When is the best time to go on a Shetland Seabird Tour?

There is always something to see here on Shetland throughout the year, but the majority of seabirds are summer visitors & cetaceans increases dramatically from mid-April to the end of August. We operate our scheduled Noss Boat wildlife trips from the beginning of April through into October, weather permitting. Prime months to see the main seabirds (Atlantic Puffin, Common Guillemot, Razorbill) are May-end August. Gannet diving feeding frenzies are a daily feature of our trips around Noss & Bressay well into October as gannets do not clear out one summer is over, unlike the auks! Please check out our species list here on our website to give you an idea or species & times of the year when they are most likely to be seen or the book ‘Discover Shetland’s Birds’ by Paul Harvey & Rebecca Nason.

Apart from our scheduled trips to Noss, we also offer bespoke photography/film trips in collaboration with top photographer Richard Shucksmith. These are exciting private excursions with both Richard & Phil where you can orientate a boat trip specifically to your needs & wishes. These trips are booked privately via email/phone. We normally dedicate a morning or afternoon, specifically to achieve your wishes & goals, having experts at hand to put you in the right place at the right time, with the right gear. Please call Phil of Shetland Seabird Tours +44 (0)7767872260 or Richard of Shetland Photo Tours +44 (0)7870691033 to discuss your requirements. These trips have proved very popular & successful over the past few years, with multiple award winning images taken under Richard’s guidance, on our boat, hitting top spots in competitions around the world.