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“OS AYU

1994 Scottish
Bird Report

Editor
Ray Murray

Wren
Kumlien's
Gull
Steppe

Shrike
Killdeer

Red-
necked
Stint

Falcon
, Pintail
Eider
Blue

Tit
Curlew .
Hen Harrier

wite
Grey-cheeked
3 aateld !

Puffin Icterine Vi aE : ia NATURAL
Long- Great Northern Diver- Tur
bille Red-backed Shrike-Velvef Scoter RY M U S) E U M
= Pewitcher Blacksheaded Buntns - Chifichaff { q
ed-necke axwing - Lesser Cres ern 1
Phalarope Brent Goose - Alpine Swift
Red-eyed Vireo Black-browed Albatross - Rav S E P I J J b
cons, alles Mid Bee Warbl e
a - House awny Owl - Pie eatear CER
Sparrow Sandhill Crane - Bullfinch PURCHAS
adwall Red-breasted Merganser RA. RY
ite Golden Plover - Little Crake GFE F
Calandra Stork Arctic Redpoll - Green Woodpecker ar
Lark Pheasant - Sanderling - Pochard
Long- Melodious Warbler - Firecrest :
tailed White- Song Thrush-Sand Martin Grey-tailed Tattler- Eider
Skua tailed Greater Black-backed Gull Common Scoter- Red-footed Falcon
Stellers Teal Eagle Spoonbill - Oystercatcher | Rufous Turtle Dove - Sabine's Gull
Eider Common Tern WoodWarbler - Redwi Nightingale - Black Grouse - Bluethroat
Mute Water Pipit Short-eared Owl - Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler -_ Pied Wheatear
Swan Scaup Marsh Harrier - Slavonian Grebe - Capercaillie - Pallas's Warbler
Coot Common White-rumped Sandpiper - Lesser Black-backed Gull - Osprey
Sh Sandpiper Woodpigeon - te- winged Black Tern - Booted Warbler
Little Woodcock Calandra Lark - Long-eared Owl - Red-breasted Flycatcher
Egret Blue Black-throated Diver - Gannet - Black Redstart - Water Pipit
_ Tit _Two-barred Crossbill - Corn Bunting - Great Grey Shrike
Arctic subalpine Warbler - Little Ringed Plover - Scottish Crossbill
Tern Rock Dove- Herring Gull - Buff-breasted mane piper: Redshank
Guillemot Spotted Redshank - Snow Goose - Sparrowhawk
- Pallid Harrier - Woodlark

iene Heron Snow Buntin:
Marsh Warbler Greater Sand Plover-Great Spotted Woodpecker
Melodious_ Red-crested Pochard - Rougnecenea Buzzard
sete Warbler Pectoral Sandpiper- Jackdaw- Subalpine Warbler
billed Jay Scarlet Rosefinch - Golden Oriole - Shore Lark
Guill Siberian Rubythroat - Long-billed Dowitcher
Spoonbill —_ Blackcap - Stonechat - Richard's Pipit
Bee-eater Black-eared Wheatear -Glaucous Gull
Common Gull Green Sandpiper - Red-legged Partridge - Bittern
Goldeneye Pacific Golden Plover- Lesser Grey Shrike
Golden’ Long-tailed Tit-Common Crossbil-Chough
Oriole _ Thrush Nightingale -River Warbler
Greenshank Snipe Grey Plover - Greylag Goose

Corn-
crake

uaill

Rock Coal Dunlin Great Crested Grebe Brunnich's
Pipit Tit Fulmar Greenfinch - Ruddy Shelduck-Guillemot
Barnacle Linnet Artic Ruddy Duck - Hobby - Forster's Tern - Marsh
Goose Robin Tern oak Snipe - Bean Goose -Woodchat Shrike-Warbler
Great Red ellow-browed_ Warbler - Nuthatch - Marsh Tit
Shear- Kite Black-headed Gull - Collared Dove - Moorhen
water Hawk Wren Rose-coloured Starling - Cormorant - Goosander
Owl Ring Black Kite - Pink-footed Goose - Goshawk
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 Warbler
Ruddy Duck - Grey Phalarope

Great Booted Warbler
Tit Dipper
Jay eal

Published by The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club £4: 50

Scottish Bird Report 1994

Editor: Ray Murray
Assisted by: David Kelly, Angus Hogg & Tim Stowe

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 ornitholo gy
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 clut!
organises an annual weekend conference in the autumn and a one-day bird watchers’ conference in the spring |

Club members receive the quarterly newsletter Scottish Bird News, the twice yearly journal Scottish Birds anc
the annual Scottish Bird Report. The SOC's offices and Library are in Edinburgh. The Waterston Library i:
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, an\
in addition to the Scottish Bird Report, publishes a number of Local Bird Reports via the branch network. 4
comprehensive stock of local bird reports is held at headquarters and may be purchased by mail order.

SOC annual membership subscription rates

Fe OUD eee ees etetr ea gear ine ee. ie hg Io Sneed se PE MR as BRIS Se a ee ee £15.06
Family (witeshusband: éechildren under 18) 2-a..2ce es eccceecese sce seceeeentescccece ee ee ee £22.50
Junsor: (under F8rorstudent under-25)s.5. ik iacce ewes soc ecto tee na sees dees see £6.00
Pensioner/Unwaged 2.02. ek Se EN cee en eee ee a ee eee Sec £8.50
Pensioner Pamily yet 03 sci Seas se aikeceeis ches bese) bonny avenastecsoengutee econ OR eoumeae ee ee ee £12.00
Tether sess hea dea up aie ocsaccdsasecsaneusses sa coats hd auldcte elaats cose ocuecisancsseegi ll tesco a beme es Sal area Oe £300.00
Pea Farm hyo 22 Se tacsveca ee dah seaeaeadsegdcapuaee «ha clea Vine bah te suatisuden Pecaeln cls ecoeeas ste eee ee eo £450.0(

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 Douglas Gauld & Co Limited, 22 Tannadice Street, Dundee DD3 7QH

SCOTTISH BIRD REPORT
1994

Number 27
July 1996

5 SS eps

ops

HIST( RY Mu SEI Ny
Edited by Ray Murray
4 Bellfield Crescent, Eddleston
Borders EH45 8RQ

LEY SESE SENDER esta rar yy, Raz:
=
i

SAO EET ET ITy TPT Reyer: 5

H
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~

assisted by Mirpuae
David Kelly, Angus Hogg & Tim Stowe

Published by the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club
21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5BT
ISSN 0036 9144

Scottish Bird Report 1994

Scottish Bird Report
Number 27, July 1996

Contents

Local Bird Report Areas, SOC Recorders and Local Bird Reports

Best Artwork in a Scotish Local Bird Report Award

Scottish Birds Records Committee

Editorial

Introduction
Abbreviations

Notice to Contributors
Ackowledgements
Species List for 1994

\ *s
ANS

Ne Nad
Be = Pe LIN:
3 sce em WAY -

=.

~
ARS RE RAE
ave? mae

--

.
fn
=z

v

=

in a Scottish Local Bird Report

Short-listed for Best Artwork
from Shetland Bird Report 19!

by Pete Dennis

R.D.Murray [Ed] 3
a eee eT ee ON Se en Se me a Se

Editorial

1994 will be the first year that the changes initiated by the Scottish Birds Records Committee concerning the
validation of bird records in Scotland will have an impact on the Scottish Bird Report. From this year no
records of rarities, local or national, will be published in the Scottish Bird Report unless a description has been
sent and approved by either the British Birds Rarities Committee (for British rarities), the Scottish Birds
Records Committee (for Scottish rarities) or a local area records committee. All species that require a
description anywhere in Scotland have been marked by an asterisk in front of the species name in the
Systematic List. The species that require a description at the local level is entirely up to the local recorders
and their records committees and most local area reports publish lists of the species that require descriptions
in their areas. The SBRC hope in future to publish a list of which species require descriptions in which area
as a guide for both local and visiting birders.

The re-organisation of Scottish local authorities occurred in April 1996. It will not have any immediate impact
on the manner in which Scotland is divided up between the various local area recorders other than the need
to change the names of the new local authorities for which the recorders are responsible. There have been a
number of minor adjustments to the actual boundaries of the local authorities however that may present
problems in the future as maps of the former boundaries gradually disappear from public view. Caithness for
instance will disappear from new maps and while older birders will know where Caithness stops and
Sutherland/Highland starts, younger birders will find no clues on contemporary maps. Other difficulties will
arise between the Argyll and Clyde areas. A recent meeting of Scottish Local Recorders decided to maintain
the status quo and wait and see what problems, if any, will appear. The new set-up, as far as bird recording
areas are concerned, is listed at the end of the Scottish Bird Report.

An important innovation in the 1994 Scottish Bird Report is the introduction of the "Best Artwork ina Scottish
Local Bird Report" Award. It is hoped to make these awards on an annual basis, not only to have some superb
artwork in the SBR, but also to help bring the artists to the attention of a wider public.

The Grey-tailed Tattler at Burghead and the dead Red-necked Stint on Fair Isle were additions to the
Scottish List in 1994. Calandra Lark on St.Kilda, Isabelline Wheatear in Shetland and Forster's Tern in
Lothian were all recorded in Scotland for the second time. Scotland's third Little Bustard appeared on Fair
Isle and the third and fourth Sardinian Warbler and Steppe Great Grey Shrike were seen in the northern
and western isles.

There were no surprises amongst our breeding birds but 1994 saw the first signs of spread amongst our tiny
colonising Nuthatch population in Borders, further spread and consolidation of Ruddy Duck and the
approach of the 100-mark amongst our breeding Osprey. Black Redstart, always a rare breeding species in

| Scotland, bred on the Isle of May .

_ Aninflux of no fewer than eight Kumlien's Gull occurred in January while Blackcap numbers were at record

\
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i

‘

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i
i
|

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levels. The Ruddy Shelduck invasion of Western Europe failed to materialise in Scotland, all the records
possibly being attributal to a single individual.

Ray Murray, July 1996.

4 Scottish Bird Report 1994 |
LS AT Gs SS SI DE SN,» OOD Oc ODOT TC TP SEY

Introduction
This is the 27th Scottish Bird Report to be published by the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club. It covers the whole count |
and was compiled from material published in local area reports. It is on these local area reports that the SBR is based. |
We have reports from all areas for 1993 although the data for the Uists & Benbecula was in summary form. Local areas |
are named and mapped on the inside back cover cf the SBR with a full list of the 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 local areareports. |
Accounts for any area are what has been observed and reported in that year, not a summary of what is actually there! |
They are, in effect, samples, some of which are more comprehensive than others.

As a summary it is felt appropriate to abbreviate the area names as muchas possible. Many of the recording areas are |
referred to by the briefest abbreviation possible for comprehension. These are listed, along with an area map, at the
back of the SBR. Other abbreviations used are listed below. All sites names are followed by the recording area |
abbreviation the first time they appear in any species account, but not subsequently. |
Only selected records are given. Precedence is given to peak counts, breeding populations and migration patterns. All |
national rarities and semi-rarities are included where the BBRC, the SBRC or local records committee have vetted the
description. 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 Report and then the |
Local Recorder.

The sequence and scientific names in the species list follow the Voous sequence. (See Voous, K.H. 1973-1977. List of|
Holarctic Bird Species. Ibis 115: 612-638 & 119: 223-250.) ;
Data from the British Trust for Ornithology Common Bird Census (CBC), Waterbirds Survey (WBS) and the Constanth
Effort Sites scheme (CES) are presented as the indices for the year concerned in the form of a percentage change ( +}
or -) from the level of the previous year. In the CBCthere are separate indices for woodland (W) and farmland (F) or}
where the sample is too smali to be valid, all (A) data are used. The CES gives some indication of the chnages in the}
numbers of adults and young trapped in each year. Data is taken from the indices published in B.T.0. News .
Birds of the Estuaries Enquiry data (BoFE) is presented mostly as stacked histograms showing the birds counted i
each month of the year at the major estuaries. Counts are grouped by the BoKE from more than 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.

Ciyde 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 BoHE figures cannot tell the whole story. Some counts at some estuaries are
more complete than others, some counts were conducted on different days within a month and in others no count was
conducted at all in certain months. They should be treated, as should all the records in the SBR, as samples ( albeit more
comprehensive) representing what occurred at the time.

Two conventions are used to indicate breeding success: MBS - mean brood size, is used when the data comprises coun y .
of broods, the MBS calculated by dividing the number of young by the number of broods; MBP - mean breeding
production, is used when the breeding population is known, the number of young being divided by the number of pairy 4
attempting to breed. MBP includes pairs that were unsuccessful and so will almost always have a lower value than MBH A
which only counts successful outcomes.

g

Abbreviations ie |
*€ Description required, all br2 brood of two young, etc. Jan —_all months cut to 3 letters} _
records vetted. MCS mean clutch size max,mim maximum,minimum et La
m,mm_ male (s) MBS mean brood size /br hourly rate for passage |
fff female (s) MBP mean breeding production RSG _ Raptor Study Group y
pr(s) pairs (s) juy juvenile m, Km metres, kilometres.
(34) equivalent figure for ae Km* square kilometres
previous year Ist-w __ first-winter plumage, etc. Res Reservoir
AON apparently occupied nest Ist-s first-summer plumage, etc. Pt Point br
AOT apparently occupied territory N,SE _ flight direction L/P. _ Loch, Lake/ Pond Ht
c/2 clutch of two eggs, etc. or area of Scotland R. River or Reservoir al

R.D.Murray [Ed] 5
SE BAIT IN ETE NRE GN RE VE TOY OA EY UO eg SO |

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 1994 Scottish Bird Report by Angus Hogg (ducks to rails), Tim Stowe (waders),
David Kelly (skuas to larks). lain Roberts and Tristan ap Rheinallt assisted by proof-reading a considerable section
of the Report, finding numerous typographic and grammatical errors. Their help has been greatly appreciated.

I would still like to appeal for any help in the compilation of the SBR. The deadline for publication is increasingly
hard to meet and spreading out the workload by having several compilers of smaller portions of the sytematic list seems
a solution. Please write if you feel could could assist.

All of the artists that have donated artwork to the SOC are thanked, especially Andrew Stevenson and Steven Brown
for the volume of their contributions.

The British Trust for Ornithology , especially Ray Waters, is thanked for making the Birds of the Estuaries Enquiry
fesults available to the SBR. Mark Tasker is thanked for forwarding materials published by the Joint Nature
. Conservation Committee on seabird populations while Lorcan O'Toole passed on the Red Kite Newsletters.

| Mike Rogers of the British Birds Rarities Committee is also to be thanked for forwarding those decisions on 1994
) farities that had not made the annual Report of the BBRC that appears every autumn in British Birds.

/ 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 1994 is thanked for their help in building up a picture of
* Scotland 's birds for that year. So please keep them coming.

ty

» Allan Burnett has stood down as Recorder for Angus & Dundee and is thanked for his work in the last few years. His
’ Assistant Recorder, Mike Nicoll has taken over.

| |
* | Best Artwork in a Scottish Local Bird Report Award
i i Working on the Scottish Bird Report gives both the editor and compliers a chance to see the broad range of artwork used
ml in Scottish reports. These range from simple sketched drawings to complex, feather-by-feather scraper-board
" illustrations. I have always wanted to include the best of these in the SBR and 1996 I persuaded the SOC Council to
ih) grant a sum of money to make modest awards for the best artwork. After conferring with the various bird report editors
ii) to see whether their artists were happy with such an award , I drew up a short-leet of 11 vignettes and asked several
i) people involved with the production of bird reports and newletters to vote on the short-leet. It was decided at the outset
fl’ to give a £50 award to each of the three artists whose work scored highly from the short-leet rather than have a single
| award for the "best" vignette. This methodology was supported by the result of the voting which showed no outright
| Winner but rather that different people appreciate different aspects of different artists work. All of the short-listed
is] artwork appears in the 1994 SBR.
#) The three winning artists were Peter J. Donnelly, Steven Brown and Andrew Stevenson but material by Pete Dennis
7 /was also short-listed. The fact that the short-leet of 11 vignettes were drawn by only five artists tells us a little about
' heir willingness to supply artwork to local bird reports but also that there are not enough people offering their work
| 0 the editors of their local bird report. All editors are desperate to receive artwork and would be grateful to hear from
|ihyone with material for publication.
' fyou have admired any of the artwork shown in the SBR ,or any local area report ,the artists are usually only too willing
i 0 Sell their material or to receive a commission to draw specific birds. If you wish to contact our winner: please witie
| 0: Peter J. Donnelly at "Purtiback", North Ronaldsay, Orkney; Steven Brown at 118 Leadside Crescent, Dunfermline,
| ife KY12 ONT; and Andrew Stevenson at 5 Craigie Way, Ayr, Ayshire KA8 OHG.

———

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 110records for 1994, of these
80 were accepted and 22 were found to be unacceptable
(in most cases they were considered possible but not
proven) while 8 remain pending.

There are now many excellent local records committeesa
and so a three-tier system of ajudication on records has
now been established (BBRC being responsible from
British rarities, SBRC for Scottish rare birds and local
records committees for lesser rarities and local rarities).
Witheffect from the 1994 Scottish Bird Report, records
of species appearing on the SBRC List are not being
published unless they have been assessed and accepted
by either SBRC or one of the local committees.

Many species which might be common in some areas of
Scotland are rare elsewhere in the country. Local
committees are now examining records of species which
are rare within their local area (e.g. Marsh Tit anywhere
outwith Borders). Local Recorders can usually supply a
list of additional local species requiring descriptions for

Scottish Bird Report 1994

their recording areas.

In 1995 Bruce Forrester joined the SBRC to ce
Angus Hogg who retired by rotation, having served or
the Committee since its inception in 1984. Angus, wh«

was latterly Chairman, has been an extremely valuabl
member during these 11 years and has made a hug

ek ere

contribution to bird recording and record assessment it)

Scotland. Ken Shaw has taken over as Chairman.

With the retiral of Angus Hogg, there are now none o}
the original members remaining on the SBRC and i’
1996 Ron Forrester will cease to be a voting membe
although continuing in his prsent post as Secretary. A)
additional voting member will be elected during 199¢

The present Committee now consists of Ken Sha
(Chairman), Eric Meek, Pete Gordon, Kevin Osbori
Dave Clugston, Bruce Forrester and Ron Forrest¢
(Secretary).
All records should be sent to the SBRC via the Loc
Recorder who will forward correspondence to R
Forrester, Secretary, SBRC, 31 Argyle Terrad
Rothesay, Isle of Bute, PA20 OBD.

S.B.R.C. List 1996

Ail the species listed below require to be vetted either by the Scottish Birds Records Committee or one of the local
records committees that now cover most of Scotland. If a record comes from an area without a committee, the Loc
Recorder will forward the description to the SBRC. Descriptions, including those required for the BBRC, should
sent to the area Local Recorder who will then forward it to the appropriate body for vetting.

CORY’S SHEARWATER KENTISH PLOVER SAVI?’S WARBLER:

GREAT SHEARWATER PECTORAL SANDPIPER AQUATIC WARBLER
MEDITERRANEAN SHEARWATER BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER MARSH WARBLER

LITTLE EGRET MEDITERRANEAN GULL ICTERINE WARBLER

PURPLE HERON SABINE'S GULL MELODIOUS WARBLER
WHITE STORK RING-BILLED GULL DARTFORD WARBLER
SPOONBILL HERRING GULL yellow-legged races BARRED WARBLER
GREEN-WINGED TEAL michahellis & cachinnans PALLAS'S WARBLER
RING-NECKED DUCK BEE-EATER FIRECREST
FERRUGINOUS DUCK LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHEI
SURF SCOTER SHORT-TOED LARK BEARDED TIT
HONEY BUZZARD WOODLARK WOODCHAT SHRIKE
MONTAGU’S HARRIER RICHARD'S PIPIT SERIN

ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD TAWNY PIPIT COMMON ROSEFINCH
HOBBY WATER PIPIT CIRL BUNTING

CRANE NIGHTINGALE ORTOLAN BUNTING

STONE CURLEW CETTI’S WARBLER LITTLE BUNTING

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER

R.D.Murray [Ed]

Species List for 1994

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata

Max counts: 48 Chanonry Pt. 1&R, 21N/hr Brora Suth,

27L.Ryan D&G in Jan; 238 Chanonry Pt., 100 Tayport

F, 30 Musselburgh L, & 28 Dales Voe, Delting Shet in

Feb; 64 Aberlady L and 48 Girvan shore Ayr in Mar;

164 Delnies M&N, 112 Kinshaldy F & 63 Clyde

Estuary Clydein Apr; 80 Balmedie NE, 65 Donmouth

NE, 74 Chanonry Pt. in May. 462 passed Arbroath
- A&D 20 Apr-15 May, max 84 on 24 Apr.

Breeding: Shet complete survey revealed 424 breeding
_ pairs, a decline of c40% since the 1983 survey with the

biggest drop (52%) in Yell. In some annually monitored sites

the number of successful prs increased by 11% to 58 (52),
_ while in others there was a stable 35prs. Success was low with
_ an MBP of only 0.35, half the 1993 figure (MBS 1.4); Ork a
- complete survey revealed 134-138prs, slightly above recent

estimates. Success was poor at an MBP of 0.38 with only 53
_ young reared (MBS 1.3).

Based on Walsh et al JNCC, 1995 and local reports.

/ Caith 10prs (8) but only 2 juvs; OHeb 10prs with 7 juvs
' Lewis; 1&R 12 sites Rum with 8prs (9) raising 9 juvs
| (8), a stable 3 prs on Eigg raised 5 young (3); M&N Ipr
| failed; P&K O6prs reared 2 juvs; Cent only pr noted;
* Arg 37prs raised 11+ young; Arran present 6 sites,
) 4prs reared 3 juvs; Clyde 4 sites (1), 2 attempts failed.
_ Unremarkable passage Arg in Aug-Sep: 51S in 200hrs
\ Machrihanish & 37S in 68hrs Frenchman's Rocks, Islay;
/ 90S Doonfoot Ayr, 89S Fife Ness F & 63W Hound Pt.
_ Lon 1 Oct; 46N Peterhead NE 19 Nov
/ Winter: 815 Spey Bay M&N, 140 Burghead Bay M&N,
_ 120 Balmdie, 76 Lunan Bay A&D, 49 Balkenna Ayr,
i 44Embo Suth, 40 L.Indaal, Islay, Arg, and 31 Ardmore
|) Pt. Clyde in Oct; 62 Montrose A&D and 32 Aberlady in
) Nov; 178 Spey Bay, 49 Inverness Firth I&R & 39 Croy
. Ayr in Dec.
}

| Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica

» Max counts: 20 Chanonry Pt. 1&R & 17 Dipple Ayr in
{ Jan; 35 Gruinard Bay I&R in Feb; 33 Turnberry Ayr &
| 31 Sinclair's Bay Caith in Mar; 60 Tayinloan-Kennacraig

| White-billed Diver
| Steven Brown

i [re err - ee _

i} eee

.e DLL EEL I

We ZZZZZZn soe

ss

OO EO SS oo

ie - ST mT seam = + -- - --

Arg ,22Embo Suth & 28 Caolisport Arg in Apr. Max
10 Largo Bay F in May

Breeding: OHeb 19prs Lewis & Harris raised 12 young;
Caith 11prs attempted, 6 laid but only 1 juv noted;Suth
poor success; I&R complete survey revealed 43prs of
which 14prs raised 15 young. 9 from rafts (MBP 0.33,
MBS 1.07); P&K 5 attemped, 2prs reared single
young; Arg clOprs incomplete survey , 8 laid but only
3 raised single young; Cent 2 sites, pr reared 1 young;
Clyde pr nested but failed; Ayr 1 pr summered.

Small numbers summered Forth, Clyde & Moray and
W.coasts with first movements early Sep in Ork &
Forth, peaking in Oct but mostly 1-2 birds.

High counts:15 Ackergill Caith in Sep; 28 Burghead
M&N in Oct; 24 Ballantrae Ayr in Nov; 21 Burghead
& 14 Bracken Bay Ayr in Dec.

Great Northern Diver Gavia immer

50 Grujinard Bay I&R & 10S.Yell Sound Shet in Feb;
51 Bring Deeps Ork, 34 W.L.Tarbert Arg & 18 Girvan
Ayr in Mar; 91 L.Indaal, Islay Arg, 80 Sound of
Gigha Arg,34 Oronsay Arg, 37 Clestrain Sound Ork
25 Machrihanish Arg & 20 Sinclair's Bay Caith in Apr;
with 19 Tiree Arg, 19 Quendale Shet & 10 Kettlaness
Shet in May. Counts suggests several hundred birds
present off Arg coast in Apr.

Summering birds: 3 Shet ,41&R, 7 Arg with singles NE,
Loth, Clyde,& Ayr.

Passage Frenchman's Rocks, Islay Arg shows steady
pattern of arrival with 20S(18hrs) in Oct, 18S(Qhrs) in
Nov and 12S(9hrs) in Dec.

17 Dunnet Bay Caith, 14 Rousay Sound Ork, 8 Embo
Suth in Oct: 14 Claggain Bay, Islay Arg, 21 L.Indaal
& 16 Dunnet Bay in Dec. Only 1-3 birds seen E.coast.

*White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii

Singles Gruinard Bay, Rudha Beag I&R 1 Feb-1 May;
1 ad Balranald OHeb 17 May.

1 Largo Bay F 16-17 Oct was 3rd for Fife.

=———-—-- — ~

-_—— =: —_—- — —

—— ——
a G ae Pos ass

; ZZ =

8 Scottish Bird Report 1994 |

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

17 R.Clyde at Thankerton Clyde, 13 Clyde Est. Clyde,
7 Montrose A&D & 9 R.Teviot Denholm-Ormiston B
in Jan; 13 Almond Pools L in Feb; 12 Leven mouth
Clyde in Mar. 12 Campbeltown L. Arg Jan-Mar.

Breeding:

Sites Pairs Broods Young MBS MBP
Ork 4 4 1 2 2.00 0.50
Caith 6 6 1 2 2.00 0.33
M&N 18 18 s = -
NE 3+ 3+ 3 4 1.33 125)
P&K 25 ? + + - =
A&D 7 iy + +
Fife 15 34 + 42 - 1.24
Central 5 13 3 6 2.00 0.46
Lothian 17 41 17 + - -
Borders 24 27 19 39 2.05 1.44
Argyll 12 13+ 2) 4 2.00 -
Clyde 50 Td 19+ 64 1.50 0.83
Ayr 25 37 c21 44 2.10 1.19

Autumn assemblies: 20 L.Connell D&G, 17 Carsebeck
P&K & 13 Auldearn M&N in Aug; 38 Kinghorn L. F
& 28 Carriston Res. F in Sep; 56 Cameron Res. F and
32 Hogganfield L. Clyde in Oct; 12 R.Almond Pools
in Nov; 16 L.Ken D&G & 14 Findhorn Bay M&N in
Dec.

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

Largest winter flocks mostly in Forth: 218 S.Forth L
and 51 Kinneil Cent in Jan; 210 Silverknowes L and
97 Culross F in Feb; 222 Torry Bay F, 130 Bo'ness Cent
& 53 S.Forth in Mar.

Elsewhere: 30 L.Ryan D&G, 22 Lunan Bay A&D,
16 Carnoustie Bay A&D and 14 Irvine Bay Ayr in Jan;
11 Clyde Est. Clyde in Mar; were large counts. for the
local areas.

Breeding:

Sites Pairs Broods Young MBS MBP
M&N 1 1 1 0 0 0
NE Scot 1 2 1 1 1.00 0.50
A&D 5 8 4 10 2.50 1225
Fife 6+ 27+ u 18 ? 0.67
Cent 5 9 2 4 2.00 0.44
Loth 6 17 6 11 1.83 0.65
Bord 4 3 0 0 0 0
Clyde 24 39 ? 11 ? 0.50
Ayr 4 7 2 3 1.50 0.43
D&G 4 13 + + 2 ?
Totals 61 126 16+ 58 ? 0.46

Autumn assemblies: 542 S.Forth and 92 Ardmore Pt.
Clyde in Aug; 354 S.Forth, 258 L.Ryan, 111 Ardmore
Pt., 100 Kinneil, 64 Lunan Bay and 58 Largo Bay F in
Sep; 192 Carsethorn D&G, 59 Carnoustie Bay and 48
Kinnaber A&D in Oct; 294 S.Forth in Nov; with 119
S.Forth in Dec.

Rare singles Fair Is in Jan; Shet Feb-Mar & Apr; Caith
Jul & Aug; and Fair Is in Oct.

Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena

Mostly singles reported Jan-Apr in Shet (3), Ork (4),
I&R,M&N, Bord, Arg & Clyde (6); but main population
in Forth.

Sites J. Fe MiypAC OMS: Jn AS + OuNPS
Warso Bayi 3) 3) 52 selene ee ol eal al een
Musiburghs 2) 4002) lw Opell TS lala
Gosford 1 10" 6.35 27 te? 13. 27. 30 12 Aloe
Gullaneior’ = Sm See 2 OOOO 2 el Ones
Also 3 Portmahomack I&R 20-24 Feb and 4 sues
Suth 15 Apr;

Fresh-water: 1 L.Spynie M&N 6 Mar-12 Apr; 2 BarrL|
Clyde 13 Mar; and 1 Baron's Haugh Clyde 14 May. |
Usual pair summered Bord 26 Mar-1 Juibut once again
no proof of breeding,other than nest-building.
Jul-Aug singles NE, A&D but mostly Sep /Oct passage
birds seen Shet, Ork (2), OHeb, Suth (3), I&R (5),
M&N (c5), NE, Is of May, Bord (2), max 6 L.Eye I&R
18 Sep.
Record 86 Gosford Bay 4 Dec otherwise mostly single
winter birds in Shet , Ork (2), I&R, M&N (6) & Arg. |

= zee ee =

Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus

|

;
Sites Jo MoM. AV Me Ja 23> Aas S20) Ne
Dornoch F. 10 Bye) ei - - - - 44 87 Il
Comarty,F, 122 ae ce eee) 0 Sle Ome
InvenessF. 8 1 2 Se Ae es i
BurgheadB. 7 5 O TV 94
LargoBay:) 10. (50) 06" hae ee
Ardmore-Pt,, Vij) =: 3330. 24 OO 0% 0) 22 12S ;
Gosford'B.. 25) "42 “= 33) OF 0) 1.0 22-2 54 me
Musselburgh 8 14 9 10:0 0 O° 1 #3 It 18 2)

Sapa

Also 24 Scapa Flow Ork in Feb; 23 L.Indaal, Islay Ar!
in Mar; 33 Soundof Taransay, Harris OH, 38 Goosepool
F & 18 S.of Gigha Arg in Apr.

Breeding: I&R a serious decline (21prs) to 45prs I
25 sites which produced 24 young, the same total as il
‘93; M&N 1 Iprs at 6 sites raised 7 young; P&K 2 site
but only I pr; Fife 2 birds summered;Clyde/Cent sei
summered Carron Valley Res.. i
11 Echnaloch Bay Ork in Oct; 37 L. Indaal, Islay ‘
Nov; 21 L.na Keal Arg in Dec. |

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
1 Doonfoot Ayr 15 Jan; max 3L.Ryan D&G 16 Jan

singles Ardmore Pt. Clyde 15 Jan and Gosford Bay : ‘

20-21 Feb were the only Jan-Mar records.
Breeding: A&D 10prs produced 14 nests L.of Kinnord|
most nests hatched 2-3 young but only 4-7 juvs fledg
- Pike predation was blamed for poor success, birds fi
returned 27 Mar-last seen 27 Aug P&K 3 sites, 1 yo
fledged; D&G 1993 site only attracted single bird.
5 L.Gelly F 1 Aug; 1 Irvine Ayr 24 Aug; 1 Eanard Ba

I&R 23 Oct; 1 Lochmaben D&G 29 Oct; 1 Portobell |)

L 18 Dec. Max 2 L.Ryan 27 Nov.

|

;
4

R.D.Murray | Ed | 9
Black-browed Albatross”
Steven Brown

*Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris
"Albert" returned to Hermaness Shet 26 Mar and was
_ seen to at least 24 Jul

_ Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis

Breeding: Counts of population samples indicate either no
_ change or a slight increase compared to 1993. 3 monitored
_ colonies in Shet & SE showed significant increases (9%-
| 12%) while only one, Handa, had a significant drop (-13%).
UK MBP was moderately high, averaging 0.47 chicks fledged
per site (0.43) with little significant change from 1993.

| Scottish productivity was highest in SW at 0.68 from a
| limited sample. There was some evidence that productivity
| in Shet (0.50) & Ork (0.51)was depressed due to mammalian
\ predators (Ferret & Otter). Walsh et al JNCC 1995.

‘ Other breeding reports include: I&R 178prs Eigg,,
_+18.5%on '93: P&K 2AONS Benarty Craig near Vane
Farm were unsuccessful; Loth inland nests-25 Holyrood
Park reared 2 young, 28 Torphin Quarry reared 1 young
_ also 20 Trapain Law.
Passage: 1,800N Peterhead NE 8 Aug; 700N Fife Ness
F 11 Aug; 4,000 Brough of Birsay Ork 22 Aug; peak
3,809/9hrs Frenchman's Rocks, Islay Arg 28 Aug;
1,000N/hr Eyemouth B 14 Sep; 11,000/hr N.Ronaldsay
Ork 29 Sep; 3-4,000/hr Skirza Caith 1 Oct.
) Inland birds include;l Dunkeld P&K, 12W Higgins
|; Neuk Cent,1 L.Gelly F & 3 Kinneil Cent 21 Aug-4 Sep.
; A'blue' was at Salisbury Crags, Edinburgh Feb & Jun.
\ Several seen N.Isles, max 77 N.Ronaldsay 29 Sep.

ST

= Se
— SSS

oe
=

{

‘*Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea

| 3 reports: 1 found dead Widewall Bay, S.Ronaldsay
j Ork 11 May; 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 29 Sep; 1 Fife Ness
| F 1 Oct.

[1992] 3 Machrihanish Arg 28 Aug.

‘Second record for Argyll.

|

Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus

Fewer early reports and the only good numbers were
through Ork & Arg. Generally light passage. On North
Sea coasts only NE showed any increase on 1993.

1 Pentland Firth Ork 11 & 18 Mar, 1N Frenchman's
Rocks, Islay Arg 18 Jul,2 Fife Ness F 24 Jul and
3S Machrihanish Arg 25 Jul.

Main arrival mid-Aug . First NE 1 Aug; Ork 6 Aug; Fife
& Bord 8-10 Aug; Fair Is & Shet 13-14 Aug; I&R and
Suth 22 Aug. Main passage mid-Sep: 143 Machrihanish
Arg 9 Sep; 55 Sanday Ork 11 Sep; 69 N.Ronaldsay
Ork 13 Sep; 70 Sanday and 18 Barns Ness L 14 Sep;
21 Peterhead NE & 35 St.Abbs B 15 Sep; 35 Strathy Pt.
Suth 27 Sep; 101 N.Ronaldsay 29 Sep; 52 N.Ronaldsay
8 Oct; 13 Brora Suth 19 Oct.

Stable 1.25/hr (1.26 in '93) in 98 hrs of seawatching
Aug/Sep t at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory and
1.57/hr (1.08) at Frenchman's Rocks, Islay in 68hrs.

Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus —

4N Portnahaven ,Islay Arg 31 Jan. First Fife 21 Mar;
NE 26 Mar; Ayr 31 Mar; Bord 15 Apr; Caith and N_Isles
14-27 May.

Breeding: Study on Canna I&R showed further decline, with
less than 100 pairs (124-144 in 1993). Productivity was good
at a record MBP of 0.75 (0.47 in 1993). Although there are
rats on Canna, none were found near the colony. Some
recovery on Fetlar Shet (8+prs) where no signs of cat
preation wereevident. No birds were seen ashore at Foula
and the Horse of Burravoe, YellShet. Walshetal JNCC 1995.
Ork up to 30 birds off Hoy colony; I&R 58% of
monitored burrows on Rum produced young, ‘several
hundred’ bred Eigg with 800 seen offshore in Jul; Arg
620 birds off putative Garvellachs colony in Jun,
‘several 'dozen' nests Treshnish Is. , Mull.

Another year of poor numbers off N.Isles and N.Sea
coasts with only NE reporting good numbers.

Good numbers reported in F.of Clyde in response to

10

excellent feeding with 1,000 Ardrossan Ayr 20 Jul;
2,500 Turnberry Ayr 22 Jul; 1,024S/30mins Ayr Ayr
24 Jul; 2,820 Ayr - Ailsa Craig Ayr 25 Jul; record 2,005/
hr Cloch Pt. Clyde with 570 Ardmore Pt. Clyde 30 Jul;
2,500 off Troon Ayr & 1,500 off Turnberry Ayr 27 Aug;
Movements past Frenchman's Rocks, Islay Arg peaked
in Aug, a month later than '93. 22,154 birds were
counted in 86hrs Jul-Aug (257/hr), max 4,028 in 4 hrs
on 26 Aug. Counts at Machrihanish Seabird Observa-
tory Arg reported 14,843 birds in 262hrs (56/hr), max
4,300/7Thrs on 9 Sep, well up on the 1993 figures.
N.Sea passage was much lighter with best daily counts
of 79 St.Abbs B 16 Jun; 165 Elie F 23 Jun; 136 Arbroath
A&D 3 Jul; 34 N.Ronaldsay Ork 4 Sep; 66 Peterhead
NE 8 Sep; 190 Largo Bay F 19 Sep.

Last Arran , Shet & Fair Is during Sep ; 1&R and Caith
2-6 Oct; Bord, A&D,Loth & NE 11-20 Oct; Fife, Ayr &
Arg 1 Nov; Ork 4 Nov. Last 1 Brora Suth 9 Nov;

1 inland at Barr L. Clyde 31 Jul.

*Mediterranean Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan

7 records involving 8 birds

2 N.Ronaldsay Ork 10 Aug with 1 there 15 Aug; loff
Arbroath A&D 16 Aug; 1 Frenchman's Rocks, Islay
Arg 19 Aug with 1 there 21 Aug & 2 0n26 Aug; single
Girdleness NE 12 Sep.

2nd for A&D, first in 1988; 7th-8th for Ork.

Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus

10+ Pentland Firth Ork 11 Mar; 1 Chanonry Pt. 1&R
3 May; | Kinshaldy F 22 May; 3S Frenchman's Rocks,
Islay Arg 31 May were the only early reports.
Breeding: The Mousa Shet study continues into census
methodologies. Estimate 100-200prs Sanda Arg, increase
since 1968. Breeding confirmed at Lambhoga, Fetlar Shet

while predation by cats was recorded on Yell, Shet.
From Walsh et al JNCC, 1995.

Shet: Mousa production comparable with recent years,
127 young ringed; Ork bred Auskerry; Arg 6 nests
found Lunga.

Passage birds from mid-Jun on W. coast & Is of May,
early Jul in Ork, Bord, Fife, D&G and Aug in Ayr.
Few seen from mainland. A poor year.

21 Ayr-Ailsa Craig crossing Ayr 25 Jul; 1,851 ringed
Fair Is Jul & Aug; max 23 N.Ronaldsay Ork 23 Aug;
48S Frenchman's Rocks 28 Aug; 500 seen Shet pelagic
31 Aug; over 5,000 attracted to tape-lures Yell Shet
during Aug & Sep; peak 28S Machrihanish Arg 9 Sep;
30 Pentland Firth 4 Nov.

Leach's Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa

1 Longman Outfall 1&R 28 Jan. 3S Machrihanish Arg
15 Mar with 2S there 16 Mar & 1S on 31 Mar, also 1S
Frenchman's Rocks, & Port Wemyss, Islay Arg 16 Mar.

Scottish Bird Report 1994

1 Is of May 22 May.

Breeding: Shet 22 occupied burrows at Rumna Stacks (21),
19 bred; OHeb new colony of c25 birds confirmed off NW |
Lewis. Walsh et al JNCC 1995. |
Tape-luring attracted birds in Shet (1), Fair Is (6), Ork
(12) & Caith (1). ,
Westerlies brought good numbers to Arg coastline with |,
89 both Machrihanish & Frenchman's Rocks in late |
Aug-Sep, max 69S Frenchman's Rocks 28 Aug & 46S |
Machrihanish 110 Sep. Elsewhere a poor year for |
seawatching with singles Fair is, Caith & Suth; 3 I&R, i
9 elsewhere in Arg; and7 Ayr, mostly late Jul-early Oct. |
1 Longman Outfall 3 Dec was only post-Oct record.

Gannet Morus bassana
Breeding: Most British colonies were censused in 1994 .
Fuller results are tabulated below. i"
Average productivity of MBP 0.69 for the UK, was close to |
the long-term average (0.67) was 0.71 in Shet and 0.67 at i
Troup Head D&G. Improvements in success at Ailsa Craig
were attributed to less severe spring weather.
Walsh et al JNCC 1995 if

Colony AON */ AOS _ overall last %increase |
% increase count per annum |
Hermaness Shet* 11,994 +21 1986 42.4 |
Noss Shet 7,310 +6 1984 +0.6
Foula Shet 600 +384 1987 +25.3
Fair Isle* 825 +220 1986 +15.6
Sule Stack Ork 4,888 -17 1985 -2.1
Sula Sgeir OHeb 10,440 +14 1985 +2.1
St.Kilda OHeb 60,428 +21 1985 Dal
Flannan Is OHeb 1,438 +247 1988 +23.1
Shiants OHeb nil - 1987 -
Troup Head NE 239 - 1988 - i
Bass Rock Loth 39751 +84 1985 +7.0 |
Ailsa Craig Ayr counted in 1995 - ie

counted in 1995 '
Source: Thompson et al JNCC 1996,

Shet up to 200 ashore Sumburgh Head in Jun but no)
display noted; Ork birds on cliffs at Noup Head, Papa)
Westray & Copinsay but no sugestion of breeding. IK
Movements: 2,000 Ballantrae Ayr 16 Apr; 1,968N
Arbroath A&D 6 Jul; 2,630/hr Eyemouth B 13 Aug)
Record numbers inner F.of Clyde at Cloch Pt. Clyde

where 130N/195S there 29 Jul & 102N/248S 0n 19 Aug)
28,384 past Frenchman's Rocks, Islay Arg Aug-Oc}
held only 0.2% juvs (0.6 in '93). No inland reports. |,

Scar Rocks D&G

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Winter: 736 Inverness F. I&R, 320 roosted Craigiehow
I&R, 300 L.LevenP&K, 180 Strathbeg NE, 163 Irving
Ayr & 126 Wormit F in Jan; 282 Clyde Est. Clyde
1,500 Longman Bay I&R , 1,000 Inverness F. 1&
236 Forth Est. Cent in Feb. Only 85 counted R.Twee
B 16 Jan in an area where the numbers of birds ary.
considered a problem !
Breeding: Breeding pairs rose at monitored colonies in SV
& SE Scotland by 40.8% & 44.7% respectively, mostly du\_
in SE to adults returning to breed in 94 that had failed t\

R.D.Murray [Ed]

11

breed in bad conditions in '93 when a 36% drop occurred.
Shet & N.Scotland numbers dropped by 23.1% & 29.1%
respectively.
Moderately good numbers of chicks were raised with MBP
1.60 at N.Sutor [&R, Arisaig [&R and L. Fyne Arg. The MBS
in Shet was high at 2.9, although lower than '93 (3.1).
Walsh et al JNCC 1995.
Ork 396 nests Loth 434 (251) nests at 5 (4) sites; Bord
44 nests Fast Castle (37); Ayr 154 nests (122); D&G
141 nests Balcary Heughs & 242 Mochrum L, 49 nests
Castle L., a massive drop from the 518 nests in 1991.
30% adults amongst 215 aged at Machrihanish Arg.
Winter: 108 Speymouth M&N in Oct; 459 Clyde Est.,
340 Adrosssan Ayr, 216 Bracken Bay Ayr, 40 L.Leven
in Nov; 210 Skinflats & 118 Wormit in Dec.
1 L.Spynie M&N Apr-Jul showed characteristics of
P.c.sinensis.

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Breeding: Large numbers, perhaps 5,000-10,000, in the
E.coast wreck in Feb-Mar, especially in the Moray Firth
area. Many died of starvation, perhaps due to the poor
weather. Ringing suggested many Is of May, Forth & Farne
Is birds were killed and there was a corresponding 45% drop
in the SE Scotland population. This was compounded by the
poor 1993 season whichmeans a78% drop since 1992. It may
take 10 years for Is of May numbers to return to 1992 levels.
Elsewhere there were small increases of 1.7% in Shet, 4.6%
in the SW and 16.7% in the NW.
Productivity was moderately high, varying from MBP 1.77 in
the SW to 1.10 in the SE, averaging about 1.50.

Walsh et al JNCC 1995.
7,743 Chanonry Pt.1&R 20 Feb; 1,000 N.Kessock 1&R
28 Mar; 9800 Anstruther F in Nov were the only large
counts.

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Bittern by Steven Brown - Short-listed for Best Artwork in a Scottish Local Bird Report

| Bittern Botaurus stellaris

1 Duddingston L. L 1993-24 Jan; 1 Montrose Basin
A&D 6 May; 1 Barr L. Clyde 3 Sep; 1 Coldingham L.

* B7Oct; 2 Duddingston 22 Oct with 1-2 there to 24 Dec;
I 1 L.of Strathbeg NE 19-27 Nov.

* * Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus

1m R.South Esk at Gorebridge L 11 May.

\\) 4th for Lothian.

- *Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

| 20Edinburgh Zoo colony L 25 Sep. 8 ads were unringed.
||, Likely local wanderers from Edinburgh include: 2ads
| Cramond L late May-end Jul were later joined by an

imm. 1 ad Duddingston L 8 & 13 Jun; 1 Livingston L
1 Sep; imm Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh L 11 Sep.
Elsewhere: 1 imm Kercock P&K 3 Aug had been
present at least 1 week,; 1 imm Fetlar Shet 22 Oct.
Only the latter may be a genuine vagrant.

*Little Egret Egretta garzetia

2-3 birds: 1 Bellanoch Arg 11 May;1 Glencaple D&G
13 May. Possibly same bird(s) in Kippford/Rough Firth
area 1 Aug-1995 was also at Caerlaverock 9 Sep.

*Great White Egret Egretta alba
1 Brow Marsh, Spiggie Shet 28 Apr.
3rd record for Shetland, 2 previous records from 1985.

