” THE NATURAL
HISTORY MUSEUM
19 MAR 2013
PURCHASED
__ TRING LIBRARY —__
published by the
SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB
| | VOLUME 33(1) Marcu 2013
Scottish Birds is the quarterly journal for SOC members, and is
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Scottish Birds
2 President's Foreword K. Shaw
PAPERS
3 The status of breeding seabirds on North Rona, Outer Hebrides in 2012
S. Murray & LJ. Wilson
i6 Amendments to The Scottish List: species and subspecies
The Scottish Birds Records Committee
SHORT NOTES
31 Golden Eagle colonisation of grouse moors in north-east Scotland during
the Second World War A. Watson
34 Pre-First World War persistence of a Golden Eagle population in the
Outer Hebrides R. Evans, R. Reid &P. Whitfield
38 Breeding raptors in Scotland: a review B. Etheridge
46 Raptor persecution in Scotland: an update !.M. Thomson
49 NEWS AND NOTICES
52 The Birds of Bute R. Forrester
54 Alexander Wilson Bicentenary B. Zonfrillo & P. Monaghan
57 Skye, Lochalsh & Lochaber mini conference, Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Sleat, Isle of Skye
64 Tim Wootton - wildlife artist
67 BOOK REVIEWS
7O RINGERS' ROUNDUP R. Duncan
75 Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Kilminning, Fife, October 2012
- first record for mainland Fife B. Allan
78 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Scalloway, Shetland, October 2012
- the first record for Scotland R.M. Fray
82 Detection and identification of immature drake Black Scoters N. Littlewood
88 Lapland Buntings in Scotland in spring 2011
(with additional comments on the autumn 2010 influx) S.L. Rivers
SCOTTISH BIRD SIGHTINGS
91 1 October to 31 December 2012 S.L. Rivers
THE NATURAL
HISTORY MUSEUM
PHOTOSPOT 19 MAR 2013
BC ‘Blue’ Fulmar D. Pullan
PURCHASED
TRING LIBRARY
33:1 (2013)
> wid f a ) faRA
Ab Mammals} i
ne ve y
ae WW Yh i
It has been a strange old winter. With less
Atlas work and no Bean Goose or Iceland
Gull invasion, there has been a certain
lack of focus. However, I always feel
better when January is over; February is
short and by the end of March there is the
odd migrant. For me, the end of March
also means the start of the White-billed
Diver season. This superb bird was once
thought to be an extreme rarity in
Scotland, but intensive survey work over
the last ten years has revealed it is more
of a passage migrant. I was interested to
hear that Will Miles and Mark Newell
recently saw the first White-billed Diver
for the Isle of May - an excellent record,
which fits with our recent ideas of
wintering areas and passage. There are
images on the Isle of May website, which
is regularly updated. The Isle of May has
an excellent record in documenting rare | ce fk. | ae
birds, so important at a bird observatory. — Plate 1. Ken Shaw, Spain, February 2013. © Chris Mcinerny
It has been a busy time at Waterston House. The new website is almost up and running, much
activity on the Birdfair front, and, of course, we have started working on the annual conference.
One resource, which is probably underused, is the George Waterston Library. This superb
collection of natural history books is a wonderful resource and is open to members and non-
members alike.
I have always been a fan of local avifaunas and bird reports. In fact, I have always enjoyed the
role of a ‘county birder’ as we say these days. As such I noticed two things over the last couple
of weeks. I was delighted to see the publication of The Birds of Bute and I must mention the three
authors Ron Forrester, lan Hopkins and Doug Menzies - well done guys! Around the same time
the 2011 Dumfries & Galloway Bird Report came out. As we all know, Dumfries & Galloway is a
superbly varied county and it demands even more attention; good to see it is so up-to-date with
its reports. A well-produced, prompt bird report does a lot to encourage the submission of even
more bird records - from high densities of Whinchats on the hill in May, to good counts of
Sabine’s Gulls and Balearic Shearwaters off Corsewall Point in September - we all have a part to
play in county bird recording.
It is winter now, but it will soon be spring. Have a great spring and perhaps you will get the
chance to visit the SOC stall at the Scottish Birdfair in May.
Ken Shaw, President
Scottish Birds 33:1 (2013)
Papers
Plate 2. North Rona from the east with the lighthouse on the summit of Toa Rona (centre) and the peninsula's of
Sceapull (left) and Fianuls (right), 26 May 2004. © S Murray
S. Murray & LJ. Wilson
North Rona holds 14 species of breeding seabird and one breeding sea duck, the Eider. Descriptive
accounts of the birds exist from the 1880s and some population estimates from the 1930s up to
the 1960s, but the first attempt at whole-island counts of all the breeding species (except for
Leach’s and Storm Petrels) was not made until Operation Seafarer in 1969.
In 2012, whole-island counts were made of Fulmar, Guillemot, Razorbill, Herring Gull, Great Black-
backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Kittiwake and Shag; all of which appear to be in decline, with
the lowest ever totals recorded for the most frequently counted species. A partial survey of Leach’s
Petrel suggests they could have declined further since the last survey in 2009. The status of Storm
Petrel was not investigated, but earlier surveys in 2001 and 2009 suggest stable numbers. Puffins
have maintained their numbers and Great Skuas have increased. Eider and Black Guillemot bred in
small numbers and show little apparent change from subjective estimates made in earlier years.
Arctic Tern continues to be an erratic breeder with no clear trend in breeding numbers.
Introduction
North Rona (hereafter referred to as Rona) lies 73 km north-east of the Butt of Lewis in the Outer
Hebrides and a similar distance north-west of Cape Wrath on the Scottish mainland (Figure 1).
The island is approximately triangular in shape, with an area of some 122 ha. It has a central ridge
running west to east, which reaches a maximum height of 108 m on Toa Rona (Plate 2). Two low
promontories extend from this ridge, one to the north, Fianuis (Plate 3), the other to the south-
west, Sceapull (Plate 4). Midway down the south slope lies the site of an ancient, now ruined
village, surrounded by the evidence of past cultivation in the form of ‘lazy beds’ The island has
not been permanently inhabited since 1844 and the only modern building is an automatic
lighthouse. There are no native land mammals, but the island is grazed by domestic sheep, which
are managed on an annual basis by shepherds from Lewis. The Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus
comes ashore in large numbers to pup in the autumn, mainly on Fianuis.
33:1 (2013) Scottish Birds: 3-15 | 3
The status of breeding seabirds on North Rona, Outer Hebrides in 2012
Sule Sker
e ty
e
Sule Stack
Sutherland :
Geo nan Gall .
Buaile
na’ Sgrath na | Leac
pricy A * fain
Sceapull ——— a Taillier
2 A 2 Section E 3
» Chapel, graveyeard
and village ruins
0 500m 1000 m
Figure 1. North Rona showing place names given in the text and Sections A to Pused to simplify gull and storm-
petrel counts.
Ye — a
Plate 4. North Rona from the south-west. Sceapull in the
peninsula in the foreground, with the cliffs of Toa foreground, with the village ruins in the centre of the south
Rona beyond, 11 May 2005. ©J A Love slope, 11 May 2005. ©JA Love
4 | Scottish Birds: 3-15 33:1 (2013)
The island was first declared a National Nature Reserve in 1956 and classified as a Special
Protection Area (SPA) under Article 4 of the European Birds Directive in 2001 and in 2005 as a
Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the European Habitats and Species Directive.
Rona was visited between 2 and 19 June 2012 with the aim of making counts of all the breeding
seabirds, except for the Storm Petrel, for which the recommended survey period is mid-July.
Methods
Seabird species counts were made in accordance with the suggested timings and count methods
described in the Seabird Monitoring Handbook (Walsh et al. 1995) and Gilbert et al. (1999). For
Leach’s Petrel the tape-playback survey technique was used (see Ratcliffe et al. 1998). This
involves playing recordings of the chatter call of a male Leach’s Petrel, which only responds to
chatter calls of the same sex (Taoka et al. 1989), in order to elicit a reply from an incubating adult
within a burrow. Not all individuals respond to the taped calls at a given time, even during peak
to late incubation, so a count of responses greatly underestimates the total number of apparently
occupied sites (AOS) at a colony. Therefore it is necessary to measure what proportion of birds are
present in burrows and responding to the taped calls, by setting up a calibration plot to calculate
a colony-specific correction factor (Ellis et al. 1998). Repeat visits to a delimited section of the
colony are then made on successive days, each time marking new responding AOS, until such
time as no new responses are heard. Apart from using a recording of the species-specific purr call
the same methods were used for Storm Petrel surveys in 2001 and 2009.
Further details of count methods, where relevant, are given in the individual species accounts. The
count units are abbreviated e.g. Apparently Occupied Sites/Nests/Territories/Burrows are given as
AOS, AON, AOT or AOB, but some earlier counts used for comparison were recorded as ‘pairs’ In
1986 the island was divided into 16 sections to aid and simplify counts of gulls; designated A to
P (Figure 1) and following clearly defined natural or man-made boundaries. These continue to be
used for gulls and since 2001 storm-petrels also. The village ruins in Section E are further divided
into sub-sections a, b and c, to refine storm-petrel surveys in this complex (Plate 6). Excellent
weather conditions throughout the 17-day stay helped greatly in achieving accurate counts and
calm seas allowed inspection by boat of the only site hidden from the land, the interior of Geo
Blatha Mor. For place names given in the text see Figure 1.
je ee SE
bates i re Me ue ue 3 2
reeding site for more than half the Storm Petrels on North Rona,
Plate 5. The storm beach, section M on Fianuis, b
3 July 2009. © S Murray
33:1 (2013) Scottish Birds: 3-15 | 5
The status of breeding seabirds on North Rona, Outer Hebrides in 2012
Plate 6. The ruined village, section E, with the sub-sections a, b & c which hold c30% of the breeding sites of Leach's
Petrel on North Rona. For survey purposes the outer wall is included with sub-section A (see Table 2). 26 May 2004.
© S Murray
6
The 2012 results are not compared with historic accounts made before 1969, (see Benn et al. 1989)
unless by doing so it helps to illustrate or clarify a point. Counts that were made covering the whole
island or using methods comparable to 2012 began with Operation Seafarer on 14 June 1969 (Cramp
et al. 1974), followed by The Seabird Colony Register (SCR) on 18 April and 11-24 June1986 (Lloyd
et al. 1991), then Seabird 2000 on 11 April and 24 June-16 July 2001 (Mitchell et al. 2004). The
senior author was part of the Rona team on both SCR and Seabird 2000 surveys. Other studies
consulted have been made by Evans in 1971, 1972 & 1976 (1971, 1972, 1975 & 1976a & b), J. de
Karte 1989 (cited in SNH annual report), Murray & Love 1993 (1994), Murray 1993 (1995), SNH in
1998 & 2005 (unpublished), Murray 2001 € 2009 (unpublished) and Murray et al. in 2001 &€ 2009
(2008 & 2010). To avoid repetition in the species accounts only the year of the observation is given.
Species accounts
Eider Somateria mollissima
Thirteen nests were found in 2012, ten with eggs and three with hatching ducklings (Figure 2).
The number of nests found is larger than in recent years e.g. nine in both 1986 and 2005, and
seven in 1998. Nests are usually found by chance rather than specifically searched for and the
higher count in 2012 can be attributed to the concurrent ground search for gull and Great Skua
nests. Actual nest counts are rarely given in past accounts, usually only estimates of pairs, which
have ranged from 20 to 60 pairs in the 1930s (Ainslie & Atkinson 1937a) and 35-45 in 1976, so
it is hard to judge if there has been any decline in breeding numbers over this period. Offshore
counts of adults have varied little since the mid-1980s, with maximum counts of 55 males, 31
females and 29 ducklings in 1986, 48 males and 18 females in 2005 and 50 males and 29 females
in 2009. No comprehensive offshore counts were carried out in 2012.
Scottish Birds: 3-15 33:1 (2013)
Papers
e nest with eggs e nest with eggs
o nest with ducklings \ © empty nest
4 AOT
1@)
G
)
20, ; UN "On,
_¢ : Se a AS e :
a - ® e @@ bd
@ & e ) é 0)
i e
® 4 .° e * @ e
) e
e fe) @ e
e
0 500m 1000 m
Figure 2. The distribution of Eider nests on North Rona Figure 3. The distribution of Great Skua nests and
in June 2012. territories on North Rona in June 2012.
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
The largest whole-island count was 4,141 AGS made in 1972. Each succeeding count since then
has seen a further reduction in numbers, 3,738 AOS (1986), 3,520 AOS (1998), 2,616 AOS (2005)
and 1,438 AOS in 2012. The counts are of both coastal and inland areas, the latter being
principally the storm beach and Fianuis (Sections M, L and N), the southern half of Section B,
Buaile na’ Sgrath, and the village ruins, Section E (Figure 1). The numbers breeding among the
ruins have decreased steadily over the years. The largest counts of young have been 45 in 1971
and 32 in 1972 (J.A. Love pers. com.), down to 19 adults on eggs in 1986, 11 in 2001, seven in
2009 and five in 2012. The reduction in breeding numbers in the village, taken together with the
series of whole-island counts, leaves little doubt that overall the species is in decline.
Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
First recorded in 1885 by Harvie-Brown & Buckley (1888), but no counts or estimates were
made. Barrington in 1886 describes ‘hundreds churring under stones’ (cited in Harvie-Brown &
Buckley 1888), but the first estimate of the population, ‘80 or more pairs’ was not made until
1931 by Harrisson (1932). Estimates since then have been mostly descriptive and imprecise e.g.
in 1958 they were ‘abundant in the storm beach’ and found in man-made structures and under
piles of stones across the island (Bagenal & Baird 1959). Boyd, in a very short visit in early June
1958, estimated 1,000 pairs in the storm beach alone (cited in Robson 1968). In 1966, Robson
(1968) says only that their distribution appeared similar to that of 1958. In 1972, Evans, cited
in Lloyd et al. (1991), estimated an island population of 1,000 pairs, with the storm beach (Plate
5) holding the largest numbers.
No survey was made in 2012, but comparable island wide surveys were made in 2001 and 2009 (see
Methods) and no change was found between them. The 2009 survey was incomplete, but in the
surveyed sections 132 birds responded to the taped calls. The (partial) population estimate in 2009,
was therefore 132 / 0.422 (correction factor) = 313 AOS (95% CI = 276-359). The unsurveyed
sections held a combined total of 19 responses in 2001. If a similar figure were assumed for 2009,
33:1 (2013)
then total island responses would be 151, giving 358 AOS (95% CI = 315-410) compared with 362
AOS estimated for 2001. Thus, the partial island estimates for 2001 and 2009 are very similar and
there is no evidence for change; even had the unsurveyed sections in 2009 held no AOS, there would
still be no evidence for an island-wide decline in overall numbers between these years.
Leach’s Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa
First recorded in 1883 by Swinburne (1885). The first island estimate, 120 pairs, was not made
until 1931 (Harrisson 1932), followed in 1936 by Ainslie & Atkinson (1937b) who suggested a
total population of 380 pairs, with the majority, 327 pairs, located in the village. In 1958, a study
using ringing and retrapping estimated the island population to be about 5,000 pairs (Bagenal &
Baird 1959). This method will capture non-breeding birds as well as breeders; so will give larger
estimates than those derived from counts of occupied nest sites. Evans in 1972, cited in Lloyd et
al. (1991) estimated the entire population, including that of the village, at 500 pairs.
