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Orkney Mainland

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Arctic Tern feeding

A memory of last summer with the Arctic Terns of Westray. There were so few chicks in this colony that the remaining …

Lichen - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Life within life

Lichen is hardy. The salt spray, the desiccating sun, and the bitter wind don’t discourage it at all. They simply slow its …

Pineapple Weed - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Pineapple Weed

After finding an endless supply of Pineapple Weed on Westray last summer I’m now very keen on making some Pineapple Weed Posset. …

Northern Gannet - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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.

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Collapsed Sea Cave - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Collapsed sea cave

There’s a strange depression on the coastal walk in the north of Westray. I finally realised what it was. It’s a collapsed …

Fossil worm casts - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Sea Slater - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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. …

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Kelp-burning pit - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

First flight

I watched an Arctic Tern colony struggle to raise chicks over the last summer. There was plenty of food, although maybe not …

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Sanderling - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The Sand Ploughman

The name Sanderling is from the Old English sand-yrðling, or ‘sand-ploughman’. This one has been ploughing the tideline for tasty morsels and is heading …

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Feeding time

One of the most interesting aspects of bird behaviour is watching parents feeding their young. In this case, I can’t be sure …

Catch of the Day - 60 x 60cm framed

Framed print

I’ve just sold a print of my photograph of a Puffin with a face full of fish: The print is 60cm x …

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Arctic Tern chick

Arctic Tern chicks are so wonderfully endearing. Isn’t this one sweet?

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Arctic Tern on the handrail

We had only just arrived on Papa Westray when we saw an Arctic Tern on the handrail. They’re such handsome birds, with …

Black Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Yet another fish shot

A Black Guillemot in breeding plumage is a thrill. Even more so when it has a freshly caught fish to display.

Black Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Fish delivery service

It’s normally Puffins I photograph with the sparkling Atlantic Ocean behind them. This time it’s a Black Guillemot in flight with a …

Black Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Singing sweetly

Black Guillemots make such a sweet noise. They sit on the cliff edge and sing their high-pitched song. It makes me smile …

Black Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

A fine catch

I love to see a Black Guillemot with its catch, especially when it’s as spectacular as this fish: Magnificent, isn’t it?

Black Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Gone for a walk

This Black Guillemot has gone for a walk on the coast of Papa Westray with its Butterfish. Which makes me think: if …

Fulmar - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Fulmar chick

Fulmars only lay one egg. That’s not a surprise when you see the size of the egg compared with the size of …

Black Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Display fish

A Black Guillemot with its fish. The fish is not impressed.

Northern Marsh Orchid - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Northern Marsh Orchid

I love having orchids in my garden. This Northern Marsh Orchid, Dactylorhiza purpurella, flowers there in June and July. Dactylorhiza contains ‘dactyl’, meaning …