Calf of Eday

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Calf of Eday
Location
Calf of Eday
Calf of Eday shown within Scotland.
OS grid reference:	HY580393
Names
Gaelic name:
Norse name:	Kálfr
Area and Summit
Area:	243 ha
Area rank (Scottish islands):	99
Highest elevation:	The Graand 54 m
Population
Population (2001):	0
Groupings
Island Group:	Orkney
Local Authority:	Orkney Islands
References:	[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Grey Head, the northern tip of the Calf. Sea caves, and the beginning of an arch can be seen in the cliff

The Calf of Eday (Old Norse: Kalfr ^[5]) is an island in Orkney, Scotland, lying north east of Eday.

"Calf" is a name usually given to a small island alongside a larger one, e.g. Calf of Man.

[edit] History

From the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries, the Calf of Eday was home to a salt works, remains of which can still be seen.

The island is home to three large chambered cairns, the remains of prehistoric houses and a lighthouse.

[edit] Wildlife

The dominant vegetation on the island is dry dwarf-shrub heath dominated by Heather (Calluna vulgaris), with smaller areas of wet heath, semi-improved grassland and coastal grassland. The Calf of Eday supports 32 species of breeding birds and is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for its importance as a nesting area. Gulls and Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) nest in the dry heath and grassland areas, whilst Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) and auks nest on the cliffs.^[7]

[edit] References

1. ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
2. ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.
3. ^ Orkney Placenames
4. ^ Ordnance Survey
5. ^ ^{a b} Anderson, Joseph (Ed.) (1893) Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint). ISBN 0-901824-25-9
6. ^ Pedersen, Roy (January 1992) Orkneyjar ok Katanes (map, Inverness, Nevis Print)
7. ^ Calf of Eday SPA Description. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved on 2007-11-11.

Coordinates: 59°14′N, 2°44′W

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