The first comparable, island-wide surveys were made in 2001 and 2009 using tape-playback, also
for the first time (see Methods). The population was found to have declined by 34% between those
years, falling from 1,084 AOS in 2001 to 713 AOS in 2009 (Table 1).
No similar survey was made in 2012, but tape-playback was carried out in the village ruins
(Section E) (Plate 6) on the 18 June, and 52 birds responded. This contrasts with an incomplete
tape-playback made in the village on 17 June 2005, when 122 birds responded (SNH 2005).
However suggestive of decline these results may be it is not valid to compare them with either
2001 or 2009 (Table 2), as they were made more than two weeks earlier than the optimum survey
period and no correction factor values were calculated to give robust AOS estimates.
Table 1. Number of Leach’s Petrel AOS on North Rona in 2001 and 2009 and the percentage change between years
(Murray et al. 2010).
Section 2001 2009 % change
A O O O
B 62 45 = ih
€ O O O
D 12 8 5)
E 314 255 SJE)
E 5) 8 +60
G 22 11 = 50)
H ES 22 - 24
| 81 48 - 4]
J as 45 = Sy?
K 52 65 OM
L 177, 161 =)
M DY 14 - 48
N 48 51 P46)
O 20 O =1100
P 42 O - 100
Total 1,084 AS - 34
Table 2. Number of Leach’s Petrel responses to tape-playback in the three sub-sections, a, b and c of the North Rona
village (Section E) in 2001 and 2009 (Murray et a/, 2010).
Section E 30 June 2001 1 July 2009
sub-section a 68 7]
sub-section b oy D5
sub-section ¢ 37 3
Total responses 142 83
Correction factor 0.452 0.355
Estimated AOS 414 BAS)
95% Cl 282-453 212—259
33:1 (2013)
Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis
There are few whole-island counts of apparently occupied nests (AON), the recommended count unit
for the species. The first appears to have been made in 1972 when 117 AON were found, followed
by 143 in 1986, 156 in 1998, 21 in 2005 and 83 in 2012, including 18 within Geo Blatha Mor. The
highest count has been the 156 found in 1998, which was then regarded as a minimum, because
nests known to be in sea caves were not counted; conversely, the lowest count so far made, in 2005,
also excluded sea caves. In both years counts were made between 14 and 18 June, but no details are
given of nest contents, or the ages of any young present in either year. That being so, it is unclear
what the timing of breeding was, or in 2005 what the exact breeding status of the colony was. On
the same dates in 2012, of 50 nests with contents that could be checked, three were empty, 17 held
eggs and 30 had broods ranging from new hatched to near fledged. It is possible that breeding could
have begun later in 2005, after the surveyors had left the island; it is equally possible that breeding
had begun earlier and failed. In either case, it seems a large-scale non-breeding event took place
that year, or perhaps earlier, and numbers may only now be slowly recovering.
Great Skua Stercorarius skua
The first two nests with eggs were found in 1965 (Eggeling 1965). Since then the number of
breeding pairs has risen slowly, reaching 14 AOT in 1986, seven of which had eggs. Most counts
made since then have been only of AOT, and apart from 1986 systematic searches for nests are
only known from 1989 (20 AOT, 15 with eggs), 1993 (18 AOT, 10 with eggs or young), 2001 (16
AOT, 7 with young), 2009 (18 AOT, 5 with eggs or young) and 2012 (31 AOT, 25 with eggs) (Figure
3). Between these years AOT counts have been made, but none have been higher than 20. In 2012,
considerable effort went into finding nests and confirming the exact status of each AOT. Using
GPS each nest/AOT was recorded with a ten-figure grid reference, which should enable a future
survey to establish population change more precisely. At present, it is uncertain if there has been
a population surge since 2009, or whether earlier counts underestimated breeding numbers.
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
Numbers peaked at 4,197 AON in 1993, declined to 2,913 AON in 1998, and then increased to
3,398 AON in 2001. In 2005 there were 1,837 AON and since then the decline has been more
pronounced, reaching 987 AON in 2009 and 923 AON in 2012. The last two counts may hold out
some hope for a stabilization of the population.
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
The maximum count has been 12 pairs in 1976. Although pairs or nests have been in single
figures for many years, breeding has been regularly noted, most recently in 2009 when two broods
were found. No evidence of breeding was found in 2012 and only three birds were seen, one of
which was later found dead.
Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Maximum counts have been 137 pairs in 1976 and 69 AOT in 1986. There were 40 pairs in 1998
and 15 in 2005. Only ten nests with eggs were found in 2012, all on the coastal fringe, but it is
possible that isolated pairs on the higher cliffs were overlooked; even so the species is in slow
decline, barely maintaining a presence on Rona.
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
From a maximum of 2,018 pairs in 1972, subsequent counts have charted the slow decline of the
species on Rona. Most counts have been of AOT made from a distance, but in 2005 ground
searches were made of the four sections: A, B, M and N (Figure 1), which hold the majority of the
nests on the island. By marking nests and making recounts of marked to unmarked nests in these
sections, combined with AOT counts elsewhere, a total of 551 AOT were found. When only well-
built nests were included and trace nests excluded, the total was reduced further, to 431 AOT.
33:1 (2013)
"i
i, ‘ a aaa bo ae be 3 tA Ey 25 si eee
Plate 7. Well-built but empty Great Black-backed Gull Plate 8. Abandoned Great Black-backed Gull nest
nest marked with blue paint, section M, Fianuis. with cold egg and dead chick, section M, Fianuis, 4
Within a few days the nest had disintegrated and June 2012. © S Murray
been abandoned, 4 June 2012. © S Murray
In 2012, between 3 and 5 June, a direct count was made of all well-built nests on the island, 167
were found. These included 72 empty nests (43%), 79 with eggs (47%) and 16 with young (10%) (Table
3). All nests were marked with blue or green paint (Plates 7 €& 8) and four days after the first count
a recount was made of the section holding the most nests (sections L & M combined with 50 nests).
Forty-one marked nests were re-found, with an additional six unmarked, which gave a correction
factor of 1.146, and a calculated total for the entire island of 191 AON, the lowest estimate on record.
It was unexpected to find such a high proportion of well-built nests without eggs or young and
we assumed that the follow up check on 9 June would see at least some of these nests with first
eggs. Rather we found an increased number of empty nests in both sections L and M. Marked
nests that had held eggs or new hatched young showed clear signs of predation and by the last
check on the 16 June only three nests with eggs were found and one brood of medium sized
young. Other sections checked on the 18 June also produced few broods e.g. Section H, two
broods from 10 nests, Section D, no broods, with five clutches remaining from 17 nests and in
Section B a minimum of 10 broods and two clutches from 41 nests. Although we left Rona before
the outcome for these nests and broods was known, it seems likely that the 2012 season would
end in a similar fashion to 2009, when the colony experienced near total breeding failure, with
the few chicks present in late June succumbing to starvation and cannibalism.
Table 3. Great Black-backed Gull nest counts in Sections A to P, North Rona, showing empty nests, and both clutch
and brood sizes on 3—5 June 2012.
Section Empty C/1 C/2 C/3 B/1 B/2 B/3 Total
A ] O 5 ] O ] O )
B 12 ] 18 5 O 2 3 4
€ 4 O O ] O O O 4
D 8 2 / O O O O IF
= O O O O O O O O
Fe O O 2. O O O O 2
G ] O O O ! O O 2
H 4 ] 2 ] O ] ] 10
| O O D 2 O ] O 5
J ] O ] O O O O 2
K 2 O O 4 ] O O af
L&M )| | 10 S) O S O 50
N 9 1 = 6 ] ] O 2
O O O O O O O O O
P O O O O O O O O
Total 72 6 48 25 3 9 4 167
Correction factor = 1.146. Total island estimate = 191 AON.
10
33:1 (2013)
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
Noted in most summers, but not always thought to breed, but did so in 2001, 2005 and 2009,
when up to 60 pairs bred at three sites: two on Fianuis and one on Sceapull. In 2012, about 20
pairs were present at the extreme north tip of Fianuis. The colony was not entered as a precaution
against disturbance and nest abandonment, so no conclusive proof of breeding was made.
Guillemot Uria aalge
The peak count was 17,104 individuals in 1986, declining to 10,497 in 1998, then 6,113 in 2005
and 4,961 in 2012. All breeding sites are either accessible or visible from the land, except for the
interior of Geo Blatha Mor. Both in 1986 and 2012, counts were made almost entirely from the
land, with counts from the sea required only for the Geo Blatha Mor cave. In 1998 and 2005, SNH
did not count Toa Rona, Geo Blatha Mor or Geo Blatha Beag from the land, either doing boat
counts or estimates of these areas; nevertheless it is quite clear that the population has been in
steady decline, at a rate of 5% per annum since 1986.
Razorbill Alca torda
Given the nature of its preferred habitat, partially or completely out of sight when breeding, the
species can be difficult to count; fortunately there are only small areas of boulder scree on Rona
where birds are completely hidden from all vantage points. Accurate counts do however require
repeated visits to both known and likely breeding sites, which has led to thorough counts of
individuals being made in only four years. Results are: 1,053 in 1986, 824 in 1998, 543 in 2005 and
513 in 2012. The counts made in 1986 and 2012 are the most comparable in coverage, and suggest
a major decline between these years. However, the 1998 count is described as a ‘slight underestimate’
(SNH 1998), so it is likely that the loss of breeding birds has only occurred in the last decade or so.
Further evidence for this comes from sample counts of the largest, most easily viewed colony, on the
west side of Geo Léis. Counts here have been, 186 (1986), 122 (1993), 123 (1998) and 71 in 2012. The
last is the highest of five counts made on different days, and points to a clear loss of breeding birds.
Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle
The ideal conditions for counts of this species have yet to be achieved at Rona. Counts should be
made of individuals in the pre-laying period, up to 300 m offshore, from first light to two hours
later, and within the first three weeks of April. A partial offshore count on 18 April 1986 found 56
birds, and an incomplete attempt on 11 April 2001 found 13 birds inshore and another 12 beyond
300 m. Estimates rather than counts have been made in June in several years and suggest a breeding
population of c.20 pairs. Nests have been found regularly along the west coast from Geo an Tuill to
Sceapull; a maximum of seven in 1986 and four in 2009. Birds have been seen off the south and
east coasts and breeding here is likely, but so far remains unproven. Counts are too few to be certain
of the population trend, but similar June counts suggest a stable breeding population.
Puffin Fratercula arctica
The population has almost certainly declined since the 1880s, but to what extent is unknown, since
numbers and distribution are uncertain before 1958. In that year, Dennis €& Waters (1962) estimated
8,000 pairs on the island and Bagenal & Baird (1959) drew the first distribution map of the colonies.
They were mapped again in 1972, 1986, 1993 and 2001, and while the main concentrations on the
east cliffs appeared unchanged, there were losses along the west coast by 2001, noticeably between
Geo nan Gall and Sceapull (Figure 1). By 2012, no birds were seen here, or occupied burrows found.
The main colony on the east cliffs between Geo Mairi and Leac Iain Taillier (Plate 9) is
maintaining its numbers, and shows no sign of decline. Average burrow densities here increased
between 1976 and 1993 (Murray 1995), and the latest checks, in 2009 (180 m?/206 AOB = 1.144
AOB/m2) show no significant changes in density over the previous check in 2001 (330 m?/381
AOB = 1.154 AOB/m/’).
33:1 (2013) Scottish Birds:
lat
Fhe status of breeding seabirds on North Rona, Outer Hebrides in 2012
Plate 9. The majority of Puffins breed on the east cliffs of Toa Rona between Leac lain Tallier and Geo Mairi,
16 July 1994. © S Murray
These high burrow densities are confined to relatively small areas of stable soil, which are also
the only areas safely accessible for survey. These sites are flanked and overlooked by steep cliffs
where puffins also nest; observation suggests at low densities (Plate 10), but it has not proved
possible to sample burrow densities here. On the less steep cliffs, south towards the colony edge
at Leac Ian Tallier, densities are much lower, ranging from 0.316 AOB/m? to 0.716 AOB/m?.
The whole-island occupied burrow count of 5,625 AOB made in 2001, is probably still valid,
although it should be regarded as a minimum and could be as high as 7,000 AOB. Despite some
peripheral losses since 2001, there is nothing to suggest a wider decline maybe taking place;
overall the population appears stable.
Toa Rona
summit 108m
Sate
=i
Plate 10. Joa Rona east cliffs showing Puffin monitoring
sites 1 to 4, established in 1976. Unnamed geos A,
B & CG, are accessed from above to count Guillemot, Razorbill and Kittiwake nests, 19 June 2012. © S Murray
12.1 33:1 (2013)
Plate 11. St Ronan's cell and chapel, a breeding site of Leach's Petrel, 14 June 2012. © S Murray
The difficulties and expense of working on Rona have precluded annual monitoring or long-term
studies of any of the seabirds breeding there; so what has been achieved over the decades since
the 1970s amounts only to snapshots of populations at different times. These have inevitably been
made by different observers, but where comparison was possible, either across the whole island
or between sections, this has shown that the large gulls, Kittiwake, Guillemot, Fulmar and
Razorbill, have declined to historic low numbers compared with counts from the 1970s and 1980s.
For Puffin, the picture is less clear, but the population appears to be stable at present. Shag may
be making a comeback from a low point in the mid-2000s, but whether numbers will continue to
increase remains to be seen. Great Skua is the only species to have increased, although
undercounting in earlier years may have masked a more gradual rise in numbers up to 2012, but
in common with all other species on Rona, nothing is known of either its diet or breeding success.
Where the storm-petrels are concerned, there is an
intriguing difference between the two species, with
Storm Petrel unchanged between the survey years of
2001 and 2009, while Leach’s Petrel declined by 34%
in the same period. It may be that increased
predation, either by Great Skuas or Great Black-
backed Gulls is the reason for the losses of Leach’s
Petrel, if so it is surprising that Storm Petrel is not
equally at risk. On St Kilda, both species are taken
indiscriminately and in large numbers by Great Skuas
(Phillips et al. 1999a & b), but on Rona, if skuas and
gulls are predating storm-petrels, they both appear to
be largely ignoring the smaller species.
There has been no study of Great Skua diet on Rona,
Has Wes or their impact on storm-petrels and other seabirds,
Plate 12. Leach’s Petrel. © JA. Love which studies on St Kilda (Philips et al. 1999b) and
33:1 (2013)
13
Shetland (Votier et al. 2004) have shown can be severe. A study was carried out on Great Black-
backed Gulls in 1972 (when only three pairs of Great Skuas were present) and this recorded a wide
range of avian prey taken, including both storm-petrels, but the bulk of the gulls diet then was
fish (Evans 1975). The present situation regarding bird predation by skuas and gulls is unclear,
but avian prey does not appear to be a major part of their diet, although this remains to be proven.
