HC Deb 28 April 1987 vol 115 cc73-4W
Sir Hector Monro

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many barnacle, pink foot, greylag and whitefront geese, respectively, have wintered on (a) the Solway and (b) the Island of Islay in each of the last five years.

Mr. Rifkind

My officials do not make counts of geese wintering in Scotland. The figures contained in the following table refer to seasonal migratory peaks and have been supplied by the Nature Conservancy Council from data collected on its behalf by the Wildfowl Trust.

Species
Year and Area Barnacle Pinkfoot Greylag Whitefront
1981–82
Solway Basin 8,300 10,200 1,300 1
Islay 17,000 1 1 3,300
1982–83
Solway Basin 8,500 11,300 3,100 1
Islay 14,000 1 1 3,900
1983–84
Solway Basin 8,400 16,300 2,800 1
Islay 22,900 1 1 4,600
1984–85
Solway Basin 10,500 27,000 3,700 1
Islay 23,100 1 1 5,300
1985–86
Solway Basin 10,400 6,900 3,800 1
Islay 19,200 1 1 6,300
1 Negligible flock population.

Final figures for 1986–87 are not yet available.