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Westray Natural History

the natural history of Westray

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Lichen - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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. …

Northern Gannet - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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.

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Sea Slater - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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. …

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

First flight

I watched an Arctic Tern colony struggle to raise chicks over the last summer. There was plenty of food, although maybe not …

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Sanderling - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Catch of the Day - 60 x 60cm framed

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 - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Arctic Tern chick

Arctic Tern chicks are so wonderfully endearing. Isn’t this one sweet?

Fulmar - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Black Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Starling - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Juvenile Starling

Starlings used to be called Stares. The word Starling was only used for juvenile Stares. We now use the cute version of …

Yellow Dug Fly - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Fulmar - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Dunlin - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

Atlantic Puffin - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Meadow Pipit

Some lucky chick will be receiving a juicy caterpillar very soon. Getting a photograph of a bird taking off is always tricky. …

Atlantic Puffin - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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.