Artificial Rubbish – part 5
Let’s bring real life back to wildlife.
Tystie tantrum
A trip to the coast to see the Tysties, or Black Guillemots, is always an entertaining one. They appear to have almost …
Black Guillemot with a beautiful fish
Give Black Guillemots a respectful distance and they carry on their lives as normal, including displaying their fresh catch for all to …
Yet another fish shot
A Black Guillemot in breeding plumage is a thrill. Even more so when it has a freshly caught fish to display.
Fish delivery service
It’s normally Puffins I photograph with the sparkling Atlantic Ocean behind them. This time it’s a Black Guillemot in flight with a …
Singing sweetly
Black Guillemots make such a sweet noise. They sit on the cliff edge and sing their high-pitched song. It makes me smile …
A fine catch
I love to see a Black Guillemot with its catch, especially when it’s as spectacular as this fish: Magnificent, isn’t it?
Gone for a walk
This Black Guillemot has gone for a walk on the coast of Papa Westray with its Butterfish. Which makes me think: if …
Display fish
A Black Guillemot with its fish. The fish is not impressed.
Tubby with a flatfish
This tubby Black Guillemot is flying back to its chick with a flatfish. The fish is probably a Norwegian Topknot, but my …
Black Guillemot in sunshine
A Black Guillemot in sunshine is a wondrous thing, especially when they’re in full breeding finery. This one was speeding back to …
Flying fish
If you’re a regular follower of my blog, you’ll know that Black Guillemots are one of my favourite birds. This summer I …
Black Guillemot with a catch
I spent many days on the coasts of Westray and Papa Westray this summer photographing Black Guillemots. This one has a particularly …
Butterfish
You need to have a serrated mouth and tongue to keep hold of a Butterfish. They’re called that for a reason. Just …
When your fish goes all curly
A problem with hunting for your food is that sometimes it carries on wriggling. This Black Guillemot was having problems containing its …
Fresh crab
I’m surprised to see a Black Guillemot with something that doesn’t look like a fish in its beak. I track it through …
Butterfish incoming!
I’ve been enjoying the Black Guillemots on Westray this summer. Here’s one bringing a Butterfish, Pholis gunnellus, or Rock Gunnel, into its …
Flatfish
What’s actually happening isn’t what appears to be happening. It’s laughing at the other one’s fish flapping in the wind, isn’t it? …
Butterfish
It’s great fun to watch Black Guillemots bobbing on the waves off the coast of Westray. And I love it when they …
Incoming Tystie
The Black Guillemots are struggling to feed their chick. There’s even an outside possibility they have two chicks that they are struggling …
Tystie takeoff
When I first saw a Black Guillemot hanging about on the cliffs with a fish, I was worried. Was I stopping it …
“Fish!”
We’ve been out to the north end of Westray again, taking photographs of Black Guillemots with their fish. I had in mind …
Black Guillemots and Butterfish
Butterfish are the Black Guillemot’s most common catch. Here’s a Butterfish which is deep red and still wriggling. Black Guillemots usually grip …
The fish dance
Black Guillemots like to display their fish on the cliffs. It would be a shame not to spend some time appreciating their …
An afternoon with the Tysties of Westray
I love our trips out to see the Tysties – the Black Guillemots – on Westray. They seem to enjoy sitting on …
2022 highlights of a wilder Orkney life (part 2)
August in Orkney can be quieter than May, June or July when it comes to bird life. In 2022, August was hectic …
2022 highlights of a wilder Orkney life (part 1)
2022 was a very happy time for me on my visits to Orkney. I spent hours on the low cliffs and rocks …
Black Guillemots
Black Guillemots remind me of pigeons in their attitude and body shape. Maybe it’s the position of their wings? Maybe it’s the …
Escape
It’s hard to discuss bird behaviour without projecting human values, behaviours and emotions on them. Are birds happy? Playing? Angry? I suggest …
The Black Guillemots of Aikerness
I’ve had a few trips recently to the far north of Westray. It’s a great place to go as it’s too far …