QL 6“\0 3 US43 ie LED SCOTTISH BIRDS THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB ZEMIHSON = ig VOLUME 19 ‘ 1997-98 EDITOR S R D DA PRATO Editorial Panel | BAINBRIDGE, D JENKINS, M MARQUISS, J B NELSON AND R SWANN ISSN 0036 9144 Index compiled by R C Dickson with assistance from M A Ogilvie and M Osborne 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 5BT. Two issues of Scottish Birds are published each year, in June and in December. Scottish Birds is issued free to members of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, who also receive the quarterly newsletter Scottish Bird News, the annual Scottish Bird Report and the annual Raptor Round Up. These are available to Institutions at a subscription rate (1997) of £36. The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was formed in 1936 to encourage all aspects of ornithology in Scotland. It has local branches which meet in Aberdeen, Ayr, the Borders, Dumfries, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, New Galloway, Orkney, St Andrews, Stirling, Stranraer and Thurso, each with its own programme of field meetings and winter lectures. The Waterston Library at the Club’s headquarters at 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5BT is the most comprehensive ornithological library in Scotland, and is available for reference during office hours (normally Monday to Friday, 0930-1630 hrs but please phone beforehand). Published by the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5BT Printed by Meigle Print, Block 11, Units 1 & 2, Tweedbank Industrial Estate, Galashiels TD1 3RS SCOTTISH BIRDS Contents of Volume 19 1997 -1998 Number 1 June 1997 Main papers Distribution and abundance of Twites wintering in Caithness. H Clark & RM Sellers The status of the Gannet in Scotland in 1994-95. S Murray & S Wanless Gizzard contents of Pochard, Tufted Duck and Goldeneye from Loch Leven, Kinross, in winter 1994-95. Barry Stewart & Alan Lauder Waterfowl counts on the Tay Estuary, 1985-1995. N Elkins & B MLynch Short notes Nest site selection by Buzzards in mid Argyll. Graham E Austin & David D Houston Obituaries Malcolm Castle. Roger Hissett Robert “Bobby” John Tulloch. Frank Hamilton Vero Copner Wynne-Edwards. J Morton Boyd - Advice to contributors Correcton Scottish Birds 18(4) Human induced increases of Carrion Crows and gulls on Cairngorms plateaux. Adam Watson Number 2 December 1997 Main papers The illegal persecution of raptors in Scotland: a report from the Scottish Raptor Study Groups. Movements of Fulmars from the Firth of Forth. John C Davies A winter survey of sawbill ducks and Cormorants on the River Deveron, north east Scotland. P J Cosgrove Declines in Turnstones and Purple Sandpipers wintering in south east Scotland. HEM Dott Habitat use by Snow Buntings in Scotland from spring to autumn. Adam Watson Short notes Red-backed Shrike breeding records in Scotland. RC Dickson - Red-backed Shrike - summer records in Scotland. John Young Ground nesting Treecreeper in Deeside. Simon Gillings Numbers of Snow Buntings on arable land in north east Scotland. A Watson & R Rae Capercaillie and Black Grouse south of Banff in the 1940s. Adam Watson Reed Warblers breeding in south west Scotland. Ken Bruce Inland Nesting by Razorbills. MP Harris & S Wanless Hooded Warbler on St Kilda. T J Dix 55 58 59 61 64 64 Scavenging Merlins. R C Dickson 124 Buzzard robbing juvenile Peregrine of prey. RC Dickson 124 Interaction between Sparrowhawk and Jackdaw near Newtonmore, Highland. P R Moore 125 Mobbing of Waxwing by Chaffinches and Blue Tits. S & ME Shimeld 127 Waxwings feeding on Cowberries. Ron Youngman 127 Advice to contributors 128 Number 3 March 1998 Main papers Observations at a winter Rook and Jackdaw roost in Aberdeenshire. | S Francis 129 The diet and foraging behaviour of the Red Kite in northern Scotland. L Wildman, L O’Toole & R W Summers 134 Breeding biology of Swallows in Easter Ross. D P Butterfield & A D K Ramsay 141 A survey of Storm Petrels on the Treshnish Isles in 1996. G Gilbert, D Hemsley & M Shepherd 145 The status of Storm Petrels on Mousa, Shetland. N Ratcliffe, D Vaughan, C Whyte & M Shepherd 154 Fish prey in the diet of Great Skuas at St Kilda. D R Thompson, K C Hamer & R A Phillips 160 Short notes Common Buzzards cartwheeling during a food pass. RC Dickson 166 Cannibalism in a Merlin brood. RC Dickson 167 Mobbing behaviour by Barnacle Geese on a ground predator. David J Patterson 168 Marsh Warblers breeding in Orkney in 1993: a first for Scotland. E R Meek, R G Adam & J Hadasch 170 An unusually open Wigeon nest. Raymond Duncan & Simon Foster 172 Song Thrush apparently nesting on the ground. D Macdonald 7S Hunting times of Sparrowhawks in the non breeding season. R C Dickson 174 Merlin’s sunning behaviour in winter. R C Dickson 176 Territory sizes of Crested Tits at Abernethy Forest, Strathspey. RW Summers v7 Baby Stoat in Peregrine nest. RL Swann 180 Oystercatcher incubating Lapwing clutch. Tom Dougall 181 Song Thrush predation on marine gastropods. Alastair Pout 182 Erratum Scottish Birds 19:2 p108 Habitat use by Snow Buntings in Scotland from spring to autumn. Adam Watson 184 Advice to contributors . 184 Number 4 June 1998 Main papers Minimal numbers and habitat of breeding Dunlin in north east Scotland. R Rae & A Watson Changes in breeding bird populations in peatlands and young forestry in north east Sutherland and Caithness between 1988 and 1995. M Hancock & M Avery Numbers of wintering seaducks, divers and grebes in the Moray Firth, 1977-1995. RJ Evans Feeding studies of the Lesser Whitethroat in Strathclyde. T Byars & D J Curtis The breeding bird community of upland Juniper scrub in eastern Scotland. S Gillings & R J Fuller Seasonal differences in pellet remains from Golden Eagles in the Isle of Harris. A C Pout Short notes Inland Common Gull colonies in north east Scotland. Adam Watson Hunting associations between Merlins and Hen Harriers. AR C Dickson Double brooding by Lapwings. Andy Robinson Cormorant calls at a winter roost. C J Henty Advice to contributors Number 5 December 1998 Main papers North east Scottish counts of Goldeneye, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser and Cormorant in 1944-50 compared with 1988-97. A Watson, M Marquiss & P J Cosgrove Amendments to the Scottish List. R W Forrester, SBRC Winter habitats of Twites in Scotland. H Clark & R M Sellers Movements of Twites in Scotland. H Clark & RM Sellers Distribution and foraging habitat preferences of Choughs on The Oa peninsula, Islay. M Madders, F M Leckie, J Watson & C R McKay Orkney Hen Harriers: a major population decline in the absence of persecution. E R Meek, G W Rebecca, B Ribbands & K Fairclough Short notes Last breeding by native Red Kites in Scotland. H A McGhie & S A Moran Black Guillemot nesting on an operational car ferry. C M Waltho Hen Harriers cacheing and retrieving prey. R C Dickson Ravens nesting successfully on a specially provided platform C J Booth Proposals to extend the range of the Crested Tit in Scotland, 1945-1955. RA Lambert 185 195 206 223 231 239 244 245 246 247 248 249 209 262 270 280 290 300 301 302 303 304 Letters Numbers of Turnstones and Purple Sandpipers on the East Lothian Coast. F Hamilton ; 306 Comment by H E M Dott 306 Obituaries Valerie M Thom. J Arnott 307 J Morton Boyd. D Jenkins 310 Advice to contributors Inside back cover INDEX TO VOLUME 19 Compiled by R C Dickson The Scottish Bird Reports for 1995-96 (nos 28-29) and the 1996-97 Raptor Round Up are treated as supplements to Volume 19 but with separate pagination. Species mentioned in general articles and the species lists of the Scottish Bird Reports and the Raptor Round Up are not indexed. Aberdeenshire 129 Abernethy Forest 177 Accipiter nisus 125, 174 Acrocephalus scirpaceus 119 Acrocephalus palustris 170 ADAM, RG see MEEK, ER 170 Alcatorda 121 Anas penelope 172 Arenaria interpres 101 