Tuesday 7th September - Trumland and Onziebust RSPB Reserves continued

Down to the harbour and then the boat over to Egilsay to walk around part of the large RSPB reserve - Onziebust.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/o/onziebust/index.aspx

This meadow has been planted by the RSPB for bumblebees of which the great yellow is one that can be expected here.

Next to a large ruined church, the church of St Magnus. Now I am curious over why St Magnus was made a saint. The information board tell of the treachery that cost his life and say that this was martyrdom. Seemingly there were two earls, Magnus and Hakon, contesting the Orkneys and a peace conference was arranged on Egilsay. Magnus arrived with the agreed upon two boats; Hakom arrived with eight! Hakon captured Magnus and eventually had him killed by his cook. This was after Magnus had given Hakon three ways to save his soul. The axe blow that did the dead was confirmed when the skeleton of St Magnus was found in the cathedral that bears his name in Kirkwall.

I've found more detail of this interesting tale on the following :-

http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/stmagnus/

From here I went down a track and over some fields, disturbing a few snipe and lapwind, down to a headland on the very north-west corner of the island. Over a narrow puece of water there was another very small island and on here I saw around thirty of the famous seaweed eating sheep. Now from what I've read, these sheep are to be found on North Ronalgsay but here were quite a few clambering over the seaweed munching away happily.

Seawatching from this point gave me more views of bonxies, feeding gannets and lots of kittiwakes and fulmars; turnstne and redshank on the shore and a small group of eider nearby. Also small parties of twite were tazzing about.

Back to the harbour in time for the boat and whilst waiting in the RSPB information room I met a lady from Lickey End, which is all of three miles from where I live near Brmsgrove, Worcestershire. To make it even more of a coincidence, Michele Mellor, was born at the school were I teach, namely Rigby Hall; albeit when it was a maternity hospital a few years ago. Here I am, possibly closer to Iceland than Bromsgrove [I'll check that out] and meeting people from my home town.

Back on the ferry with even more violent rocking than in the morning and a cycle ride back to the home of Alistair and Louise with the gale mostly blowing me there and with heavy rain; singing a Frank Zappa song about wind on the way . . . .

Good God, I hope the wind don't blow.   

It takes the paint off your car and wrecks your windshield too.

I don't know how the people stand but I guess they do.

[Village of the Sun - Roxy and Elsewhere]

Now I must close this morning's blog with a huge thank you to the Forsyth family. Alistair and Louise, with fabulous children, Molly and Elana, have let me into their famiy life for a few days whilst i have been on Orkney and I can't say thank you enough to the all. Alistair is a headteacher of Dounby Community School; the school is a credit to him and to the island. I visited the school on wednesday 8th and the chidren were so wel behaved, so polite and welcoming. The staff were friendly and the school had a superb atmosphere. An assembly for the younger children, followed by sessions wth the two nursery classes was a privilige for me and great fun. [Come on Angus, give us all one of those fabulous smiles!]. Louise is great. A birding wife for Alistair the birder, who has seen and identified pomarine skua from their hom window. She has a very keen interest in the healing properties of crystals and indeed she has given me the most beautiful heart shaped crystal for me to place into the sea at a place I feel appropriate. More details of her work is available at :-

http://www.crystalearthworks.net/           from which I quote .......

Our Mother Earth as we know her is dying. Her energy sullied by our materialistic ways, for our want for ‘more’ and selfish gain, at great cost to all the potential beauty that surrounds us.







Her energy and light are fading fast and yet it is not too late. We can still make a difference. We can turn the tide, stem the flow of negativity and begin to take responsibility for the mess we have created.






Mother Earth has all that we require to sustain our lives at this time, yet, only if we learn the error of our ways and begin to use her bountiful resources with respect for all.






She requires help. Help to channel and release all of the rubbish we have accumulated. Help to start afresh, to rebalance and realign her energy.






The aim of The Crystal Earthworks is simple – to provide the tools and education to help turn the tide, to empower those who would wish to be responsible custodians for our beautiful planet, to empower those who wish to make a difference.






Crystals are that tool for the imbalance we have created is so great that we cannot turn the tide alone. Yet, we have much help to draw upon, it is our choice to use that help or not.






Anyone can plant crystals and with clear training, to powerful effect. It is a simple act, with enormous positive potential. If you have accessed this website perhaps you have been prompted to play your part, to take responsibility, to make a difference.






I give heartfelt thanks for your connection and hope you feel drawn to explore the work of The Crystal Earthworks further.






Louise Forsyth


For The Crystal Earthworks





If only we would all do more to save our 'dying' planet.