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Wildfowl of the Inner Hebrides

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 July 2012

M. A. Ogilvie  and
G. L. Atkinson-Willes
M. A. Ogilvie
Affiliation:
The Wildfowl Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucester GL27BT
G. L. Atkinson-Willes
Affiliation:
The Wildfowl Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucester GL27BT
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Synopsis

Wildfowl habitat in the Inner Hebrides. Excluding Islay, consists mainly of sheltered bays and sealoches, while fertile freshwater lochs are uncommon, the best being on Tiree. The known breeding distribution and winter concentrations of species are described and an indication is given of overall status and histroical background. There are very few records from many of the smaller islands, and even those from Skye, Tiree and Mull are restricted to between one and four winters.

Eider and red-breasted merganser are probably the two commonest wintering speices, but there are no good estimates of total numbers. Flocks of 500–600 eider occur round Skye, and summer moulting concentrations of 1.400–1.700 merganser in the Sound of Gigha indicate a high pouplation. Between 2.400–2.600 barnacle geese Branta leucopsis spend the winter on many small. Uninhabited islands throughtout the region. Wigcon. Teal, mallard and tufted duck occur in flocks in several places, with maxima between 150 abd 350.

Whooper swan Cygnus cygnus, Greenland white-fronted goose Anser albifrons flavirostris, shelduck, shoveler, pochard, goldeneye Bucephala clangula, long-tailed duck Clangula hymelis and goosander all winter regularly, though rarely in flocks of more than 100.

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