Multiple organ failure on a stick
It’s the season of multiple organ failure on a stick, otherwise known as the Death Cap, Amanita phalloides. Death Caps contain the …
Rock Samphire – Fennel or creosote?
Rock Samphire makes a lovely show of subtle green and brown flowers and foliage on the rocks on parts of the South …
A fine catch
I love to see a Black Guillemot with its catch, especially when it’s as spectacular as this fish: Magnificent, isn’t it?
The Hall of Einar Sunday Recommendation #50
Hello and welcome to my Sunday Recommendation. Thanks for joining me. Every week I read great wildlife and nature books, stumble upon …
Gone for a walk
This Black Guillemot has gone for a walk on the coast of Papa Westray with its Butterfish. Which makes me think: if …
The two morphs of the Elephant Hawk Moth
Elephant Hawk Moths are unusual in that the insect is named more after the caterpillar than the adult winged insect. The caterpillars …
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 …
Display fish
A Black Guillemot with its fish. The fish is not impressed.
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 …
A close Shag
I was delighted my friend Martin visited Westray this summer and we had a couple of fabulous day trips to Papa Westray …
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 …
Glacial striations
You never forget a good teacher, do you? Mr Aldred was one of my geography teachers (the other being Mr Boocock). Mr …
Juvenile Starling
Starlings used to be called Stares. The word Starling was only used for juvenile Stares. We now use the cute version of …
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 …
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 …
I love Puffins and sparkles
An evening at the Castle o’ Burrian in the summer with Puffins. It’s idyllic.
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 …
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 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 …
The foamy Atlantic
I love the dancing patterns the wave-crashed foam makes on the blue-grey sea below Papa Westray’s low cliffs. Especially when a Puffin …
Meadow Pipit
Some lucky chick will be receiving a juicy caterpillar very soon. Getting a photograph of a bird taking off is always tricky. …
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.
The oldest still-living life form on Earth
See that pale orange-coloured rock? It might not look much, but without this life-form, the rest of life on Earth would never …
Fool’s Gold
We’re walking the coast of Westray when we see large chunks of what look like rusty metal embedded in the rocks. There’s …
Marsh Harrier at Ham Wall
I’ve had many happy times watching Marsh Harriers flying across RSPB reserves. Today is one of them as, after a few distant …
Dazzleships
HMS Medway is off Dartmouth after its latest mechanical problems and the indignity of being towed back to the dockyard in Gibraltar …
Lyme Bay Common Cormorants
We’re on the water guided by Mike Langman again. It’s a great opportunity to see Common Cormorants, Phalacrocorax carbo, from the sea, …
Balearic Shearwaters and Common Dolphins
We’re out on a wildlife cruise from Brixham, guided by Mike Langman and skippered by Dave Saunders on board the Kelly’s Hero. …
Mr Punch
If you spend enough time with Puffins you are guaranteed comedy gold.
Flying fish
If you’re a regular follower of my blog, you’ll know that Black Guillemots are one of my favourite birds. This summer I …