Nests in extraordinarily high densities on ledges and on inaccessible cliffs.

The largest colony on NTS property is at Mingulay/Berneray, followed by St Abbs, Fair Isle and St Kilda, totalling some 15% of the Scottish population.

Food: Mainly variety of fish; haddock, herring, capelin, sand eels, whiting, pollack, saithe to name but a few. Diving depths vary but mainly up to 20m but have been recorded at 60m and staying down for a maximum 68s.

Nest Site: Rocky cliffs and sea stacks or islets with broad or medium ledges, fissures, crevices and between or beneath boulders.

Breeding: Mid April to late June and lay 1 egg.

Wintering: Southern Norway, North Sea, Irish Sea, English Channel and Bay of Biscay

Distribution: Mainly west coast of UK, Southern Ireland, Bear Island, Yan Mayen, Iceland, Faeroes, Russia, Norway, Denmark.

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