Our Rockpool Safaris
What is a rockpool safari? If you are imagining 4x4s driving over rocky shores, think again. But imagine if you were just 3 inches tall, some of the creatures you are about to see would certainly be worthy of jurassic park! Scroll down to see a rough guide to how our tours work.
Our safaris are a unique way to experience some of Shetlands lesser known wildlife. Joining us will take you to a new and wonderful world of tiny (and some not so tiny) fascinating animals, each with their own interesting life history. Much of the wildlife, as above the waves, is seasonal, so what is seen in May will differ to what is seen in August.
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Suitable for all ages - ideally able to walk carefully over wet rocks
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No prior interest in nature required but we guarantee you'll acquire one!
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Sessions as regular as the tides (when they fall at a reasonable hour)
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Unique wildlife experience
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Full refunds if cancelled due to weather​
Tour summary
Meeting at the picnic bench by Sandsayre Pier and the Mousa Museum at Leebitten, Sandwick, we start the session with a short safety and welfare briefing, to ensure you and the wildlife are looked after. Rockpools are famously slippery and the terrain can be challenging, and much of the wildlife we will find is fragile, and takes careful handling or just needs to be left alone and observed. Some of the wildlife itself can nip, bite, scratch or sting, so we'll be thorough in our guidance. This is a "Nature first" experience so whilst we want to show you as much as possible we need to balance that with leaving the environment and the wildlife as we found it.
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We start searching around the high water mark, as the shells and seaweed here can give us a clue as to what may be inhabiting the rockpools lower down. Look out for cowrie shells, locally known as Groatie Buckies. We then move onto our first seaweed filled pools, where turning rocks and sifting through vegetation will reveal our first hiddem gems. We'll be on the look out for Beadlet Anemones, Hermit Crabs inhabiting whelk shells, Shore Crabs and stranger life forms like Sponges and Bryozoans.
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As we go, we will safely collect any interesting creatures into trays so everyone can have a look and we can answer any questions you may have. Moving down towards the sea, we encounter pools that spend longer each day submerged, which should reveal new species that like deeper water. It is here that we may find Nudibranchs, colourful, wonderful and weird sea slugs that would look less out of place on a tropical reef. Whilst searching for Nudis, you may come across small fish such as Rocklings, Butterfish, Sea Scorpions, Worm Pipefish and young Lumpsuckers.
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Starfish, Chitons, Squat Lobsters and Arctic Cowries are all possible finds as we continue searching the lower pools and channels. We'll name the types of seaweed and talk about its relationship with Shetlands unique rich waters, and tell you which are eaten around the world and which to search for the elusive and tiny Blue-rayed Limpets. Evidence of two species of sea urchin can be found, small Green Sea Urchins and larger Edible Sea Urchins which are a favourite food of Otters. As with any coast in Shetland, it is worth keeping an eye out further a field in case an Otter is hunting on the low tide as we search.
Once we have filled our buckets with crabs and critters, we head back to the beach before the tide catches up with us, for a final discussion about what we have found. You'll learn about some of the threats these habitats and species face and we'll do a final check of the beach for any marine litter to leave the place in a better condition than when we arrived.
