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Arctic Skuas

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

Incoming!

We spent an amazing evening with the Scootie Allans of Westray. Arctic Skuas are beautiful, impressive birds, with sleek bodies and swept-back …

Fulmar and Arctic Skua - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

A Scootie Allan attacking a Mallimack

A Scootie Allan attacking a Mallimack. An Arctic Skua attacking a Fulmar. A Stercorarius parasiticus attacking a Fulmarus glacialis. Dramatic, isn’t it, in …

Arctic Skua and Puffin - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Puffins chased by Arctic Skuas

A Puffin’s dinner is an Arctic Skua’s dinner. Arctic Skuas are hunting Puffins for their fish on Westray and they’re having intermittent …

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

One Arctic Skua evening

Arctic Skuas are one of my favourite birds. Their swept-back wings, hooked beaks and pointed tail feathers make a distinctive silhouette. I …

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

Juvenile Arctic Skua

There’s a juvenile Arctic Skua overhead. I’m getting amazing views. It’s not from this year because it has very different plumage from …

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

Sundogs and Skuas

There’s an Arctic Skua hunting Puffins for their fish. The weather is stunning, with interesting clouds making rainbow sundogs either side of …

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

The Arctic Skua family

The Arctic Skuas on the Westside have a chick. It appears to be bigger than they are. It’s easy to see the …

Puffin and Arctic Skua - the Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

We’re going on a Puffin hunt

Arctic Skuas are one of my favourite birds. They do, however, hunt Puffins to rob them of their fish. I’ve previously photographed …

Puffin chased by Arctic Skua - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Chasing Puffins

There’s a marked difference in the size of fish which Puffins bring to their burrows. I’m sure that they were bringing smaller …

Arctic Skuas on Papay - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Air rage

Spending time in nature really helps you appreciate it. I’ve had such a great summer on the gentle hills and cliffs of …

Arctic Skua on Papay - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

A juvenile Arctic Skua flypast

I have to say it. These juvenile Arctic Skuas are… a little bit ginger. It’s fabulous to watch them sweep imperiously past. …

Arctic Tern and Arctic Skua on Papay - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Arctic Skuas v Arctic Terns

I’ve seen Arctic Skuas get into quite a few scraps this summer. There was the time one chased a Raven. Then the …

Westray - The Hall of Einar

The pool

There’s a rock pool fed with fresh water fram a tiny waterfall on the west coast of Westray. I love how green …

Arctic Skua on Papay - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Juvenile Arctic Skua

Arctic Skuas come to Orkney to breed. They’re kleptoparasites, attacking birds with fish and stealing their meal. They also attack people with …

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

Light and shade

I’m walking the wild west coast of Westray again. It’s magnificent. For a few months each year it’s inhabited by Arctic Skuas, …

Arctic Skua hunting Guillemot for fish - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Arctic Skua hunting sequence

Here’s a Guillemot flying past me on the west Westray coast. It’s a grey day, but the rain has cleared and there’s …

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

Arctic Skua

I’m walking the west coast of Westray again. It’s wild and wonderful. There are processions of Guillemots coming past fast and low. …

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

Sitting pretty

A little further along the coast of Papa Westray I see an Arctic Skua sitting on a wall. It’s really not what …

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

Scootie Allan

On our walk around Papa Westray we are excited to see Arctic Skuas. At least we are until they attack us. There’s …