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‘3997 RAPTOR ROUND UP

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

SCOTTISH
NATURAL
HERITAGE

YX al

Supplement to Scottish Birds Volume 19 1998

ISSN 0036 9144

Introduction

Welcome to the 1997 Raptor Round Up, now in its third year as a separate publication . It is produced by
the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club on behalf of the Scottish Raptor Study Groups with grant aid from
Scottish Natural Heritage.

It is difficult to say anything significantly different about what happened to Scotland’s Raptors for 1997
that has not been said for other recent years. The trend of poor spring and early summer weather
continued and took its toll, as did the chronic levels of persecution directed at several species with Red
Kite poisoning reaching a level that has started alarm bells ringing. Despite this it is still possible to be
optimistic about many species. There is every indication that - if it can withstand the poisoning problem
- the Red Kite will become a familiar sight in almost every part of Scotland. It is likely to follow in the
footsteps of the Buzzard whose spectacular natural recolonisation of the eastern lowlands is one of the
great success stories of recent years.

The publication of the results of the Joint Raptor Study - better known to just about everybody as “The
Langholm Report’ - has provided impetus for much public comment on raptors, not all of it well informed
despite the valuable insights that the study provided. The Scottish Raptor Study Groups have made a
significant and useful contribution to this debate with the publication of their own report in Scottish Birds
- The Illegal Persecution of Raptors in Scotland. This has been widely praised well outside the immediate
circle of the Groups themselves. The fact that the Groups were able to produce this document - at
relatively short notice - is a tribute to the hours of fieldwork by the many individual group members.

This report describes some of that work for the 1997 field season.
Keith Morton
This report was written and edited by Sylvia Laing and Keith Morton with assistance from Joan

Wilcox and based on material provided by Scottish Raptor Study Group members. The Scottish
Raptor Study Group logo was designed and drawn by Keith Brockie.

1997 Raptor Round Up

Osprey
Known Prs Prs Broods Young’ Production
prs eggs. hatched successful fledged young/prs
Scotland aia 102 93 77 159 1.43

Tayside - A productive year with 61
young reared (49 in 1996). Two pylon sites
were again used and a further 10 pairs
used artificial platforms. Unfortunately 2
nests were robbed and the male at one
site became entangled in fishing line and
died. A colour ringed chick from Loch of
the Lowes was seen during its southward
migration in Nottinghamshire and another
was found dead under wires in Portugal.

Argyll - Three sites were occupied by
breeding pairs with evidence at one to
indicate that one of the birds was new.
One of the sites had broken eggs in late
June or early July and 3 dead chicks were
found at a second site on 2 July. These
losses were difficult to explain and they
did not appear to be weather related at
the time of failure. Observations at the
third site also indicated that the clutch was
abandoned before hatching. Additional
birds were regularly attracted to one of
these sites in May and 1-2 birds were
present in a fourth area from June-August
but there was no breeding attempt.

Central Scotland - A productive year
for this small population with 5 of the
recorded pairs producing 14 young.
Additional birds were present in at least
2 other areas.

North East - A minimum of 7 pairs
reared 7 young from 4 sites, and a further
4 pairs are suspected. Prolonged heavy
rainfall is the most likely cause of the poor
success rate but the long-term future for
Ospreys in the North East is still
considered to be promising.

Lothian & Borders - Ospreys continue
to tantalise the local raptor workers with
several promising sightings but no
breeding records.

Orkney - Single birds were reported from
Orphir and North Ronaldsay in May and
June.

Osprey Brent Hurley
Highland - Prolonged heavy rain in late
June/early July caused many losses. A
total 59 pairs were found,one more than
in 1996. A further 3 sites held single birds.
Fifty five pairs laid eggs. One nest in
Strathspey was robbed.

Fifty two pairs hatched young but 14 of
these failed. Failure was worst in west
Moray where only 3 young were reared
from 11 pairs. A nest in east Moray was
swept away by flooding. An artificial nest
was built for the only surviving chick which
then fledged successfully.

Forty one pairs reared a total of 77 young.
Eight of these were transferred under
licence to the English release project and
fledged successfully. Overall productivity
of 1.31 young per pair with an eyrie and
1.40 per pair laying eggs is surprisingly
good considering the losses in Moray.

2

White-tailed Eagle

A further 10 chicks were brought in from
Norway during 1997 bringing the total for
the second phase of the release
programme to 4/7.

There were 13-15 pairs or trios of territory
holding birds in 1997, compared with 12
in 1996. There were no other adult birds
occupying any of the known areas and
the number of breeding birds (or birds
potentially capable of breeding) on
territory increased to 31. There were an
estimated 11-13 clutches laid, 6 were
known to have hatched and 5 pairs went
on to fledge 9 young. A new Scottish-

White-tailed Eagle

Eight year summary

1990 1991

,
0
0
8
4
4
i

No of pairs or trios

No of unpaired birds
on territory

No of birds on territory
No of areas occupied
No of clutches laid

No of clutches hatched
No of broods fledged
No of young fledged
Cumulative no of territories
producing young

iN
iN

1992

—_ xh

1997 Raptor Round Up

bred pair was found, which sadly lost their
single chick prior to fledging. The number
of known successful pairs in Scotland is
now 9. A pair which usually fledges
young apparently failed to lay this year.
Several failures were attributed to cold,
wet weather in the spring but an
unprecedented 3 young fledged from one
site. In addition there are now 2 territorial
pairs established from the second phase
release which have yet to breed and are
not included in the figures below.

There were several reports of dispersed
birds away from core breeding areas
including an immature bird on Orkney in
April and May.

John Love

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
8 10 10 12 13-15
4 1 4 0 0
a1 22 26 26 31
10 44 14 14 14
6 8 9 12 11-13
4 4 6 8 6
4 4 5 f 5
5 5 7 9 9
5 5 6 8 9

1997 Raptor Round Up
Red Kite

Northern core area - In the northern
core area 23 pairs are known to have laid
eggs. A further 4 pairs held territories
and 2 of these even built nests. An
unmated male was reported at a site
where he had previously bred. Several
unconfirmed sightings of single birds at
scattered localities probably refer to
summering or non breeding birds.
Seventeen of the 46 breeding birds were
first time breeders and 7 pairs involved
partners who had never bred before. A
further 3 first time breeders paired with
mates who had previous breeding
experience.

