Created in 2004 and proving to be a resounding success we continue to operate this holiday in partnership with our good friends at the Shetland Ranger service, Shetland Biological Records Centre, Shetland Amenity Trust and Fair Isle Bird Observatory. In addition we also contribute directly to the work of the Shetland Bird Club, the Shetland Entomological Group and the Shetland Sea Mammal Group. So be part of the action, learn new skills, and develop a deeper understanding of the importance of local wildlife recording. From Puffins to petrels and gentians to Great Skuas - it's fun, educational and set on the beautiful islands of Unst and Fair Isle.

DAY 1  Saturday - Travel to Unst & Welcome Dinner

Late afternoon rendezvous at Sumburgh before heading to Britain's most northerly island, Unst. After our welcome dinner, we discuss the exciting week ahead.

DAY 2 Sunday - Seabird monitoring at Hermaness & Cetacean Survey

We spend the day at Hermaness National Nature Reserve, one of Europe's finest and most important seabird colonies. The moorland is home to 800 pairs of Great Skuas - the third largest 'Bonxie' colony in the world - and the cliffs house 50,000 Puffins, 40,000 Guillemots, 28,000 Fulmars and over 20,000 Gannets! The cacophony of bird cries and the smell of guano make this an overwhelming wildlife experience! Our main activity will be to assist with a study of Gannet and Fulmar productivity - a study that has been ongoing for 15 years. This data gives us important clues as to the current state of the surrounding marine environment. In the late afternoon we conduct a 100-minute dedicated cetacean-watch from one of our established sites and in doing so, add to the database of the Shetland Sea Mammal Group. The seas which surround Unst are extremely rich in nutrients and thus produce interesting sightings of cetaceans, with Harbour Porpoise, Killer Whale, White-beaked and Risso's Dolphins the most frequently encountered species. Overnight at the Baltasound Hotel.

DAY 3 Monday - Rare Flora & Moulting Wildfowl

This morning we set off for the Keen of Hamar National Nature Reserve. This serpentine fell field is a unique habitat and home to some of Britain's rarest plants. Here we census the locally rare Fragrant Orchid, which in a Shetland context is now restricted to small numbers on Unst. Nearby, we will also census Autumn Gentian, which has been in decline for some years. The subspecies concerned is endemic to Britain. Our work will add to that of previous years and assist in the assessment of the species' local status. In the afternoon we walk the shores of south east Unst, from Sandwick to the head of Baltasound Voe. On the way we will be searching for and counting Greylag Geese moult flocks along with Eiders and their ducklings. Numbers of breeding Eider in Shetland have declined dramatically in the last 20 years; by counting numbers of ducklings in family 'crèches', we hope to get an idea of how successful a breeding season these wonderful sea ducks may have enjoyed. During our walk we will also be recording numbers of migratory waders - these birds should be abundant in the area and the more interesting species we are likely to encounter include Whimbrel, Golden Plover, Redshank and Dunlin. Overnight at the Baltasound Hotel.

DAY 4 Tuesday - Arctic Alpines & Moth trapping

We spend the morning at Crussafield where we will be completing our botanical surveying. The site holds both Shetland Mouse-ear Chickweed - endemic to Unst - and Arctic Sandwort - in Britain found only on Unst and at a handful of sites elsewhere in Scotland. We will be monitoring populations of both species in the area as part of regular census work and should also encounter a range of other serpentine specialities. Another cetacean-watch will take us to a different 'prime' site from Sunday and although these wonderful mammals are extremely unpredictable in their appearances, we will hope that several pairs of keen eyes raise our chances! After dinner we set a series of mercury vapour traps at specific monitoring sites and 'sugar' a number of sheltered sites to attract moths. Over 300 species of moths have been recorded in Shetland and species are being added to this list at regular intervals thanks to the activities of the Shetland Entomological Group. We let the mercury vapour traps run overnight and will inspect the catches the following morning but as dusk descends, our 'sugared' sites should reward us with fine views of feasting moths - a different range of species are attracted to 'sugar' than mercury vapour light traps. Overnight at the Baltasound Hotel.

