Winner, winner, chicken dinner
I’m delighted that I’ve won a prize in the inaugural Orkney Nature Festival Photography Competition 2026.
My image, Black Guillemot flying past with a Butterfish, won first prize in the Terrestrial Animals of Orkney category. I’m particularly delighted that the prize is sponsored by Ola Gorie, whose jewellery I adore. I’ve been collecting her cuff-links for years. My favourites are a pair of silver ones from 1979. I’ve bought old pieces of jewellery by Ola at auction and bought new ones in Kirkwall. It’ll be wonderful to receive something from their collection.
I’ve been delighted that the competition has been featured on the BBC’s website:
Here’s a link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cre30pkpn0w3o
It’s currently on the BBC Scotland home page:
It’s a shame the BBC chose to credit me only as ‘David’ rather than ‘David at the Hall of Einar’, which is my full name for photography purposes.
A greater shame is that my dad, whose encouragement means I entered some photography competitions in the first place, has dementia which has progressed to such a point that he’s not really able to understand the success. I’m sure he’d be thrilled. He loved a good competition. Congratulations to all five of the other category winners and the six runners up. There are some beautiful images.
More adventures on safari in Kenya
Southern Ground Hornbills There's a massive bird as big as a Turkey wandering through the close-cropped grass. It has a strange-shaped bill, a… read more
Common Drongos Today's another chance for me to appreciate Common Drongos. They have distinctive forked tails and intense red eyes set in… read more
Lilac-Breasted Roller attack Sometimes there's such an extraordinary moment and it seems impossible that you could have captured it. There's a dispute between… read more
Grey Crowned Crane It's one metre tall and has a two metre wingspan. It has a ridiculous crown. It has an inflatable red… read more
Can you kneel on your wrists? Common Warthogs are fabulous creatures. Just look at that hairy face! I love this one's blonde moustache and perky tail.… read more
The street performer – a Bateleur Eagle with a rat We spotted a Bateleur Eagle as soon as we arrived in the Masai Mara. It was distant. All I could… read more
Black-Headed Heron There's a Black-Headed Heron with what looks like a snake. I know they eat fish and amphibians, but I didn't… read more
A male Pied Kingfisher There's a perched male Pied Kingfisher on a branch nearby here in the Masai Mara. They are large, impressive birds.… read more
Cattle Egret portrait I've seen Cattle Egrets in Devon, but never been as close as I am now to this Cattle Egret in… read more
Playful Lion There's nothing more fulfilling in wildlife photography than having an animal be completely relaxed in your presence. Seeing a lion… read more
Elephant and Egret This is a Cattle Egret Someone needs to tell it that. Because this is an Elephant. read more
A Lion’s yawn shows its lingual frenulum This male Lion is having a bit of a yawn. I adore the wrinkles on its nose and its wavy,… read more