I No. 33 THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' CLUB Scottish Bird News 1993 Seabird studies on Foula MARCH 1994 ISSN 0268-3199 'SSVT HSd7v£ Edited bySyjyp lairig and Michael Murphy This previews how the 1993 breeding season fared for seabirds on the island of Foula on the west coast of the Shetland mainland. This study has been carried out over the past 20 years by Dr Bob Furness of Glasgow University and various students and researchers under Bob’s supervision. In 1993 10 or 11 pairs of Red-throated Divers attempted to breed in Foula. One pair deserted their eggs when the loch was drained and dredged to allow maintenance hydroelectric work to be carried out. All the othersites had at least one chick hatch, and a very late brood of two tiny chicks was noted on 12th July; this may have been a replacement clutch from the site that was deserted. A total of 11 chicks were caught, measured, ringed and colour-ringed on 30th July. During the efforts to catch these chicks two adults were also caught and ringed. All chicks appeared to be fed on sandeels up to 12 July, when the food brought in was gadids of 14-20 cm length, which were thought to be saithe. Of the 1 1 chicks ringed all were thought to have fledged giving a production of 1.0 per pair, equal to the highest recorded on Foula since records began in 1956. Nesting success in Fulmars was higher than it had been for some years. 26 adults ringed in previous years were retrapped, and added to retrap data from previous seasons, thus enabling survival rates to be estimated. Food samples were obtained from most of the 76 adults handled (some caught more than once), and also most of the chicks, giving a total of 86 food samples. Most of these were of fish varying from sandeels to whitefish, with only three samples consisting of crustaceans. Most of the Shags had half-grown young by mid-July, with numbers of nests appearing similar to last year, with most brood sizes of two or three chicks, and very few single broods recorded. A 24- hourcount of Shags passing round South Ness from the west coast breeding areas to east coast feeding grounds on 12/13 July revealed a total of 8895 Shags flying east and 9211 flying west. A count in 1992 (on the same date) gave 7673 east and 8574 west. The higher count in 1 993 may reflect the high breeding success this year and hence larger food demands of broods, ratherthan any increase in Shag numbers. A count of Eiders made on the 10th July recorded 23 males, 45 females and 17 ducklings North of Ham and 10 males, 24 females and 3 ducklings South of Ham, although some females were still incubating or remaining on inland pools at this time. A further count was made on 31st July and this located 134 males mainly between Gaada Stack and Kittiwake’s Haa which is further northwest than in previous years. In addition there were 88 Females with a total of 18 ducklings of varying ages including a brood of 5 recently hatched. Bonxies were the main predators of female Eiders at nest sites and at least 6 corpses were found in the main nesting area. Fulmars experienced a higher breeding success in 1993. Fulmar with chick J F Young Out of 78 individual adult Arctic Skuas recognisable from markings or colour rings 66 returned to Foula and all but 3 of these held territory in 1 993. Only 1 44 birds were on territory (15 less than in 1 992) and 1 41 of these laid clutches. Despite predation by Bonxies which accounted for at least 1 2 chicks, and 3 fledglings being killed as a result of collisions with a plane and a motor vehicle, 151 chicks are estimated to have fledged successfully by 31 st July. A further 83 adults were colour-ringed, some by nest trapping and some by a far more successful method of placing a stuffed Bonxie as a decoy and catching the attacking birds by using a mist net. Several adults regurgitated whatthey were carrying and of these samples all contained Sandeels. However, after the 12th July the food supply appeared to be very poor, with low adult attendance. During late evening in the period 12-18 July some territories with chicks were left unattended, a practice not noticed in previous years though it may have been overlooked. Of the adults caught in 1 992 and 1 993, 42 already carried rings, 34 having been ringed as chicks, mostly on Foula, but some were immigrants from other Shetland colonies. The ages of these birds varied from 4 to 22 years of age, but rather few were of young birds only one being 4 years old and four 5 years old, suggesting a fairly low recruitment rate to the colony in recent years despite the rise in breeding numbers from 1979 to 1990. Adult survival of Great Skua (Bonxie) has yet to be calculated, but, assuming all individuals that survived returned to territories, 74 colour ringed birds of known ages survived from 1992 to 1993. This represents 88%, which is rather better than had been the case in previous years of Sandeel shortage, but lower than in the 1 970s. It was clear however that breeding numbers had decreased from last year. Numbers of non-breeding birds were especially low, even compared with the low numbers recorded in 1 992. Midday / early afternoon clubs of non breeders counted between 8-1 5th July gave a total of 1 1 3 birds compared to 1 96 birds on 9th July 1992. The decrease in breeding numbers and even greater decrease in non-breeding clubs indicate that the elevated rate of recruitment due to increased adult mortality over recent years of Sandeel shortages has almost dried up the pool of potential recruits. Given that chick production over the years from which recruits should come overthe next three to four years has been very poor, further declines are inevitable. A total of 844 chicks were ringed giving a large sample of weights and measurements and food samples. Most chicks handled before 12th July regurgitated samples of Sandeels; however during early July it was also common to see spilt Sandeels on territories. After 12 July few Sandeel samples appeared and most gave whitefish, but a few samples contained Herring, Mackerel, Squid or birdmeat. Sample of pellets at the clubs indicated that non breeders were feeding predominantly on Whitefish, though Sandeels were quite well represented in May and June. Breeding birds also fed extensively on Whitefish, with very few otoliths of Flatfish collected, although casual observations suggested much more Saithe and Norway Pout than in previous years. Norway Pout seemed to appear in great quantities during July, and was also noticeable in Fulmar regurgitates. Chick predation was slight before 12th July but between then and the 30th July about 30% of chicks that had been raised until 12th July were killed, in varying frequency over the island. On the western side of Foula predation seemed to be less, but this also coincided with lower density. Adult attendance at the territory fell to very low levels around 12th July, supporting the evidence from other species that the Sandeels had become much more difficult to find. No noticeable change in the breeding numbers of gulls was noted in 1993, and the breeding success of gulls was generally high, with many pairs tending broods of three well grown chicks in July. Numbers of Great Black-backed Gulls roosting gave several counts of 140-150 birds, rather higher than in the last few years, with counts of over 250 birds in total. Pellets collected indicate greater feeding opportunities both of Sandeels, and especially of discards from fishing vessels near Foula, particularly discards of large Gadids with a lot of Saithe. Weights and measurements were taken for 20 Kittiwake chicks, which showed that they appeared to be in good condition. Out of four regurgitated food samples 3 were of Sandeels and one Whitefish. Breeding was late in 1993, and numbers well down on previous years with 48 at occupied nests at Logat compared to 83 in 1990 and 160 at Kittiwakes Haa (246 in 1990). On 12th July most nests contained downy chicks and fledging did not start until around 20th July and even then most nests had chicks that were a week or so too young to fly; the average varied from 0.90 to 1 .00 chicks per pair. 1500 pairs of Arctic Terns is about the same as 1992, although the colony was slightly less compact in 1993. At least 1 1 00 chicks fledged overall, with the main fledging period being around 1 2th/1 5th July. Although the total number fledged may have been slightly higherthis is difficult to assess as smaller chicks could not readily be counted, and some fledglings had departed by the time the later chicks began to fledge. Sandeels featured as the main prey item during courtship feeding and feeding of chicks until mid-July when about 200 late-hatched chicks died apparently due to a food shortage. At least 50 fledglings were killed by aircraft and there was some evidence of predation or scavenging by cats, with 20-40 partly- eaten carcasses close to the Hametoun dyke; a few chicks were found with a wing or leg(s) missing, although the wound healed, suggesting biting by sheep, but this was only seen on about 6 chicks. The main cause of chick mortality in 1993 appears to be starvation. Bonxie chasing a Tern Barry Larking Great Skua (Bonxie) on nest. Further declines are expected in the next few up arc William S Paton 2 Surprisingly large numbers of Guillemots still had chicks on 8th July, suggesting a rather late breeding season this year. A number of adults were caught and weighed which showed that they were all within the normal range, and a sample of 32 chicks weighed suggests that they too were in good condition. Several chicks had wing lengths over 80mm which is rather longer than the normal fledging length. Sandeels of about 14cm in length featured predominantly in birds seen coming in to feed chicks. Although Razorbill numbers seemed to be no higher than in 1992, their breeding success was good. Many birds brought in Sandeels of about 8 cm to their chicks. Guillemots and chicks. S.M.D. Alexander A count of Black Guillemots revealed at least 87 nests around the island. Chicks were ringed at 7 nests, another 6 nests contained chicks too small to ring, and one or possibly two nests had already been left by fledged young. Again, Sandeels of 1 2- 16 cm were brought in along with a few Butterfish of a similar size. A few starving Puffin chicks appeared at the burrow entrances in 1993 although large numbers of adults were seen carrying food, again mainly Sandeels 6-8cm in length. At least 30 fledgling Puffins were killed by Bonxies, their remains being found in Bonxie territories all over Foula. It is thought that these birds were probably wandering around the island in the early morning after landing on the island after fledging. We thank Bob Furness and the Applied Ornithology Unit at Glasgow University for allowing us to use these data. 1993 Conference - Aviemore A more relaxed atmosphere pervaded the Badenoch Hotel than in 1992. People knew where things were. Possibly they still missed the spacious and lower decibel lounge of the “Marine” for annual reunions. The Friday night slide show was enlivened by a very informal quiz yet the photography was still as sharp and crisp as ever. A few comments were heard that slides showing older and by-gone members in more “juvenile plumage”, had, like real time, flashed all too quickly across the screen thus denying recognition. The three papers presented on Saturday extended no further south than the Moray Firth and in this area explored in some detail what threats to wildlife had been encountered over the years; how these had been tackled and what were perceived as future dangers. Fromthistheoil industry emerged more as a responsible citizen than the villain of the piece. Perhaps there was a degree of cosy insularity about this. Much of the media “rabbiting” about Braer was inconclusive but the ominous and very real spectre of Exxon Valdes remains just beyond the horizon. People pressure was rightly seen as an ever increasing threat. In olden times men “went down to the sea in ships” ; now they go in every fiendish device - jet skis, sail boards, power boats, scuba-rigs, etc. to the detriment of wildlife. Outings on Saturday afternoon were more formally organised with Mini Buses provided. One group had good Capercaillie viewing. For me the highlight was seeing about thirty Kittiwakes in urban Inverness. Shouldn’t they be pelagic? The Annual Dinner was a jovial affair with good food and drink being enjoyed. Later at the Ceilidh we were entertained by a “Twitching Song” which almost promoted this much maligned pastime to being a respectable part of the Agenda. Sunday morning saw us treated to real “hands on” type ornithology with close ups of Ptarmigan plumage; a fascinating detective hunt for phantom Merlins with sheep bones and heather shaws as forensic evidence. The eradication of rats from Ailsa Craig was in fact a report on an important conservation achievement rather than an ornithological talk. The final contribution was a very complex and ambitious audio-video presentation by Bobby Smith. In our era of Hi-Fi and Nicam Stereo this was refreshing new ground for Conference and much admired. More new ventures next year? At the end of a very satisfactory weekend we look forward in pleasant anticipation. Campbell McLellan Kittiewake The highlight for one member attending the SOC Conference at Aviemore Don Smith 3 The Waxwings are back again Waxwings have once again been arriving in Scotland and Eastern England this autumn. This latest invasion appears to be following a similar pattern to 1 990 with the first birds arriving in October in flocks containing approx 20% adults. In 1991 birds arrived in November with only 4% adults. At the time of writing (10th November 1 993) there was a flock of 30 Waxwings in Aberdeen city centre which included a bird colour ringed there in 1990. It had been ringed as a juvenile male on 29/1 1/90 near Aberdeen city centre and was seen in Hemlington, Middlesborough on 19 and 20/2/91 and in Guisborough, Cleveland on 10/3/91 . He is now a real stonker of an adult male with a large crest, prominent waxy tips and hooked tips to his primary feathers. Look out for Waxwings again this winter. S. Brown I would be grateful if people could check any Waxwings they see for colour-rings and report them to me. Please note number and order of colour-rings and which legs they are on. Age of ringed birds would also be useful. Adults (usually) have a prominent pale hook round the tip of each primary feather. These interrupt the pale line which can be seen running down the primary wing feathers of juveniles when they are at rest. All sightings will be gratefully received and acknowledged with ringing details and any subsequent sightings. Raymond Duncan, 86 Broadfold Drive Bridge of Don, Aberdeen AB23 8PP Booted Warbler which turned up in Newton hill, Grampian in 1993 Malcolm Watson. SOC Raffle First Prize Red Kite - taking a dead fish from the sea In November 1993 I witnessed what I believe to be unusual behaviour for a Red Kite. Driving beside a sea wall east of Avoch, on the Black Isle, I noticed a Red Kite ‘hanging’ in the air some ten feet above the sea (it was flood tide and at this point the water would have been lapping against the sea wall). I was able to slow the car on a clear road and was just opposite the bird when it dropped below the wall - to rise seconds later clutching a dead fish with both talons. The fish was I estimate about eight inches long. The kite then rose above the car and was lost to view. I have witnessed such behaviour by Black Kites on several occasions but never with this species. Was this just a one-off opportunist act or a rarely observed piece of behaviour? Mike Strickland The annual conference at Aviemore ran very smoothly this year, with all the problems of last year now ironed out. The talks were of a high standard and the birdwatching good. However, it is the social gatherings that make the conference. As an added bonus, I was quite happy to accept first prize in the raffle - a weekend for two in sunny St Andrews. After an initial debate as to whom I should take, I felt it in my best interest to take along the wee-woman. Eleanor has a way of making one feel that not to do so would result in several broken bones. The following weekend would have been ideal since there was an Isabelline Shrike on the doorstep, but alas we succumbed to temptation and took a wee trip to sunny Dorset where there just happened to be a Red-flanked Bluetail. The next weekend we did take up Brian and Jen Downing’s offer of the weekend at their retreat in quaint little St Andrews. I can certainly well recommend their warm hospitality and good cooking to anyone wishing to book a weekend here (phone 0334 72663). In addition to the superb food and comfort of our own apartment, we were able to squeeze in a few birds, such as the Booted Warbler at Newtonhill, a flock of Waxwings in Aberdeen and Surf Scoter in St Andrews Bay. So this year’s conference has even better memories and hopefully next year will be equally rewarding. Bruce Forrester. 4 Birdwatchers start to twitch??? Is confusion, excitement and anxiety about to spread through Britain’s twitchers? Without doing anything, many of them may be about to add a tick or, more likely, lose one, from their life lists. Henri Ouellet at the Canadian Museum of Nature has just suggested that the Grey- cheeked Thrush Catharus minimusshou\6 be split into Grey-cheeked Thrush and Bicknell’s Thrush C. bicknelli (Wilson Bulletin 105: 545-572). Both forms have occurred in Britain. The two new species are almost indistinguishable inthefield. Most birders, having struggled to find one of these skulking rarities, may not now be able to tell which they have seen and will not be able to tick it on their lists. Other who saw birds that were identified in the hand, may be able to tick both species. The decision to adopt the split has not yet been made in this country. Dr Alan Knox, Chairman of the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee said “This may be ten times worse than the confusion after the splitting of the ‘Lesser Golden Plovers’. At least most of those had been racially identified in the field. We are looking at this possible split at the moment and have started to gather some of the skins of birds that have died in this country for examination.” In the meantime Footnote: The ‘Lesser Golden Plover’ split was adopted by the BOURC in 1986 but has still not been accepted by the AOU. Great Black-backed Gulls have taken to nesting on roofs in Aberdeen. Roof nesting Great Black-backed Gulls in Aberdeen During a local census of urban breeding gulls in Aberdeen in 1 993 two pairs of roof nesting Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus were discovered. Both nests were in Aberdeen’s dockland, approximately 3/4 kilometre apart amongst 40 and 16 pairs of breeding Herring Gulls Larus argentatus. One nest was on the flat apex of a warehouse roof against the surrounding parapet 1 5 metres above the ground. The other was situated in the junction of an upward sloping vent outlet protruding from a steep asbestos roof just below the apex 25 metres above the ground. Both pairs successfully fledged young. At both sites Herring Gulls were nesting within a few metres of each other but none nesting closer than 1 0 metres to the Great Black- backs. It appears the Herring Gulls preferred to keep their distance when breeding in the proximity of the larger gulls. One building has since been demolished. A pair of Great-Black-backed Gulls held territory in the same area in the late 1 970’s (Marren, P. 1982. A Natural History of Aberdeen) but a survey of roof nesting gulls in the area in 1981 failed to find any. The only previous published records of Great Black-backed Gulls nesting on buildings which we know of both refer to Cornwall where a single pair nested in 1 970 (Cramp, S. 1971. British Birds 64:476/ 487) and seven pairs bred in 1974 (Monaghan, P. & Coulson , J.C. 1977. Bird Study 24: 89/104). Raymond Duncan /chc irles| 1 Frc nk J THE NATURAL CHOICE IN SCOTLAND FOR BINOCULARS & TELESCOPES Charles Frank offers a tremendous range of binoculars and telescopes at competitive prices together with helpful advice on choosing the right one for your needs. 55 Lothian Road EDINBURGH Tel: (031) 229 8458 Open 9am— 5.30pm Mon— Sat 6th Floor, 93 Hope Street GLASGOW Tel: (041) 204 4301 Open 9am— 5pm Mon— Fri Also in Edinburgh; magnifiers, microscopes and compasses PART EXCHANGE WELCOME REPAIR & OVERHAUL SERVICE Charles Frank The Optical Experts 5 Barnacle Geese - are they a problem? Barnacle geese from breeding populations in Greenland and Spitsbergen winter in Scotland between October and April. The total wintering population of Barnacle Geese in Scotland has increased to around 40,000 birds after a few good breeding seasons in the arctic, and all these birds are given legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act in Britain. The bulk of these visitors go to Islay, the Outer Hebrides, Caerlaverock and the Solway. However some of the Greenland birds spend the winter on the islands in the south of Orkney and the Pentland Firth. Following a case on the Solway the question of damage done by Barnacle Geese poses a few problems to say the least. Daniel Quinn, a Scottish tenant farmer was cleared of killing two Barnacle Geese despite evidence given by the landlords, The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT). Mr Quinn argued that he was entitled to shoot Barnacle Geese - a protected species - because a provision in the Wildlife and Countryside Act allows unlicensed shooting where severe damage to crops can be proved. At the trial the sheriff ruled for an acquittal after an official from the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department (SOAFD) said that damage had been done to land on the merse near the Solway Firth where Mr Quinn farms. Interestingly enough the merse is semi-natural grassland - not improved enclosed pasture. Dr Myrfyn Owen Director of the WWT said “he was dismayed to hear of this acquittal”. The future looks grim for so-called protected species. Barnacle Geese feeding on the merse at Caerlaverock, along with a single Red- Breasted Goose S. M. D. Alexander. However some of the Greenland birds spend the winter on the islands in the south of Orkney and the Pentland Firth. On average only about 1 000 of these birds winter in Orkney and this year the count is less than 700 birds, but they are still causing problems with local farmers. This is not helped by the delay by the government agencies in giving money to these Orkney farmers to enable them to cope with the grass-eating geese. Although the Barnacle Goose is much smallerthan either Greylag or Pink-feet which are widespread in Scotland, all three relish a meal of fresh grass on improved pastures to help them survive against the cold. The national conservation agency, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), has used goose- linked management payments to help farmers who suffer from excessive feeding by Barnacles on Islay and some other places in Scotland. However, in a speech recently by the SNH chief executive, Roger Croft, it appears that the SNH are now questioning the continued expansion of these protective schemes. Barnacle Goose. Andrew Dowell. Meanwhile, farmers at South Walls, on the south-east end of Hoy, are getting more and more edgy about the damage being caused by the geese. Some farmers, worried about loss of grazing for sheep and cattle, have applied to SOAFD for licences to shoot these otherwise protected birds. The Orkney branch of the National Farmers’ Union of Scotland (NFU) has sent a questionnaire to all farmers on South Walls asking for information on loss of income due to Barnacle Geese. Unfortunately this could result in people thinking of these birds as damaging pests, and therefore applying for a licence to shoot them. This could result in a major setback for wildlife conservation in general. At the moment, farmers are faced with the ridiculous situation of one agency having a policy to pay for goose protection, which it seems reluctant to implement, while another can readily dish out licences to kill the same geese. The government needs to get its act together and make funds available to help farmers who are affected by the geese. This could save these rare birds and be a boon for farmers. 6 Barn Owls - in Livingston? The centre of Livingston isn’t the first place you would expect to find breeding Barn Owls, especially in November. But , as most people reading this probably know, Livingston did have them. And, I’m happy to say, they seem to have successfully raised all four young. This report is a case study highlighting the problems, and benefits, of a rare and novel bird turning up in a densely populated area. It will finish with recommendations for anyone finding themselves in the same situation. The breeding owls were discovered by a member of the West Lothian Bird Club, walking home from work late one evening. The nest site was alongside a fairly busy road and footpath, and opposite an office block. There are abundant hunting grounds nearby. In this situation, after sundown, the owls are quite obvious, especially when street-lighting illuminates the whole area! According to the BTO, this is the latest ever recorded breeding of Barn Owls in Scotland, which made oursituation difficult on three counts: people love record- breakers; people love rare birds; people love owls. Even though the information was treated with care, the news leaked with a rapidity that defied belief. It was only a matter of days before crowds of people were gathered outside the bird’s nest. Don’t misunderstand me at this point; a situation like this can do wonders for the promotion of bird conservation. The problem was that people were standing in the open, only a matter of yards from the nest! There are two potential worries with this. Firstly, that it will draw attention from less benevolent parties to the exact location of a rare bird’s nest. Secondly, of course, it so obviously disturbs the owls!! As I’m sure you all know, wilfully disturbing a Barn Owl or any bird at the nest contravenes the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1 981 . It is illegal, for obvious reasons. Another potential worry was the arrival of the “twitchers”. I use the term with disaffection as it so often brings to mind someone prepared to put a tick before the well-being of the bird, despite birdwatching guidelines, etc. A derisory statement? Well, when one onlooker was asked how he came to find out about the owls, he replied that (well-known Lothian birdwatcher and active member of SOC) had told him. Not much wrong with that, right? Well, he had his car parked in an adjacent lane, aimed at the nest site, with his full-beam headlights on Coming home from work one evening I passed a car on fire (vandals), and continued home where I planned to call the police. On passing the owl’s nest I saw two people standing in the open, less than 1 0m from the birds. I turned round and met a couple of the West Lothian Bird Club (WLBC), about 50m from the nest. They told me that one of them had asked the couple if they would mind moving away from the nest. They had replied that they had no intention of moving. I went home, called the police about the car, and asked if they would mind meeting me at the site, whilst they were there, to talk to the couple. With the policeman there, I explained to the couple the sensitivity of the situation, that it was great that they were so interested in the owls, but would they mind moving away to avoid disturbing the birds, not least because it’s illegal. The woman turned to me and sneered “we’re just standing here; it wasn’t until Countryside Rangers and Policemen turned up that the birds got disturbed”, and then she walked away in disgust. There are three types of birdwatcher. One who realises that birds like this are sensitive, and acts accordingly. Another who realises that they are sensitive but disturbs them anyway. And a third, like this woman, bless her, who really has no idea. In retrospect, it was likely that we would meet all three here, and we did: we just weren’t prepared for it. It was about the same time that driving past the site during the day, I saw a tractor in the grassy area underneath the nest. Fortunately, it was lunchtime and the driver was asleep in the cab. He had gone into the area to cut all the rank grass, but had only managed to do a small strip before dinner hour beckoned. It wasn’t too much trouble asking him to save doing the rest of the area, while we contacted his supervisor. It seems so obvious now, but here was another threat that we hadn’t thought of (who cuts grass in November?). In this case the authority charged with the management of such areas was more than happy to oblige; others should be equally so. Private landowners may have economic reasons for being less agreeable, but it would be an extremely complicated blend of circumstances for the birds’ interests not to be safeguarded. The big problem with all this is that the time when the bird is a guaranteed sighting (at the nest) is the one time when you really don’t want it disturbed; it’s a catch 22 situation. So, what can we learn from it all? It’s obviously difficult to give recommendations as each situation will Barn Owl carrying prey to a nest site. Don Smith. 