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1995 RAPTOR ROUND UP

Produced by the
Scottish Ornithologists’ Club
on behalf of all
Scottish Raptor Study Groups
with grant aid from
Scottish Natural Heritage

Coens

Supplement to Scottish Birds Volume 18 1996

ISSN 0036 9144

Introduction

Welcome to the first issue of the new style Raptor Round Up. This replaces the article that used
to appear in Scottish Bird News. It is produced by the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club on behalf
of the Scottish Raptor Study Groups with grant aid from Scottish Natural Heritage.

We know that for some years many RSG workers have wanted a wider forum in which to
publicise the groups’ work. We hope that this first attempt is a significant step in that direction.

The amount of material available has been increasing to the extent that recent Round Ups
could contain only a small amount of it. We hope that the new format will provide scope for
more in depth presentation of RSG work and that it will develop into a publication into which
the groups have greater direct input.

We have departed from the traditional species by species, group by group summaries and
adopted a less rigid format to provide a mixture of summaries, comments, data tables and
pieces of general interest. In most cases, contributors’ names appear at the end of each piece,
as before. If we have omitted anyone or attributed material wrongly, we apologise. Wherever
possible we have retained the style of the workers who provided the material but, in all cases,
restrictions on available space have forced us to wield the editorial pencil. These space
restrictions meant that - for the first time - we did not solicit material from groups who had not
submitted anything by the time of preparation. Indeed, space was so restricted initially that we
had to modify our original plan for a 16 page publication and increase this to 20 pages. For
this reason the Round Up appears in paper rather than cardboard covers in order to remain
within the available budget.

We welcome all (constructive!) comments from Scottish raptor workers on how this publication
should develop in future. Groups submitting material for the 1996 Round Up are invited to
presentitin the format in which they wouldlike to see it published. Whilst this is likely to produce
even more copy than we can immediately accommodate we would positively welcome such
an embarrassment of riches. We also welcome artwork or photographs. Artists should note
that photocopies are perfectly acceptable.

Keith Morton

This report was compiled by Keith Morton assisted by Sylvia Laing and Stan da Prato

1995 Raptor Round Up

Kestrels in Ayrshire in 1995

The expected crash of vole numbers plus an
extremely wet, windy and cold late winter and
early spring resulted in the lowest occupancy
of territories in study areas since 1972.
Conditions improved in May and through to
the end of the breeding season the cold but
dry conditions suited the Kestrels. Those
which did attempt to breed were very
productive.

Only 50% of territories were occupied and
only 18 clutches were recorded. Eight out of
9 lowland pairs and 4 out of 9 upland pairs laid
in April. The first egg was laid on 15 April and
the average clutch size was 5 eggs.
Compared to 1994, when 11 clutches of 6
eggs were laid, only one pair completed a
clutch of 6 in 1995, though one lowland pair
laid 7 eggs, all of which hatched.

Only 7 hens and one cock bird were caught,
but the weights were significant even for such
asmall sample and reflected the poor build up
to the season. One hen weighed in at only
220g and the average for all the hens was
260g (1994: 277g, 1993 :283g). One breeding
hen had been reared in an adjacent territory
in 1994 and another hen bred successfully for
the second year in the same nest site.

74% of eggs laid hatched and brood survival
was at its normal high level at 86%. Four
pairs failed, all at the clutch stage. One cliff
site was washed outina short spell of torrential
rain. Eggs were removed by persons unknown
from another 2 sites. The fourth failure was
the first year hen which laid the first eggs very
late (30 May), completed a clutch of 4 but did
not incubate.

Although there was no evidence of breeding
pairs being predated by Goshawks as in
1994, the 2 affected study areas only had

Kestrel Bill Brackenridge

Kestrels breeding on the periphery and this
accounted in part for the low occupancy rate.

The production rate for those pairs which
bred was high in terms of numbers of young
fledged. The average number of young
reared from all breeding attempts was 3.37
young and successful pairs raised 4.25. The
4 pairs at the ICI plant at Ardeer reared 20
young.

Six ringing recoveries were received. A
youngster ringed near Pinwherry in 1988 was
found at Barrhill (6 years 3 days), one ringed
near Culzean in 1993 was found near Straiton
(1 year 254 days). Two 1994 Waterhead
birds were recovered, one near Middlesex
after 254 days, the other a mile from its natal
site in spring 1995, a victim no doubt of the
inclement weather. A 1994 ICI bird was
found dead in October of the same year in
Devon. Pride of place, however, goes to
another Culzean bird ringed on19 June 1994.
It was killed when it flew into high tension
cables in Tenerife on the Canary Islands on
11 October of the same year. Only 114 days
but a magnificent 3076km, smashing the
previous Ayrshire record by 1280km (a 1975
bird which turned up in northern Spain).

Gordon Riddle
S Strathclyde RSG

1995 Raptor Round Up

Some thoughts on the long term prospects of Golden Eagles and Peregrines
in Central Scotland, Southwest Perthshire and beyond

Golden Eagle

In 1995 the 10 regular Golden Eagle home
ranges in Central Scotland and Southwest
Perthshire were monitored by 6 individual
observers. All 10 were occuped, probably by
pairs in each case, although in one instance
itis not certain that a pair was present. Four
successful pairs reared 6 young. One of
these pairs which had been persistently
robbed of its eggs in recent years only
succeeded because of an intensive nest
watching operation.

By way of contrast, in the remainder of
Perthshire west of the A9, at 13 home ranges
checked, only 2 pairs were successful, rearing
4 young. In Perthshire east of the A9 and in
Angus (generally more productive areas for
Golden Eagles) at 16 home ranges checked,
7 successful pairs reared 11 young. The3
areas combined thus produced an average of
0.54 young per Golden Eagle home range, a
reasonably satisfactory result.

The best available estimate is that Golden
Eagles must produce 0.5 young per pair over
a period of years in order to maintain the
population. From recorded breeding results
from the 10 regular Central and Southwest
Perthshire home ranges from 1978 to 1995
(108 known out of a total of 180 potential “pair
years”), an annual average of 0.45 young
were reared per home range. That however
ignores the fact that in a few instances single
birds only may have been present so the
average number of young reared per pair
may have been higher.

