Freedom of Information Request - Corncrake annual counts and white-fronted geese, Isle of Coll
Date: 16 September 2024
Our ref: SIR176772/A4735088
Information Request – Corncrake annual counts and white-fronted geese, Isle of Coll
Thank you for your information request, which we received on 20 August 2024. We have considered your request under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’).
Your Request
Corncrakes
You have been kind enough to send me the corncrake annual counts for many years now and I would like to request the figures for 2022 and 2023.
The figures that were provided for 2020 and 2021 were, due to Covid, understandably not as comprehensive as in previous years but if these have been added to in any way since I received them in June 2022, I would be grateful for these updates as well.
White fronts
I would be grateful for any counts which have been carried out on the white-fronted goose population here on Coll, since the SPA was confirmed in 1994 at the East End.
Our Response
Corncrake annual counts
We have carried out a detailed search of the information that we hold and the annual figures for 2020 to 2022 are set out below. NatureScot has not received any figures for 2023 so we are not able to provide them as part of our response.
| Area | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barra & Vatersay | 51 | 50 | |
| Benbecula | 19 | 10 | |
| Berneray | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Coll | 42 | 30 | 47 |
| Colonsay & Oronsay | 17 | 24 | 31 |
| Harris | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Iona | 17 | 19 | 14 |
| Islay | 44 | 25 | 32 |
| Lewis | 75 | 89 | 74 |
| Luing | 1 | ||
| Mingulay/Sandray/Berneray | 2 | 3 | |
| Monach Isle | 2 | ||
| North Uist | 94 | 132 | 112 |
| Orkney | 20 | 17 | 17 |
| Pabbay | 2 | ||
| Skye | 8 | 10 | 14 |
| South Uist | 119 | 145 | 132 |
| Sutherland/Caithness | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Tiree | 294 | 285 | 273 |
| Total | 764 | 843 | 824 |
Please note that the counts are carried out by the RSPB and therefore we are not able to comment on the methodology. However, RSPB publish the full reports on the NBN Atlas website:
Other information is publicly available:
White-fronted goose populations, Coll
The data we hold on white-fronted geese counts on Coll since 1994 is attached separately.
For information, other sources of information are also in the public domain:
- Greenland White-Fronted Goose Study
- The Greenland White-Fronted Study Group website also has summaries of the main wintering sites, which includes historical data
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
Document downloads
Due to accessibility issues the attached information, referenced above, is available on request by contacting the FOI team at [email protected]. Please reference the case number (starting with SIR).
Last updated:
