Forth Seabird Group Forth Islands Bird Report 1994 Compiled by Ian J. Andrews November 1994 The largest increases were noted on in the numbers of local breeding Fidra (a three-times increase) and birds, or, as it was suggested at the MAIN EVENTS OF THE Inchmickery and Inchcolm (both time, were they wintering birds from 1994 SEASON almost doubled). Only on The Lamb further north. and Eyebroughy did the numbers •= late breeding of Kittiwakes and decline. Although difficult to census Cormorants Guillemot numbers in 1994 appear •= gull and Eider count by SNH Eider nests were also counted (see to be similar to those in 1993. The •= even lower numbers of Shags Table 1). Although not all of the grand total for the Forth islands •= shift of Cormorants to Haystack islands had been counted in 1987, a actually increased by 8%. •= normal Guillemot numbers, comparison of totals for islands that despite winter wreck did have counts in both years, Even Lower Shag Numbers •= successful habitat management shows an increase from 1047 to on Inchmickery 1795 nests. The number of breeding Shags in the Firth of Forth continued to Information supplied by John Calladine decline in 1993, following the sharp Acknowledgements drop in numbers last year. Of the International Beached Bird outer Forth islands, the Lamb has Thanks go to the lead persons for Survey, February 1994 faired the worst: each of the islands for completing Visit Forms (Bob Smith, Ronnie This year's Beached Bird Survey 1992 1993 1994 Morris, Dave Fairlamb, Mark coincided with the "wreck" of an Craigleith 665 155 165 The Lamb 318 65 36 Oksien, John Calladine and Mike exceptionally high number of birds down the east coast of Britain. In the Fidra 255 88 73 Harris) and to all the others who Isle of May - 715 403 took part in this year’s counts. Forth very large numbers of corpses were counted, first on the north Although numbers are always lower Fife Regional Council, through its shore, in SE winds, and later on the in the inner Forth, these colonies Charter for the Environment south shore, following NE winds. have also declined. Conservation Fund, supported the Group by way of a grant to offset The overall total of corpses recorded Overall, the Forth now holds only boat costs. This grant is greatly was 4950. To this could be added 20% of the numbers present just appreciated and will hopefully the 50 birds removed by the Council two years ago. continue in future years. at Bo'ness, giving a round tally of 5000. Guillemot was the species Cormorants on Haystack and most affected, with 87% of corpses, Forth Seabird Group meetings Carr Craig Shag next with under 5%. Most birds were very thin or even Each year it is planned to hold pre- Cormorants have colonised and post-season meetings in March emaciated and the incidence of oiling was low. Unusual species Haystack with a vengeance - from and October at either Vane Farm, only 2 nests in 1992 to 133 nests in Fife or 21 Regent Terrace, included a Great Northern Diver, two Slavonian Grebes and 14 Little 1994! These were clearly the Carr Edinburgh. Details will be circulated Craig birds, which may have shifted to interested parties. Auks. to the more sheltered (west-facing) Distance Auks Cormorant Total %oiled slopes of Haystack as a result of The SNH gull and Eider count and Shag North Forth 100km 1839 71 1975 0.2 persistent easterly winds (Carr Craig South Forth 108km 1719 93 1984 1.5 is east-facing). Haystack was A comprehensive count of gull nests North Sea 27km 919 37 991 0.3 congested with birds and there was on the Forth Islands was carried out little room for additional numbers. In over the period 25-27 May 1994. Summarised from a report by Peter addition to the 133 nests with eggs Results for each island are given in Gordon, RSPB. or small young, about 5-6 lumps of Table 1 with a summary, comparing seaweed could represent additional the 1994 total population estimates Guillemots still in good sites. A cream-coloured bird, with the 1987 census, shown below. numbers christened “Baileys”, frequented the middle of the colony, but did not 1987 1994 %change breed. Herring Gull 10511 12795 +22% After the huge wreck of seabirds, Lesser Bl-b Gull 4157 7146 +72% mainly Guillemots, in February 1994 Combined total 14668 19941 +36% counts of the local breeding colonies Information supplied by Ronnie Morris. (NB this table excludes Bass Rock figures). was carried out with interest. Would the mortality cause a sharp decline Fidra: nest productivity study Gulls remained at about the same East of Scotland Tern levels as last year. The only bird Conservation Group Regular nest counts