For the second week in a row I was privileged to be invited to join a SOETAG survey aboard Shetland Seabird Tours super-comfortable Ayda Ruby II. This time the survey covered the shores and islands of the entire north Yell Sound. An early 5am start saw me heading for Toft where Captain Phil Harris went above and beyond ensuring that I was wearing a correctly-fitting life jacket and helping me aboard. Initially into a cool northwesterly breeze with some light rain the Ayda Ruby II again came into its own with its clear perspex panels providing everyone aboard with plenty of shelter from the elements but still allowing for excellent views of the seabirds to ensure the success of the survey. Captain Phil carefully and skillfully circumnavigated the intricacies of all of the many islands in Yell Sound to ensure that Mick & Will could accurately count and age all the Eider present.
As the wind moderated throughout the day it was possible to sail north from Ramna Stacks into the open seas northwest of Fethaland. As last week, Glen was again on duty preparing and delivering a chum slick that was soon attracting the attention of Fulmars, including a blue-morph individual, Gannets, Bonxies and Storm-Petrels and also passing Sooty Shearwaters, Arctic Skuas and Arctic Terns. At just gone 4pm there was what seemed like a communal shout of 'Wilson's Petrel' with what felt like everyone but me looking in the opposite direction! Quickly spinning around, fortunately there was only a single Storm Petrel in view close to the boat so that I, along with everyone else, was soon enjoying nice views as the Wilson's flew past the boat and across the slick of chum. Not only was it the first Wilson's Petrel that I'd seen off Shetland but also for both well-known long-standing Shetland birders Roger and Rory. All too soon our time offshore slipped by but we were further entertained by a small pod of Atlantic White-sided Dolphins, a small Shark and even a passing small passerine that briefly seemed tempted to join us aboard.
As the light began to wane we headed back into Yell Sound there were still a couple of evening surprises in store as Phil first brought the Ayda Ruby II to a halt so that we could enjoy views of a Minke Whale surfacing and then for a second time as he'd noticed a Sabine's Gull sat on the water! It circled the boat and was in danger of slipping away but was enticed back into close view by Will sacrificing and quickly deploying what was left of his sandwiches! A superb finale to a thrilling day! Shetland Seabird Tours had again far-exceeded expectations delivering two species of seabird I'd not previously seen from Shetland despite spending many hours over 5 years looking seaward from shore! I arrived home at 11pm and whilst I will spend today still gently buzzing, daydreaming and reliving the excitement of yesterday here's to acknowledge the commitment of Mick and Will being back out completing more SOETAG surveys and to Phil for again being at the helm of the Ayda Ruby II ensuring that everyone fortunate enough to be aboard today are enjoying the seabird spectacle that Shetland has to offer to the full. Very many thanks to everyone involved for making it such another memorable day!
Arctic Skua off Fethaland
blue Fulmar off Fethaland
Sooty Shearwater off Fethaland
Storm Petrels off Fethaland
Wilson's Petrel off Fethaland
Scottish Birds Vol. 41 (2) details the (just) six accepted records for Scotland prior to 2020.
Sabine's Gull in Yell Sound
Olsen & Larsson (2003) caption individuals like this one with just a faint yellowish tip to the bill as 'putative second-summer'.
