SHETLAND: Fetlar Week 2

My second week working on Fetlar has passed very quickly. The weather has been pretty stable with some exceptionally calm days with little wind; a rarity for Shetland! Female Phalaropes are already starting to moult and will be heading south in the coming days. Below are a few more of the week's highlights from this wonderful island with a population of no more than 50 people.

Female Red-necked Phalarope, Loch of Funzie - Simply stunning birds

Male Red-necked Phalarope, Loch of Funzie - Much more variable in plumage than females

RSPB Loch of Funzie - The place to see Red-necked Phalaropes on Fetlar

Long-tailed Duck - This unseasonal bird is still present and makes it into July

The east end of Fetlar looking south to the Out Skerries

Moss Carder Bumblebee or "Shetland" Bumblebee - Shetland subspecies agricolae

Common Snipe - simply everywhere on Fetlar

Twite are often found around the meadows

Juvenile Wheatear

Oystercatcher

Otters are relatively frequent on Fetlar  - Just hope for a closer one!

The Out Skerries

Juvenile Dunlin

Northern Marsh Orchid

Black Guillemot - seen from the ferry between Fetlar and Yell and around the coast

Arctic Tern on Loch of Funzie

Pair of dark Arctic Skuas