A more important point is that: if one takes
known Golden Eagle breeding figures from
1985 to 1995 inclusive for the whole of

Perthshire west of the AQ, and for Stirlingshire
and Dunbartonshire, aless satisfactory picture
emerges of only 0.35 young reared per annum
for each occupied home range. This allows
for the fact that some occupations of known
breeding areas were by single birds only, a
classic sign of deliberate persecution.

The inference is that - poor food supply and
hillwalker and climber disturbance
notwithstanding - this part of the Scottish
Golden Eagle population is being held back
from realising its full potential by human
interference and is maintained on along term
basis only by immigration from more
productive breeding areas.

Peregrine

In 1995 | checked 21 Peregrine territories and
recorded 12 pairs, 3 apparently single birds
and 6 territories apparently unoccupied. Only
5 pairs nested successfully, rearing 12 young.
The late lying snow at some of the eyrie
locations apparently had an effect on the
1995 breeding season and was probably the
cause of the higher than usual non-occupation
of territories.

Survey results from a wider area, comprising
my own study area, the remainder of Central
Scotland and Southwest Perthshire,
Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire
revealed from 40 Peregrine territories
checked: 22 pairs, 8 apparently single birds
and 10 territories apparently unoccupied.
Fourteen successful pairs reared 35 young.
In this larger area the relatively poor breeding
performance, and reported absence of
Peregrines from certain territories, is probably
a reflection of the adverse late winter and
early spring weather although, as usual,

1995 Raptor Round Up

robberies and other interference at certain
territories were probably involved.

As anticipated in 1994, one of the 2 extra
Peregrine pairs found in my study area that
year does appear to have involved one off
use of an alternative crag within an existing
territory. Inthe other instance, forthe second
year running, an extra pair was present at a
crag that prior to 1994 had been an alternative
site for another pair 1.5 miles away. Tosome
extent, however, it is a matter of swings and
roundabouts with another Peregrine territory
centred on an old Golden Eagle nest being
unoccupied by a pair.

It seems that, in recent years, in Scotland as
a whole the general picture of recovery of
Peregrine numbers may have been a mixed
one, with further increases since the 1991
national survey in certain lowland areas but

Nesting Peregrine

decreases in some upland regions. In one
previously regular Southwest Perthshire
territory birds could not be found in 1994 or
1995, while single Peregrines were recorded
in the 2 preceding years. Another formerly
regular Southwest Perthshire territory was
unoccuped in 1991, 1994 and 1995 (there are
no records for 1992 and 1993) and single
birds only were recorded in 1988, 1989 and
1990. Moreover, there is a trend in that area
for Peregrines to lay eggs some 2 to 3 weeks
later than they did in the early 1980s and this
could be attributable to a reduced food supply
as much as to poor spring weather. Thisisa
very small sample on which to base any firm
conclusions, but, if the pattern is being
repeated elsewhere, it could indicate a
significant decline in Peregrines in our upland
areas.

Patrick Stirling-Aird
Central and Tayside RSG

SEAR NN

Bill Paton

Highland RSG
Golden Eagle

A good proportion of the pairs (96) were
monitored with an especially welcome
increase in numbers checked in the eastern
part of the area.

Overall breeding success was close to the
long term average with 0.5 chicks fledged per
pair. Success was rather better than average
in Skye but below average in south Lochaber.
Differences in breeding success between
different parts of the Highland RSG area
broadly reflect well known differences in the
amountof food available to Eagles in summer.
Breeding was somewhat later than usual and
in several cases, chicks were still on the nest
well into August. This was probably a result
of average laying dates being somewhat
retarded as a consequence of cold weather
and snow in late March/early April. The
especially fine weather from mid summer
onwards may have benefited Eagles in Skye
and outweighed any deleterious effect on
breeding success caused by poor weather in
early summer.

Jeff Watson

Buzzard

Seventeen observers obtained full details of
73 pairs with partial information relating to a
further 4. Most of the information related to
Easter Ross and, in particular, Bob Swann’s
study area. Other areas are much in need of
coverage.

Overall productivity was average and very
similar to the previous 2 years. In Easter
Ross, greatest breeding success was
achieved by pairs in areas where Rabbits
were plentiful, although a small group of birds
in east Inverness produced few young in an

1995 Raptor Round Up

area where Rabbits were present. The poor
spring weather is thought to have affected
breeding in some areas. There were only 2
instances of possible human interference
reported.

The figure for clutch size was inflated by the
unprecedented incidence of 2 clutches of 5,
from one of which all the young were thought
to have fledged. Excluding these clutches,
the average would have been 2.8

Malcolm Harvey
Red Kite

1995 was another very good year for Red
Kites in the Highlands. The young from1994
survived their first winter well and at least 10
out of 13 were still alive in early April. 1995
saw the first successful breeding of 3 wildbred
Scottish Kites. There were also 4 clutches of
4 eggs - an indicatation of good feeding
conditions prior to laying. Twentysix young
were produced (13 in 1994). As more of the
population gain breeding experience it is
hoped that they can steadily increase the
population.

Productivity figures were

No of territories occupied 22
No of pairs which laid eggs 15
Mean clutch size (from 10 nests) 3.1
No of nests which fledged young 11
Mean no of young/successful pair 2.4
% of breeding prs fledging young 73.3%

Spring dispersal of nestlings may be the
norm, as chicks initially remain near their nest
site until the end of September, attend the
communal winter roost from approximately
October to March and are then pushed off
their winter feeding grounds by territorial
adults. To date, 47 Red Kites have been
reared in the wild in Scotland. 32 of the wild

1995 Raptor Round Up

Red Kite

Mike Ashley

bred Kites are known to be still alive and one
has been found dead.

Kites may be identified by the colour of their
wing tags. Colours so far are: Orange 1989,
Blue 1990 (with black letters, only 4 are
known to be alive), Yellow 1991, Lime Green
1992, Red 1993, White 1994 and Blue 1995
(with white letters). Tags used since 1992
have small colour bars at the end. We need to
know the date, place, tag colour on left and
right wings and, if possible, the letters or
numbers on the tags.

Lorcan O’Toole

Peregrine
A total of 44 sites were checked, a significant

increase over previous years. 40 were
occupied by pairs, but eggs were laid at only

34 sites. Hatching occurred at 26 sites and at
least 48 young were assumed to have fledged
from 24 successful nests.

Overall, Highland Peregrines appear to have
had a slightly below average year. The poor
weather in April and May had an adverse
affect, either by directly causing nest failure,
or by causing difficulties with hunting and
food supply. There is also evidence that
persecution continues to be a problem and
even shows signs of an increase in some
areas.

Colin Crooke

Merlin

Twelve observers supplied records relating
to 41 sites. Some records contained
insufficient information to obtain an accurate
picture of breeding success.

Clutch sizes were known at 12 sites giving an
average of 4.0, towards the upper end of the
range. Only 2 failures were recorded between
laying and fledging, both at the egg stage.
Eggs disappeared atan Inverness-shire nest,
presumed predated. Ata Sutherland nest
the female was found dead 3m from the nest
which still contained eggs. The overall mean
brood size per successful nest was 3.42.

Merlins in Strathspey, Moray and Nairn did
significantly better than those from other areas
perhaps reflecting habitat quality. Just over
half the Moray sites checked were unoccupied,
for no apparent reason.

Coverage is still poor in Ross & Cromarty,
Upper Badenoch & Strathspey, Inverness
and parts of Caithness and Sutherland. More
Merlin enthusiasts are needed to check these
areas.

Jim Craib

Hen Harrier

A total of 43 active nests were monitored.
This is less than the 1994 total (51). The time
and effort spent checking sites was the same
in both years. Much of the decline in the
number of nests found is due to a large
reduction in breeding pairs found in the east
Inverness and Nairn study area (9 in 1994, 3
in 1995). It is suspected that this results from
early spring persecution of birds attempting
to settle on grouse moors. Mild weather in
April encouraged much conspicuous aerial
activity and made some Harriers easy targets.
The breeding success in these southern
districts, where the pairs are mainly on grouse
moors, was again poor. Only 36% of nests
found produced young (mean brood size/
successful nest 2.9; mean brood size/nest
found 1.0). This is well below the 1988-94
long term average of 45%; 3.4. The
inescapable truth is that systematic destruction
of Harriers is an established, but covert,
management practice on most grouse moors
in our area. This illegal persecution is the
underlying cause of the continuing poor
breeding success and reduced distribution
and abundance of these raptors throughout
eastInverness, Nairn, Strathspey and Moray.

1995 Raptor Round Up

Nick Picozzi

Female Hen Harrier

All was not gloom! Many pairs breeding in the
northern districts (east Sutherland and Ross-
shire) had a successful season. The long, dry
summer helped to fledge some large broods
including 5 of 5 young and 1 of 6 (only the
second record since 1988). Most breeding
attempts occurred on unkeepered moors, or
in young forestry. 76% of nests were
successful, raising 60 young; mean brood
size/successful nest 3.8; mean brood size/
nest found 2.9. These figures are higher than
the 1998-94 long term average of 74%; 3.1
and 2.3 (n 134) respectively.

District Nests with Mean clutch Nests Nests Total young
full clutches size failed successful fledged
Predominantly unkeepered
E Sutherland 13 4.9 2 11 40
E Ross 8 5.4 3 5 20
Total 21 5.1 5 16 60
Predominantly grouse moor
E Inverness/Nairn 3 5.0 3 0 0
Strathspey 8 5.6 6 2 8
Moray 11 5:9 5 6 15
Total 22 5.5 14 8 23

Brian Etheridge

1995 Raptor Round Up

Kestrel

Twenty nine sites held pairs, 2 less than
1994. Most records again came from
nestboxes followed by old Crow nest and cliff
sites.

Mean clutch size (5.4) was the second highest
for the past 6 years. Mean brood size (4.7)
was the highest for the past 6 years.
Productivity was up 0.1 from 1994 to 4.2. It
appears that Kestrels made the best of the
good weather conditions of the late spring
and early summer.

Caithness had a much better mean brood
size, but again there was only a very small
sample from this area with most records
coming from Easter Ross and East
Sutherland.

Mick Canham

Tawny Owl productivity

Area No laying No successful
Easter Ross 20 13

Rest 23 20

All 43 33

SS

Tawny Owl with Common Shrew

Tawny Owl

Records were received from 43 nests. These
were well distributed throughout the Highland
RSG area, with most coming from Easter
Ross. No other sub area had enough data to
do separate analysis.

The apparent poorer performance of Easter
Ross birds may be due to a bias in data
collection. More boxes from this area are
checked during incubation than elsewhere,
giving a greater chance of recording early
failures. Indeed the low number of young
fledging per pair laying in Easter Ross was
partly due to 35% of all these nests failing
prior to hatching. Brood size of successful
nests in Easter Ross (1.6) was close to the
overall average of 1.7.

1995 was another fairly average year, though
clutch size was the lowest we have recorded
(2.4, n=29).

No young reared No fledged/pr
21 1.1
35 1.5
56 1.3

Bob Swann

Don Smith

8 1995 Raptor Round Up

Northeast RSG

Peregrine

At inland sites comparison between grouse moor and non grouse moor suggest higher
persecution on grouse moors. There was widespread failure in the Ladder Hills but itis difficult
to separate problems of weather and persecution. Birds on coastal sites had irregular success
and were less successful than those inland. Possibly there are residual toxins in their prey.

Sites Checked Occupied Known to Known to Min.no
have laid fledge fledged
Total 83 60 43 22 41
Grouse moor 37 25 20 4 9
Non grouse moor 28 21 12 11 23
Coast 18 14 11 7 9+

% occupied/ %laid/ % fledged/ % min young/ %minyoung/
checked occupied occupied occupied _ successful

Grouse moor 68 80 16 0.36 2.25
Non grouse moor 75 57 52 1.10 2.09
Coast rag 79 50 0.64 1.29

Jon Hardey
Golden Eagle

From 17 pairs, 13 laid eggs of which 10 pairs reared a total of 13 young. There were 2 clutches
of 3 eggs. There were 3 new sites, one in a tree, one cliff site and one on an artificial nest.