AUSTIN, G E & HOUSTON, D D Nest site selection by Buzzards in mid Argyll 55 Aquila chrysaetos 239 AVERY, M see HANCOCK, M 195 Aythya ferina =— 28 Aythya fuligula 28 Bombycilla garrulus 127 BOOTH, C J Ravens nesting successfully on a specially provided platform 303 Branta leucopsis 168 | BRUCE, K Reed Warblers breeding in south west Scotland 119 Bucephala clangula 28, 249 Bunting, Snow habitat use in Scotland from spring to autumn 105 Bunting, Snow numbers in arable land in north east Scotland 115 Buteo buteo 55, 124, 166 BUTTERFIELD, D P & RAMSAY, A D K Breeding biology of Swallows in Easter Ross 141 Buzzard nest site selection in mid Argyll 55 Buzzard robbing juvenile Peregrine of prey 124 Buzzard cartwheeling during a food pass 166 BYARS, T & CURTIS, D J Feeding studies of the Lesser Whitethroat in Strathclyde 223 Calidris alpina185 Calidris maritima 101 CAMERON, E D Raven nest on hydro-electric dam 299 Capercaillie and Black Grouse south of Banff in the 1940’s 117 Carduelis flavirostris 1, 262, 270 Catharacta skua 160 Cepphus grylle 301 Certhia familiaris 115 Chaffinch mobbing Waxwings 127 Chough Distribution and foraging habitat preferences on the Oa peninsula, Islay 280 Circus cyaneus 245, 290, 302. CLARK, H & SELLERS, R M Distribution and abundance of Twites wintering in Caithness 1 CLARK, H & SELLERS, R M Winter habitats of Twites in Scotland 262 CLARK, H & SELLERS, R M Movements of Twite in Scotland 270 Cormorant a winter survey on the River Deveron, north east Scotland 93 Cormorant calls ata winter roost 247 Cormorant Norih east Scottish counts in 1944-50 compared with 1988-97 249 Correspondence HAMILTON, F Numbers of Turnstones and Purple Sandpipers on the East Lothian Coast 306 DOTT, H EM Numbers of Turnstones and Purple Sandpipers on the East Lothian Coast 306 Corvus corax 299, 303 Corvus frugilegus 129 Corvus monedula 125, 129 COSGROVE, P J Awinter survey of sawbill ducks and Cormorants on the River Deveron, north east Scotland 93 COSGROVE, P J see Watson,A 249 CURTIS, DJ see BYARS, T 223 DAVIES, J C Movements of Fulmars in the Firth of Forth 86 DICKSON, R C Red-backed Shrike breeding records in Scotland 114 DICKSON, RC Scavenging Merlins 124 DICKSON, RC Buzzard robbing juvenile Peregrine of prey 124 DICKSON, RC Buzzards cartwheeling during afoodpass 166 DICKSON, RC Cannibalism ina Merlin brood 167 DICKSON, R C Hunting times of Sparrowhawks in the non breeding season 174 DICKSON, RC Merlins sunning behaviour in winter 176 DICKSON, RC Hunting association between Merlins and Hen Harriers 245 - DICKSON, RC Hen Harriers cacheing and retrieving prey 302 DIX, T J Hooded warbler on St Kilda 123 DOTT, H E M Declines of Turnstones and Purple Sandpipers wintering in south east Scotland 101 DOUGALL, T Oystercatcher incubating Lapwing clutch 181 Duck, Tufted gizzard contents from Loch Leven 28 DUNCAN, R & FOSTER, S An unusually open Wigeon nest 172 Dunlin minimal numbers and habitat in north east Scotland 185 Eagle, Golden seasonal differences in pellet remains in the Isle of Harris 239 ELKINS, N & LYNCH, B M Waterfowl counts on the Tay Estuary 1985-1995 36 Erratum Human induced increases of Carrion Crows and gulls on Cairngorms plateaux 64, Habitat use by Snow Buntings in Scotland from spring to autumn 184 EVANS, R J Numbers of wintering sea ducks, divers and grebes in the Moray Firth, 1977 — 1995 206 FAIRCLOUGH, K see MEEK, ER 290 Falco columbarius 124, 167, 176, 245 Falco peregrinus 124, 180 Falcon, Peregrine Buzzard robbing juvenile of prey 124 Falcon, Peregrine baby stoat in nest 180 Firth of Forth 86 FORRESTER, R W Amendments to the Scottish List 259 FOSTER, S see DUNCAN, R 172 FRANCIS, 1S Observations at a winter Rook and Jackdaw roost in Aberdeenshire 129 Fringilla coelebs 127 FULLER, RJ see GILLINGS,S 231 Fulmar movements from the Firth of Forth 86 Fulmarius glacialis 86 Gannet status in Scotland in 1994-95 10 GILBERT, G, HEMSLEY, D & SHEPHERD, M Asurvey of Storm Petrels on the