Shetland Sea Life: A Closer Look
Shetland is one of the best places to watch and encounter sea life in the UK, with opportunities to witness some amazing animals year-round. Some are more common than others, such as the inquisitive seals found along the coastline, but the chance of seeing an otter or even an orca is thrilling in itself.
This article will guide you through some of the most iconic sea life around Shetland and the best places to spot them.
Seals
In Shetland, seals are some of the most regularly seen sea mammals, in particular common and grey seals. All along the Shetland coastline and on the many beaches, seals will be keeping you company more often than not, whether it be bobbing along in the water, or lounging on a rock taking a rest.
The common seal, more petite than the larger grey seal, has a distinct brow like a labrador, whereas the grey seal has a long snout with no ridge, and this is often the easiest way to differentiate between the two species.
Common Seal
Common seals typically spend their time in calmer waters closer to the coastline, and grey seals tend to be more comfortable in more exposed conditions, although both species frequently ‘haul out’ next to each other. When it comes to pups, common seals typically have pups around June, and the newly born pups can begin to swim and dive within hours. Grey seals on the other hand typically have pups in November, and they must wait for a few weeks before they can swim as they have to shed their fluffy white coat.
Grey Seal
Other species of seal have been known to visit Shetland, including bearded, ringed, and harp seals, but these Arctic natives are very rare.
As previously mentioned, seals can be found at almost any point on the Shetland coastline, often hauled out at low tide to sleep and digest their food. Many seals around Shetland can be very tame due to constant interaction with fishing boats in the hopes of an easy meal, and although they are generally not aggressive, stay a moderate distance away from them as like all wild animals, their behaviour can be unpredictable.
Otters
Although they find most of their food in the sea, and actually spend a lot of time on the shoreline, the otters in Shetland are not sea otters, but European river otters. However, due to the lack of large rivers in Shetland, the otters are forced to the coast to do their hunting. This comes with complications though, as their fur is not evolved for constant exposure to salt water, so after each hunt, the otters retreat to freshwater in order to clean their fur and maintain its important insulating capability. Another unique feature of the otters in Shetland is the fact that unlike otters in the rest of the UK, they have become accustomed to life in daylight, which is probably due to the long summer days in Shetland, whereas otters elsewhere are nocturnal.
European River Otter
Roughly 1000 otters call the Shetland Islands home, meaning the isles are one of the most populous areas for the species in the UK. However, this doesn’t mean that they are easy to spot. Due to their size, they can quite easily slink between rocks or blend into seaweed, so it requires a keen eye to see them.
A good place to start your search for otters is in and around the ferry terminals as the breakwaters provide excellent habitats for these curious creatures, so take a look when you’re next boarding an inter-island ferry.
Orcas and Large Sea Mammals
In the summer months, between May and August, you have a chance of an orca sighting. Tempted close to shore by the abundance of seals, a main source of food, you can see pods of orca in their tens on the hunt for a meal. These immensely intelligent predators are as graceful as they are powerful and are becoming more and more understood in their behaviours and hunting techniques, thanks largely to documentaries by a certain Sir David Attenborough, with the orcas around Shetland featuring in the latest ‘Wild Isles’ series.
Orcas
Atlantic White-Sided Dolphin © Whale and Dolphin Conservation
Shetland is also one of the best places to spot dolphins in Scotland. White-sided dolphins are sighted fairly regularly in summer, sometimes in large schools, carving through the waves and hunting fish. You may also see a Risso’s dolphin if you are particularly lucky.
Along with orcas, other whales can be seen patrolling Shetland’s waters. Minke whales and sperm whales are occasionally spotted, and these magnificent creatures are really a sight to behold. The array of whales which visit Shetland makes it one of the premium spots for whale watching in Scotland.
Towards the latter stages of summer, you will also have a very good chance of spotting porpoises around Shetland, particularly in Mousa Sound. Easily visible from boats and ferries, porpoises represent the smallest members of the toothed whale and dolphin family, rarely larger than 1.5 metres in length. Often found in small groups, they glide through the water looking for fish to eat, but sometimes these groups can be enormous, comprising hundreds of individuals.
For information on the latest sightings of any of these mammals, check out Nature Shetland’s sightings page.
How do you get to the Shetland Islands?
The most common ways to travel to the islands are either arriving by ferry or by getting flights to Shetland. At Airtask, we offer Shetland inter-island flights, operating passenger services between Lerwick, departing from Tingwall Airport, to both Foula and Fair Isle. For more information and flight scheduling, please click here.
Looking for something adventurous?
Whilst on your camping trip, why not view all of the magnificent sights of the Shetland Islands from above? Among the most awe-inspiring things to do in Shetland, is to take in the magnificent lochs, stunning beaches, historical sites and more from an aerial perspective. Call 01595 840246 or email lwk.ops@airtask.com to secure your place on the only scenic flights available in Shetland.