Weather over Pierowall #landscape #photography 📷
February 2, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Weather over Pierowall #landscape #photography 📷
Despite not finding any previous records for Westray, Wood Warbler has been annual since I arrived with today's being my 14th in six years, seven of which have been at today's Pierowall village site - seven other sites each with one record. 10 of the 14 have been autumn birds. #WestrayBirding
August 26, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Despite not finding any previous records for Westray, Wood Warbler has been annual since I arrived with today's being my 14th in six years, seven of which have been at today's Pierowall village site - seven other sites each with one record. 10 of the 14 have been autumn birds. #WestrayBirding
#TombTuesday
Little is left of the cairn at Pierowall, Westray #Orkney, due to quarrying, but this ornately carved lintel stone did survive. Discovered in 1981 by a digger driver, it has similar carvings to those in the Boyne valley tombs, #Ireland. It is on display at the Westray museum 📸 mine.
Little is left of the cairn at Pierowall, Westray #Orkney, due to quarrying, but this ornately carved lintel stone did survive. Discovered in 1981 by a digger driver, it has similar carvings to those in the Boyne valley tombs, #Ireland. It is on display at the Westray museum 📸 mine.
March 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM
#TombTuesday
Little is left of the cairn at Pierowall, Westray #Orkney, due to quarrying, but this ornately carved lintel stone did survive. Discovered in 1981 by a digger driver, it has similar carvings to those in the Boyne valley tombs, #Ireland. It is on display at the Westray museum 📸 mine.
Little is left of the cairn at Pierowall, Westray #Orkney, due to quarrying, but this ornately carved lintel stone did survive. Discovered in 1981 by a digger driver, it has similar carvings to those in the Boyne valley tombs, #Ireland. It is on display at the Westray museum 📸 mine.
Boots with a view thanks Alison -
Pierowall on the island of Westray- Orkney Islands 👍🥾🧡🥾👍
Pierowall on the island of Westray- Orkney Islands 👍🥾🧡🥾👍
May 26, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Boots with a view thanks Alison -
Pierowall on the island of Westray- Orkney Islands 👍🥾🧡🥾👍
Pierowall on the island of Westray- Orkney Islands 👍🥾🧡🥾👍
It’s a tad windy today and having just stuck my head out the door in the gloom, deemed unbirdable. Great winds were already delivering elsewhere yday so let’s hope tmrw bears fruit when this lot abates🤞🏼
September 30, 2026 at 6:50 AM
It’s a tad windy today and having just stuck my head out the door in the gloom, deemed unbirdable. Great winds were already delivering elsewhere yday so let’s hope tmrw bears fruit when this lot abates🤞🏼
I’ve heard plenty on the isle, seen one in flight, but this is the first Corncrake I’ve seen on the deck here in Westray. And mega surprised to find one running around an overgrown village garden in mid-October. Only one later county record than today’s, 23 Oct 1996. #WestrayBirding
October 14, 2025 at 6:16 PM
I’ve heard plenty on the isle, seen one in flight, but this is the first Corncrake I’ve seen on the deck here in Westray. And mega surprised to find one running around an overgrown village garden in mid-October. Only one later county record than today’s, 23 Oct 1996. #WestrayBirding
A mild if dreich day here, but I'm enjoying this period of calmer weather as we're returning to norm from Friday with winds again getting up. The village bay continues to provide good birding with the seemingly now resident Great Northern Diver and an increase in gulls.
#WestrayBirding
#WestrayBirding
January 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
A mild if dreich day here, but I'm enjoying this period of calmer weather as we're returning to norm from Friday with winds again getting up. The village bay continues to provide good birding with the seemingly now resident Great Northern Diver and an increase in gulls.
#WestrayBirding
#WestrayBirding
Old Tour #Scotland #Ancestry Travel Visit #Genealogy #Scottish Family #History Blog #photography of Pierowall, Westray, Orkney Islands. The village is the Westray island's largest settlement and lies near its northern end, around Pierowall Bay tour-scotland-photographs.blogspot.com/2017/10/old-...
Old Photograph Pierowall Westray Orkney Islands Scotland
tour-scotland-photographs.blogspot.com
January 9, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Old Tour #Scotland #Ancestry Travel Visit #Genealogy #Scottish Family #History Blog #photography of Pierowall, Westray, Orkney Islands. The village is the Westray island's largest settlement and lies near its northern end, around Pierowall Bay tour-scotland-photographs.blogspot.com/2017/10/old-...
