Shetland Bird Watching and Wildlife
Arctic Tern
Known locally as Tirricks.
Photograph by David Gifford
There are many bird and wildlife reserves around Shetland. Arguably the most impressive are Sumburgh Head, The Isle of Noss, Hermaness and Fair Isle.
For an excellent extended guide see the Where to Watch Birds in Shetland guide in the Nature in Shetland website.
Sumburgh Head
Puffins
Puffins can readily be seen at Sumburgh Head.
Photograph by David Gifford
Located at the far south of the Shetland mainland is Sumburgh Head. It is perhaps the most accessible of Shetland’s bird colonies for bird watching with a car park at the cliff. The stone walls around the cliff edge are also reassuring for those afraid of heights!
Noss
Baby Killer Whale
Killer Whales can occassionaly be spotted in the waters around Shetland.
Photograph by David Gifford
A 40 minute boat trip from Lerwick takes you to the cliffs of Noss, where 20,000 Gannets, 25,000 Guillemots, 2,500 Kittiwakes and 4,000 Puffins breed.
See Seabirds-and-Seals.com Wildlife Tours.
Hermaness
Sea Bird Colonies
Muckle Flugga, photographed from Hermaness.
Image by David Gifford
Located at the far north of Shetland in the island of Unst, the spectacular cliffs of Hermaness are home to over 100,000 breeding birds, including over 30,000 pairs of Puffins. Access is unrestricted and a Warden is present during the summer months.
Fair Isle
Sandpipers
Photograph by Kenny Gifford
On Shetland’s southernmost island is the famous Fair Isle Bird Observatory, which is privately operated. Over 100,000 pairs of 17 species of seabirds breed on Fair Isle.
Featured Site:
Other Sites:
- Hugh Harrop
- Amazing wildlife photography by Hugh Harrop.
- The Mousa Ferry
- Boat trips to the island of Mousa.
- Nature In Shetland
- An independent, non-commercial site to collect and disseminate information on the natural history of Shetland.
- Shetland Wildlife
- Wildlife holidays in Shetland.
