As the year moves on, the birds get smaller. Pallas's leaf warbler at Quoys today, looking for leaves on a day of haar and drizzle. Found by @papaybirder.bsky.social who has finally seen one in Papay! #orkneybirding #papay

The Shell Holm, the southern most outcrop of the Holm of Aikerness yesterday. Selkies litter the north, on their own desert island. #holmsweetholm #papayatoll #orkney #westray #papawestray #desertisland

Had all but given up hope of a Papay Firecrest until @papayranger.bsky.social came to the rescue with this bird at Shorehouse. An Island tick and only the 2nd Papay record. Now 13 birds found within Orkney this autumn, there had only been 35 records prior to this year! #BirdingOrkney #PWC2025

Nice to get a lifer only a hundred yards from home, after a hour in the drizzle the Firecrest actually sat still for a second. Only the second record for Papay too. Other image equals reality most of the time, an almost ijmperceptible bird. #Papay #orkney #islandofbirds

For the early birds. Still. Papay - Orkney - Windless

Hen harrier over St Boniface this morning. Papay - Orkney - Raptor

For #tombtuesday - Holm of Papay South Chambered cairn, and the path of the dead.

In the gaps. A blue sky respite. Papay

A sky burial for a house. Picked to the bones. Gayfield - Papay - Orkney

Midnight moonlight, and the Papay high street.

Just me on the plane this morning.. and the pilot!! Papay - Orkney - island taxi

An Auk, which stays for the winter, a first winter for this one. Papay and the King of the Auks.

Nestled in the corner of the walled garden at Holland. A Long-eared owl on passage waits out the day. Papay - Orkney - Owl stopover.

For the early birds, a subtle start.

Where the Kestrel becomes a cat, and the Starlings become Pigeons. Papay - Orkney - Bird vs Birds

Day turns into night, waiting for the steamer to unload. Papay - Orkney - Boat day

Looking south, straight through the showers. Papay - Orkney - Top road

Bothican before the hail. Papay - Orkney - today.

As befits the day. Grey plover. Papay - Orkney

The shadow pyramids of Holland and a settlement that has been watching the sea since the pyramids. Holland farm and the Knap of Howar on a blustery bright Papay Tour today. Papay - Orkney - Island Tours.

All the stars, washed ashore. Pt 2 Papay / Orkney / Immer Gos

Ice crystals orbitting the Holm. Sun bow over the Holm of Papay today.

For the early birds, all is blue in this world. Papay - Orkney - The sea

A half and half kind of day. Big westerlies bringing half rain, half light. Lichen versus the sky at the walled garden of Holland farm. Papay - Orkney

Goldcrest, just in from a North sea crossing, and not looking to pleased with it.. Papay - Orkney - #orkneybirding

Four Geos on the Holm of Papay today. Nearest first. Skarf geo, Spruce's geo (or Ship geo), Ramnie geo and Sheepy geo. An occasional series for @matthew-blake.bsky.social and @shroomgirl.bsky.social

For the early birds. An easterly grey.

Plane cancelled so arrived home via the sea, in proper island style. The New pier by night. Papay - Orkney - Pier pleasure

Just sitting there in the mud, waiting to be found. A spindle whorl at the Munkerhoose. Papay - Orkney - Middens

Autumn leaves.

The arc in the North. Papay - Orkney - Aurora.

Our Winter swans are here. Whooper swans on the Loch of St Tredwell. Papay - Orkney.

Fowl Craig, a Great Auk and Open Doors… on the North Hill today.

Herti geo up on the West side of Papay today, with detail of Paul Klee's attempt at shoreline design. For @matthew-blake.bsky.social and @shroomgirl.bsky.social

For the early birds.

Sand Geo to the Holm of Papay, on a still and mild Papay day today. A day to make the most.

An island where the sense of time elapsed increases with every ebb and flood. Freshly exposed shell midden along North Wick, Papay today.

Red-throated diver off the New Pier this morning. Feels like winter. Papay #orkneybirding

Portrait of a young Solan goose, learning to fish. In a gale. Bothican, Papay, yesterday.

Just showing off. Solan goose in the Papay Sound.

Looking North from the Watch Hut, now a hide. More for the ghosts of birds than reality. Still a welcome shelter from incessant Westerlies. Papay - Orkney - Mull Head

South wick in light, the North end in shadow. A fine October day in Papay, with the sea showing true colours. Also note our new boat naust seating area at The Kelp Store, constructed by our master builders Alistair Hourston and Son.

The Pillar of Mad Geo. A line of sight. Papay - Orkney. Stonebuilt.

Big seas with birds lost and found. Fowl craig, Great auk, Snow bunting and Twite from a North end excursion yesterday. Papay - Orkney.

70mph winds, fine fishing weather for Gannets..

Think of us in our loss, the first windsock of the Winter to pass away.

Here are some installation photos of our show currently on at The Reid Gallery - Glasgow School of Art Even better in real life though, so if you are in Glasgow pop in for a survey of our Papay SurvØY. www.flickr.com/photos/glasg...

A group chat along the East Road, Stone and Whin, a moment of serenity before it gets a little breezy over the weekend..

For the early birds, through a passing shower. Greylags and Curlew awake.

A day of fast flyers. Juvenile Peregrine over Fowl Craig during the Papay Tour, and a lone Swift over Holland this evening.