7 differ, even with the same species, but this is what I would do given the benefit of this experience: don’t hope that the bird will be all right, assess the situation: is the bird likely to be disturbed? (We have other high-profile schedule 1 birds breeding in Livingston, but they are relatively well-hidden). If so: contact the landowner, especially councils, stressing “secrecy”, and enquire about any planned work/management in the area. Make sure they understand the implications of the law. Keep a regular, low-key, check on the birds. One of our WLBC members found one of the fledgling Barn Owls flapping about in the middle of the road one night! Tell as few people as possible; the more people you tell, the more trouble you invite. A Countryside Ranger or SNH regional representative if often an appropriate person to contact in the first instance as they usually have good relations with local landowners/councils. Don’t inform the hotline (!) or bird recorders until the birds have left the nest: there’s no rush to record the event. The birds are more important than the tick! It’s unlikely that this is the first time Barn Owls have bred in this area, and hopefully not the last: there is plenty of the right habitat here. Hopefully, the youngsters will find more secluded places to breed than their parents! Stan Phillips Countryside Ranger, Livingston. January 1994. Project Barrs Owl - Pilot Year A joint BTO / Hawk and Owl T rust project on Barn Owls will commence this year with a pilot survey followed by a three year survey commencing in 1995. The survey will be of ‘sample areas’ consisting of 5 x 5km squares, and they are aiming to survey around 1 00 squares in the pilot year. Due to limited time available for organising the project which should see the start of fieldwork in January only a small proportion of members will have been notified. However, they are hoping to achieve regional coordination for the full survey as this will require around 1 ,000 squares being surveyed each year. It is expected that this will be largely organised through BTO Regional Representatives and The Hawk and Owl T rust’s Conservation Network Advisors. It is also hoped that many members of the SOC will also be active in this project. Each fieldworker will receive a ‘fieldwork pack’. Why your help is needed Barn Owl numbers in Britain have been falling throughout this century. A Hawk and Owl Trust survey between 1982-85 recorded a decline of 70% in England and Wales since the 1930s. The new BTO Breeding Birds Atlas shows that Barn Owl has disappeared from 35% of the range in which it was recorded during the first Atlas in the 1970s. Loss of habitat and nest sites, urbanisation and road expansion, and changes in agricultural practice are all human induced pressures which have been implicated in the Barn Owl’s decline. However, the factors involved are complex and the relative impact of each is difficult to assess. Therefore, despite its public appeal, it cannot be assumed that the conservation of this species is assured. Vigilance through long-term monitoring is essential. To assess Barn Owl numbers across the country in a manner which will be properly repeatable in the future, volunteer fieldworkers are needed to undertake systematic searches of selected areas. Can you help?? If you would like to find out moreabout the Survey write in the first instance to Trudie Dockerty, Project Officer, Project Barn Owls, atthe BTO, The Nunnery, Nunnery Place, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU. Tel. 0842 750050. Why not take partin the Bam Owl Project?? Brian Turner. Eilean nan Ron - 1993 This is my second visit to Eilean nan Ron, a small island off the north coast of Scotland, the previous being reported in SBN 30 - June 1993. We landed on the corresponding day to last year (July 23rd) with very high expectations for this year after some excellent results last year, as we had the advantage of prior knowledge of the island and a larger team to work with. The total area of the island is approximately 1 square mile and it lies less than a mile off the Tongue peninsula. The island is now uninhabited, and is of interest historically as well as ornithologically. The highest point is a mere 76 metres. Three of us arrived a day earlier than the other eight that would form our team, and it became obvious that events were starting to repeat themselves from 1992, as the first bird ringed was a juvenile Meadow Pipit. At this time we were considering the odds of a wash-out like the first attempts to ring Storm Petrels last year. During an afternoon stroll around the island we managed to find and ring 4 Great Skua, 2 Herring Gull and 1 Great Black-backed Gull chicks. Upon our return to camp we met a French couple who had been taken to the island to see Storm Petrels, and we invited them to join us later that evening to see this elusive species at close quarters. On what was a very blustery night we managed to ring a total of 36 which I believe pleased our guests. 8 With the arrival of the rest of our team the 24th was a very successful day with a wide variety of birds being ringed including: 6 Shag, 4 Fulmar, 4 Great Skua, while the Twite roost yielded a Robin, 7 Meadow Pipit, 4 Twite and a northern Willow Warbler. For the Petrels the group divided into two so that two sites could be netted. This paid dividends as 397 Storm Petrels were ringed and a Leach’s Petrel narrowly missed getting trapped; as with last year many birds had been previously ringed elsewhere and, continuing the similarities with 1992, another Norwegian ringed bird was netted. The 25th was almost as productive with a trip to the north of the island providing 1 1 more Fulmar chicks and a ringed adult; again a few passerines were ringed including 4 Meadow Pipit nestlings and a Whinchat. The Storm Petrel colonies again provided a large number of birds with 244 being ringed. The 26th was our final full day on the island and again was very successful with another 10 Fulmar, 4 Meadow Pipit and 2 Twite, before another 378 Storm Petrel were ringed during the night to push their total over the 1000 mark. Interesting sightings include Merlin (23rd), Short Eared Owl (24th), Puffins, Razorbills and the increase in the number of Black Guillemot and Eider in comparison to last year’s sightings. Sightings on Eilean nan Ron between 23rd/27th July 1993 Fulmar: A substantial breeding population of over 300 pairs Storm Petrel: The most numerous species on the island with a large colony on the north coast holding up to 10,000 pairs of which over 1,000 were caught during 4 nights. Leach’s Petrel: Singles seen near the Storm Petrel colony on two occasions. Gannet: Seen daily out at sea. Shag: Another species that breeds in large numbers producing huge rafts of juvenile birds on the sea making accurate population estimates difficult, but it is thought to be over 150 pairs. Cormorant: Occasional birds noted. Eider: This species has increased since 1 992, with a maximum of 30 birds seen on the 24th. Kestrel: A pair nested in the Landing Bay area and produced two chicks. Merlin: One observed on 23rd. Peregrine: Three seen daily giving some excellent views. Oystercatcher: Maximum of 8 being seen together. Dunlin: Passage migrant heard calling at night. Snipe: The most common wader species with a maximum of 12. Redshank: Another passage wader that was heard at night but never observed. Great Skua: 10/15 pairs from which we ringed 9 juveniles, although we found more that had been ringed earlier. Common Gull: Large numbers seen daily out to sea. Lesser Black-backed Gull: Mainly noted out at sea, but may also breed on small islets on the west side of the island. Great Black-backed Gull: A population of less than 20 pairs breeds on the south side of the island. Herring Gull: Breeds in the area adjacent to the Great Black-backs with roughly the same numbers. Kittiwakes: Large numbers breed on the inaccessible north east cliffs. Sandwich Tern: One pair noted on boat trip to and from island. Arctic Tern: 3 seen on trip across to island. Razorbill: Small parties of not more than 10 birds seen daily. Black Guillemot: The largest concentration of this breeding bird was a raft of 35+. Puffin: 3 birds flying west was the only sighting. Rock Dove: 8 together seen on 26th. Short-eared Owl: A single bird roosted on the 24th and one was seen flying towards the mainland early on the 25th. Skylark: Population of between 4-5 pairs. Swallow: No sign of nesting but one pair seen daily. Meadow Pipit: The commonest passerine with more than 50 breeding pairs. Rock Pipit: A recently fledged brood of young was the only proof of breeding. 3>.q.rr Wren David Mitchell Wren: A small population was noted with at least one bird being seen daily. Robin: One juvenile bird was ringed on the 24th. Whinchat: One juvenile bird was ringed on the 25th. Wheatear: One probable nest site found was the only suggestion of breeding although up to 20 birds were seen around. Willow Warbler: One adult was ringed on the 24th Hooded Crow: Four birds seen daily. Linnet: Occasional birds noted with the Twite flock. Twite: 1 0-20 birds seen daily with 7 being ringed during the trip. Ringing Totals for the period 23rd-27th July 1993. Storm Petrel - 1 055, Fulmar - 25, Meadow Pipit - 1 9, Great Skua - 9, Shag - 8, Twite - 7, Great Black-backs - 5, Herring Gull - 4, Robin - 1 , Willow Warbler - 1 , Whinchat - 1 , making a total of 1 1 35. Derek Gruar S' : - •■c -riS if s Isles of Colonsay and Oronsay — Inner Hebrides Remote and unspoilt, the islands encompass 20 square miles of paradise for the naturalist - almost 170 species of birds (list on request), also otters, feral goats and a major breeding colony of the grey seal (pupping in September), 500 species of local flora as well as two of the few remafning natural woodlands of the Hebrides and the exotic rhododendron collection in the woodand garden of Colonsay House. Historic sites include St Columba’s pre-Iona foundation at Oronsay Priory, some excellent duns, a Viking ship burial, crannog-sites In Loch Fada etc. Camping and caravans are not permitted, but there is a comfortable small hotel offering table d’hote cuisine based on ‘fresh local produce (central heating, private facilities, BTA Commended). Ro/Ro fenry for cars and foot-passengers ex-Oban Monday, Wednesday, Friday (2Vi hour passage). Demi-pension from £48.00 including VAT and service. Free bicycles. There are also three comfortable self- catering chalets, which adjoin the hotel; each unit sleeps 5, all bed-linen is provided plus daily maid service. Off-season rental is only £120.00 weekly. On Tuesday and Thursday the 28ft launch ‘MANDOLIN* takes small parties on Wildlife trips, usually accompanied by local naturalist John Clarke - £16 per person inc. VAT (simple lunch of bread, cheese and wine included). THE HOTEL, ISLE OF COLONSAY. ARGYLL (Kevim aod! Chrieta Byrae) TeBcphone: CoBomaay ^$9512} 316 - ©p>©isi all year N.B. Booklet @ £3.50 Inv. p&p describes the island’s birds - 66pp plus 8pp colour photos. 9 REVIEWS The Birds of North America: Set 1. A. Poole , P. Stettenheim & F. Gill eds. 1992. American Ornithologists’ Union & Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia. £31.50 only from NHBS (sole agent in UK). This ambitious project, covering 720 species of North American birds, is intended to be completed within the next ten years. Starting with the Barn Owl T alba, individual authors will produce separate profiles of around 20 pages, building to a finished work of 1 8 volumes, each containing 40 species. Each volume can be stored in a slipcase. The individually produced species profiles will not emerge in taxonomic sequence. My chance to review the first eight species descriptions left me with mixed feelings. The individual authors must be congratulated for offering the reader such a wealth of information on each species, and the presentation is both crisp and easy to read. Particularly valuable are the annual cycle diagrams and the sections on conservation and management, these latter sections providing a wide range of recommendations/warnings for the future of each species. It’s easy to gain the impression, after a few visits to any country, that some species can be regularly observed without too much difficulty. The profiles point to some disturbing population trends already obvious with Piping Plover C melodus, but also noticeable in King Rail R elegans and even Northern Mockingbird M polyglottos, as well as offering advice on future conservation measures. However, a project such as this must, inevitably, draw comparisons with BWP and it does seem expensive (compare the total UK purchase price of c£31 50 quoted by the British distributors with the US price of around £1 270 and it might just be time to buy another of those vacuum cleaners!). Just one colour photo, of dubious value, on the first page of each profile is all that is offered for each species where a full set of colour plates would certainly have been more useful. The line drawings themselves are often more decorative than informative. Produced on a matt, acid-free paper, the whole thing does not exude the quality of BWP and I wonder how the separate profiles will stand the ravages of constant use. As a resource this work, when completed, will prove invaluable to a wide range of birders and researchers alike. The considerable list of references quoted at the end of each profile reveals just how comprehensive each author’s treatment has been. However, weighing up the overall value of such a work against its somewhat high price, it’s probably going to find itself a place in libraries rather that on birders’ bookshelves. A pity really, considering the amount of interest displayed in American birds on this side of the Atlantic!. Angus Hogg Herons by Mick Marquiss. Colin Baxter Photography Ltd. 1993 48pp £7.95 ISBN 0 948661 29 1 This is an excellent book written by an expert on Herons. Working in Scotland for many years with the Institute of T errestrial Ecology, Mick has gained an insight into the private life of the Heron which he readily shares to anyone reading this book. It not only gives detailed information in a very readable manner to anybody interested in this magnificent bird. It is also extremely well illustrated with numerous colour photographs and a superb illustration by Keith Brockie. Mick explains the dangers of being a Heron and being top of the aquatic food chain and also the conflicts that arise when they clash with man’s interests in fishing. However, despite a number of setbacks the Heron still remains a well known and admired species by anybody who has sat and watched a Heron stalking prey in the shallows. The book also includes many touches of humour both about the bird and working with it. Sylvia Laing Greenfinch Crispin Fisher Finches & Sparrows: An Identification Guide by Peter Clement, Alan Harris and John Davies. Christopher Helm, A. & C. Black. London £29.99 It is now 10 years since Harrison’s “Seabirds” was first published and most members of the SOC will be familiar with this series of guides published by Christopher Helm. “Finches & Sparrows” by Peter Clement and illustrated by Alan Harris and John Davies is the most recent. It covers 290 species of “true” finches and sparrows which helps keep the volume to a manageable size. While some might have wished for the inclusion of the buntings (and hence the New World Sparrows) for completeness this would have resulted in a huge tome covering 680 species. In common with other books in the series there are three short preliminary chapters on how to use the guide, with general notes on the finches and sparrows. These are followed by 73 wonderful colour plates showing 950 portraits of each species including variations with age and sex. Thebulkofthebookcomprisesthespecies texts which follow the format of the previous guides. Each text varies between one and four pages; those of European and North American species are longer reflecting the greater wealth of ornithological knowledge in these regions. This guide is not one which is crucial to the study of birds in Scotland as it takes a cautious view on Loxia scotica our putative endemic finch. It will prove a popular guide for those interested in cagebirds (and also those who find escapes!). It is also an excellent guide for those Scottish birders who seek exotic places while on holiday. David C Jardine 10 SOC NOTICES Continued success of 200 Club The SOC 200 Club was started in June 1989 and will have completed five very successful years by the end of May. During this time just over £8000 has been donated by its members, of which half will have been given out in prizes and half used for the internal refurbishment of 21 Regent Terrace. In addition to work carried out previously (see SBN 29), this last twelve months has seen the completion of painting in the ground floor and basement. Those who use the Club premises will have seen the improvements and, as Council has already noted, have expressed their gratitude to some 170 SOC members for their practical help to the Club. Council has endorsed its continued support of the 200 Club, and hopes it will achieve its aim of attracting 200 SOC members, who must be over 18 years old. With another 30 members the monthly/annual prizes can be increased, and more will be available for Club refurbishment. Renewal notices to members who do not pay by bank standing order will be posted in the next few weeks, and it is hoped that they will renew their membership. If you would like to join for 1994/5 (starting on 1 June) please send a cheque for £1 2 to me, payable to “SOC 200 Club”, or write and ask for a bankers order form. All cheques will be acknowledged. You can of course take out more that one unit of membership; some have two - or even three! Daphne Peirse-Duncombe, Rosebank, Gattonside, Melrose, Roxburghshire TD6 9NL Tel Melrose 2176. 200 Club winners Winners for the fourth quarter of 1993 were; October - 1st £30 - F.D. Hamilton, Longniddry; 2nd £20 - R.Seath, Aberdour; 3rd £10 - M.J. Everett, Huntingdon. November - 1 st £1 00 - K.J.Lee, Aberdeen; 2nd £75 - A.C.Bastable, Dundee; 3rd £50 - M.J. Everett, Huntingdon; 4th £30 - J.F. Young, Dumfriesshire; 5th £20 - Mrs J.B.Lammie, Wigtownshire; 6th £1 0 - Miss S.M. McCulloch, Edinburgh. December - 1st £30 - Miss R.M. Glen, Edinburgh, 2nd £20 - Mrs M.L. Livingston, Edinburgh; 3rd £10 - J.K.R. Melrose, Perthshire. Lothian Branch AGM The AGM for the Lothian Branch has been changed from April 12th to April 5th and will take place at the usual venue of Napier College, Craiglockhart, Colinton Road, Edinburgh at 19.30 Field Guides for Eastern Europe SOC are promoting a project to provide field guides for Russian birdwatchers, as they are expensive and not generally available there. Arising from a recent discussion with Dr Ryabitsev, a Russian ornithologist, it has been suggested that SOC members may wish to help by donating any European or British field guides that they no longer require. The purpose is to encourage birdwatching by schools, local groups and individuals in Russia. Dr Ryabitsev would provide a translation of the list of birds and distribute any books sent to him. Geoffrey Harper (son of Bill Harper SOC Librarian) has offered to assist by providing a translation of a standard letter and any personal message which would be attached to each book. As a result some links with SOC might be established. If you would like to participate, or would like further information, please contact Roger Brewer (031 399 5414) or your branch Secretary. A similar request has been received from the Lithuanian Ornithological Society (LOD) whose Secretary, Mantas Zurba recently visited 21 Regent Terrace. LOD would be grateful for optical equipment, cassettes or bird books, which should be sent to Mantas Zurba, Mildos 31 - 3, Vilnius 2055, Lithuania. The choice is yours - Mother Russia or the Baltic States - but any donations would certainly be gratefully received. SOC PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETION WINNERS 1st Mary MacIntyre, Fife. Sooty Shearwater. 2nd Eric Middleton, Borders. Common Sandpiper 3rd equal David Hassell, Middlesex. Whimbrel 3rd equal Eric Middleton, Borders. Dipper. Thanks Thanks are once again due to a number of volunteers who willingly give up their time to come into 21 Regent Terrace. The people who helped pack the envelopes for the December mailing of Scottish Bird News and Scottish Birds are Rosemary Davidson, Margaret Abel, Betty & Bob Smith, Bill & Hetty Harper and last but not least Anne-Marie Smout. Our grateful thanks goes to them all. Trip to Texel Stirling Branch are planning a trip to Holland from 1 4th / 21 st May. The base will be on the Southern most of The Friesian Islands, Texel. Additional visits will be made to Naardermeer and Flevoland; a good week’s birdwatching is anticipated. Places are still available, but be quick or you may not get. If you are interested contact : - Ian Wilson, 100 Causewayhead Road, Stirling FK9 5HJ. Tel 0786 473877. SOC Prize-word 30 correct entries received and the winner drawn at the SOC Annual Conference at Aviemore was P Stokes, 27 Liberty Road, Glenfield, Leicester. The correct solution was:- Across - 6 turnstone, 10 phalarope, 11 ratless, 12 wren, 13 Ruthven, 15 reeve, 16 moorhen, 17 sparrow, 19 spur, 21 dotterel, 22 roller, 24 rough, 27 ashore, 28 diver, 29 skylark, 32gos, 34ross, 35 ouzel, 37 teal, 38 poll, 40 air, 41 stints, 42 tick, 43 Prato, 45 erect, 46 loons, 48 tit, 50 adult, 51 duck, 52 Stellers. Down - 1 sparrow, 2 tanner falcon, 3 harrier, 4&6 sooty tern, 5 reeves, 7 shearwater, 8 oyster, 9 eagles owl, 14 ortolans, 20 pipit, 22 rose-coloured, 23 eleonora’s, 25 owl, 26 gyrfalcon, 30 kites, 31 azure, 33stonechat, 36 lesser, 37 titmouse, 39 little, 44 pied, 47 SOC, 49 owl. 11 Wing-tagged Red Kites released in Scotland All Red Kites released in Scotland as part of the joint JNCC/RSPB reintroduction project have been fitted with wing tags. The tags are not necessarily the same on each wing (examples are shown in the accompanying sketches). We would like to know of any sighting of Red Kites, whether or not tags are seen. Please notify Richard Evans, RSPB, North Scotland Office, Beechwood Park, Inverness IV2 3BW, so that sightings can be followed up and individual birds identified, or phone 0463 715000. 1989-1991 (Top left): Tag colours orange, mid-blue or yellow, depending on year, both wings the same. Number or letter identifies the individual bird. 1992 on Type A (Top right): Main colour indicates year of release, colour and type of contrasting mark (not necessarily diagonal bar) identifies individual bird. Both wings the same. Grey Geese The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust have encouraged Ringing Groups across Scotland to colour mark grey geese to improve knowledge of movements throughout the winter. Marked birds will be colour ringed and dyed yellow on tail, or tail and forewing. Reports of any sightings will be greatly appreciated. Write to Ian Stenhouse at 2 Old Farmhouse, Nonikiln, Alness IV17 OXZ. Tel 0349 882001. Any information sent to the Highland Ringing Group or Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust will be forwarded to Ian and vice versa. All sightings will be acknowledged. 1992 on Type B (bottom left and right): Main colour (same both wings) indicates year, letter or number identifies individual bird, as do contrasting coloured bars at broad end of tags. These are in unique left/right combinations for each bird. Marked birds are carrying a coloured tag on each wing. Although the colour on each wing may be different a single letter or number is repeated on each tag. Details of any sightings no matter how incomplete should be sentto Brian Etheridge, RSPB, Highland Office, Etive House, Beechwood Park, Inverness IV2 3BW Tel 0463 715000 as soon as possible. ERRATUM: We apologise most sincerely to Mary MacIntyre for the error made in the caption for the winning photograph in the SOC Photographic competition which was judged at the SOC Annual Conference at Aviemore in October. This photograph was published in our winter 1993 issue of Scottish Birds Vol 17.2. as a Manx Shearwater when it should have read Sooty Shearwater. 12 Scottish Ornithologists’ Club. 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5B Colour-ringed Stonechats Overthe past two years I have been colour- ringing mainly pullus Stonechat at coastal and inland sites near Aberdeen. So far approximately 1 00 birds have been marked and it is intended to continue the study for a further 3 years. Indications are that young birds move considerable distances and I would therefore be grateful for any sightings of such birds anywhere in Scotland. Note should be made of the combination and which leg bears the metal and which the colour rings. All sightings will be acknowledged. Andy Thorpe, 1 5 Albyn Terrace, Aberdeen AB1 1 YP. Look out for Goosanders! On 21st August 1993 the Tay Ringing Group on behalf of Mick Marquiss of the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology managed to catch, ring and wing tag 8 Goosanders on the Eden Estuary L.N.R. This is the second year a catch has been attempted and in 1992, 22 Goosanders were tagged with a blue tag and dark blue lettering. In 1993 the tag is red with white lettering. Results so far from 1992 would indicate that these birds which moult on the Eden Estuary actually come from the south and west with reports from Dumfries & Galloway, the Peak District and even Wales. If anyone has sightings of any of these birds please get in touch with Les Hatton, North East Fife Ranger Services, Craigtoun Country Park, St Andrews, Fife KYI 6 8NX Tel 0334 72151. All sightings will be acknowledged. Colour ringed Ring Ouzels David Arthur is now into the second year of his study looking at Ring Ouzels in Glen Esk, Angus. During the 1993 breeding season a number of birds were individually marked with colour rings; if you happen to see any Ring Ouzels with colour rings please contact David Arthur, 12 Dundee Street, Carnoustie, Angus DD7 7PG. Tel 0241 53356 All sightings will be acknowledged. ". Tel 031 556 6042 No. 34 Raptor round up 1993 JUNE 1994 ISSN 0268-3199 Edited by Sylvia Laing and Michael Murphy This is a summary of the results of some of the work of the Scottish Raptor Study Groups in 1993. Raptor Study Groups, like television, appear to be a good Scottish idea now being taken up by the rest of the world. With the Cumbrian and Northern Ireland groups now well established (and attending the most recent Scottish RSG conference) the pattern is being adopted in other part of northern England and also, most recently, in the New Forest. This is the third year in succession that I find myself reporting the adverse effects of “unusually bad” spring weather and as I write we are again enjoying a cold wet spring in 1994. Perhaps it is time to start regarding these sort of conditions as the norm! Most workers commented on the bad weather with regard to most species and only Osprey was said to have done well despite of it. This was the first year of a two-year Merlin survey which has encouraged an already established trend in most groups towards greater coverage of the species. This was also the first year with apparently no Osprey nest robberies. It would be extraordinary if we have seen the end of Osprey egging, an activity thought to have taken a measurable toll on the population’s expansion. There is no real evidence of any reduction in the general activities of egg collectors and Osprey workers are not being complacent about the threat. The high profile capture of a Peregrine nest robber on Central Television’s Cook Report and his subsequent fine of £700 made south west Scotland’s raptor workers feel a lot better. More importantly, it highlighted the extent and organisation of the illegal trade in raptors. Seven Scottish Red Kite chicks fledged with one of these now understood to have joined the Welsh population! This isn’t quite what the programme was intended to achieve but the outlook for this species in Scotland is such that hopefully we can afford to be generous with one of our Scottish birds. The Buzzard also provides us with a success story having re-colonised many part of eastern Scotland where it was until recently a great rarity. This includes many low ground areas with birds now present in Lothian and on the east coast of Grampian. Young were successfully reared within Edinburgh city boundary. Not a very successful season for Peregrines Jim Young Peregrine North East Scotland RSG (Jon Hardy) Of 60 territory holding birds, the majority of which laid eggs, only 1 9 eventually fledged a total of 38 chicks. Most failures were at egg stage with periods of appalling weather in spring and early summerthe main cause and human interference playing a relatively minor role. This was markedly worse than 1992 which itself was a very poor year. The outcome at five nests is unknown but unlikely to change the overall picture. Central RSG (Patrick Stirling-Aird) With a mean of exactly two chicks per successful nest and exactly one per pair present, Central at least achieved statistical neatness even if productivity was not outstanding. In fact Central bettered the performance of many Scottish areas in a generally bad year in terms of site occupancy and productivity. Tayside RSG (Keith Brockie, Ron Lawie, Patrick Stirling-Aird) The heavy snowfall of 13th and 14th May drastically reduced breeding success. Six successful pairs in the west of the region had only one chick apiece and not a single bird fledged from 14 of the 33 occupied Angus sites. Although the weather was by far the greatest influence there is still ample evidence of persecution and workers reported a marked decline in fortunes on one particular estate. 1 .58 birds fledged per successful nest as against 1.72 for 1992. Argyll RSG (Roger Broad) Although sites were not systematically monitored throughout Argyll 17 sites that were checked revealed 16 pairs with 14 laying eggs. Ten of these pairs were successful and produced at least 1 8 chicks. This sample suggests a moderately successful season by west coast standards. In December two different individuals on Islay were recorded with Little Auk as prey. Western Isles (Lewis & Harris RSG, Alison Rothwell, Uists RSG, Paul Boyer) Site occupancy in Lewis & Harris was very poor with one chick fledged from the one and only successful site found. The Uists had a good year by Western Isles standards exceeding 1992 productivity with 13 birds from five successful nests. One site that had never got young off before produced three chicks. South Strathclyde RSG (Dick Roxburgh) With 17 young fledged (a mean of 2.13 young per successful nest) South Strathclyde improved its productivity on its 1992 performance (11 young/1.57). However with 60% of pairs present apparently failing to breed this population is not really achieving its potential. Mean productivity per pair present was only 0.61 chicks per nest. Nest robbery was responsible for 37% of known nest failures and continues to be a major problem in the area. Dumfries & Galloway RSG (Chris Rollie, Dick Roxburgh) This Region continues to share its northern 46 chicks fledged in 1993 from 22 successful nests in 47 occupied territories. Seven new nests were found. Orkney (Eric Meek) Orkney Peregrines continue to do poorly compared with mainland Scotland although they perform consistently better than the Shetland birds. At least nine young fledged from 18 pairs present at 33 monitored sites. The difficulties of assessing the output from sites on the Islands’ massive sea cliffs mean that the number of successful pairs may well be an underestimate. The outcome of five pairs that laid eggs this remains unknown. Shetland (Pete Ellis) With the virtual extinction of Shetland Peregrines a very real possibility (no successful breeding for 1 991 or 1 992) it is gratifying to report two young fledged in 1 993, particularly when two pairs laid eggs as against none at all the previous year. However, site occupancy was down from five pairs in 1 992 to only two in 1 993 (in 24 monitored sites) and this success may well be only a “blip” in the bird’s continuing decline. Highland RSG (Colin Crooke) Golden Eagle Peregrine V NE Cent Tay D&G s.st B&L Hghl Ork Shet Sites checked 86 32 90 47 36 33 24 Sites birds present 60 26 79 71 28 47 30 18 3 Sites laid 33+ 45 17 39 17 18 2 Sites hatched 22 11 5+ 1 Sites fledged 19 13 31 24 8 22 8 5+ 1 Tot. young fledged 38 26 49+ 44 17 46 15 9+ 2 North East Scotland RSG (Robert Rae) The quality of the habitat in most of this area is such that it ought to be one of the most productive in Scotland for this species. In 1993 the bad weather took its toll, however. A rate of only 1.34 chicks per successful pair and 0.85 per pair laying was achieved. This is certainly better than the rest of the country but well below the area’s potential and worse even than 1 992’s poor season. Some consolation is gained from the higher numbers of pairs laying so that while productivity was down on 1992 the actual number of chicks fledged, at 1 1 , was higher. The demands of the Merlin survey reduced time available for Peregrine work in this large region. Despite this lower coverage the 36 sites monitored indicated a generally poor year with mean fledged brood size per attempting pair down by 34% on the 1992 figure. Only 0.88 chicks per laying pair were fledged. Badenoch and Strathspey achieved two per pair and Lochaber none at all. A total of only 15 chicks were raised in contrast to the 51 known from 1992. neighbour’s problems with human interference at nests. The 44 young fledged represent a mean of 1 .83 per successful nest but only 0.62 per pair present, the lowest level ever recorded. As with South Strathclyde a significant number of failures (24%) were due to robbery, a statistic not much softened by the successful prosecution of one such criminal. Border & Lothian RSG (George Carse) Despite the loss of 12 nests to human interference and a further 1 3 natural failures this area still remains very productive with Central RSG (Roger Broad, Dave Dick, Don MacCaskill) The Region produced one chick per successful pair, just as in 1 992 and a fairly typical productivity rate for the area. Only three pairs achieved this from seven occupied territories, again the same as for 1992. This low productivity may merely reflect the repeated bad weather patterns from year to year or may indicate something more fundamentally wrong with the habitat. 2 Golden Eagle Cent Tay Arg Hghl NE Sites checked 9 33 51 72 17 Sites birds present 7 28 38 16 Sites laid 19 35 13 Sites hatched 11 27 10 Sites fledged 3 10 24 30 8 Tot. young fledged 3 12+ 28 39 11 Tayside RSG (Keith Brockie, Dave Dick, Ron Lawie) A slight overall improvement on 1992, despite the weather. A reduction in productivity in the east of the region was balanced by a marked improvement in the west to give an unusually even productivity of 1.2 chicks per successful nest (0./63 per breeding attempt) in each part. Argyll RSG (Roger Broad, Mike Gregory) Productivity, which is never high in Argyll despite the density of the population in some areas was neverththeless considerably betterthan in 1992. Whereas then only 0.30 chicks were produced per attempting pair this figure rose to 0.8 for 1993. Actual numbers fledged were up from 1 9 to 28 even though far fewer sites were checked (51 against 94 for 1992, a full survey year). Highland RSG (Jeff Watson) After the high coverage in 1992, a full survey year, less effort was possible with Golden Eagles in 1 993, especially in north west Sutherland and Wester Ross where Golden Eagle M. Ashley poor summer weather made site visits difficult. Comparisons with earlier years are thus unsafe. The overall picture seems to be of betterthan average success in the eastern glens and poorer than average performance in the west. Western Isles (Lewis & Harris RSG, Alison Rothwell, Uists RSG, Paul Boyer) Whereas most of Scotland seems to have experienced worse eagle productivity in 1993 than the already poor 1992 season this trend was defied in the outer isles. Although coverage was lower than in the 1 992 survey yearthe 28 occupied territories monitored produced 15 chicks from 13 successful pairs (only 13 chicks from 11 successful pairs in 1 992 from a much fuller sample of the population), Lewis and Harris and the Uists each had one pair of twins and a Uist pair produced young for the first time in at least ten years. Merlin North East Scotland RSG (Graham Rebecca) Below average productivity (1.6 young fledged per pair present, 2.97 per successful pair) was nevertheless better than many parts of Scotland. This possibly reflects the fact that much of the north east had “only” sleet and rain in mid May when many areas had heavy snow. Site occupancy was low for a third year running at 52%. A total of at least 86 young were recorded fledging. Tayside RSG (Ron Downing, Wendy Mattlingley) If 1 992 was a poor season then 1 993 must go down as very poor. Site occupancy was down with the increase in coverage revealing only 49 sites occupied out of 1 1 6 checked. Mean productivity amongst successful pairs was 2.35 chicks per nest (2.45 in 1992) with Angus (2.9) bettering Perthshire (1.8). Argyll RSG (Roger Broad) The requirements of the two year survey entailed greater effort with this species and resulted in systematic coverage of several 10km squares and some other selected areas. The information from this work suggests expansion by the species in some areas (e.g. the Cowal) although in other parts this could simply reflect increased effort by observers. Throughout Argyll birds were found at 16 sites and 9 breeding attempts confirmed. These produced seven successful pairs fledging at least 17 chicks. The productivity rate was generally lower than is normally expected in Argyll due to the poor weather. Highland RSG (Bob Swann) Despite improved coverage in 1 993 fewer pairs were discovered with eggs than in 1992. Productivity, however, was very slightly improved and a mean of 3.4 chicks left each successful nest. Southerly parts of the region were more productive than the north. Western Isles (Lewis & Harris RSG, Alison Rothwell, Uists RSG, Paul Boyer) Although 1992’s excellent fledging rate of 3.33 chicks per successful pair was not matched in 1993 this may be due only to the lack of data available for six of the ten occupied Uist sites achieved a mean of 3.5 birds each and the ten successful Lewis and Harris pairs managed a mean of 2.5 birds apiece. South Strathclyde RSG (Dick Roxburgh) The weather appeared the main culprit in this very poor season. Only 2.58 birds fledged per successful pair and 1.35 per pair present (3.0 and 1.8 in 1992). Despite the generally poor season one pair did manage to fledge five young. Overall numbers were much greater than in 1 992. This was not due to any increase in the population but to the great efforts of John Adair and Craig Shuttleworth who were employed by Forest Enterprise to find forest edge Merlins. By walking a massive 925 kilometres of forest edges they confirmed 13 new sites with 7 other possible sites. 3 (r . ^ Merlin NE Tay D&G S.St B&L HghS Ork Shet Sites checked 86 116 51 62 Sites birds present 60 49 18 23 24+ 19 26 Sites laid 22 47 12 23 Sites hatched 13 42 12 Sites fledged 19 29 9 12 12 39 8 14 Tot. young fledged 38 70+ 19 31 35 133 19-20 55 V-- ■ ^ Dumfries & Galloway RSG (Chris Rollie) A similar number of pairs were located in the Region to that found in 1992. Productivity was down, however, again due to the bad weather. Only 2. 1 1 young were raised per productive nest (3.5 in 1 992) with 1 .06 per pair present. (1.4). (r \ Osprey No. pairs known No. pairs No. clutches No. successful Tot. no. young laying hatched broods fledged 88 78 59 56 111 Borders & Lothian RSG (Alan Heavisides) Overall productivity from four different upland areas was only 2.92 per successful pair and 1.46 per pair present (3.81 and 2. 10 in 1992). The heavy snow in mid May took its toll with an incubating female in the Moorfoots found dead on the nest, apparently from hypothermia. Although overall performance was well below average the Moorfoot population showed higher than usual site occupancy with a record ten nests at the egg stage. Orkney (Eric Meek) Although 1 993 was a poorer than average year Orkney continues to defy the national trend by producing a reasonable Merlin crop when much of the rest of Scotland is struggling. Many young, however, died in the rain before fledging. 30 chicks were known to have hatched but only 19 or 20 fledged from the eight successful nests. Losses occurred even at the later stages with 26 chicks still alive at ringing age. Shetland (Pete Ellis) Although site occupancy is not high, Shetland Merlins continue to be productive, in marked contrast to the local Peregrines. In 1 993 55 young were raised giving 3.93 chicks per successful pair, 2.12 per pair present, an improvement on the previous year. Osprey (Roy Dennis, Colin Crooke, Keith Duncan, Keith Brockie, Bradley Yule, Roger Broad) A steady increase continues in the Scottish Osprey population. This is despite the periods of bad weather that characterised the spring and early summer. The main effect of this was to reduce brood sizes, particularly in the north of the bird’s range where there were fewer broods of three than in 1 992. A total of 1 1 1 young fledged from known nests, only a ten per cent increase on the previous year whereas the number of pairs attempting had gone up by 28%. Nineteen new sites were identified, although at least four of these had been in use before 1993. Five ringed birds were recovered or controlled in various parts of the UK and one 1 992 chick was found dead at Vendee in France. A 1991 bird was identified in April 1 993 in Spain at the same location where it had been seen in the autumn of its first year. A1990 ringed bird spent its third winter at the same location in Gambia. T ay side RSG (Keith Brockie, Bradley Yule) The above includes 26 occupied Tayside sites where 20 pairs laid eggs. 1 7 of these hatched and 1 6 of them produced a total of 37 chicks. This was a good season with the birds seeming little affected by the weather. It was marred only by a chick which drowned when its nest collapsed. Tayside RSG have indicated that they are now happy to publish their Osprey figures as a separate item in the round-up. If other groups wish to do this their data can be included in future round-ups. Hen Harrier Tayside RSG (Bruce Anderson, Ron Downing) In Perthshire 53 young fledged from 17 successful nests, three of which were re- lays. This is less than in 1 992 (89 from 24 nests). Although poor weather can not have made things any easier, persecution is still thought to be responsible for much of these bird’s lack of breeding success. No young were reported fledged from Angus although two sites were found occupied and a number of other birds located, a similar pattern to that in 1992. Highland RSG (Brian Etheridge) 1 993 proved to be a disappointing breeding season. Deliberate human destruction remains the single most important factor in breeding success. The expansion of Grouse moor management into areas where the birds were previously unmolested in south east Sutherland, Easter Ross and eastern Inverness-shire is worrying. At least 75 birds fledged from 24 nests. Eggs were recorded in 50 nests initially, so that only 1.5 birds fledged per pair laying (3.1 per successful pair). 4 Uists RSG (Paul Boyer) Birds were present at nine sites. Of the three nests located two succeeded in getting off a total of seven young. South Strathclyde RSG (Ricky Gladwell, Chris Rollie) Only three Hen Harrier nests were successful in South Strathclyde out of 18 discovered in 23 occupied territories. Nine birds fledged. 60% of nest failures were attributed to human persecution. Persecution levels remain much the same as for 1 992 but natural failures were much greater than for that year when 37 birds fledged from ten nests. Dumfries & Galloway RSG (Ricky Gladwell, Chris Rollie) Dumfries & Galloway did markedly better than South Strathclyde producing 31 young from eight successful nests of the 1 4 found in 1 6 occupied territories. This is the same productivity per successful pair as 1992 (3.57) with a slight increase in birds produced per occupied territory (1.94 against 1.67). Three nest failures (50%) were attributed to persecution. Persecution notwithstanding this must be considered a fairly successful season. Orkney (Eric Meek) Following a poor year in 1992, 1993 was the worst season on record for Orkney Hen Harriers. Of the 30 nests located 20 failed at egg stage, seven failed after hatching and only three nests fledged a mere fouryoung(1 ,3youngpersuccessful nest, 0.13 per occupied nest). Although the weather undoubtedly played a part there may also perhaps be something more fundamentally wrong with the birds’ food supply. Buzzard Highland RSG (Malcolm Harvey) Information from four Highland areas was obtained with 54 pairs fully monitored. 41 of these were successful in raising a mean of two chicks each. It appeared that proportionally fewer attempting pairs were successful compared with 1992 with successful pairs’ productivity also reduced. Pairs in areas with high rabbit numbers did appear to be somewhat cushioned from the effects of the bad weather. Tayside RSG (Bradley Yule) Tayside Group’s efforts to monitor this species’ re-colonisation of the eastern part of the Region revealed successful breeding in Fife (at least five young fledged) and Dundee district (at least two) . The outcome from three occupied sites in Angus is unknown but 37 pairs were known to have laid in Perthshire where the species has long been well-established and these produced at least 23 young. Borders & Lothian RSG (George Smith) This species’ re-colonisation of Lothian is one of 1993’2 great success stories. Ten pairs were known to be successful in raising 22 chicks between them. The outcome at a further nine nests was unknown. It would appear, on the basis of the performance of the known successful pairs, that the population can sustain itself and continue its gradual expansion. Kestrel Ayrshire (Gordon Riddle) 1 993 was a year of extremes for Gordon’s long-term study. A sequence of bad, good, extremely bad and extremely good weather had a marked effect. Pairs either failed completely or were very successful with no intermediate results. The overall failure rate of 54% was by far the highest ever recorded. All failures were before or during incubation. After hatching brood survival was an unprecedented 100%. Birds that managed to hold out through the bad weather were able to take great advantage of the following warm spell and the fact this this was a very good vole year. A mean of 4.4 chicks was produced per successful pair with a mean of two chicks per pair attempting. Clutches included six of six eggs and one of seven. Highland RSG (Mick Canham) A request for more Kestrel data from Highland RSG workers allowed 39 sites to be monitored. These had 19 clutches leading to 1 7 broods, all of them successful, with a mean successful brood size of 4.5 chicks giving 77 birds fledged. This was a reasonable breeding season. The 100% chick survival rate reflects that in Gordon Riddle’s study area. Keith Morton. Buzzard at nest Jim Young 5 The 1994 seabird wreck in the Moray Firth Dead seabirds were first observed coming ashore in small numbers on 13th February. By the time the first organised counts took place on 1 8th February it was evident that a major non-oiling incident involving Guillemots, Shags and other seabirds was occurring. This article give details of the number of birds involved, where they were found, and where they were from and speculates on what caused the wreck. Fig. 1 gives details of which stretches of coast were covered by counters during the wreck period. Most of the counts were part of the RSPB organised survey which took place on 26/27th February. Unfortunately that weekend coincided with gale force winds, blizzards and an exceptionally high tide which was observed to scour many beaches clean leading to an under- estimation of the number of birds involved at some sites. In a few areas, particularly Moray, East Ross and S.E. Sutherland more regular counts were made over a longer period and these give more precise information on the number of birds involved and when they came ashore. At a few sites where there was the possibility of double counting only the maximum total for individual species was used. In total, in the 1 33.4km of beaches checked at least once, 3000 seabirds (excluding Larus gulls) were reported (table 1 ). Three species dominated: Guillemot (15.0 per km of beach checked at least once), Shag (6.3 per km) and Razorbill (0.7 per km). There were, however, considerable regional variations (table 2). The south coast from Nairn - Portgordon and the inner firths from Nigg Ferry - Avoch - Naim consistently held fairly low numbers. The more exposed SE facing coasts received large numbers of dead Guillemots, which were particularly concentrated in some of the small bays in Caithness. Dead Shags were most concentrated in East Ross especially around Tarbat Ness and also around Portgower in Sutherland. In East Ross regular counts were made at almost weekly intervals throughout the wreck period covering large stretches of coast from Tarbat Ness to Shandwick. To reduce the effect of double counting all corpses were thrown well above the high tide line on each count. All corpses in reasonable condition were aged as adults or immatures according to plumage characteristics. Of 450 Shags that were aged 55% were in full adult plumage and Guillemots and Razorbills - some of the m Hayes species afected during the winter wrecks along the east coast. 25% of 460 Guillemots were in full summer plumage. T able 3 give details of the number of Shags and Guillemots counted in each weekly period. These figures suggest that there was an almost continual arrival of birds on the beaches from mid February to mid March with the peak for Shags being reached between 4th/1 0th March (after the RSPB count). In both species the percentage of birds in immature plumage was greatest in the second fortnight (table 3). Table 1. Number of seabirds found dead Moray Firth Caithness Sutherland East Ross Inner Firths Moray Total Fulmar 2 1 14 1 - 18 Cormorant - 4 1 1 4 10 Shag 12 228 505 6 84 835 Kittiwake 1 3 26 5 - 35 Little Auk - 3 1 1 1 6 Razorbill 7 32 46 3 3 91 Guillemot 434 597 764 66 136 1997 Puffin 3 3 1 - 1 8 Km. of beach 5.25 27 33.1 15.5 52.55 133.41 6 Table 2. Number of corpses per km of beach checked Moray Firth Caithness Sutherland East Ross Inner Firths Moray Total Shag 2.3 8.4 15.3 0.4 1.6 6.3 Razorbill 1.3 1.2 1.4 0.2 0.1 0.7 Guillemot 82.7 22.1 23.1 4.3 2.6 15.0 ORIGINS 40 ringed Shags and 3 Guillemots were reported. Most of the Shags were adult birds and had originated from colonies in Shags also did very badly the Firth of Forth (table 4) with smaller numbers from the Fame Islands and Sule Skerry. Surprisingly, despite the large number of Shags ringed locally in Caithness and East Ross only one of these birds was found dead. Two of the Guillemots were ringed locally, but again, surprisingly, most of the Guillemots were unringed despite the very large number that have been ringed locally in recent years. The wreck coincided, as have all past ones, with a prolonged period of easterly winds which lasted from mid-February to early March, although fresh corpses continued to come ashore, albeit in small numbers till at least 27th March, well after the winds had moved out of the east. Previous studies have shown that mortality rates of both Auks and Shags tend to be highest in late winter, possible due to a shortage of natural food supply. When this period also coincides with gale force easterly winds, feeding conditions become very difficult for seabirds along much of the Bobby Smith LIVE BIRDS The start of the wreck coincided with a major movement of seabirds into the inner Firths. On 13th February 1936 Cormorants, 580 Shags, 5000 Razorbills and 210 Guillemots were counted in the Inverness Firth, whilst on 14th February 6000 Guillemots were counted in the Beauly Firth. Auk numbers remained high throughout February and the number of Shags continued to increase with 7743 being counted flying in past Chanonry Point on the morning of 20th February. 3500 were still present in the area on 2nd April. CAUSES This wreck was the biggest yet recorded in the Moray Firth. During the period 1983- 86 three wrecks occurred with 3.5 Guillemots per km being recorded in February 1983, 7.5 per km in February 985 and 10.5 per km in February 1986. The Shag wreck is totally unprecedented as were the numbers of live Shags in the inner firth. During the wrecks of 1 985 and 1986 less than 10% of the Guillemots involved were in full summer plumage whereas in 1994 25% were. Large numbers of adult Shags were also involved in the 1994 wreck. In both species the percentage of immatures increased in the latter half of the wreck. Perhaps by this time the more experienced adults had located alternative feeding areas. y Table 3. Number and age of Shags and Guillemots on East Ross beaches in weekly periods throughout the wreck. 18-24 Feb 25 Feb-3 Mar 4-10Mar 11-17 Mar Beach checked (km) 13.5 14.1 9.8 13 No. Shags 169 109 127 84 Shags/km 8.7 7.7 12.9 6.5 No. adult Shag 81 55 53 40 No. imm. Shag 43 31 74 44 No. Guillemot 253 181 147 92 Guillemots/km 15.0 12.8 15.0 7.1 No. adult Guillemots 25 43 20 24 No. imm. Guillemots 65 82 126 68 7 coast of eastern Britain causing birds in a weakened condition to move to more Willow Warbler in a more usual nesting sheltered feeding areas or to die. site. Wm. Paton Table 4. Origin and age of ringed Shags 1-2 years adults Sule Skerry 1 2 Caithness 1 Isle of May 2 26 Craigleith 5 Fame Islands 3 In this instance it appears that many birds moved north to the Moray Firth where fish were available in reasonable quantities in the inner firths. Birdsarriving in a weakened condition would probably have died. Many of the Shags in East Ross had come ashore to roost and died at the roost sites. Four Shags examined by the Inverness Veterinary Centre were all emaciated with empty guts and long term starvation, in some cases linked with pneumonia, appeared to be the most likely cause of death. Why so few local birds were involved is open to speculation. Perhaps it was these birds, using their local knowledge, that moved into the inner firths early on to exploit the available food supply and so survived. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Colin Crooke of the RSPB Highland Office provided the BBS cards on which much of this article was based. Several members of the Highland SOC branch and Mike Harris provided counts of live birds. However it is to the many people who walked the beaches that my greatest thanks are due and in particular to David Butterfield who made many visits to the East Ross beaches. Bob Swann. / - M":!V\ ?