Tour Diaries - Spectacular Shetland Wildlife, the ultimate wildlife experience!
The tour diaries for the 2024 and 2023 group tours to Shetland can be found using the buttons below. To give you a taster here is a summary of our 2024 tour…
Shetland Archipelago - Tour Summary
Our week-long tour explored Shetland’s remarkable natural heritage, exceptional seabird colonies, marine life, and unique flora. Using two bases in Brae and Sumburgh allowed us to thoroughly explore mainland Shetland and easily venture to the northern islands of Yell and Unst. Wildlife discovery was enhanced by visiting ancient sites like Mousa Broch, home to the UK’s largest Storm Petrel colony, beachcombing for Pea Urchins and Agate, and moth-trapping, the latter achieving a third record for Shetland!
Beginning on the dramatic southern coast at Sumburgh Head, we watched as Puffins busily collected nesting material right beside our feet, while thousands of Guillemots, Razorbills, and Fulmars crowded the clifftops below. Along sheltered voes (bays) we watched Otters fishing for Butterfish and crabs. By a remote beach at Rerwick we witnessed a Common Seal giving birth; we watched in awe as the newborn pup made its first tentative movements, taking to the water in under ten minutes where it swam effortlessly despite floundering at the surface.
Venturing north to Yell and Unst, we walked across the headland at Hermaness to Britain's northernmost Gannet colony at Muckle Flugga, experiencing the sensory overload of thousands of breeding seabirds. Great Skuas patrolled overhead while Skylarks sang continuously. We explored the unique serpentine fellfield at Keen of Hamar, getting on hands and knees to discover rare plants like Edmondston's Chickweed, Northern Hoary Rock-cress, and diminutive Frog Orchids.
Mid-week highlights included dainty Red-necked Phalaropes spinning like clockwork toys on freshwater pools and a magical midnight visit to Mousa's Iron Age Broch, where European Storm-petrels returned to their burrows in darkness, their churring, ethereal calls echoing from ancient stone walls.
Our boat trip around Noss delivered thrilling Gannet feeding frenzies as birds plunge-dived within metres of us. Marine mammal encounters also proved exceptional, with the famous 27s Orca pod passing just 20 metres from Sullom pier, plus sightings of Harbour Porpoises, Risso's Dolphins, and a Minke Whale.
Our wildlife sightings together with the wildness of Shetland’s habitats (and weather at times!) made for a thrilling and memorable week.
Click on the buttons below to read the full tour diaries.