Heron overhead – forty years ago in my nature notebooks

Sometimes there’s just too much wildlife going on here in Westray. We’re sitting on the beach in Pierowall Bay watching the seals hauled up on the stones with Eider Duck families powering past and Turnstones flitting nervously through when a Heron appears and floats overhead on massive wings.

Forty years ago I saw the same sight, a Heron overhead with impressive wings like a Pterodactyl, and noted it down in my nature notebooks. I’d just had a Christmas present of a set of Rotring pens and used them to sketch it.

I still have the same sense of awe.