- i-rf ? . T'n IeVHful .Psi L2T Isles of Colonsay and Oronsay — Inner Hebrides Remote and unspoilt, the islands encompass 20 square miles of paradise for the naturalist - almost 170 species of birds (list on request), also otters, feral goats and a major breeding colony of the grey seal (pupping in September), 500 species of local flora as well as two of the few remaining natural woodlands of the Hebrides and the exotic rhododendron collection in the woodand garden of Colonsay House. Historic sites include St Columba’s pre-Iona foundation at Oronsay Priory, some excellent dons, a Viking ship burial, crannog-sites in Loch Fada etc. Camping and caravans are not permitted, but there Is a comfortable small hotel offering table d’hote cuisine based on ‘fresh local produce (central heating, private facilities, BTA Commended). Ro/Ro ferry for cars and foot-passengers ex-Oban Monday, Wednesday, Friday (2Vi hour passage). Demi-pension from £48.00 including VAT and service. Free bicycles. There are also three comfortable self- catering chalets, which adjoin the hotel; each unit sleeps 5, all bed-linen is provided plus daily maid service. Off-season rental is only £120.00 weekly. On Tuesday and Thursday the 28ft launch ‘MANDOLIN* takes small parties on Wildlife trips, usually accompanied by local naturalist John Clarke - £16 per person inc. VAT (simple lunch of bread, cheese and wine included). THE HOTEL, ISLE OF COLONSAY, ARGYLL (Kevin and Chrlata Byrne) Telephone: Colonsay (09512) 316 - opera aH year N.B. Booklet @ £3.50 inv. p&p describes the Island’s birds - 66pp plus 8pp colour photos. Willow Warbler nesting in an old Mistle Thrush nest On 6th June 1 993 we were walking through a birch wood near Glen Gairn, Deeside when we located a Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus nest 5m from the ground in a Birch Betula verrucosa. This is unusual in itself as a Willow Warbler nest is “normally on the ground, often in a hollow occasionally a few feet up in a low bush or ivy, and exceptionally much higher”. (Fitter and Richardson, 1968. Nests and Eggs. Collins). A Willow Warbler nest 5.2m up in a Birch has previously been recorded (Brockie, K. 1982. High Rise Willow Warbler. Scottish Birds Vol. 1 2 No 6 pi 93). In that case the nest was a “typical domed structure” in a growth of witches’ broom. Unusually the Gairn nest was built inside the old nest of a Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus. It appeared that the lining of the thrush nest had been pulled up to form the dome of the warbler’s nest. It was lined with feathers and contained 6 eggs which the female was incubating. There was suitable nesting habitat nearby. Strangely, we located another Willow Warbler nest only a few metres from the base of the Birch tree. This nest was being lined by a different Willow Warbler. When we returned on 27th June both nests had been predated. Judy & Raymond Duncan, 86 Broadfold Drive, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen. Jim Church and John Massie. 8 Buzzard distribution in Glen Roy Glen Roy, Inverness-shire, is an acclaimed Glen noted primarily for its relict glacial features. My interest was with the interactions between the landscape of the Glen andthe inhabitantfauna, in particular the Buzzard Buteo buteo. Five pairs of Buzzards held territories within Glen Roy; four pairs in the lower 5km length of the glen and one pair in the upper 8km. Between 1 985 and 1 992 I observed the Buzzard’s breeding behaviour, in relation to the glen’s environment, in at attempt to explain this distribution disparity. Moorland grasses and heather, with bracken, bog myrtle and sedges, blanketed the steep upper glen hillsides; tree cover was sparse. Significant features of the upper glen were areas of glacial-lake deposits in the valley floor, for these formerly permitted over 100 years of crofting, resulting in slightly improved pasture. Large quantities of rainfall run-off produced boggy conditions on the valley sides and particularly in areas adjacent to the river. The primary land use was sheep and cattle grazing. In contrast, the more subdued landscape of the lower glen contained a wider variety of habitats, with extensive coverage of deciduous and coniferous woodland, open hillside, croftland and meadows. In addition to sheep and cattle grazing, the land was used for agriculture and forestry. Although the glen’s Buzzards were flexible in terms of nest site locations, they appeared to favour the proximity of trees. It was likely, therefore, that the scarcity of woodland in the upper glen was influential Buzzard with three chicks in restricting only one pair of Buzzards to that area. It is probable too that the distribution imbalance was also related to food availability. In the upper glen hunting and breeding were centred around the restricted regions of improved ground, and it is possible that were it not for these areas the Buzzards would not have bred in the upper glen at all, for it would have been as barren as the parts further into the glen where Buzzards did not breed. In the lower glen the diverse range of habitats provided a greater abundance, size and variety of prey items. In particular, the presence of Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, a highly favoured and energy efficient food item (Brown, L. 1976, British Birds of Prey Collins, London) may have been of significance. However, by its very nature, the lower glen also harboured more predators, and egg and chick mortality was, consequently, heavier in this area. It appeared that the environment, through its influence on the availability of nest sites and prey, was the principle determinant of the distribution of Buzzard pairs in Glen Roy. However, the past and present influences of man in creating the composition and distribution of present day vegetation communities should be borne in mind. More detailed future work could yield additional information relating to the effects of changing land use, prey availability and competition as factors determining the Buzzard’s distribution. Dominic Sargent, “Cruach innse”, Roy Bridge, Inverness-shire PH314AJ. Wm. Paton THE NATURAL CHOICE IN SCOTLAND FOR BINOCULARS & TELESCOPES Charles Frank offers a tremendous range of binoculars and telescopes at competitive prices together with helpful advice on choosing the right one for your needs. 55 Lothian Road EDINBURGH Tel: (031) 229 8458 Open 9am— 5.30pm Mon— Sat 6th Floor, 93 Hope Street GLASGOW Tel: (041) 204 4301 Open 9am— 5pm Mon— Fri Also in Edinburgh; magnifiers, microscopes and compasses PART EXCHANGE WELCOME REPAIR & OVERHAUL SERVICE Charles Frank The futh Optical Experts 9 REVIEWS New Hamlyn publications Hamlyn’s new series of guides continue to pour from the presses. Their common denomination is value for money in these days of high book prices. This is especially true of the Species Guides : to be able to buy an informative monograph, complete with illustrations and photographs in colour, together with clear, well-produced maps, for under £10 is to say the least unusual. In both the latest volumes, there is a mass of interesting material, ranging from illustrations of owl pellets in The Barn Owl’ to maps showing the spread of breeding areas this century in The Fieldfare’. This series is well complemented by the Bird Behaviour Guides, the latest of which is that on wildfowl : the fact that its authors are Malcolm Ogilvie and Bruce Pearson is surely recommendation enough. Hard cover and more expensive than the Species series, it is nevertheless by no means overpriced. Finally, the Young Ornithologists’ guides, at under £7, are designed both to be within a young ornithologist’s budget and to offer a well-written introduction to various aspects of ornithology. Clear and concise, they avoid the trap of “talking down” to their young readers; while essentially simpleand containing elementary material, they do not fight shy of terms such as “altitudinal migration”. Any - or all! - of the following are to be recommended; The Bam Owl by C. Shawyer. Hamlyn. 128pp. £9.99. ISBN 0 600 57949 2 The Fieldfare by D. Norman. Hamlyn. 127pp. £9.99. ISBN 0 600 57961 1 Wildfowl by M. Ogilvie & B. Pearson. Hamlyn. 160pp. £14.99. ISBN 0 600 57973 5 The Snow Bunting by D. Nethersole- Thompson. Peregrine Books 1993. 339pp. £27 from Peregrine Books, 27 Hunger Hills Avenue, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 5JS. ISBN 0 9502068 1 3 This classic monograph, first published in 1966, has become a rare and expensive item in second-hand catalogues. This new edition will thus be widely welcomed, especially as it includes additional material in the shape of an article by the author, reprinted from ‘Scottish Birds’, which updated the picture to 1 976, and a further chapter by four distinguished present-day ornithologists bringing the story right up to date. Speculation on the effects of climatic change on the Snow Bunting’s fortunes is especially fascinating. Other books received Where to Watch Birds in Ireland; Clive Hutchinson. £10.99; ISBN 0-71 36-3827- 3. A Field guide to the Waterbirds of Asia; £21.95 only from St. Ann’s Books, Great Malvern. ISBN 4-7700-1740-5. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia; Simpson & Day. £17.99; ISBN 0-7136- 3930-X. The Birds of Singapore; Briffett & Supari. £12.50; ISBN 0 19 588606 2. Where to watch birds in Southern Spain; Ernest Garcia & Andrew Paterson. £1 2.99; ISBN 0-7136-3859-1. Cock Snow Bunting bringing leatherjackets to feed his chicks. Alex Tewnion Migrants & Migration by P. Holden and M. Lang man. Hamlyn. 48pp. £6.99. ISBN 0 600 57964 6 Bird Identification & Fieldcraft by I. Nethercoat & M. Langman. 48pp. £6.99. ISBN 0 600 57963 8 r " " ' ' > The Seabird Group International Seabird Conference “Threats to Seabirds” To be held in the University of Glasgow 24th -26th March 1995. Offers of papers (poster and/or spoken) to: M.L. Tasker JNCC 17 Rubislaw Terrace Aberdeen AB1 1XE Booking Details from: The Seabird Group c/o Dr R.W. Furness Applied Ornithology Unit University of Glasgow G12 8QQ | rr Ring Ouzels of the Yorkshire Dales by Ian Appieyard A fifteen-year study of 352 occupied Ring Ouzel Territories in the Yorkshire Dales beautifully illustrated with eight of the author's own colour photographs. Chapters on behaviour, nest locations and building, incubation and nestling periods, double and treble broods, territories, predation, courtship and display, voice and sonagrams, photography and use of video camera. ISBN 0 9011286 40 0 Hardback £14.99 (incl p & p) order with payment to W.S. Maney & Son Ltd Hudson Road Leeds LS9 7DL 10 Deafened but not defeated!!. The Lothian branch outing on 1 3th March to Loch of Kinnordy and the Angus Glens. A blown exhaust and a dubious weather forecast made us wonder whether it was wise to set off. We decided to risk it, with an alternative itinerary if necessary, so nine SOC members and two YOC members climbed into the minibus and set off north. Nothing fell off the bus and the Forth Road Bridge was not closed to high-sided vehicles (how high is high?) so we made it to our first stop. A pause at Vane Farm and a chat with the warden pointed us to our first target - a white- phase Snow Goose which had been seen with the Pinkfeet for some time. Finding it was no problem but holding ‘scopes steady enough for good views in the howling gale was more difficult. Eventually everyone got a good look and so we returned to the planned route. A rather slow and very noisy couple of hours later we arrived at Kinnordy, with nice views of a flock of Brambling on the way. We spread out between the hides and had lunch whilst searching for wildfowl amongst hundreds of Black- headed Gulls. A nice little assortment; no large numbers but the list included Gadwall, Shoveler, Goosander and three male Ruddy Duucks which had just returned after the winter, Great Crested and Little Grebes were seen but, of course, we were just too early for the Black-necked Grebes! Snow could be seen on the tops and we had the odd shower but the roads were clear so we continued with our planned trip up Glen Clova. It didn’t take us long to find the first of several groups of Buzzards, giving excellent views as they soared above the valley. Arriving at the Glen Doll car park at the end of the road just as a shower stopped, we all leapt out and had a good scan around the snow-covered tops but without success. A short walk in the somewhat more sheltered forest only added Siskin to the list and with time running out we returned to the car park, still scanning. A bird soaring above the skyline drew our attention and was soon identified as an immature Golden Eagle. At this point we met the SNFI warden, who was looking in the other direction and he pointed out a pair of adults, just dots above a high snowfield. Whilst most of us were watching them, the immature reappeared and swooped rapidly across the valley, more or less above our heads. We all got good views of at least one Eagle and then set off back down the valley, pausing for yet more Buzzards (we must have seen almost 20 in all) so we could compare the flight silhouettes of the Eagle and Buzzard. A flock of Twite rounded off an excellent, if somewhat noisy, day and we returned, tired but happy. Many thanks to Brian for all the driving. The minibus seems a good way of getting about so we intend to use one more often in future. This should make it easier for those of you without transport to join us. Hopefully we should get one with an undamaged exhaust next time! Paul Speak SOC NOTICES Look out for Goosanders! In August 1 993 the Tay Ringing Group on behalf of Mick Marquiss from the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology managed to catch, ring and wing tag 8 Goosanders on the Eden Estuary L.R.N. This was the second year a catch had been attempted and in 1992, 22 Goosanders were tagged with a blue tag and dark blue lettering. In 1993 the tag was red with white lettering. Results so far would indicate that these birds which moult on the Eden Estuary actually come from the south and west with reports from Dumfries & Galloway, the Peak District and even Wales. If anyone has sightings of any of these birds please get in touch with Les Hatton, North East Fife Ranger Services, Craigtown Country Park, St Andrews, Fife KYI 6 8NX Te! 0334 72151. All sightings will be acknowledged. Dates for your diary The winter meetings start again in September and the dates given below are the dates of the September meetings which usually are regarded as Members’ Nights. They are as follows: 15th September - Tayside 19th September - Borders, Clyde and Grampian 20th September - Highland, Lothian, and West Galloway 21st September - Ayr, Caithness, Dumfries and Fife 22nd September - Stewartry and Stirling The first Club Night organised by Lothian Branch and held in the Library at 21 Regent Terrace is 26th October. A full list of meetings and winter outings will be sent out with the September mailing 200 Club The sixth year of the 200 Club started on 1 st June and, in April, all existing members who pay by cheque or cash were invited to renew their subscriptions. If you are one of the few who did not, and would like to continue to help the SOC in this positive way, please send me your cheque for £12 now (payable to ‘SOC 200 Club”). New members, who must be SOC members and over 18, are very welcome to join; simply send me a cheque or PO for £1 2 to cover the year from 1 st June, and you will immediately be entered for all the monthly draws to May 1995. A very warm ‘thank you’ to all who did renew. Winners for the first quarter of 1 994 were:- January - 1st £30 - T.H. McGeorge, Edinburgh; 2nd £20 - Prof. P. Vandome, Edinburgh; 3rd £10-R.S. Smith, Plymouth. February - 1st £30 - W.G. Patterson, Gullane; 2nd £25 - Miss M.H. Gibson, Galashiels; 3rd £20 - R. Muir, Aberfeldy; 4th £10 - Miss M.C. Lawrie, Troon. March - 1st £30 - B. Pirie, Aberdeen; 2nd £20 - Miss M.H. Knox, Edinburgh; 3rd £1 0 - R.M. Sellers, Gloucestershire. Daphne Peirse-Duncombe, Rosebank, Gattonside, Melrose, Roxburghshire TD6 9NL (tel. Melrose (089 682) 2176). 11 Wing-tagged Red Kites released in Scotland All Red Kites released in Scotland as part of the joint JNCC/RSPB reintroduction project have been fitted with wing tags. The tags are not necessarily the same on each wing (examples are shown in the accompanying sketches). We would like to know of any sighting of Red Kites, whether or not tags are seen. Please notify Richard Evans, RSPB, North Scotland Office, Beechwood Park, Inverness I V2 3BW, so that sightings can be followed up and individual birds identified, or phone 0463 715000. 1989-1991 (Top left): Tag colours orange, mid-blue or yellow, depending on year, both wings the same. Number or letter identifies the individual bird. 1992 on Type A (Top right): Main colour indicates year of release, colour and type of contrasting mark (not necessarily diagonal bar) identifies individual bird. Both wings the same. 1992 on Type B (bottom left and right): Main colour (same both wings) indicates year, letter or number identifies individual bird, as do contrasting coloured bars at broad end of tags. These are in unique left/right combinations for each bird. Colour-ringed Stonechats Over the past two years I have been colour- ringing mainly pullus Stonechat at coastal and inland sites near Aberdeen. So far approximately 1 00 birds have been marked and it is intended to continue the study for a further 3 years. Indications are that young birds move considerable distances and I would therefore by grateful for any sightings of such birds anywhere in Scotland. Note should be made of the combination and which leg bears the metal and which the colour rings. All sightings will be acknowledged. Andy Thorpe, 15 Albyn Terrace, Aberdeen AB1 1YP. Stewartry branch raise funds Stewartry Branch have been fund-raising for a new projector, and they are pleased to report an excellent start has been made with over £100 being raised by the sale of nest-boxes, a crossword, a quiz and the sale of plants nurtured by the green fingered members of the branch and last but not least donations. Fair Isle Awards are made annually from the John Harrison Memorial Fund which is administered by the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Trust. John Harrison was a young bird-watcher who visited Fair Isle three times, but whose life was tragically cut short. This fund was set up in his memory on the instigation of the late Richard Richardson. Grant are given to help young people with the cost of travel and their stay at the Observatory; they must be between the ages of 15 and 21 when they go to Fair Isle. Successful applicants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements and booking at the Observatory, where they must stay for a minimum of one week. They are encouraged to visit outside the main migration periods, and to help with the ornithological work of the observatory. Information about the Observatory, and of activities which might be undertaken during their stay, can be obtained direct from the Warden on Fair Isle. Application forms are available from the Honorary Secretary, John Harrison Memorial Fund, c/o 1 DempsterTerrace, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9QQ. They must be returned no laterthan 31st October, for consideration in mid- December. Colour ringed Ring Ouzels David Arthur is now into the second year of his study looking at Ring Ouzels in Glen Esk, Angus. During the 1993 breeding season a number of birds were individually marked with colour rings; if you happen to see any Ring Ouzels with colour rings please contact David Arthur, 12 Dundee Street, Carnoustie, Angus DD77PG Tel 0241 53356. All sightings will be acknowledged. Wing-tagged Hen Harriers Marked birds are carrying a coloured tag on each wing. Although the colour on each wing may be different a single letter or number is repeated on each tag. Details of any sightings no matter how incomplete should be sent to Brian Etheridge, RSPB, Highland Office, Etive House, Beechwood Park, Inverness IV2 3BW Tel 0463 715000 as soon as possible. Lothian Branch outings Summer 1994 19th June; Fame Isles with David Kelly. Minibus will leave St Andrews Square at 9.00am 31st July; Musselburgh with Brian Robertson. Meet at Goose Green (east shore at the mouth) at 10.00am 28th August; Tyninghame with Harry Dott. Meet at Spike Island Car Park (southern shore) at 10.00am late August/early September. M.V. Gardyloo. Date and leaderto be arranged. This is a week day trip and anyone interested in going should contact David Kelly as soon as possible. When the sailing is arranged he will contact members and let them know the final details. 18th September; Hound Point with Bill Prestt. Meet opposite Hawes Inn, South Queensferry at 2.30pm For further details on any of the above outings please contact David Kelly on 0875 810827. 12 Scottish Ornithologists’ Club. 21 Regent Terrace , Edinburgh EH7 5BT. Tel 031 556 6042 SEPTEMBER 1994 No. 35 ISSN 0268-3199 { CC! 1 ; Edited by SylviaLaing and Michael Murphy Seabird Monitoring at the BP Oil Terminal, Nigg, Easter Ross. The oil terminal at Nigg was built in 1979 to store oil from the Beatrice Field in the Moray Firth, prior to collection and onward shipment by oil tankers. The site, which is on land reclaimed from Nigg Bay near the mouth of the Cromarty Firth, is composed of various storage tanks and other oil and gas related equipment. Although some of the bunds around the storage tanks are grassed over most of the ground is covered by bare gravel, which appears to be very attractive to breeding waders, terns and gulls. The entire site is surrounded by a high security fence which results in very low levels of disturbance to the breeding birds. Since 1990 the Highland Ringing Group has undertaken fairly detailed monitoring of the birds nesting at this site. The seaward edge of the site is composed of large boulders rising to 3m above the surrounding mud flats. On top of these boulders and at the base of the security fence a large colony of Eiders has been established. As Table 1 shows their numbers have increased from 27 nests in 1 990 to 63 nests in 1 994. Success is high with 90% of all nests hatching chicks. Map showing the Cromarty Firth and Nigg Bay. Table 1. Counts of nesting pairs at BP Nigg Oil Terminal 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 Eider 27 36 44 56 63 Arctic Tern 63 72 182 213 139 Common Tern 65 115 171 384 341 Great Black-backed Gull 4 27 31 50 85 Common Gull 6 15 10 20 21 Herring Gull 3 3 1 0 4 % J> The terns tend to nest in the gravel areas around the various pipes in the yard. Arctic Terns prefer the barest areas, while Common Terns prefer slightly more vegetated areas. Numbers of both species have risen dramatically over the study period, peaking in 1993 with 364 pairs of Common Tern, 213 pairs of Arctic Tern and 4 pairs of Sandwich Tern (Table 1). Breeding success has been rather variable. In 1991 and 1992 it was good with Common Tern producing 1 .2 and 0.9 chicks per pair respectively and Arctic Terns producing 0.65 chicks per pair in both years. In the other years virtually all the Arctic Terns failed to produce young and Commons were producing around 0.3 chicks per pair. The reason for the low success in these years is purely speculative. Poor weather and lack of food may have had some effect. In some years the adults bring in large numbers of sticklebacks, which the chicks appear unable to swallow. Predation may also be a factor. In 1993 there was a complete failure in parts of the site adjacent to the neighbouring oil platform construction yard. Cats were observed coming from the yard onto the BP site and it was thought that they may have been responsible for the failures. In 1994 in another part of the site there was another total failure. On this occasion security cameras observed Crows to be the culprits. They systematically criss- crossed the bare gravel areas searching for and predating each nest. The yard is also home to large numbers of breeding Oystercatchers and Ringed Plovers. Numerous Swallows and Pied Wagtails nest in the various buildings. The Pied Wagtails also roost amongst the pipework and in winter the seaward wall of the site provides an undisturbed roost for hundreds of waders. The position of the site next to the rich feeding areas of the inner Moray Firth plus a relative lack of disturbance and a sympathetic workforce have combined to make this industrial complex a safe haven for a wide range of birds. Unfortunately the Beatrice field is getting towards the end of its life. A Arctic Tern Stan da Prato Common Gulls also nest in the bare gravel areas, as do a few pairs of Herring Gulls and in 1994 one pair of Black-headed Gulls (which unfortunately failed at the egg stage). Between the BP site and the neighbouring oil production platform yard is a strip of bare land, entirely fenced off from both sites and used occasionally as a helicopter landing site. It is here that a colony of Great Black-backed Gulls has become established. Numbers have increased from 4 pairs in 1990 to 85 pairs in 1 994, making itoneof the largest colonies on the Scottish mainland. As the site is fenced in it is easy to count the nests and then catch and ring all the chicks, prior to fledging, in order to assess breeding productivity. This has tended to be very high varying from 1.9 - 2.2 chicks per nesting pair. All the data from this study are sent to the JNCC Seabird Monitoring programme. question mark now hangs over the future of the yard, its workforce and its birdlife. We plan to continue monitoring the site fortheforeseeable future and the Highland Ringing Group would like to thank BP Exploration Operation Company Limited for their continuing financial support towards their bird monitoring activities in the Moray Firth. Bob Swann The 1994 Seabird Wreck in North-east Scotland Readers will have been interested in Bob Swann’s account in SBN34: 6-8. My own observations in Aberdeenshire may also be useful, especially as they are directly comparable to those after a larger wreck in early 1990 (SBN 19:3). The first four dead Shags were found at Rattray Head on 20th January, but there were still only four dead birds at Stonehaven and Catterline to the south two days later. By 12th February there were 14 mainly young, newly-dead Guillemots at Nigg Bay, Aberdeen. Wasted and increasingly decayed bodies continued to come ashore all down the coast into March, and the last fresh Guillemot was found on 27th April. Excluding areas where the birds were apparently removed by intruders, I found 123 bodies, including 76 Guillemots, 10 Kittiwakes and Herring Gulls, 8 Shags, 5 Razorbills, four Fulmars and Common Gulls, and individuals of six other species, on roughly 10km of beach, compared to 244 birds in a similar distance in 1990. It is notable that while the average length of the Guillemot wings was much as in 1 990, the mean for 50 apparently immature wings, 198mm (range 190-21 3mm) was larger than that for 23 apparently adult wings, 196mm (range 194-207), the frequency distribution curve was skewed to the large side, and many of the birds were rather heavily marked, suggesting the presence of a proportion of large northern young birds. While there were also fewer Shags than in 1 990, there have been more in some recent years, notably after gales in February 1990, when two ringed immatures came from the Isle of May. Since the onset of this wreck was accompanied by the usual speculation in the newspapers that it was due to human interference with the marine environment, it should be noted that while the bodies may not have started to come ashore before the onset of east winds in February, the weather had been stormy, and judging by the condition of the bodies the birds must have been in trouble, for some time before this. The may explain why so many appear to have taken refuge from the previous west winds in the Moray Firth, with the resultthatthey were blown ashore when the wind moved to the east. W R P Bourne 2 A letter arising from “Barn Owls - in Livingston?” I fear that readers of Stan Phillips’ articles in SBN 33 may be led to believe (intentionally or otherwise) thatthe ‘hotline and bird recorders’ were responsible for releasing information about a Barn Owl nest site which then led to some of the incidents he describes. I would like to put the record straight, as this issue has implications not only for myself, as SOC Recorder for Lothian, but also for other recorders and the general issue of recording uncommon or rare breeding birds. Firstly I feel it necessary to state that, although I was aware of the nest’s existence, I made a decision not to visit the site ortell anyone, and also that Birdline Scotland was unaware of the record and therefore equally not responsible for the leak. The SOC Recorders are responsible for collecting and maintaining an accurate database of all bird species in their region, including the rare and unusual; so above all they must be seen to be totally trustworthy. It should therefore be stressed that any sensitive information sent to SOC Recorders, whether given in confidence or not, will never be put on general release. If the birds are considered to be vulnerable in any way the record will be later published only in general terms (either by area, region or county) - indeed this is how we will deal with this record in the 1 993 Lothian Bird Report, even though Mr Phillips’ article has now publicised more accurately the nest’s whereabouts. Records of rarer species may not be published at all, but will be forwarded in confidence to the U.K. Rare Breeding Birds Panel, a body sponsored by S.N.H., R.S.P.B., B.T.Oand “British Birds” magazine. Whom an observer chooses to tell is obviously up to the individual, but in the case of uncommon breeding birds clearly the fewer people who know the better. If it is decided to inform the SOC Recorder immediately, he is normally in an excellent position (with collective local knowledge built up over 25 years) to assess the importance or suitability of letting relevant bodies know of the occurrence. Knowing of a nest site can also prevent the release of apparently innocent information regarding an isolated sighting of one of the pair nearby and inadvertently attracting attention to a site. It should also be noted that Birdline Scotland has a strict policy of not broadcasting information about breeding birds, unless it has been specifically sanctioned by a body such as the RSPB. Ultimately if you want a record like this kept quiet, tell no-one. News has a habit of spreading remarkably quickly. However don’t be put off giving the SOC Recorder full details at some stage so that each and every important record can be fully documented. Remember that the most trustworthy people are those whose positions/jobs depend on their reputations! Ian J Andrews, S.O.C. Recorder for Lothian Region, 39 Clayknowes Drive, Musselburgh, Midlothian EH21 6UW. Young Barn Owl Andrew Dowell [Chi irlesi i Frc nk 1 'HotwuzC (2&oice BINOCULARS & TELESCOPES ® BIG RANGE - ALL LEADING MAKES ® HELPFUL, EXPERT ADVICE ® GREAT VALUE - WE ALWAYS TRY TO PRICE MATCH B BINOCULAR DEMONSTRATION EVENT 5- 10th September at 250 Morrison Street, Edinburgh 7*? t/ie rtutye Zeiss representative in-store Friday and Saturday comfretctio*t win a Zeiss 8x20B Classic at qMom 250 Morrison Street EDINBURGH Tel: (031) 229 8458 Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm at#£ lom 1 00 High Street FALKIRK Tel: (0324) 622020 Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm 6th Floor 93 Hope Street o y GLASGOW Tel: (041) 204 4301 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm REPAIR & OVERHAUL SERVICE PART EXCHANGE WELCOME Also, in Edinburgh: Magnifiers Compasses ® Map measures Charles Frank The frkJjf Optical Experts 3 Red Kite progress update from March 1993. Early March saw the return of good numbers of Red Kites, which were known to have wintered in the south of Scotland and beyond. Among one of the earliest returning birds was kite 3, released in 1 989, which has spent every winter since in Perthshire, returning to the Highlands each summer. Two birds which wintered together in Dumfries & Galloway also returned to the Highlands in summer, albeit that one took a rather long route via Caithness, while the other came via Glenlivet. One kite that was eagerly awaited had been monitored during the winter on the Rogerstown estuary, Eire. The initial tracking for this kite’s radio frequency in northern Scotland proved to be a disappointment, when a brief chase through a wood on Deeside only produced one of the ITE’s Capercaillies. Of the 24 kites released in 1 992 at least 20 returned to the north of Scotland during the spring and summer of 1993. One bird released in 1 991 was discovered in March in the Borders. This bird was found lying on the ground of a gentleman’s garden one morning when he went out to stock up the bird table. He noticed the distress of the bird and realised he was dealing with a species which was unfamiliar to him. He notified the SSPCA who took the kite to a veterinary surgeon. There the vet diagnosed alphachlorolose poisoning, the result of presumably having consumed part of an illegal bait set out for foxes and crows. Fortunately, in this case the bird recovered and was re-released in the Highlands with a new radio tag so as to monitor its progress. The bird then moved along the coast to Nairn, before moving northwards to take up residence near Golspie. This bird did make a full recovery, but it is also sad that an irresponsible minority persist in using indiscriminate poisons, which continue to put a lot of our rarest birds in danger. 