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NeW a Maca ie ey e¥Pae bye eons : ” eres Cee nmp oe prepa b aan oy rap fs = Ste Oe tines ae $ ee Saver 4 oe > h \ z é : . : ids oe ieeeers Seen : : oR Snr ner ea ar gen cron FASE Penge eae ont oy Cis aeseee ye Ee 3 Fes regener oyionk Byeketios antenna Se Sar hst hhh pen areee Byes aijet aocein ae evant Vad natine arena ye oso epee eat geste 8 Scere se ay Peproeres F . we ¢ epee neste: Beets me bate e ate many pemacrnerss stpeeeaA Slee poi aan, een oret: hope : Ags ete eee err eon eee oe | O= 1992 Scottish AU! THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM King -5 SEP 199q:0. ler PURCHASEBu! TRING LIBRARY Bird Report ae Editor See Hooded Warbler Pintail Eider Ray Murray Ross's Gull Curlew Hen Harrier Twite Blue- winged Teal Skylark Puffin Icterine Warbler Long- Great Northern Diver- Turnstone bille Red-backed Shrike-Velver Scoter Dowitcher Black-headed Bunting - Chiffchaff Red-necked Waxwing - Lesser Crested Tern Phalarope Brent Goose - Alpine Swift Red-eyed Vireo Black-browed Albatross - Raven ~ Long-tailed Whooper Swan-Reed Warbler Skua - House Tawny Owl - Pied Wheatear Sparrow Sandhill Crane - Bullfinch Gadwall Red-breasted merganser White Golden Plover - Little Crake Stork Arctic Redpoll - Green Woodpecker Pheasant - Sanderling - Pochard Long- Barred Warbler - Nightingale Long- tailed White- Song Thrush-Sand Martin tailed Duck - Sooty Shearwater Skua tailed Greater Black-backed Gull Common Scoter- Red-footed Falcon Stellers Teal Eagle Spoonbill - Oystercatcher Rufous Turtle Dove - Common Gull Eider Common Tern WoodWarbler - Redwing Wheatear - Black Grouse - Bluethroat Mute Water Pipit Short-eared Owl - Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler - Scottish Crossbill Swan Scaup Marsh Harrier - Slavonian Grebe - Capercaillie - Stone Curlew Coot Common White-rumped Sandpiper - Lesser Black-backed Gull - Osprey Sha Sandpiper Woodpigeon - White- winged Black Tern - Rustic Bunting Little Woodcock Calandra Lark - Long-eared Owl - Red-breasted Flycatcher Egret Blue Black-throated Diver - Black-throated Blue Warbler - Gannet Manx Tit Two-barred Crossbill - Corn Buuting - Great Grey Shrike Shear- Subalpine Warbler - Little Ringed Plover - Scottish Crossbill water Rock Dove- Herring Gull - Buff-breasted Sandpiper- Redshank Guillemot Spotted Redshank - Snow Goose - Sparrowhawk Night Heron Snow Bunting - Pied Flycatcher - BlackRedstart Marsh Warbler Greater Sand Plover-Great Spotted Woodpecker Melodious Red-crested Pochard - Rough-legged Buzzard Corn- ste Warbler Pectoral Sandpiper - Trumpeter Finch - Jackdaw crake billed Jay Scarlet Rosefinch - Golden Oriole - Shore Lark Gull Siberian Rubythroat - Broad-billed Sandpiper Chaffinch _ Blackcap - Stonechat - Richard's Pipit Bee-eater Black-eared Wheatear -Glaucous Gull Quail Sabine's Gull Green Sandpiper - Red-legged Partridge - Bittern Goldeneye _ Pacific Golden Plover-Common Crossbill Redpoll_ Long-tailed Tit -Rose-coloured Starling Snipe Thrush eno ae - Mistle Thrush Greenshank Snipe Grey Plover - Greylag Goose Rock Coal Dunlin Great Crested Grebe Pied Pipit Tit Fulmar Greenfinch - Shelduck Wagtail Barnacle Linnet Artic Ortolan Bunting -Lesser Whitethroat -Nuthatch Goose Robin Tern Whinchat - Dark-throated Thrush - Tawny Pipit Chough Red Pomarine Skua - Black-tailed Godwit - Marsh Tit Crest Kite Black-headed Gull - Collared Dove - Moorhen Tit Hawk Wren Eleonora's Falcon - Cormorant - Goosander Owl Ring Black- necked Grebe - Pink-footed Goose Tree Ouzel Montagu's Harrier - Brambling - Hawfinch Pipit Rook Red-flanked Bluetail - Razorbill - Cuckoo Storm Thayer's Gull - Kestrel - Curlew Sandpiper Petrel Yellow Wagtail -Red Grouse -Bewick's Swan Common Crossbill - Willow Tit - Curlew Woodchat Shrike - Dunnock - Fieldfare Lanceolated Warbler -Red-throated Pipit Nightjar - Shore Lark - Citrine Wagtail Tengmalm's Owl - White-fronted Goose Wood Sandpiper - Little Grebe - Siskin Lesser Scaup - Reeed Bunting Ruddy Duck Grey Phalarope Great Booted Warbler Tit Dipper Jay eal Published by The Scottish Ornithologists' Club £4:50 Scottish Bird Report 1992 Editor: Ray Murray Assisted by: Paul Speak and David Kelly The Scottish Bird Report is published by the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club and is available free to SOC members. It is on sale to non-members: contact 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh for current prices. The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was formed in 1936 with the aim of encouraging all) aspects of ornithology in Scotland. The club has nearly 3,000 members and some 14: branches around Scotland which meet in Ayr, the Borders, Dumfries, Dundee, Edinburgh, | Glasgow, Inverness, New Galloway, Orkney, St Andrews, Stirling, Stranraer and Thurso, | each with its own programme of field meetings and winter lectures. The club organises an annual weekend conference in the autumn and a one-day bird-watchers’ conference in spring. Club members receive the quarterly newsletter Scottish Bird News, two copies of the journal, Scottish Birds and the annual Scottish Bird Report. The SOC’s offices and Library are in| Edinburgh. The Waterston Library is the best ornithological reference library in Scotland, and is open during office hours and at other times by arrangement with the Librarian. | The Club acts as the coordinating body for ornithological recording in Scotland, appoints|” local recorders, and in addition to the Scottish Bird Report, publishes a number of Local Bird) Reports via the branch network. A comprehensive stock of local bird reports is held at headquarters and may be purchased by mail order. | SOC annual membership subscription rates . 7a (geome a NG ac ti eee RP te ae ome eens Geng ec RARER a aac sconidoossoac onbgaoaasoboscbone £15.00 Family @vites husband dé childremiumden 18). 2e0- tacts os cance tect onde cc cone eee ece Seen eee eee £22.008 Junior (under 1 8ior student winder 25 8 aici soccscesee Mele wsosece lh nae Socce es eee ee ee £6.00) Pensioner Un Wage: asciiai.asccnasinetontnadausenen Ones sgdeeonoren eis coy oceans «baa eis ei ttc Ne een ee ener Sarees nee £8.50 PensvomerRannily: 2. sreccs.scateccuediaceccsecdueneee tact ca eo.cc cuenta octane vaso Recles cots ay ae Sete ean edo Re £12.00 DEAR sth Gee so nndleisaSee by ig acticl onda taste Getssua S Resse east SN eset tise ake oe erate as EES CSER Te een £300.00 All subscriptions may be paid by Banker’s Order and Covenanted if desired. Subscriptions paid this way will greatly assist the Club. Published by the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5BT. Printed by Milne, Tannahill & Methven Ltd., 113-119 Glover Street, Perth PH2 OJE. SCOTTISH BIRD REPORT 1992 Number 25, July 1994 Edited by Ray Murray 4 Bellfield Crescent, Eddleston Borders EH45 8RQ assisted by Paul Speak & David Kelly Se Par pre Np be [THE NATURAL | | HISTORY MUSEUM -9 Sep 1994 | PURCHASED | anita eters FORESEES | ROTI TMT! ATER ayer NE sa ROC ape = : Coe aS a Published by the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5BT ISSN 0036 9144 |= 2 Scottish Bird Report — : hb Scottish Bird Report Number 25, July 1994 Contents Editorial 3 | Introduction 4 Abbreviations 4 Notice to Contributors 37 Ackowledgements 5 i Scottish Birds Records Committee 6) 4 Species List for 1991 70! | Publications affecting the Scottish List 708. i Local Bird Report Areas, SOC Recorders and Local Bird Reports 71 Bik: | Ly AWiwen : ith ly (\ SZ | Aa he | } | ita | | r 4 1 Min i S OVE (| Uexce Ba: { { =a Lm ie ot -—_W House Sparra” Wy My Steven Brow — : R.D.Murray [Ed] 3 Ra IE IE Le Mee DEEPER Pn Emer RE RTL ES eS ee Editorial The 1992 Scottish Bird Report continues the changes started in the 1989 SBR to change the nature of the national report. To this end data has been sought from the JNCC's "Seabird Monitoring Programme" in Aberdeen who monitor seabird success across Britain. They have kindly allowed the SBR to use their data in summary form to show the changes in breeding numbers and success. This is just part of a wealth of information on birds recorded annually across Scotland that deserves access to a wider public. Itis hoped that more information of this sort will become available in future. It is an ambition of mine, as SBR Editor, to eventually include articles concerning events about the year in question but both time and space have precluded this in the 1992 SBR. Nevertheless I would like to appeal to any readers that might be able to contribute to the SBR in the form of papers or letters about events that occurred in the year concerned. In the annual statement of the Scottish Birds Records Committee , the SBRC state their desire to fully tighten up the validation of bird records in Scotland . This will mean that from henceforth no record of a rare and unusual bird that has not been vetted by the two national committees (BBRC and SBRC) or a local records committee will be published. Most local area reports contain a list of such species and there is really no excuse for observers submitting records without a description if one is deemed necessary. If there is no description it will be as if the bird did not exist, as far as posterity is concerned. As a local recorder I have experience of observers telling me of rare birds but not sending in a description - I'd rather not know! To know that reliable observers have seen a bird but are too lazy or complacent to write it up is really frustrating. This SBR contains several species statements (Ring-necked Duck, Surf Scoter, King Eider) where there are clearly additional records but there is no supporting evidence, even for well known birds that many observers have seen. We need to be able to be confident that we leave future birders a heritage of valid records, so please, please send in those descriptions. The 1992 SBR provides accounts of some 346 different species. 341 were found in Scotland in 1992. In addition to 333 ‘British List’ species there are accounts of at least 11 escaped species and another 2 found dead on ships docked in Scotland. The 5 remaining species are cases where decisions have been pending for some years. 1992 had many species of interest. There were two firsts for Scotland - Semipalmated Sandpiper on Fair Isle and Hooded Warbler on St.Kilda. A potential first for Britain, an Asian Brown Flycatcher on Fair Isle, has been categorised as a potential escape by the BOURC. There were also the second records of Yellow Warbler, Yellow-browed Bunting and Pine Grosbeak and third reports of Solitary Sandpiper, Siberian Thrush and Trumpeter Finch. Old news saw the Brown-headed Cowbird seen on Islay in 1988 become the first , and so far only, record for Britain. The North Ronaldsay Pallas's Rosefinch of 1988 was also placed in the potential escape category by the BOURC. On the breeding front Icterine Warbler bred for the first time in Britain at Creag Meagaidh while Red Kite bred in Scotland for the first time since 1917, justifying the whole reintroduction scheme. Another landmark was over 100 Osprey young fledged in one year. An excellent spring passage saw record numbers of several passerines as well as a large numbers of Pomarine Skua in the north and west. Autumn movements had record numbers of Pomarine Skua and Black Tern. Ray Murray, June 1994 4 Scottish Bird Report —_ Introduction | This is the 25th Scottish Bird Report to be published by the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club. It covers the whol | country and was compiled from material published in local area reports. It is on these local area reports i the SBR is based. We have reports from all areas for 1992 although the Angus & Dundee report was ii summary form as the new Local Recorder took over. Local areas are named and mapped on the inside bac] cover of the SBR with a full list of recorders and the areas they cover. | It must be emphasised that I can only publish what is submitted to the local recorders and appears in the loca area reports. Accounts for any area are what has been observed (and reported) that year - not a summar, of what is really there ! They are, in effect, a sample, some of which are more comprehensive than others l As a summary it is felt appropriate to abbreviate the area names as much as possible. Many of the recordin) _ areas are referred to by the briefest abbreviation possible for comprehension. These are listed, along with : area map, at the back of the SBR . Some abbreviations for local areas have been altered from those of 199 & 1991 to accord with local sentiments. Other abbreviations used are listed below. Only selected records are given. Precedence is given to peak counts, breeding populations and migratio patterns. All national rarities and semi-rarities are included where some decision on their validity has bee taken by the BBRC or the SBRC. Any records still pending will be added to future reports. If more details are required on any records published here, the first source should be the Local Bird Repo: and then the Local Recorder. i The sequence and scientific names in the species list follow the Voous sequence. (See Voous, K.H. 1973- 197" List of Holarctic Bird Species. Wbis 115: 612-638 & 119: 223-250.) Data from the British Trust for Ornithology Common Bird Census (CBC) & Waterways Bird Survey (WBS are presented as the indices for the year concerned in the form of a percentage change ( + or -) from the lev of the previous year. Separate indices for woodland (W) and farmland (F) or where the sample is too sma to be valid, all (A) datais used. WBS results are a simple percentage ee Data is taken from the indice published in B.T.O. News . | Birds of the Estuaries Enquiry data (BoEE) is presented mostly as stacked histograms showing the birc counted in each month of the year at the major estuaries. Counts are grouped by the BoEE from more thg 20 counting areas but data have been clumped to represent the five major coastal areas of Scotland; | Forth Tyninghame & Forth. Tay & NE Eden, Tay, Montrose Basin, Dee, Don, Ythan. | Moray Spey, Inner Moray Forth, Cromarty Firth, Dornoch Firth, Loch Fleet. | Clyde Inner Clyde, Irvine, Loch Ryan. Solway Luce Bay, Wigtown Bay, Fleet Bay, Kirkcudbright Bay, Auchencairn Bay, Rough Firth, Solway Like most of the records in the SBR, the BoEE figures cannot tell the whole story. Some counts at som estuaries are more complete than others, some counts were conducted on different days within a month ar in others no count was conducted at all in certain months. They should be treated, as should all the recory in the SBR, as samples ( albeit more comprehensive) representing what occurred at the time. Abbreviations | | | es All known records given | c male juv _— juvenile asl above sea level I e female imm immature m, Km metres, kilometres. | pr(s) pairs (s) Ist-w__ first-winter plumage, etc. Km’ square kilometres AON _ apparently occupied nest Ist-s _ first-summer plumage, etc. Res Reservoir if AOT apparently occupied territory N,SE __ flight direction Pt Point | c/2 clutch of two eggs, etc. or area of Scotland L/P. Loch, Lake/ Pond br2 brood of two young, etc. Jan all months cut to 3 letters R. River or Reservoir i ; MCS _ mean clutch size max maximum lf} MBS _ mean brood size (young/pair) incl includes | ee ee | R.D.Murray [Ed] 5 (ER aa TY R O e a Notice to Contributors Allrecords should be sent directly to the appropriate SOC Local recorder. They should be on one side of a sheet of paper only, and if possible in the Voous order (as in this report). Some Local Recorders can cope with computer-based data and welcome material on a floppy disc (always accompanied by hard-copy). You should ask the Local Recorder concerned for the particular arrangements if this option is available. Observers are directed to the Local Bird Reports for the type of information required. All notes for the previous year should be sent in promptly to Recorders by the end of January, but more frequent submissions are welcome. Monthly or quarterly submission spreads the workload of the Recorder. Acknowledgements I was assisted in the compilation of the 1992 Scottish Bird Report by David Kelly ( divers to rails) and Paul Speak (waders to woodpeckers). Their contributions were greatly appreciated. Keith Chapman also assisted with his expertise in computers and the translation of floppy-disc formats. All of the artists that have submitted artwork to the SOC are thanked but special thanks go to Steve Brown for the volume of his contributions. The British Trust for Ornithology , especially Ray Waters, is thanked for making the Birds of the Estuaries Enquiry results available to the SBR. Mark Tasker is thanked for forwarding materials published by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on seabird populations. I would like to thank all of the Local Recorders and Bird Report Editors involved in producing the local area reports throughout Scotland that form the basis of the SBR. This is the bedrock on which Scottish ornithology stands at present. Please support them by not only contibuting records but by buying your local (and perhaps neighbouring!) area reports. Anyone who contributed any record to Scottish Recorders in 1991 is thanked for their help in building up a picture of Scotland 's birds for that year. So please keep them coming. Stuart Green has retired as the Local Recorder for Angus & Dundee. Allan Burnett has agreed to join the fold in Stuart's place. Ken Shaw has been elevated to ‘better things’ as a member of the Rarities Committee. His place as North- east Scotland Local Recorder has been taken over by Andy Thorpe and Andy Webb. The outgoing recorders are thanked for their work over the years, Ken since 1988 and Stuart since 1990. Franklin's Gull Lothian 1992 Steven Brown The Scottish Birds Records Committee The Scottish Birds Records Committee was set up by the SOC in 1984 to consider records of species not rare enough in Britain to be dealt with by the British Birds Rarities Committee, but which were rare in Scotland. The Committee examined SO records for 1992. 38 were accepted and 10 were found to be unacceptable (in most cases they were considered possible but not proven). 2 remain pending. There are now many excellent local records committees in Scotland and a three-tier system of adjudication on records is now being formalised in recognition of the fact (BBRC being responsible for British rarities, SBRC for Scottish rare birds and local records committees for lesser rarities and local rarities). The SBRC's list is being simplified and will indicate those species for which the SBRC would wish to receive all records and the species which would normally be assessed locally in areas with local committees. SBRC is now also encouraging Local Recorders to set up local records committees in areas where none exist. In addition it is expected that local committees will examine records of birds rare within their area ( e.g. Marsh Tit anywhere outwith Borders) . The proposals are expected to result in an improved approach to record assessment, aimed at achieving the aspirations of the Council of the SOC S.B.R.C. List 1994 Scottish Bird Report 199 oo when they originally set up the SBRC in 1984. With effect from the 1994 Scottish Bird Repo, records of species appearing on the SBRC list w) not be published unless they have been assessed a1) accepted by either SBRC or one of the local commi tees and the SBR will clearly identify which commi_ tee has accepted each record of species on the SBR list. In 1993 Kevin Osborn joined the SBRC to replace Brij Marshall who retired by rotation, having served since!) inception in 1984. Brian, who lives in Shetland, mai valuable contributions to our work during this peric. Ken Shaw has recently been elected to the BBRC ai) will therefore act as a link between the two committe« a role previously performed by Alan Brown. SBRC have recently finalised the Scottish List whi has now appeared in the June 1994 issue of Scotti Birds. The SBRC will be responsible for updating tl on a regular basis. So a oe ea Suis All records should be sent to the SBRC via the Lod Recorder who should forward correspondence to RI Forrester, Secretary SBRC, 31 Argyle Terra, Rothesay, Isle of Bute, PA20 OBD. o.) CORY’S SHEARWATER Little Ringed Plover CETT?S WARBLER GREAT SHEARWATER KENTISH PLOVER SAVI’S WARBLER MEDITERRANEAN SHEARWATER Pectoral Sandpiper AQUATIC WARBLER Little Egret Buff-breasted Sandpiper Marsh Warbler PURPLE HERON Long-tailed Skua Icterine Warbler White Stork Mediterranean Gull MELODIOUS WARBLER Spoonbill Sabine's Gull DARTFORD WARBLER Green-winged Teal RING-BILLED GULL Barred Warbler ; RING-NECKED DUCK HERRING GULL- yellow legged race Pallas's Warbler y FERRUGINOUS DUCK michahellis & cachinnans Firecrest Surf Scoter BEE-EATER Red-breasted Flycatcher | Honey Buzzard LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER BEARDED TIT } Red Kite SHORT-TOED LARK WOODCHAT SHRIKE MONTAGU’S HARRIER WOODLARK SERIN ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD Richard's Pipit Common Rosefinch | Hobby TAWNY PIPIT CIRL BUNTING | Crane Water Pipit Ortolan Bunting STONE CURLEW Nightingale LITTLE BUNTING | KEY BLOCK CAPITALS: Lower Case: SBRC would prefer to receive all records. These should normally be dealt with locally if a local records committee exists, but should be submitted to SBRC if no local committee exists. | co «<> i —— a — — oe —— a — a NGI} R.D.Murray [Ed] Species List for 1992 Red Throated Diver Gavia stellata 53 Spey Bay M&N; 35 North Berwick area L & 32 Castle Douglas D&G in Jan. 42 Burghead Bay M&N, 27 Riff Bank I&R & 36 L.Ryan D&G in Feb. 114 Nairn Bars I&R, 181 Ballantrae area Ayr, 170 Largo F & 100 Murcar coast NE in Mar. 110N (1hr) Girdleness NE 20 Mar & 40N Brora Suth 15 Apr. 156 Donmouth-Murcar NE 4 May. Breeding: Shet 60 successful prs, ratio of 1 chick to 2 chick broods of 1: 0.74, better than '91&'90 when 1:0.45 & 1: 0.37; Ork 86 sites ,91 nests , 45 young raised by 36 successful prs, a poorer year than '91, similar to '90; Caith 4 sites, min 2prs successful ; I&R 3 prs Eigg raised 3 young; Arg 9-10 prs Coll with 3 pairs elsewhere. Arran 4-5 prs,failed; P&K 3 prs; M&N 2prs failed; Cent pr, 1 young. Best passage peaks incl 76S Girvan Mains Ayr & 45S Peterhead NE 20 Sep; 22S Fife Ness F 3 Oct; 49W Hound Pt L & 12N/1S St Abbs B 11 Oct. Winter counts incl 77 Aberlady L in Sep; 261 Spey Bay M&N & 54 Kinshaldy F in Oct; 109 Spey Bay & 50 Carsethorn D&G in Nov; 90 Burghead Bay & 34 L. Ryan D&G in Dec. Black Throated Diver Gavia arctica 1-3 birds widespread Jan-Mar; highest counts incl: 49 Dipple area Ayr, 9 Machrie Arran. 30 Sinclairs Bay Caith, 8 Hobbister Ork, 9 Burghead Bay M&N in Jan; 9 Waulkmill Ork , 7 Nairn/Culbin Bar M&N & 46 Balkenna-Ballantrae Ayr in Mar. 67 Sound of Gigha Arg 4 Apr was max spring count: also 11 Echnaloch Bay Ork, 27 Sinclair's Bay & 38 Largo Bay F (highest Fife since 1980). Breeding: Caith 4prs;Suth 6prs, only one young; OHeb 3 successful pairs Lewis& Harris, | pr Uists; I&R 39 prs, 16 raised 20 young. 14 pairs nested on artificial islands and were 3 times more successful than prs at natural sites; P&K 2 prs with 3 young, prs seen at 5 other sites; Arg 7 prs reared 5 young; Cent 2 prs reared 2 young. Passage at St Abbs B totalled 6N/2S from 10-25 Oct with 3N on | & 8 Nov. High counts:23 Sinclair's Bay Caith 5 Oct & 1 Nov; 10 Burghead Bay M&N in Nov. 22-23 wintered Machrie Arran Nov-Dec (record Arran counts). Small numbers. scattered around the coast but few numbered more than 10. Great Northern Diver Gavia immer 43 Cat Firth area Shet 12 Jan; 13 Dunnet Bay Caith 22 Jan; 11 Dippleshore Ayr 12 Jan & 28 Mar. 32 Lerwick-Whalsay Shet 19 Mar . 24 Dunnet Bay & 20 L.Indaal Arg in Apr; 32 Gairsay Ork 11 Rattray NE, 18 Sinclairs Bay Caith & in May; with 15N Tiree Arg 7 Jun. 2 summered N.Uist OH. Early 11 Sinclair's Bay 10 Aug. Main influx Oct: 10 Breachacha Bay Arg 18 Oct; 15 Pirnmill Arran 23 Oct; 28 Dunnet 9-15 Nov; 23 Burghead Bay M&N 26 Nov, with 16 on 8 Dec. 22 Galt Buoy Ork 16 Dec, 18 Bay of Quoys Ork 22 Dec. Great Northern Diver Steven Brown *White Billed Diver Gavia adamsii 2 records in '92 compared to 10-11 in '91., 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 28 Apr; ad Fetlar Shet 28 Dec. [1991]: last date for Gullane Bay L_ was 25 Sep. Little Grebe Tachybatus ruficollis Jan-Feb: Most inS &W -22 L. Ken & 15 Threave D&G & 11 L. Etive Argin Jan. Peak count in E was 9 Linlithgow L. L also in Jan. Breeding: Sites Pairs Young Sites Pairs Young Ork 1 1 2? Cent y 14 Caith 4 7 ? Fife 16 8 yi I&R x 4 ? Loth 14 BD ? M&N 14 26 ? Bord = 17 26 19 NE As Ae Sea Ape ile ID pa P&K 10-12 14+ ? Clyde 17 25 26 Ayr LO OM) Le MBS: Bord 1.58, Ayr 1.86 & Clyde 2.4 Post breeding: 42 Bavelaw/Threipmuir L in Aug; 12 Portmore L. B 19 Aug; 15 Townhill L. F 13 Sep; 46 Linlithgow L. L in Sep; 20 Kilconquhar L. F 8 Oct; 23 Gadloch Clyde 10 Oct; 18 Seafield Pond L 15 Oct. 8 Scottish Bird Report ee Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Black Necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis | 200 Seafield-Eastfield & 170 Musselburgh L in Jan were the highest counts. 82 L. Leven P&K in Feb with 80 there in Mar when 85 at Musselburgh. Breedin Sites Pairs Young Sites Pairs Young M&N 1 1 0 Bord 5 0 0 P&K 5 5+ S45, Clyde it 23+. V2 Cent Z 3 2 syAyr 2 9 0 Fife 10 45 61 D&G 5 12 ? Loth 5 11+ 7+ Arg 11 12 ? MBS : Fife 1.8, Loth 1.2, Clyde 1.1 120 Kinneil Cent 29 Jul, 110 there in Aug, 108 in Sep & 222 in Dec. 514 on BOEE count S. Forth L in Aug, with 438 in Sep & 478 in Oct. 155 L. Ryan D&G in Aug with 203 in Oct. Red Necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena Peak Count J F MAM J J AS OND Mus'bureh, *3>°2\" 307023") PORE 4-221 Gosford, > 27.2810 31214) 38'54e28) 83521 Gullane 25; 235-25. 11.08 0: OS 2e35 17722 5 Winter-spring singles: O.Heb,Caith, Suth, I&R, OH, M&N, Cent, Ayr, Arran (2) and D&G. 7 Shet, max 3 Cat Firth 12 Jan. 5 Largo F 16 Feb. Last Gosford 24 May & Dunglass B 12 Jul. Breeding: Pair at usual site in Bord 17 Mar-28 Jun for 4th year but were unsuccessful once again. Pr Cameron Res F 14-16 Jun, did not summer. Away from Lothcoast: | L. Watten Caith 18 Aug; 2 Kilconquhar L. F 5 Sep; singles S off Ayr coast on 1 & 15 Sep. Main arrival in Oct - singles Shet, Ork (2), I&R and Bord. 5 Burghead Bay M&N 31 Oct-1 Nov. Singles Oct-Dec in Shet, I&R and M&N with 2 Kirkcaldy F 1 Nov; 2 Ruddon's Pt F 22 Dec; 3 Endrick Mouth Clyde 28 Dec. Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus 51 Gosford L, 16 Firth-Tresta Shet, 14 Whiteness Shet & 17 Burghead M&Nin Jan; 17 L. of Harray Ork, 25 Luskentyre OH, 15 L. Ryan D&G and 15 Largo F in Feb. 24L. of Harray , 54 Kinshaldy F and max 59 Gosford Bay in Mar. 50 L. Indaal, Islay Arg 19 Apr was the peak Apr count. Breeding: I&R 63 prs + 5 unpaired ads at 30 sites produced 41 young; M&N 14 prs +4 unpaired ads at 8 sites produced 8 young; P&K none bred. Few on coast until Nov: 56 Gosford, 19 Burghead & 17 Jemimaville I&R, 39 L.of Harray, 15 Burg- head, 20 Musselburgh L & 28 Gosford in Dec. _——-_ —_—— Jan-Mar singles in I&R and Fife with highest cour at L. Ryan D&G of 7 on 19 Feb. i Breeding: A&D max 9 Kinnordy , 4 pairs hatche! 8-12 but only fledged 4; Bord pair bred ee single young (first breeding for area). Summer singles at L. Leven P&K & Lochgelly k Autumn-winter singles were recorded from NE (2) Fife, Loth and Clyde (3) but L. Ryan again had highest count with 7 on 10 Oct. | Black Browed Albatross Diomedea melanophr. Regular summering bird at Hermaness Shet we ‘ intermittently present between 19 Apr and 30 Jui [1990]: Single 12.6 km off Portknockie NE in ‘ Cromarty Sea Area on 15 Sep. Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis Breeding: 1986-92 trends at monitored sites were sable} improving. Shet showed a significant 23% increase since 9 ul Elsewhere changes were minor (2-3%) or as in NW Sc (23%) based on only a few sites. UK productivity whi moderately high at 0.45 young/AOS with success bett! y further N where Shet and Ork averaged 0.53. Significal) . improvement of O.1 young/nest on E coast. Ailsa Cra showed notable improvement . Walsh et al JNCC 1993. Resumption of increases in N.Isles after stab: period in late 1980s. Stable elsewhere. Large counts:3,650N Ardivachar Pt OH 25 Ap 3,000W/hr Sandside Caith 15 May; 1,600N/ S.Head Caith 13 Aug; 4,000/hr Unst Shet 7 No’ Blue-phase birds seen most frequently N_Isles bj reports from O.Heb, Suth, Bord & Ayr. Blue- “pha birds on nests Auskerry Ork & Strathy Pt Suth, Returned L.Leven P&K cliffs 14 Apr, no succes | pie a Acad ose Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 1S off Rubha Ardvule, S.Uist OH 7 Sep. 1 Fair Is 9 Oct, with another there 12 Oct. | mee SE a Ee EEE LT SS a Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus | Another poor year with only c300 birds in| passage which had no other large movements.| 1 off Uists OH 26 Jun; 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 18 . then singles Fair Isle | & 3 Aug with anoth N.Ronaldsay & 2S Unst Shet. 28 Shet | Aug-1 Sep; min 68 Ork 3 Aug-18 74 Brora Suth 9 Aug-28 Oct; 17 OHeb 26 Jul R.D.Murray [Ed 9 23 Sep; 38 NE Aug-Oct; 39 Fife Ness F 16 Aug- 9 Oct; 18 Is of May 22 Sep-16 Oct; 17 Barns Ness L in 35.5 hours 14 Aug-11 Oct; 16 Bord 30 Aug- 12 Oct. Highest daily counts: 27N Brora Suth on 30 Aug and 27+N Fife Ness 5 Sep. Last singles Brora & Wick Caith 28 Oct. Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 1 Kingsbarns F 2 Feb was the only winter report. First 1 Brora Suth 29 Mar; Shet 9 Apr; Ork 16 Apr; O.Heb, D&G, Arran & Ayr 21-27 Apr; Fair Is 8 May; Loth 23 May; Is of May 14 Jun; Bord 25 Jun. Largest movements: >8,000S/hr Sound of Harris OH and 2,500S/hr Ardivachar Pt OH 19 May. Breeding: Only 46% burrows occupied Canna I&R where 0.46 chicks/nest, below average. Walsh etal JNCC 1993. Shet Foula main colony deserted, a few chicks at nearby colony; Ork only small numbers Hoy in offshore rafts; I&R probable decline Eigg, max 700 in offshore rafts; Arg poss colony Garvallachs. Autumn numbers low in N.Sea, poorest for many years in Forth & NE with 200 Brora 22 Aug the best E.coast total. Best counts late Aug-Sep in SW especially Firth of Clyde: 2,000 Dippen Arran 23 Aug but peak 30Aug-1 Sep when 10,000+ Turnberry Ayr, 5,000/ hr Corsewall Point D&G and 6,000 Troon Ayr. Last big numbers SW mid-Sep when last Fife & N.Isles. Last M&N, Caith and I&R 19-24 Sep; Bord & Is of May 9-16 Oct; Loth 25 Oct; Latest Turnberry Ayr on 19 Nov. | ‘Manx Shearwater | Andrew Dowell | Mediterranean Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan 1S Turnberry Ayr 26 Aug with 2S there 30 Aug ‘when 1 Corsewall Pt D&G; 1S Turnberry 31 Aug, | Then mostly singles Corsewall Pt (1), Turnberry (1), Troon Ayr (6 birds) & Ayr Ayr (1). Only -tecords outwith SW were singles Fraserburgh NE vand South Head, Wick Caith 10 Oct. Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus First report: single during Fair Is crossing 26 May. Breeding: 4-5,000 birds estimate Mousa Shet , 42% of 78 monitored nests hatched 42 chicks (54%) & produced 28 fledglings; Ork calling at Holm of Papay; 2 nests+ others churring Auskerry, 1 nest+ 2 calling Muckle Skerry; OHeb bred Shillay, Sound of Harris. Passage birds from mid-Jun in N. Isles, early Jul in Clyde, & mid-Jul in Forth. Most E.coast birds tape lured to mid-Aug but diurnal passage only in SW & N.Isles Aug to mid-Sep. 85S (3hrs) Turnberry Ayr 5 Aug; 665 N.Ronaldsay Ork 16 Aug, 600 off the island 21 Aug; 31S Turnberry 7 Sep; 50 off Portpatrick D&G 12 Sep and 1,013 N.Ronaldsay 16 Sep. Last records mostly late Sep with singles Troon Ayr & N.Ronaldsay 3 & 6 Nov. Leach's Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa First bird seen O.Heb 22 Apr. Breeding: Reported Gruney, Ramna Stacks Shet where estimated 20prs. 18 endoscope-examined burrows contained 10 with eggs, 2 with chicks, 2 with adults only and 3 were indeterminate. Walsh etal JNCC 1993. Breeding strongly suspected Foula Shet. Passage birds mostly late Aug-Sep, some at tape- lures Fair Is & Ork. Few records, mostly singles: Fair Is (3), Ork (8), Caith (2), Suth (1), I&R (3), Arg (1), Ayr (14) and D&G (4). Best counts 200 Chanonry Pt I&R 1 Sep and passage Ayr coast 15 Sep when 18S Troon, 76+S Ayr and 81S (2hrs) Turnberry. Latest O.Heb 23 Oct. Gannet Morus bassanus Breeding: Significant increases in small colonies continue: 278 nests Troup Head NE (+195% over '91); 781 nests Fair Is (+13% over '91); 679+ nests Roareim, Flannan Is OH (414 in '88). 