44 WY SCOTTISH BIRDS

THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

VOLUME 15 1988-89

Editor N. PICOZZI

Editorial Panel M.P. HARRIS, M.A. OGILVIE, S. WANLESS

ISSN 0036-9144

Scottish Birds The Journal of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

Scottish Birds, the official journal of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, publishes original material relating to ornithology in Scotland. Papers and notes should be sent to The Editor, Scottish Birds, 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 SBT.

One issue of Scottish Birds is published each year, in December. Scottish Birds is issued free to members of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, who also receive the quarterly newsletter Scottish Bird News and the annual Scottish Bird Report.

The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was formed in 1936 to encourage all aspects of ornithology in Scotland. It has local branches which meet in Aberdeen, Ayr, the Borders, Dumfries, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, New Galloway, Orkney, St Andrews, Stirling, Stranraer and Thurso, each with its own programme of field meetings and winter lectures. The Waterston Library at the Club’s headquarters at 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 SBT is one of the most comprehensive ornithological libraries in Scotland, and is available for reference during office hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to Spm). A comprehensive stock of Scottish local bird reports is held at the headquarters and may be purchased by mail order.

Published by the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5BT. Printed by Alexander Ritchie & Son Ltd., 163 Bonnington Road, Edinburgh EH6 SRE.

SCOTTISH BIRDS

Contents of Volume 15 1988 — 89

Number 1 (June 1988) The recolonisation of the Isle of May by Common and Arctic Terns. By S. Wanless

The distribution and status of Arctic and Great Skuas in Shetland 1985 — 86. Bygeesesewins;.P:M-. Ellis, D{B! Bird'and A. Prior ....0 0.0.0.0... blecescecceecees

The seabirds of St Kilda, 1987. By Mark L. Tasker, Peter R. Moore and Richard PRS CH OLIC Guten 6s ort. Ue cln hale eth a eacceet ec adeaae sloth deabe et eheten eth sodecedaneese easton

Greenland White-fronted Geese in Caithness. By S. Laybourne and A.D. Fox ... Mute swans in Ayrshire. By Tain H. Leach ...... 000.0... 0. cccccccceeccsecbvcnccctccesdwoacs

The distribution and abundance of the Barn Owl Tyto alba in south-west Scotland. By I.R. Taylor, A. Dowell, T. Irving, I.K. Langford and G. Shaw ............

Short Notes Sexing and distinguishing juvenile Dotterel in summer. By Adam Watson ... Pintail breeding on Colonsay. By J. & P.M. Clarke ..............ccccceseeeeeeeeees Black-headed Gulls as predators of breeding Sand Martins. By Gareth Jones

Two cases of a yearling and an adult male Merlin attending the same nest site. By G.W. Rebecca, B.L. Cosnette and A. Duncan ................ cc cece eens eeee eens

Sparrowhawk specialising on Swifts. By Judy M. Cooper .................0000008 Items of Scottish interest. By W.G. Harper. .............cccccccccecccecececscscesscececnens

Number 2 (December 1988) Numbers of Wintering Pink-footed and Greylag Geese in north-east Scotland 1950 — 1986. By M.V. Bell, J. Dunbar and J. Parkin .....................ccceeeees The status of breeding Wigeon in Ettrick Forest. By D.L. Thomson and T.W. j CXC UVERE shah coe te aaa AI opal aliceps led A A dope dsc pe MURR lr NT Bn A Goosanders and Red-breasted Mergansers in the Moray Firth. By S.J. Aspinall and [stig IDENTTIIIG., atten Seatac ciieh Si ret4e aah ak comet Ue n dtc aan RR Ai teie RAR a MR nN ERAS Waders on the coast of Shetland in winter: numbers and habitat preferences. By Rev. Summers. P:M: Ellis aid J.P. JORNSION 0... .ccscescccccccceceesssececeteseess The status and distribution of the Great Skua in the Western Isles. By Frank W. MNS TADLI CMP yer Aaiscideae A a Ae eilasot atta tid a tnd welsiamagee deme kta cilatan shun eBenilanteniate The breeding birds of North Ronaldsay, Orkney. By M.G. Pennington ............ Short Notes Early records of Pochard breeding in Fife. By R.Y. McGowan ................. Red Grouse homing for 35 kilometres. By Peter J. Hudson, John Renton and COPEEITIVS IDNA a Oe aie sO: Att tah eae a tee oS OW RS a A eA, ot

Decline of shore waders at Loch Morlich. By A. Watson, D. Nethersole-Thompson, K. Duncan, H. Galbraith, S. Rae, R. Smith and C. Thomas ....................

