Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus

Common summer visitor to Shetland. Once a common breeding bird on Foula.

Evans and Buckley noted two colonies on Foula in the early 1800s (Evans and Buckley, cited in Pennington et al., 2004). Hundreds were trapped in the 1960s (per. com. ARM 2005). Then in 1974 Cramp et al. (1974) estimated the population to be between 100 and 1000 pairs at several locations around the coast including the Noup and Mucklabreck.

In 1987 mortality amongst the breeding population was reported as being caused by cats.

In 2000, 120 were seen on a pelagic 8km WNW of Foula on the 29^th August.

5 birds were tape-lured on the 16^th of August, 2003.

The latest bird was seen 2km offshore in 2004.