APPENDIX 1

Table A1. Identification of islands in the Forth suitable for rodent removal as compensation for Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm. Highlighted sites show islands that support key species, either have rats or are suspected to and have no biosecurity measures in place.

Table A2. Islands on the east coast of the UK from RSPB Islands Database that also support breeding colonies of the key species (identified from JNCC Seabird Nesting Counts). Highlighted sites show islands that support at least some of the key species and have no biosecurity measures in place.

FID	X	Y	Site name/description	Kittiwake AON	Guillemot (inds)	Razorbill (inds)	Puffin AOB	Gannet AON	Rodent status	Other information
1417	4419014	564949	Marsden Rock	2472	0	small colony	0	0	May not be rats - cliff faces extremely steep	Joined to mainland at LW.
1480	429365	604643	Coquet Island	51	0	0	17208	0	No rats, biosecurity plan in place	Not suitable
1501	424706	638991	Longstone (Farnes)			2	0	0	No rats, biosecurity plan in place	Not suitable
1510	423769	637722	Brownsman and Staple (Farnes)	2406	20015	67	0	0	No rats, biosecurity plan in place	Not suitable
1511	424023	638540	Harcar (Farnes)	113	117	8	0	0	No rats, biosecurity plan in place	Not suitable
1514	423758	638170	Roddam and Green (Farnes)	30	170	0	0	0	No rats, biosecurity plan in place	Not suitable
1522	423468	638393	Wamses (Farnes)	157	1483	15	0	0	No rats, biosecurity plan in place	Not suitable
1523	422818	636015	Skeney Scar (Farnes)	121	1306	12	0	0	No rats, biosecurity plan in place	Not suitable
1528	422141	636128	Inner Farne, Wideopens, Knoxes	2246	8196	103	0	0	No rats, biosecurity plan in place	Not suitable
1531	420564	637302	Megstone (Farnes)	23	210	2	0	0	No rats, biosecurity plan in place	Not suitable
2001	368152	679585	Dunbar – includes rocky outcrops offshore	808	0	0	0	0	Most of colony on mainland, a few Kittiwakes nesting on outcrops.	See section 4
2035	365559	699428	Isle of May (Forth Islands)	5193	18,156	4813	39200	0	No rats, biosecurity plan in place	Not suitable
2121	360225	687391	Bass Rock (Forth Islands)	1307	2422	116	0	44110	No rats, biosecurity plan in place	Not suitable
2156	355281	686995	Craigleith (Forth Islands)	511	1708	186	28000		No rats, biosecurity plan in place	Not suitable
2158	353482	686596	Lamb (Forth Islands)	115	3760	101	7		No rats, biosecurity plan in place	Not suitable
2172	351283	686841	Fidra (Forth Islands)	225	376	161	405		No rats, biosecurity plan in place	Not suitable
2278	329391	682653	Inchkeith	349	48	85	1641		Some evidence of rats	Suitable
2343	320706	680438	Inchmickery	0	0	0	0	22	No rats, biosecurity plan in place	Not suitable
2385	318935	682544	Inchcolm	116	0	5	40	0	Black rat present	Suitable

Table A3. Islands in the UK supporting gannetries and breeding colonies of the other key species.