Saaidave—skobent. Carrick. By GM. Dunnet 200 4 GR A Bemis Ol Scotuish, interest. By. WiGi Harper .\5....000. bs ale iol snc tdec sce csdeblledsstodbles

Page

Scottish Birds

Number 3 (June 1989) Moray Basin wader populations. By R.L. Swann and G.P. Mudge .................. Wintering wildfowl and waders at Aberdeen, 1975 — 1986. By M.V. Bell ...........

The distribution and status of the Chough in Scotland in 1986. By P. Monaghan, E. Bignal, S.- Bignal, N. Easterbee and. C.R. McKay /:..:.....:...-sss-9eseeeeeeee

The food of some young seabirds on Fair Isle in 1986— 1988. By M.P. Harris and NJ -RAiGGifiord 48... caies.ged + corsicay sine bopias atass caietoesy 0 soak aaaiado hentia | enet thee aaa

Hunting behaviour and attack success of a female Sparrowhawk between October 1987 and April 1988. By J.D. Wilson and A.G. Weir ..............cccseeeceeeeees

Short Notes Restricted winter range of a Merlin in west Galloway. By R.C. Dickson .....

Siskins breeding in birch. By G.G? &:1.M:-Bates, 10). s.0000.5.is0sseenesseeene dee bet Gannets breeding on mainland Scotland. By J. Matthews and S. North ...... Red-necked Grebe, breeding in Scotland. ANOn «, 4;. 60; msesesmessesce eee eee eee Goosanders feeding on carrion. By Stuart Rae and Keith Duncan ............ The summer flocking of juvenile Starlings. By C.J. Henty .....................5.

Male-biassed sex ratio in Pied Wagtails wintering in Highland Region. By Jain R.K. Mackay and Robin, M. Sellers «3. :.)....0... cds scgtins sce chlaseeegempen eee

Obituary — Desmond Nethersole-Thompson. By Adam Watson ..................... Items of Scottish.interest: By) W.G. Hianpery) a. i... cies bse. «sere Pace «ajc legadtide ae ee Gare

Number 4 (December 1989)

Sawbill ducks at fish farms in Argyll, western Scotland. By D.N. Carss ........... Damage to fish by seabirds in the Moray Firth. By J.R.G. Hislop and W.S. MacDomaldy no). o.oo. cos. ven cas cou uepon comers cates ae te eeein scl cae eee eet Oe ee Kittiwake attendance patterns during chick rearing on the Isle of May. By S. Wanless ANGIE) FRALTIS © 5. « oa suis Ze.cps apracccwee Mabaccs caaben ee cies sees ce nae eee ee Eee Feral Greylag Geese and other breeding wildfowl in south-west Scotland. By P.J. Shimmings, *M.. Owen..and J.P, Burn |.) cscs ssc waenceceoe ae acueaenaeeeceee aoe eee

The breeding birds of some built-up areas in south-east Scotland. By S.R.D. Gaal Os 28s s aes cis eos ae sols scam aoe Ue sialon. cc'nic olotelaee eee tna alls are SER cee

Short Notes Foraging birds favouring burnt ground in harvested fields. By A. Watson .. Successful autumn nesting of Raven. By R. & B. Mearms .................0ce000

Diet of Snowy Owl on Cairn Gorm plateau in 1980 and 1987. By M. Marquiss, R..Smith and: He Galbraith: vsecicce eas. os sweeten older vanceecs paecneece ie eee ane

Starlings excavating nest holes in sand dunes. By R.W. Summers ..............

