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 …
Meadow Pipit
Some lucky chick will be receiving a juicy caterpillar very soon. Getting a photograph of a bird taking off is always tricky. …
Into the wind we go
Watching Puffins negotiate high winds is a thrill. I particularly like their head-down, stiff-necked attitude as they take off.
The oldest still-living life form on Earth
See that pale orange-coloured rock? It might not look much, but without this life-form, the rest of life on Earth would never …
Fool’s Gold
We’re walking the coast of Westray when we see large chunks of what look like rusty metal embedded in the rocks. There’s …
Fratercula arctica
No, I’m not tired of Puffins-with-fish shots.
Ruddy Turnstone on barnacles
It’s always a pleasure to see a Ruddy Turnstone. They’re usually so busy turning stones that I had to take this image …
Rock Pipit on vertical rock strata
I love the beach on Westray which has all its rock strata upended so they are vertical. It’s strange to see all …
Trawler bobbin
How did fishermen keep their fishing nets on the sea bed as they trawled? They used huge weights like this trawler bobbin. …
Ringed Plover chick
There’s a Ringed Plover chick on the rocky beach. Charming, aren’t they? I’ve been here before to photograph them. Last year I …
Atlantic Puffin portrait
Gorgeous, aren’t they?
No excess baggage allowed
Arctic Terns have short legs. Comically short legs. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it. They need as little excess baggage …
Hogweed sunset
I love the silhouette of Hogweed, especially if it’s against another fabulous Westray sunset.
Escorted Heron
There must be at least 30 Ravens at the Sands o’ Maesan on Westray. When an unfortunate Grey Heron strays overhead it …
Sunset owl
There’s a Short-Eared Owl hunting over the fields and we see it land on a post just up the road from my …