Bridled Common Guillemots
There are Common Guillemots, Uria aalge, flying in front of the cliffs at Noup Head on Westray. It’s a breezy day and the updraft as the wind hits the cliffs is propelling Guillemots past us at enormous speed.
![Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Guillemot-The-Hall-of-Einar-30-725x408.jpg)
They’re exceptionally tricky to photograph when they’re going like a rocket. It’s exhilarating to be amongst them, as well as slightly dizzying.
![Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Guillemot-The-Hall-of-Einar-32-725x484.jpg)
I’ve spotted that a few of them are bridled. They are the same species, but bridled Guillemots have curious white eye-markings. Here’s one now:
![Bridled Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Guillemot-The-Hall-of-Einar-14-725x483.jpg)
It gets closer:
![Bridled Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Guillemot-The-Hall-of-Einar-13-725x483.jpg)
And closer:
![Bridled Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Guillemot-The-Hall-of-Einar-17-725x483.jpg)
I’ve rarely had such a close view. I’m thrilled.
More Bridled Guillemots
![2022 highlights of a wilder Orkney life (part 2)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2022-2-1-300x157.jpg)
![2022 highlights of a wilder Orkney life (part 1)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2022-1-300x157.jpg)
![Bridled Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Guillemot-The-Hall-of-Einar-48-300x200.jpg)
![Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Westray-The-Hall-of-Einar-2673-300x169.jpg)
![Bridled Guillemot - Westray - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Westray-The-Hall-of-Einar-50-300x200.jpg)