Early return of Oystercatchers to north-east Scotland in spring 1989. By N. Picozzi and: TD©. Cate is 38 obs 8: cits a hetacs his an sensi Use res OS ee

Cliff-nesting Merlins in north-west Sutherland. By P.S., M.L.P. & D.B.A. Thompson. ......:):... eepsreedd ud duit. dldb tee a8... es eds. ee

Inland Fulmars on St Kilda. By W.E. Waters ..............cccescccceseceeeeeeeees Summer flocks of juvenile Starlings. By W.B. Yapp ................ccceeecceeeeees

106 114 119 126

131 132 132 133 134 135

136 138 142

145 151 156 162

170

178 179

180 181

182

183 184 184

Contents

Obituary — James Watt Macdonald. By D.N. Weir ................ccccecceec eee eeeeees 185 ieimerou Scottish interest. By W:G. Harper. .............0.ccccccceccccccvecccccccsccctccers 186 SEE OC Se see ala.c cscs ae iaielsie ovelolelevte'elssinidie’o eialh e 446 ors b16 oraleaieigie ia nre'biare sieges ewe Gate 188 Se RM TOMMS CO) MEAT TOU OTS as tats erdiasers sls ossoovs ni cla’ slar8 selves sie ss siass wisi ch Guisla’e dle 48% ess-oinioleelelS RoBsreibinre-s eeiewec 188 Supplements Scottish Bird Report 1987. Edited by Angus Hogg EIS SIME IS Lamers rns eee nee eM ats cl Dien eles wma obi celetalsield’s Gerad ma ojisistle MioNebrs Ble aitar 7. HAA ATMUV MCLE S CUM UTOME citescte i sail se Scio. tvs cicic's Slapnsis tin.sinie DERG one sa tunll es eine oelea Sees nak bctedloeae Salas 50 LCNCRUL TRACING STIS yest vs eR ge ot ocr AiR ic Rend ile 54 Scottish Bird Report 1988. Edited by Angus Hogg, assisted by Malcolm J. Ware DBT Cle S MMII Lette ea cage Clerc okie celia cide ore oaind Va te Wawraia oBinda Hasbro de Neatese eal elbieeis wcletoine 7

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INDEX TO VOLUME 15

Compiled by W.G. Harper

Species mentioned in general articles and in the species list of Scottish Bird Reports are not indexed. The Scottish Bird Reports for 1987 and 1988 are treated as supplements to Volume 15 and are included in the Index. They are paged individually.

Aberdeen: wintering wildfowl and waders 106

Advice to contributors: 96, 188

ANON. Red-necked Grebe breeding in Scotland 133

Argyll: Sawbills at fish farms 145

ASPINALL, S.J. & DENNIS, R.H. Goos- anders and Red-breasted Mergansers in the Moray Firth 65

Ayrshire: Mute Swans 36

BATES, G.G. & BATES, I.M. Siskins breeding in birch 132

BATES, I.M. see BATES, G.G.

BELL, M.V. Wintering wildfowl and waders at Aberdeen, 1975 — 1986 106

BELL, M.V., DUNBAR, J. & PARKIN, J. Numbers of wintering Pink-footed and Greylag Geese in north-east Scotland 1950 — 1986 49

BIGNAL, E. see MONAGHAN, P.

BIGNAL, S. see MONAGHAN, P.

BIRD, D.B. see EWINS P.J.

BURN, J.L. see SHIMMINGS, P.J.

Cairn Gorm: Snowy Owl 180

Caithness: Greenland White-fronted Geese 30

CARRICK, Robert: obituary 93

CARSS, D.N. Sawbill ducks at fish farms in Argyll, western Scotland 145

CATT, D.C. see PICOZZI, N.

Chough: status in Scotland 114

CLARKE, J. & CLARKE, P.M. Pintail breeding on Colonsay 44

CLARKE, P.M. see CLARKE, J.

COOPER, J.M. Sparrowhawk specialising on Swifts 46

COSNETTE, B.L. see REBECCA, G.W.

Da PRATO, S.R.D. The breeding birds of some built-up areas in south-east Scotland 170

DALBY, G. see HUDSON, P.J.

DENNIS, R.H. see ASPINALL, S.J.