1992 saw the first pair of Red Kites succeeding in producing the first Red Kite chick to be bred in Scotland for 1 20 years. This young bird held a winter territory and was seen at least until June 1993. In early April 1993 the pair that nested successfully in 1992 returned to the breeding area and proceeded to get on with the business of nest building. By the end of April no fewer than 5 other nests with incubating females were located. Disturbance was kept to a minimum at this stage; however by mid May it became clear that 7 young had hatched from 3 nests, the other 2 females unfortunately sitting on addled eggs. At the age of 5 weeks five of the young kites were ringed and fitted with wing tags, to enable identification and hopefully confirm when the first Scottish reared kites start to breed. Meanwhile in June Roy Dennis flew to Sweden to collect the final 24 kites for the release programme. The chicks are removed from the nests at four weeks of age, and are only taken from nests with 2 or more young therefore leaving the adults to rear at least one or two chicks. As it is vital that the young have the least possible contact with humans they are kept in special boxes in a field station and, apart from periodic feeding, are kept away from human contact. Thus they will not be imprinted on humans and will have the best chance of survival in the wild. As in previous years the RAF assisted by flying the kites from Sweden to Scotland. From there they were taken to the release cages which are specially designed for remote feeding of the birds. After 5 weeks without any human contact the birds are removed from the cages and fitted with wing tags and radio. A few days later the front of the cages is opened remotely so the birds may leave and start their life in the wild. Being fitted with radios allows the progress of the birds to be followed during the first year of life when they are at their most vulnerable. Results so far indicate that the survival rate for young kites is high, and that the distances covered during the winter months by these young birds is very large, and that most returned to the release area the following spring. Now that the final year for release has finished, monitoring will be concentrated on the breeding population as the new birds begin to colonise new areas. In 1 994, progress continued: by mid-July no fewer than 8 pairs had been successful, raising between them 1 3 young. With a further 37 in England making a total of 50 chicks from the re-introduction scheme as a whole, the future looks encouraging. This is another great achievement for Scottish ornithology. The RSPB are very anxious to hear about any sightings of Red Kites and if you can supply details of the wing tag colours so much the better. (See notice Page 12). Early spring 1994 saw the kites showing signs of breeding once again, with brief displays, talon grappling and pair bonding. The 5 pairs that bred in 1 993 have all been seen again this season. 4 Whimbrel. One of the birds which have suffered in Russia’s “Virgin Lands”. John Chapman Buzzard and Kestrel fouled by Fulmar oil On 27th June 1994, below Castle Craig cliffs at the North Sutor, Easter Ross, a Buzzard appeared on the rocks in front of us. It appeared to be oiled and in some distress. On closer inspection we found it was covered in Fulmar oil. The bird could not fly and was surviving by feeding on small Herring Gull chicks. On 15th July, David Butterfield visited the same area and found a Kestrel also covered in Fulmar oil and flightless. It also appeared to be feeding on Herring Gull chicks. Fulmar David Mitchell Where does the Slender- billed Curlew nest? New ideas from Russia. Many readers will have heard Mike Trubridge’s lecture last season on this species. Earlier this year I asked our good friend Vadim Ryabitsev of the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology in Ekaterinburg if he knew anything more about its breeding area. In reply he sent three articles which appeared in the 1 992 and 1 994 bulletins of the Menzbier Ornithological Society’s wader study group. One of these articles suggests that searches for the breeding sites have until now been in entirely the wrong habitat and part of the country. The author V.P. Belik believes that, instead of West Siberian forest bogs, a much more likely breeding area would be sandy regions in the steppe zone of western Kazakhstan or East Europe, in particularthe edge of the Volga- Ural Sands. Why have numbers of the Slender-billed Curlew declined so drastically? Belik points out that there has been relatively little human exploitation of West Siberian bogs, but a great deal of disturbance to the ‘virgin lands’ in the steppe zone. This has led to a serious decline there in the common Curlew, and the extermination of the steppe race of the Whimbrel. The common Curlew is now mainly confined to sandy regions unexploited by humans, and perhaps the Slender-billed Curlew nests there with it. Geoffrey Harper. The oiling of raptors by Fulmars has long been known. Dennis 1970 (Scot. Birds 6:198-199) reported White-tailed Eagle, migrant Honey Buzzards and Ospreys being soiled by Fulmar oil on Fair Isle. Contamination of Peregrines by Fulmar oil is thought to be partly responsible for the decline in Peregrine numbers in Shetland (Scot. Birds 17:40-49). In Orkney Booth & Reynolds 1987 (Orkney Bird Report 1 986:70-75) recorded 1 6 species that had been contaminated by Fulmar oil. There is a large Fulmar population at North Sutor where 1014 occupied sites were counted in 1991 (Scot. Birds 16:210). There is also a high raptor population. For instance 5 pairs of Buzzards nest within 2kms of the Sutor colonies. These observations show that the problem of raptors being fouled by Fulmar oil is not confined to the Northern Isles. Robbie Swann (jnr) Isles of Colonsay and Oronsay - inner Hebrides Remote and unspoilt, the islands encompass 20 square miles of paradise for the naturalist - almost 170 species of birds (list on request), also otters, feral goats and a major breeding colony of the grey seal (pupping in September), 500 species of local flora as well as two of the few remaining natural woodlands of the Hebrides and the exotic rhododendron collection in the woodland garden of Colonsay House. Historic sites include St Columba’s pre-Iona foundation at Oronsay Priory, some excellent duns, a Viking ship burial, crannog-sites in Loch Fada etc. Camping and caravans are not permitted, but there is a comfortable small hotel offering table d’hote cuisine based on fresh local produce (central heating, private facilities, BTA Commended). Ro/Ro ferry for cars and foot-passengers ex-Oban Monday, Wednesday, Friday (21/2 hour passage). Demi-pension from £57.00 including VAT and service. Free bicycles. There are also three comfortable self-catering chalets, which adjoin the hotel; each unit sleeps 5, all bed-linen is provided plus daily maid service. Off-season rental is only £135.00 weekly. On T uesday and Thursday the 28ft launch ‘MANDOLIN’ takes small parties on Wildlife trips, usually accompanied by local naturalist John Clarke - £1 6.00 per person inc. VAT (simple lunch of bread, cheese and wine included). THE HOTEL, ISLE OF COLONSAY, ARGYLL (Kevin and Christa Byrne) Telephone: Colonsay (09512) 316 - open all year N.B. Booklet @ £3.50 inc. p&p describes the island’s birds - 66pp plus 8pp colour photos. 5 The 1994 Breeding Season Round-up Raptors and Owls In the main most raptors had a fairly reasonable season, although some early nests were lost due to the late snow. In Tayside and Central 4 home ranges for Golden Eagle were checked and although the outcome for all is not clear at least 2 successful pairs raised 3 young. This seems to be the normal low productivity despite the fact that plenty of blue hares were observed which was not the case with Red Grouse. Further north Eagles appear to have had a poor year. Peregrines on the other hand have fared fairly well, with at least 8 successful pairs raising 18 young in Tayside and Central; by comparison SE Scotland, Lothian and the Borders had several new pairs being found, and it is pleasing to note that robberies are down for the first time recently, although destruction of nests by man particularly on grouse moors remains a problem. The effect of the late April snow does not seem to have affected breeding performance and it looks like being a record year for Peregrines. Buzzard have also had a good year with new sites being found in Lothians, Borders and Fife. Merlin also appear to have had a more successful season than last year, although the final results will not be available for some time yet. In Orkney Eric Meek reports that occupancy rates by Merlins is down by 50% on 1 993, but the pairs which did nest were quite successful with 8 nesting attempts raising 24 young. Ospreys in the Highlands have had a most unusually extended season with some pairs having young on the wing in early July and others only just hatching. A number of new pairs have been found, but some of the older established pairs failed to arrive at their usual sites. Red Kite however have had a very good year with 11 pairs on territory, 8 pairs breeding and six of those successfully rearing 13 young. Exceptional numbers of Sparrowhawks in the Lochalsh area contrasted with very low numbers of Kestrel while at an Ayrshire study area Gordon Riddle reports normal levels of Kestrel site occupation with well above average number of young reared. In Easter Ross it was noted that Kestrel had had an excellent year, in contrast to Fife where it is reported as very scarce. Hen Harriers have certainly had a very poor year with the number of pairs being found considerably reduced; in Orkney only 5 successful nests reared 1 1 young. T awny Owl in Ayrshire did particularly badly possibly due to the bad weather in late March/early April. In west Central Scotland they were noted as having a fair season although the clutches were small; in a study area in Dumfries & Galloway Geoff Shaw reported high vole numbers with over 100 pairs of owls using nestboxes in Galloway Forest Park, more or less equal numbers of Barn/Tawny, and several pairs of Barn Owls hatching second broods in July. Reports from Borders and Lothian are of no young Tawny Owls or Long-eared Owls being reared at all. Short-eared Owls were also thin on the ground in Borders and Lothian, but had their best year for some time in Orkney. Gamebirds and Corvids Lothian and Borders reported a reasonable year for Red Grouse especially on lower moorland. The numbers of Black Grouse lekking in Central region are down which compares with the trend over much of the rest of Scotland. Ravens in Central and Tayside appear to have had mixed fortunes. 31 territories checked held only 17 pairs; of these, 8 reared 15 or 16 young and another 3 successful pairs an unknown number of young. The late snow may have affected breeding success, some nests containing small young being covered by the snow, which also possibly made hunting for carrion difficult. Seabirds Reports from the Isle of May indicate a varied season with some species such as Shags being greatly reduced, apparently due to the loss of adults in the late winter wrecks along the length of the east coast of Scotland. Other seabirds such as Guillemot, Puffin, Kittiwake, Arctic/ Common T erns, Herring and Lesser Black- backed Gulls remained at about the same levels as last year on the May. Kittiwake and Shag on Canna appeared to be doing well. The only bird which has increased on the Isle of May this year is the Razorbill. Shag with 3 chicks during better breeding Jim Young seasons On the May food appeared to be in short supply early in the season which resulted in reduced colony attendance (e.g. Guillemot) or even large numbers of pairs not laying (e.g. Kittiwake). Breeding was generally late and the earliest young Kittiwake only fledged at the end of July. The Isle of May auks had a normal breeding success but few young Kittiwake are expected to fledge. This will be the 4th consecutive year that Kittiwake have experienced breeding failure. Shag will also have reared rather few young as many pairs that did return did not lay. 6 Red-throated Diver at nest Sydney Clarke Many of the Common/Arctic Terns failed at the egg stage but those which survived this time did well. Overall, in excess of 500 young fledged from 700 pairs which is the best season since they recolonised the island in the early 1980s. Although conditions late in the season had improved, the heavy mortality of Shags during the winter, massive non-breeding and many pairs failing early in the season, which of course resulted in low overall success for many species. This certainly reinforces the view that conditions in the Firth of Forth for seabirds is less than good. Expanding fishing for sandeels on the Wee Bankie just offshore is unlikely to help the situation In Orkney the cliff-nesting seabirds appeared to be having a normal season. Black Guillemot are having one of their better years. This is not the case for Arctic Terns in Orkney where many colonies were deserted and some birds re-laying very late in the season it is doubted if they will succeed at all. Good numbers of Cormorants and Terns were recorded in Easter Ross although their breeding success was below average. Waders In Easter Ross it was noted as a terrible breeding season for Lapwing, Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher; this is also the case for Lapwing in Highland and in the Dornoch area it is the first time in 42 years that no nests have been recorded. In Lothian and Borders Lapwing, Curlew and Oystercatcher have had more success than last year, but in Tayside Lapwing numbers were down. Oystercatcher remained much the same and Curlews nested in set-aside but Crows presented the usual problems. Common Sandpiper are noted as being scarce in a number of areas. Good numbers of Golden Plover were on breeding grounds in Highland , but a decline was noted in Dumfries & Galloway. Both Greenshank and Dunlin bred successfully in Highland region. Wildfowl On the R Tweed numerous broods of Mallard with 10+ juveniles are noted. In Easter Ross & Canna there were good numbers of both Mallard and Mute Swan, the former with large broods. On the R Nairn Mallard are noted as being down on 1 993; this appears to be the only region to have recorded this. Mandarin and Goosander on the same river are up on 1993. Broods of 7 and 8 Mute Swans were on the Moray Firth. Teal in small burns in the Borders are in good numbers. In Orkney Red-throated Divers have had a very poor season in terms of breeding success, while Black-throated Divers in one Highland study area which holds 3 pairs all have 1 chick this year, and an area in Central had 2 pairs for the first time ever, but unfortunately one pairfailed when their nest was flooded out by rising water levels. The avoidance of this is one of the big advantages of the floating islands placed in suitable lochs that divers frequent. Eiders are having a good year both in the Lochalsh area and on the Isle of May with cl 000 nests which is the highest ever recorded. Slavonian Grebe north of the Great Glen have shown a sharp decline in the number of pairs present this year. Black-necked Grebe at the RSPB reserve at Kinnordy have an amazing 1 1 pairs this year. Moorhen in the area around Dornoch are becoming scarce, and are now usually only seen on some of the larger lochs. However, in the Borders a Waterways Bird Survey plot noted especially large numbers although Mark Holling states that this is not the case elsewhere. Pied & Grey Wagtails in Dumfries and Galloway appearfewer, with early clutches/ broods small but better later in the season. In the Lothian and Borders areas Dipper appear to be alright, while Grey Wagtail are less common this year. Warblers Wood Warblers in Central are about average, but seem to be on the increase in south-west Scotland, while Willow Warbler in Central appear to be numerous but predation seemed to be higherthan normal. In 2 areas in north Scotland it was also noticed that both Wood and Willow Warblers were present in good numbers, and in the Lochalsh area Grasshopper Warblers are widespread. In the area around Dornoch there is only one reported record so far this year of a Whitethroat, but in both Tayside and the Borders Whitethroat appear to to having a good year. Norman Elkins reported from Fife that both Garden Warbler and Chiffchaff have increased since 1 993. Blackcap has only been reported from the Borders area, which no doubt reflects only a lack of information rather than of birds. Hirundines Sand Martin colonies in Borders appear to be down in number again this year, although in Easter Ross they are reported as being in good numbers. Swallows are having mixed fortunes with some areas reporting good numbers others saying numbers are down again this year. House Martins are continuing to decline in a lot of areas but fortunately not all. Summer Migrants (not previously covered) Mark Holling has only heard one Cuckoo 7 in the Borders despite several visits to areas normally frequented by Cuckoos in May and June; this is in contrast to Mike Trubridge at the RSPB reserve at Inversnaid who reported Cuckoo numbers to be still high. Roy Dennis reports seeing 2 young Cuckoos flying near Nethybridge, but also reports hearing Cuckoos calling normally in mid July which is incredibly late. Mike’s study area for Pied Flycatchers has done better this year thanks in part to the fact that a number of concrete nestboxes were erected to prevent predation by Pine Martens and this appears to have been successful, with none of the 17 occupied boxes being predated. In Henry Robb’s study area also in west Central he reports numbers down by 10% on last year and also clutch size being smaller. A similar story arises in Glentrool where the number of singing males was normal but more than half remain unmated. Redstarts in Henry’s area are down by 25% with more late broods than usual, and Geoff Shaw also noticed a decline in numbers in Glentrool; this seems to be the case over most of Scotland. David Arthur’s study area in an Angus glen for Ring Ouzel recorded a slightly lower success rate than in 1993 although clutch size was comparable to 1993, but at Lochalsh Ring Ouzel are scarce again this year. A noticeable decline in Wheatears has been noticed from a number of areas evenly spaced throughout Scotland. Very few comments were made about Meadow Pipits other than that numbers appear to be down on last year. One bird that appears to be doing better again in parts of Scotland is the Stonechat and a pair bred successfully in the Borders, the first time for 10 years. Whinchat and Spotted Flycatcher appear to be having mixed fortunes in differing parts of the country. The number of calling Corncrakes has more than doubled to 13 in Orkney this year. Other Songbirds Great and Blue Tits would appear to be on the increase; could this be due to the fact that more people are now feeding birds in their gardens? although this was not the case throughout Scotland. Late broods of Song Thrush, Blackbird and Dunnock are noted particularly in the Borders and Lothian, and D Macdonald was delighted to find at least 14 Song Thrush during the breeding season near Dornoch. Geoff Shaw noted many Siskin breeding in Glentrool, and a good Sitka cone crop, but with little in the way of cones for next winter/spring. It will be interesting to see what effect this has on the breeding numbers. Malcolm Ross reports Reed Buntings few and far between, and we have no other comments on this species. At a long term study of T ree Sparrows near Blairgowrie numbers are down this year, but do tend to fluctuate in any case, although the decline in the acreage of raspberries grown in the area may be having a knock on effect. The only record of Green Woodpecker came from Alex Joss who has finally managed to confirm breeding in the R Nairn area. A comment from Stan da Prato about the scarcity of Bullfinch and a local increase in Goldfinch numbers around T ranent may be linked to the increase in set aside, although I have noticed a large increase in Goldfinches in Perthshire this year. Thanks are again due to the following:- David Arthur, John Calladine, Roy Dennis, Dave Dick, Norman Elkins, Sandra Hacker, Mike Harris, Malcolm Harvey, Mark Holling, Alex Joss, D Macdonald, Eric Meek, Brian Neath, Ian Poxton, Stan da Prato, Gordon Riddle, Henry Robb, Malcolm Ross, Geoff Shaw, Patrick Stirling-Aird, Bob Swann, Mike Trubridge and Sarah Wanless. As always we stress that fieldworkers’ first impressions are not to be interpreted as the definitive account of the 1994 season. That comes later when the appropriate bodies have analysed all the data. Many of the contributors to the summary are active fieldworkers, taking part in various survey or monitoring schemes. Sylvia Laing Green Woodpecker feeding chick Jim Young Capercaillie nesting in tree. On checking a large bird of prey nest in a Pine woodland in Morayshire in May 1 994, I noted small pale feathers on the rim of the nest. A ground search beneath the tree produced several larger and obvious grouse type feathers. From one angle some ten paces away from the trunk it was possible to discern seven or eight inches of Capercaillie tail feathers. Assuming this to be a dead bird I climbed to the nest in the hope of ascertaining the cause of death, but, as my head appeared over the rim of the nest, a female Capercaillie suddenly took off revealing 9 eggs. I left the area as soon as possible. A couple of days later afriend accompanied me to the area, and the bird was visible in almost the same position as my previous visit. We left the area without disturbing her this time. With the same friend we made a further visit at the beginning of June. This time no bird being present I again climbed the tree, to find that the eggs had hatched, most of the shells being in small fragments; however two had the smaller part of the shell tucked into the larger part. On this occasion I took the opportunity to measure the height of the tree from the bottom of the shallow nest cup to the base of the tree. The height was a little over thirty two feet. The habitat is typically Capercaillie, being of well spaced mature Scots Pines, with undergrowth predominately Blaeberry with some Heather. The nest, discovered last year, was likely to have been that of a bird 8 S M D Alexander of prey. It was unused in 1993. The nest is situated against the trunk of the tree, which is some sixty feet in height. A search of literature to date has only produced Desmond Nethersole- Thompson’s observations in Witherby’s ‘Handbook of British Birds’ (1944) , where it states ‘exceptionally in a nest in a tree 10/15 feet above the ground’. Other books simply credit Desmond, or appear to do so, even the ‘Birds of the Western Palearctic’ by expediently converting the feet to 3/5 metres. To me there is one question that begs an answer, what nests did Desmond find Capercaillies nesting in? In Capercaillie habitat there can be few species of birds that build nests large enough for a Caper to occupy. A few that come to mind may be Buzzard, Sparrowhawk or Crow. It is as exceptional to find any of these species nesting as low as 10/15 feet as it is for Capercaillie to occupy them! Or are we looking too low? Harvey Burton Peregrine versus Dunlin We were sitting at The Wig on Loch Ryan on a glorious, still, sunny day in March, having our picnic lunch, when we noticed a flock of Dunlin take off from the pebbles on the nearby island. They began to turn and weave in a tight formation, when they were suddenly thrown into turmoil by a predator which dived into their midst. This was followed by a second, smaller predator, which dived in the same way, further fragmenting the flock. The pair of Peregrines then continued to harry the waders, without a break, until they had managed to separate a lone Dunlin from the pack. They continued to dive at this unfortunate little bird without any respite, and it made the mistake of flying high to try to escape, but it quickly decided that that was not a good idea, so it returned to sea level. Here it did not escape, and the Peregrines gave it not a moment’s respite, once pushing it under the water from which it managed to free itself, but not for long. The male made another dive, and plucked it up, and flew higher. The female followed it, and as they closed the male handed over the prey to her, and flew towards the land, with a Herring Gull in close pursuit. In less than a minute the two Peregrines reappeared, flying slowly in circles and getting higher and higher, without any signs of their prey. Kenneth C.R. Halliday Adult Dunlin Unusual Oystercatcher nesting behaviour In the spring of each year we routinely search for wader nests, under licence, in order that we can contribute to the BTO’s Nest Record Scheme and, later, ring the chicks. In 1992 we located two cases of Oystercatcher nesting that were of interest. The first nest was on the ground on a strip of cultivated land about 25m on the Strathclyde side of the march with the Borders, at an altitude of 225m asl. On 6th June the nest held 5 eggs, 3 heavily blotched and 2 more finely marked, pointing to the possibility of the involvement of 2 females. On 10th June the following observations were made:- When I arrived an adult, bird A, was incubating on the nest in a sleeping posture, with another, bird B, in a guard position standing on a fence post some 20m distant. A third bird, bird C, flew in to land about 1 5m from the nest. There was much noisy calling at this point. B then flew down into such a position that the nest, A, C and B were in an almost straight line from my viewing position. C sidled in towards the nest, A rose and walked away picking at bits of grass stems and C settled on what looked like 5 eggs. A then flew off into a neighbouring field. After only two minutes B walked in and changed over with C and settled on the eggs as C walked round in a circle to stand within 2m of B as it was incubating. Four minutes after their changeover C walked up to B which rose and walked away picking and flicking pieces of loose vegetation. As C once again settled to incubate B sat down in a sleeping posture about 2m from the nest. On 1 5th June there was 1 chick within 2m of the nest where an adult brooded; on 1 6th June an adult shepherded 3 chicks; on 20th June we ringed 3 chicks; only 3 chicks were seen and the nest was empty. It is not known if the 3 chicks were from the heavily blotched eggs, nor whether or not the other 2 eggs hatched. This incidence of a trio of waders involved in incubation is unusual but is recorded in the literature (Cramp etal. BWP Vol. 3). Itpointstoconfirming the proposition that the clutch of 5 eggs was the result of laying by two different females. The second case involved a pair that nested in a hollow in the top of a stump of felled Ash, about 1 ,3m above ground level and less than 3m from a main road. This site was about 1 00m on the Borders side of the march with Strathclyde at an altitude of 205m asl, and about 10km from that described above. An adult incubated a clutch of 2 eggs on 1 9th May and an adult was seen almost daily, sitting on this nest, until 7th June. The following day the two chicks were with the adults in the adjacent hay meadow and were ringed on 1 0th June. In 1993 a pair of Oystercatchers again used the stump nest site but the attempt failed after only 6 days, possibly as a result of the disturbance caused when the nearby road was resurfaced. (See SBN 13:15 for a similar occurrence but a happier outcome). Note that in 1 989, with others, we had located an Oystercatcher nest in a growing Beech, about 4km away from this site; see SBN 15:9. David & Margaret Thorne. Our thanks to Dr T W Dougall for his comments on an earlier draft. 