Raven over Einar
There’s a Raven perched at the back of Einar. By the time I get my camera it is already in flight. I …
A box of finds
Bones picked clean, floats, driftwood branches and strange objects all collected in a box; I love beachcombing.
Wet bench
Wednesday night is fish and chips night at Jacks Chippy at Pierowall Fish. That’s a source of great excitement to me. I’ve …
Sanderling in the seaweed
There’s a juvenile Sanderling on the rocks. It pitter-patters busily among the seaweed. Suddenly I realise there are a flock of them …
Hedgehog – forty years ago in my nature notebooks
Cars are a danger to wildlife. On the road back from Pierowall there is a Hedgehog corpse. Forty years ago I spotted …
Underwater photography Take 2
Beadlet Anemones are vicious territorial monsters. There are both male and female anemones and each of them can become pregnant on their …
Westray Industrial Show 2016
I love the Westray Industrial Show with a strange and rather bizarre passion. There’s something deeply appealing about the vegetable competition, the …
On a clear day
On a clear day in Westray you can see the Mainland. No, not the mainland of Scotland, but Orkney Mainland.
Dropping my phone in a rock pool
It takes a lot of courage or stupidity (at least what counts as that in the so called First World) to put …
Getting my cap and my running shoes out
What’s the quickest way of dispersing a crowd? Take a collection! I’m getting my cap and my running shoes out to raise …
Westray Sunsets
Tonight we chased the sunset over Westray. First there was a walk along the Bay of Tafts. Then a view of high …
Who says Orkney has no trees?
The view from the top of St Magnus Cathedral tells me otherwise.
A flavour of the times
Every visit to Westray brings the same anticipation for me; which flavour of Yeo Valley yoghurt will the shop have to the exclusion of all others?
Grey seal v Common seal. Who nose the difference?
Thanks to the Orkney Seal Rescue Centre I now know how to tell the difference between the two species of seal based …
Mice nibble… #13
In the past, the mice at Einar have eaten my air bed, my slippers, my rubber gloves, bicycle inner tubes and even a roll of draught excluder. They have eaten ear defenders, knee protectors, sleeping bags and walking boots. Every time I arrive I wonder what will have been chewed this time.
Just in case you thought seals were cute
Common Seals are wonderful and wild animals. This one at Broughton is yawning and showing its teeth perfectly; three front teeth, one …
6 of May 1656
A lot has happened in the last 360 years; when this grave was carved in 1656, Oliver Cromwell was still Lord Protector …
Saint Stephen in the church of Saint Magnus
Saint Stephen was a Greek man called Stephanos. He was found guilty of teaching against the Temple in Jerusalem and was stoned …
“Who you lookin’ at?”
The seals at Broughton on Westray are curious.
Orkney Seal Rescue
We have time to visit the Orkney Seal Rescue centre in South Ronaldsay thanks to Ross. He shows us the only current …
Two for One offers
It appears that Westray Wildlife will be continuing their two-for-one offers for the remainder of the month. :)
Literally
In Orkney I’m constantly delighted by how literal everyone is. Maybe it’s the Northerner in me to which it appeals. I loved …
A weathered gargoyle
St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall is a masterpiece of stone carving. There are numerous decorative flourishes including this gargoyle. I know it’s …
Me, after dinner
It’s the afternoon and the seals are out in force at Broughton on Westray. From all appearances they seem to have had dinner; at least that’s what I look like after I’ve had mine.
A Different View of St Magnus Cathedral
I’ve seen so many beautiful photographs of St Magnus Cathedral. There are photographs of it in brilliant sunshine, photographs in snow, photographs …
Flower Arrangement
Apart from putting a few garage forecourt flowers in the wrong size of vase and the extras in a spare milk bottle …
The Dove
I’m about to set sail to Westray on a ferry as big as a Biblical Ark. First though, we’re having a special …