Skarfskerry [Archive] - Caithness.Org Forums

Rheghead

26-Dec-07, 14:44

Does anyone know about the history of Skarfskerry?

Wikipedia states

Skarfskerry (or Scarfskerry; Scottish Gaelic: Sgarbh Sgeir) is the most northerly settlement on mainland Scotland. It is located in Caithness, on a small peninsula northeast of Thurso, off the A836. The village consists of a few houses and a pier that is not used for commercial purposes. The name means literally "skerry of the cormorants" in Lowland Scots.

Why lowland Scots for a Caithness settlement?:confused

However, I have seen that scarf means to remove the blubber from a whale in whaling speak.

Could it be possible that Skarfskerry harbour was actually a whaling station in the old days?

Karen

26-Dec-07, 15:51

I have always been told that the meaning is a scarf (local name for a cormorant) sitting on a skerry (rock) The harbour is only a small pier, don't think it would be big enough for a whaling station.

northener

26-Dec-07, 15:51

Scarf is an old name for Shags, we don't get any Cormorants up here around the coast.

Skerry is Norse, it's very common up on Shetland, they also call Shags 'scarfs'.

So they're talking cobblers at Wikipedia.
Unless they're saying that Shetlanders are really Lowland Scots:eek:

It may translate into Gaelic, but the Vikings traded all way around the Scots coast, so they'd have named all the rocks and headlands on the way round. My feeling is that it's actually derived from Norse origins, those lazy non-seafaring Gaelic types simply changed the spelling.........

I don't know anything about whaling though, would be interesting to find out.

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golach

26-Dec-07, 19:03

So they're talking cobblers at Wikipedia.
Unless they're saying that Shetlanders are really Lowland Scots:eek:
It may translate into Gaelic, but the Vikings traded all way around the Scots coast, so they'd have named all the rocks and headlands on the way round. My feeling is that it's actually derived from Norse origins,
.
I think your spot on Northerner, I would not trust a word on Wikipedia, [lol]

Boozeburglar

26-Dec-07, 20:52

we don't get any Cormorants up here around the coast

Beg to differ, seen plenty over the years.

horseman

26-Dec-07, 22:12

Beg to differ, seen plenty over the years.

zillions-an they are not scarfs, to me they have always been scarfies!

northener

27-Dec-07, 15:20

Beg to differ, seen plenty over the years.

Where abouts?

I've spent a lot of time out on the Pentland Firth and I can honestly say that I've never seen a Cormorant on the coastline up here - seen thousands of Shags, though.

Are you sure they weren't immature Shags?
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northener

27-Dec-07, 15:22

zillions-an they are not scarfs, to me they have always been scarfies!

Sorry, I forgot that there's a large colony of Shags in nearby Rushden;)

Or should they be Shaggies?

northener

27-Dec-07, 15:28

A Shag:

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/bird%20pictures/Shagandchick16-6-07c.jpg

Not a Cormorant....

With apologies to 'Seabird' for lifting the photo off another thread.

Torvaig

27-Dec-07, 15:38

http://www.caithness.org/caithnessfieldclub/bulletins/2002/local_caithness_bird_names.htm

"I would imagine most people would not differentiate between Cormorant and Shag, and would call both Scarfs or Scarfies."

percy toboggan

27-Dec-07, 15:43

I agree with Golach (agin) - Wikipedia is bobbins!

Julia

27-Dec-07, 16:48

Skarfskerry is the creepiest place in Caithness! It gives me the heebeejeebees!

northener

27-Dec-07, 16:57

http://www.caithness.org/caithnessfieldclub/bulletins/2002/local_caithness_bird_names.htm (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.caithness.org/caithnessfieldclub/bulletins/2002/local_caithness_bird_names.htm)

"I would imagine most people would not differentiate between Cormorant and Shag, and would call both Scarfs or Scarfies."

I'd agree with that.

That's the trouble with Wikipedia, it puiblishes in good faith, yet it can be ambiguous or just plain wrong at times.

horseman

27-Dec-07, 21:14

northener

28-Dec-07, 20:08

sorry northener-you must know Rushden better than me,Wellingboro' more like;)We saw them all the time at the grey bools'we had them pegged as cormorants-there was allways someone knew the posh name,but to us they were scarfies,an local knowledge was allways followed:D

There's a lot of Cormorants in Northamptonshire, at Pitsford and Eyebrook resevoirs and others in the county they were a bloody nuisance. Shags only live on the coast, but Cormorants will go anywhere.