9 REVIEWS Ring Ouzels of the Yorkshire Dales by Ian Appleyard. 1/1/. S. Maney & Son Ltd, Hudson Road, Leeds LS9 7DL. 1994. £14.99 incl p&p. ISBN 0 901286 40 0 Ian Appleyard’s account of Ring Ouzels (T urdus torquatus) in the Yorkshire Dales is a stimulating one and is the first serious attempt to devote a book specifically to this much neglected species. Ian’s 15 years’ account of this challenging species probably gives the reader some insight into the reasons for ornithologists’ lack of interest. The terrain, weatherand difficulty of following Ring Ouzels in the field and the time and patience required to study this bird, require long hours of fieldwork. This has however, paid off for Ian who, ably assisted by his wife Philippa, has produced an interesting and well documented account of the breeding biology of Ring Ouzels in the Yorkshire Dales. He brings together some of the biological references byotherornithologists interested in Ring Ouzels in recent years in Britain, e.g. Flegg & Glue, Durman & Poxton, and, combined with his own methodical fieldwork and using his knowledge gained over the years of Ring Ouzels’ behaviour, has worked hard and has written a worthwhile account of Ring Ouzels in this upland environment. He gives an interesting account of behavioural aspects of the Ring Ouzel throughout the breeding season, with information gathered regarding nest sites and nest building, together with useful information regarding incubating and nesting periods. Another aspect is the question of second broods which the author believes is more common than first thought by some previous ornithologists, while his proven case of two third broods provides further interest. Having spent several years studying Ring Ouzels myself I have to agree with Ian’s conclusions regarding second broods. Interesting comments on plumage of the females regarding aging by means of the gorget becoming more distinct the older the bird becomes, is worth further examination. Relationships between Blackbirds and other species in the study area and the long term study of his territory birds all add up to an excellent contribution to Ring Ouzel biology. Ian has laid down a baseline for gathering future information of the study of Ring Ouzels in future years. The book provides the reader with an excellent account of this understudied summer migrant and hopefully will encourage further interest from ornithologists. The chapter devoted to bird photography and the necessary equipment required with the use of video cameras in gathering behavioural information is another interesting facet of Ian’s study. One of the outstanding features of the book is the number of excellent photographs depicting Ring Ouzel behaviour in the field. They are perhaps the best group of photographs devoted to this species in any publication available at present. This is a special book which is worthwhile adding to the amateur and serious ornithologist’s library. David Arthur. Due to shortage of space other reviews have been held over till the next issue. (r - ^ Ring Ouzels of the Yorkshire Dales by Ian Appleyard A fifteen-year study of 353 occupied Ring Ouzel Territories in the Yorkshire Dales beautifully illustrated with 80 of the author’s own colour photographs. Chapters on behaviour, nest locations and building, incubation and nestling periods, double and treble broods, territories, predation, courtship and display, voice and sonagrams, photography and use of video camera. ISBN 0901286 40 0 Hardback £14.99 (incl p&p) order with payment to W.S. Maney & Son Ltd Hudson Road Leeds LS9 7DL ^ J) Isle of Mull Short break holidays, Isle of Mull. Inexpensive accommodation, all rooms overlook Loch Don, a bird-watcher’s paradise. Special low-season packages arranged. Contact P Appleby, Clachan House, Lochdon, Isle of Mull PA64 6AP Tel 06802-439 Endowment Fund Grants 9 new grant applications totalling £1 400 were considered by SOC Council in March 1 994, all bar two of these were supported and the following grants given:- 1 . Stonechat studies in Grampian - A Thorpe - £50 2. St Kilda Gannet Census - S Murray - £750 3. Post-breeding dispersal of Crested Tit - W Taylor - £50 to be awarded each year for 3 years. 4. Twite wintering in Caithness - H Clark - £100 5. Glen Esk Ring Ouzels - D Arthur - £1 50 to be awarded each year for 3 years. 6. Buzzards in Galloway - 1 Langford - £1 00 each year for 3 years and £100 in first year towards safety equipment. 7. Seabirds on the Forth Islands - Lothian Ringing Group - £1 00 each year for 3 years. 2 grants in their final year were R Duncan - Wigeon studies in Grampian and L Brown - Goose study in Fife. The new applications received in 1 994 illustrate the variety of topics which can form the bases of detailed study by mainly amateur fieldworkers. Individuals, groups and SOC Branches therefore are urged to make use of the Endowment Fund - there must be a number of potential projects waiting for a small financial input to get them started or to realise their full potential. Anyone interested in applying to the Fund should contact the SOC at 2 1 Regent Terrace to obtain a leaflet and application form. The closing date for applications to be considered by Council in March 1995 is 31st October 1994. David Jardine, Chairman, Surveys & Research Committee. 10 SOC NOTICES Evening opening of Waterston Library The Waterston Library will again be open for three hours one evening per month from September to December. The times for this session are 18.00 - 21.00 hours on the following dates Monday 26th September; Monday 17th October; Monday 21st November and Monday 12th December 1994. PLEASE TELEPHONE 031 556 6042 BEFOREHAND TO CONFIRM. For Sale in aid of Waterston Library IBIS vols 95-1 32 (1953-90) in parts, plus 3 special Centenary Expedition issues £200. BRITISH BIRDS vols. 44-73 (1951- 80) in 30 bound volumes in standard bindings, plus vols 74-83 (1981 -90) in parts £350. BIRD STUDY vols. 4-36 (1957-89) in parts £100. Also shorter runs of these and other journals. Contact:- Bill Harper, Librarian 031 556-6042 Thanks Thanks are once again due to the following Margaret Abel, Rosemary Davidson, Hetty Harper, Brian Robertson, Bob & Betty Smith and Joan Wilcox. Without their help this would be an impossible task. If you have any time to spare once every three months and would like to help the club we would be very pleased to hear from you. CONSTITUTION Any members who would like a copy of the Club’s constitution, incorporating amendments agreed at recent AGMs may have one on request from 21 Regent Terrace. GREETINGS CARDS & T-SHIRTS Council have agreed that the Club should incorporate greetings cards and T-shirts for the benefit of Club funds. If you would be prepared to help organise this, please contact us on 031 556 6042. Forth Seabird Group Enthusiasts who regularly study seabirds breeding in the Firth of Forth have recently formed the Forth Seabird Group. Their main aim is to co-ordinate the annual monitoring of the seabird populations of all the Forth islands from the bridges to the Isle of May. The group includes representativesfromtheS.O.C., R.S.P.B., S.N.H. and I.T.E. as well as individuals. Similar-minded birdwatchers keen on joining the activities of the group are invited to contact the Group’s chairman, Dave Fairlamb, for further information. Dave is the RSPB warden at Vane Farm Reserve, by Loch Leven, Kinross, Tayside KY13 7LX. Field Guides for Russia There has been a tremendous response by SOC members to the request to send field guides to Russia to help local ornithologists in the Urals (SBN March 1994). By the end of May 20 guides plus other books had been sent to Dr Vadim Ryabitsev of the Menzbier Ornithological Society. He is delighted to receive these guides which will be circulated to members of his 90 strong society most in need, who can read a little English. Dr Ryabitsev has explained that “There are 1 50,000 square kilometres of territory per ornithologist in the Western Urals. There are big areas which are ‘white spots’ on ourornithological map. We must attract more bird watchers but the lack of books is a permanent problem.”. Personal letters have been sent by Dr Ryabitsev to all SOC members who have contributed guides. If anyone else has guides they no longer need they will be well received, but any bird books will be a great help. Details of where to send them can be obtained from Branch Secretaries. This is a simple way to foster international cooperation between ornithologists. One outcome already is that further information has been obtained about the Slender- billed Curlew, which is reported in this issue. Thanks to everyone who has supported this initiative. Roger Brewer. SOC Annual Raffle It is the Fife Branch’s second year at organising the raffle and we trust that you will attempt to sell your ticket allocation and possibly return for more. Further tickets are available on request from 21 Regent Terrace. As you will see from the tickets enclosed with this mailing, the prizes are of the usual high standard. This year however the top prizes are cash - a first prize of £200 and a second prize of £100. We look forward to receiving donations of further prizes, both by branches and individuals. Please contact Brian Downing, 51 Lade Braes, St Andrews, Fife KYI 6 9DA, Telephone 0334 472664. Please note that all monies and ticket stubs should be sent to Anne-Marie Smout, Chesterhill, Shore Road, Anstruther, Fife KY10 3DZ. Ringers’ Conference The Tay Ringing Group are hosting the 20th Scottish Ringers’ Conference at the Fife Arms Hotel, Braemar from 1 8th - 20th November 1994. Booking forms and programmes can be obtained from;- Steve Moyes, 8 Lethnot Street, Barnhill, Dundee. Scottish Birds Records Committee Election of New Member In 1 990 S.B.R.C. commenced a rotation of its members, with one retiring each year. Bernard Zonfrillo is due to stand down in November this year and to fill the vacancy the committee is nominating David Clugston, who lives in Paisley. David is a well known Scottish based birdwatcher who has travelled widely and has an extensive knowledge of most birds on the Scottish List. Further nominations to fill the vacancy are invited and should be submitted to me by 30th October, being signed by both a proposer and seconder who must both be S.O.C. members. If there should be more than one nomination, a postal ballot will take place, in which all S.O.C. local recorders will be eligible to vote. Ron Forrester, Secretary S.B.R.C., 31 Argyle Terrace, Rothesay, Isle of Bute PA20 0BD. 11 «iJiiiiMfrr,|i— »■ ' Hill-— -» Look out for Goosanders! In August 1 993 the Tay Ringing Group on behalf of Mick Marquiss from the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology managed to catch, ring and wing tag 8 Goosanders on the Eden Estuary L.R.N. This was the second year a catch had been attempted and in 1992, 22 Goosanders were tagged with a blue tag and dark blue lettering. In 1993 the tag was red with white lettering. Results so far would indicate that these birds which moult on the Eden Estuary actually come from the south and west with reports from Dumfries & Galloway, the Peak District and even Wales. If anyone has sightings of any of these birds please get in touch with Les Hatton, North East Fife Ranger Services, Craigtown Country Park, St Andrews, Fife KYI 6 8NX Tei 0334 72151. All sightings will be acknowledged. Wing-tagged Red Kites released in Scotland All Red Kites released in Scotland as part of the joint JNCC/RSPB reintroduction project have been fitted with wing tags. The tags are not necessarily the same on each wing. (See SBN 33 & 34 for illustrated details of tags). Please contact Lorcan O’Toole with any sighting however incomplete at RSPB, North Scotland Office, Beechwood Park, Inverness IV2 3BW., tel 0463 71 5000 as soon as possible so that sightings can be followed up. Colour ringed Ring Ouzels A study by David Arthur of Ring Ouzels in Glen Esk, Angus is now in its third year. A number of birds have been individually colour ringed, and any sightings of colour ringed Ring Ouzels will be greatly appreciated by David. Please contact David Arthur, 12 Dundee Street, Carnoustie, Angus DD7 7PD. 0241 853356. All sightings will be acknowledged. Wing-tagged Hen Harriers Marked birds are carrying a coloured tag on each wing. Although the colour on each wing may be different a single letter or number is repeated on each tag. Details of any sightings however incomplete should be sent to Brian Etheridge, RSPB North Scotland Office, Beechwood Park, Inverness IV2 3BW tel 0463 715000 as soon as possible. 200 Club Winners in the second quarter of 1994 were:- April 1st. £30 - P.W. Speak, Edinburgh; 2nd. £20 - Miss I.W.C. Hunter, Ayr; 3rd. £10 - A.L. Ross, Inverness. May 1st. £50 - Prof P.J.B. Slater, St Andrews; 2nd. £30 - A. Maciver, Falkirk; 3rd. £20 - Miss J.M. Lawson, Edinburgh; 4th.£10-DrA.V.M. Davidson, St Andrews. June 1st. £30 - R.L. Gardner, Kirkcudbright; 2nd. £20 - A.G.S. Bryson, Edinburgh; 3rd. £10 - M.J. Bickmore, by Selkirk. Although the 200 Club’s ‘year’ started on 1st June, you can join any time. If you would like to join now, please send me a cheque (payable to “SOC 200 Club”) for £9 - or £18 if you would like to take out a double subscription - and your membership will last until 31st May 1995. You will be entered into the monthly draw for prizes which, in a full year, amount to over£1 ,000. Please send your cheque to me at Rosebank, Gattonside, Melrose, Roxburghshire TD6 9NL (tel 089 682 2176) Daphne Peirse-Duncombe. Colour-ringed Stonechats Over the past three years I have been colour-ringing mainly pullus Stonechat at coastal and inland sites near Aberdeen. Sofarapproximately 1 00+ birds have been marked and it is intended to continue the study for a further 3 years. Indications are that young birds move considerable distances and I would therefore be grateful for any sightings of such birds anywhere in Scotland. Note should be made of the combination and which leg bears the metal and which the colour rings. All sightings will be acknowledged. Andy Thorpe, 15 Albyn Terrace, Aberdeen AB1 1YP. Enclosed with this issue Annual Report, Winter Syllabus 1994/ 95, Conference Booking Form and Renewal Form (for those members who do not pay byBankersOrder). Should any of these not be enclosed please contact 21 Regent Terrace. SOC Lothian Branch Discussion Group Members may be interested to know that there is an additional monthly meeting arranged by the Lothian Branch : the “Discussion Group”. This will particularly be of interestto members keen on fieldwork or conservation matters. The meetings are held at21 RegentTerrace in Edinburgh, so clearly this will not be convenient for many members, but all visiting members as well as more local members are very welcome to attend. We have in the past few years had visitors from Shetland and Glasgow. The meetings occur on the first Wednesday of each month from September to April at 7.30pm in the SOC Library. The “fieldwork” discussed includes organised studies such as BTO surveys, wildfowl and wader counts, goose roost counts, ringing, raptor studies, atlas work and local surveys organised by the branch or individuals. This is an informal meeting covering recent or forthcoming surveys and items of local or national conservation interest. For anyone interesting in becoming more involved in surveys, it is an ideal opportunity to find out more. There is usually time to mention recent bird sightings, and always time for a cup of tea and a cake brought by members of the group. Occasionally, other people active in areas of interest to the group are invited to lead a discussion. Recently we have met RSPB conservation officers and survey organisers, and representatives from FWAG and from WWT. If you are already an active fieldworker, or would like to become more active, then please join us. The dates of the first meetings this autumn are 7th September, 5th October, 2nd November and 7th December. If you would like further information, then please contact the Chairman, Mark Holling on 0578-760239. SOC Photo Competition. Entries for this year’s photo competition should be sent to 21 Regent Terrace by 28th October 1994 at the latest. Acknowledgements will be sent to all entrants and photos returned in early November. If anybody has any funny slides of prominent SOC people which could be used at the basis of a light hearted quiz please let us know, on 031 556 6042. 12 Scottish Ornithologists’ Club. 21 Regent Terrace. Edinburgh EH7 5BT. Tel 031 556 6042 DECEMBER 1994 No. 36 ISSN 0268-3199 Edited by Sylvia Laing and Stan da Prato /4s members will see in the heading Stan da Prato has come back to help edit Scottish Bird News with me, and I would like to take this opportunity to welcome him back into the main stream activities of the club. I for one know he will be a great asset to the production of SBN. Welcome back Stan. ACCESS mAh . Lit This isn’t a feature on your flexible friend but a summary of some important recent developments concerning access to the habitats in which Scotland’s birdlife occurs. The access issue has featured quite a bit in the media recently but mainly through the concerns of mountaineers and walkers on one hand, and estate owners and managers on the other, over access to the hills. In fact the issue is at least as important to naturalists since they are less interested in following the quickest route to the top of a hill than in exploring its quieter recesses to check on things such as whether a pair of birds are breeding or not. Recent legislation, notably certain sections of the Criminal Justice and Public Order (1994) Act has raised concerns that it will now be easier for unsympathetic landowners to keep their estates strictly private. Against this background, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) published an important policy statement entitled ‘Enjoying the Outdoors - a Programme for Action’ in October. Traditional Misconceptions Most outdoor types are under the impression that, at least on unfenced land, there is no law of trespass in Scotland. This is not correct. The long standing tradition often expressed as ‘freedom to roam’ has no legal standing. However, for an owner to prevent access has, until this year, involved a civil court action against named individuals. In practice, land managers have relied on varying degrees of persuasion. This could vary from polite and informative notices requesting visitors to contact them at sensitive times of the year, usually August-October, to prevent conflict during grouse shooting or stag stalking, to rather threatening notices advising of the danger from high powered rifles to anyone straying from marked paths. Areas other than hill land have had their own disagreements over access. The question of whether canoeists can or cannot paddle down salmon rivers is one, though that is hardly a problem for the birdwatcher. He, orshe, is more likely to be concerned over access to such habitats as forest or the coast. In the former case, the selling off of sectors of Forestry Commission woods has often led to a less welcoming attitude. In the case of the coast, problems are relatively rare; when they do arise they usually relate to crossing fenced land adjacent to the shore rather than the inter tidal zone. Peregrine with 3 well fed chicks. Jim Young Golden Eagle with young. Another bird of Jim Young the hill ground. New Legislation The Criminal Justice Act, which becomes law this year, has already resulted in some dramatic protests, though not by naturalists. Government has always claimed that the intention behind the new offence of ‘aggravated trespass’ is to deal with New Age Travellers and hunt saboteurs, largely in England. This has not entirely reassured many in Scotland, including lawyers, who predict that the Act could be used indiscriminately against hill walkers or naturalists by a determined landowner. Briefly, the Act allows the police to order a person(s) off land when the officer believes that person(s) has committed or is intending to commit any action likely to obstruct or disrupt legitimate activities such as deer stalking - and some shooters claim that simply walking over the ground in the stalking season is disruptive. However the Scottish Landowners Federation (SLF) has stated that “the new law could not be used to convict walkers and others enjoying the countryside in a reasonable way”. It is also interesting that many experienced ornithologists who work in the hills seem to share this view. SNH and its policy It is against this background that Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) policy statement has to be read. The document that finally appeared in October had been the subject of a consultation exercise that attracted nearly 500 responses, many of them critical or at least cynical over SNH’s commitment to ‘freedom to roam’ and its attitude to private landowning interests. Not surprisingly, the paper stops short of calling for legislation to establish a clear ‘right to roam’ similar to that so well established in Scandinavia. However, the need for clarification of the law is acknowledged as is the probability that legislation might be necessary in the future. The main proposals centre round a ‘Paths for All’ Initiative to be largely organised by local authorities (themselves currently being reorganised) using funding from sources such as the Millennium Fund and the National Lottery. They also repeat the point they have used elsewhere that a reform of the European Common Agricultural Policy could release considerable resources. The report relies heavily on an extension of the voluntary principle through codes of practice for outdoor users supported by better funding; both to be handled by a more positive attitude to visitors by owners and managers. Political Realities Given the attitude of the current Government and the opposition to legislation confirming rights of access by the Scottish Landowners, National Farmers Union and even the Scottish Sports Council, it is difficult to see what other course SNH could have taken. However, funding for their proposals may be less generous than they hope while the new single tier local authorities which are mostly smaller than the regions they are to replace (Highland is a notable exception) may be preoccupied with running priority services such as education. The idea of marked paths is an anathema to many mountaineers but in the context of farm land and forestry, it could clearly improve access; and most people who wish to walk in the countryside don’t want to go as far as the high tops. In the short term, the way forward has to be voluntary consensus - ornithologists, especially those carrying out long term studies, are aware of this and most try to build up good relations with land managers. In the longerterm a more clear cut definition of the access position seems essential and it is interesting that all the opposition political parties have promised action on this front. Stan da Prato The SNH document referred to in Stan’s article runs to 1 00 la vishly illustrated pages and costs £7.50. SOC members can consult it in the Club library. Stop Press The 1994 Annual Conference was held in the Marine Hotel, North Berwick, the programme was a particularly varied one and general reaction has been extremely favourable. However, the number attending was disappointing. We were no longer able to comand exclusive use of the hotel. Cost seems to be the main problem. It looks most unlikely that we shall return to the Marine. Next years venue is being discussed by Management Committee who will consulting widely before taking a decision. 2 The battle against illegal poisoning still goes on. The RSPB and SNH are appealing for information to help find the person or persons responsible for the poisoning of a second Golden Eagle in the Monadhliath mountains to the south of Inverness. In May this year a Golden Eagle was found near the headwaters of the river Findhorn, and examinations revealed that the bird had been killed by the highly toxic substance Carbofuran, in the same area as one was found last year. So far no firm evidence has been found to identify the person or persons responsible. The RSPB are also investigating the poisoning of 2 Buzzards with alphachlorolose less than a mile apart in the Bridge of Earn area of Perthshire. These illegal poisoning methods endanger not only birds and animals but domestic pets and children. This brings the total to 13 poisoning incidents resulting in the deaths of no fewer than 13 Buzzard, 1 Golden Eagle, 1 Jackdaw, 1 Rook, 1 Peregrine and 1 Sheepdog, with a few still under investigation. Numerous other birds have been killed by illegal methods this year, such as pole or gin traps, and shooting. Anybody finding a dead bird in what may be suspicious circumstance are asked to contact Dave Dick or Keith Morton at the RSPB’s headquarters in Edinburgh or your local police station. Licence issued to shoot protected geese The Scottish Office has again issued a licence to kill internationally protected Barnacle Geese. Farmer, Daniel Quinn, of Powhillon Farm, at Caerlaverock on the Solway, has, for the second year running, been given permission to shoot the winter visitors from the Arctic, which he claims are destroying his farmland. Mr Quinn is the only person in Scotland allowed to kill the birds, which are protected on their breeding grounds on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen and on their wintering grounds on the Solway. Last year he shot ten geese to encourage the grazing flocks to leave his grassland. Ironically the land is owned by the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust. However due to an agricultural tenancy agreement in place when the land was purchased WWT cannot directly manage the farm. It seems the licence was approved after Mr Quinn threatened to shoot the birds, whether he was granted a licence or not. The WWT director-general Dr Myrfyn Owen, said: “This decision could be read as a clear signal from the Scottish Office that it pays to take the law into your own hands. The licence has been granted, despite the fact that relatively small numbers of geese use this particular farm”. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), the Government environment agency, hopes to defuse the row by offering farmers a one-year pilot scheme in which they would be paid compensation for putting up with geese on their land. Around 13,700 geese - the entire Spitsbergen population - now winter on the Solway. The figure has increased from under a few hundred in the 1950s. Several farmers are waiting to hear what is on offer from SNH before deciding on applications to the Scottish Office agriculture and fisheries department for licences to kill. Colour ringed Barnacle goose Myrfyn Owen fc he irlesi 1 Fr° nk J Scotland TfaUvud &&o£ce BINOCULARS TELESCOPES ❖ BIG RANGE -ALL LEADING MAKES ❖ HELPFUL, EXPERT ADVICE ❖ GREAT VALUE - WE ALWAYS TRY TO PRICE MATCH f’7,uy co/u^e rcutcye Zeiss representative in-store Friday and Saturday win a Zeiss 8x20B Classic at fyMoung 250 Morrison Street EDINBURGH Tel: (031) 229 8458 Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm at fyDlOwy 1 00 High Street FALKIRK Tel: (0324) 622020 Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm 6th Floor 93 Hope Street GLASGOW Tel: (041) 204 4301 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm REPAIR & OVERHAUL SERVICE PART EXCHANGE WELCOME Also, in Edinburgh: Magnifiers Compasses © Map measures Charles Frank The frkAwff Optical Experts 3 IsSe of IVSay Bird Observatory is 60 years old The Isle of May Bird Observatory marked its 60th anniversary with a day trip to the island on the 10th September. Amongst those visiting the island were Ian Balfour- Paul and Mr & Mrs Ian Munro who have been associated with the observatory from its earliest days. A bench was taken to the low light in memory of Joe Eggeling who did so much for the observatory and in developing the island as a national nature reserve. There were few migrants present but a Black Redstart was ringed. Of greatest interest to the visitors was the archaeological dig around the chapel which has exposed the foundations of the earlier buildings (12th century) together with a fascinating burial ground. The excavations provide visible evidence to support the many historical legends referred to in Joe Eggelings book. Whilst we enjoyed sunshine throughout our visit our stay was shortened by a fresh north-west wind which developed during the morning. As a result we had a wet and very “interesting" return sailing to Anstruther! Ian Darling Cleaner Seas Concern about the threats to seabirds and marine life from pollution is being highlighted by the RSPB through its Marine Life Campaign. To get its point to the appropriate people RSPB local officers have organised boat trips to a number of important marine habitats. For example in the Firth of Forth the boat ‘Maid of the Forth’ transported around 50 civil servants, local authority and other specialists in waste management and pollution control as well as the SOC membership secretary. Fortunately the vessel did not run aground as it had to the alarm of the parents of a recent school excursion! Further north Dr Tim Stowe of the RSPB’s Highland office arranged a meeting recently with influential peoplefrom Highland Region including Charles Kennedy, MP. Following a short presentation outlining the issues involved before setting out on a boat trip around the inner Moray Firth. The Moray Firth area is particularly important for the variety of birds which winter in the sheltered firth, and could be at danger from any number of problems due to pollution of our seas. Highland Region has the chance to lead the rest of Europe in coming up with positive proposals to ensure strong economic and industrial development as well as a healthy environment. Charles Kennedy MP commented “I very much appreciate having the opportunity to see for myself the threats which are posed to the seabirds in the Moray Firth. Our marine environment must be safeguarded and the Highlands has a vital role to play in showing that marine conservation and economic development can - and must - work together”. The party who attended the 60th anniversary celebrations on the Isle of May on 10th September. Seated on the bench which was taken over in memory of Joe Eggeling are:- l-r Ian Munro, Bep Munro and Ian Balfour-Paul Bernie Zonfrillo 1936 on the Isle of May. Flinging at the Low Trap, In the background is the first ringing hut in the process of being built. Some well known SOC members at the catching box of one of the heligoland traps are:- I -r the late Frank Elder, Archie Bryson and Donald Watson. 4 Snsh Marshes With help from SNH the RSPB has bought a further 500 acres near its Insh Marshes Reserve, Balavil estate near Kingussie adjoins the existing reserve and brings the Society’s land holding in Badenoch to some 4 square miles. The Insh Marshes lie between Kingussie and Loch Insh and on either side of the River Spey. It is one of Britain’s most important sites for breeding wildfowl and is home to some 700 pairs of waders and 500 pairs of duck. The area lies within a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and is internationally important for its plant, bird and invertebrate communities. In recognition of this, SNH gave the RSPB a grant of £63,000 towards the purchase cost. The purchase of this areas now safeguards the area for the future, and management will be of high priority to maintain its wildlife interests, possibly through seasonal grazing and ditch maintenance. Greenshank Jim Young Alan MacPherson-Fletcher, the owner of Balavil, said: “I am delighted that this superb site will continue to be well- managed. I was keen that it should go to an organisation which would conserve and improve its wildlife and landscape value”. Scottish Office cuts cash for conservation The Scottish Office has decided to prevent the environmental agency, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), from helping conservation bodies buy land in Scotland. Sir Hector Munro, the minister responsible, has made it clear that SNH can no longer provide cash to organisations like the National Trust for Scotland, the RSPB, the John Muir Trust and the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) for the purpose of buying land for conservation. The RSPB bought the Abernethy estate in 1988 for £1.8m - of which the SNH's predecessor provided £500,000. Since then, they have managed to regenerate the Caledonian pine forest. “Without the money from SNH, it would have been doubtful whether we would have got Abernethy” says John Hunt of RSPB. said that financial help from government is essential to their plans to purchase and manage important habitats. The Scottish Office policy is that the job of SNH is to seek management agreements and not to fund purchases. The agency pays landowners a grant for coming to an agreement over the way properties are managed. The issue is bound to be seen as a government backlash to this year’s controversy over the sale of Glenfeshie estate in the Cairngorms. Conservationists asked for government support in a joint JMT/RSPB bid for the estate but none was forthcoming. National Heritage Memorial Fund money was also withheld and the bid fell through allowing the private trust Will Woodlands, based in London, to buy the property. isles of Colonsay and Oronsay - Inner Hebrides Remote and unspoilt, the islands encompass 20 square miles of paradise for the naturalist - almost 170 species of birds (list on request), also otters, feral goats and a major breeding colony of the grey seal (pupping in September), 500 species of local flora as well as two of the few remaining natural woodlands of the Hebrides and the exotic rhododendron collection in the woodland garden of Colonsay House. Historic sites include St Columba’s pre-Iona foundation at Oronsay Priory, some excellent duns, a Viking ship burial, crannog-sites in Loch Fada etc. Camping and caravans are not permitted, but there is a comfortable small hotel offering table d’hote cuisine based on fresh local produce (central heating, private facilities, BTA Commended). Ro/Ro ferry for cars and foot-passengers ex-Oban Monday, Wednesday, Friday (21/2 hour passage). Demi-pension from £60.00 including VAT and service. Free bicycles. There are also three comfortable self-catering chalets, which adjoin the hotel; each unit sleeps 5, all bed-linen is provided plus daily maid service. Off-season rental is only £140.00 weekly. On T uesday and Thursday the 28ft launch ‘MANDOLIN’ takes small parties on Wildlife trips, usually accompanied by local naturalist John Clarke - £16.00 per person inc. VAT (simple lunch of bread, cheese and wine included). THE HOTEL, ISLE OF COLONSAY, ARGYLL (Kevin and Christa Byrne) Telephone: Colonsay (09512) 316 - open all year Vs. N.B. Booklet @ £3.50 inc. p&p describes the island’s birds - 66pp plus 8pp colour photos. The SWT and John Muir Trust have also 5 Going Dutch - SOC Stirling branch trip to Holland On 14th May 1994 12 SOC members from Stirling and 2 from Fife set off on a week long trip to Holland. Arriving in Hull shortly after 16.00 hrs we were soon aboard the North Sea Ferries Dutch crewed ‘Norsun”. A fairly uneventful sea crossing followed with very little sea watching taking place, although a number of Gannets were seen plunge diving by observant diners. Birding began in ernest at Rotterdam Harbour, with the ‘better’ sightings being of Common Terns and Little Gull being spotted. Having docked we were soon reunited with our coach and headed off to the Naardermeer reserve some 10 miles south east of Amsterdam. Abut this time the penny was starting to drop that our driver was perhaps not as familiar with Dutch topography as I had been led to believe and, consequently, followed one or two interesting diversions among the back roads and waters, which gave ample opportunity to practice the art of three point turning, we arrived at the reserve an hour late andsomewhat shell shocked. The Naardermeer is owned by the Society for the Preservation of Nature in the Netherlands - ‘Natuurmonumenten’. It was purchased in 1906 as a reaction against proposals that it should be used as a refuse dump by the city of Amsterdam (eat your heart out Kinneil). It covers 950ha in total, 700ha being a dyke enclosed lake, the northern most of a chain of shallow lakes and marshes east of the RiverVecht. It contains open water, bog, reedbeds, haymeadows and woody areas. Here we met our guide Leo, a budget manager with the Dutch Broadcasting Company at Hilversum, who escorts people around the reserve at weekends. His knowledge was good as his English and he was also the recipient of one or two admiring glances from some female members of the party. Leo proposed to row us around the lake but since we were late, we walked a few hundred yards along the shore and met up again among the reeds, thus cutting the time required to tour the reserve. Here, a particular word of appreciation for Mhairi & Alastair Simpson who stayed behind since our boat had shown a reluctance to free itself from the muddy bottom when fully loaded. The three hours that followed were among the most memorable of the whole week as we drifted silently with Marsh Harriers floating overthe reedbeds, Black Terns flitting by our boat as we passed their nesting rafts, Goshawks streaking over the woods in hot pursuit of lunch, and Hobbies hawking dragonflies overhead which they consumed on the wing much to our delight. All the while a cacophony of Warbler song invaded our ears with, Blackcap, Marsh, Sedge, Reed, Great Reed, Grasshopper, Savis, Willow and Chiffchaff being identified. In the centre of the reserve we walked into a secluded hide which gave outstanding views of Cormorants (2000 pairs on the reserve) nesting almost within touching distance of our vantage point. Water lilies, unfortunately not yet flowering, were everywhere but the first yellow flag irises were in bloom. Alder trees were common and we were shown a rare fresh water sponge. We learned that the Spoonbills had left the Naardermeerfive years ago as a result of fox predation and had moved to Flevoland. Another interesting fact to emerge was that the Dutch Electricity Board had lowered a 700m stretch of wires where a line of power pylons cross the flight path between the Cormorant nests on the reserve and their main fishing grounds on the Markermeer/ljsselmeer, thus drastically cutting the numbers of birds killed and injured as a result of aerial collisions with cables (See lain English’s articles in SBN 22). Late afternoon saw our arrival at Den Helder for the 25 minute ferry crossing to Texel, followed by a short drive to the centrally situated De Waal, a picturesque and quiet little village. Our accommodation, the Hotel Rebecca run by Mr & Mrs Plaatsman proved to be both pleasant and comfortable. That evening we boarded the bus and, with Mr Plaatsman, a keen birder, and his daughter as our guides, we set off on a short tour of the birdlife, history and topography of Texel. Memorable birds were our first Spoonbills, nesting Black- tailed Godwit, a super black ruffed Ruff and Avocets. The curious wedge shaped wool barns of Texel were pointed out as was the ultra modern Texel fishing fleet in the harbour at Oudeschild. The next day, although dry, was grey and overcast as we set out to visit Ecomare, the environmental centre for the Wadden and North Seas. Since we had arranged an excursion for later that morning we felt there was insufficient time for a detailed look around and we retired to the car park and surrounding dunes for a spot of birding. An hour with the binoculars added amongst others, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Some of the members of Stirling branches holiday to Holland lan Wilson 6 Stonechat, Linnet, Cuckoo and splendid views of several Hen Harriers at close quarters. At ll.OOhrs we met our guide from the Dutch Forest Service (Staatsbosbeheer), looking extremely dapper in a green serge suit and feathered hat and not at all like the regulation beardies we are so used to. For several minutes our party was struck dumb as we stood by his wooden hut in the dunes and listened to the beautiful sound of a Nightingale in full song. I will ignore the malicious rumour broadcast by some cynics that it was a tape recording. Unfortunately our guide’s English was not too good, but, just as we started to struggle, Rene Jones stole the show when her hitherto undisclosed Dutch linguistic skills came bursting to the surface. The tidal inlet known as De Slufter was formed when fierce storms battered holes in three places in the west coast dune system. Two were subsequently filled but the third has remained open. It covers an area of 455ha and is a long narrow plain intersected by creeks that are open to the sea. Our tour took in nests of Eider, Curlew and Oystercatcher and provided good views of Spoonbill, Marsh Harrier and Short-eared Owl with seemingly every bush having a singing Whitethroat in residence. The highlight was a stunning line up of summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwits, Grey Plovers and Dunlin shining on a mud spit in the newly emerging sun. We then headed south to De Geul where we had excellent views of a most obliging Long- eared Owl. In the evening a diminished crew of hardy individuals boarded the bus and again visited the harbour at Oudeschild where the fishing fleet had been replaced by some splendid sail training ships. A short drive north up the east coast rounded off the day nicely with nesting Little Terns and Avocets and our first Yellow Wagtail (Flava). Tuesday dawned grey and wet but it had not silenced the Icterine Warbler outside our bedroom window. Arrangements had been made for a tour of the Natuurmonumenten managed reserve ‘De Schorren’ which borders the Wadden Sea. At 09.00 we met our guide, Mr Boet, and his expression quickly told us the tour was off. We agreed to reconvene at 1 4.00 and continued on to De Eyerlandse Duinen in the north, where one or two braved the driving rain before returning drookit to the bus. The southern tip of Vlieland, the next island to the north in the south Friesian chain, could just be seen through the grey mirk. On the return south we passed a party of two dozen Bar-tailed Godwits, the males looking extremely handsome in their red summer plumages. We returned to Ecomare for a leisurely exploration of the centre. The exhibition featured the changing coastline and land use of the island over the centuries. There were birdlife exhibits and specimens, impressive aquaria, as well as oiled and injured bird and seal recovery units, the bird units containing Guillemots and Gannets awaiting release. Lunch was taken near a rough pasture swathed in a purple profusion of broad leafed orchids, overlooking a small pool containing 2 Reeve, a Wood Sandpiper, Redshank and Shoveler. Overnight there appeared to have been a fall of blue-headed wagtails, they were much in evidence around the bus as we ate. Miraculously at 1 4.00hrs the rain stopped, the sun came out and we set off north along the east dyke with our guide. He was pleasant, informative and with excellent English imparted much information, e.g. The tidal rise and fall was only 1 metre, and at high tide you could walk out for 4km and the water wouldn’t come above your knees. At low tide one could walk 10km over the mud before reaching the sea. Marsh Harriers were hunting over the saltings, and great rafts of Eiders bobbed on the water. Towards the end of our walk we looked west from our vantage point on the dyke down on to the Society owned pastures where several thousand Brent Geese grazed in preparation for their imminent departure north to the Arctic tundra (in winter numbers peak at 10,000). Next day we visited Flevoland. Flevoland is the Netherlands newest province reclaimed from the Zuiderzee, In recent years the area has established small breeding populations of Spotted Crake, Penduline Tit and Scarlet Rosefinch. It has also acted as an important ‘reservoir’, assisting the spread of several species to suitable sites in Holland while also providing the source of East Anglia’s expanding Bearded Titand Marsh Harrierpopulations. As we left the bus on Flevoland for the first hide ‘De Grauwe Gans’ a Nightingale was giving it big licks from the woods 50m away. The walk in through high reed beds was superb and all ears strained attempting to identify the Acrocephalus Warblers around us. Extra brownie points went to Sylvia and Mhairi who spotted the first Bluethroat (white spotted) of the trip, a superb male that obligingly posed at the top of a reed stem. A small island in front of the hide gave good view of nesting Avocets and Little Ringed Plovers. Our circular path back to the bus brought more Bluethroats, Bearded and Marsh Tits. On the principal of saving the best to last, we had arranged a tour of the Staatsbosbeheer managed reserve, De Muy, for our final morning and we met our guide Dingerman Inghoef at ll.OOhrs. Dingerman turned out to be a warden of a more familiartype (no beard), exceptionally good English, very knowledgeable on both fauna and flora. The reserve was an absolute gem, 1 ,000 acres of lake, dunes, grassland meadows and woodland. As we set off we watched a Hobby overhead, one from the 4 or 5 pairs that nested on the reserve. He showed us Green Winged and Early Purple Orchids (2 of the 8 species on the reserve). The State pays between 50 and 60,000 guilders a year in a set aside type agreement that allows management control for optimum wildflower and wildlife benefit. As we left the meadows and moved into the dunes, Cinnabar Moths and their caterpillars appeared underfoot. Birds on show included nesting Marsh Harriers, Hobby, Spoonbills, T urtle Dove, Nightingales, and a plethora of Warblers. Dingerman told us that the previous week Osprey, Honey Buzzard and Red-footed Falcon has passed through and, if we returned in another couple of weeks, his summering Red Backed Shrikes and Scarlet Rosefinch would be in residence. That evening the systematic list was produced and after one or two stewards enquiries we agreed on a total of 118 species seen by the party in Holland thus far, and counting. The next morning we headed for the ferry and, again, were on the 09.05., watching the T erns and feeding Gulls, our destination being the lake at Nieuwkoop. In a nearby meadow we stopped to see two storks making a good living amongst the freshly cut grass. On we went for a few more miles with every patch of the plentiful water around us holding Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard and Grey Heron. We managed to pull over onto a small level area beside the road for our lunch stop, and had no sooner come to rest than Heather Walshaw queried a heron in a nearby ditch. I could not understand her surprise since I had been telling her constantly that this was the spot for Purple Heron ‘100% guaranteed’! Late afternoon saw our return to Rotterdam in time to catch the British crewed ‘Norsea’. By Saturday we were back, tired but satisfied with a final total of 1 20 bird species seen in Holland. Ian Wilson. 7 The late Jim Young, with camera at the ready. /As a tribute to Jim this issue of SBN contains as many of Jims photographs as possible. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Brian Turner Obituary James F Young - Jim to all who knew him died peacefully on 1 7th August 1 994, at Dumfries Royal Infirmary. The SOC was represented at his funeral by Donald Watson. Jim was born into an established farming family at Beuchan near Keir village, moved into the adjacent farm of Waterside Mains farm in 1954. He was a dedicated and respected farmer, in his formative years he spent what spare time and holidays the farm permitted in looking after his beehives, fishing for trout in the local burn and watching birds and wildlife on the farm. He took particular delight in a large colony of House Martins which nested in an open sided barn, hat stacking was never allowed to disturb the birds. Initially a somewhat shy, reserved man, his membership of the SOC literally changed his quiet rural life in a dramatic way. He was a founder member of the Dumfries branch of the Club and rarely missed a meeting or outing. He served on the committee and graced all subsequent members’ nights by showing some of his remarkable wildlife pictures. He met a new circle of people, including some would say, a few reprobates. Jim was introduced to goose and wader watching on the Solway, raptors and seabirds in Galloway and his first taste of alcohol after which he diagnosed himself as “gey no weel”. These were glorious, exciting days with excursions to Norfolk, Islay, Aviemore and to the Isle of May, invariably organised by Bobby Smith and thus they had elements of serious birding, fun and chaos all thrown in. Jim went on the first SOC island cruise around Scotland, memories of which he often recounted. Jim was also one of the founder members of the North Solway Ringing Group and aided by his close friend John McCubbin became its first secretary, a formidable task which they performed admirably considering that the group was the first of its type in Scotland and the first to commence significant cannon netting. He was notably involved in other large sale ringing efforts of geese, waders, gulls, gannets and of course raptors. His farm was one of the first BTO common bird census plots in Scotland and he played an active part in both local schemes to count wildfowl, waders and rooks and also in national surveys and atlas work. Jim increasingly gravitated towards spending most of his leisure hours devoted to bird photography, firstly concentrating and learning his trade with the birds on his farm followed by photographic sorties to Shetland and other meccas in Scotland. With Bobby Smith and later Brian Turner he ventured further afield to many parts of Europe, Africa and India. He became a most gifted photographer and has had many of his photographs published in books, magazines and periodicals. In one book alone over 100 of his photographs were used as illustrations. Countless other photographs he gifted to organisations and individuals to illustrate articles and lectures. Generous with his time he showed his pictures to a wide audience from his local church guild and rural to national conferences. Outwith Dumfries-shire Jim will be remembered best for the quality of his photography. Those of us who were privileged to know him more intimately will recall his quiet dignified manner, dry humour and kindness and will reflect on his many undoubted talents. The SOC, and Dumfries branch in particular, have lost an influential member and friend who will be sorely missed. He was never known to speak ill of anyone and went through life without making a single enemy - “a country gentleman”. John G Young. SNH. 8 A Tribute to Jim Young whose photos will enhance SBN for many years to come. House Martin collecting mud mm Male Short-eared Owl presenting a female incubating eggs with a vole 9 Broken Promises The long-awaited consultation paper on the future of Forest Enterprise was published in August 1994, and has been condemned by the RSPB. Forest Enterprise owns 1 .2 million hectares - which includes almost half of Britain’s forests. The paper’s failure to examine the aims and priorities of the new agency, has been criticised by the RSPB. The paper does not offer the consultation as promised by Ministers, and the key issues of the overall purpose and priorities of the organisation seem to have already been decided. The Framework Document - which sets out the structure and targets for the new agency may not be influenced by consultation. The paper talks about multipurpose objectives for forestry, but requires only the setting of financial targets. The RSPB considers it essential that quantified environmental as well as financial targets are set for the new agency, and that environmental targets be given as high a priority as financial targets. Without this the opportunity for the agency to protect and improve the conservation value of our forests could be jeopardised in return for higher monetary returns. SOC members Intimations Ken Anderson, who died early in September, had a long association with the Stirling Branch. A founder member, and its third Chairman, he was delighted that in his eightieth year he had still been able to take an active and quite strenuous part in the Branch’s recent expedition to Holland, only a month or two before his death. Ken combined two enthusiasms that often go together, ornithology and photography, but unlike the majority in whom an interest in birds leads to a desire to photograph them, Ken was already an experienced photographer before he became seriously interested in birds, and many local organisations and club have enjoyed his talks illustrated by his own excellent slides. He will be greatly missed by a wide circle of friends. George Jamieson Corncrake Corncrakes in danger The most endangered bird in Britain is now only found on a few of the smaller Scottish Islands. Calling male Corncrakes in Britain have fallen from about 3,000 in 1968 to only 488 in 1993. For the first time ever there were no calling Corncrakes in Northern Ireland, although hope there is still hope from two Hebridean islands where numbers have recently increased. On the island of Coll were the RSPB bought a reserve in 1991, the number of calling male Corncrakes has increased from 5 in 1991 to 18 in 1994. On Tiree, were similar methods of crofting have been used numbers has also increased between 1988 and 1994 when 126 birds were reported. Current initiatives to help the Corncrake are funded by both the RSPB, the Government and the European Union but for these to be more effective greater funding is needed to secure a future for these now rare birds. The appeal from the RSPB is being launched to enable the Society to: encourage crofters in the Hebrides to help Corncrakes to breed in safety through the creation of tall vegetation, delay mowing times and use safer mowing methods; such as cutting in a Corncrake friendly manner: continue research and monitoring of Corncrake to find out more about their needs and habits; and undertake Corncrake management measures on suitable RSPB reserves. “If the Corncrake can be saved in Britain, then similardeclines in othercountriescan hopefully be halted”. The early results from work on Coll and Tiree has given a ray of hope for this species but more effort and funding are essential if this bird is not to become extinct in Britain as it already has in Northern Ireland. RSPB The Corncrake was once widespread throughout Britain and Ireland, but a marked decrease began towards the end of the 19th century. Between 1988 and 1993 Corncrake numbers in Britain fell by about 20%, and in Ireland by c80%. Work to help the Corncrake has already started in Britain, Ireland and France and is financially supported by the EU LIFE programme, with assistance from the UK, Irish and French Governments. Visiting Denmark? Flexible customized tours for 1-8 people, 4 hours to 14 days. Anytime of year. Copenhagen based, including southern Sweden (Falsterbo, Oland) Geese, Birds of Prey, Waders. You name it. Do you have a “want list?” I have the birds. Contact: Ibis Excursions G. Jeff Price Indelukket 47 2900 Hellerup Denmark Tel. (+45) 31624162 Evenings/ weekends. 