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

Bonxie ballet

Great Skuas are large birds. They’re the size of a gull. They are powerful and barrel-chested. Bonxie is their local name, originally …

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

A rare case of Kittiwake triplets

Kittiwakes are beautiful, elegant gulls. Yes, those words really do go together. The UK has 8% of the world’s population. It’s one …

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

The Three Ravens

Ravens are large and impressive birds. I’m at Noup Head, the lighthouse on Westray, when I see three of them arrive. “They …

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

i-Ronny

How much do we have the freedom to do whatever we please and how much are we blind robots carrying out biological …

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

Flutterings

Coronavirus has destroyed my livelihood. I’ve had all my work cancelled for a year and will have absolutely no income. I’m also …

Dead Rabbit - The Hall of Einar

A welcome mat whodunnit

Arriving back in Orkney is always a pleasure. This time it’s different. Out of respect for those who always live on Westray …

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

Sparrowhawk

I can recognise a Sparrowhawk flying now: flap-flap-glide, flap-flap-glide. It’s a distinctive pattern. I saw one as a child from a train …

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

A Teignmouth evening

I’ve been coming to Teignmouth and Shaldon in South Devon since I was a child. We would have two weeks holiday in …

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

Orchids

I’ve spent my life trying to explain my behaviour to curious onlookers. Whether I’m being asked what I’m doing by security guards …

Meadow Pipit - Emsworthy Mire - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Meadow Pipits at Emsworthy Mire

There’s been an eruption of Garden Chafers, Phyllopertha horticola, at Emsworthy Mire. The bracken is covered in them. The local Meadow Pipits …

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

Stonechats at Emsworthy Mire

I love Stonechats. I’ve spent a couple of very happy days with them: This time I’m just passing through and get a …

Reed Warblers' Nest - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Reed Warblers

There’s a tiny patch of reeds alongside a drainage channel. It follows an A-road dual carriageway. There’s a pedestrian bridge over the …

NA3 - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

NA3? Over our dead bodies

When I’m in Devon I live right in the centre of town but close to some wonderful green spaces. Large areas of …

Dryad's Saddle - Emsworthy Mire - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Dryad’s Saddle

The Dryad’s Saddle fungus is one I remember from my childhood. It can grow huge. It has a beautiful scaly skin and …

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

Counting your Ducklings

There are three sets of Mallard ducklings on my local river. It’s a struggle to keep track of them. For a start, …

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

The Cormorant at the Quay

As I walk down to the town Quay I see a Cormorant surface with a huge fish. I start running towards it …

David on the Hunters Path - photograph (c) Gabriel Bailey

Walking the Hunters’ Path

A trip to Castle Drogo seemed like a great idea. Parking at the Fingle Bridge Inn we take the top path along …