Swallow on a mission
It’s mud-hut-building time for the Swallows of Westray. Whether it’s a new nest or urgent repairs to an old one, the Swallows …
Tree Sparrow
I’ve seen Tree Sparrows before. I visited Tree Sparrow farm to see them. That’s how sadly depleted their population is.
Rainbow Stormbird
Starling is a good name, but I prefer the title Rainbow Stormbird. I think it suits them better. They’re busy collecting food …
The pace of life
I recently filmed a bird at 120 frames per second. I decided to slow it down to 24 frames a second to …
Dramatic chase as Sandwich Tern pursued by Arctic Skuas
It’s a stunning day at Mae Sands, or, as one Westray inhabitant insists it is called, the Sands o’ Maesan. It’s a …
Common Tern feeding time
There’s been a Common Tern in Pierowall Bay for a while now. It loves to sit out in full view of the …
What to do on arrival
What do you do first when you arrive in a place you know well. It could be home, or your good friend’s …
Ruddy Turnstones
No, I’m not being rude about Turnstones. That’s their full name. I love to see them skipping over the waves, their wings …
Sea Plantain at The Mill
The old mill building at Rapness on Westray is heading for desolation, and quickly. Once you lose your roof, your walls are …
Dead Man’s Fingers
I love this plant attached to the pebbles on the beach. I’m still pondering which species it is. Maybe it’s Dead Man’s …
Shag escape
Seeing a roost of Shags is a spectacular thing. A flock of Shags is called a hangout of shags. Watching them all fly when …
Golden Plover over
Watching a distant flock of Golden Plover through my binoculars I’m fascinated to see that the flock breaks into several smaller flocks. …
Footprints
I love the mixture of sand on the beaches of Westray. Some are shell sand from the crushed shells of the molluscs …
Flying Fulmars
I think of fulmars as being mid-engined birds with relatively short wings. They are deceptive, however, as their wings can appear quite …
A curious Wheatear
I sometimes wonder why Wheatears are so difficult to get close to. Then I remember that we have killed and eaten every …
Ruddy Turnstones are a joy to behold
We’re on an early morning dog walk along Taftend when we notice there are small flocks of birds on the tideline moving …
Good eyesight is a fabulous thing
The Grey Phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius, is a bird I’ve only ever seen in full breeding plumage. Where it breeds, it’s known as …
A male Hen Harrier in my garden
The bird I’d most like to photograph is a Male Hen Harrier. There’s been one on Westray on and off for the …
Shag on the cliffs
The weather is incredible on Westray today. There are blue skies, blustery winds and waves which roll and roll. I’m enjoying sitting …
Arctic Terns in the bay
There’s a small group of Arctic Terns in the bay. They are such beautiful birds. I love the long tail streamers. There …
Goose Barnacles
Apparently Goose Barnacles have a sweet taste like Razor Clams. They’re filter feeders which grow on rocks or on flotsam and have …
Wheatears full of character
Wheatear know how to strike a pose. Northern Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe, are small yet very powerful birds. They have been stunningly successful …
Stare and Starling
I love how busy and gregarious Starlings are. Their original name was Stare but over time the diminutive form, Starling, came to …
Garden flowers
The stone walls in the garden at Einar are a wonderful way of sheltering the garden plants here. They are full of …
The Tadpole Fish
There’s a fish which looks like a giant tadpole washed up on Sand o’ Gill on Westray. As I attempt to get …
Feeding Fulmar
It’s rare that I get close photographs of Fulmars eating. They’re normally well offshore when I see them feasting on something. This …
Arctic Skua
There’s a familiar silhouette on the slopes below Skea Hill. It’s an Arctic Skua. There are several ‘morphs’ of Arctic Skuas. There …
Great Black-Backed Gulls at the Castle o’ Burrian
The Castle o’ Burrian holds one of the best known Puffin colonies on Westray. It has relatively easy access and easy viewing, …
Beadlet Anemone giving birth
It’s 49 years since I was on holiday in Tenby in Wales and sketched this Beadlet Anemone, Actinia equina. I’m scouring rockpools …
Sanderling and seaweed
There are Sanderling heading in to feast on the invertebrates left by the retreating tide on Taftend. There is a flock of …