Black Guillemots
Black Guillemots remind me of pigeons in their attitude and body shape. Maybe it’s the position of their wings? Maybe it’s the shape of their heads? Maybe it’s the proportion of their wings? It’s certainly not the black plumage or the red webbed feet.
It’s entertaining to spend time with them on the shallow rock cliffs of Westray, where pairs come in to tend to their families. I’m usually desperate to catch one coming in with a Butterfish, but today I’m relaxed. Just spending time with them is enough.
More Black Guillemots
Incoming Tystie The Black Guillemots are struggling to feed their chick. There's even an outside possibility they have two chicks that they… read more
Tystie takeoff When I first saw a Black Guillemot hanging about on the cliffs with a fish, I was worried. Was I… read more
“Fish!” We've been out to the north end of Westray again, taking photographs of Black Guillemots with their fish. I had… read more
Black Guillemots and Butterfish Butterfish are the Black Guillemot's most common catch. Here's a Butterfish which is deep red and still wriggling. Black Guillemots… read more
The fish dance Black Guillemots like to display their fish on the cliffs. It would be a shame not to spend some time… read more
An afternoon with the Tysties of Westray I love our trips out to see the Tysties - the Black Guillemots - on Westray. They seem to enjoy… read more
2022 highlights of a wilder Orkney life (part 2) August in Orkney can be quieter than May, June or July when it comes to bird life. In 2022, August… read more
2022 highlights of a wilder Orkney life (part 1) 2022 was a very happy time for me on my visits to Orkney. I spent hours on the low cliffs… read more