Treshnish Isles in 1996 145 GILLINGS, S & FULLER, R J Breeding bird communities of upland juniper scrub in eastern Scotland 231 GILLINGS, S Ground nesting Treecreeper in Deeside 115 Goldeneye gizzard contents from Loch Leven, Kinross, in winter 1994-95 28 Goldeneye north east Scottish counts in 1944-50 compared with 1988-97 249 Goosander a winter survey of sawbill ducks on the River Deveron 93 Goosander north east Scottish counts in 1944-50 compared with 1988-97 249 Goose, Barnacle mobbing behaviour on a ground predator 168 Grouse, Black and Capercaillie south of Banff in the 1940’s 117 Guillemot, Black nesting on an operational car ferry 301 Gull, Common inland colonies in north east Scotland 244 HADASCH, J see MEEK, E R 170 Haematopus ostralegus 181 HAMER, K C see THOMPSON, DR 160 HANCOCK, M & AVERY, M Changes in breeding bird populations in peatlands and young forestry in north east Sutherland and Caithness between 1988 and 1995 195 Harrier, Hen hunting associations with Merlins 245 Harrier, Hen cacheing and retrieving prey 302 Harrier, Hen a major population decline in the absence of persecution in Orkney 290 HARRIS, M P & WANLESS, §S Inland nesting by Razorbills 121 HEMSLEY, D seeGILBERT,G 145 HENTY, C J Cormorant calls at a winter roost 247 Hirundo rustica 141 HOUSTON, DD see AUSTIN, GE 55 Hydrobates pelagicus 145, 154 Illegal persecution of raptors in Scotland 65 Jackdaw interaction with Sparrowhawk near Newtonmore 125 Jackdaw observations at a winter roost in Aberdeenshire 129 Juniper scrub breeding bird communities in eastern Scotland 231 Jynx torquilla 114 Kite, Red diet and foraging behaviour in northern Scotland 134 Kite, Red last native breeding in Scotland 300 Lanius collurio 114 Lapwing clutch incubated by Oystercatcher 181 Lapwing double brooding 246 Larus canus 244 LAMBERT, R A Proposals to extend the range of the Crested Tit in Scotland, 1945-55 304 LAUDER, A see STEWART,B 28 LECKIE, FM see MADDERS, M 280 LYNCH, B M see ELKINS, N 36 MACDONALD, D Song Thrush apparently nesting on the ground 173 MCGHIE, H A & MORAN, S A Last breeding by native Red Kites in Scotland 300 MCKAY, CR see MADDERS,M 280 MADDERS, M, LECKIE, F M, WATSON, J & MCKAY, C R_ Distribution and foraging habitat preferences of Choughs on the Oa peninsula in Islay 280 MARQUISS, M see WATSON, A 249 MEEK, E R, ADAM, R G & HADASCH, J Marsh Warblers breeding in Orkney in 1993: afirstfor Scotland 170 MEEK, E R, REBECCA, G W, RIBBANDS, B & FAIRCLOUGH, K Orkney Hen Harriers: a major population decline in the absence of persecution - 290 Merganser, Red-breasted North east Scottish counts in 1944-50 compared with 1988-97 249 Mergus merganser 93, 249 Mergus serrator 93, 249 Merlin scavenging 124 Merlin cannibalism 167 Merlin sunning behaviour in winter 176 Merlin hunting associations between Merlins and Hen Harriers 245 Milvus milvus 134, 300 MOORE, P R Interaction between Sparrowhawk and Jackdaw near Newtonmore 125 MORAN, SA see MACGHIE,HA 300 Moray Firth 206 Morus bassanus 10 Mousa, Shetland 154 Movements of Fulmars from the Firth of Forth 86 MURRAY, S & WANLESS, S The status of the Gannet in Scotland in 1994-9510 Nest site selection by Buzzards in mid Argyll 55 Nesting inland by Razorbills 121 Obituary Malcolm CASTLE 58 Robert ‘Bobby’ John TULLOCH 59 Vero Copner WYNNE-EDWARDS 61 Valerie MacLaren THOM = 307 John MORTON BOYD 310 O’TOOLE,L see WILDMAN,L 134 Oystercatcher incubating Lapwing clutch 181 Parus caeruleus 127, Parus cristatus 177, 304 PATTERSON, DJ Mobbing behaviour by Barnacle Geese on a ground predator 168 Petrel , Storm a survey on the Treshnish Isles in 1996 145 10 Petrel , Storm the status on Mousa, Shetland ‘154 Phalacrocorax carbo 93, 247, 249 PHILLIPS, RA see THOMSON, DR 160 Plectrophenax nivalis 105, 115 Pochard gizzard contents from Loch Leven, Kinross, in winter 1994-95 28 POUT, AC Seasonal differences in pellet remains from Golden Eagles in the Isle of Harris 239 POUT, A Song Thrush predation on