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

Brent Geese

There’s a flock of geese heading my way. As they come closer they get darker and darker. Brent Geese come in light-breasted …

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

Cormorant

To me, Cormorants are proof, if proof be needed, that birds are descended from Dinosaurs. They are just so… reptilian!

Carving in St Magnus Cathedral - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

A smile on their face

The woodcarver who made this pair of birds in St Magnus Cathedral had a smile on their face. They look like lovebirds to me.

Red-Breasted Merganser - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Red-Breasted Merganser

Finally a bit of sun and a return trip to Exminster Marshes is rewarded by a Red Breasted Merganser so curious it …

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

Urtica

There are lots of Nettles at Einar. Their scientific name is Urtica dioica, with urtica meaning to burn. They certainly do.

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

Cracks in the paving

I could stand and stare at the stone Orkney beaches for hours; and I sometimes do.

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

Treecreeper

Treecreepers are one of those common but hardly seen species of birds; they take being elusive to another level. Seeing them from …

Herring Gull - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) 2016 David Bailey (not the)

Herring Gull

I’m photographing the beautiful, delicate and precise Black Headed Gulls this morning when I see this monster approaching. I’m so used to …

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

Bohemian Waxwings

I’ve only ever seen a Bohemian Waxwing once and it was happily gorging itself on berries on a busy urban road which …

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

Grey Squirrel

This routered portrait of a Grey Squirrel in the park is a cartoon exaggeration of their actual characteristics. They do look beautiful …

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

Leftovers

There’s very little left of this carcass at Noup Head.

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

The Orkney Museum

I love the Orkney Museum in the centre of Kirkwall, opposite St Magnus Cathedral. One of the mind-blowing exhibits is a carved …

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

Blue Tit

Walking along an aerial boardwalk I see wonderful drawings of birds routered into the handrail. I love this one of a Blue …

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

The lost sock

There’s a lost sock impaled on the barbed wire at Noup Head. The other one is probably still inside your duvet cover …

When the roof goes - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The ruins remain

On Westray the ruins of old buildings litter the farming landscape. Memories of the lives lived in joy and hardship linger around …

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

Rock pool gardens

The rock pools of Westray are magnificent underwater gardens. Here, red Coral Weed makes a frondy jungle.

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

Razorbill

I didn’t even see this Razorbill on the cliffs last summer at Noup Head until The Puffin Whisperer pointed it out to …

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

Russian Corks

There are corks jammed tight into the cracks in the rock in this Westray cave.