The days 'Wh' theme continued. A sub-adult White-tailed Eagle over the Bay of Pierowall this afternoon. Early than normal for my annual WTE year-tick - usually see one in May - but I'll never not enjoy these big buggers, even if distant as this one was. #WestrayBirding #UKbirding #LowCarbonBirding
March 26, 2024 at 5:54 PM
The days 'Wh' theme continued. A sub-adult White-tailed Eagle over the Bay of Pierowall this afternoon. Early than normal for my annual WTE year-tick - usually see one in May - but I'll never not enjoy these big buggers, even if distant as this one was. #WestrayBirding #UKbirding #LowCarbonBirding
Having just walked the dog and got nothing more than a face full of rain, I think that’s #WestrayBirding done for a couple of days as the weather won’t turn here now til Thurs at the earliest.
December 24, 2024 at 12:33 PM
Having just walked the dog and got nothing more than a face full of rain, I think that’s #WestrayBirding done for a couple of days as the weather won’t turn here now til Thurs at the earliest.
A fine afternoon #WestrayBirding checking out a few neglected nooks and crannies. Unexpectedly flushed a Water Rail from one secluded burn ( #PWC2025 ✔️), a few winter thrushes and plenty of waders being pushed in on the rising tide, like these Snipe.
February 7, 2025 at 9:12 PM
A fine afternoon #WestrayBirding checking out a few neglected nooks and crannies. Unexpectedly flushed a Water Rail from one secluded burn ( #PWC2025 ✔️), a few winter thrushes and plenty of waders being pushed in on the rising tide, like these Snipe.
Eroding midden layers rich with limpet shells & cod bones at Quoygrew on Westray, Orkney. The farm was occupied from the Viking Age to the 1930s, not far from Pierowall - likely the site of a small, seasonal trading hub on the seaways between Scandinavia & Ireland. 🏺 #ClimateHeritage 📷 2017.
November 12, 2024 at 6:13 PM
Eroding midden layers rich with limpet shells & cod bones at Quoygrew on Westray, Orkney. The farm was occupied from the Viking Age to the 1930s, not far from Pierowall - likely the site of a small, seasonal trading hub on the seaways between Scandinavia & Ireland. 🏺 #ClimateHeritage 📷 2017.
A routine #WestrayBirding day with four Yellow-broweds and few commoner migrants then, at 1745, boom! Message from Joe Wilde “Hoopoe!” A dash to the village and in the gloom watched the Hoopoe trying to roost in willows full of 🐦⬛. The BBs thought different and kept chasing it out! #UKbirding
October 5, 2024 at 7:21 PM
A routine #WestrayBirding day with four Yellow-broweds and few commoner migrants then, at 1745, boom! Message from Joe Wilde “Hoopoe!” A dash to the village and in the gloom watched the Hoopoe trying to roost in willows full of 🐦⬛. The BBs thought different and kept chasing it out! #UKbirding
Despite the westerlies, a clear increase in hirundine numbers today included the first House Martins but nothing else in way of new summer migrants. Two flocks of a Golden Plover stopping off on their way north. And this Raven sat on a village chimney. #WestrayBirding
April 17, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Despite the westerlies, a clear increase in hirundine numbers today included the first House Martins but nothing else in way of new summer migrants. Two flocks of a Golden Plover stopping off on their way north. And this Raven sat on a village chimney. #WestrayBirding
Most taller trees are in sheltered areas of Pierowall village, like these in the village centre (prob the tallest in the isle) growing on the south side of the Pierowall Hotel. South facing and sheltered from the north by the hotel building. Just begging to host a Yank warbler 😉😕
November 7, 2024 at 12:49 PM
Most taller trees are in sheltered areas of Pierowall village, like these in the village centre (prob the tallest in the isle) growing on the south side of the Pierowall Hotel. South facing and sheltered from the north by the hotel building. Just begging to host a Yank warbler 😉😕
Pierowall, Westray. Moon over the Broughton Walk.
October 24, 2023 at 9:03 PM
Pierowall, Westray. Moon over the Broughton Walk.
First day #WestrayBirding after a week laid up with the lurgy, and boy was it good to be back out! Trees don’t appear to have advanced very much - still few leaves to see - and largely devoid of owt interesting. A smart (but distant) Wood Sand was a nice #PWC2026 year ✔️ and 2CY Glauc still here.
May 4, 2026 at 10:20 PM
First day #WestrayBirding after a week laid up with the lurgy, and boy was it good to be back out! Trees don’t appear to have advanced very much - still few leaves to see - and largely devoid of owt interesting. A smart (but distant) Wood Sand was a nice #PWC2026 year ✔️ and 2CY Glauc still here.
