Our fortnight is over, back to the daily grind - but time for a last thread to finish off our time in the Orkneys.
You may have noticed a lack of Bonxies on the previous threads - I was simply saving them up. They get a bit of a bad press as Pirates, but they're superb fliers and worthy of a few pictures. This one's from Hoy, where there are dozens of Skuas using a reservoir on the Post path as a bath
Their forte is surfing the winds over the clifftops
Fulmars too love the cliffs - this one is hanging in the updraught, riding the buffets for no other reason that I can see than for the joy of it
Away from the cliff edges, you need to keep your eyes peeled though, you never know what might appear out & about. There's so little night at this time of year, I guess hedgehogs have little choice
and even something as simple as Cow Parsley can be fascinating
But it's the cliffs we keep coming back to, especially when Puffins are about. Who can resist them? Though this chap is a bit shy
and some simply leave when they see the camera
Most are happy to show off though :-)
Not all is sweetness though - Puffins do fight occasionally!
The big Black Backed Gulls cruise by, ever watchful
Though little Pipits have little to worry about as they search for food
and full grown Eiders are fine, though the males like this one are starting to look a little scruffy
It was nice to see a Shag appear near enough to photograph
and of course, Razorbills
I always think they look a bit stern face on. A bit friendlier from the side!
That's probably all I should put up - all these high res images will trash your data allowance if you're trying to read it on a phone, so I hope your broadband speed's up to it. I'll leave you with just one more Puffin, because, well, why not?
Lovely WJ, the Puffins are lovely birds, the one in the last photo is saying to you thanks and goodbye! Dunnet Head is 20 miles away from me, loaded with all the sea birds and puffins, we went over a visit last year but they were all gone so hoping to make a visit soon to catch them this year. I have never seen one yet.
You've never seen a Puffin! You haven't lived :-) We took the 'scope up to the Brough of Birsay on the last day, ended up leaving it on Puffins as so many other visitors wanted a look :-)
It's their colourful plumage WJ, everybody loves a Puffin. Your photos are fantastic and living up to your holiday snaps will be giving everyone a nightmare!!