Hello there.
Around 8am Saturday morning, I'd got the washing out on the line and was lazily having a congratulatory cuppa and decided to check what was going on in Facebook world. I noticed a friend had posted in his status that there were pilot whales in Lerwick harbour. After a quick message exchange with Ryan, I realised it was all systems go! I dressed, grabbed binns, scope and a smoothy and headed to town.
Driving into the harbour, I immediately noticed unfamliar black forms in the water. I positioned myself just outside the local Scottish Natural Heritage office and went on to enjoy most memorable views of the group of whales. There were a mix of calves and adults spy-hopping, loafing and just sort of hanging out. Groups of people had gathered here and there, watching the gentle goings on out in the sea, and I offered passers by the chance to look through the optics I had. One mother reckoned a telescope would now be on her son's Santa list this year!
What a special morning it was for many people. My friend Austin (a sea mammal enthusiast) has shared his experience here if you would like to see pictures. A young lass who looked through the scope was on her way to the hairdressers and was obviously delighted with her day, and various shopkeepers commented "Where else in Britain can you get to watch whales out the shop door?!" There was some discussion about whether one of the whales was not well, and might the animals become stranded. However, I later found out that the whales had moved on out to open water around tea time. Of course, in times past, the arrival of a group of pilot whales would have triggered different behaviour in the local community.
Pilot whales are called Caain Whales in Shetland. To "Caa" means to "herd," as in the song "Caa da yowes tae the knowes," which I think was penned by Robert Burns (correct me if I'm wrong!). People used to force the whales to beach, so to help make their living. In 1845, my ancestors were involved in the largest catch ever recorded, at Quendale Bay where 1540 Caain Whales were killed. Times were very hard for the common person back then, and people had little choice but to harvest from the sea (I wouldn't exist if it weren't for fish!). I've heard it said that Caain Whales influenced Shetlanders' political leanings towards Liberal (LibDem hold the seat today). This is due to the "Crofters' Act" of 1886 (lairds could no longer evict the crofters, as in the dreadful days of Scotland's history with The Clearances) and then the 1888 Hoswick Whale Case. How interesting that the movements of a group of whales laid some foundations for politics in Shetland.
I feel most fortunate to have had the quiet personal experience of discovering the Mareel (as in my last blog post) and then have a shared "urban-marine" experience with friends and strangers. The sea never fails to inspire.
All the best from 60North