Jarlshof

Jarlshof, near Sumburgh, is an amazingly complex site, and there is so much to see. The earliest buildings date from before 2000 BC. This wheelhouse is much later; merely 2nd or 3rd century AD!

There is a broch here too, perhaps 200 years older than the wheelhouses; but my extra photo is of the best preserved broch on the small island of Mousa. We went there late in the evening to see storm petrels return to their nest holes in the broch. It was a fine bright night; unfortunately that isn't safe for the storm petrels, so we saw only a few. Still, it was a memorable experience; and we could hear the birds calling from their nests.

I tried to photograph the birds. It's really hard because they move fast, it's dark, and they are black. I have added my best effort; RedCoatedBirder has a better attempt.