Magpie Moths
There are Magpie Moths, Abraxas grossulariata, all over the island at the moment. Beautiful, aren’t they? The caterpillars feed on Hawthorn and …
Backarass Puffin
I love a trip to Backarass. There’s a precarious trip through a public footpath down to the cliffs. Gannets are diving, Kittiwakes …
Swallows
Watching birds is a constant joy. For me, taking their photographs enhances the pleasure at the time. And editing the photographs improves …
The beauty of Arctic Terns
The Arctic Terns at the Bay of Tuquoy have had success with their breeding colony this year. It’s been a pleasure to …
Curlew chicks
Driving on Westray I see bird running in the tiny road ahead of me. It’s a Curlew chick. There’s another in the …
To those who say sex isn’t binary…
The definition of biological sex is simple. The Universal Biological Definition is that sex is the two evolved body types which produce …
Grass trails
I love seeing the fields when they’re cut for hay or silage, especially when they’re undulating. This one has Oystercatchers, Curlew and …
Great Northern Divers
I’ve spent four days lying on the rocks near Mae Sands trying to film Great Norther Divers. It takes time to work …
Artificial Rubbish – part 5
Let’s bring real life back to wildlife.
Bristletails again
It’s time for me to pop to one of my ‘range of useful outbuildings’ here at Einar to see whether I can …
Rabbit supper
At the top of Fitty Hill I can see a couple of Great Skuas. They must have a chick or two nearby …
Eyebright
Eyebright is tiny. It’s one of the smallest, low-growing plants that it’s possible to see and recognise while walking. To photograph it …
An Uncommon Gull
There are fields full of the uncommon Common Gull here on Westray. For some reason I never get round to photographing them. …
This Puffin life
A final evening with the Puffins is always an emotional experience. They’ll be gone for nine months for a life on the …
Feeling on edge
It’s time to destroy my car’s suspension driving on the track to Noup Head Lighthouse. Crawling to the edge of the cliffs …
They’re not knock-knees
No, those are this Rock Pipit’s ankles.
A perfect hat-trick
A perfect hat-trick in football is when you score three goals, one with your left foot, one with your right foot and …
Adult Human Female Athlete – a word from the Professor
I recently posted on my Facebook profile about the unfairness of men being allowed to compete in women’s sport, specifically pool. I …
Not long out of the egg
Arctic Terns are colonial nesting birds. I’m sure of that fact. I’ve spent 18 years exploring Westray and seeing their colonies, large …
The Toothed Weaver
The most common spider at Einar is the Toothed Weaver, Textrix denticulata. They are tiny, only about 7mm long. Many of them …
An evening amongst the Sea Mayweed
The end of a long summer day on Westray. I love the low evening sunlight at the Castle o’ Burrian. So does …
An emotional state
The Arctic Terns on Westray are bringing a succession of fish in to their youngsters. The beach is crowded with them. Some …
Tystie tantrum
A trip to the coast to see the Tysties, or Black Guillemots, is always an entertaining one. They appear to have almost …
Beautiful conflict
Aikerness is the most northerly part of Westray, where the wild waves crash and the wind blows uninterrupted by walls or buildings. …
Saint Marsha P Johnson and the birth of a religion
I realised quite early, as a child, that religion was all nonsense. It’s one of the benefits of being brought up with …
I’ve just seen a face
I’ve loved seeing the Short-Eared Owl which has been hunting around the middle of Westray this week. They’re such special birds. Their …
Boomtown Fair portrait #4
Some photographers say it isn’t ‘street’ photography if the person is aware of you taking the photograph. Others say it’s not truly …
Ringed Plover on the road
The Ringed Plovers have an entire beach to strut on but they will insist on cruising down the road. But then, so …
Run Rabbit
On Papa Westray Rabbits were said to outnumber residents by five hundred to one. I’m not convinced that they exist in the …
The owl is there again
I’m still on a high after seeing the Short-Eared Owl this morning. What a special and spectacular bird, especially so close up …