Unst has a great variety of wildlife and normally at
migration tie some great birds pass through. This trip we didn’t see any rare
migrants but we did see some other interesting birds such as Gt Northern Diver,
Red Breasted Merganser, Twite, Red Throated Diver, Gt and Arctic Skua and Twite
Red Brested Merganser
Otters can be seen anywhere around the coast with Baltasound
a good spot and if you are lucky the odd Killer Whale can turn up especially in
Bluemull Sound.
Twite
We visited the Keen of Hamer again this year, a bit later
than normal, first passing Unst Bus shelter which changes its look every year.
It’s even got its own website at www.unstbusshelter.com
, well worth a look.
At the Keen of Hamer, which is a National Nature reserve, a wide
variety of unusual plants can be found on the largest area of serpentine debris
in Europe. Here you might find Shetland Mouse ear chickweed; it’s the only
place in the world it grows.
Also Norwegian sandwort, frog, fragrant, common spotted, heath spotted, northern marsh and early purple orchids grow. If you view the area from a distance you wouldn't believe anything was growing it looks so barren.
Heath Spotted Orchid
On this trip is it was fairly busy with wildlife tours
calling in, but they didn’t stay long and then I had the place to myself once
again. Even areas outside the reserve are worth a look, especially where they
sheep haven’t been grazing. Rabbits also cause damage and get into the reserve
despite it being fenced off.
At the very tip on Unst Hermaness NNR is worth a visit, but
watch out for the Gt Skuas that dive bomb you. Once you get to the
cliffs it’s a mind blowing sight with so many Gannets, Puffin, Fulmar,
Guillemot, Razorbill and Kittiwakes in the breeding season as well as the
sounds and associated smells.
Gt Northern Diver
After our visit a Lesser Grey Shrike and Pectoral sandpiper, that life !
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