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Oystercatchers

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

Like pebbles on a beach

Every beach on Westray has a different character. There are pure white shell sand beaches which wouldn’t be out of place in …

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

Scolder

As soon as I walk anywhere on the coast of Westray, there’s a noisy complaint. The Shaalders, or Scolders, are out, and …

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

Oystercatcher in sunshine

Sometimes Oystercatchers call out in alarm as I approach. Sometimes they fly and harass me. Sometimes they just sit and watch. This …

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

Return to Oystercatcher beach

I can’t resist their orange good looks. Birds with red plumage have enhanced vision in the red of the spectrum. I wonder …

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

Attention-seekers

Waders. They’re either nearly invisible, clad in the most extreme camouflage possible, or they’re Oystercatchers. This Oystercatcher was attempting to get my …

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

Old Carrot-Face is noisy today

Oystercatchers are a noisy fact of life here on Westray. There’s not a spot of coastline which isn’t guarded by some zealous …

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

The scolders are at it again

You may be the great Baakie, Lord of All He Surveys, largest gull in the entire world, but you’re still going to …

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

Scolder

Eurasian Oystercatchers have no fear. They’re happy to make the lives of any other bird, or even human, a misery with their …

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 …

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

Flutterings

Coronavirus has destroyed my livelihood. I’ve had all my work cancelled for a year and will have absolutely no income. I’m also …

Mute Swan - River Teign - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

A grey day on the Teign

I’m out with my son in the early morning. He has a camera too and takes a photo of me. As we …

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

Einar

My house is called Einar, just like the Viking Earl of Orkney mentioned in the Orkneyinga Saga. That’s because of a spelling …

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

Dawn over Kirkwall Bay

Arriving off the Aberdeen ferry at nearly midnight gives me a quandary. Is it worth paying a small fortune for a few …

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

Blood-footed Oyster-pickers

There are Oystercatchers on Papa Westray and they intend to let us know that. As soon as we arrive, and walk into …

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

Sea Pies

Oystercatchers are known as Skeldro, Chaldro, or Shaalder in Orkney. If you think those names are difficult, internationally they are known as …

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

Only an hour to spare…

There’s very good scientific evidence about the health benefits of nature. Scientists showed that people recovering from operations in hospitals needed less …