January 2025

1st January – A cold and chilly start to the year, but at least we’ve no snow as had been forecast. Even the wind has died down. Managed to get a couple of early Shorewatches in, there was nothing to report except the Stromness lifeboat going out on a call. Not a great time of year to be in difficulties at sea!

2nd January – Local chap, Graham Campbell, was on duty at Kirkwall harbour last night. He wasn’t complaining doing a New Year’s Day shift when he could see this from the office window.

I did go out for a look myself but it was cloudy over Stromness unfortunately.

9th January – Amid some wintry flurries we did manage to spot a small group of Orca pass by Stromness. The usual culprit gets too close in his boat.

12th January – The Stromness lifeboat has training sessions on Thursdays and Sundays, today they were practising rescuing someone from the water.

I hope this is a dummy or it might be classed as bullying in the workplace!

The lifeboat returned briefly to harbour after this but went immediately back out on a genuine call.

15th January – An old, derelict dive boat, Sharon Rose, finally gave up the ghost and sank in Stromness harbour. It received a rather undignified removal as it was broken up in situ and, piece by piece, dumped in a skip.

A boom was placed around the site to prevent debris and oil escaping but there didn’t seem to be too much of either.

16th January – The dawn exploded across the sky this morning with a spectacular display just before the sun came up.