It’s gonna be a tad windy here today, so there’ll be no #WestrayBirding 😕 And little else happening with ferries and xmas events cancelled. Down south today would be a named storm. Up here it’s just strong winds 😉
December 21, 2024 at 8:50 AM
It’s gonna be a tad windy here today, so there’ll be no #WestrayBirding 😕 And little else happening with ferries and xmas events cancelled. Down south today would be a named storm. Up here it’s just strong winds 😉
We've had haar rolling in and out with the hour and visibility ranging from a few hundred meters to 1/2 mile. A peek in the village this evening found the long-staying male Northern Bullfinch still present (from 7 Apr), as is the Wood Warbler from 6 May. #WestrayBirding #lowcarbonbirding
May 9, 2024 at 6:06 PM
We've had haar rolling in and out with the hour and visibility ranging from a few hundred meters to 1/2 mile. A peek in the village this evening found the long-staying male Northern Bullfinch still present (from 7 Apr), as is the Wood Warbler from 6 May. #WestrayBirding #lowcarbonbirding
“Orkneyinga Saga… is at once a historical chronicle & a literary fantasy. It is a Christian book of bloodshed that celebrates saints alongside murderers. Rich in paradox, invention & embellishment…”
—Simon Hall on the c.1200 CE Orkneyinga Saga
#BookWormSat
www.thebottleimp.org.uk/2019/07/nors...
—Simon Hall on the c.1200 CE Orkneyinga Saga
#BookWormSat
www.thebottleimp.org.uk/2019/07/nors...
Norse Past, Victorian Present: Orcadian readings of 'Orkneyinga Saga' - The Bottle Imp
I am privileged to work in a school in the village of Pierowall on the Orkney island of Westray, and my Monday morning commute is pretty spectacular. At Kirkwall airport, I board the little eight-seat...
www.thebottleimp.org.uk
April 19, 2025 at 1:03 PM
“Orkneyinga Saga… is at once a historical chronicle & a literary fantasy. It is a Christian book of bloodshed that celebrates saints alongside murderers. Rich in paradox, invention & embellishment…”
—Simon Hall on the c.1200 CE Orkneyinga Saga
#BookWormSat
www.thebottleimp.org.uk/2019/07/nors...
—Simon Hall on the c.1200 CE Orkneyinga Saga
#BookWormSat
www.thebottleimp.org.uk/2019/07/nors...
The summering 2CY Glaucous Gull remains around Pierowall, usually around the bay or on the adjacent Loch Saintear where it comes in daily for a wash and brush up. #WestrayBirding
June 21, 2026 at 10:21 PM
The summering 2CY Glaucous Gull remains around Pierowall, usually around the bay or on the adjacent Loch Saintear where it comes in daily for a wash and brush up. #WestrayBirding
It’s was clear and cool overnight and with the wind dropping I wasn’t surprised there were few new birds in and most of what was here has shipped out. This Spotted Flycatcher and a Blackcap were were the only new birds passerine wise. Some Little Stints and Curlew Sands remains. #WestrayBirding
September 14, 2025 at 8:54 PM
It’s was clear and cool overnight and with the wind dropping I wasn’t surprised there were few new birds in and most of what was here has shipped out. This Spotted Flycatcher and a Blackcap were were the only new birds passerine wise. Some Little Stints and Curlew Sands remains. #WestrayBirding
24 May 2024 when this Honey-buzzard appeared over Pierowall, Westray during thick afternoon fog. It was chased all around the village trying to escape the pursuing gulls and crows. I preempted it coming into a stand of sycamores and got this image as it was mobbed by crows. #WestrayBirding
December 29, 2024 at 11:14 PM
24 May 2024 when this Honey-buzzard appeared over Pierowall, Westray during thick afternoon fog. It was chased all around the village trying to escape the pursuing gulls and crows. I preempted it coming into a stand of sycamores and got this image as it was mobbed by crows. #WestrayBirding
What a day for a boat ride! On the Charles Ann and off to neighbouring Papay on a dirty twitch to see @papaybirder.bsky.social’s Brown Shrike 😬🤞🏼 #WestrayBirding plus!
September 19, 2025 at 2:08 PM
What a day for a boat ride! On the Charles Ann and off to neighbouring Papay on a dirty twitch to see @papaybirder.bsky.social’s Brown Shrike 😬🤞🏼 #WestrayBirding plus!