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

I’m shy

No, I’m not really. I’m just using my uropygial gland to oil my feathers so I don’t get waterlogged.

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

Black Guillemot in sunshine

A Black Guillemot in sunshine is a wondrous thing, especially when they’re in full breeding finery. This one was speeding back to …

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

The foamy Atlantic

I love the dancing patterns the wave-crashed foam makes on the blue-grey sea below Papa Westray’s low cliffs. Especially when a Puffin …

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

Meadow Pipit

Some lucky chick will be receiving a juicy caterpillar very soon. Getting a photograph of a bird taking off is always tricky. …

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

Into the wind we go

Watching Puffins negotiate high winds is a thrill. I particularly like their head-down, stiff-necked attitude as they take off.

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

Fool’s Gold

We’re walking the coast of Westray when we see large chunks of what look like rusty metal embedded in the rocks. There’s …

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

Marsh Harrier at Ham Wall

I’ve had many happy times watching Marsh Harriers flying across RSPB reserves. Today is one of them as, after a few distant …

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

Dazzleships

HMS Medway is off Dartmouth after its latest mechanical problems and the indignity of being towed back to the dockyard in Gibraltar …

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

Lyme Bay Common Cormorants

We’re on the water guided by Mike Langman again. It’s a great opportunity to see Common Cormorants, Phalacrocorax carbo, from the sea, …

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

Mr Punch

If you spend enough time with Puffins you are guaranteed comedy gold.

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

Flying fish

If you’re a regular follower of my blog, you’ll know that Black Guillemots are one of my favourite birds. This summer I …

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

Beak full of fish

I do love a good head-on Puffin encounter, especially if it’s carrying a Puffling’s meal.

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

Black Guillemot with a catch

I spent many days on the coasts of Westray and Papa Westray this summer photographing Black Guillemots. This one has a particularly …

Pirate Spider Egg Sac - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Pirate Spider egg sac

There’s a small ball of fluff on the bottom of my pressure washer. I don’t know what memory I have of seeing …

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

Ruddy Turnstone on barnacles

It’s always a pleasure to see a Ruddy Turnstone. They’re usually so busy turning stones that I had to take this image …

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

Catch of the day

The Atlantic Puffins on Papa Westray were bringing in many of these glassy fish with amazing transparent bodies. This Puffin had clearly …

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

Trawler bobbin

How did fishermen keep their fishing nets on the sea bed as they trawled? They used huge weights like this trawler bobbin. …

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

Ringed Plover chick

There’s a Ringed Plover chick on the rocky beach. Charming, aren’t they? I’ve been here before to photograph them. Last year I …

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

No excess baggage allowed

Arctic Terns have short legs. Comically short legs. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it. They need as little excess baggage …

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

Hogweed sunset

I love the silhouette of Hogweed, especially if it’s against another fabulous Westray sunset.

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

Escorted Heron

There must be at least 30 Ravens at the Sands o’ Maesan on Westray. When an unfortunate Grey Heron strays overhead it …

Short-Eared Owl - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Sunset owl

There’s a Short-Eared Owl hunting over the fields and we see it land on a post just up the road from my …

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

Bristletails

Seeing Bristletails under the slates in one of my ‘range of useful outbuildings’ is enough to remind me that I really need …

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

Chattering

Chattering Fulmars are the best. They raise their chins, open their mouths wide, shake their heads and wave their heads from side …