C—O

12

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Counts: 19 Stormont L. P&K in Feb; 29 LongmanI&R
in Jun; 20 Finlayson Pt. Clyde in Jul; 22 Eden Est. F
in Aug; 84 Montrose Basin A&D, 42 Bogside Ayr and
29 Findhorn Bay M&N in Sep; 58 Clyde Est. Clyde in

Area Colonies Nests Area Colonies Nests
Orkney 1 10 Fife S| ?
Caithness 1 2 Lothian 11 68
Inv & Ross 8 45 Borders 4 29
M & Nairn 4 28 Argyll 7 18
NE Scotland 2 2 Clyde 7 68
Angus& D 4 8+ Ayrshire Sys
Perth & K 1 5)

*Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
1 Dervaig , Mull Arg 4 Sep.
6th record for Argyll, last there in 1978.

Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
1Fleet Bay D&G 14 Jul-14 Aug.

Mute Swan Cygnus olor

CBC (A+5%) Monthly max: 253 Montrose Basin A&D,
194 OldEngland L. P&K, 110L.Skene NE, 92 Lochend
L. Clyde & 73 Crailing B in Jan; 250 L.of Harray Ork,
138 Cromarty Firth I&R in Feb; 128 Auld Brig Ayr,
110 St.Margarets L. L in Mar; 78 Birgham Haugh B in

Apr.
Breeding: Territorial

Pairs Nests Broods Young MBS MBP
Shetland 2 2 D; 9 4.50 4.50
Orkney 42 38 ily 60 3.53 1.43
Caithness 17 10 8 18 2.25 -
Moray & N 16 15 14 61 43 3.81
North East 10 ry ? 42 - -
Angus & D 32 23 19 69+ 4.31 2.16
Fife 30 30 26 87 3.35 2.90
Central 19 17 15 53 3.79 2.79
Lothian 64 55 30 126 4.20 DED
Borders 38 29 29 136 4.69
Argyll 45 23 23 21 2.10
Clyde 98 v c53 207 3.91 2.60
Ayr 38 32 25 98 3.92 2.58

MoultFlocks: 42 Speymouth M&N, 150L. of Strathbeg
NE, 123 L. Skene NE, 260 Old Montrose Pier A&D,
115 Lochore Meadows F, 68 Cramond L, 221 R.Leven/
Clyde Est. Clyde & 133 Hogganfield L. Clyde.

Monthly max: 175 L.of Harray in Sep; 122 Cromarty F.,
90 Castle L., Lochmaben D&G in Oct; 104 Linlithgow
L. in Nov; 120 Clyde Est., 103 Old England L. in Dec.

Bewick's Swan Cygnus columbianus

2 Maxwellbank D&G 2 Jan; 3 East Fortune L 8-9 Feb;
max 5 Caerlaverock D&G 9 Feb, last 1 there 13 Apr;
2S Dipple Ayr 13 Feb; 6 Islesteps D&G 19-21st Feb;
1 Wigtown Bay D&G 22 Mar; 2 Drip Moss Cent

Scottish Bird Report 1994

26 Mar; 1 Rhynd P&K 29 Mar-29 Apr.
3 Caerlaverock 19 Oct with4 there21 Oct; 2S.Ronaldsay
Ork 25 Oct; 7 Caerlaverock 28 Oct-5 Nov; 5 Ballo Res.
F 2 Nov increased to 10 by 2 Dec and remained into

1995; 1 Kilmarnock Ayr & Greenan Farm Ayr 3-4 Nov; |
6 L.Leven P&K 12 Nov-13 Nov; 9 W.Howcreek D&G _

i

18 Nov; 1 Lochore Meadows F 19 Nov; 1 Longside area |
NE 11-31 Dec; 4 The Meetings Clyde 17 Dec; 11 at |
W.Freugh D&G 15 Dec; 2 Bemersyde B 26-27 Dec. |

©

Whooper Swan Cygnus cygus i
Lower numbers or wider dispersal but fewer flocks |
>100 birds: Winter herd max : 202 Black Cart Water |
Clyde,146 L.of Strathbeg NE in Jan;175 Caerlaverock |
D&G inFeb; 122 BlackstounFm. Clyde, 103 Waughton |

L & 181 Insh Marshes 1&R in Mar were the only sites |

with >100 birds. j
Smaller herds of 25-100 were recorded in: Shet (1), Ork|
(3), Caith (7), I&R (2), NE (1), P&K (8), Fife (2), Cent)
(5), Loth (2), Bord(4), Clyde (3), Ayr and D&G (4).
13% of birds reported Jan-Mar in Bord were juvs (9%). |
Breeding: Shet br3 was first'wild' breeding; Ork 8 birds)
summered 5 sites; Caith pr bred unsuccessfully for 3rd)
year through robbery; Clyde 2 feral pairs bred Endrick)
Mouth , br4 seen but died, also 3 other feral birds.
Also I&R, A&D, Bord, Arg (5 at 3 sites) and D&G (6).|
Return shows NW to SE pattern with first I&R 2 Sep;)
Caith 13 Sep; Fair Is, Suthand Arg 24-26 Sep; Shet,)
M&N, A&D, Loth, Ayr, NE & Ork 27Sep-1 Oct Sep;
P&K, Clyde & D&G 8-11 Oct; Fife & Bord 15-16 Oct.
Monthly max include: 117 L.Indaal, Islay Arg in Oct;
217inall-Shet survey, 215 Shandwick I&R, 213 Stanstill
Caith , 207 Black Cart Water, 176 Caerlaverock and
175 L.Heilen Caith in Nov; 203 The Meetings, 104 L.of.
Skaill Ork in Dec.
Unusually scarce in E: 65 Drumore L. P&K in Novanc

82 Bemersyde B in Dec appear to be the largest herds) |

Breeding success average-to-good judging from the

20.3% juvs in the all-Shet count in Nov and in ageq |

herds in Clyde (22.2%), Ayr (20.9%) and Bord (19.3%)
a
Black Swan Cygnus atratus
3 Tyninghame & Aberlady L 13 Apr may be the same
as the pr+imm Insh Marshes I&R 16 Apr; 1 Findhort
Bay M&N 18 Apr; presumably same 3 Roseisle M&N

21 Apr-9 May & Ardersier I&R 15-25 Jul & 15-21 Sep i

then pair seen Insh 6 Dec.
4 Cobbinshaw L 26-30 Oct then Crosswood L 31 Oc
1 Bogside Ayr 1 Jan-25 Feb, moved to Eglinton Ay)
2-21 Mar, same? Merryton Clyde 11-16 Apr befor
returning to Bogside 28 Jun-10 Novand Shewalton Ay
to end Dec when taken into care. Another single A

Ayr 5 Feb-8 May seen intermittently there Jul-Dec.

Pr Caerlaverock D&G 10 May-27 Nov and singl
Dunstaffnage & L.Etive Arg Jul-Oct.

a ae

=

R.D.Murray [Ed]

Bean Goose Anser fabalis

C. Scotland: Jan-Feb peak was 130 at Fannyside L
Clyde/Cent 1-7 Jan. 130 still there 24 Jan but decline to
100 by 6 Feb and only 10 on by 9 Mar.

Singles 1 Glenlochar D&G 22 Jan & 1 Mar; 3 Greenan
D&G 23 Jan; 1 Caerlaverock D&G 25 Jan with 2 there
26 Jan; 1 Tomhommie M&N 18 Feb; 5 Cumnmertrees
D&G 25 Feb; 6 Cunningsburgh Shet 12-13 Mar with
2 Brow area Shet 17 Mar-10 Apr; 1 Auchterarder P&K
19 Mar; 1 Blackford P&K 2 Apr; 1 Endrick Mouth
Clyde 17 Apr & 2 May; 48-52 Eden Estuary F 6 May;
1 Blan L. ,Stronsay Ork 26 May.

Autumn: C. Scotland: First 40 Fannyside L. 18 Sep &
26 L.Eilrig Cent 25 Sep; 100 Slamannan Cent 4 Oct
with 130 Fannyside 8 Oct, little change to end year with
127 Blackhhill Farm Clyde 26 Dec. Birds from this
flocks also seen Carron Valley Res. Cent/Clyde and
Garbethill Clyde.

Elsewhere :1 Quendale Shet 7-20 Sep; 1 L.of Skene NE
17-20 Sep; 7 Sumburgh Shet 20 Sep; 1 Kinnordy A&D
4 Oct; 1 Montrose Basin A&D 8 Oct; 11 Hoselaw L. B
14 Oct; 1 Whitrig B 23 Oct; 1 Red Head A&D 27 Oct;
5 Forfar L. A&D 31 Oct; 1 Dale, Birsay Ork 8 Nov.

Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrynchus

Return to more moderate late-winter numbers.

19,550 L.of Strathbeg NE, 6,000 Caerlaverock D&G,
5,000 Montrose A&D & 5,778 L.Leven P&K in Jan.
7,813 Strathearn P&K in Mar & 22,100 L.of Strathbeg
and 8,050 Flanders Moss Cent in Apr.

Main passage mid-Mar-mid-Apr with last numbers by
early May in S and mid-May in N_Isles.

Summer birds were noted: Ork , Caith, I&R, M&N (2),
A&D (5S), Loth, Bord (2), D&G

First Loth 6 Sep; P&K 10 Sep; A&D, NE, Bord, Cent
and Clyde 12-14 Sep; Arg, M&N, Fair Is, Ayr & Fife 15-
17 Sep; I&R, Shet, Ork, Caith & Suth 22-25 Sep. Note
how N.Scotland is by-passed by early birds.

Local peak counts showed more variation than usual
with Strathearn and Strathbeg peaking early Oct, West
Water mid-Oct and Montrose late Oct .

Grey Goose Counts:

160,812, some 72% of the previous autumn's total was found
during the Jan count but only 40% were found in Scotland, a
record number have moved to Norfolk during the mid-winter
period. Within Scotland the NE and E/C Scotland areas held
the bulk of the birds.

f By March only 83,320 birds could be found in Britain, all but

5 of them in Scotland. 88% of them were concentrated in NE

| and E/C Scotland.

' Stenhouse (1995). Mid-winter and spring counts of Greylag and
|| Pink-footed geese in Britain, 1994. WWT.
_ Arecord 260,486 birds were counted in Britain in October
|) 1994, with 230,568, some 88.5% of them, in Scotland. The
| total counted fell to 183,314 in November, with 139,526, some
' |) 76% of the British total in Scotland. The lower count in Nov
) was due to poorer counting conditions.The population in-
J a aren AE AL I LT DT BT A 1

13

creased by 16% over that censused in 1993 and is estimated
to be 260,000 birds.

The Oct regional pattern was similar to 1993with about half
found in E/C Scot with a quarter in NE and afifth in SE. Birds
moved on rapidly in 1994 from E/C & SE to Lancashire.
1994was a goodbreeding season with juveniles accounting
for 22.5% of aged birds (18.1%) and a mean brood size of
2.52 (2.18).

Mitchell & Hearn (1995) The 1994 National Census of Pink-
footed and Greylag Geese in Britain. WWT.

Wildfowl & Wetlands @ E/C Scotland

& SE Scotland
Trust El NE Scotland
Grey Goose Counts Other Scotland
1994 ( England

100,000 200,000 300,000
Pink-footed Goose Resort Maxima: Sep-Dec
Sep Oct Nov Dec

Strathbeg NE 58,150 52,700 22,000 26,500
Montrose A&D ‘7,000 36,000 36,000 10,000
Stratheanm P&K 45,000 62,000 21,500 -
L. Leven P&K - 16,154 9,800 7,911
Strathallan P&K - 14,500 5,150 5,600
Cameron Res. F - - - -
Aberlady L 3,230 8,900 8,250 2,950
Fala Flow L - 17,000 3,500 -
West Water B 3,010 43,000 14,700 5,200
Hule Moss B 3,100 10,200 8,100 20

White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons

Greenland race A.a. flavirostris

Arg: 9,151 Islay in Jan. Main census 25-30 Mar with
13,745 birds with 9,495 Islay , 1,980 Kintyre , 896 Coll
& 499 Tiree the best counts.

During passage max 658 Tiree & 990 Coll 9-11 Apr.
Elsewhere: Ork 37 Stronsay in Jan ,16 Holm in Feb ,
max 98 The Loons in Mar and 100 Birsay 9 Apr; Caith
220 L.Heilen in Jan; still 195 L.of Mey in Mar with area
count of 267 on 2 Apr; OHeb 22 wintered Bravas,
Lewis; Clyde 250 Endrick Mouth Feb-Apr; D&G 550
West Freugh Jan, 250 Ken in Apr. 1-4 birds seen Fife,
NE, M&N and P&K in Jan-Feb and Shet, I&R, Arran
and Ayr during Mar-Apr.

Last L.Gruniart, Islay Arg 26 May, Tankerness Ork

14

and L.of Melby Shet 1-2 Jun with a very late bird
Broubster Caith 21 Jun.

2prs of full-winged birds escaped from collection ,raised
3-4 young E.Ellister, Islay Arg.

First14 L.Gruinart 16 Sep with main influx 1-8 Oct.
Arg Main count of 17,088 birds on 26-30 Nov when
12,350 Is lay, 2,293 Kintyre, 828 Coll, 494 Tiree and
393 Mid-Argyll.

Ork c90 birds Mainland ,based at The Loons ,with 200n
Holm and 25 Stronsay; Caith max 260 L.of Mey in Oct,
with 200 there in Nov and 186 L.Heilen-Greenland area
in Dec; Clyde 100 Endrick Mouth in Oct rising to max
250inDec; D&G 264 L.Kenin Nov with 185 Stranraer
in Dec.

Small parties, mostly 1-3 birds seen Shet, I&R, M&N,
NE, A&D, P&K, Cent and Ayr.

White-fronted Goose
Steven Brown

European race A.a. albifrons

1 Mochrum L. Ayr 8 Jan & Meadownay Ayr 23 Jan.
Singles L.Leven P&K 31 Jan-3 Feb and N.Ronaldsay
Ork 6-14 Mar.

2nd Ayr record.

14 feral birds present to 16 Feb Holyrood Park,
Edinburgh L. 1-3 feral birds Shapinsay-Gairsay area
Ork Mar-Dec; pair, probably feral, laid 3 eggs Hen of
Gairsay 9 Jun were still there 18 Jun.

1 returned L.Leven 8 Oct; 1 Scatness/Spiggie area Shet
27 Oct-31 Dec; 1 Voy, Sandwick Ork 11 Nov.

A few unraced birds seen NE in Feb & Oct-Dec.

*Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus
1 feral bird Duddingston L. L 14 Jan was of unknown
origin.

Scottish Bird Report 1994

Greylag Goose Anser anser

Much smaller numbers of wintering birds than 92/93
with real decline in E/C Scotland. Jan-Apr maxima
include: 8,826 survey P&K in Jan; 2,470 Carlhurlie
Res. F in Feb; 5,714 survey P&K, 2,926 W.Mainland
Ork, & 2,439 survey Caith in Mar;

Other sites with counts 1,000-2,000 include Ork, Caith
(2), 1&R, NE (2), Fife, Cent, Bord (2), Ayr (2) and D&G.

The Jan WWT count was only able to locate 41,654 birds,
42% of the previous autumn total of Greylags in Britain. 94%
of the birds were found in Scotland, mostly in NE & E/C
areas.It is likely that the low number was due to the great

fragmentation of roosts in mid-winter, resulting in many |

roosts not being located and counted.

By March even fewer were found, some 34,301 birds. Once
again 94% were in Scotland. The birds were similarly distrib-
uted although the SE held a greater poroportion than in Jan.
Stenhouse (1995). Mid-winter and spring counts of Greylag and
Pink-footed geese in Britain, 1994. WWT.

Breeding:

Area Sites pairs broods young MBP
Shet 9+ 20 12 40 3.3
Ork 14 27 14 65 4.6
Caith 5+ 43 13 66 5.1
I&R 6 15 7 19 2.7
NE 1 8 1 4 4.0
Loth i 29+ 20 78 3.9
Bord 3 5 3 19 6.3
Clyde 5 10 5 18 3.6
Ayr 7 29 18 54 3.0

Arg 76prs Tiree, max 409ads + 237 juvs with 177ads |

+ 35 juvs on Coll.

Wildfowl & Wetlands © ong”
Trust —& NE Scotland

Grey Goose Counts Other Scotland
1994 [1 England

SS SSS

if

h

0 20000 40000 60000 80000 100000:
A low 40,575 birds were counted in Britain in October 1994, |
with 39,124, some 96% of them, in Scotland. The total
counted rose to 86, 132 in November, with 82,718 in Scotland,
again 96% of the British total. This represented a 15% drop
innumbers to 1994 fromthe counts of 1992 & 1993. The birds|
were Clearly late in arriving, the October count being only\

SEES

R.D.Murray [Ed]

43% of the Nov count, and it is possible that the ‘missing’ 15%
may still have been in Iceland. Poor counting conditions,
especially around the important Dinnet Lochs, may have also
contributed.

Breeding success was reasonable with 23.2% (18.9%)young
observed with an MBS of 2.34 (2.35).

It appears that the wintering population of Greylags in
Britain is no longer increasing.

Mitchell & Hearn (1994) The 1994 National Census of Pink-
footed and Greylag Geese in Britain. WWT.

Resort Maxima Oct Nov Dec
L.of Skene NE 5,923 6,203 8,500
Dinnet Lochs NE 33,100 30,400 5,700
Lower Bogrotten NE - 5,180 -
Caithness Lochs 5,563 4,175 -
L.Spynie M&N 3,500 7,000 2,330
L.Eye I&R 11,714 9,207 :
P&K counts 2,023 9,439

Other autumn/winter counts include 3,494 Strathearn
P&K, 1,500 Bemersyde B & 1,124 Tiree Arg in Nov;
1,250 Haddo NE & 1,165 Shapinasay Ork in Dec.

Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus
1 L.of Mey Caith 21 May; 1 Luce Bay D&G 1 Sep.
Assumed to be escapes or feral birds.

Snow Goose Anser caerulescens

Breeding: Inner Hebrides Arg flock numbered 40 on
Coll Arg 9 Apr with 40 again thereon 12 Dec. Feral pair
bred Coll but no data on Mull site.

1 white-phase ad with Greenland Whitefronts on Islay
Arg during both winter periods may have been a genu-
ine vagrant; 1 L.Leven P&K 24 Feb-9 Apr; 1 Forteviot
P&K 6 Feb; 1 white-phase bird Eastriggs-Gretnha D&G
20 Mar.1 Midross Clyde 20 Apr, 18&20 May was
assumed to be a feral bird;1 imm Caerlaverock D&G
27-29 Apr & 3 May; 1 L.of Sabiston Ork 27 Apr.

2 ‘lessers' Caerlaverock 3 Sep-7 Oct ; 1 white-phase with
Pinkfeet at Buckhaven F 26 Sep; 1 Dupplin P&K 2 Oct
& 12 Nov; 1 blue-phase North Third Res, Cent 18 Oct;
1 Carsebeck P&K 6 Nov; 8 ferals Shawbost, Lewis OH
10 Dec.

Emperor Goose Anser canagicus

1 ad Hunterston-Fairlie Ayr all year but separate bird
flew out to sea over Grennan Ayr 21 Dec.

Assumed to be feral or escapes.

Canada Goose Branta canadensis
East coast moult migration: an early 50 Watch Water

Res. B 16 Apr; 31W Hopeman M&N 31 May. Main
| movement concentrated 3-4 Jun when 40N Aberlady L,

38 Whiteadder Res. L, 38NW Fidra L, 20N St.Abbs B,

| 16 Is of May , 33 Findhorn M&N, 45W Musselburgh L,
* 42 Cameron Res. F and 48 Eden Est. F; 10 Montrose

' Basin A&D 10 Jun; 38 Avoch I&R 11 Jun; 22 St.Abbs
Oe SI SN

15

B 16 Jun; 35W Aberlady; & 27 Covesea M&N 21 Jun.
No details from Beauly Firth.

Fewreturn flocks: 60 Tarradale | &R 4 Aug; 47 Kingussie
I&R and 30 Kinnaber A&D 30 Aug; 48 Montrose Basin
31 Aug; and 46SE Mussleburgh 12 Sep.

Moulting birds: 152 Drummond P&K, 185 Kercock
P&K and 25 L.Leven P&K in late Aug; 87 Millichen
Clyde in Sep with 77 Barcraigs Clyde in Oct.
Breeding: P&K bred 4 sites; Cent 3 sites where 2br8;
Loth c22 birds at 3 sites, 2prs bred but failed; Bord prs
at 2 sites, no success; Arg 32 ads with 1 1br29 Colonsay,
2 other sites but no evidence ; Clyde 1 1 prs and 12 others
with 10br31; Ayr 2 sites with 16 at one site in Jul; D&G
bred at least 1 site, but increasing quickly with 160 Kirk
L. in Jan, 320-325 Caerlaverock Aug-Sep and 60 Castle
L., Lochmaben in Dec.

1 ‘medium race’ with Barnacles on Islay Arg Oct-Dec.
Small birds, possibly of the races minima, parvipes or
hutchinsii: 3 with Barnacles Islay Jan-Mar; 1 with
Barnacles Islay Oct-Dec; 1 with Whoopers Insh Marshes
I&R 13 Nov were possibly genuine vagrants. Singles
L.Leven in Feb & Scotstown NE and Cleish P&K in
Apr were of unknown provenance. 1-2 seen Loth &
Clyde were definite feral birds.

Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis

Solway flock: Svalbard population, max 13,305 at
Caerlaverock (12,075) & Mersehad (1,230) 27 Apr.
6,793 still Caerlaverock 29 Apr but only 3 by 3 May.
85N St.Abbs B30 Apr, SOE Anstruther F 7 May fit the
Solway exodus but 340N Reston B 24 May, 470N there
25 May & 310NE St.Abbs 26 May seem rather late.
First returned 18 Sep with 52S St.Abbs,7 Aberiady L &
162 Caerlaverock. 4,840 Caerlaverock on 30 Sep.
Peak movements on E.coast 30 Sep-2 Oct:350 Strathbeg
NE on 30 Sep; 117 L.Leven P&K 1 Oct; 1,996 over
Fife, max 1,00 Fife Ness F 1 Oct; 181 over Is of May;
1,836 over Loth & Bord, max 695W Hound Pt. L 1 Oct.
Some birds diverted through Central Scotland by weather
produced unprecedented counts in F. of Clyde with
1,619 over Skinflats Cent, max 914 on 1 Oct; c638 over
Clyde, max 150 S Cloch Pt, Clyde 1 Oct; c4,431 over
Ayr with 2,264S Maybole-Doonfoot and 1,083S Irvine
on 1 Oct.

Many hundreds lingered until mid-Oct with 230 Saltcoats
Ayr, 15 Lochore Meadows F & 25 Tyninghame L being
the best counts.

Some evidence of subsiduary over-winteringflocks of
Svalbard birds becoming established away from the
Solway with max 14 Strathbeg, max 43 Carsebeck
P&K, 5 L.Leven and 10 West Water B into Dec.
Argyll flock: peak 28,437 Islay Arg on 11 Jan with
25,445 there 29-30 Mar. Subsidiary flock peaks, mostly
Feb: 1,103 Tiree, 764 Coll, 14 Kintyre, 386 Colonsay &
400 Tayvallich. Main exodus 20-27 Apr, last birds L

16 Scottish Bird Report 1994

L.Gruinart, Islay 8 May & Tiree 9 May. 250 Balnakeil
Suth 9 Apr probably Hebridean birds.

First Tiree 9 Sep and L.Gruinart 16 Sep. Build-up to
1,300 L.Gruinart 28 Sep, max 26,237 there 28-29 Nov
with c2,000 elsewhere , max 639 Tiree & 500 Colonsay.

Orkney flock: Max 890 South Walls 19 Mar with last
there 25 Apr. Small numbers ,1-8 birds, elsewhere Ork.
Last on passage 27 May.

First N.Ronaldsay 18 Sep. 150 South Walls 8 Oct ,
rising to 1,050 by 14 Dec with 100 Herston, S.Ronaldsay
on 10 Dec.

Breeding: Ork 1 on nest Shunan, Dounby in Jun but
only 1 bird seen at site; Arg 4prs feral birds Islay bred
but all failed, 1 bird summered Tiree and produced a
hybrid young, presumably with a Canada; Arran | with
juv Cordon 19 Aug hybridised with Greylag.

Odd birds Jun-Jul seenI&R, Arg, P&K, D&G and Loth
a likely mixture of injured wild birds and feral stock.

Brent Goose Branta bernicla
Pale-bellied Brent B.b. hrota.

Area JR Mi Al aoe dine Aus: Sie One Nr cD
NWS en ear nel OO 2c
NiScott 22 pestan n= ete pein MnO Mime oie Au
NEScot¥ 2 - - - sie ll EY Si DPD psa
E/CScot 9 - 7 Aelia Me LOS A102 .16n28
SE'Scot. 7 '1ti216,, 3 iio Mi ia oe ee dl ea alee
W.Scot” .7 ©8148 299%. 3 3) 052). = Site 12 13
SW Scot 18 22-10), 14... @ ves 2) 29) 5:30: == 316

*not all records included. Table includes unraced birds
Movements: 165 Gott Bay Tiree, Arg 27 Apr; 25N Port
Askaig, Islay Arg & 50 Balephetrish Bay, Tiree Arg on
29 Apr. 400S W.coast Islay, 218S Machrinahish Arg
and 25 Longman Bay I&R 11 Sep. 6N/21S Fife Ness F
25 Sep.

Dark-bellied Brent B.b.bernicla

Singles Auchterarder P&K & Tyninghame L in Jan and
Lossie Est. M&N in Feb. 1 Aberlady L 7-20 Jul.

In autumn/winter 1 Lossie Est. 11-19 Sep; 8 Aberlady
16-18 Sep; 1 Gosford Bay L & 1W Hound Pt. L 24 Sep;
1 Bay of Lopness, Sanday Ork 25 Sep-1 Oct; 2 Fair Is
28 Sep; 1 Musselburgh L 29 Sep-2 Oct; 1 L.Gruinart,
Islay Arg 11 Oct and 1 Nov; 4 Tyninghame 17 Oct;
5 Aberlady 20 Oct; 1 Dunnet Sands Caith 21 -23 Oct;
INW Scoughall L 11 Nov; 2 Fair Is 12-13 Nov; 1 Fetlar
Shet 16-21 Nov; 3 Quendale Shet 18 Nov-11 Dec;
1 Tingwall Shet 22 Nov-1 Dec; 6 Gosford 10 Dec-1995.

* Black Brant B.b.nigricans

[1989-1990] 1 L.Gruinart, Islay Arg 20 Oct 1989 to
17 May 1990.

This has been accepted by the BBRC and constitutes the
first record for Scotland.

* Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis

1 Caerlaverock/Inner Solway D&G 1993 to 23 Apr.

1 Insh Marshes I&R 9-19 Mar, then Broomhill I&R on
22 Mar & 3-4 Apr.

After 2 winters there the Solway bird failed to return in
1994/95 but 1 Endrick Mouth Clyde 5 Dec (with White-
fronts and Barnacles) could have been either of the
winter/spring birds.

Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea

Ina year when amajor invasion ofnorthern Europe was
claimed, only seven records, perhaps involving only one
bird, came from Scotland.

Im Nigg Bay [&R 18 May; 1 Eden Estuary F 21 Aug,

also Longannet 29 Aug-7 Oct, same Dunmore/Skinflats |
Cent 8-11 Oct; 1f Gladhouse Res. L 17-29 Oct, seen |
with geese over Auchendinny L 18 Oct, then moved to |
Whiteadder Res L 29 Oct-26 Nov, when also seen |

Watch Water B 1 Nov.

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Winter-spring max 1,031 Eden Est F, 800 Montrose
Basin A&D, 650 Skinflats Cent, 671 Inverness/Dornoch
I&R; only 331 Wigtown Bay D&G (584), 330 L Indaal/
Gruinart ,Islay Arg (446), 193 Clyde Est Clyde and
141 Tyninghame L.

Breeding: (only identified prs and broods)

Area Sites Pairs Broods Young MBS
Shetland 2 2 2 1) 3.5
Orkney 25 15 13 97 VS
Caith 12 6 6 38 6.3
I&R 2 . - - -
M&N 3 ? ? 51 ?
NE 1 1 1 3 3.0
A&D 6 ? 6 39 6.5
P&K 1 5 ? ? ?
Fife 4 ? ? 33 y
Is of May 1 8 1 6 6.0
Lothian 11 - 14 62 44
Borders 3 3 - - -
Argyll 3 48 4 29 TS
Clyde 12 12 12 77 6.5
Ayr 14 ? 5 25 5.0

Moult flocks: 2,640 Caerlaverock D&G 21 Jun, but

6,487 Kinneil Cent 6 Aug may have involved migrants. |

Max winter counts: 1,850 Caerlaverock D&G 6 Nov;)
800 Montrose Basin A&D Nov; 970 Eden Est 16 Dec;)
342 Clyde Est Clyde Dec; counts of 100+ also came

Bre Ss

from I&R, Loth and Arg.

Wood Duck Aix sponsa

1f Howden Burn, Selkirk B 30-31 Dec was the only
report.

R.D.Murray [Ed] 17

Mandarin Aix galericulata

Breeding: Pr +br10 L Eck Arg on 1 Jun (br5 in 1993);
pr Philip Burn/Monynut Water B 15 May; 22 Strathblane
Clyde reported as nesting.

Elsewhere: lpr Old Scone P&K5 Feb and single Perth
P&K 20 Sep is all that is now left of the Perth birds;
6 Eye Water at Reston B 10 Feb; 1m Lochend L.,
Edinburgh L 19 May; 1m Daviot I&R 2 Jul; 2 Bridge
of Alvah NE 9 Jul; 1m Musselburgh L 24 Nov; If
Beattock D&G 29-31 Dec.

Wigeon Anas penelope

Jan-Feb:3,357 Cromarty F. I&R, 3,047 Inverness F.
I&R, 2,141 S Dornoch F.. I&R; 2,992 L.of Harray
Ork; 1,576 Findhorn M&N; 3,500 Montrose Basin
A&D, 1,005 Tyninghame L .

Breeding: Shet 3br10 at 3 sites; Ork c 17 prs at 12 sites;
Caith prs at 6 sites, br7 at one; Suth br5 atone site; I&R
29prs Insh Marshes; M&N 2brS at 2 sites; NE 6br24 at
3 sites; P&K present 30 sites, 13 br seen; Loth pair at
1 site; Bords 5 sites with 21 Alemoor Res.in Jun; Arg
26prs at 10 sites.

Few passage counts but 63 S Arbroath A&D 26 Jun &
139N Eyemouth B 22 Sep.

Winter max counts include: 1,475 L. of Harray Ork,
3,150 L. of Strathbeg NE, 4,000 Montrose Basin A&D,
and 2,150 L Leven P&K Nov, with 8,629 Cromarty
Firth and 6,834 Inverness Firth I&R in Dec.

* American Wigeon Anas americana

Two birds in Fife: 1m Stenhouse L, 9-10 Jan, 1m
Burntisland Bay 1-2 Jan, 6 & 19 Feb; and 2 mm there
on 4 Jan, 1 m Lochore 17-31 Jan, 5-12 Feb & 3 Apr.
The hybrid American/Eurasian Wigeon remained at
Loirston Loch/Rigifa Pool NE from 1993-1 Mar.
[1992] 1m Campbeltown L.Arg 2 Feb-14 Apr.

Gadwall Anas strepera

Winter-spring max: 25 N.Ronaldsay Ork 8 Jan, 52 L.
Leven P&K Apr & 15 Merryton Clyde 25 Mar.
Breeding: Good year in S: Ork 10 prs; M&N 2prs;
A&D 4-5 prs at 2 sites, br3 seen; P&K 4 prs at 3 sites,
2prs probably bred L.Leven; Fife 5 prs, br1 seen; Loth
pr not present usual site; Arg pr bred? L. Gruinart,
Islay; Clyde min 26prs at 7 sites with record 16mm,
14ff and 12br87 Baron's Haugh where MBS 7.25.
Autumn peaks: 50 Forfar L. A&D 28 Aug; 52 Baron's
Haugh 24 Sep; 79 Kilconquhar L. F 28 Sep & 6 Nov.
Winter monthly max: 11 Martnaham L. Ayr in Novand
54 Forfar L.,13 Lochore Meadows F ,14 Bishop L.
Clyde and 12 L. Leven P&K Dec.

Teal Anas crecca

Winter max: 1,071 Inverness F. I&R, 553 Cromarty F.
I&R, 850 Islay Arg, 601 Clyde Est. Clyde, 400 L Leven
P&K, and 400 Bogside Ayr in Jan; 470 L of Strathbeg
NE and 256 Barons' Haugh Clyde in Feb.

Breeding: Shet 5 sites; Ork 47 prs at 16 sites; Caith min
7prs, with 3br30; M&N7 sites; [&R 84prs Insh Marshes;
P&K 14sites; Cent 3br 15 at2 sites; Loth 9prs at 3 sites;
Bord 29prs at 24 sites + 6brs30; Arg 43 prs Islay; Ayr
36prs, at 13 sites with 17br 93; D&G 10+prs at 6 sites.
Winter : 566 L.Levenin Sep; 1,100 Hule Moss Bin Oct;
1,145 L. of Strathbeg, 615 Carsebreck P&K & 550 L.
Leven in Nov; 1,653 Inverness F., 1,426 S.Dornoch F.
I&R, 1,226 Islay & 650 Kennetpans Cent in Dec.

* Green-winged Teal A. c. carolinensis

1Scatness Shet 1993-16 Apr; 1 L.ofStrathbeg NE 7 Jan-
20 Feb; 1 Forfar L. A&D 1993-6 Jan; 1 Montrose A&D
19-21 Apr.

1 Scatness 15 Oct-31 Dec; 1 Vane Farm P&K 22 Nov-
18 Dec; 1 Shelly Spit F 12-17 Nov; 1 Tain-L Eye area
I&R 8-14 Dec. Up to 4 or 5 birds involved.

Another bird L.of Strathbeg 1-27 Feb showed mixed
characteristics of the Nearctic and Palearctic races.

Teal
Tommy Daniels

18

Mallard Anas platyrhyncos

Winter-spring: 1,121 Cromarty F. I&R, 1,025 L. of
Strathbeg NE 672 S.Dornoch F. l1&R & 600 Clyde Est.
Clyde in Jan; 1,550 Montrose Basin A&D 1,303 Inner
Tay P&K & 509 Beauly F. 1&R in Feb.

Breeding: Shet 11 sites; Fair Is 3 prs bred; Ork 122prs
at 24 sites; I&R 224 prs Insh Marshes; Arg 26prs
Rhinns, survey, Islay . More successful breeding season
in E & S but less so in W.

Area Broods Juvs MBS Area Broods Juvs MBS
Caith 10 79 79 Bord 91 604 6.6
P&K 25 - 48 Arran 6 29 48
Fife 48 311 6.5 Clyde 145 680 4.7
Loth 7 39 5.6 Ayr ADs e228) Oi,

Autumn/winter counts: 860 Hirsel B in Jul; 1,000 on
Tweed at Banff Mill B, 899 Inner Tay, 730 Gladhouse
L & 640 Hule Moss B in Sep; 1,124 Cromarty F. in Oct;
900 Montrose Basin in Nov; 1,021 L. of Strathbeg and
708 Beauly F. in Dec.

Pintail Anas acuta

Winter-spring max counts: 659 Caerlaverock D&G,
230+ Wigtown Bay D&G & 70 Skinflats Cent in Jan;
with 228 Nigg Bay I&R, 192 Beauly Firth &R and 160
Montrose Basin A&D in Feb. Only 150 Caerlaverock
Mar-Apr. But few counts >20 birds after mid-Mar.
Breeding: Shet 2broods at 1 site; Ork 24-30prs
produced 4 broods with 3br13 at 19 sites; Arg 2-3
broods at 2 sites Tiree.

Winter monthly max: counts: 2,500 Caerlaverock in
Sep; 256 Wigtown Bay in Nov; c60 Montrose Basin
A&D, 152 Beauly Firth, 179 Nigg Bay, 65 Skinflats &
28 L Indaal, Islay Arg in Dec.

Garganey Anas querquedula
Up to 35 in spring, 4 in autumn.

Area Apr Apr May May Jun
1-15 16-30 1-15 16-31 1-16
N Isles - 2 1 2 -
W Isles - - 1 - -
NE Scot - - 9) 3 -
E/C Scot - 2 5 3 -
SE Scot - - - - -
SW Scot 1 1 6 5 1

Breeding: Arg pr +br2 Westport Marsh, Kintyre- /st
proven breeding for Arg mainland.

First 1 Endrick Mouth Clyde 4 Apr. Late singles
Doonfoot Ayr 13 Oct & Strathclyde CP Clyde 21 Nov.

Shoveler Anas clypeata

110 Montrose Basin A&D in Jan; 33 N.Ronaldsay Ork,
17 Merryton Clyde & 16 Bemersyde B in Mar.
Breeding: Ork min 52 prs; Caith 1-2prs; Suth 1 pr;
I&R none Insh; M&N 1-2prs; A&D S-6prs at 3 sites
with 3br19 Kinnordy; P&K 5 prs at 3 sites, br4 at Vane
Farm; Fife 2br5 at 2 sites; Loth lpr; Bord 8 prs at 3 sites

Scottish Bird Report 1994

but no proof; Arg 25 prs at 5 sites with 1 1 prs L.Gruinart,
Islay where several broods and 10prs Tiree Clyde 8prs
at 5 sites with 2br5 at 2 sites; Ayr 2 prs at 1 site.

Winter: 540 L. Leven P&K in Sep; 87 Kilconquhar L.
F & 80 Montrose A&D in Oct; 240 L.Leven, 81 L. of
Strathbeg NE, 47 Garnqueen L. Clyde, 35 Bemersyde

B & 32 North Ronaldsay Ork in Nov; 45 Caerlaverock

D&G , 100 Montrose & 33 L.Leven in Dec.

Red-crested Pochard Nettia ruffina

1m Lochmaben D&G 17 Jan-15 Apr; m Ratho L6 Aug, |.
20 Nov & 3 Dec; imm m Williestruther L.B 15 Aug- |

10 Sep, another Branxholme Easter L. B 20-31 Aug; ad |
m Forfar L. A&D 24-29 Aug; m Lochore F 7 Nov.

Pochard Aythya ferina
Highest numbers in Ork, Caith, P&K, Fife & Clyde.
Jan Feb Mar Sep/Oct Nov Dec

Ork-Boardhouse 136 21 - 612 1375 503 |
Ork-L.of Harray 173 286 209 - 1081 - ff
Ork-Hundland ee : - 1540 |
Caith-St Johns L - ape 56 400 350)
Caith-L Heilen : Ss 10 350 - |
P&K-L Leven 280 48 280 480 810 850

Fife-Kilconquhar - syle 220°? 412... 50508
Fife-Methil - - - 42 44 70)

Loth-Linlihgow 113 56 10 300 =6154 168 |
Cl-Barons Haugh 235 214 32 64 56 13 §

Also 70 Carsebreck P&K in Jan; 520 Strathclyde L. |
Clyde & 70 Clickimin Shet in Feb.

Breeding: A&D 7prs at 3 sites, br6 seen Rescobie L.;
P&K 3br28 Stormont L.; Fife Sbr28 at 2 sites; Loth
pr br6 Bara L.; Bord c7 prs at 3 sites with 2br7 on
Yetholm waters; D&G pr at 1 site.

Other winter max counts: 265 Lochore & 334 Kinghorn
L. F & 250 L. Rangag Caith in Nov; 200 Lintrathen L.
A&D in Dec.

* Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris

SAP aes

Se Saar

Adm Parton D&G 2 Jan, at Moss Roddock L. on 5 Mar;
1m Rothiemurchus I&R 7-29 Apr. Becoming scarcer.|

*
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula .
Largest flocks: 742 Strathclyde L. Clyde, 666 Beauly
Firth I&R, 610 L.of Stenness Ork,270 Kilconquhar L.|_
F , 284 Duddingston L. L & 273 LinlithgowL. L in Jan;)_
774 L. of Harray Ork & 345 St.Margarets L. L in Feb.)
Breeding: Slight increase in brood sizes c.f. 1993, but)

a poorer year P&K.
Area Sites _ Pairs Broods Young MBS |
Shetland 8 c8 ? ? ?
Orkney B) 12 2) ? ?
Caithness 2 2 2 17 8.5 i
Inv&Ross 2 16 1 3 3.0 @
M&N 10 16 15 80 5.3
North-east 7 10 10 68 6.8 if
P&K 12 26+ 4 18 45° a

R.D.Murray [Ed] 19

Area Sites Pairs -Broods Young MBS

Fife 12 22 ? 105 ?
Lothian 9 30+ 23 36 6.0
Borders 32 142 26 129 5.0
Argyll 18 35 3 ? ?
Clyde 17 li 43 is 5.4
Ayrshire 15 29 12 54 4.5
D&G 4 i 1 ? ?

Winter monthly maxima: 800 Vane Farm P&K in Sep;
250 L. Heilen Caith and 177 L. of Skene NE in Oct;
903 L. of Harray in Nov; 400 Endrick Mouth Clyde ,
442 Kilconquhar L. , 325 Linlithgow L. & 205 Beauly
Firth in Dec.

Scaup Aythya marila

Winter-spring: 699 L.Indaal, Islay Arg, 660 L. Ryan
D&G, 300 Jemimaville I&R, 180 St.Andrews Bay F,
145 Clyde Est. Clyde in Jan; 381 Cromarty F. 1&R,
175 L. of Harray Ork in Feb; 1,110 Inner Solway D&G
in Mar.

No evidence of breeding.

Winter: 1,330 Caerlaverock D&G Sep; 200 L.Heilen
Caith in Oct; 969 L. Indaal, 660 L.Ryan, 254 Cromarty
F., 150 Levenmouth F, 138 Rough F. D&G and 93
Cardross Clyde in Dec.

Decrease innumbers associated, in the Solway, with the
depletion of cockle stocks.

King Eider

Eider Somateria mollissima

Winter-spring max : 5,000 Tayport F, 1,531 E Wemyss-
R Leven F, 1,225 Largo Bay F & 1,400 Turnberry-
Girvan Ayrin Jan; 2,337 S.Forth L & 1,465 Clyde Est.
Clyde in Feb; 3,008 Ythan NE,1,800 Montrose Basin
A&D & 2,881 S.Forth in Apr.

Breeding: Shet success varied, with decline Whalsay
and Out Skerries; Ork 147 prs/nests but poor season
with skua/gull predation; Caith 18ff+65 young; M&N
15ff+42 young; I&R very poor success year Eigg - only
3 fledged from 5 broods, 65 nests Nigg oil terminal,
better year in W with 12ff+36 young Rum and
10ff+30young Kilmory; NE poor year Ythan with low
hatching success and only 1 fledged; Is of May 998
nests, 84% hatched from 83 nests; Loth 1,338 nests on
Forth islands, max 323 Inchkeith, 262 juvs seen along
shores; Arg 68 ff with 45br133 Colonsay; Ayr 366 nests
Horse Is, with 127br593 along Ayrshire coast.

Moult flocks: 8,800 Murcur NE; 1,850 Montrose Bay
A&D; 1,200 Largo Bay; 7,077 S.Forth was highest
Loth count since 1974; 5,342 in two flocks Ayr.
Winter max: 3,000 Blackdog-Don NE, 3,783 Clyde
Est, 3,700 Irvine Bay Ayr Sep; 8,000 R Tay A&D,
2,500 Methil F in Oct; 2,390S.Forth & 2,800 Turnberry-
Girvan in Dec.

1f L.Morlich I&R 18 Nov was a rare inland record.

Short-listed for Best Artwork in a Scottish Local Bird Report

from 1994 Shetland Bird Report

*King Eider Somateria spectabilis

7-10 individuals but the Brora and one of the Ythan
birds did not appear in 1994.

Shet 1 m (from 1992) Tresta/Sand/Burra/Trondra all
year, Ist w m Mousa Sound 8 Jan-29 Apr, probably
_ Same m Lerwick/Turr Ness/Sumburgh 11 May-10 Sep,

lf Sumburgh 16 Jan-3 Feb, another f Wadbister Voe
24-27 Nov; M&N 1m (from 1992) Hopeman/Burghead/
Covesea all year; NE 1m Ythan-Murcar 26 Mar-17 Jul,
possibly same also 18 Aug-1 Sep, another m Girdleness
12 Jun; A&D/Fife 1m Tay Est 2 Jan-2 Mar, then 16 Oct-

16 Dec, 1 f Methil 20 Sep.

20 Scottish Bird Report 1994

Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
Counts from key areas:

Site Jan Feb Mar Oct Nov Dec
Shet max 110 252 - 234 - 125
Ork max 222 320 334 - 110 255

Inverness I&R 508 1900 1135 43 29 312
Riff BankI&R 634 602 447 329 33 62
Cromarty I&R 171 53h OOO DS ae 87
Nairn/Culbin =) 289 440) 577 1179 897
Burghead M&N 499 480 191 542 1262 606
Spey Bay M&N 244 331 439 170° 153 Jil
S.Forth Loth 2257 273 LOS. 1274 1102 772
Others: 1,500 St Andrews Bay F and 1,150 Levenouth
Fin Jan; 200 Dunnet Bay Caith & 1,568 Largo Bay F
in Mar.

Summer: 1f Montrose Basin A&D 15 Jun; 1f Methil F
11 Jul; 1m Frenchman's Rocks,Islay Arg 29 Jun; If
Endrick Mouth Clyde 23 Jul.

Other winter max: 470 Dunnet Bay 23 Oct; 2,520 flew
W to roost Burghead M&N 25 Oct; 280 Levenmouth F
3 Dec.

Common Scoter Melanitta nigra
Counts from key areas:

Site Jan Feb Mar Sep Oct Nov Dec
Nairn/Culbin 300 1110 469 400 282 700 1502
Burghead Bay 763 796 380 608 799 530 584
Spey Bay S302 o23 9 49 819 186

Aberlady 187 340 170 220 394 2100 4150
Other counts: c5,000 St Andrews Bay F in Jan; 1,500-
2,000 Burghead Bay M&N in May; 4,750 Murcar NE
and 1,200 Montrose Bay A&D in Jul; 852 Largo Bay
F 27 Nov; 3,085 North Berwick L in Dec.

