A Shetland Month. Lots of time spent around the south end of the Shetland mainland - particularly on Quendale Beach, Scat Ness and at Sumburgh Head.
Reporting Days: 31
Location: Shetland
Distance Walked: 323 km
Distance Driven: 884 km
Photographs Taken: Thousands. Mostly Puffins.
Days which included a visit to Sumburgh Head: 18
Days which included a walk on Quendale Beach: 26
Quendale Beach
This is my default walk from the house - most mornings (whatever the weather) and some evenings (if the weather is nice).
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| Clear water in Quendale Bay |
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| Early morning low tide at Quendale Bay |
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| Evening high tide at Quendale Bay |
Sumburgh Head
There may be bigger puffin colonies - but I'm pretty sure there aren't many more accessible puffin colonies.
Sumburgh Head is a splendid place to watch both puffins and (in July and early August) pufflings. I haven't seen any 'official' numbers for this year, but I definitely think I've seen more pufflings this year than I've seen in recent years (and I don't think it's just because I've spent more hours at Sumburgh Head!).
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| Puffins at Sumburgh Head |
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| More puffins at Sumburgh Head |
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| Even more puffins at Sumburgh Head |
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| Puffling and parent |
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| Almost ready to fledge |
Scat Ness
A splendid place in (almost) any weather - particularly good for wave watching when the wind and waves are right.
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| Wave watching at Scat Ness |
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| More white water at Scat Ness |
Next Month: More Shetland. More Pufflings.
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| August puffling at Sumburgh Head |