LATEST IMAGES - ORKNEY5
For our second week on West Mainland Orkney we stayed on the north coast near to the Brough of Birsay, an island joined to the mainland by a tidal causeway. Wildlife was a bit more plentiful around here, none more so than a colony of Arctic Terns nesting on top of a sea stack at the same height as the mainland cliffs and at the perfect distance. It took us until our third visit to get the light and wind direction right but it was worth the wait as the birds took no notice of us on the cliffs and we were treated to a spectacular hour with the birds calling, landing in amongst the thrift and all rising off together when harassed by the Gulls and Skuas. It isn't often everything falls into place but on this occasion it did. We are grateful to Christine from RSPB Orkney for pointing us in the direction of this lovely location.
ARCTIC TERNS
ARCTIC TERN
ARCTIC TERN LANDING
ARCTIC TERN CALLING
ARCTIC TERN IN FLIGHT WITH SANDEEL
ARCTIC TERN IN FLIGHT WITH SANDEEL1
ARCTIC TERN FEEDING CHICKS
ARCTIC TERN CHICK