The seabird breeding season in North Wales

[Rhion]

A few thoughts on the seabird breeding season locally, in view of the gloom from some other parts of the British Isles.

The Guillemot and Razorbill colonies on South Stack, Anglesey have done well, with productivity probably above average. I don't have information on the Puffins.

Sone tern colonies, e.g. Cemlyn have not had a particularly good year in terms of productivity but have fledged reasonable numbers of young. Losses have been due to bad weather rather than any shortage of food. The Little Tern colony at Gronant has had a good year.

It would seem that there is no food shortage around here this year.

[Jane Turner]

I'd say from the post breeding numbers the Sandwich Terns on the Dee have done well too.

There have been good numbers of Gannets and Kittiwakes feeding off the Wirral too.

[edenwatcher]

I'd say from the post breeding numbers the Sandwich Terns on the Dee have done well too.

There have been good numbers of Gannets and Kittiwakes feeding off the Wirral too.
Terns seem OK here, but not a juv kittiwake in sight.

Rob

[Jane Turner]

Terns seem OK here, but not a juv kittiwake in sight.

Rob


Ah there will be fewer reports of Sabines Gull this autumn then ;)

[edenwatcher]

Ah there will be fewer reports of Sabines Gull this autumn then ;)
How true

[Steve G]

c300 Sandwich Terns roosting on Valleyfield Lagoons on the upper Forth last week with reasonable numbers of young (not sure if these are Dutch/Belgian birds or Northumbrian). Local fishing conditions seem as normal with no shortage of small fish in the Forth.

[markgriff]

Sone tern colonies, e.g. Cemlyn have not had a particularly good year in terms of productivity but have fledged reasonable numbers of young.


Rhion,

Any Roseates at Cemlyn this year?

[Rhion]

Rhion,

Any Roseates at Cemlyn this year?

One or two called in for a few days from time to time, but I don't think things got any further than that. This has been the pattern for a few years now.

[Ian Peters]

One or two called in for a few days from time to time, but I don't think things got any further than that. This has been the pattern for a few years now.

I was told in June that roseate terns are now a priority species in Wales and nest sites are not likely to be reported. The numbers have been falling at Cemlyn over the years and there were only four pairs in the late 80s when I was at UCNW Bangor. Rhion can probably confirm this but I don't think there has been any breeding for a few years now. What horrified me when I did my week at South Stack was how low the kittiwake population is now. The auks were late breeding this year but numbers were about the same with about 16 pairs of puffins. This may have been a slight underestimate but of course, it is difficult to assess breeding success.

[Rhion]

What horrified me when I did my week at South Stack was how low the kittiwake population is now.

Indeed, the Kittiwakes seem to have almost abandoned South Stack by now. However they are doing better elsewhere in North Wales, for example on Bardsey where they had a good year last year. I haven't heard how they have done there this year, also haven't had the counts for the Great and Little Ormes yet.