DICKSON, R.C. Restricted winter range of a Merlin in west Galloway 131

Dotterel: juvenile 44

DOUGALL, T.W. see THOMSON, D.L.

DOWELL, A. see TAYLOR, I.R.

Duck, Pintail: Colonsay 44

Duck, Pochard: in Fife 90

Duck, Wigeon: in Ettrick Forest 61

DUNBAR, J. see BELL, M.V.

DUNCAN, A. see REBECCA, G.W.

DUNCAN, K. see RAE, S.

DUNCAN, K. see WATSON, A.

DUNNET, G.M. Obituary of Robert Carrick 93

EASTERBEE, N. see MONAGHAN, P.

ELLIS, P.M. see EWINS, P.J.

ELLIS, P.M. see SUMMERS, R.W.

Errata 188

EWINS, P.J., ELLIS, P.M., BIRD, D.B. & PRIOR, A. The distribution and status of Arctic and Great Skuas in Shetland 1985 — 86 9

Fair Isle: food of young seabirds 119 Fife: Pochard 90

FOX, A.D. see LAYBOURNE, S. Fulmar: inland nesting on St Kilda 184

GALBRAITH, H. see MARQUISS, M.

GALBRAITH, H. see WATSON, A.

Galloway: winter range of Merlin 131

Gannets: breeding on mainland 132

Geese, Feral Greylag and Canada: in south- west Scotland 162

Geese, Greenland White-fronted: in Caithness 30

Geese: wintering in north-east Scotland 49

Goosander: feeding on carrion 134

Goosander: Moray Firth 65

Scottish Birds

Grebe, Red-necked: breeding in Scotland 133

Grouse, Red: homing 90

Gulls, Black-headed: predators of Sand Martins 45

HARPER, W.G. Publications of Scottish ornithological interest 47, 94, 142, 186

HARRIS, M.P. & RIDDIFORD, N.J. The food of some young seabirds on Fair Isle in 1986— 1988 119

HARRIS, M.P. see WANLESS, S.

HENTY, C.J. The summer flocking of juvenile Starlings 135

Highland Region: wintering Pied Wagtails 136

HISLOP, J.R.G. & MACDONALD, W.S. Damage to fish by seabirds in the Moray Firth 151

HOGG, Angus (Ed). Scottish Bird Report 1987

HOGG, Angus (Ed). Scottish Bird Report 1988

HUDSON, P.J., RENTON, J. & DALBY, G. Red Grouse homing for 35 kilometres 90

IRVING, T. see TAYLOR, I.R. Isle of May: Terns 1 Isle of May: Kittiwakes 156

JOHNSTON, J.P. see SUMMERS, R.W. JONES, G. Black-headed Gulls as predators of breeding Sand Martins 45

Kittiwake: attendance patterns 156

LANGFORD, I.K. see TAYLOR, I.R. LAYBOURNE, S. & FOX, A.D. Greenland White-fronted Geese in Caithness 30 LEACH, I.H. Mute Swans in Ayrshire 36 Local Bird Reports: 47, 95, 144, 187; SBR

1987, 1988 Local Recorders: SBR 1987: 54; SBR 1988: 50

MacDONALD, J.W. Obituary 185 MacDONALD, W.S. see HISLOP, J.R.G.

McGOWAN, R-Y. Early records of Pochard breeding in Fife 90

McKAY, C.R. see MONAGHAN, P.

MacKAY, I.R.K. & SELLERS, R.M. Male- biassed sex ratio in Pied Wagtails win- tering in Highland Region 136

MARQUISS, M., SMITH, R. & GAL- BRAITH, H. Diet of Snowy Owl on Cairn Gorm plateau in 1980 and 1987 180

Martins, Sand: preyed upon by Black- headed Gulls 45

MATTHEWS, J. & NORTH, S. Gannets breeding on mainland Scotland 132

MEARNS, B. see MEARNS, R.

MEARNS, R. & MEARNS, B. Successful autumn nesting of Raven 179

Mergansers, Red-breasted: in Moray Firth 65

Merlin: cliff-nesting in Sutherland 183

Merlin: nesting behaviour 45

Merlin: winter range 131

MONAGHAN, P., BIGNAL, E., BIGNAL, S., EASTERBEE, N. & McKAY, C.R. The distribution and status of the Chough in Scotland in 1986 114

MOORE, P.R. see TASKER, M.L.