Prolonged periods of heavy rain in late
May and early July resulting in localised
flooding contributed to lower than
expected breeding success. Complete
failure was recorded at 4 nests during
incubation or hatching and _ fledging
success at the remaining sites was lower
than expected. One pair which failed early
in incubation relaid at a new site but were
unsuccessful.

In total 19 pairs were successful in
fledging a total of 39 young. An average
of 1.7 young was produced per pair laying
eggs. The high breeding success enjoyed
in 1996 may have been exceptional.

Central core area - A further 18 Red
Kites were released in 1997. Two
immature pairs were holding territory and
the first breeding success in this core area
is expected in 1998.

The year was marred by the finding of an
unprecedented 4 dead birds poisoned at
widely separate locations - a worrying
trend.

Red Kite

Mike Ashley

Breeding success of Red Kites in north Scotland 1992-1997

Pairs Pairs Pairs

located laid
1992 1 | 1
1993 5 5 3
1994 11 8 6
1995 17 15 14
1996 20 17 16
1997 27 23 20
Total 81 69 60

hatched fledged

Broods Young __-— Productivity

fledged young/pair

1 1 1.0

3 7 1.40

6 13 1.63
11 26 1.73
16 39 2.29
19 39 1270
56 es) 1.81

4 1997 Raptor Round Up

Hen Harrier

Territories Territories Minimum Number of
occupied knownto noofyoung young per
have fledged fledged successful
young territory

Perthshire - 18 55 3.0
Angus 1 - - -
Argyll & Bute 37 25 79+ 3.16
North East 14 5 13 2.6
Lothian & Borders 5 3 4/5 1.66
Central 3 1 3 3.0
(E Sutherland) * 4 4 9 225
(Moray) ** 8 5 17 3.4
Dumfries & Galloway of 19 66+ 3.47
South Strathclyde 32 14 48+ 3.42

* Predominantly un-keepered

ie ;
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Hen Harrier

Tayside - In Perthshire a general decline

in numbers over the last 4 years anda

shortage of females resulted in 3 sites
holding only males. Despite this 18 pairs
fledged 55 young, the best for 3 years.
There were a number of failures during
the bad weather of early June.

In Angus the only recorded breeding pair
failed when the young were about 3 days
old. An unhatched egg was also found in
the nest. A male and female seen in
another area could suggest a second pair.
Given the amount of seemingly suitable
breeding habitat in Angus the situation is
extremely poor.

** Predominantly grouse moor

. rufiatnene Miron.
i,

Steven Brown

Argyll - A total of 37 occupied territories
was recorded in spring but breeding
attempts were not proved in all of these.
In at least one regular breeding area the
birds are thought to have made no nesting
attempt and moved on. Twenty five
successful sites fledged a minimum of 79
young. At the RSPB Loch Gruinart
Reserve 11 territories were occupied but
only 4 nests were successful rearing 16
young. A sample of 10 successful sites
monitored elsewhere on Islay reared
many more female than male chicks (24
females to 10 males).

1997 Raptor Round Up

North East - In Aberdeenshire only 2
out of 6 pairs fledged any (5) young. Eight
pairs fledged 8 young in Morayshire. A
further 7 areas had birds present. It would
appear that the North East is acting asa
sink for Scottish birds.

Lothian & Borders - Persecution
appears to be a major problem in the
Moorfoots although one nest successfully
hatched 4 young. Only the largest of these
fledged and the fate of the other 3 remains
unknown. Human interference is
suspected. South of Tweed 3 nests were
recored; a nest with 5 eggs although it
hatched 4 young, produced only one
chick which was ringed; a nest with small
young was not followed through to
fledging; a nest known to have fledged 3
or 4 young. No harriers were seen in the
Lammermuirs during the whole breeding
season although a few ring-tails had been
seen earlier in the year at 2 sites. A pair
were seen displaying in the Pentlands but
the outcome at this site is unknown.

Central - From 2 nests only 500m apart
only one was successful (3 young) with
the other failing at egg stage. Persecution
was recorded at a third nest in the west
of the region.

Highland - The end of the fulltime RSPB
study resulted in fewer nests monitored
in Highland. Twelve nests were checked
in 2 areas - the least in 10 years - but the
the high success rate from this small
sample is encouraging. All nests were
found at the incubation stage. In Moray 8
nests were found but 2 were not revisited.
The other 6 sites all hatched and 5 of them
fledged 14 young. At the sixth site -
located on a grouse moor - the young
disappeared for an unknown reason. In
Sutherland, all 4 nests found were
successful and fledged at least 9 young.

Dumfries & Galloway - An excellent
breeding season at Langholm - which
accounted for over half the area’s birds -
tended to mask a worrying decline
elsewhere where persecution is strongly
implicated in poor performance. The
almost complete disappearance of the
Stewartry population, however, is not
considered to be persecution related and
remains something of a mystery.

South Strathclyde - Vole numbers
were high all over the region. This followed
a mild winter with more birds
overwintering locally than usual (on one
occasion 10 harriers were recorded
hunting over a 2km square of young
forestry plantation in east Ayrshire in
February). lt was not surprising therefore
that site occupancy was early and that
some pairs had settled by mid to late
March. This was most obvious at sites
which fledged young successfully in
1996.

Clutches were earlier and bigger but
hatching and survival rates were low
which could be attributed both to the cold
wet weather in late May and early June
and to disturbance. Mortality peaked at
the small chick stage.

Of 32 occupied territories, 27 pairs laid
eggs, and at least 14 pairs successfully
fledged 48+ young. The outcome at two
sites is unknown.

Human interference was confirmed or
strongly suspected in all of the 16
complete failures. At one nest where the
female and oldest chick were shot,
however, the male successfully fledged
the remaining 2 young. If sites are not
closely monitored, brood reduction (as
opposed to complete destruction) by
human interference is hard to establish;
one nest looked to have held a lot more
than the flying young recorded.

