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Brixham

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

Shag again

There are two species of Cormorant found in the UK, the Common Cormorant and the Shag. This is a Shag. If you’re …

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

Rock on concrete

There’s a Rock Pipit on Brixham Breakwater. I love seeing them here, as they skit along the top of the breakwater, looping …

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

Waiting for the change

I can’t wait to see some Mediterranean Gulls in breeding plumage. Until then, I’ll just have to appreciate how handsome they are …

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

Little mover

The scientific name for the Pied Wagtail is Motacilla alba. Motacilla means ‘Little mover’ and alba means white. This one certainly has …

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

Cuttlefish for breakfast

When I’ve visited Brixham harbour over the past few years and walked down the historic slipway near the breakwater I’ve often seen …

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

Sparrow

I love seeing Sparrows. They were my gateway drug into wildlife conservation. They were almost the only bird which visited our back …

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

A drip of water

There’s a drip of water on this Gannet’s beak. It’s just spotted a fish below, so it’ll shortly be completely submerged. This, …

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

Buoyed

I’m lying face down in fishy bird poo again and I’m swaying gently from side to side and up and down. No, …

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

The Crab and the Diver

A trip to Brixham breakwater was a welcome break from writing, and organising my life. I love the Great Northern Divers there. …

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

Grey seal

There’s a Grey Seal investigating me as I lie at sea-level on Brixham Breakwater. It’s as if they can’t quite believe that …

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

From Herrings to landfill and back

I love Herring Gulls. Amazingly their UK conservation status is red. That’s because their breeding population keeps declining, and so does their …

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

Guillemot

There’s a Common Guillemot on the waves. It’s having a little spruce up. Nesting in a colony is a great idea if …

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

Gannet flypast on Kelly’s Hero

Can you see this Gannet’s blinking its third eyelid, its nictitating membrane?

That reminds me, I must clean my glasses from all that sea spray.

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

The biggest gull in the world

The Great Black Backed Gull is the largest gull in the world. We’re aboard the Kelly’s Hero on a cruise out of …

Kittiwake, Brixham - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Kittiwake in the harbour

A Kittiwake over Brixham breakwater. Such beautiful, elegant birds with their dipped-in-ink wings and smokey winter heads. I’m looking forward to spending …

Seals, Brixham - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Playful

There’s some quite intense play-biting going on along the wooden pontoons in Brixham harbour. It’ll all end in a splash. I can …

Shag, Brixham - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

A Shag in the harbour

Shags are a form of Cormorant found around our coasts. They are smaller than the Common Cormorant we get across the country. …

Turnstone, Brixham - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

No stones to turn

Turnstones are regular visitors to Brixham harbour in the winter. They potter around the pontoons and waddle down the breakwater to the …

Buzzard and Crow - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The Buzzard and its shadow

Buzzards are regal. They must be, because they bring with them a retinue wherever they go. Here’s one with its attendant, a …

Wildlife Seafari

A wild cruise

I love being on ferries and small boats. It’s not something I do very often, so when my son Gabriel suggested a …

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

Kittiwake in winter

There’s a beautiful gull with a yellow beak in Brixham harbour. I can see it diving and fishing in the distance. I …

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

Dive! Dive! Dive!

A joyous trip to Brixham breakwater was rewarded with a procession of diving Northern Gannets. Marvellous, aren’t they?

Christmas Dolphin Brixham Harbour - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Dolphins in Brixham Harbour

It was Christmas Day 2019 and the Puffin Whisperer and I went for a day trip to Brixham. We spent the morning …

Brixham

Brixham and Berry Head

I’ve only been to Berry Head in South Devon twice before. The first time I parked in the wrong car park, spent …