Moray Firth: damage to fish 151

Moray Firth: sawbills 65

Moray Firth: wader populations 97

MUDGE, G.P. see SWANN, R.L.

NETHERSOLE-—- THOMPSON, D. see WATSON, A.

NETHERSOLE — THOMPSON, Desmond: Obituary 138

NORTH, S. see MATTHEWS, J.

Obituary: of Robert Carrick 93

Obituary: of Desmond Nethersole-Thompson 138

Obituary: of J.W. Macdonald 185

Orkney: breeding birds 83

Outer Hebrides: Great Skua 80

Outer Hebrides: St Kilda Fulmars 184

Outer Hebrides: St Kilda seabirds 21

OWEN, M. see SHIMMINGS, P.J.

Owl, Barn: in southwest Scotland 40

Owl, Snowy: diet on Cairn Gorm 180

Oystercatcher: early return 182

Papers and reports of Scottish ornithological interest 47, 94, 142, 186

PARKIN, J. see BELL, M.V.

PENNINGTON, M.G. The breeding birds of North Ronaldsay, Orkney 83

PICOZZI, N. & CATT, D.C. Early return of Oystercatchers to north-east Scotland in Spring 1989 182

PRIOR, A. see EWINS, P.J.

RAE, S. see WATSON, A.

RAE, S. & DUNCAN, K. Goosanders feeding on carrion 134

Rarity description: Blackpoll Warbler SBR 1987: 50

Raven: successful autumn nesting 179

REBECCA, G.W., COSNETTE, B.L. & DUNCAN, A. Two cases of a yearling and an adult male Merlin attending the same nest site 45

RENNIE, F.W. The status and distribution of the Great Skua in the Western Isles 80

RENTON, J. see HUDSON, P.J.

RIDDIFORD, N.J. see HARRIS, M.P.

Sawbills: at fish farms in Argyll 145

Sawbills: Goosanders feeding on carrion 134

Sawbills: Moray Firth 65

SCHOFIELD, R.A. see TASKER, M.L.

Scotland, southeast: breeding birds of built- up areas 170

Scotland, southwest: Barn Owls 40

Scotland, southwest: breeding wildfowl 162

Scotland, southwest: winter Merlin 131

Scotland, northeast: Geese 49

Scotland, northeast: Oystercatchers 182

Scottish Bird Records Committee: SBR 1987: 5; SBR 1988: 4

SCOTTISH BIRD REPORT 1987: a supple- ment to this volume

SCOTTISH BIRD REPORT 1988: a supple- ment to this volume

Seabirds: damage to fish 151

Seabirds: St Kilda 21

SELLERS, R.M. see MACKAY, I.R.K.

SHAW, G. see TAYLOR, I.R.

Shetland: Skuas 9

Shetland: waders in winter 71

SHIMMINGS, P.J., OWEN, M. & BURN, J.L. Feral Greylag Geese and other

Index

breeding wildfowl in southwest Scotland 162

Siskin: breeding in birch 132

Skuas: in Shetland 9

Skuas: in Western Isles 80

SMITH, R. see MARQUISS, M.

SMITH, R. see WATSON, A.

Sparrowhawk: hunting behaviour 126

Sparrowhawk: preying upon Swifts 46

Starlings: excavating nest holes in sand dunes 181

Starlings: summer flocking of juveniles 135, 184

SUMMERS, R.W., ELLIS, P.M. & JOHNSTON, J.P. Waders on the coast of Shetland in winter: numbers and habitat preferences 71

SUMMERS, R.W. Starlings excavating nest holes in sand dunes 181

Sutherland: cliff-nesting Merlins 183

Swan, Mute: in Ayrshire 36

Swan, Mute: in southwest Scotland 162

SWANN, R.L. & MUDGE, G.P. Moray Basin wader populations 97

Swifts: preyed upon by Sparrowhawks 46

TASKER, M.L., MOORE, P.R. & SCHOFIELD, R.A. The seabirds of St Kilda 1987 21

TAYLOR, I.R., DOWELL, A., IRVING, T., LANGFORD, I.K. & SHAW, G. The distribution and abundance of the Barn Owl in southwest Scotland 40

Terns: recolonise the Isle of May 1

THOMAS, C. see WATSON, A.

