After several years of bad news on seabird populations on the west coast of Scotland, Dr Richard Luxmoore, Senior Nature Conservation Adviser for the National Trust has reported that several species have had their best season in 10 years.
The National Trust for Scotland’s studies on their property at Mingulay, showed that there were 1642 pairs of Kittiwakes trying to nest, up 46 per cent since last year. More importantly, their breeding success, at 88 chicks produced per 100 pairs, was much better than 2013. Other species, such as Razorbills, Common Guillemots and European Shags also recorded substantial improvements in both numbers and breeding success.
Studies carried out by the Highland Ringing Group on Canna, in the Small Isles, showed that Kittiwakes were up 14% since last year and also had excellent breeding success, similar to its near neighbour Mingulay across the Minch. Guillemots and Razorbills also experienced better breeding success and higher numbers than in recent years. More excitingly, researchers located five occupied nest burrows of Manx Shearwaters at three locations around the island. Shearwaters had been reduced to local extinction on Canna but a successful rat eradication project, completed in 2006, has allowed them to recolonise several of their former nest sites.
On St Kilda, annual monitoring has shown that Puffins have had much greater breeding success than in recent years. Also a ground-breaking programme to study the elusive and little known Leach’s Storm-petrel has been able to take detailed measurements of three chicks that have been reared in artificial nest burrows this year.
Conservationists hope this rise in populations will not be just a blip in a long-term decline of our seabirds and provides a boost to colony sizes for several years to come.
Scotland is internationally important for its seabirds, having some 45 per cent of the breeding population in the whole of the European Union. The National Trust for Scotland hosts almost a fifth of these at is properties of St Kilda, Mingulay, Fair Isle, Canna, St Abbs, Iona, Staffa and Unst.
Emma, James and all of the Hebrides Cruises team - thank you for the most wonderful, memorable experience aboard Lucy Mary last weekend on the Hebrides Magical Mini-Cruise. We are missing it all so much already! Every single detail was so perfect, from the minute we stepped on board and were welcomed so warmly by the crew with the lovely Prosecco and canapés to the excitement of setting sail and knowing that we and our cruise companions had all begun a unique adventure together, making lifetime memories in the most tranquil, spiritual setting that would bond us all. Everything felt familiar and like home so quickly but also so far away from our day to day reality which didn’t creep in and disturb us once. We were utterly immersed in the experience and the wildlife aspect was simply phenomenal. I still can’t quite believe we actually experienced those moments. The anticipation of a ‘spot’, seeing a beastie emerge and sharing the wonder of that experience together as a group. Those are etched memories and I know how moved and elated every single person in our group was, time and time again on our trip. Having a pod of common dolphins, followed by bottle nose dolphins bow riding Lucy Mary as we journeyed towards Ardtornish was a moment we will never forget. It was other worldly and really quite emotional. The depth of knowledge and experience James has gave us the experiences we were so lucky to have, and having a wildlife guide on board is one of the most unique aspects of the cruise. James and Bella knew exactly what to look for in the waters which led to a successful spot each time - whales, dolphins, porpoises and all manner of sea birds. We had such lovely cruise companions - we all bonded and became very fond of each other quickly, with Hebrides Cruises creating the foundation for that with the quality of the experience. I hadn't appreciated just how much we would enjoy that aspect, being around people we had never met. It really is such a special part of the experience. The accommodation was so comfortable -
Andrew Wilson: 19 April 2024Hebrides Magical Mini-Cruise