Cattie-face
There’s been a Cattie-face (a Short-Eared Owl) hunting in Skelwick for months now. I see it often when I travel to the …
Sedge Warbler at Roadmire
It’s reassuring that the Sedge Warblers are back at Roadmire. Their song is an itch you just can’t scratch.
Atlantic Puffin enthroned in Sea Pinks
Here’s a Puffin, elegantly enthroned in a garden of Sea Pinks. That orange and pink is quite a severe clash. And here’s …
Feeding time
It’s important to time having your chicks at the time of maximum food abundance. The Starlings of Westray seem to have mastered …
A trip to the Arctics
I’m going on a trip to the Arctics. No, not the North Pole, I’m going on a trip to see the Arctic …
Scurrying Sanderling
Sanderling are one of my favourite wading birds. Actually, they’re one of the few species of waders I can identify reliably. I …
Honey Buzzard
Our friend Tina sends a message on the local wildlife WhatsApp Group. It’s a photograph of the back of her camera showing …
Eider
I’ve never had a close view of a male Eider drake before. And now I have. They’re sailing the coasts of Orkney …
Close up with a Great Northern Diver
As I drive past I can see there’s a Great Northern Diver in Pierowall Bay. It’s unusually close to the shore. That …
Red-Backed Shrike
There’s been an influx of Red-Backed Shrikes throughout Orkney and Westray has had its fair share. I’ve seen one before, in Italy, …
The Great Chicken Disaster of 1952
There’s a reason chickens are mostly kept inside in Westray. It’s because of the great chicken disaster of 1952. On 15 January …
Pipit, pipit
Meadow Pipits have a rather serious, stoic look. There are hundreds of families of Meadow Pipits on Westray, and, as I stood …
Life and death on the waves
Strange things happen in the natural world. Here’s a photograph from a sequence that I’m still mentally processing. From left to right: …
Arctic Terns and Lumpsuckers
Watching Arctic Terns pull Lumpsuckers out of the water is a thrill. I love the spray of water around this one and …
About turn
I love the way that Hen Harriers can turn so quickly. The combination of strong wings and a long tail mean they …
Whoopers
I’ve not seen a Whooper Swan before so it’s a thrill to spot a couple on the Loch of Swartmill. They’re handsome …
Harrying
My favourite sight is a Hen Harrier harrying.
Diving Arctic Tern
Something I enjoyed this summer was taking multiple exposures of some of the bird species on Westray and creating composite images from …
Flatfish
What’s actually happening isn’t what appears to be happening. It’s laughing at the other one’s fish flapping in the wind, isn’t it? …
Swallow shuteye
When the sun shines in Orkney, it’s best to make good use of it. This Swallow agreed.
Working Westray #8
Mike restoring the stone well in the village, watched over by Nessa. There’s an old capped well, overgrown with plants in a …
Aerial ballet
I’ve been enjoying reviewing some of my images from Orkney Mainland taken this summer and this one, from a sequence I took …
Dunlin
I love to see Dunlin on the tideline.
Merlin
Every time I see a Merlin it’s a fleeting glance. It’s either only resting for a second before heading off to hunt …
Working Westray #7
I’ve loved being invited to see people working on Westray. I’ve even invited myself. There are many jobs I’ve no experience of, …
Singing in the bath
I’m driving along the car-bottom-scraping track to Noup Head. It’s first gear all the way unless I want to have my exhaust …
Golden Plover
I’ve never had the chance to see Golden Plover close up before. Whenever I’ve driven past a field of them on Westray …
Ewedini
While waiting for a Hen Harrier, which never arrives, I see a distant sheep, which I assume is in a bit of …
The Raven and the Rabbit’s head
Ravens are so difficult to get close to. Their eyesight is exceptional and they recognise any threat from a great distance. They’re …
Claws
The hind claws of Meadow Pipits really are something special. Just look at them: The long hind claw is probably an adaptation …