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Papa Westray

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 …

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.

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

A close Shag

I was delighted my friend Martin visited Westray this summer and we had a couple of fabulous day trips to Papa Westray …

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

The foamy Atlantic

I love the dancing patterns the wave-crashed foam makes on the blue-grey sea below Papa Westray’s low cliffs. Especially when a Puffin …

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

Mr Punch

If you spend enough time with Puffins you are guaranteed comedy gold.

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

Flying fish

If you’re a regular follower of my blog, you’ll know that Black Guillemots are one of my favourite birds. This summer I …

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

Beak full of fish

I do love a good head-on Puffin encounter, especially if it’s carrying a Puffling’s meal.

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

Black Guillemot with a catch

I spent many days on the coasts of Westray and Papa Westray this summer photographing Black Guillemots. This one has a particularly …

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

The Puffin and the Shag

As soon as I see it, I can’t resist it. The image of that Puffin with an out-of-focus Shag behind is somehow …

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

Fresh crab

I’m surprised to see a Black Guillemot with something that doesn’t look like a fish in its beak. I track it through …

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

Kleptoparasitism

Why bother fishing when you can steal another bird’s fish? Arctic Skuas are adept at kleptoparasitism. I’m on Papa Westray for the …

Common Cormorant v Shag - The Hall of Einar - copyright David Bailey (not the)

Common Cormorant v Shag

One of the trickiest id challenges for me when I re-started birding was telling the difference between a Common Cormorant and a …

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

Dunters

Eider Ducks are called Dunters in Orkney. There are great floats of them off the coast. The males have done their job …

Arctic Skuas on Papay - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Air rage

Spending time in nature really helps you appreciate it. I’ve had such a great summer on the gentle hills and cliffs of …

Arctic Skua on Papay - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

A juvenile Arctic Skua flypast

I have to say it. These juvenile Arctic Skuas are… a little bit ginger. It’s fabulous to watch them sweep imperiously past. …

Arctic Tern and Arctic Skua on Papay - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Arctic Skuas v Arctic Terns

I’ve seen Arctic Skuas get into quite a few scraps this summer. There was the time one chased a Raven. Then the …

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

Kittiwake, Kittisleep

There’s a Kittiwake at the end of the pier where the Papa Westray ferry arrives. It’s stunning in the early morning light. …

Arctic Skua on Papay - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Juvenile Arctic Skua

Arctic Skuas come to Orkney to breed. They’re kleptoparasites, attacking birds with fish and stealing their meal. They also attack people with …

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

Magnificent Mallimacks

There are Fulmars, called Mallimacks here in Orkney, on the wing at the pier on Papa Westray This one is flying a …

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

Rainbow Stormbird

Starlings need a brand refresh. I’m surprised they haven’t engaged a top London marketing firm to challenge public perceptions of them. Their …

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

Sitting pretty

A little further along the coast of Papa Westray I see an Arctic Skua sitting on a wall. It’s really not what …

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

Stumbling across a Great Skua

Great Skuas are one of my favourite birds. They are a constant delight as they patrol the shoreline, flying low and surprising …

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

Dunters on the waves

There are Common Eider ducks on the growing waves here on Papa Westray. Their colours are very understated. As soon as they …