Alpine Swifts
Here’s an entertaining shot I forgot to post when I took it back in April 2023. The word went out that a …
“As daft as a Coot”
I always thought that the common idiom was “As bald as a Coot”, so when my dad said “As daft as a …
Bluebells and Woodpeckers
For some reason I never did post this photograph in May last year. That’s odd, because it’s one of my favourites. A …
Return to Bass
Whenever I take a large quantity of photographs there’s an even larger amount of selecting, importing, editing, exporting, selecting and uploading before …
Chiaroscuro
The interplay of light and dark with strong contrast obsessed many painters. Caravaggio was one of them. The drama of intense lighting, …
Rose-Ringed Parakeet in The Regent’s Park
Many of the parks in London are busy with a naturalised species of Parrot. The Rose-Ringed Parakeet is so successful that it …
Hello down there
Ever felt glad you’re not a fish? This Northern Gannet was so close I felt I could reach out and touch it.
Another introduced species
The Egyptian Goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca, is another species introduced into to the UK to the estates and parklands of stately homes by …
A tracery of droplets
A visit to Chard Reservoir is always a welcome trip. I’m here because my son and his partner are using it as …
Long neck, long bill and long tail
The Northern Pintail, Anas acuta, has a long, elegant neck, a long beautifully curved beak, and a long pointed tail. It also …
An Arctic Tern colony
There’s an Arctic Tern colony on Westray which is next to a road with a couple of parking spaces. It’s possible to …
Wigeon
I love how beautiful Wigeon are close-up. Their patterns and colours are a delight. Many come to the UK from Iceland, Scandinavia …
Smew two
The Smew in The Regent’s Park in London are a thrill to get close to, even if they are in shadow: Here’s …
Finally, a Little Owl
It’s been a dream of mine to see a Little Owl again, ever since I looked after a juvenile one when I …
An Arctic Tern with a Lumpfish
Lumpfish grow to be large fish, sometimes washed up on the beaches of Westray. To see them as tiny fish, brought in …
Signs of life
There are signs of life everywhere on Westray. In this case it’s signs of life from 380 million years ago from species …
Fresh white feathers over turbulent turquoise seas
The rich eggy-yellow heads of Gannets are a constant delight as they sweep past the cliffs of Noup Head. The crisp white …
Fish on parade
The Arctic Terns which breed on Westray come back with a constant procession of fish and then parade them up and down …
Giant nocturnal woodlice
Sea Slaters are giant nocturnal woodlice. They are common in crevices and rock pools and under stones along the coast of Westray. …
Time, slowed
Arctic Terns live their lives in a rush. They’ve got to get their family ready for a journey from pole to pole …
Watching sky and water
Kingfishers are vulnerable to predators. Apart from cats, rats, stoats, weasels and mink, there’s the threat of death from the air from …
Smew
A trip to London for half a day’s work means I can pack my camera, change out of my suit into outdoors …
Black Guillemot with a beautiful fish
Give Black Guillemots a respectful distance and they carry on their lives as normal, including displaying their fresh catch for all to …
Meandering
It’s not just the River Irk which meanders through Chadderton Hall Park. It’s the path too. Having a simple meander to the …
A Common Guillemot’s ramphotheca
The coast of Westray is a great place to see the skeletons of birds. In particular, there are skulls littered across the …
Patience
If patience is a virtue, Kingfishers are very virtuous birds. This one sat watching for ripples and underwater silhouettes for five minutes. …
Kelp! I need somebody
I’ve often wondered what kelp-burning pits looked like on Westray. There was a huge industry here, exporting the ash from burning seaplants …
Near and far
I love to see a Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis. This female is stunning even though she’s far away in the reeds. And she’s …
First flight
I watched an Arctic Tern colony struggle to raise chicks over the last summer. There was plenty of food, although maybe not …
Fish from a stranger
What happens when your colony collapses, your numbers are too low and you can’t protect your chicks from predators? What if there’s …