NRW_DS110113 eng dataset Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en pointOfContact 2026-03-03T14:27:54 MEDIN 3.1.2 wel eng utf8 British National Grid (EPSG::27700) Status of Breeding Common Scoter Melanitta nigra nigra in Britain and Ireland in 1996: The Effect of the Sea Empress Oil Spill Status of Breeding Common Scoter Melanitta nigra nigra in Britain and Ireland in 1996: The Effect of the Sea Empress Oil Spill Statws mor-hwyaid duon melanitta nigra nigra oedd yn nythu ym Mhrydain ac Iwerddon yn 1996: effaith gollyngiad olew'r Sea Empress 1996-08-31 publication 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313130313133 Following concerns regarding potential effects of the Sea Empress oil spill in Carmarthen Bay, February 1996, on the British and Irish populations of breeding Common Scoters Melanitta nigra nigra, their status and distribution were determined from a survey in May - June 1996. The survey was undertaken in five areas (Shetland, the Flow country, West and South Scotland, Islay and Ireland), using methods devised during the first complete British and Irish census of this species in 1995. Survey effort was concentrated on sites that held Common Scoters in 1995, and on sites with historical records. The survey visited 223 sites and located 376 birds. This was 79 fewer birds than the previous year, a 17% decline in numbers (16% in Ireland and 19% in Britain), a 19% decrease in occupied 10-km squares and a 31% decrease in occupied sites, compared to visits made at a similar time in 1995. It is possible that a decline of this magnitude may be within the range of natural population fluctuations or it could be due to the late arrival of birds after the late spring in 1996. However, over the last eight years, the number of Common Scoters in the Flow country has declined by 42% from an estimated 48 pairs in 1988 to only 28 in 1996. Given the Common Scoter's threatened status in the UK, that the dynamics of the population are unknown, and the potential decline, annual monitoring of both numbers and productivity is a high priority. Data used to assess the potential effects of the Sea Empress oil spill in Carmarthen Bay, February 1996, on the British and Irish populations of breeding Common Scoters Melanitta nigra nigra. Following concerns regarding potential effects of the Sea Empress oil spill in Carmarthen Bay, February 1996, on the British and Irish populations of breeding Common Scoters Melanitta nigra nigra, their status and distribution were determined from a survey in May - June 1996. The survey was undertaken in five areas (Shetland, the Flow country, West and South Scotland, Islay and Ireland), using methods devised during the first complete British and Irish census of this species in 1995. Survey effort was concentrated on sites that held Common Scoters in 1995, and on sites with historical records. The survey visited 223 sites and located 376 birds. This was 79 fewer birds than the previous year, a 17% decline in numbers (16% in Ireland and 19% in Britain), a 19% decrease in occupied 10-km squares and a 31% decrease in occupied sites, compared to visits made at a similar time in 1995. It is possible that a decline of this magnitude may be within the range of natural population fluctuations or it could be due to the late arrival of birds after the late spring in 1996. However, over the last eight years, the number of Common Scoters in the Flow country has declined by 42% from an estimated 48 pairs in 1988 to only 28 in 1996. Given the Common Scoter's threatened status in the UK, that the dynamics of the population are unknown, and the potential decline, annual monitoring of both numbers and productivity is a high priority. Data used to assess the potential effects of the Sea Empress oil spill in Carmarthen Bay, February 1996, on the British and Irish populations of breeding Common Scoters Melanitta nigra nigra. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en owner Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en custodian Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Sutherland House, Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff, CF11 9AB cymru@rspb.co.uk http://www.rspb.org.uk/wales/ originator Wildfowl And Wetlands Trust (WWT) Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, GL2 7BT, England consulting@wwt.org.uk http://www.wwt.org.uk/ originator Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness, IV3 8NW enquiries@snh.gov.uk http://www.snh.gov.uk/ originator Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en distributor notPlanned Species distribution theme GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 publication geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme west Scotland South Scotland distributions Flow country Carmarthen Bay melanitta nigra breeding birds breeding endangered species (threatened species)(protected species) Islay survey methods (survey techniques) (survey) (surveying) common scoter (black scoter) Shetland marine and freshwater inventory theme NRW Thesaurus 2025-01-08 publication geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords Bird taxonomy-related abundance per unit area of surface theme SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2024-06-19 publication geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml otherRestrictions There are no access restrictions to this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely. no limitations otherRestrictions © CNC/NRW Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose. vector eng utf8 biota NRW Geographic Identifiers Collection 2024-01-01 publication Great Britain (GBN) -7.52191816 -2.40580882 51.05493036 61.06306476 SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2013-02-05 creation water column 1996-05-31 1996-06-30 Documents Report is held in Word and .pdf format dataset Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services 2010-12-08 publication This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation. false Sites on the Scottish mainland were surveyed from 12-18 May and Islay was surveyed on 7 June. In Ireland, Loughs Conn/Cullin, Corrib and Arrow were surveyed between 16-19 May, but surveys of Lough Ree were delayed until 22-25 May by poor weather. During each survey, all open water and the entire mainland and island shorelines were scanned for birds using binoculars or telescopes. Most observations were land based, but boat surveys were used on larger and complex sites. Clear, calm weather was selected for all field visits and observers recorded the number of birds present, classified into pairs (male and female in continuous close consort), single adult males, single immature males, unaged males, single females and unsexed birds. To minimise the risk of double counting birds, where possible, surveys were organised to cover adjacent sites simultaneously. In order to investigate whether there had been any decline in numbers between 1995 and 1996, the numbers of birds present per site were analysed using a generalised linear model with Poisson error distribution and log link function in the GLIM statistical package. Sites were selected for analysis if birds were present either during the 1996 survey, or during the comparable visit in 1995. Four explanatory variables were included in the model: sex, area, site, and year. Sites on the Scottish mainland were surveyed from 12-18 May and Islay was surveyed on 7 June. In Ireland, Loughs Conn/Cullin, Corrib and Arrow were surveyed between 16-19 May, but surveys of Lough Ree were delayed until 22-25 May by poor weather. During each survey, all open water and the entire mainland and island shorelines were scanned for birds using binoculars or telescopes. Most observations were land based, but boat surveys were used on larger and complex sites. Clear, calm weather was selected for all field visits and observers recorded the number of birds present, classified into pairs (male and female in continuous close consort), single adult males, single immature males, unaged males, single females and unsexed birds. To minimise the risk of double counting birds, where possible, surveys were organised to cover adjacent sites simultaneously. In order to investigate whether there had been any decline in numbers between 1995 and 1996, the numbers of birds present per site were analysed using a generalised linear model with Poisson error distribution and log link function in the GLIM statistical package. Sites were selected for analysis if birds were present either during the 1996 survey, or during the comparable visit in 1995. Four explanatory variables were included in the model: sex, area, site, and year.