OrcadesDays

By Orc2009

Copinsay and its Horse

Often, in Britain anyway, a small island neighbouring a larger one will be called the Calf of X or the Lamb of Y, so I wondered why the islet on the left is a horse rather than a foal. A book of Orkney place-names suggests that the 'horse' is a corruption of a Norse word meaning 'dry place', a matter of interest when your Viking longship is low on fresh water. We've all been there.

The bird is a fulmar. About a hundred or more were on the cliffs behaving as if it is nesting season.

Comments
Sign in or get an account to comment.