In 2012, all recent and long-dead corpses, including those found in skua pellets, were collected
across the island; a total of 65 were found of 14 species, with Puffin comprising the largest
component (31%) followed by Leach’s Petrel (27%), with only a single Storm Petrel found. Neither
Guillemot nor Kittiwake was recorded, whereas in Shetland both have suffered significant losses
at some colonies due to Great Skua predation (Votier et al. 2004, Heubeck 2009), but this does
not appear to be happening on Rona; equally, the still large Puffin population appears unaffected
by the low numbers taken by both skuas and gulls.
Of the 14 species of seabird breeding annually on Rona, this study has shown clear population
reductions in nine of them since 1986. The specific reasons behind these losses are not well
understood, but are no doubt similar to those that have affected other seabird colonies in the
north-east Atlantic in recent decades. A complex interplay of environmental and behavioural
change, including predation, has now, in 2012, reduced the numbers of Rona’s varied seabird
population to a historically low level.
Acknowledgements
North Rona was a partnership project made possible by funding from the Seabird Group, Scottish
Natural Heritage, the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, the Hunter Archaeological Trust and the
Gibson Estate. We thank Mike Smith and Kathleen Jamie for assistance with storm-petrel
surveying and other counts, Sam Dennis and Jill Harden for corpse collecting and Mike Harris,
Mike Shewry and an anonymous referee for improving comments. We are grateful to Ian Andrews
for drawing the maps and Paddy Pomeroy for the use of the Sea Mammal Research Unit hut.
References
Ainslie, J.A. & Atkinson, R. 1937a. Summer bird notes from North Rona. Scottish Naturalist 49: 7-13.
Ainslie, J.A. & Atkinson, R. 1937b. On the breeding habits of Leach’s Fork-tailed Storm Petrel.
British Birds 30: 234-248. ;
Bagenal, T.B. & Baird, D.E. 1959. The birds of North Rona in 1958, with notes on Sula Sgeir.
Bird Study 6: 153-174.
Benn, S., Murray, S. & Tasker, M.L. 1989. The Birds of North Rona and Sula Sgeir. NCC, Aberdeen.
Cramp, S., Bourne, W.R.P. & Saunders, D. 1974. The Seabirds of Britain and Ireland. London, Collins.
Dennis, R.H. & Waters, W.E. 1962. Systematic lists of the birds of North Rona. Unpublished typescript.
Eggeling, W.J. 1965. Great Skua breeding on North Rona. Scottish Birds 3: 371.
Ellis, P., Ratcliffe, N. & Suddaby, D. 1998. Seasonal variation in diurnal attendance and response
to playback by Leach’s Petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa on Gruney, Shetland. [bis 140: 336-339.
Evans, P.G.H. 1971. Seabirds at Faraid Head, North Sutherland and on North Rona and Sula Sgeir
in 1971. Seabird Report 1970-71: 42.
Evans, P.G.H. (ed.) 1972. North Rona and Sula Sgeir, June-July 1972. Report to Nature
Conservancy Council, Edinburgh.
Evans, P.G.H. 1975. Gulls and Puffins on North Rona. Bird Study 22: 239-247.
Evans, P.G.H. 1976a. The birds of North Rona and Sula Sgeir. Hebridean Naturalist 1: 22-36.
Evans, P.G.H. 1976b. Status changes of seabirds on North Rona. Report to Nature Conservancy
Council, Edinburgh.
Gilbert, G., Gibbons, D.W. & Evans, J. 1999. Bird Monitoring Methods, a Manual of Techniques
for Key UK Species. RSPB, Sandy.
Harrisson, T.H. 1932. Resident and migratory birds of North Rona, the remotest Scottish Island.
Ibis 1932: 441-457.
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Harvie-Brown, J.A. & Buckley, T.E. 1888. A Vertebrate Fauna of the Outer Hebrides. David
Douglas, Edinburgh.
Heubeck, M. 2009. Breeding Season News 2009. Seabird Group Newsletter 112: 9-10.
Lloyd, C., Tasker, M.L. & Partridge, K. 1991. The Status of Seabirds in Britain and Ireland.
Poyser, London.
Mitchell, P.I., Newton, S.F., Ratcliffe, N. & Dunn, T.E. (eds.) 2004. Seabird Populations of Britain
and Ireland. Poyser, London.
Murray, S. 1995. Increases in the number of Puffins at Eilean Mor and North Rona, Outer
Hebrides. Seabird 17: 32-35.
Murray, S. 2001. North Rona and Sula Sgeir. Report to JNCC, Aberdeen.
Murray, S. 2009. A Survey of Leach’s Storm-petrel, European Storm-petrel and Atlantic Puffin
on North Rona, Western Isles in 2009. Report to SNH,Western Isles.
Murray, S. & Love, J.A. 1994. A visit to North Rona and Sula Sgeir, 14 to 24 June 1993.
Hebridean Naturalist 12: 5-8.
Murray, S., Money, S., Griffin, A. & Mitchell, P.I. 2008. A survey of Leach’s Storm-petrel
Oceanodroma leucorhoa and European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus populations on North
Rona and Sula Sgeir, Western Isles, Scotland. Seabird 21: 32-43.
Murray, S., Shewry, M.C., Harden, J., Jamie, K. & Parsons, M. 2010. A survey of Leach’s
Oceanodroma leucorhoa and European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus populations on North
Rona and Sula Sgeir, Western Isles, Scotland, in 2009. Seabird 23: 25-40
Phillips, R.A., Bearhop, S., Hamer, K.C. & Thompson, D.R. 1999a. Rapid population growth of
Great Skuas Catharacta skua at St Kilda: implications for management and conservation. Bird
Study 46: 174-183.
Phillips, R.A., Thompson, D.R. & Hamer, K.C. 1999b. The impact of great skua predation on
seabird populations at St Kilda: a bioenergetics model. Journal of Applied Ecology 36: 218-232.
Ratcliffe, N., Vaughan, D., Whyte, C. & Shepherd, M. 1998. Development of playback census
methods for Storm-petrels Hydrobates pelagicus. Bird Study 45: 302-312.
Robson, M.J.H. 1968. The breeding birds of North Rona. Scottish Birds 5: 126-155.
SNH (de Karte, J.) 1989. North Rona reserve report: March 1990. Internal Report, SNH Western Isles.
SNH (Love, J.A. & Stevenson, A.) 1998. Birds of North Rona: 13th-18th June 1998. Internal
Report, SNH Western Isles.
SNH (Robinson, A.) 2005. Birds of North Rona in June 2005. Internal Report, SNH Western Isles.
Swinburne, J. 1885. Notes on the islands of Sula Sgeir or North Barra and North Rona, with a
list of birds inhabiting them. Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh 8: 51-67.
Taoka, M., Sato T., Kamada,T. & Okumura, H. 1989. Sexual dimorphism of chatter calls and
vocal sex recognition in Leach’s Storm-petrels. Auk 106: 498-501.
Votier, S.C., Bearhop, S., Ratcliffe, N., Phillips, R.A. & Furness, R.W. 2004. Predation by great
skuas at a large Shetland seabird colony. Journal of Applied Ecology 41: 1117-1128.
Walsh, P.M., Halley, D.J., Harris, M.P., del Nevo, A., Sim, I.M.W. & Tasker, M.I. 1995. Seabird
Monitoring Handbook for Britain and Ireland. JNCC, Peterborough.
Stuart Murray Easter Craigie Dhu, Butterstone, Dunkeld, Perthshire PH8 OEY.
fo OE
Boe aS Vic
Buea ye cay 36
Ec
a
Linda Wilson JNCC, Inverdee House, Baxter Street, Aberdeen AB11 9QA.
Revised ms accepted December 2012
33:1 (2013)
16
Amendments to The Scottish List: species and subspecies
er
nib
Plate 13. North-western Redpoll, Fair Isle. October 2012. Although Cf. islandica has been removed from the
UK/Scottish List, birds from Greenland and surely Iceland too, known informally as North-western Redpolls, do
occur as scarce migrants. © Roger Riddington
The Scottish Birds Records Committee
In July 1993, the Council of The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC) delegated to the Scottish Birds
Records Committee (SBRC) responsibility for producing a Scottish List and publishing regular
amendments. The list was first published in 1994 and SBRC appointed a subcommittee to
maintain it. The current Scottish List subcommittee consists of Dave Clugston, Ron Forrester,
Angus Hogg, Bob McGowan, Chris McInerny and Roger Riddington.
The Scottish List was most recently published in full in 2011 (Forrester 2011b), incorporating all
changes from the last report of the Scottish List subcommittee (Forrester 201la). A full
explanation of the procedure for maintaining the list is included.
SBRC established several principles for the original version of the Scottish List, which are still
followed. The British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) has maintained the official British List since
1883 and SBRC decided at the outset to follow its taxonomy, sequence and scientific names for
the Scottish List. It was subsequently also agreed to use English names as they appear on the
British List. Identical categories to BOU are used and in no instance is a species or subspecies
placed in a higher category on the Scottish List than it appears on the British List.
The BOU Records Committee (BOURC) normally only adjudicate on the first British record for
any taxon. The responsibility then lies with the British Birds Records Committee (BBRC) for
acceptance of all subsequent records of rare species and subspecies in Britain. Similarly SBRC
is responsible for acceptance of all records of species and subspecies which fall outwith the
remit of BBRC, but which are rare in a Scottish context. Decisions by BOURC, BBRC and SBRC
automatically apply to the Scottish List.
Since the latest version of the Scottish List was published, BOURC has published its 40th Report
(BOU 2012), 41st Report (BOU 2013) and two Taxonomic Sub-Committee reports (Sangster ef al.
2011, 2012); BBRC its reports on rare birds for 2010 and 2011 (Hudson et al. 2011, 2012); and SBRC
its reports covering 2009 and 2010 (ap Rheinallt ef al. 2011, 2012).
Scottish Birds: 33:1 (2013)
Category B
The Scottish List has most recently described the definition for Category B to be ‘Species which
were recorded in an apparently natural state at least once up to 31 December 1949, but have not
been recorded subsequently. However, in The British List: A Checklist of Birds of Britain (7th
edition) BOURC redefined the category as ‘Species that were recorded in an apparently natural
state at least once between 1 January 1800 and 31 December 1949, but have not been recorded
subsequently. This definition now applies to the Scottish List.
BOURC decisions which affect the Scottish List:
Family and generic limits of Western Palearctic Galliformes
There have been several recent papers, including coverage of molecular phylogenetic studies of
mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences, which have advanced our knowledge of the
relationships among the Western Palearctic Galliformes (Sangster et al. 2012). The classification
suggested is based on several unrelated studies, and more investigations are likely in future
which may further change the relationship of genera. However, the following taxonomic
sequence now applies to species on the Scottish List:
Quail Coturnix coturnix
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa
Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus
Ptarmigan Lagopus muta
Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix
Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus
Grey Partridge Perdix perdix
Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus
Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus
This species is currently dual-categorised BC. The indigenous population of Capercaillie became
extinct prior to 1 January 1800 and in view of the revised definition for Category B (see above),
should no longer be included in Category B. The current population is derived from birds that
were re-established within areas of former occurrence and therefore meets the criteria for C3
(naturalised re-establishment) (BOU 2013). The species should be listed as Category C.
Change from Category BC to Category C.
Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea
Cory’s Shearwater has appeared on the Scottish List as a polytypic species with two subspecies
diomedea and borealis, of which only borealis has been recorded in Scotland. Recent studies,
including phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences, indicate that these two taxa
merit specific status, which is supported by plumage size and vocalization differences
(Sangster et al. 2012). The species is therefore split:
Scopoli’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea
Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris borealis
Only Cory’s Shearwater, which is now monotypic, appears on the Scottish List.
Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
Storm Petrel has previously been treated as monotypic. However, Mediterranean and Atlantic
populations show mean morphometric differences and differences in vocalisation. Phylogenetic
analysis of mtDNA sequences supports treatment as two separate subspecies. The Atlantic
population now becomes nominate pelagicus and the Mediterranean subspecies is melitensis
(Sangster ef al. 2012). Only nominate pelagicus is known to occur in Scotland.
33:1 (2013)
7
18
f E ! i es =
Ie SCOTUSN LIST’ SDeECIES GNd sul SDECIES
Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus
Following a review, a record of an adult male Gyr Falcon collected on Shetland in 1835 is now
accepted as the first British occurrence (BOU 2012). An 1810 record from Hedderwick (Angus
¢t Dundee) and an 1832 record from Orkney (Forrester et al. 2007) pre-date the Shetland
record, but are now considered unacceptable, with the 1835 record consequently becoming the
first record for Scotland.
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug
Saker Falcon has been in Category D of the Scottish List on the strength of three records (Forrester
et al. 2007), which were the only British records. BOURC has reviewed these with the Out Skerries
1976 and the Fetlar 1978 records being retained in Category D, but with the 1986 Fair Isle record
being rejected (BOU 2011). There are therefore now two Scottish Category D records.
Revised taxonomic sequence of Charadriiformes
Whilst revision of generic limits of shanks and gull taxonomy was noted in our 2009 report
(Forrester 2009), further studies, including a recent molecular phylogeny based on mitochondrial
and nuclear DNA sequences have provided strong evidence for a revision to the taxonomic
sequence within the entire Charadriiformes (Sangster et al. 2011). As a result of these recommen-
dations the taxa on the Scottish List should be listed in the following sequence:
Charadrii
Burhinidae (Burhinus)
Recurvirostridae (Himantopus, Recurvirostra)
Haematopodidae (Haematopus)
Charadriidae (Pluvialis, Vanellus, Charadrius)
Scolopaci
Scolopacidae (Bartramia, Numenius, Limosa, Arenaria, Calidris, Phalaropus, Xenus, Actitis,
Tringa, Lymnocryptes, Limnodromus, Scolopax, Gallinago)
Lari
Glareolidae (Glareola, Cursorius)
Stercorariidae (Stercorarius)
Alcidae (Fratercula, Cepphus, Alca, Pinguinus, Alle, Uria)
Sternidae (Onychoprion, Sternula, Gelochelidon, Hydroprogne, Chlidonias, Sterna)
Laridae (Pagophila, Xema, Rissa, Chroicocephalus, Hydrocoloeus, Rhodostethia, Larus)
Hudsonian Whimbrel Numenius hudsonicus
Hudsonian Whimbrel is separable from Eurasian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus on the basis of
diagnostic differences in plumage, mean morphometric differences and marked divergence in
mitochondrial DNA sequences. It is therefore now treated as a separate species (Sangster et al. 2011).
There are four Scottish records of this taxon: Fair Isle 27-31 May 1955; Shetland 24 July to 8 August ©
1974; Fair Isle 29-31 August 2007; and Outer Hebrides 12 September 2009 (Forrester et al. 2007).
Monotypic; status code SV. To appear on the Scottish List between Eskimo Curlew and Whimbrel.
Add to Category A.
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
As a result of hudsonicus now being treated as a full species, Whimbrel now becomes monotypic.
