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  • Fetlar

Fetlar

Following the latest mainland lockdown and island restrictions many of our facilities are currently closed. We ask that all visitors follow the latest Scottish Government restrictions on travel and group sizes and advice on physical distancing and hygiene. See below for reserve details and our dedicated Covid-19 updates page for the latest safety information (link below). Thank you for your continued support and patience in these challenging times. Stay safe everyone.
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Address
RSPB Fetlar, Shetland, ZE2 9DJ
Grid ref
HU655900
See our reserves Covid-19 updates page for which sites are open and other important details.

The island of Fetlar is a haven for flora and fauna, and a great place to explore. Venture along the rugged coast and you might be lucky enough to see otters. At the RSPB hide at Mires of Funzie you can see a mire habitat which supports a variety of wading birds, as well an interesting diversity of insects and plants. With patience and luck you may also see red-necked phalarope from the hide or on the nearby Loch of Funzie.

Plan your visit

Opening times

Covid-19 update: Access to Fetlar is reliant on local ferry operators.  Please check for local restrictions before travelling.  The hide is currently closed and we are working to open this as soon as is safe to do so.

  • The reserve is open at all times under Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
  • Hide open from April to October, any time of day.

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
Free, but donations are very welcome.
Children
Free, but donations are very welcome.

Facilities

  • Picnic area
  • Viewing points are closed

Accessibility

How to get here

By road

From the ferry terminal at Hamarsness, drive six miles (10 km) east. Park at the small car park to the west of the Loch of Funzie. Walk east c100 m and follow signs to the hide, c300 m from the road.

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

Other ways to get there

To get to Fetlar from Mainland Shetland requires two ferry crossings. The first from Toft, Mainland to Ulsta, Yell. A 25-minute drive north to Gutcher, Yell for the ferry to Hamarsness, Fetlar. For ferry times and bookings, tel: 01595 745804.

Get directions from Google Maps
RSPB reserves on Google Earth

What will the weather be like?

9 degrees, Overcast

Contact Fetlar

  • RSPB Fetlar, Shetland, ZE2 9DJ
  • shetland@rspb.org.uk
  • 01950 460800

What will you see?

Our star species

    Arctic skua, lightform

    Arctic skua

    They come to Fetlar to breed but spend all their other time at sea.

    Great skua adult

    Great skua

    Great skuas have similar antisocial habits to their Arctic cousins.

    Red-necked phalarope, summer plumage

    Red-necked phalarope

    Red-necked phalarope are unusual wading birds; the females are bigger and brighter, and the males care for eggs and chicks.

    Red throated diver, breeding plumage

    Red-throated diver

    Look for them on the sea as they go fishing.

    Whimbrel illustration

    Whimbrel

    A migratory species which spends its winters in Africa, whimbrels nest on heathland on Fetlar.

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter

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

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 and great and Arctic skuas. Otters can be found around the coast.

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

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

About Fetlar

Habitat

The reserve consists of upland mires which are managed for breeding waders and in particular for red-necked phalarope.

Conservation

Fetlar is home to important populations of scarce breeding birds, notably red-necked phalaropes. RSPB Scotland is managing the reserve for the benefit of birds and for its broader biodiversity.

We manage this habitat by creating pools of open water and by raising water levels in the summer, then reducing water levels in autumn to encourage cattle grazing.

We also undertake a continuous programme of research and monitoring, focusing on key breeding birds, as well as water levels and plant communities.

Site information

This nature reserve is important for wildlife. RSPB Scotland welcomes responsible access, in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

Latest forum posts

  • Mousa and Storm Petrols in tonight's The One Show.

    Just to mention that a film about RSPB reserve Mousa and Storm Petrols and an evening visit at dusk featured towards the end of the The One Show on BBC 1 at 7.00pm this evening. For anyone that missed that programme, it will of course be available on...

    Posted 26/06/2015 by THOMO
  • Where are the two Sumburgh Head webcams

    Whats happened to the 2 Sumburgh Head webcams this year as they have both been unavailable to watch since the start of the 2014 breeding season. I like having a varied amountof webcams to choose from and i would like to know what has happened to them...

    Posted 05/05/2014 by THOMO
  • Where is the puffling?

    Can see two adults in the burrow, but no sign of the peerie een!!

    Posted 19/07/2012 by Lunklet
  • What's your favourite seabird in Shetland?

    I can't choose, but it has to be between storm petrels, Arctic skuas, puffins, razorbills, shags and Arctic terns.  Red-throated divers too.

    Posted 20/06/2011 by helen moncrieff
read our forum

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