Black Guillemot
I’m on a day trip to the Mainland. That’s the mainland of Orkney.
In the harbour at Scapa there’s a bird paddling for all it’s worth towards us. It’s a Black Guillemot. I didn’t recognise it at first because it’s in winter plumage.
![Black Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Westray-The-Hall-of-Einar-8002-725x483.jpg)
It’s heading for the steps to the dock. It gets there and climbs up onto a step. It looks tired from swimming. I’m not surprised given how much effort it was making doing all that paddling.
![Black Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Westray-The-Hall-of-Einar-8048-725x725.jpg)
Normally I’d find it difficult to get close to a Black Guillemot. I’d have to spend a few hours in camouflage. They’re always careful to avoid giving the position of their nest away:
Here, I’m just standing above it looking over the railings at it.
![Black Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Westray-The-Hall-of-Einar-8049-725x408.jpg)
It’s going to take me quite a while to get used to their new-to-me plumage.