Manx Shearwater
I’m greedy. Whenever I see a beautiful bird I’d like to be as close as possible to it without affecting its behaviour …
Osprey with fish
The juvenile Osprey on the River Otter last month was doing a very good job of catching a fish every morning and …
Mediterranean Gull
Gull identification isn’t my favourite subject. There are too many plumages which seemingly overlap. My mind ties itself into knots as I …
In transition
This Lesser Black-Backed Gull is in transition. It still has a speckled head and some of its wing feathers are still the …
Kittiwakes
I’m used to seeing Kittiwakes in full, pristine, breeding plumage in Orkney. It’s a pleasure to see some in their more relaxed …
Comedy gold
This year I’ve decided to enter some photography competitions. I’ve been inspired by my dad, who won competition after competition (with my …
Osprey on the River Otter
I’ve had great fun recently at the Lower Otter Restoration Project as there’s been an Osprey in residence. Here it is, only …
Warship
Out at sea there’s always a larger boat than yours. Out in Lyme Bay there’s a warship patrolling.
A Tuna boil
It’s not just fishing boats out in Lyme Bay. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna are back in South Devon. That’s extraordinary. They’ve suffered a …
Footprints
I love the mixture of sand on the beaches of Westray. Some are shell sand from the crushed shells of the molluscs …
Cloaca
Birds, like most vertebrates, apart from many mammals, have a cloaca. Cloaca is Latin for sewer and is the combined intestinal, urinary …
I hear someone shout “Kestrel!”
There’s a shout of “Kestrel!” and I train my lens on the sky. A Common Kestrel is being mobbed by a Carrion …
Flying Fulmars
I think of fulmars as being mid-engined birds with relatively short wings. They are deceptive, however, as their wings can appear quite …
Soggy Osprey
Of all the things I love about autumn, trips to see Ospreys migrating back to Africa are one of my top highlights. …
Wild majesty
There’s a spot on the coast of Westray that I return to again and again. A rock shelf reaches out into the …
A curious Wheatear
I sometimes wonder why Wheatears are so difficult to get close to. Then I remember that we have killed and eaten every …
Ruddy Turnstones are a joy to behold
We’re on an early morning dog walk along Taftend when we notice there are small flocks of birds on the tideline moving …
Good eyesight is a fabulous thing
The Grey Phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius, is a bird I’ve only ever seen in full breeding plumage. Where it breeds, it’s known as …
A male Hen Harrier in my garden
The bird I’d most like to photograph is a Male Hen Harrier. There’s been one on Westray on and off for the …
The Giant Polypore
The Giant Polypore, Meripilus giganteus, is giant and has many pores on its underside. It’s also called the Black-Staining Polypore because, well, …
Shag on the cliffs
The weather is incredible on Westray today. There are blue skies, blustery winds and waves which roll and roll. I’m enjoying sitting …
Arctic Terns in the bay
There’s a small group of Arctic Terns in the bay. They are such beautiful birds. I love the long tail streamers. There …
Goose Barnacles
Apparently Goose Barnacles have a sweet taste like Razor Clams. They’re filter feeders which grow on rocks or on flotsam and have …
Wheatears full of character
Wheatear know how to strike a pose. Northern Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe, are small yet very powerful birds. They have been stunningly successful …
Stare and Starling
I love how busy and gregarious Starlings are. Their original name was Stare but over time the diminutive form, Starling, came to …
Garden flowers
The stone walls in the garden at Einar are a wonderful way of sheltering the garden plants here. They are full of …
The Tadpole Fish
There’s a fish which looks like a giant tadpole washed up on Sand o’ Gill on Westray. As I attempt to get …
Feeding Fulmar
It’s rare that I get close photographs of Fulmars eating. They’re normally well offshore when I see them feasting on something. This …
Arctic Skua
There’s a familiar silhouette on the slopes below Skea Hill. It’s an Arctic Skua. There are several ‘morphs’ of Arctic Skuas. There …
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, …