shetland trip

[fisi7chella]

i am lucky enough to be going to shetland in mid august.i might miss the puffins
as they leave then,but as i am there for a week does anyone have any advice
on birding locations that are especially interesting?.Thanks

[Andrew Whitehouse]

A lot of birding in Shetland is fairly general, with seabirds and moorland birds in quite a lot of places. You probably should be able to get Puffins knocking about on the sea somewhere, even if they've left the cliffs. Keep an eye out from inter-island ferries. The boat trip to Noss out of Lerwick harbour is quite entertaining, although it's fairly pricy.

At that time of year, migration is going to be more of a factor than breeding birds. It'll be worth looking for waders, which can turn up in a lot of places. Pool of Virkie is probably the best though. You might be slightly too late for breeding Red-necked Phalaropes on Fetlar but it's probably worth going there anyway as it's one of the best all round islands for birding. There might also be some landbird migrants appearing if you get southeasterlies.

[fisi7chella]

A lot of birding in Shetland is fairly general, with seabirds and moorland birds in quite a lot of places. You probably should be able to get Puffins knocking about on the sea somewhere, even if they've left the cliffs. Keep an eye out from inter-island ferries. The boat trip to Noss out of Lerwick harbour is quite entertaining, although it's fairly pricy.

At that time of year, migration is going to be more of a factor than breeding birds. It'll be worth looking for waders, which can turn up in a lot of places. Pool of Virkie is probably the best though. You might be slightly too late for breeding Red-necked Phalaropes on Fetlar but it's probably worth going there anyway as it's one of the best all round islands for birding. There might also be some landbird migrants appearing if you get southeasterlies.

thanks andrew,i am probably not going at the best time of year but its my only opportunity.it will be a new experience for me,coming from northern ireland i have never met anyone that has even been to shetland!!!!!!!