The Shetland Seabird experience

Made up of over one hundred islands, the Shetland archipelago lies 130 miles north of the Scottish mainland, and at 60° North, it is closer to the Arctic Circle than it is to London. Its location in the North Sea, surrounded by rugged coastlines, makes it one of the most dramatic and jaw-dropping places to photograph seabirds anywhere in the world. The Shetland Seabird Experience aims to offer a unique insight into the world of Shetland seabirds whilst working responsibly to get you up close with the most charismatic species at places like Sumburgh Head, Noss National Nature Reserve, and Hermaness National Nature Reserve. By working on a one-to-one basis, or in small groups, we are able to take a hands-on approach, allowing for a more personalised and engaging experience. This gives us the opportunity to create and tailor your perfect photo workshop to ensure you achieve the images you want to create whilst being in Shetland with Nordic Wildlife Tours.

Atlantic Puffin photographed at Hermaness National Nature Reserve during the golden hour as fog engulfs the cliffs.

Atlantic Puffins

Atlantic Puffins, also known as ‘Tammie Norries’ in Shetland, are the most sought-after seabird and one every wildlife photographer loves to photograph and get up close with. In Shetland, there are three main places to see them: Sumburgh Head, Noss National Nature Reserve, and Hermaness National Nature Reserve. All three reserves are unique to themselves and offer very different photographic opportunities as the summer months progress. Sumburgh Head, located on the southern tip of mainland Shetland, is perfect for capturing puffins stood amongst vibrant sea thrift in early summer at either sunrise or sunset, and the sparkling sea below renders backgrounds into beautiful eye-catching bokeh. Noss NNR, a small inhabited seabird island off the east side of Bressay, only accessible by a small rib boat, offers excellent opportunities to frame puffins against an all-black background, creating an almost studio-style portrait which really makes them stand out. Towards the middle of July, it is also a fantastic place to photograph them in flight as they bring fish back to their burrows. Hermaness NNR, on the island of Unst, is the most northernly point of the United Kingdom. Its location, which makes you feel like you are standing on the edge of the world, with its towering cliffs and sea stacks, is truly breathtaking. In our opinion, Hermaness is without doubt one of the most incredible places to photograph puffins, and with its jaw-dropping backgrounds, it is the perfect place to shoot wide-angle environmental portraits, particularly during the golden hour.

Atlantic Puffin photographed at Hermaness National Nature Reserve during the golden hour.
A puffin bird perched on colorful pink and purple flowers with a blurred blue background featuring light reflections.
Abstract image of golden bokeh lights creating a tunnel or spiraling effect.
Silhouette of a bird standing on a rock at sunset with a body of water and cloudy sky in the background.
An edited photo of a puffin with the wings of a bird spread out, holding small fish in its beak and orange webbed feet visible, against a plain light background.
Silhouette of a person's head and shoulders against a vibrant red and orange sunset with the sun near the horizon.

Northern Gannets

Noss National Nature Reserve and Hermaness National Nature Reserve are the two reserves to photograph Northern Gannets in Shetland. The gannet colony on Noss is the seventh largest in the UK, with close to 11,000 birds. Noss is perfect for photographing gannets against an all-black background in the early morning, as the clifftops shade the water below. Heading up to the Noup, which is the highest part of Noss and stands 180 metres tall, you’ll have excellent views of the birds below as they nest on the beautifully sculpted, guano-painted, sandstone cliff faces. The most impressive of the two gannet colonies is at Hermaness NNR, and the rugged and windswept cliffs are home to an impressive 30,000 pairs. Hermaness is the perfect place to push your photography and to become creative, and the reserve allows you to shoot an array of different images from long exposures, double exposures, low-key and high-key, as well as experimenting with pan blurs and ICM (intentional camera movement). During a westerly swell, the turquoise and turbulent seas create a beautiful background to photograph gannets in flight, a favourite amongst many photographers. 

A scenic view of two rocky cliffs by the ocean during sunset, with the sky and water reflecting vibrant orange and red hues.
Black and white photo of seabirds flying and resting on rocky coast with waves crashing below.
Close-up of a painted seabird's head, featuring a yellow crest, a blue ring around the eye, and a pointed beak, with tiny white birds perched on the surface and a dark background.
A bird, likely a Northern Gannet, flying near rocky cliffs and ocean waves.
Close-up of organized beans or seeds, possibly grain or coffee beans, with a swirling motion blur effect.
A close-up of a white and black bird, likely a gannet, with wings spread against a black background.

Other Wildlife

Across the islands and in the surrounding seas, Shetland is home to an array of incredible wildlife, and there’s every chance that we will come across many different species during your time spent with us. Along the clifftops, accompanying the puffins and gannets, we would expect to see common birds such as northern fulmars, great and arctic skuas, common and black guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, various gulls, and singing Shetland wrens. Around the shorelines, in our voes, and further out to sea, cetaceans like killer whales, minke whales, harbour porpoises, Risso’s dolphins, and Atlantic white-sided dolphins are also regularly seen. We may even encounter otters as they can be found all around Shetland. From a safe distance, it will also be possible to have amazing views of red-throated divers and red-necked phalaropes, which are two iconic Nordic species.

