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Papa Westray

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

Magnificent Mallimacks

There are Fulmars, called Mallimacks here in Orkney, on the wing at the pier on Papa Westray This one is flying a …

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

Sitting pretty

A little further along the coast of Papa Westray I see an Arctic Skua sitting on a wall. It’s really not what …

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

Stumbling across a Great Skua

Great Skuas are one of my favourite birds. They are a constant delight as they patrol the shoreline, flying low and surprising …

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

Scootie Allan

On our walk around Papa Westray we are excited to see Arctic Skuas. At least we are until they attack us. There’s …

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

A bit of singing and dancing

Black Guillemots are the connoisseur’s auk. If you find Puffins too gaudy, or Guillemots too dowdy, then Black Guillemots are for you. …

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

The gift of two summers

There are Arctic Terns fishing in uneven seas off Papa Westray. Their concentration skills are immense: Arctic Terns spend the northern summer …

Risso's Dolphin - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Nasal drift

“Dolphin!” I yell. “Dolphin!!!” I yell again, pointing as if my life depends upon it. The Puffin Whisperer looks at me from …

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

Blood-footed Oyster-pickers

There are Oystercatchers on Papa Westray and they intend to let us know that. As soon as we arrive, and walk into …

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

720 Auks make a mattress

Papa Westray is one of the few places in which the amazing, and sadly extinct, Great Auk bred. People often think that …

Holland Farm on Papa Westray - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Holland Farm from the air

Every time I visit Papa Westray I say “Next time I visit Papay I must have a look at all those beautiful …

On the edge - photograph (c) David Bailey 2016

On the edge

Just how close are these two 5,600 year old houses to being lost to the sea? It was a thrill to fly …

Wild Rose

I sent my love two roses…

I’ve always loved wild roses. The cultivated varieties rarely do anything for me, especially in garage forecourts, but wild roses are something …

Hay Turner

Hay Turner

It’s a long way from Papa Westray to a large landfill site or recycling centre so if it’s large, heavy or rusting …

Weighed Down

Sharing a bench

On Papa Westray the wind knows how to blow. That means that anything that’s not tied down or cemented-in will eventually take …

Knap of Howar

A 5,600 year old picnic venue

The island of Papa Westray is just off Westray, part of the Orkney Islands just off the north-east coast of Scotland, part …

Holland Farm Papa Westray

Holland

Today there’s time to visit Holland. No, not the province of the Netherlands, but Holland the farm on Papa Westray. It’s a …

Trouble with lichen

Today there’s time to relax after a weekend of photography with a trip to Papa Westray. If you think that Westray is …

The Kelp Store, Papa Westray

The Kelp Store

One of Orkney’s most important exports used to be the ash from Kelp, the seaweed which is regularly washed ashore by storms …

Knap of Howar

A day trip to Papa Westray and a walk to the Knap of Howar. Domestic houses in the United Kingdom which are …