Robert Rae
Merlin

In Deeside 26 pairs were located. Sixteen of them succeeded and reared 47 young. In Donside
a decline in the past couple of years has been noted. From 12 expected pairs, only 4 pairs were
located of which only 2 reared young. Sites were occupied early but affected by late snow.
There were no pairs found on the Buchan Plain where there was not an apparent snow
problem. There was some evidence of competition with Hen Harriers.

Graham Rebecca, Brian Cosnette
Hen Harrier

Workers reported 17 known nests up to 10 of which where known or thought to be successful.
Despite the recent presence of up to 25 pairs in Kincardine & Deeside, it is thought that no birds
are now successful there. Grampian now has the highest number of tagged Hen Harriers in
Scotland due to the rapid turnover there.

Brian Etheridge, Graham Rebecca & Brian Cosnette

1995 Raptor Round Up

South Strathclyde and Dumfries & Galloway RSGs

Merlins
Region Occupied Nest Nests Success Failed Outcome Fledged
territories not found nests nests completely young
found (br proved) unknown

S Strathclyde 18 7 11 9 2 6 28+
D&G 13 4 9 5 4 1 11+
Total 31 11 20 14 6 7 39+
Minimum overall productivity = 1.25 fledged young/occupied territory; 2.78 fledged young/

successful nest.

Tree nests n=9; successful n = 6 (66%); average known brood = 2.5 (n=6)
Ground nests n= 11; successful n = 8 (72%); average known brood = 3.28 (n = 7)

Where outcome precisely known productivity = 1.77 fledged young per occupied territory (n =

29).

Forest edge sites

The above data includes sampling of the
forest edge Merlin sites discovered in 1993/
94. A sample of 19 forest edge sites occupied
in 1993 and 1994 were checked for
occupation.

Hen Harriers

In South Strathclyde 30 occupied territories
produced 24 nests with eggs; 10 nests
succeeded, producing 40+ young (av brood
3.6, productivity 1.33 fledged young per
occupied territory). Human interference was
known or strongly suspected in 13 failed
attempts.

Hen Harriers were seen in an additional 4
locations in S Strathclyde but with no proof of
breeding.

10 out of 19 sites were occupied, atleast early
in season (April/May). Outcomewas known
at 6 of these sites (3 successful, 3 failed) and
unknow at the other 4.

In Dumfries and Galloway, 20 occupied
territories produced 19 nests with eggs; 15
nests succeeded, producing 49 young (av
brood 3.26, productivity 2.45 fledged young
per occupied territory). Human interference
was known in 2 failed attempts.

Totals for the South West are, therefore: 50
occupied territories, 43 nests with eggs, 25
successful nests, 89 young produced (av
brood 3.43, productivity 1.78 fledged young
per occupied territory).

10 1995 Raptor Round Up

Peregrine

Peregrines in SW Scotland had another very productive year.

Region Occupied Eggs Success Failed Outcome Fledged
territory proved nests nests unknown young
(robbed) (not checked)

S Strathclyde coast 7 4 6 1 1 (1) 12+
S Strathclyde inland 18 16 Fé 10 (9) 4(3) 17+
Total 25 23 13 11 (9) 5(4) 29+
Dumf & Gall coast 17 9 9 3 7 (2) 17+
Dumf & Galliniand 57 45 32 23 (7) 4(3) 75+
Total 74 54 41 26(7) 11(5) 92+
SW Scotland total 99 77 54 37(16) 16(9) 121
1994 total 97 81 60 26(13) 9(7) 121/124+

Productivity (min. fledged young/occupied territory):

S Strathclyde coast = 1.71; inland = 0.94; Strathclyde overall = 1.16

Dumfries and Galloway coast = 1.00; inland = 1.32; Dumfries/Galloway overall = 1.24
Overall productivity for SW Scotland = 1.22 fledged young/occupied territory

Productivity for nests where outcomes precisely known

S Strathclyde inland = 1.0 n=16 Dumfries and Galloway inland 1.20 n=50
S Strathclyde coast =1.83 n=6 Dumfries and Galloway coast 1.40 n=10
Total =1.23 ‘in=22 Total 1.23 n=60

Overall productivity (where outcomes known) = 1.23 fledged young/occupied territory (n=82)
(This compares with 1.27 in 1994.)
The SW Scotland data was obtained by the

“N WA Za following Dumfries & Galloway and S
; O “ig gy! i Strathclyde RSG workers:
LZ oz Se,
EE John Adair, Jim Barclay, Jim Brown, Ken
Bruce, Chris Cameron, Peter Dale, Andy
——<—<—— ES Dickson, Bert Dickson, Richard Gladwell,
HESS = - Ronnie Graham, Charlie Hall, Ray Hawley,

Angus Hogg, Keith Kirk, lan Miller, Duncan
Orr-Ewing, Charles E Park, Steve Redpath,
Gordon Riddle, Chris Rollie, Dick

Roxburgh, Geoff Shaw, Geoff Sheppard,
Peregrine \ Crispin Fisher — Bob Stakim, Gary Tait and Gina Young

1995 Raptor Round Up

Lothian & Borders RSG
Peregrine

High site occupancy and productivity continue
to be a feature of Southeast Scotland’s
Peregrines. Eightynine chicks fledged from
30 successful pairs, an average of 2.97 per
successful pair. A further 7 pairs failed due to
natural causes and 12 pairs failed in
circumstances suggesting deliberate human
persecution. This was, nevertheless, the
most productive year on record with 8 more
birds fledging than in 1994.

George Carse
Goshawk

Excluding Forest Enterprise land, 14 nest
sites were monitored, 3 more than 1994.

The 6 nests found at the egg stage produced
20 young from 23 eggs. The 4 nests found
after hatching produced 12 young. At 2 sites
the nest was not found. Two pairs failed
before laying.

