Incoming!

We spent an amazing evening with the Scootie Allans of Westray.

Arctic Skuas are beautiful, impressive birds, with sleek bodies and swept-back wings. They’re also spoiling for a fight.

This one is a light form, paired with a dark form in the local ‘power couple’. I’ve yet to have anyone explain to me why that happens. Birds are normally attracted to average features rather than different features, in the same way that humans find average faces more attractive than faces with features. It’s called koinophilia

I’m sitting on the footpath enjoying their company. They’re clearly not bothered by my presence, as battling with Chaldro (Oystercatchers) is taking up more of their time.

Just look how close it lands to me:

Magnificent.