EIGG BIRD REPORT 2005 - SPECIES LIST - Page 1
Red Throated Diver
Three pairs bred at the lochans with one pair successfully fledging a lone chick. Of the two pairs that failed one pair hatched a chick that was found dead but unpredated a few days later whilst the second pair continued to sit an addled egg until mid July. Birds present offshore throughout in small numbers with max. count of six at Laig Bay on Aug. 27 th.
Great Northern Diver
Wintering birds present offshore until May 31 st (R Dyer) & from Oct. 17 th (JC, P Saunders). Generally very small numbers with max. counts off Struidh of seven on March 30 th & five on Dec. 6 th.
Gannet
Recorded offshore between March 15 th (JC) & Oct 20 th though in very small numbers only up until mid June. Regularly seen throughout the summer & autumn but numbers generally very low with max. of only 30 off Kildonan on Aug. 24 th. Late records of one off Kildonan on Nov 7 th & two in Rum Sound on Dec. 5 th (J Leck)
Fulmar
179 prs on ledges, almost exactly as per last year, with the main colony at the West Cliffs supporting 145 prs. Seemingly a pretty average breeding season with c20-25% of the birds remaining at the West Cliffs colony in July having downy young. First returned birds seen on March 10 th ( E Weldon) & last two off Kildonan Point on Sept 6 th. Irregular sightings of small numbers away from the breeding colonies throughout the summer.
Manx Shearwater
Bred at the Ben Bhuide colony though some suggestion of a decline in numbers with several independent observers commenting that less birds appeared to be present. Birds present offshore from March 15 th (JC), the second earliest recorded date for Eigg, with first return to the breeding burrows noted on March 27 th (T McLean). Present offshore in fairly large numbers from late May – early Sept .though few notable counts, 1000+ between Eigg & Arisaig on June 2 nd ( E Weldon) was exceptional. Three Oct. records of single birds with the last sighting on the 7 th.
Sooty Shearwater
Another very poor year with only one record, a group of five between Eigg & Arisaig on Aug 25 th (R Dyer)
Storm Petrel
Regular offshore sightings between June 18 th (JC) & early Sept with 1-3 seen almost daily between Eigg & Arisaig during late June-July (R Dyer, E Weldon). Max counts of 30 at a fishing boat off the north of Eigg on Aug 4 th (R Dyer) & 12 between Eigg & Arisaig on Aug 20 th ( E Weldon). Last record on Oct 3 rd ( E Weldon)
Leachs Petrel
One seen between Eigg & Mallaig on Aug 8 th (A McNee) is only the fourth Eigg record in recent times.
Shag
37prs bred, a big drop from the 57 prs of last year & a continuation of an ongoing decline in the breeding population. Very common offshore throughout with max counts from Craigard Bay of 115 on Sept 6 th & 165 on Oct 4 th. Tame individual again visiting a fishing boat & taking fish from the fishermen’s hands in the spring (Angus Kirk, D Wiggins).
Cormorant
Present throughout in very small numbers but distinctly scarce during the summer months. More numerous during the autumn with maxs of 10 on Oct 19 th & eight on Nov 25 th. Most records from Kildonan & Talm
Grey Heron
Small numbers present throughout at the SE & NW bays. Least numerous in April & May when only 1-2 individuals present, slight increase in the winter months though max counts of only six in Jan. & Nov. One seen flying from Rum to Eigg on June 18 th. Dead juv. found at Kildonan on Sept 1 st..
Whooper Swan
One early year record of five over Galmisdale Bay on Feb 2 nd. Autumn passage from Sept. 30 th with 15 records of passage birds between then & Dec 3 rd. Mostly flocks of single figures recorded but 13 on Oct 23 rd, 18 on Nov 2 nd & 22 on Nov 4 th. Group of five resting on a flood pool in Cleadale on Oct. 20 th. (JC, R Dyer, E & R Weldon, P Carr, C Carr, P Saunders, D McCullough, K & S Kean, Morag McKinnon, L Lyons, S Millar, R Kirk)
Canada Goose
Three spring records, the 3 rd-5 th island records respectively. Three over Galmisdale on Apr. 13 th (JC), four over Castle Island on May 11 th (R Dyer, JC, J Leck), & one at the Giants Footstep on May 12 th (J Leck)
Brent Goose
A flock of 15 flying south over the sea between Eigg & Mallaig on Oct 8 th (I Strachan) was the only record.
Barnacle Goose
A lone record of a flock of 16 at the Kildonan hayfield on Oct 10 th (JC).
Greylag Goose
A total of 23 broods consisting of 70+ young recorded with the vast majority of breeding pairs nesting on Castle Island where up to 140 non breeders also summered. At least two pairs nested on the main island of Eigg with a C/5 found at Kildonan on May 6 th (JC, J Hunt) & a pair with four small young seen at Sandavore on May 17 th (G Sherriff). Common throughout with flocks of c50 regular at Kildonan early in the year & 100+ from July on. Max count of 144 on July 30 th. Smaller flocks, 30-50 birds, regular in the croftland throughout the late autumn & winter periods.
White Fronted Goose
All records relate to Greenland race birds. One at Kildonan on Jan 3 rd was the only early year record. Autumn birds from Oct 9 th with three at Kildonan on that date increasing to five on the 10 th. Further records of six over Kildonan on Oct 26 th & a lone bird which remained with the Greylags at the croftland from Oct 17 th until the years end.
Pink Footed Goose
Spring records of a flock of 96 passing NW over Galmisdale on Apr. 20 th & a lone bird with the Greylags at Kildonan between May 2 nd & 20 th. 50 south over Howlin on Sept 14 th (S Millar) was the first autumn record followed by sightings of 380 east over Kildonan on Sept 15 th & eight SE over Galmisdale on Oct 21 st (both JC)
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