A seabird, likely a seagull, resting among purple flowers and dark rocks on a coastal or rocky hillside.
Black and white photo of water splashing and swirling around a boat propeller.
A colorful bird swimming in water
A river otter standing on rocks and wet forest floor with dark background.
A bird walking on the surface of water with a blurred background and bokeh light effects.
Close-up black and white photograph of a bird with intricate feather details, focusing on its head and eye.

Cost & number of people 

The price of this workshop is £350 on a one-to-one basis. 

Travelling in a group? The maximum number of people is three per group and is £295 per person. 

Wishing to make the most of your time in Shetland? It is only possible to visit one of the three seabird reserves during a single day, because of that, two-day and three-day workshops are available to book by request. The price of multiple days is discounted to £295 per day.

Deposit: A non-refundable deposit of 25% is required upon booking. The remaining 75% is payable thirty days before your workshop start date.

Duration & Time

This tour runs from May through to August and will typically last eight hours per day to maximise our time out in the field. In some instances, such as when visiting locations that require longer walks or multiple ferry crossings, or when the photography is incredible, our days may last longer.

Fitness & difficulty 

A relatively good level of fitness is required to access the seabird colonies at Hermaness NNR and Noss NNR. At Sumburgh Head, the seabirds are accessible by a short five-minute walk from the car park. Disabled parking and drop-off zones are also available. 

Hermaness NNR - From the car park, there is a 2km boardwalk that takes you to the clifftops. From there, there could be a further 1 - 2km walk to where the puffins and gannets can be photographed.

Noss NNR - Noss is approximately a 4km walk and please note there is no boardwalk up to the seabird colonies. The ground may be uneven and boggy in some places. 

What’s included & what’s not

What’s included: Professional photo guidance and tuition. Transport on the island to and from our workshop destinations. Any inner-island ferry charges, including small rib boat crossing to Noss. 

What’s not included: Transportation to and from Northlink ferry terminal/Sumburgh Airport to your accommodation. Food and drinks (please ensure you bring a packed lunch/drink with you). Photography equipment. Personal and travel insurance (you must provide your own).

Close-up black-and-white portrait of a Northern Gannet photographed at Hermaness National Nature Reserve.

More details

  • A DSLR or mirrorless camera coupled with either a prime telephoto or zoom lens, ranging from 300mm to 600mm, will be perfect for seabird portraits. To photograph birds in their environment, we recommend a wide-angle lens such as a 24-70mm or a 24-105mm. For creative imagery, like long exposures, a set of ND (Neutral Density) filters, as well as a sturdy tripod and cable release. Given the remoteness of some locations we may visit, a comfortable backpack that can carry your equipment, plus an extra layer, as well as food and water, would be advised. 

  • Shetland’s weather can change in an instant, so it is important that, during your workshop(s), you bring and wear correct and comfortable clothing that allows you to spend prolonged periods of time out in the field, and in most cases, on top of exposed clifftops, where it can be cold, wet, and windy. Given the location of our workshops, appropriate footwear is a must - hiking shoes/boots would be our recommendation.

  • There are two ways to get to and from Shetland, and they are by ferry or plane. The overnight ferry, which is run by Northlink Ferries, departs from Aberdeen and takes between 12 - 14 hours before arriving in Lerwick. Cabins and sleeping pods are available; however, these book up extremely quickly. Flying is the quickest way to reach Shetland and Loganair offers a range of flights from all over Scotland and England. Transport to and from the Sumburgh Airport by taxi and bus is available. If you require any help on booking the ferry or a flight, please get in touch.

  • Accommodation in Shetland books up very quickly. Please ensure you have accommodation booked prior to arranging a workshop to avoid any disappointment. Accommodation can be found on Shetland Stays, Airbnb, and Booking.com, as well as various other websites. If you need help finding accommodation, or are wanting any recommendations on where to stay, please get in touch. Please note that if you are wanting to photograph puffins at sunset at Hermaness NNR, you must have accommodation on Unst as the last inner-island ferry departs before sunset. 

  • Not a photographer? Visiting by cruise ship? Guided wildlife walks around Sumburgh Head, Noss NNR, and Hermaness NNR, are available. Our guided walks offer up close and personal views of Shetland seabirds and it’s incredible scenery. For availability, please fill out the contact form below. 

Get In Touch

For general enquiries and bookings, please fill out the contact form below. Alternatively, please call or WhatsApp message on +44 (0)7896 23141. Please understand that due to the nature of our business, working in remote areas across Shetland and Iceland may result in limited phone service and internet access. We aim to reply to all enquiries as soon as possible.