Sunday 13 August 2017

Shetland

We’ve just come back from a fortnight in Shetland, almost thirty years since our first visit (our honeymoon!). We were blessed with amazing weather…


It even got mentioned on Radio 4 that we had more sunshine than Cornwall!
This wasn’t conducive to great birding (the only migrants I found were four Crossbills, a couple of Swifts, Chiffchaff and Grey Wagtail) but really showed these beautiful islands at their best…



And even their commonest birds are interesting…










And one of my favourites, the Shetland race of Wren…


Chunkier and with quite a distinct song.

Mammals included both Common and Grey seals (the latter almost climbing into the replica Viking ship we were sailing in!) pods of Risso’s and White-sided dolphins and this little cracker ‘nesting’ in the cliffs at Eshaness…


Unfortunately the list didn’t include Orcas with several sightings whilst we were there but we were always just a little too late…

We will be back...


5 comments:

  1. It looks lovely, it's on my (very long) list of places to visit!

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    1. I would definitely encourage you Pam (although not even the Shetland Tourist Board will promise you the weather we had!)

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    2. I must admit it's not often you see photos with the blue sky/sea!! You did a good job for tourism there!

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