== ne eee a a ere4 Fal ravines: val’ ene 44 Koren i aa ¥ aye ode AAG a 4 2 is ft 4 i - «= py Ae AL otk arora eek no Etude set Seid oo Lies “ Nei et E . is i 0 ts ; 4 4 ; : * i . A oe 4 ety tated ae y ae Gay Hanes ne - nk i } i) D : Club ts’ IS 1 Regent Terrace, - Major A. D. Peirse-Duncombe Edinburgh EH7 5BT | Roy H. Dennis ae The Scottish Ornitholog gre THE SAORI Maram vane a et The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was formed in 1936 and di menibee tis is open ie 2 interested in Scottish Ornithology. Meetings are held during the winter months _ Aberdeen, Ayr, the Borders, Dumfries, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Invernes S New Galloway, St Andrews, Stirling, Thurso and the Wigtown District at which lectures by prominent ornithologists are given and films exhibited. ee are organised in the summer to places of ornithological interest. — 5 The aims of the Club are to (a) encourage the study of Scottish ornithology and a promote an interest in wild birds; (b) co-ordinate the activities of Scottish ornitholo- gists; (c) encourage ornithological work in Scotland; (d) encourage conservation. Scottish birds and protection of threatened and rare species; (e) hold meetings f discussion and to arrange ornithological field meetings, and (f) appoint loc recorders and publish material relanite to Scottish: ornithology, cee Scotti Birds, the club journal. ne There are no entry fees for Membership. The Annual cnbectaes is £5, or £ the case of Members under twenty one years of age or Students under 25) satisfy Council of their status as such at the times at which their subscriptions due. The Life subscription is £100. Family Membership is available to mat couples and their nominated children under 18 at an Annual subscription of £7 or a Life subscription of £150. Scottish Birds is issued free to Members but Fa Members will receive one coy’ between them. Subscriptions. are dee on October annually. tan Scottish Birds, which is plished quarterly, includes papers, ics and st ta notes on all aspects of ornithology | in Scotland. The club also BUSS the annua Scottish Bird Report. The affairs of the Club are controlled i a Gouna sae of he Hon. ae the President, the Vice-President, the Treasurer, and ten other Members of Club elected at an Annual General Meeting. On the Council is also one Represe tive of each Branch Committee appointed annually by the Branch. : The Club tie in dark green, navy or maroon terylene, a car sticker ral: a ba ; : silver and blue, displaying the Club Orion a Crested Tit, can be obtain _ Members only from the Club Secretary. The Library at 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 SBT i is open aaeane office 7 (Monday to Friday 9 am to 1 pm and 2 to 5 pm) and for members, by pri arrangement with the Club Secretary, in the evenings a the week i in m months from 7 to 10 pm. it The Bird Book shop i is also at 21 Regent T errace, , Edinburgh. Iti is managed Centre, from which a free book list can be obtained. Application for Membership form, copy of the Club Constitution literature are obtainable from the Club Secretary, Major A.D. Peirse- Scottish Centre for Ornithology and Bird Protection, 21 Regent Terrace EH7 SBT (Tel. 031- 556 see rap enh SCOTTISH BIRD REPORT 1980 Part of Scottish Birds Volume 11 Edited by ROY H. DENNIS Landberg, North Kessock, Inverness IV1 1XD CONTENTS PRE EAMETS CA OHTN e e ois «ha eisle one Sino hic co bo soles c.e caus ane vials 0 .0'5.2 Hi Views oldies INCKNGOWACOPEMENUS, 030s. 2.0 5 sce! fuss ss » e's Salers ine Sole ooo hheldie’s ealeleddle dase Pocal recorders for1980 2). oi ie Oe BA bass Abbreviations and Symbols ...............sccccccccccccccscccecccsceeees MVS OMMODS CIV CL Sa9 «38% ators ocre.s Scena «cas « Lees ets « ore a Srdise aieiatoro se ule 0 4806 oR Se Cie Se ISED RW 5s, RI IONY, OF SM ERIS IR ee tase OrKney AdGItionS TOD 1979 vo. owe oot cece sccscccvecdeossscousestsscuces COrrections ANd additions ............ccccecscesessvceneveccesscscasens INGHCETOCONEIDULOTS (2). 2202000. ee RR. OL Published by the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5BT October 1981 Printed by Printdown (Edinburgh) Ltd., Peffermill Industrial Estate, Edinburgh EH16 SUY INTRODUCTION 1980 was an interesting year for bird-watchers in Scotland with four new species added to the Scottish list and some noteworthy nesting records while resident species had a mainly good year with no extremes of climate. This report attempts to draw together records for all species known to have occurred in Scotland in 1980 while this introduction summarises some of the main points of interest and indicates the scope of the report. Weather: 1980 in Scotland saw a rather mild start, a warm spring and a wet late summer and autumn. Early winter was cold, but the year ended less so. A changeable windy period just after New Year gave way to a week of quiet southerlies. After a short northerly spell in mid-January, it became stormy and unsettled, with snow at times — particularly in late January and early February. A very mild period in mid February, with changeable weather, gave way to a quiet dry spell. March was rather wet, beginning with wintry showers in the north, followed by a changeable period with successive belts of rain alternating with brighter showery weather. An easterly spell then set in — windy and dry at first, but prolonged snow affected the south on 21st. The changeable weather improved in early April, when the south had above average sunshine. A cool cloudy fortnight was interrupted by a very warm spell in mid month, followed by snow showers. Drier milder weather was then succeeded by a cold easterly spell in early May, latterly with wintry showers. A dry, initially frosty, week followed, becoming very warm in mid month. Cooler, changeable, but mainly dry weather then gave way to an unsettled June. A wet thundery start was followed by cool notherlies with showers or rain except for a brief wet SW’ly spell in mid month. This cool weather continued into July, with further unsettled periods and a high frequency of north to east winds. A drier east to southeast spell from late July to early August gave way to further unsettled weather, with much rain in mid month. September was warm, but wet in the west, and generally unsettled and very windy, broken only by a quiet — spell in the third week. Colder, windy and wet weather dominated October and November, particularly in the middle fortnight of October, but interspersed in November with occasional mild but still windy periods. NW Scotland was particularly wet in both months. December was less cold, with unsettled SW’lies broken by short colder showery weather. Species totals anc rare birds: 315 species were recorded in Scotland in 1980 which is down on the 323 species in 1979; 62 rare birds were recorded of which 25 were represented by only a single individual, four species are still under consideration by the British Birds Rarities Committee. 13 species were considered to have escaped or been released from captivity or were of doubtful origin, while 2 more species possibly belonged to this category. 2, Four new birds were added to the Scottish List which is about average for recent years: Year TM MD nel Deed Apel Oi aul Oneal oh Of DO No. of new species Dk a Bi ut O anh Aad Fee Phan Ora A drake Bufflehead was identified at West Loch Bee on South Uist on 14 Mar but only stayed until the 18th much to the chagrin of bird-watchers planning a quick trip to the Hebrides — a previous claim for the Outer Hebrides in June 1870 is no longer accepted, there are 5 previous records in the UK. Two more North American species were identified when a sub-adult Franklin’s Gull was found at Bogside, Ayr on 2-6 July and a Swainson’s Thrush occurred at Scatness, Shetland on 25-29 October; there have been 5S previous records of the gull in the UK and 7 previous records of the thrush. Finally, a Yellow-browed Bunting from Siberia was identified at Fair Isle on 12 Oct and stayed until the 23rd; this is also new for the UK. Other rare vagrants included Great White Egret, Purple Heron (2), Black Stork, Steller’s Eider (2 or 3), Montagu’s Harrier, White- rumped Sandpiper (4), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (2), Great Snipe, Long-billed Dowitcher (2), Upland Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs (3), Wilson’s Phalarope, Laughing Gull, Ivory Gull (4), Brunnich’s Guillemot (4), Scop’s Owl, Tengmalm’s Owl (2), Red-rumped Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit, Black-eared Wheatear, Aquatic Warbler, Bonelli’s Warbler, Collared Flycatcher, Woodchat Shrike (2), and Pine Bunting (2). Some rarities occurred in surprising numbers for example, 10 Ring-necked Ducks, 12 Rustic Buntings and 8-9 Yellow-breasted Bunting (the latter two are now commoner than Ortolan Bunting!) Arrivals and departures of summer visitors: Arrival Departure Osprey 28 March 17 December Corncrake 16 April 27 September Whimbrel 5 April 20 October Common Sandpiper 30 March 31 October Cuckoo 26 April 21 September Swift 30 April 10 October Sand Martin 3 April 8 October Swallow 30 March 7 December House Martin 6 April 17 November Tree Pipit 4 April 23 October Redstart 6 April 1 November Whinchat 6 April 26 October Wheatear 23 March 30 November Sedge Warbler 20 April 26 October Whitethroat 16 April > November Garden Warbler 20 April 18 November Willow Warbler 4 April 11 November Spotted Flycatcher 6 May 24 October Migration: There were good falis of continental migrants in late March - early April, especially in the North Isles but the main spring passage, especially of continental drift migrants, was poor. Late summer passage of returning waders was on the low side; Sooty Shearwater numbers were also low but there was a strong north passage of Bonxies on the North Sea coasts at the end of August. An early fall of Fieldfares occurred in August and there were good falls of continental species throughout August, September, October and November with a good scattering of rarities. Northern Chiffchaffs were very much in evidence in the latter two months. Siskins numbers were very high in late September but Waxwings remained very scarce. Grey Plovers wintered in exceptional numbers; Greylag, Pink-feet and Whooper Swans returned in high numbers after a good breeding season. Flocks of Goosander and Red-breasted Merganser built up to record numbers in the winter in the Beauly Firth. Breeding birds: Sea birds generally had a good breeding season although terns had a difficult time. A new Gannet colony was success- ful on Foula and a new small Leach’s Petrel site was found. Ospreys had a very good year with 20 out of 25 pairs on territory rearing 41 young (a record total) and Goldeneye continued to increase with 165 ducklings hatching from 17 successful nests. A pair of Ruddy Ducks nested for the second year but again failed to rear young. Waders had a good season with Temminck’s Stints at 4 sites, Wood Sand- piper numbers higher, Purple Sandpipers rearing one brood and a Ruff found nesting. A pair of Wrynecks fledged young in a nest box and Redwing numbers improved. A pair of Yellow Wagtails probably nested in Orkney and a pair nesting on the Aberdeen coast included a male Grey-headed Wagtail. Lapland Buntings were down to one pair. Records suggesting attempted nesting including Red-necked Grebe sitting on a nest (eggs not seen), adult Mediterranean in a Black- headed Gull colony and Long-tailed Skuas seen in interesting circum- stances. Notes on compilation: This report is published by the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club and should be regarded as part of Scottish Birds Volume 11 (and can be bound with that volume). For new recorders it should be noted that the report is a concise (and at times terse) summary of data collected on all species known to have occurred in Scotland in 1980 and no attempt is made to define the ordinary status of most species. Precedence is given to peak numbers, migration patterns, first and last dates, records in unusual areas etc. All records of semi and national rarities are given while for some species the data has been summarised in table form. For further information readers can refer to The Birds of Scotland (Baxter & Rintoul 1953) or previous Scottish Bird Reports which are still available from the Secretary. As before we stress that observer cover in various regions of Scotland ranges from very good to pretty thin and care should be taken in comparing numbers and regional distribution, especially of migrants. 4 Generally speaking, the Northern Isles, the North Sea coast, central Scotland and the Clyde/Solway areas are better covered than elsewhere, but there are pockets of good cover in most regions. For some areas, more information is published and greater detail given in the local bird reports. Although much local information cannot be published here, the collection of records by the local recorders provides a most useful fund of reference data for regional ornithology. = = eee oe = =--— — — SS — ee = = - fee GOO! We WB ——— = NX —— =, aE ~~ ? LA —_ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank everyone who has contributed or helped with the 1980 report, including the observers who sent in the records and especially the local recorders who collated the records and produced the area reports. My grateful thanks to Donald Watson for the Crested Tit on the cover and to A. Dowell and D.G. Mitchell for vignettes. HN yn Gh RS Mat f OR bd \ LOCAL RECORDERS Shetland (except Fair Isle) R.J. Tulloch, Lussetter House, Mid Yell, Shetland assisted by B. Marshall, J.D. Okill and I. Sandison. Fair Isle 1.S. Robertson, 1981: N. Riddiford, Bird Observatory, Fair Isle, Shetland. Orkney C.J. Booth, ‘‘Ronas’’, 34 High Street, Kirkwall, Orkney Outer Hebrides, St Kilda W.A.J. Cunningham, Aros, 10 Barony Square, Stornoway Isle of Lewis PA87 2TQ. Caithness Mrs P.M. Collett, Sandyquoy, East Gills, Scrabster, Caithness KW14 7UH Sutherland Dr I.D. Pennie, 5 Badcall, Scourie, Sutherland IV27 4TH. Ross-shire (except Black Isle), Inverness-shire (mainland over 18 miles from Inverness) R.H. Dennis, Landberg, North Kessock, Inverness IV1 1XD. Inverness-shire (within 18 miles of Inverness) and Black Isle, Ross-shire M.I. Harvey, Clachbhan, Loaneckheim, Kiltarlity, Inverness-shire. Nairnshire, Morayshire, Banffshire N. Elins, 10 Oakbank Place, Elgin, Moray- shire IV30 2LZ Aberdeen, North Kincardineshire Dr A.G. Knox, Zoology Department, Aberdeen University, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB9 2TN, assisted by Dr M.V. Bell and S.T. Buckland. South Kincardineshire, Angus N.K. Atkinson, Tadorna, 18 Cairnwell Crescent, Montrose, Angus. Perthshire E.D. Cameron, Strathclyde, 14 Union Road, Scone, Perthshire PH2 6RZ Isle of May B. Zonfrillo, 28 Brodie Road, Balornock East, Glasgow G21 3SB. Fife (except Forth Islands), Kinross-shire K. Brockie, Millhill House Lodge, Inchture, Perthshire Ph14 9SN. Clackmannanshire, East Stirlingshire Dr C.J. Henty, 3 The Broich, Alva, Clack- mannanshire. West Lothian, Forth Island (except May) Midlothian R.W.J. Smith. 1981: A.W. & L. Brown, 7 Trelawney Terrace, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 ONB. East Lothian K.S. Macgregor, 16 Merchiston Avenue, Edinburgh EH10 4NY. Berwickshire, Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire, Selkirkshire R.D. Murray, 143 Eskhill, Penicuik, Midlothian. Argyllshire, Inner Hebrides, M.J.P. Gregory, Duiletter, Kilmory Road, Lochgilp- head, Argyllshire PA31 8NL. Dunbartonshire, West Stirlingshire, Renfrewshire I.P. Gibson, Arcadia, The Glen, Howwood, Renfrewshire. Lanarkshire Dr E.S. Alexander, 3 Lilac Hill, Hamilton, Lanarkshire. Ayrshire, Arran, Bute R.H. Hogg, Schoolhouse, Crosshill, Maybole, Ayrshire KA19 7RH. Dumfriesshire D. Skilling. 1981: Dr E. Fellowes, West Isle, Islesteps, Dumfries DG2 8ES. Kirkcudbrightshire, Wigtownshire A.D. Watson, Barone, 54 Main Street, Dalry, Castle Douglas, Kircudbrightshire DG8 3UW. I would like to thank Iain Robertson, David Lea, Bob Smith, Hector Galbraith and Derek Skilling for their good work towards the Scottish Bird Report. Abbreviations and Symbols in the Species List + known to have bred in Scotland in 1980 * all known records are given t of escaped or doubtful origin o” male o’o’ males ? female 2 2 females § still subject to British Birds Rarities Committee decision — all records given here of species that come within the scope of the British Birds Rarities Committee have been accepted by the committee unless noted as subject to acceptance. Records of species not on that list but regarded as rare in Scotland have required adequate supporting evidence before publication. We appeal to observers to submit descriptions of rare and unusual species to the local recorder as soon as possible, preferably on an unusual record form, obtainable free from the local recorder. County names are shortened, e.g. Shet = Shetland, Wig = Wigtown -shire etc. In fact much abbreviation has been used, e.g. months, and qualifications such as ‘near’ and ‘about’ have been omitted. The sequence and names in the species list follow Prof K.H. Voous | (1977, List of Recent Holarctic Bird Species) as published in the ‘British Birds’ List of Birds in the Western Palearctic. LIST OF OBSERVERS Over 900 observers contributed records to the local recorders in 1980 and we are extremely grateful to them. Not all contributors are mentioned in this list, since in many cases records were summarized before submission to us; my apologies to those omitted. D.E. Abbey, J. Adam, A. Aitchison, E.S. & A.A. Alexander, J.M. Alexander, S.M.D. Alexander, R. Alexander, E.A. Allan, J. Anderson, F.S. Anderson, G. Anderson, P.D. Anderson, I. Andrews, J. Angus, R.A.G. Angus, S. Angus, T.D. Appleton, W. Appleyard, W. Arthur, P. Asquith, N.K. Atkinson, E.J. Austin, W. Austin. C. Badenoch, Dr R.S. Bailey, S.R. Baillie, M. Baines, R. Baker, K. Baldridge, I. Balfour-Paul, J.H. Ballantyne, D. Banks, K.W. Banks, A. Barbour, A. Barker, K. Barraclough, G. Barrett, Father P. Barry, S.F. Barstow, Mrs E. Bartlett, G. Bashford, P. Batchelor, D.J. Bates, G.G. Bates, D. Batty, P.G.T. Baxter, D. Bayne, M.J. Bayne, A. Beck, J. Begg, P. Belman, D.A. Bell, G.F. Bell, M. Bell, Dr M.V. Bell, A. Benn, S. Benn, A. Benny, M. Benson, B.M. & D.N. Benvie, J. & M. Binny, H. Birbeck, I. Black, C.G. Booth, C.J. Booth, Dr W.R.P. Bourne, I. Boustead, P. Bowyer, T. Boyd, W.R. Brackenridge, F. Brady, A.T. Bramhall, D. Branagan, P. Branwhite, Brathay Exploration Group, M. Brazil, Miss A. Brenchley, R.A. Broad, B.J. Broadley, G.S. Brock, K. Brockie, A. Brown, A.W. Brown, C. Brown, H. Brown, H.A. Brown, K. Brown, Mrs L.M. Brown, Miss Y. Brown, D.M. Bryant, J. Buchanan, A. Buckham, S.T. Buckland, J. Buggie, M. Bugloss, I.D. Bullock, G. Burton, H. Burton, J.L. Burton, D.G. Butler, D.J. Butler, A. Butterworth, J.M. Butterworth, Dr N. Buxton, T. Byars, C. Byers, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). C.J. Cadbury, Miss B.J. Cain, R.G. Caldow, M. Callan, R. Calligan, J. Callion, D. Cameron, E.D. Cameron, B. Campbell, C. Campbell, C.D. Campbell, I.A. Campbell, J. Campbell, N. Campbell, R.B. Cardno, G. Carey, D. Carnduff, N.E. Carrick, M.F. Carrier, D. Carstairs, Dr M.E. Castle, J. Chapman, M. Chapman, I.J. Chase, G. Checkley, M.C. Chesney, J. Chester, S. Chinnery, H. Clark, R. Cleghorn, F.A. Clements, D.L. Clugston, A.J. Clunas, P.N. Coates, J. Cobb, D.A. Coleman, A.F.C.M. & P.M. Collett, J.M. Conner, A. Cook, N. Cook, M.J.H. Cook, R. Cook, R.F. Coomber, B. Cooper, A. Copeland, G.B. Corbet, R. Corbett, B. Cosnette, S.J. Court, D. Coutts, J.M. Cowan, C.N.L. Cowper, G.M. Crighton, J. Crighton, P. Crighton, G. Crittenden, W.J.i. Crowether, I.G. Cumming, D. Cunningham, Dr W. Cunningham, W.A.J. Cunningham, N. Cunninghame, F. . Curran, J. Currie. L. Dalziel, R. Dalziel, T.P. Daniels, 1. Darling, J.N. Darroch, S. Davies, 1.G. & C.D. Davison, M. Dawson, A.R.A. Day, A. Deacon, P.K. Dedicoat, A. Del Nevo, Mrs M.T. Dennis, R.H. Dennis, A. Dewar, D. Dick, D. Dickson, J.M. Dickson, R.C. Dickson, T. Dixon, D. Doig, D. Donald, H.E.M. Dott, T. Dougall, A. Douglas, A. Dowell, R. Downing, A.F.G. Dowse, G.V. Duin, J. Dunbar, A. Duncan, J.M. Duncan, N. Duncan, R. Duncan, F. Dunlop, I. Dunlop, J.F. Dunn, M.H. Dunn, Prof G.M. Dunnet, E. Duthie, J.R. Duthie, J. Dyce, JN. Dymond. J.C. Eddison, J. Edelston, D.M. & J. Edge, N.B. Edward, S. Edwards, A. Edwardson, G. Ekins, N. Elkins, R.J. Elliot, P.M. Ellis, R. Elwood, D. Emley, S. England, I. English, J.W. Enticott, Sir R. Erskine-Hill, B. Etheridge, W. Euman, D.P.P. Eva, Mrs F. Evans, L. Evans, P.J. Ewins. I. Farquharson, C. Fillmore, H. Fisher, P. Fisher, A. Fitchett, G.J. Fitchett, D.J. Fleming, W. Fletcher, P.R. Flint, A.H. Ford, B.C. Forrester, I.L. Forrester, R.W. Forrester, D.W. Forshaw, Dr D.M. Forsythe, D.P. Fosbrook, J.A. Fowler, W. Fox, M.W. Fraser, Dr C.H. Fry, B. Fryer, B.L. Furness. Dr R.W. Furness. C.A. Galbraith, H. Galbraith, R. Gall, J. Gammock, C. Gardiner, J. Garnes, D. Garratt, R. Cash, F. Gatens, D.T. Gauld, J. Gearing, B. Geddes, C.A. Gervaise, C. Gibson, I.P. Gibson, G. Gilchrist, J.G. Gilmour, D. Given, E. Glover, R. Goater, A.G. Gordon, P.R. Gordon, K. Grace, A. Graham, R. Graham, J.A.R. Grant, S. Grant, T. & B. Gray, M.J.P. Gregory, R.I. Gregory, S. Gregory, N.R. Grist, E. Guest, J.M. & S.E. Gunn, P. Guy. S.R. Hacker, J. Hall, Mrs H.S.C. Halliday, Dr K.C.R. Halliday, F.D. Hamilton, J.H. Hamilton, K.C. Hamilton, C.G. Hancock, M. Hancox, M.G.R. Hannay, J.J.C. Hardey, Mrs A. Harding, M.J. Harley, Dr M.P. Harris, M.I. Harvey, M. Hawes, R. Hawley, W. Hay, C.G. Headlam, C.D.R. Heard, D. Heggie, J.G. Henderson, W. Henderson, A. Henry, Dr C.J. Henty, R.E.F. Heslop, M. Heubeck, V. Hewison, R. Hewitson, J. Hill, J.E. Hirst, E.M. Hissett, R. Hissett, R.H. Hogg, A.J. Holcombe, P.A.D. Hollom, B. Holmes, J.D. Holmes, P. Hope-Jones, Dr P.G. Hopkins, J. Horder, J. Hornbuckle, S. Howe, Miss J.E. Howie, D.C. Hulme, A.J. Hunt, J. Hunt, A. Hunter, E.N. Hunter. M. Innes, M. Inskipp, J.L. Irvine, D.L. Irving, T. Irving, B. Isbister. A. Jackson, I. Jackson, N. Jackson, A.K. James, D.C. Jardine, E.M. Jarrett, R.A. Jeffrey, Dr D. Jenkins, R. Jenkins, R.A.C. Johnson, J. Johnston, W.G. Johnston, A. Jones, H. Jones, V. Joss, Mrs L. Joughin. A. Keeble, S. Keenan, K.F. Kelly, A. Kerr, B.D. Kerr, R.F.K. Kiddie, A.J. Kilgour, E. Kingston, P.K. Kinnear, D.A. Kirk, J. Kirk, M. Kirkpatrick, I.R. Knighley, K. Knightley, J. Knowler, Dr A.G. Knox, G.P. Knox, J. Knox, N.M. Knox, E. Kwater. P.C. Lack, A. Laing, S. Laing, S.A. Laing, D. Lambie, R.C. Lambie, D.C. Lang, J.M. Larkin, H. Lastelyns, M. Lastelyns, A.R.D. Laurenson, W. Laurenson, A. Lavery, S. Laybourne, D. Lea, I.H. Leach, S. Leach, R.W. Leask, R. Leavett, J. Leck, K. Lee, J. Leece, Leicester Polytechnic, A. Leitch, M. Leven, I.M. Lewis, Miss I.F. Lindsay, M.K. Lindsay, I. Livingston, J. Lockwood, K.S. Lodge, S.C. Logan, J.D. Lough, J. Love, C. Lowell, I. Lumsden, B.M. Lynch, J. Lynch, M. Lynes, I. Lyster. G. McAdam, D. & H. McAllister, K. McCallum, N. McCance, D. MacCaskill, D. Macdonald, G. MacDonald, R.M. MacDonald, S. Macdonaid, Mrs M.K. MacDuff- Duncan, D.H. McEwen, J.T. McEwen, I. Macfarlane, H. McGinis, I. MacGowan, K.S. Macgregor, D. McInnes, A. Maciver, A. MacKay, S.G. MacKay, C.R. McKay, W. McKechnie, J. McKee, I. McKellar, S. McKie, I.M. McKinnie, H. McKinnon, I. McLachlan, M. McLeish, M.P. MacMillan, R.L. McMillan, A. MacNee, I.R. McNicol, M.J. McVail, J.D. Magee, E.J. Maguire, M. Main, A.R. Mainwood, D. Manson, J. Manson, S.A.M. Manson, D.V. Mardle, M. Marquiss, Dr R. Marriott, A. Marshall, B. Marshall, E.M. Marshall, J. Marshall, T. Marshall, I. Martin, M.W.A. Martin, I. Mathewson, D. Matthews, W.A. Mattingley, E.W.E. Maughan, A.C. Meakin, R. Mearns, W. Meecham, Mrs D.I. Melrose, J.K.R. Melrose, T.D.H. Merrie, J. Miles, I. Millar, J. Millar, H.G. Millars, R.J. Miller, R.H. Miller, J.S. Milliken, M.R. Mills, P.R. Mills, A. Milne, Dr D.J. Milne, A. Mitchell, A.I. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, J. Mitchell, S. Mitchell, T. Moncrieff, D. Morris, C.M. Morrison, G. Morrison, J.R. Morrison, 10 Dr W.M. Morrison, R. Morton, J. Moss, Dr R. Moss, S. Mouat, D. Mower, A.M. Mundy, J. Munro, J. Murray, N.A. Murray, R.D. Murray, S. Murray, W. Murray, M. Mutch, J.H.B. Munro. B. Nattress, Nature Conservancy Council, I. Nicoll, M. Nicoll, R.G. Nisbet, W. Norman. J.G. Ogilvy, M.A. Ogilvie, J.D. Okill, D.W. Oliver, R. O’Reilly, J. Oswald, G.M. Osborne. S.M. Palmer, C. Park, M.J. Parr, J.R. Parrot, B. Pashby, Rev M. & C. Paternoster, A.J. Patterson, Dr I.P. Patterson, T.L. Patterson, W.G. Patterson, M. Payne, A.J. Peace, K. Peace, D.M. Pearce, J. Pearce, D. Peirse, I1.D. Penman, I.D. Pennie, L.J. Percival, M. Peterson, P. Peterson, S. Petrie, B. Philp, N. Picozzi, M.F. Piper, B. Pirie, N. Poleson, R.K. Pollock, L.C.B. Ponsonby, M. Porteous, Mrs E.S. da Prato, S.R.D. da Prato, C. Prentice, D. Preston, I. Puckrin, D.M. Pullan. R. Rae, A.D.K. Ramsay, Mr Ramsden, N. Rankin, D.A. Ratcliffe, W.A.R. Rattray, M. Rayner, P.S. Read, G. Rebecca, T. Reed, A.W. Reid, J. Rendall, D.J. Rennie, M.G. Richardson, Dr R. Richter, S. Ricketts, G.S. Riddle, H. Riley, I.S. Rintoul, A.B. Ritchie, N. Ritchie, C. Roberts, A. Robertson, B.P. Robertson, D.A. Robertson, G.S. Robertson, I.S. Robertson, R. Robertson, R. Robeson, C. Robson, T. Rogers, M. Rollie, R. Rose, C.P. Ross, M. Ross, B. Rowley, Dr D.E. Rowling, M.H. Rowntree, R. Roxburgh, Dr M. Rusk, S.M. Russell. S. Sampson, G.L. Sandeman, P.W. Sandeman, I. Sandison, J. Sankey, G. Sayer, R.A. Schofield, C.D. Scott, D.J. Scott, M.G. Scott, R. Scott, C. Scouler, S. Scroggie, J.G. Serle, Q.U. Service, R. Shand, Mrs A.F.W. Sharp, B.T. Shaw, G. Shaw, K.D. Shaw, P.R. Shaw, N. Shennan, B. Shepherd, G. Shepherd, R.A. Shewan, S. & M.E. Shimeld, R. Shirley, D. Shirt, 1. Sim, I. Simmons, E. Simpson, J. Simpson, M. Sinclair, H. Skelton, B.S. Skillen, D. Skilling, I. Skilling, J. Skilling, R. Skilling, J. Skinner, C. Slater, A.J. Smith, D.A. Smith, G. Smith, N.M. Smith, R.A. Smith, R.T. Smith, R.W.J. Smith, S. Smith, B. Smolenski, T.C. Smout, D.S. Soutar, 1. Spence, S.T. Spencer, E.F.B. Spragge, Dr C.J. Spray, J. Steele, Mrs M. Steele, L.D. Steele, A.B. Stephen, D. Steveley, D.P. Stevens, A. Stevenson, E. Stevenson, M. Stevenson, A. Stewart, A.G. Stewart, D. Stewart, B.J. Stewart, J.A. Stewart, J. Stirk, P. Stirling-Aird, G. Stobs, J. Stockan, I.S. Suttie, B. Sutton, R.L. Swann, J.J. Sweeney, Miss T. Sykes, Scottish Wildlife Trust. E. Tait, M. Tasker, P. Tate, Dr T.V. Tattersall, M. Taylor, S. Taylor, R. Taylow, R.K. Templeton, E.L. Thomas, M.I. Thomas, E.T. Thomson, I. Thomson, J. ~ Thomson, Miss J.M. Thomson, R. Thorne, D. Thorogood, A. Thorpe, D. Tixier, P. Tooley, D.J. Topham, D. Tuckwell, R.J. Tulloch, A. Turner, D. Turner, J. Tweedie. L.A. Urquhart. A. Venters, K. Verrall, Dr L.L.J. Vick. J. Wagstaff, A. Walker, B.P. Walker, J.H. Wallace, M. Wallace, R. Wallace, F.D.E. Wails, R. Wallis, A. Walterson, G. Walterson, M. Walterson, C.M. Waltho, J.P. Waltho, N. Ward, S. Ward, R. Ward-Smith, J. Wardrop, M. Ware, D.W. Warner, D.J. Warnock, A. Watson (sen), Dr A. Watson, A.D. Watson, A.J. Watson, Mrs J.D. Watson, J. Weatherhead, R. Weatherhead, G. Weir, T. Weir, R.D. Wemyss, D.S. Whitaker, G.T. White, D. Whyte, G. Willesden, R.T. Willett, 11 A. Williams, E.J. Williams, G. Williams, R.A. Williams, Mrs D.L. Willis, I.R. Willis, M. Wilkins, A. Wilson, E. Wilson, J. Wilson, J.M. & N.M. Wilson, N. Wilson, P. Wilson, S. Wiseman, A. Wood, D.C. Wood, D.W. Wood, J. Wood, K. Woodbridge, P. Wortham, W. Worthingon, A. Wrathmell, S. Wratten, G.A. Wright, M. Wright, L.N. Wright, P. Wright, J. Wytes, Prof V.C. Wynne-Edwards. A. Young, Dr E.I. Young, Dr J.G. Young, J. Young, Dr M.R. Young. M. Zawadski, B. Zonfrillo. —-" 12 SPECIES LIST tRed-throated Diver Gavia stellata Breeding: poor in Shet due to drought conditions; Ork, 14 young reared on monitored lochs is low, heavy rain problems in Hoy; Caith, 2 successful sites out of 6; W Ross, poor year Coigach and Gairloch; Moray, 1 juvenile seen; Inv, 3 pairs successful out of 10 — flooding; Arg, poor season Mull due to wet summer after dry spring; Renf, 1 pair failed. Peak counts and migrants: Shet, 32 S Yell Sound 4 Nov; Fair Isle few 25 Mar — 24 Sep; Ork, Ist S Mar; Caith, 19 Noss Head 20 Apr; Moray, 99 Spey Bay 18 Sep; Aber, 130 Drums 11 Oct, 112 S % hr Peterhead 3 Nov; N Kinc, 100 St Cyrus 17 Jan; Angus, 200+ Kinnaber 16 Jan, return Montrose 4 on 3 Oct; Fife, 20 Fife Ness 19 Jan; Midl, Musselburgh Jan - 12 Apr, 14 Sep - Dec, max 21 on 4 Oct; E Loth, 44 Gullane 13 Jan, 71 on 19 Dec; Selk, 1 Ettrick at Selkirk 7-8 Nov; Ayr, 15 Prestwick - Irvine 14-15 Apr, 1st autumn Turnberry 29 Aug; Kirk, peak 31 + Carsluith - Ravenshall 10 Apr. +Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica Another poor year, very few young reported in North. Only one young seen Perth; single pairs failed W Stir, S Ayr and Arran. Inland singles Tillyprounie, Aber 13 July; West Water, Peeb 28 May. Shet, 5 records, including 2 Whalsay 16 Nov; Ork, good run of records 3 May - 4 Nov, max 3 Waulkmill Bay 9 May and 23 Oct; Caith, 19 Sinclair’s Bay 27 Jan (continues trend of more wintering records in N), 30 on 4 Apr; Moray, 19 Spey Bay 31 Aug; Fife 59 St Andrews 16 Mar; Midl, 4 Musselburgh - Leith 3 Jan-4 Feb; E Loth, 13 Gullane 13 Jan; Ayr, 10 Chapeldonan - Dipple 30 Mar, last 3 Ardeer 26 Apr. Great Northern Diver Gavia immer Winter - spring: Shet, 54 Bluemull - Colgrave 4 Feb, still 15 Quendale 19 May; Ork, max 37 Kirkwall to Gairsay 5 May; Caith, 13 Sinclair’s Bay 27 June; Inv, 11 Moll, Skye S Apr; Aber, 26 Rattray 5 May; small numbers Kinc to E Loth; Arg, 51 Mull 16-17 Apr; Ayr, max 5 Prestwick - Irvine 14-15 Apr. Usual summer records in N, e.g. 4 Balnakeil, Suth 5 June. Autumn: Fair Isle 1st 31 Aug; Shet, 50 Bluemull - Colgrave 11 Oct; Ork, from 6 Sep; N Kinc, up to 5 St Cyrus 7-15 Oct; few Fife to E Loth from 21 Sep; Ber, 1 St Abbs 17 Oct; Kirk, 1 inland Earlstoun Loch 27-28 Dec. *White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii 3-4 records: Shet, singles Whalsay 4-11 Nov and 24 Nov (B. Marshall, N.D. Poleson et al), Hascosay 11 Nov (M. Heubeck, D.M. Pullen, R.J. Tulloch); Inv, adult off east side Rhum 28-29 May (F.P. Barclay, H. Birkbeck). +Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Possible increase Angus and Perth; success variable but poor at Balranald, O Heb where 10 prs reared one young. Migration - counts: Shet, absent 14 Apr-13 Nov; Fair Isle one 5 Nov; Fife, 24 Cameron res 12 Oct; W Loth, 66 Linlithgow 12 Oct; Rox, 40 Hoselaw 14 Oct. +Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Breeding: Kirk, good season; Ayr, low success, 5 prs Martnaham but only one young; Borders and Loth, numbers average, success poor; Fife, good success, Kilconquhar 7 prs with 15 young, Lindores 14 prs, young still being fed on 1 Nov; Perth, 13 prs checked reared 17 young; Angus, increase to 22 prs at 6 sites but only 9 prs bred; Aber, pairs summered at 2 lochs but no suggestion of nesting. Winter counts and migrants: Shet, 5 records Mar, Apr and Nov (3); Caith, Thurso 4-25 Jan, 1 dead Sinclair’s Bay mid Dec; Inv, L Garten 5 May; Moray, Lossiemouth 3 Apr; Stir, 530 Grangemouth 9 Mar, still 65 on 11 Apr, 150 on 27-28 Sep; Fife, 107 St Andrews Bay 12 Mar; W Loth, 102 Blackness 16 Feb; Midl, 730 Joppa - Leith 13 6 Jan, 1055 Joppa - Silverknowes and 166 Musselburgh 20 Jan (1200 in total off Edinburgh in Jan is very high count), last 20n.9 Apr, first back on 21 July, increase to 68 Musselburgh 26 Oct, 477 Joppa - Leith 23 Nov; E Loth, 52 Gosford 26 Oct; Arg, | Scallastle 23 Sep may be Ist for Mull, singles Islay 28 Oct and 19 Nov; Wig, low numbers L Ryan, max 30 on 16 Feb. +Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena Breeding: One pair built nest and may have laid eggs but no proof; 1 bird in summer elsewhere. Winter - spring: Shet, singles Cunningsburgh 27 Jan and Mid Yell 8 Mar: Ork, Skaill 24 Feb; E Ross, Coulmore 20 Jan, Rosemarkie ad 25 May; Aber, 4 singles Jan and Feb, 1 Collieston 9 June; Midl, max 21 Musselburgh 8 Mar, last 4 Apr; E Loth, 28 Gosford 19 Jan; singles Dunb and Ayr Jan; 2 L Ryan, Wig 2 Feb. Autumn: Aber, 1 Murcar 3 Sep, 1 inland Davan 21 Dec; O Heb, 1 South Uist 14 Oct; Angus, singles Oct and Nov; Fife, 3 Methil 26 Oct; Midi, 1st 14 Sep, 3 on 27 Dec; E Loth, influx from mid-July, 9 Gosford 31 July, 29 Gosford - Gullane 19 Dec. +Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus Breeding: at least 72 prs in Inv of which 51 prs definitely nested and fledged between 26 and 37 young, success very poor at public lochs; Moray, 3-5 prs at one site and at least 5 young fledged; Perth, 1 pair (and extra adult) at one loch reared one young, single adult at other nesting site; Suth, ad seen at ex-nesting loch (deserted in ’60s) on 20 May. Counts and migration: Shet, absent 21 May to 6 Aug, peak 11 Tresta 20 Nov; Fair Isle singles 14th and 20-21 Mar; Inv, 2 wintered breeding lochs; Midl, peaks 6 Musselburgh 4 Apr, 6 Joppa 27 Mar; E Loth, 75 Gosford - Gullane 8 Mar, 28 on 26 Oct and 120 on 19 Dec is about average; Arg, 8 L na Keal, Mull 12 Oct; Lan, 2 Douglas Water 27 Nov; Renf, 1 West Ferry 24 Oct; Dunb, 1 Ardmore 4 Nov; Wig, 9 L Ryan 16 Feb. +Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Breeding at eastern of two main colonies; 3 pairs at one loch, 1 young fledged; better success at other loch, 6 prs fledged total of 8 young; in other area 3-4 pairs at usual site 30 May but none seen on 4 July; single at loch on 19 July but no proof of breeding. ~ Counts: Aber, Meikle Loch 27-30 Sep; E Loth, Gosford 19 Dec; Lan, Bishop Loch 12-17 Feb; Dunb, Ardmore 4 Nov; Wig, only regular wintering site L Ryan, max 18 on 16 Feb is higher than usual, 4 back by 13 Sep. *Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris Adult again summered on nest at Hermaness gannetry, Shet 15 Mar-2 Aug (CG et al); one off ship 16 Mar (date is interesting) in North Atlantic south-west of Rockall at 56°21’N 14°12’W (A. Britain, R.J. Burness). +Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis Breeding: good success in Shet and Fair Isle; 1st eggs Ork 14 May; Banff, 1 or 2 young raised on buildings; Isle of May, continued increase to 143 sites, 71 chicks fledged, last flew 10 Sep; Inv, 668 sites Canna is slow increase; Arg, 255 prs Sanda; Ayr, poor success at 4 sites. Blue phase birds noted in north; best counts 8 Fair Isle 24 Sep; 5 Burrafirth, Shet S July and 14 records Aber coast in May. Passage counts: Ork, 2600 per hr Birsay 18 Sep, 3600 pr hr North Ronaldsay 21 Oct; Caith, 19000 N in 1 hr Noss Head 20 Apr; Aber, 1800 W in 1 hr Fraserburgh 19 Apr and 6500 W in 62 hr 23 Aug. Inland singles; 1 SW Glen Tanar, Aber 2 June; Clack, 1 W Craigleith 16 June; Ayr, 1 New Cumnock 23 Aug. *Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea Three: 1 SW off Ramna Stacks, Shet 20 June (K.B. Shepherd); 2 Troon, Ayr 19 June (D. Given, J. Knox). 14 *Great Shearwater Puffinis gravis Eight: 2E Fair Isle 23 Aug (1.S. Robertson et al); Ork, 8 miles NNW of Sule Stack 2 Aug (R.A. Broad); E Loth, Barns Ness 13 June (R.D. Murray); Arg, between Coll and Mull 19 July (F.D. Hamilton); Ayr, 1 S Troon 21 Aug (A.J. Laing); Wig, 2 Stranraer - Larne crossing (J.M. Dickson). Large Shearwaters (Great/Cory’s): Fair Isle, one 1 Sep, 5 on 24 Sep; one off Leith, Midl 23 Aug). Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus Early one Meikle Ross, Kirk 7 Apr otherwise 19 June-29 Nov but numbers very low all areas. Shet, only 13 recorded; Fair Isle, 28 July-12 Oct, max 6 on 7 Sep; Ork, peak 22 W Brough of Birsay 9 Sep; Caith, max 4 Noss 25 July; Suth and E Ross, not recorded; Aber, 1 N Peterhead 15 July, max 11 on 24-25 Aug and last N on 29 Nov; small nos Fife, Isle of May and E Loth, max 14 Barns Ness 30 Aug; Ber, only record St Abbs 17 Oct; W Inv and Arg, 1 Coll 5 July, max 36 Frenchman’s Rocks, Islay 10 Sep and 32 on 17th; Ayr, 1 Ayr 19 June and 2 Troon 6 Sep only records; Wig, few 30 Aug and 13 Sep, 15 on Stranraer - Larne crossing 14 Sep. +Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus Breeding: Shet, breeding proved again (2 chicks found) Horse of Burravoe; Ork, peak 100 off Hoy colony 11 June; W Inv, Canna no change in numbers, breeding success good - 76% of eggs laid hatched; Arg, at least 12 prs bred Sanda. 1st ashore Rhum, W Inv late March; 1st Shet 2 Apr; last sighting 25 Oct. Counts and passage: W Ross, 30 L Broom 27 Sep; Inv, 1 L Insh 17 Sep; Moray, 10 Culbin 19 Apr; N Kinc, 133 N in 1 hr Girdleness 25 June; Angus, 100 N % hr Arbroath 24 June; Fife, present Kirkcaldy 23 June-13 Sep, max 400 on 10 Aug; Midl, 376 E Musselburgh/Leith 2 hr 24 June; W Loth, regular Hound Point 13-29 May and 25 June-7 Aug, max 250 on 29 July; Peeb, 1 West Water 7 Sep; Ayr, 2000 Turnberry Pt 18 Aug, 2300 on 29 Aug; Wig, 600 S 1 hr Corsewall Pt 30 Aug. +Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus No changes in breeding status but birds caught for ringing in various non-breeding areas by use of tape-luring, e.g. 33 Tarbatness, E Ross 16 Aug and Ayr coast where controls of birds ringed at St Kilda (2), Sanda (2) and Copeland, N Ireland. Catches at some sites low due to bad weather. Records between 4 June-S Nov. Counts: 356 in Minch between Ardnamurchan and South Uist 8 Aug. +Leach’s Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa Breeding: new very small colony located Ramna Stacks, Shet. Singles caught at night with Storm Petrels Yell 19 and 26 July and Whalsay 28 Aug. Records at sea: Fair Isle crossing, 2 on 2 Aug, singles 26 Aug and 5 Sep; Arg, 2 off Sanda 6 Sep; Ayr, 1 S Turnberry 7 Sep; Wig, 8 S Corsewall Pt 13 Sep, 3 S Stranraer crossing 14 Sep. +Gannet Sula bassana Breeding: Now 11 Scottish colonies with successful breeding proved Foula, Shet 300 ashore and 13 chicks fledged (1st seen ashore 1976); Hermaness, Ist eggs 30 Apr and Ist chicks Noss 31 May; Fair Isle, ashore from 11 Mar, Ist eggs 2 May, 58 prs bred at 3 localities, max 400 ashore 26 June, good season. Counts and passage: Caith, 500 N 1 hr Wick 20 Apr; Aber, more than usual especially 22-24 Aug when heavy N passage of ca400 per hr; Isle of May 30 Mar-24 Oct; Arg, 1200 S in 2 hrs Sanda 7 Sep; Ayr, 850 N in 1 hr Troon 29 Mar, very late bird Turnberry 31 Dec. +Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Breeding: Shet, good season; Ork, 86 nests North Ronaldsay contained 150 young 25 June; O Heb, 100 nests L an Tomain, N Uist 17, mile from sea is considerable increase since 1968 survey (4 nests); Forth Islands, 245 nests on 4 islands surveyed, Eyebroughty increased to ca 50 nests; Kirk, 103 15 nests Port o’Warren colony; Wig, Castle Loch again deserted but 25 prs at Mochrum Loch. Counts-passage: Fair Isle, 50% down on 1979, max only 26 on 4 Oct; E Ross, tree roost Munlochy Bay peaked 400 on.18 Nov, up to 450 fishing Beauly Firth Oct- Dec; Midl, Inchgarvie 850 on 17 Feb, 1800 0n 19 Mar. +Shag Phalacrocoraxaristotelis Breeding: Foula early season but brood sizes smaller than usual; Fair Isle, lst eggs 21 Apr, excellent breeding season; Isle of May 1093 pairs bred and fledging success very high (765 pulli ringed); W Inv, 1168 nests Canna is highest since 1971; Arg, 430 nests Sanda (cf 138 nests 1969 census); Ayr, increase to 15 prs Ailsa Craig. Counts: Shet, 1338 Bluemull/Colgrave Sounds 11 Nov; Aber, 1500 S 1 hr Rattray 19 Jan, 1700 N 1 hr Peterhead 26 Dec; Stir, 1 Skinflats 21 Dec. *Bittern Botaurus stellaris Three: 1 Endrick Mouth, Dunb 3-5 Jan (AGG, LLBR); 1 Newburgh, Aber 25 Jan (hit wires) still present 28 Jan (CGH et al); 1 booming Borders mire 9 June — no suggestion of breeding (per R.D. Murray). TNight Heron Nycticorax nycticorax No comments on Edinburgh Zoo feral birds, 1 ad at Botanic Gardens 24 Aug; 1 immature Neidpath, Peeb 27 July (W. Appleyard) presumably from Edinburgh colony. *Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis One found long dead Yellowcraigs, E Loth 7 Feb (N. Harding) §. *Great White Egret Egrettaalba Adult Caerlaverock, Dumf 8-11 Apr (Dr. C.D. Ginger, A.C. Wilson, M. Wright). +Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Breeding: Caith, 2 successful sites, 3 prs reared 10 young; E Ross, Munlochy back up to 25 nests; Inv, Lynchat site deserted and no nests Glen Urquhart; Moray, excellent season Culbin; Angus, 39 prs reared 104 young at 3 sites; Perth, sample 35 nests reared 101 young; Fife, sample 28 nests reared 76 chicks; Dunb/W Stir, 11% increase L Lomondside. Counts: Fair Isle peak 18 on 23 Sep; 24 Catfirth, Shet 24 Sep; 40 Coulmore, E Ross 22 Nov. *Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Two: Loch, South Uist, O Heb 25 May (A. Adams, J.T. Belsey, D.S. Farrow); North Ronaldsay, Ork 1-8 Sep (J. Cutt, K.F. and H. Woodbridge et al) §. *Black Stork Ciconia nigra One Aberuthven, Perth 3-8 Aug (J. Marchant et al). *White Stork Ciconia ciconia One Dalry, Ayr 30 Oct (A.W. Graham, A. Hamilton) — poorest year since 1970. tChilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis One Strathbeg, Aber Jan-Dec (JD); One arrived with moulting Canada Geese Beauly Firth, E Ross/E Inv 9 June and stayed until geese departed late Aug (RHD et al). +Mute Swan Cygnus olors Breeding comments: Ork, pr hatched 9 young N Ronaldsay 20 May; O Heb, 123 prs bred Uists to Barra; poor year Caith, Angus, Borders but good year Kirk and reports of broods of 7 young in Stir, Ayr and Kirk. Counts: 130 Stenness, Ork Dec; Aber, 286 L of Strathbeg 7 Aug; Angus, 209 oiled Montrose, about 60 died. tBlack Swan Cygnus atratus Two Montrose Basin, Angus 1-12 Jan, one to 12 Feb, later at L of Strathbeg, Aber; 2 Tyninghame, E Loth 19 May, one 13 Aug-7 Dec; 1 Bogside, Ayr Jan, Maidens 4-23 Mar and Chapeldonan 23 Mar. 16 Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus Winter - spring: wintering flock up to 43 Caerlaverock, Dumf Jan-Feb, last 2 on 26 Mar; Kirk, 2 Greenlaw 3 Jan; Ayr, 1 Girvan 1 Mar; Fife, 1 Eden est 13 Jan; O Heb, 2 S Uist 23 Feb. Autumn: 2 arrived Caerlaverock 17 Oct, 21 on 3 Nov to record peak 77 (13 juvs) on 30 Nov, 72 through Dec; 38 across at Islesteps, Kirk 26 Nov; Ayr, 3 SE Troon 18 Oct, 2 Martnaham Loch 27 Dec; Renf, 9 Harelaw Dam 2 Nov, 1-3 Stanely Dam 7 Nov-6 Dec; E Loth, up to 17 Fenton Barns 9 Nov-31 Dec; Kinr, 19 L Leven 29 Nov- Dec; Fife, 1 Cameron res 9 Nov; Aber, Strathbeg 6 on 9 Nov, one 22nd, 2 on 25-26th Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus Birds present at 1978-79 nesting site but no proof of successful breeding: feral pr reared 2 young Endrick Mouth, Dunb/W Stir. Summering birds Shet, Ork, O Heb (5), Caith, E Ross (2), Aber (5), Midl, Rox, Ayr and Kirk. Winter - spring: Caith, 140 Winless 16 Mar, late 24 L Watenan 16 May; Inv, Insh marshes peak 77 on 24 Mar, last 25 Apr; Aber, Strathbeg peak 104 on 12 Mar, last 15 on 24 Apr; Rox, 161 Nisbet 13 Jan; Clack, last 40 Blairlogie 4 Apr; Renf, 278 Georgetown 7 Jan; Kirk, 114 Greenlaw 29 Jan. Autumn: A good breeding season in north, national sample (3903) in autumn gave 18% juveniles: Shet, Ist 13 Sep, 26 on 30 Sep, census 9 Nov 273 (57 juvs); O Heb, 304 wintered Uists and Benbecula; Caith, 370 Reiss 11 Oct; Ross, L Eye area 12 on 2 Oct, 410 on 12 Oct; Inv, 9 Insh 4 Oct, peak 100 on 20 Nov; Aber, 5 Strathbeg 18 Sep, peak 388 on 1 Nov; Isle of May, 5 on 11 Sep; Fife, 200 Arnott res Dec; Kinr, ist L Leven 2 Oct, peak 150 on 9 Nov; Rox, peak 102 Nisbet 20 Dec; Renf, 158 Georgetown 18 Dec; Dumf, Ist 2 Caerlaverock 4 Oct increased to record peak 91 on 27 Oct; Kirk, 192 Islesteps 26 Nov. Birds marked in Iceland July 1980 with coloured neckbands were identified in various areas; the most travelled was a male marked at Lake Myvatn 25 July, at L Eye, E Ross 15 Oct, Strathbeg, Aber 1 Nov, Caerlaverock, Dumf 30 Nov-2 Dec and which arrived 7 Dec at Ouse Washes, England. Colour dyed birds from Caerlaverock 17 Jan were seen in Iceland (6) in May 1980 and 2 were seen in Estonia, U.S.S.R. in May indicating eastern origin of some Scottish wintering birds. *Bean Goose Anser fabalis Fewer wintered SW; Kirk, 3 Gelston 3 Jan; Wig, 5 L Ryan 28 Jan; Lan, 5 Libberton 4 Apr, 4 on 10th; Rox, 1 Hoselaw 2 Dec; Kinr, 4 Cleish 20 Feb, 5 L Leven 2 Oct; influx Jan - Feb N Isles; 1 North Ronaldsay, Ork 22-27 Jan; 1 Fair Isle 26-27 Jan, 2 on 28-29th, 16 on 3 Feb (record total for isle), 1 on 8 Feb; Shet, 4 Haroldswick, Unst 14 Feb. Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus Winter - spring: Dumf, up to 5000 Solway roost Jan - Feb, influx 3-4000 20-21 Apr, 900 up to 8 May; Wig, 3000 Wigtown Bay Jan; Lan, 1870 Dunsyre 6 Jan; Peeb, 4550 West Water 17 Apr then strong emigration; Mid], 4300 Gladhouse 10 Feb; Kinr, 8500 L Leven 20 Jan; Perth, 2000 Thornhill 1 Feb; Aber, more than usual wintered, 7300 Ythan 2 Feb and 11150 on 29 Mar, 3300 Strathbeg 13 Feb, 4000 on 22 Apr, last 50 on 16 May; Inv, N — passage Garten 26-27 Apr; W Ross, very big passage N Achiltibuie 24-26 Apr; Caith, late 110 NW Reay 25 May. Summer: Pr Perth showing territorial behaviour 1 June; summer records (injured?) Shet, Caith, E Ross (3), Angus (3), Aber (7), Arg and Ayr. Autumn national count 9-10 Nov 85340 (UK total 95000) is a record total; peak areas Perth and Kinross 33010, E Loth, 11930, Borders 10900, Angus 7320, Aber 6550, Midi 5350 and Dumf 3380; sample 3000 gave 16.4% young with mean brood size 2.2 (MAO). Arrivals 4 Sep Kirbister, Ork; 9 Sep Almondbank, Perth; 10 Sep L Leven, Kinr and 11 Sep Aber and E Loth; big influx 28 Sep when peaks 850 Skerries, Shet, 153 Fair Isle, 3950 Slains, Aber and many Ork and Caith south to Perth. High counts: 1000 East Mainland, Ork 5 Oct; Aber, 14200 Meikle 12 Oct; Perth, 15000 Tibbermore 12 Oct; Kinr, 10500 L Leven 2 Oct; Midl, 13000 Gladhouse 19 Nov; E Loth, 8300 Aberlady 12 Nov-3 Dec; Peeb, 18000 West Water 6 Dec; Dunb, 120 Fannyside L 28 Dec. 17 White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons Winter - spring: Kirk, max 243 L Ken 23 Jan, still 150 on 24 Apr; Dunb, max 115 Endrick Mouth 8 Mar; 8 Methven Moss, Perth 1 Apr; small nos E counties; E Ross, peak 46 L Eye 14 Jan; Caith, 200 Stemster 20 Jan; Ork, 52 Holm 14 Apr; Shet, 1 Skerries 10-24 Feb, 1 Unst 14 Feb, 2 on 3 Mar. Autumn: Ork, peak 150 Firth 5 Oct; O Heb, Ist 28 South Uist 19 Oct, 90 wintered N Uist; E Ross, 70 L Eye Nov; Caith, Ist 30 Brims 30 Sep, max 250 L Scarmclate 12 Oct; Inv, 70 S Canna 12 Sep; Arg, c4000 Islay Nov count, 700 Tayin- loan and 400 Machrihanish 8 Nov; Kirk/Wig, from 14 Oct, max 260 L Ken 17 Nov, 360 West Freugh Dec. European race A.a. albifrons: O Heb, Lewis 22 Mar; Aber (2), Perth (3), E Loth (2), Stir (1) and 29 West Freugh, Wig 9 Mar (high number). *Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus One Bridgend, Loch Indaal, Islay, Arg 15 Mar (G.W. and R. Follows). +Greylag Goose Anser anser Breeding: O Heb, 70 prs bred Druidebeg, S Uist and total O Heb population suggested as 500+ prs which is higher than suggested in Atlas; Caith/Suth, no comments but 76 (48 juvs) at one site 17 July; W Ross, more breeders Summer Isles but poor success. Feral propulations: Perth, 103 L Tummel 22 June; Midl, 259 (56 juvs) Duddingston Loch 10 June and indications of spread, e.g. pr and 2 tiny goslings Inchkeith 15 June; Inv, prs bred for first time Canna (2 young) and Rhum (failed); Kirk/Wig, some decrease Glentrool but success elsewhere. Winter - spring: E Ross, 1300 Beauly Firth 27 Feb; Inv, 600 N Garten 23 Apr; Aber, 3800 Strathbeg 18 Jan, more than usual wintered inland; Kinr, 2500 L Leven 28 Feb; Perth, 2000 Gargunnock 27 Jan; Dunb, 2000+ Endrick Mouth 15 Jan; Ayr, 800 Drumore 11-12 Mar, noticeable emigration 23-25 Apr; Kirk, 2000 Greenlaw 7 Feb. More summer wanderers than usual, e.g. 6 Unst, Shet 31 May; 22 Meikle L, Aber 23 Aug. Autumn national count 9-10 Nov 86970 (UK total 90000) is record total; peak areas Perth and Kinr 23070, Ross 15380, Caith 4090, Inv 4170, Aber 12170, Angus 8400, Borders 8290; sample 3000 gave 20.2% young and mean brood size 2.3. There was abundant spilt grain in N and E central Scotland and the wet autumn prevented much ploughing of stubbles. Counts: Shet, peak 540 Walls 28 Sep; Ork, Caith and Inv, big passage 5-6 Oct; E Ross, L Eye 12000 on 30 Oct, 6-8000 stayed to end of year, Black Isle/Beauly Firth 7-10000 stayed Nov-end of year is most ever; Aber, few from 17 Sep, large passage 28 Sep, 5500 Strathbeg 8 Dec, 5400 Skene 25 Oct; Perth, 9000 Kinclaven 25 Sep; Kinr, 5615 L Leven 9 Nov is highest ever; Stir, 1st 39 Carron Valley 17 Sep; Ayr, large passage S 21 Dec, max 242 Prestwick. tBar-headed Goose Anser indicus Singles Lurgies, Angus 14 May; Ythan/Slain Jan-Mar, Aug-Sep; Inverness 26 May; Udale Bay, E Ross 7 Aug - Sep. (t)*Snow Goose Anser caerulescens Feral flock Calgary, Mull 33 adults and 15 juveniles, probably origin of some records in Scotland. Ork, 1 blue Kirkwall 11-28 May; O Heb, 20 Lewis March, 1 on 15 May; Caith, 1-2 with greylags Jan - Apr, Nov - Dec; E Ross, ad Greater Invergordon/L Eye 11 Nov-16 Dec, imm 16 Dec; Aber, 4 Ythan 2-6 Jan, 2 Strathbeg 10 Mar, 1 on 7-19 Oct, 2 on 18th, 1 Slains 1 Apr; Angus, 7 (2 blue) Northesk 17 May, 1 Lintrathen 29 Dec; Perth, one Balbeggie 20 Jan, Methven 18 Oct, blue Killiecrankie 29 Apr, Methven 12 Oct-23 Nov; Kinr, blue L Leven 1 Apr; E Loth, Aberlady 27 Oct-3 Nov; Ayr, 1 N Chapeldonan 10 May; Kirk, blue Preston 29 Feb-Mar, 2 Tongland 7 Feb, 1 L Ken 7 Apr, 4 (1 blue) L Ken May - early Oct; Wig, 7 (1 blue) Mull of Galloway 19 May. ¢+Canada Goose Anser canadensis Breeding: W Inv, Inverlochy flock increased, 67 on 23 Dec; Perth, increasing; Ber, moderate success, 26 Mellerstain Dec. English moult migration: lst 30 Beauly Firth 27 May, 227 by 2 June, peak 907 on 18 12 July when 655 captured for ringing (controls from Yorkshire 54% and Midlands 30% — counties of Warwick, Stafford, Notts, Shropshire and West Midlands). Migration - peaks: Shet, 3 Mid-Yell 1-8 June; Inv, Strathspey 31 May - 17 June, 11-20 Aug, max 57S on 18 Aug; Caith, 40 Ackergill 4 July; Aber, fewer, 20 Ullachie 1 June; Banff, 20 Tomintoul 1 June; Angus, 16 N Glen Clova 31 May; Isle of May, 3on 5 June; Kinr, 30 L Leven 19 Aug; E Loth, 50 Tyninghame 2 June; Ber, 20 E Tweedbank 31 May; Arg, 1 Sanda 9 June; Dumf, Aug peak Caerlaverock 201 on 12th. Barnacle Goose Anser leucopsis Solway flock of Spitzbergen birds, 7500 on 25 Feb, then absent in Cumbria, 3500 back 18 Mar, 1000 on 16 Apr, last one 8 May. 1st 16 on 24 Sep, 160 by 26th, fresh influx 7 Oct, 1300 on 9th to 9000 on 15th, peak 9050 in late Oct is highest total yet, 23% young indicated good breeding season. Islay flock 20500 in Nov; O Heb, 2000 North Uist 30 Apr; Suth, 420 Eilein Hoan 7 Nov; Ork, 30 Switha flock 15 Dec. Counts and passage: Shet, 28 Sandwater 11 Oct; Caith, 20 L Heilen 21 Dec; W Ross, 60 departed Achiltibuie 8 May, 50 returned 14 Nov; Aber, max 9 Jan - Mar, 80 N Peterhead 27 Apr, 25 N on 6 May, 35 Strathbeg 19 Nov; Perth, peak 9 in Feb, 24 in Nov; small nos elsewhere. Summer singles Ork, Caith, Kinr, Midl, Mull and 3 Rhum, Inv 21 Aug. Brent Goose Branta bernicla D= dark-bellied B.b. bernicla, P= Pale-bellied B.b. hrota, others unspecified. Peak counts - migration: Shet, D Virkie 27 Jan; O Heb, 75 Harris 7 Oct; Caith, 4 P Dunnet 4 Oct; Suth, 20 Tongue 5 Oct; W Ross, 13 P Achnahaird 5 Oct; Inv, 51 Broadford 2-8 Oct, 12 P Rhum 14-15 Oct; W Loth, 3 W Hound Pt 4 Oct; Midl, 5 Cramond 8 oct; E Loth 6 D Aberlady 5 Nov; Arg, 19 Ardnave, 49 Bowmore, Islay 16 Sep, 57 L Gruinart 16 Oct; Ayr, 1 Balkenna 10 May; Wig, 25P L Ryan 1 Oct, 32 Pon 9-10 Oct. tEgyptian Gouse Alopochen aegyptiacus One Linlithgow, W Loth Mar - May. +Shelduck Tadornatadorna Breeding: E Ross, good season Munlochy and Tarradale; Kinr, L Leven 43 prs only 12 young reared; Midl, 108 adults — 44 young Cramond 28 June; Dunb, 115 ads — 45 young Endrick Mouth 11 June. Moulting flock at Kinneil, Stir 2500 on 9 Aug. Counts and migration: Fair Isle, 6 on 24 May only record; E Ross, 208 Munlochy March; Inv, 248 Longman 13 Jan; Angus, 446 Montrose Basin 17 Dec; Fife, 765 Eden est 18 Feb; Stir, 1272 Skinflats 20 Jan, 2710 Forth est 19 Dec; Rox, 9 Tweedbank 21 Feb; Dunb/Renf, Clyde population still low, max 525 on 16 Mar (compared to average max 1600 in 71-77). tWood Duck Aix sponsa Male Stanely Dam, Renf 12 Apr; o” shot Fallin, Stir 2 Oct. +Mandarin Duck Ai galericulata Perth colony: 4 prs, 2 successful, used Owl nest boxes Scone, broods 5S and 6 on Tay at Perth, counts 64 on Tay on 13 Oct, 57 on 2 Nov; o at Stormont L 6 Nov; W Stir, 2 Killearn 28 Dec; Inv, pr East Croachy 28 Apr +Wigeon Anas penelope Breeding: Inv, Insh poor season; Kinr, 40 prs bred L Leven. Counts and migration: Fair Isle, 26 on 3 Sep is early for flock; Ork, 800 Tankerness 13 Dec; Caith, 800 L Watten 14 Dec; Suth, 1700 L Fleet 23 Nov; E Ross, 6000 L Eye 22 Nov, 3800 Udale Bay 8 Nov, 4000 Munlochy Bay 28 Dec is high; Inv, 2000 Longman 13 Jan; Aber, 1100 Strathbeg 23 Nov; Angus, 3000 Montrose 15 Jan, 3200 on 17 Dec; Midl, 131 Musselburgh 20 Sep is unusual; E Loth, 449 Aberlady 7 Nov; Lan, 180 Possil Marsh 23 Mar; Ayr, Bogside 550 on 9 Nov; Dumf, 812 Caerlaverock 14 Dec; Wig, 2000 L Ryan Nov. 19 +Gadwall Anas strepera Breeding: Ork, not confirmed but pairs at 4 sites; O Heb 8-10 prs Balranald but no young seen; Angus, 3 prs bred Kinnordy but no young survived; Perth, more than usual, at least 2 broods seen; Kinr, 25 prs bred L Leven, 52 young in 10 broods seen; Fife, 5+ prs in summer. Counts: Shet, 5 in Apr - June; Ork, 7 Boardhouse 11 Oct; E Ross, 1 Achanalt 28 May; Aber, more than usual, max 9 Rattray 16 May; Kinr, 208 L Leven 11 Sep is highest ever count; Stir, o” Airthrey 13 Jan - 15 Feb; Arg, 9 L Assapol 16 Apr may be 1st for Mull; Dunb, max 4 Dumbreck 11 May; Wig, 3 L Ryan 23 Mar; Kirk, 3 L Ken 17 Nov. +Teal Anas crecca Breeding: Shet, pr and 7 young Fetlar is first for aisle; Inv, poor season Insh; Angus, 14 prs Kinnordy, very poor season. Counts and migration: Ork, 248 L of Harray 11 Oct; Suth, 450 L Fleet 21 Dec; E Ross, 450 Tain 15 Jan is high, 1100 L Eye 21 Feb, 1250 on 22 Nov, 3000 on 15 Dec; Aber, high numbers 800 Rattray 26 Jan, 1375 Slains 12 Oct (highest ever), then decrease to 120 on 19 Oct, 850 Strathbeg 16 Dec; Fife, 1600 Morton L 25 Nov; Kinr, 669 L Leven 11 Sep; E Loth, higher number, 260 Tyninghame 25 Nov; Ayr, 500 Bogside 2 Jan, 600 on 30 Nov; W Stir, 350 Dumbreck 5 Oct; Dumf, 464 Caerlaverock 17 Nov. Green-winged teal carolinensis 5o’o°: O Heb, o& St Kilda 26-27 Apr (D.J.R. Counsell, Dr. R. Gibson), o’ Griminish, Benbecula 28 Dec (L.M. Gardiner), 0 L Eport, N Uist 20 Jan (L.M. Gardiner), Caith, o St John’s Loch 1979 to 20 Jan (D.M. Edge et al) §, Midl, o’ Bavelaw 21 Nov (S.F. Bairstow)§. +Mallard Anas platyrhynchos_ Breeding: Inv, very poor season Insh; Angus, very few young from 53 prs Kinnordy; Kinr, 7 nests with eggs (one c/12) L Leven 28 Mar, 61 brcods in July contained 297 young; Ayr, 9 prs reared 38 young New Cumnock; Dumf, poor season Caerlaverock due to wet. Counts: Caith, 1162 L Watten 13 Jan; Moray, 832 Covesea 7 Dec; Aber, 1550 Strathbeg 6 Jan, 1320 Skene 27 Jan, 2800 Strathbeg 16 Dec; Kinr, 2337 L Leven 11 Sep; Stir, 1400 Gartmorn 2 Feb, 1295 on 28 Dec, 1510 Forth est 20 Jan; Midl, 700 Moorfoot res 29 Nov; Rox, 675 Nisbet/Eckford 13 Jan; Lan, 680 Hamilton 14 Dec; Ayr, 700 Barassie 2 Jan. +Pintail Anas acuta Breeding: Ork, definitely bred 2 sites, Ist young seen 24 July; Caith, at least 1 pr bred, nest 5 eggs on 14 June; Suth, 1 pr probably bred; Arg, 49 9 seen Tiree, two with broods; Kirk/Wig, 2 prs bred Creetown, 2 and 3 young (1 pr hatched 5 young there in 1979). Counts of main flocks: Dumf, 200 Caer- laverock 9 Sep increased to peak 1200 on 28 Oct, down to 60 by 12 Dec; Kirk/Wig, 101 L Ken 14 Jan, 216 Carse Bay 2 Dec, 100 L Ryan 30 Nov; Renf, flock still low, 33 West Ferry 20 Jan; Stir, 59 Skinflats 30 Jan, 35 on 21 Dec;.Kinr, 63 L Leven 19 Oct; Angus, 60 Montrose Basin 31 Dec; Inv, 64 Lentran 21 Dec; E Ross, 300 Nigg Bay 1S Dec. Other counts: Shet, peak 20S Sumburgh 7 Sep is high; O Heb, 2 Lewis 27 Sep, 2 S Uist 7 Dec; Aber, more than usual, 10 Strathbeg 6 Apr; E Loth, peak 13N Barns Ness 30 Aug. *Garganey Anas querquedula Eight: spring 29 Apr - 23 May; o° Barr Loch, Renf 29 Apr (RSPB); ° Cobbinshaw, Midl 23 May (GLS); o” South Uist, O Heb 22 May (CS); o Unst, Shet 3 May (ISp): autumn 31 Aug - 6 Sep; o’ Deerness, Ork 31 Aug - 2 Sep; o’ L Waston, Perth 31 Aug - 6 Sep (WRB); pr Aberlady, E Loth 10 May. *Blue-winged Teal Anas discors Four: Shet, 2 /imm Skerries 29 Sep (D.M. Pullan et al); Aber, o’ Rattray 2 June (M. Innes); Dumf, 2 o’o” in eclipse Eastpark, Caerlaverock 29 Sep - 17 Oct (C. Campbell, B. Sears, M. Nugent, M. Wright) +Shoveler Anas clypeata Breeding: Ork, 5+ pr nested Papa Westray, young seen North Ronaldsay 16 June; O Heb, 11-17 Prs Balranald but only 9 young flew; Inv, brood Lynchat 31 May; Angus, 33 prs bred Kinnordy, good success; Kinr, 4 prs 20 but only one young L Leven; Lan, pr with 10 young Possil Marsh 20 May maybe Ist since 1940’s; Ayr, 2 prs reared 10 young New Cumnock; Dumf, brood of 9 seen. Counts: Shet, 12 Apr - 22 Aug, max 5 Fetlar 21 July; Ork, max 28 North Ronaldsay 14 Oct; Aber, 12 Rattray 1 May, 17 Strathbeg 24 Sep; Angus, 100 Kinnordy 3 Aug, 82 Balgavies 10 Oct; Kinr, peak 431 L Leven 11 Sep; Stir, 16 Grangemouth 9-24 Aug; Rox, 3 Hoselaw 14 Sep, 65 on 28 Dec; Lan, 60 Possil Marsh 14 Sep; Dunb, 90 Endrick Mouth 16 Nov, 87 Summerston 14 Oct; Kirk, 62 L Ken 14 Oct, 100 Carlingwark L 22 Nov. (t)Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina 2? Endrick Mouth, Dunb 3 Aug (DJB). +Pochard Aythyaferina Breeding: Ork, 2 distraction - display Birsay 27 May; Aber, ? and B/3 Meikle 31 May; Angus, 9 prs Kinnordy, at least 5 young fledged; Midl, pr bred Bavelaw. Counts: Shet, 57 Brow 14 Dec; Ork, 1747 Harray 16 Dec; Caith, 310 L Watten 13 Oct; W Ross, 45 L Rosque 5 Feb; Aber, fewer Strathbeg, max 600 on 26 Oct and 16 Dec; Fife, 530 Levenmouth 27 Dec; Kinr, 300 L Leven 12 Dec; Stir, 400 Gartmorn 21 Sep is unusual; Midl, 900 Duddingston 5 Jan, down to 220 on 15 Feb, 1320 Seafield 6 Jan; Renf, 227 Lochwinnoch 30 Aug is very low peak; Ayr, 235 Gailes 2 Feb. *Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris Noticeable increase in records to about ten: Shet, o’ Scatness from 8 Dec 79 to 7 Jan (J.N. Dymond), o” Tingwall 23 Mar - 16 May, another o’ 27-28 Apr (J.D. Okill, I. Spence et al); O Heb, o’ Leurbost, Lewis 23 Dec (W.A.J. Cunningham); Caith, o’ St John’s Loch 17-26 Feb (D.M. and J. Edge, P.M. Collett); Suth, o’ Durness 7 Nov (R.H. Dennis); Inv, o’ Insh Marshes 15 Feb - 30 Mar, 12 Nov - 31 Dec, also seen L Mallachie, Tulloch 13 Apr and Grantown-on-Spey 28-29 Dec (R. Leavett, R.A. Richardson et al); Lan, o° Strath- clyde Park 25 Dec - 1 Jan (F. Gatens, J. Maxwell, W. Thomson), o’ Woodend Loch 21-27 Jan, 15 Feb and Gadloch 19-24 Feb (D.L. Clugston, B. Zonfrillo et al); Wig, o& Stranraer 27 Jan, moved to nearby Soulseat Loch present to end Feb, joined by ? from 10 Feb, o” Soulseat from 18 Nov into 1981 (G. Shepherd, R.H. Hogg et al). +Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Breeding: Inv, very poor season Insh Marshes, only 13 prs raised less than 50 young, but Ist young early 28 May; Angus, very poor season Kinnordy, 41 prs but only 13 young fledged; Kinr, 500+ prs L Leven, 75 broods contained 289 young; Borders, good success; S Ayr, poor. Counts: Shet, 343 on 5 lochs 16 Nov; Fair Isle, peak 6 on 19 May; Ork, 1289 Harray 11 Oct; Inverness, 365 on 14 Nov; Aber, 1160 Strathbeg 4 Nov; Angus, 660 Stannergate 19 Jan; Fife, 450 Levenmouth 27 Dec; Kinr, 4273 L Leven 11 Sep; W Loth, 436 Linlith- gow 12 Oct; Lan, 445 Hamilton 13 Jan; Renf, 610 Lochwinnoch 15 Aug; Ayr, 177 Martnaham 16 Aug. Scaup Aythya marila Winter - spring: Ork, 67 L of Skaill 29 Apr; E Ross, 400 Edderton 1 Jan, 266 on 17 Feb, 21 Tarradale 12 Apr; Inverness, 22 on 13 Mar; Aber, 30 N Peterhead 1 May; Fife, 86 St Andrews 13 Feb; Stir, 12 Grangemouth 27 Jan; Midl, continued decline off Edinburgh, max 976 Seafield 6 Jan, 35 on 24 Feb; Dunb, 170 Ardoch 1 Jan; Renf, 210 Langbank 20 Jan; Ayr, low numbers, 41 Troon 13-20 Jan, 60 Prestwick 10 Feb; Wig, 200 L Ryan 27 Jan; Kirk, 1000 Carsethorn 25 Mar. Summer records: Shet (4), Ork (2)., Caith (5S), Suth, Inv (4), Dumb, Renf, Ayr (6), but no suggestion of breeding. Autumn - winter: Ork, 130 L of Stenness 18 Dec; E Ross, 157 Edderton 26 Oct, 65 Invergordon 15 Oct, 80 Tarradale18 Oct, Inverness, 77 on 29 Oct (noticeable increase in E Ross/Inv flocks); Aber, fewer, 22 N Peterhead 12 Oct; Angus, 25 Westhaven 13 Nov; Fife, 2230 Levenmouth 29 Dec; Midl, 44 Musselburgh 26 Oct (continued decline); Dunb, 115 Ardoch 27 Dec; Arg, more Mull than usual, 670 L Indaal, Islay 3 Nov; Ayr, 50 Irvine 14 Nov. 21 +Eider Somateria mollissima Breeding: Fair Isle, season a little earlier, 1st eggs 8 May; Ork, Ist chicks 24 May; Aber, season about month late Ythan (many, mostly oo’ s, found dead were greatly underweight Ythan - Aberdeen), poor season Isle of May and Rhum but 45 29s with broods Canna is well up (25 in 1979), good numbers young Arran. Peaks counts: Shet, 1209 Bluemull/Colgrave 2 Jan is Jow, 1294 on 30 Oct; Fair Isle 800 on 14 Nov; O Heb, 102 moulting North Rona 3 Aug, 340 Sound of Taransay Aug; Suth, 500 Farr 12 Aug, 3300 L Fleet 1 Nov; Aber, 3900 Murcar/Blackdog 24 July, increase to 6500 by 20 Aug; Kinc/Angus, aerial survey 30 Oct, 575 Stonehaven - Buddon, 11500 Tay estuary; Fife, 2000+ Methil 26 Oct - Nov; Midl, 1630 Seafield - Granton 6 Jan; E Loth, 1000 moulting Eyebroughty 19 June, 1500 Gosford 26 July; Dunb/Renf, 988 Clyde est 17 Feb is low; Ayr, 1510 Meikle Craigs 26 July, 1320 Turnberry 27 July. Inland: One L Leven, Kinr 2 Nov. *King Eider Somateria spectabilis Suth, 1-2 o’o present all year Golspie - Embo area (A.R. Mainwood et al); Renf, o’ Port Glasgow - Greenock 11-30 Nov (D.L. Clugston, J.J. Sweeney et al); probably same o’ Fintray Bay, Great Cumbrae 23-30 Mar (K.S.B.) o” Lochranza, Arran 5-26 Apr (M.H. Dunn). o Kerrycroy Bay, Bute 31 May - 12 June (P. Crighton); Wig, o’ L Ryan 1 Jan - 16 Feb (R.H. Hogg et al). *Steller’s Eider Polysticta stelleri O Heb o” (Ist seen May 1972) present through- out year South Uist (Dr C. Spray et al); Ork, o’ Papa Westray 29 Apr - late Aug (D. Lea et al), 2North Ronaldsay 6 Oct (J. Cutt)§. Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis Winter - spring: Shet, peak 584 Bluemull/ Colgrave Sound 4 Feb; Fair Isle o 7 June; Ork, 500 North Ronaldsay 29 Apr; Caith, 60 Sinclair’s Bay 27 Jan; E Ross/Inv, Moray Firth flock nearly confined to Riff Bank, peak 4000 on 25 Jan; Fife, 108 St Andrews 27 Feb, 350 Methil 7 Apr; Midl, 90 Musselburgh 23 Mar; E Loth, 174 Gosford - Gullane 8 Mar; Ayr, 17 Dipple 27 Feb; Wig, now very scarce, only singles L Ryan 16 Feb and 15 Mar. June - July records: Shet (2), Fair Isle (1), Ork (2+), O Heb (1), Caith (2), Aber (2) and 2 Coldingham L, Ber 13 June. Autumn - winter: 16 Achnahaird, W Ross 20 Sep; 3 N Don Est, Aber 24 Sep: main arrivals from 2 Oct. Peak Counts: Shet, 327 Colgrave/Bluemull Sound 11 Nov; Suth, 500 Dornoch Firth 8 Dec; Moray, 75 Lossiemouth 15 Oct; Aber, 243 N Peter- head 15 Oct, 313 N on 16 Oct suggest passage north into Moray Firth; Midl, 200 Musselburgh 22 Nov. Inland birds in Oct: Aber (6), L Leven 2 on 20 Oct; Midl, (2) and 1 Martnaham, Ayr 11 Oct, 2 on 22 Nov - 31 Dec; Renf, Balgray res 30 Dec. +Scoter Melanitta nigra Breeding: Shet, several prs present but nesting not proved; Suth/Caith as usual; Ross, 4-5 prs present; Inv, present at 3 sites, brood four early July; Perth, peak 20’0°. + 429s at one site, pr at another where ? and 4 young 7 July; Dunb/W Stir, 6 prs and 2 extra o’o’ but no young seen later; Arg, 1 pr late June. Counts: Shet, 18 Quendale 5 Apr; Fair Isle, peak 11 on 27 Oct is unusual; Ork, 25 Echnaloch 5 May; O Heb, 179 Sound of Taransay 8 Sep, fewer than usual wintered Broad Bay; Suth, max only 500 Dornoch Firth Jan and Dec; Inv, 800 Riff Bank 25 Jan, few in autumn; Moray, 400 Burghead 5 Apr, 350 Spey Bay 14 Dec (another year of low numbers in Moray Firth); Aber, larger build-up than usual, 1500 Ythan 6 July, 1650 Murcar/Blackdog 24 July, 2200 on 20 Aug, decreased in Sep; Fife, 400 Methil 7 Apr, 1600 Tentsmuir 16 Nov; Midl, 85 Musselburgh 30 Mar, 8 o’o’ Gladhouse 30 July; E Loth, 1000 Gosford - Gullane 25 May; Ayr, above average numbers, 22 Ayr 9 May, 24 on 27-31 Dec. *Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata 8 records, all o’o’ ; Ork, Echnaloch Bay 4-6 May (R.G. Adam et al); O Heb, Sound of Taransay 8 Sep (N. Buxton)§, Suth, Golspie 5-21 Apr (R.A. Broad, A.R. Mainwood); Moray, 1 E Lossiemouth 3 Apr 22 (N. Elkins); Aber, Blackdog 1-23 Aug, 2 on 21-23 Aug, one, probably same, Drums 7-8 Oct (E. Kwater, P. Fisher et al); Fife, Pathhead 17-18 Feb (D. Dickson)§; Kirk, imm Southerness from 1979 to 17 Feb (A.D. Watson et al). Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca Shet, 11 records of 1-2 birds; Fair Isle, singles 13-26 Mar and 24 Oct; Ork, peak 26 Echnaloch 5 May; Caith, 60 Sinclair’s Bay 26 Jan is high, still 40 by 4 Apr; Suth, 400 Golspie/Dornoch Firth 21 Apr; Moray, max only 70 Spey Mouth 6 Apr; Aber, increase in late summer records late July - early Sep, max 550 Murcar - Blackdog 4 Aug; Angus, 100+ Kinnaber 10 Oct; Midl, max 25 Musselburgh 30 Mar; E Loth, Aug - Oct, peak 65 Aberlady 24 Aug; Renf, o’ Port Glasgow 6 Apr; Ayr, singles Jan and Mar, 2 Gailes 8 Mar; Dumf, 6E Caerlaverock 25 Sep. *Bufflehead Bucephala albeola A drake West Loch Bee, South Uist, O Heb 14-18 Mar (J.J. Gordon et al) is a new bird for Scotland (a previous claim for O Heb in June 1870 is not officially accepted). +Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Breeding: Continued increase; females laid eggs in 26 nests (1 natural hole), 21 clutches were incubated and 165 ducklings hatched from 17 successful nests; egg laying was early and fledging success continues good; many summering birds, records from Shet south to Borders but no evidence of breeding, despite provision of nest boxes, away from original area. Counts: Shet, max 45 Spiggie 16 Nov; Fair Isle, few 1 Jan - 14 Mar and 16 Oct - 14 Nov (max 4); Ork, Ist autumn 7 Sep, max 180 Stenness 17 Feb; Caith, 78 Thurso 18 Jan; E Ross 200 Tarradale 9 Nov; Inv, peaks 252 Ness Mouth 16 Mar, 518 on 14 Dec; Aber/N Kinc, 213 Girdleness 4 Jan, 11 Strathbeg 21 June, passage mainly from 26 Oct, 300 Strathbeg 26 Oct; Angus, 260 Stannergate 11 Jan; Fife, 950 Pathhead 20 Dec, 1000 Methil 9 Mar; Stir, 88E Manorneuk 19 Jan; Midl, 1083 Seafield 6 Jan, 387 Joppa 28 Dec; E Loth, 220 Tyninghame 26 Oct; Rox, 71 Nisbet 13 Jan; Arg, 45 Mull 16 Dec is higher; Renf, 287 Langbank 16 Mar, 325 Clyde 31 Dec; Ayr, 470 Barassie - Gailes 7 Jan; Kirk, 79 L Ken 19 Feb. *Smew Mergus albellus Redheads unless stated. 27 winter - spring: Inv, o’ 13 Jan; Moray, Spynie 6 Feb; Aber, o” Strathbeg 10 Jan - 6 Apr, 2 oo” 16 and 28 Feb, ? 22 Jan - 12 Mar, Davan 12 Jan - 9 Apr; Angus, Stannergate 5 Jan, 23 Mar (4), Westhaven 13 Feb, Monikie 29 Feb; Perth, 2 Carsebreck 16 Jan, Drummond 17 Feb, L Venacher 7-20 Apr; Midl, Edinburgh/Duddingston 12 Jan - 23 Feb, Threipmuir 4 Apr; Rox, o’ Yetholm 17 Feb - 16 Mar; Dunb, 2 Milngavie res 2 Jan; Ayr, Doonfoot 1 Jan - 9 Feb, Martnaham L 1 Jan - 18 Feb, Bogton L 13 Jan, _Barnshean L 16 May; Kirk, Auchreoch L 1-17 Jan, 4 Apr; Wig, L Ryan 27 Jan. Summer: o’ L Lomond, Dumb 9 Mar - 7 Aug; redhead off Langbank, Renf (2nd year in succession) 19 Aug and redhead Grangemouth, Stir 24 Aug are very unusual. 12 records in autumn from 16 Oct: Ork, North Ronaldsay 19 Oct - 1 Nov; E Ross/Inv, Ness - Beauly Firth 25-31 Dec; Aber, Davan 25 Oct, 8 Nov (3), 15th (2), one to 31 Dec, Keithhall 1-2 Nov; Angus, o’ Lintrathen 16 Oct, o’ Kinnordy 19 Oct; Perth, Tay 15 Nov; Fife, Pathhead 26 Nov; Ayr, Martnaham L 29 Nov - 31 Dec; W Stir, 1 Craigallion L 7 Nov. +Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Breeding: no comments except good season Caith. Counts: Fair Isle, 15 on 3 Sep is high; E Ross/Inv, 150 Barbaraville, huge winter build-up in Beauly Firth (large shoals of sprats and herring), 350 on 9 Nov, 820 on 13 Dec, 1550 on 21 Dec and peak of 2250 on 25 Dec; N Kinc, 80 St Cyrus 23 June increase to 400 on 28 July and 1000 on 19 Aug - 9 Sep; Fife, 1000 Tentsmuir 11 Aug; Stir, 350 Grangemouth 27 Jan, 460 on 6 Feb; W Loth, 350 Hound Pt 8 Mar; Midl, 720 Cramond 20 Jan is exceptional; Renf, o’ Castle Semple L 1 Dec; Ayr, 108 Prestwick - Irvine 14-15 Apr; Wig, max 191 on 14 Sep. 23 +Goosander Mergus merganser Breeding - few comment: Inv, increase to 6 pr Glen Urquhart; Dunb/W Stir, several broods in recently colonised S half L Lomond; Dumf, slight increase; Kirk, fairly average. Counts - migration: Shet, small numbers 1-3 Jan to 27 Apr; Fair Isle singles 11-15 Mar, 10 May and 23 Oct; Ork, singles 27 Jan, 24 Oct and 6 Nov; O Heb, pr Lewis 10 Jan; Caith, IN Noss Head 20 Apr; E Ross, 2 L Eye 10 Nov; Inv/E Ross, high build-up Beauly Firth (compare previous species), 300 on 20 Oct, 400+ 30 Oct, 750 on 9 Nov, peak 1550 on 13 Dec, 1216 on 25 Dec; Moray, 33 moulting Speymouth 31 Aug; Aber, 68 Skene 27 Jan; Angus, 50 Dundee 23 Mar; Kinr, 73 L Leven 17 Jan; Rox, 58 Hoselaw 14 Sep; Arg, more Mull in spring, max 14 Mishnish 21 Mar; Renf, 107 Walton Dam 15 Nov; Ayr, 80 Glenbuck 16 Feb. *+Ruddy Duck Oxyuru jamaicensis Pair St Mary’s Loch, Holm, Ork 3-6 May is Ist for Orkney (R.G. Adam, A.D.K. Ramsay); pair returned to L Kinnordy, Angus had 2 ducklings 14 June but they disappeared (RSPB). Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus Shet, 1 freshly dead Fetlar 17 June (JND), one N Roe 19 June (KBS), Spiggie 24 July - 10 Aug (DMP); Ork, Marwick Head 28 July (SB); Moray Firth, 1 Beatrice oilfield 20 Sep (RHD); Aber/N Kinc, Deeside 12 July, Strathbeg 8 Sep, 1 S Fowlheugh 20 Sep (MPH) — same date as Beatrice migrant. *Red Kite Milvus milvus. Singles Strathbeg 10 Mar (DSP); Kirk 14 May (AC); flying S Whiteside Edge, Peeb 6 June. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla Re-introduction project continued Rhum, Inv where 8 juveniles (S o’o° + 3 9Q ) imported from Norway were released 27 Aug - 2 Oct. Previously released birds seen many areas from Suth south along W coast and Inner and Outer Hebrides: survival very encouraging and 2 birds in adult plumage acting as pair but no suggestion of nesting yet. *Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus About 15 records 11 May - 16 Aug: Shet, NE Spiggie 17 May; Fair Isle 16 May; Caith, Brawlbin 11-13 May; E Ross, Munlochy Bay 18 May; Inv, Insh 14-25 May; Banff, Cabrach 18 May; Aber, pr present carrying nest material but one adult found dead (poisoned egg) had been ringed as nestling Netherlands 13 June 1977, singles Strathbeg 11 May, 15-31 May, 30 June, 4 July; Perth, sub-ad o’ Methven Moss 16 Aug; E Loth, Begbie 11 May; Arg, o Balinabby, Islay 13 May; Ayr, Heart L 28-29 May; Wig, Stranraer early May. +Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus Breeding: Ork, good season, 78 nests in study area reared 77 young; O Heb, cl2 99bred Uists and Benbecula; Arran 9 prs; Kirk/Wig, continued decrease, at least 13 young fledged from 3-4 nests of 5 found. Counts and passage: Shet, 5 records is above average, singles except 2 Fetlar 13 Apr; E Ross/Inv, apparently less winter records; usual reports elsewhere especially autumn-winter. *Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus A female/imm Isle of May 13-14 May (I. Balfour-Paul, J.H.B. Munro, G.L. Sandeman); second year running after absence of 15 years. +Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Breeding: 4 prs known to breed reared 12 young, young reared at another site; pairs seen in various other areas but apparently many non-breeders. Outlying singles Polbain, W Ross 1 Sep; Ythan, Aber 6 Sep; Vane Farm, Kinr 9 July and 24 Aug; Mull, Arg 4 Apr. 24 +Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Breeding: widespread and good nos but poor year Moray study area where 28 prs reared 59 young; Inv, pr reared 4 young Rhum; Dumf, fewer laid eggs but hatching success high; Kirk, 85% of study area checked occupied with hatching and fledging good. Migrants: Shet, Jan - 22 May, 21 Sep - Dec; Fair Isle one 18 Mar, 8 records in April, 1-2 daily 10-16 May and singles 27 and 30 May indicate May migration, also noted in Shet and Ork; very scarce in autumn, singles Ist and 4-13 Nov. +Buzzard Buteo buteo Breeding: Caith, 2 new sites; Inv, good breeding season Glenurquhart, 17 prs laid, average 1.5 young reared per nest but low numbers Kiltarlity (down by 50%)and Insh areas (possibly poisoned) but also evidence of predation by Pine Martens in N Inv; Moray, average year in study area, 10 prs reared 21 young; Angus, up to 6 prs on territory; Perth, very poor year Tummel and Rannoch; Borders, probably breeding at 6 localities; Arran, 30 prs; Dumf, increasing and good success despite persecution; Kirk, flourishing Glen Kens - L Ken, 5 known nests reared 10+ young. Migrants: Ork, singles Hobbister 5 Sep, Stenness 7 Sep; Kinr, 1 Vane Farm 9 July; Aber, singles Strathbeg/Rattray Feb (2), Mar, 2 on 31 May, Sep (2) and Nov (1). *Rough-legged Buzzard Buteolagopus About 13 records: Ork, North Ronaldsay 9 May; Caith, Achalone 8 Nov; Inv, 1 seen displaying 3 June, not seen again; Aber/N Kinc, Glen Dye 10 Feb, Glen Tanar 23 Mar; Angus, Glen Ogil 9 Nov, Glen Prosen 16 Nov; Perth, 2 Tyndrum 6 Nov, 1 Sheriffmuir 1 Nov - 13 Dec; Dunb, Endrick Mouth 4 Sep; Kirk, Cairn Edward 26 Mar. +Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos Suggestion that in some areas birds are absent or regularly failing through interference of various kinds; several full-grown birds found dead poisoned and one shot. Summary of breeding success in different areas but not always comparable because of under recording of failed nests or unoccupied home ranges; those marked * are most complete. Study area Home ranges Prs laid Prs No of young monitored successful *Ork 1 ll 1 Z *Caith 2 0 0 0 O Heb —— 10 6 ce *E Suth/E Ross/E Inv 35 _ 12 17 *Spey drainage etc 18 — 3 4 *Grampian/part E Tay 40 26 11 14 Perth — al 6 11 * Argyll — 14 8 13 Arran y) 2 2 1 2 SW Scot 3 3 1 1 Records elsewhere: 1 Orphir, Ork 27 Sep; 1 imm Moorfoots, Midi 13 Apr and imm Peeb during year; Ayr, Fairlie Hills Feb, Feuside Hill 26 Dec; W Stir, 1 imm Campsies 26 Sep and 2 Nov; Perth, Sheriffmuir 26 Jan; Dunb, Luss Hills 3 Feb. +Osprey Pandion haliaetus A good season and record number of young reared: 25 pairs on territory of which 20 prs laid eggs and 41 young were reared from 19 successful nests. L Garten 95 Apr, o’ 7 Apr then departed, new pair took over 19 Apr, 3 eggs, 2 young; nest No 2, Ist 4 Apr, 3 eggs, 3 young; nest No 3, 3 eggs, 2 young; nest No 4, 2 young; Loch of the Lowes, Perth 9 28 Mar, o” 12 Apr, 3 young; nest No 6, 3 eggs, one young; nest No 7, 3 eggs, 3 young; nest No 8, 3 eggs, 3 young; nest No 9, 3 eggs, 2 young; nest No 11, only one adult 10-12 Apr; nest No 13, 2 young; nest No 14, 3 young; nest No 17, 2 young; nest No. 18, 3 eggs, 2 young; 25 nest No 19, pr present all summer but no evidence of egg-laying; nest No 21, 3 eggs, 2 young hatched but nest destroyed by bad weather; nest No. 22, pr 10-14 Apr, moved on; nest No 24, 2 young; nest No 25, 3 eggs, 3 young; nest No 26, 2 young; nest No 27, 2 young; nest No 28, one young; nest No 30, pr present but no evidence of egg-laying; nest No 31, pr present most of summer; nest No 32, 2 eggs, 1 young; nest No 33, new pair, no evidence of egg-laying; site No 34, new pair reported with nest but no suggestion of egg-laying. Sites 10, 12, 15, 16, 20, 23 and 29 were not occupied; many reports of non-breeding birds in many areas. Migrants outside normal areas: Shet, Mid Yell 15 May; Fair Isle, 29 May, 8 Sep; Ork, Evie 9 May; Caith, Dunnet Head 4 July; Fife, Morton L 25 Apr; Stirling 2 May; Arg, Islay 18 Aug, 2 L Gruinart 15-16 Sep; Arran 17-18 May; Dumf, Duncow 7 Apr. Very late singles Rothiemurchus, Inv 13 Nov and L Luichart, E Ross 16-17 Dec, the latter, a juvenile, was found dying in emaciated condition. +Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Breeding: Ork, fewer; Suth, Ross, Inv, Perth and Kirk report good or increased numbers; Angus, study area 6 prs, 3 prs successful reared 16 young; Renf, decrease reported; Ayr, poor year, at least 44 territories, 29 checked, 9 failed, 20 clutches averaged 4-6 eggs and 66 young reared, 3.3 young per successful nest, fledging success affected by heavy rain June. Migrants: Shet, 5 singles Mar - Aug, few from 9 Sep; Fair Isle, 11-20 May, 30 Aug - 29 Sep, max 5 on 25 Sep; Isle of May, 1-2 Aug - Oct, 3 on 2 Oct. +Merlin Falco columbarius Breeding: Shet, 26 occupied sites located, 4 failed but rest fledged 70+ chicks, 19 accessible nests gave average 4.1 eggs and 3.4 chicks per successful nest. Migration: Fair Isle, main autumn passage 19 Aug - 12 Nov, peaks 10 on 1-2 Oct, 8 on 4th, 12th and 13 Oct; Aber, coastal records Jan - 16 May and 9 Aug - 31 Dec; Isle of May, 1-2 on 4 dates Apr, singles Sep and Oct, one 18 Nov *Hobby Falco subbuteo Eleven records: Ork, St Ola 4 June; O Heb, St Kilda 7 June; Caith, Forss Bridge 12 Sep; Ross, Achanalt 26 July; Inv, Insh 7 July; Moray, Garmouth 16 June; Aber, Aberdeen 18 May, Rattray 28 July; Fife Ness 2 Oct; Kinr, Vane Farm 28 Aug; Arg, Croggan, Mull 22 Sep. *Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus O Heb, Balranald, N Uist 27 May (G.J. Speight, J.M. Turton); W Ross, Achiltibuie 5 Oct (I. Lindsay): also one in North Atlantic, Weathership Lima 57°00’N 20°00’ W 13 Mar (A. Britain, R.J. Burness). +Peregrine Falco peregrinus Breeding: population continues recovery most areas; Shet, still very poor, only 2 out of 4 known pairs reared single chicks; Ork, poor season; Highlands, of 101 pairs checked, 83-95 prs laid eggs and 55-57 were successful and reared 104+ young; Inv, 1 pr reared 1 young Rhum, Ist for 10 years; O Heb, 5 prs checked, 3 successful; Perth, of 19 occupied territories checked, 11 successful pairs reared 27 young; Dunb/Stir, 9 prs checked, 7 successful, reared 18 young; good results reported Aber, Ayr, Kirk and Wig. Still a number of eyries robbed of young or destroyed. Good numbers of reports from non-breeding areas: Isle of May singles 6 Aug, 29 Sep, 10th and 22-24 Oct. +Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus Shet, good season and suggestion of range exten- sion; Ork, 20 Gairsay 7 Dec is increase from max 8 in 1968; Caith, good year; Aber/ N Kinc, good season; Borders, still low but improving; Dumf, slight increase; Kirk, continued decrease. +Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus Caith, 3 Morvern 14 Apr; Aber, numbers low in Cairn- gorms and very low Cairnwell, but breeding good in latter area; King/Angus, numbers still low but 35 Creag Leacach 23 Aug is encouraging; Borders, 3 seen Peebleshire in autumn almost certainly remnants of birds released Leadhills 26 mid-1970s which apparently moved into Peeblesshire and bred in 2 summers with numbers reaching 20; Arg, 4 adults and 5 juvs Ben Laga 19 July is outside usual areas; Dunb, 5S Ben Vorlich 31 Oct; Arran, and 5 young Beinn Bharrain 10 July, 2 Goatfell 21 May and 3 Nov. +Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix Inv, numbers low; Aber, peak counts 100 Corgarff 1 Jan, 60 Glen Tanar 26 Jan; Perth, good numbers; Borders, increase reported and 2 new leks found; Kirk, probably decreasing. +Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus Ross and Inv, numbers lower; Nairn, unafraid o& at lek; Aber Glen Tanar annual shoot 18-19 Oct, 11 birds shot (8 oo’ ) (4 young) and 39(1 young) and 76 flew over guns giving density 11 birds/sq km; Perth, apparently fewer; Dunb, 9 Endrick Mouth 13 Apr, 7 Inchmoan 27 July. +Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa O Heb, 7 released in Lewis; Moray, small numbers some areas, some feral breeding; Aber, up to 6 Rattray, few elsewhere; Angus, 6 sites, max 14 Eassie 15 Jan; Perth, several prs with young; Midl/E Loth, at least 8 areas; Rox/Ber, releases continue, 1 at St Abbs 17 May was probably hybrid with Chukar (as may be others in Scotland); Dunb, pr Endrick Mouth; Kirk, releases continue, 50 released Bargrennan and seen Glentoo 11 Nov. +Grey Partridge Perdix perdix Caith, Suth, Inv very scarce; E Ross, poor season Fearn; Borders, doing well; E Dunb/W Stir, good numbers but poor breeding season; Ayr, apparent decrease Girvan. Peak coveys 40 Bridge of Dun, Angus 26 Dec; 22 Gargunnock, Stir Jan. *Quail Coturnix coturnix No confirmed breeding records: Fair Isle, good influx, Yon 9 June, o’ on 24th and then birds daily with up to 7 calling in late July, no proof of breeding, late records 10-11th, 19th and 26 Aug; Ork, singles Scapa 22-23 Apr, Shapinsay 9 Nov are unusual dates (? released birds); O Heb, 3 calling N Uist 10 July - 7 Aug; E Ross, calling Nigg Bay in summer and probably nested, 1 calling Tore 14 Aug; Perth, Dunblane 26-29 June; Midl, calling Cousland 6 July; Ber, Chirnside June. tReeve’s Pheasant Syrmaticus reevesii Peeb, o’ Glentress 14 Sep. +Pheasant Phasianus colchicus No comments on mainland breeders except further spread Caith; Shet, o’ Uyeasound only report; Ork, 20 released Evie July/Aug; O Heb, 33 released Lewis. +Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus No comments from breeding sites in SW. +Water Rail Rallus aquaticus Breeding: Angus, 8 prs bred Kinnordy, 5 young seen; Selk, probably bred 3 sites central Borders; Ayr, 4 prs at New Cumnock reared some young. Migrants and counts: Shet, singles Jan, Apr (2), 5 in autumn; Fair Isle, 2 on 28 Mar, 22 Sep - 25 Nov, max only 2 on 28 Sep; O Heb, 1 S Uist 8 Dec; Inv, present Insh 13 Mar - 17 Oct; Isle of May 22 Oct; Midl, absent Dudding- ston 18 Feb - 18 Oct. *Spotted Crake Porzana porzana One calling L Oire, Moray 16 June (B. Cosnette); one killed by cat Walls, Shet 30 Nov (M. Walterson). +Corncrake Crexcrex Breeding: Ork, Ist Sanday 16 Apr, 10-12 calling Papa Westray, 6 St Ola where 1 last year; O Heb, 1st calling Lewis and S Uist 8 May; Inv, 15 calling Canna highest since 1930s, 10 Cleadale, Eigg 18 May; Arg, 116 calling Tiree (46 in same area 1979). No other reports from regular areas: birds also 27 E Inv (2), Aber (3), Kinr (1), Perth (4), Stir (1), Rox (1), Dunb (1), Renf (2), Ayr (3) and Kirk (1). Migrants: Shet, only 4 records 3rd and 29 June, 19 July, Skerries 27 Sep; Fair Isle, only 2 singles 13 May and 18-19 Sep; Aber, 1 Peterhead 18 Sep. +Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Breeding: Inv, poor year Insh Marshes; Angus, 64 prs Kinnordy, good success; Dumf, decrease. Counts and migration: Fair Isle, 27 Mar - 1 Apr, 25 May, 28 Sep (2), 1st and 6-9 Oct; Ork, max 25 St Ola 8 Jan; W Ross, 1 Kinlochewe 11 Feb (1st fo r5 years); Isle of May, one 17 Apr, only record; Dunb, 35 Twechar 20-26 Sep. +Coot Fulicaatra Breeding: Inv, very few breeders Insh; Angus, 92 prs bred Kinnordy, low success due to pike; E Loth, good season Aberlady; Stir, 15 prs Airthrey L hatched 7-10 broods; Lan, downy young Hamilton 16 Apr. Counts and passage: Shet, absent 18 May - 31 Oct; Fair Isle, singles 23-26 Mar and 28 Mar - 13 Apr; Ork, 240 Harray 16 Dec; Caith, 337 L Watten 14 Dec; Aber, 350 Strathbeg 24 Sep, 600 on 26 Oct; Angus, 420 Monikie 15 Nov;.Kinr, 1825 L Leven 19 Oct; W Loth, 400 Linlithgow 13 Jan; Perth, 359 L of Menteith 13 Jan; Renf, 470 Loch- winnoch Aug; Kirk, increased L Ken, max 594 on 15 Dec. *Crane Grus grus Shet, one Yell 3-4 July (E. Thomson) and Unst 6-7 July (ISp); Ork, 2 Stenness 13 Apr (M. Gray); O Heb, 2 S Uist 17 May (1.H. Leach)§. +Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Fair Isle, c90 prs nested, ist eggs 4 May; O Heb, c110 prs Balranald is further increase; Isle of May, 25 prs reared 7 young; Dumf, increase Langholm area. Passage and counts: Fair Isle, 1st 14 Feb (2), 58 N on 13 Apr is late, last 26 Oct (4); Ork, Ist display 28 Jan; Suth, 1500 L Fleet 19 Jan, 1500 Dornoch 8 Nov; Inv, Insh 16 Feb, main arrivals 41 on 23 Feb, 142 on 15 Mar; Moray, 1900 Findhorn 14 Dec; N Kinc/Aber, Ist inland 13 Feb Banchory, 1790 Dinnet - Altries roost 15 Mar; Angus, 2500 Montrose 20 Sep; Perth, 1000 Scone 8 Mar; Fife, 2400 Eden est 29 July, 3200 on 27 Oct; Stir, Ist inland 9 Feb, unusual 1E Airthrey 12 Nov; Midl, 2200 Musselburgh 17 Feb, 2500 on 23 Nov; E Loth, 1195 Aberlady 21 Nov; Dunb/Renf, 2881 Clyde est 17 Feb, 2655 on 12 Oct; Kirk, 6000+ Carsethorn - Burnfoot 3 Oct; Wig, 3000 Wigtown Bay Nov. *Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Five is most since 1974 (8): Shet, Virkie 30 Mar - 2 Apr (W. Horne, I. Sandison et al); Ork, North Ronaldsay 30 Mar - 1 Apr (K.F. Woodbridge); Aber, Ythan on 17 Feb (RWF); Midl, Musselburgh 15 Feb (S.R. and E. da Prato); E Loth, Aberlady 7-14 Feb (R.G. Nisbet) — the last two or three records may refer to same bird, note arrival date of Ork and Shet birds. *Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Three: singles Summerston, Lan 13 Apr (G.J. Brock); Barr Loch, Renf 11-13 May (J.J. Sweeney, I.P. Gibson et al); East Park, Caerlaverock, Dumf 12 May (C. Campbell, R. Goater). +Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Breeding: average year; O Heb, 90 prs bred Balranald which is increase; 1st inland territories Lochindorb, Moray 19 Mar. Counts and passage: Shet, 250+ Virkie 7 Sep; Fair Isle, present 24 Feb (7) to 10 Oct, low numbers max 40 on 20 Aug; Inv, 120 Whiteness 16 Feb and 25 Sep; Aber, 217 Ythan 11 May (spring passage); Angus, 110 Montrose 9 Aug; Fife, 600 Eden est 15 May; Midl, 115 Musselburgh 26 Oct; E Loth, 210 Tyninghame 11 May, 320 Aberlady 14 Aug; Stir, 183 Grangemouth 11 May; 150 Barassie 11 May, 370 on 14 Aug, 300 Hunterston 23 Nov; Kirk, 300 Southerness 28 Aug. +Dotterel Charadrius morinellus Breeding Inv/ Aber, numbers as recent years and reasonable success; Aber/Angus, more pairs but poor breeding success; E Grampians flock 40 one hill {7 May. Migrants: Shet, 2 Ronas Hill 18 May; Fair 28 Isle 3 on 12-13 May; O Heb, St Kilda 9 June; Peeb, Heathpool Common 15 May; Dumf, 2 Wamphray 4 May, 6 Tundergarth 8 May. +Golden. Plover Charadrius apricaria Breeding: few comments: Perth, poor numbers; Dumf, poor season due to wet weather; Kirk, moor numbers now low due to afforestation but no change in small high ground poulation. Counts and migration: Fair Isle, mainly 3 Mar - 21 June, max 20 on 6 May, 10 Aug - 24 Oct, max 57 on 4 Sep; Ork, 2500 St Ola 12 Dec, 2000 Tankerness 13 Dec; Inv, Ist inland Insh 10 Feb, peak 160 on 11 Mar; Aber, 2000 Ythan 7 Aug, 2030 Minnes 12 Oct, 2700 Rattray 25 Oct; Fife, 1000 Eden est 10 Aug; Stir, 1000 Kinneil 27 Sep; Midl, 2100 Musselburgh 4 Oct; Rox, 300 Denholm 27 Dec is unusual; Ayr, 700 Bogside 15 July increased to 3500 by 28 Oct, 2200 Highfield 30 Oct; Dumf, 3000 Caer- laverock 14 Nov; Wig, 4000 Baldoon/Wigtown Nov. Grey Plover Charadrius squatarola Very high numbers wintered: Winter - spring: Shet, one Skellister 16-17 May; Fair Isle 25 Mar and Ork, Bay of Ireland 18 May - only records from N Isles: Caith, 3 Brims Ness 27 Jan; Suth, 3 Dornoch 27 Jan; more regular Aber south; Aber, max 29 Ythan 4 Jan, last 3 on 27 Apr; Fife, peak 734 Eden est 18 Jan is probably highest count ever in Scotland; Stir, 39 Grange- mouth 25 Jan; E Loth, continued increase Aberlady with all time record 340 on 13 Apr, 84 Tyninghame 20 Jan; Dunb, 1 inland Endrick Mouth 21 Jan; Ayr, max 9 Barassie 24 Feb; Kirk, 76 Southwick - Borron Pt 20 Jan, 60 Southerness 2 Feb. Autumn - winter: Shet, from 18 Aug, max 8 Mid Walls 6 Oct; Ork, from 4 Sep, max 7 Sanday 10 Nov; O Heb, 64 N Uist 10 Oct is very high; Suth, 8 Dornoch 8 Nov; E Ross, 6 Tarradale 18 Oct; Moray, 3 Culbin 27 June, Aber, from 25 July, max 16 Ythan 12 Oct; Fife, 103 Eden est 