Site	Subsite	Gannet AON	Kittiwake AON	Guillemot (inds)	Razorbill (inds)	Puffin AOB	Suitability for rat removal
BULL ROCK*	THE BULL	1879	0	0	0	0	SPA, no evidence of rats
IRELAND'S EYE*	IRELAND'S EYE 2	147	809	1336	202	0	SPA, no evidence of rats
LITTLE SKELLIG*	LITTLE SKELLIG - WHOLE ISLAND	28799	250	1129	68	0	SPA, IBA, no evidence of rats
CLARE ISLAND*	CLARE ISLAND 12	3	503	970	190	25	SPA, no evidence of rats
GREAT SALTEE*	GREAT SALTEE ISLAND	1930	2125	21436	3239	1522	SPA, rat removal plan underway
CHANNEL ISLANDS	LES ETACS	3450	0	0	0	0	No rats
CHANNEL ISLANDS	ORTAC	2500	0	0	0	0	No rats
FORTH ISLANDS - BASS ROCK TO HAYSTACK	BASS ROCK	44110	1307	2422	116	0	SPA, biosecurity measures already underway
AILSA CRAIG	AILSA CRAIG (WHOLE ISLAND)	35825	1675	9415	1471	20	SPA, rats already removed
SULE STACK	SULE STACK1	5137	51	1062	10	0	SPA, no rats
FAIR ISLE	WHOLE ISLAND	1123	8204	39257	3599	40000	No rats
FOULA	FOULA 8	603	1061	22874	369	0	SPA, biosecurity measures already underway
FOULA	FOULA 9	120	346	4730	116	0	SPA, biosecurity measures already underway
NOSS NNR	NOSS	8017	2395	45777	1984	1892	SPA, biosecurity measures already underway
BORERAY, ST KILDA	BORERAY GANNETS	61340	0	0	0	0	SPA, rats already removed
FLANNAN ISLES	ROAREIM	1244	0	0	0	0	SPA, biosecurity measures already underway
SULA SGEIR ISLAND	SULA SGEIR	10703	1206	20877	801	177	SPA, no rats present
MONRIETH CLIFFS & SCAR ROCKS	BIG SCAR	1670	4	1753	39	0	RSPB reserve, no rats
GRASSHOLM, BISHOP & CLERKS, AND RAMSEY	GRASSHOLM	30688	7	1346	31	0	SPA, biosecurity measures already underway

*SPAs in the Republic of Ireland are not covered under the Biosecurity LIFE Project.

Table A4. Top Twenty islands in the UK for Guillemot based on abundance.

Rank	Site	Subsite	Guillemot	Razorbill	Puffin	Kittiwake
1	HANDA ISLAND	WHOLE ISLAND	112676	16991	735	7013
2	RATHLIN ISLAND	WHOLE ISLAND	95117	20860	1579	9917
3	LAMBAY ISLAND	WHOLE ISLAND	60754	4337	289	4091
4	NOSS	WHOLE ISLAND	45777	1984	1892	2395
5	FOULA	WHOLE ISLAND	41435	2121	22500	1934
6	FAIR ISLE	WHOLE ISLAND	39257	3599	40000	8204
7	FARNE ISLANDS	ALL ISLANDS	31497	209	55674	5096
8	ISLE OF MAY	WHOLE ISLAND COUNT	28103	4114	42000	3639
9	COLONSAY	WHOLE ISLAND	26429	2742	1	6485
10	ISLE OF COLONSAY	WHOLE ISLAND	26429	2742	1	6485
11	GREAT SALTEE	WHOLE ISLAND	21436	3239	1522	2125
12	SULA SGEIR	WHOLE ISLAND	20877	801	177	1206
13	COPINSAY	WHOLE ISLAND	20045	671	350	4364
14	BERNERAY	WHOLE ISLAND	19083	16513	1979	2613
15	SHIANT ISLANDS	ALL ISLANDS	16456	8046	65170	2006
16	DUNCANSBY HEAD TO SMOO (INCLUDES STROMA) - HIGHLAND	STROMA (WHOLE ISLAND)	14760	280	26	821
17	FLANNAN ISLES	ALL ISLANDS	14638	1569	15761	1244
18	SKOMER AND MIDDLEHOLM ISLANDS	SKOMER ISLAND	13852	3898	7076	2257
19	MINGULAY	WHOLE ISLAND	13387	6387	3827	2898
20	NORTH RONA	WHOLE ISLAND	10497	824	5265	3398

Table A5. Top twenty islands for Kittiwake based on abundance.

