Located at the most northerly tip of Unst on Shetland is the Hermaness National Nature Reserve. I arrived at Hermaness in late April just as most of the seabirds were arriving to start the mating season. From the carpark you climb up and across the moorland where you are greeted by great skuas, known locally as 'bonxies', a rather aggressive and protective birds who are known to dive bomb anyone who gets too close to their nests.
Puffins
Puffin populations have been rapidly declining on Shetland due to declines in nutritious fish sources. But fish is not the only challenges to nesting on these cliff sides. The Bonxies on the nearby moorland often feed off puffins and their chicks. Life is far from idyllic for these little soldiers.
Location, location, location
Gannets will soon cover these cliffs and build their nests from whatever material is available. Zooming in on the colony it was sad to see exactly how much plastic fish netting was being used which will be hazardous to both the chicks and parents.
Credits:
Photos by Flora van Wageningen