Young lagamorphs, especially Mountain

Hare, were frequent prey items brought
to nests, no doubt reflecting local
abundance. Although grouse were
numerous this year, they featured less as
prey items than usual, and were
particuarly conspicuous by their absence
at the large chick stage. The high vole
density carried on into spring and summer
and it would be hard to imagine harriers
not taking a large share of the voles. At
one nest with 2 chicks, a vole lay uneaten.
Pipits and Skylarks were the most
frequent items.

The only tagged bird found this year was
a female in South Lanark who fledged 3

Sparrowhawk
Sparrowhawk

Argyll - Six territories were checked in
the Cowal study. Four are known to have
fledged a minimum of 18 young. At one
of the failed sites the female was killed
by a Tawny Owl.

South Strathclyde - In Ayrshire 40
sites were checked. Thirty two - 80%
(67% in 1995) - were occupied. Twenty
nine nests were located, 27 of which
contained complete clutches totalling 120
eggs. A total of 76 young fledged from 23
sucessful nests. Two females were found
incubating 8 eggs side by side. The

1997 Raptor Round Up

young -‘her second successful year at the
site. Tagged in 1993, she had moved 7
kilometres from her natal site.

Orkney - Another poor season with 31
females attempting to breed (26 in the
West Mainland; 1 on Rousay; 4 on Hoy).
Numbers of non breeding females were
much reduced with only 6 (19 in 1996).
Male numbers were estimated at 19 (14 -
including 1 first year - in the West
Mainland; 1 on Rousay; 4 on Hoy). Of
the 31 nests: 10 probably failed before
laying; 13 during incubation; 1 at chick
stage; 7 succeeded, fledging 17 young.

Mike Ashley

situation persisted until just before
hatching when it appeared that only one
female remained. Six of the eggs hatched
but only 3 young survived to fledge. Less
than 1% of Sparrowhawk nests contain
double clutches (Newton 1986) and very
few records exist of success in this
situation.

Orkney - Breeding was attempted at 4
sites: 2 on Hoy; 1 on the Mainland; 1 on
Rousay. Another Mainland site was
occupied but no nest was found. Only the
Mainland nest appeared to be successful,
the others failing either before or during
incubation.

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1997 Raptor Round Up

Goshawk
Territories Territories
checked occupied
Lothian & Borders 19 18
Tayside - 2
Central 3 |

Lothian & Borders - The Forestry
Commission Research Division Goshawk
research programme in the Borders
ended in 1996. This work not only
improved knowledge of the population but
showed the high levels of persecution.
Monitoring nest sites in itself gives some
additional protection and allows
persecution to be identified and reported
to the appropriate authorities. During the
1997 breeding season monitoring was
carried out as before but excluded Forest
Enterprise ground. Despite the poor
weather at nesting time, breeding
success of Goshawks this year was
comparable with last year.

As ever the limiting factors preventing
expansion of the population are
persecution and disturbance. Both were
evident at a number of sites during 1997.
On an unexpected visit to one site it was
noted that both birds were flying around
the nest site in a distressed state. The
reason proved to be the gamekeeper’s
son beneath the nest with a shotgun. No
nest robberies were identified but at a site
on Forest Enterprise ground the tree was
found to have been climbed and the eggs
destroyed.

Tayside - Only 2 sites in Angus are
known one of which - on ground where
persecution is regular - unexpectedly
fledged 2 young. Birds have been
reported from 3 locations in Perthshire.

Territories Minimum Number of
knownto noof young young per
have fledged fledged successful
young territory
11 34 3.09
2 2
1 4 4

Goshawk Doug Weir

Central - The only known site seems to
have been used for the fourth consecutive
year. Most of the identified prey was
either corvid or Wood Pigeon.

Dumfries & Galloway - Continuing
evidence of an increase innumbers. One
noted aspect of this was a report of
interaction between Goshawks and Hen
Harriers at a communal harrier roost.

8
Buzzard
Territories Territories
checked occupied

Argyll & Bute - 111
Lothian 60 45
Borders 26 26
Highland 94 90

Argyll - The figures above comprise 20
occupied territories monitored on Bute
(the island is thought to hold a good few
more pairs than this); 29 in the Glen
Branter study area of the Cowal; 21 in the
rest of the Cowal; 21 on Colonsay and
Oronsay (out of 47 known territories
checked); 20 on south west Mull. Of these
areas Bute was the most productive with
2.20 young per successful territory, the
Cowal (other than Glen Branter) the least
productive with 1.00 chick per successful
nest.

Lothian & Borders - In Lothian 60
territories were checked with breeding
proved in 45. Productivity continues to be
very high with very few failures detected.
In Borders numbers continue to increase
with the most notable spread being
recorded in the Cheviot edge and lower
ground east of the Leader/Tweed. The
breeding population for the Borders is
now estimated to be 500 pairs - a truly
impressive recovery.

Highland - The bulk of data came from
the main Easter Ross study area to the
east of Tain but a substantial number of
records also came from north and west
Sutherland. In the main East Ross study
area 56 pairs were carefully followed. Four
pairs did not lay and 16 failed at the egg/
small chick stage. Two nests found in this

1997 Raptor Round Up

Territories Minimum Number of
known to noof young young per

have fledged fledged successful
young territory
86 142+ 1.65
43 123 2.86
15 18 1.2
67 146 2.17

study were only 100 metres apart. One
of these raised 4 young and the other
produced 2. Bigamy was suspected but
not proven. Breeding success was
unusually high in north and west
Sutherland with only 2 of the 19 pairs
monitored failing to produce young. The
west had a drier, warmer summer than
normal which may have assisted in the
above average success. Chewed quills
found on one cliff nest site suggest that
one of the failures was due to Pine Marten
predation. Breeding success in
Strathspey is normally very high and the
poor performance there in 1997 (0.8
chicks per pair laying) may be partly
attributable to human interference with 4
out of the 5 areas monitored seeing an
increase in Buzzard persecution.

Central - Fifteen pairs were recorded in
one area with an approximate density of
1 pair per sq.km. An average of 2 young
per nest was noted.

Orkney - Three pairs bred on Hoy; 2 of
these failed during incubation but the third
reared 2 young. At least one bird was"
present in the West Mainland in the early
part of the year being resident in the
Orphir/Stenness Hills between late April
and mid May. It or another was on
Rousay on 19 May.

1997 Raptor Round Up 9
Golden Eagle
Territories Territories Territories Minimum Number of
checked occupied knownto noofyoung young per
have fledged fledged successful
young territory
Central Scotland 9 8 5 6 lee
Tayside W of A9 - 19 We 1? -
Tayside E of A9 12 11 5 8 1.6
Argyll 58 53 25(26) 31(32) 1.24(1.23)
North East 18 18 t2 14 1.16
Highland 94 43 43 48 112
Dumfries & Galloway - 2 0 0 0

Golden Eagle

Central - In the 9 home ranges checked,
8 pairs and a single bird were recorded.
_ Five successful pairs reared 6 young with
a pair in a new home range producing 2.
The survival of one chick was in doubt as
the bird had all its tail and some of its
wing feathers missing. A subsequent
sighting of the still tail-less chick flying
strongly in September, however, suggests
that it may yet survive.

Bob Lambie

Tayside - Bad weather was the main
problem with only one chick produced out
of 19 possible nesting attempts west of
the A9; a very depressing picture. A
further 2 sites may have been robbed.
Press reports of “too many eagles” do
not reflect how badly they are doing in
Tayside. East of the A9 they seemed to
fare slightly better. Eight young are known
to have fledged from 5 territories including

10

a chick from a site on Atholl Estate, the
first time this site has been successful in
a number of years.

Argyll - Overall productivity of successful
pairs in 1997 was alittle better than 1996
masking a rather patchy performance.
Breeding success was generally good
on the Cowal whose small population
contributed 2 out of the 5 sets of twins
recorded in 1997. In the north east part
of the mainland study area, where eagles
can usually perform better than the Argyll
average, no successful pairs were
recorded.

North East - Breeding success was
very slightly improved in 1997 with 18
pairs fledging 14 young. A new pair was
confirmed breeding for the first time and
an additional chick may have fledged,
although some sites which used to be
productive have not been successful for
a number of years.

Highland - A total of 94 pairs were
checked throughout the Highland area.

Peregrine

Central - The trend of a slow decline in
territorial occupation established over the
last six or seven years continued, this
being more marked in territories with
limited access to the better prey prospects
on low ground. This is in contrast to the
continued expansion of the peregrine
populations of south Scotland.

Tayside - Site occupancy West of the
AQ was lower than normal but those that
bred did quite well, raising a total of 30
young. East of AQ the situation was
reasonably good with at least 27 young

1997 Raptor Round Up

Records were well distributed across the
area although relatively more pairs were
monitored in the west and south-west
than in the north and east. Generally,
information was somewhat incomplete for
the middle part of the breeding season,
SO as in previous years the results show
only ultimate breeding success figures.
Overall breeding success at 0.51 chicks
per pair is close to the long term average.
As in 1996 the small number of pairs
monitored in the Small Isles revealed
unusually high breeding success with 4
chicks being reared from 4 nesting
attempts. Better breeding performance in
the north and east of the area is
consistent with greater food availability
during the summer than in the south and
west. Breeding success on Skye was the
poorest for a number of years, while in
south Lochaber it was better than in
previous years. One suspected instance
of bigamy was noted in south Lochaber.

Dumfries & Galloway - Only 2 pairs
attempted to breed, one of which failed
at hatching and the other was either
robbed or failed to lay at all.

fledging from 12 successful nests. A pair
disturbed early on, when one bird was
shot, had another bird move in but this
replacement pair also failed. Another pair
failed for third year in succession. In
Angus at least 3 clutches fell victim to wet
conditions in May. A further 2 sites in
Angus had cold eggs when visited on 3
and 7 May respectively when the
observer had to locate the sites using a
compass, the mist being so dense. It was
suspected that the females had deserted
and been forced to find food. Three Clova
sites, which usually produce young, were

1997 Raptor Round Up 11

Peregrine with chicks Jim Young

Territories Territories Territories Minimum Number of
checked occupied known to noof young young per
have fledged fledged successful

young territory
Central
Ochils 14 4 2 4 2.0
Stirlingshire 15 11 3 5 1.66
Dunbartonshire 6 5 3 6 2.0
Tayside
Perthshire W of AQ 32 27 12 30 2.5
Perthshire E of AQ 17 16 12 2/+ 2.25+
Angus or 29 20 20 1.0
Argyll 27 18 10 18+ 1.80
Lothian & Borders 47 22 51+ 251
Highland 32 28 16 28 1.75
S Strathclyde
coastal 9 6 3 6/7 c2.0
inland 32 19 5 Q+ 1.84
Dumfries & Galloway
coastal 31 23 16 33/34 c2.06
inland 70 57 35 74+ 24
North East
inland grouse moor 50 29 4 10 28
inland other 39 22 10 18 1.8
coastal 20 14 20 36 1.8
Orkney 7 9 4+ 4 ?

12

not checked. An average year compared
with the 2 previous breeding seasons.

Argyll - Twenty out of the 27 territories
monitored were again in the Cowal.

Lothian & Borders - A very bad year
with 25 out of 47 pairs failing - 10 failures
due to natural causes. A minimum of 51
chicks fledged. Productivity was about
half that of 1996.

Highland - Overall a below average year.
The total number of sites monitored has
decreased and the small sample sizes
from some areas make comparisons
difficult. A number of sites only received
a single visit; others were not followed up
to fledging. Thus the total of 28 young
fledged from 16 nests may be an under
estimate. A new site in Easter Ross was
found in an old Golden Eagle eyrie.
Unfortunately the outcome of this site is
unkown. There is evidence to suggest that
2 nests in Easter Ross were robbed. One
of these contained small young.

South Strathclyde - Peregrines in
south west Scotland produced more
young than ever before recorded, the
previous best being 1994. This was
despite human interference - accounting
for between 13% and 17% of all failures -
though this was mainly in south
Strathclyde. Dumfries and Galloway
sustained its reputation as one of
Scotland’s most productive areas for
peregrines. Over 100 young are known
to have fledged.