Rank	Site	Subsite	Kittiwake	Guillemot	Razorbill	Puffin
1	BORERAY, ST KILDA	WHOLE ISLAND	61340	5880	256	50999
2	RATHLIN ISLAND	WHOLE ISLAND	9917	95117	20860	1579
3	FAIR ISLE	WHOLE ISLAND	8204	39257	3599	40000
4	HANDA ISLAND	WHOLE ISLAND	7013	112676	16991	735
5	COLONSAY	WHOLE ISLAND	6485	26429	2742	1
6	ISLE OF COLONSAY	WHOLE ISLAND	6485	26429	2742	1
7	FARNE ISLANDS	ALL ISLANDS	5096	31497	209	55674
8	COPINSAY	WHOLE ISLAND	4364	20045	671	350
9	LAMBAY ISLAND	WHOLE ISLAND	4091	60754	4337	289
10	ISLE OF MAY	WHOLE ISLAND COUNT	3639	28103	4114	42000
11	NORTH RONA	WHOLE ISLAND	3398	10497	824	5265
12	MINGULAY	WHOLE ISLAND	2898	13387	6387	3827
13	ROUSAY	WHOLE ISLAND	2713	6205	510	53
14	BERNERAY	WHOLE ISLAND	2613	19083	16513	1979
15	NOSS	WHOLE ISLAND	2395	45777	1984	1892
16	SKOMER AND MIDDLEHOLM ISLANDS	SKOMER ISLAND	2257	13852	3898	7076
17	GREAT SALTEE	WHOLE ISLAND	2125	21436	3239	1522
18	SHIANT ISLANDS	ALL ISLANDS	2006	16456	8046	65170
19	FOULA	WHOLE ISLAND	1934	41435	2121	22500
20	AILSA CRAIG	WHOLE ISLAND	1675	9415	1,471	20

Table A6. Top twenty islands for Razorbill based on abundance.

Rank	Site	Subsite	Razorbill	Kittiwake	Guillemot	Puffin
1	RATHLIN ISLAND	WHOLE ISLAND	20860	9917	95117	1579
2	HANDA ISLAND	WHOLE ISLAND	16991	7013	112676	735
3	BERNERAY	WHOLE ISLAND	16513	2613	19083	1979
4	SHIANT ISLANDS	ALL ISLANDS	8046	2006	16456	65170
5	MINGULAY	WHOLE ISLAND	6387	2898	13387	3827
6	LAMBAY ISLAND	WHOLE ISLAND	4337	4091	60754	289
7	ISLE OF MAY	WHOLE ISLAND COUNT	4114	3639	28103	42000
8	SKOMER AND MIDDLEHOLM ISLANDS	SKOMER ISLAND	3898	2257	13852	7076
9	FAIR ISLE	WHOLE ISLAND	3599	8204	39257	40000
10	GREAT SALTEE	WHOLE ISLAND	3239	2125	21436	1522
11	COLONSAY	WHOLE ISLAND	2742	6485	26429	1
12	ISLE OF COLONSAY	WHOLE ISLAND	2742	6485	26429	1
13	FOULA	WHOLE ISLAND	2121	1934	41435	22500
14	NOSS	WHOLE ISLAND	1984	2395	45777	1892
15	FLANNAN ISLES	ALL ISLANDS	1569	1244	14638	15761
16	SANDA ISLAND, SHEEP ISLAND AND GLUNIMORE ISLAND	SHEEP ISLAND	1500	0	40	78
17	GRASSHOLM, BISHOP & CLERKS, AND RAMSEY	RAMSEY ISLAND	1499	293	3284	0
18	AILSA CRAIG	WHOLE ISLAND	1471	1675	9415	20
19	SKOKHOLM	WHOLE ISLAND	1234	0	996	2055
20	TORY ISLAND AND BLOODY FORELAND	TORY ISLAND	1002	408	568	1402

Table A7. Top twenty islands for Puffin based on abundance.

