'Fowlsheugh' means bird cliffs. This aptly-named place supports one of the three largest seabird colonies on mainland Britain. Tens of thousands of auks and kittiwakes return here to nest each spring, as they have done for centuries, attracted by the shoals of fish (especially sand-eels) off the East Scottish coast and the geology of the cliffs, with their abundance of nest sites

The cliffs are formed by coarse boulders and pebble-beds from the Lower Devonian period (about 400 million years ago), deposited by a large river which flowed down from the Grampian Highlands.

The GUILLEMOT is the most common seabird in Britain, with around 500,000 pairs About 65,000 individuals are on the cliffs here. They can be seen in dense packs on the cliff ledges, where the solitary egg is laid. At about 3 to 4 weeks old, before they can fly, the young leap off the cliffs and paddle out to the open sea, accompanied by their parents. Most will not return to land to breed until they are 5 Years old. They are thought to live to over 20 years! About 2% of the Fowlsheugh population are 'bridled', with a white eye ring and stripe.

The reserve, which runs from Crawton 25 km northwards, taking in the main part of the seabird colony, was bought in 1976 with funds raised by the Young Ornithologists' Club. Up to 130,000 birds find sanctuary here, rearing their young on the precipitous cliffs and then dispersing around our coasts or out into the Atlantic Ocean from July onwards.

RAZORBILLS are less numerous than guillemots and do not pack on to open ledges, preferring to resort to cracks, crevices and hollows in the cliffs Nevertheless the colony of 8,000 or so found here is one of the strongest in the country. Seen on the water or in lines of flying auks they look darker than guillemots, with shorter, thicker bills.

There are comparatively few PUFFINS here, though some of the 200 or so that resort here each year may be seen particularly well on the boat trip. Unlike the other auks they nest in burrows up to 2 metres deep, excavated either by the puffins themselves or rabbits.

The white blizzard around the cliffs is composed of KlTTIWAKES Nearly 60,000 pair nest here, about 12% of the entire British population. they dominate the scene with movement and noise as they swirl mound calling their own name. Like most of the other seabirds here they eat mainly sandeels.

The other gull here is the HERRING GULL, of which 3500 pairs nest, though only 500 or so of these are on the reserve. They choose relatively flat areas on which to nest, and they feed on a wide variety of foods, including the young of other species here.

Soaring up and down on straight, stiff wings is the FULMAR, a sort of miniature albatross. It nests singly near the top of the cliff, where it lays its one egg. There are nearly 2,000 pairs here now, but before 1914 there were none at all. In fact until the later part or the last century they were confined in Britain to St Kilda. Now they have spread all around our coasts.

Their grass and seaweed nests are stuck onto the narrowest of ledges, and the two or three young are instinctively motionless, staying firmly in the nest for obvious reasons, unlike the young of other gulls. When they leave here in the late summer they abandon our coastal waters and head right out for the ocean.

A few pairs of SHAG nest in caves at the foot of the cliffs They are similar to the cormorant but Smaller, lacking any white on the face or thighs. Fishing parties of GANNETS are constantly passing offshore, mostly coming probably from their colony on the Bass Rock. They are easily recognised by their large size and chalky whiteness.

One other species of seabird is common here: the EIDER DUCK they are seen best on the flat rocks and rocky islets at the bottom of the cliffs, where the smart black and white appearance of the mate contrasts with the seaweed colours of the female. These birds feed on shellfish, which they prise off the rocks underwater with their strong bills.

If you would like to help ensure that places like Fowlsheugh are protected forever!

Please contact :

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds,(East Scotland Region),

10 Albyn Terrace, Aberdeen,

AB1 1YP, Tel: 01224 624824.

Reproduced with kind permission of the RSPB.