General arrangement of calidrine sandpipers
Results from a recent molecular phylogeny based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA
sequences has led to a revision of the taxonomic sequence of the calidrine sandpipers. The
same study also showed that the monotypic genera Philomachus, Limicola and Tryngites form
part of the Calidris clade, resulting in Ruff, Broad-billed Sandpiper and Buff-breasted
Sandpiper being moved to the Calidris genus (Sangster ef al. 2012). The species on the Scottish
33:1 (2013)
List should now appear in the following sequence:
Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris
Knot Calidris canutus
Ruff Calidris pugnax
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata
Broad-billed Sandpiper Calidris falcinellus
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis
Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii
Sanderling Calidris alba
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
Little Stint Calidris minuta
White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Calidris subruficollis
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
Great Skua Stercorarius skua
Of the six accepted subspecies of S. skua, nominate skua of the northern hemisphere could be
separated from southern hemisphere taxa antarcticus, hamiltoni, lonnbergi, chilensis and
maccormicki by genetic and plumage differences together with the results of mitochondrial DNA
analyses. Therefore S. skua becomes a monotypic species, with the four southern taxa apportioned
to a further three species (Sangster et al. 2011). Only Great Skua has been recorded in Scotland
and it should now be treated as monotypic.
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis
Until now three subspecies of Sandwich Tern have been recognised, nominate sandvicensis,
acuflavida and eurygnatha. However, molecular phylogenetic analysis indicated that acuflavida
and eurygnatha are more closely related to Elegant Tern Sterna elegans. Therefore Sandwich Tern
is now treated as monotypic with the other two taxa forming a separate species Cabot’s Tern
Sterna acuflavida (Sangster et al. 2011).
Although Cabot’s Tern has occurred in England, only Sandwich Tern has been recorded in
Scotland and it should be treated as monotypic.
Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis
Three subspecies have previously been recognised, however molecular studies have indicated three
strongly divergent groups within the Arctic Warbler complex. These three groups also differ in
morphometrics, territorial song and calls and are therefore best treated as three separate species
(Sangster et al. 2012). Of the three the only taxon recorded in Scotland is borealis, which retains
the English name Arctic Warbler.
Arctic Warbler therefore now becomes monotypic.
Marmora’s Warbler Sylvia sarda
Two subspecies have previously been recognised, sarda and balearica. Two studies based on
mitochondrial gene sequences suggest that these two taxa are not closely related. Whilst the
precise relationships between these two taxa and closely related species have still to be resolved,
it is now considered appropriate to treat them as separate monotypic species, Marmora’s Warbler
33:1 (2013)
19
20
Sylvia sarda and Balearic Warbler Sylvia balearica. There is one Scottish record, from St Abb’s
Head, Borders 23-27 May 1993 for which race is described on the Scottish List as ‘sarda
(presumed). It has been recommended that this record, along with the other five British records,
should now be reviewed.
Thick-billed Warbler Acrocephalus aedon
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida
Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata
Sykes’s Warbler Hippolais rama
A detailed series of mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences showed that Booted/Olivaceous
Warblers are not closely related to Hippolais but placed these species outside the Hippolais and
Acrocephalus clades. This study suggested that H. pallida, H. caligata and H. rama along with A.
aedon are best placed in a separate genus, for which the name /Iduna is available (Sangster et al. 2011).
As a consequence the names and taxonomic sequence of the four species of Iduna on the Scottish
List becomes as follows:
Thick-billed Warbler Iduna aedon
Booted Warbler Iduna caligata
Sykes’s Warbler [duna rama
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Iduna pallida
These species are now placed between Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides and Olive-tree
Warbler Hippolais olivetorum on the Scottish List.
Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica
Recent phylogenetic studies have shown that the genus Zoothera comprises two clades that are
not closely related. One (the Zoothera clade) includes White’s Thrush Zoothera dauma, the other
(the Geokichla clade) includes several colourful African and Indo-Malayan species. These studies
show that Siberian Thrush is not part of the Zoothera clade, but most likely part of the Geokichla
clade (Sangster et al. 2011).
Siberian Thrush is therefore placed in Geokichla and becomes:
Siberian Thrush Geokichla sibirica ;
Siberian Thrush is now placed between Veery Catharus fuscescens and Ring Ouzel Turdus
torquatus on the Scottish List.
Taxonomic sequence of Muscicapinae
Recent phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA has clarified the relationship
among the genera of chats and flycatchers (Muscicapinae). This results in a revised sequence
(Sangster ef al. 2011). The following taxonomic sequence applies to genera on the Scottish List
and is brought into immediate use:
Muscicapa
Frithacus
Larvivora
Luscinia
Calliope
Tarsiger
Ficedula
Phoenicurus
Monticola
Saxicola
Oenanthe
33:1 (2013)
Siberian Blue Robin Luscinia cyane
Rufous-tailed Robin Luscinia sibilans
Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope
Recent phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences have demonstrated that
Siberian Blue Robin, Rufous-tailed Robin and Siberian Rubythroat are not closely related to the
‘true’ nightingales. As a consequence the genera Larvivora and Calliope are reinstated (Sangster et
al. 2011). The two Larvivora species on the Scottish List are now to be shown with Siberian Blue
Robin first, followed by Rufous-tailed Robin. These three species now have the scientific names:
Siberian Blue Robin Larvivora cyane
Rufous-tailed Robin Larvivora sibilans
Siberian Rubythroat Calliope calliope
Stonechat Saxicola torquatus
Phylogeographical analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences have placed European, Siberian and
African taxa in separate clades, and have further indicated that European Stonechats are more
closely related to Canarian Stonechat Saxicola dacotiae than to Siberian and African Stonechats.
European Stonechats, Siberian Stonechats and African Stonechats further differ in morphology.
The name Saxicola torquatus is now given to African Stonechat, with the polytypic European
Stonechat now called Savxicola rubicola.
Further, mitochondrial DNA sequences of the eastern Siberian stejnegeri are highly divergent from
those of western Siberian maurus, but at this stage specific ranking for stejnegeri has not been
supported because the position of the Chinese subspecies przewalskii has yet to be determined.
The name przewalskii would have nomenclatural priority over stejnegeri if the two were
conspecific. Therefore stejnegeri is tentatively included in Saxicola maurus along with four other
taxa (Sangster et al. 2011).
The two Siberian taxa maurus and stejnegeri are notoriously difficult to separate in the field and
although there have been in excess of 100 records of migrants relating to either maurus or
stejnegeri, there are only possibly four records accepted as maurus and none as stejnegeri. Clearly
it would be advantageous to have a record relating to stejnegeri confirmed for Scotland prior to
the likely future promotion of stejnegeri to full species level. The only Scottish record of the taxon
variegatus (known as Caspian Stonechat), also now included with maurus was of a male at Virkie,
Mainland, Shetland on 7 May 2006 (Forrester 2009).
The specimen of the first British record of maurus, from the Isle of May on 10 October 1913, held
at National Museums Scotland (NMS.Z 1913.239.2) was examined and reviewed. On the basis of
plumage characters and a genetic analysis the subspecific identification as nominate S. m. maura
was upheld. This therefore is the first Scottish record for the species now known as Siberian
Stonechat (BOU 2013).
The breeding taxon in Scotland hibernans is a subspecies of European Stonechat Savxicola
rubicola, with the English vernacular name Stonechat.
Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus is now added to the Scottish List with the subspecies maurus,
maurus or stejnegeri and variegatus. Status code SV. It is placed between Whinchat and Stonechat.
Add to Category A.
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
The only two British specimen records (held at National Museums Scotland) of M. f. simillima
(Eastern Blue-headed Wagtail) have been reviewed and submitted to mitochondrial DNA
analysis. The first, from Fair Isle, collected on 9 October 1909 (NMS.Z 1910.132.15) was found
33:1 (2013)
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to be of eastern origin but could not be assigned to subspecies level. The second, also from Fair
Isle, collected on 25 September 1912 (NMS.Z 1913.50.20) was found to be of western origin and
has been rejected. The subspecies M. f. simillima is therefore deleted from the British List
(BOURC 2013). The Taxonomic Sub-Committee is reviewing the systematics of the Motacilla
flava complex and the occurrence of a bird of one of the eastern subspecies will be recorded in
the 8th edition of the Checklist of Birds of Britain (BOURC, in prep). However, Collinson et al.
(2013) meanwhile assign it to subspecies tschutschensis/plexa.
The subspecies simillima is removed from the Scottish List.
Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
Recent phylogenetic studies suggest that Greenfinch should not be within the genus Carduelis and
is best placed in a genus Chloris (Sangster et al. 2011), but remains in the same place on the
Scottish List. Greenfinch thus becomes:
Greenfinch Chloris chloris.
Mealy Redpoll Carduelis flammea
Whilst the Icelandic subspecies (Iceland Redpoll) islandica has appeared on the British List, on the basis
that there were records from ‘northern Britain’, the subspecies has never been accepted for the Scottish
List. It has now been acknowledged that although the taxon is likely to occur regularly in Britain, there
are no acceptably documented records and it has been removed from the British List (BOURC 2013).
Generic arrangement of North American wood warblers
Molecular phylogenetic studies of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences have clarified the
relationships among the North American wood warblers. These affect both the generic position and
the taxonomic sequence of the wood warblers recorded in the Western Palearctic. Due to non-
monophyly of Vermivora and following the American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU) Tennessee Warbler
is placed in Oreothlypis. Due to non-monophyly of Dendroica and Wilsonia, and priority of the name
Setophaga, all species currently included in Dendroica, as well as Hooded Warbler (currently Wilsonia
citrina) are placed in Setophaga (Sangster et al. 2011). The names and sequence of the species recorded
in Scotland, all of which are on Category A of the Scottish List, become as follows:
Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
Hooded Warbler Setophaga citrina
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina
Northern Parula Setophaga americana
Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca
Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia
Chestnut-sided Warbler Setophaga pensylvanica
Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata
Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata
BBRC decisions that affect the Scottish List are:
Redhead Aythya americana
2003 Outer Hebrides Loch Tangasdail, Barra, first winter female, 20 September to 15 April 2004
(British Birds 97: 563; Birding Scotland 7: 130-135, Birding World 17: 59); same, Loch an Duin,
Barra, female, 7-8 November 2004 (British Birds 100: 20).
Following a review, the above record, the only Scottish record, is now considered not proven
(British Birds 104: 563).
Remove from Category A.
33:1 (2013)
Northern Parula Setophaga americana
2010 Argyll Carnan Mor and Balephuil, Tiree 25-29 September (British Birds 103: plate 387, plate
339: 104: 625; Scottish Birds 30: plate 336; 31: 86-90, plates 80-86).
Monotypic; status SV (see above for position on Scottish List.)
ist Scottish record. Add to Category A.
SBRC decisions that affect the Scottish List are:
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca
2010 Shetland Ocraquoy, Lerwick, Virkie & Exnaboe, Mainland, adult, 24 February-25 March (ap
Rheinallt et al. 2012).
Accepted by SBRC as most likely coming from a feral population (in England or continental Europe).
Monotypic; status code SV. To be placed after Red-breasted Goose.
ist Scottish record. Add to Category C.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor
Following a review by SBRC the only Scottish record, at Duchray Castle, Aberfoyle, Upper Forth in
1968 and 1970 (Scottish Birds 6: 210-212, 384) was found to be unacceptable (ap Rheinallt et al. 2012).
Remove from Category A.
[Amazingly, within four months of SBRC publishing the removal of the only hitherto Scottish
record, of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, a well watched and photographed bird, probably
belonging to the Continental nominate race minor, was present for five days in Shetland during
October 2012 (Birding World 25: 403). This record has still to be formally accepted.]
As a result of the above changes the Scottish List totals are now:
Category A 505
Category B 6
Category C 8
519
Category D 10
The current version of the Scottish List can be viewed on the SOC’s website at www.the-
soc.org.uk/scottish-list. In addition to the above-mentioned Lesser Spotted Woodpecker record
from Shetland, a number of other records remain pending. These include two possible new species
for the Scottish List, White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca deglandi and Magnolia Warbler
Setophaga magnolia and a new subspecies, the Nearctic subspecies of Long-tailed Skua
Stercorarius longicaudus pallescens.
Update to records of species and subspecies recorded in Scotland on up to 20 occasions
A list of all records of species and subspecies recorded in Scotland on up to 20 occasions was
published on behalf of SBRC (Andrews & Naylor 2002) and covered the period up until the end of
2001. Since that time there have been four updates (Forrester 2004, 2007, 2009, 2011la). An
opportunity was also taken in The Birds of Scotland (Forrester et al. 2007) to evaluate the validity
of several old records and to revise the numbering of records up to the end of 2004 for several
species. This is the fifth update and covers all records that have appeared in print since the last
report, including records from the 2010 and 2011 reports on rare birds from BBRC (Hudson et al.
2011, 2012) and records accepted by SBRC for species and subspecies not adjudicated upon by BBRC
and contained within their report covering the years 2009 and 2010 (ap Rheinallt et al. 2011, 2012).
For a species reaching its twentieth record, all additional records occurring during the year of the
twentieth record are included. The two journals most frequently cited in this report Scottish Birds
and British Birds have usually been abbreviated to SB and BB. A decision has also been taken to
not include names of observers, which can be found in the referenced publication.
33:1 (2013)
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Black Duck Anas rubripes
2011 Highland Camuschoirk and Garbh Eilean, Loch Sunart, Lochaber, male, 6-26 June;
presumed same Strontian, Loch Sunart, 6 October (BB 105: 559).
13th Scottish record.
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca
2009 Fife Loch Gelly, adult male, 26 July-2 September (SB 31: 110).
19th Scottish record of 20 birds.
Black Scoter Melanitta americana
2011 North-east Scotland Murchar and Blackdog, adult male, 27 June-4 October (BB 11: 561; SB
31: 276-278, plates 237-238).
6th Scottish record.
Fea’s Petrel or Zino’s Petrel Pterodroma feae/madeira
2010 Orkney North Ronaldsay, 16 October (BB 104: 567).
Ath Scottish record.
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
P. c. sinensis, ‘Continental Cormorant’
2009 Lothian Musselburgh, adult, 7 June (SB 31: 113).
2009 Lothian Musselburgh, two adults, 1 August (SB 31: 113).
2009 North-east Scotland Stonehaven, adult, 27 March (SB 31: 113).
2009 Shetland Lochs of Hillwell & Spiggie, Mainland, at least four adults, 20 April-11 June (SB
312-113).
2010 North-east Scotland Girdleness, adult and third-calendar-year, 2 May (SB 32: 112).
2010 Shetland Ocraquoy, Lerwick, Virkie & Exnaboe, Mainland, adult, 24 February-25 March (SB
Boke tals
11th-16th Scottish records of 21 birds. SBRC will no longer consider this subspecies from 1
January 2013 (ap Rheinallt et al. 2012).
Frigatebird sp. Fregata sp.
2010 North-east Scotland Battery Park, Peterhead, 8 September (BB 104: 568).
2nd Scottish record in addition to a single record of Ascension Frigatebird Fregata aquila.
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
2011 Shetland Urafirth, Mainland, 6-7 June (BB 104: plate 225); presumed same Burn of
Crooksetter, Mainland, 12 June (BB 105: 564).
5th Scottish record. :
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
2009 Argyll Ballimartin, Islay, 23 October-6 November (SB 30: plate 149; 31: 114).
7th Scottish record.
