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Bluemull and Colgrave Sounds Proposed Special Protection Area One of Europe’s best wildlife sites diver © Laurie Campbell Red-throated Bluemull and Colgrave Sounds Proposed Special Protection Area Our Scottish seas are rich in marine life and during summer, the waters between the islands of Unst, Yell and Fetlar provide important feeding grounds for over 190 pairs (15% of the British population) of breeding red-throated divers. The breeding range of red-throated divers in Great Britain is restricted to Scotland and within Shetland their numbers are particularly high on Unst and Yell. The area shown below is proposed as a Special Protection Area (SPA) because it supports this important breeding population of red-throated diver. The proposed SPA will help protect the birds themselves as well as the rich feeding grounds and sheltered waters on which they depend. 0 0.5 1 2 Km 0 0.5 1 2 Miles Unst Proposed SPA (excluding islands) Yell Uyea Linga UYEA SOUND Sellarth Haaf Gruney BASTA VOE Sound Gruney Urie Lingey Fetlar Seaeld Hascosay SOUTH SOUND Aith Mid Yell COLGRAVE SOUND © Crown copyright and database rights 2016 OS 100017908 © Intermap NEXTMap Location: 60º 37.633' N 001º 00.044' W Area: 38 km2 © Jason Atkinson Red-throated diver pair Bluemull and Colgrave Sounds lie between the Proposed qualifying islands of Unst, Yell and Fetlar in the north east of interest: Shetland. The proposed SPA includes the marine waters stretching from the north coast of Yell, Breeding east to Winna Ness on Unst and down through Red-throated diver Colgrave Sound, as far as White Hill of Vatsetter. During summer, red-throated divers nest at the edges of freshwater lochs and peatland pools on the islands and within easy flying distance of their coastal feeding grounds. Divers primarily forage by surface diving for small fish but their diet can also include shellfish and invertebrates such as marine worms. The sounds between the islands are quite shallow with sea depth increasing rapidly east and south of Fetlar. The numerous sandy bays and inlets offer shelter and the mixed sediments (mud, sand and gravel) of the sea bed support a diversity of invertebrates and fish, as well as nursery areas for species such as sandeels. All of these aspects provide excellent foraging habitats for divers. Most red-throated divers leave Shetland waters by mid- September to migrate south for winter. © Crown copyright and database rights 2016 OS 100017908 © Intermap NEXTMap Making a response and further information To make a response online or for more information about the proposals please go to www.snh.gov.uk/MarineBirdSPAs. If you are unable to make an online response, please contact us and we will send you a copy of the response form. Email: [email protected] Phone: 01463 725025 Post: Marine Bird SPAs Consultation, Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness, IV3 8NW Red-throated diver and chicks © Laurie Campbell.

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