Sea Cliffs of Shetland

 

Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) outside its nest burrow.
Sumburgh Head, Shetland, Scotland. 

Shetland is a splash of islands north of mainland Scotland.  This mostly treeless archipelago is in the North Sea, and many of the islands are bound by cliffs.   They are made of tilted sandstone dating from the Devonian Period over 300 million years ago. 

Sandstone cliff.
Isle of Noss, Shetland, Scotland.

We visited Shetland in June and found an abundance of life.  Hardy plants were growing on the cliffs and brought color to this rocky environment.  Sea Thrift (Armeria maritima) with its pink flowers and Red Campion (Silene dioica) dot the cliff tops.  

Sea Thrift (Armeria maritima).
Sumburgh Head, Shetland, Scotland. 

Red Campion (Silene diocia).
Sumburgh Head, Shetland, Scotland.

Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata), bright blue Spring Squill (Scilla verna) and the buttercup relative Marsh Marigold (Caltha palurtris) were flowering too.  Lichens encrust the rocks and cliff faces with shades of gray, green and bright yellow. 

Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata).
Sumburgh Head, Shetland, Scotland. 

Spring Squill (Scilla verna).
Sumburgh Head, Shetland, Scotland. 

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris).
Sumburgh Head, Shetland, Scotland. 

Lichens.
Sumburgh Head, Shetland, Scotland. 

While the geology and botany of the cliffs are engaging the real attraction is the birds.  Sea birds nest in vast numbers on the cliffs each summer.  They wheel through the sky giving their harsh cries and the ammonia smell of their droppings can be overwhelming.  Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica) are elegant little birds in black-and-white plumage.  These iconic birds have stubby wings, a large multicolored, parrot-like beak, light gray face and a black mark above the eye.  Their bright orange webbed feet and waddling gait give them a comical look.  Atlantic Puffins dig burrows for their nests and fly from the cliffs to settle on the sea. There they dive for fish and return them to the nest to feed their mates and young.  

Atlantic Penguin,
Sumburgh Head, Shetland, Scotland. 

Atlantic Penguin,
Sumburgh Head, Shetland, Scotland. 

Atlantic Puffins are alcids classified in the auk family, the Alcidae.  Most alcids have variations on the black-and-white pattern of the Atlantic Puffins and nest on cliffs.  Razorbills (Alca torda) were present in small numbers.  They are about puffin-size and their black beak resembles the blade of a straight razor.  Razorbills are black above and white below with a white line on the beak.  

Razorbills (Alca torda) and Common Murres (Uria aalge).
Isle of Noss, Shetland, Scotland. 

Another alcid nesting on the cliffs is the Common Murre (Uria aalge).  In Britain these birds go by the name of Guillemots.  Common Murres are black or dark brown above with a white belly.  They have short, pointed beaks and black feet.  Most members of the population have a black or dark brown head but some, called Bridled Guillemots, have a white eye ring and white line extending back from the eye. They are present in vast numbers.  On the cliffs of the Isle of Noss we saw about 30,000 birds.  

Common Murre.
Isle of Noss, Shetland, Scotland. 

Common Murres.
Sumburgh Head, Shetland, Scotland. 

Bridled Common Murre with its white line and eye ring.
Isle of Noss, Shetland, Scotland. 

Gulls also find a home on the cliffs.  The Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) is the largest gull in the world and is a predator, scavenger and pirate, stealing hard won fish from other sea birds.  This giant gull has a white head, belly and tail, with black on the back and upper wing surfaces.  It has pink legs and heavy yellow beak with a red spot.  

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus).
Isle of Noss, Shetland, Scotland. 

The smallest gull on the cliffs is the Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla).  These petite gulls are white with a light gray mantle. They have yellow bills and their namesake black legs and feet.  Immature Black-legged Kittiwakes have a white head with a black smudge at the ear and a dark “W” pattern on the wings when seen from above.  They spend most of their lives at sea, returning to land only to nest on steep sea cliffs.  

Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) on nest.
Isle of Noss, Shetland, Scotland. 

Immature Black-legged Kittiwake.
Sumburgh Head, Shetland, Scotland. 

The Sea Cliffs of Shetland are dazzling in their biological diversity and in the sheer number of birds present.  More on the cliffs and their life will come in the next installment of this blog.