Broch of Mousa, Shetland - archaeology and bird-watching in perfect harmony

We took two trips to the Isle of Mousa both on the same day - the first an afternoon visit to explore the island, its wildlife and the impressive remains of the Broch of Mousa, Scotland's most complete Iron Age Broch.

En route to Mousa

Historic Environment Scotland: Mousa Broch

Shetland wren (Troglodytes troglodytes zetlandicus)

The second visit was taken in the evening to capture the spectacle and soundscape of the Isles famous inhabitants .. the storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus). These sea birds use the field walls, the fortified brickwork of the Broch, and gaps within the large pebble / boulder beach rocks for nesting sites.

The petrels arrive en-masse in the twilight hours - and around the Broch itself they seem to swarm as do bats before entering the crevasses between the stones. Their purring call complete with shrill yappy croaks emanate from both these man-made and natural structures adding a haunting sound track to the light changes and the fade into Simmer Dim.

storm petrel in the Simmer Dim

Broch and A in the Simmer Dim

I spent a little time recording the calling of the storm petrels from within the Broch walls, along with the overhead drumming of a displaying snipe (Gallinago gallinago). The recordings can be heard hear:

a drumming snipe, Mousa Broch May 26th 2018

calls of the storm petrel, Mousa Broch May 26th 2018

"selfie" in the Simmer Dim 00:23 27th May 2018

PLEASE NOTE: This blog post is a copy of the original blog entry - dated the same day which can be found on this Blogs sister site at:

part-time Naturalist