DAY 5 Wednesday - Moths, fly to Fair Isle & Puffin Ringing

We visit the mercury vapour traps where we inspect the catch. All moths are identified and counted - no matter how common. Over a period of years regular trapping and counting of moths at constant effort sites may well reveal changes in populations reflecting changes in habitat and land use. Our catch is most likely to comprise common residents such as the Dark Arches, the Antler, the Autumnal Rustic, the Square-spot Rustic and the Brindled Ochre. If we are lucky we might also record migrants such as the Brick, the Satellite and the Angle Shades. We leave Unst around noon and cross the island of Yell back to Mainland Shetland. From here we take a 25-minute flight to Shetland's most southerly island, Fair Isle - our home for the next three nights. Fair Isle boasts some of the most approachable Puffins in Britain. The liveliest colony is just a short walk away from the observatory. We will join the observatory ranger as he searches the colony for suitable birds for ringing or colour ringing. Colour ringing of Puffins that are loyal to a particular colony year after year, has taken place on Fair Isle for the past 15 years and gives an important indication of adult survival and population change within the colony. After dinner we receive an illustrated lecture on bird migration and the work of the observatory before setting the mercury vapour moth trap. We can also contribute our sightings to the daily bird log - this data plays an extremely important role in the study of migration and can indicate the changing of certain populations of birds over a number of years. Overnight at the Fair Isle Bird Observatory.

DAY 6 Thursday - Skuas 'sweep', Oysterplant & Storm Petrels

We are invited to join a member of observatory staff on the 'trap round' that takes place every morning. This pleasant pre-breakfast walk around the series of Heligoland traps may result in the trapping of migrants, which are then returned to the ringing room at the observatory for identification, ringing, ageing, weighing and release. This will be followed by an examination of moth captures in the mercury vapour trap. After breakfast we assist the warden with a 'sweep' of the skua colonies in the north of the island. We will discover lots of Arctic and Great Skua chicks, which will be ringed, weighed and measured. Their protective parents provide spectacular aerobatic defence displays during the process! After a well-earned lunch we walk to the southern portion of the island to assist with Oysterplant monitoring. Now only found at just scattering of sites throughout Shetland, Fair Isle has a strong and spreading population of this plant on the shingle shores near the south lighthouse. The walk to this site will also allow us to absorb the views and atmosphere of Fair Isle. In the late evening we assist observatory staff as they tape-lure Storm Petrels to positioned mist nets for ringing and release. This extremely important work again provides vital information on the migration routes and survival of this hardy species. And there is also always the chance of seeing the rare Leach's Petrel, which is known to only breed in a few places in Britain - two of which are in Shetland. Overnight at the Fair Isle Bird Observatory.

DAY 7 Friday - Migrant Census & Sail around Fair Isle

Pre-breakfast risers are once again welcome to join observatory staff on the 'trap round' and examine our moth captures from the mercury vapour trap. After breakfast we join the warden on his daily census of one of the three sectors of Fair Isle. Participants will be able to contribute to the warden's sightings and learn the techniques used for counting migrants and their identification in the field. We should be rewarded with good numbers of migrant waders and maybe the first continental passerines of the autumn. After lunch we learn how and why Gannets and Fulmars are monitored on Fair Isle. Our work at Hermaness earlier in the week will have given us a head-start and so we will certainly be utilising our new-found techniques and knowledge to good practice. After dinner - and to cap off a superb week - we have chartered the island boat for an evening circumnavigation of the island. As we sail underneath the towering majestic cliffs of the west coast we will encounter thousands of seabirds, Grey Seals and with luck, maybe a few cetaceans. Overnight at the Fair Isle Bird Observatory.

DAY 8 Saturday - Farewell to Fair Isle and fly to Sumburgh

Pre-breakfast risers are once again welcome to join observatory staff on the 'trap round' and examine our moth captures from the mercury vapour trap. After breakfast there will be another chance to be charmed by what we will no doubt regard as 'our' Puffins! We leave the island during the late morning on our flight, touching down at Sumburgh just before noon. We will make all the necessary arrangements for transfers and arrange onward transportation for those staying on in Shetland.

Holiday Information 2008 Operating Dates

This holiday is operated in partnership with Shetland Amenity Trust.

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