Shetland Nature

17/06/2024

Last weeks Tipling, Tesni & Thomason photo-tour summary, by David Tipling;
Guillemots skimming across wild seas and phalaropes riding the waves were just two highlights from a fantastically productive June week on Shetland. Cold northerly winds brought showers and rainbows in equal measure, but when the weather is wild on these northern shores photography is often spectacular and it was. Hermaness was at its best with Gannets hanging in the wind above tumultuous seas and thrift covered cliffs thronged with Puffins. Other highlights during our week included Black Guillemots in thrift, marauding Arctic and Great Skuas, close encounters with otters and a ridiculously tame vagrant Savi’s Warbler. I could go on and wax lyrical about the great food, the laughs, spectacular cliff scenery, diving Gannets and much much more. If you would like to join a fun group photographing life on the edge in Britain’s far north then do join us next year.
Pics, David and tour participant, Russ Bennet.

14/06/2024

12/06/2024

The weather may well have been ‘challenging’ but we are enjoying some great wildlife with some lovely people. This weeks three tours shared here; Tipling, Tesni and Thomason photo-tour, Josh leading one of our summer photo-tour itineraries and an exciting new collaboration with Leander Khil and Birdlife Austria, co-led by Jon Dunn. On day tours and Otter photography itineraries are Theo Declermont, James Rogerson and Dave Cooper- and also a Mike Pennington had fun morning up Hermaness with Baltasound Junior high school as part of their outdoors ‘Unst week’.

10/06/2024

The third Shetland Nature Experience trip lead by James Rogerson JR Wildlife - Naturalist / Photographer was a great success, especially on the otter front. 11 animals across 6 different encounters and otters on all but one day! One particular otter really stole the show by appearing from the tang (seaweed) amidst a whirligig of phalarope. Close encounters can be difficult with a group but we were very lucky to have our otter bring crab and butterfish just meters below us several times and the photographers in the group were rewarded with excellent opportunities (see the guest photos attached). Along with an early encounter with neesick (harbour porpoise) and an extensive list of common birds we had a few scarce species such as glaucous gull and curlew sandpiper too. Our regular boat trips with The Mousa Boat and Shetland Seabird Tours - The Noss Boat wowed guests with their petrel and gannet spectaculars continuing a Shetland Nature trip highlight. As part of our commitment to engaging with local conservation efforts we visited a peatland restoration site where we contributed to an innovate program to improve Shetland’s blanket bog by planting sphagnum moss. This kind of habitat is not only important for biodiversity but serves a valuable carbon sink so it was a privilege to be involved. The group also enjoyed a trip to a project restoring native woodland, something their visit ultimately contributed to expanding. Spectacular wildlife encounters, fabulous hospitality and conservation in action. We look forward to seeing you on an upcoming trip soon.

08/06/2024

Our resident Unst birder, Dave Cooper has been enjoying leading our Unst birding day-tours this spring and it’s little wonder. Hermaness always remains a firm favourite as have Otters and Orca so far but tour-found highlights over the past four weeks have also included some exciting- even extraordinary rarities in the form of the Green Warbler but also some really good rare and scarce migrants, particularly this dapper drake Ring-necked Duck yesterday and Curlew Sandpiper, earlier this week with guests. What will be next?! To join existing day-tours, or tailor your own exclusively, please do get in touch [email protected]

06/06/2024

My monthly wildlife blog on Orkney.com is out now. Join me in the land of the 'watery pleep' 😊 https://www.orkney.com/news/wild-orkney-june-24

05/06/2024

Looks like Orkney experiencing the same wild weather as we are on Shetland! Our guests enjoying their ‘Orkney Nature Experience’ this week with native Orcadian naturalist, Raymond Besant.
Raymond Besant Photography & Film

05/06/2024

Last week Brydon finished leading a private photography tour for returning guests Kenny Ramsay and Michael Yuile. Spring migration and breeding birds were their targets but we couldn’t have imagined just how well their week would be timed. With record numbers of many iconic spring scarcities, not to mention the thrill of finding our own birds daily, especially Bluethroats, Red-backed Shrike, Icterine and Marsh warblers and Common Rosefinch to name but a few. We also enjoyed Orca encounter- within the first hour of their week(!), Otters, Red-necked Phalarope and Mousa Storm Peterels. Here are a couple of Brydon’s images from the week, we’ll share theirs in due course.

