Sule Skerry and Sule Stack (Uk9002181)

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EC Directive 79/409 on the Conservation of Wild Birds CITATION FOR SPECIAL PROTECTION AREA (SPA) SULE SKERRY AND SULE STACK (UK9002181) INCLUDING MARINE EXTENSION Site Description: Sule Skerry and Sule Stack are isolated islets 60 km west of Mainland, Orkney. Sule Skerry is larger, low-lying and vegetated whereas Sule Stack is a higher, bare rock stack with no vascular plants. The boundary of the SPA overlaps with those of Sule Skerry SSSI and Sule Stack SSSI and the seaward extension extends approximately 2 km into the marine environment to include the seabed, water column and surface. Qualifying Interest (N.B. All figures relate to numbers at the time of classification except where amended by the 2001 SPA Review) : Sule Skerry and Sule Stack SPA qualifies under Article 4.1 by regularly supporting populations of European importance of the Annex 1 species: European storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus (500 - 5000 pairs, 1 - 6% of the GB population); and Leach's storm petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa (5 pairs, <0.1% of the GB population). Sule Skerry and Sule Stack SPA further qualifies under Article 4.2 by regularly supporting populations of European importance of the migratory species: Northern gannet Morus bassanus (5,900 pairs, 2.2% of the world biogeographic population); and Atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica (46,900 pairs, 5% of the F.a.grabae biogeographic population). Sule Skerry and Sule Stack SPA also qualifies under Article 4.2 by regularly supporting in excess of 20,000 individual seabirds . The site regularly supports 100,000 seabirds including nationally important populations of the following species: common guillemot Uria aalge (6,298, 0.9% of the GB population); European shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis (874 pairs, 2.3% of the GB population); Atlantic puffin (46,900 pairs, 10.4% of the GB population); Northern gannet (5,900 pairs, 4.0% of the GB population); European storm petrel (5,000 pairs); and Leach’s storm petrel (5 pairs). Area: 3,909.45 Ha National Grid References: Sule Skerry HX 623241, Sule Stack NL 560800 OS 1:50,000 sheet - 6 Classified on 29th March 1994, with marine extension classified on 25th September 2009 Scottish Natural Heritage September 2009 .

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