Please take a photograph of your group "in action." Don't forget to ask for permission from everyone for the photo to be published on the web. Then email it to the address below and we will upload it to the gallery.
Photography Group One 1st May 2024
Ten of us met at the roadside Car Park in Finstown on a day with little wind and some low cloud but with the sun trying to get through. We set off to the Community Garden where we found lots of lovely colourful flowers out as well as tree buds bursting forth. The Burn was a great source of images.
Jocky Wood was painting a new picnic bench with the appropriately titled Wood Stain! He does a great deal of the work on the garden as well as his own just up the hill opposite.
Six of us then headed for Binsgarth Woods.
The track was muddy in places but the spring flowers were out all the way. There was Pink Purselaine, Wild Garlic, Wood Anemone, and the invasive Salmon Berry. Since the tree leaves were not blanketing the light, one was able to get good photos close up. The Burn had lots of interesting tree roots and hanging tyres and ropes from the kids' dare devil antics. Then it was back to the shop for rolls and along to Tom's house for a cuppa and a nice piece of cake. Thank you very much for that Tom and all the stories too.
The next meeting will be going to Westray on Wednesday 29th May for the day. Arrangement will be made nearer the time.
All in all a lovely morning, taking time to look at the flowers and listen to the Wrens, Willow Warblers, Chaffinches and Robins singing in the woods.
Keep clicking.
Walking Group One 25th April 2024
Five hardy souls collected today at Happy Valley for the first Hill Walk of the year .The temperature was cool with a North Easterly wind blowing and a hint of rain on arrival.
Off we set heading towards Russadale Quarry, spotting a Buzzard on the way.Turning into the footpath we remained sheltered from the wind all the way to the top of the hill.
The sun was out at the Quarry and a Greenshank was feeding at the edge of the Lochan. Then it was up the Peat road to the summit with spectacular views across Stenness and Harray Lochs, plus a view of the Closed Road beyond the Watch Stone. On the other side we looked over the Flow and down towards the Oil Platform and South Ronaldsay
Then it was back down after a stop for a snack and finally a walk around Happy Valley itself. The Daffodils planted by James and others were looking lovely and the Bluebells are days away from opening. Then it was on to a well deserved lunch at the Pier Cafe, having walked 4 miles and gone up 800 feet (and down again )
The next walk will be on Friday 24th May and hopefully more hills and views.
Keep moving.
Photography Group One June 2016
by Tim Wright - 19:58 on 21 June 2016
Eight of us arrived at Marwick Bay with low cloud but dry conditions for a wander in whichever direction we wanted. Two went to the Fishermen's Huts while six went up to the Kitchener Memorial (one Orcadian for the first time ever!) The Bay had a feeding frenzy of Black Headed Gulls, Kittiewakes and a couple of Shellduck with their young. The cliffs were a mass of Sea Pink with lots of rabbits pretending they weren't there. The Bird Cliffs were as spectacular as ever with thousands of Guillimots and Razorbills above nests of Kittiewakes. The latter had some young, which is encouraging. A Bonxie was being fended off by all the birds until it spotted a likely victim and shot off after it. The Memorial is looking very fine after its upgrade and a short shower of rain added tears to the names emblazoned on the wall there. After a couple of hours we went to the Orkney Brewery for lunch and quite a bit of Clootie Dumpling for some!
The photos from St Nicholas Church were perused. The grave stones in the interior and the old wall paper were popular subjects. The Bell in the window was a recurring theme but the one with fill in flash, while retaining detail of the sea and gravestones outside, was the pick of the bunch. The outside photos of lichen, graves amongst primroses and one nesting Blackheaded Gull were other contributions. Sally's photo of a close up of a succulent with its geometric patterns was the top of the merit table.
"Gardens/Gardening" produced a variety of wonderful gardens, both personal and Public in Britain and abroad. Flowers in abundance and some beautiful closeups as well. Gardening included lawn mowers, strimmers, flower filled Gum Boots and even a personal shed before and after painting. What a colourful variety we had and many thanks to all those who took part.
The next project will be "Lines". See how you can interpret that, but not too much washing hanging out please!
The next meeting is Wednesday 27th July. The plan is to take the early boat to Caithness and have the day at Dunrobin Castle, seeing the Falconry Display and whatever else appeals in the area, if time. We will come back on the late boat. I will send out more details when I have worked them out.
Keep Clicking,
Tim
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