The Loch of Spiggie – Whooper Swans in Winter
A few hours.
The route
The Loch of Spiggie, in Shetland's south Mainland, was a sea inlet until the dunes cut it off, and it's now one of Shetland's largest and richest lochs, kept as a reserve by RSPB Scotland.
In autumn and winter flocks of whooper swans, teal and wigeon arrive, and a hide by the road at the north end looks out over them.
The day
Spiggie
An hour at the hide at the north end of the loch, with the swans and ducks out on the water in front of you.
About an hour
The Loch of Spiggie
RSPB Scotland's hide stands beside North Loch Road at the north end of the Loch of Spiggie, in the south Mainland of Shetland. There's parking by the hide for only a few cars. In autumn and winter flocks of whooper swans, teal and wigeon come in, joining the tufted ducks and mallards, and waders feed on the marshes. Bring binoculars. The shore is out of bounds, so the birds are left in peace: watch from the hide or from the public road. The hide has a ramp for wheelchairs and pushchairs. There are no toilets; the nearest public ones are by the shop car park in Bigton, 3 miles away. Dogs are welcome, kept on a short lead where there's livestock and everywhere from 1 April to 15 August, when birds nest on the ground. In December the light goes by about 3pm, so come in the morning or early afternoon.
If it rains
The hide keeps the rain off; bring binoculars and something warm.
Photograph by P A via Google