Everyone is welcome in Papay. Apart from the birds. #Papay #Orkney

Selkies at Mary's Geo this morning. Ever inquisitive and ever chilled, eyes on you, unless sleeping.. #Papay #Orkney #selkies

A small island with small things in big scapes - land and sea. Primula scotica in the last of the second bloom and a distant Risso's dolphin. #Papay #Orkney

The passers by. Are, passing by. Juvenile Cuckoo. For you. From Papay. And Franz Kline. #cuckoo #papay #passagebirds #orkney

Kittiwake jnr at the New pier this morning, a gathering spot at this time of year. #Papay #Orkney #kittiwakes

Always the last to leave. A young Mallimack (Fulmar) still has a way to go before it joins the finest fliers in #Papay. Safe in its Quarry based accommodation. #Orkney #fulmars

Papay. The Island state. 23/8/26 From the north. #Papay #Orkney #islandstate #birdseyeview

Small falcon. Small island. Female Merlin at Breckaskaill this morning. #Papay #Orkney #falcon #merlin

A scattering of Groatie Buckies- set on a bed of Devonian sandstone 380million years of age. A fine haul on today’s Papay Tour. #Papay #orkney #lakeorcadie #groatiebuckies

For the #BirdOfTheDay theme of #RainyDayBirds An Aak in the rain. Coulter neb or Razorbill? Wet either way. #Papay #Orkney

From left to right - Ramni Geo, Sheepy Geo, Pillary Geo and Dog Bones. The north end of the Holm of Papay, as a bird with an eye for maps would see it.. #Papay #Orkney #birdseyeview #yaxis #islands

The vanity of crows. #Papay #windvane #Hoodies #Orkney #rosecottage

Weelies Taing looking south. On a day of this. And that. Papay, Orkney - Splitscreen weather.

With all that happened to our Bonxies during the bird flu epidemic, it was a joy to see this juvenile in fine health this evening. Getting some practice in for head hunting duties next year!! #Papay #Orkney #greatskua #Bonxie #saveourseabirds

The next generation of Scootie Allans.. Juvenile Arctic skua on the North Hill today. #Papay #Orkney #kleptoparasite #arcticskua

Investigations in a ploughed field at the back of Midhouse yesterday. I found this upturned shell midden, perhaps a reminder of the settlement at the Kirk of Hoo.

Just one pair of #Puffins left at Mary's Geo this morning. Busy feeding a young one.. No more left along the East Craig, all headed to sea. #Papay #Orkney #saveourseabirds

Looking for colour, but found only Autumn. Looking North from the Old Mill at Hookin. #Papay #islandday #Orkney

Pickies. Arctic terns. An audible remnant. Of birds past. Passed. South Kru. Holm of Papay. #Papay #Orkney #arcticterns #saveourseabirds

It looks like our Primula scotica have lived fast this season. The last of the second flowering are out now and disappearing very quickly.. Nice to find these in a patch of sunlight on today's Papay Tour. #Papay #primula #primrose #scottishprimrose #primulascotica #Orkney

It's pouring with rain, my bird camera has succumbed to salt water and died, my binoculars have ceased up.. so time to look back on a sunny day Surhoose Taing survey. At least the drone hasn't crashed into the sea just yet!! #Orkney #Yaxis #Papay

The Neolithic farmstead at the Knap Of Howar, as a bird would see it. Stone floorplan, division of space and precarity of land. #Papay #neolithic #archaeology #Orkney

There has been a big clear out of Puffins over the last day or two up on Fowl Craig. Just a few hidden away on secret ledges. #Papay #Puffins #Orkney

The best bird I have ever seen on Papay (so far).. the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater has now headed away but I managed an early morning viewing before it went. Papay's very own bird of paradise. #Papay #Orkney #rarebirds #beeeater

Our very own bird of paradise… maybe gone. Blue-cheeked bee-eater, very early yesterday morning. #Papay #Orkney #birdofparadise #rarebirds

After a long day of Papay Tours and boat trips, finally caught up with the Blue-cheeked bee-eater at about 10pm, coming in to roost in the willows at Hundland. A first for Orkney, a magical bird and a treat for the Papay Tour guests and visiting birders too! #Papay #Orkney #rarebirds

Tystie at the New pier this morning. The gold standard amongst Auks. #Tystie #Papay #Orkney #blackguillemot

Three Holmie Puffins from today's Papay Tour. In flight, among the Sea pink and just out of the burrow.. #Papay #Orkney

A vigilant Whaap at Sunnybraes this morning. An early bird for the early birds. #Papay #curlew #Orkney

Yesterday. The yellow fields of Nouster, with a view to the Holm of Papay. Today the haar. #Papay #Orkney #haar #islandcolours