North East - This was not a good year.
On all grouse moor sites there was
minimal fledging success and at least 2
birds were picked up dead. Occupancy

1997 Raptor Round Up

on Grouse moors has declined by 58%,
although poor spring weather may be
partly to blame for the poor productivtiy
the main reason is believed to be
increased persecution. Only 22% of
occupied sites (4 sites) produced young.
These are situated on only 3 estates out
of the 18 which Peregrines occupy for
breeding. A simple comparison with pairs
breedng at sites with other land uses
shows a Clear difference. Ten occupied
sites on montane deer forest reared 0.6
young/occupied sites,with 4 pairs being
successful despite the habitat being less
productive and the climate more extreme.
Other inland pairs were more successful
with 12 sites occupied and 6 pairs
successfully rearing 12 young. Only 4
sites checked were unoccupied. Birds at
coastal sites had a poor year with low
fledging success. Only 4 out of 14
occupied sites were successful. This
probably reflects higher environmental
pesticide levels and poor weather. No
decline in occupancy was noted unlike
the inland breeding sites. No new sites
were found in lowland areas. There has
been a long run of years with general
increase in numbers with good breeding
SUCCeSS, especially on grouse moors, and
a plateau in the population would have
been expected eventually in the absence
of persecution. However there has been
a recent peak and subsequent decline.

Shetland - Although there are potentially
as many as 12 territories the only pair
located did not appear to nest.

Orkney - Signs of occupation were noted
at 17 sites but breeding was proved only
at 9. Of these young were known to have
fledged from 2 mainland sites, one Hoy
site and possibly one South Ronaldsay
site.

1997 Raptor Round Up i3
Merlin
Territories Territories Territories Minimum Number of
checked occupied knownto noofyoung young per
have fledged fledged successful
young territory
Perthshire 45 23° 13(+37?) 34(+97?) 2.61
Angus 20 1577 8(+27) 26 3.20
Argyll 8 8 6 Ve 2.83
North-East 43 43 29 >90 >3.10
Lothian & Borders 56 2h 21 67 3.19
Highland 43 41 18 56 3.1
S Strathclyde 34 pal 15 39+ 2.6
Dumfries & Galloway 19 18 8 19+ 2.31
Central 4 1 0 - :
Orkney 58 19 15 54 3.6

* Includes 5 tree nests

Tayside - In Perthshire a slight decline
in the number of breeding pairs was
evident again particularly in the west. The
cold, wet and snowy weather may have
prevented pairs breeding. This appeared
more evident in the Rannoch area. Only
5 tree nests were found in 1997 (10 in
1996). Late heather burning over large
areas is the suspected cause of 2
territories either failing to breed or moving.
The planting of Scots Pine into late May
under the Native Pinewood Scheme is
suspected of causing the failure at
another site.

In Angus, although the breeding season
was generally one of the wettest on
record, the earliest part had been dry and
warm. The outcome was that pairs which
established early were generally
successful, though there was higher than
usual brood depletion. Those starting late
generally failed. Overall, the outcome was
better than might have been expected,

given such adverse weather conditions. |

Three of a ringed brood of 5 were found
dead in the nest, the other 2 having

** Includes 1 tree nest

fledged. One brood disappeared from the
nest. An adult male nest trapped at
another site proved to have been ringed
as a pullus in Deeside. Seven broods
were colour ringed.

Merlin Andrew Stevenson

14

Argyll - Occupied territories were
recorded on Islay, Mull, north Argyll, mid
Argyll, Knapdale, Kintyre and Cowal. On
Mull there were more breeding season
records reported than usual with records
from 3 areas that have no known breeding
history.

North East - Lower Deeside had full
coverage and a good success rate
matched that of recent seasons. Some
brood reductions were noted and one
brood was lost due to the heavy rain in
late June. Only partial coverage on mid
and upper Deeside was possible with
some areas such as Balmoral and parts
of Glen Gairn and Braemar not being
checked at all. In Donside and Moray full
coverage of all areas visited in recent
years was possible and the number of
sites occupied showed a further increase
with some new and alternate sites being
found. Two broods, however, were lost to
the bad weather.

Lothian & Borders - Fifty six territories
were checked over the Lothian and
Borders region and a minimum of 67
young were known to have fledged.
Some sites in the Moorfoots were not
monitored as well as previous years and
only 2 sites are known to have fledged
young. A minimum of 12 young fledged
from 5 sites south of the Tweed.

Highland - Although information was
received from 41 nesting territories only
28 pairs were followed through to fledging.
Only those known to have been
successful, therefore, were used to
measure the breeding success. Overall
in Highland area Merlins had a fairly
successful year but on a more localised
basis areas like Moray and Nairn had a
virtual disaster due to the prolonged
heavy rainfail at fledging. Three whole

1997 Raptor Round Up

broods were lost at this stage due to
starvation. Other signs that food was in
short supply include very low pre fledging
weights, abnormal behaviour such as
young birds treating the observer as if
they were a parent bird approaching with
food and the lack of prey remains at
plucking posts and in the nesting areas.
A Mole was the only prey item discernable
at one nest when the young were three
quarter grown. In Sutherland and Easter
Ross, where the weather was less severe,
things were slightly better, with only 3
pairs in Sutherland known to have failed.
A pair of Ravens were thought to have
been responsible for one failure. Two pairs
located in Wester Ross also appeared to
fail, however the overall productivity for
the whole of Highland region was in the
upper range with 4.2 being the mean
clutch size of the 25 pairs found on eggs.
Of the 28 pairs followed right through, the
average was 2.0 young per pair laying

eggs.

Dumfries & Galloway - The thinly
distributed population continues to enjoy
reasonable success, with productivity of
ground nests on keepered moors on a
par with tree nests elsewhere.

Central - Of the 4 territories checked
confirmed breeding was found in only one
and this failed at the egg stage. The other
3 territories were apparently unoccupied.
Occasional records from the southern
area of the group are reported and one
record from the west of the area, but no
breeding was confirmed.

