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 …
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
After finding an endless supply of Pineapple Weed on Westray last summer I’m now very keen on making some Pineapple Weed Posset. …
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.
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
There’s a strange depression on the coastal walk in the north of Westray. I finally realised what it was. It’s a collapsed …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 chick
Arctic Tern chicks are so wonderfully endearing. Isn’t this one sweet?
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 …
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 …
Tubby with a flatfish
This tubby Black Guillemot is flying back to its chick with a flatfish. The fish is probably a Norwegian Topknot, but my …
Juvenile Starling
Starlings used to be called Stares. The word Starling was only used for juvenile Stares. We now use the cute version of …
The joy of Yellow Dung Flies
This summer I decided to try a little more close-up photography. The obvious subjects were in the field at the back of …
The beauty of Mallimacks
Fulmars have a strange reputation. Being able to spit foul-smelling fishy oil accurately from quite a distance is clearly something which hinders …
I love Puffins and sparkles
An evening at the Castle o’ Burrian in the summer with Puffins. It’s idyllic.
Finally, a Dunlin
Finally I have the chance to get a clear photograph of a Dunlin. There’s one in a shallow pool and I can …
I’m shy
No, I’m not really. I’m just using my uropygial gland to oil my feathers so I don’t get waterlogged.
Black Guillemot in sunshine
A Black Guillemot in sunshine is a wondrous thing, especially when they’re in full breeding finery. This one was speeding back to …