Westray Coast 50 – Day Four
My adventures on the fourth of five days walking the entire coast of Westray.
Westray Coast 50 – Day Three
My adventures on the third of five days walking the entire coast of Westray.
Westray Coast 50 – Day Two
My adventures on the second of five days walking the entire coast of Westray.
Westray Coast 50 – Day One
My adventures on the first of five days walking the entire coast of Westray.
Knots landing at the Peedie Sea
I’m wandering the shore at Kirkwall Harbour for an hour before the ferry takes me to Westray. I’m loving the complex singing …
Kirkwall at dawn
I’ve just woken up in a Viking city. A city which is only part of the UK, and not Norway, because King …
What is it about Orkney that I love?
When I first arrived in Orkney 11 years ago I hated it. I had high expectations of an interesting and historic place …
Goose Barnacles and Barnacle Geese
There’s a type of Goose Barnacle, a Buoy Barnacle, on the shore in Westray. Its full name is Dosima fascicularis. It’s one …
Swift by name
I’m used to seeing Swifts in Devon, high in blue skies, screaming. I spotted some recently in Reading, flying to and from …
Hoverflies on the cliffs
There are over 200 species of Hoverfly in the UK. I don’t know any of them and have to rely on support …
A Dunlin feast
There’s a huge tide of seaweed washed up in the bay at North Haven on Westray. We check for seals on the …
Nursery
There’s a beautiful nursery down below on these precarious cliffs: Adult Gannets are tending to their chicks and grooming themselves and each …
Pickieternos v Bonxies
Orkney has its own names for its birds. Many of these are from the Old Norse language and came with the Vikings …
Puffin with Sandeels
I’ve only had fleeting glances of Puffins with Sandeels as they whizz past at 30 miles per hour. I’m delighted to see …
Air Traffic Control
The RSPB say that Gannets are: “…distinctively shaped with a long neck and long pointed beak, long pointed tail, and long pointed …
Skewered by a Skua
I normally only see Great Skuas from behind as they disappear along the cliffs. They have a wonderful habit of cruising up …
Black Guillemot with Butterfish
I’m walking along the coast of Westray in Orkney when I spot a Black Guillemot come in to land from a fishing …
An evening with the Gannets of Noup Head
I’d love to tell you all about my evening at the RSPB reserve at Noup Head on Westray but all you need …
Two-Barred Crossbills from Russia
The three male Two-Barred Crossbills we saw on Westray created quite a stir. Rare Crossbills on the Links The next day we …
Declining Kittiwakes
The weather is dramatic and so are the Kittiwakes calling below: They are such refined and elegant birds. Their families are growing …
When a Gannet lands next to us
It’s blustery at the top of the 60 metre-high cliffs on Westray’s Noup Head. We’re surrounded by Gannets flying past us when …
Rescuing a thirsty Hedgehog
Rescuing a thirsty Hedgehog from the road and having a heartmelting few minutes as we give it a much needed drink.Filmed on …
Razorbills
Our first trip out to see the Razorbills, Alca torda, is a success: we can see them: There’s even a brief chance …
Curious cattle
It’s ten years since I took this photograph of cattle on Westray in the field next to Einar: Curiosity Cow The cattle …
Good Gannets above!
Noup Head is an exciting place to be when the Gannets are flying: They are massive: When the weather conditions are just …
Razorbill and Puffin meet
I’m sitting on the cliffs of Westray on a beautiful day. I’m wearing full camouflage. I’ve been taking photographs of birds as …
Arctic Terns on North Ronaldsay
If you’re on Westray in Orkney you have a once a year chance to get a ferry direct to the neighbouring island, …
An afternoon with the Black Guillemots
Black Guillemots are stunning birds in their summer breeding plumage. Here on Westray they nest on the cliffs and crags, with eggs …
Rock Pipit speaking with its mouth full
There’s a Rock Pipit on the cliffs on Westray: It’s incredibly well camouflaged visually: I say visually, because it just won’t be …
Posing for Puffin Portraits
I’ve opened a photographic studio here on Westray. No, not for people, but for Puffins. I have a range of natural backdrops, …