Footprints
I love the mixture of sand on the beaches of Westray. Some are shell sand from the crushed shells of the molluscs …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Overdue MOT
This car’s MOT looks overdue. I’m not sure the lights on this one are legal. It’s expensive to get rid of a …
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, …
Beadlet Anemone giving birth
It’s 49 years since I was on holiday in Tenby in Wales and sketched this Beadlet Anemone, Actinia equina. I’m scouring rockpools …
Sanderling and seaweed
There are Sanderling heading in to feast on the invertebrates left by the retreating tide on Taftend. There is a flock of …
Foam and footprints
Our lives make such insignificant marks which are soon washed away. They are beautiful while they last.
Gone fishing
There’s a Northern Gannet, Morus bassanus, flying past. Their wings are very much in the centre of their body. We wait and …
Bar-Tailed Godwits
Bar-Tailed Godwits, Limosa lapponica, are known as Barwits by birders. It’s a great contraction of their name. There are a couple off …
Small, plump and energetic
Sanderling are a delight to watch. They are busy, frenetic even, and dedicated to picking up any morsel of food they can …
Puffins make me smile
There’s nothing better to life your mood than watching wildlife going about its daily business. Puffins make me smile. Every time.
Dunlin delight
There are stuttering Dunlin all over the sands at The Ouse on Westray. Lovely, aren’t they? I’m still learning to identify waders …
Aurora Borealis
I’ve seen the Aurora Borealis before, over my house, Einar, on Westray. I’ve only ever seen the green arc of the lights …
Ringed Plover
Now that I can identify a few species of waders my next task is to understand whether they are adults or juveniles. …
Curlew Sandpipers at The Ouse
A trip to The Ouse means I ought to have worn full waterproofs. We’re going for a walk but there are wading …
Two of my favourite things – sunsets and Puffins
The golden light of sunset is my favourite. That’s because dawn can easily be shortly after four in the morning and I’m …