On a more negative note Fulmars on Canna are hurtling to extinction as a breeding species. From a peak of 653 nesting pairs in 1995, there were only 19 pairs this summer and none of them fledged a chick. Is this happening at other west coast sites?

Another bit of good news from my buzzard study area in Easter Ross. Although the number of occupied territories is still well down following last year's HPAI hit, productivity is well above the 1991-2022 average with many broods of 3 fledging.

Overall it has been a good seabird breeding season at North Sutor. In my monitoring plots both shag and cormorant productivity has been well above the 1990-2022 average. Kittiwake and razorbill close to average. Fulmars, however, all failed.

A bizarre coupling of a male emerald damselfly and a male common blue damselfly. Today near Tain.

🚨UDATE ON SPEY SPILL More suffocated/toxic burnt salmon and trout washed up today, as well as this stunning King fisher who sadly succumbed to the toxins. He/she was found by a ghillie paralysed on the river banks, probably after ⬇️

Courtesy of Storm Babet found this Grey Phalarope off Tain Links this afternoon. Surprisingly, the first one I've seen in Scotland.

Following the prolonged period of easterly gales checked 8km of coast today between Hilton and Rockfield in Easter Ross. 87 dead seabirds found, comprising 45 Shag, 28 razorbill, 10 guillemot, 3 gannet and a kittiwake. Tough times for seabirds.

Checked a further 8km of coast round Tarbat Ness in Easter Ross this morning. Even greater devastation than yesterday with 120 dead shags (67%) adults, 38 razorbill, 7 guillemot, 3 tystie, a puffin and a gannet.

📸 Look at this post on Facebook filmed by my friend George Ross at his croft in Strathcarron near Ardgay - pesky tits! facebook.com/share/p/oEthdB…

Brightly coloured Nacreous clouds above Tain this morning.

A smart Collared Dove in Tain showing off its 2024 look. Happy New Year to all.

Since the start of the year Long-tailed Duck numbers have peaked at 49 on Loch Eye, Easter Ross. Wonder if this is a record count for a freshwater loch?

Looks like one of our wintering woodcock made the fatal mistake of returning to its northern breeding grounds too early. Found dead at 69N in arctic Norway on 3rd April having probably starved - a shame after such a long journey.

EMPTY LEDGES. First visit to North Sutor colony revealed the extreme impact bird flu, storms and rising sea temps have had on seabirds. Cormorants down by 36% to only 86 nests, shags by 60% to 60 nests and Guillemots down by a massive 83% on last year.

Some mega clutches at Invergordon Port today, whilst monitoring Eiders. Almost certainly caused by two or more females laying in same nest. They can nest very close together.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE. Caithness guillemot cave 2020 with 700+ nesting guillemots, same cave 2024. Effects of bird flu and winter storms?

No Fulmars! We have been monitoring Canna annually since 1969. This is the first time we have had a zero count for Fulmar. Their numbers peaked at 671 occupied sites in 1992.

MIXED RESULTS FROM SEABIRD PRODUCTIVITY PLOTS at North Sutor. Kittiwake plot only one nest had chicks, the other 59 had failed. Shag and cormorants plots showed a large drop in nests, but birds that had bred were doing well, with above average productivity

OSPREY. I monitor 13 nests around the Dornoch Firth area. Probably reflecting the cool, wet, windy summer we have had, they are having a mixed year. Four failed. Only 3 broods of 3. Last year they fledged 29 chicks. This year looks like just 18 will fledged.

In 55 years we have never seen the seabird colonies on Canna in a worse state. Fulmar, gulls, shags and guillemots at or near record low numbers. Breeding productivity figures for most species well below long term averages. Food supply a big issue.