As rare as Witches’ Hats
On the endless A9 as I travel north from Devon to Orkney the lay-by numbers help denote the passing of a day …
the natural history of Westray
On the endless A9 as I travel north from Devon to Orkney the lay-by numbers help denote the passing of a day …
Puffins mate for life and meet up again every year to have their one egg and baby puffling. Can you tell?
Out on the cliffs, in the windiest and most exposed spot, where the Puffins are, is a Wren.
There’s a bird on the rocks in Rapness Bay. In fact, there are two now: It’s a Ringed Plover. In Orkney it’s …
Walking along the sea cliffs towards Stanger Head and the edges are covered in Sea Campion Silene uniflora: It’s got very distinctive …
It’s no wonder the field at Einar is a literal hive of activity with bees. The Red Clover Trifolium pratense is here …
When you’re just getting comfortable in bed and you realise you’ve got one foot sticking out of the duvet.
The Gannet chicks at Noup are massive. They are so big and yet so fluffy still. Their main flight feathers are still …
Einar has a small area of walled garden. It’s grown over almost completely with shrubs and wind-dwarfed trees and where there is …
On the West Westray coast there’s nothing between you and America except the Atlantic Ocean. The coast is a fractured and windswept …
On the west coast of Westray, the wild Atlantic coast is full of sea caves and breathtaking horizons. Each inlet has a …
It’s beautiful evening sunlight on Westray when we see this Puffin emerge from its rock burrow and stand in the open air. …
In August the Sea Pinks, known as Thrift, are often just dried husks on the coast of Westray: Majestic Cliffs In June …
The RSPB are running a great citizen science project at the moment. They are calling for Puffarazzi – an army of Puffin …
As afternoon turns to evening we walk along the Westray coast to Stanger Head. The light is low and warm and blinding. …
I’m currently without my telephoto lens. It’s being repaired. That means my prime chance of photographing Puffins is going to waste. I’m …
Puffins are always a pleasure to see and to photograph: They are such elegant birds, with stunning details in their plumage: Sometimes, …
The Mill at Rapness is falling down. I’d love to help save it. Red Campion grows around it: Red Champion And Sea …
I’m buzzing with excitement. There are big blonde bees in the garden at Einar. I suspect they are Great Yellow Bumblebees. I …
The mystery of Kittiwakes’ toes.
Looking into the cracks in the flagstones I see what looks to be a freakishly large Woodlouse. It’s a Sea Slater…
I’d love to be able to identify the different species of Pipit on Westray. The problem is that I can’t get near …
Westray has two sides: a North Sea side and an Atlantic Ocean side. They meet with dramatic consequences at the northernmost and …
I’m on the beach when I see a few different Flat Periwinkles. I’m fascinated by their different colours and patterns.
These Common Seals love hauling out in Pierowall Bay: They are often there. Together they look as if they ought to have …
I’ve taken many artistic Puffin portraits over the past few weeks. They are glorious models and it’s always a challenge to capture …
Westray is an environment of sea and stone and air. Fulmars have complete mastery of the air. Their flight is elegant and unflapping irrespective of the direction in which they fly. They can turn and wheel around, adjust their position and react with astonishing speed.
Puffins mate for life. This pair are keeping each other company on a rock ledge outside their burrow near the Castle o’ …