Mousa

Address: RSPB Mousa, via Sandsayre Pier, Sandwick, Shetland, ZE2 9HP

Grid ref: HU456240

Mousa is a small, wild island in Shetland, uninhabited since the nineteenth century. It is notable for having one of the UK’s largest storm petrel breeding colonies, many of which nest in the Broch of Mousa, a 2000-year-old Iron Age round tower. The diversity of the wildlife on Mousa is reflected in its many protective designations for breeding birds such as black guillemots and Arctic terns, as well as for the harbour seals and the fascinating geology of the island.

Plan your visit

Open annually, mid-April until mid-September, weather permitting.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free entry, but a private ferry fare applies to the crossing to Mousa.

Children: Free entry, but a private ferry fare applies to the crossing to Mousa.

Facilities

No visitor centre
Car park off-site
Toilets off-site
Accessible toilets off-site
No Refreshments
Guided walks
Nature trails
Shop off-site

Accessibility

How to get here

By bus

Sandwick is linked by bus on the Lerwick-Sumburgh Airport route. The nearest bus stop to Sandsayre Pier is a 10 minute walk away.

Other ways to get there

Mousa is only accessible by boat. Trips operated by The Mousa Boat run between April and mid-September. They leave from Sandsayre pier, Sandwick. Go to www.mousa.co.uk for more information. Ferry fees apply.

Get directions from Google Maps

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

8 degrees, Partly cloudy (day)

Contact Mousa

RSPB Mousa, via Sandsayre Pier, Sandwick, Shetland, ZE2 9HP
shetland@rspb.org.uk
01950 460800

What will you see?

Our star species

Arctic skua

Arctic skuas come to Mousa to breed but spend all their other time at sea.

Arctic tern

Arctic terns nest on Mousa but be careful not to stray too close to their nests, as they will attack!

Black guillemot

In Shetland, black guillemots are known as 'tysties'. Watch for them swimming around on the sea.

Great skua

Great skuas have similar antisocial habits to their Arctic cousins.

Storm petrel

Although storm petrels only fly at night, listen for their churring call in a stone dyke or the broch during a day-trip.

Nature spectacles

Visiting Mousa is an unforgettable experience. On the short ferry crossing to the island, you might be fortunate enough to see harbour porpoises and other marine mammals, as well as gannets, shags and puffins. Keep a look out for harbour seals which seek refuge in the East and West Pools for pupping and moulting, as well as grey seals.

Birds are returning to the island to breed and most have returned by late May. Seals can be seen in west pool especially at low tide. Hear skylarks displaying.

Storm petrels only come ashore at night - they spend the rest of their time feeding out at sea. Arctic terns, eiders (dunters) and black guillemots (tysties) nest on the island as well as waders including oystercatchers, ringed plovers, snipe and redshanks. Arctic skuas and great skuas (bonxies) will defend their nests and young aggressively. Harbour seals come to the island in June to have their pups and remain through August to moult. Grey seals can also be seen during the summer.

About Mousa

Habitat

Mousa is an uninhabited island featuring coastal habitats, wet heathland, mires and grassland. The Iron Age broch, extensive dry stone dykes and boulder beaches provide nesting habitats for many of the island’s breeding storm petrels.

Conservation

We have studied and monitored storm petrels, Arctic terns and Arctic and great skuas since the early 1980s. We now also monitor red-throated divers, waders, shags and harbour and grey seals.

Other organisations help us out: the Shetland Ringing Group monitors storm petrel breeding success, whilst the Shetland Oil Terminal Environmental Advisory Group monitors cliff-nesting seabird populations every five years. Scottish National Heritage monitor grey seal populations and breeding success and we will also encourage specialist groups to conduct research into key marine mammals. We also protect boulder beaches and restore dry-stone dykes - important storm petrel nesting habitat.

In addition to this, we maintain visitor structures and provide guided walks to give visitors the best experience and reduce disturbance to wildlife. We also monitor for non-mammalian predators on Mousa, which could cause harm to many of the ground nesting birds present.

Site information

The diversity of the wildlife on Mousa is reflected in its many protective designations; it is a Special Protection Area (SPA), Special Area for Conservation (SAC) and Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) for the breeding birds such as storm petrels, black guillemots and Arctic terns, as well as for the harbour seals and the fascinating geology of the island.

Mousa is an important reserve for breeding wildlife with many sensitive breeding areas. Therefore we ask that you follow all signage and guidance on Mousa to keep disturbance of breeding wildlife to a minimum. The stone dykes and boulder beaches are of particular importance as they are the nesting areas of storm petrels.

If you wish to land a private vessel, the East and West Pools and Burgi Ayre beach are particularly sensitive for the breeding wildlife there and we ask that you do not land any vessels in these areas. Please contact us on the details provided if you require further information.

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Mousa

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