EIGG BIRD REPORT 2005 - SPECIES LIST - Page 4

Redshank
Present in small numbers up until May 10 th & from July 8 th with most records from the SE bays. Max of 14 on Apr.30 th.

Greenshank
Four spring records of 1-3 birds between Apr 2 nd & May 4 th. Autumn passage from June 28 th & up to three regular around the SE bays during mid-late July. One at the SE bays from July 29 th until the years end (JC, P Carr, C Davies) was the first record of a wintering individual since the late 1980s.

Green Sandpiper
A bird at Laig on May 23 rd (JC) was a third island record & the first for spring.

Common Sandpiper
34 prs bred around the coastline, a substantial decline on last years high total of 41 prs. First returned bird on Apr 18 th with main arrival at the beginning of May. Fast departure from early July & only a few remained by the middle of that month. Last record of one at the pier on Aug 12 th.

Grey Phalarope
Two records of single birds; one between Eigg & Arisaig on Aug 31 st ( E Weldon) & one off the east coast of Eigg on Sept 7 th (R Dyer)

Arctic Skua
One between Eigg & Arisaig on May 31 st (R Dyer) was the only spring sighting. Autumn passage from July 11 th & small numbers fairly regular offshore during early Sept. In general though distinctly scarce & recorded in very small numbers only.

Great Skua
Fairly regular offshore in small numbers during May, max of four on several occasions. Autumn passage from July 19 th & fairly regular during Aug. & much of Sept., max counts of 11 on Aug 13 th (R Dyer) & 8 on Aug 27 th (B Neath). Last record on Oct 12 th.

Black Headed Gull
A total of 11 records of small numbers between March 20 th & Oct 27 th though none seen July-Aug. Most sightings of 1-2 birds but four on May 14 th & six on May 20 th.

Common Gull
A total of 76 prs present, much as last year, but a terrible breeding season with very few young reared. What was previously the main colony at Talm now reduced to just 7 prs with Castle Island (35 prs) now the principal site. Common throughout with max count of 113 at Kildonan on March 7 th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull
35 prs bred on Castle Island, exactly as last year, & probably a moderate breeding season though almost all juvs left the island immediately after fledging. Birds present from March 8 th with departure from early Aug. & last record on Sept. 14 th.

Herring gull
c280 prs bred, almost exactly as last year, with the vast majority nesting on Castle Island. Seemingly a reasonably successful season though adults removed their young from the island immediately after fledging & relatively few ‘large gulls’ present in Aug. Common throughout though temporarily scarce after periods of strong winds.

Iceland Gull
Two records, both of 1 st winter birds & both from the pier area. One on Jan 7 th & one on March 19 th (JC).

Glaucous Gull
A total of three records. A 1 st winter bird found dead near Green Island on Jan 24 th, a 1 st winter bird at Talm & the Singing Sands on March 10 th (both JC) & a bird reported over Rum Sound on Apr 16 th.

Great Black-backed Gull
18 prs bred, exactly as last year, with Castle Island (15 prs) the main colony. A few juvs successfully reared. Very common throughout except after periods of severe gales but no particularly big counts. Max of 81 at Laig Bay on Sept 14 th.

Kittiwake
Present offshore throughout but numbers well down on the norm & no particularly large counts. .Desperately scarce during July & early Aug, a reflection of the terrible breeding season they suffered throughout the area. Some increase in numbers around the SE bays in late Aug. but max of only 500 on the 29 th, a time of year when up to 5,000 could normally be expected. Small numbers offshore during the winter months.

Sandwich Tern
A single record of three at Kildonan Bay on the morning of Aug 6 th (JC)

Arctic Tern
c50 prs present but another terrible breeding season & no chicks reared due to a combination of weather, egg predation & a seeming lack of food. First returned birds on May 24 th with egg laying quickly following but most pairs had deserted & left by June 24 th. Small numbers on passage during July with max of 50 at Talm on the 12 th. No records in Aug-Sept but a couple of Oct. sightings with a juv at Laig Bay on the 11 th (JC) & two late birds near the Perches on the 22 nd (E Weldon, S Millar)

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