THOMPSON, D.B.A. see THOMPSON, P.S.

THOMPSON, M.L.P. see THOMPSON, P.S:

THOMPSON, P.S., THOMPSON, M.L.P. & THOMPSON, D.B.A. Cliff-nesting Merlins in north-west Sutherland 183

THOMSON, D.L. & DOUGALL, T.W. The status of breeding Wigeon in Ettrick Forest 61

Waders: Moray Basin 97

Waders: wintering at Aberdeen 106

Waders: wintering in Shetland 71

Waders: decline at Loch Morlich 91

Wagtails, Pied: male-biassed sex ratio 136

Scottish Birds

WANLESS, S. The recolonisation of the Isle of May by Common and Arctic Terns 1

WANLESS, S. & HARRIS, M.P. Kittiwake attendance patterns during chick rearing on the Isle of May 156

Warbler, Blackpoll: rarity description SBR 1987: 50

WATERS, W.E. Inland Fulmars on St Kilda 184

WATSON, A. Foraging birds favouring burnt ground in harvested fields 178

WATSON, A. Obituary of Desmond Nethersole-Thompson 138

WATSON, A. Sexing and distinguishing juvenile Dotterel in summer 44

WATSON, A., NETHERSOLE — THOMPSON, D., DUNCAN, K., GALBRAITH, H., RAE, S., SMITH,

R. & THOMAS, C. Decline of shore waders at Loch Morlich 91

WEIR, A.G. see WILSON, J.D.

WEIR, D.N. Obituary of James Watt Macdonald 185

Western Isles: Great Skuas 80

Western Isles: Inland Fulmars on St Kilda 184

Western Isles: St Kilda seabirds 21

Wildfowl: breeding in southwest Scotland 162

Wildfowl: wintering at Aberdeen 106

WILSON, J.D. & WEIR, A.G. Hunting behaviour and attack success of a female Sparrowhawk between October 1987 and April 1988 126

YAPP, W.B. Summer flocks of juvenile Starlings 184

Advice to Contributors

Authors should bear in mind that only a small proportion of the Scottish Birds readership is science-trained, and should aim to present their material concisely, interestingly and clearly. Unfamiliar technical terms and symbols should be avoided wherever possible and if deemed essen- tial should be explained. Supporting statistics should be kept to a minimum. All papers and short notes are accepted on the understanding that they have not been offered for publication elsewhere and that they will be subject to editing. Papers will be acknowledged on receipt and will be reviewed by at least two members of the editorial panel, and in some cases also by an in- dependent referee, before being accepted. They will normally be published in order of acceptance of fully revised manuscripts. The editors will be happy to advise authors on the preparation of papers.

Reference should be made to recent issues of Scottish Birds for guidance on style of presen- tation, use of capitals, form of references, etc. Papers should be typed on one side of the paper only, double-spaced and with wide-margins; two copies are required and the author should also retain one. Headings should NOT be underlined, nor typed entirely in capitals. Scientific names

should follow the first text reference to each species and should follow Voous’ ‘List of Recent Holarctic Bird Species’ as given in The British Birds’ List of Birds of the Western Palearctic (1984).

Tables, maps and diagrams should be design- ed to fit either a single column or the full page width. Tables should be self-explanatory and headings should be kept as simple as possible, with footnotes used to provide extra details where necessary. Each table should be on a separate sheet. Maps and diagrams should be in Indian ink and drawn so as to permit reduction to half their Original size. If necessary they may be submitted without lettering and accompanied by a photo- copy showing the lettering required. Captions should be typed on a separate sheet. Relevant line- drawings (in ink) will be welcomed, as will photographs (preferably black & white glossy prints).

Authors are responsible for checking their own proofs and returning them promptly. Text changes (as distinct from correction of printer’s errors) at the proof stage involve extra cost and will only be accommodated under exceptional circumstances.

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3 9088 01698 77