04/06/2024

Have you joined us on a Shetland Rural Experience tour this season yet?

Brian from Houston did in early May and he let us know what he thought via TripAdvisor!

"This was one of our best tours. The time with the animals was great, we saw sheep and new lambs up close, so, so cute. The two ponies were very interesting. One was a standard Shetland and the other a miniature Shetland. Learned the standard Shetland are really bred for the climate and are very hearty in the climate. They can pull twice their weight.

The herding dogs were the best, seeing how they naturally take to their work and how much they enjoy it. Its also amazing how the handler communicates to the dog on what he wants done. Also learned about peat and its importance to the environment."

Are you ready to join us on a tour? Get in touch via the website: https://shetlandruralexperience.co.uk/sheep-dog-demonstration-tours/

Ready to give us a review? We would appreciate your feedback: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g551827-d26327991-Reviews-Shetland_Rural_Experience-Tingwall_Mainland_Shetland_Islands_Scotland.html

04/06/2024

A chance to join our good pal Iolo in July, with our friends at Nature Scotland 👍

04/06/2024

Last weeks 'Shetland Nature Experience' tour summary, by tour leader, Dave Pullen; A dream of a week from Mousa broch on the first night with the sight and sound of hundreds of Storm Petrels, to the cliffs of Noss boat trip on the last day with Gannets diving for fish just inches away and a 'Herring Hog'(Minke Whale), not to mention a team found Red-footed Falcon!
The warm sunny weather held for most of our tour and couldn't have been better for our walk out to Hermaness. Thousands of Gannets stole the show but dust-bathing Skylarks on the footpath and Dunlin in their breeding habitat away from the shore caught our attention too. Unst also gave us a good show of the endemic Edmonston's Chickweed and a family of 3 Otters.
Another island, another day, Fetlar delivered with good sightings of 4 Red-necked Phalaropes. Spectacular places, spectacular birds was our daily itinerary. Eshaness with it's volcanic cliffs and Whimbrel, Red-throated Divers and a family of very young Whooper Swan cygnets along the way. Sumburgh Head with close-up Puffins and Shetland Wrens singing from the cliffs.
The tombolo at St Ninian's Isle where we watched a Great Northern Diver in pristine summer plumage while it ate a fish. At every stop there was something to see. Tysties and Tirricks, breeding plumage Sanderling still on their way to the high arctic, and a male Long-tailed Duck also in breeding plumage. In addition to the Shetland specialities continuing winds from the east brought a selection of drift migrants, from Spotted Flycatcher and a male Pied flycatcher to the scarcer Marsh Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Red-backed Shrike and a singing Rosefinch. We saw one of the Shrikes eating a bumblebee, found a skulking Bluethroat, and we were the first to find a rare female Red-footed Falcon (not recorded in Shetland for over 10 years). All in all a tremendous week, with fantastic people in beautiful surroundings that will last long in our memories.
Dave.

01/06/2024

Two spaces have become available for our 'Shetland Summer Photo-tour' from Saturday 6th July to Saturday 13th July 2024.
Enquire now to book a last-minute space.

