Shetland
Noss
Our visit to Noss was one of the great highlights of my trip to Shetland. We left Lerwick and crossed a stretch of open water before our skipper took us alongside the cliffs so we could see the birds at close hand (fortunately the sea was calm on the day we visited). We spent quite a bit of time moving slowly along watching Gannets and Gannets, Great Skuas (Bonxies), Purple Sandpipers, Guillemots, Fulmars and yes, Gannets, before mackerel was thrown into the sea and the feeding frenzy began. I’d expected the feeding birds to provide me with my most memorable photographs and this event was indeed spectacular as the mackerel were tossed into the sea and the birds squabbled and fought for the food. In reality though, there was too much going on, resulting in overlapping wings and beaks and splashing and, well just a general melee! On my return home I found myself focusing on the images that show the birds in flight, of which I had many. I’ve found myself particularly fascinated with the way my camera has revealed the wing shapes of these acrobats of the seabird world and I make no apology for the fact that Gannets in flight occupy a significant place in this photo book.
We departed Lerwick with Shetland Sea Bird Tours on 20 May 2019
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Guillemots, some of them brindled. Purple Sandpipers
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Great Skuas (Bonxies) with the Gannets as they wait for the fish to be thrown.
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Fulmar
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A regular visitor in Lerwick harbour.
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Our visit to Noss was one of the great highlights of my trip to Shetland. We left Lerwick and crossed a stretch of open water before our skipper took us alongside the cliffs so we could see the birds at close hand (fortunately the sea was calm on the day we visited). We spent quite a bit of time moving slowly along watching Gannets and Gannets, Great Skuas (Bonxies), Purple Sandpipers, Guillemots, Fulmars and yes, Gannets, before mackerel was thrown into the sea and the feeding frenzy began.