Sea Thrift
In August the Sea Pinks, known as Thrift, are often just dried husks on the coast of Westray.
The quiet hunt
There’s something in the air today in Devon. It’s the merest hint of a dampness and a chill in the air whispering …
Green pools
Westray’s coastline has magnificent layers of sedimentary rocks. In places there are folds and cracks: A crack in the rocks leads to …
Puffarazzi
The RSPB are running a great citizen science project at the moment. They are calling for Puffarazzi – an army of Puffin …
Curious Beef Steers
They always say you can judge a man by the quality of his shoes. You can also identify the type of an …
Long evening shadows on the Shags far below
As afternoon turns to evening we walk along the Westray coast to Stanger Head. The light is low and warm and blinding. …
Flying Puffins
I’m currently without my telephoto lens. It’s being repaired. That means my prime chance of photographing Puffins is going to waste. I’m …
Fattie Cutties
No trip to Westray is complete without a visit to Peter Miller’s shop for some Fattie Cutties. Now even though Fattie Cutties …
Puffins on Parade
Puffins are always a pleasure to see and to photograph: They are such elegant birds, with stunning details in their plumage: Sometimes, …
Mice nibble… anything!
Mice. They’ll nibble anything. Anything. Any. Thing. There was the time they nibbled my sleeping bag: Mice nibble… #8 That wasn’t very …
Rapness Mill, a Puffin, a rainbow and the sunset
The Mill at Rapness is falling down. I’d love to help save it. Red Campion grows around it: Red Champion And Sea …
Blonde Bombshell
I’m buzzing with excitement. There are big blonde bees in the garden at Einar. I suspect they are Great Yellow Bumblebees. I …
Here Kitty Kitty – the birds without thumbs on their feet
The mystery of Kittiwakes’ toes.
Flagstones and Slaters
Looking into the cracks in the flagstones I see what looks to be a freakishly large Woodlouse. It’s a Sea Slater…
Guess the Yoghurt Flavour
Over the past decade on Westray one thing has struck me very forcefully: the ability of the shops to stock a single flavour of yoghurt in curious and slightly obsessive depth…
Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit
I’d love to be able to identify the different species of Pipit on Westray. The problem is that I can’t get near …
The Atlantic
Westray has two sides: a North Sea side and an Atlantic Ocean side. They meet with dramatic consequences at the northernmost and …
Collecting and sorting
I’m on the beach when I see a few different Flat Periwinkles. I’m fascinated by their different colours and patterns.
The Seal of Approval
These Common Seals love hauling out in Pierowall Bay: They are often there. Together they look as if they ought to have …
Technical Puffins
I’ve taken many artistic Puffin portraits over the past few weeks. They are glorious models and it’s always a challenge to capture …
Up, across or down?
The Westray coastline is so beautiful on a glorious day it’s hard to know whether to look up, look across or look …
Fulmar Chicks
Westray is an environment of sea and stone and air. Fulmars have complete mastery of the air. Their flight is elegant and unflapping irrespective of the direction in which they fly. They can turn and wheel around, adjust their position and react with astonishing speed.
Prancing Puffins
Puffins mate for life. This pair are keeping each other company on a rock ledge outside their burrow near the Castle o’ …
Gannets at Noup
I’m hanging over the edge of a 75 metre high cliff looking down at the dizzying heights below. The smell of a …
Lugs, Skiffs and Yoles
I’m surrounded by lugs, skiffs and yoles. There are even bugs and centre-board allcomers. I’m at the Westray Regatta. I recognise what …
A Tystie and a Topknot
The coastline around Westray is wonderful on a glorious summer’s day. We’re on the trail of Black Guillemots, or Tysties as they …
Twinkly golden Puffins
The sun is golden over the bay as these Puffins strike a pose:
Whaup Whaup overhead
A trip to the Bay of Skaill reveals the shallow turquoise waters which look Caribbean to someone as starved of heat as …