Tree Sparrow
I’ve seen Tree Sparrows before. I visited Tree Sparrow farm to see them. That’s how sadly depleted their population is.
Swallow on a mission
It’s mud-hut-building time for the Swallows of Westray. Whether it’s a new nest or urgent repairs to an old one, the Swallows …
Polenta
Polenta is a quartet of three fiddles and a guitar and I was delighted to be asked to photograph them at the …
Rainbow Stormbird
Starling is a good name, but I prefer the title Rainbow Stormbird. I think it suits them better. They’re busy collecting food …
Sunset over Einar (again)
I’m out to see the Puffins at the Castle o’ Burrian on Westray.
The pace of life
I recently filmed a bird at 120 frames per second. I decided to slow it down to 24 frames a second to …
Dramatic chase as Sandwich Tern pursued by Arctic Skuas
It’s a stunning day at Mae Sands, or, as one Westray inhabitant insists it is called, the Sands o’ Maesan. It’s a …
Aimée Leonard and the Orkney Folk Festival Choir
It was a pleasure to photograph Aimée Leonard as part of Orkney Folk Festival in Stromness Parish Church. What a great venue …
Common Tern feeding time
There’s been a Common Tern in Pierowall Bay for a while now. It loves to sit out in full view of the …
Sunset over Einar
If you’re new here, Einar is the name of my house on Westray.
What to do on arrival
What do you do first when you arrive in a place you know well. It could be home, or your good friend’s …
Ruddy Turnstones
No, I’m not being rude about Turnstones. That’s their full name. I love to see them skipping over the waves, their wings …
Fast and scratchy
This Common or Greater Whitethroat has a grey head and a very white throat. That means it’s a male. It’s fast and …
Claire’s Music Club at the Orkney Folk Festival 2026
It’s a pleasure to listen to Claire Hastings work with babies and young children and their families in the Pier Arts Centre. …
Glossy
There’s a Glossy Ibis overhead again. That brown striped head probably means it’s a non-breeding adult. It’s heading across the water at …
Haverin at the Orkney Folk Festival 2026
It’s always a pleasure to hear Haverin sing. Especially since they have so many great voices in the band. Aileen and Megan …
Early nesters
Grey Herons are early nesters. There’s a lot of growing to do for a Heron, to get from egg-sized to a full-size …
Cormorant
A Cormorant emerges from the water just in front of the hide here at RSPB Otmoor. It’s still an amazing experience to …
Greylag
There’s a large pale grey goose flying past. It’s a Greylag Goose, the ancestor of the domesticated goose. This was taken at …
Damn Tall Buildings at the Orkney Folk Festival 2026
Photographing the Orkney Folk Festival was a blast. They booked an incredible earthen house for me to stay in, left a wonderful …
This day was not that day
Look carefully and there are a few pixels of Bittern in this photograph. One day I’ll get a stunning photograph of a …
Blackening
Fancy getting drunk while being covered in molasses, eggs and flour and then tied to a lamp post with clingfilm by your …
Glossy Ibis
There’s a Glossy Ibis flypast at RSPB Otmoor and I’m here for it, in more ways than one. The Wildlife Trusts say, …
*uckoo
Just before my trip to Orkney, I managed to fit in a trip to Dartmoor and one of my favourite places for …
Dirk Powell, Cedric Watson and Amelia Powell at the Orkney Folk Festival 2026
I was delighted to be invited to photograph the Orkney Folk Festival this year. I love folk music, Orkney, and photography, so …
An early morning Peregrine
I’m used to the general impression, size, and shape of a Peregrine Falcon now. That means when I saw this one perched …
Hobby
Taking photographs in the middle of the day is often a bit disappointing. Just look at those shadows. The only thing lit …
High wire walker – with a twist
A Dunnock at RSPB Otmoor doing a display for a partner. A beautiful fluttering fan dance.
Territorial
Mute Swans get on well with one another until they don’t. Then they attack. And when they attack one another they are …
Goldfinch underwing
A fluttering Goldfinch landing on a small branch is a delight. The yellow pattern on the underwing is wonderful. The sadly infected …