White-billed Diver by Aron Andersson, Sweden

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Transparent utfyllnad Breeding birds in the area

The birdlife at Slettnes 1989-1996
In 1989-1996 a study of breeding birds took place att Slettnes, Gamvik in Finnmark County. Prior interest was given to wetland birds. The study area holds more than 300 pairs of waders giving an average density of more than 20 pairs/km². Nearly 200 pairs of Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus breed in the area (the second largest colony in the World!). We also found good numbers of breeding Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata and Black-throated Diver Gavia artica (together >20 pairs), geese and ducks (close to 200 pairs) and Arctic Terns Sterna paradisaea (>1 200 pairs) giving a density of breeding wetland birds of more than 120 pairs/km². The most numerous among the passerines were Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus (40-60 pairs), Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe (40-50 pairs), Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis (50-100 pairs) and Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus (40-60 pairs). The combination of high diversity of breeding wetland birds together with a high breeding density of passerines show that Slettnes is of high national and international value as a breeding area for birds. The area was turned into a nature reserve in 1995. However, there is still no restrictions on public traffic into the area during the breeding season.

A monitoring program was started in 1994. This program monitors the number of breeding pairs of waders and Arctic Skua. Preliminary results reveal that Dunlin Calidris alpina, Turnstone Arenaria interpres, Redshank Tringa totanus, Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus and Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria all show small variation between years, while the Little Stint Calidris minuta show large variation in numbers between years. The Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus and the Ruff Philomachus pugnax show a less pronounced cycling over years.

Disturbance due to tourist traffic into the breeding grounds gives considerable loss of eggs and chicks every year for species like the Arctic Tern, the Arctic Skua and also some of the waders.

The study of the birdlife at Slettnes have been carried on over the years 1997-1999 and probably will contuine this year.

Breeding birds (1989-1996)

Species Pair
Red-throated Diver
Black-throated Diver
Bean Goose
Greylag Goose
Wigeon
Teal
Mallard
Pintail
Shoveler
Tufted Duck
Eider
Long-tailed Duck
Common Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Rough-legged Buzzard
Merlin
Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Dotterel
Golden Plover
Lapwing
Little Stint
Temminck's Stint
Purple Sandpiper
Dunlin
Ruff
Snipe
Whimbrel
Curlew
Redshank
Turnstone
Red-necked Phalarope
Arctic Skua
Common Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Kittiwake
Arctic Tern
Snowy Owl
Short-eared Owl
Skylark
Barn Swallow
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Rock Pipit
White Wagtail
Dipper
Bluethroat
Wheatear
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Redwing
Sedge Warbler
Willow Warbler
Hooded Crow
Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Twite
Redpoll
Arctic Redpoll
Lapland Bunting
Snow Bunting
Reed Bunting
12-14
8-9
1 (1993)
2 (1996)
2-3
2-4
10-15
8-12
2 (1991)
1-3
80-120
20-30
8-12
2-4
1-2
1-2
6-10
15-20
0-2
25-35
1 (1993)
10-100
1 (1989)
0-3
>60
40-60
10-20
15-20
2 (-1993)
3-5
48-55
30-50
160-180
100-120
5-10
5-10
>30 (Gamvik)
>1 200
1 (1988)
0-10
5-10
2 (Ganvik)
>40
>50
5-6
5-10
1
2-5
40-50
1 (1993)
20-100
20-30
1-3
5-10
1
1
>5 (Gamvik)
>20 (Gamvik)
1-2
5-20
0-10
40-60
50-100
1-3

Regular species (some of them breeding near Slettnes and except migrating species as Seabirds)
Great Northern Diver, Goosander, White-tailed Eagle, Gyrfalcon, Peregrine Falcon, Ptarmigan, Wood Sandpiper, Long-tailed Skua, Great Skua, Garden Warbler, Great Tit and Brambling.
   More uncommon species are: Slavonian and Red-necked Grebe, Manx Shearwater, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Canada Goose, Scaup, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Golden Eagle, Willow Grouse, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Little Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Tern, Little Auk, House Martin and Yellow Wagtail.
   Rare bird records: Little Grebe, Great White Egret, White Stork, Woodcock (2), Great Snipe, Stilt Sandpiper (17.06 1996), Sabine's Gull (5), Roller (19.06 1996), European Bee-eater (2003), Richard's Pipit, Black Redstart, Long-tailed Tit and Yellow-breasted Bunting.

Source:
Strann, K.-B. 1996. Fuglefaunan på Slettnes, Gamvik kommune 1989-1996. Totalkartleggning av fuglefaunan og artsrettet overvåkning av hekkende vadefugl og tyvjo. NINA Oppdragsmelding 447:1-19.

Contact address:
NINA, department for arctic ecology
Karl-Birger Strann
Storgt. 25
9005 Tromsö, Norway


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