Shetland visit (1 Viewer)

[Original PaulE]

Hi All I'm making my first visit to The Shetland Isles arriving Saturday morning, have done a bit of research, but wondering if anyone had a tips on places to go st this time of year. Hoping for Skus and ithe Seabirds, wouldn't mind an otter or 3 and whales. Also info about best places/ conditions for a seawatch or 2 would be appreciated, thanks in advance!

 

[Evan Atkinson]

If you don't mind me asking, where in Shetland are you going?

 

[Original PaulE]

If you don't mind me asking, where in Shetland are you going?

We will be based near Lerwick, but will travel all over, hopefully get ferries to the other islands, we are there for a couple of weeks, there is quite a bit of info on the net regarding the rspb reserves and the regular places but was hoping for some insider knowledge with regarding seawatching spots where to go in what weather etc!

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Esha Ness is supposed to be the best place for seawatching in Shetland. Shetland isn't necessarily that great for land-based seawatching though. You might do better from inter-island boats. If you want to see breeding seabirds really well, a boat trip e.g. to Noss is probably the best bet.

The Famous 'Noss Boat' Tours - Shetland Seabird Tours

www.shetlandseabirdtours.com

 

[Original PaulE]

Esha Ness is supposed to be the best place for seawatching in Shetland. Shetland isn't necessarily that great for land-based seawatching though. You might do better from inter-island boats. If you want to see breeding seabirds really well, a boat trip e.g. to Noss is probably the best bet.

The Famous 'Noss Boat' Tours - Shetland Seabird Tours

www.shetlandseabirdtours.com

Thanks for that

Yes will be hopefully taking a few boat trips and will be visiting as many islands as possible

 

[delia todd]

Gosh!! Where to start Paul!!!

The weather is the weather - it'll change every 5 minutes!

You'll really enjoy whatever you do. The cliffs at Sumburgh Head (though it was very foggy when we went - both attempts!)

Mousa - we went during the day, but they do have some night trips there as well (or did) for the storm petrels. Even if you don't see the petrels, the broch itself is well worth exploring!

Herma Ness on Unst... well worth the trip - very close views of skuas and they'll dive bomb you!

Fetlar Red-necked Phalaropes hopefully still nest there. And it attracts rarities too. We planned for three nights and stayed for 5!

Divers will even nest in laybys, they're so unbothered by people there.

I guess Fair Isle is off the menu?

Here's a link to the Opus article on the islands.

Enjoy.... 'cos you will. Can't help it.

 

[Farnboro John]

Sumburgh Head is a great place not only for the resident seabirds (think Bempton) but also because, as the very foot of the archipelago, it is where many birds and all cetaceans turn the corner. The amount of sea visible in all directions is also pretty special, and it is last/first landfall for many migrant birds that have somehow missed Fair Isle as well, so walking the stone walls that constitute the main shelter belts there and checking the quarries can yield good migrants and rarities. Other relevant "on site" attractions for birds include the pools at both Grutness and Virkie, the bays of Grutness and West Voe (the latter is good for Harbour Porpoise as well) and nearby Quendale with its iris beds is also a good way of exercising and using up time looking for birds.

Esha Ness hasn't really done it for us in Autumn for seawatching but its wide open turf is great for waders such as Golden Plover (which may hold other species such as Dotterel or American Goldie) and the pools hold small waders too.

Some places I have found good for Otters include Hillswick, Grutness and the bay by the Tesco supermarket in Lerwick (look around the bar and the piled rocks from there to the roundabout: seals haul out there too).

Have a great time.

John

 

[JTweedie]

There are small bits of woodland scattered around too which might be worth looking at for some of the smaller migrants.

 

[JTweedie]

I would also recommend Keen of Hamar NNR in Unst too for the endemic plants like Edmonston's chickweed. I didn't think I had much interest in plants until a visit there.

https://www.nature.scot/enjoying-outdoors/naturescot-nature-reserves/keen-hamar-nature-reserve

 

[Original PaulE]

Thanks everyone Esha Ness wasn't on my Radar and some good tips as to where to look for wayward migrants!!

 

[leonardo_simon]

Eshaness is an awesome place. Especially when the sea is big.

Hermaness spectacular sea bird colony- especially Gannets, Puffins, Great Skuas

 

[delia todd]

Here's a link to the Opus article on the islands.

Sorry.... seems I forgot the link: Category:Shetland - BirdForum Opus

 

[Original PaulE]

Sorry.... seems I forgot the link: Category:Shetland - BirdForum Opus

Thanks Delia!!

 

[leonardo_simon]

Whales- the ferries between Mainland - Yell - Unst regularly report whales etc.

 

[delia todd]

... and don't forget Orcas. We saw a lovely family group off Fair Isle.

 

[JTweedie]

The killer whales seem to be seen quite regularly around Shetland. If you have Twitter it might be worth following some of the Shetland nature accounts for latest reports.

https://twitter.com/NatureInShet

https://twitter.com/ShetlandWild

 

[Original PaulE]

The killer whales seem to be seen quite regularly around Shetland. If you have Twitter it might be worth following some of the Shetland nature accounts for latest reports.

https://twitter.com/NatureInShet

https://twitter.com/ShetlandWild

Thanks JT