Great Black-Backed Gulls at the Castle o’ Burrian

The Castle o’ Burrian holds one of the best known Puffin colonies on Westray. It has relatively easy access and easy viewing, together with Puffins which are used to the attention.

The air here is clean and salty and lichen grows in profusion on the rocks.

It’s not just people who know the Puffins are here. Great Black-Backed Gulls patrol the skies and wait for the ill or unwary.

The world’s largest gull is an awesome sight as it cruises past. They’re probably one of the main reasons it’s so difficult to see Pufflings finally leaving their burrows and heading out to sea. All the sensible Pufflings leave under cover of darkness.