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Overview
The Out Skerries are the easternmost of the Shetland Islands lying more than 15km to the east of Mainland although only about 8km from Whalsay.
These are rocky and exposed islands with breeding seabirds but passerine migrants are the main birding attraction. There is little cover on these rather remote islands but they still manage to attract migrants in numbers and variety.
Birds
Notable Species
Breeding seabirds include Black Guillemot and Atlantic Puffin, Shag, Kittiwake and Arctic Tern and Common Eider also nest on the islands.
In the right weather conditions all the commoner passerine migrants can be seen along with scarcer species. Wryneck, Bluethroat and Red-backed Shrike, Icterine Warbler and Barred Warbler, Common Rosefinch and Ortolan are all regular in autumn.
At sea during the autumn there are often Manx Shearwater and Sooty Shearwater, Pomarine Skua and European Storm-petrel.
Rarities
Rarities recorded here have included Citrine Wagtail, Olive-backed Pipit and Isabelline Shrike, warblers such as Lanceolated Warbler, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, River Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Dusky Warbler and buntings including Yellow-breasted Bunting, Rustic Bunting and Pine Bunting.
The first Ovenbird for Britain was also recorded on these islands.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Manx Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, European Storm-petrel, European Shag, Great Skua, Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua, European Herring Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Arctic Tern, Black Guillemot, Atlantic Puffin, Eurasian Wryneck, Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Bluethroat, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher, Icterine Warbler, Barred Warbler, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Red-backed Shrike, Common Rosefinch, Ortolan Bunting
Other Wildlife
Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata and various other cetaceans are frequently seen off these islands.
Site Information
Migrants generally occur in greatest numbers during periods of easterly winds and it is worth visiting the islands from the middle of August onwards, although September and October tend to produce the rarities.
Areas of Interest
To do
Access and Facilities
The Out Skerries can be reached by a 3-4 hour trip on a car-ferry from Lerwick on Tuesdays and Fridays (weather permitting) or from Whalsay on a Sunday if booked in advance.
In addition, during the summer there are flights to the Out Skerries from Tingwall Airport.
Contact Details
To do
External Links
- Out Skerries
- Undiscovered Scotland: Out Skerries
- Shetland Island Council: Inter-island Ferries
- Out Skerries on Streetmap
Content and images originally posted by Steve