Orkney - Out of 58 former sites checked
only 19 showed signs of occupation, 11
of which were in the west Mainland, 7 on
Hoy and one on Rousay. Fifteen pairs are
known to have raised a total of 54 young,
the best year since 1981 when the study

1997 Raptor Round Up

began. Two of the nests which failed had
been predated during incubation. One
pair having had its first clutch stolen relaid
and fledged young. A total of 347 prey
items were collected at nest sites of which
91% were birds, (46% Meadow Pipits;
22% Skylarks; 12% House Sparrows).
Thirty one invertebrate prey items

Kestrel hovering

Kestrel
Territories Territories
checked occupied
Ayrshire study area 47 a7
Argyll - 2/7
Highland 26 24
Orkney 24 24

Ayrshire Study Area - February was
a really bad month and with gale force
winds, bitter cold and ample rainfall there
was little sign of Kestrels coming onto
territories. By contrast March and April,
though still cold, were reasonably dry and
early indications were of high vole
numbers. Occupancy of nesting territories

15

consisted of Emperor and Northern Eggar
Moths and a single unidentified dragonfly.

Shetland - Coverage in Shetland is not
as intense as it has been and only 16
nests were located. Fourteen pairs
successfully raised at least 44 young.

Bill Brackenridge
Territories Minimum Number of
knownto noofyoung young per
have fledged fledged successful
young territory

26 71+ 4.6

24 99 4.1

20 92 4.6

16 ? :

was marginally down on last year’s 80%
to 77%. Most birds hung around for 3 to 4
weeks before laying, due to the weather,
but it was soon obvious by the record
clutch sizes that this could be a very good
year and the presence of 6 breeding pairs
of Long-eared Owls was confirmation of
this.

16

Despite a wet early May and some mixed
weather into the second week in June,
there were really no consistently bad
spells and this - combined with the peak
vole numbers - resulted in the birds being
very productive.

Only 2 of the first egg dates were in May,
both in lowland nesting territories. All the
upland dates bar one were in April. For
the first time since the work began in 1972
a pair laid in March, one egg being found
on the 29th in the very territory which
invariably has the first egg every season.
Trapping hens in this territory on a regular
basis has shown that the different hens
were not related nor were they hatched
at this site. Unexpectedly only 4 eggs
were laid compared to the usual 5 or 6.

Clutch sizes were the highest ever
recorded in the area (average 5.8) and
included 18 clutches of 6 and one of 7.
This continues the recent trend of high
clutch sizes during the 1990s. One pair
at Culzean laid one egg in anest box then
moved to the second box in the wood
were the hen laid a further clutch of 5.

Fourteen adults were trapped under
licence, the average weight of 11 hens
was 294gms (281 in 1996) ranging from
282 - 306 indicating that the birds were
in good condition. Voles were the main
prey found at nest sites and food was
obviously abundant. At one cliff site 38
prey items were counted lying uneaten
at the entrance to the hole and the 5
young had bulging crops. Three hens
were retrapped for the second year in the
same nest sites. Three of the 4 failures
occurred at the clutch stage. Eggs were
stolen (by humans) on 2 occasions and
the close proximity to a breeding pair of
Peregrines put paid to another Kestrel

1997 Raptor Round Up

attempt. One brood of 5 young
disappeared from a nest box at the ideal
age for removal for falconry. Signs on the
tree indicated human predation.

Productivity was extremely high with 4.6
young being raised per successful pair
and an astonishing 3.9 for all breeding
attempts. In total 71 young were ringed.
An adult female found dead in a territory
in March had been ringed in the same
territory as an adult in 1991, a good age
for a Kestrel.

Argyll - Of 12 occupied territories
monitored in the Cowal, 11 sites were
successful fledging 51 young. Vole
numbers were high in the Glen Branter
study area. Thirteen sites monitored on
south west Mull produced a total of at
least 40 young and 2 sites on Bute
produced 8 young.

Highland - Twenty five pairs attempting
out of 26 sites checked was 3 less than
1996. The mean clutch size at 4.9 was
0.2 lower than last year, although the
mean brood size remained the same as
1996 at 4.6. Once again most records
came from Sutherland and Easter Ross
and over half of these were from nest
boxes.

Orkney - In the west Mainland birds bred
at 13 sites and were present at a futher
6. Six of the nests were on the ground, 4
on sea cliffs, and one of each of the others
in atree, a building and a nest box. Seven
nests are believed to have fledged, 4
failed and the outcome at a further 2 is
unknown. Single pairs also bred
successfully in the east Mainland, Eday
and Sanday while birds were present at
single sites on Hoy and South Ronaldsay.

1997 Raptor Round Up

Raven
Territories Territories
checked occupied
Central Scotland/
SW Perthshire 40 34
Argyll - 58

Central Scotland & South West
Perthshire - Forty territories were
checked during 1997. Thirty four of these

Jack Orchel

Pair of Ravens displaying

17
Territories Minimum Number of
knownto noof young young per
have fledged fledged successful
young territory
23 49+ -
40 121 3.02

were occupied by pairs; a single bird only
was recorded at one territory; 5 territories
were apparently unoccupied. Twenty
three pairs nested successfully, with 16
of them rearing 49 young while from the
other 7 pairs an unknown number of
young were reared. The breeding
performance was better than 1996,
possibly due to slightly better weather in
February and March when Ravens lay
and incubate.

Argyll - On the Cowal 21 sites were
located, 14 of which successfully fledged
47 young. Two sites failed when the young
were large, for no apparent reason as the
adults were still present in the area after
the breeding attempts failed. Poor
breeding success was recorded on
Colonsay where only 2 out of 7 sites
reared young.

Lothian & Borders - Two pairs were
reported in the Pentlands and one in
Berwickshire with a further 8 elsewhere
in the region.

North East - One pair each were
reported from upper Strathdon and upper
Deeside but there were no records of
confirmed breeding.

Tayside - East of A9 a slight increase
was reported.

18

Winter roosting Red Kites

One of the most helpful facets of Red Kite
behaviour which greatly assists
population monitoring, is their tendency
to gather for the night in communal roosts
during the winter. While many of the
established pairs roost within their
breeding territories, a number of adults,
some unmated, immatures and juveniles,
gather in this way.