6,856 nests Noss Shet (+27% over '82), equalling 2.7%/annum. Production was high with UK average of 0.69 young/nest, highest on Ailsa Craig Ayr at 0.77. Although suspected a nest seen on Rockall OH is first breeding there. Walsh et al JNCC 1993. See Belaouseff S (1993) British Birds 86:16 & 86: 320-321 for details of Rockall breeding. Birds ashore at 2 sites Ork & St.Abbs B in summer. 2,000 Torness L 25 Aug was highest coastal count. Inland: 1 dead L.Lomond Clyde 29 Jul; 43 L.Duich I&R 31 Aug. Singles P&K (3), Clyde & Cent in Sep. 10 Newton Mearns Clyde 17Sep. 4 records Skinflats area Cent Sep-Nov suggestive of over- land movements. 2E Glasgow Clyde 8 Nov. Nn i 10 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Winter: 382 Clyde Est Clyde & 28 Tweed Haugh B inJan; 31 Strathclyde Park Clyde, 56 Lossiemouth M&N & 390L.Leven P&K in Feb; 120 Strathbeg NE in Mar. Breeding: Despite increases in most coastal UK area a complete census in Caith shows no overall change since '86 while Shet has declined to 60% of '87 levels. Counts in N.Isles show 13-17% drop since 91, -1.5% in N.Scot, -6% in SE Scot but an increase of 18% in SW Scot. Shet production was an excellent 3.1 young/nest. Walsh et al JNCC 1993. Shet 225 nests in census; Caith 230 prs in census; I&R 249 nests N.Sutor, MBS 2.6; Loth new colony Inchkeith (14 nests); Bord 51 nests Fast Castle MBS 2.1; Arg 15 nests McCormaig Is (46 in 1991); Ayr 114 nests in census. 183 Southerness D&G in Aug; 264 Barassie area Ayr & 50 L.Lomond Clyde in Sep; 248 NE Fife F in Oct; 565 Clyde Est, 201 Lossiemouth NE in Nov; 317 L.Leven & 364 Forth Est Cent in Dec. Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis Breeding: Decline in Shet continues ,-5% since '91 while numbers in NW, N. & SEScotare stable or increasing slightly (0.8-5%). High productivity at monitored sites at 1.22-1.84 young/nest, slightly better than '91, but poorer success at colonies on Canna I&R and Is of May which averaged 0.93 and 0.87young/nest. Walsh et al JNCC 1993. Non-breeding counts. 698 GulberWick Shet in Jan; 1,010N Fife Ness F in Apr; 1,400W Anstruther F in Aug; 1,236 Kincraig F in Sep; 522 Ladys Holm Shet in Nov; 1,560N Eyemouth B in Dec. *Bittern Botaurus stellaris 1-2 birds Duddingston L 1991 until 14 Feb.Singles Invertromie I&R 1 Jan; L. of Strathbeg NE 5 Jan. 1 Duddingston L. 16 Oct-30 Nov. Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax BBRC_ seems to accept all records of unringed birds away from Edinburgh area but central Scot- tish records must be suspect. Imm L.Leven P&K '91-23 Mar, same ? Glenrothes F 24 Apr-16 May & same ? Is of May 5-6 Jun. Juv Craigie ParkAyr 28 Aug-11 Sep, juv Merryton Clyde 9 Sep, perhaps same Ailsa Craig Ayr 11 Sep. Edinburgh Zoo ringed bird Beltonford & Seafield Pond L 1991-18 Sep. Unringed ad Duddingston L. 22 May. | flew over Meadows, Edinburgh 17 Jun. CCS a aS SS PT SY ATURE 3 | Scottish Bird Report 1992 | *Little Egret Egretta garzetta 1 Glencaple in Jan, same as Caerlaverock area Nov-Dec 1991. First St Kilda OH 7-10 May, died. | Skin in Glasgow Museum. *Great White Egret Egretta alba 1 Ythan Estuary NE 10-16 Jun (3rd for NE). [1990] different from L. Droma I&R bird on 3 Jun ca | SBR 1990). Grey Heron Ardea cinerea | 37 Clyde Est Clyde in Jan; 34 Leuchars F in May; | 100+ Eilean nan Ron Suth in Jul; 32 Ythan NE in | Aug; 57 Howden Burn B in Sep; 38 Clyde Est in Oct; 39 Hule Moss B in Nov & 32 Ae D&G in Dec. | Breeding: Ork 9 nests at 1 site reared min 5 young; Caith 2 colonies failed with 7 nests at another; I&R 15 prs at 6 sites; M&N 18 nests at 2 sites; P&K13 nests at 4 sites; Arg 41-43 pairs at 7 sites; Cent 2prs at Gartmorn ; Fife 9 prs at 2 sites; Loth 76 pairs at 13 sites; Bord 35 prs at 7 sites; Clyde colonies of 50 nests at Bothwell & 31 at Endrick Mouth; Ayr 88 AONs at 15 sites, includes colony of 50 nests at Ardeer ICI; Arran 8 - 9 nests at 4 sites; D&G min of 5 colonies. *Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 1 Corby Loch NE 10 May (3rd for NE ). 1 St Kilda! OH 17-20 May, died (/st for islands and 2nd for\ ,, Outer Heb). Skin in Glasgow Museum. *White Stork Ciconia ciconia 1 R.Ken at Dalry D&G 1-2 May. *Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia | Ist-w North Roe Shet 17 Nov, died (3rd for Shet).. | 1 summered L. of Strathbeg NE 26 May to 31 Aug,| — fora second year. Another Ythan NE 26 May.| 1 L. Lochy I&R, 31 May-1 Jun was | 1 Aberfeldy! , P&K 4-5 May , same over Bankfoot P&K 6 May. | 1Tyninghame L 30 Jul with another Musselburgh) 2 Sep. Maybe refers to only 4. birds . bird could be the Strathbeg bird on its return| pasage south. Skin of Shet bird in National Museum of Scotland. The Musselburgh\ R.D.Murray [Ed] Spoonbill John Busby *Flamingo sp. Phoenicopterus spp 2 Tyninghame L 28-29 Feb, was not specifically identified. Mute Swan Cygnus olor Lower numbers than in winter '91 with highest counts: 397 L. of Harray Ork, 117 Cromarty Firth I&R,319L. of Skene NE & 100 Cramond L in Jan; 137 L. of Skene & 235 Tweed Estuary B in Feb. Breeding: Pr L. of Tingwall Shet raised 2 young (st ‘wild’ breeding record for the islands). Pairs Broods Young MBS Shetland 1 1 2 2.00 Orkney 31 12 50 4.16 Caithness 9 6 21+ 3.50 Moray & Nairn 18 9 48 5.60 North East Scot. 29 11+ 19+ u Perth & Kinross 10 ? 18 B Central 5 5 21 4.20 Fife 26 13 52 4.00 Lothian 57 36 130 3.61 Borders 43 14 66 4.70 _ Clyde 35 U 60+ ? Ayr 24 15 72 4.80 D&G 14 ? ? ? Moult Flocks: 620 Tweed Est. B 22 Jun with 420 on 24 Jul; 240 L. Leven P&K in Jul; 269 Strathbeg NE 29 Aug; 193 Clyde Est. Clyde 16 Aug. 101 L. of Bosquoy Ork 16 Sep, 188 L. of Harray f ‘ Ork Sep-Nov rising to 204 in Dec. 230 Dornoch | Firth I&R in Oct; 129 Tweed Haughs B in Oct; \ it 510 L. of Strathbeg NE 8 Nov; 108 Tyninghame L » and 375 L. of Skene NE in Dec. 11 Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus Winter herds: 120 L. Eye T&R & 191 L. InshI&R in Jan; 279 Uists OH & 117 L. of Boardhouse Ork in Feb; 275 Sibster Caith & 178 Winless Caith, 104 Loch of Birsay Ork; 192 West Rariche I&R, 340 L.Eye & 202 St Fergus NE in Mar. Smaller herds of 25-100 were recorded in: Ork (3), Caith (6), I&R (5), M&N (1), NE (2+), P&K (3), Cent (6), Fife (2), Arg (2), Clyde (5), Loth (4), Ayr (6), Bord (4) and D&G (5). 819N passed through Uists OH 16 Mar-9 May. Summer records from: Shet (3), Ork (5), Caith (4), I&R (1), OHeb (17-18), M&N (3), NE (1), P&K (3), Loth (1) and D&G (2). Earliest returns were 3 L. of Mey Caith 15 Sep then singles N.Ronaldsay Ork 20 Sep and L. of Skene NE on 23 Sep where the latter joined a summering bird. 215 W.Mainland & 330 Stronsay Ork by mid-Oct. Passage through Uists peaked 10-14 Oct with 449S & 323 on the ground (13.7% juvs). (16% juvs in Bord Nov-Dec). 340 Delny I&R & 389 L. Eye. 336 surveyed at 26 sites Shet 8 Nov. 320 Stanstill Caith, 306 L. Eye and 425 L. of Skene NE. More wide-spread in Dec: 198 Caerlaverock D&G, 225 L. of Skene, 245 L.Eye and 290 West Candrens Clyde. Bewick's Swan Cygnus columbianus c89 birds Jan-Feb. Reports of 1-6 birds from NE, Arg, Loth and Clyde. Best counts P&K with 18 at Vane Farm in Jan & 27 New Gullet Bridge in Feb; 21 Ball Res F 21 in Jan; 14 at Moor of Genoch D&G in Jan &10 Caerlaverock D&G Jan-Feb. 1 Benbecula OH on 1 Jun was late. 1 St Mary's L. B 13-14 Oct was first of autumn. Then 1 L. Freuchie P&K & Lochgelly F 18 Oct. Largest counts: 15 Knowes L 16 Nov & 17 at Cleish P&K 22 Nov. 1-3 birds in NE, Clyde, Fife, Bord and D&G. *Black Swan Cygnus atratus 1Clay of Allan & Fearn I&R 10 Feb-23 Mar; then 2 Broxmouth L 2 Sep; 1 Doonfoot Ayr 8-12 Nov then same Auld Brig Ayr 14 Nov to 1993. Another R. Irvine Ayr 11 Nov to 1993. 12 Scottish Bird Report 1992 f (EERE SDL ED A Na NSH 0S SS eT UT OT PH RN TE SS) Bean Goose Anser fabalis C. Scotland: 90 Garbethill area Clyde 22 Jan; 113 Fannyside Clyde 1 Feb, last 11 there 16 Feb. 35 Fannyside 20 Sep; 94 L. Elrig Cent 18 Oct; 100 Fannyside 21 Nov and 100 near Falkirk Cent 24-30 Nov. This flock had risen to 124 by 15 Dec. SW Scotland: 1 Milton L. D&G 31 Jan & 18 Threave D&G 3 Feb. No autumn/winter birds D&G. It is now believed that the SW flock is made up of birds fromC.Scotland pushed to the SW by harsh weather. Singles L. of Strathbeg NE & L. Marlee P&K in Apr; with 2 L. na Reivil N. Uist OH 27 May. First 1 Seafield & Troon Ayr on 15 Sep. Other records: 11 Thurso Caith 3 Oct; 1 Strathbeg NE 4 Oct; 1 Hule Moss B 17 Oct; 3 Montrose A&D 22 Oct; 3 Cameron Res F 23 Oct to 1993; 1 L. of Bosquoy Ork 24 Oct; 3 South Dipple Ayr 23 Nov & 1 Vane Farm P&K 5 Dec. Pink Footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus 13,200 L. of Strathbeg NE in Jan & 20,000 in Feb. 9,200 Strathean P&K, 7,100 L.Leven P&K, 6,550 Hule Moss B, 6,300 W.Water B, 5,865 Caerlaverock D&G, all in Jan. Feb exodus with 10,450 Cameron Res F by far the highest count. Fewer in Mar: 8,080 L. Leven & 10,000 Mugdrum P&K the best. 5,500 L. Leven, 10,400 Strathallan and 7,100 Strathearn, all P&K. Last big count was 10,000 Strathallan 3 May. Summer birds were noted: Caith (1), M&N (3), Cent (3), Fife (1), Loth (1) and Ayr (3). Early birds seen Fife 5 & 28 Aug. Main arrival mid Sep. Poor breeding success, only 9.7% juvs, with below average MBS of 1.73 juvs/pair. Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Grey Goose Counts Oct-Nov 1992 October : ed SE Scotland NE Scotland Other Scotland [] England | East/Central Scot Resort Sep Oct Nov Dec Stratheam P&K 20,000 25,500 15,900 : L. Leven P&K - 23,070 6,730 - StrathallanP&K 5,900 6,200 5,459 8900 | Aberlady L 1,700 9,560 4,663. .12,281 J Fala Flow L 4,800 3,450 550 ii West WaterB —-10,150 +=24,000 ~—:8,000 a | Hule Moss B 4,600 14,800 1,450 - } Numbers peaked as usual in October before falling | off rapidly towards the end of the year. | See Mitchell & Cranswick (1993) The 1992 National Census i Pink-footed and Greylag Geese in Britain. WWT White Fronted Goose Anser albifrons Greenland race A.a. flavirostris | Main wintering area Arg with 3 main resorts: | Islay -max 9,839 in Feb; Kintyre-1,048 at Rhunahaorine in Jan & c1,200 at Machrihanish in| Feb & Apr; Tiree- 1,100 in Mar; and another 1,000) scattered elsewhere. 1 Elsewhere highest counts 113 The Loons Ork in| Jan ; 4 flocks with c800 birds in Caith; 158 at5 sites | Uists OH in Jan; 350 Endrick Mouth Clyde Jan- Feb; 331 L. Ken D&G in Mar. Most left Apr. | Last flocks:120 Glins Moss Ork 18 Apr; 166 Oust) Ork 12 Ap; 147 N St Kilda OH 22 Apr. Last D&G) 21 Apr.; Ork 22 Apr; latest 3 Islayon 20 May | An early arrival: 150 L. of Mey Caith 15 Sep with!” 8 Stronsay Ork 17 Sep, . First Islay 5 Oct, built up| to 8,911 by 23 Oct, peaking in Nov at 10,905, with] only 6.68% young birds, the poorest breeding!” since 1961. 1,110 Rhunahaorine 2 Nov. 2 flocks| totalled 365 Caith in Dec, with OHeb peak 161 inj Nov. Endrick Mouth flock reached 160 in Nov with 300 Dee D&G in Nov. ! European race A.a. albifrons (incl unraced birds *) | Singles Hightae L. D&G 16 Feb; L. of Stenness Ork 23-24 Feb & 14 Mar; Strathbeg NE 26 Feb -|” 1 Mar; L. of Skene NE 26-27 Feb; 10 Balgavies| A&D7 Apr; 1 Holm Ork on 11 Jun. . 15 feral Duddingston L 4 Aug-26 Dec. 1-3 Hule ; Moss B 11 Oct-3 Nov; 3-4 * Gladhouse L 31 Oct-| 9 Dec; | Kilconquhar F 18 Dec. ~ Greyiag Goose Anser anser | Jan-Mar numbers in NE well down compared to) '91- peak counts of 3,490 at L. of Skene & 3,600 at| Haddo in Mar with total numbers wintering in NE) | possibly as low as 5,200 in Feb. c6300 at 3 sites P&K in Feb with 4,520 Strathearn on 4 Apr. R.D.Murray [Ed] Elsewhere counts >1,000 birds from Ork (4), Caith (2), M&N (2), Cent (1), F (3) and Ayr (2). Breeding: Shet 7br21; Ork 17prs, 58 young; Caith 16prs, 43 young; Suth 3 sites; I&R 4prs Eigg; NE 2prs Haddo,19 birds 14 Jun; P&K 3 sites, 50 juvs; Arg 36prs Cairn na Burgh, Mull & 103prs Tiree with 36br124; LothS sites, 17br88, 7prs at 5 others; Bord 2br8 Baddingsgill. Ayr 2br10 Kilantringan, bred Ballantrae. Poor success in winter flocks , only 11% juvs. MBS of 2.0 was just below average. : Mi East/Cent Scot Wildfowl & Wetlands | N Scotland Trust — NE Scotland Grey Goose Counts N&W Isles Oct-Nov 1992 [] Other Scotland Ey England 0 25,000 50,000 75,000 100,000 See Mitchell & Cranswick (1993) The 1992 National Census of Pink-footed and Greylag Geese in Britain. WWT Best autumn/winter counts 16,842 at L. Eye/Fearn T&R 18 Oct; 7,280 L. Spynie MKN 28 Oct, 13,440 L. of Skene NE in Nov and 23,894 Dinnet Lochs NE in Dec. Sites with >1,000+ counts were re- ported from Caith (4), I&R (3), M&N (4), NE (3), P&K (5), Fife (2), Loth (2), Clyde (2) and Bord (1). *Bar Headed Goose Anser indicus 1 Threipmuir L 13-29 Feb was only report. *Emperor Goose Anser canigans 1 all year at Fairlie Ayr. Snow Goose Anser caerulescens Breeding: 2 prs bred Coll Arg, 45 birds, including 12 juvs there 18 Aug. Otherwise small numbers accompaning other geese. 13 Area J F MA MJ J AS ON D Caith 2 1 O Heb Dh ti I&R 2 NE Di A&D 1 P&K Dire wi nDivi 2 2 1 Cent 2 Argyll 40 1 45 46 Clyde 1 D&G LENE Canada Goose Branta canadensis E.coast moult migrants May-Jun incl 20N St Abbs B 27 May; 16N Newtongrange L 11 Jun, 43 Is_ of May 12 Jun; 20 Montrose A&D and 30S Aberdeen NE 20 Jun. Max 248 Beauly moulters 1&R 22 Jul; 260 Tarradale [&R 27 Jul with 330 on 20 Aug. Return passage: 19 Edenside F 20 Aug; 15 Coble Shore F & 18S Eyemouth B 29 Aug; 18 Miller's Moss B 1 Sep; 16 Kilconquhar B 3 Sep. Breeding: Arg 3 broods Colonsay & 2prs Mid-Arg; Clyde 7prs+ min 2br12; Bord 2prs Bemersyde/ Whitrig reared 4 young. Breeding area counts incl 120 Hightae L. D&G in Jan; 97 L. of the Lowes P&K 23 Feb; 110 L. Leven P&K 17 Jul; 190 Drummond L. P&K & 283 Caerlaverock D&G 13 Sep; 141 Kirk L. D&G in Dec. Small birds, possibly of the races minima, parvipes or hutchinsii were recorded in M&N from 1991- April and Islay Arg with 3 Jan - Feb & 5 Apr. 2 Dinnet L. NE two birds , one of which had been ringed in Maryland USA in Feb 1982, were present 17 Nov to mid December. The ringed bird was the first definitely wild American Canada Goose to be recorded in Britain. Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis Solway flock: No reports were available for the Solway flock in the winter-spring period. First 2 Irvine Ayr 12 Sep & 15 Caerlaverock D&G 15 Sep. Passage on Ecoast peaked on 2-3 Oct when 3,000+S past Scurdie A &D; 1,837SW were counted at Fife Ness F; 1,000S at Barns Ness L & 1,022S at St Abbs B. In the Forth 2,000S Musselburgh & 350S Hound PtL with 1,035S Anstruther F. Inland 940 Gladhouse L and 990 at Tweedbank B same day. 7,000 Caerlaverock 3 Oct increasing to 12,178 on 24 Oct. Last passage birds in the E were 60S Shelly Pt F 31 Oct. 14 Hebrides flock: 25,947 on Islay Arg with probably c.30,000 wintering in Arg. 500 Sound of Harris OH 15 Jan. 2,000NW Ardnave, Islay 29 Apr. 1 Loch Gruinart, Islay 6 Jun. | summered Colonsay Arg. 2,837 Islay 5 Oct rising to 25,202 by 23-24 Oct. 609S Uists OH 5-27 Oct. Outwith Islay there were c.4,000 birds in Argyll. Breeding season very poor, only 2.55% juvs Islay with an MBS of 1.31. Northern Isles flocks: 900 South Walls Ork 18 Oct; 800 23 Oct. Elesewhere mostly 1-5 birds but 250 Ribigill Suth 11 Jan & 21 Eden Estuary F 3 Jan. 1 L. Flemington M&N 14 May. Brent Goose Branta bernicla Pale bellied B.b. hrota. More reports than '91. Marked spring & autumn passage, espin Arg and OHeb but autumn passage also seen in E. Max monthly counts. Area JIFMA-~M J JAS ON D N. Isles 9 1 1 3 W. Isles 114 137 N. Scot 2d, 3-10 NE Scot 7 ehale eck 1 63 E/C Scot 2), 3-42 3 1.23). Hove 2 We Scotz4ioi4 4528242 1 6 81 4 4 SE Scot TONS} SW Scot46 8 8 3 Peo 16 Dark bellied B.b.bernicla 1 Tyninghame L 9 & 17 Apr; 1 L. of Spiggie Shet 19 May; IN Barns Ness L 6 Oct & | L. Gruinart, Islay, Arg 24 Oct - 8 Dec. *Red Breasted Goose Branta ruficollis Ist-w Caerlaverock D&G from 1991-5 Mar before moving to Mersehead to 15 Mar. Returned Caerlaverock, leaving 21 Mar. Returned as ad Caerlaverock 5 Oct before moving to Mersehead 18 Nov to 1993. Photo Birding World 5:465. *Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus 2 Torven I&R 1-14 Feb. *Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea 1 Alness Bay 1& R 22 Apr & 1 Killen 10 May I&R; 1 m Culbin Bar M&N 16 May & Findhon M&N 18 May -19 Jun. Probably single individual. Te =O Andrew Dowell Scottish Bird Report 1992 | Shelduck haa eee | agp ZR ! eae Bie AGS | Shelduck Tadorna tadorna | Winter max.850 Balgove Bay F & 659 Caerlaverock) D&G in Jan; 950 Eden Est F & 574 Skinflats Cent\ in Feb; at least 5 other sites had counts >200. | Breeding: National Shelduck Surv tf Area Sites Pairs Broods Young MBS i Shetland 9 16 6 ? ? if Orkney 12 77 2F 308 2-232 i Caith 6 9 9 47 SY i I&R 2 4 Te ol? : | M&N 3 2 ? 41+ ? i NE ? ? ? 69 y P&K 4+ 49-54 ? 48+ ? Cent 1 248 ? 11+ x Fife 2 14 ? 58 ? Lothian 6 127 E180 08 | Borders 1 1 1 10 = | Argyll 17 236 B43 ? | Clyde 3 8+ Der w'4n ? Arran 2 10 2 66 ? | Ayr 9 41+ ? 120 2 D&G 1 44 ? ? ? i Coverage was good this year as most areas took par) in the National Shelduck Survey. | Moult flocks: 4,400 Kinneil Cent 2 Aug with 1 oa) Inner Solway D&G 27 Oct. 1,420 Caerlaverock D&G 3 Nov was peak winte!, count with counts of 100+ birds received from I&R (2), Loth (2), Fife (2), Clyde (1) and Cent (1). | | | Mandarin Aix galericulata Breeding: Caith 1-2 St John's Pool Jul-Aug; juy . : Ham Pool Jul-Aug then ad Ham Pool 13 Sep. 1&K_ 1 Newtonmore Apr, pr bred Farr, 2br3 Faillie L. it i Jun; P&K escaped pr bred L. Tummel but nd », reports of breeding Tay at Perth but present therd all year, max 3; Arg br10 Cowal; Bord 3 sites Ey ei, Water, max 5 Houndwood 26 Apr. Elsewhere: 2 Stronsay Ork May-Jun; | Belleislt: Ayr Jul, pr 31 Oct - 1993; 1 Nairn M&N in Dec | i R.D.Murray [Ed] Wigeon Anas penelope 4,430 Findhorn M&N & 3,553 Cromarty F. I&R in Jan; 2,552 L. of Harray Ork & 1,323 Beauly F. I&R in Feb; 1,754 Strathbeg NE & 1,200 Tyninghame L in Mar. Breeding: Shet 1br8; Ork 14prs; M&N 2 sites; NE 12 $9+15 young Braemar NE; P&K 16 sites with 46prs but success was poor; Bord 18 at 3 sites B 23 in post-breeding flock Aug but no confirmed breeding; D&G 2 with 6 young L. Ken. Passage: 800N Fife Ness F & 60N Skateraw L 19 Sep; 218N/17S on 5 days 7 Sep-11 Oct St Abbs B & 113N Eyemouth B 9-15 Oct. Oct-Dec max counts include enormous count of 15,091 Dornoch F. 1& R in Oct; 3,835 L. of Harray Ork & 1,000 L. Ryan D&G in Nov; 1,430 Findhorn Bay M&N, 1,550 L. of Strathbeg NE, 4,250 L. of Skene NE and 1,219 Tyninghame L in Dec but highest counts were still in I&R with 8,688 Dornoch F., 7,299 Cromarty F. & 5,427 Inverness F. *American Wigeon Anas americana 7 records with 5-6 birds: & L. Ussie I&R 1991 to 18 Jan & 10 Mar; 1 Tiree Arg 21 May;o" Strathbeg NE 6-8 Jun; o Sae Water Shet 9-12 Jun. o'L. of Skene NE 14-22 Nov with Ist-wo 22 Nov- 19 Dec; & Burntisland F 10 Oct-1993, also at Stenhouse Res. [1991] & Gladhouse L 27 Jan not Rosebery. Gadwall Anas strepera Jan-Mar max: 12 N.Ronaldsay Ork 17 Jan & 20 L. Leven P&K in Mar. More numerous & widespread in Apr with records Shet, M&N, I&R, NE & Ayr. Breeding: Ork 3prs N.Ronaldsay, confirmed breed- ing Ancum L.; P&K 12 ads 23 young L. Leven in Jul; Fife 8 prs Kilconquhar 10 May, min 3br18 at 3 sites; Loth poss bred Bavelaw; Bord br3 Hule Moss & pair Whitton L.; Arg bred Islay; Clyde 7br4& Baron's Haugh with br9 Merryton. Passage late Aug. Peaks were 20 L. Gelly Fin Aug; 200 L. Leven in Sep; 30 Baron's Haugh in Oct; 14 Carriston Res F in Nov; 7 Musselburgh L in Dec. In line with UK_ trends, Gadwall seem to be increasing in Scotland and to spreading outside the traditional stronghold in Fife and Tayside . 15 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 1,348 Dornoch F. I&R; 1,333 Forth Est. Cent, 1,027 Tweed Haughs B; 1,017 L. of Strathbeg NE, 714 Perth P&K and 602 Airthrey Cent in Jan. During Jan-Feb counts >250 from I&R (2), M&N (2), NE (2), P&K (3), Cent (2), Fife (2), Loth (3), Bord (2), Clyde (3), Ayr (2) and D&G (2). Breeding: Ork 9prs Hoy; Caith 21 prs, MBS 6.3; P&K Strathallan MBS 4.5 (3.1 in '91); Cent 27br117 , MBS 5.1 ; Fife 24br185 + 14 other broods at 9 sites; L 32 prs at 12 sites; B 80br417 at 40 sites with MBS 5.21; Clyde 28br131 at 18 sites MBS 4.7, additional 32prs at 2 sites; Ayr 23br132. 1,000 L. of Strathbeg NE and 599 Tweed Haughs B in Sep; 967 Cromarty F. I&R in Oct but largest counts Dec with 900 L. Leven P&K, 925 at Perth, 1,178 Dornoch Firth I&R, 1,495 Strathbeg & 1,078 at the Tweed Haughs. Teal Anas crecca Winter max: 490 Shapinsay Ork, 1,097 Dornoch F. I&R, 640 Beauly F. I&R, 1,490 Inverness F. 1&R, 430 Carsebreck Lochs P&K, 1,400 Forth Est. Cent, 428 Watch Water B, 949 Clyde Est. Clyde, 650 Bogside Ayr & 410 L. Ken D&G in Jan. In Feb 526 winter max L. of Strathbeg NE. Breeding: Shet 5br29; Ork bred11 sites; Caith bred 4 sites, min 10 young; M&N 7sites, 3br21; P&K 14 prs Strathallan, only 2 broods, 12 other sites; Fife br8; Loth: br3 Wanside Rig, pr Gladhouse; Bord 19 sites, 27 prs, 12 broods inc 7br29; Arg 8br? L.Gruinart, Islay; Clyde 7 sites, Ibr5; Ayr 9 sites, 14 prsinc 3br19; Arran 3prs with min 7 young; D&G 8prs Wood of Cree. 1,850 L. Leven P&K & 1,500 Kennethbank D&G in Sep; 1,682 Dornoch F. I&R, 1,561 Inverness F. & 1,900 Hule Moss B in Oct; 2,160 L. of Strathbeg, 615 Carsebreck & 600 Bogside in Nov; 499 L. of Isbister Ork, 738 Beauly F. 1&R, 671 Cromarty F. I&R, 763 Clyde Est & 420 Gartmorn Cent in Dec. Green Winged Teal A.c. carolinensis 1 Lintrathen A&D 1 Jan; 2 Coot L. OH 12 Jan; 1 L. Stapavat OH 7 Feb-30 Apr; 1 Kinnordy A&D 22 Mar; 1 Tailend Moss L 13-26 Apr; | L. Gruinart, Islay Arg 24-28 Apr; 1 Kinneil Cent 9 & 11 Jun; - 1 Udale Bay I&R 9-13 Dec. Tailend was 3rd for Loth, same as Kinneil bird. 16 Scottish Bird Report 1992) Pintail Anas acuta Most areas <10 birds but better than winter '91. 3,000 Caerlaverock D&G, 269 Wigtown Bay D&G, 96 Dornoch F. I&R, 84 Skinflats Cent & 80 L. Indaal, Islay Arg in Jan. 110 Beauly F. 1&R in Feb. Breeding: Ork 12 prs at 6 sites, 4br18; Arg 2prs Islay, 2prs Tiree+br1; P&K br8 L. Leven (/st there since 1962); OHeb Ipr bred S. Uist. Winter max 890 Caerlaverock in Oct; 40 L. Leven in Nov; 105 Dornoch Firth I&R, 170 Nigg Bay I&R, 56 Skinflats Cent, 750 Carsethorn D&G & 153 Wigtown Bay D&G in Dec. Garganey Anas querquedula SW Scotland W Scotland SE Scotland E/C Scotland NE Scotland N.Scotland W Isles N.Isles = Ea O EA Ea ea fa 15-30 Apr 1-16 May 17-31 May 1-15 June 16-30 Jun 56 spring, 4 autumn. First 1 Strathbeg NE 15 May. Late ao L. Gelly F 30 Jul; Kilconquhar F 10 Aug, Duddingston L 16 Aug & C.Ayrshire Ayr 12 Sep. Shoveler Anas clypeata 28 N. Ronaldsay Ork in Jan; 30 L. Leven P&K, 25 Merryton Clyde & 22 L. Indaal, Islay Arg in Mar. Breeding: Shet 2 sites, 1br6; Ork 8 prs bred 4 sites, present 12 other sites; Caith bred 2 sites; I&R 1br8 Insh Marshes; NE pr bred Strathbeg; P&K 5prs Strathallan, lpr Vane Farm; Cent ? + juvs Skinflats 25 Jul; Fife br9 ; Loth 2br9 Bavelaw; Bord 2br9 at 2 sites, 2 other sites; Arg 5prs Tiree, perhaps bred Islay; Clyde 4prs Baron's Haugh- 8 young, 3 other sites; Ayr 2prs Knockshinnoch; D&G 5prs L. Ken. Good autumn/winter:72 Kilconquhar Fin Sep; 448 L. Leven P&K, 51 Cameron Res F, 174 Hule Moss B & 109 Annan D&G in Oct; 80 nr Perth P&K, 26 L Isbister Ork and 307 L. Leven in Nov; 43 N.Ronaldsay Ork, 80 L. Leven in Dec. Sa ae eee SeTESEreeeearae aaa Red Crested Pochard Netta rufina o' L. of Harray Ork 4 Jan (from '91);d' Monach Is OH 9 Jan; @ L.of Blairs M&N 2-26 Feb; imm) Baron's Haugh Clyde | Mar;o" (same?)Monach Is ly 12Jun; # L. Leven P&K 1-2 Jul; # L. Spynic, 1 Kinnordy A&D 27 Sep-1 Oct; 4 Baron's Haugh 28 Sep; a Arnot Res P&K on 11 Oct; Lochmaben D&G 28 Nov-13 Dec. M&N 19-22 Sep; @ Lochore Meadows F 22 Sep) | iy imm ¢ Pochard Aythya ferina | Main flocks at L. of Boardhouse & L. of Harray, Ork and L. Leven P&K summarised below: Jan Feb Mar Sep Oct Nov Dec Broadhouse 506 na na 648 1,008 1,006 1,135) L.of Harray 846 na na na 425 309 = 287 L.Leven 701 376 300 300 490 802 90¢ Other good Jan-Mar counts:300 St John's L. Caitl & 274L. Gelly F in Jan; 560 Kilconquhar F in Feb Breeding: NE 2prs at | site; P&K 3 sites; Fife 4pr with 2 producing min 3 young; Bord 6 sites, 3br8 Clyde | site, max 17 birds. 253 L. of Bosquoy Ork & 323 Lochore F in Sep 261 L.of Kirbister Ork in Oct; 330 L.Skerrols Islay Arg in Nov; 650 Methil & 360 Kilconquha in Dec. | SS ae ek ee pe *Ring necked Duck Aythya collaris 4 ¢d L. Stiapavat, Lewis OH 15 Mar-5 Api. o Strathbeg NE 10-14 May. : 5S others are claimed buthave not been submittedo, are pending with BBRC. | Ferruginous Duck Aythya ferruginea @ Winchburgh L 25 Jan, then Humbie Res. 26 Jay | Feb then Winchburgh 17-18 Feb. 6th record for Lothian. Photo Birding World 5:46)" Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula oe flocks:811 L. of Harray Ork & 548 Beaull F. I&R in Jan; 1,500 L. Leven P&K & 507 L. ¢ Stenness Ork in Mar. Flocks>250 birds reported i! NE (2), Fife (4), Loth, Clyde, D&G and OHeb. | Breeding: Shet 2br9 at | site; Ork 17prs at 1 1 sites Caith 4br31 at 3 sites; Suth bred Durness; M&I) 17 broods at 5 sites; NE 4 broods; P&K 63-67 Pi Carsebreck 25br73, 100ads + 30 young Vane Farni | | 1 of R.D.Murray [Ed] 17 Cent 9-12prs Airthrey Sbr10, 1br3 Ashfield; Fife Tprs bred; Loth 52+prs incl 18-19prs Gladhouse; Bord 118prs, 39br196; Clyde 7 sites, 23br106; Ayr 2I1prs at 12 sites, min 16 young seen. MBS: Clyde 4.6, Bord 5.03. 1,030 L. of Harray & 2,500 L. Leven in Sep; with 601 L. Leven & 1,464 L. of Harray in Oct; 278 Starthclyde Pk Clyde, 1,000 L.Leven & 1,920 L.of Harray in Nov; 1,128 L.of Harray; 1,200 L.Leven, 635 Beauly F. I&R & 420 Methil F in Dec. Scaup Aythya marila 1,300 L. Indaal, Islay Arg, 146 Clyde Est. Clyde, 141 Cromarty F. I&R & 207 Largo Bay F in Jan; 95 L. of Harray Ork, 220 Ayrshire coast Ayr and 614 L. Ryan D&G in Feb; 135 Dornoch Firth and 239 Inverness F. I& R in Mar. In Apr 112 Inverness F. when 500 L. Indaal; 140 L. of Harray 11 May. Breeding: Pair L. of Cliff, Unst Shet late May - early Jun but breeding was not confirmed. 400 L. Indaal, Islay in Oct; 2,750 R. NithD&G & 800 L. Indaal in Nov; 1,000 L. Indaal, 840 L. Ryan, 168 Cromarty F., 270 L. of Harray, 220 L. of Stenness Ork & 41 Clyde Est. Clyde in Dec. Eider Somateria mollissima Table: Ythan NE, Loth shore L and Clyde Est: Jan Feb Mar Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Ythan 489 536 811 1566 1250 744 670 1066 S.Forth 2480 2415 2766 6345 4216 6060 1269 1789 1819 Clyde 1452 1525 524 ne 2584 1420 1171 Elsewhere Jan-Apr counts >200: 388 N. Ronaldsay Ork, 237 Easter Ross I& R, 450 St Abbs B & 1,300 Turnberry-Girvan Ayr in Jan; 1,251 Costa-Evie area Ork, 643 Burghead M&N, 1,880 Tayport F & 538 L. Ryan D&G in Feb; 950 R. Don-Balmedie | & 530 Ythan-Collieston NE, 680 Ruddon's Pt F, SI nr Eider John Busby 250 L. Indaal, Islay Arg, 1,600 Irvine Bay & 345 Bracken Bay area Ayr in Mar; 500-600 Papa Westray Ork & 565 Tyninghame L in Apr. Breeding: Ork 224 young Papa Westray, 30 nests Head of Work, StOla;I&R 41 br Nigg, 23 broods 47 fledged Canna; M&N bred 4 sites in low nos; Loth 239prs Inchmickery, 132prs Fidra, 224 young Cramond-Barnbougle 13 Jun; Clyde6 39 18young Faslane; Ayr 223prs Horse Island, 28 $9 87 young Bogside, 33br156 Dipple area. 6,001 censused Shetin July, alittle up on 5,840 of ‘91. 910 moulting Kingston M&N Jun & 2,065 Blackdog NE Jul, record 6,345 Loth shore in Jul; 3,000+ Turnberry-Girvan Ayr in Aug; 3,000 R. Don-Balmedie NE & 876 Ruddon's Pt F in Sep; 850 Burghead Bay M&N, 2,584 Clyde Estuary, 2,000 Saltcoats Ayr in Oct; 10,000 Tayport & 2,200 Methil F in Nov; 2,328 Outer Forth F in Dec. See Heubeck (1993) Scottish Birds 17:77-84 for details of Shetland counts. *King Eider Somateria spectablis Shet @'Tresta 1991-31 May, prob same moulting off Trondra 26 Aug-3 Sep, returned Tresta 26 Nov- 1993. d Uyeasound & Linga/Cullivoe area 12 Jan- 4 Jul, in moult Muckle Flugga 27 Jul, returning Bluemull/Uyeasound 10 Nov-1993. An eclipse # Sullom Voe 21-23 Aug; Caith Ist-yr # Sinclair's Bay 12 May, same? Wick 25 Aug; Suth @ Brora 1991-1 Mar, again 24 Dec-1993;4 Embo 5 Oct & 11 Oct, same? as Brora. M&N & Lossiemouth on 28 Sep-1993; NE 2nd-yr & Girdleness 11-12 Jan, co Annachie 23 Mar, Ythan 24 Mar-31 May, second ¢ 3-31 May, sub-ad @Sandend 31 May- 8 Jun, eclipses Girdleness 21-23 Sep; Fife Tayport 10 Jan-8 Mar. Bord 2nd-yr &@ St Abbs 23 Apr- 17 May. OHeb Hirta, St-Kilda 12-15 Jun. 4-Sadad' , 2 second-yr do, | first-yr @and 1? . 18 Long Tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis Moray Firth coast (I = I&R, M =M&N): Site Jan Feb Mar Oct Nov Dec Inverness F. I 159 197 ne 300 360 340 Riff Bank I T121-602> 2244, 165052 1642) 51265 Nairn/Culbin M nc Ne «ne 1200 susie 20 Burghead BayM 998 914 213 1902 822 1300 LossiemouthM 669 361 119 NG ey nC nc Spey Bay M 293 128 19 950 2002 295 Jan-Apr: 336 Gulber Wick Shet, 200 EmboSuth & ~~ _-—~——- 350 Gosford pave L in Jan; 128 Easter Ross I&R in Mae 250 Wyre Sound Ork, 200 Dunnet Bay Caith, 120 Sinclair's Bay Caith, 325 Inverness Firth and 672 Kinshaldy F in Apr. 130 Dunnet Bay 1 May. Passage: 1,408 passed Brora Suth 24 Mar-17 Apr; 500 landed Culla, Benbecula OH at dusk 28 Apr departing N 29 Apr. 1,350 Eathie & 500 Charonry Pt- Dornoch I&R, 173 Gosford Bay & 136 Aberlady-Gullane L and 370 Eynhallow Sound Ork in Nov; 828 Bluemull Shet, 210 Burrasound Ork 300 Braighe OH in Dec. In the Moray Firth 2,440E Culbin 15 Nov & 3,130W Burghead 28 Nov were roosting flights. Inland birds were recorded from I&R (2), M&N (2), P&K (2), Loth (3), Cent, Clyde (7), and Arg. Common Scoter Melanitta nigra Main resorts: Burghead Bay & Spey Bay M&N, Murcar NE & E.Loth L. JRF eM AeA Se Mee AEsS O N D Spey 10111552 10021116 ne ne ne 277 472 565 Burgh. 442 673 444 1431100 ne 80 10801009 776 Murear ne nc_ 100~ 1304000 1500 ne 130 OZs ne E.Loth 329 629 947 584 318 407 561 112 96 138 300 Dornoch Suth in Feb; 300 Dornoch I&R, 2,100 Leven F & 200 L. Indaal, Islay Arg in Mar; 2,200 Leven & 400 Dornoch in Apr; 1,500 St Andrews Bay F in May; 1,800 St Andrews Bay in Sep; 2,900 St Andrews Bay in Nov; 565 Culbin Bar M&N & 454 Ythan- Collieston NE in Dec. Breeding: Shet 2prs+ 2 +br6 ; Caith 3 sites, 2br9; I&R 8 sites, 8 do’ & 92 2 with br5; OHeb 3 inland S. Uist. Black Scoter M.n. americana o' Dornoch Suth 25 Mar & 16 Apr, Embo 22 May; 3 Findhorn M&N 29 Oct-8 Dec, probably same individual. Soo eee oie oe ene Scottish Bird Report 1992 ws, — — eS rT el TTC OCT ee ® Surf Scoter Steven Brows | Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata o' Murcar 11 Jun, 24 there 20-22 Jun. | o Findhorn/Burghead Bay M&N intermittently 26Oct-20 Dec. The only records submitted to SBRC after bei dropped by BBRC - at least 6 others mentioned i in local reports but with no submissions to SBRC therefore not published in Scottish Bird Report. : \ Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca Forth: 111 Largo Bay F & 125 Gosford Bay L in Mar; 231 Musselburgh L & 144 Largo in Apr; few subsequently until 1,000+ St Andrews Bay F ir Nov when 153 Musselburgh with 103 there in Dec) Moray & NE: 299 Burghead Bay M& NinJan 60 Balmedie NE in Oct and 814 Burghead in Nov! _ Elsewhere: 23 Stevenston Pt Ayr 1991 to 25 Jan 4 31 Echnaloch Bay Ork 13 Apr. | i Goldeneye Bucephala clangula J 713 Inverness/Beauly F. I&R, 372 Loth coast LU — 297 Forth Est Cent & 450 Doonfoot-.Newton Ayi : in Jan; 290 L.Leven P&K, 1,200 Largo Bay- Level, F, 541 Clyde Est. Cly & 300 L. Ryan D&G in Feb — 206 L. of Harray Ork, 1,400 Leven F & 295 Tweet)” Haughs B in Mar. iI Breeding: summered M&N, P&K & Caith. 