Black Stork Ciconia nigra
2010 Highland Findhorn Valley, Inverness District, adult, 8 May; presumed same Waternish Point,
Skye, 31 May; Outer Hebrides Clachan Farm area, Berneray, adult, 18-25 May, ringed; Shetland
Burrafirth and Uyeasound, Unst, adult, 2-6 June, ringed (BB 104: 570).
2010 Highland River Spey, near Cromdale, Badenoch & Strathspey, juvenile, 9-10 September
(BB 104: 570).
2010 Highland Kyle of Lochalsh, Skye & Lochalsh, 9 September (BB 104: 570).
19th-21st Scottish records of 22 birds. Now removed from the list of species recorded on 20 or
fewer occasions.
33:1 (2013)
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
2011 Argyll Salen Bay, Mull, 22 March-6 April (BB 104: plate 145; 105: 567).
10th Scottish record.
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus
2011 Argyll Pennyghael, Mull, juvenile, 20-24 September (BB 105: 567; SB 32: plate 297).
2011 Argyll Machrihanish, juvenile, 22 September (BB 105: 567; SB 32: plates 300-301).
2011 Ayrshire Garnock Floods, juvenile female, 27 October-7 November (BB 105: plate 323, 568;
SB 32: 82-85, plates 61-66).
2011 Fair Isle Malcolm’s Head then other areas, juvenile, 12-15 August (BB 105: 568; SB 32:
plates 298-299).
2011 Fair Isle Gilsetter then other areas, juvenile, 11-14 September (BB 105: 568).
2011 North-east Scotland Ythan Estuary and Blackdog, juvenile, 1 October (BB 105: 568; SB 32:
85-86, plate 67).
2011 Orkney The Loons RSPB and Marwick, Mainland, juvenile, 23-28 September (BB 105: 568;
SB 32: plates 294-296).
2011 Orkney Hooking, North Ronaldsay, juvenile, 25-28 September (BB 105: 568).
2011 Shetland Isle of Noss then Ander Hill Bressay, juvenile 24-26 August (BB 105: 568).
2011 Shetland Norwick and other sites, Unst, juvenile female, 25 August-14 September (BB 105:
568, plate 324; SB 32: plate 289).
2011 Shetland Sandgarth and Sand Water, Mainland, juvenile 31 August (BB 105: 568; SB 32:
plates 291-292).
2011 Shetland Quendale and other sites, Mainland, juvenile, 3 September-17 October (BB 105: 568).
2011 Shetland Virkie and other sites, Mainland, juvenile, 10-19 September (BB 105: 568).
2011 Shetland Loch of Hillwell, Mainland, juvenile, 11 September (BB 105: 568).
2011 Shetland Arisdale, Yell, juvenile, 12-16 September (BB 105: 568-569; SB 32: plates 290 and 293).
2011 Shetland East Burrafirth, Mainland, juvenile, 17 September (BB 105: 569).
2011 Shetland Brake, Mainland, juvenile, 28 September-1 October (BB 105: 569).
2011 Shetland Fetlar, juvenile, 30 September-5 October (BB 105: 569).
2011 Shetland Channerwick area and Boddam, Mainland, 4-10 October, presumed same Trondra,
7 October (BB 105: 569).
2011 Shetland Bardister, North Roe, Mainland, juvenile, 9 October (BB 105: 569).
12th-31st Scottish records. Chapman (2012) provides a detailed overview of the unprecedented
influx into Scotland during autumn 2011. Now removed from the list of species recorded on 20
or fewer occasions.
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
2011 Orkney North Ronaldsay, first-summer male, 20-21 September (BB 105: 571).
3rd Scottish record.
Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis
2011 North-east Scotland Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, adult, 22-26 September (BB 105: 572, plate
327; SB 31: 375-377, plates 328-330).
4th Scottish record.
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
2010 Argyll Lossit Bay, Islay, 31 January (BB 104: 575, plate 75).
16th Scottish record.
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
2008 Lothian Aberlady Bay, male, 1-2 June (SB 31: 118).
17th Scottish record.
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26
Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii
2011 Highland Dornoch Point, Ross & Cromarty, adult male, 16-24 June (BB 105: 576, plate 329).
5th Scottish record.
Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda
2009 Caithness Quoys of Reiss, juvenile, 28 September (BB 105: 583).
11th Scottish record.
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
2011 Shetland South Ness, Foula, juvenile, 14-24 September (BB 104: plate 381; 105: 579, plate 332).
5th Scottish record.
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
2009 Shetland Brough, Whalsay, adult, 29 July (BB 104: 579).
2010 Lothian Tyninghame Bay, juvenile, 27 August-15 September (BB 104: 579; SB 30: plate
333; 31: plate 88).
2011 North-east Scotland Ythan Estuary, juvenile, 26 September-4 October (BB 105: 576; SB 32:
74-77, plates 55-57).
2011 Outer Hebrides Peighinn nan Aoireann (Peninerine), South Uist, juvenile, 15-17 September
(BB 1052577).
2011 Outer Hebrides Cille Pheadair (Kilpheder), South Uist, juvenile, 21 September (BB 105: 577).
2011 Outer Hebrides Northton, Harris, juvenile, 25-26 September, presumed same 7th and 10th
November (BB 105: 577).
2011 Outer Hebrides Rhubha Aird na Machrach (Ardivachar Point), South Uist, two, juveniles,
4—5 October (BB 105: 577; SB 32: plate 71).
2011 Shetland Pool of Virkie, Mainland, adult, 2-5 August (BB 105: 577).
18th-25th Scottish records of 33 birds. Now removed from the list of species recorded on 20 or
fewer occasions.
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
2011 Highland Knockglass, Loch Fleet, Ross & Cromarty, first-winter, 14-17 December (BB 105:
plate 337, 585).
9th Scottish record.
Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica
2010 Argyll Near Moss, Tiree, adult, 25 April (BB 104: 587).
11th Scottish record.
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
2011 Outer Hebrides Loch Fada, Benbecula, 5-8 April (BB 105: 589).
7th Scottish record.
Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan
2005 Shetland Hamars Ness, Fetlar, first-winter, 9 November (BB 104: 586).
2011 Highland Clashnessie Bay, Drumbeg, Sutherland, first-summer, 17-18 May (BB 105: 587).
Total of 14 Scottish records.
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
A comprehensive review has recently been carried out by SBRC, with the result that many
previously accepted records are now considered unacceptable. There are now only 19 accepted
Scottish records. As full details of these Scottish records have recently been published (SB 32:
118-120), they are not repeated here.
33:1 (2013)
Papers
Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans
2009 North-east Scotland Ugie Estuary, Peterhead, first-winter, 10 January (SB 31: 121).
Ath Scottish record.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus
2010 Outer Hebrides Cille Amhlaidh (Kilaulay), South Uist, immature male, 4 November, found
dead, skin in NMS (NMS.Z 2010.98) (BB 104: 590; SB 32: 168).
13th Scottish record.
Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus
2010 Outer Hebrides North Loch Aineort (Loch Eynort), Bornais, South Uist, one, 10 October, two
11th, one to 12th (BB 104: 592).
11th Scottish record.
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus
2009 Shetland Geosetter, Mainland, first-winter, 11 October (BB 104: 592).
2011 Argyll Balephuil, Tiree, first-winter, 22 October-20 November (BB 105: plate 345, 592; SB
32: 78-81, plates 58-60).
5th and 6th Scottish records.
Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus
2010 Shetland Scousburgh, Mainland, adult female, 12-17 October (BB 104: 593).
20th Scottish record. This species will not feature in future reports.
Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis
2010 North-east Scotland Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, first-winter L. m. pallidirostris, 14-18 October
(BB 104: 594).
7th Scottish record.
Plate 14. Southern Grey Shrike, Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, North-east Scotland, October 2010. © Harry Scott
33:1 (2013) Scottish Birds: 16-30 | 27
28
( Ke St DSDeCCc fes
Hume’s Warbler Phylloscopus humei
2011 North-east Scotland Foveran, 12-19 November (BB 105: 596).
2011 Shetland Kergord, Mainland, 8-9 November (BB 105: 596).
2011 Shetland Trondra, 13-19 November (BB 105: 596).
2011 Shetland Symbister, Whalsay, 15-30 November (BB 105: 596).
2011 Shetland Gulberwick, Mainland, 15-19 November (BB 105: 596).
2011 Shetland Grutness, Mainland, 15-20 November (BB 105: 596).
19th-24th Scottish records. Now removed from the list of species recorded on 20 or fewer occasions.
Western Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli
2010 Shetland Creadyknowe, Whalsay, first-winter, 9-15 September, trapped (BB 104: 597).
2010 Shetland Seafield, Lerwick, Mainland, 11-15 October; presumed same, Helendale, Lerwick,
29 October-1 November (BB 104: 597).
2011 Shetland Gulberwick, Mainland, first-winter, 9-11 August (BB 105: 598).
2011 Shetland Houbie, Fetlar, first-winter, 12 September (BB 105: 598).
16th-19th Scottish records.
Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus
2010 Shetland Baltasound, Unst, male in song, 4 June (BB 104: 598, plate 319).
3rd Scottish record.
Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides
2011 Shetland Out Skerries, 27 May (BB 105: 600).
11th Scottish record of 12 birds.
Sykes’s Warbler Iduna rama
2010 Shetland Burrafirth, Unst, first-winter, 16-17 August (BB 103: plate 385, 104: 603, plate 323).
2010 Shetland Channerwick, Mainland, 2-9 October (BB 104: 603).
2010 Shetland Tresta, Fetlar, first-winter, 6 October (BB 104: 603).
8th-10th Scottish records.
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Iduna pallida
2010 Shetland Ireland, Mainland, first-winter, 11-12 September (BB 104: 602, plate 322).
2011 Fair Isle Taft and Schoolton, first-winter, 2-3 September (BB 195: 601).
6th and 7th Scottish records.
Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus
2010 Outer Hebrides Breibhig (Brevig), Barra, first-winter, 9-11 October; presumed same Castlebay,
Barra, 14-16 October (BB 104: 607, plate 325; SB 31: 279-283, plates 241-243, 246-247).
2010 Outer Hebrides Loch Druidibeg NR, South Uist, first-winter, 10 October, trapped (BB 104:
607; SB 31: 279-283, plates 244-245).
4th and 5th Scottish records.
Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus
2010 Fair Isle Lower Stoneybrek, 15 September (BB 104: 607).
2010 Shetland Levenwick, Mainland, first-winter, 2-3 October (BB 104: 607).
2011 Orkney Kirbuster, Mainland, first-winter, 21 October (BB 105: 603; SB 32: plate 73).
2011 Shetland Dalsetter, Mainland, 21-23 September (BB 105: 603).
9th-12th Scottish records.
Grey-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus
2011 Shetland Tresta, Fetlar, first-winter, 23-24 September (BB 105: 604).
10th Scottish record.
33:1 (2013)
Veery Catharus fuscescens
2011 Highland Galanach Farm, Muck, Lochaber, first-winter, 16-24 November (BB 105: 604; SB:
32: 71-73, plates 50-54).
6th Scottish record.
Siberian Blue Robin Larvivora cyane
2011 Shetland Ham, Foula, first-winter female, 1 October, found dead, skin at NMS (NMS.Z
2011.151) (BB 105: 604, SB 32: 168).
2nd Scottish record.
Rufous-tailed Robin Larvivora sibilans
2010 Orkney Observatory, North Ronaldsay, first-winter male, 2 October, found dead, skin NMS
(NMS.Z 2010.95) (BB 104: 612, SB 32: 168).
2nd Scottish record.
Siberian Rubythroat Calliope calliope
2011 Shetland Gulberwick, Mainland, first-winter male, 18-30 October (BB 104: plate 448; 105:
plate 356, 607; SB 32: plate 74).
6th Scottish record.
Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis
2010 Outer Hebrides Gearraidh na h’Aibhne (Garrynahine), Lewis, adult male, 1 June (BB 104: 616).
2011 Fair Isle Hoini, first-summer male, 30 April-5 May (BB 105: 608).
2011 Shetland Manse, Foula, male, 14 May (BB 105: 608).
19th-21st Scottish records. Now removed from the list of species recorded on 20 or fewer occasions.
Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka
2010 Orkney Twingness, North Ronaldsay, female, 10-14 October (BB 104: 615).
18th Scottish record.
Buff-bellied Pipit Anthus rubescens
2010 Fair Isle North Light, first-winter, 20-30 September (BB 104: 619).
2010 Orkney Yesnaby, Mainland, 27 September (BB 104: 619).
2010 Shetland Tangwick, Eshaness, Mainland, 28 September-6 October (BB 103: plate 386; 104:
619, plate 333).
2011 Orkney Bewan Loch, North Ronaldsay, two, 22-26 September (BB 105: 613).
2011 Outer Hebrides Hirta, St Kilda, 18 September (BB 105: 613).
2011 Shetland Foula, 22 and 26 September, two on 29th-30th (one of which presumed same as
22nd/26th), one remaining to 1 October (BB 105: 613).
2011 Shetland Quendale, Mainland, 8-13 October (BB 104: plate 451; 105: 613; SB 32: plate 76).
10th-16th Scottish records of 18 birds.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
2011 Orkney Near Stenaquoy, Eday, first-winter male, 10 October (BB 105: 615).
3rd Scottish record.
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
2010 Fair Isle Observatory, 19-20 May (BB 104: 621).
2010 Shetland Scousburgh, Mainland, 21 May (BB 104: 621).
18th and 19th Scottish records.
Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla
2011 Outer Hebrides Bagh a’ Chaisteil (Castlebay), Barra, 23-24 October (BB 105: 619).
2nd Scottish record.
33:1 (2013)
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Addendum
Supplement 1 to Scottish Birds volume 31. The Scottish List (pages 16-17).
Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus: The subspecies for Glaucous Gull was incorrectly omitted and
by doing so indicated that the species was monotypic. This is not the case, as there are three
subspecies and it is the nominate subspecies (hyperboreus) which occurs in Scotland.
References
Andrews, I.J. & Naylor, K.A. on behalf of the Scottish Birds Records Committee. 2002. Records
of species and subspecies recorded in Scotland on up to 20 occasions. Scottish Birds 23: 61-116.
ap Rheinallt, T., McInerny, C.J., McGowan, R.Y. & Lauder, A. on behalf of the Scottish Birds
Records Committee. 2011. Scottish Birds Records Committee report on rare birds in Scotland
2009. Scottish Birds 31: 107-134.
ap Rheinallt, T., McInerny, C.J., McGowan R.Y. & Sweeney, J.J. on behalf of the Scottish Birds
Records Committee. 2012. Scottish Birds Records Committee report on rare birds in Scotland
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British Ornithologists’ Union. 2012. Records Committee: 40th Report (October 2011). Ibis 154: 212-215.
British Ornithologists’ Union. 2013. Records Committee: 41st Report (October 2012). Ibis 155: 194-197.
Chapman, M.S. 2012. The autumn influx of Pallid Harriers into Western Europe 2011: a Scottish
perspective. Scottish Birds 32: 340-349.
Collinson, J. M., Smith, A., Waite, S., & McGowan R. Y. 2013. British records of ‘Eastern Yellow
Wagtail. British Birds 106: 36-41.