No nest robberies or persecution incidents
were recorded but human interference with
this species is still widely suspected. What
happens to the Goshawks after they have left
the nest area is anybody’s guess.

There were several reports of sightings
throughout the Lothian & Borders RSG area
so there may be are more nests to be found.
The Berwickshire, East Lothian and West
Lothian area is of particular interest with
sightings in 1994 & 1995.

Malcolm Henderson

17

Merlin

Weather conditions during the 1995 breeding
season were favourable, particularly during
the crucial incubation and small young period,
when there was a prolonged dry and settled
spell. Occupation levels weregenerally quite
good and a high proportion of occupied sites
successfully raised young. Within the
Lammermuirs, and probably in most of the
other areas monitored, this was one of the
most successful years since the study began.

Lammermuir Hills

All known sites were monitored. A total of 17
showed some early signs of occupation. At
13 of these eggs were laid with the others
failing before or just after laying. For only the
second time since this study began in 1984 all
located nests successfully hatched some
young. Two nests subsequently failed when
the young were quite small. Predation was
assumed in both cases but with no evidence
of the species responsible. The other 11
nests produced 42 young to ringing age from
48+ eggs (4 of these nests were located at the
small young stage).

Moorfoot Hills

At least 11 pairs occupied sites although 2
either never laid or failed soon after laying.
Six nests were located, one not until the
young stage. Atleast 9 young fledged from
the other 3 nests. One of these was thought
to be a relay following an early failure at an
alternative site. From the 9 nests, 34+ young
are thought to have fledged.

Pentland Hills

Unfortunately, coverage was notas extensive
as usual and most sites were not visited until
late in the season. Nevertheless, these late
visits suggest that several pairs attempted to
breed this year. Fledged young were detected

12 1995 Raptor Round Up

at 3 sites and signs of occupation were found
at 3 others. In addition, single birds were
reported from several other areas.

South of Tweed
Areas searched in 1994 were revisited plus
additional suitable habitat. Two nests
succeeded, one a new site, and produced 9
young. At least 7 other pairs were in
occupation early on, 2 of which remained on
territory until after mid May, but either did not
lay or probably failed soon after.

Alan Heavisides

Tayside RSG breeding data Golden Eagle Mike Ashley
Sites Sites Sites Sites Sites No young No young
checked occupied laid hatched fledged fledged persuccess

Hen Harrier

Perthshire 39 18 52 2.9

Angus 2 1(+17?) 1 1 3 3.0

Golden Eagle

W of AQ 16 16 2+ 2+ 2 4 2.0

E of AQ 16 15 9 Z 7 11 1.6

Total 32 31 11+ 9+ 9 15

Osprey 34 25 21 20 34 1.7

Merlin

Perthshire 58 35 28 11(+27) 31 2.8+

Angus 21 13 10(+27) 8 26 3.25

Total 79 48 38(+2) 19(+2) 57

Peregrine

W of AQ 30 17 9 24 2.67

E of AQ 16 12 9 5 5 12 2.4

Angus 38 24 13 9 20 2.2

Total 83 52 22 54

Raven

W of AQ 18 17 S) 24+ 2.7+

E of AQ 5 1(+17) 1 1 1 2+ 2.0+

Total 23 18(+1) 10 26+

1995 Raptor Round Up

Tayside RSG

Golden Eagle
Breeding success was poorer in the west of
the area ‘as usual’ with its wetter climate and
poorer prey density. Immatures are still
recorded trying to colonise managed grouse
moor. An adult male was found shot in Glen
Clova with 30 shot gun pellets in its body.
Keith Brockie

Merlin
Perthshire had one of its poorest years for a
long time with only 11 pairs known to have
fledged young. Merlins in Angus eventually
produced a satisfactory 26 known fledged
young. Acold snap in the second week of May
seems to have held back a very promising
season at the outset.

Ron Downing & Wendy Mattingley

Osprey

A Swedish-ringed male was found dead under
wires ata new site. One eyrie was seen to fall
out, killing one of 3 chicks. Anewnest was put
up within 3 hrs and the female was back
brooding. Another nest slipped, with one egg
smashed on the ground. Workers rebuilding
this found 3 eggs caught up in the debris of
the tree. These were replaced, and, amazingly,
2 chicks fledged. Elsewhere, another eyrie
blew down, killing 2 large chicks. One long
established pair had its clutch robbed in early

WE Aeron ~~ ye
f pai
ats et mw

Male Hen Harrier

Wi

13

May, ending a9 year run that had produced
19 chicks.
Keith Brockie & Bradley Yule

Peregrine
A poor season in the west of the area with
snow lying on many ledges through March,
and some possible human interference. In
east Perthshire success was also fairly low,
especially for high ground pairs, due to poor
weather early on. Angus also had an overall
poor season again with upland birds faring
worst. A male bred in Glen Esk was found
electrocuted under powerlines at Pitlochry. A
Glen Clova nestling was found long dead
nearby in Glen Prosen.
Patrick Stirling-Aird, Keith Brockie &
Ron Lawie

Hen Harrier
Avery poor year in Perthshire with many birds
missing, and a big drop east of the Tay.
Decreases were particularly noticeable in the
usually denser populated areas, with more
males than females present. Many pairs
failed at the egg stage, mainly through natural
causes, though there were the usual examples
of persecution. Workers on the RSPB’s survey
of waders on grouse moors sighted harriers in
the regular areas, but there were only 5
sightings in Angus.

Bruce Anderson

14

1995 Raptor Round U;

Scottish Ospreys

Ninetynine nests were known to be occupied
by pairs in 1994, which is 4 more than in 1994;
5 further traditional eyries had single birds
present for at least short periods and several
other sites were visited for single days. Three
further pairs were seen but their nests were
not located; to keep records comparable over
the years, these are not included in the official
total. If they were then the total would be 102
pairs. The Scottish population is now
undoubtedly over 100 pairs, and it is now
getting difficult to locate every pair each spring.

The spring weather was not particularly good
in 1995. It was another colder than normal
spring which delayed many individuals. There
also appeared to be a shortage of new
breeders early in the the season. Late May
and early June were also poor with cold winds
and rain at hatching time. The rest of the
summer was very hot and dry.