Breeding: Shet single pr, but no proof; Caith 3br13 at
2 sites; I&R 9 prs at 7 sites; P&K 5 sites, no young seen;
Arg cll prs at 3 sites, br5 seen.

*Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata

Forth: 1m St Andrews Bay F 1 Jan with 2mm 2 Jan-
21 Mar & 1f on 2 Jan; Largo Bay F 2 mm with limm
m from 1 Jan-11 Apr, 2 ff 26 Feb, 20 Mar & 11 Apr,
another m with 1 f from 13-20 Feb, 2 mm till 8 May.
Im Gullane Pt. L 2 Apr ; with 1 imm m Musselburgh L
2-11 Jul.

St Andrews Bay Imon 16 Oct, pr on 18 Oct, 2 mm and
If there 24 Oct-1 Nov, 1 till 18 Nov; Largo Bay 1m on
22-26 Oct, 7 Nov, 2mm on 10 Nov, 1 imm mon 17 Dec;
Im Musselburgh 20-31 Dec.

M&N/NE: 3 mm Findhorn 15 Jan, 1m Nairn-Spey Bay
to 23 Mar. 1m Murcar 10 Jul-18 Aug with 1 immm on
17-26 Jul; 1 imm/f Lunan Bay 14 Sep; Im &1 imm m
Burghead Bay 9-24 Oct with single m Burghead and
Findhorn 28 Oct, pr Nairn 29 Oct, 1m Findhorn Dec,
2mm on 4 Dec.

Up to 11 in winter/spring, 12 in autumn/winter.

Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca

Forth: Max 2,000 St Andrews F in Jan; 240 Aberlady
L in Mar; 318 Largo Bay F in Apr; 280 St Andrews in
Nov; 337 Musselburgh L in Dec.

Moray Firth/NE: 537 Burghead Bay M&N 8 Feb;
910 Murcar NE17 Jul; 938 Montrose Bay A&D 20 Jul;
600 Lunan Bay A&D 6 Aug; 275 Burghead 29 Nov.

Goldeneye Bucephala clangula

Monthly peaks: 1,200+ Levenmouth F, 511 Clyde Est
Clyde and 500 Inverness I&R in Jan; 557 Doonfoot-
Newton Ayr & 301 S.Forth L in Feb; 470 Leven F in
Mar.

Breeding: I&R 100 prs attempted, 46 successfully,
16br123 noted; P&K 2br5 seen in Jul.

Summering birds in Shet (4), Ork, Caith (2), M&N (8),
NE, A&D (4), Fife (2),Loth (4), Arg, Cent, Clyde (2),
Ayr (8) and D&G (6).

Winter max: 2,100 Leven, 325 Broughty Ferry A&D,
201 Inverness, 248 S.Forth & 528 Doonfoot-Newton in
Dec.

Smew Mergus albellus

Remarkable number, mostly 1-2 birds per site, inSW in
early year. Max 5 L of Strathbeg NE in Jan-Feb with
last 1fL. Finlas Ayr 1 May & 1 m Foula Shet 30 May.
First 2 ff Drumadoon Pt, Arran 15 Oct, max 5 Kinneil

Cent 19 Nov.
Area Jan Feb Mar Apr-May Oct Nov Dec
N Isles 1 1 - 1 - - -
N Scot 1 - - - - 1 -
NE Scot 5) 5) - - 1 1 5
EC Scot 3 y 2 3 - 8 2
SE Scot 1 - - - - - -
W.Scot 1 5 2 - - 1 if
SW Scot Oran 5 3 1 3 5
Total 23. «24 9 i 14 13
ie Smew

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David Mitchel

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R.D.Murray [Ed]

Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator

1,253 Inverness/Beauly I&R in Jan; with 2,767 therein
Feb; 128 Forth Est . Cent and 122 S.Forth L in Feb.
Breeding: Shet bred 7 sites; Ork 14 prs at 11 sites;
Caith 3br16 at 2 sites; I&R 9 prs Insh Marshes; P&K
15 sites, Sbr?; Arg 7 prs Tiree; Clyde 9br53; Ayr 16 prs
bred, 13br49 noted.

Moult flocks, mostly Jul-Aug: 580 Sound of Gigha
Arg, 412 Scallastle Bay, Mull Arg and 167 L. Indaal
Islay Arg; 350 Kinnaber NE; 250 Cromarty Firth
I&R; 190 Kinshaldy F; 367 S.Forth, 132 L Ryan D&G;
152 Turnberry Bay Ayr.

338 Largo Bay F and 623 Nairn/Culbin Bars M&N in
Oct; 758 S.Forth and 298 Delnies M&N in Nov with
979 Inverness in Dec and 127 Clyde Est Clyde in Dec.

Goosander Mergus merganser

Stable 647 in Tweed census 16 Jan with 260 roosting
Hirsel B 9 Jan; 330 Beauly F. 1&R 8 Jan with 220 there
18 Feb; 230 roosted Strathclyde L. Clyde 2 Jan with
268 there on 18 Feb. 101 Hogganfield L. Clyde in Jan.
Pre-moult/moult flocks: 72 Endrick Mouth Clyde with
70 Speymouth M&N in May, rising to max 192 in Aug;
209 R. Tay F & 300 Phophacy I&R in Jul; with max
143 Tyninghame L & 48 N.Berwick L in Aug.
Breeding: I1&R 3 prs bred Insh Marshes; P&K 3br15
at 2 sites with 2 creches of 27 young on Tay at Dunkeld
& Grandtully; Bord 12br95, less than average MBP of
7.92; Clyde 12br88; Ayr 11br60.

219 Hirsel in Sep; 133 Bemersyde B, 112 Stantling
Craig B, 169 Cults NE &176 Burghead M&N in Oct;
514 Beauly Firth in Nov; 225 Strathclyde L. in Dec.

Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis

Winter-spring: 1 L.of Clunie P&K 15 Jan; 1 Kilconquhar
L. F 23 Jan; 3 at 2 sites Fife 19 Feb, 1 Balgray Res .
Clyde 25 Feb; 1 L.of Kinnordy A&D9 Mar; 1 Bemersyde
B 13 Mar. Also 2 Ork, 1 NE & 1 D&G during Apr.

Breeding:

Area Sites mm ff Broods
A&D 4 37 15 -
P&K 4 1+ 1+ br9
Fife 1 0+ 0+ 9br39
Central 4 9 4 -
Lothian 1 1 1 -
Borders 3 13 9 -
Clyde 8 20 20 19br50+
Total 24 89 58 29br98+

Becoming more regular in Loth and Cent.
Autumn max: 21 ForfarL. A&D & 62 Kilconquhar L.
and 23 Bishop L. Clyde in Sep; 38 Woodend L. Clyde

' in Oct. Increasing signs of birds hanging on into winter

with last 4 Strathclyde L. Clyde 28 Dec and 1 Rescobie
L. A&D 31 Dec.

| See Andrews I.J. (1996) The WWT Ruddy Duck Survey 1994:the
| Lothians Lothian Bird Report 1994: 110-112.

21

*Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus

Singles L. Fleet Suth 12&17 May; Brora Suth 14 May;
Dumfries D&G 19 May; Feshiebridge I&R & Peterhead
NE 25 Jun; Shapinsay Ork 29 Jun; Tore I&R 10 Jul;
Hermaness, Unst Shet 14 Jul; Uiskentuie, Islay Arg
30 Jul; L.Garten I&R 19-23 Aug.

A late bird was at Alness I&R 20 Oct.

Possibly 11 birds.

*Black Kite Milvus migrans
1 Pinwherry Ayr 6 Jun.
First for Ayrshire, 12th for Scotland. Last bird 1989.

Black Kite by Andrew Stevenson
Short-listed for Best Artwork in a Scottish Local Bird Report

from 1994 Ayrshire Bird Report

Red Kite Milvus milvus

Continued radio-tag ging of introduced birds led to records of
dispersing immatures over a wide area of Northern Britain
from Co. Carlow in Ireland, to Kershope Forest in Cumbria
and parts of SW Scotland.

A total of 8 pairs laid 23 eggs and 6 successful nests hatching
16 young of which 13 fledged. Another 3 pairs built nests but
did not breed. Although more birds bred in 1993 the average
number of young per brood and overall production was lower
than 1992 MBS 1.62 (2.3), MBP 1.18 (1.4). 5 other territories
were maintained. One of this year's juveniles was killed by a

car.

Red Kite Newsletters JNCC-RSPB.

Records of wing-tagged birds/unspecified individuals

included 1 St Ola Ork Jul-Aug; 2 in Caith Jul; in NE (6),

A&D (1), P&K (2), Bord (2), Arg (6), Ayr (2), D&G (5).

An untagged bird Rossie Moor A&D 1-31 Dec.

22

White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
10 territories were occupied, two more than 1993. For the
first time a pair consisted of Scottish-bred individuals. 8prs
laid clutches of which 4 pairs fledged 5 young (MBS 1.25.
MBP 0.62).

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994

Sites occupied 12 10 10 10 11
Sites with pairs or trios 9 9 8 8 10
Numbers of clutches 9 8 0 6 8
Clutches hatched 2 4 4 4 4
Broods fledged 7 4 4 4 4
Young fledged 2 if 7 3) 2)

A further 10 Norwegian-hatched young were released in
early Aug. Wing-tags on the upper wing showed dispersion
over a wide area towards the end of the year.

Highland Bird Report 1994.

Wandering birds were seen in Shet/Fair Is/Ork (2);
O.Heb (1); Caith/Suth (4); [&R (c10), mostly Speyside
& Inverness; A&D (1); and Arg (6).

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus

First singles L. of Strathbeg NE on 29 Mar, Greenlaw
Moor B 14 Apr & Monynut L 19 Apr. Then Fair Is,
Glenlivet M&N, Altens NE, Strathclyde Country Park
Clyde and Broad Law L/B on 24 Apr.

Area Apr May May Jun Jul Aug Sep
26-30 1-15 16-31 1-30 1-31 1-31 1-30
N Isles 1 6 1 - - - -
W Isles - 2 - - - - -
N Scot 1 2 - 3 2 1 1
NE Scot 4 3 1 1 3 9 5
E/C Scot - - - - - 1 -

SE Scot D 5 pu - - - -
W/SW Scot 1 6 3 Z 2 6 -
A pair bred in D&G, raising 2 young, the first record of
breeding for the area and the 2nd for S.Scotland.

A late bird still present Insh Marshes I&R 30 Oct.
Many areas are noting a marked increase in records
with up to 84 birds in 1994, better than the 32 in '93 &
E50;in (92.

Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus

At roosts: Ork 5-18 at 3 sites Jan-Mar/3-15 Oct-Dec;
Arg 13-18 at 3 sites Jan-Mar/20-29 at 2 sites Oct-Dec;
D&G 11 at 1 site Jan.

Breeding:
RSG Territories Sites Sites Sites Young MBS
occupied Laid Hatched Fledged

Orkney 338) 6 6 6 16 Pr |
Tayside 28 28 i ? 66 2.4
Highland 51 Sil Ds) 25 78 Bil
Argyll ae cil es ee BI 7 8oaN es 7
S Strathclyde 28 PS) 12 10 37 307
D&G 26 25 17 17 58 3.4

A patchy season with a combination of poor weather and
heavy persecution in some areas affecting breeding success.
Persecution was most marked in S Highland & S. Strathclyde
where keepering was responsible for many nest failures.

Scottish Bird Report 1994

Food supply was the main problem in Orkney. Large areas of
suitable habitat in Angus, suggests persecution is keeping the
Angus Glens empty. Scottish Bird News 38: 8-12.

Also: Caith 3 sites, produced 2b6; M&N 15 nests, with
4br12; NE 11 nests produced 6br19; Loth Ipr seen
food-passing; Bord no reports of breeding, although
more casual records than usual; Arran 1+prs bred;
D&G none bred Stewartry or Galloway Forest Park.

*Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus

Second summer f seen Aberlady L7 May and Montrose |

Basin A&D 4 Jun may have been the same bird.
Last Loth record in 1947.

Goshawk Accipiter gentilis

Suth 5 sites; M&N 5 sites; NE 6br17 (MBS 2.83); |

Bord 11 sites produced 8br23 (MBP 2.09, MBS 2.87) _
but casual records from 30 sites; Ayr slowly becoming |
established although most suspected as being non- |
breeders as yet; D&G 4 nests with young monitored,
becoming "common" in east of area.

Breeding reports still vary in their accuracy, largely —
due tocontinued secrecy in face of persecution butmore
areas now giving a truer picture of the local situation.

Sparrowhawk <Accipiter nisus
1 Stornoway Wood OH 6 Jan mainiains a toehold in |
Lewis. 2 overwintered Muckle Roe & Kergord Shet. —
Passage N.Isles with record 6 Fair Is 27 May and 7 Shet
23 Apr-8 Jun.

Breeding: Ork 5 sites had no young reared; I1&R pr
failed Eigg; Arg 2prs each reared bri L. Gruinart, |
Islay; Clyde 4 prs produced 7 young; Ayr 9br35 (MBS
3.9) with prs at another 31 sites. |

Buzzard Buteo buteo |
Breeding: CBC (A-18%)
RSG Occupied Laid Hatched Fledged Young MBS

— SS

Highland 2. 66 54 52 -100 1.9
Tayside 43 : : 2 30 ‘
Lothian 33 - = 22 37 Lian
Borders 115 25 25 11 23 pigiie|

Ork 2prs reared 3 young Hoy; Caith 7prs at 6 sites;
P&K 24 sites Strathalian; Fife 13 sites; Bord reported
240 sites, 115 with pairs, records from 75 new tetrads,
slow spread into E & SE; Arg 22 prs Colonsay, 12 prs
reared MBS 1.5, Islay 3br7 with 7prs Rhinns survey,| »
Shuna 5prs but poor year Taynish; Clyde min 38 prs
reported, including 4br7,_ with 13 prs in 32km? W
Dunbartonshire; Ayr min 63 sites include 5br12.
Poorer success than 1993 noted widely. Continued
expansion of breeding range noted M&N, NE, A&D,
Fife, central Ayr, D&G.

High counts: 30+ Glen Esk A&D 10 Mar; 82 Strathall
P&K 19 Mar; 41 Moffat, Beattock & Johnstonebridge
Moffat area D&G 25 Mar; 25 Munlochy I&R 21 Sep

R.D.Murray [Ed]

* Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus

I overwintered, I in spring. A minimum of 11 in an
autumn which saw a large arrival on the British E coast.
1 Cairnbulg NE from 1 Dec 1993 to 22 Mar; 1 Glen
Tanar NE 21 & 28 May.

Arriving autumn birds were reported from Spiggie Shet
23 Oct; Lammermuirs L & B 24 Oct-1995; 1st-w
Anstruther F 25 Oct was injured and taken into care; N.
Ronaldsay Ork 26 Oct;Montrose Basin A&D 28 Oct;
Carcary A&D 29 Oct-1995; Ist-w Lunan Bay A&D
from 30 Oct-1995; Glen Lethot A&D 20 Nov; Ist-w

Golden Eagle by Steven Brown

Short-listed for Best Artwork in a Scottish Local Bird Report

from Lothian & Borders Reports 1994.

mand
tlle a)
wapthtea’,

u LZ

Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos

Breeding:

RSG Occupied Laid Hatched Fledged Young MBS
W.Isles Sul 12 12 12 13 1.1
Highland 70 - 31 35 1.1
North-east 16 11 11 7 10 1.4
Tayside 23 16 11 11 13 ser
Central 9 8 4 4 5+ 183
Argyll 48 31 23 18 20 Jha

| In both Highland and Tayside, better occupancy rate and
/ productivity achieved in the E sectors suggested much better
habitat quality. Results fromArgyll and Central were typical
| for these areas. All viable sites in NE may be occupied, failed
» Sites typically occur at higher altitiude where sites possibly
, non-viable. Only one nest robbery noted.

|) Scottish Bird News 38:8-12.

| i Arran: 2prs produced br1; Clyde 2prs bred, 1 was
|| robbed, the other raised 1 juv; D&G 2prs laid, 1 chick
‘|| fledged. Elsewhere: wandering individuals seen Ayr &
|) D&G (4): Loth & Bord (2-3).

mail
See ate

9M

23

Dunninald A&D 20-22 Nov; 1 found dead Fife Ness F
17 Nov; and 1 Auldearn M&N 3-31 Dec.

Skin of Fife Ness bird now in National Museum of Scotland.
Several records are still being ‘lost’ to the SBR through
a lack of a description. Please submit descriptions for
all sightings.

Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis

Single(s) seen Carrick Hills Ayr 26 Mar & Clochan
M&N 8 May.

Undoubtedly an escape, possibly same bird.

Osprey Pandion haliaetus
First 1 M&N 22 Mar, others Powmouth A&D 24 Mar
& Letham A&D 27 Mar, Rothiemurchus I&R 28 Mar.

Breeding:

Occupied Laid Hatched Fledged Young MBS
Scotland 95 83 71 69 146 2.1
Highland 52 49 43 41 83 2.0
Tayside 28 24 14 14 30 21
Argyll 7 3 8 2.6

With a 31% increase in Sarin and numbers fledged,
1994 was the most productive year in the 1990s bring the
species near the 100 breeding pairs. The main geographical
trend is in-filling of the range with only moderate spread
outwith main areas. Losses were mostly natural with a
possible robbery . Scottish Bird News 38:8-12
May have bred Caith where ad seen feeding juv in Aug.
Several areas in Ayr, D&G and Bord report good year
with birds summering in for a few weeks. Late records:
1 Myredykes B 2 Nov, | Strathy Forest Suth 6 Nov,
1 Deeside NE 11 Nov with 1 imm dead there 22 Nov.

24

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

15 noted Strahanna-Smittons D&G 8 Jan.

Poor spring with c12 Shet & c4 Fair Is and 3 OHeb.
Breeding: Ork 9 sites, 8 successful prs; Fife scarce, only
3 prs proved; Arg only 2prs Rhinns survey, Islay; Clyde
33-36 territories noted; Ayr 23 territories, 6br19 outwith
study area.

Inthe Ayrshire study areaa continued peak in vole populations
resulted in high clutch sizes . From 22 clutches, the average
was 5.5, but poor early weather saw a 33% loss. Better
weather in Jun/July brought an 88% brood survival rate. 73
young were ringed from 16 broods. Productivity was high with
MBS 4.5/successful nest. Highland's Kestrels had their lowest
mean clutch size on record (4.9 from 24 nests). Despite a
scarcity of voles broods iszes were average due to improved
conditions. Highland & Ayrshire Bird Reports 1994.
Systematic counts of casual records suggest birds less
frequent in parts of M&N, P&K, Fife & Clyde.

*Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus
1 Springhall Haugh B 14-15 May.
First confirmed record in Borders since 1961.

Merlin by Andrew Stevenson
Winner: Best Artwork in a Scottish Local Bird Report
From Ayrshire Bird Report 1994

SR,

oc
Merlin Falco columbarius 44S

Breeding:

RSG Occupied Laid Hatched Fledged Young MBS
Shetland 24 23 - 16 51+ 3:2
Orkney 14 8 - 8+ 17 2.1
W.Isles 17 - 9 26 83 32
Highland 53 33 - 26 83 322
North-east 50 30 30 30 63+ 2.1
Tayside 55 48 - 37) 105+ 3:3
South-east 35 29 24 20 64 3:2
Argyll 8 7 6 6 12+ 2.0
S.Stra'clyde 29 24 - 19 48+ 2D
D&G 20 11 - 11 30 Ped
Total 375 - - 174+ 509+ 2.9

Scottish Bird Report 1994

Better weather seemed to be a factor at least partly responsi-
ble for the moderately good season enjoyed by Scotland's
Merlins. The dry spring seems to have been an important
factor. The Forest Edge Survey in SW Scotland (funded by
Forest Enterprise) allowed far better coverage than normal.
Losses were mostly due to predation with predation of young
by Great Skuas on Hoy, Orkney noted for the first time.
Scottish Bird News 38:8-12
1 landed on boat 100mls W of Scalloway Shet 15 Apr.

*Hobby Falco subbuteo

6 in spring, 2 in summer, 7 in autumn.

Singles Kenmure D&G 1 May; Skateraw L 6 May;
Inverugie NE 11 May; Swinnie Moor B 14 May; Reston
B 20 May; Dubh Artach lighthouse Arg 2 Jun; Dumfries
D&G 29 Jun; Kildary I&R 3 Jul; Minishant Ayr 7 Aug;
L. GartenI&R 8 Aug;imm L. of Strathbeg NE 10 Sep;
imm Birsay Ork 15 Sep; 1 L.Gorm, Islay Arg 19 Sep;
1 Insh Marshes [&R 21 Sep & 8 Oct.

Lanner Falco biarmicus
2 Torran Caith 22 Jul and 1 Sluie M&N on 27 Jun.
Assumed to be escaped birds.

Saker Falco cherrug
1 Carsethorn D&G on 31 Aug.
Assumed to be an escaped bird.

* Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus
4 birds reported in first part of year.

A white-phase Ist-w m Mid Yell Shet 14 Feb, also same |
bird Haroldswick, Unst 20 Feb, Westing, Unst 28 Feb |
and Sandwick 28 Apr; 1 ad white-phase f at Easter |
Quarff Shet 18 Feb; a white-phase f on N Ronaldsay |
Ork 5 Mar-2 May, was presumed the same as on |
Stronsay Ork 12-18 Apr; 1 white-phase bird Hirta, St |

Kilda OHeb 14 Apr.

Peregrine Falco peregrinus

Breeding:

RSG Occupied Laid Hatched Fledged Young MBS
Orkney 14 5+ - 5+ 9+ 1.8
Western Is. 10 - - 7+ 13+ 1.9
Highland 22 21 19 17 444 2.6
North-east 52 37 - 31 58+ 1.9
Tayside 68 - - 39+ 107+ 2.7
Cent 22 - - 11+ 27+ PBS)
South-east 52 50 - 31 81 2.6
Argyll 16 9 - 8 19+ 2.8
S.Stra'clyde 22 19 - 13 32+ ZS
D&G 75 62 - 47 87-90 25
Total 353 - - 206 477+ 2.3

Sadly, Peregrines have almost become extinct as a breeding | #
species in Shetland, with only one territorial adult in 1994. A |»

reasonable year was marred by the persistent human interfer-
ence in the SW (> 50% of the failures in S Strathclyde and 47%
in D&G) and persecution in the SE. The coastal populations
in the S appear to be less successful than inland birds.
Scottish Bird News 38: 8-11.

I

R.D.Murra d 25

Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus

Generally, records suggested low numbers in the main
areas in E . Scotland: no shooting Glen Avon M&N,
but improvement due to better weather Deeside NE
contrasted with the low numbers elsewhere in area.
Western areas reported continuing sparsely distributed
populations in Ayr and D&G.

I&R 19mm+9ff in 1km? Abernethy during Apr with
9mm+7ff+20young there in Aug - MBP 2.9 (1.1) &
MBS 5 (3); M&N low numbers Glen Avon after winter
had 3.5:1 ration of male to female; Arg 9 territories
Rhinns, Islay survey. Best count was 70 Hopes Res. L
27 Nov.

Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus

Low numbers reported, with cold weather reducing
food supply and resulting in low productivity e.g 11 prs
Cairnwell NE had MBP of 0.7 with Sprs Meall Odhar
NE managed only 0.2. Few other meaningful records,
but groups totalling 43 in hills W of Drumochter P&K
24 Sep. Singles in Cowal Arg, Ben Lomond Clyde and
Goatfell Arran.

1 on Corserine D&G 30 May was most unusual being
well out of accepted range-perhaps last remnant of the
1980s introduction at Leadhills Clyde ?

Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix

Breeding:

Sites mm ff you Sites mm ff young
Suth 1 Dupiieiaee - Loth 3 5 - -
I&R 6 123 50-80 Bord 57 268 198 -
M&N 3 IQ” 2 - Arg 9 21 ? 3
NE 22 ake? Clyde 5 15 -
A&D 2 20 12 - Ayr 32 97

P&K 81 581 7? -

45mm and 50-80ff present Abernethy Forest I&R had
MBS 3.0 (1.5 in 1993) from 13 broods.

P&K shows acontinued (up to 27%) decline in lekking
mm between 1992 and 1994. 29 leks monitored over
5 years show a 45% decline, but results are uneven. In
NE breeding success was 'fair' in Deeside study area.
The largest leks were of 28mm near Aberfeldy P&K
while there were 80mm in 6 leks in the Skm Stanhope
Glen B.

Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus

I&R 25mm/24ff Abernethy with MBS 2.9 from 15ff ,
an improvement over 1993 when only 0.1, best counts
Tulloch-Abernethy since 1991; M&N 12 at lek
Darnaway but reduced numbers Monaughty - new

' Teleases E. Moray area with Sprs in 1993-1994; NE
}; numbers down Glen Tanar; A&D 4ff/2mm

| Montreathmont; P&K signs of further decline; Arg
|) very low numbers; Clyde only 28 birds L Lomond
‘| islands (48 in 1993).

Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa

(includes Chukar and Red-leg x Chukar hybrids) CBC -5%
Highest counts: 22 Haddo NE Feb and 20 Crimond NE
Nov; 21 Auchencar Arran in Nov; 20 Oxenrig B in
Oct. 70 released Shuna Arg 1993 - most populations do
not appear to be self-sustaining but br4 Greenan Ayr.

Grey Partridge Perdix perdix

CBC -3% Good season in NE, P&K, Fife. Further signs
of decline Clyde, Ayr, D&G. M&N small coveys; NE
40 Skene; P&K 138 in 13 coveys; Fife 81 Leuchars;
Loth 104 in 5 coveys; Ayr 53 in 3 coveys Warrix.
Released birds Shapinsay Ork where only 7 in Mar and
Ayr where 200 released in S. Ayrshire.

Quail Coturnix coturnix

First singles Unst Shet 10 May; Fair Is & Anstruther F
13 May;Shell Bay F 14 May; Craigielaw L 15 May;
Clackmarras M&N mid May; Is of May 22 May;
Pathhead L 24 May; Houston Clyde 25 May; and
Ballantrae Ayr 26 May.

No confirmed breeding but May-Aug records from Shet
(3), Fair Is (2), Ork (5), Caith (5), M&N (3), NE (8), I&R
(3), P&K (1), Fife (5), Is of May (1), Cent (2), Loth (11),
Bord (8), Arg (1), Clyde (8), Ayr (6), D&G (3).

A total of 73 birds was a less than average showing.

Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

Ork broods at up to 6 sites; I&R bred Eigg; Arg
Colonsay -20 calling mm; Loth 24prs Aberlady (11).
Highest counts: 30 Durkadale Ork in Oct, 58 Kinloss
MA&N in Jan and 58 Dunphail M&N in Nov but mostly
poorly reported.

Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus

2mm Gruline, Mull Arg in Feb; single mm Glenbay and
Hunterston Ayr May-Dec; populationin SW at very low
ebb with only 10 birds estimated Kirroughtree D&G.

Water Rail Rallus aquaticus

Winter records from 24 sites, and mid-Apr migrants in
Shet (3), Fair Is (5), Ork (1-2), Bord (2).

Breeding: Ork up to 4 sites held 3-7 prs with br3 seen;
Caith 2 sites; M&N 3 sites; I&R 13 mm Insh Marshes;
A&D | site; Fife 2 sites; Cent 1 site; Arg 10 sites Tiree;
Clyde 21 territories at 14 sites; Ayr 31 territorial birds at
13 sites; D&G 2-3 sites.

In autumn mostly singles Sep-Dec, but 6 N Ronaldsay
Ork 19 Sep; 5 Cran L M&N Oct, 7 St.Abbs B in Oct.

*Spotted Crake Porzana porzana

A very poor year with only 5 calling birds reported. Only
2 calling Insh Marshes I&R 31 May-26 Jun. Singles
South-east Suth 8-27 May, L. Gruinart , Islay Arg on
26 May and Colonsay Arg 1-19 Jun.

26

Corncrake Crex crex

First singles Colonsay Arg 15 Apr and Broubster Caith
30 Apr.

A survey of calling males revealed a slight increase
(4%) on 1993. A breakdown of calling males in the
main areas is shown below:-

Area mm Broods Area mm Broods
Shetland - - Rum& Muck I&R 1 -
Orkney 19 3 Eigg I&R 2
Lewis,OHeb 90 - Tiree,Arg 126
Harris,OHeb 3 - Coll, Arg 25 -
N.Uist OHeb 51 - Mull, Iona +,Arg 4 -
Benbecula,OHeb = 19 - Colonsay+, Arg 6 -
S.Uist,OHeb 49 - Islay &Jura,Arg 13
Barra+,OHeb 40 - Caithness 2

Skye, I&R 9 - Clyde 1 -
Canna,I&R 2 - Total 471 3

The total of 471 calling males is encouraging, set against
previous declines and may provide some hope for future
years. The Corncrake Initiative, backed by both RSPB and
SNH, and involving many crofters and land managers, has
begun to bring success in places like Coll where a continued
increase was noted (20 calling mm in 1993).

Corncrake Newsletter 1994: RSPB/SNH

Autumn migrants included singles on Shet (4), Fair Is
(2), Ork (1), Caith (1), M&N (1), Is of May (1), Bord (1).

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Winter-spring max: 37 Airthrey Cent 17 Jan; 30 St Ola
Ork 21 Feb; 29 Teviot -Kalemouth to Kelso B 20 Mar.
Breeding: CBC (F-1%)

Sites Prs Broods MBS Sites Prs Broods MBS
Shet 1R2 Lee eay - Cent = 1 2)9<9 br 8a 20
Ork 20 36 ? - Loth 15 40 10br30 3.0
Caith 4 4 3bri3 43 Bord 55120 37br93 2.5
M&N 13 33 =? Ae y Bes é
NE Bye - Clyde 41 101

11br20 1.8 Ayr 26 25br65 2.6

Autumn-winter:96 Lochend L. Clyde 14 Aug; 28 L of
Hillwell Shet Aug-Dec; 52 N Ronaldsay Ork 17 Oct;
25 Union Canal in Edinburgh L 30 Oct.

Coot Fulica atra

Winter-spring maxima: 1,400 Linlithgow L. L 3 Jan;
506 Kilconquhar L. F 9 Jan; 470 Drummond P. P&K
& 440 Gartmorn Cent 16 Jan; 250 L. Watten Caith Jan-
Feb.

Breeding:

Sites Prs Broods MBS Sites Prs Broods MBS
Ork 27 59 ? - Loth 11 57 4bro 22
M&N 12 35 ? Bord 49 234 90br281 3.1
P&K 17 12br29 2.4 Clyde 58186 - 24
Cent 16 10br32 3.2 Ayr 1431 12.br29) =24:

Autumn-winter max: 392 Lochmaben D&G in Aug;
650 Forfar L. A&D in Sep; 548 Kilconquhar L. F in Oct;
849 Linlithgow L., 458 L. Gelly F, 423 Drummond P.
P&K, 418 L. Watten Caith & 340 L.of Harray Ork in
Nov.

Scottish Bird Report 1994

*Crane Grus grus

1 Ythan-Rosehearty NE 28 May-16 Jun; 1 Blairgowrie
P&K 24 Nov to at least 24 Dec.

[1993] 1Tiree Arg 29 Apr-12 May (revised dates).

*Little Bustard Tetrix tetrix

1 on Fair Is 5-6 Nov.

First for Fair Is. Only the 3rd record for Scotland since
1958, the previous modern records being in Whithorn
D&G in Apr 1964 and N.Ronaldsay Ork in May 1989.

Oystercatcher Haemtopus ostralegus

A lower BoEE peak of 64,728 in Feb with the Solway
area accounting for 53% of the total. Largest site
counts:18,152 Inner Solway D&G, 5,907 S.Forth L
3,797 Clyde Est. Clyde & 3,331 Eden Est. F in Feb.
First inland movements Loth 28 Jan; Cent 1 Feb; M&N,
P&K, and Bord 4-5 Feb; NE 6 Feb, Clyde & Ayr 11 Feb
but bulk of movements delayed by cold spell. First
arrivals mid-Feb in Ork and Shet with first inland I&R
28 Feb.

Main inland flocks 6-17 Mar : 924 Strathallan P&K,
670 Gargunnock Cent, 620 Luncarty P&K, 150 Edzell
NE, 123 Whiteadder L and 115 Craigellachie M&N
Breeding: Fair Is 60prs (75); Ork 97prs N.Hill, Papa
Westray (81); I&R 97prs Eigg (105), 35prs Insh
Marshes; P&K 87prs Strathallan (69); Is of May 30prs
(35), only 4prs fledged 8 young; Loth 21prs on 5 Forth
islands; Bord stable 8prs Gala Water WBS, 9br14
(MBS 1.6) ringed in Peebles study area; Arg 309prs
Rhinns, Islay, 227prs Tiree, 8S5prs Coll reserve; Arran

6br11 reported. (MBS 1.8); Ayr 15br24 noted (MBS |

1.8).

BoEE built up from 40,550 in Aug, to Oct peak of |
71,423 . 10,000 Caerlaverock 19 Sep was largest site |
count with 7,219 S.Forth & 3,500 Montrose BasinA&D —

in Oct; and 4,149 Clyde Est. in Dec.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
1 Ythan Est. NE 4-14 Dec was the only record.

* Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

1 Longhaugh Pt. Clyde 22-3 May; 1N.Ronaldsay Ork |

11-11 May; 1 Donmouth NE 18 May-18 Jul with a
second bird at various dates in this period; 1 Deerness
Ork 25 May; | Rattray Head NE 28 May; 1 Starmafin
NE 30May-1 Jun; 1 L.Doon Ayr 2 Jun.

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

1,515 BoEE Scottish peak in Feb does not include

large numbers outwith BoEE survey.

277 Clyde Est. Clyde peaked in Feb; 230 Barassie Ayr |

11 Feb; 150 Redcastle I&R 13 Feb; 712 E.Sanday coast
Ork 18-20 Feb.
Spring (May) passage peak of 2,745 in BoEE counts

R.D.Murray [Ed]

with site peaks: 800 Newbie D&G in Apr; 590 Findhorn
Bay M&N & 532 Goosepools F in May.

Breeding: Fair Is 12 prs (18); Ork 16prs N.Hill, Papa
Westray (13); I&R 8prs Eigg (6); Loth 6prs Aberlady
(7); Bord Sprs W.Water; Arg 43prs Rhinns, Islay,
100prs Tiree; Ayr 4br10 noted, 9prs L.Doon.
Autumn: BoEE peak 2,336 in Aug with 1,450 (62%) in
Solway. Few large site counts: 141 Musselburgh L in
Aug; 310 Meikle Craigs Ayr & 240 Barassie Ayr in
Sep; 281 N.Ronaldsay Ork and 273 Ythan in Oct.

*Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
1m Brora Suth 27 May. _—/st record for Sutherland.

Dotterel Charadris morinellus

First 2 St.Abbs B 30 Apr when 1 W.Lomond F.

9 Cairn Lochan, Cairngorms M&N/I&R 6 May.

Few passage birds reported 6-16 May: Fair Is (1), Ork
(1), OHeb (3), Caith (c6), Suth (1), 1&R (1), NE(8), Ayr
(2) and D&G (8). Max 12 A&D hill 29 May.

Caith 2 showed signs of breeding Scaraben; I&R
13 nests fledged 5+juvs in Cairngorm study, much
lower than '93; NE 5mm with 12 young at 3 sites;
P&K only reported from 2 western hills.

Few in autumn: 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 7 Aug; last M&N
summits 19 Aug; singles Out Skerries (2) & Fetlar Shet
6-10 Sep; Fair Is 11-13 Sep; 2 Ben Wyviss I&R 24 Oct.

* American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica
1 Roadinghead-Darnconner Ayr 12-17 May.
3rd record for Ayrshire.

Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria

Very low BoEE peak of 4,905 in Jan (7,633 in Feb '93).
Site peaks of 780 Doonfoot Ayr in Jan; 1,200 Aberlady
L in Feb; 1,200 Port Seaton L, 600 South Walls Ork,
250 Auchteradrder P& K in Mar; 1,810 The Reef, Tiree
Arg, 900 Carnabee Res. F, 630 Coll reserve Arg and
500 Staxigoe Caith in Apr. Very few "northern"
altifrons-types: 90 Blairbowie Ayr 4 Apr; 5 Meadownay

27

Breeding: Shet less success due to poor weather; Ork
16prs N.Hoy (18), 16Birsay Moors (16), Sprs Rousay
(19); I&R 2prs Eigg (5); Bord 29 prs at 17 sites; Clyde
7Tprs at 2 sites; Ayr 32prs at 16 sites.

Several very late records in hill areas; 20 Nov in NE,
22 Nov in P&K & 23 Nov in Cent suggest some
movement rather than birds lingering on territory.
Max BoEE count of 15,735 in Nov, 52% on Solway.
MAX: 800 Norwick Shet in Aug; 3,700 Aberlady L,
2,500 Ythan NE,2,000 Rattray NE,Sanday Ork &
CrailF in Oct; 3,170 Edenside F, 3,000 Netherton NE,
2,500 Bogside Ayr & 2,200 Kennethbank D&G in Nov.

Grey Plover Pluvialis squaterola

Moderate Jan peak of 2,427 in BoEE counts, equally
spread between Forth, Tay & Solway, dropping to a low
c1,700 by Apr. Best site counts include 105 E.Sanday
Ork in Feb; 490 Aberlady L & a record 800 Eden Est.
F in Mar & 472 Goosepools F in Apr.

60-100 summered Aberlady.

First back Cent,Ayr & Clyde 24-29 Jul; A&D and I&R
21-29 Aug; Shet, M&N, NE, Caith & Arg 9-15 Sep.
1,407 BoEE in Sep rising to max of 2,773 in Oct with
best sites: 220 Caerlaverock D&G in Sep; 390 Aberlady
in Oct; 754 Eden Est. & 536 Goosepools in Nov.
Only 1,977 in Dec BoEE count.

Inland records from L.Leven P&K & Shiplaws B in
Sep & Endrick Mouth Clyde in Oct.

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Largest winter counts mostly in S&W. 2,462 Clyde Est.
Clyde, 1,370 Ythan NE & 1,200 Bogside Ayr in Jan;
2,050 Laggan Arg, 1,300 Doonfoot Ayr & 1,000
Stromness Ork in Feb; 1,510 Carsebeck P&K in Mar;
Extremely low BoEE peak of 10,841 in Jan, 44% lower
than previous winter, continuing the decline (29,433 in
91/92). This decline may be related to mild winters
encouraging wintering away from the estuaries.

The dates of returning flocks are now obscured by the
large numbers wintering ‘on territory’.

BoEE Scottish Lapwing Totals 1991-94

Note very much
lower levels,
occasionally 50%
decline, of Lapwing
wintering in
Scotland in 1993 &
1994 compared to
1991 & 1992.

0
JFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASOND

1991 1992

1993 1994

28 Scottish Bird Report 1994

Temporary influx on to breeding areas 5-6 Feb in Loth,
Bord & Clyde; but main movements 26 Feb-6 Mar. Best
pre-breeding flocks 500 Aberfeldy P& K, 400 Whampray
D&G, 250 Burn of Bondie NE & 200 Newmains B in
Mar.

Breeding CBC (F+42%)

Shet below average due to cold/wet weather but first
success Noss for many years; Fair Is stable 12prs; Ork
20prs N.Hill, Papa Westray (20); Caith 70prs Green-
land Farm; I&R Sprs Eigg (12), a 70% drop since 1990,
72prs Insh marshes; P&K 219prs Strathallan (230-
266 in 1990 where many chicks died in cold/dry May,
MBP only 0.1-0.2; Fife 7prs Eden Est. raised 25 young;
Loth 1llprs Aberlady (15) managed only 2 broods;
Bord 31 broods, W.Tweeddale, MBS 2.75 (2.72); Arg
297prs L.Gruinart, Islay (260), good success Colonsay
due to Crow cull, 491prs Tiree, 124prs Coll reserve;
Clyde 146prs from 44 sites; Ayr 106prs from 34 sites
with only Sbr13 noted, 7prs Meadownay (9 ), 6prs
Blairbowie; D&G further declines noted.
Post-breeding flocks from mid-May in Clyde & mid-
Jun in Bord suggesting poor success. Best autumn
flocks: 950 Libberton Clyde in Jul; 900 L.Leven P&K
in Aug; 2,240 Aberlady L, 1,500 Greenland Caith,
1,200 Gadloch Clyde & 1,360 Ythan Est. NE in Sep.
Better BoOEE max of 17,506 in Dec, 40% on Solway
with best sites: 3,200 E.Ferry Clyde, 1,800 Doonfoot
& 1,100 Tullibody Cent.

Knot Calidris canutus

Stable BoEE max in Jan with 28,248 birds, about 34%
in Forth. Best site counts: 4,782 Cromarty F. 1&R,
4,612 Forth Est.Cent, 2,250 Aberlady L, 1,360 Saltcoats
Ayr, 1,332 Eden Est. F in Jan; 10,595 Inner Solway
D&G in Feb; 2,000 Westhaven A&D in Mar.

3 West Ferry Clyde in Jan where unusual.

Most birds left by Apr. Peak 1,200 Findhorn M&N in
Apr. Last records mostly 10-22 May. Few summered
but up to 30 Aberlady and 7 M&N.

Early return; first M&N, Arg, Cent & Fife 20-28 Jun;
Shet & Ayr 1-10 Jul; Clyde, Fair Is & Caith 20 -31 Jul,
with main arrival early Aug. Limited passage W.coast,
only 90 birds (1,083 in '93) at Machrihanish Arg.
Rather low numbers Oct-Nov with 1,380 Aberlady in
Oct the only good site count. Build-up to an average
BoEE peak of 26,304 in Dec with 3,000 Kinneil Cent,
1,174 Nairn M&N, 1,700 Aberlady, 1,000 Cromarty F.
I&R & 900 Montrose Basin A&D.

Sanderling Calidris alba

BoEE winter max was only 355 (397) in Jan.
Few high counts : 171 N.Ronaldsay Ork in Jan; a low
295 E.Sanday Ork,300 Easthaven A&D, 186 Eden Est.
F and 65 Blackdog shore NE in Feb. Most winter birds
gone by late Mar but BoKE peak of 994 in May as

passage birds go through, mostly due to 866 in Solway
D&G counts. Also 130 Balephetrish Bay , Tiree Arg in
Apr; 160 N.Ronaldsay in May & 1,200 Monifeith A&D
in Jun.

A few Jun records first Shet and D&G 14-15 Jul; Ayr
& Fair Is 17-18 Jui; Loth, Caith & Arg 19-21 Jul, Clyde
and M&N 24-25 Jul. 204 Virkie Shet,316 Dunnet
Sands Caith, 97 Lossiemouth M&N, 149 Aberlady L &
250 Rattray Head NE 25-30 Jul. Fewer birds later with
95 Hough Bay, Tiree Arg in Aug and 229 N.Ronaldsay
in Sep.

Winter peaks:200 N.Ronaldsay in Nov; 100 Craigsmill
A&D and 86 Nairn/Culbin M&N in Dec

* Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis

ljuv m freshy dead FairIs 31 Aug.

First Scottish record and third for Britain.

See Scottish Birds (1994) 17: 173-174 & Birding World (1994)
7:355-358. Skin sent to NMS collection.

Little Stint Calidris minuta

Singles Wick Caith, Ythan NE & Eden Est. F 8 May;
Musselburgh L 13 & 16 May; 2 Ballantrae Ayr 16 May;
1 Westport Arg 21 May; 1 Ness, Lewis OH 25 May
with Jun records from Shet, Caith, NE & Loth.

Area May Jun Jul Aug _ Sep Oct Nov
N&W Isles 1 1 1 11 33 - -
N.Scotland 2 1 - - LZ, = 3
NE Scot 1 5 3 16 1 -
E/C Scot 1 - - 4 20 2 -
SE Scot 2 2 a 2, 6 -

W.Scot 1 - - 1 1 - -
SW Scot 2 - - - 6 - -
Total 10 9 8 21 99 3 -

Return started with 2 Musselburgh 21 Jul & 1 Birsay
Ork 25 Jul with further birds Musselburgh &
Tyninghame L & Machrihanish Arg in late Jul/early
Aug.

Next influx started late Aug with birds at Kingston
MA&N, Montrose A&D and Kinnaber A&D followed
by main passage 6-13 Sep when best counts: 6 Virkie
Shet, 5 Whalsay Shet, 7 Fair Is, 6 Cotehill 1. NE and
5 Cairnbulg NE. Few later records with late singles
Goosepools F 7 Oct &L.Leven P&K 17 Oct.

Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckti

Singles Broubster Caith 8 May; Endrick Mouth Clyde
15-18 May; Barry Buddon A&D 20-21 May; Ness,
Lewis OH 25 May and Musselburgh L 30 May.
Breeding: male at usual site I&R 24 Jun. Assumed to
have bred..

Autumn singles Brow Marsh Shet 25 Aug-6 Sep with
another at Levenwick Shet 30 Aug; Findhorn M&N

3-4 Sep; LongmanI&R 4 Sep; anexhausted birdlanded |

on boat off Ailsa Craig Ayr 11 Sep and was later
released at Largo Bay F on 17 Sep.

R.D.Murray | Ed | 29

* White-rumped Sandpiper Caildris fuscicollis
1 ad Barassie Ayr 27-29 Aug; another Turnberry Pt.
Ayr 17 Sep. 3rd & 4th records for Ayrshire.

*Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
1 St.Kilda OH 16-20 Aug. 4th for O. Hebrides.

*Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotus

4 in autumn. Singles Summerston Clyde 6-15 Sep;
Lochlea Ayr 14-15 Sep; Virkie area Shet 15-18 Sep and
Stronsay Ork 10 Oct.

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea

Area May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
N&W Isles - - - 1) 40 3 -
N.Scotland = - - - 1 30 2

NE Scot - 1 2: 12 31 -

E/C Scot - - - 4 44 5 -
SE Scot - - - 1 19 - -
W.Scot - - - 2 9 - =
SW Scot 3 - - - 26 3 =
Total 3 1 2 27 ~=199 13 -

2 Newton shore Ayr 8 May with 1-2 there until 14 May
& 1 Ythan Est. NE 12 Jun were the only spring birds .
Arrival 31 Jul when 2 Lossie Est. M&N; singles Eden
Est F 4 Aug & 12 Aug then small numbers 16-31 Aug.
Peak 3-17 Sep when 16 Inver Bay I&R, 14 Findhorn
Bay M&N, and 5-8 birds Montrose Basin A&D, Ythan
Est, Virkie Shet, Wick Caith, Aberlady L and Skinflats
Cent. Few in Oct: 1-2 N.Ronaldsay Ork, Whiteness
Head I&R and Ballantrae Ayr 18-20 Oct.

Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima

BoEE peak 186 in Jan. Best numbers outwith estuaries.
1,761 in Jan-Feb coastal survey Ork, max 782 E.Sanday
(776); 52 Southerness D&G in Jan; 200 Saltcoats Ayr,
120 Girdleness NE in Jan; 120 Lossiemouth M&N
and 160 Banff M&N in Feb; 444 S.Stronsay Ork and
413 S.Westray Ork in Mar; 154 Is of May in Apr.
Last M&N, Ayr, Caith & Loth 3-12 May; Arg, NE, Fife,
Is of May & Bord15-23 May; A&D 31 May.
Breeding: 2 males in distraction display at 1&R montane
site. 18 birds summered N.Isles but no hint of breeding.

__ First birds back Bord & NE 12-14 Jul; Isof May & Loth

23-24 Jul; Caith 22 Aug; Ayr 18 Sep; Arg 1 Oct.
Best counts: 63 Is of May in Jul; 141 Scatness Ork in
Nov; 155 Egilsay Ork, 129 Buckie M&N, 85 Girdleness
& 70 Saltcoats in Dec.

Usual very low Dec BoEE peak of 128 birds.

Dunilin Calidris alpina

Average BoEE peak of 43,194 (36,409) birds in Feb,
with 33% in Moray Firth & 25% in Forth & Solway. Site
max counts: 4,200 Invergowrie A&D, 3,616 Cromarty
F. I&R, 2,371 Nairn/Culbin M&N in Jan; 6,356 Forth
Est. Cent, 5,337 Inner Solway D&G, 3,138 S.Forth L,

2,594 Dornoch F. I&R in Feb: 2,285 S.Forth in Mar.

Breeding: Shet 30prs Foula where 1-2 in 1980s; Ork
18prs Hoy (15), 17prs Birsay (14) with 20prs in 8 other
sites; OHeb 46prs in peatlands; P& K prs at 9 sites; Arg
5prs L.Gruinart, Islay, 14-15prs Rhinns survey, 143prs
Tiree but 60% drop from 243prs in 1987/88, 6prs Coll
reserve; Ayr 16 prs at 12 sites. Also :Bord 5 sites, Clyde
3 sites, NE & Loth 2 sites.

12,640 in BoEE Oct counts with Dec peak of 40,341,
46% in Solway. 2,600 Goosepools F, 2,200 S.Forth &
1,030 Ythan NE in Nov; 12,650 Caerlaverock D&G,
4,020 Cromarty F. & 1.730 Findhorn Bay M&N in Dec.

* Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus
1 Balephetrish Bay, Tiree Arg 13 May.
Ist for Argyll and only 3rd for W.coast.

* Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis
1 Delnies M&N 14-15 Sep, another there 16-18 Sep
with 1on 19 Sep. J/st for Moray & Nairn.

Ruff Philomachus pugnax

Many fewer winter/spring birds: 7 St.Monans F 15 Jan
with 3 there 6 Feb & 5 on 13 Mar; Up to 7 S.Forth at
Musselburgh, Seafield & Gosford L. Max spring counts
8 Aberlady L 2 May & 5 L.of Strathbeg NE on 4 May.

yO Ri Mera SOM Jor Ae Ss O N D

N&WoIss a5 22 I 4 2160) S05) 23) 2) =
N.Scot Esa ee a 1 =e yl HealiQas ayy iL

NE Scot ee 8 Zyl Sige SOP ip dale 2
E/G Scots 7 3.06 Sx4u, 3 Od; D2 Ole 2a oe:
SEScote os. 4 Le SoS l 4s. 10 >
W.Scot =peri= 0, Ly ars’ AES 23 e ADK 25
SWiScot. f-")) =a lee ly pak PLO) 240.) 40h) 2s
Total 14 8 12 11 35 ~- 16 3981063 109 14 9

NB numbers very approximate, especially Aug/Sep.

Good autumn, but again fewer than previous year. First
1 Holm Ork 3 Jul & 2 Belhaven L 6 Jul. Best counts:
20 Lochlea Ayr 24 Aug; 59 Fair Is 9 Sep; 26 Strathbeg
NE, 20 L.of Webster Caith, 34 Caerlaverock D&G,
13 Musselburgh , 37 Lochlea 11-14 Sep; 53 Stronsay
Ork & 32 Browhouses D&G 23 Sep. Last I&R 2 Oct;
M&N, A&D, Arg, Fair Is and Ork 9-11 Oct; P&K and
Ayr 17-19 Nov; D&G 22 Nov; Caith 26 Nov. Wintered
Donmouth NE(2), St.Monans (2) and Musselburgh (5).

Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus

Max counts: 6 Kinneil Cent and 3 Aberlady L in Jan;
5 Carmunnock no.3 Res.Clyde , 4 Curlingmire Clyde
& 3 Woodend L. Clyde in Feb; 7 Cunning Park Ayr &
5 Rigifa Pool NE in Mar. Otherwise 1-2 birds reported
Jan-Apr: Shet ( Ssites), Ork (12), I&R (3),NE (3), A&D
(3), Fife (4), Loth (3), Arg (4), Clyde (7), Ayr (5S) and
D&G.

Mixture of last winterers and migrants late Mar /Apr.
Late birds Loth, Fife, Ayr & Clyde 10-11 Apr, D&G 21
Apr with latest single Ork on 5 May.

30

Scottish Bird Report 1994

Autumn arrival: first Fair Is, Shet & Is of May 9-10 Sep;
Fife & Ork 17-19 Sep; Arg, NE & Loth 25-29 Sep; Caith
& Clyde 1-2 Oct; I&R, Ayr &Bord 11-19 Oct.

Best Sep-Oct counts: 15 Fair Is 29 Sep; 4 Kinneil Cent
3 Oct; 7 Merryton Clyde 13 Oct; & 6 N.Ronaldsay Ork
28 Oct.

Nov-Dec: Shet (1), Ork (many), Caith(2), I&R (4),
M&N (4), NE , A&D (2), Fife (4), Cent (2), Loth(2),
Bord, Clyde (8), Ayr (8) and D&G. 8 Hogganfield L.
Clyde, 8 Woodend L., 6 Creoch Ayr & 6 Gallowhill
Clyde in Nov.N.Blantyre Muir Clyde, one of the best
sites in Scotland, was destroyed by open-cast mining.

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

140 Bogside Ayr & 66 Inverugie NE in Jan; 133 Sanday
Ork in Feb ; 190 Cunning Park Ayr & 120 Whamhray
D&G, 59 Deer Sound Ork & 54 Dalmahoy L in Mar.
Flocks 30-50 : Ork (3), NE, Cent, Loth (2), Clyde &
D&G .40 Fair Is 19 Apr was the only large late count.
Breeding: Fair Is20mm; Ork 1 1prs N.Hill (4), 86prs at
10 other sites; 1& R 33prs Eigg (40), 25 1 prs Insh Marshes;
Bord Spr Hule Moss(8); Arg 41pr SGruinart-reserve
(34) & Siprs Rhinns, Islay, c300prs Tiree, 85mm Coll
reserve;Clyde 13prs at 7 sites; Ayr 94prs at 39 sites,
9prs Lanemark; D&G drop to Ipr Wood of Cree.
Autumn: 107 Bogside Ayr 26 Aug; 150 Haroldswick
Shet 18 Sep; 430 N.Ronaldsay Ork 30 Sep, 120 Bogside
& S50 Lochwinnoch Clyde 8 Oct; 1,000 N.Ronaldsay
12-14 Oct; 55 Blantyre Muir Clyde 13 Oct; 100 Wick
Caith 22 Oct; 50 Graemeshall, Holm Ork 31 Oct.
Winter: 217 Hillwell Shet, 150 Wick, 220 Cunning
Park & 70 L.o'th' Lowes Ayr in Nov; 150 Milton-
Dumbarton Clyde and 120 Bogside 4 Dec.

* Great Snipe Gallinago media
Singles Geosetter Shet 29 Sep; N.Ronaldsay Ork 1 Oct;
and Honeygeo, S.Ronaldsay 20 Oct.

af re a at pri
tl v a; a ‘“ : 7}
“ "t a : 4 “a y}
: wy : we Buys "Fo ons 7
“ENze ee, 4 Eh ar aves RS
ber be, ‘at We a ree EES aE
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Great Snipe by Peter J.Donnelly
Winner: Best Artwork in a Scottish Local Bird Report

from Orkney Bird Report 1994

* Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus
1 ad Montrose Basin A&D 10-29 Jul, presumed same
bird 17-24 Sep.

First specifically identified for A&D, aprevious record
at Kinnaber, 12 Oct 1971 being of a Dowitcher sp.

Woodcock Scolopax rusticola

A rather poor winter, mostly 1-3 birds with 20 L.of
Strathbeg NE, 5 Evie Ork, 5 N.Ronaldsay Ork in Jan
and 6 Kilwinning Ayr in Feb, the only higher counts.
Breeding: Caith 2 Rumster; 1&R2 Rum; M&N 72 sites;
A&D 8 sites; P&K 10 sites; Fife 3 sites; Loth 13 sites;
Bord 24 at 15 sites; Arg 25 roders on Coll; Clyde 23 at
15 sites; Ayr 13 sites; D&G only 2mm Wood of Cree
where 5-8 recently.

6 Kings Cross Arran 20 Aug . Small-scale movements,
mostly 1-3 birds but marked increase late Oct-early Nov
when max 30 Is of May 20 Oct; max 60 Fair Is 31 Oct;
201s of May 3 Nov; max 35 N.Ronaldsay & 8 Donmouth
NE 4 Nov; 12 L.of Strathbeg 12 Nov; 15 Hunterston
Ayr 15 Nov; 20 Blair Ayr 26 Nov.

c100 winter population Figg 1&R.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

BoEE max of 184 in Feb counts (198) , 56% in Tay at
Eden Est. F which peaked at 174 on 16 Jan, dropping to
105 in 5 Feb before spring max of 157 from 10 Apr.
Other Jan-Apr counts: 4-28 Kinneil/Skinflats Cent Jan-
Apr; record 26 Insh Marshes I&R and 14 Invergowrie
Bay A&D 28 Apr; max 210 Caerlaverock D&G and
163 L.Bhasapol, Tiree Arg 29 Apr; 10 Longhaugh Pt.
Clyde 2 May; 21 Montrose Basin A&D 12 Jun.
Breeding: Shet 2prs + unmated m, Ipr raised br2; Ork
pr displayed but no evidence of breeding.

Autumn flocks: 56 Kinneil & 23 Ardnave, Islay Argin |
Jul; 20 Musselburgh L 23 Jul; 125 Edenside F 3 Aug; |
11 Stewarton Ayr on 19 Aug; 10 Stronsay Ork 20 Aug;
36 Montrose 21 Aug; 105 Edenside 3 Sep; 69 Kinneil
4 Sep.
Winter max 165 Edenside 23 Nov; 21-60 Kinneil Nov-
Dec. BOEE max 202 in Sep, dropping to 126 by Dec.

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica

Slightly lower BoEE Jan peak 8,707 (10,936). Poor
winter numbers. Site max: 2,260 Inner Solway D&G,
1.955 S.Forth L in Jan; 1,081 Nairn/Culbin M&N,
1,053 Nigg Bay I&R & 871 E.Sanday Ork in Feb.
Most were away by end Mar .
Very poor autumn with max of 600 Fort George T&Rin |
Aug; 1,100 Musselburgh L in Sep; 720 Eden Est. F in
Nov; 510 Cramond L & 500 Nairn/Culbin in Dec.
Extremely poor BoKE peak 4,612 (10,740) in Dec with
1,562 (34%) in Moray F. sites. See graph.

R.D.Murray [Ed] 31
BoEE Scottish Bar-tailed Godwit Counts 1991-1994
15000
12000
Note the very
drastic drop in the
9000 numbers reported
6000 1994/95 when no
great increase in
3000 = during and after
, 3 |
JF

1991

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

1 overwintering Whitefarland Arran to 20 Mar.

Late passage with first single Belhaven L 9 Mar with
long wait before next 1 Fair Is 15 Apr; D&G, Clyde and
Ork 16-18 Apr; Caith, A&D, Is of May, Fife, Bord &
Ayr 20-24 Apr; Shet 30 Apr.

Peaks: 14 Chanonry Pt. I&R 29 pr; 25 N.Ronaldsay
Ork 30 Apr; 97 Martnaham L. Ayr 5 May; 29 L.Ryan
D&G 6 May; 25 Ham Caith 9 May; 20 Tyninghame L
18 May.

Breeding: Shet usual numbers; Ork 7prs Birsay Moors,
Mainland (9), 2prs Eday (1), pr Shapinsay, pr Stronsay
and 2-3 birds summered N.Hill, Papa Westray.
Passage from late Jun. Peaks: 21 Tyninghame L 21 Jul.
Peak 28 Jul-1 Aug when 73S Sumburgh Shet, 21 Fair
Is, 31 S.Ronaldsay Ork, 27S Thurso Caith, 62 King-
ston M&N. Fewer later, mostly in S with 23 Starnafin
NE , 11 Inverkeithing Bay F 23 Aug; 50 N.Ronaldsay
Ork 3 Sep; 22 Hound Pt. L 8 Sep; 28 Belhaven L 5 Oct.
Last Bord, Ayr & Clyde 3 Sep; Suth, Fair Is and Shet
17-24 Sep; Fife, M&N, NE & Ork 2-10 Oct; I&R and
Arg 15-31 Oct; Loth 17 Nov; Caith 27 Nov.
Wintering bird returned Whitefarland 21 Oct.

Curlew Numenius arquata

Very low BoEE peak 14,928 in Feb (18,693 in '93)
with Moray Firth holding 33% of total.

Site peaks: 1,600 Burray Ork, 1,183 Wigtown Bay
D&G, 1,100 Widewall Bay Ork in Jan; 1,462 Cromarty
F. 1&R, 1,183 Clyde Est. Clyde , 1,057 Inner Solway
D&G in Feb; 1,360 Baldoon D&G in Mar.

As usual Ork, outwith BoEE coverage, held important
numbers, although less than in 92/93.

Inland: 223 Merryton Clyde in Jan.

Birds on territory : P&K, Bord & NE 12-16 Feb; Cent
3 Mar; Ayr 14 Mar; Caith29 Mar . Flocks: 545 Strathallan
P&K, 580 Lochmaben D&G, 346 Pow floods P&K,

: 300 Vane Farm P&K and 301 Merryton during Mar.

MAMJJ ASONDJFMAMJJ ASONDJ FMAMJJ ASONDJFMAMJJ ASOND
1992 1993 1994

Breeding: Fair Is stable 5prs; Ork 22prs N.Hoy (26),
1 1prs N.Hill, Papa Westray (10), 10-15prs Rousay (20);
I&R 77prs Insh Marshes; Arg 30prs L.Gruinart, Islay
(19), 99prs Rhinns survey, Islay.

Autumn flocks: 1,200 Widewall Bay & 1,011 S.Forth L
in Jul; 1,100+ Islay Arg, 1,050 Ardmore Clyde in Aug;
1,745 Meikle Craigs Ayr, 1,230 Montrose Basin A&D,
1,080 Forth Est. Cent in Sep; with1,645 Cromarty F. in
Oct.

Average BoEE max of 13,693 in Oct (11,928) with
better Nov-Dec BoEE counts at c10,000.

1,800 Widewall Bay in Nov is only count >1,000 birds
with 865 Inverness F. I&R, the next highest.

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus

Summary

JI FMAM JJA S ON D
INGUW, TseF et cor hc ue eo STP deriee RY -
INGScotiliarnag as iat are ae Ree! poe sree
INE|Scote = 6a? oN ne ai iO cult ae ba sec
E/CSCOb? ite? aol tal ie ae aD) Di =a wal
SE Scotts = 1-2 62) en,
IWS cotaniartiren a ae a ei Dred er:
SWiScCot 2-2-0022 ae ae
Totaly oa" 2) 2 ss Serer 333.3410 1" 1
1993 te 224s 2. a El AAS 20a Sirs 3
1992 ene) IS Hs | oct A aS Ss 5 7 ote ())) een Gum

1 Cullaloe Res. F overwintered. Singles Musselnburgh
L ,Keinneil Cent, Munlochy Bay I&R & Edenside F
were probably only passing through.

Only 4 spring singles at Starnafin NE, Ardrossan Ayr
and Aberlady L (2) 23Apr-17 May.

Return passage from 20 Jul at Montrose Basin A&D,
msotly singles: max 3 Lochlea Ayr 26 Aug with 2 birds
seen Ork (2), Caith, NE, Cent (2), Ayr and D&G.

1 Longman Outfall I&R 1 Nov; 1 Montrose 4&25 Dec.

TS EI I ES ETI I I SL ILE EE ETS ES EE TS TO TT SET STE

32

Scottish Bird Report 1994

Redshank Tringa totanus

Average BoEE max 16,019 in Feb (17,140), 73% of
birds on E.coasts. 2,000 Invergowrie Bay A&D, 1,315
Inverness F. I[&R, in Jan; 2,372 Forth Est. Cent, 1,790
Clyde Est. Clyde, 1,400 Montrose A&D, 1,108 S.Forth
L in Feb; 2,045 Inner Solway D&G in Apr.

1,453 in Ork coastal count in Mar , best areas 460 Deer
Sound in Mar with 665 E.Sanday in late Feb.

Arrival on territory: I&R, 6 Mar; P&K, Clyde & Bord
12-13 Mar, Caith 10 Apr.

Breeding Fair Is I pr (1); Ork 2prs N. Hill, Papa Westray
(4), 1Sprs Hoy reserve, 15prs Wyre with 38prs at 8 other
sites; 1&R 116prs Insh Marshes; P&K 35prs Strathallan
(36-37prs 1990-93); Loth 9prs Aberlady (5-6), 2prs
Thriepmuir-Bavelaw (2-3); Bord 39prs at 15 sites; Arg
109prs L.Gruinart, Islay (68), 46-48prs Rhinns 23prs
Colonsay(22),54prs Coll reserve, 231prs Tiree with
50% increase - 87 to 132prs in study plot since 87/88;
Clyde 48prs at 21 sites; Ayr 39prs at 20 sites, 3br5.
First passage early Jul. BoEE peak ed at 19,709 in Oct
and maintained levels into Dec at 19,704 (16,798).
Best totals: 2,710 Forth Est. & arecord 1,620 Ythan NE
in Sep; 2,450 Kingoodie A&D and 1,894 S.Forth L in
Oct; 1,955 Edenside F in Nov; 3,400+ Montrose Basin
A&D, 2.829 Clyde Est in Dec.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia

48 wintering birds maintains numbers: Ork, Caith, I&R
(2), M&N (4), NE (2), A&D (2), Fife (2), Loth (4), Arg
(11), Clyde (9), Ayr (10), D&G (5).

Spring passage again light although best-ever Bord with
7 birds. Peaks: 17 Finlaystone Pt. Clyde 3 Apr.
Breeding: Shet 2prs, br1 seen; OHeb 21prs found
Lweis; P&K 5 sites, br1 seen; Arg present 4 sites.
Passage from early Jul, peak Aug/Sep: 17 Tyninghame
L 18 Aug; 10Ythan Est.NE 19 Aug; 10 Vane Farm
P&K 24 Aug; 15 Finlaystone Pt. 26 Aug; 20 Montrose
Basin A&D late Aug/early Sep; 33 Edenside F 6 Sep;
15 Finlaystone 8 Sep; 19 Edenside9 Sep; 18 Browhouses
D&G 23 Sep.

49 Nov-Dec birds: Ork, Caith, I&R (4), M&N (2), NE
(3), A&D, Fife (8), Loth (7), Clyde, Ayr (14) and D&G
(7) compares with 41 in '93.

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus

_ Winter singles slightly fewer than '93: 1 Stenness Ork
_ from Nov 93 was last seen 31 Mar; 1 Wolfclyde Clyde
~ 30 Jan; 1 Mosset Burn M&N 6 Mar.

1 Kirkton D&G 13 Apr; 1 Maybole Ayr 23 Apr; | Fair
Is 25 Apr, 2 Starnafin NE 29 Apr. Good spring with
twice usual numbers in May, max 3 Fair Is 14-15 May.
| Endrick Clyde 22 Jun was first of autumn. Then Loth
8 Jul; Shet 18 Jul; NE 22 Jul; Fife, Fair Is , Arg, Caith &
Ork 24-26 Jul; M&N, Cent, Ayr, Bord and Is of May
30-31 Jul. Peak counts: good autumn Bord 14, Clyde

(18), Ayr (12) andrecord 28 Fife . Best counts: 9 Baron's
Haugh Clyde 8 Aug; 4 Fair Is & 7 N.Ronaldsay Ork
24 Aug.

Winter singles Earnhill M&N 24 Nov-1995; Douglas
Estate Clyde 17 Dec; Higgins Neuk F 18 Dec; Whitrig
Bog B 26 Dec; Heiton Mill B 30 Dec & S.Medwyn
Clyde 31 Dec..

Summary
J F M’A.M:.J J, A S

Ne shes) j=) 305. 6 = GE ee AS oy Re ee koi
N Scot spins ng SA cl BN AD etic hi) ie a a
NESCOt} fen 2): Woon 2k Se Ne 3) ei lal
E/€ Scot) ..-0 =e ope. O27 30n wl. A Tol
SE Scot) (22) 05 c= 2 eam ree en ere ene ann ae
W'Scots& 2 ie = ya eo a I DA ae sake soe
SW:Scot 230-0) 12) = Si: 8 ice
Total 1 == -b.. 8: 17.128 112.39 8 22-6
1993 AD) 2 he TE Sho 99 384. Sesl e?)
1992 2 1) 2 Ae Sie S165 8e3 i seSeierlietD

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

Good spring. Early start when 1 Aberlady L 29 Apr;
3 L.of Strathbeg NE 1 May. Mostly late May, all
singles except 2 Aberlady 2& 12 May; 2 L.of Strathbeg
10 & 22May; 2 Fair Is 12 May; 2 L.Gruinart, Islay Arg
13 May.

Breeding: Caith present 2 sites; I&R Badenoch &
Strathspey, 4-Sprs at 2 sites from 30 Apr-22 Jul; 2prs at
Ross-shire site.

Good autumn. First 1 Kinnaber A&D 7 Jul.

Mostly singles but 2 Whitrig-Bemersyde B 18-22 Aug;
2 Endrick Mouth Clyde 20 Aug; 2 Fair Is 29 Aug; and
2 Millchen Floods Clyde 2 Sep.

Last 1 Virkie Shet 23 Sep.

Summary

JI FM AM J JAS ON D
N Isles = ater ae) Os a ae Ml es De yas f= ee
N.Scot Se a tae el ete bP oh SR ae
NE Scot. ~ yn <=: 3 Sages eee alae oe ee
E/C Scot: 320. = = ean el ee Do
SE Scot: (0s 0 S00 UES 5) ae gos
WiScots) 2 fet te A lee te) ee ote
SW'Scots 2.02 tose ae ene ene oe
Total - - += 1 36 18 18 18 11 - - -
1993 So) ery 0S BO) eS ee2e 1S A 27a
1992 Sw Te L219 ee oP ee ey ee

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

Winter singles Black Cart Water Clyde 19 Jan &
Kirkcudbright D&G 31 Jan-1 Feb.

First returned Caerlaverock D&G 25 Mar; Fife & Bord |
27-29 Mar; Clyde 3 Apr; Arran, Arg & Ayr 15-16 Apr;
M&N, I&R, A&D, Clyde, NE and Caith 20-24 Apr;
Ork, Fair Is, Shet 28 Apr-4 May.

Breeding: Shet 11 sites; Ork 12-14prs (11); [&R 38prs |
on Eigg (33), highest for 10 years, 10prs Canna, 22prs
Insh Marshes; Loth 14prs Whiteadder WBS; Bord 4prs

CA TT a EA CA I a

R.D.Murray [Ed]

Gala Water WBS (6), 14prs on 12km of Tweed at Kelso;
Arg26prs Rhinns, Islay survey, 210f which were coastal;
22prs in partial count Colonsay; Clyde 61prs at 33 sites;
Ayr 124prs at 47 sites with 19prs at Greenock Water.
Main passage mid-to-late Jul: 20 Midross Clyde 7 Jul;
46 Montrose Basin A&D 17 Jul; 10 Ballo Res. F 18 Jul;
33 Alder Burn/Greenock Mains Ayr & 26 Dipple Ayr
22 Jul; 21 Cart/Clyde junction Clyde and 29 Glencaple
D&G 27 Jul; 15 Girdleness NE 23 Aug.

Most last dates 5-11 Sep. with singles Shet, Cent, Arg,
Ayr & Loth 18-27 Sep. Late passage birds: 4 Lerwick
Shet & 1 Hestingott Shet 10 Oct; Scone P&K 26 Oct;
1 Cameron Res. F 2 Nov and L.Eye I&R 13 Nov.
Wintering birds L.Ryan D&G 15 Dec and 1 Lamberton
shore B from 26 Dec into 1995 was first record of
wintering for Bord.

*Grey-tailed Tattler Heteroscelus brevipes
1 juv Burghead M&N 27 Nov-27 Dec.
First for Scotland and 2nd for Western Palearctic.

Red-necked Phalarope
Steven Brown

33

Turnstone Arenaria interpres

Average BoEFE peak 2,219 in Jan (2,604), 43% in Forth.
208 Girdleness NE in Jan; 667 S.Forth L, 264 Portgordon
shore M&N & 240 Irvine Ayr in Feb; 178 Doonfoot
Ayr & 390 Abroroath shore A&D in Mar. These counts
are put into perspective by Jan-Feb counts from part of
Ork: 932 E.Sanday & 444S.Stronsay in Feb, 416 South
Westray & 313 Deer Sound in Mar.

Present in small numbers late Apr-early May:168 The
Reef, Tiree Arg &peak 250 Musselburgh L in Apr .
Jun peaks 43 N.Ronaldsay Ork, 32 Ythan Est. NE and
18 N.Berwick L.

Main return in mid-Jul/Aug in N, Aug/Sep in S: single
Millichen flood Clyde 4-6 Sep.

Winter peaks: 500+ Arbroath &172 Is of May in Sep;
570 Irvine Ayr, 356 Fraserburgh NE & 296 Ardrossan
shore Ayr in Nov; 500+ Arbroath, 400 Saltcoats Ayr,
332 Portgordon & in Dec.

A lowish 1,906 in BoEE Dec count.

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus

First returned Fetlar Shet 21 May. 1 at sea off St.Kilda
OH in Jun.

Breeding: Shet 26 alarming males at 1 site (20), 2 at
another site was highest total since 1981; Arg site
checked but no birds. Last seen Fetlar 17 Aug.

1 L.Fleet Suth 5 Jul; pr seen from boat in Sound of Rum
I&R in Jul.

Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius

1 Castehill Caith 6 Feb; 1 Methil F 7 Feb.

1 Pool of Virkie Shet 22 Jun; 1 Prennygown, Mull Arg
3-12 Jul.

1 Brora Bay Suth 14 Nov; 1 Castlehill 29-30 Nov; 1 off
Dornoch Suth 3 Dec.

SS IR I EI
SSF NIN PS NTS ST ISTO AN IS BR OEE

34

Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus

Singles Peterhead NE 9 Jan, Ayr Ayr 13 Jan, Eathie
I&R 15 Jan, Chanonry Pt. 1&R 16 Jan, Ansthruther F
5 Feb & 1S Machrihanish Arg 16 Mar.

Spring passage : 1 Chanonry Pt. 3 May; 7 Seafield,
Annan D&G and 1 Ardrossan Ayr 8 May; 1 Marwick
Head Ork 15 May; 2 Anstruther 18 May with 1 there
20 May; 1 Chanonry Pt. 4 Jun. Best counts were 20N
Busta Voe Shet & 8N Wats Ness Shet 4-5 Jun.

Area Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
N.Isles 12 - 18 22 23 1 -
N.coast - 2 LSys) 123" 1205 16 1
MorayF. 1 - 28 41 554 2 aT
NE Scot - - 6 22 41 5

Forth - - 29. 150 8 489 3 2
W.coast - 1 4 11 5 - 2
Total 13 3 100 369 1,006 26 9

Higher numbers than in 1993 but lower than 1992 with
peak passage in early Oct rather than Sep.

No Sep high counts. 186 Hound Pt. L 1 Oct; 86 Sinclairs
Bay Caith & 381 Chanonry Pt. 2 Oct; 86N Dunbar L
3 Oct. 3 Cloch Pt. Clyde 1 Oct.

No counts >30 after 15 Oct. Late records: 1 Anstruther,
1 Fife Ness F, 3 North Head Caith& 1 Alturlie Pt. 1&R
2-4 Dec ; 1S Cloch Pt. 10 Dec; 1 Longman Outfall T&R
20 Dec with 2 there 31 Dec; 1 Chanonry Pt. & 1 Baron's
Haugh/Strathclyde CP Clyde 31 Dec.

First records for Renfrewshire & Lanarkshire.

Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus
1 juv Chanonray Pt. [&R 12 Jan was unusual.
First 1 Machrihanish Arg 8 Apr; then Fair Is , Ork & NE
on 15 Apr; Shet 18 Apr; M&N, Ayr & Fife 25-29 Apr;
Caith, I&R, A&D and Bord 2-15 May.
Breeding: Caith possibly bred Stroma; OHeb SOprs
bred Lewis; Arg 33prs Coll.
A 12% decline in the monitored sites in Shet continued the
drop seen in 1992 & 1993 (422 down to 378 sites). On Foula
it was thought that the low numbers of young reared between
1988-90 may be responsible for the reduced level of recruit-
ment. Incontrast there was a 10% increase seen in Ork (223
to 245 sites) . The forming of ‘clubs’ of immatures in Shet &
Ork for the first time since 1990 suggest a future upswing in
numbers.
Productivity showed little change with a MBP of 1.08 in Shet
anda slightly raised MBP in Ork of 0.55 (0.41). The changes
in Papa Westray & Rousay Ork were thought to be due to
reduced predation by Bonxies and GBB Gulls but predation
on Hoy remains high. The food supply seemed to present no
problems except on Foula where sandeel availablity was low
in Jun. There was little evidence of post-fledgling mortality.

Walsh et al JNCC, 1995.
Area Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
N.coast + 8 13 19 7 - -
MorayF.— - - 33 82 149 12 3
NE Scot - BINS © NGI 39 - -
Forth - 12 496 670 443 15 -
W.coast + 8 95 85 12 3 1
Total + 50 892 1017 650 30 4

Scottish Bird Report 1994

Peak counts: 20 Usan A&D 11 Aug; 43 Hound Pt. L and
31N Girdleness NE 22 with 31N latter on 31 Aug. 61N
Girdleness 8 Sep; 89 Hound Pt. 13 Sep; 39N Arbroath
A&D 24 Sep; 186 Hound Pr, 1 Oct; 40 Speymouth
M&N 3 Oct; 42N Dunbar L 15 Oct.

Passage extended well into Oct with fewer birds in Nov.
Very late records include 1 juv Chanonry Pt. on 4 dates
in Dec, 2 Kilmuir 1&R 1 Dec and 1 Kildonan, Islay Arg
9 Dec.

Long-tailed Skua Siercorarius longicaudus
No data on Aird an Runair N.Uist OH passage but
almost all spring records came from N_Isles.
ON Arbroath A&D 15 May; 7 Ramna Stacks Shet 4 Jun;
11 Wat Ness Shet 5 Jun with 1 there 9 Jun; 3 Eshaness
Shet 12 Jun; 1 Fair Is 14 Jun; 1 Scatness Shet 21-22 Jun.

Area Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
N. Isles 24 2 9 19 2 - -

N.coast - - 76 33 13 - -
MorayF. - = ss a: 99 2 1
NE Scot - - 41 4 3 - -
Forth - - 108 13) 62 1 1
W.coast - - 1 - - - 2

Total © 24 2 423 76 179 3 2

Best autumn since 1991, Peak counts: 59N Brora Suth
9 Aug; 31 Hound Pt. L & 51 Chanonry Pt. 1&R 13 Aug
with 76 at latter site 14 Aug. Fewerin Sep, max 14 Brora
29 Sep. Increase in Oct when 16 Chanonry Pt. 2 Oct;with
15 there and 23N Dunbar L 3 Oct.

2 juvs Beauly F. [&R 11 Nov with possible same birds
Alturlie I&R 4 Dec. 1 1st-w Fife Ness F 10 Dec.

The Dec records are the latest-ever for this species.

It is also remarkable that prior to 1991 the record E.
coast count was 11 birds .

Great Skua Stercorarius skua
2 Chanonry Pt. 1&R 18 Jan and 1 Fortrose 1&R 23 Jan.
First arrivals: 1 Sannox Arran 17 Mar a& 1 Newton
Ayr 20 Mar. Then first Arg, Ork, Shet & NE 25-28 Mar
with Caith 4 Apr. May records I&R, NE, Fife & Loth.
Breeding: Caith 42prs Stroma, pr prospecting Holborn
Head.
Numbers in Shet showed little change (-2%) while numbers
were Stable on Fair Is. It sems likely that numbers of Foula
will continued to decline as there are few non-breeders
available for recruitment due to mortalities in the 1980s. Ork
samples increased by 6.7%, mostly due to better coverage of
late breeders. Elsewhere there was a record 143prs on
St.KildaOH while the Handa Suth numbers increase by 22%
since 1991 to 112 OATs.
Productivity o n Shet showed little change at MBP 0.87 (0.83)
while Ork improved to 0.5 (0.35). An element of the improve-
ments in productivity was due to reduced cannibalism. There
was also good success on St,Kilda at MBP 1.0+.

From Walsh et al JNCC, 1995.

R.D.Murray [Ed]

Area Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
N.coast + =) 184.) 133 25 2 -
MorayF.- - 1 7 34 32 3 1
NE Scot - 16 139 76 53 1 -
Forth - 5 130 184 154 2
W.coast + 5 20 12 2 -
Total + 27 «©6480 §6—©439 = 266 8 1

Post-breeding dispersal from early Jul: first 2 Maidens
Ayr 12 Jul & St.Abbs B 16 Jul.

Peaks : 25 Fraserburgh NE 13 Aug; 115 South Head
Caith 17 Aug; 33 Duncansby Caith 4 Sep; 100 Skirza
Head Caith 17 Sep; 71 Hound Pt. L 2 Oct; 34 Girdleness
NE 16 Oct.

Last singles Anstruther F 6 Nov, Gullane L 9 Nov,
North Head 12 Nov and Dunnet Bay Caith 15 Nov.

* Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus

c15 reports, another good year.

Ad Dyce NE 1 Jan-17 Mar; ad Musselburgh L 13 Jan-
17 Feb; ad Kirkbean D&G 9 Jan; ad Saltcoats Ayr
13 Jan; ad Girdleness NE 29 Jan & 16 Feb; 1st-w
Newton Ayr 18 Feb & 25 Mar.

1st-s Blairbowie Ayr 10 May.

Ad Ythan NE 22 Jul; 2nd-w S.Queensferry L 25 Sep;
ad Barassie Ayr 4&7 Oct; 2nd-w Musselburgh 17 Oct;
1 Doonfoot Ayr 12-13 Dec; with 1st-w Musselburgh
12-31 Dec.

4 Mediterranean Gull Records in Scotland 1968-94

68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94

*Laughing Gull Larus atricilla
Ist-w Kinnaber A&D/NE 16 Oct.
First record for both recording areas.

Little Gull Larus minutus
The Firth of Tay continues to eclipse all other areas.
Very low numbers in Jan but increasing into Feb when

| 40 Tayport F, 59 Kinshaldy F & 137 Outer Tay Est. F.

Numbers then declined until the spring passage started

> in early Apr when high numbers at Rescobie L. A&D:

103 on 12 Apr, 250 on 15 Apr and 200 on 22 Apr.Also

| ; 27 Earlshall Marsh F 22 May and 16 Shelly Spit F 2 Jun.

35
SummayJ FMAM J J AS ON D
Naislesig2 oti lee ai Se Ol lt Del Sue 1 popes
IN Scoteass Geld ee a? Sil?) OO Be 2D
INE Scot ror 4 ea 2 = TO ae 3. 2s eT
E/C Scot 1 239 1599 30 23 28158 +1619 2 0
SE Scot? = levi pads 3°" 4" ceo Set = aa
Wicoaste 2) that ler) 1G ap DN G PP Ais SD

* E/C data very mimimal

12 Carnoustie A&D 14 Jul; 134 Fife Ness F 6 Aug.
Small numbers in Sep before remarkable passage in
early oct when 250 Elliot Bay A&D 1 Oct; 38 Fife Ness
and 150 Carnoustie 2 Oct; 100 Arbroath A&D 3 Oct;
681 Elliot A&D 1 Oct; 200 Usan A&D, 100 Boddin
A&D & 100 Esthaven A&D 12 Oct.

Outwith Tay area: 10-12 Broonhouse D&G 21 May and
5 Brora Suth 30 Sep were the best counts.

* Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini

All singles: 1st-s Lossie Est. M&N 25 Jun; possibly
same S.Kessock I&R 29 Jun; ad Ardnamurchan Pt.
I&R on 10 Aug; ad Frenchman's Rocks, Islay Argon
15 Aug; juv Machrihanish Arg 28 Aug; juv St.Abbs B
4 Sep; ad Machrihanish 10 Sep; juv Lossie Est. M&N
14-15 Sep; 4 juvs Frenchman's Rocks 11 Sep.

Min 11 birds involved in 9 records.

Ist & 2nd records for M&N, 4th for Borders.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

Breeding: Shet 130 nests at 5 colonies; Ork 9 colonies
with c 992 prs; Caith 151 nests at 3 colonies; I&R
714 nests at 2 colonies Newtonmore; M&N 385prs at
5 colonies; NE 335prs at 4 sites; Fife 450prs Redmyre
(759) & 194prs Birnie L.; Cent 120prs Ashfield raised
150 young (200/120); Loth 2,000prs at 3 sites, includ-
ing 900prs Bavelaw where 500 young; Bord 2,500 ads
+ 215 young Hule Moss; Arg 6 colonies with 633prs;
Clyde 887prs ar 13 sites with 535prs Bascube (600);
Ayr c600prs at 11 sites; D&G 1,300 nests L.Moan with
+215 young .

Roosts: 13,500 Strathclyde CP Clyde, 5,000 Hogganfield.
Clyde & 5,800 Hirsel B in Jan; 9,500 Doonfoot Ayr in
Feb; 7,000 Lochmaben D&G and 5,500 Hule Moss B in
Mar.

6,500 Doonfoot in Sep; 6,000 Doonfoot & Hule Moss in
Oct; 8,500 Balmossie A&D, 6,000 Pairley Clyde and
10,000 Doonfoot in Dec.

* Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis

Winter 93/94: Ad Stromness Ork 1993-19 Feb; as
Longman Outfall 1&R 4 Feb with 2nd-w there 16 Feb;
ad Port Charlotte, Islay Arg 14 Mar; Ist-w Lerwick
Shet 22 Mar-19 Apr then Sand L. Shet 19 May.
Winter 94/95: ad Doonfoot Ayr 13 Oct.

6th for Ayrshire.

36

Scottish Bird Report 1994

Common Gull Larus canus

Breeding: Shet 2 sites with 9prs failed; Fair Is: 7prs
raised 4 young (10/4); Ork 21 colonies held c2,000prs;
Caith 3-prs West Greenland; [&R 65prs Eigg (69),
40prs Kilmorach Dam; M&N 3,500 ads Mortlach Hills
with another 157prs at 3 sites; NE complete failure at
huge (14,000+prs) Correen Hills site; P&K 200prs at
2 sites; Cent 6prs L.Watson; Loth lpr Bavelaw; Arg
21 colonies with 1,023prs fledged 276-396 young,
41l1prs at 14 sites Rhinns, Islay, 98prs Tiree; Clyde
51prs L.Thom (350); Ayr 157prs at 9 sites; D&G 30prs
at 2 sites.

Few colonies are counted but data from W coast indicates
widepsread losses due to Mink predation with an MBP of
0.11-0.21 in Lochaber and 0.27-0.39 in Argyll & Bute. The
total failure at the Coreen Hills site NE may have caused bu
poor feeding conditions in spring leading may birds not to
lay, followed by frosts and dry conditions that prevented
foraging for earthworms. Walsh et al JNCC, 1995.
Roosts: 4,300 Strathclyde CP Clyde in Jan; 17,000 L.of
Skene NE, 7,000 Doonfoot Ayr & 6,000 Beauly F. 1&R
in Feb; 4,000 Whiteadder Res. L in Mar.

19,575 Meikle Craigs Ayr, 8,640 Caerlaevrock D&G
and 5,420 Hule Moss B in Sep; 10,300 West Water B &
4,500 Cobbinshaw L in Oct; 8,000 Doonfoot Ayr in
Dec.

A bird showing the characteristics of the N.American
race L.c. brachyrhynchus was seen in Lerwick Shet
25 Jan-19 Mar.

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus

Winter: 26 Carbarns Haugh Clyde 30 Jan with reports
of 1-10 birds from P&K, Fife, Cent,Loth, Bord, Arg,
Arran, Clyde, Ayr. & Ayr. Very few birds in N.

First arrivals 13-26 Feb inI&R, D&G, M&N and Ork;
6-20 Mar in A&D, Shet, NE & Caith. Best Mar count
was 513 Barr L. Clyde.

Breeding: K&R continued decline to 1Sprs Cas tle Is,
Eigg (34), 39prs Canna; M&N 16prs roottops Elgin;
NE 200prs Tips of Corsemaul; Is of May 1,270 nests
(1,259), only 369 chicks fledged after 561 nests were
culled; Loth 4,268 nests on Forth islands; Clyde 884
nests at 31 rooftop sites; Ayr 1,149nests Horse Is
(2.063). 8 monitored colonies in Arg with 1,080-1,155prs
had 3 total failures while the other 1,020-1,070 prs
reared only 90 young, probably due to Mink predation.
While there wasa small annual increase on Is of May, overall
numbers in Forth were at 7,200 AONS, a 72% increase on
1987. Productivity in Arg continued to suffer from Mink
predation with MBP only 0.10. Walsh et al JNCC, 1995.
3,000 Strathclyde CP Clyde was the largest Sep count.
Last Ork & Shet 14-19 Sep; Arran and I&R 6-9 Oct;
Bord & Caith 5-12 Nov; P&K 24 Nov. Decrecords from
A&D, Cent, Clyde, Ayr and D&G.

L.f-intermedius (continental race) : 6 at Tyninghame L
27 Mar & 1 Belhaven L 30 Oct were the only reports.

Herring Gull Larus argentatus

Roosts: 13,000 Strathclyde CP Clyde & 4,000 Pow
Burn Ayr in Jan; 5,500 Doonfoot Ayr, 5,000 Collesie
Tip F & 5,000 Edenside F in Feb.

Breeding: Shet Noss 60 nests (80); I&R 1,301prs
Canna (1,391),311prs Eigg (360), 144 rooftop nests
Inverness; Is of May 2,112prs (2,059) 41% increase,
c1,755 chicks, MBP 0.83 (1.04); Loth 10.903 nests on
11 Forth Is; Bord repeated drop to 296 nests (380)
St.Abbs; Arg 22 colonies had 3,374 nests which fledged
1,375-1,440 young; Ayr 766prs Horse Is..

Roof nesting noted Shet, I&R, M&N, A&D, Loth,
Clyde and Ayr.

Some recovery to Forth populatons to c13,000 pairs, with
22% increase over 1987 counts. Great decline, possibly due
to combination of predation and botulism, at St.Cyrus A&D
with only 9 AONs (911 in 1989). Walsh et al JNCC, 1995.
Roosts: 4,600 Forfar L. A&D in Jul; 5,760 Caerlaverock
D&G in Sep; 4,100 Eden Est. F in Oct; 4.500 Bogside
Ayr & 6,700 Doonfoot Ayr in Nov.

L.a.argentatus dark Scandinavian race
Only 1 single noted at Kirkwall Ork 10 Sep.

*Yellow-legged Gull L arus (a.) cachinnans
2 ad Dunglass B 23 Jan & 1 ad Newton Ayr 3-4 Apr &
2-14 May.

Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides

J. F M:A>oM...J;.jJ AS .0 ND
NiIsles, -..205...29 13: c Qin /eh eT pestid sien steel ees A imc 2 aa
NiScot. 79° .16247 Se a6 ola a se nonce emer
NE'Scot®** 6,57 6:22 3 o:t- =) = = = Toe
E/G Scot) 4: 26... 47S, (=n ce onl ie
SE Scot; 215-21 i =0 ale =. = ee oe
W.Scot.> 2) ai Ig 5s PAG er a eee
SW Scot'-6 9 -8 5° °2--="42 = .-. 1. 12
Totals 43 69 5329 18 9 2 1 1 6 5 15
1993. 103172: 95 76-31-— 3: 22 41-—.-* 4. 9 AG
1992 55) 59)-352327 267 de 92 2 912-472 4526

*records not fully detailed. Note no records from OHeb.

15 Lerwick harbour Shet in Feb was the only site to hold
more than 3 birds.

*Kumlein's Gull L. g. kumleini

Unprecedented influx into Shet involving min 7 birds.
2nd-w Lerwick 25 Jan-11 Feb; ad Lerwick 8-14 Feb;
Ist-w Lerwick 10 Feb-10 Mar with another bird there

7-29 Mar; Ad Virkie 3 Feb; ad Scalloway 11 Feb; dead |

ad St.Ninians Ayre 6 Feb.

Ad St.Kilda OH 25 Jan-6 Feb with 2 on 28 Jan-2 Feb.
Also returning birds: ad Banff NE 4 Jan-9 Apr. Ad Ayr
Ayr 1993-6 Apr, returned 12 Oct- 1995.

R.D.Murray [Ed]

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus
254 records (346 in 1993).