29 July, peaked 449 on 27 Oct; Stir, 2 Grangemouth 28 July rising to 40 on 27 Sep; E Loth, peak 282 Aberlady 7 Sep, 55 Tyninghame 7 Dec; Ayr, 6 Bogside 28 Sep; Kirk, 40 Southerness 5 Dec. +Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Breeding: Ork, poor success — g-ound too dry in spring, Ist eggs 31 Mar; O Heb, 310 prs Balranald is average; Inv, normal numbers, Ist arrival Insh 13 Feb (12), peak 520 on 8 Mar; Isle of May and Renf, poor season; decreased reported Kilmalcolm, Renf and Barrhill, Ayr; Kirk, success -ful nest of 4 pale blue eggs Castle Douglas. Counts: Fair Isle, 500 on 26 Mar; Ork, 2000 Tankerness 13 Dec; Moray, 1050 Findhorn 26 Aug; Aber, 2000 Strathbeg 21 Nov; Stir, 3000 Bandeath 16 Aug; E Loth, 1500 Aberlady 24 Nov; Renf, 2887 Erskine - Langbank 12 Oct; Ayr, 2500 Bogside 28 Oct; Dumf, 3-4000 Caerlaverock 27 Oct. ‘Knot Calidris canutus Winter: Suth, 1500 Dornoch 1 Jan; Moray, 600 Findhorn 4 Apr pre-migration buildup; Aber, scarce; Angus, 1200 Westhaven 14 Feb; Stir, 1500 Kinneil 6 Feb; Midl, 5000 Musselburgh 5 Jan; E Loth, 1960 Aberlady Feb; Kirk, 1230 Southwick - Borron Pt 20 Jan. May migrants: 3 Shet 27 May; 1 Deerness, Ork 20 May; 8 Lof Mey, Caith 18 May. Autumn: Shet, from 16 July, passage 23-29 July max 80 Whalsay 28th, 150 Blue Mull 24 Oct is very high; Ork, from 17 July; Aber, 369S Don 26 July; Fife, 2000 Kirkcaldy 26 Nov; Stir, 5560 Kinneil 9 Dec; Midl, 4000 Musselburgh 1 Nov; E Loth, scarce Oct and slow to build up to 2200 Aberlady 19 Dec; Peeb, 20 West Water 27 July; Dunb, 9 Endrick Mouth 31 Aug. Sanderling Calidris alba Winter: Ork, max 85 N Ronaldsay 28 Feb; Aber, 285 Forvie 4 Jan; Fife, 32 St Andrews 13 Feb. Spring passage Shet, 7 May - June, max 9 Virkie 18 May; Ork, to 13 June; few Fair Isle and Caith; Midl, 12 Musselburgh 31 May; E Loth, 45 Aberlady 7 June; Ayr, 6 Troon 10 May; Dumf, 120 Browhouses 1 May. Autumn: Shet, from 22 July, max 110 Grutness 27 July; Fair Isle, 19 July - 6 Oct, max 14 on 25 July; Ork, from 20 July, max 200 N Ronaldsay 2 Aug; Caith, 250 29 Dunnet 27 July; W Ross, 80 Achnahaird 15 Aug; Aber, 140 Peterhead 23 July; Angus, 175 Barnhill 16 Oct; Fife, 110 Leven 9 Nov, 152 Tentsmuir 11 Dec; E Loth, 260 Aberlady 26 July; Peeb, 1 West Water 30 July was Ist for area; Arg, 40 Islay 28 July; Dunb, 2 Endrick Mouth 21 July; Ayr, high numbers, 14 Barassie 14 July increased to 230 by 24 July; Kirk, 30 Southerness 9 Oct is unusual. Little Stint Calidris minuta Spring: singles Musselburgh, Midl 11 May and 5-7 June; 1 Aberlady, E Loth 7 June. Autumn: about 150 birds 6 July - 19 Oct. Summary of estimated individuals present: July Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct 1-14 15-31 1-14 15-30 North (Shet-Inv) 4 8 10 41 2 East (Moray-Stir) Z 9 12 tS) 26 6 SE (Loth) 1 2 3 11 9 1 W (O Heb-Ayr) 3 2 10 2 9 1 Noteworthy records: Shet, 4 Eshaness 21 Sep; Fair Isle, max 7 on 23 Sep; Aber, 5 Ythan 16 Aug, 7 Sandhaven 27 Sep; Angus, 6 Westhaven 8 Aug; E Loth, 6 Tyninghame 7 Sep; Stir, 4 Grangemouth 24 Sep; Dunb, 7 Ardmore 17 Aug; Ayr, 4 Doonfoot 27 Sep. +Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii Breeding or displaying at 4 sites: main site, Ist 4on 16 May, max 4 adults at least 1 nest found deserted, at least 1 adult with young; 2 singing another site, probably failed — floods; singles singing at 2 other localities. Migrants: Shet, Spiggie 1-4 Aug; Fair Isle, 17-18 May, 4 June, 12 Aug is most ever; Caith, L of Mey 2-4 June; Angus, Kinnordy 2 Aug; Fife Ness 27 Sep; Midl, Gladhouse 21 July; E Loth, Aberlady 17 Oct; Dunb, Endrick Mouth 15-17 June; Ayr, Bogside 10 July. *White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis Four: Fair Isle 7-10 Oct (J.N. Dymond, K.M. Morton, I.S. Robertson et al); O Heb, Bornish, S Uist 4-11 Oct (W.R. Brackenridge, P.S. Read); Midl, Musselburgh 31 May - 1 June (A. Brown, R.H. Hogg et al), 6-17 Aug (J.M. Dickson et al). *Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotus Two: Fair Isle 4 June (I.S. Robertson et al); Rennibister, Ork 1 Oct (A.D.K. Ramsay). Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Spring singles Skerries, Shet 22-24 May and Aberlady, E Loth 7 June. Autumn about 75 birds 25 July - 15 Nov is low; summary as follows: July Aug Sep Oct Nov 1-14 15-31 1-14 § 15-30 North (Shet-E Ross) 1 2 5 2 1 East (Moray - Stir) 3 12 11 2 SE (Loth) 3 4 4 5 10 2 West (W Ross-O Heb- Dumf) 1 4 4 3 Noteworthy records: Shet, late one Virkie 2-15 Nov; Perth, 4 Invergowrie 4 Sep; Stir, max 8 Grangemouth 13 Sep; E Loth, 6 Aberlady 27 Sep. Late record 1 Tyninghame, E Loth 7 Dec. +Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima Breeding: one pair nested in usual area and at least 1 young seen. Counts: Fair Isle, spring peaks 78 on 27 Apr and 55 on 11 May; Ork, 220 N Ronaldsay 4 May, survey of mainland and S Ronaldsay gave total 710; Banff, 332 Portessie 15 Feb; Aber, 414 Fraserburgh 16 Feb, 18 back Peterhead 30 17 July; Isle of May, 154 on 3 Apr, absent 17 May - 30 June, max 126 on 16 July; E Loth, 104 Aberlady 12 Oct; Ber, 60 St Abbs 21 Dec; Ayr, 140 Turnberry 9 Feb; Kirk, 33 Southerness 5 Dec. A few summered on coast Papa Westray, Ork and Peterhead, Aber. +Dunlin Calidris alpina Breeding: few comments: Shet, 1 pr bred Foula; O Heb, 60 prs Balranald is 30% up on 77-79 totals; Borders, 9-14 prs breeding in several localities; Dunb, 2 prs bred Endrick Mouth. Counts and passage: Fair Isle 12 Mar- 24 June, max 13 0n 11 May, 18 July - 2 Oct, max 14 on 23 Sep; Suth, 3000 Dornoch 1 Jan; W Ross, 150 Achnahaird 15 Aug; Moray, 1500 Findhorn 14 Dec; Angus, 1500 Montrose 19 Feb; Fife, 3277 Eden est 18 Feb; Stir, 2640 Skinflats 11 Feb; Midl, 1200 Musselburgh 5 Jan; Ayr, 1300 Barassie 7 Aug; Dunb/Renf, low peak Clyde 1264 on 20 Jan; Kirk, 2830 Carse Bay — Southwick 20 Jan. *Buff-breasted Sandpiper TJryngites subruficollis Two records: Fair Isle 17-20 Sep (D.A. Cope, A.H.J. Harrop, I.S. Robertson et al); Bogside, Ayr 13 Sep (D.A. Smith) — 1st for Ayrshire. +Ruff Philomachus pugnax Nest containing 4 eggs found being incubated by t on mainland, no knowledge if eggs hatched or if seen in area. Winter - spring: Shet, singles Hillwell 17-18 May, Baltasound 6 June; Moray, Lossiemouth 9 Apr; Aber, present Jan - May, max 7 Ythan 13 Jan - 8 Feb; Fife, max 9 Leuchars 21 Feb; Midl/E Loth, last 3 Aberlady 8 Mar, 1 Musselburgh 5-6 June; Dunb, 2 Endrick Mouth 30 May; Lan/Ayr, 2 singles Feb, 1 Knockshinnoch 12 May. Autumn: Shet, from 21 July, peaks 60 Dun 13-15 Aug, 69 Fetlar 17 Aug, 100 on 12 Sep; Fair Isle, 29 July - 2 Oct, peaks 19 on 12 Aug, 17 on 27 Aug; Ork, 39 Stenness 25 Sep; O Heb, 3 N Rona 4 Aug; Caith, 15 L of Mey 17 Aug; Inv, 11 Alturlie 23 Sep; Aber, max 33 St Fergus 28 Aug, wintering 26 Ythan 25 Dec; Angus 25 Montrost 20 Sep; Stir, 18 Grangemouth 31 Aug; Fife, 65 Fife Ness 23 Sep; 34 Eden est 27 Oct; Midl, 31 Musselburgh 27 Sep; E Loth, winter 18 Aberlady 1 Dec; Renf, 4S Linwood 12 Aug, 51 on 15 Sep; Ayr, from 11 July, max 24 Bartonholm 1 Sep. Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus Small scattered records to 15 Apr (North Ronaldsay, Ork) and from 30 Aug (2 Isle of May), also 1 Reiff, W Ross 25 May. Noteworthy records: Fair Isle passage 6 Sep - 6 Nov, mainly late Sep and Oct, peaks 12 on 27 Sep, 10 on 7 Oct; Aber, 10 Corby 2 Nov; Renf, 7 Paisley Moss 26 Jan, 17 on 21 Oct; Dunb, 12 Dullatur 2 Nov; Ayr, last 7 Glenburn 10 Apr, 22 on 9 Nov. +Snipe Gallinago gallinago Breeding: Shet, late records include 4 eggs Eshaness ' 3 Aug, unfledged young Fetlar 23 Aug; first drumming Insh, Inv 24 Feb and N Ronaldsay, Ork 26 Feb. Counts and passage: Fair Isle, peak 50 on 3 Oct; Aber, low numbers in autumn; Renf, 100 Lochwinnoch Sep - Oct; Ayr, 160 Cunning Park 1 Mar, 153 Glenburn 26 Oct; Wig, 100 0n shore Rigg Bay 19 Oct. *Great Snipe Gallinago media One Skerries, Shet 12-15 Sep (D.M. Pullan, E. Tait). *Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus Two: Aber, one Meikle L 11-12 May (M.V. Bell, R. Elliott et al); Dumf, one Caerlaverock 3 Nov into 1981 (M. Wright et al) §. +Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Breeding: no comments on status, roding from 1 Mar, Dunblane, Perth (earliest recorded there); 2 Mar, Woodhill, Clack and 8 Mar, Garten, Inv. Counts and passage: Shet, spring max 15 Skerries 28 Mar; Fair Isle, influx late Mar, max.40+ on 28th, from 7 Oct, low peaks of 30 on 17th and 24 Oct, 40 on 3rd and 21 Nov; Ork, peak 12 N Ronaldsay 28 Mar; Ber, 4 St Abbs 29 Mar shows broad front of Mar passage. 31 +Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Breeding: Shet, pr at usual site 26 Apr - 28 July, thought to have reared 2 young. Winter-spring: scattered records away from wintering areas, mainly Apr - June, max 4 Rendall, Ork 11 May; Fife, wintering flock, max 138 Eden est 15 Apr; Midl, 7 Cramond 1 Apr; E Loth, 8 Aberlady in Feb; Dumf, 93 Glencaple 20 Apr. Autumn - winter: scarce in autumn, only about 15 from Shet to Aber; Fife, 78 Eden est 15 Sep; also scarce in S, 4 Doonfoot, Ayr 24 July is peak. Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Counts and migration: Fair Isle, peak 22 on 26 Oct; Ork, 55 Sanday 31 May, 168 on 10 Nov; O Heb, 800 S Uist 15 Dec; Suth, 2000 Dornoch 16 Feb; Inv, 800 Whiteness 13 Sep; Moray, 30 summered Findhorn; Fife, 2000 Eden est 18 Feb, 350 back 15 July; Midl, 1100 Musselburgh 27 Sep; E Loth, numbers higher Aberlady, 1850 in Feb, 1400 on 25 Aug; Kirk, 2350 Souther- ness 5 Dec. +Whimbrel Numenius phaleopus Breeding: Shet Ist 19 Apr, song 26 Apr, no data from nesting grounds; Ork, bred but no details; Scottish Mainland, pr 24 May usual site, probably with eggs, still 1 adult on S July; pr holding territory in another locality June. Counts and passage 5 Apr - 20 Oct: Fair Isle, peaks 17 on 5 May, 18 on 27 Aug; Caith, Noss Head 15 Apr; E Ross, 3 Tarradale 5 Apr; Inv, 13 Ft George 31 July; Aber, 25 Ythan 6 Aug; Isle of May, exceptional flock 70 on 4 Aug, 33 on Sth, last 20 Oct; Midl, 12SW Middleton 30 July; Ber, 20SW St Abbs 15 Sep; Arg, 13 Loch Ba, Mull 19 May; Renf, Ist Balgray res 11 Apr. +Curlew Numenius arquata Breeding: Fair Isle, 4 prs bred but only 1 successful; O Heb, pr reared 3 young Lewis is rare; inland return Insh, Inv 25 Feb (3); West Fintray, Aber 16 Feb; Gargunnock, Stir 17 Feb and 13 Feb Lochwinnoch, Renf. Counts: Aber, 1450 Sandhaven 29 Feb, 700 Strathbeg 24 July; Midl, 640 Almond est 17 Feb; E Loth, 660 Aberlady 21 Nov; Dunb/Renf, 806 Clyde est 20 Jan; Ayr, 700 New Cumnock 11 Aug. *Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda One St Kilda, O Heb 24 Apr (D.J.R. Counsell); 4th Scottish record. Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus Winter - spring: Shet, Spiggie 20 May, Sand Water 26 May; Fair Isle 16 June; O Heb, 2 S Uist 31 May; Aber, Strathbeg 11 May; Perth, Invergowrie 13 Apr; Midl, Musselburgh 1 Mar and 13 Apr, Cramond 10> Feb and 3 Mar; E Loth, Aberlady 27 Apr; Ayr, Bogside 15 Jun. Also 1 summer plumaged ad at inland marsh Highlands 28 May. Passage from 6 July (Montrose Basin), mainly from 18 July; summary: July Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct 1-14 15-31 1-14 15-30 North (Shet - Inv) 4 10 10 7 3 East (Moray - Stir) 3 5 Woe a iss= 16+ 10 SE (Loth) 2 5 1 2 3 W (O Heb - Wig) 6 2 4 6 5 3 Noteworthy records: Aber, 5 Ythan 31 Aug, 7 on 22 Sep, late singles Ythan 3 Nov, Strathbeg 9 Dec; Angus, 5 Montrose 28 Aug; Ayr, 4 Bogside 18 July. +Redshank Tringa totanus Breeding: O Heb, c115 prs Balranald is 50% up on 77-79 totals; E Ross, poor success Morrich More. Counts and passage; Moray 3000 Findhorn 4 Apr, 1000 on 21 Aug; Aber, 1100 Ythan 20 Sep; Angus, 1800 Montrose Nov - Dec; Fife, 1227 Eden est 15 Apr, 1545 on 29 July; Stir, 910 Skinflats 25 Jan; Dunb/Renf, 4528 Clyde est 20 Jan, peak 5927 on 16 Mar, 4000 on 30 Aug, 7000+ on 27 Sep, down to 3000 by end Dec. 32 +Greenshank Tringanebularia Breeding: Shet, pr with 2 well-grown young 21 June on Mainland is 1st proved successful record for Shet (pr nested Unst 1871 but 4 eggs collected); Aber, pr 2 young Deeside; Perth, 7-8 prs located Rannoch/ Tummel]; Inv, pr probably bred Rhum would be Ist for isle; Highlands, apparently reasonable year. Counts and passage: Ork, more in autumn, max 14 N Ronaldsay 12 Aug; E Ross, 22 Tarradale last Sep; Aber, 17 Ythan 17 Aug; Angus, high numbers, max 20 on 28 Aug; Fife, 15 Eden est 27 Oct, 15 Morton L 1 Aug; E Loth, marked passage from 25 July, max 16 Tyninghame 8 Aug; Renf, 25 Woodhall 24 Oct. Increase of wintering birds: E Ross/Inv, (6) Dec; Aber, (1) Dec; Fife, 9+ Dec; Stir, (1) Jan and Dec; Renf, 14 Clyde Feb, 18 Woodhall 21 Dec; Ayr, (3) Jan - Feb, (2) Dec; Dumf, Jan; Kirk/ Wig, (17) Jan (6) Dec. *Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes Three: Shet, Easter Loch, Unst 18 Sep (I. Sandison); Suth, Dornoch 31 Aug - 7 Sep (D. MacDonald, D.S. Whitaker); Aber, Cairnbulg 17 Jan to 23 Apr (R.B. Cardno, J. Dunbar et al). Green Sandpiper 7ringa ochropus Winter singles Aber, W Fintray 16 Feb; E Loth, Tyninghame 17 Feb - 13 Apr; Ayr, Tarholm Jan - 16 Apr. Spring: Fair Isle, 6-7th and 12 May, 7th and 18 June; Caith, Sandside 19 May; Aber, Meikle 15 May and 18 June, Strathbeg 28 May; Isle of May 12 May; Midl, 2 Gladhouse 16 June; E Loth, E Fenton 20 Apr, Aberlady 27 Apr; Dunb, Summerston 17 Apr. Autumn passage: Shet, about 20 27 July - 27 Aug, max 6 Fetlar 2 Aug; Fair Isle, 20 July - 10 Sep, max 4 on 9 Aug; Ork, high numbers (c20) 28 July - 9 Sep, max 3 Evie 10 Aug; O Heb, N Rona 4 Aug; Suth (1), Inv, peak 3 Garten 29 July; Moray/ Banff/Aber, good no 27 June to 26 Oct, max 5S Ythan 27 Aug; Angus, max 5 Kinnordy 18 Aug; Perth, Fife, Stir, max 3 Crieff 5 Aug; Isle of May, 3 on 3 Aug; Midl/E Loth/Ber, from 8 July, max 3 Gladhouse 31 July - 2 Aug; W Stir/Dunb/Lan and Ayr, 11 singles Aug - Sep, 2 Blairbowie 31 July, 2 Tarholm 11 Aug, 1 wintered; Kirk/ Wig, 2 singles Aug. +Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Breeding: Caith, 1 pr present in June; Ross, 2-3 prs at one site from 28 May, brood on 13 July and 2 broods 26-27 July; Inv, 5-7 prs at main site, present 10 May - 19 July, Ist egg 8 May, 3 nests on 1 June contained newly hatched B/3, C/4, and C/4. Migration: Shet, 5 in May 18-31, max 4 Hillwell 1 Aug, 4 Fetlar 3 Aug, last 20th; Fair Isle, above average, 5 in spring 12 May - 9 June, 1-2 on 11 dates 30 July - 22 Sep; Ork, 4 singles Aug; O Heb, 1 Lewis 31 May; Caith, singles 11 May and 13 Sep; Moray, 1 Lossiemouth 13 May, 3 on 21st; Aber, 2 singles in May and 3 in July - Aug; Angus, 2 Forfar 25 May, 1 Kinnordy 25 Aug; Isle of May, 13-15 Oct; Kinr, LL Leven 16 Aug; Midl/E Loth, Aberlady 13 May, 6 ~ between 30 July and 5 Aug; Ayr, more than usual (7) 31 July - 18 Sep, max 3 Blairbowie 31 July; Dumf, 1 Caerlaverock 20 Aug. tCommon Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Breeding: no comments except 4 sites Shet and 1-2 Ork. Arrivals: 30 Mar, Westhaven, Angus; 1 Apr, Glen Derry, Aber; 4 Apr Palnure, Kirk and Airthrey, Stir, most Ist records 10-16 Apr; Ist in Ork 1 May, Fair Isle 6 May. Counts: Inv, 54 Insh 7 July; Midl, 44 Gladhouse 29 July; Ayr, 26 Bogside 20 July; Dumf, 60 Glencaple 19 July. Last records Skerries, Shet 24 Oct; Don est, Aber 31 Oct. Turnstone Arenariainterpres Counts and migration: Shet and Ork, usual summering, display at one site, peaks 200 Sanday 15 May, 70 Fair Isle 27 Mar; Inv, 90 Kessock 1 Feb and 21 Mar; Aber/N Kinc, 710 Fraserburgh - Rosehearty 16 Feb, usual summered on coast; Isle of May, peak 119 on 3 Apr and 120 on 29 Aug; Fife, 238 Pittenweem - Elie 19 Feb; Midl, 510 Musselburgh 29 Apr, peak 700 on 11 May; Peeb, 1 West Water 20 May, 2 on 27 July; Dunb, singles Endrick Mouth 24 May and 14 Oct; Ayr, 280 Girvan 29 Mar; Kirk, 200 Southerness 16 Sep. 33 *Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor One in summer plumage L of Mey, Caith 1-4 June (D.M. and J. Edge et al)§. +Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Shet, 1st 15 May, fairly good season Fetlar, Ist juvs from 12 July (earliest ever date), last adult 9 Aug, last juv 20 Aug; Hebrides, 4-5 prs at 3 sites, 2 broods seen; Scottish mainland, up to 4 birds at one site from 25 May, probably nested; one pr at second site and 1 young flying 2 July. Migrants: Shet, Unst 14 Aug, Scatness 22-23 Aug, Hillwell 23 Aug; Aber, Meikle L 27-28 Sep. *Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius Six records: Ork, North Ronaldsay 10-11 Feb and 15 Sep (KFW); O Heb, S Uist 14-16 Oct (CS) and Bragar, Lewis 4 Nov (NB); Caith, Brims Ness 27-28 July (FMC, AFCMC); Arg, Bowmore, Islay 19 Sep (KV). Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus Spring: Shet, Bressay and Gulberwick 24 May; Aber, 1N Peterhead 20 May. Autumn: Shet, Whalsay 4-8 Nov; Ork, Birsay 18 Sep; O Heb, Minch 19 Sep; Caith, Staxigoe 30 July, Noss Hd 13 Sep; E Ross, few Oct - Nov, max 4 Chanonry 17 Oct; Aber/N Kinc, 44 bird/days 7 July - 25 Oct; Fife, singles 17-18 Sep; W Loth, 3 Hound Pt 24 Aug; Midl, 2 Musselburgh 3 Sep, singles 3 days to 4 Oct; E Loth, 5 Barns Ness and 2 at 3 other places 30 Aug, 2 Seacliff 20 Sep, 2 in Oct; Ber, 2 St Abbs 17 Oct; Arg, singles off Tiree 19 July and 15 Sep; Ayr, 1 Turnberry 17 July; Wig, 1S Corsewall 30 Aug. +Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus Breeding: Shet, 262 prs bred Foula, ist fledged 11 July, Hascosay 3 prs (20 prs in 79), Hermaness 5 prs is low (13 in 76); Fair Isle, 1st 16 Apr, 20 on 25th, 1st egg 16 May; Ork, 85 prs N Hill, Papa Westray; O Heb, possibly spreading S, bred N Uist, Benbecula, possibly S Uist. Migration: Shet, Ist 14 Apr, last 2 Oct; Ork, last N Ronaldsay 19 Oct; Caith, Ist Noss Head 8 Apr, last 2 Nov; Aber, seen Peterhead 10 Apr - 6 Nov, peaks 100N 24S in 3 hrs 16 Aug, 124N 3S in 3 hrs 23rd and 168N 3S 2 hrs on 24 Aug; Angus, 1 dead Arbroath 30 Mar; Fife, 32 Kinshaldy 5 Sep, singles St. Andrews 27 Jan, 14 Feb; Stir, 5 Grangemouth 24 Aug; Loth, especially Aug-Sep, max 15 Hound Pt 14 Sep, 20 Barns Ness 30 Aug; Renf, 1 Greenock 12 Sep; Ayr, 1-2 on 7 days 19 Jun - 28 Sep; Dumf, 2 Annan 4 May. (+)*Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus Scotland, ad seen in one area 2 June- 6 Aug, plus immature 16 July -6 Aug, behaviour of birds suggestive that breeding took place but not proven; food of birds included small rodents. Migrants: Fair Isle, sub-ad 5 and 7 June; Ork, North Ronaldsay 26 May, Birsay 7 Sep; O Heb, single N Uist 20 May, 2 Aug, S Uist 4 June; Suth, Handa 28 May; Aber, ad Peter- head 18 July; Midl, imm Seafield/Musselburgh 6 Oct; Dumf, Waterfoot, Annan 4 May. tGreat Skua Stercorarius skua Shet, Foula down to c2670 prs, ist chicks fledged 14 July, decreases also noted Noss, Hascosay 8 prs (20 in 79) and Hermaness where study plot 21 prs (31 in 78); Fair Isle, c38 prs bred, Ist eggs 15 May; Suth, 24 prs Handa is increase, 2 prs Island Roan, nested mainland Suth and Caith. Migration: Shet, ist 15 Mar, daily from 30th, last 10 Nov; Fair Isle, 17 Mar - 4 Nov; Caith, 30 Duncansby 30 Aug; Aber, Peterhead 3 Apr (2) - 1 Nov, peaks 172N 3S 5% hrs 8 Aug, 199N in 3 hrs 23 Aug and 233N in 2 hrs 50 mins 24 Aug; Angus 23N Johns- haven 30 Aug; Kinr, 1 L Leven 10-31 Oct; W Loth, regular 30 Aug - 21 Oct, max 20 on 14 Sep; E Loth, mainly Aug - mid Sep, max 60N in 1’4hrs Barns Ness 30 Aug (part of large N passage recorded N to Caith); Ber, last St Abbs 1 Nov; Arg, 2 off Islay 10 Sep; Ayr, 1N Troon 29 Mar, few 10 July - 13 Oct, max 3 Ardrossan 24 Aug, 1 Doonfoot 22 Nov; Wig, 3 Corsewall 30 Aug; Dumf, 1 Eastpark 29 Aug. 34 *Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 6 records is best year ever; W Scot, oO (attempted coition) hoiding territory in Black-headed Gull colony 12 Apr - 31 May, but colony egged by collectors and disturbed so no proof of breeding. Angus, Westhaven 31 Mar (T.M. Clegg); Midl, ad Seafield 2 Feb (J.M. Dickson), ad Portobello i1 Oct (I.H. Leach); Renf, ad Balgray res 10-11 Apr (J.J. Sweeney); Ayr, sub-ad Newton shore 22 Mar (RDW). *Laughing Gull Larusatricilla Adult St Kilda, O Heb 23 June - 14 July (1. MacGowan, W. Wright, W.A.J. Cunningham et al) is Sth Scottish record. *Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan Sub-adult (1st/2nd year) Bogside, Ayr 2-6 July (R.G. Cadzow, D.L. Clugston et al) is new for Scotland. Little Gull Larus minutus Shet, 1 Scalloway 7 Mar only record; Ork, singles 19 Mar and 14 May, 4 between S Ronaldsay and Swona 14 Sep; Moray, 1 Lossiemouth 2 Sep are only records in N; Aber, fewer and only in autumn, singles July to Oct except 2 Peterhead 16 Aug; Angus/N Kinc, good year, mainly 13 Jan - 9 Apr, 18 June - 30 Oct, max 19 Westhaven 31 Mar, 10 Balmossie 2 Mar, 427 Westhaven 27 Sep; Fife, 100+ Jan - Mar, max 42 Leven 23 Mar, influx from 30 July but no high numbers; Loths, max 5 Hound Pt 29 July, 4 Cramond 19 Mar, 4 Aberlady 5-7 July; Selk, 1 Boleside 10 June; Arg, 1 Scallastle 3 Sep; Renf, Harelaw 18 May, 1-2 Newshot 19-20 Aug; Ayr, 10 Ardrossan 7 Sep is largest flock for Ayr, also 4 singles between 5 July and 1 Oct; Wig, 2 Stoneykirk 13 May. *Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini Rox, ad Melrose 26 Sep (MKL) is first for Rox;: Ayr, ad N Troon 29 Mar (RHH), 2nd Y Barassie 14 Sep (WRB, BCF), imm Ayr 15 Sep (AW); Wig, ad and imm between Stranraer and Larne 14 Sep (JMD). +Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus Shet, 80 prs at new Sandwater colony; Ork, 1000 prs N Ronaldsay; Caith, colonies changing; Inv, Ist 27 Insh 16 Feb; Angus, fewer Kinnordy but good success; Peeb, 1200 prs Westwater but Mount Bog colony finally deserted (?Mink predation), new colony 60 prs at Medwin; Kirk, 100s of nests washed out L Ken due to water levels being raised. Counts and passage: Fair Isle, peaks 51 on 27 Mar and 35 on 30 July; Inv, 10000+ Beauly Firth 15 Jan, 3500 Garten 9 Apr; Aber, 7000 Strathbeg 2 Mar, 5000 Skene 2 Nov; Midl, 6000 Seafield 2 Jan; Renf/Dunb, 6-7000 Clyde Aug-Sep is low; Ayr, 10000 Doonfoot 30 Sep. +Common Gull Larus canus Breeding: Ork, probably good season; Moray, Rothes _moor colony none since 1977; Peebleshire, 7 prs bred are 1st confirmed for Borders; Kirk, general decrease. Counts and passage: Fair Isle, peaks 150 0n 30 July, 170 on 17 Aug, 160 on 17 Sep are low; Inv/E Ross, 15000+ Beauly Firth 15 Jan; Aber, 40000 Skene 2 Nov; Midl, 10000 Seafield 2 Jan; Peeb, 20000 West Water 10 Apr; Arg, 700 SW Sanda 17 Sep, 850 SW on 28 Sep. +Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Breeding: Shet, ceased to nest Foula; Fair Isle, good season; Perth, c8000 prs Flanders Moss 4 July; Isle of May, 440 prs; Inv, 36 prs Canna (usually 60 prs). Arrivals and counts: Shet, Ist 9 Mar (3), last 13 Aug; Ork, Ist 6 Feb; Aber, 1st 17 Feb; Perth, 17 Thornhill 15 Feb, 2000 by 6 Apr; Mid], Colinton 7 Jan, few Jan - Feb; Selk, 1 Yair 24 Jan; Ayr, 60 Doonfoot 1 Mar, 3 wintered; Renf, several wintered, also 17 Balgray 6 Jan, 60 on 15 Dec. Scandin- avian L.f. fuscus: Shet, 24 Mar and 7 Apr; Midl, 23 Feb, 15 Mar, 2 Musselburgh 7 Apr. +Herring Gull Larus argentatus Breeding: Shet, Foula only 5 prs (usually 20-25), no young; Inv, Whiteness colony 600 prs; Perth, 500 prs Flanders Moss is tenfold 35 increase since 1974; Isle of May, 4000 prs; Inv, 886 prs Canna is average but high success. Counts: Shet, 3000 Spiggie 23 Nov; Fair Isle, storm roosts 6000 on 22 Oct, 2000 on 1 Nov; Inv/E Ross, 15000+ feeding on sprats Beauly Firth 15 Jan; Dunb, 4250 Fannyside 11 Oct; Ayr, 5000 Doonfoot 10 Oct. *Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides 50-60 birds is a little low; Shet, c12 in Jan - Apr, 11 June and Dec; Fair Isle, 23 Jan, 26 Oct; Caith, c10 Jan - Apr, Oct - Dec; Ross, Nigg 21 Dec; Inverness, Feb - Apr; Moray, Lossiemouth 18 Feb; Aber/N Kinc, 14+ Jan - May, max 3 Fraserburgh 29 Mar, singles 17 July, 28 Nov, 31 Dec; Ber, Dunbar 12 Jan; Lan, Sommerston 9 Nov; Ayr, singles 3 Jan, 9 Feb, 22 Mar - 21 May, ad Troon 20 Sep. Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus No sign of Shet breeding adult. Recorded all months: Shet, peaks 20 between Skerries and Fetlar 11 Dec, 12 Unst 20 Dec, 20+ Heather A platform 24 Dec; Fair Isle, few Jan - 26 May, from 8 Oct, max only 6 on 18 Oct; Ork, max 4 North Ronaldsay 18-22 Oct; Aber, max 8 Fraserburgh 19 Jan,7 on 29 Mar; singles various coasts south to Ber and Wig, 2 Port Seton, E Loth 13 Jan; Ayr, 22+ individuals in year, max 6-7 Doonfoot - Ayr Mar. presumed hybrid x Herring Gull Fraserburgh 9 Feb. +Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Breeding: Foula 35 prs is increase; Fair Isle, good season; Suth 2 prs nested inland Strathbrora; Kinc/Angus, 1 pr nested Fowlsheugh and 4 prs Arbroath are new; Kirk, 100 prs Isles of Fleet. Counts: Fair Isle, storm roosts 800 on 14 July, 1000 on 22 Oct; Inv, 50 inland Garten roost Dec; Aber, 200 Kinord 19 Sep, 1700 Strathbeg 29 Oct; Moray, 1130 Lossie- mouth 11 Oct; Isle of May, 1000 on 10 Oct; Ber, 500 St Abbs 1 Nov. +Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla Breeding: Foula, numbers down, success 1-2 chicks per nest; Fair Isle, increasing and good season; Ork, 82 nests Auskerry is increase; E Loth, c2400 nest Bass Rock; Inv, 959 nests Canna is increase. Counts and passage: Inv, 1 L Garten 27 Mar, 100 Beauly Firth 20 Apr, 700 on 20 Oct; Kinc, 2700N ihr St Cyrus 11 June, 1 Banchory - Devenick 25 May; Stir, 100 Boness 30-31 Jan; W Loth, 300S Queensferry 20 Apr, 130W Inchgarvie 11 Oct; Arg, 4390S in 2 hrs Sanda 5 Oct; Dunb, Endrick Mouth 22-23 Nov; Renf, Auchendores res 6 Sep. *Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea Four in Shet: 1 dead Unst 27 Apr (P. Guy), adult dead 2-3 weeks Lunda Wick, Unst 29 June (C. Meier-Zwicky), 1 Y Virkie - Grutness 13-19 Nov (W. Horne et al), ad Whalefirth, Yell 7-10 Dec (M. Heubeck, D.M. Pullan). +Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis Breeding: Ork, decrease to 119 prs in 4 colonies; Caith, 645 prs Stroma - good success; none Moray Firth; Aber, no data available; Forth, 424 nests Inchmickery. Counts and passage: Shet, 1 Fetlar 12 May - only bird; Fair Isle, 16 May, 17th (2), 19th, 22nd (5), 1 June (2) and 22nd, 21 July is good series; Ork, 1st 28 Mar; O Heb, 1 S Uist 21 May; Aber, 3 on 30 Mar, last Drums 11 Oct; Isle of May, last 2 on 12 Oct; Midl, 9 Musselburgh 12 Oct, still 3 on 21 Dec - wintering birds in Forth, also E Loth where singles Gosford 13 Jan, Aberlady 19 Jan, 2 Gosford 3 Nov and 1 on 5 Dec; Stir, 2W Gargunnock 4 Aug; Dunb, 2 Endrick Mouth 17 Aug; Ayr, wintering bird 20 Jan. ¢Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii Breeding - only record for Scotland 21 nests Inchmickery, Forth is very low. Records: Ork, Pentland Skerries 3 July; E Ross, Tarbatness 6 July; Isle of May; 17 June; Fife, 10 Kirkcaldy 12 Aug; W, Mid and E Loth, few 9 May - 16 Sep, max 4 N Berwick 17 June; Ayr, 1S Turnberry 5 Sep, 1 Ayr 16 Sep, 1 Sannox, Arran 19 Sep. 36 +Common Tern Sterna hirundo Breeding: Shet census 1014 prs in 87 colonies; Fair Isle 6 May - 21 Aug, further increase to 40 prs, good success; Ork, 231 prs in 28 colonies; O Heb, 750 prs; Moray, 1st Lossiemouth 2 Feb (very early), one 13 Apr; Aber/Kinc, from 21 Apr to 1 Oct; Angus, 1-3 Westhaven 31 Mar, one colony 80 nests, poor success due to Mink, last 12 Montrose 2 Oct; Isle of May, 1 pr reared 2 young — Ist success since 1957; Fife, 1 freshly dead Eden est 16 Feb, last Fife Ness 16 Oct; Stir, 56 nests Grangemouth, 36+ young reared; Midl, 65+ prs Leith; E Loth, 533 nests Inchmickery; Ayr, 100+ prs Horse Island; Wig, 12 prs L Connell - new colony. +Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Breeding: Shet, 5 May - 28 Oct, census 31,794 prs in 396 colonies, again wide-spread desertion of colonies mid June - July and chicks left to die after failure of food supplies, Foula 4200 prs fledged 2000+ young by 15 July, but many deserted about 7 July when sand-eels became scarce; Fair Isle, 2 prs nested - Ist time; Ork, 33069 prs in 215 colonies, present 2 Apr - 13 Sep; O Heb, c1900 prs; Caith, 3000 prs Stroma - good success; Moray, 500 prs Kinloss - excellent success; Angus/Kinc, 2st 2 on 30 Apr, 50 prs fledged 20 young at one colony; Ayr, 2 Prestwick 24 Apr; Wig, 8 prs Wig Bay - poor success. +Little Tern Sterna albifrons Breeding: O Heb, c75 prs; Caith-Moray, 22-27 prs; N Kinc, ist 2 May St Cyrus, only 12 prs attempted and no young survived; Angus, 65 prs at 2 sites, at least 14 young fledged; Fife, none; Forth, 50 prs in 2 colonies with poor success, Ist Aberlady 20 Apr; Ayr, 4 prs; Wig, 4 prs. *Black Tern Chlidonias niger Nine birds in spring 3 May - 22 June: Shet, 2 Spiggie 7 June, 1 Yell Sound 8 June; Ork, Firth 15 May; Aber, Meikle L 22 June; Angus, 2 Buddon 15 June; Dunb, Fannyside L 12 May; Kirk, Southerness 3 May. Autumn about 50 birds 30 July - 3 Oct: Shet, Hillwell 21 Aug; Aber/N Kinc, Ladymire 17 Aug, Peterhead 18 Aug, 1 Sep, Strathbeg 18 and 22 Aug, Girdleness 3 Oct; Angus, Forfar L 20 Aug, 2 Westhaven 25 Sep; Isle of May, 3 Sep, 14 Sep; Fife, Kinshaldy 20 Aug, 3 Fife Ness 25 Aug; Stir, 1 Kinneil 14 Sep; W Loth, 2 W Hound Pt 30 Aug; Midl, 1E Leith 1 Sep; E Loth, Aberlady 30 July, 17 Aug (3), 4 Sep, Barns Ness 14 Aug, 23rd (2), Tyninghame 24 Aug, 30 Aug (8); Renf, Rivercart, Renfrew 19 Aug, 3 Linwood 14 Sep, one 15th; Ayr, Turnberry 28 Sep; Wig, Corsewall 30 Aug, Soul- seat L 3-7 Sep. +Guillemot Uriaaalge Breeding: Shet, increases at Sumburgh, Foula and Noss; Fair Isle, 1st eggs 28 Apr; Inv, continued increase, 29% up on 1977 Canna. Counts: E Ross/Inv, unprecendented influx into Beauly Firth with 100 on 17 Oct increasing - to peak 3500 on 9 Nov, still 3000+ 13 Dec feeding on sprats and herring; Moray, more than usual offshore Sep - Oct; N Kinc, 1 dead St Cyrus of northern race hyper- borea; Fife, 37 oiled dead Kirkcaldy 24 Feb. *Brunnich’s Guillemot Uria lomvia Four: Shet, 1 found dead (2-3 weeks) Burra- firth, Unst 24 Feb (M. Sinclair); Fir Isle, ad in breeding plumage 16-17 Oct (probably died) was only 2nd live sighting in UK (1.S. Robertson etal); E Loth, singles found dead Gosford Bay and Kilspindie 9 Feb (L. Simmen, J. Gibson); also one at sea Brent Oilfield 61°’N 0°43’E 26 Dec (P. Hope-Jones). +Razorbill Alca torda Breeding: Shet, possibly small increase Noss; Fair Isle, many ashore from 2 Mar, good success; Ber, slight decrease; Inv, 30% increase Canna since 1976; Arg, 1200 prs Sanda. +Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle Shet, peaks Bluemull - Colgrave 493 on 2 Jan. 649 on 29 May, 490 on 30 Oct, only 1 pr Yell Sound Islands, Foula, only 28 nests compared to 117 in 1976; Fair Isle, good success; Caith, no change; Moray, 6 37 Burghead 27 Jan; Banff, 5 Logie Head 30 Mar; Aber, continued increase, max 15 Fraserburgh 10 Feb; Angus, 1 Scurdyness 6 Sep; Fife, 1 Kirkcaldy 24 Feb; Forth, ad Fidra May; E Loth, 1 Gullane 8 Oct; Inv, 111 Canna is highest ever; Arg, 48 prs Sanda; Renf, 2 prs reared 3 young Port Glasgow shipyard; Ayr, max 40 Turnberry - Dipple 26 Jan; Wig, max 20 ads Mull of Galloway 29 June. Little Auk Alle alle Poor year: Shet, 14 Skerries - Vidlin 4 Jan, 2 singles in Jan, 1 in Nov, 2 in Dec; Fair Isle, 2 on 4 Nov only record; Ork, singles Jan (2), Feb, Dec (3); Caith, Jan (3), Feb (1); Banff, Oct (1); Aber, 9 singles (5 live), Jan (2), Feb (1), Mar (2), Apr (2), IN Peterhead 4 May, Nov (1); Angus 8 found dead Feb - June and 1 Carnoustie 31 Mar; Kinr, 1 dead L Leven 13 Feb; Midl, 2 Musselburgh 22 Mar, 2 Joppa 23rd; E Loth, 3 dead 18-23 Mar; Arg, 2 Islay crossing 11 Jan, 1 Sanda 3 Oct; Dumf, 1 died Parkgate 13 Feb. +Puffin Fratercula arctica Shet, 1st 3 Apr, increase recorded Hermaness study area; Fair Isle, 19 Mar - 21 Oct; Ork, c34800 prs Sule Skerry is decline (44300 in 75), 1 Lyde 23 Dec; Isle of May, still increasing, c8500 active burrows, exodus 20 Aug; Forth, 2000+ Craigleith 14 June; Arg, 235 prs Sanda, including breeding adult ringed Isle of May 1976; Ayr, 1 Barassie 1 Jan, 15-20 prs Ailsa Craig; Wig, 12 Mull of Galloway 29 June. +Rock Dove Columbalivia Shet, 1st young fledged 3 June, largest flock 100 Bressay 21 Oct; Fair Isle, max 30 0n 1 Apr; Ork, max 200 S Ronaldsay 6 Dec; Suth, max 6 Handa 14 July. ¢Stock Dove Columba oenas Shet, Fetlar 13 Mar; Fair Isle, 18-23 Apr, 28-29 Apr, 3 May; Inv, 1 Insh 13 Feb is new record for reserve; Isle of May, 4 Apr - 5 May; E Loth, possible increase, max 85 Dirleton 5 Jan; Renf, good numbers, 20 Paisley Moss 5 Apr; Kirk, 34 New Abbey 8 Mar. +Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Shet, max 24 Sumburgh 31 May; Fair Isle, max 21 on 30 May; Ork, nest 2 eggs in heather Hoy 2 Aug; O Heb, 1 pr bred S Uist; E Ross, 3000 Brahan 18 Nov; Perth, late nest Crieff young fledged 12 Nov; Renf, 3000+ Georgetown 10 Jan; Dumf, 2700 Bankend 10 Feb. +Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Slight decreases noted O Heb, E Ross, E Loth, Clack and Ayr but increase Cousland, Midl and recovery after 1978 crash Mull. Counts and migration: Shet, 50 Lerwick 12 Dec; Fair Isle, 25 Apr - 13 Oct, max 170n 29 May, 4o0n 13 July; Angus, 53 Monikie 11 Dec. tBarbary Dove Streptopelia risoria At least 2 Senwick, Kirk in Aug. Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur Migration: Shet, 1-2 on 10 dates 18 May - 13 July, singles 5 sites 30 Aug - 3 Oct; Fair Isle, 11 May - 30 July, peaks 6 on 13 May, 30n 5 June, singles 8 Sep - 29 Oct, 2 on 23 Sep; Ork, 4 singles 18 May - 11 Sep, 2 N Ronaidsay 15 May, July (1), Oct (2), last on 23rd; O Heb, 1 St Kilda 20 July, N and S Uist Oct (4); about 30 widespread elsewhere, noteworthy records 2 Noss, Caith 16 May, 2 Skye 22 May; Aber, 2 Chapelhall 20 May, late one Strathbeg 1 Nov; 2 Isle of May 21-22 May; 2 Risabus, Islay, Arg 18 June. TRing-necked Parakeet Psittacula Krameri 4 W Aberlady, E Loth 13 Aug; singles also reported Wick, Caith, Aberdeen, L Lomond, Dunb and Moffat, Dumf. _ +Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Breeding no comments. Arrivals: 26 Apr Gladhouse, Midl and Rhum, Inv; 27 Apr Dumf, Ber, Selk, Dunb, Renf and Aber; 28 Apr Lewis, O Heb. Counts: Fair Isle, 1-2 on 11 days 12 May - 15 June, singles 6 and 24 Aug; 38 8 Glencorse, Midl 13 May. Last records: 13 Sep Skerries, Shet; 14th Ythan, Aber; 21 Sep Fladdabister, Shet. +Barn Owl Tytoalba E Ross/Inv, no change; Aber, only records Peterhead 26 Apr, 2 Meikle 19 Oct, Monymusk 20 Oct; Kinc, pr 4 young St Cyrus; Midl, increase one area; Dunb/W Stir/Renf, fewer; Arran, only 3 seen; Dumf, lower numbers; Kirk, good numbers low ground, but many upland sites not reoccupied since 1979 cold winter. *Scop’s Owl Otus scops Remains found Greian Head, Barra, O Heb 4 June (N. Powell) *Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca Shet, Fetlar 3 2 9 Jan - 2 May, 2 9 2 to end May, 9 June - Aug, laid infertile egg 2 June, disappeared 4 June, up to 3 by end Sep, single 92 Unst 28 Apr - 19 Sep, 2 on some days June - Aug, 1 Colvister, Yell 19 May; Fair Isle, imm @Q on 21 May; Banff, o in Cairngorms 13 July - 24 Aug (D. Pierce et al). FLittle Owl Athene noctua E Loth, 1-2 present one area 18 Feb - 6 Apr and mid July; Ber, 1 Hirsel - Lady Kirk all summer; Dumf, nested, recorded 3 areas; Kirk, 1 S of Lauriston 30 Jan. +Tawny Owl Strixaluco Inv, 14 out of 18 nest boxes used Glenurquhart; Perth, increase Tummel but less successful Scone, 2 prs reared 4 young where 4 prs reared 9 young in 1979; Dunb, 9 prs in 16.5 square km lower Glen Fruin. +Long-eared Owl Asiootus Breeding: Ork, no nesting records; E Ross/Inv, increase noted Black Isle, Glenurquhart, 3 prs found and successful, highest since mid 70s, Abriachan and Strathspey; nesting reports south to borders; Dumf, 2nd clutches very successful Langholm. Passage and counts: Shet, up to 8 wintered Tingwall, few migrants 1 and 2 May, few arrivals from Sep; Fair Isle, very few, 4 in spring, 2 in autummn; Ork, max 5 Berstane 15 Jan, last 29 Apr, 1st 4 Binscarth 18 Sep; Isle of May, 2 on 22-23 Oct; Aber, 5 at roost Old Meldrum 26 Dec. +Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Breeding: Ork, better season, Ist display 22 Feb, nest with 8 young on 28 May; O Heb, c7prs Uists and Benbecula; Inv, good year Strathspey, 2 prs Insh 3-4 young and ipr Garten; Borders, fewer; Dumf, 2nd clutches very successful Langholm; Kirk, slight increase to 3 prs Glentrool. Counts and passage: Shet, scarce, 7 in spring and 1 Skerries 23-26 Sep; Fair Isle, 7 in _ Spring and small passage 15 Aug - 21 Nov, max only 2 on 27 Sep, 23 Oct; Isle of May, small numbers 24 Sep - 24 Oct, max 4 on 23 Oct. *Tengmalm’s Owl Aegolius funereus Two in Ork, adult ringed Finstown 13-20 Oct (D. Manson, E.J. and S.T. Williams), another adult Finstown 18 Nov died (C. Corse, P. Reynolds, E.J. Williams). +Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus Breeding: 9 churring oo’ Brodick, Arran June - July;.6 o’o’ in 4 areas Kirk June - July; singles Tulloch, Inv 27 July and L Luichart, E Ross 30 July. +Swift Apus apus Breeding: Caith and Inv, poor; Perth, numbers higher. Arrivals: 30 Apr Tarholm, Ayr and Kilmacolm, Renf; 2 May Castle Douglas, Kirk, Stone- haven, Kinc and Insh, Inv, ist of main arrivals 5-12 May. Migration and counts: Shet, 15 May - 21 Sep, max 14 Spiggie 25 July; Fair Isle, 11 May - 2 Oct, max 26 on 9 June, 35 on 24 July; Ork, 40 Papa Westray July; Caith, 100s S Wick 11-17 Aug; Aber, 300 Aberdeen 20 July; Perth, 200+ L of Menteith 14 June; Midl, 1000 39 Gladhouse mid-June; E Loth, 2800W in 1% hrs Dirleton 4 Aug; W Stir, 350 Kilsyth 28 June. Last records: 7 Oct, 6 Thurso, Caith; 8-10 Oct, 1 Newburgh, Aber. +Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Breeding: Perth, only 1 nest R Almond where 4 in 1979; Borders, 3 confirmed nests is up on 1979; Dunb/W Stir, pr 2 broods Balfron - ist record in recent years; Dumf, seemed scarcer; Kirk, still rather low. Small numbers reported other counties, Angus - Lan south. Migrants: Shet, 1 Graven 3 May; O Heb, 1 Benbecula 21 Aug (3rd O Heb record); E Ross, Dingwall 2 Nov - 31 Dec; Inverness 2 Sep; Arg, R Sorn, Islay late July and 28 Oct - 2 Nov. *Hoopoe Upupa epops Six: Shet, 1 Vidlin 11 Oct (BPW); Fair Isle 8-18 Oct; Ber, Ayton 6 Nov (JJ), St Abbs 8-9 Nov (MAA, HR, RR); Ayr, 2 Arecleough Forest 15 May (JC, JH). +Wryneck Jynx torquilla Breeding: Aber/N Kinc, 1 pr nested in box, 9 eggs, 8 hatched and probably 7 fledged; summer records Aber/N Kinc singles at 3 other sites for short periods; Inv, 1+ on 18 May, 7-8 on 25 May and 2 on 28 May in one area, singles singing at other sites 22 May, 29 May, 17 June and 18 June, 2 on 16 May. Spring migration: Shet, 1 Strand 18 May; Fair Isle, one 16-17 May, 6 on 18th, 2 on 19th; Aber, Forvie 11 May; Isle of May, singles Sth, 8th, 9th, 11-12 May and 2 on 10 May; Dumf, Tarras 12 Apr. Autumn: Shet, 1 Weisdale 4 Aug, 6 singles in Sep and 2 Fetlar 12 Sep, 1 dead Bressay 7 Oct; Fair Isle, 3 on 30 Aug, singles Ist, 11th, 13th and 15 Sep, 5 on 23rd, 2 on 24th, one 25th; Ork, 2 N Ronaldsay 29 Aug, 1 Sanday 16 Sep, 1 dead Evie 20 Sep; Aber, Drums 30 Aug; Angus, Johnshaven 30 Aug; Isle of May, singles 30 Aug - 5 Sep, 14 Sep, 25-26 Sep; Fife Ness, 20n 31 Aug, one 1 Sep; Kinr, Vane Farm 29 Aug; Ber, 1 St Abbs 30 Aug, 2 0n 1 Sep. +Green Woodpecker Picis viridus Breeding: Midl, numbers high but fewer Angus; continued spread in Aber/N Kinc north to Gight and Fyvie; increase and spread in Strathspey, Inv where birds present 6-7 areas; 1 Rothes, Moray in May and 1 N Mull, Arg in May indicate continuing N expansion. +Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major Breeding: numbers high Midi and Strathspey, Inv. Migrants, very scarce: singles Fair Isle 23 Oct and Deerness, Ork 30 Mar. *Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus minor One seen and calling Rothie- murchus, Inv 19 May - 4 June (J.P. Grant). *Short-toed Lark Calendrella brachydactyla Eleven birds is most ever in a year: Shet, Whalsay 20-21 Sep (B. Marshall), Bressay 23 Sep (C.R. Knightley, R. O’Reilly); Fair Isle, singles 17-18 May, 3 June, 18 Aug, 21-23 Sep, 4 Oct, 11 Oct, 2 on 12-14 Oct, one to 21 Oct, one 8 Nov (P.J. Ewins, I.S. Robertson et al). *Wood Lark Lullula arborea Two: Skerries, Shet 23-26 Oct (E. Tait); Fair Isle 5 Nov (I.S. Robertson et al). +Skylark Alauda arvensis Renf, 36% decrease Kilmacolm CBC plot; fledged young Walls, Shet 22 May; newly hatched young Girvan, Ayr 1 Aug. Migration: Shet, peak 27-29 Mar when 270 Skerries and huge numbers Whalsay; Fair Isle, mainly 10 Mar - 14 Apr, peaks 500 on 28th, 350 0n 1 Apr, autumn mid-Sep - 14 Nov, mainly Oct when high peaks 500 on Ist, 800 on 2nd, 1100 on 7th and 1650 on 8 Oct; Inv, inland Strathspey from 10 Feb; Clack, passage 22-23 Mar; Midl, 1000 Musselburgh 3 Feb; Ayr, 200S Dunure 2 Feb, 3000S Prestwick 21 Mar; Renf, 2500 Longhaugh 23 Mar after snow. 40 *Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris Seven is low: Fair Isle 13 Apr; Moray, Spey Bay 3-20 Jan; Angus, Carlingheugh Bay 8 Oct; Midl, Musselburgh 22-24 Nov; E Loth, 2 Tyninghame 8-9 Nov; Inv, Portree, Skye 21-23 Jan. +Sand Martin Riparia riparia Breeding: Inv, 3 nests Glenurquhart compared to 150 in 1976; Midl, good numbers; Stir, 500 prs Drumbeg; Dumf/Kirk, some decrease. Arrivals: 3 Apr Peebles; 5 Apr 2 Martnaham, Ayr and 2 Inchinnan, Renf; most Ist records 5-12 Apr and noticeable influx 11-20 Apr. Migration: Fair Isle 28 Apr - 25 June, max 150n 16 May, autumn 18 Aug - 25 Sep, max 4 on 22 Aug; 1 N Uist, O Heb 3 May. Late records: 26 Sep, Skerries, Shet and 20S Tweedbank, Rox; 27 Sep, Braemar, Aber; 30 Sep Isle of May and 8 Oct, Elgin, Moray. +Swallow Hirundo rustica Breeding: Shet six prs; Fair Isle, 1 pr nested is rare; O Heb, cl0 prs - increasing; Perth and Inv, fewer and slow to start nesting, nest fledged 3 young Almondbank 9 Oct; Borders fewer; Isle of May 4 prs. Arrivals: 30 Mar Barns Ness, E Loth; 4 Apr 2 Maidens, Ayr; 5 Apr Kirk and Aber; 6 Apr Perth, Angus, O Heb, Ork and Shet; good numbers in south 9 Apr but no really big influxes whole country until 27 Apr and 8-9 May. Migration and counts: Fair Isle, 12 Apr - 16 June, peaks 70 on 15 May, 60 0n 30-31 May, 18 Aug - 9 Oct, peaks 13 on 23 Aug, 17 on 25 Sep; Aber, 200 Strathbeg 20 May, good numbers to mid Oct; Perth, Errol roost peaked 5000 on 23 Aug; Isle of May, 100 on 29 Aug, 150 on 23 Sep; Fife Ness, 270 on 29 Sep; Midl, 300 S in hr Gladhouse 20 Sep; E Loth, 500 Aberlady 22 Sep; Ber, “‘thousands’’ Eyemouth - Grantshouse 12 May; Renf, 1500 Aird Meadows 1-6 Sep. Late records: about 12 in Nov, also 24 Nov St Andrews, Fife; 29 Nov Duddingston, Midl; 7 Dec Dalrymple, Ayr. *Red-rumped Swallow Hirundodaurica One Clickimin, Shet 15 May (D. and A. Turner et al) - Ist since 1976. +House Martin Delichon urbica Breeding: Caith, poor year, down 50%; Inv, poor year Strathspey; Perth, numbers low; Midl increase; E Loth, Dunbar cliff colony down to 23 nests; N Ayr, decrease. Arrivals: 6 Apr 1 dead Luss, Dumb; 11 Apr, Langholm, Dumf; 12 Apr, Doonfoot, Ayr and 2 Girdleness, N Kinc; few stragglers Apr but scarce until 2nd week May. Passage: Shet, max 20 Skerries 5-8 June; Fair Isle, 9 May - 23 June, 30 0n 31 May, few 17 Aug - 26 Sep; Isle of May, autumn max 100 on 17 Sep; Clack, 200 Muckhart 9 Sep. Late records: 7 Nov, 2 Lamlash, Arran; 17 Nov, St Andrews, Fife. “*Richard’s Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae Shet, singles Skerries 26-27 Sep, 30 Sep - 4 Oct, 6th and 23 Oct, 3 on 28 Sep (D.M. Pullan, E. Tait et al); Fair Isle, 4 birds; 14 Oct, 2 on 22 Oct (1 dead), one to 24th, 28 Oct - 8 Nov (PJE, ISR et al); Isle of May, — 22-24 Sep (I.G. Cumming, T.W. Dougall et al). *Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris One Aberlady, E Loth 19-22 July (P.R. Gordon et al). *Qlive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni One Fair Isle 6-9 Nov (C.D.R. Heard, J. Holloway, I.S. Robertson et al). +Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis No comments on breeding. Arrivals: 4 Apr, Isle of May; 11 Apr, Strathfarrar, Inv - earliest ever record there; 12 Apr, 2 Dirleton, E Loth. Passage: Shet, 10 May - 18 June, 16 Aug - 23 Oct, peak 30 Skerries 27 Sep; Fair Isle, scarce 3 