Shetland Skuas

The population of Arctic Skuas has declined by 81% according to the latest report by the British Ecological Society.

The National Seabird 2000  census recorded 2,136 Arctic and 9634 Gt Skuas with 90% of the population in Orkney and Shetland


Full report https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2656.12890

Locations of Arctic skua colonies used in analyses of population trend (n = 33 sites) and annual productivity (underlined, n = 20 sites). Dotted line = southernmost extent of Arctic skua breeding range during Seabird 2000. Overall percentage change in Apparently Occupied Territories (AOTs) between the first and last year surveyed (1992 and 2008–2015) is given for each site (see Supporting Information Table S1 for further details). Symbol sizes are scaled to AOT counts in 1992 (four categories: 0–12, 16–26, 30–66, 101–159). Symbol shape denotes colony type, classified by cliff‐nesting seabird host abundance within 5 km of colony during the Seabird 2000 census: squares = type 1 colonies (>10,000 pairs), circles = type 2 colonies (1,000–10,000 pairs), triangles = type 3 colonies (<1,000 pairs)

Arctic Skuas declined at all the study colonies from 1061 ATO 's (1992) to just 200 in (2015), indicating the largest declines took place in the north with the largest productivity in Handa in NW Scotland.

Attacks on Kittiwakes which had only come down onto a loch to bathe  

Arctic Skua nest next to colonies of seabirds either Arctic Terns, or cliff dwelling birds that usually feed on Sandeels - Puffin, Kittiwake, Guillemot and Razorbill. These skuas rely on stealing food from these birds, this is called Kleptopasrasitism

An Arctic Tern attacks an Arctic Skua

Gt Skuas increased at most sites except Foula where a 24% decline occurred. Its odd that the greatest declines in Arctic Skuas occurred where Gt Skua population were small. Food availability and density of Gt Skua were associated with breeding success of Arctic Skua

Gt Skuas are larger and more powerful that Arctic Skuas , they rely on harassing large birds such as gannet for a free meal

Gt Skua seen off by a Fulmar

The world's Gt Skua population is around 16,000 with 57% being in Scotland (Bird life International 2018) especially in Shetland and Orkney. Around 9,634 ATO (Apparently Occupied Territories) can be found in the UK (2004)

They are very aggressive towards humans and animals that stray onto their breeding grounds, making a head on attack and sometime hitting the intruder with their feet.

Gt Skua population in Shetland has fluctuated with numbers up and down at various throughout the isle. Gannet numbers are increasing so you would think that there would be more fish brought back to young gannets and therefore more opportunities for GT Skuas . Noss for instance has around 25000 Gannets double that of 1970

On Foula in 2015 a lot of cannibalistic predation of well grown chicks was again high, although a census count of 1,846 AOT was 11% higher than 2007

In Shetland, 4 colonies at Hermaness, Noss, Mousa and Fair Isle had 1,747 ATO's in 2013, an increase of 27% since  2007. But on Foula a decrease of 28% occurred between 2000 & 2007 (2,293 down to 1,657 ATO's)

In Orkney, a complete census revealed a 23% decrease between 2000 - 2010 (1,710 ATO's)

Discards from fishing boats used to be an important part of the Gt Skuas diet in Shetland but with the reduction of discards they have now started to either concentrate on attacking Gannet for fish, eating birds such as Puffin or resorting to cannibalism .

Having just taken part in the 2018 Seabird census I am very interested in seeing the current figures

Hooded Merganser - Shetland

News of a female Hooded Merganser came in on 15 August at Pullers Lock in Lerwick. This is a small loch at the end of Sea road

This duck comes from North America as is a rare vagrant , although not as showy as a male it is still a delight to see. Its much smaller than I expected and showed a nice tawny crest. It wasn't ringed as these birds are also kept in captivity, so could it be wild?