JI FMAM J JASON D
iNpislessur2S 25-10-4472 2: 515°. 7. 6
N.Scot Sy JED ER li a eee es es vee meme
INEEScott Ate al 2a? 2 oh ptoy 13
EGC Scot a ele = 23 ao oh ps = la Bee ee I
SES cotpes eon ean es ey =e om Zee ly4
RES COMMm me er 2) ime a De =
Shascotmomle 4.5, 00 1 23S 3° 5
Totals 53 55 2524 13 6 6 5 14 27 13 21
1993 CHM Aol ID Sy oD 27 387 30
1992 55 59 35 32 26 15 9 9 12 47 45 26

*records not fully detailed. Note no records from .Heb.
Highest counts: 13 Lerwick Shet 6 Feb; 4 N.Ronaldsay
Ork 24 Jan; 4 Fraserburgh NE and 5 Ayr Ayr in Jan.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
400 Lerwick Shet in Jan; 200 RumI&R_ in Mar and
500 Kingston M&N in Jun were the highest counts in
first half of the year.
Breeding: Shet recovery to 76 AOTs (68); Ork 1,800prs
at 15 sites; I&R 891prs Canna, 21prs Eigg, 17 nests
Rum and 85prs Nigg; M&N 3prs Portknockie; NE 6prs
Sands of Forvie; A&D pr Ethie Haven; Is of May 6prs;
Loth 12 prs on 4 Forth islands; Arg 155prs raised only
11 chicks from 36sites in study area, 98prs Tiree; Clyde
17 nests L.Tnom; Ayr 94prs at 6 sites with 74prs Horse
Is; D&G 17prs Murray Is..
Productivity figures (MBP) suggest good breeding success:
W.coast -0.72, Ork-1.10, [&R-1.90, Is of May-2.17. The low
success on the W.coast was due to Mink predation.

Welsh et al JNCC, 1995.
1,250 Kinnaber A&D in Aug; 1.094 Lossie Est. M&N
in Sep; 500 Macduff NE in Oct; and 850 Netherton NE
in Nov were the highest counts late-year counts.

*Ross's Gull Rhodostethia rosea
2nd-s Drimsdale OH 12-14 May.
Photo: British Birds 88: 521 and Birding World 7:486.

Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla

Max passage counts: 1,000 Chanonry Pt. I&R 18 Jan;
1,500 Dunnet Bay Caith 22 Mar; 1,900S Peterhead NE
9 Apr; 5,500 Kinnaber A&D 23 Jul; 10,280 Peterhead
18 Sep; 10,000 Hound Pt. L 3 Oct.

Breeding: Marked decrease seen along the mainland N.Sea
colonies ranging from -10% in Ork & Shet, -19% in NE but
-25% in Forth where the number of AONs dropped from
24,546 to 18.349. On Is of May the main decrease was due to
the adults present failing to nest while many that did nest
failed to lay eggs. A food shortage in spring was thought to
be responsible. Numbers increased around 12% on the NW
coast.

Productivity was moderately high, the UK average MBP of

! 0.72 (0.63) . Most colonies exhibited better success than
1993, particularly those in the Ork, NW, NE & SE Scotland.

Area % population MBP MBP

change 1993 1994
Shet -1.3 0.37 0.40
Ork - 0.91 1.14
N Scot - 0.98 0.96
NW +12.0 0.68 1.05
NE -19.0 0.23 0.41
SE -25.2 0.21 0.39
SW . 0.37 0.40

The NE and SE were the least successful areas for yet another
year. Failure were mostly during incubation and may have
been related to food availability. As more food became
available into Jun, there were fewer failures at that stage. The
most successful colony was on Handa with MBP 1.54.

Walsh et al JNCC, 1995.
Inland reports: 1 Carron Bridge Cent 14 Feb; 2 Hule
Moss B 10 Apr; imm Baron's Haugh Clyde 3 Aug; and
3 Winchburgh Quarry L 15 Oct.

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis

1 Brora Suth 31 Jan.

First 2 Montrose A&D 14 Mar; then first Fife, Ork, NE

& Bord 15-26 Mar; I&R, M&N, Arg & Ayr 28-31 Mar;

Loth & Suth 1 Apr.

Breeding: Dramatic 79% increase L.of Strathbeg NE to

923prs balanced by a 50% drop in 2 colonies in SE Scotland

from 259prs to 129prs.

Productivity was lower in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK,

average 0.84, at MBP 0.33 (0.08) in NE and 0.16 (0.73) in SE.
Walsh et al JNCC, 1994.

Ork c800 birds at 5 colonies; M&N 7 nests Kingston;

NE 923prs Strathbeg; Loth 98prs Inchmickery; Arg

12prs Machrihanish; Ayr 15prs Hunterston; and D&G

59 nests L.Ryan.

Poor year in far N with only 3 records each from Shet

& Fair Is.

Autumn: 2,000 Kinnaber A&D & 600 Aberlady L in

Jul; 450 Eden Est. F & 525 Valleyfield Lagoons F in

Aug; 380 Burntisland F in Sep. 250-1,000 Musselburgh

L Jul-Sep.

Inland: 1 Murthly P&K 11 May; 1 Gartloch Pools

Clyde 10 & 29 Sep; 2 Newton Stewart D&G 24 Sep.

Last birds in most areas 10-29 Sep but last M&N, NE &

Cent 1-9 Oct; Loth 23 Oct; Arg 7 Nov; Fife 13 Nov.

The latest record was | Lamb Holm Ork 9 Dec.

Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii

First 1 at Fife Ness F 18 May with 1 Anstruther F 21
May.

Breeding: Breeding numbers in the Forth dropped from
17prs to only 9prs at 2 sites in 1994. The Inchmickery colony
of 7prs had an MBP of 1.0. Walsh et al JNCC, 1995.
Most autumn records came from the Forth with 3 Port
Edgar L 13 Jun & 5 Burntisland F 16 Aug being the only
records of >2 birds.

The latest records were of 1 imm Brora Suth 2 Oct and

1 juv Burntisland 5 Nov.

SR aa pep a TIT ASE EOE TN

38

Scottish Bird Report 1994

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

First 1 Chanonry Pt. 1&R 10 Apr & Usan A&D 22 Apr.
First Loth, Ayr, Arg, Fife, Ork & Shet 23-25 Apr with
M&N, NE, Cent, Clyde & NE 28-30 Apr.

Breeding: A complex situation with colonies increasing by
53% in NE Scotland, little change in N. Scotland but de-
creases of 19-23% in SE Scotland and W.coast.

The W.coast decline was probably due to Mink predation
which usually produce total failure. In those colonies where
Mink were controlled early in the year, productivity was
good at 1.0-1.6 MBP. Elsewhere productivity was variable
with alow MBP of 0.06 in NE, due to failures at Strathbeg
and St.Fergus NE, to MBP 0.29 in N. Scotland but a better
0.91 in SE, mostly due to a good season on the Is of May.

Area % population change MBP
1993 1994 1993 1994
N.Scot +105 stable 0.45 0.27
NE Scot +141 +53 0.46 0.06
NW Scot . -19 0.48 0.88
SW Scot - -19 0.48 1.05
SE Scot +103 -22 0.45 0.65
Scotland na na 0.50 0.65
Walsh et al JNCC, 1995.

I&R 300prs Boar Rocks and 341 AONs Nigg with MBP
0.3; NE 288 AONs St.Fergus only manged 10 young; Is
of May 144prs; Loth 499prs Leith Docks.

Best counts: 750 Donmouth NE in Jul; 411 Burntisland
Bay F in Aug. 1,879 passed S at Machrihanish Arg in
30 hours sseawatching 25-30 Jul, max 236S on 26 Jul.
Most left by 25 Sep but late birds at Chanonry Pt.,
Blackdog NE, Musselburgh L, Kinneil Cent & Leven
F 5-11 Oct; with last 1 Doonfoot Ayr 23-28 Oct.

Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea

First 1 Arbroath A&D 19 Apr; Is of May, Shet & Caith
23-26 Apr; M&N, I&R. NE, Loth & Clyde 27-30 Apr;
Fife & Arg 1-6 May; Ayr 20 May.

© wo ELC Tae
IG oLG soa OTS ES.
eee, SO 6 BELG

ee Tamas eee

Little Tern Sterna albifrons

First 21 Carnoustie Bay A&D 7 Apr then first Loth,
M&N, Arg, Fife & Ne 23-28 Apr; Caith & Ayr 15 May.
Breeding: There was a 20% increase in the monitored
Scottish population from 49prs to S9prs.The produc

tivity however was very poor with an MBP of only 0.1.Area

Breeding: The N. Isles, which hold the bulk of the population,
showed continued declines, for the 2nd year in Shet but ona
longer term, since 1990, in Ork. Further poor breeding in
Ork suggests the drop will continue. Studies on W.coast show
declines there also but not as rapid as in Common Tern. The
increase in N.Scotland was mostly due to an increase at
Brora Suth . The SE productivity was stable. Productivity
was mostly low , probably due to poor weather in the N... Isles.
Only the SE had good success. Predator control of Mink

improved success on W.coast sites to around 1.0 MBP.

Area % population change MBP
1993 1994 1993 1994
Shet - 2 -37 0.39 0.19
Ork - 19 -22 0.25 0.17
N.Scot +11 +56 0.53 0.20
NE Scot -15 -32 0.08 0.02
NW Scot - - 0.13 0.22
SW Scot - - 0.18 0.77
SE Scot +5 +1 0.07 0.70

Walsh et al JNCC,1995
Shet & Ork large numbers of young died due to cold &
wet weather in Jun; Suth Brora colony abandoned in
Jun; 1&R 139 nests Nigg; M&N 150 nests RAF Kinloss;
NE 243prs St.Fergus onbly fledged 2 young; Is of May
544prs fledged 600 chicks; Fife & Loth all failed.
July post-breeding counts: 700 Virkie Shet, 250 Murkle
Caith & 300 Kinnaber A&D. 350 Dunnet Bay Caith &
300 Lunan Bay A&D in Aug.
Last birds Whalsay Shet, Newtonhill NE & Hound Pt.
L 1-8 Oct; Chanonry Pt. 1&R and Carnoustie Bay A&D
15-16 Oct; Doonfoot Ayr 23-24 Oct and Brora 24 Oct.

*Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri
lst-w Musselburgh L 16 Dec was later seen along
S.Forth L between Seafield and Port Seaton 16-31 Dec.

Second record for Lothian & Scotland. The previous |

bird, a 1st-w was seen in same area 6 Oct-9 Nov 19835.

Little Tern

aA eg Sooo wate -e
a es, Siete >
o “ese

Pairs Colonies 1993 MBP 1994

N.Scot 5 2 0.75 0.00
NE Scot 10 1 0.0 0.40
SE Scot 42 5 0.22 0.05
SW Scot 2 1 0.25 0.00
Scotland 59 9 0.25 0.11

See Walsh et al JNCC, 1995.

Steven Brown

R.D.Murray [Ed]

39

Caith 6prs Dunnet Bay + 3 young; I&R pr Fort George
failed; M&N 6prs at 2 sites, fledged 3 young; NE 5prs
failed Ythan; A&D 7prs failed Carnoustie; Fife 20prs
+2 young, another site abandoned; Loth 12prs at 2 sites
failed; Arg pr+2juvs at 1 site Islay ,30 birds (ad +juvs)at
another, 71 birds at 5 sites Tiree, c13prs at 2 sites Coll;
Ayr 4prs at 2 sites failed; D&G 3prs failed L.Ryan.
Last NE & Ayr 4 Aug; M&N and Caith 15-28 Aug; Arg
and A&D 10-11 Sep; Loth 18 Sep; with last bird past
Chanonry Pt. I&R on 5 Oct.

Black Tern by Andrew Stevenson
Short-listed for Best Artwork in a Scottish Local Bird Report
from Ayrshire Bird Report 1994

Black Tern Chlidonias niger

1lin spring: 23 in autumn.

1 Castle L., Lochmaben D&G 29 Apr; 1 Martnaham L.
Ayr4 May; 1 L.of Tingwall Shet 4-5 May; 4 Browhouses
D&G 15 May with 1 there on 21 May;2 Kinshaldy
A&D 21 May; 1 Chanonry Pt. I&R 5 Jun.

Singles Balgownie Links NE 30 Jul; Cove NE 1 Aug;
Meikle L. and Cotehill NE 3-7 Aug, 2 Aberlady Bay L
3-7 Aug; Eastfield L 3 Aug; Lunan Bay A&D 11 Aug;
up to 3 Musselburgh L 17-27 Aug; N. Ronaldsay Ork
23 Aug; Baron's Haugh Clyde 27 Aug; Methil & Leven
F 28-29 Aug; Hound Pt. L 3-4 Sep; WesthavenA&D &
Girdleness NE 8 Sep; Musselburgh 10 & 19 Sep; Hound
Pt 12 Sep; Peterhead NE 17 Sep; Ruddons Pt. F 19 Sep;
Hound Pt. 20 Sep; Kinghorn F 4-9 Oct.

A "poor year" in Loth, despite having half of Scottish
birds, but a good year in A&D and NE. 41 in 1993.

* White-winged Black Tern Chilidonias leucopterus
Ad L.of Spiggie and L.of Hillwell Shet 7-15 Jun; ad

| L.Spynie M&N 20 Jul; 1st-w Gladhouse Res. L 15 Oct.
_ Second for M&N, 4th for both Shetland and Lothian.

/ Guillemot Uria aalge

_ 20-50,000 birds were washed ashore in large-scale
||) wreck during Feb-Mar . It is likely these numbers were
_)/ within the 'normal' winter mortality for the North Sea.

Breeding: The large-scale wreck in the early part of 1994 did
not seem to affect the numbers breeding although there were
local decreases at sample colonies in Shet of 7-11%. In Ork
breeding numbers increased overall by 3% with a 15%
increase at Muill Head. N.Sea coast colonies showed a slight
increases since 1993. No change in sample plots on Handa
Suth indicating it holds its place as the largest single colony
in Britain at 113,590 birds, a 15% increase since 1987.
Overall breeding success remained high, averaging MBP
0.76, with no great change except for better success at
Sumburgh Shet (0.57 to 0.78) and Papa Westray Ork (0.44 to
0.83). Some other Ork colonies were a little less successful
due to poor weather.

Area % population change MBP
1993 1994 1993 1994
Shet - -5 0.71 0.74
Ork - + 0.67 0.72
N.Scot - - 0.70 0.73
NE Scot - +16 - -
NW Scot - — stable 0.74 0.70
SE Scot - +4 0.76 0.79

Walsh et al JNCC, 1995.
Ork 66,7747 at 4 colonies; Fair Is 37,600 ads ; Is of
May 13,843 ads; Loth 5,503AOS on 4 Forth islands.
Passage : 8,000W/hr Noup Head Ork 7 Apr; 1,200N/hr
Fife Ness F 20 May.
Inland: 2 Kenmore P&K 13 Feb; 1 Perth & Auchterarder
P&K 13 Feb; 1 Field Bridge, Endrick Clyde 16 Feb;
1 Causewayhead Cent & 1 Airthrey Cent 23 Feb.

* Brunnich’s Guillemot Uria lomvia

1 alive Seafield L 6 Feb and 1 dead Wabister Voe Shet
12 Feb.

9th for Shetland & 5th for Lothian. 2nd live bird for the
British mainland from same area of shoreline in
consecutive years!

Razorbill Alca torda

Breeding: Sample counts showed increasing numbers in
Scotland. This included increases in SE where there had been
significant increases in the previous year. This was mostly
due to a21% increase on Is of May. Numbers at sampled Ork
colonies had showed a 14% increase since 1991. Noss Shet
did have a 16% decrease from 1993 levels however.
Breeding success at monitored sites at Is of May & Fair Is
were moderately high, although slightly lower than 1993 but
data from other sites confirms that 1994 was a good season.

Area % population change MBP
1993 1994 1993 1994
Shet - +3 0.77 0.64
NE Scot - +43 - -
SE Scot - +19 0.72 0.6

Walsh et al JNCC 1995.
Is of May 3,034 birds; Loth 252 AOS on 4 Forth
islands.
5,000 Longman Bay I&R 13-16 Feb was the only high
count.

40 Scottish Bird Report 1994

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle

Breeding:

Pre-season counts in Shet indicate no overall change or slight
increases. Evidence of recovery from the Braer oiling come
from counts of the "Braer” coast in S. Shet and Fair Is that
show 16-29% increases. Overall counts at Papa Westray
Ork also increased despite local declines there possibly
associated with Rat predation.

Productivity dropped on Fair Is at MBP 0.58 (1.23). Success
was more variable on Westray & Papa Westray Ork (0.25-
1.0). W.coast sites had low overall success (<0.5). Predation
by Mink, taking adults, eggs and chicks, was seen on 4 of 12
islands. Other small islands had been abandoned in area.
I&R 20 birds Rum; M&N Ipr Portknockie; Clyde pr
each Inverkip & Greenock; D&G 3prs Meikle Ross.
Fewer records in Forth: Fife (1), Loth (3), Bord (2).

Little Auk Alle alle

Winter 93/94: Very low numbers with the highest count
100 Is of May 7 Feb. Inland: 2 dead at Tummel Bridge
P&K 5 Feb & Kenmore P&K 6 Feb; | found on a
tractor at Blawyllo, Bridge of Dun A&D 15 Feb. Many
coastal reports of corpses. 1 Dunnet Bay Caith 24 Apr
was the last bird of the spring.

1 Castlehill Caith 7 Jul was an unusual summer record.

Area Jan Feb Mar Sep Oct Nov Dec
N.Isles 8 12 1 - 12 6 7
N.Scot 14 17 - - 1 - 1
NE Scot - 5 - - - - -
E/C Scot L107 1 - 12 - 4
SE Scot - 8 - - - - 1
W Scot 12 1 - - 2 - 5
SW Scot - 1 2 -

Winter 94/95: A far poorer winter - 6 Pentland F. Ork
28 Oct & 4W Elie Ness F 30 Dec were the highest
counts.

Puffin Fratercula arctica

2 Brora Suth & 3 Troon Ayr in Jan are unusual winter
records.

First birds off breeding areas: A&D, NE, Caith & Shet
26-27 Mar; Fair Is & Arg 1-7 Apr; I&R, Is of May
& Bord 10-15 Apr.

Breeding: Fewer data in 1994 but little or no change Is of
May in line wth 0.4% annual increase of 1986-93.
Productivity was high, ranging fromO.73 to 0.85. Sites in Shet
were moderately successful with increased survival of small
chicks at Hermaness Shet. Burrows at Sumburgh Head Shet
appeared to suffer from predation by feral Cats. Fewer adults
brought food ashore at Foula Shet suggesting poorer success
there: Welsh et al JNCC 1995.
Ork1,500 at 7 colonies in Jun/Jul; Caith 1,200-1,500
ashore West Clett 10 Jul; Loth 1,200+ birds on 4 Forth
islands.

Peak movements: 100E/hr Gullane L 23 Jul; 742N/hr
Fife Ness F 28 Jul; 158N Brora Suth 23 Aug; 800N/hr
Arbroath A&D 24 Sep. Most gone by mid-Oct. Last 2

Kennacraig-Islay ferry Arg 26 Nov.

Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon Columba livia

"Pure": Shet 350 Scotburgh in Oct; Fair Is 556 in Apr;
Ork 320 Herston, S.Ronaldsay in Jan & 26prs Copinsay;
Caith 300 Shebsterin Dec; Arg 140 Kilchiaren, Islay in
Oct.

"Feral": 1,700 Burdiehouse L in Oct; 1,000 Rosshall
Farm Clyde in Oct; 700 W.Candrens Farm Clyde in
Nov; 600 Is of May in Sep; 480 Braefoot Terminal F in
Aug. 3-400 in NE, Fife (2) & Clyde (2).

Stock Dove Columba oenas

Another good year in N.Isles with 7 records Shet, 5 Fair
Is and 6 Ork.

100 Musselburgh L in Jan & Feb; 300 Blackstoun Farm
Clyde 25 Feb. Smaller flocks of 20+ seen A&D (3), Fife
(4), Clyde (2), Ayr and D&G (2).

Breeding: M&N 13 sites; NE 8 sites; P&K 6 sites with
2prs Vane Farm; Loth 4mm Roslin Glen; Bord 19 sites;
Clyde 14 sites with 9 nests Barchan Moss and 5 nests
Walkinshaws Gardens; Ayr 12 sites.

Woodpigeon Columba palumbus

Winter-spring: 1,500 Leuchars F 21 Feb; 2,000 Hill of |

Row Cent 2eb; 2,200 Carsethorn D&G 2 Feb.
Breeding: Shet 2prs Kergord but no proof of breeding.
Winter: 1,500 Dunphail M&N 25 Nov; 2,400 The
Meetings Clyde 27 Nov; 4,000 Ladykirk Ayr 30 Nov-
2 Dec; 3,000 Carsethorn D&G & 2,000 Leuchars 7 Dec;
1,800 Tealing A&D in Dec.

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Jan-Mar max : 40 Bruichladdich, Islay Arg;45 Sandyford |

Ayr and 60 Ormiston grain store L .
Breeding: Shet 13prs; Ork c3prs; Arran Ipr.

60 Tannadice A&D in Aug; 65-70 Carsethorn D&G in |

Oct; 50 Ormiston in Dec.

Barbary Dove Streptopelia ‘risoria'
Crosshill Ayr bird from 1993 seen until 19 Apr.

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
First 1 Duddingston L 28 Apr; then 2 Helendale Shet
2-13 May; 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 4-7 May.

May Jun Jul Aug Sep |

1-15 16-31 1-15 16-31 1-15 1631 1-15 16-31 1-15 16-31
N.Isles 8 W/ 14 9 1 1 - - 6 8
N.Scot - 1 1 - 1 - 1 - -
NE Scot - - - - - 1
R/C Scot 2 = = : = = =
SE Scot - 2 2 1 - - - - -
W.Scot 3 1 - - - - - 1
SW Scot 1 - - - = - - - -
Total 8 16 18 10 D, 1 1 SE 9

Late birds mostly in N with singles Scord Shet 1st Oct;
Eigg I&R7 Oct; S.Ronaldsay Ork 17 Oct; N.Roe Shet

—

29 Oct; The latest 1 Bridge of Don NE 22 Oct- 9 Nov.

LL EN EE EL aT a a SPE

R.D.Murray | Ed | 41

Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri
1 Glengoyne Distillery, Strahblane Clyde 25 Apr.

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus

First 1 Leuchars F, Ballimony, Islay Arg and Ford Arg
on 13 Apr; then I&R, Clyde & Ayr 17-19 Apr; P&K,
Arran & Shet 22-24 Apr; A&D, D&G, Bord, Loth and
Caith 28-30 Apr; Cent, M&N, Ork & Fair Is 3-8 May.
Main arrival 25-28 AprinS & W, widespread by 3 May.
Breeding: Shet juv Noss 27 Jul-2 Aug may have been
locally bred; I&R 9 sang Eigg (9), 4-5 juvs seen; P&K
3 fledged young; Loth 3 juvs in Aug; Bord 43 birds
calling 38 sites; Arg 7mm Rhinns, Islay; Clyde 37 mm
at 31 sites ; Ayr 40 at 31 sites; D&G 21 between
Penninghame & Three Lochs in May.

Mostly away Jul but last NE, P& K and A&D 2-12 Aug;
Cent, Loth, Is of May,Arg & Bord 17-29 Aug; Ayr
&Fife 5-16 Sep. Passage birds in Sep: Shet (7), Ork (1),
Ayr (1) & Fife (2). Last 1 Eigg I&R 7 Oct.

Barn Owl Tyto alba

Caith 1 West Lyth 22 Mar; Suth 1 site; I&R 12 sites,
4prs fledged 7 juvs; M&N 7 sites, with 4 prs; NE bred
10 sites, another 15 sites in winter; A&D 1pr bred; Fife
6 sites; Cent 4 sites; Loth 3 sites; Bord 82 sites (65);
Arg 13prs raised 28 juvs Kintyre (MBS 2.15), 12 nests
Islay where 11prs raised 29 young (MBS 2.6), 3other
prs raised 10 juvs; Arran 6prs with 14 juvs (MBS 2.33);
Clyde Sprs raised 14 juvs (MBS 2.80); Ayr 14prs reared
57 young (MBS 4.07), also 13 other sites; D&G 9S sites
monitored Newton Stewart- 42 were occupied, 40 laid
and 35 reared 120 young (MBS 3.42), also 25prs Rhins
reared 77 young (MBS 3.08).

* Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca

lst-w m found at sea on fishing boat Forties , 60mls W
of Fair Is 19 Oct, released Fetlar Shet 25 Oct, remaining
into 1995; pr Egilsay Ork 8 Oct; imm m Papa Westray
Ork 23 Oct-3 Dec, moved to N.Ronaldsay 10-17 Dec.
Sadly the male on Fetlar missed the long-staying
(c25years) but lonely females by 9 months!

Little Owl Athene noctua
Single all year Caerlaverock D&G; 1Creel Path, St.Abbs
B 11 Jul; 1 Lochfoot D&G 27 Oct.

Tawny Owl Strix aluco

| Caith3 sites; 1&R 20prs E. Ross 22 young (MBP 1.10);
_| M&N poor year Lossie & Speymouth, only 4 boxes
. occupiedwith 3brS (MBP 1.67); Fife 18 sites (21), bred

|) at only 3; Bord 105 birds at 68 sites, known to breed at
| 6, 9mm atHirsel; Clyde 12 sites, 6 broods; Ayr 9prs
. S. Ayrshire study had good year MBS 2.4, reported at 31
_ Other sites , young at 8 with MBS 2.0; D&G Galloway
‘| Forest - 30 boxes produced 66 young (MBS 2.2).

Long-eared Owl Asio otus

Winter roosts: 1 Shet, 2 Ork, 1 M&N, 1 NE, 1 A&D &
2 Clyde: largest roosts - 6 Tappach M&N & 4 Berstane,
St.Ola Ork in Jan. Otherwise singles I&R and A&D.
Apr-May migrants, all singles, Shet 3, Fair Is 2, Bord 2.
Breeding: Caith br1 Dunnet; I&R 6prs+4br10 (MBS
2.25) M&N juvs at 3 sites; NE bred 2sites; A&D 7prs
at 5 sites; P&K 3sites; Fife 5 sites, bred at 3; Cent br2
Skinflats; Loth bred 1 site; Bord 2 sites; Clyde 7sites
with 2br3; Ayr 23 sites, juvs at 10 sites (MBS 1.75).
Passage: Aug-Nov, 34 Shet, 8 Fair Is, 48+ Ork, 2 Caith,
2 I&R, 19 NE, 2 Fife, 11 Is of May & Bord 1. Best counts
22-28 Oct & 4-1 1Nov when 5 Northdale Shet, 8 Berstane,
St.Ola & 9 N.Ronaldsay Ork.No large Dec roosts.

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus

Very scarce in winter. Counts >2 birds: 4 Corsencon
Ayr& Dundee Airport A&D in Jan; and 4 Aberlady L,
3 Cockmill Marsh F & Montrose Basin A&D in Feb.
Migrants from 28 Mar: 8 Shet, 2 Fair Is, 6 Ork & 1 Loth.
Breeding: Ork 16 sites with 4prs Birsay Moors (10);
Caith 2 sites with 4prs Achlipster; Suth bred Melvich;
M&N 3 sites; NE 8 sites, br 5 L.Dye; P&K 18 sites, only
6 bred; Cent 3prs Touch Muir; Loth none bred; Bord
24sites, bred at least 3; Arg 14 sites, but proved only
one; Clyde 27 sites, c19 Glentaggart area; Ayrc15 sites
Carrick/N.Glentrool also 20 other sites with c31 pers;
D&G S5prs Newton Stewart, 2prs elsewhere.

Passage: 6 Shet ,8 Fair Is , 7 NE, 2 Fife, 7 Is of May and
2 Bord. Best autumn/winter counts: 3 Rossie Bog F in
Sep & Oct; 4 Glenogle Cent in Dec

Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus

Breeding: no reports Arg & Cent; Arran 1 bird calling;
D&G recorded 6 sites but poor reports suggest a
decline. Also 1 L.Garten I&R 9 Jun.

Swift Apus apus

First Dumfries D&G 23 Apr; Loth, Bord & Fife 24 Apr;
NE,A&D, Ayr &Clyde 25-29 Apr; P& K 2 May; M&N
and Arg 6-7 May; Cent,I&R,Shet 1& Fair Is 12 May; Is
of May & Ork 24 May.

Main arrival 9-16 May: 200 L.of Skene NE 11 May;
800 Balgavies A&D and 1,200 Rescobie A&D 13 May;
200 Balerno L 14 May; 400N Girdleness NE 16 May.
Breeding: stable 15-20prs Ayr Academy Ayr (15); 10-
20 tree-nests Abernethy Forest I&R.

8,500 Vane Farm P&K , 600 L.Gelly F & 200 Avoch
I&Rin Jun; almost no high Jul counts. 250 Kilconquhar
L. F in Aug. 800S Reston B 11 Aug.
Last M&N, P&K, Is of May, Cent and Fife 17-27 Aug;
I&R, Arg & Ayr 3-4 Sep; D&G, Bord, A&D, Shet, Ork,
Caith,Fair Is &Clyde 12-18 Sep. 1 Edinburgh L 1 Oct
& 1 Saligo Bay, Islay Arg 21 Oct before 1 Aberlady and
North Berwick L 4 Dec. Latest-ever for Scotland.

42

*Alpine Swift Apus melba

1 Noup of Noss Shet 2-30 Jul; 1 recently dead Ailsa
Craig Ayr 10 Jul; 1 Lunga, Treshnish Is. Arg 11 Jul.
4th for Shetland and Ayr, 2nd for Argyll.

The Ailsa Craig bird is now in the NMS collection: NMSZ 1994.92.

Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

I&R 5 sites (10), suspected Nethybridge; M&N 5 sites
(4), no evidence; NE 3 sites (8); A&D 7 sites(4), no
proof; P&K scarcer only 4sites (13), no evidence; Fife
7 sites, juv trapped Eden; Cent 2 sites (4); Loth 6 sites
(9) in summer, no evidence, 8 other sites in winter (3);
Bord 12 sites, bred at 3, 10 other sites in winter; Arg
4 sites (6), bred Carradale; Arran 2 sites; Clyde 15prs
(20) - 4prs on Clyde- Ipr raising 2br6, Sprs +2 singles
White Cart - seen 13 other sites in winter; Ayr 8prs (12),
min 3br7; D&G Sprs reported, increasing

Hoopoe Upupa epops

1 Irvine Ayr remained in area from 1993 until 31 Mar.

1 Uig, Lewis OH 14 May and Broubster Caith 20 May

were the only spring records.

Very quiet autumn, only 9 singles seen at Lerwick Shet

12 Sep; Haroldswick Shet 16 Sep; Binscarth, Firth Ork

19-29 Sep; Ireland Shet 22 Sep; L.Broom I&R and

Kirkwall Ork 13 Oct; N.Ronaldsay Ork 14-16 Oct;

Ronas Voe Shet 19 Oct; Veensgarth Shet 10 Nov.

Hoopoe

Andrew Stevenson

Wryneck Jynx torquilla

Only 3 in spring: singles Whalsay Shet 6 May and at
Fair Is on 10 & 20 May.

No evidence of birds present in breeding season.

c26 in autumn: first 1 Fair Is 17 Aug, then daily N.Isles
to 14 Sep with 35 birds in Shet, ‘many 'Fair Is & 19 Ork.
Influxes 24-27 Aug when max 4.N. RonaldsayOrk &
9-11 Sep when max 10 Fair Is & 3 Quendale Shet.
Singles Is of May 23-27 Aug & Ordquhill NE 4 Sep.
1 died when flew into window Anniesland, Glasgow
Clyde 4 Sep. Last 1 N.Ronaldsay 19 Sep.

Skin of Glasgow bird now in Kelvingrove Museum.

Scottish Bird Report 1994

Green Woodpecker Picus viridis

I&R 7 sites (4), no proof; M&N record 15 (6) sites, no
proof; NE 2 new sites in N of area; A&D 21 sites (13);
P&K 34 sites (25) but decline in highland areas after |
hard winter; Fife reported 46 sites (33); Cent 11 sites, |
(10); Loth 27 sites (30), bred at 1; Bord 29 sites (28) |
bred at 1; Arg 1 Cowal in spring, also 1 Mullin May, |
last there 1988; Clyde 26 sites (19), proved at 1 site; |
Ayr 3 sites (6); D&G 3 sites (8).

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major
I&R 2 sites, but 5 Forest Lodge in Jul; A&D 20 sites; |
P&K 35 sites (25) , bred at 7 sites; Fife 39 sites (29), |
bred at 2; Cent 7 sites (11); Loth 29 sites (42), bred at |
only 5 (10); Bord 74 sites (61), 64 AOTs (57)at 57 sites |
(46); Clyde 34 sites (32) with 36prs at 26 sites (24 at |
15), bred at least 5 sites with 4 br8; Ayr 19 sites (16) _
with 21prs at 17 sites; D&G 11prs Wood of Cree.
Migrants: Good autumn with 36 Shet, 2 Fair Is, 10 Ork, _
1 Caith, 1 Lewis OH, 4 NE coast and 2 Is of May; mostly —
28 Aug-25 Sep. Juvs of nominate race trapped on Fair
Is and Is of May prove Scandinavian origin.

*Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla
7 in spring: 1 N. Ronaldsay Ork 8 May, with 2 more |
there & 1 Fair Is 11 May; 1 Isof May 12 May; another |
N.Ronaldsay 13 May with yet another 17-24 May. Last |
1 Hirta St.Kilda OH 23-26 May.

& in autumn: 1 North Ronaldsay 11-24 Sep; 1 Fair Is
18-24 Sep; 1 Scatness Shet 20-25 Sep, moved to Scord
on 30 Sep; 1 Foula Shet 11-12 Oct with 2 there 13 Oct; |
1 Fair Is 11-13 Oct; 1 Sandwick Shet 7 Nov; 1 Scord |
7-8 Nov movong to Scatness 10-18 Nov. |

*Wood Lark Lullula arborea
1 Out Skerries Shet 22-25 Oct.

Skylark Alauda arvensis (f
2,000+ Girvan Mains Ayr, 700 Ladyfoot area Ayr &| /
400 Balmedie NE in Jan; 900 Blackstoun Farm Clyde| ;
in Feb were the only really large winter flocks. Flocks oe
100-400 seen I&R, M&N, A&D, Fife (3),Cent, Loth, |
Bord, Clyde, Ayr (4) and D&G (5).
Spring movements: 256E St.Andrews Bay F 15 Oct;)
142 West Linton B, 320 Allander Water Clyde and} /
400 Lepcropt Cent 24-26 Feb; 300 Baltasound Shet,| ;
532 North Ronaldsay Ork, 300 Hestingott Shet and
720 Fair Is 15-28 Mar. First birds returned to hills
mostly 10-15 Feb in S, 1-8 Mar in N.

=

Breeding; CBC (F +2%) Fair Is 75-80prs (55); Ork! hi
28prs N.Hoy (30); P&K 16prs Vane Farm (12); Loth | jy
3prs Aberlady (45); Arg 2,020 AOTs Rhinns, 95prs}_ }j;
L.Gruinartreserve, Islay; Clyde 10Sprs Renfrew 2-tetrad In
study; Ayr S56prs in S-tetrad study. [Sa
Peak passage late Sep-mid Oct when 500 Sumburgh} jy,

.

R.D.Murray [Ed]

Shet, 370 Fair Is 2 Oct; 200/hr Bracken BayAyr 8 Oct;
450 Greenan Ayr 9 Oct; 1,200 Kinnaber A&D 16 Oct;
500+ Craigalbert Ayr 20 Oct; 193 N.Ronaldsay and
220 St.Abbs B 22 Oct.

800 Chapelcroft D&G 27 Dec was the only Dec flock
>400. Flocks of 100-400 Cent, Ayr, Lot & D&G (2).

Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris
2 Foula Shet 30 Apr and 1 Rattray Head NE 5 May.
ist-w Grutness Shet 20 Sep.

Sand Martin Riparia riparia

Very early 1 Eigg I&R 6 Mar then D&G 22Mar; Bord
23 Mar; Clyde, Fife, Cent, Loth & Ayr 26-27 Mar; Arg,
M&Nand P&K 28-29 Mar. Later at A&D, Ork & Caith
10-17 Apr; Shet & Fair Is 25 Apr. 200 Knockshinnoch
Ayr & 250 Rescobie A&D 22 Apr; 3,000 Kinnordy
A&D 26 Apr; 4,000 Bothwell Park Clyde 2 May; with
200 Duddingston L & 300E Inverness I&R 15 May.
Breeding: Some improvement in breeding numbers.
Largest colonies were 600 burrows R.Clyde at Carstairs
Clyde and 517 R.Tweed at Fireburnmill B.
Summer/autumn maxima later than 1993, good season?
5,000 roost Bothwell Park 5 Aug; 4,000 L.Leven P&K
16 Aug; 1,000 roost L.Garten I&R 19 Aug; 600 Stroan
Loch D&G 22 Aug; 300 Cameron Res. F 28 Aug; and
250 Lindores L. F 1 Sep.

Last Ork , Clyde & Cent 20-30 Aug; I&R, Caith & Bord
2-4 Sep; Arran & Loth 7 Sep; Shet , Fife & Is of May
10-12 Sep; M&N and P&K 18 Sep; still 60 Bogton L.
Ayr 24 Sep. Last 3 Ford Arg 22 Oct.

Sand Martin

1) Swallow Hirundo rustica

| First 1 Culroy Ayr 21 Mar; D&G and Arran 29 Mar;
_ Bord 31 Mar; Clyde, Loth & Fife 1-3 Apr; Arg & NE
jl 7 Apr; P&K, I&R, A&D, Cent & Ork 10-12 Apr; Caith
| 15 Apr; M&N, Shet, Fair Is & Is of May 23-25 Apr.

_ First widespread arrivals 1-2 Apr & 10 Apr but mostly

43

23-29 Apr when 100 Martnaham L. Ayr & 110/hr
Bogton L. Ayr. 300 Cameron Res. F 1 May.
Breeding: CBC (F +12%) Shet 4prs bred (6); Fair Is
2prs 5 young; Ork 98prs (85) had good season with
many 2nd broods; Is of May min 4prs raised 14 young;
Clyde 42nests in Renfrew 2-tetrad study. Many
successful 2nd broods noted but only a single 3rd brood
at Prestonpans L.

Main movement slightly earlier than 1993 with bulk
through in Aug but a large number of very late passage
birds and some extremely late records into Dec.

600 L.Denagler D&G 1 Aug; 1,000 Newburgh NE
5 Aug; 3,000 Glencaple D&G 7 Aug; 800 Martnaham
L. Ayr 15 Aug; 600 L.Gelly F 16 Aug; 600 Kilconquhar
L. F25 Aug; 1,000 Kinnordy A&D 26 Aug; 6,000 Aird
Meadows Clyde 29 Aug; 1,000 Curlie P. A&D 30 Aug;
500 Duns B 9 Sep; 500 Kinconquhar L. 21 Sep; and
350 Hirsel B 22 Sep.

Last P&K, I&R, Fair Is & Cent 2-8 Oct; M&N, Is of
May, A&D, Suth, Fife & Caith 17-31 Oct; Arg , Ayr,
Ork, Shet and Bord 1-13 Nov; D&G, Clyde and NE
25-30 Nov. Singles Aberlady & Dunbar L 3-4 Dec;
record latest 1 Lamlash Arran5 Dec. Last bird Dunbar
21 Dec. Latest-ever bird for Scotland.

House Martin Delichon urbica

First 2 Brodick Arran | Apr with 1 Lerwick Shet 2 Apr.
Next Loth 7 Apr; Shet and A&D 13-15 Apr; P&K and
Bord 17-19 Apr; Clyde, Fife , Ayr & Cent 21-23 Apr;
D&G, Arg, Caith, D&G, Ork & NE 24-26 Apr; I&R ,
M&N, Suth, Is of May & Suth 27-30 Apr; Fair Is 4 May.
A poor spring with no marked numbers and few before
20 Apr . Small influx in SEon 22-24 Apr, max 12 Scone
P&K. Larger numbers 29-30 Apr when 38 Auchmithie
A&D and 60 Eglington Ayr with late main movement
18-19 May, max 120 Kilconquhar F and40 Summerston
Clyde. Passage heaviest, max 20, in N.Isles early Jun.
Breeding CBC (-11%A). Further declines - Shet bred
Foula & Out Skerries; Ork 2prs (8); M&N 23 nests
Buckie High School (30); Fife 4 nests Kincraig Pt. (5);
Loth 54 nests Tantallon (67), stable 30 nests Tranent;
Arran Ipr Greannan (4); Arg 4 Glenbranter Farm,
Cowal (15); Ayr 3 nests Penwhapple (14); D&G slight
improvement in numbers.

First post-breeding movements mid-Jun in Clyde, early
Jul in Bord, max 200 Cardross Clyde 18 Jul. Main
movements: 1,000 L.Leven P&K12 Aug; 290 L.Gelly
F &250 Doonfoot Ayr 19-21 Aug; 380 Cameron R. F
28 Aug; 200 Dalmeny L 7 Sep; 300 Abbotsford B and
200 Barons Haugh Clyde 15-18 Sep. Mostleft W & SW
by 20 Sep, SE by 28 Sep. Last N.Isles mid-Sep but latest
I&R and Bord 3-4 Oct; Clyde , P&K, Ayr, Fife & Cent
7-9 Oct; Loth 18 Oct; A&D 29 Oct; Suth 8 Nov. Late
singles at Newtonhill NE 27 Nov, Forres M&N 2 Dec
with the last at Brodick Arran 3 Dec.

leh

*Richard’s Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae

A record 33 individuals, all in autumn

1 Fair Is 10 Sep; 1 Haroldswick Shet 18 Sep; 1-2 Fair
Is 19-26 Sep; 5 singles Shet 22-30 Sep at Levenwick ,
Hillwell, Fladdabister ,Skaw, Unst and Sumburgh; max
4 Fair Is 2 Oct; 2 N.Ronaldsay Ork 10 Oct; 1 Is of May
11 Oct; 1 Stronsay Ork 12 Oct; 1 Fair Is 13-25 Oct; max
3 N.Ronaldsay 16 Oct. Then singles Skaw 20 Oct;
Scord Shet & Ferryden A&D 22 Oct; Mersehead
D&G 26 Oct; Egilsay Ork 1 Nov; Whalsay Shet 3 Nov;
S.Ronaldsay Ork 6 Nov; Whinnyfold NE 11 Nov;
Cathkin Braes Clyde 21-26 Nov; Sumburgh 16 Nov;
N.Ronaldsay 26 Nov; and St.Abbs B on 7 Dec.

First for Clyde, 2nd for Bord and Is of May; 3rd for NE.
The latest N.Ronaldsay bird shows the pitfalls of field
identification ... "this bird was considered to show many of
the characteristics of Blyth’s Pipit A godlewski but was
trapped and proved to be a Richard's".. a field description
may have suggested otherwise! Orkney Bird Report 1994

*Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni

A return to amore ‘normal’ year - 3 records.

1 Fair Is 10-12 Oct; 1 Veensgarth Shet 24 Sep-1 Oct;
1 Is of May 3 Nov.

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis

First 1 Craigdews D&G 13 Apr with 2 Ardentallen Arg
14 Apr. Then Clyde, Bord and P&K 16-18 Apr; I&R
21 Apr; Fife, Fair Is, A&D, Loth, Ork & Ayr 23-24 Apr;
NE and Cent 30 Apr; Caith 3 May; M&N, Shet & Is of
May 6-11 May. General movement in S 24 Apr, max
6 Farragon P&K. Largest movement Fair Is 13-15 May
when 20 daily but mostly 1-2 birds in mid-May.
Breeding: CBC (-9%A):1&R 19 prs Insh Marshes; Fife
7 at 6 sites; A&D 8 sang Glen Esk; Loth only 3 sites
suggests a decline; Bord 15 males at 13 sites; Arg
stable 10 prs Taynish; Clyde 31 at 18 sites; Ayr 65 terr
at 33 sites with stable 6 Glen Afton; D&G 24 prs Cree
Wood (19) and 14 at Knockmans Wood.

Jul movements only involving singles in Arran, I&R,
Caith, and Fife. Few in Aug but passage evident late
month when 51 N.Ronalday Ork 24 Aug, 14 Out
Skerries Shet 27 Aug & more widespread 28-29 Aug in
I&R, P&K, Bord, D&G with max 10 Carsethorn D&G.
Last Caith, Clyde & Is of May 7-24 Aug; I&R, D&G,
P&K and Bord on 28-29 Aug; Arg 7 Sep; Fife and Ork
17-18 Sep; A&D 1 Oct; Fair Is 3 Oct; with last single
Channerwick Shet on 7 Oct.

*Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi

Record 7 birds: | Fair Is 15 Sep with 3 there on 16 Sep;
1 Burrafirth, Unst Shet 16-20 Sep; 1 Foula Shet 18-28
Sep; 1 Fair Is 2-9 Oct; 1 Out Skerries Shet 13-14 Oct.
Record year for Shet (5 previous) and Fair Is (4 birds).

Photos: Out Skerries bird British Birds 88:544 and Foula bird
Birding World 7:383.

Scottish Bird Report 1994

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

More winter reports than previous year c10 N.Isles but
few in N&E, max 33 Thornhill Cent and 13 Reston B
compared to 240 Irvine Ayr & 90 Caerlaverock D&G,
First movements Bord 12 Mar; NE and P&K 16 Mar;
Caith 18 Mar; NE, D&G, Fair Is & Ayr 20-21 Mar;
Clyde , Fife & Is of May 25-27 Mar. Peak movements
- 200 Is of May 28 Mar; 1,900W in 1 hr Aberlady L and
318/hr St.Andrews F 30 Mar; 200+ NE over Balgray R.
Clyde 4 Apr; 750W Aberlady (1hr), 150 Piersknowe B
and 200 Tarfessock Ayr 6 Apr; 350 Lepcropt Cent,
300 Dunalistair P&K & 351 Faskally P&K 8 Apr. Few
later large counts.

Breeding: CBC (-15%A): Fair Is 30-40prs (45-50);
I&R good season Figg, many fledged; P&K 46 prs
at Vane Farm (42); Loth 31prs Aberlady (22), 18 prs
Thriepmuir (13); Arg 71lprs Gruinart reserve with
1,416 territories Rhinns survey , Islay - was densest on
moorland areas; Ayr 10-12prs Irvine Beach (25-30),
good success Lagafeter Lodge.

