Calf of Eday
| Calf of Eday | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 Calf of Eday
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| Calf of Eady shown within the Orkney Islands | |
| OS grid reference | HY580393 |
| Names | |
| Norse name | Kálfr |
| Area and summit | |
| Area | 243 hectares (0.94 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 99 |
| Highest elevation | The Graand 54 metres (177 ft) |
| Population | |
| Population | 0 |
| Groupings | |
| Island group | Orkney |
| Local Authority | Orkney Islands |
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| References | [1][2][3][4][5][6] |
| If shown, area and population ranks are for all Scottish islands and all inhabited Scottish islands respectively. Population data is from 2001 census. | |
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 17th to the 19th 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.
The pirate John Gow and his men successfully raided the Hall of Clestrain on 10 February 1725, but when they attempted to attack Carrick House on Eday, they ran aground on the Calf of Eday, where they were captured.[7][8]
[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.[9]
[edit] References
- ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1841954543.
- ^ Orkney Placenames
- ^ Ordnance Survey
- ^ 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
- ^ Pedersen, Roy (January 1992) Orkneyjar ok Katanes (map, Inverness, Nevis Print)
- ^ "Overview of John Gow". Gazetteer for Scotland. http://www.scottish-places.info/people/famousfirst2783.html. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
- ^ "John Gow - The Orkney Pirate". Orkneyjar, the heritage of the Orkney Islands. http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/historicalfigures/pirategow/index.html. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
- ^ "Calf of Eday SPA Description". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. http://www.jncc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1920. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
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Coordinates: 59°14′N 2°44′W / 59.233°N 2.733°W
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