great Skuas seemed more interested in attacking each other.
Great Skua:
Great Skua:
I stood watching the Great Skuas for at least fifteen minutes and while doing so also managed to photograph a group of passing geese.
Greylag Geese in flight:
I decided to leave the summit when the rain started. I followed my in-bound route back as far as the col between Blotchnie Fiold and Knitchen Hill but then decided to descend towards Loch of Knitchen.
Loch of Knitchen:
I followed another line of white-topped marker posts during my descent.
Descent towards Trumland House:
As I made my way down a couple of geese flew past me about twenty metres away. I then noticed why – four young goslings walking across the hill. Cute or what?
Gosling (Greylag Goose?):
I then made an error of judgement in deciding to head towards a good path near Trumland House.
Why an error of judgement?
I was confronted by the lady owner who bent my ear for a full fifteen minutes. This land is private. There is a charge to walk through the gardens. This is the sabbath, Why did you climb the deer fence …
Eventually we departed on friendly terms when she saw that there were missing and erroneous paths on the Ordnance Survey map
.
The ferry back to the mainland was also nice. Looking forward to Day Two
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