Forth Islands
Also within
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), breeding | Unfavourable Declining | — | 2019-01-30 |
| F2 | Puffin (Fratercula arctica), breeding | Favourable | — | 2019-01-30 |
| F3 | Seabird colony, breeding | Favourable | — | 2019-01-30 |
Geology & landscape
Landscape processes: Volcanic / Igneous
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| cormorant | Breeding |
| eider | Breeding |
| fulmar | Breeding |
| gannet | Breeding |
| great black-backed gull | Breeding |
| guillemot | Breeding |
| herring gull | Breeding |
| kittiwake | Breeding |
| lesser black-backed gull | Breeding |
| puffin | Breeding |
| razorbill | Breeding |
Description
FORTH ISLANDS This site comprises Craigleith, the Lamb and Fidra, three volcanic islands lying up to 1.2km offshore from North Berwick, which together hold a nationally important seabird colony. Craigleith supports the largest puffin Fratercula arctica colony in the Lothian area while Fidra and the Lamb have the only breeding cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo colony in the region. Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis, shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis, razorbill Alca torda and guillemot Uria aalge also nest on the three islands as well as great black-backed gull Larus marinus, lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus, herring gull Larus argentatus and kittiwake Rissa tridactyla. Together, these islands form the second largest seabird colony in the region. The total number of birds nesting is only rivalled by the gannet colony on the Bass Rock. The islands also support breeding eider Somateria mollissima and, while these are not notified features, the numbers on the islands are important.
Species mentioned
Show the 13 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phalacrocorax aristotelis | Not listed in GB list | bird | phalacrocoracidae | |
| razorbill | Alca torda | LC (Breeding) | bird-auk | alcidae |
| puffin | Fratercula arctica | CR (Breeding) | bird-auk | alcidae |
| guillemot | Uria aalge | LC (Breeding) | bird-auk | alcidae |
| eider | Somateria mollissima | VU (NonBreeding) | bird-duck | anatidae |
| shag | Gulosus aristotelis | VU (Breeding) | bird-frigate | fregatidae |
| gannet | Morus bassanus | LC (Breeding) | bird-frigate | fregatidae |
| cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | NT (Breeding) | bird-frigate | fregatidae |
| fulmar | Fulmarus glacialis | CR (Breeding) | bird-fulmar | procellariidae |
| herring gull | Larus argentatus | EN (NonBreeding), EN (Breeding) | bird-gull | laridae |
| lesser black-backed gull | Larus fuscus | DD (Breeding) | bird-gull | laridae |
| great black-backed gull | Larus marinus | EN (NonBreeding), CR (Breeding) | bird-gull | laridae |
| kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | EN (Breeding) | bird-gull | laridae |