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, …
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.
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 …
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 …
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 …
The Great Skua, the Ravens and the Rabbit
There are fifty Ravens at the Sands o’ Maesan. (I know that because I counted them from my photographs when I got …
The thrill of Hen Harriers
Hen Harriers are such wonderful birds that it’s worth sitting out in a field for a whole afternoon just in the hope …
A Kestrel at Noup
I’m sitting at Noup Head in full camouflage waiting for a Hen Harrier to come and saunter over me. There’s been nothing …
Beaks like tweezers
Arctic Terns have beaks like tweezers. Or is it that tweezers are like Arctic Terns’ beaks? It’s all part of our inversion …
Sedge Warbler at Roadmire
I love stopping at Roadmire, the house overlooking the Ayre of Fribo and the Bay of Tuquoy.
Rabbit ears flapping in the wind
There are 50 Ravens at the Sands o’ Maesan. One of them has the head of a Rabbit in its beak. I …
Sparrowhawk
I adore Sparrowhawks. I stumbled upon this one in a tree and it was always going to spot me and fly off. …
The ultimate Hen Harrier experience
Spending time hoping a Hen Harrier flies my way has been my favourite pastime this summer. After their summer of success breeding …
Fine adjustments
When you’re heading vertically downwards at an eye-bulging speed, aiming for a moving target, it’s useful to be able to make fine …