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Fauna Orcadensis

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

The Arctic Tern and the Lumpfish

There are 60 Arctic Terns in this colony but sadly only three surviving chicks. That’s better than the collapsed colony at the …

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

Lovely Linnets in the garden

Each year at Einar, the Linnets build their nests and raise their chicks. It takes two weeks from laying to hatching and …

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

Skeldro, Chaldro or Shaalder

There’s a Skeldro, Chaldro or Shaalder, as the Oystercatcher is known in Orkney, in the air. It’s giving me what can only be …

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

Goodbye to Puffins

Puffins have gone from our shores for another year. It’s been a wonderful summer with them and a pleasure to see them …

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

Bonxies on a boat

Great Skuas, Stercorarius skua, are known as Bonxies in Orkney. Their flashing go-faster white wing-stripes are a familiar sight as they patrol …

Short-Eared Owl - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Cattieface

There’s a Short-Eared Owl on the Island; I’ve read WhatsApp reports in the Westray birds & wildlife group. We’re driving to get …

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

A wild Neolithic hat-trick

It’s time for me to catch the ferry away from Orkney for a short while. I have an evening to spare and …