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Last year Tom Williamson, the Eshaness lighthouse caretaker, was out in his small red boat when he looked up and saw a big black fin beside him. Then he saw the distinctive white marking of an Orca whale. Immediately he headed for shore, as an Orca is not aggressive toward man but could run into a small boat and tip it over. There were four whales in the pod he saw. They continued on their way to check out the seal population in the area for a nice lunch. I would have given anything to be with Tom when he saw these beautiful creatures even though it is a little scary.

We have had several sightings in the Eshaness area this year but so far I have not seen one whale. I keep my eye on the ocean as much as I can. Orcas move very fast and it would be pure luck if I saw one. That does not stop me from watching for them in the ever-changing sea.

Last weekend I took a RSPB boat trip to see whales, puffins, and dolphins. On what turned out to a rather bumpy trip we saw everything except whales. I have scheduled a trip by boat to Foula, an island I see from the lighthouse every day. I have wanted to see this island every since we lived at the lighthouse so I am excited about the trip but most of all it will mean four hours on the water and that is four more hours of an opportunity to see whales.

Within the next few days I am off via RORO (roll on - roll off) ferry to the Out Skerries, another outlying member of the Shetland archipelago. It is an hour and half ride so that is another three hours on the water to maybe see a whale.

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If I do not finally see one of these elusive mammals this summer than next summer I will be back at it looking for those giant black and white creatures.

As Always,

Sharma

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You can find more articles in the archive under Island Miniatures/Lighthouse Letters.