Forrester, R.W. on behalf of Scottish Birds Records Committee 2004. Amendments to the
Scottish List. 2001 Scottish Bird Report: 7-12. (ed. R Murray).
Forrester, R.W. on behalf of Scottish List Subcommittee, Scottish Birds Records Committee
2007. Amendments to the Scottish List: species and subspecies. Scottish Birds 27: 1-14.
Forrester, R.W. on behalf of Scottish List Subcommittee, Scottish Birds Records Committee
2009. Amendments to the Scottish List: species and subspecies. Scottish Birds 29: 3-15.
Forrester, R.W. on behalf of Scottish List Subcommittee, Scottish Birds Records Committee
2011a. Amendments to the Scottish List: species and subspecies. Scottish Birds 31: 8-20.
Forrester, R.W. on behalf of Scottish List Subcommittee, Scottish Birds Records Committee
2011b. The Scottish List. The official list of birds recorded in Scotland. Scottish Birds 31:
Supplement 1.
Forrester, R.W., Andrews, I. J., McInerny, C.J., Murray, R.D., McGowan, R.Y., Zonfrillo, B.,
Betts, M.W., Jardine, D.C. & Grundy, D.S. (eds) 2007. The Birds of Scotland. The Scottish
Ornithologists’ Club, Aberlady.
Hudson, N. and the Rarities Committee. 2011. Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 2010.
British Birds 104: 557-629.
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British Birds 105: 556-625.
Sangster, G., Collinson, J.M., Crochet, P-A., Knox, A.G., Parkin, D.T., Svensson, L. & Votier,
S.C. 2011. Taxonomic recommendations for British birds: Seventh Report. Jbis 153: 883-892.
Sangster, G., Collinson, J.M., Crochet, P-A., Knox, A.G., Parkin, D.T., & Votier, S.C. 2012.
Taxonomic recommendations for British birds: Eighth Report. [bis 154: 874-883.
Ronald W. Forrester, Scottish List Subcommittee, Scottish Birds Records Committee,
East Bank, Eastlands Road, Rothesay, Isle of Bute PA20 9JZ.
Revised ms accepted January 2013
33:1 (2013)
Cte Nite
SIOTL INOLES
Golden Eagle colonisation of grouse moors in north-east Scotland
during the Second World War
A minimum of 22 nesting pairs of Golden
Eagles Aquila chrysaetos colonised grouse
moors in north-east Scotland during the
1939-45 war, when many gamekeepers were
away in the armed services and persecution of
eagles had lessened. Twenty of these pairs
vanished soon after the war, associated with a
return of gamekeepers and persecution. Then
for many years most of the home ranges
colonised during the war held no nesting pairs.
Introduction
Watson et al. (1989) reported on a study area in
upper Deeside and adjacent parts of north-east
Scotland where six adult pairs of Golden Eagles
nested on grouse moors in 1945-46, but
vanished thereafter. Little grouse shooting
occurred in the war years, when many grouse
gamekeepers were away in the armed services.
As the gamekeepers returned, colonist eagles
soon vanished. Watson et al. (1989) gave a
density figure of 6 pairs on 1000 km? of land
type G (grouse moor). They gave also a
maximum of 15 pairs from the same area,
‘calculated by accumulating data on the
number of ranges in which a nest was built at
least once, and hence is a minimum value for
the potential density on land type G’
Below, a larger area, west to the Monadh Liath,
north to the lower Findhorn and Spey, and
south to the Forest of Clunie and the Angus
Glens is used.
Study area
Owners used the land mainly for shooting Red
Grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus and Red Deer
Cervus elaphus less so. These moors, now
dominated by Heather Calluna vulgaris, were
originally natural forest during the warm
period after the last glaciers vanished, but
following their clearing by prehistoric man
have since been kept open by burning and by
farm stock or Red Deer eating tree seedlings.
The area and the eagles’ food and nest sites
have been described elsewhere (Watson 1957,
Brown é Watson 1964, Watson et al. 1989,
Watson et al. 1992, Watson et al. 2012).
33:1 (2013)
Methods
The number of pairs and their nesting attempts
were checked by well-known methods
(references above). The author observed in
upper Deeside in 1943-80 and _ since.
Summarised data for upper Deeside in 1981,
1982 and 1983 have been published (Watson
1982, Payne & Watson 1983, 1984). S. Rae’s
data in 1982-85 are in Watson et al. (1992,
2012). R. Rae of the North East of Scotland
Raptor Study Group holds the existing data for
north-east Scotland since 1985.
Historic data on Golden Eagle home ranges
from Speyside, the Findhorn valley and wider
north-east Scotland came from the author,
other birdwatchers including P. Sandeman (see
Sandeman 1957), gamekeepers and shepherds
as listed in Table 1.
Results
Table 1 summarises the data. In all, 22 ranges
that were unoccupied by nesting pairs just before
the 1939-45 war were colonised during it (ranges
1-12, 14-16, 21, 24-26, 28-30). Of these, 21
became vacant soon after and stayed vacant for
many years (the above ranges except 25).
Eagles nested in range 1 for many years before
the war, but not in 1938-39, so this is included
as one of the above 22. They then nested during
1940-46, but only sporadically thereafter, and
not for the last several decades. Range 27 was
occupied in at least one year before the war and
during the war, but not after.
Another four ranges (13, 19, 20, 22) were
occupied before and during the war and for
some years after, but later became vacant.
Nesting birds did not occur in range 17 before
and during the war, but have occupied it sporad-
ically since 1951. Range 23 was occupied before
and during the war and until 1946, but not
since. Eagles last bred at range 18 in 1838.
31
Discussion
Whitfield ef al. (2006) estimated a ‘national
target’ for the number of ‘territories’ of Golden
Eagles in Scotland, based partly on population
modelling, including an assessment of ‘likely
suitable though unoccupied habitat. They
concluded that ‘The key constraint preventing
favourable condition being met was persecution,
predominantly in some areas managed for
grouse shooting.” Their Table 1, combined with
the map in Figure 1 indicates that the greatest
modelled shortfall was in what they called
‘North East Glens’, followed by their ‘Cairngorms
Massif (in fact a much larger area than the
Cairngorms massif, and including most of the
Mounth), in turn by their ‘Breadalbane and East
Argyll’, and then their ‘Central Highlands’ (in
fact from Lochaber east of the Great Glen via the
Monadh Liath to the Morayshire moors). Their
‘North East Glens’ comprise predominantly
grouse-moor, whereas the other areas named
above include much deer forest with little or no
grouse interest, as well as some grouse moor.
The main advantage of the modelling was that
it brought eagle conservation to the attention of
the public. One drawback was that the
modelling rested partly on an assumption
involving the authors’ assessment of ‘likely
suitable though unoccupied habitat’, an
assessment which was subjective. This allowed
a few gamekeepers to assert that the said habitat
Table 1. Number of nests and years of occupation of Golden Eagle ranges on grouse moors in north-east Scotland.
Numbers of nests are minima, so should be regarded as ‘at least’. Initials are for Archie Anderson, Leslie Brown, John
Edelsten, Seton Gordon, Anne Keiller Greig, Ray Hewson, Alexander McConnochie's book, Desmond Nethersole-Thompson,
Charles Palmar, Stuart Rae, Derek Ratcliffe, Pat Sandeman, Adam Watson, his father Adam Watson senior and Douglas Weir.
‘For the eagles’ sake, | give vague locations referring to nearby settlements. Precise locations are with RSPB Aberdeen.
Area’ Nests Observers
1 Strathdon 4 SG, AG, shepherd, AW
DD Corgarff 1 Keepers, farmers
S Lumsden 2 Keepers, farmers
4 Banchory 2 AW, LB
5 Braemar 2 Keepers, AW
6 Crathie 2 Keepers, AW
7 Ballater 1 Keepers, AW
8. Dinnet 2 Keepers, AW
9 ~ Tarfside 2 Keepers, AW
10. Edzell 2 Keepers, AW
1 >-Cortaely 1 Keepers
12. Kirriemuir 2 Keepers
13. Glen Shee 4 LB, AW
14 Pitlochry 3 LB, PS, keepers
15 Dunkeld 2 LB, PS
16 “Lecht 2 Keepers, AW
17. Tomintoul south-west 10 DT, LB, AW, JE,SR
18 Dufftown 1 DW, RH, AW
19 Tomintoul low 9 SG, LB, AW, JE
20 Kingussie east 3 Keepers, DW, AW
21 Aviemore 3 DR, CP, keeper, AW
22 Dalwhinnie north 4 LB, AW
23. Carr Bridge south 5 DNT, AW
24 Carr Bridge north 1 LB, DW, farmers
25 Culloden south-east 1 DW
26 Ballindalloch west 1 DW
27 Tomatin 2 McC, keepers, AW
28 Daviot D CP, AW, AW senior
29 Dalwhinnie south | AW, DW, keepers
30 Kincraig | Keeper, DW
* Hen killed by poison 1973, no nesting 2005 and since.
52
Nested in years
To 1937, 1940-46, 1962, not to 2012
1944, 1945, not to 1981, then sporadic
1944, 1945, not to 1980, then sporadic
1944, 1945, 1971, 1972*, 1995-2004
1943, 1944, 1+ young 1945
1943, 1944, 2 young 1945
1944, 1945, not to 1977, then sporadic
1944 1945, 1964, 1979-80, not to 2012
1943-45, not to 2012 ;
1944, 1945, not to 1981, then sporadic
1944, 1945, not to 2012
1944, 1945, not to 2012
up to. 19635, not to 2012
1942—45, not to 2012
1944, 2 young 1945, not to 2012
1944, 1945, not to 2012
Not 1936-45, sporadic from 1951 on
Not since 1838
Not since 1977
Till 1975
1944, 1945, not to 1974
Till 1959+, not 1965-74
Till 1946
1942-45, not to 2012
1943—45, no young 1965—74
1944, 1945
1931, 1943-45
1944-45
1944—48
1944-45
33:1 (2013)
was unsuitable because of factors such as
disturbance by walkers, climatic change and
others, although the critics had studied none of
these factors and adduced no evidence on them.
The value of the present paper is its evidence
that many ranges on grouse moors were
observed to be occupied by nesting Golden
Eagles during the Second World War and
immediately after it, when many gamekeepers
were away in the armed forces and persecution
lessened. Then, after the gamekeepers returned
and persecution was renewed, most of the
colonist nesting pairs vanished. This situation
has continued since, apart from some brief
occupations in a small proportion of the total
number of ranges occupied at the end of the war.
Acknowledgements
For information, thanks are given to those
named below Table 1, and gamekeepers whose
names are withheld because they provided
information that they had persecuted eagles,
and shepherds who did not persecute.
References
Brown, L.H. & Watson, A. 1964. The Golden Eagle
in relation to its food supply. Ibis 106: 78-100.
McConnochie, A.I. 1932. Deer Forest Life.
Alexander Maclehose, London.
Newton, I. 1979. Population Ecology of Raptors.
Poyser, Berkhamstead.
Payne, S. & Watson, A.1983. Work on Golden
Eagle and Peregrine in northeast Scotland in
1982. Scottish Birds 12: 159-162.
Payne, S. & Watson, A.1984. Work on Golden
Eagle and Peregrine in north-east Scotland in
1983. Scottish Birds 13: 24-26.
Sandeman, P. W. 1957. The breeding success
of golden eagles in the southern Grampians.
Scottish Naturalist 69: 148-152.
Watson, A. 1957. The breeding success of golden
eagles in the north-east Highlands. Scottish
Naturalist 69: 153-169.
Watson, A. 1982. Work on Golden Eagle and
Peregrine in northeast Scotland in 1981.
Scottish Birds 12: 54-56.
Watson, A., Payne, A.G. & Rae, R. 1989. Golden
eagles Aquila chrysaetos: land use and food in
northeast Scotland. [bis 131: 336-348.
33:1 (2013)
Short Notes
Watson, A., Rae, S. & Payne, S. 2012. Mirrored
sequences of colonisation and abandonment
by pairs of Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos.
Ornis Fennica 89: 229-232.
Watson, J. 1997. The Golden Eagle. Poyser,
London.
Watson, J., Rae, S.R. & Stillman, R. 1992.
Nesting density and breeding success of
golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in relation
to food supply in Scotland. Journal of Animal
Ecology 61: 543-550.
Whitfield, D.P., Fielding, A-H., McLeod, D.R.A.,
Haworth, P. & Watson, J. 2006. A conser-
vation framework for the golden eagle in
Scotland: refining condition targets and
assessment of constraint influences. Biological
Conservation 130: 465-480.
Adam Watson, Clachnaben, Crathes,
Banchory AB31 5JE.
we =e yy tm Gy g
Email: adamwatson@uwclub.net
Revised ms accepted October 2012
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34
Pre-First World War persistence of a Golden Eagle population in the
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides now support a _ thriving
population of Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos
(Eaton ef al. 2007), despite isolation by sea
crossings of 20 km to the Inner Hebrides and 35
km to the Scottish mainland - significant
obstacles for large soaring birds (Bildstein et al.
2009). However, during the 19th and early 20th
centuries, when Golden Eagles were widely
persecuted in Scotland, and were eradicated
from Ireland (Evans et al. 2012), it is unclear
whether this population persisted (Love 1983,
Evans et al. 2012). Whether or not extinction
occurred is therefore important to our
understanding of the subsequent dynamics of
recolonisation and population recovery during
the 20th century by this species.
During the 19th century, more than 10,000 km?
of hill land in Scotland was set aside for private
“deer forests” (Orr 1982). Although the Red Deer
Cervus elaphus is a woodland animal over much
of its range, Scottish deer forests are not
generally wooded and instead consist of
extensive areas of open and relatively unfertile
hill ground (Clutton-Brock & Albon 1989),
habitat also potentially suitable for Golden
Eagles (Watson 2011). In a wider landscape of
persecution during the 19th and early 20th
centuries, deer forests are thought to have
provided significant refuges for Golden Eagles
(Love 1983, Watson 2011, Evans et al. 2012),
particularly as some deer forest proprietors were
said to actively protect eagles on their land
(Booth 1881-7, Harvie-Brown &t Buckley 1895).
In the Outer Hebrides, more than 300 km2 of
deer forest had been created in north Harris
and south Lewis by the mid-1850s. This is
relatively early compared with other parts of
Scotland, where most deer forests were
converted from the 1860s onwards (Orr 1982).
By 1890, deer forest extended across 500 km?
of the most mountainous parts of Lewis and
Harris (Table 1, Figure 1).
In 1870, Harvie-Brown knew of eight Golden
Eagle breeding localities in Harris (Harvie-
Brown & Buckley 1888), and in the 1890s, eagles
were specifically said to have been actively
protected on the Amhainnsuidhe and Park
forests (Grimble 1896, Harvie-Brown 1903),
covering a combined area of more than 330 km?.
Given (1) the stated size of the population in
1870, and (2) the presence of a benign
management regime covering a significant
contiguous area of the most suitable Golden
Eagle habitat in the Outer Hebrides from the
mid-19th century onwards, we propose that
there was no local extinction prior to the First
World War, and that a breeding population of
Golden Eagles survived in the Lewis and
Harris hills throughout the 19th and early
20th centuries.
Golden Eagles in the Outer Hebrides were not
confined to Lewis and Harris in the late 19th
century, and also occurred in the Uists, though
Harvie-Brown knew of only one _ breeding
location (Harvie-Brown & Buckley 1886). The
extent of hill ground in the Uists is about half
that on Rum and a quarter of that on Jura,
islands from both of which Golden Eagles are
Table 1. Extent and date of conversion of land to deer forest in Lewis and Harris.
Deer forest
name
Morsgail (Lewis) 81.42
Scaliscro (Lewis) 12:72
Aline (Lewis) 45.16
Ambhainnsuidhe (North Harris) 162.28
Luskentyre (South Harris) 24.28
Park (Lewis) 169.62
Total 495.48
Area (km? - converted
from acres in Orr 1982)
Year
converted
1850
1850
1850
1853
1860s
1886
33:1 (2013)
Short Notes
INL
Plate 15. Golden Eagle, Harris, 2012. © Lau
f.
ne Campbell
said to have been eradicated by the mid-1880s
(Evans et al. 2012). Thus, in our view it is
unlikely that Golden Eagles would have
survived on their own in the Uists without a
supply of potential recruits from neighbouring
Harris and Lewis.
If our interpretation is correct, and an isolated
population of Golden Eagles survived in the
Outer Hebrides and subsequently recovered
without the need for recolonisation by
immigrant birds, then analysis of genetic
material would be a useful formal test of this
hypothesis, though we note that Bourke et al.
(2010) did not report such differences in their
analysis of DNA from the British Isles.
The conversion of land to deer forest took place
over several decades and there is considerable
0 10 20 : variation in the size of contiguous areas
Somes eventually converted (Orr 1982). More detailed
investigation of the timing and extent of deer
forest conversion prior to 1914 across Scotland
may allow a better understanding of the nature
and scale of the effect of this land use change
on Golden Eagles, and might also potentially
indicate areas outside the Outer Hebrides that
could also have an historical basis for more
detailed DNA analysis.
Figure 1. Location and extent of 19th-century deer
forests in Lewis and Harris: (1) Scaliscro; (2)
Morsgail, (3) Aline; (4) Abhainnsuidhe; (5)
Luskentyre; (6) Park.
33:1 (2013) Scottish Birds | 35
Plate 16. Eagle perch, Loch Reasort, North Harris, August 2011. © Robin Reid
References
Bildstein, K.L., Bechard, M.J., Farmer, C. &
Newcomb, L. 2009. Narrow sea crossings
present major obstacles to migrating Griffon
Vultures Gyps fulvus. Ibis 151: 382-391.
Booth, E.T. 1881-7. Rough Notes on the Birds
Observed during Twenty-Five Years Shooting
and Collecting in the British Isles. R.H. Porter
and Messrs. Dulau & Co., London.
Bourke, B.P., Frantz, A.C., Lavers, C.P.,
Davison, A., Dawson, D.A. & Burke, T.A.
2010. Genetic signatures of population change
in the British golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos).
Conservation Genetics 11: 1837-1846.
Clutton-Brock, T.H. & Albon S.D. 1989. Red
Deer in the Highlands. Blackwell, Oxford.
Eaton, M.A., Dillon, I.A., Stirling-Aird, P.K. &
Whitfield, D.P. 2007. Status of Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos in Britain in 2003. Bird
Study 54: 212-220.
Evans, R.J., O’Toole, L. & Whitfield, D-.P.
2012. The history of eagles in Britain and
Ireland: an ecological review of placename
and documentary evidence from the last 1500
years. Bird Study 59: 335-349.
Grimble, A. 1896. The Deer Forests of Scotland.
Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., London.
Harvie-Brown, J.A. 1903. On the Avifauna of
the Outer Hebrides, 1888-1902. David
Douglas, Edinburgh.
Harvie-Brown, J.A. & Buckley, T.E. 1888. A
Vertebrate Fauna of the Outer Hebrides. David
Douglas, Edinburgh.
Harvie-Brown, J.A. & Buckley, T.E. 1895. A
Vertebrate Fauna of the Moray Basin. David
Douglas, Edinburgh.
Love, J.A. 1983. The Return of the Sea Eagle.
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Orr, W. 1982. Deer Forests, Landlords and
Crofters: The Western Highlands in Victorian
and Edwardian Times. John Donald, Edinburgh.
Watson, J. 2011. The Golden Eagle. T. & A.D.
Poyser, London.
Richard Evans RSPB Scotland, 2 Lochside
View, Edinburgh EH12 9DH.
Robin Reid 8 Strond, Isle of Harris HS5
3UD.
Phil Whitfield Natural Research, Brathens
Business Park, Glassel, Banchory,
Aberdeenshire AB31 4BY.
Revised ms accepted November 2012
33:1 (2013)
eae OS Sa LL GN Re a Mc
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The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SCO03'7654
38
Articles, News & Views
Since the early writings of Seton Gordon (1927),
Scots and Scottish-based ornithologists have led
the world in definitive studies of diurnal birds of
prey or raptors and current interest in them by
enthusiasts has never been higher. Over the past
30 years, nearly 300 amateur ornithologists have
joined forces to form a network of 11 regional
raptor study groups covering the whole country
with the exception of Shetland. Much of what is
currently known about the abundance, nesting
success and distribution of birds of prey in
Scotland is due to this army of dedicated field
workers. Many of them are also SOC members
and they carry out breeding studies of both
raptors and owls, often in great depth and
magnitude, and all in their own time. Furthermore,
Scottish Raptor Study Group members provided
data for the now defunct Raptor Roundup
published by SOC up to 2002 and since 2003,
most of the breeding records in the annual reports
of the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme upon
which this review is based.
Currently 23 species of raptors have been
recorded in Scotland (Table 1), but nine are
solely winter visitors or vagrants and are not
included any further in this review. The fourteen
species that remain occur as annual breeders
»)
Re ee |
Scottisn Birds
Plate 17. Golden Eagle bringing in prey, Inverness-shire, July 2009. © David Whitaker
=
but only three can be considered common with
populations in excess of 5,000 pairs; Buzzard,
Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. A further four; Merlin,
Peregrine, Hen Harrier and Golden Eagle have
breeding populations of 400-750 pairs. Three
are scarce but on a local scale can be fairly
common in favoured localities and have
populations in the low hundreds - Red Kite,
Osprey and Goshawk. The remaining four;
White-tailed Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Honey-
buzzard and Hobby are nationally very rare with
considerably less than 100 pairs each. The
population trend over the past ten years for
these 14 species has shown five increasing, five
stable and four declining (Table 1).
The ‘common’ breeders
Buzzards have made remarkable gains over the
past 20 years, spreading eastwards to cover all
parts of Scotland from which they had previously
been exterminated during the 19th century.
Buzzards have now re-colonised and are
breeding in almost all habitats available to them
and have now reached the outskirts of our towns
and cities. With the exception of Shetland, they
have successfully colonised all the island groups
including Orkney where they are currently still
expanding their range. Problems. still exist;
33:1 (2013)
despite full protection under existing legislation,
Buzzards are still being killed in game-rearing
areas, and their absence as a breeding bird on
many sporting estates bears testament to the
scale of this criminal behaviour.
Sparrowhawks were severely affected by the use
of organo-chlorine pesticides in the 1950s and
numbers recovered only after these chemicals
had been phased out in later decades. Numbers
reached a peak in the late 1980s as the species
recolonized farming areas from which they had
been lost, but have subsequently declined in
line with population reductions in many of their
farmland prey species. It is therefore surprising
Articles, News & Views
that these hawks are so often accused of
contributing to the decline of farmland and
garden birds when the reverse is closer to the
truth. Nevertheless, Sparrowhawks are still a
fairly common species over much of Scotland,
occurring where there are populations of small
birds to hunt and woodland cover for nesting,
including the urban parks and wooded
cemeteries of our major cities.
Throughout much of the 20th century, the
Kestrel was the only bird of prey that was
sufficiently widespread and abundant to be
classed as common. A decline first noticed in
the 1988-91 Atlas years has since accelerated
Table 1. Status, breeding population and occurrence of diurnal birds of prey in Scotland, 2012.
Breeding population Population
Status and
species in order in pairs or occurrence trend in
of abundance in Scotland Information source last decade
Common breeder
Buzzard 15,000—20,000 The Birds of Scotland (Forrester et a/. 2007) up
Sparrowhawk 8,000-—12,000 The Birds of Scotland (Forrester et al. 2007) = down
Kestrel 7,500-7,800 The Birds of Scotland (Forrester et al. 2007) down
Uncommon breeder
Merlin VSS 2008 National survey (Ewing et a/. 2011) stable
Peregrine 600 The Birds of Scotland (Forrester et al. 2007) down
Hen Harrier 505 2010 National survey (Hayhow et al. in press) down
Golden Eagle 443 2003 National survey (Eaton et a/. 2007) stable
Scarse, localised breeder
Osprey 202 SRMS Report (Etheridge et a/. 2073). up
Red Kite 252 RSPB Scotland. 2012 survey. Unpublished up
Goshawk 130 The Birds of Scotland (Forrester et al. 2007) up
Very rare breeder
White-tailed Eagle 66 RSPB Scotland. 2012 survey. Unpublished up
Honey-buzzard 15-20 The Birds of Scotland (Forrester et al. 2007) stable
Marsh Harrier 5-10 SRMS Report (Etheridge et a/. 2013). stable
Hobby 1-5 SRMS Report (Etheridge et a/. 2013). stable
Very rare winter visitor
Rough-legged Buzzard
Gyr Falcon
308 records since 1968
245 records
The Birds of Scotland (Forrester et al. 2007)
The Birds of Scotland (Forrester et al. 2007)
Vagrant
Red-footed Falcon
Montagu’s Harrier
The Birds of Scotland (Forrester et al. 2007)
The Birds of Scotland (Forrester et al. 2007).
- 5 proven breeding attempts.
79 records
35+ records
Black Kite 19 records The Birds of Scotland (Forrester et al. 2007).
- Bred once with Red Kite in 2008.
Pallid Harrier 31 records (20 in 2011) Scottish Birds (Chapman 2012).
Lesser Kestrel 2 records The Birds of Scotland (Forrester et a/. 2007)
American Kestrel 1 record The Birds of Scotland (Forrester et al. 2007)
Eleonora’s Falcon 1 record The Birds of Scotland (Forrester et al. 2007)
33:1 (2013)
Plate 18. Kestrel hovering. © David Abraham
to such an extent that nationally it has now
fallen behind both Buzzard and Sparrowhawk
in abundance. Much of this decline has been
attributed, to ..the. reduction of small
mammalian prey caused by agricultural
intensification as well as competition with and
predation by, respectively, increasing Buzzard
and Goshawk populations.
The diminutive Merlin is a bird of broad open
landscapes. It needs rolling heather moorland in
the spring and summer for breeding and
lowland farmland and coastal estuaries during
the autumn and winter. The breeding
population in the last two surveys indicate
some stability in their numbers. In 1993-94,
there was an estimated 800 pairs in Scotland
whilst in the 2008 there was a non-significant
decline to 733 pairs. Merlins are a popular study
species amongst raptor study group members
and a recent decline in some areas has been
attributed to the loss of rank heather for nesting
brought about by an increase in burning rotation
on driven grouse-moors.
AO |
The Peregrine population of Scotland has
experienced a roller coaster of changes during
the past 200 years. Initially protected and
nurtured because of its value to falconry, its
popularity declined with the rise in sporting
estates and game rearing during the 19th
century. There were further set backs during the
early 1940s when the government organised a
cull to protect carrier pigeons as part of the war
effort and over 600 birds were killed. However,
at the cease of hostilities numbers began to
recover, only to be severely blighted again from
the mid-1950s with the increasing use of toxic
organo-chlorine pesticides in agriculture. With
the phasing out of these chemicals, the number
of breeding pairs rose quickly again. A peak was
reached in 1991, but numbers are now again in
decline in the north and west Highlands, though
this is in part compensated by increases in the
south and at some coastal locations. The
reasons behind these changes are poorly
understood, though local declines are linked to
resurgence in driven grouse-moors and an
associated increase in persecution.
33:1 (2013)
Thirty-seven years ago in his ground-breaking
book, Leslie Brown (1976) wrote that the Hen
Harrier was unique amongst British birds of prey
at the time. It was increasing in numbers and
expanding rapidly across upland Britain at a time
when toxic pesticides were still prevalent in the
countryside. Throughout the 1980s and early
1990s, Hen Harriers continued to flourish in the
uplands despite an unacceptable level of illegal
killing on grouse-moors. However, a study in the
1990s near Langholm that looked at the impact
of raptors on Red Grouse (Redpath & Thirgood
1997) showed that predation by a greatly
increased population of breeding Hen Harriers
that followed the cessation of illegal killing in the
study area, had prevented grouse numbers from
increasing to provide a surplus for shooting. The
response to these findings amongst game-
managers was swift and predictable. It was soon
apparent across Scotland that the harrier
population was dwindling rapidly in all regions
where driven grouse shooting dominated upland
land use and a 21% decline in the breeding
population was recorded between 2004 and
2010 (Hayhow et al. in press). In the north of
“a e pe
Plate 19. Hen Harrier with prey, Isle of Skye,
33:1 (2013)
July 2005. © David Whitaker
Articles, News & Views
England where the uplands are capable of
supporting an estimated 300 pairs, the Hen
Harrier is now teetering on the brink of extinction,
with only one breeding pair in 2012. There are
signs that this extermination is being repeated
over much of eastern and southern Scotland, and
firm action by authorities against those
responsible is lacking.
The Golden Eagle is on the ‘must see’ list of
most Scottish birdwatchers and visiting wildlife
tourists and is Scotland's unofficial national bird.
Apart from a couple of pairs in south Scotland,
the entire British population lies north of the
central belt. Estimated to be 442 pairs during
the last survey in 2003, Golden Eagle numbers
have remained surprisingly stable over the
previous two decades, with 420 pairs in 1982
and 439 pairs in 1992. However, this stability
masks some major changes in distribution,
much of it attributed to changes in human
persecution with a reduction in the west but an
increased level associated with driven grouse-
moors further east.
4]
42
Articles, News & Views
Scarce, localised breeders
The Red Kite was a common and widespread
species in Scotland up to the early 1800s, but
had been exterminated by man from most of
the country by the 1870s, the last pair
breeding in 1879. It was another 100 years
before the Red Kite was to breed again. In
1992, a pair reared a single chick on the Black
Isle following a re-introduction programme
that saw 93 Swedish-born kites released there
between 1989 and 1993. Further reintro-
duction sites followed at Doune in west
Perthshire, Castle Douglas and _ lastly,
Aberdeen. There are now feeding stations in all
four locations, providing a wildlife spectacle of
which Scotland can be proud. Nevertheless,
the growths of these populations are at rates
far lower than similar reintroductions in
England. In 2012, the Red Kite population in
the Chilterns, established with the same
number of birds as the Black Isle and over the
same period of time, was estimated to exceed
850 pairs. The comparable figure for the Black
Isle was just 61 pairs. This huge difference is
attributed to acute levels of illegal poisoning
that kites are exposed to on some estates in
Scotland (Smart et a/, 2010). Red Kites are
birds of great beauty and a wonderful wildlife
asset, yet they still face entrenched attitudes
and intolerance from a small but damaging
sector of the community.
