Hermaness Nature Reserve

Puffins, Gannets and the MuckleFlugga

We had been waiting for the weather to improve before heading out to visit the Puffin colony near 'Long Sothers Kame' on the North West Headland of the Hermaness National Nature Reserve.  With the sun peeking through at long last, we headed out on Thursday afternoon.  It's a good walk, mostly in the climb but it's now a boarded walkway making it much easier than the previous peaty path.

The views were amazing all around!  The Bonxies, we're very pleased to be able to say, behaved themselves impeccably taking absolutely no notice of us whatsoever. The Muckle Flugga lighthouse, now unmanned, clearly visible through the bright afternoon sunlight.

The time simply 'flew' past and it was well into the late evening by the time we returned to Harry. It had been a truly wonderful day that will last in our memory for a lifetime.

Flodda, Urda, Clingra, Humla Stacks clearly visible and in the distance Vesta Skerry, Rumblings  and the Muckle Flugga

A lovely dinky little Puffin, not in the least bit camera shy.  It's possible to approach them with ease

So amusing when they take to the air...on the ground, worried looks as one comes in to land!

Just south of the Puffins is a huge Gannet Colony turning the dark cliffs almost white; thousands of birds congregated together. You could hear them long before you could actually see them! 

He is smaller than a town pigeon and completely dwarfed by the gannets(87-100cm) nesting nearby!

The puffins seem to be oblivious to the danger of the patrolling Bonxies which are twice the size of them.

It has been a spectacular day. We have never seen so many birds flying above and below us. Even the rabbits ignored the onlookers and carried on with their quest for food. Puffins looked on mildly interested in the people wielding increasingly larger camera lenses into their eyes. 

Our thanks are noted to the many gifted wildlife photographers who have inspired us to try and emulate them and spur on our enthusiasm to get out there and experience the magic for ourselves. It really is awesome!