A rare fungus up the hill where mushrooms are taller than trees
I’m walking the remote western coast of Westray today. There’s enough phone signal for an emergency call and precious little else here. …
Bonxie ballet
Great Skuas are large birds. They’re the size of a gull. They are powerful and barrel-chested. Bonxie is their local name, originally …
Sparkly Puffins, the horizon and evolutionary hairpin bends
The west coast of Westray is by far the most beautiful and magnificent. It’s largely empty of buildings apart from ruins. Here …
A rare case of Kittiwake triplets
Kittiwakes are beautiful, elegant gulls. Yes, those words really do go together. The UK has 8% of the world’s population. It’s one …
Gannets and Bridled Guillemots with a side order of Seal sausages
Clamour. That’s the best word to describe it. That’s if you’re talking about sound. Pungent would probably the thing that comes to …
A Red-Necked Phalarope, a cheese roll and laughing at yourself
I’m off to the north today on the trail of Red-Necked Phalaropes. Yes, I know, it’s a silly name, isn’t it? I’ve …
Puffins, Japanese TV and Monk and chips
I’m very pleased that my friend Martin’s on the Island at the moment. He’s completing filming for a documentary on Puffins for …
The Three Ravens
Ravens are large and impressive birds. I’m at Noup Head, the lighthouse on Westray, when I see three of them arrive. “They …
i-Ronny
How much do we have the freedom to do whatever we please and how much are we blind robots carrying out biological …
Who’s afraid of the Black-Backed Gull?
Today I’m heading north to the most desolate coastline on Westray. Here, even the lichens and seaweeds and barnacles struggle to maintain …
Grass Snakes, King Curlews and their Lapwing attendants
Any patch of good weather means there’s a chance of cutting hay for silage. The people of Westray have perfected the art …
What’s better than seeing a Hen Harrier?
I always hope to see Hen Harriers. If I had to have a spirit animal it would be a Hen Harrier. They’re …
Flutterings
Coronavirus has destroyed my livelihood. I’ve had all my work cancelled for a year and will have absolutely no income. I’m also …
The first walk, Britain’s rarest bumblebee and a fattie cuttie
Arriving back on Westray means I want to experience it all at once. I want every sensation. I want to be at …
Circles within circles
Do you ever feel that your life is a series of endlessly repeating circles-within-circles going nowhere? I’ve just had a shave, washed …
2019 highlights of a wilder Orkney life
The turning of the year is always a great time for reflection. Celebrating the darkest day with the thought that longer days, …
Home Scar
Limpets are incredible organisms. They can withstand the heaviest seas, can live despite being baked by the sun and desiccated on hard …
Have you seen a male Grey Seal?
The Grey Seals around Orkney are a classic combination of curious and wary. They are alternately fascinated by me and worried by …
Wheatear
I’m flushing Wheaters with every walk and drive on Westray. There isn’t a path or a road which doesn’t have a wary …
Sanderling #4
The Sanderlings of summer on Westray were a joy to get close to. Lying on the beach, keeping still, and watching them …
Sunset over the waves
It’s sunset on Westray and I’ve abandoned the car on the grass and marched off to the sea. It’s magnificent in this …
Attacked by Arctic Terns
I’m off for a walk on the Westray coast. Today I’m heading from Mae Sands to the Knowe o’ Skea. It’s not …
Feeding the family
Being a baby bird means knowing when to keep your mouth open. Many have exaggerated gapes, decorated in bright colours to encourage …
Star Starling
When a Starling flies by I always take notice. They are spectacular birds, either on their own or in flocks of thousands …
Why the long face?
I’d like to know why Grey Seals have a long sloping head. What’s the evolutionary advantage? What’s the adaptation for? What does …
Horsetails at Roadmire
The Horsetails at Roadmire are beautiful. Their stalks and leaves are covered in harsh mineral silica. They’re a bit scratchy and hard …
Something’s moving
There’s something moving in the field next to Einar. I can see flower stalks trembling. It’s moving along behind the wall. All …
Sea Rocket
There’s Sea Rocket, Cakile maritima, on the beach at the Bay of Swartmill. It’s a member of the mustard family. This is …
When technology meets Westray
Westray; where technology goes to die. On Westray things that you don’t expect to rust, to rot and to weather, do. Just …
Neighbours
Not everyone can get on. Conflict is inevitable. When we are all packed in too close to one another then tempers are …