May - 6 June, strong autumn passage 16 Aug - 10 Oct, mainly late Sep when max 60 on 23 Sep; Isle of May, max 15 on 25 Sep; last records, 19 Oct, 2 N Ronaldsay, Ork; 23 Oct, Skerries, Shet. 41 +Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Breeding: good season Fair Isle, lst eggs 4 May; Ork, Ist young in nest 5 May; Kirk, poor season Glentrool. Migration: Fair Isle, S Mar - 14 Nov, peaks 150 on 5 Apr, strong autumn passage 1500 on 4 Sep, 750 on 7th, 1000 on 2 Oct; Angus, 1000 S in 1 hr Arbroath 13 Sep; Isle of May, peak 1000 on 22 Sep; Clack, 50 Cambus 27 Jan is high and reflects milder winter; Arg, 100s S Oa, Islay 11 Sep. *Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus One Fair Isle 20-24 Sep (A. Marshall, R. Innes, I.S. Robertson et al). +Rock Pipit Anthus spinoletta Breeding: Isle of May better season, 13 prs bred Angus, max 14 Montrose 26 Oct; W Loth, 6 Dalmeny 2 Feb; Stir, 1 Grangemouth 20 Jan, 2 on 21 Dec; Renf, 1 Waulkmill Dam 21 Sep. Scandinavian littoralis Ayr, Doonfoot 23 Mar; Fair Isle, 27 Mar and 5 Sandside Bay, Caith 28 Mar. +Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava flavissima Breeding: Ber, bred Coldstream and Sprouston; Renf, pr reared 1 young Inchinnan; Lan, 1 pr nested Strathclyde Park, 8-15 prs Strathaven, 7+ definitely nesting, other apparently destroyed in silage cutting; Ayr, 20-21 prs Burnhouse-Fenwick, very poor success, Ist broods destroyed heavy rain 19-23 June, some prs relaid and washed out 22-23 July; Ork, pr may have nested Westray - seen food - carrying 11 June (pr reared 3 young Papa Westray 1979) - rare in north; Aber, pr Grey-headed Wagtail thunbergi (o'definite, 2 probable) nested Slains and reared 1 young. Migrants: May singles Shet, Fair Isle (3), Ork (1), Caith and Isle of May (4); 1st 13 Apr, Sommerston, Lan. Small numbers autumn 24 Oct. M.F. flava: Fair Isle 18 May, 19 May, 13th, 15th, 18-20 Sep; Midl, Musselburgh 2nd, 4th, 9th, and 31 Aug. M.f. thunbergi: Fair Isle, oo’ 10th, 15th, 18-19th, 23-25 May, 4-6 June; Isle of May 16 May; Aber, Rattray 31 May. (M.f. iberiae): 1 showing characters of this race Fair Isle 22-28 May. *Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola Singles Sumburgh, Shet 17 Sep (I.G. Davison)§; Holm, Ork 1 Oct (A.D.K. Ramsay)§ (Also a possible hybrid Fair Isle 12-13 Oct). +Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Breeding: Ork, pr reared 6 young Scapa; Inv, 50% down Glenurquhart, poor year Strathspey; Kirk, good numbers. Migration and counts: Shet, Mar-Apr (4), Sep, Nov; Fair Isle, 1-2nd, 12th and 14 Apr; Inv, presnt Insh 19 Mar - 18 Sep; Aber, 11 Rattray 27 Sep; more wintered C lowlands; Arg, regular passage S Sanda 7 Aug - 1 Oct; Renf, 17 Balgray res 18 Jan. +Pied/ White Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrelli Breeding: Shet, 1 pr nested; Ork, slight increase; Kirk, 1st broods good Glentrool but poor 2nd broods. Migration and counts: Shet, ist 28 Mar; Fair Isle, few 26 Mar - 6 May, max 5 on 5 Apr; Inv, more wintered; Arg, peak 80+ Sanda 7 Sep; W Stir, 250 Dumbreck 13. Sep. White Wagtail M.a. alba Breeding: Shet, pr nested Norwick, Unst; Caith, mixed pr nested L More. Spring passage 27 Mar - 9 June, peaks 6 Fair Isle 28 Mar; 10 S Ronaldsay 14 Apr; 10 Fidden, Mull 16 Apr; 18 Musselburgh, Midl 20 Apr; 11 Highfield, Ayr 30 Apr; autumn 30 July - 27 Sep, max 35 Musselburgh, Midl 26 Aug. *Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus 23 in winter - spring and 8 in autumn - lowest since at least 1967. Shet, singles Tresta 3 May, Unst 21 Nov; Caith, Thurso dead Dec, one 5 Dec; W Ross, Ullapool 28 Jan; Inv, 2 Inshriach 18 Jan; Banff, 5 Feb; Aberdeen, 2 and 4 Jan, 2 on 20 Jan, 2 Kemnay 20 Jan, Fraserburgh 23 Feb, 3 Ballater 18 Mar; Perth, 3 Inchture 8 Jan; Midl, Edinburgh 12 Mar, 4 Couslandf 24 Dec; Rox, Hawick 1st week Nov; Arg, 3 Bonnahaven, Islay 7 Mar; Dunb, 2 Cardross 13 Jan. 42 +Dipper Cinclus cinclus Breeding: Perth, good lower Tay; Midl, good S Esk, lots 2nd broods; Arran, decrease; Dumf/Kirk, reports of Mink predation; Inv, singles L Garten 22 Aug, 8 Sep. +Wren Trogilodytes troglodytes Breeding: Fair Isle, fridariensis population 16 00’ in spring, good breeding success and better numbers in autumn; Caith, still low; Inv, better year but still low, 13 prs Garten C.B.C. (7 in 79); Perth, slight improve- ment; Stir, Borders, Ayr and Dumf, recovering well. Fair Isle Migrants 28 Mar and 18 Oct; Isle of May, max 3 in 30 Mar - 26 Apr, Sep - Oct, max 18 on 10 Oct. +Dunnock Prunella modularis Breeding: Midl, increase Cousland, song from 13 Feb. Migration: large passage of continental birds; Shet, 27 Mar - 15 Apr, max 70 Whalsay 28 Mar, 16 Sep - 7 Oct, max 80 Whalsay 23 Sep; Fair Isle, 12 Mar - 14 May, 230 on 27 Mar (highest ever), 150 on 1 Apr, 22 Sep - 8 Nov, 120 arrived 23 Sep; Ork, 55 N Ronaldsay 30 Mar; Caith, 11 Noss 29 Mar; Isle of May, 20 on 30 Mar, but generally very low numbers. +Robin Erithacus rubecula Breeding: Stir, good year Falkirk; Inv, Garten CBC plot 15 prs (13 in 79); spring song from 6 Feb. Migration: Shet, mainly 26 Mar - 13 Apr, max 90 Whalsay 28th, 22 Sep - 4 Oct, max 97 Whalsay 23 Sep; Fair Isle, 4 Mar - 4 June, peaks 160 on 23 Mar, 220 on 28th, late peak 12 on 10 May, 21 Sep - 2 Nov, fall of 550 on 23 Sep, 200 on 24th, 220 on 26th; Isle of May, very low numbers, max 20 in spring and 15 on 14 Sep; Ber, 50 St Abbs 23 Oct; Arg, passage Sanda 7 Aug - end Sep, peak 80+ on 15-18 Sep. *Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos Six: Shet, Whalsay 6 June (B. Marshall); Fair Isle, 4 singles 14 May, 15-16 May, 17-18 May and 21-27 May (I.S. Robertson et al); Wig, 1 in song Stoneykirk 2045 hrs on 29 May (D.F. and R. Billett). *Bluethroat Luscinia svecica Spring passage: Shet, 6 singles 12-19 May and 2 Skerries 13th; Fair Isle, 2 on 11 May, 13th, 14th (2), 15-16th (4), 17th (5), 18th (6), 20-22nd (3), 30th, Ist June, 6th; Ork, singles N Ronaldsay 13 and 14 May, 1 June; Banff, o’ on boat off Banff 19 May; Angus, 2 Arbroath 18 May; Isle of May, 13 May, 17th (2), i8th, 24th; Ber, St Abbs 17 May; Inv, o” in song Spey Valley 15 June, not seen later. Autumn: Shet, singles Yell 15 Sep, Sumburgh 22 Sep, Unst 5-6 Oct, Skerries 11 and 22 Sep, 12 Oct, 4 Nov; Fair Isle, 12-23 Oct, another 15 Oct, one 7-8 Nov. *Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Spring passage: Shet, 4 singles 28 Mar - 13 Apr, 2 Skerries 16 May; Fair Isle, 28 Mar - 10 Apr, max 3 on 28th, early May - 17 June, max 5 on 17 May; Caith, Sandside 12 May; Aber/N Kinc, 2 Forvie 29 Mar, 1-2 Girdleness 29 Mar - 1 Apr, 3 Rattray 30 Mar; Isle of May, 30 Mar (2) - 10 June, . max 4 on 2-3 Apr; Fife, St Andrews 28 Mar, Fife Ness 16 Apr; Ber, Barns Ness 28-29 Mar; Lan, Bothwell 19 Apr. Autumn: Shet, one 6-9 Nov; Fair Isle, 8 records 24 Sep - 4 Dec; Shet, N Ronaldsay 24 Sep, 22-23 Oct; Aber, 4 on coast 20 Sep - 28 Oct, 1 Glen Tanar 2 Nov; Angus, 3 singles 27 Sep - 27 Nov; Isle of May, one 4-5 Aug, 2-4 on 22-24 Oct; Fife, 22-26 Oct (3 birds); E Loth, Dunbar 27 Dec; Ber, singles Aug - Oct; Arran 27 Oct. +Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus Breeding: a good year: Inv, high numbers Glenurquhart, 19 prs Garten CBC (17 in 79), 3-4 prs Insh is best yet; Perth, increase 5 areas, average success; Borders, exceptional numbers, at least 40 singing o’o’; earliest 6 Apr White Clauchrie, Ayr; ist mainly about 16 Apr. Migration: Shet, big arrival 23 Sep, 100 Dun and 30 Bressay; Fair Isle, 25 Apr, 12 May - 18 June, max 7 on 13 May, 30 Aug - 29 Oct, mainly end Sep, max 70 on 23rd; Isle of May, max 5 on 14 Apr, 10 0n 30 Aug, last 24 Oct; Arg, 1 Campbeltown 1 Nov. 43 +Whinchat Saxicola rubetra Breeding: W Ross, good season Coigach; Inv, none Canna (usually 3-4 prs); Aber, good season; Midl, numbers low and broods late Threipmuir - Glencorse; Arran, decrease to 9 prs. Arrivals: 6 Apr, White Clauchrie, Ayr and 2 Birse, Aber/Kinc; 9 Apr, Glen Turret, Perth but very scarce until main arrivals 4-5 May SW and 10-11 May in north. Migration: Shet, 11-21 May, max 9, 12 Aug - 17 Oct, max 45 Skerries 13 Sep; Fair Isle, 10 May - 8 June, max 21 on 12 May, 13 Aug - 19 Oct, peaks 80 on 30 Aug, 40 on 24 Sep; Ork, last Stromness and 2 N Ronaldsay 25 Oct; Isle of May, max 40 on 30 Aug; Fife Ness, 12 on 26 Oct; N Kinc, 1 Girdleness 26 Oct. +Stonechat Saxicolatorquata Breeding: Ork, good season; Caith, Suth, Ross, recovering well and good season; E Ross, E Inv, Moray, Perth, Borders, Dunb Stir, Renf, still very scarce. Migrants: scarce Shet, 3 singles Mar and one Sep; Fair Isle, singles 30 Mar and 5 Apr; Isle of May, singles 30 Mar, 30-31 Aug. Eastern Stonechat S.t. maura/stejnegeri: Shet, Yell 20 Sep (B.P. Walker et al); Fair Isle, 3 on 12 Oct, one to 15th (P.J. Ewins, K.M. Morton et al); Isle of May, 12 Oct (1.P. Gibson)§. +Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Breeding: Midl, 45 nests found Moorfoot Valley, 2 prs Holyrood Park. Winter: 1 Medwin Valley, Peeb 11 Jan, only 1 other Jan record in Scotland (2 Jan 1893, Cramond, Midl). Arrivals: 23 Mar, 1N Culzean, Ayr and Yellowcraig, E Loth; 25 Mar, Megget, Selk, 7 Dunure Ayr and Aber (2); N to Shet by 27 Mar; main arrivals 5-20 Apr. Migration: Fair Isle, 27 Mar, peaks 70 on 12 Apr, 200 on 13th, autumn peaks 320 on 4 Sep, 500 on 7th, 200 on 25 Oct, last 28 Oct; Arg, 40+ Sanda 5 May; late Nov records 2nd 2 Virkie, Shet; 3rd Walls Hill, Renf; 30 Nov Greenan, Ayr. Greenland birds O.0. /eucorrhoa: spring 16 Apr - 30 May, principally Fair Isle where bulk of 190 on 12 May, autumn records 15 Sep - 24 Oct. *Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica Ad (ringed) Isle of May 2-16 May (R.G. Nisbet, P.C. Lack et al). *Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus One Scatness, Shet 25-29 Oct (1.G. and C. Davison et al) - new bird for Scotland of this North American species. +Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus Breeding: Midl, 7-8 prs normal Moorfoot Valley, most early broods failed but good replacements: Ayr, none Upper Garnock (used to be 2-3 prs). Winter: 1 Drumnadrochit, Inv 27 Jan (4th ever Jan record for Scotland). Arrivals: 30 Mar, Lochearnside, Perth; 31 Mar, 2 Loganlea, Midl; more from 4 Apr. Migration: Shet, small numbers 4-18 Apr, 18 Sep - 4 Oct; Fair Isle, light passage S Apr - 29 May, max 9 on 12 May, good return 16 Sep - 28 Oct, 120 on 23 Sep, 70 on 24th; last records 1 Nov Whalsay, Shet; 4 Nov Cults, Aber. +Blackbird Turdus merula Breeding: good season Shet, poor Berstane, Ork. Migration: Shet, 355 Skerries 28 Mar, 200 Whalsay 2 Nov; Fair Isle, peaks 24 Mar - 1 Apr, max 570 on 28th, 500 on 22-24 Oct; Isle of May, max 500 on 22-23 Oct; Ber, 300 St Abbs 24 Oct; Aber, dead Beinn a’Bhuird plateau 3000+ ft. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris No breeding records - June or July singles Shet, Fair Isle (2), Ork, Isle of May and Aber. Winter - spring: Fair Isle, mainly 26 Mar - 19 May, peaks 82 on 27 Mar, 70 on 7 May; Banff, 43 Grange 7 May; Midl, 300 Mount Lothian 6 May; Peeb, 2000 Carlops 4 May (part of widespread May emigration); Ayr, 2000S hr Dunure 2 Feb (cold weather). Autumn: Shet, from 7 Aug, 20 Walls, 17 Aug is early, small numbers to main passage 22 Oct - 3 Nov; Fair Isle, early influx in Aug with 20 by 30th, new influx 40 on 28 Sep, peaks 800 on 22-23rd and 600 on 28 Oct; O Heb, very big passage Oct; Caith, 2000 John o’Groats to Wester 44. 25 Oct; Aber, large numbers 26 Oct, when c33000 in Aber east of A92 and N of Ythan; Perth, 1600 Killin 16 Oct; Isle of May, 400 on 22-23 Oct; Rox, 2000 Denholm 26 Dec; large passage W coast Rhum - Wig mid-Oct, 2000 in 2 hrs Lochwinnoch, Renf 18 Oct. +Song Thrush Turdus philomelus Shet, pr bred Lerwick; increasing plantations Ayr and Dunf; earlier than usual return to inland sites, 11 Feb Stir - 15 Feb Inv. Migration: Shet, spring peaks 80 Whalsay 27 Mar, 80 Fetlar 30th, autumn 1000 Whalsay and 600 Fetlar 23 Sep; Fair Isle, 26 Mar - 18 May, peak 75 on 27 Mar, 7 Sep - 14 Nov, peaks 1100 on 23 Sep, 25th (150), 300 on 26th, 200 on 7 Oct; Isle of May, low numbers, peak 300 on 3 Oct. +Redwing Jurdus iliacus Breeding and summer - improvement to 25-30 territories: Shet, song 2 June; Fair Isle, 1 summered; Suth, pr B/4 17 May - killed later, at least 1 singing 22 May another site; E Ross, o” singing one site, 1-2 prs 13 May nesting, o’ singing in 3rd site; W Ross, 3-4 singing o’o’ Apr - June; EInv, 7 oo or prs one area, 2 nests found failed - wet ant Pine Marten, 3 o’o’ in another area, 4 oo in another glen; fledged brood 16 June, S of Inverness, pr nested nearby, pr B/S Strathspey 17 May; Moray, ad carrying food inland; Banff, single o’o” 1 two glens; Lan, 1 seen 22 June. Spring passage: Shet, max 100 Whalsay 27 Mar; Fair Isle, 8 Mar - early May, peaks 110 on 28 Mar, 110 (coburni) 14 Apr; Aber, 600 Strathbeg 28 Jan; Rox, 200 Tweedbank 19 Mar; Ayr, 1200S hr Dunure 2 Feb. Autumn low numbers: Shet, from 5 Sep, big fall 22-23 Sep, max 1000 Whalsay, smaller fall 22-27 Oct; Fair Isle from 30 Aug, first fall 120 on 22 Sep, 400 on 23rd, influxes 900 on 7 Oct, 700 on 22 Oct are low peaks; O Heb, more than usual Oct; Inv, max 1500 Insh 15-16 Oct; Isle of May, max 1200 on 3 Oct and 1000 on 24 Oct are low; Renf, very low numbers, max 300 Lochwinnoch 20 Oct. +Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Breeding: Inv, 7 prs Garten CBC (3 in 79); Kirk, high numbers; song from 16 Feb; completed nest Dollar, Clack 10 Mar. Migration and counts: Shet, 9 between 15 Feb and 25 May, 4 in Sep - Oct; Fair Isle, strong passage, one 9-12 Mar, 3 on 27th, 11 on 28th and 14 on 30 Mar — record totals for isle, 4 by 1 Apr, one 26th singles 23 and 25 Sep; Inv, max 150 Insh 13 Oct; Rox 52 Tweedbank 6-11 Sep; Perth, 50 Cromlix 8 Sep. +Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia Breeding: poor season Inv, Dumf and possibly Kirk but good year Aber, Perth, Midl, Borders and Renf. Arrivals: 16 Apr, Inversnaid, W Stir; 27 Apr, Lochwinnoch, Renf; 28 Apr, 2 St Cyrus, Kinc; mainly early May. Migration: Shet, Walls 17 Aug; Fair Isle, 2 on 10 May, 11th (3), 1-2 till 14th, one 19 May, singles in autumn 29-30 Aug, 4th, 21st and 23-24 Sep; Ork, 1 Orphir 7 Aug; Isle of May, singles 2-6 May, 10-11 May. *Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola One Sumburgh, Shet (D. Coutts, D.M. Pullan). +Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenabaenus Breeding: Caith, Midl, E Loth, Borders, Renf and W Stir all report high numbers; e.g. 130 Lochwinnoch 11 May usually 30-40 prs; decrease Arran and Dumf. Arrivals: 20 Apr, 2 New Cumnock, Ayr and 1 Morton L, Fife; 27 Apr, Lochwinnoch, Renf; more Ist week May, many 2nd week. Migration: Shet, about 28 between 11-20 May, 2 on 4 June, singles 12 and 23 Sep; Fair Isle, very strong passage 12 May - 23 June, peak 32 on 16 May (record total), autumn 1-2 on 5 days Aug, 6 days Sep, late records St Abbs, Ber 24 Oct, Fair Isle 26 Oct. 45 *Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris Three: singles Fetlar, Shet 18 June (singing) and 28 July (J.N. Dymond); Wick river, Caith 8 June (K.W. Banks, S.G. Mackay et al). *Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus Spring: Fair Isle, 30 May - 7 June and 22 June; Isle of May 15 May. Autumn: Shet, Aug 4 singles from 12th, 15+ in: Sep, including 6 Fetlar 12 Sep, singles Skerries and Lerwick 7 Oct; Fair Isle, 16 Aug sporadic to 27 Sep, max 6 on 23 Sep, 5 on 24-25th, very late one 31 Oct; Ork, 4 singles 17 Aug - 7 Sep; Caith, Ackergill 30 Aug, Reay 13 Sep; Aber, Cruden Bay 29 Sep; Isle of May, 4 July, 31 Aug - 2 Sep, 21 Sep (2), 22nd; Fife Ness, 3 on 31 Aug; E Loth, Barns Ness 30 Aug; Arg, Bridgend, Islay early Aug. *Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina Spring: Fair Isle 4 June and 6-7 July; Ork, N Ronaldsay 18 May. Autumn: Shet, Skerries 27 July, 5 singles in Aug, 8 singles in Sep plus 3 Fetlar on 12th; Fair Isle, 2 on 18 Aug, one 29th, 3 on 30 Aug, 2 0n 10 Sep, 14-17 Sep, 19th (2), 23 Sep; Caith, Melvich 22 Sep (1st for county); Aber/N Kinc, Girdleness 15 Aug, Drums 27 Sep; Isle of May, 30 July, 31st (2), 1 Aug (2), 2-3 Aug, 30th (2), 3 Sep (6 in all); Fife Ness 23 Sep; E Loth, Barns Ness 20 Sep; Ber, 2 St Abbs 30 Aug. *Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta Two: Quendale, Shet 18 May (D. Garratt, C. Larkin); Fair Isle 22 Sep (I.S. Robertson et al). *Subalpine Warbler Sy/via cantillans Two: 9 Fair Isle 16 May (P.J. Ewins, A:J. del Nevo, I.S. Robertson); o” Isle of May 24 May (P. Lack, N. Duncan et al). Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria Recorded 13 Aug - 16 Oct; Shet, (c28), 1-3 on 5 dates 13-22 Aug Skerries, scattered records at 11 sites 30 Aug - 22 Sep, max 2, singles 27 Sep, Whiteness 11 Oct; Fair Isle, 18 Aug, 26th, 27th (2), 30th (7), most days to 18 Sep, max 11th (0), 15th (4), singles 27-28 Sep, 12 Oct; Ork, Copinsay 11 and 19 Sep, N Ronaldsay 30 Aug (2), 11th, 18th, 20th and 25 Sep, Holm 16 Oct; Caith, Noss 30-31 Aug, Reay 6 Sep; N Kinc, Girdleness 26 Aug; Isle of May 28 Aug, 30th, 31st (2), 1 to 5 Sep; Ber, St Abbs 31 Aug, Pease Bay 14 and 21 Sep. +Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca Breeding: Midl, pr bred Cousland; singing birds Dalhousie, Tantallan, Gullane, N Berwick, E Loth and Northfield, Ber; also Kiltarlity, Inv 22 June. Migration: Shet, 1 May - 11 June, max 3, 13 Aug - 27 Sep, 1-3, and late singles Whalsay 13 and 29 Oct; Fair Isle, 11. May - 5 June, max 8 on 12th and 13 on 17 May, few 18 Aug - 30 Sep, max 4 on 22 Sep; Ork, May (2), scatter 6 Sep - 26 Oct; O Heb, 1 Harris 12 Oct; Caith, singles May, June, Oct, 5 in Sep; Aber, c8 between 22 Sep and 24 Oct (Cruden Bay); Isle of May, 2 May - 17 June, max 12 on 12 May, 6 birds 23 Aug - 12 Oct; Arg, 1 Sanda 11 May. +Whitethroat Sylvia communis Breeding: good nos Perth, Borders, E Dunb and W Renf, but decrease to 22 prs Arran. Arrivals: 16 Apr Isle of May; 23 Apr, Cousland, Midl; 27 Apr Tweedbank, Rox, but most late, main arrival 10-18 May. Migration: Shet, 11 May - 23 June, max 5, 31 July - 28 Sep, max 4 on 27th; Fair Isle, 12 May - 20 June, 8 on 18 May, 1 Sep - 11 Oct, 8 on 23 Sep; Ork, late bird 22 Oct; Isle of May, very poor season; Aber, 1 Cruden Bay 4-5 Nov. +Garden Warbler Sylvia borin Breeding: Inv, best year ever Strathspey and Drumnadrochit - Beauly areas; more than usual Moray, Aber, Angus and Perth; also singing birds Stornoway, O Heb 16 June and 2 in Mull, Arg. Arrivals: 20 Apr, Glenalmond, Perth; 26 Apr, St Abbs, Ber; mostly from 5S May and especially 10-12 May. Migration: Shet, few 12 May - 12 June, mainly 12 Aug - 27 Sep, max 31 Skerries 17 Aug; Fair Isle, 11 May - 21 June, max 8 on 16 May, 6 Aug - 22 Oct, max | 46 20 on 11 Sep; Ork, few 17 May - 9 June, autumn peak 25 N Ronaldsay 23 Sep; Isle of May, influx 80 on 30 Aug. Late birds Shet 3 Nov; Hoy, Ork 4 Nov and Seaton, Aber 10-18 Nov. +#Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Breeding: Fewer N Inv; much increased Midl, good numbers E Loth and Dunb/W Stir; arrivals 15-26 Apr. Migration: Shet autumn peak 35 Fetlar 21 Sep; Fair Isle, 26 Apr - 20 June, max 9 on 18 May, 9 Sep - 6 Nov, peaks 50 on 23 and 25 Sep, and 11 Oct; Aber, 10 Cruden Bay 25 Oct; Isle of May, late fall 30 on 23 Oct. Summary of winter records: Jan Feb Mar Nov Dec North (Shet-O Heb-Inv) 16 5 Central (Moray-Clack-Arg) c7 c6 e2 15 16 South (Ciyde-Forth-Borders) S 4 15 8 *Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis Two: Fair Isle 11-14 Sep (R.A. Miller, I.S. Robertson et al), 21 Sep (S.L. James, W.H.P. Priestley, ISR et al). *Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus 11 records 22 Sep - 7 Nov: Shet, Whalsay 22 Sep, Lerwick 6 Oct, Veensgarth 11 Oct, Tresta 2 Nov; Fair Isle 10th Oct, 2 on 11th; Ork, Wideford Burn 25 Sep; Suth, Scourie 7 Nov; Isle of May 22 Sep; Ber, St Abbs 23-25 Oct. *Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli One Drums Farm, Aber 22-24 Sep (A.G. Knox et al). +Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix Breeding: good numbers and good success Inv, Nairn, Perth, W Dumf and Kirk, also 3 singing O Heb. Arrivals: 14 Apr Bridge of Allan, Stir; 30 Apr Peebles; main start 9-17 May. Migration: Shet, 3 in spring, c1S between 17 Aug and 13 Sep; Fair Isle one 4 June, good nos 31 July-10 Sep, 2 on 2 dates; Ork 3 N Ronaldsay 11 Sep. +Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybitta Breeding: numbers higher, also more singing in north - Ork (3), Caith (4), O Heb (3), Ross (S) and Inv (6). Spring: Shet, 3 Apr - 18 June, max 6; Fair Isle 28 Mar-June, max 8 on 24 Apr; Ork, max 6 Holm 29 Mar; Ber, 15 St Abbs 15 Apr when main spring arrivals; Arg, Sanda 12 Apr-5 May, max 20 on 16 Apr. Autumn: strong passage including late influxes of northern birds, abientinus and tristis: Shet, 15 Aug - 27 Nov, max 22 Fetlar 13 Oct, 8 Veensgarth 27 Nov; Fair Isle early Aug - 14 Nov, peaks 20 on 11 Oct, 80 on 12th (highest ever recorded), fresh fall 55 on 15th 20 on 5 Nov (mainly pale northerns); Ork, 5 Sep - Nov, max 40 S Ronaldsay 27 Oct; Northerns down E coasts from Caith to Ber, max . 