Rank	Site	Subsite	Puffin	Guillemot	Razorbill	Kittiwake
1	SHIANT ISLANDS	ALL ISLANDS	65170	16456	8046	2006
2	SULE SKERRY	WHOLE ISLAND	59471	10331	88	1275
3	FARNE ISLANDS	ALL ISLANDS	55674	31497	209	5096
4	BORERAY, ST KILDA	WHOLE ISLAND	50999	5880	256	61340
5	ISLE OF MAY	WHOLE ISLAND COUNT	42000	28103	4114	3639
6	FAIR ISLE	WHOLE ISLAND	40000	39257	3599	8204
7	FORTH ISLANDS - BASS ROCK TO HAYSTACK	CRAIGLEITH	28000	1708	186	511
8	SOAY, ST KILDA	WHOLE ISLAND	27600	4404	197	0
9	FOULA	WHOLE ISLAND	22500	41435	2121	1934
10	COQUET ISLAND	WHOLE ISLAND	17208	0	0	0
11	FLANNAN ISLES	ALL ISLANDS	15761	14638	1569	1244
12	SKOMER AND MIDDLEHOLM ISLANDS	SKOMER ISLAND	7076	13852	3898	2257
13	NORTH RONA	WHOLE ISLAND	5265	10497	824	3398
14	PUFFIN ISLAND - KERRY	WHOLE ISLAND	5125	92	35	0
15	GREAT SKELLIG	WHOLE ISLAND	4000	1422	386	0
16	MINGULAY	WHOLE ISLAND	3827	13387	6387	2898
17	SKOKHOLM	WHOLE ISLAND	2055	996	1234	0
18	BERNERAY	WHOLE ISLAND	1979	19083	16513	2613
19	NOSS	WHOLE ISLAND	1892	45777	1984	2395
20	TRESHNISH ISLES	LUNGA (WHOLE ISLAND)	1738	9433	943	782

Figure A1: Nesting space available in Area A (see Figure 2.3). Red = suitable Kittiwake habitat, Yellow = suitable Puffin habitat, Purple = suitable Guillemot/Razorbill habitat.

A picture containing outdoor, cliff, rock

Description automatically generated

Figure A2: Nesting space available in Area B (see Figure 2.3). Red = suitable Kittiwake habitat, Purple = suitable Guillemot/Razorbill habitat.

Figure A3 (above): Nesting space available in Area C (see Figure 2.3). Yellow = suitable Puffin habitat.

Figure A4 (bottom left and above): Nesting space available in Area D (see Figure 2.3). Yellow = suitable Puffin habitat, Red = suitable Kittiwake habitat, and Purple = suitable Guillemot/Razorbill habitat.

Figure A5 (above): Nesting space available in Area E (see Figure 2.3). Yellow = suitable Puffin habitat, Red = suitable Kittiwake habitat, Purple = suitable Guillemot/Razorbill habitat.

Figure A6 Nesting space available in Area F (see Figure 2.3). Red = suitable Kittiwake habitat, Yellow = suitable Puffin habitat, Purple = suitable Kittiwake habitat

Figure A7 (above): Nesting space available in Area G (see Figure 2.3). Yellow = suitable Puffin habitat.

Figure A9: Map of Handa showing Gaelic place names

Figure A10: Location of rat chew stations and percentage of visits where rats were detected 2018-2021.

Please note no mapping was carried out in 2019.

[1] Meeting held 26th November 2021.

[2] Email from NatureScot sent to SSER dated 26th April 2022.

[3] Https://opendata-rspbn.opendata.arcgis.com

[4] Seabird Nesting Counts (British Isles) - data.gov.uk

[5] SWT 2021. Handa Island Wildlife Reserve. Ranger’s Report 2021.

[6] Forth Islands Heritage Group 2021.

[7] Defined as being in the top twenty sites for that species, based on size of breeding colony.

[8] RSPB Priority list taken from Table 4 in LIFE13 NAT/UK/00209. Final Report. Covering the project activities from 01/10/2013 to 31/12/2018. Protecting and restoring the Shiant Isles SPA through rat removal, and safeguarding other seabird island SPAs in the UK.

