Bonxie ballet

Great Skuas are large birds. They’re the size of a gull.

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

They are powerful and barrel-chested. Bonxie is their local name, originally from the Norse.

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

They are sharp-eyed and keenly observant. I’m hoping to get photographs of them attacking other birds in the next few days. They either kill them or rob them of their fish.

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

They are quick to anger and fierce in defence of their nesting site. Having one head for your head is disconcerting the first time. It’s also disconcerting the second time.

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

They’re in Orkney to breed and then they will migrate south, probably to the Atlantic, off the north west coast of Africa for our winter.

They are also very cute when they float past.

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

Appearances can be deceptive.

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