Quiet autumn passage: 500 Tiree Arg 5 Jul. Peak was
220 Carsebeck P&K &450 Is of May , 1200 in 2hrs
Irvine Ayr & 350 Fair Is 11-13 Sep; 1000/hr A&D coast
25 Sep; 300 Sherrifmuir Cent & 220 St.Abbs B 22 Oct.
Few Nov-Dec records noted.

*Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus

3 in spring, 1 in autumn, all Orkney.

Singles North Ronaldsay Ork 7 & 13 May ; Holm Ork
16-18 May. 1 N.Ronaldsay 27 Oct.

Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus

Ork Jan-Mar counts include 42 S.Westray,93E.Sanday, —

41 S.Stronsay, 66 N.Mainland & 61 Deer Sound.

40 Monreith D&G in Feb. 1 inland Drem L in Jan.
Breeding: Ork 18prs North Hill, Papa Westray (22) &
19prs Copinsay; A&D 3prs Arbroath to Auchmithie; Is
of May 49 territories; Bord 10prs St.Abb’s Head (12);
Arg 115 prs Rhinns , Islay may be an underestimate, but
included 6 inland prs at Kilchiaran and Coul.

Max: 220 Fair Isin Sep; 40 Sumburgh Shet in Oct;
45 Portgordon M&N & 22 Morangie I&R in Dec;

Scandinavian Rock Pipit A.p.littoralis

Identifiable in field only during spring.

2 Barns Ness L 19 Mar with 3 on 9 Apr & 1 on 19 Apr;
5 Tyninghame L 20 & 26 Mar; 1 Aberlady L 30 Mar;
2 Deil's Dyke Ayr 23 Apr.

“Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta

Singles Tyninghame L 4 Feb-26 Mar; Starnafin NE
8-12 Apr.

Returned Tyninghame 6 Dec into 1995, also 1 Curragh |
Ayr 3 Dec-1995. |
[1977] 1 Kinneil Cent 13 Nov is now first for Cent.

|
\
i

i}
|

R.D.Murray [Ed]

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava

First 1 Springhall B 22 Apr;then D&G, Fair Is, Loth &
Clyde, 24-25 Apr; NE 30 Apr; A&D, Is of May, Fife,
Ork, & Cent 2-5 May; Shet 12 May; Ayr & Arg 24-29
May. Up to 6 on territory Bigham B 30 Apr but main
arrival was early May, mostly singles in E.

Breeding: CBC(+17%A). Loth br2 Barns Ness may
have been locally bred; Bord: 11 territories Teviot
haughs between Ancrum and Kalemouth with c20
territories on Tweed haughs between Kelso and
Coldstream; Clyde: searches failed to find any evidence
of breeding in former strongholds.

Firstpassage birds at St.Abbs B 7 Jul with 1 Cargenbridge
D&G 22 Jul. Light passage, max 3 St.Abbs 8 Aug on
mainland with late Aug movement N.Isles, max 6 on
Fair Is and 3 N.Ronaldsay Ork 20-27 Aug. Few
mainland Sep records with singles Meikle I&R 2 Sep
and Millichen Clyde 10 Sep. A few later N.Isles birds
of indeterminate race to 25-30 Sep with last, probably an
eastern bird at Fair Is 10-15 Oct.

Blue-headed Wagtail M_f-flava

Males seen Nisbet and Springhall B breeding with
flavissima partners.

Singles Musselburgh L 27 Apr & 28 Apr; Strathbeg NE
4 May; Girdleness NE 7 & 12 May; Hoy Ork 24 May.
Several others were not subspecifically identified.

Grey-headed Wagtail M_/- thunbergi
Singles Holm Ork 16 May, Rattray NE 19 May and
N.Ronaldsay 22 May. Others were present on Fair Is.

*Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola

Singles Fair Is 1-4 Sep; Quendale Mill Shet 19 Sep;
N.Ronaldsay Ork 21 Sep; Out Skerries Shet 23 Sep;
Skaw, Unst Shet 26 Sep-8 Oct.

Record year: 8-10th for Shet, 3rd for Ork, 11th year in
arow for Fair Isle.

Citrine Wagtail in Scotland 1968-94

/68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94

Note that Citrine Wagtail have now been annual
since 1985. They now average 2.3 per year
compared with 1.1 year before then.

45

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

Winter reports: Shet , Ork (3), M&N (3), I&R , P& K (2).
Arrivals: Bord 20 Feb; P&K and Cent 2 Mar; I&R and
Ork 21-28 Mar; Shet 1 Apr. Poor spring N.Isles with
singles Shet & Fair Is and 5 Ork. Only 3 Is of May.
Breeding CBC (+17%A) WBS -1%: Shet & Ork none;
Caith 3prs ; OH 3prs Lewis; [&R 9prs Eigg; A&D
9prs Brechin WBS; Fife 37 sites; Bord 9prs at 2 WBS
sites (11); Ayr 78prs at 52 sites with 7br22 noted ; D&G
13prs in forestry re-stock.

P&K good numbers of young seen but absent many
sites Tummel-Garry; Cent good success Trossachs.
Few N.Isles in autumn: 6 Shet, 2 Fair Is and 11 Ork.
Reported 18 days Is of May. Max counts: 10 Merryton
Clyde 22 Aug & 12S in 2hrs Irvine Ayr 15 Sep.

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba

1 Shet, none Fair Is , 5 sites Ork, 4 Caith and 2 P&K
during Jan-Feb. Winter assemblies all in S:130 Irvine
Beach Ayr, 50 Hirsel B , 42 Leuchars F & 30 Millichen
Clyde and Lecropt Cent, all early Feb. Returnees P&K
2 Mar; I&R 12 Mar; Shet & FairIs 19-20 Mar.
Poor passage with few large movements. Max counts:
154 Hirsel roost!5 Mar and movement 28-29 Mar when
25 N.Ronaldsay Ork, many sites Caith & 12 Isof May.
Max 38 N.Ronaldsay 1 Apr and only 15 Fair Is 15 May.
Breeding CBC -32%F, WBS -13%: Shet 7 sites (14);
Fair Is 2prs; Is of May 4prs bred; Loth 7br13 noted,
MBS 1.86; Bord 11prs at 2 WBS sites (10), 30prs on
15kms R.Teviot; Arg 102prs Rhinns, Islay, mostly on
agricultural ground; Ayr 9br28 noted, MBS 3.1.

200 Tiree Arg 5 Jul, 101 W Livingstone village L 28 Jul
& 200 Irvine Beach Ayr 31 Aug were the largest non-
roost counts.

Max roost counts: 200 Bridge of Don NE in late Aug;
240 Wick Caith & 150 Altens NE in early Sep; 350 at
Dunfermline F, 320 Hardhill A&D, 300 Huntlyburn B,
270 Kingston M&N, 220 Carsluith D&G in late Sep.
Last Fair Is 27 Oct. 120 at roost Easterhouse Clyde &
110 Airthrey Cent in late Nov. Few Dec counts.

White Wagtail M.a.alba
First 1 Swansfield B 17 Mar. Then D&G, Loth & Ayr -
25-26 Mar; Fair Is, Clyde & Cent 1-3 Apr; Ork 9 Apr;
Shet & Arg 9-11 Apr. 4Newmains B 19 Mar; 35 Irvine
Beach Ayr 22 Apr; 14 Findhorn M&N 23 Apr; 16 Eigg
I&Ron25 Apr; 16 Dunnet Caith 26 Apr; 100+ Cardross
Clyde 27 Apr; 35 Musselburgh L 30 Apr; 33 Kilbirnie
Clyde and 10 Caerlaverock D&G 2 May.

1 Johnscleugh L displayed with male yarrellii 9 May.
Quiet autumn: First 2 Blackwaterfoot Arran & | Kinneil
Cent 13-15 Aug; 10 Sumburgh & 20 Scatness Shet on
25 Aug; 4 Papa Westray Ork 28 Aug; 1 Ork, 1 Arg, 3
NE and 1 D&G in Sep before late Arg singles at
Skipness & Rhunahaorine 24- 26 Oct.

46

Scottish Bird Report 1994

Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Sep Oct Nov Dec
: 1 3 :

N.Isles 33 41 1
WiIsles_ - - - - - - 4 - -
N.Scot - - - - - - - 18 -
Inv&R 8 9 - - - - - 7 4
NE Scot 25 Sy edits) Ti - - 3 38 2
W.Scot - - 1 - = = - 3 =
E/C Scot 3 3 - - - - - 25

SE Scot 6 4 1 - - - 1 1

SW Scot - - - - - - - =
Totals 42 19 20 8 - - 41 144 if

NB: numbers approximate

1993-94 Very poor numbers - 6 Livingstone L 6 Jan; 7
Aviemore I&R 14 Jan; 17 Lossiemouth M&N 17 Jan;
4 Inverness I&R 15 Feb; 1 Inchinnan Clyde 5 Mar;
6 Elgin M&N 18 Mar; latest 21 N.Ronaldsay Ork
27 Apr.

1994-95: First 1 Clarilaw B 16 Oct before small arrival
28-30 Oct when 25 Shet, 4 Fair Is, 2 Ork, 3 M&N and
4 OHeb. Further arrivals and spread to S &W 1-14 Nov
with 9 birds Shet; max 18 N.Ronaldsay Ork; 5 Caith;
2 Arg; 2 M&N; 29 NE, max 21 Aberdeen; 25 P&K,
max 25 Pitlochry. A few lingered into late Nov but very
few birds thereafter.

Dipper Cinclus cinclus

Breeding Ork br3 Hoy- first confirmed since 1940;
Caith 3prs bred; NE juv seen L.Etchachan at 970m in
Jul; 1&R 4prs Insh Marshes, 3prs Eigg; Cent Sprs in
5kms Crook of Devon; Bord 10prs at 2 WBS sites (10),
14br60, MBS 4.29 (4.3); Ayr 69 nest/territories with
MBS 3.22 from first broods of 8prs on Catrine, stable
numbers Upper Minnoch; D&G return to 4prs Wood of
Cree after several poor years.

Early brood fledged 12 Apr on Fleet D&G.

Singles flying S Machrihanish Arg 2Mar & 5 May.

Black-bellied Dipper C.c.cinclus
1Sandwick Shet 4 May.
Typical record for continental race.

Wren Troglodyvies troglodytes

CBC F-1%, W-1%, CES (ads+10%,juvs-16%)

Fair Is 32-37 (30-40) singing males; Ork increasingly
abundant Sandwick & Papa Westray; [&R abundant
Eigg but CBC site suggest 19% drop; P&K 22prs Vane
Farm (30), 38prs Killiecrankie (48); Loth 1Sprs
Aberlady, 27prs Roslin Glen (27); Bord stable 6prs
St.Abbs; Arg 198prs Rhinns (forested areas not
included), large drop to 4prs Taynish (14); Clyde stable
21prs Merryton, 1Sprs Cathkin Braes (12), 246prs in
the 2-tetrad Renfrew study area

Few records of passage birds. Max 4 Is of May 21 Apr-
| May in spring. Then 25 N.Ronaldsay Ork early Sep.
Max 15 Fife Ness F 1 Oct; 16 St.Abbs B 16 Oct, 20 Is
of May 20 Oct and 6 Rattray NE 5 Nov.

Dunnock Prunella modularis

Winter singles Shet & Fair Is with 4 Ork Jan-Feb.
First Shet & Is of May 26 Mar; & Fair Is 2 Apr. Max
3 Whalsay Shet 11 Apr; 6 Fair Is late Apr; but only
singles N.Ronaldsay Ork and Is of May.
Breeding:CBC+2%,F+8%W,CES(ads+12% juvs-15%)
Ork 3prs Hoy (5), Mainland 5 sites (6), TrumlandWood,
Rousay 4prs (8); 1&R 30-40prs Eigg, poor season;
P&K 9prs Vane Farm (11); Loth 27prs Aberlady (30),
6 Roslin (10); Bord 9prs St.Abb’s (7); Clyde 10-15prs
Baron’s Haugh (10-20), 24prs Merryton (16-18), 136in
Renfrew 2-tetrad study area.

Autumn passage: very weak passage N.Isles with 7 in
Shet , only 10 dates Fair Is and 11 sites Ork.

12 St. Abbs 24 Sep; 20 Fife Ness F 2 Oct; 25 Easthaven
A&D 5 Oct; 50 Fife Ness & 15 Girdleness NE 21 Oct;
23 Barns Ness L 22 Oct.

Robin Erithacus rubecula

Wintering N.Isles - 4 Shet (10), 1 Fair Is, 16 Ork (15).
Very light spring passage with only a few birds N_Isles
16-25 Mar. Main influx 9-10 Apr:28 Shet, 25 Fair Is
and max 12 N.Ronaldsay Ork.

No passage noted on mainland and few N.Isles during
May but 20-40 daily Is of May between 22-24 May
Breeding CBC+5 %F/+3%,CES(ads+16%, juvs-11%):
Ork 14prs Hoy (15), 8 sang Trumland (11); 1&R CBC
suggests 16% drop on Eigg; P&K 19prs Vane Farm
(25); Loth stable 13prs Aberlady, 26 Roslin (33); Bord
nil St.Abb’s (2); Clyde stable 1Sprs Cathkin Braes,
15prs Merryton (13), 98prs in Renfrew 2-tetrad study
area.

Passage noted from mid-Sep but numbers generally
poor. 20 Finnarts Bay Ayr 19 Sep; 18 St.Abbs B 24 Sep;
30 Girdleness NE 30 Sep.

Few large Oct counts - 30 Bracken Bay Ayr 8 Oct and |

23 Tweedbank B 15 Oct with SO Covesea M&N 25 Oct.
Largest movement was 4-9 Nov when 100+ Shet, max
25 Fair Is , max 32 N.Ronaldsay & 25 S.Ronaldsay
Ork, 50 Balmedie NE, 20 Is of May and 30+ Fife Ness
F.

*Thrush Nightingale Luscinia Juscinia

3 in spring, 1 in autumn

Singles Whalsay Shet 12 May; Gullane L 25-26 May;
Sumburgh Shet 17 Jun and Lerwick Shet 25-26 Aug,
The Gullane bird was only heard singing but accepted
by the BBRC, the first for Lothian.

*Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos

Singles Errogie I&R 11 May, Deerness Ork 16 May
and Fair Is 18-19 May.

2nd for I&R.

SSS SR IL EM ET EES GT Se I” ET SE

a

R.D.Murray [Ed]

Bluethroat Luscinia svecica

First 1 Rattray NE 10 May followed by singles Fair Is
& Is of Mayon 11 May ahead of main arrival 12-13 May
when 7 Shet, 13 Fair Is, 8 Ork, 1 NE, 2 A&D & 2 Bord.
1-2 birds at several sites 14-20 May, the best being 7 Is
of May on 16 May.

Another influx 20-25 May: 3 Shet, 9 Fair Is on 23 May,
3 NE, 8 Is of May on 22-23 May and 1 Bord.

Last 1 Veensgath Shet 8 Jun (sang) & 1 dead Sanday
Ork 10 Jun.

Total c85 birds with 13 Shet, c25 Fair Is, 16 Ork, 9 NE,
2 A&D, c15 Is of May and 5 Bord.

First 1 Is of May 13 Sep ; 1-2 on 8 dates Fair Is, 5 Shet
and 1 Ork during late Sep. Several late records with
singles Fair Is, Sumburgh, Shet and Skaw, Unst Shet
15-17 Oct. 1 Exnaboe Shet 23 Oct and an extremely late
bird Gruting Shet 7-8 Nov. clJ in autumn.

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochrurus

Apparent arrival of 3 wintering birds on 23 Jan with
singles Blackdog NE, St.Andrews F to 21 Mar, Girvan
Mains Ayr to 27 Mar.

Next birds 8 Mar at Stronsay Ork and Hillside A&D.
3 singles Sumburgh and Whalsay Shet 31 Mar-9 Apr
before more widespread influx with singles Bord, Is of
May, Shet, Ork and Fair Is 10-12 Apr. Singles Ayr, Arg,
Shet, Bord, Is of May, and NE 24-28 Apr before steady
passage of 1-5 birds N. Isles to mid-May with occasional
birds Arg, NE, A&D, Fife, Loth and Is of May.
Breeding: br4 fledged Is of May.

First breeding record for island

Return passage from early Aug but passage very light in
early autumn with only singles Ork, Fair Is, A&D and
Bord (2) 8-30 Aug with fewer in Sep in Shet & Is of
May. The main passage was mid-Oct to mid-Nov with
17 Shet, 5 Fair Is, c10 Ork, c10 NE, 11 Fife, c7 Is of May
2 Loth with singles A&D, Arg, Arran, Clyde, D&G.

47

Cent 33 nests Trossachs (44), 174 young (215), MBS
5.27 (5.4); Loth 12mm at 8 sites, 5br19 noted; Bord
63 mm at 47 sites; Arg 3prs Taynish (7); Clyde 7mm
at 6 sites; Ayr 55mm at 33 sites; D&G 23prs Wood of
Cree (34).

Last on territory late Aug in Bord, early Sep Clyde and
late-Sep in P&K. First passage birds early Aug but poor
autumn with few on mainland with no significant falls
in NE, A&D, Fife and Bord.

Main numbers N.Isles 6-15 Sep: c 30 Shet , max 5 Out
Skerries; max 10 Fair Is; and max 5 N.Ronaldsay. Few
later but isolated fall Is of May 20-25 Sep, max 40 on
22 Sep. Few during Oct when 1 Shet, 2 Fair Is, 1 Caith,
1 Arg, & 1 A&D.

Late Nov influx : 1 Catfirth Shet 1 Nov, 1 Noss Farm
Caith 4 Nov,1 Collieston NE 7 & 13 Nov, 2 Balcomie
F 10 Nov, and 1 Whalsay Shet 14 Nov.

Singles Fife Ness F 3 Nov and N.Ronaldsay 7-9 Nov
were identified as the Central Paicarctic race P.p.
samamisicus. First record for Ork & second for Fife.

Eastern race Redstart by Peter J.Donnelly
Short-listed for Best Artwork in a Scottish Local Bird Report
from Orkney Bird Report 1994

Max counts: 5 N.Ronaldsay Ork 4 Nov; 3 Drums NE
23 Oct; and 3 Fife Ness F 22 Oct and 3 Nov.

Bk
\

i

Dec singles: Curragh Ayr 3 Dec; Fair Is 11 Dec;
Blackwaterfoot Arran on 12 Dec; Scousburgh Shet on
29 Dec; and Croy Ayr 27-31 Dec.

Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Singles Redheugh B 12 Apr and Ardoran Arg 14 Apr
were well ahead of first for Loth 21 Apr; Fife & Is of
May 22-23 Apr; P&K, I&R, Ork & Fair Is 24-25 Apr;
D&G, M&N, Clyde & Cent 26-27 Apr; Ayr and NE
30 Apr; Shet 9 May.

First influx 22-23 Apr, mostly in E but only moderate

| passage thereafter, mostly 1-2 birds peaking mid-May,

with 31 N.Ronaldsay Ork and 6 Is of May the only good
daily counts.

Breeding: CBC -5%A: I&R 12prs Insh Marshes;
M&N 14mm at 8 sites with 2br13 in Culbin nestboxes;

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra

First 1 Carter Bar B 12 Apr was early; 1 Kinnaber A&D
17 Apr. Then Is of May 23 Apr; Loth, Clyde, Arg & Ayr
25 Apr; Arran, P&K, I&R and D&G 28-30 Apr; Fife,
A&D, NE & Cent 2 May; Fair Is , Shet & Ork 3-4 May;
Caith 9 May.

Light passage mostly 1-2 birds but max 4 Coldingham
L. B 29 Apr; 4 Is of May 3 May; 12 Fair Is 12 May.
Breeding: I&R 18prs Eigg croftland (20) with another
12prs elsewhere Eigg- poor success; P&K lower
numbers noted upper Knaik and 7prs only raised 1 3juvs
Alumree & Little Glenshee areas; Arg 53mm _ Rhinns,
Islay ; Fife 3-Sprs bred (4); Loth 22mm at 13 sites;
Bord 58mm at 37 sites; Ayr 126mm at 64 sites with
6br21 noted.

i
|

48

Last inland birds noted Cent 17 Aug; Fife 27 Aug;
D&G, P&K and Bord 3-5 Sep. Later records in I&R
10 Sep; Clyde 14 Sep; Ayr 19 Sep suggests overland
passage.

Few on mainland coasts: maxima 7 St.Abbs B 23 Aug;
6 Is of May 24 Aug; 8 Is of May 12 Sep.

Large influx N.Isles 25-27 Aug: 100 Shet,max 27 Out
Skerries and 21 Unst; SO Fair Is; 33 N.Ronaldsay with
15 Stronsay Ork. Further influx N.Isles 10-11 Sep
when 70 Shet, max 30 Sumburgh & 12 Skerries; 56 Fair
Is; and 60 Sanday Ork. 1-2 scattered in late Sep with last
Fetlar Shet 12 Oct; Fair Is 16 Oct; N.Ronaldsay 27 Oct
with the latest 1 Collieston NE 5 Nov.

Stonechat Saxicola torquata

Jan records from Caith, I&R , M&N , P&K, Fife (3),
Cent, Loth(3) and Bord . Fewer in Feb with I&R, M&N
(3) and, Fife (2). Resident further W with increased
wintering in Clyde and D&G.

First arrivals: Loth & Bord 27-28 Feb; Fife 1 Mar; Caith
5 Mar; Ork 10 Mar; Shet 23 Mar; Is of May 24 Mar; Fair
Is on 1 Apr. 83 bird-days Loth coast 27 Feb-2 Apr
suggests a distinct passage movement.

Breeding: Some declines noted in N- Ork 75prs (109)
- no complete survey but decline W.Mainland; Caith
only 9 sites (16), 7br9 noted, MBS 1.29; I&R 10prs
Eigg (12); M&N2Iprs (43) but less coverage; NE good
year with pr Murcar raising 3br18; A&D 7 sites; P&K
10 of 15 known prs (45) fledged young but hard winter
‘may have caused decline; Fife pr may ahve bred; Loth
7 sites; Bord 8prs , 6 broods noted; Arg 82prs Rhinns,
Islay with 15prs L.Gruinart, Islay; Clyde 27 territories
at 20 sites, 4br11 noted, MBS 2.75; Ayr 88 territories at
63 sites, 20br57 noted, MBS 2.85.

Some probable passage birds noted mid-Oct but no
distinct passage or hard-weather movements.

*Eastern Stonechat S.t.maura/stejnegeri

A ist-summer m Fair Is 8-9 May was the only spring
record.

1 Spiggie Shet 28 Sep-2 Oct; 1 Sumburgh Shet 30 Sep-
1 Oct; 1 Whalsay Shet 21 Oct; 1 E. Quarff Shet 4 Nov;
1 Collieston NE 8 Nov; 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 10-11 Nov.

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

First N.Tolsta OH 26 Feb was exceptionally early as
were the first birds at Mull of Galloway D&G on9 Mar,
Caith 10 Mar & Arg on 13 Mar. A week later a more
normal arrival with the first Ayr 21 Mar; Loth 22 Mar;
Clyde, NE 24 Mar; P&K and A&D 26-27 Mar; Ork, Fair
Is, Fife, Arran, Bord 28 Mar; M&N, Shet, Suth, Cent &
Is of May 31 Mar-4 Apr. Widespread in W by late Mar
but not until 10 Apr in SE and 14 Apr in N.
Generally moderate numbers exceptinthe N.Isles with
no broadfront influxes: 126 N.Ronaldsay Ork 18 Apr;

Scottish Bird Report 1994

20 Gosford L & 50 Is of May 23 Apr; 26 Doonfoot Ayr;
25 Dunnet Head Caith 24 Apr; 185 FairIs 25 Apr;
30 Lossiemouth M&N & 135 N.Ronaldsay 27-28 Apr;
20 St.Abbs B 30 Apr; 15 Cathkin Braes Clyde 2 May;
130 Fair Is 13 May; 60 Stronsay Ork 18 May.
Breeding: Shet poor season due to Jun weather; Fair Is
75prs in census (45-50); Ork 6prs N.Hoy reserve (26),
24prs Papa Westray reserve (20); Caith 14br25 noted ,
MBS 1.79; 1&R50% decline Eigg but good season with
many young; Is of May 2prs bred; Bord moderate
season inhills; Arg 245prs Rhinns survey, Islay; Arran
Sbr9 noted , MBS 1.8; Clyde 20+mm Culter Glen; Ayr
85mm at 49 sites, 7br16 noted, MBS 2.3.

Poor autumn . First passage late Jul, mostly 1-2birds in
W but few large parties in E: 9 Culbin Bar M&N 1 Aug;
9 St.Abbs 15 Aug.

Only large fall was in N.Isles 21-24 Aug: 170 Fair Is,
188 N.Ronaldsay and 80 Sumburgh Shet ; 60 Girdleness _
26 Aug; 80 Skerries Shet 28 Aug; 115 N.Ronaldsay &
130 Sanday 9 Sep; 30 Is of May 12 Sep. :
Mostly 1-3 birds later - last P&K and Cent 4-11 Sep;
Bord 23 Sep; NE & Arran 9 Oct; I&R , D&G, Is of May
and Arg 12-18 Oct; Ayr, Fair Is , Suth & Shet 24-31 Oct.
Latest singles Kingsbarns F 3 Nov; Skateraw L 6 Nov;
Fell Shin Clyde 7 Nov and N.Ronaldsay 29 Nov.

Greenland Wheatear O.o.leucorrhoa

The only specified records of this race were from Loth
with 2 singles inthe Lammermuirs 9 May and | oncoast
at Skateraw on 6 Nov.

* Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina

1Skaw, Whalsay Shet 20 Sep-10 Oct.

First for Shet and only 2nd for Scotland, the previous
record being at Girdleness NE 17 Oct-10 Nov 1979.

* Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka
1 Park, Sanday Ork 22 Oct. 3rd record for Orkney.

*Grey-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus
1 Hoy Ork 16 Oct.
First record for Orkney, 7th for Scotland.

Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus
Late arrival with first 1 Grulinbeg, Islay Arg 29 Mar, |
then Loth 1 Apr; I&R, Fair Is, Shet & Cent 2-3 Apr;
Bord, D&G 5 and P&K 4-6 Apr; Ork & Ayr 10-15 Apr; |
M&N, NE & Is of May 23-25 Apr; Fife 3 May.
Very light passage with few on coast: only singles|
coastal Fife and St.Abbs B , c7 Is of May, none coastal
NE and Caith. Best counts were 4 Is of May on 23 Apr, |
3 Quarff Shet 23 Apr and 7 Fair Is 8 May. Most hill
territories in S occupied by 18-20 Apr.

Breeding: Ork 1 male sang, no evidence; OHeb 1| sang
Lewis; I&R very poor year Kyle & Lochalsh; M&N br2|

\

\
|
i
|

j
1

\:

- *Black-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis

R.D.Murray [Ed]

at 1150m Cairngorm plateau; P&K 40 mm; Clyde
none at best site in area, despite search; D&G suggestion
of decline in W hills.
Loth & Bord partial survey of the hill areas revealed some
122 territories at 111 sites - 51 inthe Tweedsmuir Hills, 43 in
the Moorfoots, 15 in the Lammermuirs and 2 elsewhere. A
minimum of 70 pairs were reported, 17 had no other sign of
breeding but 41 had alarming birds, 5 adults with food for
young, 4 fledged young and 3 nests with young.

Borders Bird Report No.15
Very poor passage with none on mainland coast in Sept
and few in N.Isles. 25 Fair Is 30 Sep was the only report
of >2 birds. Wide scatter late Oct with a few into Nov.
Last M&N, P&K 2-3 Sep; Ayr 18 Oct; Arg and Ork 22-
24 Oct; Suth , Shet & Bord 3-5 Nov; I&R, Loth, Fife &
Fair Is 6-8 Nov; latest D&G, NE & Is of May on 11 Nov.

Blackbird Turdus merula

Small numbers wintered Shet & Fair Is, max 100
N.Ronaldsay Ork 10 Feb . Passage peak N Isles in mid-
Apr - 70 Fair Is & 20 Dale of Walls Shet. 50 Kiloran,
Colonsay Arg 18 Mar. Almost no visible passage on E
coast, mostly 1-3 birds, best count 15 Is of May 22 Apr.

Breeding: CBC -2%F/-1%W,CES ads+19%, juvs-4%..

Ork 14prs Trumland (12), 22prs Hoy (23); I&R 13%
drop in Figg CBC; P&K 13prs Vane Farm (14); Loth
12 Aberlady (17), 22 Roslin (24); Bord stable 5 St.Abbs;
Arg 31mm Rhinns, Islay, 4 Taynish (1); Clyde 15prs
Merryton (13), 260 mms in Renfrew 2-tetrad study.
Early brood Elgin M&N fledged 24 Apr; late brood
New Abbey D&G fledged 16 Dec.

Passage weak before late Sep - 48 N.Ronaldsay 9 Sep &
16 St.Abbs B 24 Sep were, by far, the best counts.Main
passage from 10 Oct: 400 Is of May & 200 Girdleness
NE on 18 Oct; peak on 21-23 Oct when 300 Sumburgh
Shet; 585 Fair Is; 790 N.Ronaldsay, 300 Sanday Ork,
800 Is of May and 350 Berwickshire coast B.

_ Later influxes: 300 Balmedie NE, 350 Is of May & 300

Fife Ness F 3 Nov; 267 N.Ronaldsay & 250 Loirston

' NE 6 Nov; 350 Fair Is 9 Nov; 200 Rum I&R 13 Nov.

More than usual wintered N.Isles, esp. Fair Is & Ork.

» 1st-w matrogularis Fair Isle 16-17 Oct with another

on 17 Oct. 5th-6th for Fair Is, 15th-16th for Scotland.

Black-throated Thrush in Scotland 1968-94

49

Fieldfare Turdus pilaris

400 Ardeer area Ayr 15-29 Jan & 800 Machrihanish
Arg 6 Feb were, by far, the best flocks with few Jan-Feb
flocks of >100 birds: 3 M&N, 2 Fife, 1 Cent, 3 Loth,
1 Arg, 3 Clyde & 5 Ayr.

Movements from early Mar. Max counts:40 Shet, 225
Fair Is, 80 Ork, 30 Caith, 40 M&N, 300 NE, 150 A&D
and 120 Fife. Peak movements concentrated over
S.Scotland :500 Meadownay Ayr, 500 Symington B &
320 Carbarns Clyde 10-12 Mar; 1,000 Hayhill Ayr,
1,000 Lochmaben D&G & 250 Standhill B 19-20 Mar;
1,700 Eddleston B 31 Mar; 4,000 Piersknowe B 8 Apr;
1,200 Harwood L 9 Apr; 800 Cobbinshaw L 15 Apr;
600 Crosshill Ayr 16 Apr; 400 Newmains B 20 Apr;
1,000 Auchencairn Arran 24 Apr.

Last M&N, P&K, Fife, Clyde, Ayr & Cent 21-25 Apr;
Arg 29 Apr; Bord 7 May; Loth & Is of May on 12 May;
Ork on 17 May; Shet 28 May; Fair Is 14 Jun.
Breeding: Caith pr carrying food for young Braeval;
P&K 3 Pitlochry 14 Jul were odd ; Bord pr seen
carrying food Deawater had nest in England.

First Shet 26 Jul; Is of May 4 Aug; Fair Is 6 Aug; Ork
17 Aug; Arg 12 Sep; Bord , P& Kand D&G 20-25 Sep;
Loth,; I&R, NE & Ayr 4-7 Oct; Caith, M&N 9-10 Oct;
Clyde, Cent & Arran 11-16 Oct.

Only a trickle during Sep, max 60 Fair Is 30 Sep. Few in
early Oct, but more157 N.Ronaldsay, 70 St. Abbs, 80 Is
of May &100 Darleith Clyde on 10-11 Oct.

Big arrival in S 16-18 Oct with 2,000+ Portnahaven,
Islay Arg; 1,800 Kildonan Arran, 1,500 Luffness L,
1,000 Moss Side B, 1,000 Stirling Cent, 800 Dunblane
Cent, 600 Brora Suth & 500 Balgray Res. Clyde.
Influx N.Isles mostly 18-23 Oct: 1,010 N.Ronaldsay,
1,050 Fair Is, 1,000 Windwick & 750 Hoy Ork. Several
other flocks 300-500 range over period: 1 Ork, 1 P&K,
1 Fife, 4Cent, 3 Bord, 2 Arg, 1 Arran, 2 Clyde & 1 D&G.
Further flocks 3-10 Nov:750 Fair Is, 1,000 Evie Ork,
688 N,Ronaldsay, 1,000 Blackford P&K, 1,000 Beiston
Ayr. Further movements 13-23 Nov-5-10,000 Watten
Caith, 2,500 Gillock Caith, 1,000 Duncryne Clyde &
1,620 Blackford.

Scarce after late Nov with few flocks >200 birds except
Caith where 1,500 Badlipster and 2,000 Castleton.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

4 Shet, Fair Is, 4 M&N, 7 P&K, 7 Cent & 3 Bord
wintered inland or on islands. First Bord 2 Feb; Cent 8
Feb; Ork and M&N 10 Feb; [&R and P&K 2-3 Mar.
Arrival mid-Mar: 11 Mugdock CP Clyde; 10 Duns B;
20 Pitlochry & 24 Foss P&K; and 6 N.Ronaldsay Ork.
Poor passagein N.Isles, max of 10 Fair Is 10 Apr.

15 Is of May 24 Apr was only other significant count.
Breeding: CBC +2%F/+3%W, CESads- 10%, juvs-25%.
Shet birds sang 4 sites but no proof; Ork 6 prs Hoy (8),
3prs Trumland, Rousay (3); [&R 12% decline in Eigg

50 Scottish Bird Report 1994

CBC but fair success; P&K stable Sprs Vane Farm;
Lothstable7 Aberlady, 4 Roslin (8); Arg 25mm Rhinns,
Islay; Clyde 50% 10prs Baron’s Haugh (20), 4 prs
Merryton (5) & 62mm in Renfrew 2-tetrad study.
Light passage mostly from late Sep: 70 Wick Caith
25 Sep; 18 N.Ronaldsay & 80 Fair Is 30 Sep; 50 Fair Is,
400 Is of May & few W.coast in Arg, Clyde and D&G
10 Oct; 210 N.Ronaldsay, 25 Sumburgh Head Shet and
20 St.Abbs B 22 Oct; 20 Kilminning F 3 Nov.

Small numbers to end Nov. Few N.Isles in Dec.

Redwing Turdus iliacus

More Jan-Feb flocks in W with flocks >40 seen - 6 Ork,
2 I&R, 2 Arg, 6 Clyde, 7 Ayr, 3 M&N, 2 NE, 5 Fife,
1 Cent, 4 Loth, none Caith, A&D, P&K & Bord. Max
440 Macrihanish Arg, 288 Wemyss F, 280 L.Gruinart,
Islay Arg; 250 Knockentiber Ayr & 240 Ardeer Ayr.
Smaller numbers Mar-Apr. Best flocks 200 Robroyston
Clyde, 120 N.Ronaldsay Ork & 90 Hirsel B 13-19 Mar;
150 Craigurd B 4 Apr. Main movement 16-22 Apr:
150 Greenburndean B, 250 Craigurd, 105 Fair Is, 500
Kinloch, Rum I&R, & 54 Hoy Ork.

Last P&K, Ayr & Caith 8-12Apr; Clyde, Cent & Arg
20-27 Apr; Bord 2 May; Shet 28 May; Ork 9 Jun.
Breeding: Shet 2mm sang but not seen after 28 May;
Ork 4mm sang but no proof; Caith 1 bird summered;
Suth poor year; I&R 1mm; M&N Im sang - did not
stay; NE 2 sites, no proof; P&K 1 sang but moved on.
First 1 Muckle Roe Shet 18 Aug. Ork 2 Sep; Is of May
21 Sep; Caith, Fife & Bord 25 Sep; D&G, Clyde & Ayr
26-28 Sep; Loth, I&R, M&N, Arg & Cent 1-4 Oct.

*Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata
Singles Foula Shet 19 Sep; Skaw, Whalsay Shet 20 Sep
and Fair Is 10-13 Oct with another there 15 Oct.
7th-8th for Shetland and annual Fair Is since 1984.

Small influx N.Isles 28-30 Sep: 200 Hoy Ork, 1,500
Fair Is, 722 N.Ronaldsay & c 600 Shet. Then 800 Shet,
1,500 Fair Is, 1,239 N.Ronaldsay, 300 Barrock Caith
with 2,500 Is of May 10 Oct; 600 Tweedbank B,
1,000+Porthnahaven & 8,000+ Port Ellen, Islay Arg,
590 N.Ronaldsay, 1,200 Glendrissaig & 500 Meadownay
Ayr & 500 Balgray Clyde 16-19 Oct. 1,100 Fair Is on
31 Oct. Few later but 1,000 Raey-Lyth Caith 1 Dec.

Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus

More Jan-Apr flocks than usual, all in N: 18 Cawdor |

M&N 5 Feb; 11 Eigg I&R 21 Feb; 10 Pitlochry P&K
16 Mar; 20 Rannoch & 8 Foss P&K 20 Mar; 14 Forest
Lodge I&R 6 & 28 Apr, doubtless parties returning after
emigration.

Breeding: CBC -6%F/-10%W. 1&R Sprs Eigg, only 6
young; P&K totally exposed nest on top of fence-post
Glenshee fledged a single young; Arg none in Rhinns
survey, Islay; Clyde 24mm Renfrew 2-tetrad study.
Very few large Aug-Sep flocks, allinS, suggest a poor
season: 50 Pollok Park Clyde 1 Aug; 50 Darleith Clyde
3 Aug; 38 Wester Deans B 13 Sep. Flocks 20-30 birds:
2M&N, NE, 3 P&K, Cent, Bord, 2 Arg, 2 Clyde & Ayr,

Few big Oct flocks: 50 Baron's Haugh Clyde 16 Oct; |

28 Dumbarnie F 26 Oct; & 20 Mull of Galloway D&G
27 Oct. Fewer N.Isles and Is of May than usual.

* Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola |

1st-winter Fair Is 21 Sep, found dead 23 Sep.
7th for Fair Is, first there since 1988.
Skin now in NMS collection: NMSZ 1994.133.

River Warbler by Steven Brown
Winner: Best Artwork in a Scottish Local Bird Re

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from Fife Bird Report 1994

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*River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis

1 sang Clatto Res. F 16-22 Jul.

First for Fife and mainland Scotland, 9th for Scotlan
See Dickson D. (ed) (1995) Fife Bird Report 10: 84-85.

nt)

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ij

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R.D.Murra d

Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia

First Dalquharran Ayr 17 Apr. Then Loth, Shet & Is of
May 23-24 Apr; D&G, Clyde & Arg 25-26 Apr; I&R,
A&D, Bord & Cent 27-29 Apr; Fife & Arran 30 Apr;
P&K, NE , Fair Is, Caith, OHeb & Suth 1-4 May.
Light passage, mostly 1-2 birds, 4 St.Abbs B 29 Apr
and 6 Alemill B 4 May with 1-3 Fair Is 3-19 May.
Breeding: After mid-May sites with singing males:

Sites mm Sites mm Sites mm
Caith 2 3) Fife yy) I&R 7 18
M&N 5 5 Cent PD Argyll 18 77
P&K SiMes) Loth 19 25 Clyde 58 111
A&D (ia) Bord dq 2 Ayr 59 132

Highest numbers as always in W, but significant increase,
partly due to better coverage and surveys : 1&R 11+mm
Insh Marshes (22); Arg 10prs L.Gruinart & 39 Rhinns,
Islay, Smm Taynish (5); Clyde 7mm Lochwinnoch
(2),21mm Strathclyde Park; 4mm Baron's Haugh (3);
Ayr 6mm Bogton Moss; Loth 7mm Almond pools;
Bord Smm St.Abbs.

Last P&K, OHeb and Bord 12-13 Jul; Cent and Caith
18 -20 Jul; Fife & NE 22-24 Jul; Arg & Arran 29-31 Jul;
Clyde 10 Aug; Ayr 12 Aug; Loth 13 Aug; I&R 20 Aug.
Poor passage, only seen at bird observatories, where
single Is of May 23 Aug; 1-4 Fair Is 23 Aug-2 Sep,
2 there 9-10 Sep; 1 Is of May 20-21 Sep with latest
single Fair Is 31 Sep -1 Oct.

*A quatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola
1 Fair Is 4-5 Aug.
First there since 1989.

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
First 2 Ayr with singles Clyde, Fair Is & Bord 24 Apr.
Then Fife 27 Apr; Loth, D&G, A&D, Arg, NE & Is of
May on 28-29 May; I&R,P&K, Cent & Caith 1-2 May;
Shet & Ork 5 May.
First large numbers 15 Knockshinnoch Lagoons Ayr
30 Apr; 10 St.Abbs B 2 May; 11 Adderstonlees B on
4 May; 16 Fife Ness F 8 May; 10 Fair Is 14 May.
reeding: CBC +34%F , CESads+16%,juvs+12%, WBS
-2%. Ork 15-20mm Graemeshall (15); [&R 108 prs
Insh Marshes (72+), 13prs Eigg (10); A&D Soprs L.of

| Kinnordy; P&K Sprs Vane Farm (2); Loth35 Aberlady
» (32); Bord 12 St.Abb’s (6); Arg 25prs L.Gruinart &
_ 196mm Rhinns, Islay: and 17prs Colonsay (12); Clyde

121 prs Lochwinnoch (134), 10-12 Baron’s Haugh (12-
15), 8prs Merryton (16); Ayr 28mm Bogton Moss.

' 375 trapped L.Gelly F in Aug without single re-trap.

Suggesting constant through-put. Only 6 juvs amongst
26 ringed Turnshouse L.

_ Very low-key passage with only 1-3 birds noted.

| Last I&R and Caith 16-22 Aug; Loth, Ayr, Clyde, Fife

_& Cent 31 Aug-5 Sep; M&Nand Shet 1-12 Sep; A&D

)\\andP&K 17-18 Sep; Fair Is, Is of May & Ork 21-23 Sep;

| 1 with latest 1 St.Abbs B 25 Sep.

51

*Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola
Extraordinary influx - 7 birds. Singles Graemeshall L.,
Holm Ork 18 Jul; Fair Is 22-26 Sep with another there
24-25 Sep; Quendale Shet 28 Sep-1 Oct; Skaw, Unst
Shet 30 Sep-2 Oct; Start, Sanday Ork 22 Oct; Cara,
S.Ronaldsay Ork 23 Oct.

First 3 for both Shet & Ork and 9th-10th for Fair Is but
almost doubling the Scottish total from 9 to 16 birds.

*Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum
Isang Kergord Shet 21-29 May.

4th for Shet, 13th for Scotland and the 2nd-ever spring
record.

*Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris

7 in spring, 4 in autumn, including first for Bord.
Singles sang Is of May on 21 May with another there
24-28 May; sang Fife Ness F 28 May; Fair Is 30 May;
sang St.Abbs B 3-4 Jun; Sullom Shet 4-5 Jun; dead at
Lerwick Shet 16 Jun.

1 sang L.Watten Caith 10 Aug; | trapped _L.EyeI&Ron
8 Sep; 1 Fair Is 25 Sep; 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 1 Oct.
The Lerwick skin has been deposited in the NMS collection.

Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Only 6 in spring but an exceptional 185 in autumn.
Singles Isof May 12 May; Fair Is 13 May; Haroldswick
Shet 14 May; Is of May 22-23 May ; sang St.Abbs B
29 May; and Foula Shet 29 Jun.

Breeding: Bred Stewartry D&G. 1-2 prs present. Both
adults and juvs were trapped. Song heard May-Aug.

Autumn: Aug Aug_ Sep Sep Oct Oct
1-15 16-31 1-15 16-30 1-15 16-31

Shetland 1 23 29 4 1 1

Fair Is - 20+ + + + 1

Orkney 1 4 4 4

NE+A&D ~~ - 2 2

Fife+IM 3 1 - 8 - -

SE Scot 1 . 1 2 1

Numbers Fair Is very approximate.

Very different pattern of records compared with 1993.
Small numbers from early Aug but large influx N.Isles
25-29 Aug: 22 Shet with 12 Out Skerries 25-29 Aug and
13 Fair Is 25 Aug. Another influx Shet 9-12 Sep when
5 Out Skerries, 4 Seafield and 1-3 birds at 14 other sites.
Scatter of records therafter with only 8 Is of May 21 Sep
outstanding. Late birds Fair Is ana Shet 22-27 Oct but
single 6 Inverugie NE 6 Nov and unidentified unstreaked
Acrocephalus Montrose A&D 11 Nov were even later.

*Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus
1Hillwell Shet 12-14 May and presumably same
Quendale 15 May. Possibly same bird sang Geosetter
Shet 22 May.

The 10th record for Shetland.

52

*Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata
Singles Out Skerries Shet 27 Aug, Fair Is 11 Sep and
Sand Loch NE 11-13 Nov.

*Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina

7 in spring: | Fair Is & 1 Kilrenny Common F 23 May;
1 Collieston NE 24 May; 1 Baltasound Shet 3 Jun;
2 Wester Quarff Shet 5 Jun; 1 St.Abbs B 7 Jun.

25 in autumn: Singles Fife Ness F and Fair Is 23 Aug;
Out Skerries & Noss Shet & N.Ronaldsay Ork 24 Aug;
Eswick & Sandwick Shet 25 Aug; another N.Ronaldsay
26 Aug; Fair Is 27 Aug; Fair Is, Grutness & Geosetter
Shet 1 Sep; Wester Quarff Shet 2 Sep; Seafield Shet
5 Sep; Virkie, Quendale & Sumburgh Shet 9 Sep;
Exnaboe Shet 11 Sep; Queenamidda, Rendall Ork
18 Sep; Whaisay Shet 20 Sep; N.Ronaldsay 21 Sep;
Helendale Shet 24 Sep; Kergord Shet 25 Sep;
N.Ronaldsay 28 Sep; Fair Is 30 Sep; before a long gap
to the last at Lathallan School NE 23 Oct.

*Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta
1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 23 Sep.
Sth record for Orkney.

*Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans

7 spring birds: 3 overlapping singles Fair Is, 1st-s m
albistriata 10-12 May, joined by cantillans m 12 May
with another Ist-s mcantillans elsewhere 12-20 May;
1 m _ Westerton A&D 12-17 May; 1 m Herston,
S.Ronaldsay Ork 15-17 May; 1 m Hirta, St.Kilda OH
24 May; Ist-s f Fair Is 30 May.