As many birds fly to the same area of
wood to roost, it is possible, using
binoculars and telescopes, to read their
unique wing-tags and, in this way, we can
keep track of how many known individuals
are still present in the core area. Without
these gatherings, collecting this sort of
information would be much more difficult.

Three communal roosts were visited
during the year and were occupied in both
winter periods (1996/97 and 1997/98) by
Red Kites. Two were in the core area and
held up to 10 birds each, consisting
mainly of known breeders and only a few
immatures. The third and largest roost
was at the edge of a sheep walk and hill
ground and held up to 21 birds in the 96/
97 winter and 40 birds during the 97/98
winter. In both periods it was largely
composed of first and second year non
breeders. Of the 19 first time breeders
recorded in 1997, 15 were seen at this
major roost during January and February
1997.

The total count of birds using these roosts
in December 1997, compared with the
estimated population, suggests that other
undiscovered roosts probably exist in the
area.

Counts of birds using the communal
winter roosts suggests that many more
of the kites now being reared in the

1997 Raptor Round Up

Highlands, are remaining throughout the
winter. This has important implications for
the population because the survival of
young birds that remain within the core
breeding area in their first year has proved
to be considerably higher than those that
disperse to winter elsewhere.

These roost gatherings serve as an
important social function. It is probably at
these roosts that young birds meet
potential future mates and, as with
humans, even older paired birds may
sometime become distracted.

The central Scotland release
programme

A second release site was established in
central Scotland in 1996, when 19 young
were imported from Germany. Eight birds
became resident and used a communal
roost in the vicinity of the release site
during the 1996/97 winter. The remaining
11 kites dispersed in the autumn and 8
were located in various wintering grounds
from south west Scotland to Yorkshire and
Devon.

By the summer of 1997, 10 birds were
located either near to or at the release
area, but others may have summered
elsewhere.

A further 18 birds were brought in from
the same area in Germany in 1997 and
were released in July.

A communal roost again built up during
the autumn and peaked at 18 birds during
December 1997. It comprised of 6
released birds from 1996 and 10 from
1997. In addition, 2 wild bred birds from
north Scotland were present, a wing
tagged bird from 1996 and an untagged
juvenile from 1997.

Taken from Red Kite Newsletter with permission from RSPB

1997 Raptor Round Up

Acknowledgements

This report has been compiled from data
received from the Scottish Raptor Study
Groups. Our main correspondents are listed
below, although the data was gathered by a
far wider group of fieldworkers than it is
possible to acknowledge _ individually.
Doubtless there are those deserving of
mention whom we have omitted. For this we
apologise.

South Strathclyde - Dick Roxburgh, Gordon
Riddle, Ricky Gladwell and Chris Rollie.
North East - Jon Hardy, Robert Rae, Graham
Rebecca, lan Francis and Brian Cosnette.
Tayside - Patrick Stirling-Aird, Keith Brockie,
Bruce Anderson, Wendy Mattingley, Ron
Downing, Bradley Yule and Ron Lawie.
Dumfries & Galloway - Chris Rollie and Ricky
Gladwell.

Lothian & Borders - George Carse, Alan
Heavisides, George Smith and Malcolm
Henderson.

Central - Patrick Stirling-Aird, Dave Dick and
Don MacCaskill.

Argyll - Roger Broad, Mike Gregory and Dave
Anderson.

Highland - Roy Dennis, Colin Crooke, Brian
Etheridge, Jeff Watson, Bob Swann and Jim

Craib.

Police Wildlife Liaison Officers

Central Scotland Police

Insp lan Cameron, Police Station, Mar PI,
Alloa FK10 1AA. 01259 723255

Sgt Kevin Findlater, Police Station, Buchanan
St, Balfron G63 OTW. 01360 440220

Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary

Sgt Grahame Young, Police Station, Glasgow
Rd, Gretna, Dumfriesshire DG16 5DS. 01461
338345

Sgt Jim McColm & PC Elliot Crosbie, Police
Office, Portrodie, Stranraer DG9 8EG. 01776
702112

PC Martin Greenlees, Police Station, Cornwall
Mount, Dumfries DG1 1HP. 01387 252112

Fife Constabulary
PC Ronnie Morris, Police Station, St.

19

Brycedale Ave, Kirkcaldy KY1 1EU. 01592
418722

PC Graeme Heddle, Police Station, Sea Rd,
Methil, Leven KY8 3DE. 01592 418900

PC Michael Lawrie, Police Station, Regents
Way, Dalgety Bay, Dunfermline KY11 5UY.
01383 318900

PC Calum Tod, Police Station, Napier Rd,
Glenrothes KY6 1HN. 01592 418600

PC Allan Murray, Police Station, Stenhouse
St, Cowdenbeath KY4 9DD. 01383 318600
PC Chris Stones & Insp Eddie Cartmel,
Police Station, Holyrood PI, Dunfermline KY12
7PA. 01383 318700

PC George Redpath & PC Tim O’Brien,
Police Station, Carslogie Rd, Cupar KY15 4HY.
01334 418700

PC Gavin Rae, Police Station, 100 North St,
St Andrews KY16 9AE. 01334 418900

Grampian Police

Sgt Roddy Maclinnes, Bucksburn Police
Station, Auchmill Rd, Aberdeen AB21 9AS.
01224 712811

PC Mike Middlehurst, Police Station, 2 New
St, Rothes. 01340 831341

PC Mike Davis, Police Office, Main St, Alford
AB33 8AA. 01975 562222

PC Dave MacKinnon, Police Office,
Cookstone Rd, Portlethen, Aberdeen AB12
4PT. 01224 781999

PC Rosemary Robertson, Police Office, 6
High St, Banchory AB31 5RP. 01330 822252

Lothian & Borders Police

Sgt Brian Robertson, Police Station,
Belhaven Rd, Dunbar EH42 1DA. 01368
862718

Sgt Malcolm Henderson, Police Station, High
St, Jedburgh. 01835 862264

PC Rae Harrison, Howdenhall Police Station,
9 Howdenhall Rd, Edinburgh EH16 6TF. 0131
666 2222

Sgt Roddy Mcintyre, West End Police Station,
Torphichen St, Edinburgh EH3 8DY. 0131 229
2323

