The Rain Goose

Of all the birds we longed to see on our recent holiday on Shetland, the Red-throated Diver, known by Shetlanders as the Rain Goose, figured at the top of the list. It is a characteristic bird of Shetland’s moorland lochs. It has also been called the Lum (old Norse Lomr) and hence many small Shetland lochs (shuns) are known as Loomieshun.

The Red-throated Diver is a rare bird in Britain with only about 900 breeding pairs. These are confined to Scotland with more than half nesting in Shetland. Divers are superbly adapted for life in the water. Their bodies are streamlined with legs positioned at the back of the body to provide efficient propulsion when they dive and swim below the surface in pursuit of small fish. As a consequence divers can only move on land with difficulty, so their nests have to be close to the water’s edge.

Our hotel was located in Veensgarth, a few miles northwest of Lerwick. The owner, Gordon, has provided accommodation for many birders over the years. Discussing our interest in the Rain Goose he directed us to a small loch on East Burra, the loch of Gershon, where he knew birds were nesting. Red-throated Divers are specially protected by law as a Schedule 1 species and as such great caution needs to be observed when approaching a possible site, so as not to disturb them.

We set off on Thursday morning 12th May for the drive, much of this on single track roads with passing places provided at regular intervals. East Burra is sparsely populated and we encountered hardly any other vehicles on our journey. It is a wild, rugged place and a strong south-westerly was blowing. Reaching the loch we alighted from the car, clothed in plenty of warm clothing. Just as well as the wind was determined to make life most uncomfortable! We stood at the loch-edge for more than an hour getting colder by the minute. Nothing. No Red-throated Diver to be seen, just a solitary Shelduck. Really disappointing. That evening, back at the hotel and enjoying a single malt, Gordon appeared. “Did you see them?” he asked. “Afraid not” we responded. “Well, they were there this evening!” he replied (he lives close to the said loch). As Friday 13th May was to be our last day on Shetland we decided to try again the next morning.

We packed the car and set off early for the journey to East Burra. We stood at the side of the loch for another hour in another force 8. Nothing. Just a couple of Curlews. No Red-throated Divers. A huge disappointment again. It wasn’t to be, not on this visit.

Does make me more determined to go back to Shetland though. It’s a beautiful location with friendly locals. I could happily live there…..