First for Angus & Dundee, 9th for Orkney.

*Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala

Single males Hirta, St.Kilda OH 23 May and Fair Is
26-24 Jun.

1stfor OHebrides, 2nd for Fair Is, 3rd -4th for Scotland.

Previous records: 1 Fair Is 26-27 May 1967; 1 Is of May 30 May
1981.

*Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria

c107 in autumn.

Autumn: Aug Aug_ Sep Sep Oct Oct
1-15 _—-16-31 1-15 _ 16-30 1-15 16-31

Shetland 2 6 20 15 9 -
Fair Is 4 5 8 2 - 1
Orkney - 4 8 6 5 1
Caith+I&R - 1 1 1 -
NE+A&D 1 - - 1
Fife+IM al 2 -
SE Scot - - 1 -

D&G - - - 1 - -
Total 6 18 39 27 14 3

Numbers Fair Is & Ork very approximate.

First 1 Fair Is 3 Aug, then singles Voe & Sumburgh
Shet 5 Aug. Main movement 23-26 Aug when 5 Fair Is,
3 N.Ronaldsay & Holm Ork with 5 elsewhere Shet and

Scottish Bird Report 1994 |

singles Is of May, Girdleness NE and L.Eye I&R.
Another influx 1-3 Sep when 3 Stronsay & 3S.Ronaldsay |
Ork with 1 Wick Caith.
Next arrival mid-Sep: 16 Shet, 1 Isof May, 1St.AbbsB. |
Another arrival 18-22 Sep when 10 Shet and singles |
L.Eye, Fife Ness F, Is of May and Mull of Galloway
D&G. Another 5 birds 9-10 Oct in Shet but latest single |
Easyhaven A&D 24 Oct. |
2nd record for Dumfries & Galloway.

Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca

First singles in NE,A&D, Fife and Bord 23 Apr; Loth
24 Apr; Ork 27 Apr; Shet, Fair Is & Is of May 3 May;
Clyde & Ayr 7-9 May; I&R 13 May; Caith 15 May.
Only moderate E coast passage, mostly 1-2 birds, max
4 St.Abbs B & max 3 Is of May 29 Apr. Stronger
movements N.Isles where 6 N.Ronaldsay Ork 5 May;
max 24 N.Ronaldsay and 30 Fair Is 12-13 May withc35
Shet during same period. Further movements into late |
May-early Jun.

Breeding CBC +6%F, CES ads -15%,juvs-37%.

A very poor year with little evidence of breeding, just
short-lived periods of song in the following areas: I&R
2mm; NE 2mm; Fife 1mm; Cent Imm; Bord Imm;
Clyde 2mm; Ayr 3mm. Breeding possible Carsethorn
D&G and likely Loth 21mm at 17 sites.

Last in breeding areas from 24 Jul.

First movements early Jul: singles Nether Johnstone
Clyde 10 Jul; Ardmore Pt. Clyde 17 Jul; Sumburgh
Shet 12 Aug. First widespread movement 22-25 Aug
when 1-2 Shet and first Fair Is, N.Ronaldsay, Is of May
and St.Abbs. A poor autumn with mostly single birds on
E.coast and better passage N.Isles: max 4 N.Ronaldsay |
and Stronsay Ork 25 Aug.9 Fair Is 18 Sep; 8 Is of May |
21 Sep; 3 Out Skerries Shet 22 Sep. |
Last birds D&G 27 Aug; Caith 4 Sep; Loth and Clyde |
17-21 Sep; Fife 16 Oct; Fair Is, NE & Bord 22-23 Oct;
Shet & Is of May 2-3 Nov; A&D 6 Nov; with latest
Stronsay 8 Nov.

1 Sanday Ork 22 Oct showed characteristics of the | \)
Siberian race S.c.blythi. |

|
Le
Whitethroat Sylvia communis
First 1 Aberlady L 20 Apr; then Bord & Ork 23-24 Apr;
Arg 25 Apr; Clyde & NE 28 Apr; Cent, Shet & Is of May |
29-30 Apr; P&K, M&N, A&D, Fife & Ayr 1 May; I&R,
Fair Is & Arran 3-4 May; Caith 14 May.
Prolonged passage with 5 Ardmore Pt. Clyde 1 “y
5 Newmains B 6 May; 8 Is of May ,7 Wormiston F &
38 N.Ronaldsay Ork 12-13 May; 16 Castlesea B. A&D) \
& 25 Fair Is 15-16 May; 6 St.Abbs B & 8 Kilrenny F}
24-28 May; Weak passage Shet where only 11 birds " )
May. Usual laggards into early Jun. 4
Breeding CBC +4%F/-24%W, CES ae Yi
+18%: Ork 3 mm; I&R 45 prs Eigg (35 ), 6mm Insh}

R.D.Murray [Ed]

53

Marshes; Loth 14 Ormistonrailway (15), 7mm Aberlady
(5), 2 Roslin 9(3); Arg 49 mm Rhinns, Islay, 12mm
Colonsay (7), 7mm Taynish; Clyde 71mm in Renfrew
2-tetrad study, S5prs Baron’s Haugh (5), 7prs Merryton
(4); Ayr 148mm at 69 sites; Bord 43mm at 34 sites.
11 juvs amongst 20 ringed Turnhouse L.

First movements from early Jul in Caith & Bord a poor
autumn started mid-Aug when 3 St.Abbs & 2 Is of May
12-14 Aug . Mostly singles reported but max 5 Fair Is on

several dates ,4 St.Abbs 4Sep & 3 Fife Ness F 11 Sep.

Last birds Bord & Is of May 7-12 Sep; Arg & Clyde
15 -17Sep; Fair Is, Fife & Ayr 2-3 Oct; NE and Ork
13-18 Oct; with latest singles Walls Shet & Fishtown of
Usan A&D 23 Oct.

Garden Warbler Sylvia borin
First Barns Ness L, Beattock D&G & Brachead A&D
24 Apr. Then Suth 25 Apr; Clyde 28 Apr; P&K, Ork,
- Cent, Fife & Bord 1-3 May; Ayr ,Fair Is, I&R, Shet &
Arg 7-11 May; Is of May, Caith & Arran 18-24 May.
_ Main arrival 7-9 May but most birds first recorded on
_ territory with few, mostly singles, at mainland coastal
_ Sites. Best passage was in N.Isles where max 8 Fair Is
14 May and max 3 Ork but again mostly singles.
Breeding CBC F-6%/W+1,CESad+4%, juv-4%: Suth
becoming more regular in S; 1&R 4mm Insh Marshes;
_ M&N record 22mm at 16 sites in partial survey ; A&D
38 birds noted, max 4mm Powmouth & L.of Kinnordy;
_ Fife 19mm in NW ; Bord 81mm at 54 sites (95 at 59);
| Clyde 59mm at 31 sites with 2prs Baron’s Haugh (4) &
{ 6mm Midross (3); Ayr 111mm at 43 sites (65 at 29)
with 25mm Kilkerran & 9mm Dalrymple (8); D&G
12mm Knockmans.
yet territorial birds late Jun with first migrants early
_ Aug. A poor autumn on mainland but excellent on
: islands. Mostly singles on mainland, max 2 St.Abbs B
_ 25 Aug & 21 Sep. Much better numbers Is of May, max
5 on 23 Aug and 20 on 21 Sep. Best numbers N.Isles
/ where influx 17-30 Aug: 35 Out Skerries, 22 Whalsay,
30 Kergord & 24 Unst, all Shet, with max 50 Fair Is and
25 N.Ronaldsay Ork. More 9-10 Sep - 50 Sumburgh,
30 Lerwick & 10 Out Skerries, all Shet; 85 Fair Is and
52.N.Ronaldsay with 30 Sanday Ork. 8 Out Skerries on
ie Sep and 6 to Stronsay Ork on 9 Oct.
' Last Cent 14 Aug; Suth9 Sep; M&N, Clyde & Is of May
(23- -30 Sep; I&R and Fair Is 10-11 Oct; Loth 16 Oct
\ ,A&D, Fife & Bord 22-23 Oct; Shet 31 Oct; Ork & NE
\5 Nov; with latest Perth P&K 7 Nov.

i
i

Be aS] ae

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
excellent Jan-Feb count of 100+ birds after peaks of
93- 94 winter with 1 Caith; 3 I&R, 15 M&N, 5+ NE,

|
|
2

}
|

3 A&D,5 P&K, 15 Fife, 16 Loth, 1 Bord, 4 Arg, 2 Arran,
22 Clyde, 9 Ayr and 8+ D&G.

Return obscured to some extent by winter ing birds but
first passage birds Fair Is9 Apr; Ayr & Loth 11-12 Apr;
Clyde, Shet & Bord 13-14 Apr; D&G, Is of May,A&D,
P&K, Ork & Cent 23-29 Apr; Arg 3 May;Arran 16 May;
Caith & OHeb 20-22 May.

Main arrival 20-24 Apr in S mostly of territorial birds
with few coastal migrants; N Scotland 26-30 Apr and
10-12 May N.Isles where only large numbers reported
were max 5 Fair Is, 3 Shet and 7 N.Ronaldsay Ork.
Breeding CBC F-15%/W-7% ,CES ad+12%, juv-20%;
Caith 3mm at 2 sites; M&N record 64mm at 33 sites in
partial survey; A&D 28mm; P&K scarcer than usual;
Loth 7 Roslin (10); Bord 81mm at 50 sites (107 at 61),
best 10mm Duns Castle (8); Clyde 197 at 40 sites with
stable 40prs Strathclyde Park and 28prs Blantyre, 39mm
in Renfrew 2-tetrad study; Ayr 123mm at 37 sites, with
15 Kilkerran & 13 mm Culzean (23).

Local movements from early Jul, peaking Aug with last
of probable breeding birds in P&K 1 Sep, Bord & Clyde
10-12 Sep.

Moderate autumn passage in Sep, max 8 N.Ronaldsay,
5 Fife Ness F, 20 Is of May and 5 Finnarts Bay Ayr
20-22 Sep. Only slightly better numbers during Oct
when 19 N.Ronaldsay 5 Oct; 9 Is of May, 8 Johnshaven
NE , 6 Craigmill A&D & 6 Burnmouth B 21-23 Oct;
with 10 Kergord Shet 29 Oct. The usual stragglers
appeared into Nov but much smaller numbers than in
1993 with few remaining to winter into Dec.

Winter reports:

Area Jan Feb Mar Nov Dec
N.Isles* 0 0 0 29 2
N.Scot 4 2 1 20 6
NE Scot* 18 11 11 12 4
W.Scot 18 18 15 10 6
E/C Scot* 12) 7 9 8 4
SE Scot 10 8 5 8 5
SW Scot* 15 8 8 2 3
Total 1994 77 54 49 89 30
Total 1993 39 29 21 156 122
Total 1992 35 29 14 51 42

* numbers approximate

*Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides
1 Fetlar Shet 18 Aug, 2 Collieston NE 24 Aug, | bird to
26 Sep, the other to 30 Sep; 1 Quendale Shet 14-15 Sep.
4th-5th records for NE, 28th-29th for Shetland.

*Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis

& singles, all N Isles: Stronsay Ork 24 Aug; N.Ronaldsay
Ork 4 Sep & 7-9 Sep; singles Fair Is 18 Sep, 20Sep
(killed by cat 23 Sep) and 21-22 Sep ; Sandwick Shet
21-24 Sep; 1 Fair Is 26 Oct.

54

*Pallas’s Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus

Singles Fair Is & St.Abbs B 20 Oct; then Whalsay Shet,
N.Ronaldsay & Stronsay Ork & Fife Ness Muir F on
21 Oct; singles 22 Oct at St.Abbs and Balcomie,
Craighead Farm & Denburn Wood F ; 1 Pease Dean B
& 1 Balcomie 23 Oct. Short gap until singles Girdleness
NE 29 Oct; Burrafirth, Unst Shet 310ct; and Cruden
Bay & Donmouth NE 3 Nov.

Then amazing concentration inthe NE with 2 Hatterseat,
1 Collieston, 5 Foveran ,2 Drums & 1 Newtonhill, all
NE, on 4 Nov; singles Drums Farm, S.Hatterseat,
E.Muchalls, Findon, Kineff and Balmedie, all NE, on
5 Nov; 2 Strathbeg NE,1 Barns Ness L & 1 Easthaven
A&D 6 Nov; with latest 1 Hatterseat 10 Nov.

See Reeves S. North-east Scotland Bird Report 1994: 80-82.

Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
Singles Skerries Shet 15 Sep & Fair Is 16 Sep. Then
biginflux 18-21 Sep: 37 Shet, max 4 Foula, 3 Baltasound
& 3 Whalsay; 6 Fair Is; 5 singles Ork & singles Longside
& Rattray NE,Skateraw L & St.Abbs B.
Small numbers N.Isles before next influx 9-14 Oct
when 12 Shet & 9 Fair Is and singles Is of May & Bord.
Another influx 20-25 Oct with last birds N.Isles and a
few on E coast with 3 A&D, 4 Fife, 2 Loth and 1 Bord.
Late birds Loth, A&D-(3) and NE (3) on 4-6 Nov.
1 Cander Moss Clyde 27 Sep & 1 Currarie Glen Ayr
18 Oct show that some birds do penetrate well inland.
With 485 recorded there since 1983, this was the worst
year for Shet since 1991 with only 64 birds in 1994 !
10-16 17-23 24-30 1-7 8-14 15-22 23-3031-6 7+

Sept Sept Sept Oct Oct Oct Oct Nov Nov
N.Isles 2 51 12 ei 23 3 >) - -

NE Scot - 2 1 - - - 3

E/C Scot - = 1 2, 1 4 3 3 =
SE Scot - 1 1 - 1 3 - 1 -
S&W Scot - - 1 - - 1 - - -
Totals 2 62 16 SP 256 oil 8 7 -

* Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler P./.i.] humei
Singles resembling this form, possibly a separate species,
were claimed at Cara, South Ronaldsay Ork 4-6 Nov
& Is of May 10 Nov. Subject to acceptance by BBRC.
Both potential firsts for Ork and Is of May.

*Radde's Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi
[1988] 1 Fishtown of Usan A&D 23 Oct.
First for A&D, 8th for 1988.

*Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus
3 singles at Stronsay Ork 21 Oct & 28 Oct ; and Noness
Shet 7-8 Nov.

*Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli
Singles North Ronaldsay Ork 11-13 May and Copinsay
Ork 25 May. 4th & 5th Ork ney records.

Scottish Bird Report 1994

Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix

First 1 Eigg I&R 19 Apr. Then P&K 20 Apr; Clyde, |

Bord & Cent 25-26 Apr; D&G, Loth & Arg 29-30 Apr;
Arran & Shet 1-4 May; NE & Ayr 6-8 May; A&D, Ork,

Fair Is & Suth 10-15 May. Few on E coast: singles |
St.Abbs B, Seafield L, Colliston NE and Westerton |

A&D but none Is of May, M&N, Fife & Caith. Only a _
few more in N.Isles where 11 singles Shet; max 5 Fair
Is 13 May; and max 8 N.Ronaldsay with 5 Stronsay & ©
5 Eday, all Ork, 12-18 May.

Breeding CBC (W+6%). I&R 3mm (6) Eigg but none
bred, 8mm Insh Marhses, 8-10mm Carr Brae; P&K
stable numbers; Cent widespread Aberfolyle and

a = eS oe

Menteith, 5 nests Trossachs (16) with average breeding |

success; Loth 11mm at 7 sites; Bord 22 mm at 13 sites,
(18 at 12) 4 Elibank (3) & stable 3 Plora; Arg 10mm
Taynish (7); Clyde 50mm at 17 sites (26) - 8 Inversnaid

& 8 Rowardennan (10); Ayr 49mm at 26 sites with

5 Dalrymple (4) but stable Culzean and Glen Afton;
D&G recovery to 50mm Wood Of Cree (49) & 6mm’
Caldons (9).

Last P&K and Loth 27-30 Jul; NE 4 Aug; I&R, Caith
& Bord 16-23 Aug; Clyde, Fife & Fair Is 3-11 Sep; Ork
& Is of May 20-21 Sep. Latest 1 Kergord Shet 25 Sep.
Few on E coast: 1 NE, 3 Fife, 2 Is of May & 1 Bord but

better N. Isles where 30 Shet, c8 Fair Is and c7 Ork.' °
Strongest movements c18-25 Aug, 1-5 Sep and, in|

N.Isles only, 9-10 Sep but mostly 1-2 birds.

Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

q

SS

1 Prestwick Ayr 7 Jan & Rozelle Ayr 9 Mar appear to

be the only wintering birds.

First single Whiting Bay Arran on 20 Mar . Then Bord)

D&G, Ayr & Clyde 24-26 Mar; P&K, Loth, Arg & Fait
Is 27-30 Mar; M&N, NE, Shet, Cent & Fife 1-2 Apr:
A&D, Is of May, Ork and Caith 10-17 Apr.
Mostarrivedonterritory 15-22 Apr but 12 N.Ronaldsay
Ork 9 Apr; 8-15 daily Is of May 22-29 Apr; 12 Fair Is
12 May were highest counts of passage birds.

Breeding CBC F+9%/W+17%,CES ad+5%,juv -6% |
T&R 3 sang Figg (2); M&N 25mm (23); Fife 27mm *

sites; Loth 9mm Pressmennan & 6mm Duddinsgto
Bord 55mm at 35 sites (47 at 30) with 3 Hirsel (4) an
9mm Duns Castle; Clyde 101mm at 32 sites (49) wi
9 Chatelherault , 14 Blantyre-Uddingston (10) an
23mm in Renfrew 2-tetrad study; Ayr 154mm (69) a
47 sites with 16mm Dalrymple, 14 Culzean (22) ani
12mm Kilkerran. |
Birds singing mixed Chiffchaff-Willow Warbler songs
Paisley and Johnstone Clyde. Of 3mm Strathclyde Park an
Imm Blantyre Clyde that also sang in this fashion, 2 we
trapped and showed mixed plumage and biometrics. A
Chiffchaff Bothwell Castle Clyde also apparently held terri
with a female Willow Warbler. Clyde Bird Report 1

R.D.Murray [Ed]

Very poor autumn from mid-Aug :10 St.Abbs 16 Aug.
Low numbers in Sep, max 5 at St.Abbs 12 Sep, 1 Is of
May & c4 singles Shet. 5 Finnarts Bay Ayr 19 Sep.
10 Kergord Shet, 6 N.Ronaldsay, 3 Is of May, 8 St.Abbs,
6 Bracken Bay Ayr17-22 Oct. Widespread 4-6 Nov,
mostly of 1-2 birds, but 7 N.Ronaldsay; & c35 birds NE
max 8 Johnshaven and 8 Kinneff.

Good numbers of Novrecords with last birds Ayr 1 Nov,
Arg ,Loth & Bord 5-6 Nov, Is of May & Fife 11-12 Nov,
Shet 17 Nov, Fair Is & Caith 24-25 Nov, M&N and
A&D 26-28 Nov.

Dec: probable winteringrecords: 2 Shet & Ork, with
singles Caith, I&R, M&N, NE, Fife, Loth & Ayr.

Eastern Chiffchaff P.c.abietinus/tristis

Grey ‘northern’ birds reported as abietinus/tristis in Shet
during Oct-Nov and NE 4-6 Nov.

Tristis-type singles St.Abbs 22&29 Oct, Coldingham
L. B 22 Oct, N.Ronaldsay 24&25 Oct; Throntonloch L
& 2 Deerness Ork 6 Nov. | Kinloch I&R 1-7 Dec

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
First 1 Lochwinnoch Clyde 1 Apr. Then P&K 3 Apr;
D&G and Bord 7 Apr; Arg & Ayr 8 Apr; Loth 13 Apr;
I&R, Fair Is and Fife 16-18 Apr; Caith, NE and Cent
19-20 Apr; A&D, Shet, Ork & Is of May 23 Apr; M&N
24 Apr.
Influx 22-25 Apr 25 Arbroath A&D , 17 N.Berwick L,
_ 60 Fisherton-Heads of Ayr Ayr and 15 Finnarts Bay
_ Ayr; 20 St.Abbs B 29 Apr; 6 Is of May & 12 St.Abbs
_ 2-3 May. Best N.Isles 7-15 May: 7 Whalsay & 6 Fetlar
\ Shet; 25 FairIs; 6 Stronsay, 8 Rousay & 19 N.Ronaldsay
© Ork.
i Breeding CBC F+15%/W+10%,CESad+4%, juv-8%.
: Shet br3 raised Walls, only 5th breeding record since
_ 1969; Ork 2 sites Hoy, 4-Smm Tumland Wood, Rousay
-@; A&D 44mm Kinnordy; P&K 45mm Tombuie,
Aberfeldy, 6S5prs Vane Farm (68); Cent no change
_ Blairdrummond; Loth 25 Aberlady (27), 29 Livingston
(26), 11 Roslin (6); Arg 163mm Rhinns, Islay, 53 mm
Taynish (33); Clyde 1iprs Merryton (7), no change
| Strathclyde Park, 15-20prs Baron’s Haugh (20),268mm

|
‘a Firecrest in Scotland 1968-94

(J autumn
i spring

55

in Renfrew 2-tetrad study; Ayr 12 Culzean (17).
Average success Strathclyde Park where ad/juv ratio
normal at 1:5; few Melrose B. normal 26 ads Turnhouse
L but only 18 juvs (45). fledged juv seen feeding with
juv Snow Bunting in Cairngorms M&N at 1150m; post-
breeding juv flocks 37 Forfar L. A&D, 250 Glentrool
D&G & 27 Bemersyde B 31 Jul-27 Aug.

Passage from late Jul with 21 Ordiquhill NE 4 Aug;
15 Is of May, 12 St.Abbs 12-16 Aug; then 60 Fair Is,
31 N.Ronaldsay & 12 Stronsay 24 Aug; 55 Whalsay,
50 Out Skerries, 30 Sumburgh and 30 Unst ,all Shet,
24-28 Aug. 25 St.Abbs, 38 N.Ronaldsay, 45 Fair Is and
max 20 Sumburgh 7-9 Sep.

Last Caith 4 Sep; P&K , D&G, Arg & Fife 11-21 Sep.
Few Sep but small numbers (1-3 birds) early Oct. Last
Bord & Clyde 5-9 Oct; Is of May & Fair Is 14-16 Oct;
A&D and Shet 22-23 Oct; Ork 27 Oct. Very late singles
Barns Ness L 6 Nov and Rattray NE 10 Nov and 16 Nov.

Goldcrest Regulus regulus

2 Jan-Feb records Shet & Ork.

First passage Tiree Arg 12 Mar; Shet 21 Mar; Is of May
& Fair Is 27 Mar; Ork 28 Mar. E.coast movement on
27 Mar when 3 Findon NE and 14 St.Abbs B.

Best counts 13 N.Ronaldsay Ork 9 Apr; 100 Is of May
11-12 Apr; 10 Fair Is 16 Apr; 15 St.Abbs 19 Apr and
11 Scoughall L 22 Apr.

Breeding CBC (F+24%/W+1%). Ork 11prs Hoy (13 );
I&R+14% Eigg but few young;Loth 12 Livingston (9),
3 Roslin (4); Clyde 2 Merryton (2), 6 Baron’s Haugh
(10), 20 Chatelherault, 19mm in2-tetrad Renfrew study.
Very poor autumn , passage Is of May from 14 Aug but
very few Aug-Sep: 23 St.Abbs 9 Sep, 15 Is of May
12 Sep but mostly <10 elsewhere. 125 Currarie Glen
Ayr 18 Oct when large numbers in SE Islay, Arg; then
main influx 21-23 Oct :300 Johnshaven & 150 Drums
NE; 300 Hatton and 200 West Seaton A&D; 150 Is of
May; 70 Fife Ness F and 60 St.Abbs. Few N.Isles.
Further influx 3-6 Nov in similarly restricted area with
50 St.Balred's L; 25 Fife Ness; 150 Windyhills A&D,
150 West Seaton A&D, 150 Hatton A&D and 300
Johnshaven.

*Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus

2 St.Abbs B 19 Apr were the only spring records.

A record 15 in autumn.

1 St.Abbs 25 Sep with another there 9-10 Oct. Then
major influx of 11 birds 21-26 Oct when | Balmdie NE,
1 Fife Ness Muir F, 2 Balcomie Farm F , 1 Craighead
Farm F,, another St.Abbs, 2 Is of May, 1 Fishtown
of Usan A&D, 1 Whalsay Shet and 1 Helendale Shet .
Then juv L.Eye 1&R 29 Oct; another Balmedie 5 Nov;
and singles Dunninald Den & Auchmithie A&D 6 Nov.

56

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata

First 1 Butt Arran 23 Apr. Then Loth 1 May; Clyde &
Bord 3 May; A&D, M&N, I&R, Ayr & Fair Is 4-9 May;
P&K, Shet, Arg & Is of May 10-11 May; D&G, NE &
Cent 12-14 May; Caith & Fife 18-19 May. Good numbers
onterritory 20 May but scarce on passage with 10 Is of
May 24 May &7 Fair Is the best totals of migrants.
Breeding CBC F+17%/+26W%. Ork 1 alarming
Meisetter 30 Jun; I&R 9prs Insh Marshes; P&K good
season; Ayr 159mm at 84 sites with 21mm Kilkerran.
16 (flock of 12) Douglas Estate Clyde 28 Jul .

Quiet autumn passage . First 1 St.Abbs & 7 Lochwinnoch
Clyde 14 Aug. First N.Isles 18-20 Aug when 1-3 birds
most sites. Peak movement 12 Sep when max 9 Fair Is,
8 St.Abbs & 5 Lerwick Shet.

Last birds A&D 19 Aug; Loth & Cent 3-4 Sep; I&R,
Arg & Arran i2-16 Sep; Caith, Is of May and Clyde
20-23 Sep; Ork, Fife & Bord 24-26 Sep; Shet 29 Sep,
Fair Is 2 Oct.

1 exceptionally late Collieston NE 5 Nov.

*Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva

2 in spring, 14 in autumn.

Singles Fair Is 26 May & Fetlar Shet 6 Jun.

Singles Is of May 21 Sep; Quendale & Helendale Shet
30 Sep; Fair Is 1 Oct; Wester Quarff Shet 4 Oct;
Sultigeo, Stenness Ork 10 Oct; Fife Ness Muir F on
11 Oct; 1-3 (5 birds) N.Ronaldsay Ork 15-24 Oct, max
3 on 22 Oct; Helendale & Seafield Shet 17 Oct.

Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca

First on territory Wood of Cree D&G 21 Apr. Then
Clyde 23 Apr; Bord 28 Apr; P&K, Loth & Ayr2-4 May;
Shet, Fair Is & Cent 6 May; Ork 10 May; I&R 13 May;
A&D, NE & Is of May 14-15 May.

Main arrival 10-16 May. Mostly singles E coast but max
4 Geosetter Shet, 20 Fair Is and 21 N.Ronaldsay Ork.

Breeding MBS MBS
Nest-box schemes prs nests juvs 1993 1994
Trossachs Cent ? 51 280 5.02 5.49
Inversnaid Clyde* 14 11 53 0.69 4.82
Inchcailloch Clyde 9 2 7 - 3.50
Tarbert Clyde 10 8 45 6.60 5.63
Sallochy Clyde 1 9 51 4.00 5.67
Comer Clyde 3 3 15 4.75 5.00
Argyll 10 10 52 - 5.20

*predation by Pine Marten at Inversnaid solved with concrete boxes

P&K 6 sites; Bord 12 at 7 sites; Ayr 18mm at 10 sites;
D&G 55 nests Wood of Cree (52), 6prs Knockmans,
8prs Glentrool 8 in boxes (15).

No breeding reports M&N, NE, A&D, Fife & Loth.
First of autumn on Is of May 1 Aug and Shet 5 Aug.
Widespread movement 23-25 Aug when 11 Sumburgh
& 12 Out Skerries Shet; 20 Stronsay & 15 N.Ronaldsay
Ork; 3 Mains of Usan A&D; 10 Is of May; 4 Fife Ness
F; & 6 St.Abbs. Further fall 9-12 Sep when 30 Ness

Scottish Bird Report 1994 |

Shet; 20 Fair Is; 40 North Ronaldsay, 11 Stronsay &
15 Sanday Ork; & 8 Is of May. Few in Oct.

Last A&D and Fife 3-4 Sep; Arg & Caith 12-17 Sep; |
Bord 23 Sep; NE & Is of May 2 Oct; Fair Is 10 Oct; Shet |

29 Oct; with latest 1 Herston, S.Ronaldsay Ork 6 Nov. |

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

Breeding CBC F+8%/W25%,CES ads-7%, juvs-19%.

Largest numbers of breeding birds: 6prs Hirsel B and |
Baron's Haugh Clyde; 9 nests in 2-tetrad Renfrew study
Clyde.
8 Raey Caith in Sep and 4 Queenamidda, Rendall Ork
in Nov were only N flocks.
Max flocks sizes: <15 in Arran; 15-25 in M&N, Cent,
P&K and Fife; 26-40 in I&R, Arg, Clyde and A&D.
Biggest flocks: 42 Rozelle Ayr, 40-50 Royal Elizabeth
Dockyard L and 50 Pease Dean B Sep-Nov.

*Marsh Tit Parus palustris

CBC (W-9%) Bord Seen 11 sites Mar-Aug: 2prs each _
at Hirsel, Floors Castle & Duns Castle; 1 Peebles 9 May
was well outside known range. Pair in nest-box Hirsel |

on | Jun, br4 seen another site there 16 Jun.

Seen at another 9 sites outwith breeding season)"

{

including 2 singles St.Abbs in Aug; 4 Abbey St.Bathans| °

in Dec.

Loth 1 at Innerwick nut-feeder to 6 Feb but not seen;

since.

Willow Tit Parus montanus

CBC (A+33%) Clyde ipr Strathclyde Park laid but ;,

failed, 1 carrying food for young Harestonhill P., singles
also seen Baron's Haugh , Greenhead P. in winter; Ayr
pr bred Knockshinnoch lagoons, adult feeding young
Mark in Jul with non-breeding season sightings af
Bogton Moss (3 birds), Dalrymple, Glake and Bellsbank
(2); D&G very scarce, probably 4prs Wood of Cree!

a a 2. eee

l
if

Inn
a

ah

la
p 4S
100

highest numbers Ken valley at Kenmure Holms &
Henrol reserves, also 4 Mill L. in Mar; Bord 1-3 seer
Hirsel through year with 1 Coldstream in Nov. |

Fife 4 Saline Golf Course in Jan with singles Clune »

Wood in Mar and Lochore Meadows in Apr.
The first Fife records since before 1935 !

I&R 3prs in boxes Drumguish, 11 young from 18 egg
Also seen L.Mallachie (5), Forest Lodge (5), Mona
Moor, Black Isle (pr), Daviot (family), Tromie bridg(
(3) in breeding season. and L.Benevean in Aug.
MA&N 10prs in boxes Culbin Forest with mean clutcl
5.5 (6.0) & MBS 4.5 (5.3). 2prs Lossie Forest had clute
size 6.0 and MBS 6.0. Outwith the usual area s 3 (1 ju
seen Elchies Forest in Jul with singles Feakirk in J
Glenernie in Feb, L.Allan in May and L.Belivat in J

Crested Tit Parus cristatus

IP
5)
bk

R.D.Murray [Ed]

Coal Tit Parus ater

Best flocks: 65 Glen Tanar NE 22 Mar; 20 Sallochy
Clyde 20 Apr.

2 Arinagour, Coll Arg in Apr where unusual.
Breeding CBC F+17%/W+1%: 1&R good season Eigg,
many young reared; M&N 7prs at Culbin (6) had MBS
of 7.5 (5.7) and 6prs at Lossie (2), MBS 7.0 (9.0); P&K
8prs Vane Farm (6); Loth 4prs Roslin (5); Clyde 6prs
Baron’s Haugh (10), 3prs Merryton (2), 53mm in

_ Renfrew 2-tetrad study;
) Passage birds noted St.Abb’s B 1 Sep-31 Oct, max only
| 40n28 Sept. 40 (3 flocks) Chatelherault Clyde 21 Aug;

32 Portnahaven, Islay Arg 15 Oct; 65 L.Loy M&Non

- 15 Dec.
' Ork singles Honeygeo, S.Ronaldsay 25-26 Oct, Firth
| 27 Oct, Wideford, St Ola 27-28 Oct & Queenamidda,

Rendall 30 Oct - some seen to 30 Nov. Now recorded in
- 6 of last 10 years - /2th-15th records for Ork.

' Blue Tit Parus caeruleus

'72 handled Craigurd garden B 26 Feb; 114 ringed
S.Queensferry L Jan-Mar (same as '93).

Breeding CBC F+1%/W+5%, CES ads+2%, juvs-28%

i

Nest-box schemes MBS MBS
| Nests Young 1993 1994
| Lossie Forest M&N 14 74 5.10 5.30
*)' Culbin Forest M&N 6 43 5.60 7.30
|| L.Spynie M&N 6 47 : 7.80
| Vane Farm P&K Tis (SD ; 7.49
, | \Glen Trool D&G ? ? 8.20 8.80
(CE Ardeer Ayr 4 14 - 3.50

57

Crested Tit
Steven Brown

Caith 96% young fledged (67% in '93); ; I&R 100%
increase inEigg CBC but poor season; M&N population
low Lossie Forest; P&K 14prs Vane Farm (15); Cent
20% fewer using Trossachs nest-boxes but good success;
Loth 19 Roslin (21) & 11prs Livingston R. (9); Bord
lpr St.Abbs (2); Clyde stable Baron’s Haugh & Cathkin
Braes, 100mm in Renfrew 2-tetrad study.

56 Craigurd garden B 14 Aug; 50+ Possil Marsh Clyde
15 Sep; passage birds Mull, Arg where 12 Iona 20 Sep.;
daily St.Abb’s B 24 Sep-25 Oct, max 21 there on 1 Oct;
50 Endrick Mouth Clyde 1 Oct; 1 continental race
Tarbet Ness [&R 11 Nov; 85 Tay reedbeds A&D 4 Dec.
5 singles Shet at Fetlar, Lerwick, Watness & Whalsay:
arrived 25 Oct-3 Nov, some to 19 Nov; 2 Ork at
Graemeshall, Holm 21 Oct & Burray on 24 Oct-1995.

Great Tit Parus major

Good spring N.isles: 1 Lerwick Shet 1993- 10 Feb;
1 Kirkwall Ork 28 Mar; 1 Fair Is 10 Apr; 1 Fair Is &
1 Whalsay Shet 16 Apr, 1 Herston, S-.Ronaldsay Ork
28 Apr; 1 Toab Shet 8 May & 1 Scatness Shet 9 May.
Also 1 Is of May 20 Mar, with further singles on 29 Mar
& 23 Apr. 28 handled Craigurd garden B 28 Feb.
Breeding CBC F-2%/W-3%, CES ads+11%, juvs-43%.

Nest-box schemes MBS MBS
Nests Young 1993 1994
Lossie Forest M&N 10 44 4.10 4.40
Culbin Forest M&N 12 73 3.90 6.10
L.Spynie M&N 5) 35 - 7.00
Blairgowrie P&K 4 31 - 4.71

58

I&R slight decrease Eigg CBC; P&K 7prs Vane Farm
(6); Cent 50% increase in box occupation by 33% ;
Loth 12prs Roslin (14); Arg 7prs Taynish (12); Clyde
8-10prs Cathkin Braes (20), stable Baron’s Haugh &
Oprs Merryton (10), 64mm in Renfrew 2-tetrad study;
D&G 3 occupied boxes Glen Trool (9) , 28 Wood of
Cree (27).

Very irregular on passage St.Abbs B max 3 on 1 Oct;
and only singles Rattray and Girdleness NE 22 Oct.
Excellent year continued in N.Isles with major influx
20-29 Oct when singles Sumburgh, Fetlar, Hoswick,
Lerwick, Kergord, Quarff and Norwick, all Shet; 2 Fair
Is; and 2 N.Ronaldsay &1 Burray Ork . Also singles on
N.Ronaldsay 10 Oct & 18 Nov.

50 Linrathen A&D 17 Dec was, by far, the largest flock.

Nuthatch Sitta europaea

Bord Distinct signs of population increase and
expansion.

Min 5mm calling Hirsel, where seen throughout year
with birds now appearing at neighbouring Lennel
woodlands in Aug, Coldstream Hospital in Nov and
Coldstream gardens in Dec; 3 calling Floors Castle,
Kelso where 2 nests found; 1 at nut-feeder Ashkirk
House, Selkirk in Apr; singles St.Abbs May & Jul;
single Minto House, nr. Hawick during summer; another
bred Kershopefoot in Liddesdale but nest just over the
border in Cumbria.

D&G 1 Kirkton, nr Dumfries, mid-Jul to early Aug.

Treecreeper Certhia familiaris

Breeding CBC F+16%/W+6%, CES +2-% juvs -7%:
OHeb 2prs Stornoway Woods (1); 1&R Sprs Eigg (4-5)
had good success; M&N 3prs in nest-boxes Culbin,
MBS 4.3 (3.3); Clyde Sprs Baron's Haugh (6).

6 Bemersyde B on 21 Aug; 7 Pease Dean B 22 Oct ; and
8 Restenneth A&D 3 Dec were the largest counts.

Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus

13 in spring, 1 in autumn.

1 Burrafirth Shet 3 May; 1 Hillswick Shet 9-10 May;
1 Cunningsburgh Shet 20 May; | Kergord Shet 22 May;
1 Muck & 1 Eigg I&R 26 May; 1 sang at Shuna Arg
28 May; 1 Quarff Shet 2 Jun; 1 Whalsay Shet 5 June
with 2 there and another Kergord 8 Jun; 1 Fair Is 17 Jun.
1 Kinshaldy F 15 Aug .

*Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus
| ad f Fair Is 23 -24 Aug.

4th for Fair Isle and 10th for Scotland.
Photo : Birding World 7: 305.

Scottish Bird Report 1994

Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio
31 birds in spring, c44 in autumn. First single
Graemeshall, Holm Ork 10 May;
Westray & 1 Deerness, all Ork,

singles Rattray NE, Lunan Bay A&D, Wormiston F,
St.Abbs B & Cambuslang Clyde. More on 1-4 Jun with

2 Shet, 2 Fair Is and singles Ork, Golspie Suth, Port |
William D&G, Is of May & Gordon Moss B. Later |
singles 23-28 Jun at Noss Head Caith, L.Crerean Arg, ©

Achtibuie I&R and Eigg I&R.

May-Jun '94 May June

1-10 11-20 21-31 1-10 11-20. 21-30
Shetland 0 1 1 2 0) o
Fair Isle 2, 0 0) 0 0 0
Orkney 1 5 3 1 0 0
N.Scotland 0 0 0 1 0 3
NE Scot 0 0 1 0 0 0
E/C Scot 0 0) 5 1 0 0
SE.Scot 0 0 1 1 0 0
SW Scot 0 0 1 1 0 0
Totals 2 6 12 7 0 3

Breeding: P&K pr bred successfully - located 22 Jun,
br6 seen 1 Jul, br3 still there 29 Jul.
First 1 Fair Is 4-7 Aug. Major influx N.Isles 23-27 Aug

with 19 birds Shet, max 8 Fair Is & 4 Ork. 3 Shet, 1-2)

Fair Is & 1 Girdleness NE 1-10Sep. Singles Frakkafield

Shet 21 Sep; Foula Shet 22 Sep; N.Ronaldsay 26 Sep. |

1 Drymen Clyde 10 Oct & Lathallan School NE21 Oct.
See Scottish Birds 18:118-119 for account of P&K breeding.

*Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor

Singles Elie F 15-20 Sep and Foula Shet 24-27 Sep.
2nd for Fife, 15th for Shetland.

Photo : Elie bird in Birding World 7: 349 & Fife Bird Report.
Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor

1 Innerleithen B 1993-13 Mar; 1 Carron Valley Clyde/

Cent 1993-19 Feb; 1 L.Garten I&R 14-25 Feb.

1 Norwick,Unst Shet 10 Apr; 1 Feshiebridge I&R on)

23 Apr; and 1 Balgray Res. Clyde 30 Apr.

9 autumn singles at Fair Is 25 Sep; Eday Ork 20 Oct! }
N.Ronaldsay & Yesnaby Ork 22 Oct; Skaw, Unst Shel 4
25 Oct; Grutness-Sumburgh Shet 5 Nov; Whinnyfolc
NE 6 Nov; Quendale Shet 7-8 Nov; and Hoy Lodge

Ork 14 Nov. Later singles Forest of Birse NE 26 Nov

Threave D&G 2 Dec; and Tulloch 1&R 2 & 17 Dec. | v

*Steppe Shrike L/.e.) pallidorostris

with 1 Holm, |
11-12 May; 1 |
Haroldswick, Unst Shet 13 May. 1 Rousay Ork 19 May |
before influx 22-28 May when 2 Ork, 3 Is of May and |

3 singles at N.Ronaldsay Ork 14 Sep-16 Oct, Boddan

Shet 7-10 Nov and Papa Westray Ork 11-26 Nov.
First for Shet & Ork, 3rd-4th for Scotland. Previow
birds Fair Is in 1956 & 1964, This form is potentially
different species: Southern Grey Shrike L. meridionalis

Photos: N.Ronaldsay bird British Birds 88:552, Boddam bir, ||
Birding World 7: 425; Papa Westray bird British Birds 88:552.

R.D.Murray [Ed]

Jay Garrulus glandarius

CBC F+5%/W-8%. Most areas report birds are more
widespread than had been appreciated. Still apparently
colonising in parts of M&N, NE, Fife, Loth, Bord, Arg,
& Ayr. Slight decline noted L.Lomondside Clyde.
Confirmed breeeding records are rare. Largest assembly
was 13 in garden Mambeg Clyde in Dec.

Magpie Pica pica

CBC F-3%/W-2%. Caith single still present throughout
year; M&N increasing Forres area and moving into
several others; Cent now widespread Doune area; Loth
further spread E.Lothian, especially along coast; Bord
slow expansion continues around Peebles, Lammermuirs
and Cheviots; Ayr increasing N.Kilmarnock, Prestwick
& S.Ayrshire. Clyde 48nests in Renfrew 2-tetrad study.
Largest counts : 25 Linwood Clyde 14 Jan; 102 roosting
island Hogganfield L. Clyde 4 Feb;up to 150 roosting
Bawsinch L early-mid Feb; 76 roosting Airthrey Cent
& 36 Kilwinning Ayr 14 Feb.

Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

Arg Islay: 70 previously occupied sites were visited:
33 were active sites, of 31 of these nests, all laideggs but
16 failed to produce young. The remaining 15 fledged
40 young, an MBP of 1.02 (1.7) and MBS of 2.6 (2.5).
_ Most losses of young occurred in their first week of life
during a very windy, cold and extremely dry mid-May.
A survey of the Mull of Oa where numbers dropped from
) 23prs to 13prs between 1986 & 1992, found only 7 definite
| breeding sites. 1994 is thought to have been the worst-ever
| year for Chough since 1981 with an estimated total of only 50
| young fledging. From: Scottish Chough Study Group.
| Jura:1 pr near Inver; Colonsay 30 in Feb-Mar, clOprs
fledged 12+ young. Mull: lpr were unsuccessful. The
| largest flock was 53 Kilchoman, Islay 7 Jul.

| D&G resident pr bred but no report of fledged young.

i
i

59

Jackdaw Corvus monedula
Up to 18 Tingwall Shet Jan-Mar in addition to more
usual handful of records involving 1-4 birds in winter
and limited passage Shet & Fair Is Apr-May.
Breeding: CBC (F+2%/W+7%): I&R 10-15prs Eigg
(15); A&D largest colony was 250prs Auldallan; Arg
10prs Rhinns, Islay survey was possibly an understimate;
Clyde 230prs in Refrew 2-tetrad study.
Roosts: 2,300 The Knock, Crieff P&K 2 Jan; 7,000
Bainacoul M&N 14 Jan. A massive 23,000 The Knock,
Crieff 27 Nov. Further south few reports of flocks/
roosts in excess of 200 birds although 500 Fala Dam L
in Jan with 400 Aberlady L in Aug..
Study of Ork population indicates current numbers are c294prs
(275-325prs) and declining, possibly due to changes in food
supply as a result of changes in farming practices, loss of
nest-sites in buildings andoiling of juveniles by the increasing
Fulmar population.

See Booth: Orkney Bird Report 1994: 63-67.

Rook Corvus frugilegus

Shet 27 nests Kergord (21), MBS 2.1 (2.0) with 12prs
at a new colony at Gott plantation which failed totally;
OHeb 125 nests Stornoway (115) is the first increase
there for many years; NE Udny Wood colony 412 nests
(397) ; Loth 1,075 nests in 25 colonies in Midlothian;
Bord full counts in 10-km squares: NT13 showed a
12% increase from 1,472 nests in 1990 to 1,65, a 6%
decrease in NT14 from 2,088 nests in 1990 to 1,965,
NT44 held 2,812 nests (no previous counts), the largest
ofthe 48 colonies counted was 712 nests at Hamiltonhall;
Arg little change noted in colonies counted in 1993.
Counts: 31,000 Bainacoul M&N, 13900 Alford NE &
5,000 Whiterashes NE in Jan; 2,500 Whitrig B in Oct;
5,000 The Knock, Crieff P& K in Nov; 5,000 Aberfeldy
P&K in Dec.

i)

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N
NY

AG
a

cal
Ne \

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A

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aes ee Se

Chough
eee eee Steven Brown

60

Carrion Crow Corvus corone

Carrion C.c.corone Shet 10 winter/spring (10) records
& 8 in autumn/winter (4); Ork 2 birds bred (3), paired
with Hoodies; Is of May 1 pr bred; Arg pr bred Mull;
Clyde 43 nests in Renfrew 2-tetrads study.

600 Pollok Park Clyde 22 Jan; 382 Doonfoot Ayr 11 Jul
& 400 Currie L in Nov were the best counts.

Hooded Crow C.c.cornix Scattered reports inS: Clyde
(8), Ayr (4), D&G (2), A&D (2), Fife (6), Is of May (1),
Loth(3) & Bord (3) with hybrids noted in Arg (1), Clyde
(12), Ayr (5), D&G (2), A&D (1), P&K (4), Loth (5) &
Bord (2).

