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

Arctic Skua

There’s a familiar silhouette on the slopes below Skea Hill. It’s an Arctic Skua. There are several ‘morphs’ of Arctic Skuas. There …

Beadlet Anemone - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Beadlet Anemone giving birth

It’s 49 years since I was on holiday in Tenby in Wales and sketched this Beadlet Anemone, Actinia equina. I’m scouring rockpools …

Sanderling - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Sanderling and seaweed

There are Sanderling heading in to feast on the invertebrates left by the retreating tide on Taftend. There is a flock of …

Osprey - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Ospreys on the Dart

The River Dart is one of the most beautiful rivers in England. Rising high on Dartmoor, it runs for nearly fifty miles …

Foam and Footprints - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Foam and footprints

Our lives make such insignificant marks which are soon washed away. They are beautiful while they last.

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

Gone fishing

There’s a Northern Gannet, Morus bassanus, flying past. Their wings are very much in the centre of their body. We wait and …

Bar-Tailed Godwit - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Bar-Tailed Godwits

Bar-Tailed Godwits, Limosa lapponica, are known as Barwits by birders. It’s a great contraction of their name. There are a couple off …

Sanderling - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Small, plump and energetic

Sanderling are a delight to watch. They are busy, frenetic even, and dedicated to picking up any morsel of food they can …

Puffins - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Puffins make me smile

There’s nothing better to life your mood than watching wildlife going about its daily business. Puffins make me smile. Every time.

Boletus edulis - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Penny Buns

It’s wet again and my trousers are soaking after lying in a wet field photographing these marvellous Penny Buns, Ceps, Porcini, or …

Spectacular Rustgill - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

The Spectacular Rustgill

It’s that season again. There are dense clusters of Spectacular Rustgills in this woodland. In the light they are a fabulous bright …

Dunlin - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Dunlin delight

There are stuttering Dunlin all over the sands at The Ouse on Westray. Lovely, aren’t they? I’m still learning to identify waders …

Aurora borealis - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Aurora Borealis

I’ve seen the Aurora Borealis before, over my house, Einar, on Westray. I’ve only ever seen the green arc of the lights …

Ringed Plover - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Ringed Plover

Now that I can identify a few species of waders my next task is to understand whether they are adults or juveniles. …

The Pizza Cafe - Sketching Newton Abbot - The Hall of Einar - (c) David Bailey (not the)

The Pizza Cafe

Sketching Newton Abbot is a great way of engaging with my built environment. It’s also a chance to celebrate meaningful places. Here’s …

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

Boomtown Fair portrait #5

Boomtown Fair gave me the chance to try photographing people. Here’s a woman from the Copper Feel Cabaret in her sequinned bra …

Magpie Moth - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Magpie Moths

There are Magpie Moths, Abraxas grossulariata, all over the island at the moment. Beautiful, aren’t they? The caterpillars feed on Hawthorn and …

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

Backarass Puffin

I love a trip to Backarass. There’s a precarious trip through a public footpath down to the cliffs. Gannets are diving, Kittiwakes …

Swallows - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Swallows

Watching birds is a constant joy. For me, taking their photographs enhances the pleasure at the time. And editing the photographs improves …

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

The beauty of Arctic Terns

The Arctic Terns at the Bay of Tuquoy have had success with their breeding colony this year. It’s been a pleasure to …

Curlew - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Curlew chicks

Driving on Westray I see bird running in the tiny road ahead of me. It’s a Curlew chick. There’s another in the …

Cut fields - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

Grass trails

I love seeing the fields when they’re cut for hay or silage, especially when they’re undulating. This one has Oystercatchers, Curlew and …

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

Great Northern Divers

I’ve spent four days lying on the rocks near Mae Sands trying to film Great Norther Divers. It takes time to work …