Eggs were laid in 92 nests whichis an increase
of 9 on last year. Particularly distressing was
a resurgence of egg stealing with a total of 6
clutches being illegally taken by egg thieves.
Of special significance was the nest of a
Scandinavian ringed female breeding for the
frist time; if her eggs had not be stolen by she
could have contributed some new genes to
the Scottish Osprey population. We hope she
returns next summer and rears young.

Nine nests failed with eggs and a further 4
pairs failed before fledging. Several nest
failures were due to strong winds. Others
failed at hatching time due to bad weather
while one nest was unfortunately disturbed
by tree fellers. There were 3 cases of pairs
being helped by the immediate provision of
artificial nests.

In total 73 pairs reared a total of 144 young,

Don Smith

which is 4 more pairs than last year but 2
chicks less. The over all production of young
from the known Scottish population was 1.45
young per nest occupied by a pair; 1.57
young per pair laying eggs. Mean brood size
was 1.92
Roger Broad, Keith Brockie,
Colin Crooke, Roy Dennis & lan Francis

1995 Raptor Round Up

15

The home life of the Peregrine and the
Raven

March 21 | watched a pair of Ravens
refurbish last year’s nest.

March 31 \returned for an egg count and the
female Raven flew from a fully lined nest with
no eggs.

April15 On the way to the Peregrine site
100 metres beyond, !| checked the Raven
again. To my disbelief there was no sign of
the nest! My first thought was human
persecution, although the birds were still there.
| carried on to check the Peregrine. The
Ravens followed and had their usual
interactions with the Peregrine. This beinga
very public site, | left quickly, happy that the
Peregrine was there.

April25 The Ravens were present still but
this time no Peregrines. | thought the falcon’s
eggs had been robbed as usual and did not
bother checking the scrape. | turned my
attentions to the Ravens, and began to wonder
ifthey could have moved their nest, especially
given how well the site had been cleared.
Surely no human would have been so
meticulous. No vestige of the nest remained.
May 15 Enroute toa Hen Harrier siteona
nearby grouse moor, the Ravens were again
in the area; this time they were very noisy.
From a good viewing point, using the
telescope, | could see at least 3 young ina
large nest tucked in at the former Peregrine
ledge. This confirmed my suspicion that the
Ravens had indeed dismantled their nest,
stick by stick, to rebuild it on the Peregrine
ledge.

May 17 | found the Peregrine with eggs on
a small site a mile away.

Has anyone had a similar experience?

lan Miller

The status of the Golden Eagle in
Britain in 1992

This work has been published since the last
Round Up. Since RSG workers played such
a vital part in collecting the data it is thought
appropriate to publish this short summary
which is taken with kind permission from the
BTO from Rhys Green’s paper published in
Bird Study (1996) 43: 20-27

A survey of Golden Eagles was carried out in
1992 which, as far as possible, repeated that
of 1982-83. In total, 422 pairs were located,
0.5% fewer than in 1982-83. However,
changes between 1982-83 and 1992 in the
number of pairs in 7 geographical regions
varied between a 27% decline (from 22 pairs
to 16) and a 28% increase (from 53 pairs to
68). The mean number of young reared per

Bob Lambie

Golden Eagle
pairin 1992 was0.32. There was nosignificant
variation in breeding success between
regions. Breeding success was lower in 1992

than in 1982 in 6 of the 7 regions. The
proportion of 10-km National Grid squares
which held pairs of Golden Eagles was
positively correlated with the proportion of
upland habitats within them, but there was
also substantial geographical variation in
population density, expressed as pairs per
100 km? of upland. Some predominantly
upland areas held no Golden Eagles whereas
the areas with the highest densities, which
were in western Scotland, held up to about 4
pairs per 100 km of upland.

16

1995 Raptor Round Up

Piracy on Short-eared Owls by Carrion Crow

On 19 November 1995, | was doing a Hen
Harrier roost watch high on a hillside. The
area was partly young forestry and open hill.
From where | was sitting | had an excellent
view of the surroundings. On scanning the
area with binoculars, | could pick out 5 hunting
Shorties. The Owls had also been here in
good numbers on my first visit of the winter, in
early October. A check of Short-tailed Voles
then had shown numbers to be very high. |
was Surprised, as this was only the second
winter after they had crashed. Another look
over the settling area showed a couple of
Carrion Crows hanging about doing nothing
in particular.

The nearest hunting Shortie to were | was
sitting made akill and lifted into the air carrying
a Vole in its talons. One of the Crows got up
and headed straight for the Owl, chasing it
round behind me and out of sight. Almost
immediately, an Owl was heading back, flying
fairly high with no sign of any Vole. | couldn't
be absolutely sure, but! took it to be the same
bird. It began to hunt the same local area
suggesting that it was the same bird. | had
noticed that they appeared to have their own
small territories, which were defended against
other Owls. Even though | didn’t witness it, |
was fairly sure the Crow had robbed the Owl
of its Vole.

A month later, on 28 December, | visited the
area with 2 companions. There had been
heavy snow falls and only the very tops of the
vegetation were showing through. At11.10am
whilst walking up the forest road we could see
3 hunting Shorties. The birds must have been
under pressure to be out at that time of day.
Next we spotted a Shortie flying our way
carrying prey and chased by a Crow. The
Crow was flying under the Owl and was about
a metre away when the Owl dropped the

Vole. What happened next would put most
harriers to shame. The Crow caught the vole.
The timing was perfect, as if it had been
rehearsed over and over.

