EIGG BIRD REPORT 2005 - SPECIES LIST - Page 2

Shelduck
Two pairs present at the SE bays & Laig in the spring but no suggestion of breeding. First returned birds Feb 23 rd (P Carr, C Davies) & sightings pretty regular between then & last record on May 20 th. Unusually three mid summer records with an adult at Laig on July 12 th, an adult & four juvs over Kildonan on July 26 th & a juv at Kildonan on Aug 18 th -19 th.

Wigeon
Three records, an unusual early year sighting of two F at the Giants Footstep on Jan 21 st & a spring record of a M & F at Kildonan on May 12 th. In autumn a long staying F was present at Laig from Oct 17 th until the end of Dec.

Teal
Small group of up to five birds (1M, 4F) present at the Giants Footstep between March 3 rd & Apr 12 th. Autumn records of a F at Kildonan Bay on Aug. 24 th-25 th & 1M,2F at the Giants footstep between Oct 22 nd & Nov 2 nd.

Mallard
A few pairs bred with 7-8 broods seen, almost all on the Giants Footstep though eight young on Loch Ben Tighe on May 27 th. Probably c14-15 young reached adulthood. Present throughout in smallish numbers, winter population of c25-30 birds.

Common Scoter
One record, three south past Struidh on Dec 6 th (JC),

Eider
A decent breeding season with c10 broods averaging three young per brood seen & although only three young were known to have been raised on Eigg many others doubtless reached adulthood on the adjacent mainland. The theory that females move their small young to the mainland was confirmed on June 17 th when a female accompanied by small chicks was seen swimming in that direction c2 miles east of Eigg (R Dyer). Small numbers of adults recorded irregularly Jan-Feb but main arrival of breeding birds not until late March. Max count of 15M at Kildonan on May 3 rd & first chicks seen on June 1 st (P Carr, C Davies). Main departure of adult females from mid July but small numbers remained until early Sept. Odd record of small numbers Nov-Dec.

Goldeneye
Two records, a long staying female at Loch Ben Tighe between Feb 1 st & March 28 th & a male at the SE bays from Oct 11 th-13 th (JC, P Carr, C Davies)

Red Breasted Merganser
Very small numbers, max of only four, present spasmodically at the SE bays throughout most of the year though no sightings between June 1 st & late Aug. Fairly regular during the winter months.

Goosander
A ‘redhead’ at Kildonan Bay on Oct 24 th (JC) was a 5 th Eigg record & the first since 1998.

White Tailed Eagle
A series of records of probably 4-5 individual birds with details as follows. A tagged sub-adult at Kildonan Point on Jan 30 th (JC), tagged on Skye in 2003; an imm irregularly around the SE of the island between Feb 1 st & March 29 th (Angus Kirk, D Wiggins, JC); a sub-ad over Cruachan on June 23 rd (JC) an adult seen fairly regularly from a variety of areas between Aug 18 th & Oct 26 th (C Carr, JC, E Weldon, R Dyer, D McLean, R Youngman, P Saunders, I Leaver, R Hamill) & an adult over the pier on Dec 22 nd (S Millar)

Hen Harrier
For the third year running a pair nested in the forestry & successfully raised four young. Birds present throughout with very regular sightings, particularly from the croftland & at Kildonan. Max. of two males & two ‘ringtails’ during the winter periods.

Buzzard
Common throughout but a very poor breeding season probably due to a lack of Rabbits plus the cold northerly winds of spring. Only four pairs known to have bred & several regularly breeding pairs seemed to make no attempt at nesting .The four breeding pairs successfully fledged a total of six young. Amongst prey species seen taken was an injured Hooded Crow which was killed & eaten at Kildonan on Jan 31 st. On March 14 th one was seen to accidentally crash dive into Galmisdale Bay whilst avoiding mobbing gulls. Sadly it drowned seconds before it could be reached by boat.

Sparrowhawk
One pair bred in the forestry & raised at least one chick. Present throughout with sightings typically very regular during the autumn months, less numerous during the winter periods. Prey seen taken included Song Thrush & Wren whilst unsuccessful attacks were observed on Turnstone & Swallow.

Golden Eagle
Two pairs present with one pair successfully fledging two chicks. The second pair briefly sat an empty nest at a new site but failed to lay, the old female probably now being infertile. Juvs fledged by July 25 th & remained on the island until late Oct. Adults present throughout with a couple of wandering juvs seen in the spring.

Kestrel
A very poor breeding season, possibly due to a crash in vole numbers, with only three pairs known to have bred & several regular nesting sites unused. The three breeding pairs successfully raised a total of nine young between them. Recorded throughout though sightings much less regular than usual, this was particularly noticeable in late summer when juvs are normally very active. A female at Kildonan during the late autumn was found dead beside the Mill in very poor condition after a spell of storm force winds in mid Nov.

Merlin
A total of eleven records involving four separate individual birds. An imm male between Jan 6 th & Feb 3 rd, a female on March 31 st & Apr 3 rd, a male on Apr 12 th & a long staying male between Oct 21 st & Nov 22 nd. (JC, C Carr, S Millar)

Peregrine
Pair present March 24 th – late April but no suggestion of territory holding or breeding attempt. Out with this period a very poor year with only four records of single birds; at Kildonan on May 12 th, near the Pinnacle on May 30 th, at Talm on June 24 th & at Sandavore on Sept 12 th.

Corncrake
Singing bird present in the croftland from May 11 th (I McGowan) until June 13 th & may possibly have bred. Probable passage bird in the same area for two days in early July.

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