The status of breeding seabirds on the Isle of Tiree, Argyll, 2004-13

Abstract

Annual monitoring of breeding seabirds on the Isle of Tiree 2004-13 revealed significant declines in the numbers of Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis, Common Guillemot Uria aalge, Razorbill Alca torda and Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla at the main seabird colony of Ceann a' Mhara. Numbers of Herring Gull Larus argentatus and Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus also declined significantly across the island over the same period, whilst numbers of Common Gull L. canus increased significantly. Most other breeding seabirds including European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis, Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle, Little Tern Sternula albifrons, Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea and Black-headed Gull Croicocephalus ridibundus remained stable or showed non-significant declines. Breeding was confirmed for the first time on Tiree by single pairs of Great Skua Stercorarius skua and Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica. Annual estimates of breeding success were recorded for six species. There were complete breeding failures of Black-legged Kittiwake in 2007-08, Arctic Tern in 2004-05 and Little Tern in 2006, although all three species had higher breeding success in 2009-13.