[9] The target species for Inchcolm are Kittiwake, Razorbill, Puffin and Guillemot. Whilst Guillemot do not currently nest on Inchcolm the habitat is considered suitable.

[10] This includes the 10 birds observed in the 2021 survey conducted by the Forth Islands Heritage Group (FIHG 2021).

[11] Celebrating Seabird Success on the Island of Lundy and the Isles of Scilly - RSPB England - Our work - The RSPB Community

[12] Ailsa Craig - A Puffin Success Story - Argyll Cruising

[13] https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/life/publicWebsite/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=5018

[14] https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/life/publicWebsite/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=5018

[15] Celebrating Seabird Success on the Island of Lundy and the Isles of Scilly - RSPB England - Our work - The RSPB Community

[16] It is possible that the arrival of hedgehogs in 2002 and their subsequent increase may have been responsible, although this cannot be proven.

[17] Two-tailed test, n=6, Test statistic =0, Critical value= 0, p=0.05.

[18] Two-tailed test, n=6, Test statistic =0, Critical value= 0, p=0.05.

[19] These values vary very little over time.

[20] https://www.ayrshire-birding.org.uk/2001/01/ailsa_craig_before_and_after_the_eradication_of_rats_in_1991/

[21] RSPB Scotland Comments on Berwick Bank Wind Farm: Meeting 4, 21st September 2022.

[23] Email from NatureScot sent to SSER dated 26th April 2022.

[24] NatureScot advice on questions from 8th June derogation case meeting, letter received 6th July 2022.

[25] Marine Scotland Science responses to questions issued by Berwick Bank at the 3rd Compensatory measures meeting (held 8 June 2022) (Letter dated 12 July 2022).

[26] https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/black-legged-kittiwake-rissa-tridactyla/

[27] It should be noted in 1987 individual sections were not counted but an overall total count was obtained from the East Lothian Bird Report

[28] Email from NatureScot sent to SSER dated 26th April 2022.

[29] It should be noted that the nests on the Sea wall (10) are regularly flooded out by storms. The numbers refer back to the locations marked in green on Figure 4.2

[30] This initiative involves giving fishing boats big bags to collect the plastics, ghost gear and other debris that gathers in their nets during normal fishing activities. When the fishing boats come into port, they unload the bags of litter. Rubbish is recycled or disposed of on land.

[31] Marine Scotland Science responses to questions issued by Berwick Bank at the 3rd Compensatory measures meeting (held 8 June 2022)

[32] The only exception to this being the Gannet harvest at Sula Sgeir.

[33] Although anecdotal evidence suggests that Gannet nests also suffer predation from Great-Black Backed Gull, the density and sheer number of Gannet nests on Bass Rock means that working on this species at this site would be prohibitively difficult.

[34] Great Black-backed Gull may soon be moved to the Red list due to severe population declines.

[35] Email from NatureScot sent to SSER dated 26th April 2022.

[36] An MSc student on Craigleith found a Puffin midden where a pair had stockpiled 30 corpses (The Forth Seabird Group 2019). Finney 2002 states that 3 specialist pairs on Isle of May took half the 191 Puffins found during corpse searches, giving an average of ~30 corpses per pair.

[37] Great Black-backed Gulls stash dead Puffins, often leaving the carcasses in pools to soften them.

[38] This is not enough Puffins to result in a population decline, to do this several thousand Puffins would need to be killed per year. (S. Lopez pers. comm.)

[39] In Great Skuas seabird predation increases in response to decreasing prey availability offshore (Votier et al 2004)

[40] Stealing fish from birds returning to the colony to feed chicks.

[41] Most recent counts presented in JNCC 2021.

[42] https://community.rspb.org.uk/placestovisit/minsmere/b/minsmere-blog/posts/life-and-death-at-minsmere

[43] The chick that is born second.

[44] https://www.nurdlehunt.org.uk/nurdle-finds.html

[45] NatureScot advice on questions from 8th June derogation case meeting, letter received 6th July 2022.

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