An exclusive experience for photographers, small group size of 3-4 people, giving better flexibility and access to wildlife. We now book Boardanoost Lodge exclusively, and have private catering to allow us more flexibility in meal times.
* Designed by native Shetlander, and nature photographer, Brydon Thomason
* Small group of 3-4 photographers
* Based on Unst with exclusive occupancy of Boardanoost Lodge with cooks coming in to feed you.
* Flexible meal time to make the most of the golden light
* Covering 6 different islands, giving you an amazing overview of the wildlife in Shetland.
* Exclusive boat charters with Shetland Seabird Tours - The Noss Boat for the gannet feeding frenzy, giving you more space and time to get the images you want.
* Otter assignments throughout the week, plus a dedicated day within the week.
* 3 different seabird colonies
* Chances of orca and other cetaceans
A more personalised, hands-on, engaging and interactive experience. Find out more on our website.
https://www.shetlandnature.net/photo-tours/shetland-summer-photo-tour/

28/05/2024

The first of our Shetland Nature Experience holidays finished last week. As well as our regular boat trips with Shetland Seabird Tours - The Noss Boat and The Mousa Boat there were many highlights, but the best had to be our close encounter with a pod of Risso’s dolphins. First spotted at distance by trip leader James JR Wildlife - Naturalist / Photographer the group headed to a promontory for a better view and incredibly the dolphins appeared right beneath us, apparently showing off with acrobatics and playing with kelp. The group also enjoyed an exclusive look at one of Shetland’s rarest plants, the dwarf cornel. Occurring in only two locations and rarely flowering at either (once in 70 years at one spot!). There were several great otter encounters across the week with a full and diverse bird list including red backed shrike (complete with the butcher bird’s larder), white billed diver, marsh harrier and superb views of red necked phalarope, jostling for the attention of a potential mate. Thank you to the guests who make each trip so memorable, especially the return visitors. Seeing familiar faces is one of the most rewarding aspects of our jobs here at Shetland Nature.

26/05/2024

Many thanks to Steve Young for reviewing Brydon’s book, ‘Wild Shetland’ and to Birdwatch for the feature 👍

Review: Wild Shetland

This brilliant title does the author and his beloved Shetland justice, says Steve Young: https://bit.ly/3wFD4j2

22/05/2024

This 💥💥GREEN WARBLER 💥💥 was a sensational discovery today by Dave Cooper, leading one of our Unst birding day tours! Only the 11th for Britain. A day neither Dave nor our tour participants will ever forget!!

22/05/2024

Three of yesterday’s four tours enjoyed this pod of four ORCA from Lerwick harbour yesterday. A fantastic spot by our good friends Shetland Seabird Tours - The Noss Boat on their way back from Noss. This footage was ‘digiscoped’ by Theo.
Rather unusual in that the pod, (a bull, two females and young calf) remained in Bressay Sound all afternoon and through the evening. This exciting marine mammal encounter followed Theo’s discovery of a pod passing Sumburgh on a day tour at the weekend, as well as Minke Whale and Risso’s dolphins also enjoyed on day tours over the past three days.

21/05/2024

Although last weeks ‘Shetland Spring Birding’ holiday was all about the birds, we enjoyed some fantastic spring flowers, including some very special plants indeed; the endemic Edmondston’s Chickweed and Early Purple Orchid on The Keen of Hamar, Oysterplant in Urrafirth, Trailing Azalea on Ronas Hill and Lesser Twayblade on Hermaness. All iPhone images- I must endeavour to pack my macro lens!
Brydon.

21/05/2024

Last week’s bespoke photo-tour guests from New Zealand, led by James (JR Wildlife - Naturalist / Photographer) enjoyed a week of exciting assignments, including a spectacular boat charter to Hermaness Gannetries and some fantastic Otter encounters- we look forward to sharing images soon!

