Puffins At Sumburgh Head & Lighthouse!

SUNDAY EVENING – 14th MAY

I had a pretty laid back day and for some reason felt very tired, probably still not recovered from the big move! It was white/grey skies and drizzly rain all day, but by early evening the sun was shining!

Headed south to Sumburgh Head for the first time since I moved here. Stopped off at the Sumburgh Hotel and had a scan in the gardens, which produced a Whitethroat, House Sparrows and one Blackbird. It really was a spectacular evening and the sea was glittering in the sunshine. So many cute lambs skipping about, you have to be super careful driving around Shetland, lambs first, cars second!

Grutness Pier – had a lovely time here, watching Mallards with two fluffy ducklings – I wonder how many there were originally?! Probably not a good idea to think about that too much. Also seen were 1 Redshank, Oystercatchers, Lapwings, Ringed Plovers x 2, Pied Wagtail, House Sparrows, Common Gulls and Fulmars, were either on or around the pool.

At Sumburgh Head, 4 Swallows flew past the cliffs and a Robin was perched on a wall just west of the lighthouse. All the usual seabirds here, Fulmars, Shags, Guillemots, Gannets etc. A Wren was singing in the lighthouse gardens and a Wheatear bounded over a wall. Chatted to a couple of ladies about where the best spot was to look for the Puffins and this paid off! So fantastic to photograph my first Puffins on Shetland!!! The dangerous thing about this time of the year, is the fact that you can stay out so late, which is not always a sensible thing to do, when you are at work the following day.

Stopped at Grutness Pier again on the way back and watched a pair of Mute Swans gliding past the jetty and a moored up yacht, as the sun was setting – a beautiful and tranquil scene. A Kestrel was sitting on the perimeter fence of the airport and 2 Wheatears were on the beach by the pull in area just before the runway. Arrived home and it was still daylight!

Prediction: Grey-headed Lapwing to stop off at the Virkie Pool, before it continues on its journey and for it to stay long enough for me to see after work please!

PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE ADDED