Some of Shetland's Wonders

Sunday 28th May

We wake up to sunny skies and much less breeze than yesterday. Today's plan is to visit a few places on the west coast of the South Mainland. After breakfast we prepare a picnic and set out, taking the main road south out of Lerwick. As we draw level with Mousa we see quite a large cruise ship in the sound. The Broch will be busy this morning.
Our first target is the Loch of Spiggie where there is an RSPB hide looking out over a couple of rafts that have been moored in the Loch to encourage Arctic Terns to breed. The rafts deter predators such as rats from stealing the eggs. There is no action in the immediate vicinity of the hide but when we move on to the nearby Bay of Scousburgh we can see Terns flying over the water. On the far side of the bay we just make out seals sunbathing on the sand. Our route takes us along the cliffs above and gives the opportunity for a photo.
Next up is the tombolo that connects St Ninian's Isle with the mainland. This is basically a two sided sandy beach about 400 metres long, with the Atlantic Ocean on either side of it.
We enjoy a stroll around the Isle in hazy sunshine. The car park is busy and the picnic tables occupied so we opt to move on for our picnic. By great good fortune the layby that we choose provides excellent views of a lapwing in the adjacent field.
As we munch our sandwiches a couple of curlews fly by and there is a godwit around as well. The ornithologist is well pleased. 

Our final entertainment of the day is the Scalloway Museum if it is open. It's third time lucky and we join the crowd in marvelling at relics of life in Scalloway. The most impressive exhibit was a partially restored home made aeroplane that did actually fly, powered by the petrol engine out of an Austin 7. 
The man who built and flew it was called Jim Smith who was a bit of an inventor and local character. Possibly the most amazing thing about the plane was that the wood used in building the body and wings was recovered from old bunk beds.

Nothing was going to top that so we went back to the digs and enjoyed scallops, chorizo and pasta for supper.

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