over the years which has increased this year is the give a good indication of population Razorbill. This Group was set up in 1992 to trends, but very little is recorded monitor tern numbers on the east about breeding success from year to Food appeared to be in short supply coast from Buchan Ness to the year. An ongoing study on Fidra early in the season which resulted in English border. For more gives the following, valuable reduced colony attendance (e.g. information about the Group contact information (site or nest sample size Guillemot) or even large numbers of Peter Gordon (RSPB), address at is given in italics): pairs not laying (e.g. Kittiwake). the back of this report. Breeding was generally late and the 1992 1993 1994 earliest young Kittiwake only fledged Pete collaborated with this report to Fulmar at the end of July. ensure that the figures are chicks/site 0.5 0.5 0.6 sample 41 consistent between reports. Auks had normal breeding success Shag but few young Kittiwake are chicks/nest 1.6 0.5 1.3 Seabirds ringed on the Forth expected to fledge. This will be the sample 24 Islands, 1994 Kittiwake 4th consecutive year that Kittiwake chicks/nest 0.5 0.1 0.1 have experienced breeding failure. sample 110 Shag will also have reared rather This year's seabird ringing trips Razorbill few young as many pairs that did consisted of 5 visits to Inchkeith and chicks/site 0.3 - 0.6 return did not lay. two visits to Craigleith (Table 2). sample 21 Guillemot Many of the Common/Arctic Terns The first visit to Inchkeith on 4 June chicks/site 0.3 - 0.5 failed at the egg stage but those ringed a grand total of zero birds, sample 30 since the Cormorants were still on which survived this time did well. Overall, in excess of 500 young eggs. Normally at this stage young Information supplied by Dave Fairlamb, birds are quite large (ca three RSPB fledged from 700 pairs which is the best season since they recolonised weeks) and tend to wander seawards when disturbed. The Late Breeding of Kittiwakes the island in the early 1980's. Cormorant colonies on Long Craig and at the western end of Inchkeith Visits to many of the islands in late Although conditions late in the produced 47 pulli which were ringed May showed that most Kittiwakes season had improved, the heavy between 9 July and 6 August; there were still in the early stages of mortality of Shags during the winter, was no synchrony of hatching within nesting, and there was speculation massive non-breeding and many or between the colonies. On whether most would attempt to pairs failing early in the season, Craigleith all 21 Cormorant pulli breed at all. Unlike most colonies, which of course resulted in low were ringed on the first visit of 25 that on Inchcolm was visited on overall success for many species. June. several occasions during the season This certainly reinforces the view and progress was monitored. Whilst that conditions in the Firth of Forth Shags had a dismal year with a total the number of nests did in fact for seabirds are less than good. of 22 pulli ringed. This included a increase later in the season, only Expanding fishing for sandeels on valiant piece of swimming by about a half produced eggs or the Wee Bankie just offshore is George Smith to a mini stack young. Counts on the other islands unlikely to help the situation. isolated from Inchkeith by the tide in are therefore likely to be on the low order to ring an extra three pulli! side. The reason for this poor Taken directly from SOC News Normally the number of Shag pulli is season may be the cool, easterly (September 1994), based on information supplied by Mike Harris. limited to 100 to attain a cost winds which persisted through much effective sample. of May. Management for terns on Puffins had a good year on both Most Cormorants were also rather Inchmickery islands and there were in the order late in nesting, with for example only of 2000-3000 burrows on Craigleith eggs and empty nests on the Lamb After the poor 1993 season, the and 800-1000 burrows on Inchkeith. on 29 May (when moderately large RSPB decided to undertake habitat Puffins were not ringed on the latter young could normally be expected). management specifically for terns island since the surface is very during the 1994 season. In one area friable and the burrows are very Inchcolm information supplied by Ronnie black plastic sheeting was covered Morris. with shingle and in another long. The two pulli ringed were both vegetation was suppressed by in collapsed burrows. The Isle of May: 1994 season covering the ground with plastic Kittiwakes fared better than the sheets early in the season.