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Hermaness Coming home to roost

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.

Great Skua

All across the moorland great skuas are displaying their wings and marking their territory.

Sometimes there are some territorial disputes which lead to chest bumps
strutting
posturing
It's a delicate dance as they check each other out.

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.

The first of the puffins are just arriving back with their bright beaks and ungainly landings.
Time to claim a hole
Looking for a good one
Found one!

Hopes that cat we spotted earlier doesn’t find it!

Gannets

Gannets arrive to claim the cliffs
Fulmars add to the busy sky
Every ledge and rock will be taken
Can you spot the huddle of guillemots sheltering along a ledge way below?

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.

Time to meet the neighbours, settle in and find partners.

Fulmars: Getting busy

Fulmars share the cliff and are already getting down to business.

Peeping Flora on the clifftop!

To learn more about Hermaness check out their website:

Thank you for visiting

Credits:

Photos by Flora van Wageningen