Virtually at the same time a White Rumped Sandpiper , another are UK vagrant from North America turned up at Virkie down in the south mainland also another in England, so it might have good credentials. Also turning up within a few days of this bird was a Lesser Scaup, Blue Winged Teal and a Ferruginous duck , American Golden Plover and a Buff breasted Sandpiper all from America.

It did keep flying off the first day, also seen on Clickimin Loch before finally settling down on Pullers.

It kept to a regular circuit as most birds do and was catching small fish on a regular basis.

The duck yesterday moved to the north end of Clickimin Loch, mixing with Tufted Duck

Check out my other blogs

ww2preserved.blogspot.co.uk (All about Shetland)
shetlandsky.blogspot.co.uk
shetlanddream.blogspot.co.uk

SNH issues licences to kill Swift & Robins

I couldn't believe it when I came across an article where the Scottish Natural Heritage have issued licences to kill Robins, Swifts, Skylark, Barn Owls and Cormorants among many others, some on the Red list - Birds of Conservation Concern 4.

 They are already under pressure to stop the 5 year mass Raven cull in Perthshire and this is the last straw.


https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scottish-natural-heritage-under-fire-over-wild-bird-cull-licences-1-4774617

more details http://www.jasonendfield.com/

Red listed birds include House Sparrow, Starling, Grey Partridge, Skylark, Herring Gull
https://www.bto.org/science/monitoring/psob (for full list)


The Red list has grown by 15 species since 2009

Swift are on the Amber list yet they have issued a licence to kill an indefinite numbers and why 5 licences for Robin

A SNH spokeswomen said ``We were confident that all activities carried out under these licences do not affect the conservation status of any of our native species''

Killer Whales & the last Puffins

We that's it for this year as we said farewell to the Puffins at Sumburgh. Last weekend there were 100's of Puffins on the cliffs and flying around but by Tuesday it was down to just one bird.

Its along winter for these birds as they head out into the North sea where they spend the winter in extreme conditions. The colourful beak become black and will only grow back as the new breeding season approaches.

As for the young ones, it a test of endurance to see whether they are fit enough to survive the heavy seas. It looks like this year has been a good one for most of the seabirds with many birds bringing in fish. Arctic terns are still bringing fish for their young around the coast and many are still very aggressive.

It will be very interesting to see how Seabirds are doing in Shetland as a whole with the Seabird census now complete. Seabird deaths are down by half on last year (as per beach surveys) with only 48 birds found in July.

Whether the Sandeel population is expanding is another matter. Sandeels are food for the ever increasing Herring populations, the sunny weather the best summer in Shetland for years many have increased the plankton that Sandeels feed on or the  sea currents may have been favourable bringing a good number of Sandeels north from Orkney.

What ever the reason its been very welcome to thousands of birds.

Gt Skua chased off by Fulmar

Last week we caught up with Killer Whale Pod 27. which is a group of 7 including two large males. Having just missed them coming in close at Garthsness we headed north to Scousburgh bay and about an hour later they started to come into the bay

They first spent a lot of time in the outer reaches making a few kills before moving towards us and many others looking from the cliff tops. It was great to have two photos below published in this weeks Shetland Times.

A couple of divers tried to get close but the whales came passed them quickly

It was a great sight even though the sun was in the wrong direction . Its been a while since any Killer Whales have been in the south mainland as many seals have already been eaten this year. They are spending more time hunting around Yell and Unst.

Several Minkie Whales have been seen around Noss and further a field with 15 in a pod off Muness, Unst today

Migration has started early, apart from the Crossbills a few weeks ago, Marsh, Arctic,Barred and Icterine warblers have been seen, mostly in Unst and on Fair Isle. An unusual migrant was a Treecreeper seen on a wooden hut (well we don't have many trees) More common migrants such as Willow Warbler, Swallow, Kestrel, Wood Warbler, Pied Fly and a few Black Redstart are now arriving

Come and join me on a Beginners photography course at Islesburgh, Lerwick. Many other courses also available