EIGG BIRD REPORT 2005 - SPECIES LIST - Page 5

Common Tern
Only six pairs present & no sign of successful breeding. First bird seen on Apr 30 th (R Dyer) with some passage during May, 28 at the Perches on the 11 th. Regular in very small numbers around the SE bays from May until Aug 18 th but no records after that.

Guillemot
Present offshore throughout but much less numerous than usual especially in the late summer when normally large numbers of adults & chicks present. Desperately scarce during the winter periods..

Razorbill
Present offshore throughout though much less numerous than normal especially during the late summer period when usually abundant. Very scarce during the mid winter months.

Puffin
Recorded offshore from March 16 th (S Millar, M Foxwell) & fairly common between Eigg & the mainland from late May until mid July. Several juvs seen in Sept (R Dyer) with one very late record of a juv between Eigg & Rum on Dec 6 th ( E Weldon)

Little Auk
One record, two in the Sound of Rum on Nov 16 th ( E Weldon)

Black Guillemot
Pre breeding count of 265 around the islands coastline on Apr 20 th (JC, E Weldon) with the largest numbers off the West Cliffs. The last similar count in 2002 produced 242 birds. Seemingly a reasonably successful breeding season with a fair number of juvs seen in Aug. Numerous offshore during the summer months, distinctly scarce during the mid winter periods

Woodpigeon
A reasonably common resident breeder in the woodland areas. Fairly common throughout with perhaps some influx in autumn when counts of 21 on Sept 7 th & 18 on Oct 16 th.

Rock Dove
Scarce breeder with a few pairs scattered around the coastal caves & cliffs. Present in small numbers from March 10 th & regular in the croftland throughout the autumn with unusually a few remaining until the years end due, doubtlessly, to the availability of seed crops. Max counts of 14 on Aug 16 th & 16 on Nov 4 th. Feral Pigeon briefly present at Galmisdale on May 17 th.

Collared Dove
Present in very small numbers between March 27 th ( E Weldon) & July 18 th but no suggestion of breeding. In summer birds roosting nightly in conifers in Cleadale where max of 10 on June 11 th. Three records of single birds in autumn with last sighting on Nov 14 th.

Turtle Dove
Spring record of two birds around the croftland between May 23 rd & June 8 th (L Lyons, D Robertson, M MacDonald)

Cuckoo
14 singing M recorded (16 M in 2004) & very active & vocal throughout the spring & early summer. Despite the presence of several F a poor breeding season with no confirmed sightings of fledged young. Adults present from Apr 18 th (JC, N Barnes) with fast decline from mid June on & last local bird seen on June 29 th. Migrant over Kildonan on Aug 13 th.

Barn Owl
Two birds regular around the SE of the island with at least one other bird reported irregularly from the croftland. Birds very vocal at Kildonan during the summer months but no proof of a breeding attempt.

Long Eared Owl
No attempt at breeding for the first time in several years & generally very little evidence of their presence. A calling bird in the forestry on Feb 1 st, one seen in the same area on March 20 th & a long dead bird found on the lower Sgurr moors on Aug 8 th were the only indications of the species presence.

Short Eared Owl
Eight sightings, all of possibly the same single bird, from the moorland areas between Apr 13 th & late Oct. were the only records (JC, F Lockhart, B McCoy, B Visscher, S van Dijk, J Booth)

Swift
A really poor year with two over Kildonan on July 1 st (JC) the only record.

Skylark
A fairly common breeder around the rough grazings & moorland fringes & probably a reasonably successful season. Odd bird present Jan-Feb with first returned birds on March 7 th. Main arrival late March-early April with departure from early July & scarce by the end of that month. Small numbers on passage during early Oct with last record on Oct 13 th.

House Martin
Recorded from May 1 st with several records of 1-3 birds during late May. Two birds summered in the croftland but no known breeding attempt. Odd passage bird in late Aug. with a group of six over Cleadale on Sept 4 th the last record (B & C Fearnley, D Richardson)

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