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Westray Natural History

the natural history of Westray

Meadow Pipit - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Pipit, pipit

Meadow Pipits have a rather serious, stoic look. There are hundreds of families of Meadow Pipits on Westray, and, as I stood …

Bonxie and the Gannets - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Life and death on the waves

Strange things happen in the natural world. Here’s a photograph from a sequence that I’m still mentally processing. From left to right: …

Arctic Tern with Lumpsucker - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Arctic Terns and Lumpsuckers

Watching Arctic Terns pull Lumpsuckers out of the water is a thrill. I love the spray of water around this one and …

Hen Harrier - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

About turn

I love the way that Hen Harriers can turn so quickly. The combination of strong wings and a long tail mean they …

Whooper Swans - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Whoopers

I’ve not seen a Whooper Swan before so it’s a thrill to spot a couple on the Loch of Swartmill. They’re handsome …

Hen Harrier - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Harrying

My favourite sight is a Hen Harrier harrying.

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Diving Arctic Tern

Something I enjoyed this summer was taking multiple exposures of some of the bird species on Westray and creating composite images from …

Black Guillemot with fish - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Flatfish

What’s actually happening isn’t what appears to be happening. It’s laughing at the other one’s fish flapping in the wind, isn’t it? …

Swallow - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Swallow shuteye

When the sun shines in Orkney, it’s best to make good use of it. This Swallow agreed.

Arctic Terns - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Aerial ballet

I’ve been enjoying reviewing some of my images from Orkney Mainland taken this summer and this one, from a sequence I took …

Dunlin - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Dunlin

I love to see Dunlin on the tideline: And seeing them fly past so close is a joy: This time I’m watching …

Merlin - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Merlin

Every time I see a Merlin it’s a fleeting glance. It’s either only resting for a second before heading off to hunt …

Meadow Pipit - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Singing in the bath

I’m driving along the car-bottom-scraping track to Noup Head. It’s first gear all the way unless I want to have my exhaust …

Golden Plover - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Golden Plover

I’ve never had the chance to see Golden Plover close up before. Whenever I’ve driven past a field of them on Westray …

Raven - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The Raven and the Rabbit’s head

Ravens are so difficult to get close to. Their eyesight is exceptional and they recognise any threat from a great distance. They’re …

Meadow Pipit - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Claws

The hind claws of Meadow Pipits really are something special. Just look at them: The long hind claw is probably an adaptation …

Hen Harrier - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The thrill of Hen Harriers

Hen Harriers are such wonderful birds that it’s worth sitting out in a field for a whole afternoon just in the hope …

Common Kestrel - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

A Kestrel at Noup

I’m sitting at Noup Head in full camouflage waiting for a Hen Harrier to come and saunter over me. There’s been nothing …

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Beaks like tweezers

Arctic Terns have beaks like tweezers. Or is it that tweezers are like Arctic Terns’ beaks? It’s all part of our inversion …

Sedge Warbler - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Sedge Warbler at Roadmire

I love stopping at Roadmire, the house overlooking the Ayre of Fribo and the Bay of Tuquoy. It’s my favourite place on …

Sparrowhawk - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Sparrowhawk

I adore Sparrowhawks. I stumbled upon this one in a tree and it was always going to spot me and fly off. …

Gannet - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Fine adjustments

When you’re heading vertically downwards at an eye-bulging speed, aiming for a moving target, it’s useful to be able to make fine …

Purple Sandpiper - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Purple Sandpiper

I’m used to seeing Purple Sandpipers in Devon in the winter. There are usually a few birds around Brixham Breakwater, and they’re …

Sedge Warbler - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Sedge Warbler

I’ve got a lot of love and appreciation for Sedge Warblers. They’re one of the first birds I took decent photographs of …

Curlew - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

A curly Curlew

Having a Curlew fly over is always a thrill, especially if I can hear it call. It’s the haunting last sound of …

Sanderling - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Something to say

I love it when a Sanderling has something to say. It’s beautiful on Mae Sands as I lie getting my elbows soggy …

Thrift at Backarass - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Second bloom

The Thrift at Backarass is having a welcome second bloom. As am I.