PC Clarissa Berry, Wester Hailes Police
Station, 49 Dumbryden Dr, Edinburgh EH14
2QR. 0131 442 2626

PC Donald Sutherland, Craigmillar Police
Station, 161 Duddingston Rd West, Edinburgh
EH16 4BG. 0131 661 3362

PC Margaret Richardson, Livingston Police

20

Station, Almondvale South, Livingston, W
Lothian EH54 6PX. 01506 431200

PC Jim McGovern, Linlithgow Police Station,
4 High St, Linlithgow. EH49 7EQ. 01506
843235

PC Rhona Anderson, Peebles Police Station,
Port Brae, Peebles EH45 8AW. 01721 720637

Northern Constabulary

Sgt John Grierson, Police Station, Grampian
Rd, Aviemore PH22 1RH. 01479 810222
PC Ronnie Dempster, Police Station, Obsdale
Rd, Alness IV17 OTU. 01349 882222

PC Dave Dawson, St Margaret’s Hope,
Orkney KW17 2TW. 01856 831529

PC Robert Gollan, Police Station, Market St,
Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 OJN. 01595 692110
Sgt Alan Heath, Police Station, Bettyhill,
Thurso KW14 7SX. 01641 521222

PC James Williamson, Police Station, Foyers,
Inverness IV1 2XU. 01456 486222

PC Colin Souter, Police Station, Strontain,
Lochaber PH36 4HZ. 01967 402022

DC Steven Cowie, Police Station, Stornoway,
Lewis. 01851 702222

Strathclyde Police

Insp Grant Alexander, Police HQ, Pitt St,
Glasgow G2 4JS. 0141 532 2325

PC James Brennan, Cranstonhill Police
Office, 945 Argyle St, Glasgow G3 8JW. 0141
532 3200

PC Douglas Mathie, Milngavie Police Office,
99 Main St, Milngavie G62 6JQ. 0141 532
4000

PC John Murray, Kirkintilloch Police Office, 1
Townhead, Kirkintilloch G66 1NG. 0141 532
4400

Sgt Wm Graham, 851 London Rd, Glasgow
G40 3RX. 0141 532 4703

PC Thomas Ferris, Castlemilk Police Office,
Dougrie Rd, Castlemilk, Glasgow. 0141 532
5100

Insp Hugh McKnight, Govan Police Office,
923 Helen St, Glasgow. 0141 532 5400

PC Norman Stewart, Glasgow Airport Police
Office, St Andrew Dr, Renfrew. PA3 2ST. 0141
532 6099

PC Ronnie Sewell, Garelochhead Police
Office, Old School Rd, Garelochhead. 01436
81022 Mobile 0411 359455

Insp Sam Allison, Cumbernauld Police Office,
Sth. Muirhead Rd, Cumbernauld. 01236

1997 Raptor Round Up

503900

Insp John Quin, Bellshill Police Office, 5
Thorn Rd, Bellshill ML4 1PB. 01698 747474
DC John McLatchie, Lanark Police Office, 27
Westport, Lanark ML11 9HD. 01555 662455
Sgt Wm Hannah, Girvan Police Office.
Montgomerie St. Girvan KA26 9HE. 01465
713587

Sgt George Park, Kilmarnock Police Office,
10 St Marnock St, Kilmarnock KA26 9HE
01465 713587

PC Robert Ferguson, Greenock Police Office,
160 Rue End St. Greenock PA15 1HX. 01475
492521

Tayside Police

Alan Stewart, WLO Coordinator, PO Box 59,
West Bell St, Dundee DD1 9JU. 01382
596857 Hotline 01382 205500 Mobile 0411
216803

Sgt Gordon Nicol, PO Box 59, West Bell St,
Dundee DD1 9JU. 01382 438892

PC Scott McKinlay, Police Station, High St,
Kinross KY13 7AW. 01577 863571

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

PC Donald Campbell, Police Station, King St.
Crieff. PH7 3HA. 01764 652247

PC Graham Jack, Police Office, Blairgowrie
Rd, Coupar Angus. PA13 9AT. 01250 872222
PC Ricky McCorquodale, Police Station,
Barrack St. Perth PH1 5SF. 01738 621141
PC Bruce Sime, Police Office, Main St, Bridge
of Earn PH2 9LW. 01738 812222

PC John Robertson, Police Station, 6
Gravesend, Arbroath DD11 1HT. 01241
872222

PC Kenneth Linton, PC Harvey Birse & PC
Douglas Ogilvie, Police Station, West High
St, Forfar. DD8 1BP. 01307 302200

PC Neil Coupar, Police Office, 2 Liff Rd,
Muirhead, Dundee DD2 5QF. 01382 580214

MOD Police

Cons John Simpson & W/Cons Catriona
Campbell, RNAD Coulport, PO Box 1, Cove,
Helensburgh G84 OPD. 01436 674321

Cons Angus Wylie, Clyde Marine Unit, HM
Naval Base Clyde, Faslane, Helensburgh.
01436 677291

W/Cons Elaine Murphy, RNAD Crombie,
Dunfermline KY12 8LA. 01383 872591

The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was formed in 1936 to encourage all aspects of ornithology
in Scotland. It has local branches which meet in Aberdeen, Ayr, the Borders, Dumfries, Dundee, Edinburgh,
Glasgow, Inverness, New Galloway, Orkney, St Andrews, Stirling, Stranraer and Thurso, each with its
own programme of field meetings and winter lectures. The Waterston Library at the Club’s headquarters
at 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5BT is the most comprehensive ornithological library in Scotland
and is available for reference during office hours (Monday to Friday 0930hrs - 1630hrs - but please
phone beforehand). A selection of Scottish local bird reports is held at headquarters and may be
purchased by mail order.

Two issues of Scottish Birds are published each year, in June and December. Scottish Bird News is
published quarterly in March, June, September and December and the Scottish Bird Report is annual.
The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club now publishes the annual Raptor Round Up on behalf of the Scottish
Raptor Study Groups with grant aid from Scottish Natural Heritage. It is sent to all members.

Copies of these reports may be purchased by non members on application to the Scottish Ornithologists’
Club.

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by the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, 21 Regent

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