The Cormorant was almost exclusively a coastal breeder in the UK until 1981, but has since established colonies in many inland areas of eastern and central England (Rehfisch et al. 1999; Newson et al. 2006). Breeding numbers and productivity at sample colonies have been monitored annually since 1986 by JNCC's Seabird Monitoring Programme. Overall in Britain and Ireland there was a 15% increase in the population between full surveys in 1985–88 and 1998–2002 (Mitchell et al. 2004). Trends during 1986–2005 show decreases in Scotland and in northeast and southwest England, but no trend in Wales, and steep increases inland in England and in regions bordering the northern part of the Irish Sea (Mavor et al. 2008). By 2005, breeding had been recorded at 58 inland sites, and the inland population had risen to about 2,130 pairs (Newson et al. 2007). Inland breeding in England is thought to have been sparked by birds of the continental race sinensis from the Netherlands and Denmark, although many nominate carbo from coastal colonies in Wales and England have contributed to its development. The winter trend in Britain, comprising British and Irish breeders and continental visitors, has shown strong increase since the late 1980s but now appears more stable (Austin et al. 2008). The species has recently been moved from the green to the amber list, for reasons unconnected with its UK trend.

Population changes

Productivity trends

Additional information

• Maps and statistics from British and Irish atlases
• BirdFacts page on species biology
• BirdTrack results