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Seasonal changes in the numbers and distributions of seabirds at sea in the Moray Firth, northeast Scotland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

G. P. Mudge  and
C. H. Crooke
G. P. Mudge
Affiliation:
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, U.K.
C. H. Crooke
Affiliation:
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, U.K.
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Synopsis

In 1982 and 1983 monthly shipboard surveys of seabirds at sea were carried out in the Moray Firth. A sea area of about 8.000 knr was studied in a systematic manner using a survey grid of 5λ latitude by 10λ longitude. Guillemot was the most abundant single species for most of the year, but was replaced by herring gull in mid-winter. Numbers of guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes were all relatively low during the winter period. Total sea bird numbers were greatest in autumn each year, with particularly large concentrations of flightless guillemots and razorbills. A very large influx of razorbills into the Moray Firth was noted in August, 1983. The main offshore concentrations of seabirds through most of the year were over Smith Bank, particularly the northeastern part of the bank. This area was particularly important in spring and autumn for guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes. gannets and sooty shearwaters, but held relatively few in winter.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences , Volume 91: The Marine Environment of the Moray Firth , 1986 , pp. 81 - 104
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1986

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