marine gastropods 182 Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax 280 RAE, R see WATSON, A 115 RAE, R & WATSON, A Minimal numbers and habitat of breeding Dunlin in north east Scotland 185 RAMSAY, AD K see BUTTERFIELD, D P 141 Raptors illegal persecution in Scotland 65 RATCLIFFE, N, VAUGHAN, D, WHYTE, C & SHEPHERD, M The status of Storm Petrels on Mousa, Shetland 154 Raven nest on hydro electric dam 299 Raven nesting successfully on a specially provided platform 303 Razorbill inland nesting 121 REBECCA, GW see MEEK,ER 290 RIBBANDS, B see MEEK,ER 290 ROBINSON, A Double brooding by Lapwings 246 Rook observations at a winter roost in Aberdeenshire 129 | Sandpiper, Purple decline in wintering numbers in south east Scotland 101 Sawbill ducks on the River Deveron, north east Scotland Winter survey 93 Scottish Birds Records Committee 259 Scottish List amendments to 259 SCOTTISH RAPTOR STUDY GROUPS Illegal persecution of raptors in Scotland 65 SELLERS, RM see CLARK, H 1, 262, 270 SHEPHERD, M see GILBERT, G 145 SHEPHERD, M see RATCLIFFE, N 154 SHIMELD, S & SHIMELD, ME Mobbing of Waxwing by Chaffinch and Blue Tits 127 SHIMELD, ME see SHIMELD,S 127 Shrike, Red-backed breeding records in Scotland 114 Shrike, Red-backed - summer records in Scotland 114 Skua, Great fish prey in the diet at St Kilda 160 Sparrowhawk interaction with Jackdaw near Newtonmore 125 Sparrowhawk hunting times in the non breeding season 174 STEWART, B & LAUDER, A Gizzard contents of Pochard, Tufted Duck and Goldeneye from Loch Leven, Kinross, in winter 1994-95 28 SUMMERS, RW see WILDMAN, L 134 SUMMERS, R W Territory sizes of Crested Tits at Abernethy Forest, Strathspey 177 Swallow breeding biology in Easter Ross 141 SWANN, RL Baby stoat in Peregrine nest 180 Sylvia curruca223 Tay Estuary waterfowl counts, 1985-1995 36 Tetrao tetrix 117 11 Tetrao urogallus 117 THOMPSON, D R, HAMER, K C & PHILLIPS, R A Fish prey in the diet of Great Skuas at St Kilda 160 Thrush, Song apparently nesting on the ground 173 Thrush, Song predation on marine gastropods 182 Tit, Blue mobbing Waxwing 127 Tit, Crested territory sizes at Abernethy Forest, Strathspey 477 Tit, Crested proposals to extend the range of the Crested Tit in Scotland, 1945-1955 304 Treecreeper ground nesting in Deeside 115 Treshnish Isles 145 Turdus philomelos 173, 182 Turnstone decline in numbers wintering in south east Scotland 101 Twite wintering distribution and abundance in Caithness 1 Twite winter habitats in Scotland 262 Twite movement in Scotland 270 Vanellus vanellus 181, 246 VAUGHAN, D see RATCLIFFE, N 154 WALTHO, C M Black Guillemot nesting on an operational car ferry 301 WANLESS, S see MURRAY,S 10 WANLESS, S see HARRIS, MP 121 Warbler, Hooded on St Kilda 123 : Warbler, Marsh breeding in Orkney in 1993: a first for Scotland 170 Warbler, Reed breeding in south west Scotland 119 Waterfowl counts on the Tay Estuary 1985-1995 ~ 36 WATSON, A Habitat use by Snow Buntings in Scotland from spring to autumn 105 WATSON, A Capercaillie and Black-Grouse south of Banff in the 1940’s 117 WATSON, A Inland Common Gull colonies in north east Scotland 244 WATSON, A & RAE, R Numbers of Snow Buntings on arable land in north east Scotland 115 WATSON, A see RAE,R_- 185 WATSON, A, MARQUISS, M & COSGROVE, P J North east Scottish counts of Goldeneye, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser and Cormorant in 1944-50 © compared with 1988-97 249 WATSON, J see MADDERS, M_= 280 Waxwing mobbed by Chaffinches and Blue Tits 127 Waxwings feeding on cowberries 127 Whitethroat, Lesser feeding studies in Strathclyde 223 WHYTE, C see RATCLIFFE, N 154 Wigeon an unusually opennest 172 WILDMAN, L, O’TOOLE, L & SUMMERS, R W The diet and foraging behaviour of the Red Kite in northern Scotland 134 Wilsonia citrina 123 Wryneck 114 YOUNG, J Red-backed Shrike - summer records in Scotland 114 YOUNGMAN, R Waxwings feeding on Cowberries oie HSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIE 12