Encounter with Orcas

You never know what roams around until you see fins at the surface of water.

Orcas graced our inshore waters on the eighth day of the first month. A series of tweets alerted us from late morning. From Grutness, the southern end of Shetland Mainland, pods of cetaceans can go anywhere... Patience prevailed until they were tracked a little more North towards the 60th Parallel. When folk gathered at Levenwick, we knew they (orcas) were on their way! Dave began to scan the bay (of Levenwick) from the comfort of the back door of our kitcken. Helen Moncrieff was getting really excited on Twitter and we thought, "now"! magnie Shearer confirmed they (the orcas!) were splashing at Broonies' Taing. Just down the road for us. So we jumped in the car - maybe a little too quickly, as I grabbed my binoculars only - although Dave provided the adequate gear for still photography. 

We turned back towards Sanick, where we found fins so close in the shallows. The rest was magic! An encounter with a pod of Orcas remains a thrill. The conditions - flat calm sea in soft January light - were reunited to allow us to enjoy such moment. Folk were 

driving all around the village as in hot pursuit so exciting such an event is. They flocked on roadside, armed with cameras and smiles and eyes that spoke like through megaphones. The single track road that leads to Sanick and Noness turned into a busy motorway! The natural world is to be enjoyed by a maximum of folk for the benefit of both. 

I cannot be grateful enough those oceanic giants turned up on a Sunday! Thank you!!! With renewed thanks to Helen and Magnie too for pointing us to them! How we love days like this.