Numbers of Hooded or hybrid crows at Lossie estuary
MA&N varied through year between 12% in Mar to 37%
in Jul-Aug. Pure Hoodies were rare, usually <5%.
Ork 18prs N.Hoy (17); Arg Sprs reared 9 L.Gruinart,
Islay, 25prs The Rhinns, Islay.

Raven Corvus corax

Breeding:
Area Sites Occup. Sites Nest Young
checked sites failed success MBS
Orkney = 35 14 21 63 3.0
Eigg, I&R 8 8 1 7 21 3.0
Central 18 16 S 11 7/9 1.3
P&K 18 14 - 11 28 D'S)
Ayrshire - 24 - 11 36 3.3

Shet successful season with good brood sizes; I&R
10prs Rum; Fife pr still present Lomond Hills; Cent
success lower perhaps due to snow covering carrion;
Loth 2 sites, lpr raised 3 young; Bord 3-4prs on coast,
30 casual records inland is best total in c15 years; Arg
12prs Colonsay (9), 8prs Tiree (6); Arran 2 sites, br2 at
one; Clyde 13prs; D&G 76prs located (46 in '89, 38 in
'81) increasingly nesting in trees.

Shet max count 20 Lerwick in Sep; Ork roost 80 St.Ola
in May; Caith 10 Broubster in Oct; I&R 14 Insh
Marshes in Dec; A&D 12 Glen Clova in in Sep; P&K
193 main roost in Jan fell to 40 in Mar, max 80 later in
year, 2nd roost max 20 in Dec; Bord 9 Linghope in
May; Arg 100 Bridgend, Islay in Oct & 245 Mid-Argyll
site in Aug, 80+ Oban in Sep; Clyde/Ayr 20 Muirshiel
Park in May.

Starling Sturnus vulgaris

Winter roosts: 15,000 Ayr Ayr Jan-Feb, 10,000 in Mar
was the only really large winter/spring roost, the next
largest being 1,000 Paisley Cross Clyde.

Breeding CBC F-11%/W-8%: Fair Is stable population
of 71 prs studied - 252 eggs were laid, hatching success
was good (Q2%) but a dry and cold spring produced high
mortality of small young and only 134 fledged, MBP
1.89; Ork 72 AONs N.Hill, Papa Westray (39); P&K
stable 3 prs Vane Farm; Clyde stable 10-12prs Merryton,

Scottish Bird Report 1994

80 nests Renfrew 2-tetrad study.
Juvenile flocks: 800 Larkhall Clyde 8 Jun; 759 Edenside

F 17 Jun; 2,560 Bemersyde B 18 Jun
25,000 L.of Kinnordy A&D 11 Jul; 3,000 Waterlands
reeds Clyde 30 Jul; 7,000 Noss Head Caith 27 Aug; |
6,000 L.Gelly F 29 Aug; 20,000 Tullibody Inch Cent
6 Nov; 8,000 Heart Loch Ayr and 10,000 PerthP&K |
12 Nov; 6,000 Irvine Ayr Oct-Dec; 20,000 Ayr from

20 Nov-end Dec; 5,000 Selkirk B 13 Dec.

*Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus
9 single adults: Irvine Ayr 6-14 May; Fort William |
1&R all Jul; Fraserburgh NE 15 Jul; Gairnybank, Kinross
P&K 1-6 Aug; Foula Shet 3-5 Aug; Wester Cardean- |
Meigle A&D 4-21 Aug; Skaill, Eday Ork 6 Aug; |
Troswick-Dalsetter Shet 11-13 Aug; Brue, Lewis OH |
12 Aug. Then 1 juv Fair Is 22 Sep-3 Nov. ||
Ist for Ayr, 2nd for NE, 3rd for A&D.

House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Breeding CBC A-2%: Ork indication of possible decline |
parts of Mainland; NE ‘apparent’ decline noted by some
although remains common; P&K stable 2prs Vane |
Farm; Clyde 280 nests in Renfrew 2-tetrad study.
Flocks: 150 West Fenton L in Feb; 130 Kirklea Ayr |
in Jul; 200 Town of Inchinnan Clyde ,400 Coaltown of |
Balgonie F & 140 Sandyford Ayr in Aug; 130 Reiss |
Caith in Sep; 200 Ratter Caith in Oct; 150 roost }
Dumfries D&G in Dec.
Hybrid House x Tree Sparrows were seen at Balgray |
Res., Clyde 7 Apr and at at Tresta , Fetlar Shet 16 Jun. |

Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
Seema CBC F+15%: Caith pr may have nes

(78), 3prs attempted 3rd broods but all died when very)
small; Fife bred 3 sites; Bord prs seen 12 sites; Clyde
6prs Dungavel boxes (14), 14prs seen at 6 other sites ‘i
but none Balgaray Res.;Ayr ‘small pocket' C.Ayrshire} {tp
of c19prs with single prs at 5S other sites; D&G seen at} iy)

3 sites. ‘hy
Jan-Mar flocks: 122 Lecropt Cent, 100 Rothwell D&G) ly,
and 58 Dirleton L were easily the largest flocks. ) tac

Flocks of 40-50 at Padanaram A&D, Auchterarder iy,
P&K, Newmains B, Damhead of Torr F & Kinkell Me
P&K; 30-40 at Stanford Ayr, Kintessock M&N & jy
Skinflats Cent. Pein
Max autumn flocks: 70 Newmains & Tarradale I&R Vhi¢
60 Miltonhill M&N & Eden Estuary F; 40-50 Greenant )y,
Ayr & Windyhills A&D; & 30 Barns Ness L and East hu te
Millichen Clyde. 1

ae

SS

R.D.Murray [Ed]

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
Winter flocks: 1,000 Blackstoun Farm Clyde, 1,000
Logieriat P&K , 900 Blackford P&K, 620 Harrietfield
P&K,600 Linwood Moss Clyde & 600 Crieff P&K
in Jan; 1,500 Powillimount D&G, 700 Bridge of
Craigisla A&D & 700 Strathtay P&K in Feb; with
2,000 Craigisla & 600 Devilla Forest F in Mar.
Flocks of 4-500: M&N(2), P&K (2), Fife, Cent & Ayr.
Flocks of 2-400: Caith, I&R, M&N, Fife (2), Bord (3) &
Ayr (2). Last big flock was 300 Noblehall B 10 Apr.
Extremely poor passage; only 4 birds Is of May; max
10 Fair Is 14 Apr; max 1-2 at 5 sites Ork; & 8 sites
Shet, max 10 Bigton on 24 Apr.
Breeding CBC F-4%/W-1%, CES ads + 10%, juvs +3%:
Shet pr Baltasound but no proof; Ork 10-11 AOTs Hoy
(15); I&R 15% increase Eigg CBC; P&K 68prs Vane
Farm (76); Cent stable numbers Blairdrummond
transect; Loth 45 Roslin (48) & 34 Aberlady (40); Bord
8-9prs St.Abbs (9); Clyde 217mm in Renfrew 2-tetrad
study.
Very poor passage N. Isles, almost wholly singles Shet;
‘desperately low’ Fair Is, max 15 on 30 Sep; max 60 Hoy
Ork early Sep, but mostly 1-5 in late Oct. 200 St.Abbs
~ B22 Oct was the only apparent fall reported.
Very few big flocks, mostly from late Nov, peaking
Dec: but 350 L.Ba, Mull Arg and 1,000 Tulloch I&R
in Sep; 530 Currarie Glen Ayr in Oct; 1,000 Waterloo
P&K & 800 Blackstoun in Dec.
Flocks 400-500: M&N & Bord. Flocks 200-400: Caith,
M&N, NE, Cent , Loth (3), Bord (3) & Ayr.

Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
Winter flocks: 2,500 Blackford P&K, 850 Ruthven B,
600 Kinbuck P&K & 500 Hogganfield L. Clyde in Jan;
2,400 Powillimount D&G, 2,000+ Canabony D&G,
2,000 Leadburn B, 1,000 Snaigour P&K in Feb; with
+ 500 Grandtully P&K,500 Bridge of Craigisia A&D ,
| 450 Eddleston B & 400 Glen Prosen A&D in Mar.
_ Flocks of 200-400 I&R, NE, P&K (2) , Cent, Loth (3),
| Bord 3) & D&G (5). Flocks of 100-200 in M&N, NE,
P&K (3), Fife & Loth (5).
400 Leadburn & 250Foulshiels L 2 Apr; 200 Kirriemuir
A&D 9 Apr; 150 Grandtully 15 Apr were last of big
mainland flocks but rather strong passage 22-26 Apr
) with maxima -20Is of May, 145 Fair Is, 140 Whalsay
~Shet & 100 Hoy Ork 22-26 Apr .
\ Last Clyde & Arg 7-8 Apr; Ayr and P&K 11-16 Apr;
| A&D, Loth and Caith 24-27 Apr; Fife and Is of May
| 1-4 May; Bord 11 May; Ork 22 May; Fair Is and Shet
\1 -2 Jun.
Breeding: I&R 1mm Newtonmore21 Jun& Kinlochewe
| 6 Jul; Cent 1 sang 10 Jun but was not re-located; Ayr
ft sang S.Ayrshire 11 May but was not re-located.
\First returned to Shet 11 Sep; Fair Is & Ork 16-19 Sep;
\ ie of May and Bord 25 Sep; Clyde, NE, Loth and Cent

SS aa

61

9-110ct; I&R and Arg 12-13 Oct; P&K, Caith, Fife,
& Ayr 15-17 Oct; D&G 27 Oct; M&N 5 Nov.
Rather weak passage with fewer birds than 1993-4.
Few until 30 Sep-1 Oct when 130 Fair Is, 50 Burravoe
& 67 Whalsay Shet and 17 N.Ronaldsay Ork . Main
movement from 10-26 Oct, peaking 21-22 Oct with
c200 Shet, max 128 N.Ronaldsay, 80+ NE, 85 Fife Ness
F, 50 Is of May, 80 Skateraw L & 120 St.Abbs. More
widespread into Nov but most birds moved on quickly.
Very few birds wintered: <25 in total noted each area in
M&N, NE, Ayr and Clyde in Nov with none M&N,
Cent, Arg, Clyde and D&G in Dec.

There were no big flocks, the largest being "several
hundred" L.of Lowes P&K 28 Nov; 250 Bogsbank B
3 Dec; 100 Mount Lothian L & 200 Gladhouse L 4 Dec;
430 Skirling Mains B 10 Dec; 100 Auchterarder P&K
18 Dec & 250 Heathmount I&R 25 Dec.

Other flocks of 100-200 were in P&K (2) & Bord with
a Single flock >50 birds in D&G.

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

Much poorer winter numbers than usual.

Few wintered N.Isles, only 9 Shet & 3 Ork.

300 Valleyfield Wood F & 250 Ballone I&R in Jan;
350+ Trinity Gask P&K & c200 Radernie F in Mar
were only large flocks.

Flocks 100-200 were also scarce: Clyde , Ayr (2), P&K,
Fife (4) & Bord (2).

Modest spring passage: c52 Shet, max 4 Fair Is, 4 dates
N.Ronaldsay Ork but none Is of May.

Breeding CBC F-6%/W+16%),CE ads+8%, juvs +64%
Ork bred St.Margarets Hope & Orphir, 16 sang (12)at
10 (6) sites; I&R 9prs bred Eigg (7); Arg scarce on
Rhinns, Islay where only 2prs; Clyde 122mm in Renfrew
2-tetrad survey, 3prs Merryton (5).

150 L.Flemington M&N in Jul and 170 Cander Moss
Clyde in Aug suggests good breeding season.

Good autumn with widespread influx 8-20 Oct giving
c90 Shet,max 58 Stand ; c60 Fair Is , 44 max day count
(best-ever); peak 31 N.Ronaldsay & 25 S.Ronaldsay
Ork; 150 LunanA&D & 40 Is of May. Ringing in NE
of large Dec flocks of 350 Balmedie & 100 Aberchirder
suggests these birds may have been of Norwegian
origin.

Fewer large winter flocks than 1993/94: 400 Kinbuck
Cent in Oct; 600 Peppermill F in Nov; 300 Munlochy
I&R in Dec. 100-200 flocks in Caith (3), A&D, Fife,
Clyde (2), Ayr (4).

More than usual wintering N.Isles.

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

Largest flocks: 120 Hirsel B in Jan; 200 Powillimount
D&G & 80 Aberlady L in Feb; 82 Dunshalt F in Mar;
115 Chatelherault Clyde in Apr.

Elsewhere flocks >20 in I&R (2), M&N (3), NE (4),

62

A&D, P&K (5), Fife (5),Cent (2), Loth (7), Bord (3),
Clyde (3), and Ayr (3).

None Shet & Fair Is and only 3 Ork in Feb & Apr.
Breeding CBC F+11%: OHeb 1 sang Stornoway in
Apr; P&K unusually high into hills in 3 sites, 3prs Vane
Farm (2); Arg only 2 in Rhinns, Islay survey; Clyde
only 12mm in Renfrew 2-tetrad study; Ayr 3br12 noted.
Post-breeding flocks in early Sep: max 70 Girdleness
NE, 40 Auchmithie A&D, 80 Elie F, 60 Littleton Res.
Clyde, 100 Threave D&G and 5 flocks of 25-70inAyr.
Autumn passage: 5 records Shet, 1 Fair Is & 7 Ork.
There were no Oct-Dec flocks of >100 birds.

Flocks 25-100 seen Caith, I&R (4), NE(6), A&D, P&K
(4), Fife (3), Cent, Loth (2), Bord (4), Clyde (4) , Ayr (5),
the largest being 85 Hogganfield L.Clyde 21 Nov.

Siskin Carduelis spinus

Few large winter flocks. Max Jan-Feb : 330 L. Belivat
M&N were feeding on heather, 120 Ardclach M&N,
100 Lennox Forest Clyde , 80 Glentrool D&G and
75 Glen Quoich NE. Better numbers appeared Mar-Apr
as immigrants arrived but scarcer than recent years in
most areas: 200 L.Katrine Cent, 100 Dunkeld P&K &
100 Carrick Castle Arg were the best totals.

Poorer spring passage meant reduced numbers handled
by ringers Mar-May: 93 handled Clachan M&N (314),
daily max ringed Craigurd B was only 5 (24).

Good passage N.Isles late Apr when max 35 Watness
Shet,12 Fair Is & max 8 Ork.

Large arrival N.Isles mid-late Jun with 22 Stove, Walls
Shet; 20+ Whalsay Shet; 52 Fair Is,and 18 N.Ronaldsay
Ork. This produced higher than usual numbers N.Isles
into Jul-Aug . Itis not clear whether this arrival involved
late birds moving N or early birds moving S.
Breeding Shet 2prs bred Kergord with 4 summering
elsewhere; Ork possibly bred Trumland, Rousay; I&R
cl10prs Eigg (15-20) but not a good season; Bord good
numbers Jul-Aug suggest excellent season; Ayr good
Sitka crop prompted early breeding, first young fledged
18 May, confirmed by good Jul-Aug numbers.
Opportunistic breeding in response to food availability
evident as young being fledged in southern forests at
same time as arrival and display in forests further north.
Post-breeding flocks include 170 Slaethornrig Ayr,
130 Milray Ayr & 70 Craigurd in Jul; 175 Lewenshope
B, 120 Dalmellington Ayr , 40 Lochaber L. D&G in
Aug with 100 Killoeter Clyde & 60 Irvine Beach Ayr
in Sep.

Only moderate passage N.Isles & E coast mostly
involving 1-10 birds from early Aug , best counts were
50 Melsetter Ork 16 Aug; 100 Is of May 21-22 Sep;
28 Fair Is 14 Oct; 21 Quendale Shet 22 Oct.

Quiet winter with few significant counts: only 50 Insh
Marshes I &R in autumn/winter where usually 300; best
Dec count was 30 Abbey St.Bathans B on 30 Dec.

Scottish Bird Report 1994

Linnet Carduelis cannabina

Good numbers of very large flocks: 600 Blackford L,
500 Valleyfield F, 500 Dunfermline F, 400 Newmains
B, 400 Kinell A&D, 350 Kinneil Cent, 300 Mains of
Dun A&D & 300 Delnies M&N in Jan; 1,000+
Canabony D&G, 400 Woodcote B, 350 Blackstoun
Clyde, 300 Torrey F, 300 N.Kinkell P&K; 500 Oatlee
Hill B and 400 Craigielaw L & Netherton B in Mar.
Flocks of 200-300 birds were seen in M&N (2), NE,
P&K (2), Cent, Loth, Ayr & D&G (2).

Moderate numbers through N. Isles, peaking 16-21 Apr:
c48birds Shet, max 14 Scatness; max 16 Fair Is; max
39 N.Ronaldsay & 45 Crantit Ork.

Breeding CBCF+21%/W+20%,CES ads+9%, juvs+2%:
Ork 8prs on Hoy (9); P&K 10prs Vane Farm (9); Arg
71prs Rhinns, Islay; Clyde 4prs Merryton (3), 19mm
in 2-tetrad Renfrew survey; Bord stable 10prs St.Abbs.
Large autumn/winter flocks: 600 Overwells B in Aug;
650 Criagluscar F & 600 Noss Farm Caith in Oct;
c2,000 DelInies M&N & 600 Powillimount D&G in
Dec. More flocks of 100-600 noted M&N (4), NE (3),
A&D (4), P&K (6), Fife (3), Cent (5), Loth (2), Bord(3),
Clyde , Ayr (7).

Poor passage N.Isles: only 1 Shet & 3 Fair Is.
Good numbers Ork , max 130 N.Ronaldsay in Sep and | |
100 Tankerness in Oct.

Twite Carduelis flavirostris

Jan-Mar flocks: 1,800 P&K and 300 Quoybrae Caithin
Jan; 900 Braco P&K, 700 Thurso Caith, 500+ Girvan
Ayr & 300 L.of Swannay Ork in Feb; 300 Oust Caith |
in Apr.

Breeding: Fair Is autumn numbers suggest good season;
I&R c25 prs Eigg (25+); P&K reported from 20 sites;
A&D expansion E into Glen Esk; P&K 12 sites; Loth
ad + juvs seen site in Pentlands; Bord prin Tweedsmuir
Hills; Arg c46prs Rhinns, Islay, 28prs Colonsay. \9
Flocks built up from mid-Aug-Oct: 700 Deerness Ork
8 Sep and max 460 Fair Is 18 Sep in N_Isles but the
largest numbers in Caith where 400 Scarskerry 24 Aug, \

1,000+ Crossroads 17 Oct and 400-600 birds Tain, ’

Thurso East, Scarskerry, Noss Farm & Hill of Ratterin —
Oct-Nov.

Flocks sizes elsewhere much lower than 93/94 with
max 400 Iona Arg in Sep; 1,100 Braco P&K in Nov;
450 Dipple shore Ayr, 160 Evie Ork, 120 Rosemarkie
I&R & 110 Eyemouth B in Dec.

4

2

I
Redpoll Carduelis flammea |
Few big flocks Jan-Apr: only 250 Perth P&K in Jan; a

ae

150 Tulloch I&R and 150 Glen Prosen A&D in Mar;
350 Ballinloan P&K in Apr.

Single flocks 40-75 reported 1&R, NE, A&D, Fife, Cent
& Loth. No big late Apr flocks.

Poor passage: max 5 St.Abbs B 1 May, only | Isof May. |

——

R.D.Murray [Ed]

Breeding CBC A-6%, CES ads+11%, juvs-7%: I&R
8prs Eigg,(7+) but few young; P&K 11prs Vane Farm
(8); Arg 7 sites Rhinns, Islay; Clyde 19mm at 10 sites;
Ayr 29mm at 14 sites. Several post-breeding flocks NE
and Clyde but only 1-2 elsewhere in Ayr & Bord.
Very scarce on passage: mostly 1-3 birds at migration
points Sep but 40 Scarmclate Caith, 8 Bullers of Buchan
NE & 32 St.Andrews F in Oct-Nov.

Autumn/winter flocks were very small and extremely
scarce: 80 Westhill NE & Bavelaw L , 70 Knockshinnoch
Ayr, 60 Stornoway Woods OH. Max P&K (35), Bord
& Clyde (30), Arg (20), Cent (15). None M&N, A&D.

Mealy Redpoll C.fflammea

1 Tyninghame L 8 Jan, 2 Clyneish, Brora Suth 25 Jan
and 3 Newmains Bin Jan. Passage Shet & Ork from
3 Apr (none Fair Is): only 9 Shet, max 3 Fetlar 19 May
& c12 Ork, max 6 N.Ronaldsay 3-11 May.

2 North Ronaldsay 6 Jul; with singles at Whalsay Shet
7-13 Jul, Papa Westray & Queenamidda, Rendall Ork
17 Jul. 2 N.Ronaldsay 2 Aug.

A few birds Shet & Fair Is mid-Sep but widespread
influx mid-Oct when max 15 Quendale Shet, 28 Fair Is,
87 N.Ronaldsay, 20 Deerness Ork with 1-4. on mainland
at Wick Caith 23 Oct, Brora 8 & 24 Oct and 13 Nov,
Colliston NE & East Haven A&D 22 Oct and Cruden
Bay NE 27 Oct.

Few Dec records: 2 Mid Yell Shet 5 Dec, 2 Stronsay
Ork Nov to mid-Dec and N.Ronaldsay 10 Dec.

*Arctic Redpoll Carduelis hornemanni

1 Baltasound Shet 16-22 Jan was the only early record.

Singles Girdleness NE 17 Oct; then East Haven A&D

22 Oct; Quendale Shet 27-29 Oct; Out Skerries Shet

28 Oct; Skaw, Unst Shet 2 Nov; 2 N.Ronaldsay Ork

9-22 Nov with 1 to 24 Nov; Cruden Bay NE 13 Nov.
Arctic Redpoll
Steven Brown

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»

ait

LR ATA
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63

Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra

Better numbers than winter 93/94 with a moderate cone
cropinS allowing breeding to occur in early year. Point
counts in Galloway Forest at Glentrool suggest c7,000
birds in area. Jan -Mar max include 30 Lennox Forest
Clyde, 25 Craig Vinean P&K, 20 Montreathmont Forest
A&D, 17 Stinchar Bridge Ayr & 11 Gart Wood Cent.
Breeding proved D&G, 10 sites Ayr, 2 Clyde and single
sites P&K, Arran, Loth & Bord. Many birds widely
reported Apr-Jul as birds dispersed. Best reports: Ayr
where over 600 birds reported from c25 sites May & Jun
and c130 at 6 sites in Jul: P&K reported 17 sites; Bord
mostly 1-10 at 11 sites May-Jun. Good numbers also
evident A&D and Cent suggesting a good breeding
across S & E/C Scotland. Best counts 108 Greengate
Rig Ayr 10 Jun & 75 Montreathmont 14 May.

Influx also noted N.Isles from late Jun with c33 Shet,
max 8 at Kergord 18 Jul; cS Fair Is; c46 Ork, max
10 Rackwick, Hoy 3 Jul. It is unclear if these were
Scottish or Scandinavian birds.

Big drop in numbers of mainland records after Aug:
with only 3 records from P&K,2 Fife, 2 Cent, 2 Bord,
3 Clyde and 5 Ayr probably due to the 94/95 cone crop
being very poor, at least in the S.

Better numbers Caith where 6 Oct-Dec reports
including 10-15 L.Eileanach.

* Scottish Crossbill Loxia scotica

I&R 4-39 birds surveyed through year Forest Lodge,
Abernethy, max 39 on 6 Apr , also 5 N.Abernethy in
Apr; | Redcastle in May, 2 Lynachlaggan in Jun& Aug,
2 juvs Loch Benevean in Aug; M&N 1 dead Cabrach
16 May with 2 nest-building at Lethen Bar in May and
2 L.Stuart in Jul; NE all records from Deeside W of Glen
Tanar - 13 Braemar in Jul was max count.

A colour-ringed bird from Ballater NE was seen at
Abernethy I&R, the first evidence that the Speyside and
Deeside populations mix.

*Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus

1 f Kergorc Shet 19-20 Oct . Last there Oct 1990.
Claims of Parrot Crossbill within the range of the
Scottish Crossbill in 1994, identified mostly on
biometrics, are being examined by the BBRC. These
include 23 Abernethy I&R in Jan and 1 (with Scottish
Crossbills) Forest Lodge I&R in Jun.

See Proctor & Fairhurst (1993) Birding World 6: 145-146.

*Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus

c27 in spring & c80 in autumn.

1 Fair Is 10 May; Haroldswick Shet 14 May; 1 Sanday
Ork 15 May; 1 Cruden Bay NE 20 May; 1-3 birds Fair
Is 22-29 May; singles Stronsay Ork & Sumburgh Shet
24 May; S.Ayrshire Ayr & another Stronsay 25 May;
another Sumburgh 26 May; 1 Foula Shet on 27 May;

64 Scottish Bird Report 1994

1 Inverugie NE 30 May; Mey Caith , 1-2 Fair Is and
1 Norwick Shet 2 Jun; 1 Sumburgh 3 Jun; 1 Carr Brae
I&R and 1 Tankerness Ork 5 Jun; 1 Baltasound Shet
7 Jun; 1-2 Colonsay Arg 11 Jun; Fair Is 22 Jun; 1 Is of
May 26 Jun; and 1 Stromness Ork 30 Jun.

Breeding: 1m S.Ayrshire 23 May-3 Jul, Foula 27 May;
Carr Brae 5-9 Jun & Inveruigie 30 May, 1-2 Colonsay
Arg 11-21 Jun; & Stromness.30 Jun. No proof.

c39 birds seen Shet 26 Aug-10 Oct, with 1-2 birds
spread through period; c17 birds almost daily Fair Is
14 Aug-24 Oct, max 6 on 2 Sep; c19 birds Ork with c13
N.Ronaldsay, max 2 on 11-13 Oct & 16 Oct.

Singles elsewhere: Is of May 3 & 31 Aug and 9 & 13 Sep
and Fife Ness F 17 Sep.

Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula

CBC F 0%/W+12%, CES ads+7%, juvs -17%

Caith 2 sites; I&R cl2prs Eigg, several young, 3prs
Rum; P&K 8-10prs Killiecrankie; Clyde 3prs Barons
Haugh (4), lpr Merryton (1), 12mm in 2-tetrad Renfrew
study.

Largest flocks: 70 Glenbranter Arg 3 Jan; 35 Glen
Finart Arg 5 Jan; 25+ Backwater Dam A&D 10 Jan;
25 Vane Farm P&K in Jan; 18 Montreathmont A&D
12 Feb; 65 Teindland M&N 5 Mar and 21 Rossie Moor
A&D 13 Dec. Flocks 15-20 in P&K (2), Arg & Ayr (2).
1 St.Ola Ork 18 Apr was the only N.Isles record in
spring. 1 Gloup, Yell Shet 6 Jul.

Northern Bullfinch P.p.pyrrhula

Large-scale invasion from mid-Oct, arriving mostly
20-30 Oct with minimum of 300 Shet, 100-150 Fair Is,
250 Ork and c4 Caith, 2 Suth, "small invasion" Lewis
OH, 4 1&R and c25 NE. Max site counts include 28 Voe
Shet 27 Oct, 77 Fair Is 1 Nov & 50-80 Hoy Ork 31 Oct.
The sex ratio was 1 1mm:3ff on Shet and ringing on Fair
is showed a rapid turnover. Most birds had left the
N.Isles by mid-late Nov with 10-20 still present on both
Ork & Shet into 1995.

Hawfinch Cue ronnanses coccothraustes

NE birds seen Banchory Jan-Nov, max 4 in Mar; A&D
1 Dundee in Feb; P&K c30 Scone in Feb with 2 near
Aberfeldy in Sep; Bord max 3 seen Hirsel, 5 Monteviot;
D&G 1-2, possibly 8, seen Newton Stewart Jun-Nov.
Passage N. Isles from 9 Apr-late Jun with 11 Shet, 1 Fair
Is & 4 Ork. The Fair Is bird had a Norwegian ring
suggesting the origins of this movement. Mostly singles,
max 2-3 Whalsay Shet 10-28 Apr. Other passage birds
may include 2 Caith, 1 Lewis OH & 1 Loth in spring.
Autumn singles at Sumburgh, Quendale, Burravoe &
Helendale,-all Shet; Kirkwall Ork, St.Andrews F and
Coldingham B in late Oct-early Nov.

Long-staying singles at Kincraig-Insh 1&R Jul-Dec and
Cumnock Ayr from 1993 to 8 May.

Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus

Only a ‘normal’ winter/spring after a good autumn.
Flock Phingask Bay, Fraserburgh NE 1993 -23 Mar,
max 50 on 29 Jan , only 4 by 2 Feb. 15 Tyninghame L
8 Jan but only 1 by 31 Jan, although 8 on 20 Feb with
last there 1 Apr. Otherwise singles at N.Ronaldsay Ork
3 & 15 Jan; over Brora Suth 24 Jan; N.Ronaldsay 7 &
21 Feb; Kinnaber A&D 13 Feb; Skinflats Cent 27 Feb;
Skaw, Unst Shet 1 Apr; & Fair Is 6 May.

1 flying over Drumnadrochit [&R 21 Jul.

Singles Sumburgh; Scatness; Westings, Unst; Bressay,
Foula; and Out Skerries (2), all Shet ,9 Sep- 14 Oct;
1-6 Fair Is 2 Sep-27 Oct; 1-2 seen N.Ronaldsay 9 Sep-

30 Sep, with 7-8 on 25 & 28 Sep ,then single 5-15 Oct |]!

with 3-5 there 16-23 Oct, 1 N.Ronaldsay 25-30 Oct,

16,18 & 20 Nov, also singles on Stronsay Ork 24 Oct & a!

8 Nov. On mainland only 7 records: 1 Is of May 21 Oct;
3 North Berwick L 4 Nov; 1 Musselburgh L 8 Nov;
4 Whinnyfield NE 11 Nov; single Musselburgh 4 Dec;
5 Eyemouth B 24 Dec; and 1 Seafield L 28 Dec.

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis

Big wintering flocks mostly in Caith: 250 E.Greenland
Farm Caith and 100+ Ballo Res. F 1 Jan; 200 Nairn/ |

Culbin Bars M&N 26 Jan; 300+ Halkirk Caith 29 Jan;

250+ Sheppardstown Caith 2 Feb; max 160 N.Ronaldsay
Ork 10 Feb; 300 L.Stemster Caith 23 Feb; 200 Janets- |
town Caith 26 Mar. Also 4 other sites Caith with flocks |

100-150.
Elsewhere flocks of 20-100 : Shet (2), Fair Is, Ork (3+),

Caith(2), Suth (2), I&R, M&N (4), NE (3), P&K (2). |
Few in S - best counts were 10-15 Ben Lomomd Clyde |
19 Crib Cleugh L and 15 Molls Cleugh Dod B in Jan; |

60 Musselburgh L in Feb and 15 Aberlady L in Mar.

Few inS after early Apr: singles Clyde, Arg 2 & 9 Apr; |

and 20 Coldingham L. B 27 Apr.
Light passage in N.Isles, mostly 1-4 birds,

Ork 2 May with last Fair Is 20 May.

Breeding: M&N /NE perhaps slightly better numbers |”
than 1993 but productivity was only moderate with 57

young caught and 20+ others seen at a baited ringing
site in autumn - higher number of late-brood juveniles; |
I&R 15 mm paired to 15ff Cairngorm, similar to '93,
some second broods fledged successfully, a colour-
ringed male seen An Teallach.

First D&G 1 Sep; Shet, Fair Is & Ork 10-11 Sep; Caith, {
M&N, Arg , Loth & Suth 15-25 Sep; Bord & Is of May | |

2-12 Oct; Fife 6 Nov. None A&D, P&K, Clyde & Ayr. |
Singles in D&G and Arg were rather early.

100 Fair Is & 55 Whalsay Shet 11 Sep; followed by| |
influxes to N.Isles during late Sep: with 51 Fair Is &|
86 N.Ronaldsay. More widespread early Oct when|

"small" |
numbers Fair is but 8 Whalsay Shet 10-20 Apr; & 5 Hoy |

|

| Ry

itt

iF

120+ Whalsay/Skerries Shet; 136 North Ronaldsay; A
200 St.Abbs B; & 180 Dunnet Caith. No great build-up if I

Faeeeere ener ceccee eerie nee ecenrerecnc once ene errarns een ceecraeaccrrecncce nein as |

R.D.Murray [Ed

in Oct-Nov, max 101 N.Ronaldsay 7 Nov. Last birds
Shet 8 Nov and N.Ronaldsay 29 Nov.

Very poor winter numbers.

Only small numbers in N during Nov-Dec: max 40 Fair
Is, 50 Deerness & Hertston Ork, and only 20-25 L.Heilen
Caith. Elsewhere max 81 Nairn, 54 Nairn/Culbin Bars
& 35 Lossiemouth , all M&N; 190 Foveran NE; 50+
Artafeelie I&R; 17 Goosepools F and 23 Musselburgh
were the only counts >10.

No Dec records from P&K, Bord, Arg, ee and D&G.

* Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos

4 autumn singles: 1st-w f Out Skerries Shet 22-23 Oct;
m West Langamay, Sanday Ork 22 Oct; m Sumburgh
Shet 23 Oct; 1Ist-w m Fair Is 7 Nov.

Ist & 2nd for Shet, 6th for Fair Is, 9th for Ork.

Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella

200 Linlithgow L, 130 Ardovie A&D & 100+ roosted
Newmains B during Jan; 190 Gartmorn Cent Jan-Feb;
» 200LivingstonL & 150 Caerlaverock D&G in Feb; &
_ 200 Cambo F in Mar were the only flocks >100 birds.
| Flocks of 40-100 in NE, P&K, Fife (3), Cent, Loth (2),
Bord (3), Arg & Ayr.

i Usual poor passage N.Isles with 5 singles Shet, 1-2 Fair
!Is & 2 Ork.

SEA

Mite ew

iY xs
= Fe. z
SORES SS ey t
ae ese = =>. qi ss. oss

84 86 88 90 92 94

65

Breeding CBC F+2%/W-36% I&R decrease Strathspey;
P&K 15prs Vane Farm (11), decline accelerating in
north; Bord 6-7 St.Abbs (8); Clyde 14prs Merryton
(13), 63mm in 2-tetrad Renfrew study.

Excellent autumn N.Isles: c62 Shet, 22 Sep-11 Nov,
max 8 on 22 Oct; 1-2 present Fair Is 20 Oct-11 Nov;
c50 Ork, 12 Oct-11 Nov, max 20 N.Ronaldsay 22 Oct.
also max 7 Is of May 22 Oct . 120 Greenan Farm Ayr
& 150 Newtonhill NE in late Dec . The largest flocks
elsewhere: 80 Fife, 60 Loth & Bord, SO P&K, 40 A&D,
30 I&R and Clyde .

*Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus

1 Ist-w f Whitehall Village, Stronsay Ork 21 Oct.
First for Ork and first for Scotland since an adult m
Mull of Galloway D&G in 17 Aug 1969.

*Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana

Typical year: 3 in spring and c18 in autumn: all N. isles.
1 Fair Is 4 May with another there 7 May; 1 N.Ronaldsay
Ork 23 May.

9 Out Skerries Shet 24 Aug-14 Sep, max 3 at any time;
1 Burrafirth, Unst Shet 24-26 Aug; 1 S.Ronaldsay Ork
and 1 Fair Is 4 Sep; 2 Fair Is 9 Sep with another 1 there
12 Sep; 1 Scatness Shet 13-15 Sep; 1 Sumburgh Shet
18-20 Sep; 1 Fair Is 20 Sep.

Rustic Bunting
Steven Brown

Ny wit
Map

n/a Bonn

*Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica

Poor year: 3 in spring, 2 in autumn.

1 Boddam Shet 14 May; | Fair Is 15 May
with another there 26-28 May.

1 Spiggie Shet 28 Sep; 1 Fair Is 17 Oct.

Average year in 1994 but note wide
variation in terms of numbers and season
with 1993 an outstanding year for
numbers in both spring & autumn.

66

Little Bunting
Steven Brown

*Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla

1 Stronsay Ork 30 Oct 1993 wintered there to 10 Feb.
The most northerly-ever wintering in Britain.

4 in spring with 11 in autumn.

| Fair Is 27-30 Apr; another Fair Is 7 May; 1 Uyeasound
Shet 9-10 May; 1 Is of May 22 May.

1 Holm Ork 21 Sep; 1 Is of May 25 Sep; 2 Fair Is 26 Sep,
1 to 28 Sep ,the other to 2 Oct; 1 N.Ronaldsay Ork 1 Oct
-10 Oct; singles Is of May & N.Ronaldsay 10 Oct; Fair
Is and N.Ronaldsay 17 Oct with 2 there 27 Oct.

*Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola

3 singles at Skaw, Unst Shet 27-28 Aug & FairIs9 Sep
and 18 Sep.

Photo Skaw bird : Birding World 7:350.

*Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala
Im Balnakeil Suth 30 Jul; 1m Brora Suth 1-4 Oct.

Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

Very few big winter flocks reported : 50 Mains of Dun
A&D in Jan and 52 Skinflats Cent in Feb. Elsewhere
20-50 birds noted only in Ork, I&R, Fite & Loth.
Noted Fair Is and 5 sites Shet Jan-Mar.

Passage rather light, max 7-8 birds N.Ronaldsay Ork &
Fair Is with only 1-2 birds at 8 sites Shet.

Breeding CBC F-8% WBS-11% CES ads+7% juvs -4%
Shet 1 Iprs at 9 sites; Ork 1 1prs Hoy (13); I&R stable
44+ Insh Marshes; P&K 1 lprs Vane Farm(4); Loth
SOprs Aberlady (36); Bord 18mm along | 1kmot Tweed
at Kelso; Arg 72prs Rhinns, Islay, 9prs Colonsay (7);
Clyde |0prs Baron’s Haugh (10), 22prs Merryton (14),
42mm in 2-tetrad Rentrew study.

Scottish Bird Report 1994

40
Little Bunting in Scotland 1968-94

Ih
il iil

Note long-term increase in (J autumn |

Little Bunting records in all | spring
seasons, but particularly in winter | |
autumn.

Moderate passage N.Ronaldsay Ork - peaks of 44 on |
23 Sep, 31 on 2 Oct, 55 on 16 Oct and 15 on 6 Nov but
only single-figure autumn counts Shet, max 7 Rerwick |
& Northdale 17-18 Sep; max 14 Fair is 23 Oct. i
Little sign of any significant passage on E.coast, with
20 Donmouth 20 Oct; max 13 St.Abbs B & 20 Blackdog-
Balmedie NE 4-6 Nov. 1
60 Insh Marshes I&R and 54 Greenan Farm Ayr in Dec} | f
were the only large winter counts and even flocks of
20-50 birds were scarce being only reported in NE and
Clyde (2).

Corn Bunting Milaria calandra | 5
1 Fair Is 13 May was only the second there since 1970 |
the last was in May 1985. (
Breeding CBC (A-7%) Ork single males briefly sang
Sandsay and Stronsay but no proof; OHeb 2 Stronoway | \
in Apr; Caith Im Noss Farm; M&N 27 sang ati5 sites} 4
NE mostly coast & Buchan Plain produced ‘good 4
numbers’ of records; A&D 18mm Whiting Ness-Eathie)
Haven with records from 20 sites Kinnaber to Arbroath;
Fife 94mm in continuing survey in E.Fife; Cent 2 sites,
Loth 5 singles; Bord 4 sites, including 1 inland; Arg),
9 sang Tiree (2); Clyde & Ayr no records; D&G only
Imm Mull of Gallaoway (5) with only one other summe}
record. I) pp
Winter flocks were exceedingly scarce in most 0) py,
Scotland, the best being : 8 Portmahonack I&R in Jan

18 Usan A&D in Feb; 34 L.Flemington M&N in Mar
Fife however appears to hold a different order 9) | i
magnitude from elsewhere with: 30 Kilrenny in Jan;
massive 350 at Cambo 19 Feb with 190 there 21 Mar
and 20 still there 20 Apr; also 20-30 at 3 other sites Feb i
Mar; 17 Wormiston 23 Oct with 24 Balcomie 10 Deg

—

KLE

R.D.Murray [Ed]

67

LOCAL BIRD REPORT AREAS, SOC RECORDERS and LOCAL BIRD REPORTS
The areas listed below in bold capitals are the areas referred to throughout the systematic list. The number
assigned to each recording area is in reference to this map. The fullest details for most areas is available in the
Local Bird Report, listed below. Note the new local authorities are used in this table.

Map Recording Area
1 SHETLAND

(except Fair Isle)
2 FAIRISLE
3 ORKNEY

4 OUTER HEBRIDES
Harris & Lewis only

Uists, Benbecula
& Barra only

5 CAITHNESS
(former district of Caithness)

| (former districts

\ of Sutherland, Ross & Cromarty
Badenoch & Strathspey, Skye

& Lochalsh, Inverness, Lochaber)

7 MORAY & NAIRN
| Moray and former Nairn
| district

/8 NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND
| Aberdeenshire and City of
Aberdeen

|

‘9 ANGUS & DUNDEE
Angus & City of Dundee

(10 PERTH & KINROSS
Perthshire & Kinross

\i1 FIFE
a}

yi

) 22 ISLE OF MAY

L Recorder

Kevin Osborn

20 Nederdale, Lerwick
Shetland ZE1 OSA

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 PA87 2TQ

Tim Dix
2 Dreumasdal
South Uist, PA81 SRT

Eric Maughan
Burnside, Harbour Rd.
Reay, Thurso, Caithness KW14 7RG

HIGHLAND (INVERNESS & ROSS)

Colin Crooke
6 George Street
Avoch, Rosshire [V9 8PU

Martin Cook
Rowanbrae, Clochan
Buckie, Banffshire ABS 2EQ

Andy Thorpe & Andy Webb
30 Monearn Gardens
Milltimber, Aberdeen
Grampian AB1 0OEA

Mike Nicoll

c/o Dundee Museum
Albert Square, Dundee
DD1 1DA

Ron Youngman
Athol Bank, East Moulin Road,
Pitlochry, Tayside, PH16 SHY

Douglas Dickson
45 Hawthorn Drive, Thornton
Fife KY1 4DZ

Jan Darling
579 Lanark Road West
Edinburgh EH14 7BL

Local Bird Report

Shetland Bird Report

Paul Sclater

Laverock, Vinsgarth, Gott, Shetland

Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report
(from Fair Isle Bird Observatory)

Orkney Bird Report
Mildred Cuthbert
Vishabrack, Evie, Orkney.

Caithness Bird Report
Julian Smith
St.John, Broch, Dunnet, Caithness

Highland Bird Report
(from Recorder)

Moray & Nairn Bird Report
(from Recorder)

North-east Scotland Bird Report
Dave Gill

Drakemyre Croft, Cairnorrie,
Methlick, Aberdeenshire AB41 OJN

Angus & Dundee Bird Report
(from Recorder)

Perth & Kinross Bird Report
(from Recorder)

Fife Bird Report
(from Recorder)

Isle of May Bird Observatory Report
(from Recorder)

68

Map
13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Recording Area

UPPER FORTH (CENTRAL)
Clackmannan, Falkirk and
Stirling -Forth drainage

area only

ARGYLL
Argyll & Bute -except Clyde
islands & former Dumbarton

BUTE
Arran, Bute & Cumbraes

CLYDE N &S Lanarkshire,
City of Glasgow, Inverclyde,
E.Renfrewshire, Dunbarton &
Clydebank, E.Dunbartonshire,
Argyll & Bute (only former
Dumbarton part) and

Clyde drainage of Stirling area

with Campsies & Carron Valley.

AYRSHIRE
South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire,
and N.Ayrshire (not Cumbraes).

LOTHIAN
City of Edinburgh, Midlothian,
East Lothian & West lothian.

BORDERS
Scottish Borders

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY
(former Nithsdale, Annandale
and Eskdale)

(former Stewartry & Wigtown)

Local Recorder
Dr.Cliff Henty

7B Coneyhill Road,
Bridge of Allan
Stirlingshire FK9 4EL

Dr.Tristan ap Rheinallt
19 Shore Street, Port Wemyss
Isle of Islay, Argyll PA47 7ST

Bernard Zonfrillo
28 Brodie Road,
Glasgow G21 3SB

Iain Gibson

2 Fulton Crescent
Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire
PA10 2EB

Angus Hogg
Kirklea, Crosshill
Maybole, Ayrshire KA19 7RJ

Ian Andrews
39 Claymore Drive, Musselburgh
Midlothian EH21 6UW

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 1994 text:

Shet Shetland

Fair Is Fair Isle

Ork Orkney
OH-OHeb Outer Hebrides
Caith Caithness

Suth Sutherland

Abbreviations in 1994 tables: the data for recording areas has been combined as follows:

I&R Inverness & Ross —_L-Loth Lothian |
M&N Moray & Naim B-Bord Borders
NE-NE Scot North-east Scotland Cent (Upper Forth) Central
A&D Angus & Dundee Arg Argyll
P&K Perth & Kinross Ayr Ayrshire
F Fife D&G Dumfries

& Galloway)

Angus & Dundee, Perth & Kinross, Central & Fife

N.Isles Shetland, Fair Isle & Orkney

W.Isles Outer Hebrides

N.Scotland Caithness, Sutherland, Inverness & Ross
NE Scotland Moray & Nairn, North-east Scotland
W.Scotland Argyll, Arran & Bute

E/C Scotland

SE Scotland Lothian & Borders

SW Sc

otland

Clyde, Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway

Scottish Bird Report 1994
Local Bird Report

in Forth Naturalist & Historian
L. Corbett, University Library
University of Stirling,

Stirling FK9 4LA

Argyll Bird Report
Nigel Scriven, Ardentinny Centre
Ardentinny , Dunoon, Argyll

in The Arran Naturalist (Arran only)
Audrey Walters, Margnaheglish,
Lamlash, Isle of Arran KA27 8LE

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
Hartwoodburn, Selkirk, Borders TD7S5EY

Dumfries & Galloway Bird Report
(see Stewartry)

Dumfries & Galloway Bird Report
Joan Howie, 60 Main Street
StJohn's Town of Dalry —

Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire

abatement ncaebtiatlanant

Scottish
Local Bird Report :
Areas

|
|
'
|
q
t
y
i

See pages 67 & 68 for full details

The monthly journal
jor every bwdwatcher

For a free sample copy
write to Mrs Enka Sharrock, Fountains,
Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford Mh44 35.N7f,

England

—
7
£

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