Noss National Nature Reserve

30/04/2026

It’s great to be back! We successfully moved back onto Noss last Tuesday and we have been busy preparing for the season ahead.

A huge thank you to all the staff, friends, and contractors throughout the past week for getting stuck in and helping out with Noss On, Da Voar Redd Up, and building maintenance. Special thanks to Juan, Jen, Steven, Lorna, Christine, Jonathan, Denise, Julie, Kenny, Laurence, Jonathan, James and REARO for all your help.

We’ve completed two tystie (black guillemot) surveys, with numbers slightly up this year – 35 pre-breeding individuals in the study plot, compared with 32 last year.

We had an exciting sighting of a ring-billed gull on Noss this past week, marking the first-ever record for Noss. Other notable passage birds recently sighted include: grey wagtail, brambling, redshank, wigeon, swallow, lapwing, chiffchaff, mallard, teal, white wagtail, and purple sandpiper.

We’ll be open from May to the end of August, excluding Mondays and Thursdays, subject to weather and sea-state conditions. As always, please ring the ferry line (0800 107 7818) for daily updates on ferry operations.

We look forward to welcoming you to Noss this season!

-Marcia and Sarah

03/01/2026

Moon rising over a snowy Noss today.

26/06/2025

NOSS OPEN DAY CANCELLED DUE TO FORECAST.

Unfortunately we've had to cancel the open day due to strong winds and swell forecast for Saturday.

14/06/2025

Otters on Noss! 🦦

Over the past few weeks, there have been numerous otter sightings on Noss. These elusive animals are always a delight to spot. They’ve been spotted checking out rabbit burrows and feeding along the coastline.

Keep your eyes peeled during your visit - you never know when you might catch a glimpse of them!

📸 (Photos from recent sightings!)

15/05/2025

Big thanks to Junior Rangers from Anderson High School who visited Noss on Tuesday to help with routine monitoring of wax block stations. Thankfully no signs of rats were detected.

09/05/2025

Plenty to see underwater at Noss!!!
Seaslugs are very busy laying eggs, leaving delicate ribbon like spirals on the underside of rocks along the kelp beds! Other highlights include some fab dahlia anemones and edible crabs!

09/05/2025

If you're planning to visit Noss on Sunday 11 May please note there will be no 17:00 or 17:45 ferries from Bressay to Lerwick due to essential maintenance at the Bressay linkspan.

Due to essential maintenance, there will be disruption to the Bressay Ferry Service on Sunday 11th May, and the Whalsay Service on Wednesday 14th May.

07/05/2025

Visitors to Noss were treated to great views of puffins today!

02/05/2025

And we're off! First visitors to Noss safely landed, with new NatureScot wardens Cat Ferguson (left) and Marcia Blyth (right).