16 a successful from 38prs Insh Marshes I&R. ., 268 L. Leven in Oct; 252 Doonfoot & 520 Dippl ce 1,200 Leven in Nov; 341 Inverness / Beauly” F.1&R, 300L. Leven, 331 Clyde Est. and 431 Ayn I: Heads of Ayr Ayr in Dec were the only autumn winter counts received in excess of 250. = L005 Ban urd R.D.Murray [Ed] 19 Smew Mergus albellus Winter/spring: a'+4 % 2 Strathbeg NE 2 Feb-29 Feb was highest count of winter/spring period, other- wise all other areas reported counts of 1-3 birds at any single site. Last birds: 2? L.of Spiggie Shet 17 Apr; 2 L. of Mey Caith 26 May; | Kinnordy A&D 6 Jun. Area Jan Feb Mar Apr Oct Nov Dec Spr/Aut N. Isles D 3 3 D 1 Tat Sul N. Scot. 1 1 2 1 1 iil Deal NESco 5 Sy 4 2 0 3 6 8 6 EC Scot 5 3 3 g) 0 Sh) io) 3 aS SEScot 1 1 One®) 0 0 0 0) SW Scot 10 12 8 5 2 @ _6 IDLING) DAS) VORB Ay ola old 30 17 First 2 St John's L. Caith 23 Oct & Endrick Mouth Clyde on 29 Oct. Then 2 at L. of Strathbeg NE in Nov, increasing to 5 there in December. Red Breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Forth: 164 Loth coast L & 62 Kinshaldy F in Jan; 263 Loth coast in Feb with 285 in Mar. Moray : 1,669 Riff Bank I&R & 69 M&N coast in Jan;194 Riff Bank & 243 M&N coast during Feb; 295 Riff Bank in Mar and 289 M&N coast in Apr. Elsewhere: 123 Shelda Voe Shet & 100 L. Indaal, Islay Arg in Jan; 60 L. of Stenness Ork, 92 L. Ryan D&G ,146 Clyde Est, Clyde in Feb. Breeding: Shet 2 bred; Ork broods at 6 sites; Caith 3br27 from 4 sites; Suth br8 L. Brora; M&N 8br75 at 2 sites; NE I15prs 37young R. North Esk; P&K 6-8prs, 5br21 Strathallan, young at 4 other sites and prs at 5 other sites; Cent bred Ashfield; Clyde br6 L. Lomond; Ayr 5 sites, 7prs, 56 young. Moult flocks: 218 Ballochroy Arg & 324 Ruddon's Pt F in Jul; 550 L. Indaal Arg, 205 Delnies M&N, 200 Gosford L & 151 Glenluce D&G in Aug. Forth: 428 Loth coast Sep; 203 in Oct when 434 on Fife coast; 209 Loth coast in Nov; 131 Loth coast in Dec when 114 Forth Est. Cent. Moray: 255 Delnies & 93 Nairn/Culbin Bar M&N & 460 Rift Bank in Oct; 445 Riff Bank in Dec. Goosander Mergus merganser Jan-Mar: 104 L. of Skene NE, 109 Tweed Haughs B and 53 L. Ken D&G in Jan; 160 Strathclyde L. Clyde in Jan & Feb; 81 Hirsel B and 86L. of Skene in Feb. Pre moult: 153 Hirsel 23 May and 65 L. Lomond Clyde 26 May. Mostly moulters/non breeders. Breeding: M&N 3 broods; NE 30prs, 100 young; P&K only 2 confirmed records; Bord: 9br87; Arg 5+prs; Clyde 6br41, 4 other prs seen; Ayr | brood; D&G bred but few young seen. Moult flocks: 102 (area record) Tyninghame L in Jun; 73 Speymouth M&N, 80 Whiteness Hd I&R, 87 L. Garten T&R, 183 R. Tay F & 44 Threave D&G in Aug, 185 Cults Res NE in Sep. Autumn/winter: 360 Hirsel & 74 Tweed Haughs , 202 Cults Res & 62 L. of Skene NE & 44 R. Tay, Perth P&K in Oct; 210 Hirsel in Nov; 209 Beauly F. I&R & 174 Strathclyde L. Clyde in Dec. Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis ? Wooden L. B 4 Jan, ¢@ Meikle L. NE 16 Feb and 2 ao’ Vane Farm P&K 18 Feb. Mainarrival late Feb-Apr. Overshooting migrants: 1 L of Hillwell 18 May & L. of Spiggie 26-27 May Shet; 1 Coot L. OH 26 May-4 Jun; 5 L. Heilen Caith 8 May. Breeding: Sites eitay abd Broods M&N 2, 0 2 0 NE 1 2, 0 0 P&K 4 5+ 5+ 3+ Cent 1 D 1 1br3 Fife 5 ? ? ? Loth 2 2 1 0 Bord 3 4 4 3br9 Clyde 2 6 1 br? Ayr 1 0 1 0 Best site - 3br9 Hule Moss B. Autumn 13 Cameron Res F 11 Oct, 28 on water near Perth P&K 18 Oct. Last singles Kilconquhar L. F 11 Nov; Wooden L. 4 Dec and L. of Clunie P&K 12 Dec. Fewer breeding reports than '91 but colonisation continues. 1st for Caith and 2nd for OHeb. Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus 20 reports of singles. First SW Clyne Valley Suth 28 Apr. 4 Shet, | Fair Is during May. Other spring birds Ork (2), Ayr, and Is of May. Summer records Arg, I&R and Ork. Autumn birds: Shet (3), Ork (2), Caith, I&R and Loth. Last 1 Hoy Ork 4 Oct. SA SLT LAL A A ED TEE A TD TT LT PR EN RS HO ETA RAT I ONT TD EOS SLEEP TD 20 Scottish Bird Report 1992 Red Kite Milvus milvus 24 released I&R 26 Jun-1 Aug in reintroduction project. Pair laid 3 eggs but only | young fledged. First nesting by Red Kites in Scotland since 1917. Reintroduced birds have scattered widely over Scot- land with records in 1992 from Shet, Ork, Suth, M&N (6), NE (5), A&D, (2), P&K (7 at 3 sites Jan- Mar, 4 Sep-Dec), Bord ( 1Jan-Mar, 2 autumn), Arg (5-8), Clyde (3), Ayr (2), D&G (5+) and OHeb. One found dead in M&N. White-tailed Eagle John Love White Tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla Breeding: 4 prs reared 7 young. Outwith the breeding areas records from M&N, I&R (4), Arran, Arg (2) and OH (2+). Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus First Smeaton L 20 Apr; 2 Strathbeg NE 22 Apr; | N.Ronaldsay Ork 25Apr; 1 St Abbs B 26 Apr. Migrants: Area May May Jun jun Jul Aug Sep 1-15 16-31 1-15 16-30 1-31 1-31 1-30 N. Isles 3 1 1 W. Isles 1 1 N. Scot 1 2 2 1 1 NE Scot 7 7 1 K/C Scot 1 1 5 4 SE Scot 1 oD} 1 SW Scot 1 ? held territory in Caith May-Jul. 2 Ayton &1 Bemersyde B 23 Aug. 4 Kinnordy A&D 15 Aug-8 Sep; Late birds Barr Loch Clyde 6-7 Oct; Twatt Ork & L.Spynie M&N 20 Nov. Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus 6-15 birds in 3 roosts Ork; roost of 3 birds P&K; 33 at 3 roosts Arg in Feb. No other reports of roosts but scattered records of 1-2 birds throughout Scotland. Breeding: Breeding sites sites sites sites sites total RSG check occup laid hatch fledge young MBS Orkney 36 31 8 P72 Tayside 47+ 42 24 So) 371 Highland 47 28 104 3.71 Uists 5) 4 2 u S.Stratchel 21 10 37 P37 Argyll 13,03 112 Successful season in most areas except where persecuted: 90% of 21 prs successful on unmanaged moor in Highlands compared to 34% on managed moor. Failure of 11 sites S.Strathclyde attributed to persecution on managed moor. See Scottish Bird News 26:1-3 No successful breeding in Caith, Arran or Bord. Nests Failed Young Success 1990 183 50 207 2.06 1991 220 1B 346 2.38 1992 216 92 310 2.54 Autumn/winter roosts: 8 with 21 birds D&G; 4-10 at roosts Ork; 13 at 2 roosts Arg in Novy. Scattered reports of 1-2 from throughout Scotland. *Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus Juv 2 Fair Is 31 Aug-1 Sep. /st for the island. Goshawk Accipter gentilis Only confirmed breeding report were 2prs D&G with prs or display from 2 sites in P&K. Although good numbers now nest in Scotland there are few reports of breeding due to understandable fears of persecution if breeding areas publicised. Singles Exnaboe Shet 23 Sep and Hoy Ork 1 1 Dec. Sparrowhawk Accipter nisus Mostareas gave few details of Sparrowhawks other than to note that it is quite common. Breeding: Ork 5prs, 1br2; Fife 5br14 ; Loth bred | at 10 sites with regular prs at 3-5 other sites; Clyde 8-9prs with2br8; Ayr 19 nests in a C. Ayrshire study area, 12 successful pairs raised 44 young. ¥ was flushed off a recently killed Merlin at | th ley Succouth, Cowal Arg in Apr. ESSE TRS EE PTT IT SA AR FT SE RC A oe Gold Wand Breed ING We Isle | Centra | Taysid | Argyl | Highla ) North Total Dag | youn Ror ye | ledeedy 1 (cold. | tilly Tee Sony i — Tay Beane, 1| — R.D.Murray [Ed] Buzzard Buteo buteo Increases in Buzzard numbers were reported from almost all areas with birds continuing to move onto lower lying areas and further towards the east coast. The slower increase in some areas may be due to continued persecution. See Scottish Bird News 26:1-3 Breeding : sites sites sites sites sites total RSG check occup laid hatch fledge young MBS Highland - 64 - - 45 104 23) Continued spread: Fife ‘dramatic’ increase in N&W areas with min 30 sites & 7 confirmed breeding; Loth now 39 sites through year, bred at least 3; Bord over 110 records received (See Holling & McGarry 1994 Borders Bird Report No14 for detailed account of spread). 11 Glen Buchat NE 29 Jan; 55 Strathallan P&K in Feb; 10 Kippen Muir Cent 8 Mar; 12 Strathbeg NE 2 Sep; & 12 Castramont [&R 7 Oct. *Rough Legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus Singles L. Scremster Caith 19-24 Feb; then Foula Shet 4 Mar-16 Apr; and N.Ronaldsay Ork 6 Apr. Then Holm Ork 2 Sep and Benbecula OH 23 Sep. Too few descriptions submitted to SBRC, records will not be published in SBR without vetting. Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos Wanderers: Ork, Loth (2), Borders (9), and Ayr (2). Breeding sites sites sites sites sites total RSG check occup laid hatch fledge young MBS W. Isles ral 62 DAL aD 11 iy ets Central 12 7) 5 4 3 3 LOO Tayside 241s, 22 11 8 7 FS ESO, Argyll SAS Ot S17 ON teal Highland 126 41 44 1.07 North-east 17 16 12) 8 7 8-10 1.14 Total 344 186+ 116+ 63+ 86 99-101 D&G 3 territories failed to breed: Clyde pair raised 1 young; Arran 2prs reared 1 young. Poor year for breeding success except Highland where 1-1.2 fledged per successful pair. High failure rate in all areas was due to cold, wet spring weather. Degree of failure due to persecution is still an important cause of failures. See Scottish Bird News 26:1-3 *Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax Escaped bird Tyninghame L 27-29 Aug was caught and returned to its owner. 21 Osprey Pandion haliaetus Arrival was later than in'91. First Boat of Garten I&R & Musselburgh L 3 Apr. Singles Scroof B & Bargrennan D&G 4 Apr; Slochd I&R 5 Apr with 4 Endrick Mouth Clyde 6 Apr. Breeding: 76prs held territory, 61 laid eggs, 48 prs hatched and 45prs fledged 101 young. 4 nests are known to have been robbed, including 3 in P&K, but many failures were caused by intruding birds, a healthy sign of increasing population pressure. Over 1,000 birds have now been fledged in Scotland since re-colonisation. See Scottish Bird News 26:1-3 Passage mostly Aug and most left by mid-Sep, although few records from areas in S. Last: | Auchtermuchty F4 Oct & 2 Tyninghame 16 Oct. Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Few meaningful reports of this familiar and widespread species. Pr Mainland Shet fledged 3 young. 1st successful breeding for Shetland since 1905. Ork 15prs bred; Loth 19prs proved to breed. A late season in Ayr study area due to poor early spring weather. Only 4prs in 12 AOTs had laid in cold spell but 14 more prs on territory immediately after cold spell in mid-May. Record low occupancy rate at 55%. Failures, mostly during incubation, were high at 36%. 95% of hatched chicks survived to fledge giving a normal 3.75 young/successful nest. See Scottish Bird News 26:1-3 See Riddle (1993) Scottish Birds 17:9-13 for full details. Merlin Falco columbarius Usual scattered winter records, mostly from coast. Breeding: sites sites sites sites sites total RSG check occup laid hatch fledge young MBS Shet O2F eeZOme esis HalG 52) tG25 Ork SO TO Te sll Oca C30) /e.3/ 60 W. Isles US oil melee sail 9 30):13530 Highland SD iT rt aly, 353230 NE 42 42 28 76+ Tayside OSMEAGOM Sin) 3941S 82+ ¢c2.45 SE 46 29 20+ 17+ 16+ 61 3.80 S.Strathel 12 10 10 7 6 1Sinu3100 D&G Lie 15 i? 6 Oe 350 Total 304+ 224+ 235 156+ 169+ 517+ A very good year with high rate of occupancy and overall productivity, more successful than 199]. See Scottish Bird News 26:1-3 22 *Red Footed Falcon Falco vespertinus Record numbers in UK during spring with cl3 birds inN & NIsles. Ist-s * Fair Is 26-27 May; 2 Ist-s «tc? N.Ronaldsay Ork 28 May with 1 to 10 Jun; Ist-s @ & ad 2 Fair Is 29 May, with 2 there to 2 Jun; ad:? Duthall I&R 29 May; ad * Burravoe Shet 29 May probably same Voe 3-4 Jun; Ist-s ¢ Sullom Shet 29 May then Channerwick & Sandwick 30-31 May; Ist-s ? Kirkton NE 31 May-13 Jun, was injured and taken intocare & ;ad& Sullom 1-3 Jun, with another 2 Tingwall Shet 5 Jun then presumably same birds when 2 2¢ Bixter 10-11 Jun, with 1 there to 12 Jun. Ad ? Randall Ork 1 Jun; Ist-s #% N.Ronaldsay 3 Jun. & Photo- Birding World 5:247. Hobby Falco subbuteo 22 records in May-Oct (10 in 1991). 1 Collafirth Shet 24 May. Other May records came Shet (3), Ork & OHeb. Jun birds from Shet (2), Ork, Suth, Clyde, Ayr (2) & D&G with a single Jul record in OHeb. Aug records from I&R, OHeb, Clyde & Bord with late birds: 1N Fife Ness F 12 Sep; Montrose A&D 15 Sep; juv Drimsdale OH 30 Sep; juv Errol P&K 6 Oct; 1 Channerwick Shet 11 Oct the latest. Another southern falcon which had a good year in 1992, more scattered than Red Footed Falcon, N. Isles &O.Heb having more than half the records. *Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus All white phase birds in N & N.Isles. 1 St Ola Ork 25 Jan then S. Ronaldsay 31 Jan; ad ? white phase Fetlar Shet 22 Feb, 20-34 Apr, also Yell 14 Apr; Ist-yr £ Hirta, St Kilda OH 26 Feb- 23 Mar & 26 Apr; 1 Bennachie NE 28 Nov. [1981] grey bird Lammermuirs Loth & Bord in Feb now accepted as 3rd for Loth, 2nd for Bord. *Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus Escaped bird Glentoo, Laurieston D&G 5 -7 Feb. Peregrine Falco peregrinus Breeding: The awful spring weather meant pour site occupation and fewer clutches laid. Success beyond that stage was good. Note the second successive total failure in Shet however and Scottish Bird Report 1992 | the poor success in Ork. Robberies were most frequent in the more easily accessible S. Theft accounted for 75% of failures in S.Strathclyde & 68% in D&G, mostly it was suspected, by| falconers. See Scottish Bird News 26:1-3 sites sites sites sites sites total RSG check occup laid hatch fledge young MBS) Shet 24 5 0 0 0 0 Ork 34 — 20) 11-17 7-9. 5-8. 11a W. Isles ily 10 6 6 8+ 2? Highland 44 38 £37 ~— 25 25 51+) 2338 NE 90 64, 644 26 225 51+ 2.04 7 Tayside 88) 22 384 Oa 43 74+ 1.72 7 Central 22 16 12 29+ 2.42 | SE 40: 4/38." =307 419 18 c43 2.39% S.Strathel 38 28 18 7 11, 1S D&G 81 76 3664 42 83 1.98} Total 472 367 Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus Another generally poor year. Slow growth blamed on spring drought followed by heavy mortality in Aug. Good season M&N but NE, Fife and Bord all hint at a poor year. Few big counts: 151 Greencastle-Hopes L 21 Nov “* & 260 Pitmuin I&R 5 Dec. Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus Breeding: M&N poor season Ben Avon probably due to summer drought but population persists on Ben Dinnes; NE average clutch 7.7 with 4.6 young) ~ fledged per succesful pair, a poorer season than '90 or'91; P&K 11 sites with confirmed breeding at 2: Cent 4 juvs seen Ben Lomond. Also Caith (1 site), I&R (4) & Arg (7 ). 2 Culter Fell Clyde, far S of normal range. Birds were introduced nearby in the 1970s but were last heard of in 1984 in the neighbouring part of Bord. Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix Breeding: _ Sites did! 2G _ nests/broods P&K 104 932 - - Cent 3 21 - - | Verg Loth 3 17 8 - Bord D7 162 13 - Ayr 2A Di) - 5 65-67 gid surveyed in 8 10Km squares D&G. | See Robinson, Baines & Mattingley 1993 Scottish Birds 17:20-26, for full details of P&K survey. LiL R.D.Murray [Ed] Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus 33 Abernethy I&R 1 Feb; 42, 26c'c'L. Lomond islands Clyde 21 Mar; 14 Tullynessle NE 7 Dec. Breeding: I&R 13 sites; M&N confirmed Tom a'Chor with "numerous reports Darnaney/Altyre; NE 12 sites but range contracted, especially in E, due to arun of poor breeding seasons; P&K 18 sites with largest lek having 11 @g@' & 12-15 38. Red Legged Partridge Alectoris rufa (inc Chukar A, chukor) Scattered records. 12 Strathbeg 11 Jan & 15 L. of Skene 13 Dec. Bred Loth, Ayr & Arran. 25 hybrids Kingussie-Newtonmore I&R . m Chukar displaying to Ptarmigan at Glenshee P&K May-Jun. 5 Chukars Minto B 18 Oct. Grey Partridge Perdix perdix Very few reports received for this species. Counts include 32 Leuchars F 5 Apr; 21 Dipple Ayr 2 Aug, 32 Congalton L 4 Oct, 32 Leuchars on 20 Oct, 22 Udny NE 21 Nov & 21 Highfield Ayr 22 Dec. Quail Coturnix coturnix Unusual winter record at Kinneil Cent 17-26 Jan, may relate to an escape. First spring birds were at Thrashiedean L 3 May & Longniddry L 4 May then a gap to | Crosshill Ayr 18 May & 7 Tranent L 19 May. Breeding confirmed in Shet, Ork & D&G with possible breeding in Ayr and Suth. Records of calling birds in the summer came from Shet (4), Ork (15), I&R (4), M&N (15), NE (7), OHeb (3), P&K (8), Cent (2), Fife (4), Loth (18), Bord (20), Arg (2), Ayr (4-6) and D&G (10). Last South Walls Ork & Lundin Links F 13 Sep, Fetlar Shet 29 Sep and Unst Shet 1-2 Oct. c120 birds, best year since the Quail year of 1989. ‘Pheasant Phasianus colchicus \Verging on extinction in Lewis & Harris OH. \ Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus Populations persist on Mull Arg and in D&G. 23 Water Rail Rallus aquaticus 37 scattered winter records, mostly singles. Largest count was 15 N.Ronaldsay Ork 6 Feb. 1 St.Kilda OH in Mar. Marked passage Fair Is. Breeding: I&R 10 calling Insh Marshes, br2 Eigg; P&K 115prs Tay reedbeds, lbr2 seen. Breeding confirmed in Loth, Fife & Clyde. Autumn/winter period from at least 48 sites with reports from almost every area. *Spotted Crake Porzana porzana 1 Meikle L. NE 8 Feb; 1 Duddingston L. L 22 Apr. 2 calling at 1 site NE 16 May & 1 calling L. of Strathbeg NE 10-24 May; 1 Fair Is 14 Jun with juv there 10 Aug. No records from Insh Marshes I&R for the first time since 1986. Corncrake Crex crex First singles Burray Ork 10 May & Levenwick Shet 18 May. Main arrival from 23 May onwards. Breeding: Sites o'c' Broods Sites 50 birds. 45 N.Ronaldsay Ork 7 Nov. 80000 60000 40000 20000 24 Coot Fulica atra Jan counts: 800 Gartmorn Cent, 527 Linlithgow L. L, 384 Cameron Res. F, 380 Drummond L. P&K, 350 L. of Harray Ork & 257 Baron's Haugh Clyde. Numbers then declined as spring approached. Breeding: Sites Prs Br Sites Prs Br Ork 15 18 : Loth 12 45+ 43 Caith 3 3 3 Bord 671 244 94br296 M&N_ 8 17 - Clyde 19 92+ 6br 56 P&K 6 Dans Ayr 12 16 8br 32 Cent 2 30.=—s «14 MBS : Cent 3.1; Clyde 1.7; Ayr 4.0; Bord 3.15. High counts: 256 L. Gelly F in Sep; 400 L. of Skene NE & 410 Castle L. D&G in Oct; 329 Drummond L. & 397 Carsebreck L. P&K & 550 L. of Harray Ork in Noy; 940 Linlithgow L. L in Dec. * Crane Grus grus Only 2 records: singles Newton M&N 2 Apr and E.Housebyres B 10 Apr. Crane Steven Brown N SAN SESS SS OR ord VN AM or ~ ECEE yy Ns f Wig We s ch EPRI A, mee z Mis - so 2h Be eee iy iit We 4 NZ Pace: : 3 i ; ‘ ; nye SoM y Wa : Fi is *s- = ae Rare ee ile ee \lf jn 04 WEE es a : eva hay ey jh MOTE: ge We (Gert aye hyd Mies Ayre i) Scottish Bird Report 1992 Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus BoEE peak in Jan shows 77,079 birds in Scotland with the Solway again the most important region| with 56% Jan total. Most in Inner Solway area.) High countsincl 7,477 Lothcoast L, 2,348 Cromarty, F. I&R and 2,200 Eden Est. F. Movements from| mid-Feb as birds move inland and to N Isles- arrivals early Feb onwards:Loth on 2nd; P&K 6th) Feb; Clyde &Bord 8-9th; Fair Is &Cent 10-13th;) M&N 16th; D&G 19th. Main overland movements mid-Mar with 752 at several inland Bord sites; 247 Mundole M&N & 447 Perth P&K. Breeding: WBS (+2%): Fair Is 87prs (75 in 91); Ork 83 prs N.Hill, Papa Westray; I&R 104prs Eigg; Is of May 34prs (31 in '91); Ayr l6prs Greenock Water (17 in '91). Poor season P&K due to dry weather; 34 prs Is of May, only 6 prs hatched & only ljuv fledged. Large flocks of non-breeders may suggest poor season. Many reports of nests on buildings but one nesting in an oak at Dalry D&G was unusual! * Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 1 Whalsay Shet 30 Sep moved to Skerries 3 Oct. (1989) 2 Belhaven L 17 Apr. ——————__—— * Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus 1 Fair Isle 9-16 Jun. rare, only 9 records since 1950 (Thom 1986), Mostly E coast from Shet-Bord, Apr-Jun. yf Riki Annual since 1985, except '91, previously ver) ii R.D.Murray [Ed] * Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius 1 Musselburgh Loth 25 Apr. Then pr displaying Cumbernauld Clyde in May but not relocated later. Remarkable series in NE: 1 Starnafin 13-15 May, another 30-31 May and a third there 12 Jun. Then 1 Girdleness 31 May and 1 Donmouth 18-30 Jul. Finally a juv Aberlady Loth 28 Jul is suggestive of possible breeding somewhere in Scotland. The 4th-8th NE records. 9 birds beats last year’s record of six and is the third good year ina row. Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula No data on main Scottish wintering population in S.Uist OH. Scottish BoEE max 1,508 in Jan but probably more in OHeb as in the rest of Scotland. Elsewhere few areas held >100 birds. 274 Loth coast L & 171 Inverness Firth I&R in Jan were best totals. Ringed Plover BoEE Counts 1992 May passage seen in BoEE data. Best site counts: an exceptional 1,717 Annan & 900+ Battlehill D&G; 1,065 Findhorn & 490 Nairn Bar M&N, 107 Ythan NE, 506 Goosepools &320 Edenside F, 394 Lothcoast & 280 Tiree Arg. Breeding: Shet 82 prs Fetlar (c74 in '91) & stable -7Tprs Noss; Fair Is 17 prs (18 in 91); Loth 8 prs / Aberlady (9 in '91). ‘No large Jul flocks & passage lighter than usual, peak in Oct with 1,850 birds. Few counts >100 but 286 Goosepools, 210 Seafield & 150 Tyninghame \L in Aug; 206 N.Ronaldsay Ork & 260 Colonsay ‘Arg in Oct. Few large counts after Oct but 233 Colonsay and 117 Chanonry Point I&R in Dec. | ! I \ 20000 16000 25 Dotterel Charadrius morinellus First noted Bord and Clyde 25th Apr, P&K 26th, Arg and Ork 29th. Main arrival mid-May. 6 Ork, largest number since 1857 and record 32 OHeb. Little detail of breeding. A very good season in NE but poor in M&N. It was noted that many birdwatchers go into the hills looking for Dotterel in June when they are sitting on eggs and vulnerable to disturbance. Please note that this must be avoided. 2 Cairngorm M&N 28 Aug, the only autumn record. * Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva 2 N.Isles: singles Fair Is 2-3 Jul then N.Ronaldsay Ork 1-3 Aug. Photo - Birding World 5:248. Ist & 2nd for respective areas and 3rd-4th Scottish records since the “lesser” Golden Plover was split. There were 3 earlier records of the “Asiatic race”. Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria BoEE counts peak in Jan with Scottish total of 9,050 birds but flocks outwith BoEE counts incl 800 Ringasta Shet, 4 flocks of up to 2,000 birds in Ork and 1,400 Baleshare OH, all in Jan-Feb. Golden Plover BoEE Counts 1992 Relatively late return to hills: 1-10 Mar in Loth, Bord, M&N and P&K. Heavy late Apr-early May passage: 1,000 Sandwick Ork, 1,000 Tiree Arg & 700 Balranald OH coin- ciding with appearance of altifrons-types in Shet, I&R, Bord & Ayr. 250 Harlaw L & 550 Dirrington B in Apr were the best counts. BS I SAE RANTES CSR NI 0 STR SHV PSD ST SWAN V2 2 EEA EEN EAS ERO ARAN DAD TAO EAN IE I SA SSRIS ET Hl 26 Scottish Bird Report 1992 | | K Breeding: Shet 12 prs Hermaness (11 in '91); Ork 1,200 W side N.Uist OH in Feb. c57 AOTs; OHeb 3prs St.Kilda; P&K 31 AOTs at BoEE counts registered peak of 29,433 in Jan, a i p 17 sites; Bord 42 prs at 21 sites. better total than in 90/91. Large numbers of reports | Ml Returning birds mid-Jun but strong Jul numbers of wintering flocksin Jan but early inlandreturnees | * Ork with 1,018 N.Ronaldsay on 30th. Elsewhere cleared out by snows with first permanent return | ul rise in Aug, peaking Sep-Oct: max flocks 900 Shet Clyde 2nd Feb, NE & Loth 8th Feb, Bord 9th Feb i 4 in Sep; 1,460 in Ork, 3,500 Aberlady L & 3,000 and mostly mid-Feb in N. Some good flocks inc | Anstruther F during Oct. Build-up in SW into Dec 1,100 Pow floods & 2,175 Strathallan P&K 1 Mar. |) _ when 7,053, 43% Scottish winter peak of 16,441 birds, max 1,950 Caerlaverock. Other counts incl 3,000 Rattray NE & 2,000 Netherton NE in Nov. — 30000 Lapwing BoEE Counts 1992 iF Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola c1,800 wintered, mainly Tay, Forth & Solway. Numbers were low, especially Edenmouth F where lowest in last decade. ‘Poorest for years’ M&N coast. Steady declineinto Mar & AprwithN-bound — 10000 passage. Few large counts: 312 Aberlady Bay L and 580 Goosepools F in May held >260 birds. Grey Plover BoEE Counts 1992 0 4 20000 2000 Breeding CBC (F-16%): Mixed fortunes: success-. Ca ful’ in Shet; ‘failure’ M&N; ‘poor season’ Ork, west“! Bord & P&K; excellent year Lammermuirs L/B;|_ "! ‘serious decline in numbers’ D&G. Failures mostly MM due to horrendous spring weather. | Post-breeding flocks from mid-Junin S is early and suggestive of poor season, but more normally mid- Jul in N. iz Few flocks of >1,000 birds: 3,000 Kelso B, 2,000 1000 ape a ee Tullibody Cent, 1,650 Aberlady L, 1,050 Bathgate ‘Se Sees SS eye CO 2 4 L in Aug; 2,600 Aberlady, 2,000 L.Leven P&K,| |! Few non-breeders summered, max 150 Aberlady 1,222 Leuchars F & 1,000 Greenland Caith in Sep." in Jul. Elsewhere only 1-4 birds. c22,000 in BoEE Sep/Oct counts, rising to 26,503) _ First NE 1 Aug; Shet 9 Aug; Is of May 21 Aug; in Dec. Best counts incl 2,930 Fraserburgh area, | Cent 23 Aug but main passage, albeit light, in mid- 2,500 The Loons Ork and 1,500 Ythan NE in Dec. | uit Sep birds Caith, Clyde & Bord with peak count of Numbers lower than winter '91/92, fewer inland. | ‘i! 275 Tentsmuir F. Max counts many areas during | Mai Oct and Nov: Loth 458 Aberlady and 842 Solway ieee 2 BoEE counts. Winter max much same as 1991/92 Knot Calidris canutus pM with c1,600-1,800 birds. BoEE max in Jan with 23,552 birds, 52% of which | al were on Inner Solway D&G, rising to 64% in Feb. | M2 Elsewhere: 2,084 Aberlady L, 2,664 Forth Est| Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Cent, 1,050 Whiteness Head I&R & 1,000 Largo a Winter counts incl massive 3,800 Longhaugh Pt F in Jan were best counts. p Mot Clyde ; 2,660 Rosehearty areaNE, 1,410Skinflats 2,274 Caerlaverock D&G late Mar but most gone) Lh Cent, 900 Holm Ork , 760 Aberlady L, 600+ Eden by May when 252 Seafield L & 588 Aberlady with} ‘ti Estuary F in Jan and 1,060 Carsebeck P&K & a handful summering Ork, Loth and M&N. ch a | \ l} } | \ R.D.Murray | Ed 97) First returnees Shet 9 Jul; Fair Is 13 Jul; Fife & Caith 20 Jul; OHeb 23 Jul; Cent 27 Jul. Main passage through Fair Is & NE 20-27 Jul but generally mid-Sep but numbers low everywhere. Gradual build-up to a very low Dec peak in BOEE counts of 9,561, some 4,980 (52%) in Solway. Only Aberlady counted >1,000 with 1,600 in Nov. Sanderling Calidris alba BoEE winter max was only 439 birds in Mar, the main E sites were 72 Nairn M&N, 70 Blackdog NE; 126 Tentsmuir F & 100 Aberlady L. Outwith the BoEE coverage Ork & OHeb held the largest concentrations:162 N.Ronaldsay Ork & 450 Northbay S.Uist OH in Jan and 411 Sanday Ork in Feb. Most gone by late Mar before the May passage give peaks of 800 Northbay; 600 Browhouses D&G; 503 N.Ronaldsay; and 227 Aberlady. Up to 21 Ork, Loth and Caith through Jun-Jul. First Shet 3 Jul; Fair Is 13 Jul; Caith & Suth 17 Jul; M&N 21 Jul; OHeb 1 Aug. Peaks counts mainly 25 Jul-5Aug:120 Dunnet Caith; 95 Barassie Ayr; 250 Aberlady; 55 Nairn Bars M&N; 856 Drimsdale OH. Only small numbers thereafter as BoEE shows peak of 439 in Sep dropping to only 217 by Dec. Winter numbers low with max 229 N.Ronaldsay & 132 Tentsmuir F in Nov; 66 Shell Bay F in Dec. No other counts of >30 birds. * Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla 1 Fair Isle 13-15 May. First Scottish record of this Nearctic species. Photo- Birdng World 5:169. Little Stint Calidris minuta Singles Aberlady L 9 May & Starnafin NE 14 May. Main arrival: Caith 19th; M&N, P&K, Shet &Ork, 22-23rd; Ayr and D&G 24-25th. Mostly singles; max 3 Ork & NE with 4 Valleyfield F 30-31 May. Autumn singles Guardbridge F 20 Jul; Starnafin NE 22 Jul; Kingston M&N 10 Aug. Main arrival _ Ork, Loth, Shet & Fair Is 22-23rd. 5 Strathbeg NE | 24th. Widespread end Aug: 7 Virkie Shet 13 Sep, _ no other large count; low autumn numbers Ayr & Loth. Mostleft by late Sep: stragglers into Oct: NE 1 Oct; Ayr, Ork. Shet & Fair Is 3-5 Oct; OHeb & _ Loth 7 Oct. Late bird Aberlady L on 3 Nov. * Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii Singles Virkie & Fetlar Shet 30 May; Strathbeg NE 30 May -2 Jun. Fetlar bird remained to 14 Jun. OHeb pr “usual site”. No mainland reports. Singles Whalsay Shet & Tiree Arg 23 Aug. *Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos 1 Strathbeg NE 11 Jun, 2 there 19-20 Aug & 1 on 21st. Small arrival in mid-Sep: singles C. Ayrshire Ayr 10-18 Sep, Turnberry Ayr 12-19 Sep; St Kilda OH 16-18 Sep, perhaps another there 20th; Fair Is 18-20 Sep; & Haroldswick Shet 2-4 Nov ( 2nd- latest Scottish record (E.Lothian 19 Nov 1955). Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea 1 Bragar, Lewis OH 20-23 Feb. Probably only the 3rd Scottish Feb record. Singles Ardivachar OH 8 May; N.Ronaldsay Ork &Ythan NE on 14th;Skinflats Cent &Methil F on 17th; Annan D&G 18th and Wick Caith on 19th. Widespread by 25-30 May and a few in Jun and early Jul, mainly in Ork. Aquietautumn. 3 singles NE 25-26 Jul, at Annachie, Strathbeg & Ythan.2 Cramond L best of small arrival 5 Aug with main passage from 14th, peak- ing at only three birds at each of three sites. A few into Sep with last 1 Tullibody Cent | Oct. Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima Largest counts missed by the BoEE peak 236 in Feb. Best numbers Ork: 230 0n S. coast Westray in Jan, 920 Sanday in Feb, 132 Birsay in Mar and 379 N.Ronaldsay, rising to max 407 in Apr. Elsewhere counts >50 are rare - 150 Lossiemouth M&N, 107 Tarbert Ness I&R, 72 Scatness Shet & 70 Saltcoats Ayr in Jan; 93 Ayr Ayr in Feb; 168 Fraserburgh area NE & 50 St.Abbs B in Mar. Passage into May with last M&N 12 May; Arg, Caith, NE & Loth 16-17 May; Fife & Shet 24-25 May; Ork 28 May; Ayr 3 Jun. 1 summered St. Kilda. First back Suth, Shet & Ork 12-15 Jul; Fife 31 Jul; Is of May, Bord, Loth 9-19 Aug; NE 30 Aug. 75 N.Ronaldsay 15 Jul; 100+ Is of May 9 Aug but main increase from Oct/Nov with 109 Drimsdale — OH in Oct; 149 Melby Shet, max 278 N.Ronaldsay and 300 Fraserburgh area in Nov. BoEE peak of 251 in Nov with Dec totals generally lower. RR EL aE AS A EN NSPE ITT SST ST YE SP 28 Scottish Bird Report 1992 Dunlin Calidris alpina BoEE peak in Jan of 43,858 birds with 12,036 (27%) in Forth area. The largest site counts were Dunlin BoEE Counts 1992 6,000 Caerlaverock D&G; 5,369 Skinflats Cent; 3,215 Longhaugh Clyde and 2,710 Cromarty Firth I&R in Jan. Rapid fall-off into Mar as winter birds leave. Slight rise late Apr-May as passage birds build-up peaking 600 Ardivachar OH, 600 Findhorn M&N and 580 Eastfield L. Breeding: scarce with sketchy reports: - Ork 14prs Birsay (17 in '91); M&N 2 sites; NE 2 sites; P&K 3 sites; Bord 3 sites; Clyde 2 sites; Ayr 3 sites. BoEE indicates slow increase into Dec with no autumn peak movements although main passage away from main resorts was early, mostly in Aug. BoEE total lowish with largest site counts: 8,000 Caerlaverock; 2,336 Cromarty; 2,154 Dornoch I&R; and 1,600 Cramond L. * Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 11 Jun, another 20-21 Sep. Ruff Philomachus pugnax 12 wintered: max 8 Musselburgh L with singles in NE, Fife, OHeb and D&G. c50 spring birds: 2S.Ronaldsay Ork 11 Apr. Then scatter late Apr in Arg, Fife & Loth max 7 Threave D&G 22nd before main passage in mid-late May. 2 insummer plumage Findhorn Bay M&N 20 May. 10 Aberlady L 23 May & arecord 3 Fair Is 25 May. A few, mostly singles, in Jun-Jul from Ork, OHeb, NE, P&K, Fife, Cent & Clyde with max 11 Crosshill Ayr 29 Jun. Good and in places exceptional autumn passagewith first birds Aberlady L , Findhorn M&N & Unst Shet 18-25 Jul. Main passage, mid-Aug-early Sep | incl large flocks: 155 Virkie Shet 21st; 12 Fair Is & 110 Hestingcott Shet on 23rd; 80 Girdleness NE 24th; 34 Musselburgh L, 43 Edenside F, 12 Fairls | & 126 Strathbeg NE on 30th; 44 C. Ayrshire Ayr || on 3 Sep & 38 Strathaven Clyde on 4th; 20 Skateraw | L & 55 Ythan NE 11- 12th. Smaller numbers thereafter. Last Clyde & Ayr | 3rd, Caith and D&G 7-9th, I&R and NE 11-13th, Cent & Shet 22-24th and Fife 15 Nov. Dec birds in Ork, NE, Loth (4-7) and D&G. Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus Sparsely distributed: 13 Kinneil Cent 22 Jan & max 12 Blantyre Clyde 24 Mar the only large groups. | Exodus late Mar. A few Shet, Fair Is, Ork, I&R, OHeb & Lothinearly Apr. Singles Pt of Knap, Arg 2 May & Wood of Cree D&G 4 May 4th. Autumn arrival: singles Fair Is 2 Sep, Is of May 17th & S.Ronaldsay Ork on 18th. Scatter, mainly inE toearly Oct. Big passage N. Isles 27 Sep-4 Oct | incl 10-15 daily Fair Is;10 died N-.Ronaldsay Ork lighthouse 30 Sep- 1 Oct. Arrivalin W. 10-30 Oct. Wintering again sparse but cl00 Eigg I&R. Snipe Gallinago gallinago Flocks >50 birds; 160 Westray Ork, 100 Bogside Ayr in Jan; 61 Hayston Clyde, 60 N.Ronaldsay Ork & 59 Paisley Moss Clyde in Feb. 70 Inverugie NE & 48 Clickimin Shet on 14 Mar were passage birds. Breeding reports. varied in detail: Bord 70 sites; | P&Kc60; Arg 40+; [&R 40; Ork 30+; Fair Is 27; Loth 20; Clyde 16. Reported all other areas . Autumn passage from Aug with peaks in late Sep: | 250 N.Ronaldsay Ork, 96 Blantyre Muir Clyde & 50 Foula Shet 23 Sep, 80 Fair Is 27 Sep, 70 Wick Caith 3 Oct & 111 Blantyre Muir 24 Oct. Only | other large flocks: 143 Hillwell Shet , 78 Kingston | M&N & 75 Dalmahoy Marsh L, all during Nov. | * Great Snipe Gallinago media learly bird Fair Is 26 Aug with presumably the same bird there on 31st. | Fair Isle has the majority of modern Scottish records | although this is their first since 1987. IN) IM 4 R.D.Murray [Ed] Woodcock Steven Brown PRG, A. } 1 : %, es ¢- f A i St Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Winter reports mostly 1-3 birds but 10 Gosford L, 8 Strathbeg NE & 6 Aberfeldy P&K in Jan. Little evidence of passage except Fair Is where 1-2 birds 8-28 Apr, peaking with 15 on 8th & 6 on 23 Apr. Breeding: Under-recorded: 1-2 birds/sites in Shet, Caith,Suth, I&R and Cent but P&K 10; Fife 8; Loth 12; Bord 32; Clyde 20+; Arran 12+; Ayr 13. Small-scale passage Aug-Sep. Mostly Oct-Nov, with arrivals in D&G, Shet & Fair Is 2-4th, Is of May 8th; Ork &Fife 15-17th; Ayr, Bord & NE 21- 23rd, P&K and Clyde 27-30th & OHeb 5 Nov. Peaks: 40 Is of May 18 Oct & 30 Fair Is on 29 Oct, with 150 there 10 Nov and 50 on 17 Nov. 29 Breeding: Shet rise to 5 sites with min 4 prs, only br2 raised; Ork pr present usual site but no evi- dence of breeding; I&R pr displayed Insh Marshes. Potential breeders Clyde, Loth & Bord. Summer flocks: 16 Strathbeg NE 31 May, 29 on 29 Jun, max 33 on 11 Jul; max 17 Broubster Caith 17 May with last 7 Jun; 17 L.Flemington M&N 16 May. Possible expansion of breeding in future? Weak autumn passage: 16 Aberlady L 30 Jul; max 20 Stronsay Ork 3 Aug; 14L. of Strathbeg 14 Aug; 68 Uists OH 17 Aug; 46 Kinneil Cent in Aug. 77 max Kinneil in Oct with 47 in Dec; 67 Edenside 28 Aug rising to 142 on 15 Oct & 144 on 12 Dec. Low BoEE winter counts, mostly Edenside, few elsewhere. Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Low winter numbers withBoEE peak only 9,682, highest in E, peak mid-Feb: max 650 Nairn M&N; 800 Dalmeny & 965 Aberlady L; & 524 Dornoch Firth I&R. 380 Valley Strand & 675 S. Ford OH in Jan & 412 Sanday Ork in Feb (outwith BoEE). Bar-tailed Godwit BoEE Counts 1992 Again only a few multiple records in winter. 6000 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa BoEE shows importance of Fife birds at Edenside ait where 200 in Feb and 270 peak in Apr. 57 Kinneil- Skinflats Cent in Mar; 64 Caerlaverock D&G in 200 Apr; 140 L.Connel D&G in Apr. Elsewhere max 20 in Ork but mostly 1-10 birds. 0 See weueno: 8 8 2 cy Somme? ah Wh Oc, ea Black-tailed Godwit BoEE Counts 1992 aoe is 300 -f | 250 L.Indaal, Islay Arg was only good count in a very weak passage mid-Apr to mid-Jun. 309 Aberlady L late Jun was unusually early. Poor autumn with 323 Sanday Ork & 923 Newbie D&G in Aug; 332 Burntisland F & 750 Eastfield L in Sep; 420 Ardivachar OH & 1,025 Cromarty I&R in Oct. Winter numbers even lower than 91-92 with BoEE . max of only 7,597, once again evenly spread. Max site counts were 656 Port Seaton L; 636 Inverness Firth I&R and 630 Aberlady L. w 100 a g Z a of ~ EEE \_ SSS 20000 10000 30 Scottish Bird Report 1991 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Two singles wintered at Baltasound, Unst Shet and Whitefarland Arran, both returnees. Early singles Ork 4 Apr; I&R 15Apr. Main arrival; Loth & OHeb 20th, D&G and Fair Is 21st; Ayr & Arg 22-23rd; P&K, Bord,Fife, Clyde & Caith 24- 25th; Arran, Suth, M&N, Shet & Cent 26-28th, NE 4 May. Peak early May: 45 Martnaham Ayr on 3rd; 84 Harrow Caith on 4th; 30L. Indaal, Islay, Arg 7th; 101 Coll Arg & 57 Ardivachar OH on 8th; 30 Carsethorn D&G 13th & 22 St Ola Ork on 19th. Best-ever spring St Kilda OH :51 - 133 birds 20 Apr - 1 Jul, max 15 there on 7 May. Breeding: Shet 33prs at 3 sites Yell; Ork 7prs West Mainland; OH pr bred Uists; Caith no breeding. Return early Jul: Fair Is 2nd, Arg 6th, Fife and Ayr 8-9th, Suth andI&R 11-13th. 47 L. Bee OH 30 Jul; 45 Nairn/Kingston NE 1 Aug; 46S Eyemouth B and 46 Longman I&R 9 Aug; 50S Musselburgh L 20 Aug. Most left by late Sep but many stragglers in Oct with latest-ever records Is of May 14th and Loth 17th. 1 returned Whitefarland Arran for its third winter but the Unst bird did not return. Curlew Numenius arquata BoEE peak 20,620 in Jan, 45% winter 90/91. Solway again held most birds with 45% total. 7,360 Inner Solway D&G was 2nd-most important UK resort; Dornoch & Cromarty Firths [&R held 1,556 & 1,404 in Jan. Ork, outwith BoKE cover- age, had important counts - 2,200 Widewall Bay; 1,000 Tankerness, 1,500 L.of Bosquoy and 1,200 L.of Harray in Jan. Inland elsewhere no flocks >1,000 birds. Curlew BoEE Counts 1992 30000 | Birds on territory : Loth 23 Feb; NE 29 Feb; Bord& P&K 2-4 Mar; Shet & Cent 7-8 Mar. Largest inland flocks: 309 West Linton B 12 Mar; 300 Tullibody Inch Cent 15 Mar; 240 Cloddach M&N 20 Mar; | Breeding: Fair Is 7prs (6 in'91); Ork 28prs N.Hoy (24 in '91), 17prs Trumland, Rousay (16 in '91); Ayr cl5prs Carrick (17-19 in'91). 8prs Strathbaan | P&K had 5prs producing young but 5 prs Stanley | P&K only had 1 brood. Successful season Ayr & | Lammermuirs L/B. Still expanding Lewis OH. Flocks from late Jun : 800 Dalmeny L, 893 Greenan | Ayr & 583 Valleyfield Fin Aug; but quiet autumn with few large counts - 760 L.Indaal Arg in Sep; | 1,248 Cromarty Firth and 1,050 Widewall Bay in Oct ; 1,100 S.Ronaldsay Ork in Nov. BoEE peaks of 14,121 & 14,864 in Oct and Dec, | mostly Solway with 1,178 Wigtown Bay D&G the best Dec count along with 1,000 St.Ola Ork. Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus Summary NIsles_ 1 1 28 10 W Isles 14 N Scot 1 i pea lace Te syg} 1 NE Scot* a | et) 67210), oo E/C Scot 8 23" 28 alee SE Scot 1 2 Sp Ss al SW Scot 1 1 60-452 1 Total 3 en a ear aS 3) *NE autumn records not detailed. Winter birds in Ork, I&R and Ayr. | Fair Is 26 Apr and | Insh Marshes I&R 28 Apr - 2 May but very few other spring records. Autumn mostly 1-3 birds but 8 West Mainland Ork 15 Aug, 13 Montrose 7-23 Sep, 4 Ythan NE | 8-9 Sep. 2 St Kilda OHeb 21 Sep, first-ever there. | Most left late Oct. Singles Cramond L 3 Nov; Kingston M&N 11-14 Nov; Munlochy I&R on | 13 Dec; 1 Carsethorn D&G 19 Dec. 1 Cullaloe F 18 Oct remained into 1993. Redshank Tringa totanus BoEE winter max 18,213 in Jan, mainly N.Sea | coasts. Max site counts incl 3,127 Inner Solway | D&G; 2,354 Inverness Firth I& R; 1,634 Cromarty Firth I&R; 745 Nairn Bar M&N; 1,793 on Loth coast 950 Newshot Is Clyde; 860 Skinflats Cent; | 900 Eden Est F. Steady decline Jan-Mar but 2,500 Findhorn M&N 20 Apr as passage birds move north. JO ROM: AsMey7J> A: S OF NDe R.D.Murray [Ed] Redshank Steven Brown Late arrival on territory: P&K from 8 Mar; Loth 12th; I&R 16th; Bord 18th; Ork 21st. Breeding few significant reports: Shet 47prs Fetlar (40 in'91): P&K 43prs Strathallan (62prs in '91); Loth 10prs Aberlady (13 in '91); Arg 76prs L.Gruinart, Islay; Ayr 23prs New Cumnock lochs. Few young seen P&K. First passage early Jul with gradual build-up to Oct BoEE peak of 16,887. Best totals: 1,000+ Eskine Clyde in Sep; 1,551 Cromarty , 1,277 Inverness & 1,200 Dalmeny L in Oct; and 1,403 Inverness & 885 Skinflats in Dec. ; * Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis | (1990) 1 Cotehill Loch NE 15-16 May. 6th Scottish record; 3 spring and 3 in autumn. 31 Greenshank Tringa nebularia Wintering birds :8 Findhorn M&N, 9 Findlaystone Pt Clyde, 9 Garlieston D&G, 8 Fairlie Ayr, 5 Mull Arg & 3 Tyninghame L in Jan and Feb. Very light and late spring passage: few in Mar with main arrival early Apr: 7 Tarradale 1&R 13 Apr but mostly 1-3 birds. Breeding: Shet 2pr; Caith 5prs seen flow country, 1 giving distraction display 27 Jun; Suth 2 poss sites; I&R ad+br2 nr Spey Dam 23 - 26 Jun; NE pr+br3 upper Deeside; Arg 2 pr poss bred. Scatter in late July. Main passage from Aug. Peaks of 23 Tyninghame L & 13 Findhorn M&N in Aug; 22 Glencaple D&G, 14 Bogside Ayr and 12 Harris OH in Sep. Most away late Sep-early Oct. Wintering birds in similar numbers to Jan ‘92. * Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes Ad Cults Pool NE 18-19 May More typical were autumn singles Starnafin NE 15 Aug & L Ordais, Lewis OH 28 Sep - 8 Oct. Sth & 6th for NE & 2nd for OHeb; 19th-21st Scottish records since 1950. * Solitary Sandpiper 7ringa solitaria | juv Fair Is 13-15 Sep. Ist for N.Isles; 3rd for Scotland; 29th for UK. Previous: Lanark ‘before'1870 and Uist OH 1990. Photo - Birding World 5:329. See Riddington (1993) Scottish Birds 17: 62-64. BE a a SL Le OL EE a ee eee | 32 Scottish Bird Report 1991 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Winter singles Findhorn Bay M&N 22 Jan -11 Mar & 1 R. Nith D&G 5 Jan. Poor spring with only 10 records. Mostly N&E in late May. 2 Is of May 25 May & 4 sites in Jun incl 2 N. Ronaldsay Ork 10 Jun. Scatter in July heralded a good autumn. Main passage from early Aug: Cent & Bord on 3rd, OHeb 5th, Arg 7th & Ayr, Loth & Fair Is on 8th. Exceptional period Fair Is with 5+ on 14 days in Aug with record 15 there on 17th. 5 birds Longside NE; 4 birds at Huesbreck Shet, Coll Arg, Skinflats Cen and Threipmuir Loth. Most away by late Sep, with a few lingering to mid-Oct. Winter records Findhorn Bay M&N 5 Oct - 13 Dec and Cameron Res Fife 31 Dec. Summary JF MAcMie dk eJoA) (Se OwNGeD N Isles 12s ae UO OOR Seth 2 W Isles Theda N Scot 1 1 NE Scot. L121 al 1 Neda Lf (3) Wel? ere ttc a W Scot Teel E/C Scot 1 4 18.-:3°.2 1 SE Scot Py el 23 SWScot 1 | pew) Avie 2 NO sd Total 2 Nice ae a Ot NOMS. Ses ele Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 1 Glen Lonan Arg 15 Apr was very early. Singles Fair Is 5 May & Loth9 May. Main spring passage 15-31 May. Max 3 Strathbeg NE 16 May. Stragglers into early June. Breeding: I&R pair+newly-hatched young Insh Marshes 7 Jun, first confirmed breeding there for several years also 2 prs bred successfully at a site in Ross-shire; Caith 1 site with song-flighting. Autumn singles Kinneil Cent 21 Jul & Kingston M&N 8-16 Aug. Main passage 12 Aug -20 Sep, the last being 2 North Ronaldsay Ork 20 Sep. Summary JIFM AM J JASON D N Isles 12 33 N Scot 4 6 1 NE Scot 6: “a1 3 E/C Scot 22, AG A SE Scot 1 1 SW Scot 1 1 6435 Total 125 eeOr ara ees. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 1 Shewalton Ayr 1991 to 1 Feb. 1 Wigtown D&G | 23 Feb may have been the same bird? 12 Loch Stenster Caith 2 Apr, a little early. Then | Clyde 17th; M&N and NE 19th; P&K, Loth &Ayr 20-2 1st; Suth, I&R, Arg, D&G, Ork & Arran 22- | 23rd; Fife, Cent , Fair Is, & Shet 24-26th. Breeding: Shet absent from usual site; Ork 12 pr; I&R 25 prs on Eigg (21 in'91); M&N 10 prs; P&K | 13 prs in 6.6 km of Upper Glen Almond WBS (20 in '91) is lowest in 15 yrs ; Loth 17 prs; Clyde 19 prs; Arran 28 prs; Ayr 59 prs. Passage mid-Jul to end Sep. Peak 11 Kingston | M&N 10-14 Jul; 15 Caerlaverock D&G 26 Jul; | 18 Baltasound Shet; 14 Fair Is 23 Aug. 3 Slidderywaterfoot Arran 4 Oct (latest ever) and singles Lossiemouth M&N and Guardbridge Fife on 110ct. * Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia 1 Annat, Loch Rannoch P&K 30 Apr - 26 May. | First for P&K, 10th for Scotland and earliest ever arrival in Britain. overall British concentration in autumn. Rest of UK Scotland Turnstone Arenaria interpres 400 Bogside Ayr, 850 Loth coast & 319 Portgordon MAN in Jan; 861 Loth coast and 350 Fair Is in| Mar; numbers fell in S thereafter but peaks in N| in Apr-May: 800 Ardivachar OH; 580 Fraserburgh | area NE, 509 N.Ronaldsay Ork in Apr. BoEE Jan | max 2,533 but many birds not included in BoEE coverage. Inland: 1 Kercock P&K 10 May. A few summered OHeb, Shet & Ork. Pr displayed | May-Jun in S.Mainland Shet and single defending | Photo- Birding World 5:208. | Scotland shows a bias towards spring records, unlike the | territory Auskerry Ork in Jun. 1 SS PE AT SS SE ZEST SG R.D.Murray [Ed] Return mid-Jul but mostly mid-Aug with 232 Fraserburgh, 642 N.Ronaldsay & 561 Drimsdale OH in late Aug-early Sep, 1,353 BoEE during Oct with 604 Fraserburgh; 284 N.Berwick L; 202 N.Ronaldsay and 189 Portgordon. Little change to BoEE max of 1,622 in Dec. Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus No winter/spring records. Breeding: Shet increase to 24d’ Fetlar , none elsewhere; Arg, 1 $+26'o' at the usual site hatched a brood of three and at least one fledged. Very poor year: singles N.Ronaldsay Ork 18 Jun, Stronsay Ork 29 Jun-2 Jul and 7 Jul, Swona Ork 4Jul, L. Ordais, Lewis OH 14 Sep, Tweed at Floors B 1 Nov (3rd for Borders). Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius 1N Brora Suth 5 Mar, the only winter/spring bird. 1 Braighe OH 26 Jul was still in summer plumage. Influx 2-16 Sep: lbetween Eigg & Skye I&R 2nd; 1 Rubha Ardvule , Uists OH and 1S Turnberry Ayr 7th; 2 off Portpatrick D&G 12th; 1 L.Tiumpan, Lewis OH 10th-13th; 1 Turnberry 15 Sep; 11 off N.Ronaldsay Ork 16th. 1 St.Andrews F 20 Dec was only winter record. Pomarine Skua Steven Brown 33 Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus More reports Solway D&G with better awareness of movement, incl record 40-60E Newbie 25 Apr. Unprecedentedly heavy spring passage off N &W. 2,709N passage off W&N coast Shet 8-17 May, with exceptional peak of 2,093 Watsness on 9th. 1,423N of W coast Uists OH 27 Apr-20 May: peak 63N (2hrs) Ardivachar Pt. on 7th, 440N (12hrs) Aird an Runair on 12th with 701N (15hrs) on 15th. Only 6 Ork in mid-May. See Harrop H.R., Mellor M. & Suddaby D. (1993) Scottish Birds 17: 50-55 for full account of passage off Shetland 1N Peterhead NE 27 Jun; 1N Barns Ness L 4 Jul; 2 Chanonry Point I&R 5 Jul; & 1 Treshnish, Mull Arg 30 Jul. Few Aug-Sep, peaking at 1ON/29S Peterhead NE 19 Sep. Unprecedented passage on the E coast in Oct. First wave 9-11 Oct: 646W Lossiemouth M&N, record 88N(90 min) Eyemouth B &136N Barns Ness 9th; 72N St Abbs B on 10th; 116N Barns Ness, 213W Hound Pt. L & 145 Inverkeithing F on 11th as the first wave moved up Forth. Second wave followed on 15th-16th:150 Hound Pt. on 15th & 494 (383W) there 16th, with 272W (4 hrs) at Braefoot Point F. Passage died away quickly with only 145 Hound Pt. on 20th of note. Very few by end- Oct. Only 7 reports in Nov, the last being 2E Hound Pt 14 Nov. Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus First 2 Fair Is 13 Apr; Suth on 14th; OHeb 16th; Fife, I&R, Ork & Shet 18-19th; Ayr 22nd; D&G and Caith 25th. Only big movements:172N off Uists 172N OH 16 Apr-20 May, max 42N Ardivachar Pt. on 1 May. Breeding: Census N.Isles: Shet 1,878 AOTs, a 1.8% decrease (from '85/86); Ork 1,956 AOTs, 2% increase (from '82); OHeb 36 AOTs Lewis, +16%; Caith 20 AOTs; Arg pr bred Jura but poor success Coll, only 25prs. Monitored sites: Colonies Pairs Young MBS Shetland 11 178 199 1.12 Fair Islé 1 109 - 1.20 Orkney 6 151 - ().68 Outer Hebrides I 36 16 ? Little change N_Isles since lastcounts, butmarked redistribu- tion, possibly due to competition from Great Skua on Ork. Numbers attending colonies Shet increased by 11% after declines of late 80s, a possible return of birds not holding territory in recent years. This may have been related to rise in tern numbers. Increases were larger near big tern colonies in 34 Shet. Success improved generally except in areas of preda- tion: Otters on Mousa Ork; Bonxie on Fair Isle and c6 sites on Shet; Sheep and Common Gulls on Westray Ork. D.Suddaby in Walsh et al JNCC 1993. First returnees Arran on 3 Jul; I&R on 5 Jul; Ayr 12 Jul; Is of May 17 Jul; D&G 30 Jul; Fife 1 Aug; Bord 13 Aug. Poor passage with main exodus Aug. Last Shet on 5th Sep, Fair Is on 10th, OHeb 11th and Caith on 17th. Largest counts: 23N/5S Brora Suth, 30 Chanorny Pt. [&R, 69 Hound Pt. L, 41N Barns Ness L with 9 Skinflats Cent (incl 6W, very high) on 30 Aug; 32 Troon &Turnberry Ayr on 31 Aug; 60N Fife Ness F 5 Sep; 46N Brora 6 Sep. Mostly 1-5 birds to c20 Sep then movement with Poms in mid-Oct when 18 Nairn Bar M&N on 9th, 13 St.Abbs B & 25 Goosepools F on 11th; 16 Hound Pt. on 16th. Inland birds noted Hule Moss B 6 Aug; L.Leven P&K 11 Aug; L.Broom P&K 22 Aug. Last M&N 9 Oct; Is of May & Bord 11 Oct; Fife 16 Oct; latest 2 Hound Pt. L 1 Nov. Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus 2 St.Kilda OH 1 May - /st record there & earliest- ever OHeb: Main movement in OHeb where 172N off the Uists 5-20 May: including 121 (12hrs) Aird an Runair 12 May with 389 (15hrs) there 15 May; 258N at sea in Sound of Lewis 12 May. | N.Ronaldsay Ork 5 May; | inland L.Ruthven I&R & 2 Eshaness Shet on 7th; 44 Watsness Shet on 8th; singles D&G, at Carsethorne on 12th and Mull of Galloway on 29th. 1 Coll Arg 17 Jun & | Papa Westray Ork 18 Jul. Light, protracted autumn passage- only 33 widely scattered birds 5 Aug - 21 Oct. 4 Lossiemouth M&N 9 Oct was the only group caught up in the big Pom movement. A poor year following 1991’s record spring and autumn passages. Summary Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov N Isles 50 1 2 W Isles 580 N/NE Scot 1 3 2 7 W/SW Scot 2 | I | 2 I E-/SE Scot 4 9 i Total Biacosd i 5) 96 3 Scottish Bird Report 1992 Great Skua Stercorarius skua 1 St.Kilda OH 5 Feb. First Shet 5 Mar; Arg 14th; Fair Is 18th; Ork 27th; OHeb 31st; M&N 3 Apr; Caith, Fife, I&R and D&G 12-15 Apr. Main arrival Shet early Apr, Fair Is mid-Apr. Only 78 noted off Uists OH 16 Apr-20 May, max 22N Ardivachar Pt. 29 Apr. No numbers elsewhere. Breeding: Census N.Isles: Shet 6,196 AOTs, 10% increase from '85/86; Ork 2,018 AOTs, 22% increase from '82; OHeb 18 AOTs Lewis +17%, stable St.Kilda; Caith 3 AOTs; Suth 9 prs bred Eilean nan Ron. Monitored sites: Colonies Pairs Young MBS Shetland 6 176 120 0.68 Fair Isle 1 110 - 0.5-0.8 Orkney 3 - - 0.5-0.65 Outer Hebrides i 18 9 ? Shet large increase Fair Is (39%) but further decline Foula (5%) and N&W colonies. Foula still largest colony in world at 2,174 AOTs. Ork increase mostly Hoy but doubled Rousay & Stronsay. Big variation in productivity, due to chick deaths, reflecting degree of cannibalism, low Hermaness, Yell & Fetlar but high Mainland Shet, Foula & Hoy, especially later inseason. D.Suddaby in Walsh et al, JNCC 1993. Main exodus N.Isles mostly early Sep but passage birds elsewhere from early Jul: Arg from 4 Jul; D&G and Ayr 10-12 Jul; Bord 15 Jul; M&N and Arran 21-22 Jul; Fife 1 Aug; I&R 14 Aug. Reasonable autumn: 220N/hr South Head Caith 13 Aug; 18N/22S Brora Suth 22 Aug; 28N Brora 30 Aug; 46 Brora 6 Sep; 19 Musselburgh L 12 Sep; 50 S.Head 12-13 Sep; 22W Strathy Pt.Suth 16 Sep; 14 St.Abbs B & 27 Barns Ness L 22 Sep; 17W Hound Pt. L 25 Sep; 34 Hound Pt 3 Oct. Elsewhere mostly 1-5 per day. Last Ayr 19 Sep; I&R 27 Sep; Caith 10 Oct; M&N 11 Oct; Fife & Loth 1 Nov; Is of May 17 Nov; latest | 1 St.Abbs B 29 Nov. * Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 11 records, the lowest total since 1987. Ad Donmouth NE 8 Jan-5 Mar; ad Musselburgh L 18 Mar; ad Unst Shet 26 Apr. 2nd-w Skateraw L 18 Sep and another, or the same, Gostord Bay L 20 Sep. 2nd-w Catacol Arran on | 21 Sep with Ist-w there 30 Sep; Ad Doonfoot Ayr 9 Oct; ad Hound Pt. L | Nov; ad (returned?) Donmouth 11 Nov; ad Torrans, Mull Arg 15 Dec. 2nd Shet and Ist-2nd Arran records. R.D.Murray [Ed] * Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan lst-summer Musselburgh L 3-4 Jun. Ist for Lothian & 6th for Scotland. Previous birds, Irvine 1980; Canna, 1981; S.Uist, 1985 : Shetland 1990 & 1991. May--Aug Photo- Birding World 5: 208. Little Gull Larus minutus Mostly coastal, in all months except Dec. Passage Apr-Jun and Aug- Oct. Mostlyin S &E, with Fife having more than everywhere else put together Fife Ness, peaked 253S on 26 Sep - fairly early peak date, which is often in Oct, sometimes Nov. After being declared “extinct” last year, the Kilconquhar Loch Fife roost reappeared 24 Jul - 8 Sep, peaking at 5 on 10 Aug. Summay J F MA MJ JAS ON D N Isles 9 1 De, W Isles my Me Sa all N Scot 1 Grae lee AND NE Scot* 1 1 OF MO eNOS) ei ad | E/C Scot 8 Se al 945 4.3272 304i 32 SE Scot 1 Dig A ili 3 2 SW Scot Ont Seo 3 1 Total Open ee ll 27) 25" 13°45" 330 34 1" 0 * NE data incomplete * Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini 1 first-w SW Brora Suth 26 Apr. 11 inautumn. AdS Sound of Scarp OH 25 Jul; lst-s Musselburgh L 30 Aug;ad Troon Ayr 31 Aug; juv N. Ronaldsay Ork 9-14 Sep; ad+juv from the Lochranza Arran to Claonaig Arg ferry 9 Sep; juv S Rubha Ardvule OH 11 Sep; juv Newton Shore Ayr 15 Sep; 1 Scapa Bay Ork 18 Sep; 1 imm. Colonsay Arg 3 Oct; 1 Shapinsay Ork 1 Nov. Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus Breedin Area Colonies Total Prs Largest Colony Prs N Isles calls) c1,700 S Ronaldsay Ork — c500 N Scot 2 c2,800 NE Scot 15 c2,100 E/C Scot > c1,200 SE Scot * 10 c1,200 W Scot 7 c650 - - SW Scot 21 c1,500 Barscube Clyde 608 * No count at Bemersyde colony Bord, estimated at 14,000+ prsin'91 Many other colonies uncounted. Arg 523 clutches laid at 5 colonies but only 50-65 young fledged. Predation by Mink Mustela vison known to be a major problem. Feral ferrets M furo Broubster Caith ¢2800 Strathbeg NE c1500 Red Myre Fife 465 Bemersyde Bord nc 35 Black-headed Gull Andrew Dowell and Peregrines were predators on Islay. Roosts: Jan-Mar: massive 31,000 Langbank Clyde 5 Jan during bad weather; 5,000 Lochmaben D&G 12 Jan, 7,000 Bogside Ayr 18 Jan; 3,500 Dalmeny L 19 Jan; and 15,000 Hule Moss B 7 Mar. Sep-Dec: 7,000+ Doonfoot Ayr 3-6 Oct; 7,300 Hule Moss 25 Oct; 2,700 Seafield L 28 Nov and 2,000 Lossiemouth M&N 12 Dec. * Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis Winter 91/92: ad Stromness Ork 1991-27 Feb; Ist- w Donmouth NE 8 Jan; ad Kinnordy A&D 7 Feb. Winter 92/93: 2nd-w Meoness Fair Is 12 Aug - firstfor Fair Is; 2nd-w N.Ronaldsay Ork 12 Sep; ad Lochlea Ayr 26 Sep-12 Oct, 4th for Ayrshire; 2nd-w Sumburgh Shet 8-13 Oct, 4th for Shetland; 1 ad Proaig, Islay Arg 7 Nov; 1 Stornoway OHeb 15-25 Nov; 1 Sandy L., Lerwick Shet 20-24 Nov; 2nd-w Tarbert, Kintyre Arg 24 Dec. Note dates for 2nd-w birds in N.Isles, perhaps one individual. Records in Scotland, as in the rest of Britain, have increased steadily since the first in 1976, with a steeper increase lately. There have now been a total of 67 Scottish records: 12 Ring-billed Gull in Scotland 10 LL SE ASL TE TT I SLL SST IT DE PE SE SG TET EE] 36 Common Gull Larus canus Breeding: Fair Is: poor season, some chicks were pecked to death by Arctic Terns!; Ork 18 colonies heldc1,250prs; M&N c350prs in7 colonies showed a decline; I&R 62prs Eigg; P&K moderately successful; Ayr little success . 7 colonies Lochaber Arg fledged 0.35/nest while 9 in Argyll & Bute fledged 0.1 to 0.15/nest - predation by Mink was widespread especially at 6 sites with total failures. 10prs Fair Is failed totally while success variable Ork but high on Hoy. From Walsh ef al, 1993. JNCC. 3,000 roosted Ardrossan Ayr & 3,000 Langbank Clyde in Jan; 2,000 St Ola Ork in Feb; 1,450 Cameron R. F & 1,800 Lake of Menteith Cent in Mar. 3,000 Valleytield F & 2,000 Sandwick Ork in Aug; c12,000 Doonfoot Ayr in Sep; 2,400 Whiteadder Res. L and 7500 W.Water Res. B in Oct. An adult showing the characters of the Siberian race L c heinei was seen at Stromness Ork 26 Jan. The BOURC state that variation in L.canus is so clinal , in terms of mantle colour, size and wing length, that the identification of this L.c.heinei (C.Russian - C. Siberia) race in the field is not "recommended". Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Small numbers Jan, mostly 1-4 birds, in Cent, Fife, Loth, Bord, Clyde & Ayr. First arrivals Ork , Arg & Clyde 15-16 Feb; Fair Is, Arran, P&K and I&R 21-23 Feb; NE & Cent 29 Feb; Shet, M&N &Caith 1-6 Mar; OHeb & Suth 14 Mar. Best counts: 200 Tarbolton & 233 Meadownay Ayr 20-22 Mar; 500 Lochwinnoch Clyde 15 Mar. Breeding: I&R c7Oprs Castle Is, Eigg (51 in '91); Is of May 751 prs (788 in '91), 779 young, MBS - 1.04 (0.54 in '91); Loth 162 nests Inchmickery (135 in '91); Ayr 1,924 'large-gull’ nests Horse Is (1,500 on '91); Clyde 305 nests, 277 on roofs, in Cumbernauld, Glasgow, Liawood & Dumbarton. Roof nests also in Ayr, Loth, Cent. Notable Aug counts : 600 feeding in new-cut silage Hartwoodmyres B and 1,324 Doonfoot Ayr with 2,100 L.Spallander Ayr 6 Oct. Last birds Suth, Shet, M&N in Sep; Ork 4 Oct; Is of May 13 Oct; Fair Is 19 Oct; Arran 30 Oct; OHeb 4 Nov; Ayr 29 Nov. Dec singles D&G, P&K, Cent & Bord with 6 birds in Loth and c17 in Clyde. Da SSE GS | Scottish Bird Report 1992 Herring Gull Larus argentatus 3,000 Millchen Clyde 2 Jan; 5,000 Irvine Ayr on 18 Jan; 6,000 Bogside Ayr 29 Feb; & 1,300 Fallin tip Cent 14 Mar were largest counts. Breeding: Shet stable 53 prs Fetlar, Noss 86 nests (65 in '91) with MCS 2.52 (2.40 in '91), Mainland colonies successful; I&R decline to 1,316 prs Canna where MBS 0.9 (0.75 in '91) but increase to 440prs Eigg (340 in '91); NE 3,680 AONs Dunnotar area (+15% since '86); Is of May 1,462 prs (1,447 in '91), c2,222 chicks, an MBS of 1.52 ( 1.23 in '91); Loth 55 Eyebroughty (141 in '91), 45 Car Craig (41 1n'91), 140 Inchgarvie (145 in'91); Bord 24% decline St.Abbs, 301 AONs (398 in '91); Clyde 19 nests, 5 on roofs, 14 on L.Lomond island. Best autumn/winter roosts: 4,500 Bogside 14 Sep; 8,700 Doonfoot Ayr 6 Oct; 5,000 Fair Is 28 Oct; 13,652 Longannet F 9 Nov. Yellow-legged Gull L.a cachinnans Singles St.Kilda OH 10 Feb; Greenan Ayr 19 Feb- 1 Apr, moved to Doonfoot 6 May-4 Dec; North | Ronaldsay Ork 21-22 Apr; Ardelve I&R 27 May; Colonsay Arg 22 Jul; Scolpaig, S.Uist OH 5 Aug. Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides At least 210 records: J.-F M Ay Mey J,, ACS -O: NB N Isles 13 152 OES OD 3.3 jens Walsles® 23°15 ese ee al We N Scot’ - 7.12413) “722.31 1 1 4 NE Scot* 4 So Se thal 1 2 W Scot: die 25s 2 sal je | E/C Scot, Mie 2) alia 1 1 2 SE Scot (1 Diol SW: Scot 3B si 52> omesaeel 2. 4a Total. .33--4 1). 37/626) OM Aa les? acals Gpe ee *records were not fully detailed 24-27 Lewis & Harris OH | Jan-13 Jun, all singles. Few multiple records; maxima 5 Loch Broom I&R in Feb and 7 there in Mar; 3 Lerwick Shet 3 Feb and 3 Peterhead NE 8 Mar. 2nd-w on Tay at Scone P&K 30 Dec 91 - 18 Feb, an unusual inland bird. | 3rd-yr summered Benbecula OH. * Kumlien’s Gull L g kumlieni Ad Inverness I&R 2 Jan. Imm, apparently a Kumlien’s/Thayer’s Gull intergrade L kumlieni/ thayeri Ayr Ayr all year. First seen asa Ist-w on |- | Feb 91. The true identity is still uncertain. R.D.Murray [Ed] Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus At least 376 records: oor MA’M J J A S.O.N DD Rasics Come Ta lOma, AZ Sk 21 3031) 7 aisles On 2) 3 te dT dd 1 N Scot AC tO. 4 oll 1 De Ayers) NE Scone Hes I 2 bl Sree DEAD W Scot 2 Day e13 1 EC \cotme leer ls 32% 1 ob 2501. 2 SE Scot Wile 22) | 2) yl 1 eS SS Swascots 4010. 6.19. 5.2.74 [3.57 4.6: 8 Total 55 59 35 32 26 15 9 9 12 47 45 26 *records not fully detailed Highest counts: 12 Burrafirth Shet 30 Jan & 8 Loch Broom I&R in Feb & 5 Blackdog NE 13 Mar. Otherwise 1-3 at many sites, including a number of long-stayers. A 3rd-w Glaucous x Herring Gull hybrid Girdleness NE on 5 Oct. Also 1 Lerwick Shet 19 Oct. Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 400 West Ferry Clyde 5 Jan; 329 N.Ronaldsay Ork 21 Jan; 1,400 roost Westray Ork 8 Jun were best early-year counts. Breeding: Shet Continued decline, 57 AONs Noss (68 in '91, 32% decline since "86), 130 ads High Holm with 21 chicks (250+6 in '91); Ork c974 prs at 18 sites, inc 396prs N.Hoy, where good success; I&R 17 prs Eigg, 28prs Nigg, 1.86 chicks/nest; Arg 40prs, 21 chicks Ruadh Sgeir, Jura, 75 AOTs Canna (25% increase from'87); M&N I pr Coversea; Ayr 10prs Horse Is, 5prs Finnarts Pt, 56prs Alisa Craig reared 1.86 chicks/nest. 4,000 Nairn & 3,500 Findhorn M&N 23-24 Sep; 600N Brora Suth 29 Sep; 1,000 Fair Is 28 Oct; 4,000 Unst Shet 31 Oct; 763 Longannet F 9 Nov. Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 150W high over Grangemouth Cent 23 Mar. Max movements: 9,600S Peterhead NE 8 Apr and 7,700 (30 mins) past Eyemouth B 25 Apr. Breeding:Population changes varied but mostly slight. N.Sea populations showed slight overall decreases from Shet to Caith butall areas to Bord showed slight increases. Except for Shet all areas have increased since 1986 but increases in Grampian are marked (c75%) and now number >110,000 nests. Productivity moderately high, much better than 1991. N.Sea colonies were especially successful with 0.84 chicks/ nestin Shet and 1.10 on E. coast. Some averaged 1.3-1.5/nest. On W coast only Handa Suth exceeded 1.0/nest, the W.coast average being 0.62 chicks/nest. Continued low success in W is noteworthy. The E.coast is successful with Shet largely 37 recovered from poor period from 88-90, reflecting good food availablity. The poorer success in the W may be related to food availability. From Walsh et al JNCC, 1993. Kittiwake Alan Lauder wig s i eA A ea a“ - a \ 2,100 Lossiemouth M&N, 3,000+ Eigg I&R and 5,000 Brora Suth late Aug; 65W high over Kinneil Cent 30 Aug; 3,000E Lossiemouth 5 Sep; 4,200N&7,000S Peterhead 11 Sep; 5,000 Hound Pt. L 20 Sep. Inland birds noted: L.Flemington M&N 22 Apr; L.InshI&R 19 Sep; Alloa Cent 30 Aug; Dunalistair P&K 24 Nov. * Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea Ist-s flew north Brora Suth 26 Mar; adCannaI&R 1-9 Dec. First records for Suth and Inv & Ross. See Evans, L. G. R. (1994) Birding World 7, 10-14 for the history of British and Irish records. * Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica | N.Ronaldsay Ork. 2nd Ork & 7th Scottish record 3 records in Loth, in 1960, 1966 and 1968, have been found to be unacceptable by BBRC after a review. The species should therefore be removed from the Loth list. This leaves the following as valid Scottish records: 1 Pentland Skerries Ork 7 May 1913 Scot Nat 1913:154 2 Skinflats Cent 6 Sep 1961 SB 6:45, BB 63:280 1 Fair Isle 24-29 May 1971 SB 7:142, BB 65:337 1 Bo’ness (now Cent) 21 May 1977 SB 10:138, BB 71:508 1 Drimsdale OH 3-6 May 1987 SBR 1987:28, BB 81:566 See BB 84:476 and BB 86:490 for the rejections. EAI OD SS IE A A ET FE BOR ATE A EIA NE TT ETT PEO ES EE OI EEE) 38 Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis Curious arrival. First Stronsay Ork 19 Mar; OHeb and M&N 22 Mar; Clyde, I&R, Suth 27 Mar; Ayr 29 Mar; D&G, Fife & NE5 Apr; Caith9 Apr; Loth, Bord 17-19 Apr; Is of May 21 Apr; Arran 27 Apr; Fair Is 27 May; Shet 2 Jun. Few until end-Apr: max 200 Donmouth NE &160 Tentsmuir F 1-3 May. Breeding: Drastic falls at Forvie NE (none bred but 1,115prs in '91) & Inchmickery L 112 prs (473 in '91). Ork 332 birds 4 sites; NE 304 prs Strathbeg (+1%) 0.49 young/pr; I&R 230prs McDermott Is, 80 juvs; D&G 13prs bred L.Ryan. Interest Papa Westray Ork and Is of May but did not breed. 634 Aberlady L 12 Jul & 410 Valleyfield F 14 Aug. Peak late Aug. More than usual Firth of Clyde late Aug-early Sep: 370 Turnberry Ayr; 240S Troon Ayr; 260/hr Corsewall Pt D&G 12 Sep. Overland movements, 9 Balloch & 8 Bearsden Clyde in Aug, may be adding to good Clyde numbers. Last Clyde, I&R, Cent, Is of May 16-20 Sep; Arran & Bord 25-27 Sep; Caith & Suth 3 Oct; M&N and Ayr 9-11 Oct; Loth 22 Oct; Fife 1 Nov. 2 Stronsay to 23 Nov, possibly wintered. Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii First Fisherrow L 12 May, then Fife Ness F 17 May and Is of May 19 May. Spring/summer sightings now only in Forth. Only 5 more records from Fife, 1 from Is of May and 4 from Loth, max 6 N.Queensferry F 29 May. Did not breed Inchmickery L for 3rd year running but 17prs bred another island in Forth (JNCC). Last records Port Edgar L 5 Aug and Fife Ness on 4 &7Sep. 1S Dipple Ayr 23 Aug was the only record away from Forth. Common Tern Sterna hirundo First 2 Chanomy Pt 1&R 15 Apr; then Is of May & Suth 21-22 Apr; Loth, M&N, P&K, Cent & Ayr 24-25 Apr; Clyde, OHeb, Ork &Shet 27-28 Apr; Fife 2 May; Caith, Fair Is 11 May. Breeding: 16% overall decline in 16 monitored colonies in N & E Scotland from '91, following 7% decline 90-91. Area declines were -10% in N.Scot, -51% NE Scotand -33% in SE Scot. Productivity was highest since 1987 at 0.56 juvs/pr, a figure considered relatively low. Walsh et al JNCC, 1993. Area 91 Juvs/Pair 92 Area 91 Juvs/Pair 92 Shet 0.20 - NE Scot 0.09 0.33 N.Scot 0.53 0.69 SE Scot 0.05 0.54 NW Scot 0.18 0.73 SW Scot 0.36 0.47 Scottish Bird Report 1992 Study of 11 colonies in Arg, 1186prs produced c563 juvs. The two largest colonies produced most young (540). Predation by otter and mink was widespread and devastating, greatly reducing production in what would have been a good year with >1.0 young/pair. Colony of 700prs is the largest in UK. 100 Goosepools F 14 Jul- largest count of identi- fied birds. Last NE &Shet 12-13 Sep; Suth & Arran | 17-19 Sep; Ayr & Ork 26-27 Sep; Clyde and M&N | 1 Oct; Is of May 9 Oct; Fair Is 14 Oct; Fife 16 Oct; | latest single Cramond L 23 Oct. Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea First single Kirkwall Ork 20 Apr; Suth and D&G 22-24 Apr; Arg, OHeb and Loth 27-29 Apr; NE & | Shet 1-2 May; Ayr & Fair Is 3-4 May; Clyde, Caith | and M&N 7-9 May. No large passage numbers. Breeding: 35% increase at 58 monitored colonies in Shet | but 7% decrease at 51 colonies in Ork . Breeding numbers in E & N Scot were stable. Productivity was good in Shet with 0.7 young/pair but hatching success was lower due to preda- tion and trampling. Few chicks died of starvation as in| previous years. In Ork success was lower at 0.57, but still better than recent years. As in '90 & '91 many nests failed, | especially in the S of the islands, at egg/small chick stage, possibly due to food shortages. Mainland productivity was at | higher levels than recent years. Colonies in Moray Firth | reared 0.51 young/pair but was lower in NE & SEat 0.38-0.46 and only reached 0.34 on the W.coast. Walsh etal JNCC,1993 Summer assemblies include 500 Scatness Shet; 500 Goosepools F, 300 Browhouses D&G and 500+ off Brora Suth. Last reports: Fair Is 8 Sep; Caith 21 Sep; Suth & Ayr 4 Oct; Shet, M&N, Loth & Bord 8-11 Oct; NE 16 Oct with latest Scapa Ork on 23 Oct. Little Tern Sterna albifrons First 2 Bruichladdich Arg 20 Apr; D&G 23 Apr; | Loth & Shet 26 Apr; Suth 30 Apr; Fife 1 May; Caith & Is of May 7-10 May; M&N and Ayr 22-24 May. | Breeding: Monitored population dropped 5% to 154 prs. No counts inSW and NW. Success highest since 1988 with | overall 0.56 young/nest but especially so in N.Scot where 31prs reared 1.42 young/pr. In NE and SE Scot the success | was much lower at 0.18-0.24. Walsh etal JNCC, 1993. Caith 3 sites, 4+prs, 3+ juvs; Suth 2 sites; 20prs, 10+ juvs; M&N I site, | pr, failed; Fife | site, 2prs, | juv; Loth 2 sites, 13prs, both failed; Arg 3 sites, 65 prs, 5++ juvs; Ayr | site, 3 prs, failed; D&G I site, 7prs, 3 juvs. Last NE, M&N and Suth 3-9 Aug; Fife 21 Aug; Caith 26 Aug; Loth 30 Aug: I&R | Sep; Ayr 7 Sep. Last 1 Deerness Ork 3 Oct. ee ee R.D.Murray [Ed] Black Tern Chlidonias niger 42 spring birds. 1 Bavelaw L 20 Apr; 1 Balgray R. Clyde7 May; 6 LochGelly F 14 May; 12 L. Leven P&K & 2NEAnstrutherF 16th; 5 Kinnordy A&D 18th; 1 Baron’s Haugh Clyde 24th; 3 Browhouses D&G 24th with 8 there 25th-27th; 1 Tyninghame L 29th May & 2 Jun; 3 Aberlady L 4th Jun; 3N Edenmouth F on 7 Jun & 1 Brora Suth 19 Jun. 1 L. of Wester Caith 10 Jul. c173 in autumn. Influx 9 Aug, with 11 ads + 4 juvs Shewalton & 2 others Ayr; 1 Musselburgh L. Ist wave widespread, mostly S, passing through by 15th. 2nd wave , in mid-Sep, incl 1 Stronsay Ork 12 Sep with 1 Pirnmill Arran same date. Black Terns in Scotland 199 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep - Oct Flocks include 13N Barns Ness L & 18 Hound Pt L 11 Sep; 19S Turnberry Ayr 12 Sep and 19N Barns Ness 13 Sep. Last 1E Hound Pt 16 Oct. * White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus 3 adults: 1 Strathbeg NE 23 May, IN Fife Ness F 31 May and | Baron’s Haugh Clyde 3-7 Aug. 2nd records for Fife & Clyde, 7th for NE, part of a record-breaking year for UK with 50+ reports. Guillemot Uria aalge Breeding: Birds at monitored sites were stable or increasing inmost areas. Increases were significant from Shet to Caith, little change elsewhere. Shet has recovered from the declines of 1989-90 to return to 1987 levels. Productivity was high, averaging 0.77 young/pair, a slight but significant increase on 1991. Is of May birds have been the most successful in recent years at 0.85 in 1992. Walsh et al JNCC 1993. Shet large increases at some plots, 27-49%, may be due to better attendance of non-breeders rather than 39 any real increase in breeding numbers; Caith 5% increase over '91; NE 16% increase since '86 with 65,550 birds in Dunottar/Catterline area; D&G slight decrease Mull of Galloway. Adult incubating egg on Rockall OH in Jun. Ist breeding for site although suspected in past. Numbers seen in autumn/winter were low with 3,000 mixed auks (1 hr) Prinmill Arran 17 Oct the only 4-figure count. 3 inland reports Clyde 18-26 Sep at Erskine Bridge, Endrick Mouth and Strathclyde Park. * Brunnich’s Guillemot Uria lomvia Ad off Oiseval, St Kilda OHeb 26 May - 8 Jun. c21st Scottish record. Only 3rd for UK in summer. Razorbill Alca torda No winter records of note. Breeding: Monitored colonies showed increases or little change (5%) with significant increases in E.Caith. Shet numbers have returned to mid-80s levels. Increases in NE and SE have been signifcant since 1986. Productivity high in Forth at 0.83-0.86 young/pr but less so in Fair Is at 0.55 although better success noted Shet. Walsh e¢ al JNCC 1993. Shet return to '87 levels with better attendence of non-breeders, still only c70% of early 1980s levels; Caith 13% increase E.coast sites; NE 40% increase since 1986 in Dunnottar area; Loth bred Inchmickery for first ttme; D&G marked 46% decline Mull of Galloway. 465S (3hrs) Turnberry Pt Ayr 19 Nov. Black Guillemot Cenphus grylle 611 Lerwick-Whalsay Shet 19 Mar. E.coast counts 1-4 range, W coast levels higher: 44 Dipple area Ayr in Jan; 11 Oban Arg & 22 L.Ryan D&G in Feb the best totals. 200+ died in Braer oil spill Shet. Breeding: Shet populations stable (+6%) since 1986 with slight increase 91-92 in Ork (3.9%) although 15% lower than Papa Westray counts of 1983. Productivity was high on Fair Is at 1.0 young/pr. Papa Westray was less successful at 0.5- 1.58 but have improved markedly since rat numbers control- led when 0.0 to 0.15 in '91. Walsh et al JNCC 1993. Shet 44% decrease Mousa, linked to oil spill in Jan; M&N bred Portnockie, seen new site; Clyde perhaps 27prs ;Ayr c32 prs at 6 sites. Largest movement off Brora Suth, 17N on 28 Oct; © 4 Aberdeen NE 15 Nov; 303 Unst & 1,002 Bluemull area Shet 28 Dec. Singles Fife and Bord, Jan-Mar & Sep-Oct, none Loth (for Ist time since 1970). LAL IL ILL EE TT TOTS TELL FTAA STO TNT EN DT IE ESA TD BS SET ET ST TT EY 40 Scottish Bird Report 1992 Little Auk Alle alle Only c126 records, a return to the quiet years of the past after some very good years. Scarce in W, only 9 singles OHebto D&G. 65+ from Shet, with 40+ Sumburgh 15 Jan, c33% of Scottish total for 1992. 21 records Fife with 9NE Ruddons Pt. 29 Mar. Last Watsness Shet 10 May. 1 Pentland Firth Caith 22 Jul was unusual date. 1 Southerness D&G 7 Sep was unusually early. 1 Lossiemouth M&N 10 Oct started a very poor autumn, with only 31 records and apeak(!) of 4 Fife Ness F 16 Oct. Puffin Fratercula arctica First off breeding areas: Bord 25 Feb; Shet 5 Mar; Caith 22 Mar; Fair Is 25 Mar. Only notable counts were 116 Downies & 80 Collieston NE 16-22 Mar Exhausted bird Dumfries D&G 7 Apr & 2 Newbie, Annan D&G 25 Apr. Breeding: Monitored sites showed 4% drop Is of May. 19% decline Fair Is may be due to erosion ina reduced number of monitored plots rather than overall population decrease. Flannan Is OH colony shows 60% increase since last count in 1975. The 3 colonies averaged a stable 0.79 young/pr with the Is of May most successful at 0.87. Success was also high at Hermaness, Foula and Sumburgh, all Shet, where fledging of small chicks samples was 82-87% (63-77% in '91). Welsh et al JNCC 1993. NE 176 on sea, an 18% decrease Dunnottar coast since '86; Is of May 20,106 burrows (18,600 in '89); Loth first breeding Inchmickery, possibly bred Inchcolm; Bord record max 77 on sea St.Abbs. Few large counts, mostly singles Firth of Clyde, best counts was 210 Fife Ness F (20 mins) 26 Sep. Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon Columba livia Fewer pure Rock Doves Fair Is. Ferals: 1,500 Linwood Clyde in Dec. Others incl 500 Deerness Ork 9 Jan; area record of 700 Hestingott Shet 28 Aug; 360 Whitrig Bord 6 Dec; 350 Drimsdale OH 27 Dec. 500 Crieff P&K throughout the year. Stock Dove Columba oenas Very scarce in N, except E coast to M&N - only c12 records, including two Ork, where unusual. 100S.Middleton L 16 Jan & 50+ Blackstoun Clyde 18 Jan but <30 birds more typical in winter. Breeding: patchy reports as usual; 34 pr Ayr, 18 pr Loth, 17 pr Cly, 12 pr P&K and 3 pr NE. Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Largest flocks: 6,000 Polwarth B; 1,800 Gosford L; 1,500 Guardbridge F; 1,500 Riccarton Land 1,600 Clola NE, all in Jan. Breeding: Shet 4 sites, only Ipr Baltasound. Nov-Dec flocks: 6,000 Longbridgemuir D&G; 5,000 Strathallan P&K ; 3,000 Rossie P& K; 2,000+ | at three sites in Fife. Fiocks smaller in N & W. * Barbary Dove Streptopelia ‘risoria’ 1 Crosshill mid-Sep to end Dec was joined briefly | by 2nd bird during Nov. Escape. Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 100-120 Muirfield L and 59 Wick Caith, both Jan were the largest reported. | Fair Is 20 Mar, earliest there since'78. 1 St.Kilda OH 18 May-26 Jun. Light passage late Jul - early | Oct, including off sea at Fife Ness F 12 Sep. 130 Lenzie Clyde, 52 Dyke M&N & 50 Cupar F | Nov-Dec were the largest gatherings. Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur c60 in spring. Broad front arrival with | Is of May | | eS a ae ee = 14 May; then OHeb, Fair Is & Ork 15th; NE, Loth | & Bord 16th; Shet 18th; Arg on 20th. Reports until early Jul but no summering. c35 in autumn, from 20 Aug in Shet & 31 Aug in Ork. Mostly mid-late Sep; stragglers in Oct were in Arg on 4th; Ork on 11th and with last Toab Shet | and Stornoway Woods OH on 26th. Turtle Dove Steven Brown ee R.D.Murray [Ed] 41 * Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri 1 Inverness I&R 11 Apr and 1 Nydie Mill Fife late Nov - early Dec. Cuckoo Cuculus canorus First 3 in Arg : singles Islay 19 Apr and Colonsay & Cowal 20 Apr. I&R 22nd; D&G, Arran & Cent 24-25th; O.Heb, Ayr and Is of May 26th, Bord, P&K, Loth, Clyde and NE 28-30th; Fife and Caith 5-6th; M&N & Ork 11-12th, Fair Is &Shet 15-16th. Breeding: I&R 15 males but only 4 juvs Eigg; P&K (20); Clyde (20). Counts in Ayr (24 ), Loth & Bord (89 at 80 sites) boosted by Atlas work. Autumn departures mostly Jul. Last Ayr & Bord 2nd Aug; Arg & Fair Is 7-9th; Loth 13th, P&K and Clyde13-16th; Shet on 25th. Stragglers on Westray Ork 3 Sep and Newburgh NE 11 Sep. Barn Owl Tyto alba No reports from the far north or isles. Breeding: I&R (5 sites, 4 successful, 11 young reared); M&N (6 sites); NE (2-3 sites; Arg (11 prs, 23 young reared on Islay, also 2 other sites); Clyde (8 sites, 4 confirmed); Cent (1 pr, 3 young); Loth (3 sites, none confirmed); Bord (10 prs) and Arran (2 sites). South Ayr study: 23 sites, 13 successful nests & 29 young reared. 33 prs Newton Stewart D&G: only 54% laid (mean clutch 4.11) with21% successful. 5 prs reared 8 young Castle Douglas D&G; 13prs bred Rhinns of Galloway D&G with 11 rearing 30 young. Apparent spread noted Bord: reports from 48 sites in 1989, 59 in 1990, 72 in 1991 and now 81 in 1992. * Eagle Owl Bubo bubo 1 near Pitlochry P&K from Mar-Jun & Dec. * Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca 2 99 Fetlar Shet until Mar, 1 to May; 1 of above Uyeasound Apr-May & Delting 27 May, the last report. Injured imm o Balranald OH 29-31 May _ had Norwegianring, but diedincare. ?Clettervale, N.Uist OH 15 Jun. Another ? Cairngorms M&N (probably same as 90-91) Jun-Sep. Another 2 landed on trawler 200mls to E of Newfoundland was released Lecht M&N/NE, was still present late Nov. * Little Owl Athene noctua CBC index (-7%). Only 6 records, all in S: singles Gattonside B 13 Jan; Newbie D&G 20 Mar; Grantshouse & Causewaybank B 16-17 Jun; Bankhead & Caerlaverock D&G in summer. Tawny Owl Strix aluco Absent from the N Isles and OHeb ; only one record from Suth, at Apigill 14 Jun. Breeding CBC (0%): poor season, Caith to D&G. Caith only 2 young from 11 eggs in forestry; I&R study areas in E. Ross & Great Glen had 27 and 24 nests respectively, fledging 0.9 and 1.0 young/nest, but many desertions in cold Apr winds with birds not relaying; M&N only 4 of 25 boxes used Lossie/ Speymouth forests, 2 failed,2 prs reared one young each; Arg worst season since '83, 20 prs reared 14 young; Ayr only 2 prs bred from 8 sites in C. Ayrshire; D&G only 5 prs bred (19 last year) Newton Stewart, most opting out of breeding due to a poor vole year, while 4prs on Ken-Dee reserve all failed; Bord 97 sites, min 117 territories but only seven broods reported. Long-eared Owl Asio otus c45 in winter - spring. Largest counts : a very low figure of 9 in Shet; 7 Queenamidda & 4 Berstane Wood Ork in Jan; 5 Strathclyde CP Clyde 16 Feb. Breeding: much under-recorded: Caith 4pr, 9 juvs; I&R 2prs 4 juvs; M&N Ipr; NE 3prs; P&K Sprs; Fife lpr; Loth 7prs; Bord 3prs; Clyde; 4 prs; Ayr Sprs; D&G 3prs. c58 in autumn-winter records, mostly 1-2 birds. Max 5 Queenamidda 30 Dec. Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Winter: 9 at roost Arran; 13 in 2 km? plantation Glen Cochill P&K 26 Jan, 5 Aberlady L in Jan & 8 N. Jura Arg 29 Feb. Migrants from 17 Mar on Is of May, 20 Mar Ork, 2 Apr Fair Is and 17 May Shet. Breeding: Ork 22-30 pr ; Caith 3 pr; I&R 2pr; P&K 50+ pr; Loth 2 pr; Bord 3pr. Poor vole year in W, low success in Arg, Arran, Ayr and D&G. Autumn passage from 14 Aug in Shet; 24 Aug Ork; - 26 Aug Fair Is; 19 Sep P&K; max 12 Fair Is 4 Oct. Peak winter counts : 16 in4 km? plantation in P&K 5 Dec; 7 Aberlady L in Dec but no significant numbers at Arran roost. SELES Ee TA SSO ED ATS SR TOS I SS TT SE PR PRT TT EY 42 Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus Breeding:Full survey in BTO national census found birds only in traditional areas. Arg 22 sites checked, 4 occupied; Arran | site only; D&G 48 sites checked, 30-31 birds calling from 16 sites. 7 migrants, best total for years. 1 Fair Is 20 May, later found badly Fulmar-oiled & destroyed 28 Jun. Ist there since 1976. Singles Stronsay Ork 5 Jun; Kergord Shet 7-8 Jun; L.Ard Forest Cent 24 Jun; Loch Doon Ayr 30 Jun. First Ayr since 1982. Single Shebster Caith 15 Jul. 2nd since 1917. In autumn 1 Sumburgh Shet 23 Aug. Swift Apus apus Early: 2 Hirsel B 16 Apr; then D&G 20th; Loth, Fife & Ork 22nd: Ayr & Clyde 23-24th; & Arg 26th. Main arrival mid-May: 100 Loch Gelly F 13th & 500 Lochwinnoch Clyde on 15th. Large summer gatherings incl 350 L. of Skene NE; 500 Vane Farm P&K; 700+ Loch Gelly F. Also 30 Pirnmill Arran 1 Jul, a high count for an island where the species is not known to breed. Main departure early Aug. Still widespread in Sep and several reports in Oct; Ork Ist, Arg 2nd, M&N 3rd, Bord 7th Oct. Last 1 Kinshaldy F on 1 Nov. Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Breeding WBS (+12%) Caith 1 Dunbeath 17 Jul is unusual this far north; I&R 1 Broomhill entering a hole in a Sand Martin colony + 6 six other sites; M&N 1 site; NE 11 sites; P&K 5 sites, no con- firmed breeding records from any of these N areas. Confirmed breeding: Clyde (8 AOT, 3 confirmed), Cent (1 pr): Fife (3+ pr); Loth (4 pr); Bord (4 pr); Ayr (7 pr); D&G (4 pr). Part of Bothlin Burn Clyde which formerly held 3prs was unoccupied in '92 due to pollution. * Bee-eater Merops apiaster 3 in N.Isles. Singles Rendall Ork and Sumburgh Shet on 31 May; and Helendale Shet on 6 Jun. * Hoopoe Upupa epops 6 records, 4 in spring, 2 in autumn. Singles Montrose A&D 2 Apr; Balcary Pt D&G 2 May; S.Ronaldsay Ork 15 May; Fearnoch Arg 1 Jun; Lagganmore Arg 29 Sep &New Elgin M&N 1 Oct. Scottish Bird Report 1992 Wryneck Jynx torquilla 6 spring singles at Ronas Voe Shet & Fair Is on 19 May; Fetlar Shet & N.Ronaldsay Ork 25 May; another Fair Is 31 May and the only mainland spring record, a single Clyne Valley Suth 12 Jun. No records of breeding birds this year; the habit is once again becoming very erratic. Best autumn since '88,c 70 records, mainly N.Isles: First birds Ork & Fair Is 22 Aug and Shet 23 Aug; Peaks: 5 Fair Is 23 & 31 Aug; 6 Fetlar Shet 26 Aug; 8 N.Ronaldsay Ork 31 Aug.1 Tolsta OH 31 Aug& 1 Clettervale OH 3 Sep. On mainland: 1 Strathbeg NE 2 Sep; 1 Girdleness NE 18 Sep; 4 Is of May 17-21 Sep. Lastregulars N.Isles 21 Sep; 1 Trondra Shet 28 Sep, the latest. Green Woodpecker Picus viridis Breeding CBC (F+7%,W0%): I&R c8 terr; M&N c12 pr (continuing expansion, none proved to breed); NE 2 areas, no breeding reports; P&K 33 sites, 4 pr proved, | pr prob; Cent 2 terr; Fife 11prs, 21 sites; Loth 8 pr, 18 other sites; Bord 43 sites during year; Clyde 2 terr; Ayr 2+ pr; D&G 2 pr.. 1 Glenbranter Arg 16 Sep was only record of ‘92. Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Breeding CBC (F+11%, W+1%): NE 3pr; P&K cl5pr; Fife 4pr; Loth 27pr; Clyde 12+ pr; Ayr 20 sites, 2 broods noted; Bord 73 sites. Proof of breeding patchy. Present breeding season Suth. Singles Fair Is 27 Sep & Kergord Shet 11-25 Oct. Bee-eater John Busby . agree ‘ eee R.D.Murray [Ed] * Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla 4 spring singles at Baltasound Shet | May, Fair Is 18-19 May, Is of May 24-28 May and Sumburgh Shet 24-25 May. 8 in autumn, all N.Isles: 1 Unst Shet 23-30 Sep; 1 Scatness Shet 24-25 Sep; 1 Sumburgh 26-28 Sep; 2 Virkie Shet 27 Sep; 1 FairIs 2 Oct; 1 Fetlar Shet 3-16 Oct; 1 Whalsay Shet 7 Oct. Woodlark Lullula arborea Singles Sumburgh Shet 29 Sep-7 Oct, Cunnings- burgh Shet 18-20 Oct & Fair Is 10 Nov-24 Dec. Skylark Alauda arvensis Only 6 winter flocks >100birds - all in W: 2 Clyde, 1 D&G and 3 Ayr, inc 400 Girvan Ayr 9 Jan. Widespread movements from mid-Feb: 300 over Middleton L 16 Feb; 250 at 2 sites M&N 17 Feb; 130 Musselburgh L 18 Feb; 112E Reay Caith on 20 Feb. Peak mostly mid-Mar - 450 Fetlar Shet 11 Mar; 280 at 2 sites Ork 13-14 Mar; 400-500 at 2 sites Caith & 500 at 2 sites Shet 14 Mar; 700 Drainie MA&N 15 Mar; 190 Fair Is 16 Mar. 190 Fair Is 12 Apr with prolonged movements Is of May to 27 May. Breeding CBC (+7%F) Ork 17 AOTsRousay & 40 prs N.Hoy; P&K 12 prs Vane Farm; Loth 44 prs Aberlady (same as 1991); Ayr 20-25 prs Irvine Beach Park. Decline Merryton Clyde and poor season Killiecrankie P&K. Max 1,000 Fair Is 17 Sep 2nd highest-ever count, 400S/hr Carrick Hills Ayr 18 Sep; 70SW Aberlady L 20 Sep; numbers otherwise rather low with 150 regular Unst Shet in late Sep; 300 Fair Is & 80SW Aberlady 1 Oct; c400 at 3 sites Ork 4-5 Oct; 185N Fife Ness F 5 Oct; and 200 Is of May 12 Oct. The only later large flock was 240 Sunderland Arg 23 Nov; max numbers elsewhere mostly <50 birds. -* Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris | 11 Tyninghame L 1991 to 23 Feb. 1 Ythan Estuary 'NE 19 Jan. 1 Skateraw-Barns Ness L 17 Apr with _ 1 Fair Is 27-29 May. “No autumn or winter 1993 records. ) i) i i | 43 Sand Martin Riparia riparia First singles Tyninghame L 20 Mar & Baron's Haugh Clyde 21 Mar & Carsphairn D&G 25 Mar. Latish arrival with first Bord, Cent on 1 Apr; Ayr 3 Apr; NEandP&K 6-7 Apr; 1 &R, Fifeand M&N on 8-10 Apr; Arg , Caith, Arran & Suth 18-22 Apr; Ork, Shet & Fair Is 25-28 Apr. Influxes 3 1 Mar-1 Apr & 10-14 Apr with 300 Baron's Haugh Clyde. Main movement from 19 Apr with 120 Gladhouse L 21Apr; 130N St.Abbs B 23 Apr; 130 Skene NE 24 Apr; 200 L.Spynie M&N 26 Apr. Breeding: Modest increases Clyde, Cent, Arg, D&G with substantial increase in NE. Coverage in Loth/Bord patchy but may have shared modest increases but 25-40% decrease seen in P&K and ‘all-time low' Arran. Largest colonies were 575 burrows Drumbeg (450 in '91) Clyde; 516 Barbush (413 in '91) Cent; with 300+ at Stepends D&G. Bord study indicates similar numbers to 1991 but better breeding success with 44% of birds handled being juveniles (33% in '91), the ratio of young to adult females rose from 1.1:lin '91 to 1.3:1. 1,000+ Castle Loch D&G and 2,000+ Loch Leven P&K 19-20 Jul. ‘Large’ passage through Tay reedbeds P&K. Max 3,000 Vane Farm P&K 17 Aug; 100 Hirsel B 25 Jul, 100 Shewalton Ayr 15 Aug; 104SW Gladhouse L 29 Aug & 350 Kilconquhar L. F 3 Sep. Last birds poorly reported with Bord 7 Sep; P&K , Fair Is 12-13 Sep; Is of May, Ayr 15-16 Sep; Loth, Ork 24 Sep; Caith 27 Sep; latest singles Scatness Shet 2 Oct and Lochwinnoch Clyde 3 Oct. Swallow Hirundo rustica First 2 Carsphairn D&G 12 Mar were distinctly early as was 1 Bridge of Don NE 21 Mar. 3 Lotus Hill D&G 26 Aprthen next singles Barns Ness.and Skateraw L 6 Apr; Dalrymple Ayr & Baron's Haugh Clyde on9 Apr; with 6 R.Almond L 10 Apr. Further birds Loth & first Bord 11 Apr; first Cent 12 Apr; 1&R, M&N & Arg 14-15 Apr; Fife 17 Apr; Arran, Suth and Caith 19-20 Apr; Is of May, Ork 21 Apr; Fair Is & Shet 22 Apr; OHeb 26 Apr. Main influx 20-26 Apr with 300N (2hrs) St.Abbs B 23 Apr; 120 Hirsel B & 220 Kilconquhar F 26 Apr; 280 Craigluscar Res. F 3 May; 200 Martnaham Ayr 7 May. Movements later in N.Isles with max 50 S.Ronaldsay Ork 12 May; 45 Hillwell Shet on 15 May and 100 Fair Is 17 May. LR I LY EL TE TD IE TE TEE) 44 Breeding CBC (+9%A). Widespread reports of good success in first broods and many 2nd broods. Reay Caith breeding timetable: site occupied from 3 May; first mud 7 May; Ist egg 21 May; br5 hatched 10 Jun; 2nd clutch eggs 30 Jul; br5S hatched 1 Aug; fledged 15 Sep; left 20 Sep. Killiecrankie P&K had 168 young from 21 prs while Blairgowrie P&K study with 42 nests , incl 2nd clutches, had 186 young, a MBS of 4.42. Latest fledged incl 1 Kirrereoch D&G 20 Sep but very weak chick Baltasound Shet fledged on 8 Oct! Good autumn passage reflected better than usual breeding season: 'Larger numbers than usual’ Tay reedbeds P&K; 800+ Caplaw Dam Clyde 29 Jul; 200 Vane Farm P&K 9 Aug; 300+ Ham Pool Caith and 180 Carsebeck P&K 20 Aug; 200 Leuchars F 21 Aug; max 110 roosted at St.Abbs B 23 Aug; 160 Gartocharn Clyde 27 Aug; 200 The Loons Ork 1 Sep; 1,000+ Martnaham L. Ayr 6 Sep; 110 Stow B 13 Sep; 200+ daily Is of May 13-15 Sep. Fewer after mid-Sep with few reports >50 birds. Last regular birds mid-Oct. Last Arran 27 Sep; Ork , Fair Is & NE 3-5 Oct; Is of May and Cent 8- 10 Oct; Shet 11 Oct; Fife 18 Oct; Loth 31 Oct. Several Nov records:last A&D, M&N and Arg on 1-2 Nov; 3 birds Ayr 2-4 Nov; last Bord & Clyde 5 Nov; Caith 10 Nov; I&R and P&K 13 Nov; with latest single at Troon Ayr on 18 Nov. House Martin Delichon urbica First | Lochend L. Clyde 20 Mar and 1 Haddo NE 22 Mar, followed by remarkable five other Mar records in NE. Next were 2 Baron's Haugh Clyde 13 Apr. Then M&N, P&K 16-18 Apr; Is of May & Suth 20 Apr; Ork, Fife on 21 Apr; D&G, Ayr, I&R, Loth, Cent on 22 Apr; Bord 23 Apr; Arg, Caith on 25 Apr; Shet, Arran 27 Apr; Fair Is 28 Apr. House Martin Steven Brown i Scottish Bird Report 1992 Fairly compact arrival. First big influx mostly 20- ' 25 Apr in S where 40N (2hrs) St-Abbs B 23 Apr; | 50 Vane Farm P&K 25 Apr; 100 Balgray Res. | Clyde 6 May; 50 Eddleston B 22 May. Later peak i N.Isles: 70 Fair Is 25 & 28 May; 75 N. Ronaldsay Ork 27 May; & 25 Norwick Shet 29 May. Later | flocks incl 400 Meikle NE in early Jun. ! Breeding CBC (+106%A). Ork increase toc10prs i (1 in '91) fledging at min 3 young; Caith 2 sites | with 7 nests in Caith. Cliff-nests: 211 at 3 areas of | coast in E.Loth with 236 at 3 sites in Bord. i Better autumn passage with first peak from mid- | Aug: 150.at Vane Farm P&K 9 Aug; 220 Doonfoot | Ayr 10 Aug; 220 Eddleston 14 Aug; 300+ Loch © Gelly F 15 Aug; 400 roosting Duns B 21 Aug; 220S (30mins) Fife Ness F and 150 Bavelaw L 30 Aug; | 150 Eddleston 5 Sep; 100+ Baron's Haugh 10 Sep; 100 Cramond L 13 Sep. 400+S over Crookfur Clyde 17 Sep was last large flock. Last birds Suth, Arg, I&R 14-18 Sep; Arran, Clyde | 24-26 Sep; P&K, Caith , Cent, Ork 1-3 Oct; M&N, | Fair Is 4-5 Oct; Loth 8 Oct; Ayr, Shet 13-15 Oct; Is | of May & Fife 20-23 Oct; Bord 5 Nov. Late singles |, i —————eEE ee Southerness D&G & Aberdeen NE 12 Nov. *Richard’s Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae None in spring but excellent 27 in autumn. | Fair Is 20-25 Sep followed by major arrival on 26-27 Sep when 1 Haroldswick Shet, 3 Fair Is , an amazing 11 on North Ronaldsay Ork. | Fife Ness F 29 Sep, 3rd for Fife, with further singles Fair Is & Lerwick Shet 30 Sep. All 1i N-Ronaldsay and 4 Fair Is were present on 30 Sep with birds lingering on Fair Is to 4 Oct and N.Ronalday to 9 Oct. All later arrivals restricted to Shet with 2 Whalsay | & 2 Sumburgh on 2 Oct, singles Fetlar on 3-4 Oct | and Walls on 4th before a long gap until singles on | Skerries on 15 Oct and Scatness on 20 Oct. *Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris 1 Isle of May 1-3 Sep, the first there since 1976. *Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni | Good year with 9 birds, all Northern Isles. 1 North Ronaldsay Ork 27 Sep; | Fair Is 1 Oct; 2 Fair Is and Fetlar Shet 3 Oct; rise to 5 birds Fair || Is and single Lerwick Shet 4 Oct; 4 remained Fair | | Is to 5 Oct with 2 on 7 Oct and last there on 15 Oct. R.D.Murray [Ed] Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis First birds Taynish Arg 7 Apr &Peppermill Dam F on 9 Apr. Then gap until first Clyde 18 Apr; Bord 19 Apr; Ayr, D&G, I&R 21-23 Apr; Fair Is, Arran, P&K, Ork 26-30 Apr; Loth, Shet 3 May; NE, M&N, Is of May 5 May; Cent 14 May. Early influx Fife by 20 Apr but territorial birds late with main appearance 3-5 May in S with passage to end of month. Peak Fair Is 18-19 May , max 25, but good numbers Shet, Ork, Is of May and Bord coasts. Breeding: CBC (-25%A): P&K _ 20 sites, incl 9 aa’ at Glen Garr; Fife 2 sites; Arran general decrease to only 6 territories; Clyde 9 at 5 sites; Bord 91 at 37 sites, incl 8 @a at Peelbrachope; Ayr 33 terr at 16 sites, incl 6 Carrick Hills; D&G 22 prs Cree Wood (c.f.21 in 1991, 31 in 1990). Common late Aug in Tay & Carse of Gowrie P&K. Last Cent, Ayr 6 Aug; D&G, Arran 14-15 Aug; Clyde 21 Aug; M&N 23 Aug; P&K 26 Aug. Passage of local birds on E coast peaked late Aug with c 40 at 10 sites Shet & 40 Fair Is 23-24 Aug; 50 N.Ronaldsay & 4 Holm Ork 31 Aug; 40 Fair Is 1 Sep; 6-20 daily Is of May 30 Aug-3 Sep. Later peak end Sep-early Oct - 11 N.Ronaldsay 27 Sep; 25 Is of May 1| Oct; with last Fife 29 Sep; Loth, and Bord 3 Oct, Shet on 4 Oct; Ork on 5 Oct and NE 7 Oct, with last bird lingering Fair Is to 20 Oct. *Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi 1 Fair Is 15 Oct was the latest-ever arrival. This species has been present here in 6 of last 8 years. Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Few winter reports but 24 Braemoray M&N 29 Jan was unusual. 1-15 birds wintered N. Isles with a few seen Inverness I&R (30) Killiecrankie P&K (2) but max 48 Lochwinnoch Clyde in Jan. Arrival on breeding hills from 11 Feb in Bord, Ayr 18 Feb; P&K, D&G 23 Feb & Shet 6 Mar. Stronger passage from 20 Mar but peak in early Apr- 100 Tweedbank B & 80 St.Abbs B 2-3 Apr; ~100+N Doonfoot Ayr 3 Apr; 283N in 20 mins | Fife Ness F 4 Apr; 246 N.Ronaldsay Ork 6 Apr; | (53 in '91); -250W/hr Aberlady L and 200+ M&N coast 9 Apr; | 164 N.Ronaldsay 14 Apr. Max 175 Fair Is 23 Apr. /Breeding: CBC (-1%A): Ork 41 OATs Rousay P&K 42 prs Vane Farm (39 in '91); 45 Ayr 25-30 prs Irvine beach; D&G good season Kirriereoch; Loth 48 terr at 2 sites (49 in '91). Mid-Sep peak : 200 Delnies M&N 26 Aug; 350 Kincraig F 2 Sep; c600 at 3 sites Fife 12-13 Sep; 200 N.Ronaldsay, 304 Aberdeen NE, 250 Alloa Cent & 1,000 Is of May 13 Sep; 600 Fair Is 14 Sep; 400S Irvine beach Ayr 16-17 Sep with 500S there 18 Sep; 1,200/hr Carrick Hills Ayr 18 Sep; 400 Fair Is 19 Sep; 300 Is of May 30 Sep. Abrupt halt to passage late Oct. Fewer Dec records from inland areas than usual - with only single reports Ayr, Clyde, Cent, Bord and P&K. *Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus 11 in spring, 4 in autumn. Unprecedented 9 Fair Is in May. 1 on 17 May, another 19 May, 1 until 23 May. Another 24-25 May, 3 on 27 May, | on 29 May & 2 on 31 May. 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 31 May-1 Jun. 1 on territory Fetlar Shet 4-27 Jun. Singles Catfirth Shet 21 Sep; Fair Is 30 Sep-1 Oct; N.Ronaldsay 30 Sep and Stronsay Ork 2 Oct. (1991) 1 N.Ronaldsay 31 May-1 Jun with another there 30 Sep. Now 2 spring, 2 autumn in 1991. Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus Few winter counts - 60 0n 16 km of Westray cliffs & 99 N.Ronaldsay Ork 16-21 Jan; 18 Rosemarkie I&R 18 Jan; 30 St.Abbs B 20 Jan; 24 Harrow Caith 27 Jan. Few spring notes :30 Hobbister Ork | Mar; 133 N.Ronaldsay 22 Mar & 30 Ackersgill Caith on 5 Apr. Breeding: Ork 26prs Papa Westray (17 in '91); Suth 10-20 prs Eilean nan Ron; Loth 2prs Dunglass; Bord 12 prs St.Abb’s, 10 Fancove & 6 Fast Castle; Clyde 7 prs Coulport; Ayr | pr Horse Is , 2 prs Troon harbour, 20-25 prs Heads of Ayr-Croy. Only a few autumn counts: 35 ringed on Is of May 18-23 Oct; 21 Girdleness NE 21 Oct; 33 Windwick Ork 4 Nov; 27 St.Abbs & 33 Scatness Shet 8 Nov; 85 N.Ronaldsay 28 Nov. Scandanavian Rock Pipit A.p./ittoralis Identifiable only in spring in the field : 1Fife Ness F on 15 Mar; 1 N.Berwick L 21 Mar; 1 Barns Ness L 29 Mar; | Fair Is 4 Apr; 1 Sumburgh Shet 7 Apr; 2 Fair Is 8 Apr; 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 11 Apr; | Fair Is 20 Apr. 46 Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta 1 Tyninghame L 18 Feb-1 Mar in winter plumage. 1 L.Caroy I&R 29 Jun is a most unusual date. Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava First 1 Monkton Ayr 16 Apr; 1 Carsethorn D&G 20 Apr. Then first Fair Is 23 Apr; Bord 25 Apr; NE, Shet, Loth 26 Apr; Is of May 4 May; Fife 6 May; Clyde 10 May and Ork 14 May. Passage to mid- Jun in N.Isles and Fife. Best counts: 5 Birgham Haugh B 25 Apr and 4-10 daily Fair Is 26 May-1 Jun. Breeding: CBC (-27%A) WBS (-8%). Disappeared as a breeder in Ayr and Clyde, despite searches. Breeding in Loth where birds present Barns Ness, Eweford and Skateraw with juvs seen Tantallon and Musselburgh in Aug; Bord bred along R.Tweed at 4 sites between Kelso and Coldstream and along R.Teviot at Denholm and Roxburgh. Good autumn - 13 birds Shet late Aug; 1-6 present Fair Is 23 Aug-14 Sep; 10 North Ronaldsay Ork on 31 Aug; 3 Loth & 6-10 Is of May 30 Aug-1 Sep. Last records from Ayr on 1 Aug; Bord, Loth, Is of May 10-11 Sep; Shet 27 Sep; Fair Is 1 Oct; Fife on 3 Oct; Suth 4 Oct;with latest 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork on 8 Oct. Blue-headed Wagtail M_fflava Very scarce: 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 14 May, another there on 17 May; 1 Is of May 15 May; 1 Fair Is on 23-24 May; 1 Kilchiaran, Islay Arg 28 May; | Unst Shet 2-5 Jun, 1 Fair Is 10 Jun. Grey-headed Wagtail Mf thunbergi: 1 Newmains B 11 May; 1 Strathbeg NE on 23 May; 1 Stronsay Ork 28 May; 4 singles Shet - Sumburgh 26 May, Fetlar 29-31 May, Boddam 29 May and Brow Marsh 31 May. Many Fair Is with 4-10 daily 26 May-1 Jun with max 7 on 29 May with 1-3 on 8 dates to 16 Jun. Bird resembling the east Siberian simillima race (breeds in Kamchatka) seen Sumburgh 23 Aug. *Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola 2 first-winter birds at Fair Is on 5 Sep and Lerwick Shet on 30 Sep. SL a I A SR SS | Scottish Bird Report 1992 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Winter reports from Ork (2), Caith (1), M&N (3), | NE, P&K (4), Cent (3) &Clyde (in central Glasgow); common in Arran. Trend of singles wintering in forestry re-stocks, away from main rivers noted D&G. Arrivals/passage from Bord 11 Feb; D&G 10 Mar; | Shet & Fair Is 31 Mar Breeding CBC (-18%A) WBS (-6%): Shet 1 brood Voxter; Ork 1 juv seen Hoy; OHeb I pr Stornoway | with usual 4prs R.Creed & Bayhead; I&R 7prs | Figg; P&K lpr Almond WBS (3 in '91); D&G 5 | prs Wood of Cree; Loth 25, inc 5 prs with juvs | R.Esk 19 Jul; Bord 8 prs at 2 WBS sites (6 in '91). Poor autumn passage with 12 Balfron Clyde and 12 Eyemouth B 1-2 Aug probably broods. Best} counts mostly late Sep with 5 Clauchlands Arran | 16 Sep, 3 Riverside Caith 19 Sep & 4 St.Abbs B on. 27 Sep, otherwise mostly 1-2 birds. Usual scattered winter records. Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba Winter assemblies all in south: 50+ Killoch Ayr | 14 Jan; 170 Irvine Ayr 17 Jan; 70 roosted Hirsel B 19 Jan; 21 Craigurd B 25 Jan; 50+Linwood sewage | works Clyde 15 Feb. Elsewhere a thin scatter, | mostly 1-3 birds, from Shet to Bord. Arrivals on territory from 26 Feb in Bord, D&G; | P&K 29 Feb; Clyde 1 Mar; Shet 13th Mar; Fair Is, Is of May 17 Mar. Spring peaks - 40 Tweedbank B 3 Mar; 22W Musselburgh L 5 Mar; 40 Newmains B & 20 Lochwinnoch Clyde 9 Mar; 22 N.Ronaldsay | Ork 22 Mar with 23 there 7 Apr. 163 roost Kinloss | M&N7 Apr. 51 St.Boswells B on 26 May could | be flock of first brood juvs. Breeding CBC (+8%F) WBS (+17%): Shet 7 sites; Fair Is 3 prs, br8; P&K'good season’ Blairgowrie; Clyde 8prs at 2 sites (7 in'91); Bord 6 prs at2 WBS | sites (9 in '91). Light passage Shet, Is of May & Bord. Flock sizes low on Ecoast. 500+ Kirkcudbright D&G 16 Aug; 112S (ihr) Moleigh Arg 21 Aug; 291 Kingston M&N & 120+ Shewalton Ayr 28 Aug; 120 roost! Kirkwall Ork, 138 Ariogan Arg 17 Sep; 300 roost, Melrose B 18 Sep; 210+ roost Kirkcaldy F & 160! Wick Caith 26 Sep; 100 Leuchars F 1 Oct; 110 Strathclyde Park Clyde 3 Oct; 250 Carsluith D&G 12 Oct; 200+ roosts Motherwell Clyde 19 Oct; 100+ Doonfoot Ayr 29 Oct. No big counts thereafter. Es aa — R.D.Murray [Ed] White Wagtail M.a.alba First Newmains B 9 Mar & L. Spelvie Arg 20 Mar; Ork 24 Mar; Fife 5 Apr; Loth &Fair Is 9-12 Apr; Ayr, Arran & Caith 18-19 Apr; M&N, Clyde and I&R 22-23 Apr; D&G and Shet 27 Apr. Best counts:20 Barns Ness L 20 Apr; 24 Turnberry Ayr 22 Apr; 22 Ardmore Clyde 30 Apr; 20 Skateraw Land18 L.Ryan D&G 2 May; 31 Barns Ness & 53 Heads of Ayr Ayr 3 May; 50 Fair Is 5 May. Breeding: Caith 1 with food Dounreay 10-11 Jun; Bord 1 Stintyknowes L. 12 Jun. Light passage - max 50 Fair Is 29 Aug; 6 Whitrig B 5 Sep; max 10 N.Ronaldsay Ork 11 Sep; 11 Heads of Ayr 18 Sep; 3 Pow Burn Ayr 22 Sep. Elsewhere 1-2 birds reported Caith, I&R, Clyde, D&G and Is of May. None Arg, Arran, Loth, NE and Fife. Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus Jan Feb Mar Apr May Sep Oct Nov Dec N.Is les 1 My, wf 4 W.Isles N.Scot 200 115 39 33 10 4 1 NE Scot 98 121 80 67 3 W.Scot 115 268 92 41 E/C Scot 55 36 8 SEScot 234 56 8 9 SW Scot 15 13 717 574 255 160 10 Pies NB: numbers approximate 1991-92 Good numbers maintained from '91 with largest numbers Aberdeen NE, max 83 on 26 Feb; Edinburgh L, max 80 Wester Hailes on 21-22 Jan; Glasgow Clyde, max 60 Partick on 3 Feb. Also 24 at Livingston L on7 Jan; 22 Inverness I&R 30 Jan; 40 Insh Marshes I&R in Jan; 40 Glenmore I&R 29 Jan; 40 Paisley Clyde 11 Mar; 22 Perth P&K 28 Mar. Aberdeen birds were found to fly over 20kms from the city to roosts in spruce trees surrounded by moorland at Hill o'Fare. Last records: D&G and Bord in Feb; P&K, M&N & Cent in Mar; Arg & Shet 1-8 Apr; Clyde 18 Apr; NE 19 Apr; Fife 21 Apr; Ork 25 Apr. Last 2 Abernethy I&R 3 May; 8 Edinburgh 8 May 1992-93 Few reports : 2 small influxes and a single record from Dec - | Cunningsburgh Shet 16 Oct; 3 more Cunningsburgh & 1 Whalsay Shet 17 Oct; 2 Whalsay & | Rousay Ork 18 Oct; a ‘few’ at Nottingham Mains Caith on 25 Oct; 1| Fair Is on 26 Nov;2 Nethybridge and | Fortrose I& R 27 Nov; 1 Lerwick Shet 27-28 Nov; | Sullom Shet 29 Nov; 1 New Deer NE 4 Dec. | | | j 47 Dipper Cinclus cinclus Breeding WBS (-4%): Caith pr+br3 Latheron; I&R 2prs bred Eigg, 1 successful; P&K 8 OATs Killiecrankie but only 2 nests and 2 young seen, no second-broods; Bord no change Gala & Melrose WBS but no young seen due to severe May floods, 6 broods ringed W.Tweeddale gave MBS 2.83; D&G all first clutches washed out at Minnoch. Another single Is of May 21 Apr -2nd successive year after none for 25 years - race not established. Black-bellied Dipper C.c.cinclus 1 Geosetter Shet 8 Apr.was first Shet since 1978. David Mitchell Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Territories General increases in line with national statistics CBC (+24%F/+26%W): Ork 19 prs TrumlandWood (17 in'91), good season Queenamidda where 6 ads+60 juvs ringed: Fair Is 33 AOTs (34 in'91); Suth 'good to average ‘season’ Melvich; I&R ‘excellent’ year Eigg, numbers up 30%, recovering to 1990 levels; P&K 30 prs Vane Farm (21 in '91); Loth recovery to 21 AOTs in Aberlady CBC from 13 in '91 (19 in'89), 27 AOTs Roslin Glen (35 in '89); Bord 6 St.Abbs CBC (5 in '91); Clyde Baron’s Haugh stable, but 23 OATs Merryton, a big increase from 12 in '91. Poor passage reports, as usual: Spring - present Is of May 17 Mar-24 May with max 7 there on 26 Apr; 3 Skerries Shet 4 Apr; max 14 N.Ronaldsay Ork 29 Apr. Autumn: Is of May migrants 29 Jul & 1-5 Aug then 10 Sep into Nov, max 25 on 22 Oct; max 22 North Ronaldsay 18 Oct; 20 St.Abbs B 4 Oct; 12 Rattray NE 19 Oct. 48 Scottish Bird Report 1992 Dunnock Prunella modularis Overwintering birds N.Isles incl 6 Lerwick Shet , 1 Fair Isle but none reported Ork. First migrants Shet 1 Mar, Fair Is 18 Mar, Is of May & Ork 30-31 Mar. Mostly 1-3 birds but 17 Fair Is 8 Apr; 15-20 Is of May 15-20 Apr; 17 Fair Is 21- 23 Apr. Breeding: CBC (+7%F/+2%W): P&K stable L.Leven; Loth 24 OATs Aberlady (34 in '91, 23 in 1988), 5 Roslin Glen (4 in '89); Bord 7prs St.Abb’s (10 in'91 but 7 in'90); Clyde 20prs Baron’s Haugh (25 in 91 but 20 in'90), ISprs Merryton, 9 in 91. Autumn passage light, mostly N.Isles: Shet from 21 Sep; 27 Burnmouth B and 25 Gullane Point L 24 Sep; 4 Isof May 26 Sep; max 8 St.Abbs 27 Sep; Fair Is from 28 Sep; max 6 N.Ronaldsay 29 Sep; 25 Shet Skerries 3 Oct; 20 on Fetlar Shet and max 30 Fair Is 4 Oct; max 8 Is of May 5 Oct. Dunnock Robin Erithacus rubecula A few wintered N_Isles - 6 Shet, 3 Fair Is, c6 Ork. Passage from Shet 6 Mar; Is of May 17 Mar; Fair Is 20 Mar; Ork 31 Mar. Fairly heavy early Apr with 9 Tarbet Ness I&R 31 Mar; 50 Fife Ness F 2 Apr; 70 Is of May & 30 Barns Ness L3 Apr; 40 Denburn -Wormiston F 4 Apr; 10 Rattray Head NE 5 Apr; 70 N.Roanldsay Ork on7 Apr; 12 Sumburgh Shet 7-8 Apr; 125 Fair Is 8 Apr. Smaller influx N.Isles 23-29 Apr with max 25 Fair Is 23 Apr and 30 Whalsay Shet 23-25 Apr. Breeding CBC (+6%F/+4%W): Shet pr bred Kergord 5th Shet record; Ork 16-18 prs Hoy (15- 16in'90), 6 OATs Trumland (9 in'91); Suth %juvs trapped Melvich was 230% mean of last l6yrs; P&K ‘higher nos of juvs'; Loth !Oprs Aberlady (9 in '91 but 14 in '90), 5 prs Prestongrange (3 in '91, SL LLL A TB SBE ESS Steven Brown 6 in '90), 23 prs Roslin Glen (39 in'89); Bord stable 2 prs St.Abb’s, 2 prs Kelso (4 in '91); Clyde stable 30 prs Baron’s Haugh, 16 prs Merryton (12 in'91, 21 in '90); D&G some inc Ken/Dee. Passage: 42 Heads of Ayr Ayr, 38 Carrick Hills Ayr & 20 Girdleness NE 18 Sep; 30 Fife Ness, 24 | Barns Ness &19 St.Abbs 19 Sep; 30 Burnmouth B & 20 St.Abbs 27 Sep; 20+ Hopeman M&N 28 Sep; 88 N.Ronaldsay Ork 29 Sep. Large fall with 100 Is of May 30 Sep-1 Oct;200 Sumburgh, 150 Unst & | 200 Skerries Shet, 400 Fair Is, 400 Stronsay Ork, 400 N.Ronaldsay & 41 Blackdog NE 1 Oct; 80 | S.Ronaldsay Ork 2-3 Oct. Few thereafter. *Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia 2 spring, 2 autumn, trapped. Photos BW 5:211 &471 | 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 25 May; | Fair Is 5 Jun. 1 Deerness Ork 1 Sep; 1 Fair Is 18-20 Sep. *Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos Exceptional spring:11-12 in spring, 2 in autumn. 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 25 May; | Wester QuarffShet | 25 May-11 Jun; 2 Fair Is 27 May; another Fair Is | and | Geosetter Shet 28 May; 1 Deerness Ork and 1 West Yell Shet 29 May; | Unst Shet 1 Jun; then | 1 Holm Ork 2-3 Jun; 1 Fair Is 12 Jun. 1 Is of May 21 May was not specifically identified. | 1 Fair Is 6 Sep and 1 N.Ronaldsay 20-21 Sep. 3rd-6th Orkney records. *Bluethroat Luscinia svecica c50 spring reports with 15 in autumn. 1 Ythan mouth NE 4 May; | Fair Is 17 May and | daily there to 1 Jun, max 8 on 27-28 May; | Is of | May 19 May & 4 singles Shet 19 May; 4 more on | Shet 20 May; 2 Is of May 21 May. Daily Ork from | 21 May with 5 N.Ronaldsay, 4 Stronsay, 3 Deerness & 1 Sanday. Daily Shet (11 birds) 22 May- 6 Jun, | max 3 Whalsay 29 May; 2 Girdleness NE 22 May; 2 Fife Ness F 24 May; 2 Is of May on 25 May with 1 there 27-28 May. Later singles Fair Is on 9 Jun & 10-11 Jun with 1 Is of May 11 Jun. Autumn: | Fair Is 23-24 Aug; | North Ronaldsay | 31 Aug; | Fair Is, 1 Noness Shet & 1 Skerries Shet 19 Sep; 2 Whalsay Shet & | Burray Ork 20 Sep; | Fair Is 21 Sep; another 3 Whalsay 23-24 Sep; | Levenwick Shet & 1 Is of May 30 Sep-1 Oct; | last 1 Stromness Ork 3-6 Oct. R.D.Murray [Ed] Black Restart Phoenicurus ochruros Winter: 1 Howwood Clyde 5 Jan Widespread arrival 30-31 Mar: 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork , | Rattray NE, 2-3 Fair Is , 1 Eyemouth B, 1 Is of May & 2 Sumburgh Shet. Good numbers to 10 Apr: 3 Is of May, 9 St.Abbs B, 7 Skateraw- Barns Ness L, c20 Fife Ness F,4 Fairls & 2 Shet. Few late Apr - 4 Shet, 1 Ork, 2 Is of May . Mid- May-early Jun influx :12 Shet, 6 Fair Is, 4 Ork & 2 Fife. 1 Castle Grant I&R 18 May, | Staxigoe Caith 26 May, 1 Stobo B 29 May and | Ailsa Craig Clyde 30 May-7 Jun before 3 singles Fair Is 10-13 Jun and 2 Is of May 14 & 28 Jun. 31 autumn: singles Fair Is 11 dates 30 Sep-19 Nov; 1 St.Abbs 28 Sep; 1 Barns Ness & 1 N.Ronaldsay 29 Sep; 1 Is of May 30 Sep; 1 Whalsay 1 Oct; 1 Kilminning F 3 Oct; 1 Skerries 14-16 Oct; 1 Holm Ork & 3 Whalsay on 28 Oct; 1 N.Ronaldsay 29 Oct; 1 Tarbetness I&R 10 Nov; 1 Rattray 11 Nov; 1 Dipple Ayr 14 Nov; 1 Sanday Ork 15 Nov; 1 Stronsay Ork & 1 Boddam Shet 22 Nov; | Harlaw Res. L 28 Nov; 1 Burrow Head D&G 5 Dec. Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus First 1 Is of May 11 Apr; 1 Fleet viaduct D&G on 22 Apr ; then Fair Is on 23 Apr; I&R, Loth & Bord 24-25 May; M&N, Ork, Shet, P&K and Ayr on 27-28 Apr; Fife & Argl- 2 May; Suth, Clyde, NE 3-4 May; Cent, Arran 14-15 May. Most birds first seen on territory but visible passage better than '90-'91: 1 Amhuinnsuidhe OH 25 May; c20at 14 sites Shet, max 15 Fair Is ,6 N.Ronaldsay Ork & 2-3 Is of May on 26-30 May. Odd birds N.Isles into Jun with | Skerries Shet on 1| Jul. Breeding: CBC (+5%A): M&N lé6prs at 8 sites; I&R Badenoch - 5nests, 1 predated ,with 4br26, an MBS of 6.5; P&K 38 dat 17 sites incl l6prs Killiecrankie (20 in '90) with min 5 br32, MBS 6.2; Cent 33 nests Trossachs ,159 young, MBS of 4.8 (54 -203 - 3.76 in "90); Bord 98AOS at 79 sites; Loth 8 sites; Clyde 1 1prs at 3 sites; Ayr 23prs at 14 sites ; D&G 30prs Wood of Cree (25 in '91). Passage from early Jul in D&G -Clyde, late Jul in P&K, Fife, Bord and early Aug in Ayr & Cent. Light passage, mainly 1-3 birds, peaking mid-late Sep with 5 Whalsay Shet 23 Aug; max 6 on Is of May 11 & 18 Sep; 8 Fair Is on several dates 18 Sep- 4 Oct; 17 N.Ronaldsay 21 Sep; 14 Skerries Shet 27 Sep; 9 Whalsay on 30 Sep; 5 Girdleness NE & 5 St.Abbs 28 Sep-4 Oct; 38 N.Ronaldsay | Oct. 49 Last birds Clyde 10 Sep; Arg 21 Sep; P&K 23 Sep; Fife 29 Sep; NE 1 Oct; Caith 4 Oct; Shet 5 Oct; Loth, Bord, D&G & Is of May 7 Oct; Fair Is 8 Oct; Last 2 N.Ronaldsay on 9 Oct. Whinchat Saxicola rubetra First 1 L.Gorm, Islay Arg 19 Apr; 1 Heads Of Ayr Ayr 26 Apr; then Cent, Bord on 29-31 Apr; P&K, D&G, Fife, Is.of May, Loth, Clyde 1-3 May; Suth and Arran 6-7 May; I&R 10 May; NE, Fair Is & Ork on 13 May; Caith & Shet 14 May. Passage: 7 Newmains B 8 May; 8 Aberlady L 9 May; 15 Is of May on 14 May; 7 Stronsay Ork & 12 Fair Is 29 May. Breeding: P&K 35 terrs at 7 sites; Fife 1 pr bred; Bord 128 terr at 75 sites; Arg 1 1prs Colonsay (5 in '91); Ayr 40 terr in 21 sites. Main outward movement late Aug but influxes, mostly 1-3 birds, to early Oct. Max counts incl max 45 Fair Is 23-24 Aug; 100 at 5 sites Shet 23- 28 Aug, max 27 Whalsay 28 Aug; c112 at 12 sites Ork incl 30 Burray and 29 on N.Ronaldsay; 20 Rattray NE 2 Sep; 30 Is of May on 11 Sep. Last Clyde & Cent 12-13 Sep; P&K, I&R and Ayr 18-19 Sep; Arran 27 Sep; Bord 1 Oct; Caith, Fife, Is of May on 4 Oct; Ork 6 Oct; Loth 20 Oct; Fair Is, NE 27-28 Oct; | Hoswick Shet 15 Nov was next-to-latest Shet. Stonechat Saxicola torquata Accounts indicate mostly absent from much of E Scotland, from N.Isles to Bord, during mid-winter (Nov to Feb). In contrast more-or-less resident in W Scotland from Arg, Arran to Ayr and D&G. Stonechat Steven Brown 50 Jan records from Fife (1), Loth (1). First reports of migrants from Fife 1 Feb; P&K 23 Feb; Shet 3 Mar; Ork & Bord 8-10 Mar; Loth 15 Mar; Fair Is 30 Mar; Clyde 5 Apr. Passage mostly singles in Mar-Apr but a few into late May in Fife & Fair Is. Breeding: Ork 96 prs (113 prs in '91, 101 in '90); Caith 22 prs continues success; I&R 14 bred Eigg (16 in'91); M&N ‘excellent year'-16prs on coast & 14+prs inland (21 in '90) with inland sites increasingly important; NE another good year some triple broods, one with br4 on 18 Apr; P&K 36prs (12+ in '91, 15in '90); Loth increase to 6prs; Bord 6prs ; Arg 33 terr Colonsay (24 in '91); Arran 28prs (24 in '91); Ayr 37prs at 25 sites, similar to 1991. Passage, from 23 Aug, was heavier than recent years, mostly 1-3 birds but 12 Balmedie NE 18 Sep & 17 Blackdog NE on 1 Oct were unusual. Last reports mostly Oct . Nov-Dec reports Ork (3), Caith (1), M&N (3), P&K (2), Loth (1), Bord (1). Eastern Stonechat S.t maura/stejnegeri 5 in NIsles, arriving 30 Sep-7 Oct. 1 Sumburgh Shet 30 Sep-14 Oct; 1 Stronsay Ork 1-4 Oct with another there 3-4 Oct; 1 Fair Is 6 Oct; 1 Grutness Shet 7-16 Oct. Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe First singles Eyemouth B, Oronsay & Ardoran Arg on 20 Mar; then Arran 22 Mar; I&R 26 Mar; Ork 28 Mar; D&G, Fair Is, Ayr, Is of May & Loth 29 Mar; NE, Caith on 30 Mar; Shet & Clyde 31 Mar; Fife 2 Apr; P&K 4 Apr; Cent, Suth 5 Apr; M&N 8 Apr. Heavy, late and prolonged passage -first in N with 21 Girdleness NE 21 Apr, 348 N.Ronaldsay Ork 24 Apr and 185 Fair Is 25 Apr; and then in S with 215 Aberlady L & 150 Is of May on 5 May, 50 at St.Abbs B 5-9 May, 79 inland at Newmains B & 104 Thorntonloch L 9 May, 30 Noss Head Caith on 14-15 May and 31 Fife Ness F 24 May. Breeding: Ork c30 prs N.Hoy reserve (33 in '91 continues decline there), 26 prs Papa Westray (20 in 1990); M&N none bred on coast; P& K ‘numbers down’; Ayr 23 terrat 1 Qsites, inc 4 prs Carrick Hills (3 in'91): Loth 'good year in Lammermuirs'; Bord 81 terr at 56 sites. Passage from 26 Jun in Fife but mostly early Aug incl 22 Derry Lodge NE 4 Aug with 2 still on a a a i Scottish Bird Report 1992 | Cairngorm Plateau M&N 13 Sep. Unremarkable, | mostly quiet, autumn in most areas except fall of 550 Fair Is 22-23 Aug. Best counts: 24 Harperrig | L 16 Aug; max 40 Is of May and 18 Leuchars F on | 27 Aug; 100 Fair Is 1 Sep; 60 N.Ronaldsay 13 Sep; 29 N.Ronaldsay 4 Oct. Last P&K 19 Sep; Bord 29 Sep; Fife, Arran, M&N, | Fair Is &Shet 4 Oct; Is of May, Caith, D&G, Ayr & | Clyde 5-7 Oct; Loth, Arg 13 Oct. Last 1 Eigg T&R | on 20 Oct and Tankerness Ork on 21 Oct. Greenland Wheatear 0.0.leucorrhoa Few reports, none from N &W Isles. 4 Kinneil Cent 2 May; 4 Lindean B 4 May; | Dipple Ayr 9 May; | Musselburgh L 11 May; small fall | 35 birds, mainly at Noss Head Caith 13-15 May; | 1 Milbuie Arg 17 May; 1 Barns Ness L 20 May and 1 Mussleburgh 26 May. | 1 autumn report: 1 Chanorny Pt I&R 30 Aug. *Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka 1 2 Fife Ness F 18-21 Sep was first for Fife. *Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius (1985) 1 Skerryvore Lighthouse Arg 4-7 June, found dead on 8 Jun. | After several years as a Category Drecord this bird is now considered to be the first record for Britain (2nd was in Wales in June 1987). (1986) 1 North Ronaldsay Ork 29 Aug-6 Sep. Identification has been accepted. The BOURC consider that this bird appeared at a time when the chance of it being an escape was high. Retained in Category D. *Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica 1 imm® trapped North Ronaldsay Ork 1-8 Oct. 2nd for Orkney , 3rd for Scotland & Sth for Britain. See Woodbridge, K. (1992) Birding World 5: 377-379. Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus 5 Kingussie I&R 9 Feb is remarkable in not only being early but also involving a flock. First 2 Colonsay Arg 16 Mar; | Mitchellslacks D&G 22 Mar; then Is of May 30 Mar; Ork 31 Mar: I&R, Bord &Ayr on 2-3 Apr; P&K, Loth and Shet | 5-8 Apr; NE 11 Apr: Fair Is 21 Apr; Suth 27 Apr; | Caith, Clyde & Cent 10-29 May. None Fife. | | R.D.Murray [Ed] Coastal migrants mostly 1-2 birds but 4-10 Fair Is 21-24 Apr. Most first records were of birds on territory. Breeding: Poorly reported:Suth only 4 sites; M&N 10 prs at4 sites, incl 6in Tomintoul valleys: P&K 30 at 16 sites incl 8prs SE side L.Encht; Loth 'g00d breeding year Lammermirs'; Bord 42 AOTs at 37 sites; Ayr 4 sites, no proof; D&G 'now very scarce’ - only one report for whole year. Very poor autumn with no reports after Jul from Suth, I&R, M&N, Loth, Arran, Ayr & Cent and only a few from Caith (2 reports), NE (4), P&K (3), Bord(4), Arg (1), Clyde (1). Last inland birds mostly Aug to mid-Sep. Main movement 28Sep-7 Oct when 6 Fife Ness F & 20 Is of May on 20 Sep; 4 St.Abbs B, 50 Fair Is & 18 N.Ronaldsay Ork 1 Oct and 8 Skerries Shet 3 Oct; 6 Wick Caith 4 Oct. Last NE &Is of May 1-2 Oct; Fife 4 Oct; Bord and P&K 5 Oct; Shet & Ork 7 Oct. 1 late bird Fair Is on 29 Oct but 3 Midross Clyde 10 Nov were the last. Blackbird Turdus merula 15 over-wintered Fair Is . Passage started mid-Mar with 50 Shapinsay Ork , 5 Is of May & 8 St.Abbs B 11-17 Mar but main movement with 60 Girdleness NE, 20 Noss Farm Caith, 30+ Is of May; 107 N.Ronaldsay Ork & 500 Fair Is 6-7 Apr. 70 Fair Is 23 Apr was only other notable fall. Breeding: CBC (+3 F/+4W) Ork stable 13prs Trumland, 20 prs Herston (12 in '91); P&K ‘well down’ again Carse of Gowrie-a poor season but ‘good success’ Killiecrankie; Loth 23prs Aberlady (19 in '91), 9 Prestongrange (8 in '91), 20 Roslin ‘Glen (25 in'89); Bord 4 St.Abbs (5 in '91); Clyde 12-15 prs Merryton (8-10 in '91); D&G slight ‘increase Wood of Cree and Threave. | A rather poor autumn; max 20 St.Abbs on 27 Sep; 70 Norwick Shet 2 Oct; 100 N.Roanldsay 3 Oct; 100 Is of May 22 Oct; 50 Rattray & 50 Strathbeg “NE 27 Oct; 200 Is of May 28 Oct; 80 Fair Is 29 Oct; | 100 N.Ronaldsay 9 Nov; 200 Fair Is 10 Nov; with | last big flock 50 Kilrenny F on 30 Nov. | | /*Eye-browed Thrush Turdus obscurus | Ifirst-winter bird Fair Isle 4 Oct. 2nd record for Fair Isle, 6th for Scotland and 14th for Britain. Photo British Birds 86: 506. } | \ q 51 *Black-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis 1 imm Qartogularis Finstown Ork 23 Oct. 2nd record for Orkney; 12th for Scotland, 24th for Britain. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Few large flocks Jan-Feb - Gullane L again had, by far, the largest but only max 1,500 on 19-20 Feb. Nextwas 410 Strathgyrfe Clyde 26 Jan. Elsewhere 45-100 in P&K, Shet, Fair Is, Arran & Fife; up to 200in Ork, Ayr, Caith, Cent; 250in M&N & Bord. Passage from early Mar but strongest in SE with relatively few in N where max 90 in Shet, 450 on Fair Is, 99 on Ork, 30 in Caith &140 in M&N. 300 Dunning P&K & 400 Longside NE early Mar; 400 Strathbeg NE 16 Mar; 350 Islay Arg 25 Mar; 800 Letham B 26 Mar; 1,600 Eddleston B 29 Mar; 4 flocks of 3-500 birds Bord 3-16 Apr; 300 Sorn Ayr 3 Apr; 550 Westruther B, 3,600 Greenlawdean B, 200 Moorfoor L and 350 Auchterarder P&K 11Apr; 800 Cameron Res.F 12 Apr; 3,600 Hule Moss B 19 Apr. Fewer May with 50 Monynut B 3 May & 13 Gilston L 7 May the only flocks. Last reports Cent and I&R 5-11 Apr; M&N, Clyde, Ayr, P&K and Fife 21-26 Apr; D&G, Loth, Bord & Shet 6-7 May; Is of May, Arg & Caith 20-23 May; Ork &Fair Is 4-6 Jun. Breeding: Shet 2 nests , within 15m of one another, produced 2br7 from c/5+6; Caith 3 juvs seen Shebster;NE Scot ad+br2 in suitable habitat; Loth/ Bord | alarming 10 May, another 6 Jun. Autumn: singles N.Ronaldsay Ork from 12 Aug; Is of May, Fair Is 20-21 Aug; Shet, D&G 26-28 Aug; NE, Arg, Arran 19-20 Sep; P&K & Ayr 25-28 Sep; M&N and Bord 3-7 Oct; Loth, Cent, Caith, Clyde 10-12 Oct. Once again passage light in N with max 220 in N. Isles and Caith. Vanguard mostly 7-10 Oct on E.coast. The main arrival : 400 Balerno L 16 Oct; 1,000 Craigurd B & 550 Baron's Haugh Clyde on 17 Oct; 600 Kinmount D&G, 12,000 Insh Marshes I&R & SOON Ariogan Arg 18 Oct; 500 Linn of Dee NE 20 Oct; 500 Martnaham L. Ayr 22 Oct; 500 Kirkoswald Ayr 24 Oct; 800 Dallasbroughty M&N 26 Oct; 1,500 Glen Lyon P&K 27 Oct; 500 Caerlaverock D&G 29 Oct; 1,000 Tulloch I&R on I Nov. A few large flocks into Dec: 1,000+ Daviot I&R , 900 Dinnet NE and 1,000 Balligmorrie Ayr butnumbers generally low, max flocks in the 2-300 range. SLE A OD OSE OE TZ EE MS I ES TS US) 52 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Small numbers reported wintering inland: Caith 2, P&K 5, Bord 4, Clyde 2. First birds: Bord 11 Feb; Shet 16 Feb; D&G, Loth 25 Feb; Ork 31 Mar. Light passage from early Feb peaking end Mar with 63 N.Ronaldsay Ork, 400 Fair Is,34 Sumburgh Shet, 20 Is of May & 20 St.Abb's B 31 Mar-4 Apr. Song Thrush Andrew Dowell Breeding: CBC (-6%F/+11%W). Ork 8 prs Hoy (10 in'91), 6prs Trumland, Rousay (4in'91); Loth Aberlady 7 prs (10 in '91), 9 Preston-grange (6 in '91), 8 Roslin Glen (9in '89); Bord stable St.Abb’s; Clyde stable Baron’s Haugh, 7 prs Merryton (4 in '91). Many comments of reduced numbers in Ayr & Bord but no decline in forestry land in D&G. Mostly light autumn passage in mid-Sep before peaking 28Sep-4 Oct with 250 Sumburgh, 100+ at 3 sites Shet, 420 N.Ronaldsay, 120 Stronsay Ork, 500 Fair Is, 200 Noss Farm Caith, 40 Girdleness NE, 70 Fife Ness F and 500 Is of May. No large parties thereafter. Redwing Turdus iliacus Smaller numbers than usual with only 3 flocks of 150+ birds: 350 Glenrothes F 12 Jan; 300 Olrig Caith Jan-Mar and 450 Linwood Moss Clyde on 1 Feb; with 3 others, all Clyde, in the 100+ range. Movemenis from early-Mar ; 180 Duns B and 100 L.Ken D&G 1-2 Mar; 150 Rosebury Res.L 20 Mar; 300 Eddleston B 29 Mar; 200 Peebles B 2 Apr. Then ‘hundreds’ Foula Shet , 34 N.Ronaldsay Ork, 145 Fair Is & 100 Reay Caith 13-20 Apr. Last P&K 4 Apr; Loth, Fife, Clyde 10-14 Apr; Bord, Arg 20-22 Apr; M&N 28 Apr; Ork 20) May; Caith 29 May; Fair Is 4 Jun. Scottish Bird Report 1992 | Breeding: Shet 2 singles in Jun; Suth 2 sites, 1 nest; |) I&R 11 singers at 8 sites, min 6 nests; M&N | site; P&K | in Jul; Clyde 1 summered Lochwinnoch. |) First parties Shet, Fair Is, Ork & Ayr 18-19 Sep; Arg |) on 23 Sep; Caith, Suth, Is of May, Fife, Loth & Bord 27-29 Sep; P&K, Arran, Clyde, D&G 2-5 Oct; | M&N 6 Oct. i Only moderate numbers, mostly hundreds rather |) than thousands with main fall N.Isles 27 Sep-6 Oct | when 400 Skerries Shet; 1,000 Fair Is; 1,600 N.Ronaldsay Ork & 2,000 Hoy Ork. i Main movement on mainland 11-16 Oct with! 1,000 Tulloch I&R, several flocks up to 1,000 over | Arg, max 700 Craigie Ayr & 600 Pirnmill Arran | 11-16 Oct. . i Then 1,000+ Dallasbroughty M&N, 2,500 Insh| Marshes I&R and 500+ Clyne Suth 26-28 Oct. | Very scarce from Nov with only two large flocks - | ‘hundreds’ at Monaughty M&N and 240 Glasgow Clyde in excess of 50 birds. i Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus 24 Tombuie P&K 4 Jan, 12 Dalmeny L 19 Jan and | 16 Craigurd B in Feb were the only winter flocks. | Jan-Feb records N.Isles - 1 Shet & 2 Ork. . First Fair Is 20 Mar, Ork 28 Mar and Shet 31 Mar. Max passage numbers: 3 Shet, 6 Fair Is, 10 Ork and |, 2 Is of May. | Breeding: CBC (+2%F/+8%W). Little comparative | data but numbers Loth, Clyde and Bord stable. Probably only | pair Stornoway Woods OH. Large flocks only in the S: 54 Craigmead F 10 Jul; 50 Symington B | Aug; 59 Meadownay Ayr 9 Aug; | max 114CraigurdroostB on 11 Aug; 40 L.Kennard | P&K 23 Aug; 109 Tyninghame L 26 Aug. | Elsewhere max flocks Arg 35, M&N 30, D&G 20, Arran 16 & Clyde 13. N.Isles passage - only 2 Shet, 3 Fair Is and 10 Ork with | Is of May. | , *Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola | 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 23-25 Sep was first for Orkney, | 10th for Scotland and 14th for Britain. | Photos British Birds 86: 506 and Birding World 5:473. The panel shows status of this rare E.Palearctic warbler in Britain and the remarkable position of the N.Isles with singles for both Shet & Ork and aremarkable 8 for | Fair Isle. The arrival dates are very precise, so book your | week now for Fair Isle and North Ron! } EY RN PT ET SSS SP RR R.D.Murray [Ed] 33 Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler in Scotland Scotland Rest of UK *Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata 2 reports: 1 first-winter Scatness Shet 17 Sep and 1 Fair Is 27 Sep. Another species mostly reported N.Isles. 2nd for Scatness, 5th for Shetland but no less than the 41st for Fair Is out of 54 UK records. Now annual since 1984. Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia First singles Tranent L 18 Apr and Endrick Mouth Clyde 23 Apr; then Bord, A&D, Cent, Fair Is, Ork, Fife 25-26 Apr; D&G, I&R; Arran, Shet, NE, Is of May 27-28 Apr; Arg 2 May; Caith 6 May; P&K, M&N 17-22 May. Light passage well into late May, mostly singles with 1 Shet, 10 Fair Is, 2 Ork, 2 Is of May, 3 Fife Ness F & 3 St.Abbs B. Breeding: Sites with singing males reported- G'S sites co’ sites GU sites Cathy eshei bite. 9 9 » ‘Argyll 14° 5 M&N 6 6 _- Cent i Arran iol2 9 P&C Oia O ys sLoth.) 24 15 Clyde 46 21 Bord y) i Ayr 47 26 Highest numbers in W, but note declines there: I&R 15 terr Insh Marshes; P&K only 5 prs N bank Tay estuary after scrub cutting (17 in '91); Loth 12prs Tranent railway; Arg 7 terr Taynish , 6 terr Moine Mhor (15 in '91); Clyde 4prs Lochwinnoch (11 in'91), 3 prs Inversnaid (5 in'91), 4 prs Baron’s Haugh (5 in '91); D&G 6 prs Wood of Cree (11 in OD). Passage good in N.Isles :5 Shet, 5 Fair Is and 3 Ork. Last D&G, Cent 15-24 Jul; Caith 29 Jul; Arg, Clyde, Bord 7-8 Aug; Loth 17 Aug; P&K 3 Sep; Arran 13 Sep; Ork 27 Sep; latest singles Fair Is on 1Oct and Whalsay Shet 2 Oct. Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus 1 Lindores L. F 19 Apr;1 Mayne M&N 24 Apr; then Bord, Ayr 25-26 Apr; D&G, Clyde 27 Apr; Cent, Shet, Loth 28-30 Apr; NE 2 May; Arran, Arg, I&R, P&K, Is of May 9-12 May; Ork, Fair Is, Caith 13-15 May. Main arrival c10-17 May in SE with 8 St.Abbs B, 18 Lochore F and 37 Cameron Res F but mostly 1-3 birds elsewhere. Better year N.Isles, max 8 Fair Is 27 May. Breeding: CBC (+9%F) WBS (+9%). Widespread reports of lower numbers, despite recovery in national statistics: I&R 145 prs Insh Marshes; P&K 8prs Strathallan (, 13 in'91, 25 in '90), 13 prs R.Allan (19 in '91), Tay reedbeds 'good numbers and high nos of juveniles; Loth 31 Aberlady (31 in ‘91 & 38 in'90), 9 Bawsinch (18 in'91, 27 in 1990), 15 Gladhouse (16 in '90), 8 Tailend (8 in '90); Bord 6 at St.Abb’s (6in'91); Clyde 81 prs Lochwinnoch (160 in '91), 15 Baron’s Haugh (25 in '91). Last dates Arran 30 Jul; Caith 7 Aug; P&K 3 Sep; Is of May, Ayr, Loth, D&G 13-18 Sep; Bord & Fife 20 Sep; Shet 27 Sep; singles Fair Is & Ork 3 Oct; latest 1 Baron's Haugh Clyde 24 Oct. *Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola | Fair Is 9-10 Jun. 6th for Fair Isle, 7th for Scotland, 19th for Britain and only 4th -ever in spring. *Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum (1991) | found dead Is of May 30 Sep. First for the island, 8th for Scotland and the first away from the N.Isles. 20th for Britain. REE ND OE TD PE DPE TBS RNS ED POT SES MT BO IDET ASRS SR TO TT 200 150 100 + 50 54 Scottish Bird Report 1992 *Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris Record spring fall with min 54 birds. 1 Gulberswick Shet 23 May; 1 Helendale Shet 25-28 May; 1 Sullom Shet 26May-26 Jun; then major arrival over the next three weeks that saw a record 25 birds Shet 27 May-25 Jun, max cl0 on 2-5Jun, incl3 Fetlar;3 IsofMay 28-31 May; daily Fair Is 27 May-10 Jun, max 5 on 4 Jun, with | there 16 Jun; 7 on Ork 1-22 Jun, with 3 N.Ronaldsay & 4 Stronsay; 2 Wick Caith 12-24 Jun. 2 Hillwell Shet and Fair Is 2-3 Jul. Atleast 5 birds sang, some for prolonged periods. 1 Powgavie P&K 21 Jul; 2 Fair Is on 10 Aug; 1N.Ronaldsay 20 Sep; 1 Sumburgh Shet 28 Sep. *Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus Shet singles Sumburgh, 14May, Unst, 15May, Uyeasound , 17 May, Strand; & Fair Is 19 May. Further singles Shet & Fair Is 22-25 May before wider arrival 28 May-9 June when 11 Shet; 4 Fair Is; singles N.Ronaldsay & S.Ronaldsay Ork; St.Abbs B; 2 Is of May; & Girdleness NE. 1 Usan A&D and 1 Gremista Shet 14 Jun. Best-ever year for Shetland. Singles Fair Is 3 Aug; Baltasound Shet 10 Aug; Fair Is 14 Aug; Powgavie P&K 15 Aug. Autumn: 1-15 16-31 1-15 16-30 1-15 16-31 Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct Oct Shetland 1 6 8 16 15 - Orkney - 10 - 3 3 - North-east - - - - 4 - lof M - - - - 1 - Bord - - - 2 - - 1-5 birds regular Fair Is to 4 Oct (no precise details). Best passage 84 N.Ronaldssay and 4 S.Ronaldsay on 31 Aug; 9 at 4 sites Shet 3 Oct with another 3 on 4 Oct. Last 1 Boddam Shet 13-14 Oct. *Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus | Fair Isle 9 Jun, the 9th for the island. *Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata 1 Isle of May 2-3 Sep; 1 Fair Isle 14-16 Sep. The 2nd and 8th for the respective islands and only 13th for Scotland. 