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Death Cap - Amanita phalloides - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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 …

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

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?

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

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 …

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 …

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

Display fish

A Black Guillemot with its fish. The fish is not impressed.

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 …

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

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 …

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 …

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

Glacial striations

You never forget a good teacher, do you? Mr Aldred was one of my geography teachers (the other being Mr Boocock). Mr …

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 …

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

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 - 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.

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

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

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 …

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

Dazzleships

HMS Medway is off Dartmouth after its latest mechanical problems and the indignity of being towed back to the dockyard in Gibraltar …

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

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, …

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

Mr Punch

If you spend enough time with Puffins you are guaranteed comedy gold.

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

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 …