On 21 January | was again down that way.
This time | was on the other side of the hill,
heading towards the roost. | spotted a Crow
flying fast and direct above the young trees
and sure enough there was a Shortie carrying
a Vole in its talons. Again the Owl put up no
fight and released the vole, which again was
expertly caught in the crow’s bill. | can
remember thinking to myself, “Is this one
individual bird, or are they all at it’. | didn’t
have long to wait till | got the answer. An hour
later, at about 3.50pm, | could see a Shortie
carrying prey, this time chased not by one, but
2 Crows. The difference was that this Shortie
had no intention of giving up the Vole without
a fight. Finally, after relentless pressure from
both Crows which were competing with one
another, the Owl let go. This time it was a bit
messy and only after a quick adjustment was
the vole caught. Finally, the successful crow
was now being chased by the other. | was
never sure of the outcome. The birds were
flying away from me at speed, twisting and
turning.

| was surprised how easily 2 of the Owls gave
up. It might be that with Voles being so
plentiful it wasn’t worth the hassle. | got the
impression that, if only the Owls didn’t have
the habit of lifting up into the air after making
a kill, piracy by Crows could have been
avoided.

A search of the literature showed that piracy
by other raptors was fairly well documented,
but | could find no instances of Carrion Crows
being involved.

Richard Gladwell

1995 Raptor Round U 17

Fellow travellers

A brood of 5 Merlins ringed at a site in West ;
: : B5 d 25/06/95
Perthshire on 25 June 1995 has provided 3 eRe 30/10/95

recoveries within the first winter. Two, amale @ Recovered 07/11/95
a Recovered 25/01/96

and a female, were both found dead near
Wareham, Dorset, the male on 7 November
(finding details: dead, not fresh) andthe female
on30 October distances of 644km and 655km
respectively, the directions taken being 169°
and 168° These circumstances suggest that
the 2 siblings had travelled in company.

Amazingly, a second female was “taken by a
cat” near Lucon, Vendée, France on 24
January 1996, having travelled 1121km ina
direction of, again, 169°. Had all 3, or all 5,
kept company on their southward migration,
these 3 falling by the wayside? Or was it just
coincidence?

Euan Cameron

Map produced dsing OMAP |

ne Aas

Breeding Short-eared Owls Jim Young

18 1995 Raptor Round Up

Persecution issues
Larsen Traps

The introduction of the Larsen Cage Trap in
1990/91 for the capture of Carrion Crows and
Magpies was seen as a breakthrough by
game shooting interests. Reports of their
effectiveness in catching territorial birds in
spring were widespread and they have now
become a standard item of gamekeepers’
equipment.

This has had several effects on the positive
side. Raptor workers have been told by
keepers that the Larson has ended their
involvement with poisoning. It is possible that
the recent spread of Buzzards in east and
south Scotland in part reflects a drop in
widespread poisoning. In many areas, the
introduction of these traps coincided with the
start of the increase in Buzzards .

Interference with these traps, usually by
release of decoy Crows, is therefore not likely
to be helpful where illegal alternatives have
only very recently been abandoned. Naive
members of the public usually think they have
discovered an illegal trap when they first
encounter a Larsen . They then phone the
RSPB or the Police and are educated into the
world of legitimate Crow controll.

On the negative side, the deliberate abuse of
Larsens by converting them into raptor traps
has been observed throughout the UK.
Scotland has not escaped this phenomenon.
Using Pigeons as bait, the similarity between
these traps and traditional hawk traps is
obvious.

Even with legitimate decoy species, (Crows
and Magpies) in the trap, raptors can be
caught. During the initial experiments on
Salisbury Plain carried out by the Game
Conservancy 12 Buzzards, 15 Kestrels, 3

Sparrowhawks and 16 Tawny Owls were
trapped. Admittedly, this was from a total of
over 10,000 captures, but the author has
been told of areas in Scotland where Buzzards
are regularly caught, released and trapped
again! This also applies to Larsens without
live decoys, but baited with Rabbit meat or
eggs in the effort to catch the decoy Crow.

Due to an oversight by the government, the
first Open General Licences needed to
legitimise the use of live decoy birds in a
confined space (Section 8, Wildlife and
Countryside Act) contained the full “pest list”
from the Act. It was, of course, a nonsense
and a dangerous one for birds of prey, for the
list to include Feral and Woodpigeons. The
inclusion of House Sparrow reinforced this,
as the typical mesh size of a Larsen would
allow them to fly straight out!

It is worth remembering that the experiments
at Salisbury Plain, which led to the granting of
the licence were with regard to territorial
species: Carrion Crows and Magpies.

It took over 2 years of work by the RSPB and
the licensing section of SNH to amend this
badly drafted licence. The licence must be
reissued separately each year in Scotland,
England and Wales. The text of the 1996
Scottish Licence is given below. In amending
the Licence the opportunity was also taken to
protect any accidentally trapped nontarget
species by the addition of a condition stating
that such birds should be released
immediately. This ended the dubious
legitimacy of claims that pigeons “flew in by
themselves and were left there to protect
them from the weather/let them recover from
exhaustion etc. etc!”

It can be seen that the decoy species list still
includes Rook and Jackdaw. This was a
disappointment to some who felt there is little

1995 Raptor Round Up

possibility of the Larsen being effective against
these nonterritorial, social birds.

Finally, an opportunity was also missed in not
setting a close season. Most illegal usage of
these traps takes place in summer and
autumn, connected to attempts to trap raptors
near Pheasant release pens. This is of,
course, well after the season of Corvid
territoriality. What excuse can there be for
any responsible vermin controller putting out
aLarson Trap atthis time? Ifabuses continue,
this suggestion may have to be put forward
again.

The following guidelines are suggested in
dealing with Larsen Traps

19

1. Do not interfere with legitimately set
Larsen Traps.

2. The placing of any non Corvid species in
the closed, decoy section of a Larsen Trap is
an offence. If you find such a situation, report
it immediately to the Police (preferably your
local Wildlife Liaison Officer, see list in this
report) and/or RSPB Investigations Section
at 17 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh.

3. If you find a trapped raptor caught by a
non Corvid decoy, do not release these
birds until the evidence is properly recorded
unless you are in a very remote area where
any follow up will take hours and the bird’s
welfare is at stake. Always take photographs
if possible and try to find a witness.

The Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department Rural Affairs and Natural

Heritage Division
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Licence to allow the keeping of birds in certain cage traps for pest control purposes.

