Currently browsing tag

Arctic Terns

Arctic Tern and Great Black-Backed Gull - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Chasing

Once species chasing another is the order of the day. Inter-species conflict is breaking out all over the island. We’ve had an …

Arctic Tern over the Rainbow - the Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Pickieterno over the rainbow

I’m out taking photographs of the female Grey Phalarope. Yes, this one: I did come here to take photographs of Dunlin, which …

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 …

Egg - photograph by David Bailey (not the)-

Egg

It’s not that long ago that collecting birds’ eggs was not just a scientific endeavour but a widespread hobby. Children would collect …

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey

Attacked by Arctic Terns

I’m off for a walk on the Westray coast. Today I’m heading from Mae Sands to the Knowe o’ Skea. It’s not …

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

Parasiticus

Animal behaviour is happening all around us; curious acts, of ancient origin, repeated in ever-changing patterns. Living things are incredibly complex, but …

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

The gift of two summers

There are Arctic Terns fishing in uneven seas off Papa Westray. Their concentration skills are immense: Arctic Terns spend the northern summer …

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

Pickieternos v Bonxies

Orkney has its own names for its birds. Many of these are from the Old Norse language and came with the Vikings …

Risso's Dolphins - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Never a dull day

The weather on Westray may be dull, but there’s never a dull day on Westray.

A white blanket of cloud shrouds the island but life continues as normal for the incredible menagerie which inhabits the shores of Westray.