Skip navigation
Weather today

14°C

Map of Fetlar
Where is it?
View map
Right, let's go...
Plan a visit
Print page

Seasonal highlights

Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.

Spring

Whooper swans, goldeneyes and passage migrants on the reserve and surrounding area. Otters can be found along the coast.

Eider (illustration)Goldeneyes (illustration)Winter-plumaged purple sandpiper (artwork)Whooper swan (illustration)
EiderGoldeneyePurple sandpiperWhooper swan

Summer

Red-necked phalaropes, snipe, curlews, redshanks, lapwings and teals at Mires of Funzie. Red-throated divers can be seen at Loch of Funzie. Areas around the reserve hold whimbrels, golden plovers, dunlins, Arctic terns, great and Arctic skuas. Otters can be found around the coast. Wetland flowers at Mires of Funzie are at their best in late July and into August.

Arctic skua (illustration)Arctic tern (illustration)Red-necked phalarope in summer plumage (illustration)Teals (illustration)
Arctic skuaArctic ternRed-necked phalaropeTeal

Autumn

Passage migrants in and around the reserve. Otters can be found along the coast.

Great skua (illustration)Red-breasted mergansers (illustration)Ringed plovers (illustration)Turnstone in winter plumage (illustration)
Great skuaRed-breasted merganserRinged ploverTurnstone

Winter

Whooper swans, goldeneyes and long-tailed ducks in and around the reserve. Great northern divers and otters can be found along the coast.

Great northern diver - breeding plumageLong-tailed ducks (illustration)Redwing (illustration)Whooper swan (illustration)
Great northern diverLong-tailed duckRedwingWhooper swan

Contact us

Where is it?

  • Lat/lng: 60.58824,-0.80616
  • Grid reference: HU655900
  • Nearest town: Baltasound, Unst
  • County: Shetland
  • Country: Scotland

Get directions

Note: Some reserves are not served directly by public transport and, in these cases, a nearby destination (from which you may need to walk or take a taxi or ferry) may be offered.