salmotrutta

And 2026 greeted us with snow!

Farewell 2025.

**A glorious sunset sees the end of the year.**

Seasons greetings.

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and every good wish for 2026.

There will be full updates in the New Year.

Salmotrutta.

At last ….

**….. finally last week and nearly three weeks later than usual the resident pair of Mute Swans appeared from the far rush with this years brood of four cygnets and to date have remained there.**

Unusual Visitors

**Hybrid/Feral geese – for several years a small flock of these geese** **have occasionally been seen on the Loch the result of interbreeding between wild Greylag and domestic geese.** **The Lapwings and Mallards are not disturbed by their prescence!**

Coconut Alley

With Spring well underway the Whins (Gorse) along the track to the Loch are in full bloom and the air is full of the scent of coconut created by the golden blossoms.

A raptor strikes …

The telltale ‘ring of feathers’ where the local Sparrowhawk has plucked its victim – in this case one of a pair of Woodpigeons which have nested for many years in the trees at the end of the garden. Having lost **its mate…**

... the remaining partner seeks refuge amongst the branches!

Shetland Islands Fire Festival UpHelly Aa

Live coverage of the Up Helly Aa procession starts at 1900hrs GMTcoverage is on : https://www.uphellyaa.com/

This will cover the whole of the torchlight procession and the burning of the Viking galley.

Watch this tribute to Shetlands Viking Heritage.