It is nearly the end of July. If you come to Westray wanting to see the puffins, you are likely to see them just by taking a walk out to the Castle o’ Burrian.
The puffins feed on sand eels out to sea and can be seen bringing them back to their burrows to feed their growing brood.
The puffin season is from early April to the end of July, give or take a week or two. I have been going out to the Castle o’ Burrian at least once a year for thirty years now, whether I need the exercise or not! I rarely encounter anyone on the path, but the last time there I met a group of folk on my way back, and much to my surprise I saw two people I know, the ladies in the picture below. I didn’t recognise the man (but I may have known him). I forget faces, always have done.
One of the ladies, Margaret, is an ex-schoolteacher and has lived and worked here for many years and as we are both of a certain age, we always stop for a chat. (Never gossip of course).
In the early days even before I moved here, I would take one or two walks, either out along the Tuquoy coastline to the old kirk and burial ground and back again, usually on a Sunday morning, and the other is this walk out to see the puffins at Castle o’ Burrian. I have been out here in all sorts of weather, rain or shine whenever the mood took me, but never if it was windy. Parts of the path are very exposed and a gust of wind out there in the wilderness could have dreadful consequences.
Up to about ten years back we did not have a decent reception of the mobile system so getting help would have been out of the question. It was easier when the G3 mast was put up which gave us an intermittent phone signal but when the new G4 mast was erected a short way from the G3 mast, the signal was much improved. EE has the contract for the emergency services so the service has to be nigh on perfect or there would be danger to life, especially regarding the coastguard service. Therefore, so long as you take a decent mobile phone with you on an island walk you can be sure of contact with help if it is needed. I digress, sorry.
The photograph above is taken from outside my office window looking towards the West Side of Westray. 24th July today is not very warm and a bit windy which is why I am inside writing this and not out mowing the lawn as was originally planned. The grass is very wet.
It doesn’t take long to walk to the castle which is a large chunk of rock. I have heard of folk climbing the rock face, but that is not encouraged as the water surrounding it is fast flowing and very cold. It is a dangerous climb and it is said that there once was a hermitage on top of it. Goodness knows why though.
I am told that the best time to see the puffins is after eight in the evening in June, but they are usually around most times of the day. If you sit down at the top of the slope overlooking the rock stack you will often be visited by one or two inquisitive birds who will then wander off to join their chums in little groups.
You will hear them sounding like grrrrr, grrrrr as if they disapprove of people disturbing their peace. They in nearby burrows, once occupied by rabbits, and lay then incubate their eggs until hatching. It is fine to watch the young take their first faltering steps out into the wild unknown then fly back again, black wings flapping furiously and landing clumsily on a tiny piece of rock.
If you are lucky you may see the adults return to their burrows with beaks full of sand eels for their nesting family, see top illustration.
However, the end of July is when they start to drift away again, not to return until next April, hence the headline …and thanks for all the fish.
You’ll be ready for a cup of tea when you get back to the village so why not visit the Pierowall Hotel for refreshments?
Today's Robert Rendall poem:
Orkney Landscape
Such vistas have we here as oft exist
When dreamy worlds bewitch our closing eyes:
Far out before us in the distance lies
A sunny landscape steeped in golden mist.
The winding waters wander as they list
Between green fields; along the hillside flies
A shaft of sunlight, streaming down from skies
Of pearly cloud and purest amethyst.
Wide meadow-lands as these I've sometimes seen
In ancient artistry. 'Tis thus portrayed:
Within a spacious foreground sits a maid,
Beneath whose brows seraphic thoughts convene;
While silver brooks, green swards, behind her fade,
Whence had been gained that sweet unruffled mien.
Robert Rendall 1898-1967
For more information about Orkney and the islands please visit Orkney.com
For accommodation in Kirkwall we recommend the Lynnfield Hotel