The totals and proportions for Shetland, Orkney, the Western Isles, Moray Firth and the west coast of Scotland are set out in the table. Data for the administrative regions of Highland Council and Argyll and Bute are not available.AreaPopulationProportionTrendShetland Islands7,00010.6%DecliningOrkney Islands6,0009.1%Not knownWestern Isles6,0009.1%Not knownMoray Firth (only part of Highland Council area)2,5003.8%Not knownWest coast of Scotland (includes Argyll & Bute)9,00013.6%Probably increasingThe population in the UK is resident, although winter numbers may be enhanced by variable numbers of birds originating from the large north-west European population.Limited evidence suggests an increase in the population up to at least the late 1980s, apart from in Shetland, where marked declines in the population have occurred (from a maximum of 16,500 in 1977 to an estimated 5,700 in 2001).