5 Seaton, Aber 15 Nov. Summary of wintering birds (more than usual): Mar and Nov totals confused by migrants: Jan Feb Mar Nov Dec North (Shet-Inv) _ 4 15s #50; 8 Central (Moray-N of Forth-Clyde) 1 30+ 7 South of Forth-Clyde 1 2 4+ 10+ 10 +Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Breeding: Ork, ad carrying food Oprhir; Inv, good season Glenurquhart, 73 prs Garten CBC (67 in 79); increase also Renf, where 32% increase Kilmalcolm CBC, 57 prs Lochwinnoch (37 in 78). Arrivals: 4 Apr, Caerlaverock, Dumf, Sanda, Arg and Lerwick, Shet; 6 Apr Ayr and Fife; widespread from 13th, and main influx about 23rd. Migration: Shet, 4 Apr - 19 June, max 20, 15 Aug - 13 Oct, max 150 Sumburgh 11 Sep; Fair Isle, 14 Apr - 4 47 June, max 70o0n 12 May, 31 July - 14 Oct, falls of 350 on 30 Aug, 400 on 11 Sep, 60 on 23 Sep; Ork, max 40 N Ronaldsay 31 Aug, last 25 Oct; Isle of May, 14 Apr - June, Aug - 12 Oct, max 250 on 30 Aug; Arg, Sanda 4 Apr - 2 June, max 65 on 16 Apr, 23 July - 27 Sep, 80+ on 7 Aug; last Cruden Bay 10-11 Nov. Single northerns, acredula: Cruden Bay 11 Oct and St Abbs, Ber 15 Oct. +Goldcrest Regulus regulus Breeding: Inv, recovering Garten 21 prs CBC (15 in 79) and good success - double broods, increase Glenurquhart, also Midl, Ber and Renf, large increase E Kilmalcolm. Migration: Shet, weak passage 17 Mar - 14 Apr, 27 Aug - 7 Nov, max 40 Sumburgh 22 Sep; Fair Isle, small nos 12 Mar - 29 Apr, return 21 Aug - 31 Oct, max 75 on 23 Sep; Isle of May, peaks 60 on 14 Sep, 100 on 14 Oct; Ber, 100 St Abbs 30 Aug. *Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus Twelve (best yet); O Heb, 1 S Uist 8-11 Nov; Caith, Melvich 27 Jan; Aber, Newburgh 3 Nov, Cruden Bay 4 Nov; E Loth, Bass 7 June; Ber, 3 St Abbs 30 Aug, one 24 Oct; Arg, Saddell 23 Jan, Sanda 16 May; Dumf, Canonbie 20 Nov. +Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Breeding: good season Glenurquhart, Inv, Midl, Renf, but poorer Garten, Inv (5 prs instead of 11 in CBC 79) and Kirk. Arrivals: 6 May, Kilmalcolm, Renf; 7 May, Lochwinnoch, Renf; more 1st records 10-12 May. Migration: Shet, scarce in spring; Fair Isle, 12 May - 15 June, max 14 on 15 May, 31 Aug - 28 Sep, max 4 on 23rd. Last records: 24 Oct, Binscarth, Ork and 15 St Abbs, Ber. *Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva One in spring, 20 in autumn: 1 Isle of May 31 May. Autumn 31 Aug - 9 Nov: Shet, Skerries 12-13th and 16 Sep, Weisdale 14 Sep, Sumburgh 22 Sep, 2 Voe 21 Sep; Fair Isle, 16 Sep, 7 Oct, 12th (2); Ork, Papa Westray 22 Sep, N Ronaldsay 23-27 Sep; Caith, Ackergill 8 Nov, Watten 9 Nov; W Ross, Polbain 12 Oct; N Kinc, Girdleness 22 Sep; Isle of May 22 Sep; Fife Ness 22-23 Sep; Ber, St Abbs 31 Aug, 19 Sep. *Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis Male Stronsay, Ork 31 May (A.D.K. Ramsay) 6th Scottish record. +Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca Breeding: Inv, 8 nests known and 5 o’o’ in song Drumnadrochit - Spey areas; Aber, 1 inland; Perth, 38 prs study area (31 in 79) but poor success due to heavy rain; Kirk, higher numbers, but lower success, e.g. 30 young from 8 nests. Arrivals: 18 Apr, Scaur Glen and Langholm, Dumf; 21 Apr, Edinburgh; mainly early May, 14th in N. Migration: Shet, scarce spring, max 20 Kergord 27 Sep; Fair Isle, scarce 6 May - 2 June, 13 Aug - 7 Oct, max 15 on 23 Sep; Isle of May, max 40 on 30 Aug; Ber, 100 St Abbs 30 Aug. Last Lerwick and Kergord, Shet, 10 Oct. +Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Breeding: still low in N but good season; good numbers in S except Dumf. Migrants: 3 Stromness, Ork 29 Oct. Counts: Aber, 88 Davan 20 June; Caith, 20 Thurso 27 Oct. +Marsh Tit Parus palustris Borders, many reports and population probably 50-100 prs; relatively abundant Mertoun, St Boswells, Maxton, Galashiels, Hirsel, Ancrum, Jedburgh and Lothian estates; smaller nos Coldingham, Eyemouth and Pease Bay. +Willow Tit Parus montanus Breeding: no changes reported, 6 New Luce and 1 L Connell, Wig further west than usual; Ber, 3 Ayton 27 July. 48 +Crested Tit Parus cristatus Breeding: Inv, no change, 23 prs Garten CBC (22 in 79), 2 groups seen S Mullardoch; Banff, nested Bin of Cullen; E Ross, slight increase, seen 3 areas Black Isle, 2 Strathgarve 25 Feb; Suth, nested Shin. +Coal Tit Parus ater Breeding: Suth, increase; Inv, Garten slight decrease 36 prs CBC (42 in 79); Moray, 50% less occupied boxes Culbin. Max counts 60 Glen Dye, Kinc 23 Nov. Coastal records Aber, 8 Oct - 17 Nov. +Blue Tit Parus caeruleus Breeding: Inv, increase Garten CBC; Moray, 23 used boxes Culbin (only 4 in 79) and excellent success; Perth, good season; Kirk, some recovery Glentrool. Counts: 42 Cambus, Stir 22 Nov; 40 Seaton Park, Aber 17 Nov. +Great Tit Parus major No changes except more Caith, less O Heb. Migrants: Shet, 3 in Oct and 2 Nov - Dec plus 3 Whalsay 23 Oct, 5 on 25-29th, still 4 on 24 Dec and 3 to end of year. +Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Breeding: Inv, no change; West Wig, some recovery. Migrants (probably of N race): Shet, Lerwick 29 Sep and 6 Oct, Eshaness 14 Oct, Bressay 27 Oct, Kergord 8-22 Nov (4 in one year is unprecendented); Fair Isle, 27 Oct (dead) - northern; Ork, 1 Shapinsay 5 Dec. Singles Isle of May 13-14 Aug, 18-19 Aug; Sanda, Arg 24 Aug, 2 Oct. *Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Four: Whalsay, Shet 25 May; Fair Isle 29 May; Duns, Ber 12 June; 1 Berriedale, Caith 21 May (F. Schofield). Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio None found breeding: o’ inland Inv 22 June. Spring passage: Shet, cl15 between 15 May - 14 June; Fair Isle, few 17 May - 18 June, max 60n 19 May; Ork, 3 in May - June; Caith, Wick 1 June; Aber, singles coast 6 and 13 June; Isle of May, 12 May, 20th (2); Fife, St Andrews 17 June; Midl, Penicuik 16 May; Arran 28 Apr. Return passage: Shet, 9 singles between 19 Aug and 16 Oct; Fair Isle, one 8 July, 3 singles 18 Aug - 28 Sep; Ork, 3 singles Sep; O Heb, Benbecula 29 Sep; Caith, 31 Aug, 21 Sep; Aber, 27 Sep; Isle of May, 30 Aug, 11-12 Sep; Fife Ness 31 Aug; E Loth, Barns Ness 2 Sep; Ber, 1-2 on 5 days 30 Aug - 15 Sep; late bird Seaton Park, Aber 6-11 Nov. Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor 12+ in winter - spring to 19 May and cl4 from 25 Sep - noteworthy records: 2 Walls, Shet 19 May; 2 Glims Holm, Ork 24 Oct. Summary of records: Jan Feb Mar Apr Sep Oct Nov Dec Shet-Inv - 1 2 1 i: 2 1 Aber-Clack-Arg 1 1 3 2 - - : i Ayr-Kirk-Ber Pisa 1 - 1 - - 1 1 *Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator Two records: juv Fair Isle 25-26 Aug (P.J. Ewins, I.S. Robertson et al), another juv 4-5 Sep (T. Dee, P.J. Ewins, A.J. del Nova et al). +Jay Garrulus glandarius Breeding: increase reported Aber, Kinc, Angus, Perth, W Fife, Borders, Ayr, Dumf, Kirk; pr and 3 young Kinneil Estate, apparently 1st proved Loths; Inv, 1 Struy Aug - Dec. +Magpie Pica pica Breeding: nos high in small populations E Ross, E Inv; increase E Loth, Borders; decrease Kirk. Single Rumster, Caith Mar - May. Counts: 24 Palacerigg, Dunb 6 Jan. +Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Breeding: no change Islay. 49 +Jackdaw Corvus monedula Breeding: no comments. Counts - 4750 Palacerigg, Dunb 5 Jan; 150 Orphir, Ork 15 Jan. Migration: Fair Isle, small influx spring, max 20 on 27-28 Mar; Shet, sporadic passage 23 Mar - 11 May, max 18 Skerries 27 Mar. +Rook Corvus frugilegus Breedin: 21% increases since 1975 census noted L Lomond and Cumbernauld - Kilsyth, Dunb/W Stir; Shet, c75 prs Kergord. Fair Isle migrants: Jan - 24 May, peaks 8 on 26-27 Mar, 26 on 9-10 May, few 3-11 Nov, max 7 on Sth. +Carrion Crow Corvus corone Crow roost numbers lower Inv and Stir. Migration: Shet, more than usual, max 13 Norwick 15 May; Fair Isle. 1 Apr - 20 June, max 15 on 11-13 May, few in autumn. Hooded Crow C.c. cornix: Shet, passage max 14 on 21 Mar; stragglers SE and SW. +Raven Corvus corax Breeding: Ork, 25 prs mainland, brood 3 died fulmar oil Papa Westray; E Ross, bred Black Isle but now scarce E Highlands and SW. Counts: 4S Hillswick, Shet 15 Sep; Fair Isle, 20 migrants 18 and 28 Mar; Aber, 1 Kin- harrachie 23 Feb. +Starling Sturnus vulgaris Breeding: Ork, bred Sula Skerry; 1st fledged young 27 May Angus and Renf, 6 June Fair Isle. Counts: Ork, 12000 Dec; Aber, 100000 Udny 1 Dec; Ayr, 50000 Cumnock Jan - Mar. Migration: Fair Isle peak 1000 on 27 and 29 Mar, no big falls autumn: Shet, influxes 26-29 Mar. *Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus Three adults: Ork, Skaill, Sandwick 14- 23 June (M.F. Cuthbert et al); Angus, Arbroath 6-8 Oct (J. Adam, A. Vannet); Arg, Southend, Kintyre 11 July (J.D. and A.C. McClure). TWhite-shouldered Starling Sturnus sinensis Shet, singles Halligarth, Unst 1-7 July (1. Spence) and Foula 14 July (M.L. Tasker), possibly same bird. +House Sparrow Passer domesticus Breeding - no comment: hybrid Tree Sparrow Fair Isle 12 May, 2 in June and Sep, up to 5 in Oct. Migrant singles Isle of May 18 May, 6 June. +Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Breeding: numbers low all areas. Counts: Aber, 64 Ythan 31 Aug; E Loth, 70 Fenton Barns 28 Jan; Ber, 70+ Eyemouth 1 Jan; Stir, 100 Dumbreck 26-27 Dec. Migration - scarce N Isles: Shet, 2 Strand 19 May, one 29th; Fair Isle, singles 28 Mar, 8 Apr, 2 on 10th and 26 Apr, 1 to late autumn; Ork, 1 Copinsay 26 May. +Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Breeding: Inv, good season Garten 115 prs CBC (85 in 79) is highest yet; Kirk, young still in nest Fleet 20 July. Counts and migration: Shet, influx 27-28 Mar, max 280 Fetlar; Fair Isle, 15 Mar - 13 May, mainly late Mar, 560 on 28th, 450 on 1 Apr; Moray, 1000 Rafford 21 Dec; Aber, 1300 Auchlossan 12 Jan; Clack visible SW-S passage between 11 Sep and 15 Oct, max 45 per hr 14 Sep; Renf, 1800 Barnbrock 23 Oct; Ayr, 2000 Kirkmichael 30 Dec. Brambling Fringilla montifringilla Summer: o in song N Suth birch wood 4 June but no sign of mate; Inv, o’ song Rothiemurchus 14 May - late migrant? Counts and migration: Shet, few to 2 June, 3 Sep - Dec, max 138 Whalsay 23 Sep; Fair Isle, some 27 Mar - 13 June, max 66 on 4 May, 12 Sep - 7 Nov, max 260 on 23 Sep, 50 on 22 Oct; Ork, 28 Mar - 2 June, 11 Sep - 8 Nov; nos low N mainland and SW; Aber, 120 Slains 3 Feb; Angus, 150+ Glen Clova 13 Mar; Perth, 200 Comrie 28 Dec; Isle of May, poor nos; Midl, 1500 Gladhouse 23 Feb; Borders, large nos, 2500 Whim, Peeb 13 Apr and 700 Romanobridge, Peeb 28 Nov. 50 +Greenfinch Chloris chloris Breeding: good in some areas, winter flocks lower. Counts and migration: Shet, Yell 28 Apr, 28 Oct - 14 Dec, max 15 Ting valley 20 Nov; Fair Isle, 1-3 on 22-31 Oct; O Heb, 53 Druidebeg 12 Mar; Suth, o’ Handa 24 Apr; Isle of May singles 2 Apr, 6 May and 11 Oct; Dunb, 350 Dullatur 20 Sep, 300 Luggiebank 20 Dec. +Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Breeding: slightly up from Suth S; good nos E Loth but lower Borders and Kirk. Counts and migration: Shet, 2 Skerries 5 Nov; W Ross, 3 Polbain 20 Oct, 2 on 4 Nov; Angus, 70 Easthaven 31 Aug; Dunb, 80 Cardross 29 Sep. +Siskin Carduelis spinus Breeding: N Suth, bred Borgie; Inv, 25 prs Garten CBC (21 in 79); more Fife, Loth and Borders. Counts and migration: Shet, few May, from 13 Sep, large influx 19-26 Sep, max 140 Dale of Walls 21st; Fair Isle, few, max 7 on 27 Apr, strong autumn passage, 13 Sep - 14 Oct, mainly 19-26 Sep, when 250 on 20 Sep, fresh falls 300 on 23rd (record total), 100 on 26th; Ork, big influx from 19 Sep, max 75 Holm 24 Sep (1 controlled Wideford 30 Sep had been ringed Norway 18 Sep); Suth, 2 Handa 26 July (1st ever); Aber, 100 Invercauld 28 Sep; Isle of May, peaks 80 on 22 Sep, 70 on 27th; Arg, 100 Lochdon 14 Sep is high for Mull. +Linnet Carduelis cannabina Breeding - no comment. Counts and migration: Shet, 5 in May; Fair Isle, 3 in May/June, sporadic 24 Sep - 27 Oct, 11 on 8 Oct is best ever autumn total; O Heb, 2 Benbecula 3 May; Inv, overwintering increasing Drumnadrochit - 110 in Dec; Renf, 600 Paisley Moss Nov. +Twite Carduelis flavirostris Breeding: Shet, still low; Fair Isle, poor season; W Ross, good season Coigach; Ayr, pr bred Ailsa Craig. Counts: Fair Isle, arrivals 80 on 27 Apr, 250 on 16 Sep; Caith, 500 Killimister 13 Dec; Aber, 60 Corgarff 8 Mar; Clack, 50 Cambus 2 Feb; Ayr, 250 Irvine 25 Oct; Dumf, 220 Bankend 22 Mar. +Redpoll Carduelis flammea Breeding: good season Coigach, W Ross and Drumnadrochit, Inv. Counts: 150 Insh, Inv 16 Aug; 295 Kinord, Aber 8 Nov. Passage of Mealy Redpolls Cf. flammea: Shet, small nos; Fair Isle, few spring, sparse autumn, max only 3-4 in Oct; very few elsewhere. Greenland Redpoll C.F. rostrata: only one record Whalsay, Shet 16 Nov. *Arctic Redpoll Carduelis hornemanni Two Fetlar, Shet 13 Oct (J.N. Dymond) were C.h. hornemanni; 1 N Ronaldsay, Ork 13-27 Oct (K.F. Woodbridge)§: probables Olnesfirth, Shet 1-8 Nov and Fair Isle 12 Nov. +Crossbill Loxiacurvirostra Breeding: Suth, few Borgie; Perth, fewer; Fife, up to 60 Tentsmuir Mar - Apr, some bred; more Loth - Borders, 30 Tyninghame 8 Apr, 60 Tweedbank, Rox 8 Mar; fewer Renf, Ayr, Dumf but more some areas Kirk, e.g. up to 80 Laurieston 15 Feb. Migrants: Burravoe, Shet 17 Apr; Crossbill sp Fair Isle 5 Apr; Ork, 2 Hoy 26 July. +Scottish Crossbill Loxia scotica Very poor year Abernethy/Rothiemurchus, Garten none bred in reserve (even less Scots Pine cones than 1979), influx to max 20 on 8 July; Suth, moderate season Shin; W Ross, bred L Maree; E Ross, possibly more Black Isle. Comments on status difficult because of confusion with previous species. *Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus One Finstown, Ork 1-2 Apr (A.D.K. Ramsay)8§. 51 *Scarlet Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus 5 in spring and cS0 in autumn, 12 Aug - 29 Oct. Spring: Shet, o° Uyeasound, Unst 9 June, Virkie 2 June, Skerries 10 June; Fair Isle, single oo” 30 May - 3 June, 4-6 June. Autumn: Shet, c25 Whalsay 27 Aug, 29th (2), 31st, 6 Sep, 20th, 22nd and 27 Sep; Fetlar, 30-31 Aug, 12 Sep (3), 14th, 21st, 23rd (3), 25th; Skerries 3-4 Sep (3), 5-6 (2), 7-8th, 9th (4), 10th (2), 12th, 16-17th, 19th (2), 20th; Sumburgh 12 Aug, 30 Aug - 1 Sep (2), 2-4 Sep, 6th; Toab 2 Sep, Skellister 2 Sep; Fair Isle c13, 24-25 Aug, 26th (2), 29th-30th (3), 2 Sep (3), 8-9th (3), 10th (4), 11-12th (3), 13-14th (4), 2-3 to 18th, 25 Sep - 2 Oct (1), 11-12 Oct, 26-29 Oct; Ork, Copinsay 11 Sep, Holm 12th, Copinsay 19th, Wideford 26 Sep, N Ronaldsay singles 28 Aug, 16 Sep, 20th, 21st, 13 Oct; Caith, Noss Head 12-13 Sep (KWB, SGM); Isle of May, 22 Sep (T.W. Dougall et al). +Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Breeding: numbers increasing and good season High- lands, Perth, Loth and Borders. Counts: 50 Methven Moss, Perth 26. Feb. Migration: 2 S Uist, O Heb 9 Nov: northern birds P. p. pyrrhula in N: Shet, Lerwick 16-17 Oct, c10 at six sites 2 Nov - 27 Dec, max 3 Lerwick 20 Nov; Fair Isle, 3-25 Nov, max 40n Sth, 6 and 7th; Ork, present Jan, Mar, 22 Oct - 31 Dec, max 4 Kirkwall 29 Mar, 2 Evie 8 Nov; Caith 3 Reay 20 Jan. +Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes Breeding: present usual areas Perth, Stir, Midl and E Loth. Singles Tarholm, Ayr 14 Oct, Banchory, Kinc 18 Jan and Gairn Bridge, Aber 5 June. Migrants: Shet, singles Mid-Yell 2 Jan, Kergord 28 Mar, Voe 26-27 Sep; Fair Isle, 0” 28-31 Mar; Ork, exceptional series of records, Shapinsay 27 Mar, Rendall 29th, Orphir 31st, 2 Finstown 31st-2 Apr, Binscarth 2 Apr, Kirkwall 10th; Caith, Wick 29 Mar - 1 Apr. +Lapland Bunting Calcariuslapponicus Breeding: 1 pr located usual area, tf carrying food. Migration and counts: Shet, Fetlar 4 Apr, 15 Sep - 19 Nov, max 6 Skerries 27 Sep; Fair Isle, small nos 16 Mar - 29 May, max 3 on 26-27 Apr, 8 Sep - 4 Nov, max 25 on 24 Sep, 15-25 to 28th; Aber/N Kinc, 8 Greg Ness 27 Jan, 4 on coast 22-27 Mar, 1 Rattray 28 Sep; Perth, 2 L Turret 6 Dec; Isle of May, 1-2 between 17-28 Sep; Fife Ness 23 Oct; Midl, 24 Musselburgh 24 Feb - 8 Mar, last 20 Apr, 4 on 29 Nov, max 10 on 27 Dec; E Loth, singles Dirleton 9 Jan, o’ Aberlady 9 June; Arg, Sanda 9 Apr. +Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis Breeding: Central Highlands: 5 o’o’ s, 3 2 s, quite good success in 2 areas; Inv, W Grampians pr + 2-3 o’o’ in one area; W Inv, at least 1 pr. Counts and migration: Shet, to 15 June, max 60, from 13 Sep, max 100 on 28 Sep; Fair Isle, to 20 June, from 5 Sep, 16 on 14 Sep, max 220 on 26 Oct; Ork, 400 Harray early Feb, Ist 14 Sep, 500 N Ronaldsay 20 Oct; Caith, 300 Wester 6 Mar; Aber, 500 Glenbuchat 13 Mar, Ist 28 Sep; Angus, o’ Usan 25 May; Stir, 80 Kippen 12 Nov; Selk, max 100 Little Yarrows 15 Dec. *Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos Two: Fair Isle, 9 14-16 Oct, o° 3-8 Nov (I.S. Robertson et al): Sth - 6th Scottish records. +Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Breeding: good season Inv; lower Borders, Perth and Dumf. Counts: 150 Dumbreck, Stir 26-28 Dec; 100 Ellon, Aber 3 Feb. Migration: Shet, 1-3 on 9 days 23 Oct - 5 Nov; Fair Isle, 28 Mar - 16 May (c4) and 22 Oct - 12 Nov, max 10 on 25th 15 on 27th; Ork, singles 3 dates 13 Sep - 28 Oct, 4 N Ronaldsay 27 Oct. *Qrtolan Bunting Emberizahortulana Six (becoming rare): Shet, singles Sumburgh 31 Aug and 3 Sep (PRF, IGD), Skerries 13 Sep, 17 and 20 Oct (BPW, BM, ET); Fair Isle, 16 May, 12 June (ISR et al). 52 *Yellow-browed Bunting Emberiza chrysophrys One Fair Isle 12-23 Oct; 1st British record of this-centrai Siberian species (I.S. Robertson et al). *Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica Twelve: Shet, Skerries 23 Sep - 1 Oct (D.M. Pullan, E. Tait); Fair Isle, 25 Apr, 8 individuals in autumn, 14 Sep, 22 Sep, 23rd (3), 24th, 25th (3), 26-27th (2), one to 2 Oct, 11th, 12th (2), another 14th (LS. Robertson et al); Isle of May 13 May (G.L. Sandeman); Arg, Port Charlotte, Islay 23 May (Mrs P.J.S. Dawson). *Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla Nine: Shet, Fetlar 14 Sep and 23 Sep (J.N. Dymond), Skerries 22-24 Sep (D.M. Pullan, E. Tait); Fair Isle, 11 May, 6-7 Sep, 22 Sep - 1 Oct, 7 Oct, 12 Oct (I.S. Robertson et al); Ork, N Ronaldsay 13 Oct (K.F. Woodbridge)§. *Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola 8-9 birds: Shet, Sumburgh 30 Aug, perhaps same 6 Sep (B.P. Walker et al); Fair Isle, 2 4 July, autumn birds 27-28 Aug, 30-31st (2), 3-4 Sep, another 12-13 Sep, one 29 Sep (I.S. Robertson et al). +Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus Breeding: Shet, bred for Ist time Yell. Counts: 70 Ellon, Aber 3 Feb and 30 Nov; 75 Fannyside, Dunb 3 Feb. Migration: Shet, sporadic 14 Mar - 30 May, max 7, autumn peak 25 Fetlar 23 Sep; Fair Isle, 14 Mar - 31 May, max 12 0n 1 Apr, 17 on 5 May, 15 Sep - 8 Nov, max 35 on 23 Sep; Ork, N Ronaldsay peak 15 on 20 Oct. t*Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps Two: o Fair Isle 17-26 May; o” Reay, Caith 10 June - early Sep. +Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra Breeding: O Heb, down to 4-5 prs Lewis - Harris; Caith, only 1 record; E Ross, only 3 singing o’o’ Fearn, very scarce Black Isle; continued decline E Loth and Kirk. Counts: 40 Crail, Fife 16 Feb; 65 Cruden Bay, Aber 12 Apr; Shet, 5 Mid-Walls 28 Feb; none Fair Isle. 53 ORKNEY ADDITIONS FOR 1979 The Orkney report for 1979 was not received in time for publication in the 1979- S.B.R.; notable records which were omitted are listed below: Garganey 2 Stronsay 7 May Honey Buzzard 1 Holm 27 May Marsh Harrier 1 Stenness 27 Aug Rough-legged Buzzard Singles on 11 dates 23 Mar to 28 Apr and 16th, 24-25 May. Osprey 1 Evie 13 Apr Hobby Singles Berstane, St Ola 30 July and 3 Aug Corncrake Complete survey 102-104 on 18 isles Red-necked Phalarope 1 Westray 5 Aug Pomarine Skua 1 N Ronaldsay 5 Aug Long-tailed Skua 3W Birsay 22 Sep Sabine’s Gull 1 N Ronaldsay 16 Oct Black Tern 1 Birsay 24 June Barn Owl One injured (dark-breasted) Sanday 22 May Long-eared Owl Winter roosts max 24 Berstane, St Ola and 20 Norseman’s Garage, Rendall Wryneck 2 St Ola 2 Oct, 1 on 3rd, 1 Holm 6 Oct Yellow Wagtail Pair fledged 3 young Papa Westray Waxwing 1 St Ola 13 Nov, 1 Kirkwall 14 Nov Marsh Warbler 1 singing Orphir 20-21 June Icterine Warbler 1 Birsay 6 May Melodious Warbler 1 Papa Westray 11 June Barred Warbler 2 Herston, S Ronaldsay 1 Sep, 1 Holm 6 Oct. Yellow-browed Warbler 2 Holm 6 Oct, one on 12th Red-breasted Flycatcher Loch of Swannay 9 June, singles Deerness mid Sep and Finston 10 Oct. Red-backed Shrike 7 records 6 May - 10 June Great Grey Shrike Singles N Ronaldsay 12 Apr, Rendall 20 May, St Ola 1-14 Oct, Scapa Flow 6 Oct. Magpie 1 Westness, Rousay 23 June. Hawfinch Singles Kirkwall 7 Apr, Stromness 8 Nov. ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO 1979 REPORT Black-necked Grebe Page 11, lines 6-7 should read “‘Max 12 L Ryan 19 Dec’’ not ““‘none reported L Ryan’’. Fulmar Page 11, line 2, should read ‘‘108 sites, 47 prs bred’’ not “‘108 prs’’. Manx Shearwater Page 12, line 11 should read ‘‘350+”’ not “‘350'2”’ Bewick’s Swan Page 14, line 9 after Wig, add ‘‘3 Moss of Cree 3-7 Feb;’’ Osprey Page 22, line 17, should read ‘‘Strathmiglo 8 May’’ not ‘‘8 Mar’’. Canada Goose Page 15, line 2, remove “‘increase to 12 prs Lower L Ken’’. Jack Snipe Page 27, line 4, should read ‘‘1’’ not ‘‘7 Shell Bay’’. Glaucous Gull Page 32, line 4, should read ‘‘Aber, Insch’’ not “‘Inv, Insh’’. Short-eared Owl Page 36, line 7, should read ‘‘15’’ not ‘‘5 wintered’’. Magpie Page 46, line 5 should read “‘though’’ not ‘‘through’’. 54 Notice to Contributors Records should be sent to the appropriate local recorders but in cases of difficulty they can be forwarded by the editor. These records should be on one side of the sheet only, well spaced and in species order, following the Voous sequence. The only exception is that Aberdeenshire and north Kincardineshire records should be in place and date order. Observers should consult previous reports for the sort of information required. To avoid duplication of records by the recorders, names of other observers present should be given where appropriate. Notes for the year should be sent promptly, generally in early January, but some recorders prefer more frequent records and regular contributors are asked to consult local recorders about this. Reports of occasional visits to areas outwith the observer’s regular territory, such as holiday lists, should usually be sent to recorders as soon as possible. Records of rarities, including species only locally rare, should be sent to recorders without delay. | To save recorders’ (often considerable) time and expense, correspondents should enclose a stamped addressed envelope or indicate that no acknowledgement is required. 55 Nan meena? ty BARING soya af = i te eur here os 4267 oe we x rh =uePe at 2.) hs Ate # , re = viele oe okey Oe @ ee CL ST Soe Teh re heath te arp Ca J boa 6 2y* Lite hem oe ~~ = read pe. one ; I Whe on kt a awe ¥T) glk LJ ew a ocoree ee tp ea nc S30 eee sine hel eae Meer treet nae ie