| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
low
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Breeding conditions:
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Arctic Foxes were common and bred successfully. Four new inhabited dens were found, although several known dens were not used. Red Foxes were recorded several times during the season, but known dens were not inhabited, and new dens were not found.
The numbers of breeding Rough-legged Buzzards and Peregrine Falcons decreased. We found only 3 nests of buzzards, with clutches of 2, 2 and 3 eggs. Nesting of one of these pairs was unsuccessful. Several pairs of Peregrine Falcons did not breed, and nesting of two pairs was unsuccessful. Several breeding pairs had small clutches of 1-2 eggs, smaller than in 2006-2007. Mean clutch size was 3.1 eggs, and hatching occurred from 5-15 July. Peregrine Falcons were observed several times hunting flightless goose chicks. This behaviour was not recorded in 2006-2007. One Snowy Owl was seen on 22 July.
Arctic Skuas were common and nested successfully. A pair of Great Skuas nested, as in 2006. Herring Gulls and Glaucous Gulls were common, and we found several new colonies.
The arrival of geese was late and prolonged in 2008. The earliest pairs arrived in May and started nesting by 12 June, when the arrival peaked. Nesting peaked on 14 June, which was 4 days later than in 2007 and 10 days later than in 2006. Mean clutch size was 3.3 eggs in White-fronted Geese, 3.1 eggs in Bean Geese and 3.4 eggs in Barnacle Geese, which was slightly lower than in 2007. White-fronted Geese nested at a density ranging from 7-82 nests/km2, and had a nest success of 85%. Bean Geese nested at a density reaching 15 nests/km2, and had a nest success of 83%. Nest success of Barnacle Geese reached 95% in colonies near nests of Peregrine Falcons.
The first moulting and flightless Barnacle Geese, White-fronted Geese and Bean Geese were recorded on 4 July. Intensive north-eastern migration of White-fronted Geese to moulting grounds was observed on 26 June and 6-10 July. The first geese on the wing after the moult, were recorded on 4 July, and the first flying juveniles of White-fronted Geese on 22 August. Many non-breeders and approximately 60% of family parties departed from the island on 30-31 August. Almost all late broods of geese departed from the island from 7-10 September. The first flying juvenile Brent Geese were recorded on the south-eastern coast of the island on 7 September.
We found 2 nests and observed 8 broods of Tundra Swans. The mean brood size was 2.5 chicks, which was lower than in 2007. Breeding ducks included the King Eider, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Greater Scaup, Pintail and Teal, but none of these species was abundant.
Waders were less numerous compared to 2007. Turnstones and Little Stints were very rare. Dunlins and Ruffs were rare, and displayed rarely during the cold period before 12 June. Numbers of Temminck's Stints, Ringed Plovers, Eurasian Golden Plovers and Grey Plovers were similar to 2006-2007. Two pairs of Dotterels were seen in June, and a nest of this species was found, with a clutch which had been initiated on approximately 6 June.
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