Short birdwatching visit · Public roadside viewing; Promote Shetland visitor information
Pool of Virkie
- Tier
- Worth a special trip
- Best season
- Spring and autumn passage; winter for ducks
- Headline birds
- Little Stint · Ruff · Greenshank
- Parking
- The official Exnaboe trail leaflet gives the Eastshore pier car park at HU40111130.
- Hides
- Not stated by the operator
- Step-free
- No step-free birdwatching circuit is confirmed in the retained sources.
Eastshore, north of Sumburgh Airport, South Mainland
Pool of Virkie offers a tidal-waterbird stop on the north side of Sumburgh Airport, separate from the seabird cliffs at Sumburgh Head. The SOC highlights Ruff, Greenshank and Little Stint during spring and autumn passage, with Long-tailed Duck and Goldeneye among the winter visitors. Watch from the public Eastshore road, keeping the mudflats undisturbed. The published Eastshore pier car park provides a practical arrival nearby, rather than treating the single-track road as unrestricted parking. This is a place to pause over the water and exposed feeding edges, with no need to enter the shore.
When to go and where to look
Spring and autumn are the SOC’s recommended passage-wader seasons at Pool of Virkie. Check the tidal feeding edges for Ruff, Greenshank and Little Stint, while keeping the mudflats undisturbed. Winter changes the watching to open-water birds, with Long-tailed Duck and Goldeneye among the regular species in the county guide. Use the public Eastshore roadside viewing approach, rather than walking onto the shore to improve a view. The published pier car park provides an arrival point nearby, but the single-track road’s passing places and junctions must remain clear. Treat this as a tidal-waterbird stop distinct from Sumburgh’s seabird cliffs.
Sources: SOC: Pool of Virkie exact-site access and seasonal birds. Planning reviewed 2026-10-27.
Birds and seasons
- Little Stint · Headline bird — Spring and autumn Source for Little Stint
- Ruff · Headline bird — Spring and autumn Source for Ruff
- Greenshank · Headline bird — Spring and autumn Source for Greenshank
- Long-tailed Duck — Winter Source for Long-tailed Duck
- Goldeneye — Winter Source for Goldeneye
Plan your visit
- Hides and viewpoints
- Not stated by the operator – check before travelling
- Paths
- Use public roadside viewpoints; the SOC asks visitors to avoid the mudflats.
- Toilets
- The official trail leaflet identifies the nearest public toilets at Grutness Pier.
- Parking
- The official Exnaboe trail leaflet gives the Eastshore pier car park at HU40111130.
- Dogs
- Not stated by the operator – check before travelling
- Access notes
- No step-free birdwatching circuit is confirmed in the retained sources.
- Step-free access
- No step-free birdwatching circuit is confirmed in the retained sources.
Getting there: Leave the A970 for Eastshore, then follow the shore road to the signed pier junction and its car park. The pin marks that published public arrival, not a bird location. Keep junctions and passing places clear; the longer Exnaboe cliff trail has uneven ground and ladder stiles.
Sources
Social preview: original typographic artwork by Does Your Duck Quack.
Nearby special trips
- North Hill · 66.5 straight-line miles
- Birsay Moors · 84.5 straight-line miles
- Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve · 166.2 straight-line miles
Continue birding nearby
Nearest full guide: RSPB Sumburgh Head, 1.9 miles away in a straight line.
- North Hill · 66.5 miles in a straight line
- Onziebust · 76.6 miles in a straight line
- Trumland · 79.0 miles in a straight line