RSPB Scotland snaps up Dunnet Head 'seabird city'

 12:50Saturday 06 February 201600:07Friday 05 February 2016

A coastal nature reserve at the most northern point of the British mainland which is home to thousands of breeding seabirds has been bought by a wildlife charity.

RSPB Scotland has purchased the 40-acre site at Dunnet Head, Caithness, in the Highlands after receiving a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The charity, which has been managing the site for nearly eight years, said the purchase will ensure the "seabird city" is looked after for generations to come.

The spot boasts 300ft-high cliffs and is home to thousands of birds such as puffins, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars and kittiwakes.

RSPB Scotland site manager Dave Jones said: "Dunnet Head really is an amazing place.

"The views across to Orkney are absolutely stunning, but for us the most important aspect is the breeding seabirds and the opportunity this site gives visitors to see these charismatic birds.

"Many of our seabird species are in serious decline, so it is crucial that their breeding sites are properly protected."

Dunnet Head nature reserve lies about 13 miles east of Thurso and overlooks the Pentland Firth.

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Concern over plunge in Dunnet Head guillemot numbers

Written byGordon Calder

THE number of common guillemots at Dunnet Head has fallen by 45 per cent in the past 13 years.

That is the dramatic finding in a count which has been conducted by RSPB Scotland. It shows the number of gulliemots on the cliffs at Dunnet has dropped from 8,980 to just 4,880 since 2000 – a reduction of 45 per cent

Other species such as razorbills, puffins and kittiwakes are also struggling to cope with increasing challenges, including a lack of food and the effects of climate change.

The end-of-season counts which were carried out by the RSPB reveal similar drops in places such as Orkney and Ailsa Craig in the outer Firth of Clyde.

Common gulliemot numbers at Noup Cliffs in Orkney have gone down by 41 per cent while the figure at Ailsa Craig shows a decline of more than 27 per cent.

The downward trend has led to the RSPB warning some of Scotland’s seabird colonies could become extinct unless action is taken. The charity has called on the Scottish Government to act to protect the birds.

It argues that species like common guillemots, razorbills and puffins are struggling to find sand eels as they move northwards due to the effects of climate change.

"They are facing increasing challenges including a lack of food and the effects of climate change, leaving Scotland’s once bustling seabird ‘cities’ in danger of falling silent," said Allan Whyte, the marine policy officer at RSPB Scotland.

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