10 REVIEWS Books received and added to the Waterston Library. Field Guide to Birds of Britain & Europe. by Paul Sterry.This excellent little identification guide has no less than 720 colour photographs illustrating it. The Crowood Press. £9.99. ISBN 1-85223-793-7 Birds of Britain & Europe, by J. Nicolai, D. Singer & K. Wothe. Another excellent guide by Collin. The book is illustrated with high quality photographs and runs to 250 pp. Collins. £6.99. ISBN 0-00-219995-5 Collins Gem Birds Photoguide. A useful little book forthe beginner. Collins. £3.50. ISBN 0-00-47-544-0. Scottish Birds, by Valerie Thom. This Collins guide is a must theforthe beginner, and is divided into habitats rather than the normal Voous order. 256pp. Collins. £7. 99. ISBN 0-00-2 1 9983- 1 . Hamlyn Species and Behaviour Guides. Another two books in this very good series, The Swallow by Angela Turner. 128pp. £9.99. ISBN 0-600-57979-4., and Waders by Nicholas Hammond & Bruce Pearson. 174pp. £14.99. ISBN 0-600-57974-3. Hamlyn Birdwatching Guides. -Where to Watch Birds in Eastern Europe by Gerard Gorman. Published in association with BirdLife International. 214pp. £16.99. ISBN 0-600-57976-X. Where to Watch Birds in Britain & Europe by John Gooders. 262pp. £12.99. ISBN 0-600-58007-5. Where to watch birds in South America by Nigel Wheatley. Published by Helm, 429pp. £14.99. ISBN 0-7136-3909-1. Birdwatcher’s Yearbook and diary for 1995. by John Pemberton. This book contains all the usual useful information for birdwatchers around Britain. 320pp. £12.00. ISBN 0-9514965-5-7. The Upland Goose by R.W. Summers and J.H. McAdam. A study of interactin between geese, sheep and man in the Falkland Islands. 162pp. Illustrated with numerous figures, drawings and halftones. £12.95. available from Dr J McAdam, Dept of Agric. Botany, Agric & Food Science Research Centre, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX. The Birds of Nigeria by J.H. Elgood, etal. The 2nd edition of the BOU checklist. 306pp. Available from BOU, c/o The Natural History Museum, Akeman St, T ring, Herts HP23 6AP. £21.00 (UK); £23.00 (overseas). SOC NOTICES Bewick and Whooper Swans As part of an International study a number of Bewick’s and Whooper Swans have been marked with neck collars, and a request has been made for information on any sightings of these birds. Bewick and Whooper Swans are currently being ringed at several places along their migratory flyways. These studies are aimed at unravelling migratory routes, time schedules and studies of individual breeding successes. The Dutch and in particular British studies on Bewick Swans have been conducted for many years, mainly on the wintering grounds. Until 7 years ago all birds were ringed in the conventional manner with leg rings, however as part of the international work scientists from Holland, Britain, Russia, Denmark and Estonian are now using neck collars at several places along the migratory routes and on the Siberian breeding grounds. Whooper Swans have until a few years ago been considered as two almost discrete populations. The Icelandic breeding population which winters in Britain and Ireland, and the Continental population breeding in Scandinavia and Russia, whilst wintering in continental parts of northwest Europe. Observations of Icelandic ringed birds imply that, at least some of the east Iceland population winter in Denmark. Until now birds from Iceland have been mainly ringed in the conventional manner, thus causing difficulty in reading these rings in the Danish and Norwegian wintering grounds. During a joint expedition to east Iceland by Icelandic/Danish ornithologists in August 1994 200 birds were marked with neck collars. The aim of this project is to establish how high a proportion of east Icelandic Whooper Swans winter in continental Europe. Birds are expected to be seen in all countries bordering the North Sea, with the British ones mainly in Scotland. Scottish ornithologists are asked to look out for birds with yellow neck collars with black lettering on them. The neck collars can be read with a telescope from a distance of about 800/900 metres. Please send information on neck collar number, locality, date, type of habitat, no of cygnets, pairs, and any information on family relations between marked and unmarked birds, number of birds in flock etc., to:- National Environmental Research Institute, Dept, of Wildlife Ecology, att. Bjarke Laubek, Rondevej 12, Kalo, 8410 Ronde, Denmark. In order to speed up reports of birds sighted by you and in order to avoid mistakes, please send all information on Whooper Swans with neck collars directly to Denmark. Each observer gets details about ringing data and other sightings of the birds reported. Sightings of leg ringed Whooper and Bewick’s are still to be sent to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucester. Changes at No 21. Michael Murphy moved to the USA in October we thank him for his contribution and wish him well in his new habitat. As members who attended the North Berwick conference will know that nearer home Sylvia Laing is now the club secretary, and Pamela Black a long standing SOC member from Edinburgh is assisting the secretary on a part time basis. Funds for Conservation Projects BirdLife International and the Fauna and Flora Preservation Society, with support from British Petroleum, hold an annual competition for conservation exploration projects. Projects entering the competition are judged especially on the level of host country involvement and the global importance of the conservation issues on which the project is focused. Proposals for 1 995 expeditions must be entered no later than 31st December 1994. For further information contact Michael K Poulson, BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge CBS 0NA. Holiday Accommodation Caravan, Pease Bay, 2 miles south of Dunbar. Beautiful beach side location in Scottish Borders, birdwatching, hill walking (adjacent Southern Upland Way), wind surfing. Sleeps 6, toilet, shower, full kitchen. Shop and restaurant on site. From £150 per week. Weekend bookings available. Tel. 0131 552 4393. m 11 Look out for Goosanders! 10 Goosanders have been given a pink wing tag on the left wing on the Eden Estuary, Fife in August 1 994. In addition a single male Red-breasted Merganser was tagged on the right wing with a blue tag. Records of any of these birds or of Goosanders tagged in previous years with blue (1992) or red (1993) tags on their left wings would be very much appreciated. They have been tagged by the Tay Ringing Group on behalf of Dr Mick Marquiss of the Institute of Terrestial Ecology. Any sightings should be reported to Les Hatton, North East Fife Ringer Service, Craigtoun Country Park, St. Andrews, Fife KYI 6 8NX; Tel. 0334 472151 All records will be acknowledged. Wing-tagged Red Kites released in Scotland All Red Kites released in Scotland as part of the joint JNCC/RSPB reintroduction project have been fitted with wing tags. The tags are not necessarily the same on each wing. (See SBN 33 & 34 for illustrated details of tags). Please contact Lorcan O’Toole with any sighting however incomplete at RSPB, North Scotland Office, Beechwood Park, Inverness IV2 3B W., tel 0463 71 5000 as soon as possible so that sightings can be followed up. Colour ringed Ring Ouzels A study by David Arthur of Ring Ouzels in Glen Esk, Angus is now in its third year. A number of birds have been individually colour ringed, and any sightings of colour ringed Ring Ouzels will be greatly appreciated by David. Please contact David Arthur, 12 Dundee Street, Carnoustie, Angus DD7 7PD. 0241 853356. All sightings will be acknowledged. Wing-tagged Hen Harriers Marked birds are carrying a coloured tag on each wing. Although the colour on each wing may be different a single letter or number is repeated on each tag. Details of any sightings however incomplete should be sent to Brian Etheridge, RSPB North Scotland Office, Beechwood Park, Inverness IV2 3BW tel 0463 71 5000 as soon as possible. 200 Club Winners in the third quarter of 1994 were:- July 1st. £30 - R.S. Craig, Peebles; 2nd. £20 - Mrs J.D. Watson, St John’s Town of Dairy; 3rd. £10 - Dr E Tennant, Glasgow. August 1st. £30 - Miss J.R. Davidson, Edinburgh; 2nd. £20 - J. Walker, Leeds; 3rd. £10 - Mrs R. Cowper, Edinburgh. September 1st. £30 - T.D. Dobson, Galashiels; 2nd. £20 - Mr & Mrs D. Johnston, Troon; 3rd. £10 - Miss E.M. Lapthorn, Dunblane. If you are a new member of the SOC, and over 18, and would like to join the 200 Club, you will be very welcome, and so too will be SOC members of longer standing. Current members will know that over £1,000 is raised each year for refurbishment of 21 Regent T errace, which is a great help to SOC funds, and another £1 ,000+ is given back to 200 Club members by way of monthly prizes varying from £1 00 to £1 0. If you would like more details about joining please write to me at: Rosebank, Gattonside, Melrose, Roxburghshire TD6 9NL (tel 0896 82 2176) Daphne Peirse-Duncombe. Colour-ringed Stonechats Over the past four years, approximately 200 birds (mainly pulli) have been colour- ringed at both inland and coastal sites in the Aberdeen area. Evidence suggests that young birds can disperse over considerable distances and I would therefore by very grateful for details of any sightings in Scotland. Note should be maide of the colour comination, and which leg bears the metal and which the colour rings. All sightings will be acknowledged. Andy Thorpe, 15 Albyn Terrace, Aberdeen AB1 1YP. Stirling Branch Meetings Financial considerations have determined a change of venue for Stirling Branch meetings. Beginning 12 January 1995, evening talks will be in St Saviour’s Church Hall, Keir Street, Bridge of Allan. SOC Stirling Branch The SOC Stirling branch Argyll weekend has been changed from 31st March/2nd April to 24th/26th March. The venue remains the same. SOC Lothian Branch Discussion Group Members may be interested to know that there is an additional monthly meeting arranged by the Lothian Branch : the “Discussion Group". This will particularly be of interest to members keen on fieldwork or conservation matters. The meetings areheldat21 RegentTerrace in Edinburgh, so clearly this will not be convenient for many members, but all visiting members as well as more local members are very welcome to attend. We have in the past few years had visitors from Shetland and Glasgow. The meetings occur on the first Wednesday of each month from September to April at 7.30pm in the SOC Library. The “fieldwork" discussed includes organised studies such as BTO surveys, wildfowl and wader counts, goose roost counts, ringing, raptor studies, atlas work and local surveys organised by the branch or individuals. This is an informal meeting covering recent or forthcoming surveys and items of local or national conservation interest. For anyone interesting in becoming more involved in surveys, it is an ideal opportunity to find out more. There is usually time to mention recent bird sightings, and always time for a cup of tea and a cake brought by members of the group. Occasionally, other people active in areas of interest to the group are invited to lead a discussion. Recently we have met RSPB conservation officers and survey organisers, and representatives from FWAG and from WWT. If you are already an active fieldworker, or would like to become more active, then please join us. The dates of the first meetings this autumn are 7th September, 5th October, 2nd November and 7th December. If you would like further information, then please contact the Chairman, Mark Holling on 0578-760239. Rarity Descriptions It is very helpful if all observers of rarities send in their descriptions (preferably to the relevant county or regional recorder) as soon as possible after the sighting. It will speed up the decision-making process if notes on all major autumn rarities are submitted by mid November at the latest. Please do not wait until January. Thank you. M J Rogers, Secretary BBRC. 12 Scottish Ornithologists’ Club. 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5BT. Tel 031 556 6042 MARCH 1995 No. 37 ISSN 0268-3199 THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' CLUB Scottish Bird News Edited by Sylvia Laing and Stan da Prato St Kilda Gannet Census f A ( MAY 1 9 1995 ) Why does counting Gannets exert such a fascination for ornm^ologists? James Fishej^nd Gwynne Vevers provided an answer in the introduction to the 1939 census by acknowledgin^St^ft^^fi^ltestJada been “largely aroused, and wholly maintained, by the beauty of this great seabird, and the romance of 7ts^ltOUfT3Tngs”. They were also struck by the enthusiasm of other people taking part in the survey. These sentiments seem, just as strong 55 years later as the latest Gannet census gets underway. In the east Atlantic, the present breeding distribution of the Gannet extends from Syltefjordstauran in north Norway to Rouzic in the Sept Isles off the Brittany coast. However, the Gannet’s stronghold is undeniably Scotland where there are currently twelve colonies. The status of the thirteenth “colony” on Rockall, where a single pair bred in 192 was not, as far as we know, checked in 1994. Our aim last summer was to census the world’s largest gannetry on St Kilda and the venture was supported by a generous grant from the SOC. Counting anything on St Kilda is a Herculean task, first because of the remoteness of the archipelago and second because of the appalling weather conditions which often prevail. We decided that an aerial survey offered the best chance of success and, on 1 5th May 1 994 with a favourable weather forecast, we took off from Inverness airport to attempt a count. Conditions were almost perfect as the islands came into view but there was no time to admire the scenery. Making sure that you have complete photographic coverage of a colony that is as complicated as the one on St Kilda requires enormous concentration as you fill in each piece of the mental jigsaw!! The main gannetry is on the island of Boreray where the birds breed in amongst a bewildering maze of pinnacles, buttresses and overhangs from sea level to near the summit at 1 200 feet. Boreray’s two satellite stacs - Stac Lee and Stac an Armin - also hold substantial numbers of Gannets and their cliff faces are covered in a dense mass of white spots. Gannet In the course of the survey we took over 500 colour slides. There then followed two nerve-wracking weeks waiting for the films to come back from processing. Not surprisingly many slides were out of focus, over exposed, too distant or were of the back of someone’s head or the plane’s wing, but fortunately there were enough left to provide coverage of 99% of the colony and “the missing bit” was photographed from the sea later in the Brian Turner season. To count all the “little white dots” was a mind blowing experience which took four days - but no wonder when the grand total came to 60,428 occupied sites! ! This represented a 21 % increase over the last count in 1 985. While some of this was probably due to greater aerial coverage and higher standard of photographs in 1994, increases on the stacs and some parts of Boreray were undoubtedly genuine. Scottish Crossbill on nest David Whitaker Forestry Commission We are still waiting for totals for some Scottish colonies and others will be counted in 1995. However, to judge from the available data, numbers are still increasing at most Scottish gannetries with rates generally being higher at the most recently established colonies. As far as we can tell there is no sign of the sustained increase in the Gannet population, which has occurred throughout this century, coming to an end. The St Kilda survey was a partnership project and in addition to support from the SOC contributions were also received from SNH, JNCC, BTO, the Seabird Group and RSPB. The success of the project was due to the flying skills of Alan Mossman of Air Alba and back-up photography by Mary Harman, Digger Jackson, Kenny Taylor and Jim Vaughan. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those who counted other gannetries last summer. Sarah Wanless and Stuart Murray Scottish Crossbill moves between Deeside and Strathspey At the Scottish Ringers Conference in November 1 994, Robert Rae asked people to look closely at any crossbills they saw because we (RR & MM) had colour-ringed birds on Upper Deeside. In early December, I (MM) received a note from Robert Proctor with details of colour rings on a bird seen on 4th December, at the RSPB Abernethy Reserve on Speyside. My first reaction was one of incredulity, rapidly replaced by dark suspicion. RR was in Singapore on business and RP was away on a course. There was a strong smell of a classic Grampian Ringing Group ‘wind up’. Was this some perverted Christmas hoax? A quick phone call to Des Dugan, the RSPB warden, allayed my fears - a colour-ringed crossbill had been seen. Paul Harvey had stopped off en route from Shetland to Edinburgh, especially to see some typical highland birds. A walk along the shore at Burghead had been disappointing - no sign of Capercaillie or Crested Tit - merely a spotty, grey wader with yellow legs and a crowd of happy, smiling people. Devastated (but not one to give up easily) he moved on to upper Speyside, to the RSPB Abernethy Reserve where his perseverence was rewarded with views of Capercaillie, Crested Tit and crossbills. But what sort of crossbills? They seemed to have large bills but as his colleague (RP) pointed out (Proctor, R & Fairhurst, D 1993, “The Scottish Crossbill problem”, identification forum, Birding World 4:349-352) were they Scottish Crossbills or merely Parrot Crossbills? Luckily one of them, a male, had colour rings - here was a bird whose biometrics were surely recorded. I looked up the bird’s details. When it was caught the bird had a bill depth measurement of 12.1 mm, too large for a Common Crossbill and much smaller than we might expect for a Parrot Crossbill. This was as near to a Scottish Crossbill as one can expect these days. The bird had been caught, measured and ringed near Ballater, on Upper Deeside on the 21 st March 1 993. It was a male with no traces of juvenile plumage in the wing, so was probably over a year old then. It had been seen subsequently in the same wood twice in April and was seen feeding recently fledged young in June. It was seen there on 1 3th July but not thereafter, despite our continued monitoring of the area in the following winter, and in spring and summer 1994. The bird could have moved to Speyside in autumn 1993, or in spring or autumn 1994. Its resighting at Abernethy represents a movement of about 40 km north west. We have recorded three other colour-ringed Scottish Crossbills moving up to 14 km within Deeside, two of them from Ballater up the valley, so the Speyside bird could well have travelled up Deeside and over the Cairngorms range. There are occasional records of crossbills from Cairn Gorm (Dave Pullan, “Migrants and vagrants on the Cairngorm plateau”, Moray and Nairn Bird Report 1993). Alternatively the bird may have skirted the mountains through Donside. This single record is important. It is the first documented movement of Scottish Crossbill between the Cairngorm Straths. In the absence of any data on movement, merely because of the lack of records outside its highland range, the Scottish Crossbill is said to be sedentary compared with ‘nomadic’ Common Crossbills. However, on the basis of local population fluctuations, Nethersole-Thompson (“Pine Crossbills” 1975) argued that they must move between Strathspey and Deeside to exploit pine seed crops which may fluctuate asynchronously between glens. It was not obvious why the present bird should move so far because there was apparently plenty of pine seed in the Ballater area, but here at least is the first proof of such a movement. Post juvenile dispersal can be ruled out because the bird was an adult that had apparently bred successfully prior to the move. Our studies of crossbills will continue but with new horizons because the birds are obviously not strictly resident. We need no longer entertain the idea of Scottish Crossbills living in small fragments of habitat, as potentially isolated populations vulnerable to changing local conditions. Rather we must think of them as part of a larger, more widespread population able to exploit whatever habitat remains irrespective of its peicemeal status. Nevertheless we cannot be complacent because the Scottish Crossbill is our only endemic bird species, and for a passerine 2 its population is relatively small. In “Birds in Europe - Their Conservation Status” (Tucker & Heath 1994) the Scottish Crossbill is one of only two British species listed as of global conservation concern (the other is Corncrake). The text categorises the species’ “European Threat Status” as “Insufficiently Known” because Scottish Crossbills are not adequately monitored, the current geographical range is uncertain and theirabundance unknown. This situation arises because crossbills are difficult to identify in the field and, like many woodland birds, are difficult to count. Sea Eagle success in 1994 During 1 994 five young Sea Eagles fledged from nests in Scotland, bringing the total of wild Sea Eagles fledged in Scotland to 39, since the reintroduction began in 1 975. A further 10 young birds supplied from Norway were also released in Western Scotland. For the first time since the reintroduction began a pair of Scottish bred Sea Eagles attempted to breed for the first time. Unfortunately although eggs were laid, the pair failed and no young chicks were produced from this nest. Despite recent successes there are still fewer than 10 territorial pairs in Scotland, and so far only five pairs have successfully raised young. With this poor foothold, the Sea Eagle Project Team, under the chairmanshipof Professor George Dunnet, felt it was essential to release more young in order to give the population a more secure future. This year the young Sea Eagles have been fitted with individually marked yellow wing tags to enable identification in the field. Colour-ringed birds that have been measured are more easily allocated to species, so please look out for them because we need to know a bit more about movements if we are to devise methods to assess status. Mick Marquiss & Robert Rae (Grampian Ringing Group, 1 1 Millend, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire), Paul Harvey (Sandwick, Shetland) and Bob Proctor (RSPB, Abernethy). Congratulations to Bobby Smith Bobby Smith is no doubt known to many of our members at least by name if not in person. As one of the Dumfries photographic mafia his constant supply of high quality photographs have enhanced many SBN’s while many conference goers have enjoyed his colour slides of birds in south west Scotland and, more recently, abroad. However Bobby is also a practical conservationist as befits someone with years of experience working the land. In 1 994 he won the prestigious Crown Estates Award for conservation, in his native Dumfriesshire. On a piece of farmland he once farmed before retiring, Bobby has created a wildlife sanctuary by making a pond, an artificial Sand Martin bank (see SB 17.4) and planting the surrounding area with a hawthorn hedge and various trees. The sanctuary was created with the help of many volunteers from all walks of life, and donations of various pieces of equipment have ensured that all the work has been carried out as efficiently as possible. It is good to see that he has been acknowledged and appreciated by the Crown Estates for the work he has carried out. Look out in an SBN towards the end of 1995 for a report on the 1995 season at Applegarthtown, Dumfriesshire. In the meantime many congratulations Bobby, keep up the good work. Sea Eagle chick Laurie Campbell (SNH) 3 SOC Highland Branch - fame at last!! On 27 November last year 6 of us met Jeff Stenning of the RSPB Highland office and set off for Findhorn and the Moray coast looking for sea ducks. The first sightings of the day gave no hint of the extreme rarity that awaited us. Flocks of Rooks, skeins of geese, as well as the usual Blackbirds, finches etc. were all predictable. At Findhorn, were the usual ducks, swans, waders, scoters, divers and gulls not to mention seals. One group of Long-tailed Ducks came very close to the shore giving superb views to everyone. Next stop was Roseisle. A trip through the forest produced a few Bullfinches, then on to the beach for more Scoters, Divers and Long-tailed Ducks, although with the wind picking up the sea ducks were playing hide and seek in the wave troughs. Lunch was taken at Burghead, watching some brave - or foolhardy? - wind surfers as well as the usual waders and gulls. Then across the Burghead peninsula to the beach behind the maltings. More Long-tails etc., and “What’s that bird?” from one or two people looking at a small grey wader with short yellow legs, dabbling in a pool only 20 feet of so from us. Jeff instantly said “Tattler” and excitement, adrenalin and amazement kept out the cold for the next hour or so as we kept watch over this very rare wader from the Far East. It was confirmed by other experts that is was indeed a Grey Tailed Tattler. Even more remarkably the only other British record in 1981 was also found by Jeff!!. We returned home, feeling very pleased with ourselves. So if you are one of the ninety people caught speeding by police on the A9 on your way to see the Tattler, you now know who to blame!!!!. 90! It’ll take more than a Tattler to beat that Anne O’Brien Isles of Colonsay and Oronsay - Inner Hebrides Remote and unspoilt, the islands encompass 20 square miles of paradise for the naturalist - almost 170 species of birds (list on request), also otters, feral goats and a major breeding colony of the grey seal (pupping in September), 500 species of local flora as well as two of the few remaining natural woodlands of the Hebrides and the exotic rhododendron collection in the woodland garden of Colonsay House. Historic sites include St Columba’s pre-Iona foundation at Oronsay Priory, some excellent duns, a Viking ship burial, crannog-sites in Loch Fada etc. Camping and caravans are not permitted, but there is a comfortable small hotel offering table d’hote cuisine based on fresh local produce (central heating, private facilities, BTA Commended). Ro/Ro ferry for cars and foot-passengers ex-Oban Monday, Wednesday, Friday (21/2 hour passage). Demi-pension from £60.00 including VAT and service. Free bicycles. There are also three comfortable self-catering chalets, which adjoin the hotel; each unit sleeps 5, all bed-linen is provided plus daily maid service. Off-season rental is only £140.00 weekly. On T uesday and Thursday the 28ft launch ‘MANDOLIN’ takes small parties on Wildlife trips, usually accompanied by local naturalist John Clarke - £1 6.00 per person inc. VAT (simple lunch of bread, cheese and wine included). THE HOTEL, ISLE OF COLONSAY, ARGYLL (Kevin and Christa Byrne) Telephone: Colonsay (019512) 316 - open all year N.B. Booklet @ £3.50 inc. p&p describes the island’s birds - 66pp plus 8pp colour photos. /Ch< irlesi 1 Frc nk J TtcUunoC (Z&oice fan BINOCULARS & TELESCOPES BIG RANGE -ALL LEADING MAKES ► HELPFUL EXPERT ADVICE ► GREAT VALUE - WE ALWAYS TRY TO PRICE MATCH *7^ t6e (v&ote Zeiss representative in-store Friday and Saturday '?'iee c