20/05/2024

A Shetland Otter story like you’ve never seen before- a truly beautiful and uplifting film 👌🏻

20/05/2024

‘Shetland Spring Birding’, led by Brydon.
Last week I had the pleasure of leading this seasons ‘Shetland Spring Birding tour’. A week long itinerary themed around the marvel of migration, whilst enjoying the splendour of Shetlands most iconic breeding birds and at a leisurely pace, with three accommodation venues Sumburgh, Hillswick and Fetlar. The timing was perfect- and very fortunate, coinciding with a wonderful period of weather - and arrival of birds! Birding, highlights included rarities such as the gorgeous Bonaparte’s Gull and Ring-necked Duck whilst finding our own White-billed Diver, Bluethroat, Marsh Warblers, Red-backed Shrike and Common Rosefinch were also memorable moments- not to mention the summer splendour of the many commoner migrants we saw, especially a ravishing male Ruff. Savouring the magic of Mousa Storm petrels on our private charter and the splendour of watching Fetlars phalaropes as the sun set were also firm favourites with our guests. A smaller group than usual for this tour, which made for an even more special week for this lovely group of people, visiting from Austria, North Carolina and Fife!
Thanks guys- it was a blast!

19/05/2024

Really fascinating behaviour. Incredible moment to capture

11/05/2024

We have just finished our Wild and Wooly tour collaboration with Kate Humble this week. Now in its third season, although featuring many of our main wildlife highlights, explores and celebrates our unique cultural heritage like no other. Huge thanks to Chris Dyer at Garths Croft, Maurice, Ewan and Ella for shetland music night, James Tait at Island Trails, Shetland Seabird Tours - The Noss Boat, Joanna at Ninian Knitwear, Wendy at Burra Bears, Sue White of Shetland peatland restoration, David and Isla of Shetland Rural Experience, Jane and Fabian of Wild Skies Shetland, Unst Heritage Centre, Marian Armitage and of course the hospitality of St Magnus Bay and Sumburgh Hotels. It’s a busy week!

10/05/2024

Prepare to have your heart stolen by a charming story of man, otter, and unlikely friendship. : An Otter Love Story 🦦 is now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu in the U.S.

09/05/2024

If you can make it to this educational event we are sure you will be inspired. We are proud to be among the many supporters of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture and the amazing work they do for rewilding and nature recovery

09/05/2024

Tune in to here out good friend, colleague and our Orkney tour leader Raymond Besant Photography & Film

I'm doing a lot of hide work just now photographing waders for the next volume of 'Naturally Orkney' and will be speaking a little bit about Orkney's wading birds on BBC Radio Orkney tomorrow morning (7th). Listen from 7.30am on 93.7FM, BBC Sounds, Alexa and your smart speaker

09/05/2024

Richard’s eight-day assignment also targeted breeding Raven, known locally as, Corbie, filmed from one of Brydon’s specialist photography hides.
Next season, during this same early spring period we will be running this as a week-long photography itinerary, featuring Red-throated Diver, Breeding Raven, Otter, Long-tailed Duck as well as the star cast of Shetland seabirds. Drop us an email if you fancy joining us.

09/05/2024

Last week Brydon led an eight day itinerary for long running returnee camera operator/photographer, Richard Hopkins who was here to film the evocative and captivating courtship of early spring Red-throated Diver, which we know better here on Shetland as, the ‘rain gus’. This specialist assignment was carried out under Brydon’s schedule 1 license, authorised by NatureScotland. We’ll share more on what this was filmed for in the coming weeks- stay tuned….

30/04/2024

A must do when visiting Shetland! Some of the lovely feedback on our otter experience days.

The whole experience from the minute
Susannah helped us arrange our day to the actual day itself was perfectly organised and extremely professional. James was our guide and provided expert local knowledge, as well as finding us 8 otters to see! Completely blew us away - loved it! The tour wasn't rushed and very much at our pace with James checking in to make sure we were ok throughout.
The 6 hours flew by - thank you James, Susannah and all the team at Shetland Nature for making our dream to see otters come true.

29/04/2024

With spring migration well underway here on Shetland we’ve had some really interesting birds in April, these three found by our Shetland Nature team members especially. Blue-Winged Teal was a fantastic discovery for Pete Ellis at Scatness (photo by Jim Nicolson), with the Coues’s Arctic Redpoll found by Dave Cooper on Unst, as was the Great Grey Shrike, by Mike Pennington.