36th for UK. Icterine Warbler Steven Brown *Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina A remarkable spring with 65 in Shet, c40 on Fair Is, 38 in Ork, 2 in NE, Icterine Warbler in Scotland during Spring 1 in Fife & 3 Isle of May. First Uyeasound Shet 17 May. Singles Haroldswick and Scatness Shet on 23-24 May. Then daily N.Isles to 12 Jun, max 10 birds at 8 sites Shet 4 Jun, incl 3 Sumburgh Shet on 5 Jun; 11 Fair Isle 27 May & 4 Jun with 10 there on 9 Jun; 14 N.Ronaldsay Ork 28 May, 4 Stronsay Ork 29-30 May. Last mostly 14-15 Jun. Away from N.Isles: 2 Is of May on 27 May,another 30 May; 1 Whinnyfold 29 May; 1 Anstruther F 7 Jun; 1 Fordyce NE 17-22 Jun. 1 pair seen carrying food for young Creag Meagaidh NNR I&R. This was the first breeding record for Britain. The size of the spring passage undoubtedly had an influence on the breeding record. This is reminiscent of what has occurred in the past with Wryneck, Red-backed Shrike, Bluethroat and Common Rosefinch and other scarce migrants. See Murray, R.D. Scottish Birds 14: 168-174. Autumn: First autumn bird Fair Is 9 Aug thereafter 10 birds up to 28 Sep, max 2 on 12 Aug. | Is of May 9 Aug with 1-2 birds Fetlar Shet & Stronsay 11-12 Aug. 6 further singles Shet 22-26 Aug with 5 more singles 30 Aug-1 Sep on Shet, Ork and Is of May. 3 Shet & 1 Melvich Suth 3-5 Sep then 3 on Shet and | Girdleness NE 13-16 Sep. Singles Ork 19 Sep and St.Abbs B 21 Sep. Last 1 S.Ronaldsay 5 Oct. 68 69 70 71 72 73 74.75 76 77 78 79 80 81-82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 R.D.Murray Ed 55 *Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta 3 in spring: singles Skerries Shet on 28 May and Is of May 7-9 Jun with another there 9-10 Jun. The 9th and 4th-5Sth for the respective areas 2 in autumn: singles Fair Isle 8-10 Aug and North Ronaldsay Ork on 31 Aug. *Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans Singles Sumburgh Shet 20 May & N. Lochynort, S.Uist OH 21 May followed by a remarkable series of 7 birds on Fair Is: 1 on 21-25 May, 2 on 27 May. A bird showing the features of the eastern race S.c.albistriata on 28 May before singles on 2 Jun, 3 Jun and 12 Jun. Also a single at Eshaness Shet on 1| Jun. 10 birds is a record spring passage for Scotland. *Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala Imm 2 N.Ronaldsay Ork 25-27 May. Ad of at Cunningsburgh Shet 24 Jul-11 Nov. Another ad # Stronsay Ork 29-31 Oct. The first for Shetland and 2nd-3rd Orkney records. Photo of Shetland bird British Birds 86: 516. *Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria 1 in spring, c107 in autumn. 1 Fair Isle 28 May, the first spring record there. 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 2 Aug was early. Almost daily Fair Is, mostly 1-3 birds, 30 in all, 9 Aug-27 Sep. First Shet at Sumburgh 14 Aug and then almost daily to 31 Aug, with birds 4-5 Sep, 11 Sep, 14 Sep and almost daily 19 Sep-1 Oct, a total of 52 birds. Most days Ork 20 Aug-14 Sep, with later influx there 20 Sep-2 Oct, perhaps 19 individuals. Peak numbers: 5 Fair Is 17 Aug; Shet 15 on 23- 25 Aug when 3Grutness, 3 Foula, 2 Sumburgh and 2 Fetlar; Ork 3 N.Ronaldsay 21 Sep. Last singles Fair Ison 4 Oct, Fertlar &N.Ronaldsay 10 Oct and latest Lerwick on 20 Oct Elsewhere singles Is of May 9-14 Aug; Girdleness NE on 30 Aug; Melvich Suth 11 Sep: St.Abbs B 25-29 Sep; Arinagour Arg 30 Sep and last Oxwells Mains L 10 Oct. Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca First singles Fair Is 27 & 29 Apr; then Aberlady L 3 May; D&G & Fife 8-9 May; Bord & Ayr 10 May; Is of May, Ork & Shet 14 May; I&R 17 May; M&N 25 May. No spring reports Caith & Suth. Passage, mostly singles, peaking mid-May in S &E, then late May in N.Isles where max 3 Noss Shet 19 May; 12 Fair Is 27-28 May; 3 Whalsay Shet and 5 N.Ronaldsay Ork on 30 May. 1 Coll Arg 2 Jun was first for island. Breeding CBC (-5%F) slight general reduction except Loth: I&R 1 site; M&N 1 site; NE no breeding; Fife | site; Loth 12 sites, inc 14 singers at only 2 sites, inc stable 6 prs Aberlady, 7-8prs Muirfield (5 in '91); Bord 4 birds at 4 sites; Clyde 3 at 2 sites; Ayr 2 at 1 site; D&G | site. Poor autumn: first movements 8-10 Aug in Fair Is, Is of May & Bord. Scarce, mostly 1-2 birds, on mainland and Ork, only regular Fair Is & Shet. Two movements: 20 Aug-5 Sep, when 1-2 Shet at 11 sites 21-30Aug, 6 at 3 sites Bord 27-29 Aug and max 3 N.Ronaldsay 4 Sep; then 21 Sep-4 Oct when 5 Whalsay Shet 21 Sep. Several late singles Fair Is, Ork and Bord 18-24 Oct. Last reports Caith 5 Sep; Fife 28 Sep; Isle of May &Shet 3-4 Oct; NE & Loth 5-6 Oct; Bord 18 Oct; Ork & Fair Is 24 Oct. Latest | Holm Ork 28 Oct-2 Nov showed characteristics of the Siberian race S.c.blythi. Whitethroat Sylvia communis First early single Carsethorn D&G 20 Apr , then Kilconquhar F, Valleyfield F & N.Ronaldsay Ork on 27 Apr. Next Ayr, M&N 28 Apr; Loth, Arg, Is of May & Bord on 1-2 May; Clyde, Cent &NE 4 May; P&K, Arran 9 May; I&R , Shet &Fair Is 12- 14 May; OHeb, Suth & Caith 17-20 May. Passage generally light, mostly 1-3, bestin S on 14 May when 7 St.Abbs B and 20 Is of May. Good numbers in N.Isles during mid-late May - 5 Norwick Shet 13 May, 5 Whalsay Shet 21 May; 15 N.Ronaldsay 27 May; 35 Fair Is 28-29 May; 7 Whalsay 30 May; max 24 N.Ronaldsay 31 May. This was the heaviest spring passage through Fair Is for 20 years. Breeding CBC (+34%F/+8%W) WBS (+54%): general improvement in numbers: Shet | pr successful Spiggie, 3rd Shet breeding record; Ork 3 terr ; OHeb 2 sites; I&R 49 prs Eigg (46 in '91) and a successful season; Arg Colonsay 12 prs; SL RAY TEANGA EN NS IO HESIOD 0 OD OSLO UNE USE BEB BE TCO OOO PS RTE DPI ST BE RO TS EE) 56 Scottish Bird Report 1992 Clyde 6 prs Baron’s Haugh (7 in'90), 7 prs Merryton (6 in '90); Ayr 98 AOTs at 60 sites; D&G 14prs Wood of Cree; NE ‘numbers up'-31 ringed one site c.f. 15 in'91; Loth stable but 2prs; Bord 95 OATs at 79 sites. Very quiet passage from early Aug with most away by late Sep. 1-3 birds on coast with 2 movements in late Aug-early Sep and late Sep-early Oct. Best count:7 Fair Is 17 Sep. Last Arg on 13 Aug; Arran 21 Aug; P&K 3 Sep; M&N9 Sep; Ayr,Clyde & NE 16-20 Sep; Is of May , Loth & Bord 25-26 Sep; Ork, Caith & Fair Is 2-6 Oct; with last Shet on 29 Oct. Garden Warbler Sylvia borin First 1 Inversnaid Clyde 9 Apr; 1 Peebles B 26 Apr; then D&G, Ayr, Arg & Loth 2-3 May; P&K, Cent, Fife 5-6 May; Shet & Fair Is on 12-13 May; I&R, Is of May 14-16 May; Ork & Arran 19 May; M&N, Caith & Suth 24-31 May. First birds mainly on territory and few parties on coast but 9 Is of May 28 May; 27 N.Ronaldsay Ork & min 65 at several sites Shet 30 May; 80 Fair Is 31 May; a later 20 Fair Is 9-10 Jun. Breeding CBC (F-5%/W+15%). M&N 11 sang - ‘many more’; Arg 6 prs Taynish (10 in '90); P&K 16 sites; Clyde stable 6 prs Baron’s Haugh Ayr 73 terr at 24 sites (77 at 24 sites in '90') inc 16 Kilkerran (20 in '91'); D&G drop to 12+ prs Wood of Cree; Bord 129 terr at 109 sites (79 at 50 in 91). Poor autumn on mainland, mostly 1-3 birds in mid- Aug and late Sep-early Oct. Best counts N.Isles with c45 at 6 sites Shet inc 17 Fetlar & 16 Unst and max 30 Fair Is 23 Aug; 45 N.Ronaldsay & 12 Stronsay Ork 31 Aug; and 13 N.Ronaldsay 20 Sep. Last birds late: Arran, I&R 13 Sep; M&N, Ayr, D&G 21-23 Sep; Arg 30 Sep; Is of May, Fife, Loth, NE and Bord 3-5 Oct; Caith 16 Oct; Ork 22 Oct; Fair Isle 26 Oct; Shet 30 Oct. 1 Stanely Res.Clyde on 21 Nov was close to the record latest report for Scotland of 23 Nov. Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla First song Gullane L 17 Mar, may have wintered. 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 31 Mar & 1 St.Abbs B 9 Apr were then first undoubted migrants. Then D&G, Clyde & Shet 11 Apr; Ayr, P&K, Arran & Fair Is 23 Apr; Cent 26 Apr; I&R_ 1 May; Is of May 2 May. Passage was late and light with few mainland birds, most birds arriving on territory early May. Max 3 Is of May 21-31 May; 12 Fair Is 27 May. Breeding CBC (F+21%/W+19%); Caith | sang Reay; M&N equal record 28 OATs at 23 sites; P&K 14 sites; Loth 10 sites held 49 AOTs; Bord 152 terr at 104 sites was higher than usual; Clyde 6 Baron’s Haugh (9 in'91), 3 at Merryton (3 in 90); Ayr c98 AOTs at 29 sites, inc 22 prs Culzean (16 in '91); D&G 8 prs Wood of Cree (1 in '91). Movements Jul & Aug with last local birds during late-Aug mid-Sep. Reasonable Sep passage with 20 Is of May 19 Sep; 40 N.Ronaldsay & 20 Stronsay Ork 21 Sep;c170 at 4 sites Shet 23-27 Sep inc 50 Sumburgh & 50 Skerries; 70 Fair Is 23 Sep. Peak passage 3-4 Oct with 180+ at 4 sites Shet inc 65 Fetlar; 50 Fair Is; 126+ Ork, inc 71 N.Ronaldsay; 11 Drums-Ythan NE; 50 Is of May & 15 St.Abbs. Last migrants mostly early Oct with small scale passage into mid-Nov at Fair Is, Ork & St.Abbs. Winter reports: Area Jan Feb Mar Nov Dec N_Isles 0 0 1 c15 2 N.Scot 4 10 4 10 8 NE Scot 3 4 2 3 11 W.Scot 8 6 3} 7 Ts E/C Scot 10 7 3 li 5 SE Scot 5 1 1 3 p SW Scot 5 1 Q 2 5 Total 1992 2 14 1 42 Total 1991 14 1 4 46 20 Total 1990 1 1 2 Di 13 *Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides 1 Is of May 19 May; | Sanday Ork 28 May; | Fair Is 30 May-1 Jun; | Rattray NE 31 May; 1 Fetlar Shet 1 Jun; another Fair Is 2-9 Jun. Record spring with the first spring records for Ork, NE and Is of May, the 2nd for Shet and the 2nd&3rd for Fair Is. Singles Fair Is 12 Aug; Whalsay Shet 21 Aug with another there 22 Aug; Geosetter Shet 23 Aug; Girdleness NE 23-25 Aug; Fair Is 24-26 Aug; Stronsay Ork 26-28, Is of May 28 Aug; and another Fair Is 30 Aug; with another Geosetter 19 Sep. 10 autumn reports is also a Scottish record reflecting the increase in this species in W. Europe. *Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis | N.Ronaldsay Ork 30 Aug-1! Sep, 2 there 31 Aug, another 21 Sep; Singles Sumburgh Shet 5-6 Sep; Helendale, Lerwick Shet 28-30 Sep; and Scalloway Shet 3-5 Oct. Photo Sumburgh bird Birding World 5:474. a La SNR EEN SE VLRO LLNS ROL SEG ORT IR TL gs SES NE SN ABMS UA CDE ST TEMA STEELE GLE ERIN ee ee eS ER eee | R.D.Murray [Ed] *Pallas’s Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus Another poorish year. Singles Noness Shet 1 Oct; Fair Is 3 Oct; Cruden Bay NE3-4 Oct; another Fair Is 22 Oct; N.Ronaldsay Ork 29 Oct; Fair Is 8 Nov. Photo of a Fair Isle Oct bird Birding World 5:475. (1991) 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 29 Oct. Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus First singles Fair Is 18 Sep & Is of May 19 Sep followed by 6 Shet, 1 Ork, 1 St.Abbs B on 20 Sep. Another 6 Shet, 1 Fair Is and a few Ork 21-25 Sep before large scale arrival 26-27 Sep with 23 on Shet, inc 6 Whalsay & 4 Skerries; 7 Fair Is; an astonishing 23 N.Ronaldsay Ork; & | Rattray NE. Further arrivals in N.Isles over next 10 days with 48 birds in Shet, max 14 Whalsay on 30 Sep; max 7 Fair Is 4 Oct with a few in Ork. More widespread on mainland 27 Sep-5 Oct (birds re-orientating?) with 2 Caith; 7 in NE; 4 Fife, 1 Is of May; 2 Loth & 5 Bord. Late birds seen Caith 7 Oct; 2 Shet9-11 Oct; singles Is of May & Fair Is 12 Oct with another there 22 Oct; 2 Kergord Shet until 25 Oct. 1 Glenstockdale D&G 10 Oct was a less typical report. A good year: 6 Shet, c12 Fair Is, 45 Ork & 27 on the mainland, a total of c170 birds . Yellow-browed Warbler David Mitchell *Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi 1 Sumburgh Shet 29 Sep, another there 4 Oct with 1 Girdleness NE 11 Oct. Annual since 1987. 57 *Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus 5 singles allon Shetland: 1 Scalloway on 1 Oct; 1 Noness on 1-2 Oct; 1 Whalsay 2-3 Oct with another there on 4 Oct; 1 Dale of Walls 4 Oct. Annual since 1985. *Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli 1 North Ronaldsay Ork 27 Sep; 1 Fair Is 30 Sep; 1 Exnaboe Shet 11-15 Oct may have been present from 4 Oct. Record three in one year. These were the 2nd records for Fair Is and Ork and the 7th for Shet. Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix First Kenmore P&K and Abbey St.Bathans B on 26 Apr; then Loth 30 Apr; D&G and Arg 1 May; Clyde & Fair Is 3 May; Cent, Suth 4 May; NE & Arran 9 May; Fife & Ayr 11-12 May; Shet 14 May; M&N, Ork & Is of May 17-20 May. First birds mostly heard on territory. Small scale arrival E coast 4-13 May but major influx in N Isles from 24 May when c50 Shet, inc 6 Unst & 5 Whalsay on 30 May; a record 15 Fair Is on 28-29 May; andc31 Ork, inc 13 N.Ronaldsay & 6 Stronsay on 28 May. Breeding CBC (W-45%). OHeb 4 sang Stornoway Woods in May; I&R 5 AOTs Eigg but no female; Arran 17 OATs (18 in'91); Clyde only 18 OATs (34+ in '91, 59 in 90 & 115 in '89); Ayr 22 terr; D&G marked decrease to 27 Wood Of Cree (43 in ‘90 & '91); NE 9 OATs Ballater; P&K a stable 20. OATs Killiecrankie; Loth slight increase; Bord 30 birds at 24 sites was mostly stable but 3 Elibank (5 in '91) & 3 Plora (6 in '91). Usual disappearing act in most areas as singing stops: last Loth 5 Jun; Clyde 9 Jun; D&G 17 Jul. Scarce outwith N.Isles with only 4 reports: a single trapped Melvich Suth 11 Aug; 4 St.Abbs B 4 Sep; 1 Is of May 11 Sep and another St.Abbs 18 Sep. Record numbers N.Isles with first Fair Is 2 Aug followed by influx 15 Aug-5 Sep when c38 Shet, inc 4 Quarff on 23 Aug & 10 Unst on 4 Sep; max 4 Fair Is 28 Aug and 4 Ork. Fewer into Sep with none Fair Is, only 4 Ork and c12 Shet. mostly 21-26 Sep. The latest was on Whalsay Shet 26 Sep. ac CT A eH SA NOU UDR NS CA SAI EST 6 RRS TU METS AP TESTO ESTA eS ST TSN CSE SOS AS SS TUTE POTEET 58 Scottish Bird Report 1992 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita c13 overwintered: 1 Shet; 4 Ork; 2 Caith; 2 I&R; 1 NE; 1 Fife; 1 Loth; 1 Bord. First Gullane L 17 Mar; Ruthwell D&G 18 Mar; Ayr 22 Mar; Fife, Clyde & Cent 27-29 Mar; Is of May, Shet, Fair Is, Ork 30-31 Mar; Bord and P&K 1 Apr; Caith, NE, M&N, Arran & Arg 5-7 Apr; I&R 18 Apr. Main influx late Apr: 10 Whalsay Shet on 21 Apr; 10 Fair Is 23 Apr; 12 Unst Shet 26 Apr; 10 North Ronaldsay Ork & 9 Pease Dean B 27 Apr. Protracted passage into May: 10 Skerries Shet, 8 Geosetter Shet, 25 Is of May 27-28 May. Breeding CBC (F+25%/W+18%) some recovery from poor numbers in '91: OH more than usual Stornoway Woods, 4 sang Harris; I&R 20+ prs Kildary, 4 sang Eigg; M&N 19 singers (15 in '91); Clyde 39AOTs (mean 33 in 1989-91); Ayr 117 AOTs (122 in '91) inc 24 Culzean (21 in '91, 33 in '90) & 17 Kilkerran (16 in'91); Loth 3 Bawsinch (2 in '91); Bord 76 AOTs at 51 sites (60 at 35 in '90) inc 7 Hirsel & 7 Ayton Castle (2 & 2 in '91). Local departure mostly Aug. Poor passage from mid-Sep, peak late Sep-early Oct: 14 St.Abbs B 29 Sep; 15 Is of May 30 Sep; 40 N.Ronaldsay Ork 1 Oct; 30 Stronsay Ork 3 Oct; c75 Shet 1-4 Oct, incl 21 Whalsay; 20 Fair Is 4 Oct. Lighter movements to mid-Oct. Stragglers Shet, Fair Is, Ork, Fife & Bord to mid-Nov. 10 Dec records: singles Baltasound Shet; Burray, Binscarth & Stronsay Ork; Chanonry 1&R; Endrick Mouth Clyde; Prestwick Ayr; Carsethorn & Caerlaverock D&G; and Kinneil Cent. Grey P.c.abietinus/tristis birds were very scarce with only small numbers tristis in Shet in late Oct inc 6 Kergord 25 Oct; 1 abietinus Raft NE 30 Sep; and | tristis Strathbeg NE 4 & 31 Dec. Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus First 1 L.Ba, Mull Arg 31 Mar was distinctly early; singles Ayr, Fife & 5 St.Abbs B 4 Apr; Loth 5 Apr; D&G, Arran 8-9 Apr; NE, Ork &Shet 11-13 Apr; Clyde 17 Apr; Fair Is 20 Apr; I&R, P&K, M&N, Suth on 22 Apr; Cent & Caith 24-25 Apr. Mainarrivalin S 21-28 Apr. Scarce in N until early May; 100+ Heads of Ayr Ayr 26 Apr; max 30 Is of May 4 May; 30 Is of May & max 30 St.Abbs 14- 15 May; 25 Fair Is 18 May; 40 Fair Is & max 17 N.Ronaldsay Ork 29-30 May. Breeding CBC (F-18%/W-22%) but Scottish figures amixture - Clyde 2 5 Baron’s Haugh (19 in '91), 17 prs Merryton (11 in '91); Ayr 17 Culzean (29 in '91); P&K 66 Vane Farm (69 in '91); Loth 10 Bawsinch (18 in '91), 16 Tailend (13 in '91), 12 Prestongrange (9 in '91), 4 Roslin Glen (11 in '89), 22 Aberlady (23 in'91); Bord 3 St.Abb’s (4 in'91). Suth numbers up again at Melvich; I&R "a good season" Eigg; P&K "a good season everywhere"; Loth success down on at least 2 study sites. Moderate passage from Jul. Peak 20-30 Aug when c230 at8 sites Shet, incl 62 Whalsay & 60 Unst; 50 Fair Is; 20 Shell Bay F; 30-40 Is of May; 30 St.Abbs & 60 N.Ronaldsay. 2nd peak 13-20 Sep. with smaller numbers Shet, Ork, Fife and Bord. Few thereafter. . Last I&R, D&G, M&N, Ayr from 13-18 Sep; Suth, Loth, Arran and Clyde 19-23 Sep; P&K & Caith 28-29 Sep; NE 3 Oct; Shet & Bord 5-7 Oct; Fair Is 14 Oct; single Elie F 17 Oct; before a very late bird at Graemeshall, Holm Ork on 3 Nov. *Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus 1 Fair Is 15-17 May was the 3rd for the island. Goldcrest Regulus regulus 3 Kergord Shet 28 Jan may have wintered. First passage mid-Mar N.Isles and Bord but peak late Mar - early Apr, max counts 31 Mar & 8 Apr: 8 Shet, 55 Fair Is, 59 N.Ronaldsay Ork; 20 Fife Ness F; 6 Is of May & 40 St.Abbs B. Later smaller- scale movements only in N.Isles, 22-28 Apr. Breeding CBC (F+60%/W+8%). Shet pr Kergord; Ork 10 prs at 5 sites (9 at 4 in '91); P&K inc Vane Farm (7 where 4 in '91); Leth 3+ Gladhouse (1 in '91); 2 Aberlady, nil in 1990); Bord recovery but still low numbers; Clyde 6 prs Baron’s Haugh (12 in '91), 3 Merryton (3 in '90). Only moderate autumn passage from mid-Aug with fairly continuous movements but only one big ‘fall’ in 29 Sep-5 Oct. This peaked first in N.Isles 29 Sep-3 Oct before a weaker wave hit E coast mostly 1-4 Oct: max 300+ Kergord, 200+ Sumburgh Shet, a record 500 Fair Is; 376 N.Ronaldsay, 500 Stronsay & 200 N.Hoy Ork; but only max 30 Noss Farm Caith; 63 Donmouth-Blackdog NE; 100 Is of May; 20 Fife Ness F; 15 E.Barns L & 120 St.Abbs. Also 50 Mull of Galloway D&G 7 Oct. A few new arrivals Shet, Is of May into late Oct. SSS SSS SSS SSS ST R.D.Murray [Ed] Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica lst-summer trapped Fair Isle 1-2 Jul. Identification was accepted but controversially the BOURC has placed the record in category D1, with birds that have an unquantifiable risk of having been an escape. See BOURC Report (1993) Ibis 136: 253-255 oy British Birds (1994) 87: 247-252 for reasoning of listing. See Harvey P. (1992,)Birding World 5: 252-255 for details of bird. Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata First very early bird Damhead of Torr F 19 Apr at least 2 weeks ahead of single St.Abbs B on 6 May; then NE7 May; D&G 8 May; Arran 10 May; Clyde 11 May; Ayr 12 May. Main arrival covered all of country with first Loth, Is of May, Cent, I&R, Arg, Shet, Fair Is and Ork on 14 May; with P&K, Caith, M&N 15-17 May; OHeb 26 May. Largest numbers from 18 May but while a 'good' passage on E. coast included many reports of mostly 1-4 birds, unprecedented numbers descended on the N.Isles 27 May-3 Jun when peak counts Shet inc 100 Unst, 67 Whalsay, 60 Skerries, 45 Fetlar; daily counts on Fair Is of 350, 350, 350, 200, 280, 180 & 100 from 27 May-2 Jun; and Ork counts incl 500 Stronsay, 70 Sanday, 411 N.Ronaldsay and c250 E.Mainland. Smaller numbers did penetrate to S but 18 Is of May, 2 Balcomie F and 4 St.Abbs B on 31 May hardly reflected numbers in N. Previous record counts on various islands , incl Fair Is, had been c50 birds! The lack of re-traps indicated a large daily turn-over. Breeding CBC (F+9%/OW %) Little useful Scottish data probably due to low densities at any site: Ork none bred; I&R_ 6prs Eigg, 3 successful; P&K “scarcity remarked on’; Fife ‘scarce’. OHeb pr bred Harris Hotel, first breeding on island? 1 prat Burnbeag Clyde arrived 16 May, inspected the old nest and built a new nest by 25 May, laid firstegg on 26 May, fledged 2 young on 26 Jun and had departed by 27 Jun - a remarkable 47 days! Local autumn movements mostly mid-late Aug when |6 Duns Castle B and many last local reports. cl8 birds Shet 31 Aug, inc 5 Whalsay. Main passage peak in mid-Sep, mostly 1-4 birds from passage sites but 10 St.Abbs 13 Sep; max 6 Fair Is 21 Sep; 5 N.Ronaldsay 24 Sep. Last Suth, I&R and Clyde 21 Aug-1 Sep; P&K and Caith 14 Sep; D&G,Loth, Ayr & Arran 16-18 Sep; Bord 25 Sep; Fair Is, NE, Fife 30 Sep; Ork 3 Oct; Shet 4 Oct; with latest single Is of May on 7 Oct. 59 *Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva 8 in spring, 22 autumn, all ?/imm unless stated otherwise. Singles N.Ronaldsay Ork 25 May; S.Ronaldsay Ork & Is of May on 29 May; Sullom Shet 1 Jun; Fair Is 3 Jun; Is of May 8 Jun; o Geosetter Shet 9 Jun; and Wester Quarff Shet 15 Jun. 1 N.Ronaldsay 4-20 Sep. Singles Fair Is 18 Sep; Foveran NE, Helensdale Shet & Burravoe, Yell Shet 20 Sep; Whalsay Shet 24 Sep; Baltasound Shet 25 Sep; Sumburgh Shet & Whalsay 29 Sep; Brae Shet, Norwick Shet and Fair Is on 30 Sep; 2 N.Ronaldsay 1 Oct; Noness Shet 2 Oct; Is of May & Whalsay 3 Oct; St.Abbs B 4 Oct; Rendall Ork 5 Oct; Evie Ork 6 Oct; Tresta Shet7 Oct; last single at Voxter Shet on 11 Oct. Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis 1 # Hirta, St.Kilda O.Heb 24 May. First for the O.Hebrides and only the 17th for Britain. Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca First 1 Wood of Cree D&G 22 Apr; | Endrick Mouth Clyde 28 Apr; Shet 6 May; Cent 10 May; Bord & Ork 14 May; Fife & Fair Is 15-16 May; Loth 20 May; I&R, Caith & Is of May 24-29 May. Very poor spring with 4 Is of May and only coastal singles in Caith, Fife, Loth & Bord with none in the NE and M&N. Only numbers where in N.Isles where several small influxes: 15 Shet 13-20 May and 10 there 28-30 May, max 3 Kergord 14 May; 14 dates Fair Is, max 5 on 27 May; and max 3 Papa Westray Ork 29 May. Pied Flycatcher Steven Brown 60 Nest-box schemes U' nests juvs MBS 1991 Trossachs Cent TWO) 288 5.76 5.47 Killiecrankie P&K ? 7 46 657 4.57 N.Argyll ? 5 18 3.60 Inversnaid Clyde* ? 18 9 0.50 0.45 Tarbert Clyde 15 n7 20 54 540 541 Sallochy Clyde 14 11 73 664 7.00 Wood of CreeD&G + 39 Glentrool D&G ee te 75 6.20 Brough Wood D&G ? = 11 69 6.27 *(Inversnaid is subject to intense predation by Pine Marten.) P&K noted 6 other sites; Cent 5 birds at 4 other sites; Clyde 8 singers at 4 other sites; Loth 2 sites; Bord 15 singers at 12 sites Good season commented upon in most areas except I&R where reduced numbers Aviemore and Ayr where only 6 proven territories. Thin scatter mid-Aug as breeding birds vanish. Clyde 8 Aug; Shet, Fair Is, Ork, NE & Is of May 9 Aug; Arran, Fifel6 Aug. Few daily N.Isles to Oct. Peaks 23-24 Aug : 10 Whalsay Shet, 5 Foula Shet & 9 Fair Is. Widespread on 28-31 Aug: few Shet but 16N.Ronaldsay, 14 Stronsay, 10 Rendall and 9 S.Ronaldsay, all Ork; 7 Fair Is; 8 Is Of May; first singles Loth & Bord. Few later until 25-30 Sep: 19 N.Ronaldsay, 6 Fair Is, 4 Fife Ness F & 4 St.Abbs B. Last Ayr, NE, Loth & Is of May 20-23 Sep; Bord & Fife 28-30 Sep; Caith, Fair Is & Ork 4 Oct; latest 1 Whalsay on 13 Oct. 1 trapped at Queenamidda, Rendall Ork 31 Aug showed features of a Pied x Collared hybrid. Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Breeding CBC (F+33%/W+1%) Good Oct-Nov passage max 20 Is of May 11 Oct; 5 flocks Ork, max 6; 1 flock of 8 Stronoway OH. Max flocks numbers: <15 in Ork, Caith, Arg & O.Heb; 15-25 inI&R, Cent, Bord; 26-40 in Arran, Clyde, P&K, M&N. The biggest flocks were 69 Dalrymple Ayr 2 Feb, 50 Tyninghame L 25 Sep & 46 Aboyne NE 11 Dec. *Marsh Tit Parus palustris CBC (W-8%) Bord seen | 1 sitesin breeding season inc 2 prs Floors Castle and 3prs Duns Castle; also 6 sites outwith breeding season incl 2 Peebles & 1 Longformacus in Mar. Loth 3 Dunglass in Jan with singles there May & Nov; | Innerwick Nov- Dec. Scottish Bird Report 1992 Willow Tit Parus montanus CBC (A-18%) Clyde bred at Glenbuck, old o' not seen, 2nd-yr £ bred; 2-3 AOTs on N side of Strathclyde Park - also seen Baron's Haugh & Merryton outwith breeding season; Ayr Ipr bred Dalrymple, also seen L.Fergus; D&G 1|pr Wood of Cree but numbers low; fewer Threave; Bord | pr bred unusually far west at Ettrick (first breeding for Selkirkshire - Ettrick & Lauderdale); prs also seen Hirsel with 3 Pease Dean. Crested Tit Parus cristatus M&N 10 prs in boxes Culbin Forest average clutch 5.5 & MBS 4.5 (3.6in'91), 2br10 in natural nests; 2 prs Lossie Forest, MBS 4.3 juvs; Suth 1 Clynelish Moss 9 Dec. Coal Tit Parus ater Breeding CBC (F-13%/W-2%): OHeb continuing increase and spread; Clyde 6prs Baron’s Haugh (10 in '91); M&N Sprs at Culbin had MBS of 7.8 (5.8 in '91) and 5 prs at Lossie MBS of 7.0 (5.0 in '91). Passage birds noted St.Abb’s B 31 Jul-11 Oct, max 40 on | Oct. Largest flocks noted: 50 Elibank B in Jan; 60+ Caldons D&G in Jul; 30 Tyninghame L in Aug. Blue Tit Parus caeruleus None in N_Isles Breeding CBC (F-3%/W-6%): Nest-box schemes Nests Young MBS Moray & Nairn 5030) 198 6.60 Perth & Kinross DS) 170 7.28 Glen Trool, D&G ? ? 8.80 Wood of Cree D&G 41 294 7.18 Brough Wood D&G 5 42 8.20 Good breeding season in most areas: stable Loth but none St.Abbs B (4 in'91; Clyde stable Baron’s Haugh, 11 prs Merryton (10 in '91), 36 prs Lochwinnoch (32 in '91); P&K stable 22prs Vane Farm. Largest flocks seen was c100 Edinburgh L in late Aug. Passage: daily St.Abb’s B 2 Sep-11 Oct, max 9 on 19 Sep. Although only 15 seen at feeder Craigurd B at any time, no fewer than 39 different birds ringed there on 11 Jan, with another 44 on 20 Sep. ES STR SR SE ST PP R.D.Murray [Ed] Great Tit Parus major N.Isles: 4 singles Shet in Jan-Feb; Apr and 2 in Oct. Breeding CBC (F+7%/W+3%): Nest-box schemes Nests Young MBS Moray & Nairn 17 98 5.76 Perth & Kinross 28 179 6.40 N.Wood of Cree D&G ? 8.25 S.Wood of Cree D&G ? das Glentrool D&G 2 7.80 Good numbers D&G at Glen Trool & Wood of Cree, MBS up 0.6 at former. Clyde slight decrease Baron’s Haugh . M&N fewer Lossie than usual. Passage St.Abb’s B 2 Sep-11 Oct, 17 on 18-19 Sep and 16 on 4 Oct; also 19 Coldingham Bay B 5 Sep and 20 Pease Dean B | Nov. *Nuthatch Sitta europaea Bord seen Hirsel throughout year but birds nearby at Coldstream may represent expansion; no reports Floors, Kelso but bird heard St.Boswells in Apr and bird seen at feeder nearby at Gattonside in Sep; D&G 1 at feeder at Threave 18-24 Jan was first confirmed in area since 1983. Treecreeper Bruce Forrester Treecreeper €erthia familiaris Breeding CBC (F-8%/W-17%): OHeb population approaching extinction; Caith min 2prs bred Reay, seen Watten Lodge; M&N 4 used nest-boxes Culbin & Lossie (4 in '91); I&R7 prs Eigg, 1 successful; P&K min 13prs Killiecrankie; Clyde stable 6 prs Baron's Haugh; Merryton 3 prs (6in '91). 61 Singles Is of May 7&20 Jul; higher numbers than usual in autumn at Tay reedbeds P&K; singles Is of May and St.Abb’s B 24 Sep with max 3 St.Abbs on | Oct. 2 singles Sumburgh Shet 14 Sep & 1 Oct showed characteristics of the northern race C_ffamiliaris. *Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus 1 St.Ola Ork 18-21 May; 1 Orphir Ork & another St.Ola 19 May; 1 Kergord Shet 23 May -10 Jun; 5 on Shet, inc 3 at Helendale, 2 Westray Ork and 1 St.Abbs B on 24 May. More widespread 25 May-2 Jun with another 8 Shet & 3 Ork with singles Applecross I&R and Taynish Arg 26 May; Borve, Harris OH 29 May; Is of May & Fair Is | Jun & tail feathers of predated bird N.Berwick L 6 Jun. Later birds reported Abernethy Forest I&R and Gisla, Lewis OH in Jun. Stagglers in Shet at Hoswick 4 Jun, perhaps same at Sandwick 6 Jun. 1 remained Kergord to 22 Jun. Min 32 birds, best-ever spring Shet with 15 birds. Autumn singles at Exnaboe Shet 15 Sep and Helendale 23 Sep. *Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio First singles Fair Is & N.Ronaldsay Ork 19 May; then Shet and I&R 23 May; Fife and Loth 25 May; M&N, Arg & NE 29 May-1 Jun; Caith & Is of May 4-5 Jun; Ayr, D&G 9 Jun. Large numbers in N Isles, mostly singles elsewhere. May-Jun '92 19/24 25/27 28/30 31/2 3/5 6/8 9/26 Shetland 1 14 25+ 6 c6 c6 6 Fair Isle 1 20 20 Ci i 64 9 ECB, CO Orkney 1 21 26 Oh ha 11 B) N.Scotland 1 1 2 NE Scotland 1 5) 1 4 4 S.Scotland 2 1 1 1 5 Max counts in Shet over period inc 18 Dunrossness, 11 Whalsay, 10 Skerries, 8 Mainland, 7 Unst & Fetlar; max 20 Fair Is 27-28 May, 6 there on 11 Jun; and Ork where 12 N.Ronaldsay on 28 May; 6 Sanday 28 May & 6 Stronsay 30 May. 2 inland birds in NE at Braemar & Kirkhill 11-12 Jun. Small fall late Jun-early Jul with singles Fair Is (3), Bord, Cent and a juv at Livingston L 8 Jul. Scarce autumn singles 23 Aug-5 Oct, mostly N_Isles, where 11 Shet, 2 Fair Is and 4 Ork, with an undated — report Balmedie NE. Small numbers mostly late Aug to mid-Sep; last 1 S.Ronaldsay Ork 5 Oct. 62 Scottish Bird Report 1992 Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor 4 winter/spring singles at Forest of Ae D&G from 1991 to 5 Apr, Midross Clyde 1-29 Jan; Channerwick Shet 4 Jan; Tulloch I&R 9 Mar. Then hint of passage with 4 singles L.Kennard P&K, Sandhead D&G, Foulford Inn P&K and Drymen Clyde 19-25 Apr. 13 autumn: | Fair Is 30Sep-4 Oct, 2 Sandwick Shet, 1 Sumburgh Shet and 1 S.Ronaldsay Ork 1- 3 Oct; singles Stronsay Ork & Unst Shet 3 Oct with 2 Stronsay, 1 Kergord Shet and 1 Noss Head Caith 4 Oct; 1 Birsay Ork 5 Oct; 1 South Walls Ork 13 Oct. Only two later records, singles at Glen Tanar NE 1-2 Nov and Ballochbuie NE 21 Nov. *Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator 1 Balcray Point D&G 25 Apr-2 May. 1 Fair Is 26 Aug-4 Sep, another there from 23 Sep- 14 Oct. Photo of latter, Birding World 5: 369. Woodchat Shrike in Scotland 1968-92 gone spring f j 4 =, y 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 Jay Garrulus glandarius CBC (F+36%/W+2%). Most comments suggest presence is easier to prove than breeding but most references suggest either stable population - Ayr, Clyde, Argyll - or increasing numbers as in P&K and Bord - or as in Fife and M&N where reports have increased although proof of breeding still escapes observers. Best counts from 12 Strathdon NE during Aug and 8 Lady Mary's Hill P&K in Nov. Magpie Pica pica CBC (F+8%/W+2%). Continued picture of piecemeal expansion throughout range: expansion often heralded by small numbers of wandering birds in Feb-Apr, some settling when not persecuted. 5 pees ‘Spectacular’ change Braco-Blackford area P&K over 3 years, now common; regular Melvich Suth although still not proved to breed; small numbers regular in NE Fife; 2 records Arran, first since 1986. Largest counts include 80 over Baron's Haugh travelling to roosts at Ross Tip Clyde in Jan; ahuge 167 at Pollok Park Clyde 28 Jan; 42 Killwinning Ayr 24 Mar; next largest 23 Dalhousie L 2 Feb. Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax 88 prs were recorded in Scotland as part of a full breeding survey in Britain. Argyll, especially Islay, remains the stronghold holding 87 pairs. Islay - 74 prs, Jura 3 prs, Colonsay 9 prs and Mull 1 pr . Also 47 non-breeders on Islay and 8 on Colonsay. This compares with 105 prs on Islay, Jura and Colonsay in 1982 and 76 prs in 1982. Much of the recent decline on Islay seems to have occurred in The Oa area. The overall MBS was 1.99, a little lower than the long-term average. 9 attempts on Colonsay raised 22 young, MBS of 2.44. The Mull pair were unsuccessful for the 4th year running. Max count was 95 Kilchoman, Islay 22 Feb. From Argyll Bird Report. 1 pair Wigtownshore D&G again reared br2, the only birds outwith Argyll. Chough John Busby Jackdaw Corvus monedula Breeding: CBC (F+1%/W+10%): Shet none summered, last migrants in May; I&R 15+ prs Eigg; P&K 60-70 prs Killiecrankie. Best roost counts: 3,000 roost Dalmahoy L 14 Nov; 1,200 over Crieff P&K 17 Nov; a massive 12,000 roosting with Rooks at Meiklemoss Wood, Alford NE 25 Dec. Most other maxima <1,000 birds. R.D.Murray [Ed] 63 Rook Corvus frugilegus Shet Kergord many nests shot out but 24 nests had MBS 1.7 (33 & 1.9 in'91) ; Ork the 5 colonies held 461 nests; OHeb only 115 nests Stornoway, (135 in'91) further decline; Loth 4 counts, 3 decreased, 1 increased from previous records; Bord 10 rookeries counted: 4 new, 2 increases, 2 declines & 2 were stable. Counts: 4,100 Dalmahoy Hill L 14 Nov; 5,000 on stubble Plean Cent in Dec; 37,000 Meiklemoss Wood, Alford NE 12 Dec with only 24,000 there on 25 Dec. Usual spring birds Shet & Fair Is but none Fair Is in autumn while 100+ Strand Shet 14 Sep. Carrion Crow Corvus corone Carrion C.c.corone 1 wintered Boddam Shet while 2 all year Fair Is. Usual Apr-May movements N.Isles but none in autumn; 3 birds bred Ork, paired with Hoodies, another hybrid bred paired to Hoodie; Arg gradual spread through Cowal to Kintyre and mid-Argyll. Best counts were 425 Pollok Park Clyde 28 Jan & 700+ pre-roost Moorbrock D&G 24 Jun. Hooded C.c.cornix Scattered reports in S & E, Feb-May/ Oct-Dec; Fair Is 1 pr bred unsuccessfully; Ork 15prs N.Hoy (161in'91); stable 4 prs Trumland Reserve, Rousay; Arg 2 ground nests Tiree. Raven Corvus corax Breeding: Area __ Sites Occupied Outcome Nest Young checked sites Failed ??? success MBS Fair Isle 5 >) 2 - 3 9 3.0 Orkney 59+ 59 16 230 20 33,7 12.6 I&R, Eigg 9 9 y - 7 A ee24 Arg, Tiree 9 9 7 - 2 u 2 Arran 11 11 ? y 7 17 24 Central 15 13 4 - 9 18(6) 3.0 Perth&K 24 20 2, 4 14 23(7) 3.3 Ayrshire 9 9 5 - 3 Vin eh 25) Bord 1-2 prs Berwickshire coast, St.Abbs pr produced br4; min 6 breeding season reports in Bord hills. Fife: 1 Lomond Hills Nov-Dec was first confirmed sighting in county for 67 years! Assemblies: I&R Insh roost max 80 in Jan; Arg max 180 Oban rubbish dump in Sep; P&K main roost persecuted, none Jan/Feb then only re- occupied from Oct, max 70 in Oct & Dec. Starling Sturnus vulgaris Winter/spring roosts: 28,000 Glasgow Clyde 10 Jan, still 16,500 by 4 Mar; 10,000 Birsay Ork in Jan; 5,000 E.Linton L 13 Jan; 5,000 Irvine Ayr Jan- Feb; 2,000 L.Gruinart, Islay Arg in Feb. Migrant flock -1,120 Fair Is 7 Apr. Breeding CBC (F+3%/W-149%): no useful data. Post-breeding/juvenile flocks: 600 Craigluscar Hill F in Jun; 8,150 flying to roost Vane Farm P&K (15 mins) 1 Jul; c1,000 Findhorn Bay M&N in Jul; 5,000 Halligarth Shet & 1,500 Noss Farm Caith in Aug. Max 700 Fair Is 19 Sep; 250 Is of May 22 Oct. Autumn/Winter: 6,000 Heart L.Ayr 25 Sep; 11,000 Clyde Bridge, Glasgow 19 Oct, rising to 29,000 on 16 Dec; 5,500 Strathallan roost P&K 24 Oct; 12,000+ on single flight line to Perth P& K roost on 18 Oct; 5,000 Birsay in Dec. *Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus 1 ad Stronsay Ork 4-10 Jul; 1 ad Achnahaird, Arg 5 Jul; 1 ad Coll Arg 15 Jul-20 Aug. 1 imm N.Ronaldsay Ork 3 Oct. House Sparrow Passer domesticus Breeding CBC (A-12%): Increasing Carse of Gowrie P&K, also 3prs Vane Farm P&K (1 in'91). Flocks: 150 Skinflats Cent 8 Aug; 200 Starlaw L 16 Aug; 245 Fair Is 26 Aug; 200 Tankerness Ork 21 Sep; 350 N.Ronaldsay Ork 23 Oct; 100 Elie F 24 Oct; 100 roosted Haroldswick Shet 28 Oct. Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Breeding CBC (F-20%): OHeb probably extinct Stornoway Woods; M&N only | nestbox brood (2 in '91, 8 in '90); I&R extinct on Canna; P&K Blairgowrie study - 24 prs-102 young, MBS 4.25, incl 2nd broods, further falls Carse of Gowrie; Arg 2 Jura in Jul were first this century; Clyde 14 prs Dungavel boxes (28 in '91) many Ist broods failed, no 2nd broods . Better breeding season reports (c.f. 1991) in SE. Numbers still low in N & W: Caith (1), M&N (3); Loth (10), Bord (16), Ayr (4), Cent (3). Flocks : 50 Girvan Ayr, 45 Boghead Clyde & 140 Hatterseat NE in Jan-Feb; 60 Oxwell L & 50 Coble Shore F Oct-Nov; 105 Drip Moss Cent, 40 Stanley — P&K & 60+ Westerfolds M&N in Dec. Migrants: 22 Is of May 16 Sep; 2 Fair Is mid-Oct. DID a A LT aT ON Se SL ETN LS RY SEN PO Ae SI SIRE AE IEA SUT LS TS RSP WR DST 64 Scottish Bird Report 1992 *Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceous 1 Arinagour, Coll Arg 3 Oct is the 5th record for Scotland. (1988) 1 Thurso Caith 8 Nov was the 3rd Scottish record and the latest-ever record for Britain. * Black-whiskered Vireo Vireo altioquus (1991) 1 mummified adult found on tanker at Sullom Voe Shet in Jun. It was suspected to have been on board since the previous autumn. Skin at British Museum, Tring. Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Notable P&K numbers Jan-Mar. Continued drop in flock sizes with few large flocks winter 92-92. Jan-Mar flocks: 2,800 Blackford P&K; 1,500 near Comrie P&K; 1, 200 Cloverhill B; 1,000 Glenkens D&G; 1,000 Coshieville P&K; 900 Fortingall P&K; 800Croftinloan P&K; 600 Strathallan P&K; 600 West Rig L; 600 Blackstoun Mains Clyde; 500 Birse NE; 500 Boat of Garten I&R; 500 Glen Quaich P&K; 500 Lairg Suth. Flocks of 200-400 reported from Caith (1); I&R (2); NE (2); P&K (2); Cent (1); Arg (4); Clyde (4); Ayr (2); Loth (5); Bord (2). No big flocks M&N, Fife, Arran. Still 350 Gladhouse L on 8 May. Hardly any passage; max 9 Is of May, 20 Fair Is & 1-4 at various sites Ork & Shet in mid-Apr. Chaffinch Steven Brown WR Breeding CBC (F+10%/W+3%): Shet 2prs bred Kergord, lpr bred Helendale; Ork 14 AOTs Hoy (23 in'91), small reductions elsewhere; P& K stable 68 prs Vane Farm (67 in'91)' good season with high numbers’; Loth stable 50prs Aberlady, 12prs Prestongrange (7 in '91); Bord stable 10prs St.Abb’s; Clyde stable Baron's Haugh but 28prs Merryton (17 in '91). Moderate passage N.Isles max 100 Unst & Fetlar Shet, 200 Whalsay Shet , 200 Fair Is but only 70 N.Ronaldsay Ork 28-30 Sep. Few big mainland flocks, mostly from mid-Nov, peaking Dec: 1,600 Strathallan; 1,000 Lhanbryde M&N; 800 Beachans M&N; 600 Glen Quaich P&K; Flocks 400-500 Ayr (2), Clyde (1),NE (1), P&K (1), Loth (1), Caith (1), Bord (1). Flocks of 200-400: Caith (3); P&K (4); Cent (2); M&N (1); Fife (1); Loth (1); Bord (2); Arg (1); Clyde (3); Ayr (2), D&G (1). Brambling Fringilla montifringilla 1,500 Bridge of Muchalls NE, 800 Bothwell L, 500 Muthill P&K & 300 Strathclyde Park Clyde in Jan; 1,000+ Coulter Glen Clyde in Feb; & 1,500 Comrie P&K in Mar. Flocks of 100-200 in I&R (1), P&K (1), Loth (1) & Bord (2). Elsewhere max D&G (30) & Suth (20). Only 1-4 birds Fife, M&N, Cent, Ayr, Arg. None Arran & N.Isles. Passage N.Isles from 6 Mar. Influx 21-28 Apr when 36 Skerries Shet, 120 Norwick Shet; 70 Fair Is & 8 N.Ronaldsay Ork. Last Arg and I&R 18-29 Mar; Ayr &NE 1-12 Apr; Bord, Suth & Caith 24-29 Apr; Is of May and Loth 4-9 May; Fair Is 30 May; Ork &Shet 10 Jun. Breeding: noconfirmed reports. 23 sang Ben Loyal Suth 2 Jul; 1 sang Kergord Shet Jun -Aug. First 4 Kergord 14 Sep; Fair Is 18 Sep; Ork & Is of May 19-21 Sep; Loth, Bord, Fife, NE & Caith 27- 28 Sep; I&R 1 Oct; P&K and D&G 4 Oct; Clyde 7 Oct; Ayr, Arran & Arg 10-12 Oct; Centand M&N 18-23 Oct. Main movement 27 Sep-4 Oct. 1,000 Unst & 400 Whalsay Shet, 300 daily Fair Isle, max 625 N.Ronaldsay, 100 Tankerness and 120 Stronsay Ork, 50 St.Johns Caith, 150 Whinnyfield NE, 140 Balcomie F, 200 Is of May , & 100 St.Abb’s B. First to W coast by 4 Oct. Most through the N.Isles by mid-Oct but another small arrival 28 Oct-2 Nov, best counts 45 Fair Is, 24 N.Ronaldsay, 25 Cruden Bay NE & 40 Pease Bay B. Good numbers, mostly small parties, widespread Nov-Dec but only 4 flocks >300: 1,000+ Carmichael Clyde, 1,000 Blantyre Clyde, 700 Applegarth D&G and 600 Maysheil L all during Dec. Flocks 100- 200 reported from Caith, I&R, P&K (3), Ayr (2), D&G (2), Loth and Bord (2). R.D.Murray [Ed] 65 Greenfinch Carduelis chloris Average winter N.Isles with 12 Shet & c30 Ork. Large flocks were scarce: 300 Culticheldoch P&K, 250 Rouken Glen Clyde in Jan; 1,000 Kintore NE, 400 Duns Castle B in Mar. Flocks 100-200 in D&G, P&K (3), Loth & Bord. Breeding CBC (F-1%/W-24%): Ork 3 do Finstown, | brood but @¢'sang 10 other sites; I&R 7prs bred Eigg; Arran systematic search produced 28 oc. Densities too low most sites for useful data. Low numbers of juvs Carse of Gowrie P&K. No autumn records Fair Is for first time since 1974, & passage numbers low at all migration points. Few large flocks: 250 L.Ashie I&R_ in Nov; 400 Redpath B, 350 Drainie M&N & 236 Greenan Ayr in Dec were the biggest. 100-200 flocks in Caith (2), I&R, M&N (2), NE, Fife, P&K (2) & Ayr (2). Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 200 Methlick NE 23 Jan the largest flock; 60 Hirsel B & 60 Elie F, both Feb, the next largest. Elsewhere flocks >20 at Arg, Clyde (5), Ayr (2), I&R, P&K (3), Loth (2) and Bord (2), mostly 20-30 birds. Scarce N_Isles from 8Apr-20 May: 4 Shet, 1 FairIs, 6 Ork. Only 7 Is of May same period. Breeding CBC (F+8%): few useful counts: Clyde 2 Merryton (3 in '91) with flock of 60 in Jul; Loth stable 6prs Prestongrange. None Caith & Suth. None Shet, 1 Fair Is & 3 Ork in autumn. Largest flocks Sep-Oct: 380 Oxwell Mains L was by far the largest. 3 flocks >100 in D&G 120 Heathall, 100+ Kirriemore & 100 Crook of Baldoon. Elsewhere more flocks >25 birds than in'91: Suth, I&R (2), Clyde (7), Arg, Ayr (7), M&N (2). P&K (6), Cent (3), Fife (2), Loth (4) & Bord (2). Siskin Carduelis spinus Big winter flocks rather thin with few of local significance in P&K and Bord with numbers ‘well down' D&G. Yet no great drop seen in NE while retraps of flock of 350-400 at Strathclyde Park Clyde suggests 2,500-4,000 birds in vicinity. Largest flocks elsewhere: 50 St.Abbs B in Jan and 100 Lochore F in Feb with few others >20 birds. Weak Apr-May passage, stronger & mid-Aprin W where 300 Mossdale L. D&G, but mid-May in E where 293 passed W over Aberlady L, max 89 on 13 May. Steady passage N.Isles 30 Mar-13 Jun, max37 Kergord Shet on 24 May. Breeding Ork possibly bred N.Hoy, family seen Jun; I&R 17+prs Eigg; D&G 300+, mostly juvs, in birch Caldons 28 Jul; Cent ‘distinct’ increase Hillfoots-Devon valley; P&K & Bord reasonable Aug flocks, 24-100 birds, suggest good season. Good autumn passage with widespread movement 18-21 Sep, peaking 27Sep-4 Oct, when 200 Unst Shet; 190 Fair Is; 90 N.Ronaldsay & 50 Stronsay Ork; 5 large flocks 30-100 birds P& K; 40 Balcomie F; 80 Is of May; 4 flocks 28-80 birds Ayr; 4 flocks 8-50 birds Clyde; 110 Bavelaw & 100 Dalmahoy L; 150 Hirsel & 200 St.Abbs B. Further consolidation of flocks in Oct-Nov with 380 Pitcroy M&N; 300 at Endrick Mouth Clyde; 250 Lochmaben D&G; 200 Glen Bachor I&R; 200 Benmore Arg; and 200 L.of Skene NE being the best winter counts. Linnet Carduelis cannabina Largest flocks mostly in E: 600 Gladhouse L, 600 Muthill P&K, 500 Glen Buchat NE & 350 Clockmill B in Jan-Feb. Few flocks, 200-300 birds I&R (2), Cent, Loth (2) &1 Bord. NB poor breeding in 1991. Breeding CBC (F-16%/W-20%): Ork 22prs on Hoy (18 in '91); Clyde 2-3prs Merryton (4 in '91); P&K continued increase Carse of Gowrie; Loth only 13 prs Aberlady (21-22 in '91); Bord 10prs St.Abbs (9 in '91). Good-sized autumn flocks suggest a much better season ,than 1991: largest flocks mostly Nov- Dec:1,500 Carsethorn D&G, 1,400 Loch Gelly F; 700 Craigluscar F; 600 Braco P&K but flocks of 100-600 noted I&R (2), M&N (3), NE (5), Fife (4), Loth (4), Bord, Arran, Ayr (3) and D&G. Passage Shet-Fair Is was very quiet, 6 singles. Twite Carduelis flavirostris Biggest Jan-Mar flocks a little smaller thanin 1991: Ork 350 Orphir, 200 Sandwick; Caith 600 Calder Mains, 300 Lynegar; Suth 120 Clyne valley; I&R 65 Broomhill; P&K 200 Glen Artney + 4 other flocks >100. Fife 14 Leuchars; Loth 50 at Tyninghame & 50 Middleton; Bord 5 Easter Happrew; Arg 150 Kintra, Islay; Ayr 175 Balkenna; D&G 80 Mull of Galloway. Passage from mid-Mar mostly 1-7 birds on E.coast, but max 60 Fair Is 17 Apr. Breeding: [&R 30+ prs Eigg; ArgcS5Oprs Colonsay; Arran only 3 prs at 2 sites after search; Clyde new Tae NL NOMI SLE NAVA UU Sa aN REO RTBU RANT 2 A TS LR NS ES NS EE GL DP MSE CREA EL 66 site near Fintry; Loth br2 seen in Pentlands. Passage: mid-Aug-Oct: max 310 Fair Is 26 Sep; no large Sep-Oct counts Shet or Ork; with only two east coast reports & fewer Arg where 7 parties of 80-150 bird Aug-Oct. Largest flocks from late Oct-Dec: Shet 400 Laxfirth; Ork only 250 Birsay; Caith 1,280 Alterwell, 1,100 Northfield & 940 Reiss; I&R 110 Drumbuie; P&K 1,000 Strathallan, 300 Blackford & 250 Braco; Cent 187 Skinflats; Ayr 105 Girvan-Dipple; D&G 180 Glencaple. More birds in S than 1991. Redpoll Carduelis flammea 100 Tulloch I&R 1 Jan was only Jan-Mar flock >100 birds and only single flocks in Ayr, D&G, P&K, NE & Bord exceeded 40 birds. Few at migration sites, mainly 1-3 birds, peaking in May, with max 10 Fair Is 15 May. Breeding CBC (A-20%): Shet 1 pr bred Sullom, raising br3 - the first record of British race, the only other record involving Mealies, P&K increasing Carse of Gowre & Belmont, common in Rannoch; D&G declining Wood Of Cree, only 3 prs. Some good-sized flocks in Sep: 400 Insh Marshes I&R and 300+ Gordon Moss B 19-20 Sep both local record flocks. Few signs of passage, perhaps 18 St.Abbs B 25 Sep and 6 Is of May 23 Oct involving passage birds. More large flocks than in winter 91-92: 150 Hopes L 21 Nov; 110 Braemar NE 15 Dec; 120 Glen Luss Clyde 26 Dec; and 200 Lhanbryde M&N 27 Dec; also 3 other flocks >50 birds D&G, Loth & Bord. Redpoll Steven Brown Scottish Bird Report 1992 *Mealy Redpoll C_fflammea 5 Tyninghame L Jan-Mar; | Clynelish Moss Suth on8 Apr & Sat 2 sites Harris OH 28 May. 1-3birds | N.Isles 15 Feb-7Jun, mostly from late Apr, max 10 Fair Is 16 May. First 5 at 3 sites Shet 24 Aug but mainly mid-Sep to mid-Oct . 10 Fair Is 27 Sep. Influx 16-20 Oct: max 17 Fair Is; c20 Shetinc 7 Whalsay & 5 Strand; — and 1 Rattray NE. A few N_Isles into Nov but 100+ Strath Brora Suth in Octhad high % flammea. 2 Insh Marshes 24 Nov. *Greenland Redpoll C_frostrata Singles Fair Is 1 Oct & 18-25 Oct and Roundhouse, Coll Arg 8 Oct & 18 Dec. *Arctic Redpoll Cardiuelis hornemanni 4 winter/spring singles N.Ronaldsay Ork 16 Feb; Fetlar Shet 19 Feb; Stromness Ork 25-28 Apr; Fair Is 29 Apr. Singles Fair Is & Cunningsburgh Shet on 18 Oct; Shapinsay Ork 24-27 Oct. *Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera (1987) 19 Fair Is 28 Aug. Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra Numbers returned to ‘normal background levels’ after the irruptions of 90/91. Jan-Jun: Point counts Glentrool D&G in Jan found no birds at all, a situation reflected in many areas: with no birds P&K & Cent until Apr and none Arg, Ayr, Arran and Clyde until May-Jun. Small numbers in SE where 10 reports Loth & Bord, max 12 Minch Moor B and 20 Harperrig L in Mar. Also 21 L.Mill F in Mar suggesting local movement. Records in NE, M&N andI&R confused by Scottish Crossbills but small numbers - max 14 Auchmacoy NE and 10 Roseisle M&N in Jan. Breeding: Pr+br4 Butterdean L 11 May & | juv Loganlea L 20 Jun were only confirmations but birds in suitable areas Caith (1 site) and Bord(6). Movements: cl5 records, in Arg, Arran & Clyde in May-Jul. N. Isles in late May to mid-Jun,c12 singles but 15 Kergord Shet 12 Jun increasing to 40 there 13 Jun. Sporadic in autumn/winter, mostly 1-5 birds with 70 Clashindarroch NE, 20 Teindland M&N and 15 Lossie Forest M&N.the only big counts. R.D.Murray [Ed] 67 * Scottish Crossbill Loxia scotica Many observers unwilling to positively assign records to this species. 1 Clyne Suth 22 Feb; 2 Clynelish Moss Suth on 25 Feb; 1 Strathnaver Suth 28 Feb; 2 Newtyle M&N 9 Mar; 3 Raebush NE 16 May; up to 8 Glen Tanar NE during in Jun & Nov; 2 Invercauld NE 3 Sep; 17 roosting Abernethy I&R 30 Dec. *Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus 1 @ Balnakeil, Durness Suth 4 Jun. The 2nd for Sutherland, 3rd for Scotland & 7th for Britain. Recalling the Handa Suth bird of Jun 1971, another overshooting case? See British Birds :86 529 for photos. *Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus Singles Fair Is 16 May & Vidlin Shet 19 May; then 2 Norwick & 1 Baltasound Shet 20-24 May before large-scale arrival, mostly N.Isles, 25 May- 10 Jun when c 40 Shet, 20 Fair Is and c 20 Ork over period with max 5 Skerries, 3 Sumburgh, & 3 Fetlar Shet on 28-31 May; a record 12 Fair Is on 1 Jun; max 5 N.Ronaldsay Ork 28 May with 4 there 2 Jun. Also singles Is of May 29-31 May; Brora Suth 31 May; | Is of May 6-10 Jun, with another 10 Jun; 1 Banff M&N 11 Jun; 1 Stornoway Woods OH on 12 Jun. See below for others. c90 birds. Breeding: I&R - immature-plumaged male sang Eigg 13 Jun-4 Jul and adult in undisclosed site Ross-shire sang for two weeks around 15 Jun; Clyde 1 male sang Midross gravel pits 23 Jul. c 24 autumn, mostly in N_Isles: 1 Fair Is 11 Aug; first Shet 24 Aug; first Ork 30 Aug but c40 birds Shet, 12 Fair Is and only 5 Ork. Mainly singles Ork and Fair Is but best periods of passage: 2-4 Sept when 4 Foula Shet, 3 Fair Is and 1 N.Ronaldsay; and 18 Sep-1 Oct when 10 Whalsay. 3 Grutness, 3 Skerries, 4 Norwick Shet. Also singles Rattray NE 22 Sep and Wick Caith 26 Sep. 59 in autumn but best-ever year Shet (80 birds). *Pallas's Rosefinch Carpodacus roseus (1988) 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 2 Jun-14 Jul. The identification was accepted but the BOURC felt that there was a considerable chance that this short-distance migrant was of captive origin. Accordingly it was not admitted toany category of the British List. See Parkin & Shaw (1994) British Birds 87: 247-252 for reasoning. *Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator Ist-w & Lerwick Shet 25 Mar-25 Apr. This was the first for Shet and 2nd for Scotland, the first being on Is of May in Nov 1954. 10th British record. See Birding World 5:88 for photos. See Harrop H. (1992) Birding World 5: 133-137. Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula CBC (F+20%/W+6%): OHeb no reports, feared to beextinct; I&Rc10prs Eigg; Clyde stable Merryton & Lochwinnoch; D&G 10+ prs Wood of Cree. Largest flocks: 27 Monachyle Glen Cent 12 Jan; 31 Delnapot M&N 30 Oct; 45 Pentlands L 24 Dec; 30 Bonaly Res. L 31 Dec. 1 winter record Shet. 1 spring record Shet, none Fair Is with 2 Ork. 1 Fair Is, 3 Ork autumn singles. Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes Thin scatter of records from breeding areas. P&K 1-2 birds at 4 sites incl 2 nest-building Scone; Fife 1 Lindores L. 4 Sep an old site,first since '87; Bord pr Kelso 1 Jan, 2prs Hirsel Jan-Apr, 2 singles at new sites Hawick area May-Jun; D&G single Kirton 4 Apr. Passage singles mostly in N. Singles Shet (2), Fair Is, Ork (2) &Portelen NE 30 Mar-3 Apr. Singles Hoy Ork 12 Apr; Yell Shet 27 Apr; Pease Bay B 7 May; | Whalsay Shet & 2 Blackhall NE 13 May; singles Scalloway Shet 30 May; N.Ronaldsay Ork 1 Jun; Kergord Shet 8-9 Jun; Lerwick Shet 19 Jun. Singles at Lerwick, Kergord & Breiwick Shet 2-28 Oct with 1 Aden NE 26 Oct. * Japanese Grosbeak Coccothraustes personatus 1 ad Ollaberry Shet 13 Jun then various locations Mainland until Burroevoe, Yell 12 Jul. Taken into captivity. Being an E. Palearctic short- distance migrant it was assumed to be an escape. Photo - British Birds 85: 641 * Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia Ist-yr trapped N.Ronaldsay Ork 24 Aug. This was the first for Orkney, the 2nd for Scotland (the first was in Shetland as recently as Nov 1990) and the 3rd for Britain. See Birding World 5: 292 for photos. A IAEA I RE DE 7 TE ES PEW TSP OTT TI ET 68 Scottish Bird Report 1992 | * Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata A mummified corpse was found on tanker at Sullom Voe Shet 28 Jan. The tanker had left Porto Bolivia 24 Dec 1991, travelling via Rotterdam. Specimen now in British Museum. * Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina 1 Hirta, St.Kilda OHeb 10 Sep. First record for Scotland & 2nd for Britain (1st was St.Agnes, Scilly 20-23 Sep 1970). See Dix (1992) Birding World 5:380-381. * Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis 1 in garden in Hamilton Clyde 3-4 May . First record for Clyde, 5th for Scotland and 16th for Britain. Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus Very poor winter: 1 Musselburgh L 3-4 Jan & flock Tyninghame L 4 Jan-21 Feb, max 7 on 5 Jan; 1 Spiggie Shet 10 Feb were the only reports. Singles Collieston NE 15 Mar; Lindean B 17 Mar; Baltasound Shet 31 Mar; N.Ronaldsay Ork 2 Apr; 1-3 birds almost daily Fair Is 9 Apr-16 May; then 1 Skateraw L 11 Apr; 3 N.Ronaldsay 14-15 Apr, singles there 16 Apr; 6 & 10 May. Breeding 1 @ sang undisclosed site M&N 20 Jun, 1 @ was seen at same site 26 Jun but not thereafter; 1 2 Unst Shet 28 Jun. (1988) M&N 14 undisclosed site 10 May with a juv same area 11 Aug. 1 Clyne Suth 4 Sep; 1 N.Ronaldsay 9 Sep; first Shet & Fair Is 13 Sep;c19 Shet, max 3 Scatness and 3 Quendale 26-28 Sep; almost daily Fair Is to 24 Oct, max 100n27 Sep & 1 Oct; max 6 N.Ronaldsay 21 Sep and again on 27 Sep. 1 Girdleness NE on 29 Sep; 2 Is of May 30 Sep. Gap until 1 Is of May 26 Oct then 1 Lumsdaine B & arrival of 10 Eyemouth B 4 Nov. 2 Caulkerbush D&G 10 Dec; | Tyninghame 11 Dec; 1-2 Elie F from 28 Dec-1993 and max 19 for Eyemouth wintering flock on 30 Dec Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis Low numbers in P&K, Cent, Fife, and both SE & SW in winter 91/92. Largest flocks were 30 Noness Shet, 45 Fair Is, 60 Deerness Ork, 85 Cairngorm and 100+ Orrin Res I&R, 15 Meall na Leitreach P&K, 64 Lossiemouth M&N, 11 Valleyfield F & 10 Broad Law B all in Jan; 100 Ythan NE , 50 Ben Armine Suth &16 Musselburgh L in Feb. Passage movement mid-Mar when 35 Hestingott Shet, 92 Fair Is, 60 N.Ronaldsay Ork, 60 L.Stemster Caith and 62 Culbin Bars M&N. Fade-out in S during Mar with last Fife & Clyde 6-15 Mar; P&K & Caith 22-25 Mar; NE &Ayr 28-30 Mar; gap to Is of May &Loth 4- 7 May; Shet & Fair Is 8-9 May; 1 Rousay & 2 N.Ronaldsay Ork 10 May. Breeding: M&N adverse spring weather resulted in smaller clutches and broods than normal. First Fair Is 9 Sep; I&R 13 Sep; Caith, Suth, Is of May 16-17 Sep; Shet & Ork 17 Sep; NE 28 Sep; Bord & Arran 9-10 Oct; P&K 16 Oct; D&G, Arg, Fife & Ayr on 28-30 Oct. Big passage flocks incl max 69 N.Ronaldsay Ork 18 Oct; 100+ Skaw Shet 23 Oct; 100 Innerwick P&K 26 Oct; 66 Shapinsay Ork 31 Oct; 160 Fair Is 10 Nov. Only small numbers elsewhere. Big winter flocks incl 3 flocks of 50-70 birds Shet, 3 of 50-60 birds Ork; 100 Stanstill Caith, 60 Ardersier [& R; 110 Culbin Bars M&N; 150 Ythan Estuary NE; 64 Braes of Doune Cent. Very few birds in S, with only 3 reports in 20-30 range. Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Poor winter flocks: 130 Garmouth M&N, 120 Invererne M&N & 110 Pomathorn L were the only flocks >100 birds. Flocks of 40-100 in M&N, P&K (3), Fife (2), Loth (2), Bord, Clyde (3) & Ayr. Poor passage N.Isles with only 2 Shet & 2 Fair Is. 1 Ailsa Craig Ayr 31 May was first for island. Breeding CBC (F+9%/W+7%) 1&Rdrastic decline Insh Marshes, only | report; Arran poor year with decrease in singers; Clyde 13prs Merryton (7 in '91); Bord 9 St.Abb’s (8 in '91). Poor passage in N.Isles: 3 Shet, 3 Fair Is & 3 Ork. 136 Greenan Ayr, 130 Montgarrie F & 100 Old Cambus B in Dec were largest winter flocks. *Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana 2 in spring and c23 in autumn. | Fair Is 29 Apr & 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 18 May. 2 Skaw Shet 23 Aug; 2 birds Fair Is from 26 Aug- 17 Sep; 2 Stronsay Ork 31 Aug; | Sandwick Shet 1 Sep; 2 N.Ronaldsay 2 Sep; singles Whalsay & Sumburgh Shet 13 Sep; record 3 Isof May 19Scp; SI ae ETP RRS RIEU WLG MC TSR STSIE DIN RU ACS 10 lS XR AIEEE ORLA ORY) OCT A OF ELE ERT RSA | | | R.D.Murray [Ed] 69 | N.Ronaldsay 21 Sep with 3-4 there 23-24 Sep and singles daily there 25-30 Sep, Skaw 26 Sep, Whalsay 29 Sep, Crantit Ork 1-3 Oct & N.Ronaldsay 4 Oct. (1991) 1 North Berwick L 30 Sep was 4th Lothian record and first there since 1938! *Y ellow-browed Bunting Emberiza chrysophrys Single N.Ronaldsay Ork 22-23 Sep. Ist record for Orkney , 2nd for Scotland (1st on Fair Isle in Oct 1980) and 3rd for Britain. See Donnelly (1993) British Birds 86: 411-414 for full account of record. *Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica 3 in spring, 5 in autumn. Singles Fair Is 25 May; Hirta, St.Kilda OH 27 May & Grutness-Sumburgh Shet 2-3 Jun. Singles Sumburgh 27 Sep, Scatness 29 Sep, Stronsay Ork 3 Oct, another Sumburgh 4 Oct; Skaw Shet 2-5 Oct and N.Ronaldsay Ork 29 Oct-2 Nov. *Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla None in spring, 9 in autumn. At least 2 birds Whalsay Shet 21-30 Sep; singles N.Ronaldsay Ork 28 Sep-6 Oct with another N.Ronaldsay 2-3 Oct with yet another 4-9 Oct; singles Balmedie NE 1 Oct, St.Abbs B & Skerries Shet on 3 Oct and on Fetlar Shet 3-10 Oct. *Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola Singles Fair Is 17-20 Sep, Stronsay Ork 21 Sep and Skerries Shet 26 Sep. Yellow-breasted Bunting John Holloway *Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala 5 spring birds Fair Is- 9 on 9 Jun, pr+ ¢ 10 Jun, another ¢ 14 Jun. 3 autumn: | g N.Ronaldsay Ork 15-27 Jul; 1¢ Drimsdale, S.Uist OH 13-21 Aug; 1 Aithsetter Shet 30 Sep-4 Oct. Reed Bunting Steven Brown Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniculus 64 Linwood Clyde & 53 Easter Inch Moss L in Jan -the only large flocks. No other flock >20 noted. 4 wintered Shet. Breeding CBC (F-13%) WBS (-3%): Shet c21prs at 7 sites, inc 11 prs Unst of which only 1 bred; I&R 53 AOTs Insh Marhses; Clyde 8prs Baron’s Haugh (12 in'91), 20prs Merryton (22 in '91); Loth 43prs Aberlady (42 in '91), stable 9prs Gladhouse. P&K good breeding season with high numbers of juvs Tay reedbeds. Poor passage E.coast. Migrants N.Isles from Aug max 55 Fair Is, 30 N.Ronaldsay Ork, 18 Whalsay Shet & 20 Sumburgh Shet 29 Sep-5 Oct. Winter:34 Hirsel L. Bin Nov; 49 Easter Inch Moss, 34 Greenan Ayr &40 Merryton in Dec . Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra Widespread accounts of yet further declines with few accounts of winter flocks. Breeding CBC (A-12%) Ork c4 @¢ 2 sites; M&N 18 m, mostly Hopeman-Buckie; NE males in ‘usual! sites; Fife 91 @ (67 in '91) Loth 4 terr at 3 sites; OHeb feared extinct Lewis & Harris; Arg 7 oo! Tiree; Cent 2 sites; Ayr only 2 ¢¢; D&G 10 #g at Ssites. No reports I&R, Clyde & P&K. Few flock counts with 15 Fife Ness F 15 Nov the only double-figure counted listed. 70 *Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater (1988) 1 # Ardnave, Islay Arg 24 Apr. This was the first for Britain and only the 2nd for Western Palaearctic. See McKay C.R. (1994) British Birds 87: 284-288. Scottish Bird Report 1992 e N ‘ as N Great White Egret %, Vee Steven Brown | a Se aN We ye NB LY 2s eo ees » gS as ah PN So $l aN cS AW BO Zo = “on g aN OM. BZ NG SS = = eS DOR iol os yan A siting ANAS ye ene A VN Piaghiompin yh Wy M WSs WMD + Ly . : a FY te as Pee Oot , C ’ hers » A op is ie . é ejeie ips fi Se he ee Siar ny Be ~ tytn eZ : lee 4 Heeler 42 SS Ne NUM Wo q Nyt Ny <\ i *, i (Fas Chance CaCI y DEIN = 4 - ’ CPS A . Recent Papers affecting the Scottish List. Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus [1988] 1 Isle of May 29-30 Apr. [1985] 1 Sumburgh Shet 30 Sep-2 Oct. Seen alive but later found dead in rabbit burrow. The Formal paper notifying acceptence of Brown Shrike on skin is now in Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. to British List The bird belonged to the southern race P.a.leucopterus, See Hume R.A. (1993) Brown Shrike in Shetland: new to a short-distance migrant, and thus less likely to occur as Britain and Ireland. British Birds 86:600-604. a natural vagrant than the northern nominate race. It is well known as a regularly-available cage-bird and as such the record is being treated by the BOURC as a Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica likely escape. [1985] 1 Fetlar Shet 20-21 Sep. See Knox A. (1993) Daurian Redstart in Scouand: captive Formal paper notifying acceptance of Chestnut-sided origin and the British List. British Birds 86:359-366. Warbler on to British List. . See Peacock M. (1993) Chestnut-sided Warbler: new to the See also Zonfrillo B & Brockie K (1993) Daurian Redstart i Western Palearctic. British Birds 86:57-61. Scotland. British Birds 86:629-630. Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus R. D.Murray [Ed] The areas listed below in bold capitals are the areas referred to throughout the systematic list. The number assigned to each recording LOCAL BIRD REPORT AREAS, SOC RECORDERS and LOCAL BIRD REPORTS area is in reference to this map. The fullest details for most areas is available in the Local Bird Report, listed below. Map 1 10 11 12 ESS DE TD OO ENT OED LTA ITE SE I ST SET OE SE SGT ET EE EE] Recording Area SHETLAND (except Fair Isle) FAIR ISLE ORKNEY OUTER HEBRIDES (Harris & Lewis) (Uists, Benbecula & Barra) CAITHNESS SUTHERLAND INVERNESS & ROSS (Badenoch & Strathspey, Inverness, Ross & Cromarty, Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh MORAY & NAIRN (Moray and Nairn) NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND (Banff & Buchan, Gordon, Kincardine & Deeside, Aberdeen) ANGUS & DUNDEE (Angus & City of Dundee) PERTH & KINROSS (Perth & Kinross) FIFE (Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, N.E. Fife) Local Recorder David Suddaby 92 Sandevin, Lerwick Shetland ZE1 ORU The Warden Bird Observatory Fair Isle Shetland ZE2 9JU Chris Booth 34 High Street Kirkwall, Orkney KW14 1AZ Peter Cunningham 10 Barony Square Stornoway Isle of Lewis PA872TQ Tim Dix 2 Dreumasdal South Uist PA81 5RT Eric Maughan Burnside, Harbour Rd. Reay, Thurso Caithness KW14 7RG Alan Vittery Elmag Croft, 164 West Clyne Brora Sutherland KW9 6NH Colin Crooke Etive House, Beechwood Park Inverness [V2 3BB Martin Cook Rowanbrae, Clochan Buckie Banffshire AB5 2EQ Andy Thorpe 15 Albyn Terrace Aberdeen Grampian AB1 1XE Allan Burnett Scotston Cottage Kinnaird Estate, Brechin Angus DD9 6TY Wendy Mattingley Cluny House. Aberfeldy Perthshire PHi5 2JT Douglas Dickson 45 Hawthorn Drive, Thornton Fife KY1 4DZ Local Bird Report Shetland Bird Report Ian Sandison 9 Burnside, Lerwick Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report Clare Ross-Smith Burkle, Fair Isle Shetland Orkney Bird Report Mildred Cuthbert Vishabrack, Evie Orkney Outer Hebrides Bird Report Tim Dix (below) Outer Hebrides Bird Report (from Recorder) Caithness Bird Report (from Recorder) Highland Bird Report (from Recorder) Moray & Nairn Bird Report (from Recorder) North-east Scotland Bird Report Mark Tasker 17 Rubislaw Terrace Aberdeen AB1 1XE Angus & Dundee Bird Report (from Recorder) Perth & Kinross Bird Report (from Recorder) Fife Bird Report (from Recorder) 72 Scottish Bird Report 1992 Map 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Recording Area ISLE OF MAY CENTRAL (Clackmannan, Falkirk Stirling -Forth drainage area only) ARGYLL (Argyll & Bute -except Isle of Bute) BUTE Cunninghame dsles of Arran, Bute and Cumbrae) CLYDE (Clydesdale, East Kilbride, Motherwell, Hamilton, Monklands, Strathkelvin, Renfrew, Inverclyde, Clyde drainage of Stirling area, Clydebank and Dumbarton, Glasgow, Eastwood, Bearsden & Milngavie AYRSHIRE (mainland Cunninghame, Kyle & Carrick, Cumnock & Doon, Kilmarnock &Loudoun) LOTHIAN BORDERS DUMERIES & GALLOWAY (Nithsdale, Annandale, Eskdale) (Stewartry & Wigtown) Local Recorder Ian Darling 579 Lanark Road West Edinburgh EH14 7BL Dr.Cliff Henty 7 Coneyhill Road, Bridge of Allan Stirlingshire FK9 4EL Dr.Tristan ap Rheinallt 19 Shore Street Port Wemyss, Isle of Islay Argyll PA47 7ST Berard Zonfrillo 28 Brodie Road Glasgow G21 3SB Tain Gibson 2 Fulton Crescent Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire PA10 2EB Angus Hogg Kirklea, Crosshill Maybole, Ayrshire KA19 7RJ Ian Andrews 15 The Parsonage, Musselburgh Midlothian EH21 7SW Ray Murray 4 Bellfield Crescent Eddleston, Peebles Borders EH45 8RQ Ken Bruce Mallaig, Wellington Street Glencaple, Dumfries DG1 2RA Paul Collin Gairland, Old Edinburgh Road Minnigaff, Newton Stewart Wigtownshire DG8 6PL Abbreviations for recording areas used in text: Shet Shetland Fair Is Fair Isle Ork Orkney OH or OHeb Outer Hebrides Caith Caithness Suth Sutherland I&R Inverness & Ross M&N Moray & Nairn NE or NE Scot North-east Scotland A&D Angus & Dundee P&K Perth & Kinross F Fife L or Loth Lothian B or Bord Borders Cent Central Arg Ayr D&G Local Bird Report Isle of May Bird Observatory Report (from Recorder) in Forth Naturalist & Historian L. Corbett, University Library Univ. of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA Argyll Bird Report Nigel Scriven, Ardentinny Centre Ardentinny , Dunoon Argyll Arran Bird Report (Arran only) Clyde Birds (from Recorder) Ayrshire Bird Report (from Recorder) Lothian Bird Report Paul Speak, 49 Douglas Crescent Longniddry, East Lothian EH31 0LH Borders Bird Report Michael Bickmore Moss Side, Hartwoddburn Selkirk, Borders TD7 SEY Dumfries & Galloway Bird Report (see Stewartry) Dumfries & Galloway Bird Report Joan Howie, 60 Main Street St.John's Town of Dalry Castle Dougias, Kirkcudbrightshire Argyll Ayrshire Dumfries & Galloway Abbreviations in tables: the data for recording areas has been combined as follows: N.Isles W.Isles N.Scotland NE Scotland W.Scotland E/C Scotland SE Scotland SW Scotland Shetland, Fair Isle & Orkney Outer Hebrides Caithness, Sutherland, Inverness & Ross Moray & Nairn, North-east Scotland Argyll, Arran & Bute Angus & Dundee, Perth & Kinross Central & Fife Lothian & Borders Clyde, Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway Local Bird Report Areas ae i os int ; laste Av pA Foc Ae? 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