Birds

The Bird Observatory is located on the Island for one primary reason, the island’s importance for birds. In the spring and summer the island is one of the largest breeding seabird colonies in Scotland and is particularly important for Puffins with over 40,000 occupied burrows. Other breeding seabirds are typical of the area but all are found in important numbers including Shag, Eider, Guillemot, Kittiwake, Razorbill, Arctic, Common and Sandwich Tern, Herring, Lesser and Great Black-backed Gulls.

In spring and autumn the island is an ideal site to monitor migrant passerines. When conditions are right, in winds from NE round to SSE, the island can receive large “falls” of migrants originating in Scandinavia and eastern Europe, occasionally with scarce or rare species among them. To find out more about recent bird sightings from the island visit the bird news pages

Bird ringing on the island has a long history and is one of the main functions of the Bird Obs. It is operated under the auspices of the British Trust for Ornithology Ringing Scheme (click here for more info on ringing). There are 4 Heligoland traps set in sheltered gardens with specially planted cover to attract and support migrant birds. Ringers also use mist nets to catch migrants and there are also many long term ringing studies of the breeding seabirds.

A downloadable checklist of all the birds seen on the island (to the end of 2018) is available here:

Checklist of the Birds of the Isle of May

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The core work of the Observatory is the Daily Census. Observatory visitors are asked to spend part of their day (ideally the morning) recording all birds seen within three zones on the island. This helps to maintain the long term data on bird migration through the island.

Recording areas

Rare birds

Rare and scarce birds recorded on the island are subject to consideration by relevant records committees to ensure that the island list is properly validated. These include The BBRC, the SBRC and the island’s own Isle of May RC. The IOMRC considers species which are island rarities, falling below the level of BBRC and SBRC, but where significant validation of a record helps to support annual and all-time ornithological recording. The list includes two categories of record; category one records require a full description submitted and category 2 records require a basic account of the species record. Category two records typically involve species which are commoner on the mainland but rare or very rare in an island context. Groups visiting are advised to familiarise themselves with the lists to ensure they submit sightings details as part of essential record keeping – guidance on submissions is available in the Low Light!

Seals

The Isle of May is one of the largest colonies of Grey Seals in the UK and from late September thousands arrive to pup though many are present around the island throughout the year

A bull Grey Seal Surveys his territory (pic: JMA Osborne)

Rabbits

Rabbits are abundant all over the island, very tame and their burrows are often occupied by Puffins. Their populations fluctuate markedly with disease.

Rabbits are abundant across the island, their populations fluctuate with disease and their holes are often competed for by Puffins (pic. JMA Osborne)

Cetaceans

The area around the Isle of May can hold large numbers of cetaceans at certain times in particular Minke Whales can be seen ferquently in late summer and autumn both from the island and on the crossing. Up to 20 Minke whales have been seen off the island in a single day, in some cases close in.

Though rarely seen from the island Bottlenose Dolphins are seen often from the crossing just off the Fife coast in addition, Harbour Porpoise are regular and white-beaked Dolphin also likely.

Butterflies & Moths

Just like migrant birds passing through the island migrant butterflies like the Painted Lady, Peacock and Red Admiral can be present in large numbers during migration, late summer and early autumn movements can number thousands on some days. Along with them moths such as Silver Y can also occur in large numbers.

Painted Lady – a migrant butrterfly sometimes seen in their hundreds moving across the island (pic: JMA Osborne)

BIRD & WILDLIFE INFORMATION