Flying Aaks

There’s a low flying Guillemot coming past the bottom of the cliffs. It’s a great aerodynamic shape, although perhaps I should say hydrodynamic.

This one is a Bridled Guillemot. It has a small but distinctive plumage difference from other Guillemots. That’s quite a definite eye stripe, isn’t it?

I like the fact I’ve captured the three positions of the wing: up, mid and down stroke.

Guillemots are Auks and the ‘codename’ for the island and the people of Westray during World War 2 was Aaks, after the birds. The aim was to disguise communications. Now, the Island is proud of the name.

In previous years I would have been climbing down the cliffs in a flat cap and waistcoat with a big bushy beard and a large net in which to trap Guillemots. Despite the bad taste, people here still ate them. The cooking instructions are: ‘Aaks – boil first then fry with onions – tastes like liver.’

There’s a curious Guillemot in the water having a close look at me.

It is, however, perfectly safe as I am nowhere near as streamlined as Aaks used to be.