The Isle of May
by John Calladine
The Isle of May is a small island in the outer Firth of Forth some 5 miles East of Crail, Fife. The island is important for breeding seabirds and in recent years as a place where Grey Seals come ashore to give birth to their pups.
From March through to July somewhere in the region of 100,000 seabirds are on the island. The most numerous species is the Puffin with around 20,000 breeding pairs. These lovely little birds nest in burrows that they dig in the island soil and spend much of their time out of sight underground. However, especially in late March and Early April and again at the end of their breeding season in July, vast numbers may be seen standing all over the island. At other times at least a few can usually be seen somewhere around the island.
About 12,000 pairs of Guillemot breed on the steep island cliffs, most spectacularly on the west side between April and June. The ledges and fissures are shared with smaller numbers of Razorbill ( 1500 pairs), Kittiwake ( 7000 pairs), Shag ( 1500 pairs) and Fulmar ( 200 pairs). The cliffs full of sea birds provide one of the more impressive wildlife spectacles to be seen.
A colony of mostly Arctic Terns live at the ‘top’ of the island near the lighthouse and is always noisy and active from mid May to early July. Up to 800 Eider Duck nests are scattered around the island and the ducks can be seen offshore all year round. The more ubiquitous Herring and Lesser Blackbacked Gulls add variety to the islands seabirds. Breeding ‘land birds’ are much less well represented with Rock Pipits the only species in numbers.
Grey Seals can be found around the island all year, though only in fairly small numbers in the summer. The seals come ashore to give birth between October and December, at which times they are very vulnerable to disturbance. In recent seasons about 1200 pups have been born on the Isle of May.
Relative ease of access to its seabirds and seals makes the island an ideal place for scientific research. A number of universities, institutes and other organisations make use of the island, studying various aspects of island ecology, bird behaviour, migration. Even the islands House Mice have not gone unnoticed. Most of these studies are relevant to the environment and conservation. In an effort to protect the islands wildlife and to encourage research the island was declared a National Nature Reserve in 1956 and is now owned and managed by Scottish Natural Heritage.
Visitors are more than welcome on the island with boats leaving Anstruther and Crail during the Spring and Summer. Many diving groups also visit in their own R.H.I.B’s and inflatables making access even easier.
When coming to the Isle of May please remember that the wildlife is prone to disturbance. If you land on the island then land only at the recognised landings, Kirkhaven in the East, Alterstanes in the West. When walking around the island please keep strictly to the paths - burrowing by Puffins has made much of the island soil very fragile and even dangerous in places, not to mention the likelihood of crushing Puffins underfoot!
Of particular relevance to those diving around the May, or indeed any other seabird colony, is to keep a respectable distance from the cliffs during the breeding season, the seabirds disturb very easily.
What is apparently less obvious to many boat handlers is the nature of their approach to, and around, the island. It has become an all too frequent sight to see high speed boats charging through flocks of Puffins, Guillemots and Razorbills on the sea. Apart from the obvious risk of collision, resulting in injury to the birds, the disturbance factor is in itself serious. Resting on the sea is certainly of value to the birds well being during the stresses of the breeding season, and there may well be social implications for the birds too.
WHEN THERE ARE BIRDS ON THE SEA - PLEASE SLOW DOWN
An increasing proportion of divers are already being appropriately cautious while approaching or diving around the May, and we on the island very much appreciate their co-operation.
Judging from the increasing numbers of divers operating around the island, the Isle of May offers good diving, and it certainly provides a good place for wildlife, especially seabirds and those who study them. With just a little consideration all parties concerned- birds, seals, divers, ornithologists and naturalists should be able to live together.
Please Note - Anyone wishing to land on the Isle of May between October and December should first contact the Scottish Natural Heritage office in Cupar, Fife Tel. 01334 54038.