Scare Rocks
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Gannet (Morus bassanus), breeding | Favourable | — | 2015-05-19 |
| F2 | Guillemot (Uria aalge), breeding | Unfavourable Declining | — | 2018-05-02 |
| F3 | Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), breeding | Unfavourable Declining | — | 2018-05-02 |
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| gannet | Breeding |
| guillemot | Breeding |
| guillemot | Roosting |
Description
Scare Rocks Scare Rocks consists of two groups of small rocky islands in Luce Bay, approximately 1km apart and lying some 10.5 kilometres east of the Mull of Galloway. The largest island, Big Scare, is important as the most southerly gannet Morus bassanus colony in Scotland and has been the subject of continuous population studies since early colonization in 1939. At the time of re-notification in 1986 there were an estimated 770 pairs on the site, but the population has expanded since then. More recent counts indicate that over 2,000 nest sites are occupied on the rocks. There are, in addition significant numbers of guillemot Uria aalge and shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis which nest on this site. The smaller island group, Little Scares, is used as a roost for small numbers of seabirds and as a haul-out for small numbers of the grey seal Halichoerus grypus.
Species mentioned
Show the 5 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 | |
| guillemot | Uria aalge | LC (Breeding) | bird-auk | alcidae |
| shag | Gulosus aristotelis | VU (Breeding) | bird-frigate | fregatidae |
| gannet | Morus bassanus | LC (Breeding) | bird-frigate | fregatidae |
| grey seal | Halichoerus grypus | None | seal | phocidae |