Onziebust

Sitting snugly within the Orkney islands archipelago, this hidden gem is home to Curlews, Lapwings and Redshanks.

You can get to the island of Egilsay by hopping on the ferry as a passegner, or with your car if you're comfortable driving on tight roads. Make sure to use the loo at the ferry waiting room, and bring a picnic, as we don't have a café or facilities at Onziebust.

Onziebust is a mixed grassland farm, which is perfect for corncrakes, while the wildflower meadows are full of bees, including the nationally scarce Great Yellow Bumblebee. The site's extensive wetland areas are home to a range of birds, including Curlews and Redshanks. The two tranquil lochs, rocky coast and white sandy beaches provide important feeding opportunities for wintering waders and wildfowl.

In winter, explore the eastern coastline of Onziebust and discover flocks of waders and wildfowl from the far north, including whistling Wigeons, bleeping Teals, busy Turnstones and squelching Snipes. Weather conditions can be challenging and at the same time spectacular. It's worth the effort to see swirling wader flocks and feeding wildfowl within the big sky amphitheatre which surrounds the island.

We manage the farm here and are adding more living space for staff to manage the site and animals. We also plan to provide a residential volunteering scheme and a training programme for wardens and wildlife-friendly landowners wishing to conserve waders and Corncrakes across the county.