Top 5 Wildlife Spectacles of Shetland

As Britain’s only Shetland-based walking guide, what do I vote as the ‘Top 5 Must-See Wildlife Spectacles of Shetland’? Well, here goes:

Muckle Flugga

1. Has to be the most northerly lump of rock in Britain – Muckle Flugga and the Hermaness National Nature Reserve. The cliffs here are packed with breeding seabirds, from Gannets right down to the comical Puffin, and with some of the most impressive viewing potential in Britain (yes, you can sit right next to a Puffin, and have a conversation with it if that’s your thing!), Hermaness has to take the top slot.

Puffin by Graham Uney

Going Westside

2. I’m a bit biased towards the Westside of Shetland. Apart from the fact that I live there, so do some of the largest breeding numbers of rare birds such as the Whimbrel, and Red-throated Diver.

Red-throated Diver by Graham Uney

60º North

3. Ronas Hill, despite it’s lowly height, is Shetland’s highest peak. Being this far north (most of Shetland is at 60º North) its summit has a climate and habitat akin to the Cairngorm plateau, and that means it is the place to go to seek out sub-Arctic flora, with some species endemic to Shetland!

Shetland’s Otters

4. On Shetland Otters are everywhere. Yes, they are a bit shy at times, and yes, it does help if you know where to look for them, but with a little patience you will see Otters here. Oh, and Shetland has the largest population of Otters in the whole of Europe – did I forget to mention that?

Otter by Graham Uney

What is a Bonxie?

5. And so we come to everybody’s favourite bird – the Bonxie! The proper name for this piratical seabird is the Great Skua, but here everyone calls them Bonxies. They are big, mean, scary, and they will fly at you if you happen to walk too close to their nests. They feed by chasing other birds until they vomit, then the Bonxie tucks in. Yummy! But, I love them, and so will you once you’ve been introduced to them properly.