This licence, granted under Section 16(1) (c), (d) and (k) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 by the
Secretary of State for Scotland after consultation with Scottish Natural Heritage, is valid in Scotland unless
previously revoked, until 31 December 1997, being satisfied that there is no other satisfactory solution
hereby authorises, subject to the conditions set out below, any authorised person to keep or confine any
bird in a Larsen cage trap, the dimensions of which do not satisfy the requirements of section 8(1) of the
Act, for the purpose of conserving wild birds, protecting any collection of wild birds and preventing serious
damage to livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timbers or fisheries.
Conditions
1 No bird other than a species included in the following list may be kept or confined in a Larsen cage trap
as a decoy:-
Crow Corvus corone
Jackdaw Corvus monedula
Jay Garrulus glandarius

Magpie Pica pica
Rook Corvus frugilegus

2 Any bird not included in the Annex to this licence which may become confined in a Larsen cage trap must
be released immediately on being found

3 Any Larsen cage trap which contains as a decoy a live bird, must be inspected on at least one occasion
in any 24 hour period

4 The decoy bird must be provided with adequate food, water, shelter and a perch for the entire period
during which it is used.

Definitions

5 Inthis licence “authorised person” has the same meaning as in Section 27 of the Wildlife and Countryside
Act 1981.

6 “Larsen cage trap” means a cage trap which has a closed compartment for confining a live bird as a
decoy and a spring activated trap door which is either top or side mounted.

20

1995 Raptor Round Up

Crow funnel trap problems

During January 1996 the death of a young
ringed Golden Eagle in a funnel Crow cage
brought this chronic problem to prominence.
The problem of both deliberate and neglectful
killing of species including Golden Eagle,
Buzzard, Kestrel and Raven has been well
known to raptor workers and RSPB
Investigators. The fact that this particular bird
had only fledged after a massive effort by
volunteers working with Forest Enterprise -
protecting its nest from egg thieves - made
this death doubly significant.

In an attempt to quantify the problem, Raptor
Group members have been asked to supply
details, including photographs, of trapped
protected birds to RSPB Investigations
section.

Widespread publicity of this incident was
followed up with an approach by RSPB and
SOAEFD with recommendations for legal
restrictions on design and use of these traps.
The outcome of this approach is eagerly
awaited. Suggestions to SOAEFD include a

legally defined requirement for a 24 hours
minimum period between checks of set traps;
that traps should be padlocked open when
notin use; that traps should have standardised
dimensions which would exclude eagles. This
last suggestion will no doubt need a review of
the effectiveness of the present wide variety
of designs in this totally unregulated area.

In order toimplement such ideas an alteration
of the present Open General Licence covering
legal control of the former “pest list” would be
required, or, more effectively, a separate
licence to cover Funnel Traps as with the
present Larsen Trap licence.

With the suggested improvements, the
deliberate trapping and/or gross neglect which
kills protected species in these traps would
become a clear cut legal matter. The debate
in itself should lead to better procedures and
save birds from a very unpleasant and totally
unnecessary death.

Thanks to all RSG workers who have supplied
photographs. More are still needed.

Dave Dick

Larsen trap.
Ken Slater

Police Wildlife Liaison Officers

Central Insp lan Cameron, Police HQ,
Randolphfield, Stirling FK8 2HD
01786 456000

Dumf & Gall Sgt Graham Young, 44 High St, .
Annan DG12 6AJ 01461 202813 ~—Ss«-ayside
Sgt J McColm, Stranraer Police (West)
Office, Stranraer DG9 8EG
01776 702112

Fife PC Ronnie Morris, Kirkcaldy
Police Station, St Brycedale Ave,
Kirkcaldy KY1 1EV 01592 418700

Grampian __ Insp John Sellar, The Police
Station, High St, Inverurie AB51
9QS 01467 620222
Sgt Roddy Macinnes, Police
Station, Banchory, Kincardine
AB31 3RP 01330 822252

Loth & Bord Sgt Brian Robertson, Dalkeith
Police Station, Newbattle Rd
Dalkeith EH22 3AX
0131 660 2855
Sgt Malcolm Henderson, G
Division, Kelso Police Station
Kelso TD5 7AH 01573 223434

(East)

Northern PC Ronald Dempster, Alness
Police Station, Obsdale Rd
Alness, Easter Ross 1V17 0TU
01349 882222

North Isles & PC David Dawson, St Margaret’s
North coast Hope, Orkney KW17 2TN
0185 683529

Strathclyde PC Norman Stewart, Glasgow
Airport Police Office, St Andrew
Dr, Paisley PA3 2ST
0141 848 4515
PC Ronnie Sewell, East King St,
Helensburgh G84 7RE
01436 672141

Insp T Smith, Cumbernauld
Police Station, South Muirhead
Rd.Cumbernauld G67 1AX
01236 736085

Insp Willie Allan, 1 King St, Ayr
KA8 OBU 01292 266966

Insp Alan Stewart, Kinross
Police Station, High St, Kinross
KY13 7AW 01577 863571

PC Scott McKinlay, Kinross (as
above)

PC Robert Noble, Pitlochry Police
Station, 14 Atholl Rd, Pitlochry
PH16 5BX 01796 472222

PC Donald Campbell, Crieff
Police Station, King St, Crieff PH7
SHA 017654 652247

PC Graham Jack, Coupar Angus
Police Station, Blairgowrie Rd.
Coupar Angus PH13 9AT

01828 627343

PC Richard McCorquodale,
Perth Police Station, Barrack St
Perth PH1 5SF 01738 621141
PC Bruce Sime, Abernethy Police
Station, Main St, Abernethy PH2
01738 850222

Sgt Douglas Robson, The Police
Office, Gravesend, Arbroath
DD11 1HT 01241 872222

PC John Robertson, Arbroath
Police Station (as above)

PC lan Hutchison, Forfar Police
Station, West High St, Forfar DD8
1BP 01307 302200

PC Harvey Birse, Forfar Police
Station (as above)

PC Neil Coupar, Birkhill/Muirhead
Police Station, Liff Rd. Muirhead,
Angus DD2 5QF 01382 580214
PC Dougal Ogilvie, Edzell Police
Station, Dunlappie Rd, Edzell
Angus DD9 7UB 01356 648222

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