Going off topic, whats the Glasgow supporters club in Corby, Rangers or Celtic? I can't remember, but I know it was out on the road to Rockingham.

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Rheghead

28-Dec-07, 20:23

Shags and cormorants are sometimes seen together in Caithness.

northener

28-Dec-07, 20:35

Shags and cormorants are sometimes seen together in Caithness.

Where abouts Rheghead? As I said earlier I've lost count of how many Shags I've seen up here, yet I have never seen a single Cormorant on the coast.

They're pretty straightforward to tell apart, that's why I asked earlier whereabouts they are. I'm not aware of any residents on the coast.

The reason i'm asking is if I can get definitive positive sightings of Cormorants, then I'll have to change my spiel on a couple of guided wildlife tours that I help out with.

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northener

28-Dec-07, 20:40

I've PM'd Seabird regarding this, hopefully it may help reach a conclusion to this!

Seabird

29-Dec-07, 19:47

Thanks for the PM Northener.
I can assure you that Rheghead is correct in what he is saying.
Cormorants are not as numerous as the Shags that we have, but you do see them usually one's and two's
The Thurso river estuary is a good place to look.
I might add that my knowledge of marine mammals is far better than my knowledge of birds but cormorants are here in Caithness.
I was told by a local from Calder that Scarfskerry means cormorant on a Rock.
It's also true that shags and cormorants are both know by locals has Scarfs.
Whether the people naming Scarfskerry knew the difference between the two birds is debateable.
Seagulls are all called by one name which is a perfect example of collective naming. (scorries)
That could start a new debate.
I hope that helps.

northener

29-Dec-07, 19:52

Thanks for the reply, Seabird.

It would make sense to see them on the estuaries or rivers.

Well, you live and learn. I'll have to keep my eyes open next time I'm in Thurso and change my guide notes!

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Rheghead

29-Dec-07, 20:22

One of the best places, that I've found, to see shags and cormorants sitting together for a comparison is on the 'scarf skerry' at the end of the track just before the gate to Sandside head. NC 95560 66482 Usually at low water.

northener

29-Dec-07, 21:29

I'll remember that next time I'm up there.

Bear in mind Rheghead, if they are all Shags on the day I look - you'll never hear the end of it:D

Rheghead

29-Dec-07, 23:11

Interestingly for me but scarf is the word for cormorant in Furness dialect as well, it is the norse influence again, so many words are shared between Caithness and Cumbrian dialect.

northener

29-Dec-07, 23:34

Interestingly for me but scarf is the word for cormorant in Furness dialect as well, it is the norse influence again, so many words are shared between Caithness and Cumbrian dialect.

I remember a programme about 2 years ago genetically mapping the Vikings around Britain. There are a lot of words in Northern English that are Norse (gob, bairn, oxter, to name a couple).

They pointed out on the programme that some of the older Cumbrians spoke a dialect that was incredibly close to Norse - I remember them talking to an old couple on a bench who still spoke the dialect. It was like listening to a dodgy Norwegian interpreter!

We're a lot closer to our Viking forebears than we realise.

Boozeburglar

30-Dec-07, 02:11

Torvaig

30-Dec-07, 02:29

I've just had a look at this site and I am more confused than ever!:confused
http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/Sampler5-Cormorants.htm (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/Sampler5-Cormorants.htm)

Same with the birds of prey; there are so many....:(

northener

30-Dec-07, 12:57

Northerner,

I cannot furnish you with grid references, but I know I have seen stats that support my assertion. No time to research the supporting evidence right now, but take it from a keen naturalist that I know the obvious differences between Corm and Shag...

Bit like all the people who talk about Sparrow Hawks and are actually seeing Goshawks, reportedly scarce thanks to misidentification in some part.

;)

No probs, it just suprises me that I've never seen one!

My usual stomping ground is Skirza Head round to Scotlands' Haven and around Stroma. I can honestly say I've never seen one around there at all.

Like I said, we live and learn!

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northener

30-Dec-07, 13:13

I've just had a look at this site and I am more confused than ever!
http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/Sampler5-Cormorants.htm (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/Sampler5-Cormorants.htm)

Same with the birds of prey; there are so many....:(

Ah, now most of those birds on the link can be seen around Auchengill...:D

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