"i
weal
Plate 20. Red Kite on carrion, Black Isle. November 2
The Osprey is one of Scotland's great wildlife
success stories of the 20th century. Against the
odds and facing the persistent attention of illegal
egg collectors, Ospreys have naturally re-
colonised much of mainland Scotland from which
they were exterminated 100 years ago. From the
initial Loch Garten pair, breeding pairs are now
established from Caithness to Galloway and from
the Rivers Clyde to the Don. In recent years,
Satellite tracking has revealed in minute detail the
hazardous migrations some young birds face en-
route to wintering grounds in West Africa. Long-
lived and faithful to both breeding partner and
nest site, Ospreys have captured the public
imagination and the annual return each spring of
individuals ts followed avidly by a growing army of
on-line enthusiasts across the country.
Following extinction in the 19th century, the
Goshawk re-established a breeding foothold in
Scotland in 1974 with the deliberate release by
falconers of birds imported from northern
Europe. Aided by a post-war expansion and
maturation of commercial forests in which they
could breed unmolested, Goshawks soon
established viable and increasing populations in
north-east Scotland and the Borders - centres
from which the species has spread. Yet despite
its size, this powerful hawk is easily overlooked
and Is likely to be more widespread than current
knowledge suggests.
33:1 (2013)
Plate 21. White-tailed Eagle. © David Whitaker
Very rare breeders
White-tailed Eagles are the largest birds of prey .
in Scotland but they became extinct with the
shooting of the last native bird in 1918.
Following a successful re-introduction
programme on Rum starting in 1975 and a
second one in Wester Ross beginning in 1993,
a breeding population has become established
in the north-west Highlands and in the
Hebrides. With the west coast population now
self-sustaining, a third re-introduction scheme
was started in 2007, this time on the east coast
in Fife, which has totalled 86 birds. Sea-eagles
are far more tolerant of human presence than
their Golden Eagle cousins and have different
habitat preferences, favouring coastal fringes,
estuaries and lowland water bodies. The
presence of breeding White-tailed Eagles has
proved an important visitor attraction to Mull,
Skye and Wester Ross contributing substantial
financial benefits to these more remote
communities. Sadly, there have been a number
of persecution incidents involving illegal
poisoning and egg collecting as well as
accusations by farmers and crofters of lamb-
killing by the eagles in two areas. Despite these
problems, the White-tailed Eagle breeding
population continues to rise at an encouraging
10% per year and now appears secure.
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
Honey-buzzards are long distance summer
migrants to this country requiring mature forest
landscape for breeding and high numbers of
social wasp grubs to feed their young. They are
an abundant species further east in northern
Europe, but in Scotland are on the extreme
western fringe of their distribution. Honey-
buzzards are known to occur in Highland,
Tayside and Dumfries & Galloway, but other
locations should not be discounted particularly
where their forest and food requirements are
met, and currently that includes much of
mainland Scotland.
As a summer visitor to Britain, the Marsh Harrier
needs a specific habitat for breeding - lowland
reed beds. It is therefore not surprising that
following an increase in the population in the
latter part of the 20th century, Marsh Harriers
quickly colonised the Tay estuary, the largest
Phragmites australis reed bed in UK. Breeding
has occurred elsewhere in Scotland,
sometimes as far north as Orkney, but
numbers arriving each spring in Scotland
fluctuate. Their habitat preference shows there
is room for the breeding population to grow but
over the past ten years there have been no
indications that this is happening.
4A
Articles, News & Views
The Hobby is a widespread summer visitor
across much of southern and central England
and Wales where it has significantly increased in
recent decades. Sightings in Scotland have
increased in line with this change with sporadic
breeding occurring since the 1990s becoming
an almost annual feature since 2001 at one
location in Highland. The Hobby is a difficult
species to prove breeding, and can be easily
missed in the open farmland they favour. It
follows that any adult seen inland during the
summer months could possibly be breeding.
Persecution
It is Impossible in any birds of prey review to
avoid discussing the impact that persecution
has had and continues to have on their
abundance and distribution. In these apparently
enlightened times, some gamekeepers are still
imposing their prejudiced views of what is good
and bad in nature and negatively affecting the
status of all but a few of Scotland's raptors.
In recent decades the scale and impact of this
destruction on species such as Peregrine, Hen
Harrier, Red Kite and Golden Eagle has been
well researched and documented with a
number of reports (Amar et a/. 2011, Fielding et
al. 2011, Smart et al 2010, Whitfield et al
2007). The finger of guilt points firmly at driven
grouse-moors, a land management style that
has experienced a renaissance in the last 20
years. However, these findings have little impact
on those employed to manage these moors, as
the chances of being caught are remote and
Bo | Oe oe aie hal
Plate 22. Merlin feeding chicks, Sutherland, June 1984. © David Whitaker
punishment for those convicted often paltry.
With the rewards of providing a successful day's
shooting high, the killing of raptors has increased
on a scale not seen since Edwardian times.
To counter these damning reports of wildlife crime
and in an attempt to justify the widespread killing
of raptors that occurs, there are organised
campaigns by the pro-shooting lobby to
demonise raptors in the public eye. Buzzard
numbers have increased spectacularly in recent
years and are a convenient scapegoat. They have
been widely blamed for declines in many species,
particularly farmland birds, by land-owning and
game shooting interests and there are ludicrous
requests to allow Buzzards to be legally killed to
protect the estimated 35 million young Pheasants
that are released each autumn by the shooting
industry. Additionally, there are campaigns against
Sparrowhawks and White-tailed Eagles by vested
sporting and farming interests, though much of
the evidence to support these claims ts purely
anecdotal. in the absence of robust scientific
evidence, these attempts to legalise any raptor
killing have so far been successfully opposed,
though these threats remain.
In Scotland, we are blessed with the richest,
most diverse and abundant suite of raptors in
Great Britain and Ireland. Nationally, we have a
responsibility to protect all wild birds from over
exploitation and have the strongest wildlife laws
in Britain to help achieve this, though the
continuing lack of effective enforcement can be
both frustrating and despairing. Sadly, recent
afd ROS es
33:1 (2013)
incidents of illegal poisoning and killing of
Golden Eagles on sporting estates have received
considerable publicity and greatly tarnished
Scotland's reputation for wildlife excellence as
well as being a damning indictment against
those involved in grouse shooting. Driven
grouse-moors are unique to northern Britain and
occur nowhere else in the world. These
managed moors have now become a _ high
input, high extraction industry that for its vast size
provides relatively few benefits for biodiversity.
The overwhelming evidence is that the killing of
raptors and the destruction of their nests is an
established and widely accepted management
tool used on most, if not all, grouse-moors.
Furthermore, there have been lamentably few
attempts by moorland owners to operate in a
legally sustainable way, such as_ introducing
procedures like supplementary feeding that help
to eliminate grouse chick predation by Hen
Harriers. These driven moors may be at the top
end of a game shooting market but if the high
grouse numbers essential for the ‘sport’ cannot
be achieved without killing vulnerable European
protected species, then the ‘sports’ existence,
viability and legality should be challenged at the
highest level. Surely it is morally wrong that large
tracks of upland Scotland have become no-go
areas for raptors in support of a field-sport that
delivers little public benefit and is sustainable
only through widespread criminal behaviour.
More than any other family of birds, raptors
attract considerable admiration and appeal,
possibly because they convey beauty, power
and wildness. Raptors are sentinel species, top
predators at the head of major food webs
reacting quickly to human induced changes to
their habitat or to threats from pollutants in the
wider countryside. Furthermore, raptors are our
“canary in a coal mine” and their presence and
abundance is a visual indication of the health of
the environment and our respect for it.
References
Amar, A., Court R.C., Davison, M., Downing,
S., Grimshaw, T., Pickford, T. & Raw, D. 2011.
Linking nest histories, remotely sensed land use
data and wildlife crime records to explore the
impact of grouse moor management on
peregrine falcon populations. Biological
Conservation, doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2011.10.014
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
Brown, L.H. 1976. British Birds of Prey. New
Naturalist Series. Collins, London.
Chapman, M.S. 2012. The autumn influx of Pallid
Harriers into Western Europe 2011: a Scottish
perspective. Scottish Birds 32: 340-349.
Eaton, M.A., Dillon, 1.A., Stirling-Aird, P.K. &
Whitfield, D.P. 2007. The status of the golden
eagle Aguila chrysaetos in Britain in 2003.
Bird Study 54: 212-220.
Etheridge, B., Riley, H.T., Wernham, C.V.,
Holling, M. & Stevenson, A. 2013. Scottish
Raptor Monitoring Scheme Report 2011.
Scottish Raptor Study Groups, Dunblane.
Ewing, S.R., Rebecca, G.W., Heavisides, A.,
Court, I.R., Lindley, P., Ruddock, M., Cohen,
S. & Eaton, M.A. 2011. Breeding status of
Merlins Falco columbarius in the UK in 2008.
Bird Study 58: 379-389.
Fielding, A., Haworth, P., Whitfield, P., McLeod,
D. & Riley, H. 2011. A Conservation
Framework for Hen Harriers in the United
Kingdom. JNCC Report No. 441, Peterborough.
Forrester, R.W., Andrews, 1.J., Mclnerny, C.J.,
Murray, R.D., McGowan, R.Y., Zonfrillo, B.,
Betts, M.W., Jardine, D.C. & Grundy, D.S.
(eds). 2007. The Birds of Scotland. The
Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, Aberlady.
Gordon, S. 1927. Days with the Golden Eagle.
Williams and Norgate, London.
Hayhow, D.B., Eaton, M.A., Bladwell, S.,
Etheridge, B., Ewing, S., Ruddock, M.,
Saunders, R., Sharpe, C., Sim, I.M.W. &
Stevenson, A. (in press). The status of the
Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus, in the UK and Isle
of Man in 2010. Bird Study.
Redpath, S. & Thirgood, S. 1997. Birds of Prey
and Red Grouse. HMSO, London.
Smart, J., Amar, A., Sim, I.M.W., Etheridge, B.,
Cameron, D., Christie, G. & Wilson, J.D.
2010. Illegal killing slows population recovery
of a reintroduced raptor of high conservation
concern - the red kite Milvus milvus. Biological
Conservation 143: 1278-1286.
Whitfield, D.P., Fielding, A.H., McLeod, D.R.A.,
Morton, K., Stirling-Aird, P. & Eaton, M.A.
2007. Factors constraining the distribution of
Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos in Scotland.
Bird Study 54: 199-211.
Brian Etheridge, Beechgrove, Rosehaugh
East Drive, Avoch, Ross-shire, IV9 8RE.
a s “g Fi
Email: brian@milvus.myzen.co.uk
45
46
Articles, News & Views
The 7 May 2010 was a beautiful, warm spring
day. As | stood on the hills high above the
Dornoch Firth, the sky was blue, Ben Wyvis was
bathed in sunshine to the south west and the
waters of the Moray Firth looked very tempting.
However, this idyll was not to last. With me that
afternoon were my RSPB colleague Bob Elliot
and two police officers from Northern
Constabulary. At our feet lay the contorted body
of a poisoned Golden Eagle, the third to be
found on the Skibo Estate in the space of just
five days. A few minutes earlier we had found
the staked out carcass of a Red Grouse, laced
with an illegal pesticide, with the body of
another victim, a Sparrowhawk, lying close by.
The following day, a search warrant lead by
Northern Constabulary found a stockpile of the
banned pesticide, Carbofuran, in a shed on the
estate. The quantity found, 10.5 kg, was
enough to poison the entire bird of prey
population of Scotland six times over. The
estate's shooting manager, Dean Barr, was later
convicted of possession of an illegal pesticide
and fined £3,300. No-one was charged with
the killing of the eagles.
a ey ie os Y pe odd ha 2a a
Plate 23. Poisoned Golden Eagle, Skibo, Sutherland, May 2010. © RSPB Scotland
That dreadful week nearly three years ago Is
perhaps an appropriate place to begin the latest
chapter of the decades-old story of the
persecution of some of our most magnificent
wildlife. Less than a month after the awful events
on Skibo, another search warrant led by the police,
on the Moy Estate, south-east of Inverness,
recovered the shattered body of a Red Kite from
the back of an estate Land Rover. It had broken
legs and tts skull had been smashed.
In the preceding month, the severed legs and
wing tags of a ‘disappeared’ satellite-tagged Red
Kite were found hidden on the same estate and
another dead kite was found to have been
poisoned. A live male Hen Harrier was found
caught by the leg in an illegally set spring trap,
while further illegally set spring traps, camouflaged
under a thin layer of moss, were found beside the
bodies of a partridge and a rabbit. During the
execution of the search warrant, four BTO rings
that had been fitted to young Golden Eagles at
various Scottish nest sites over the previous five
years were found in the home of one of the Moy
Estate gamekeepers.
33:1 (2013)
Subsequently, one of the estate gamekeepers,
James Rolfe was found guilty of illegal
possession of a dead Red Kite and was fined
£1,500. No-one was charged with any of the
other offences uncovered on the estate.
These cases on the Skibo and Moy estates are
perhaps the most notorious examples of recent
bird of prey persecution incidents. And, yes, it is
frustrating that the offences for which people
were finally convicted do not reflect either the
seriousness of the cases or the conservation
impact of the crimes.
Since the beginning of 2010, 11 Red Kites, six
Golden Eagles and one White-tailed Eagle have
been confirmed as being the victims of illegal
poisoning. Two Red Kites, a Goshawk, a
Peregrine and a Golden Eagle have died as a
result of being illegally trapped; an Osprey, a
Hen Harrier, a Short-eared Owl and a Golden
Eagle have been shot; Buzzards, Sparrowhawks
and owls have starved to death in crow traps
and Hen Harrier and Peregrine nests
mysteriously failed; Golden Eagles, Hen Harriers
and Red Kites fitted with satellite tags have
simply ‘disappeared’. As usual, the vast majority
of these incidents occurred in areas associated
with intensively-managed driven grouse moors.
But these are just the incidents we are aware of.
We cannot say whether the figures represent
5% or 95% of the crimes that are actually
taking place. What we can say, however, is that
population surveys, scientific studies and
analyses consistently show that _ illegal
persecution is having a marked negative effect
on the populations of some of our rarest and
most iconic birds of prey, notably Golden Eagle,
Red Kite and Hen Harrier. Indeed, the breeding
population of the latter species dropped by over
20% in Scotland between 2004 and 2010.
Much has been made of an apparent recent drop
in the number of birds of prey poisoned. While it
IS important to reiterate the caveat that these
figures only represent confirmed, detected
incidents, any decline has to be welcomed.
This decline, which we must all hope is real and
is sustained over the long term, has come
primarily as a result of the enactment of
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
Plate 24. Baited Spring traps, (with moss removed), Moy
Estate, Inverness-shire, June 2010. © RSPB Scotland
legislation at the beginning of 2012 making
landowners vicariously liable for the actions of
their employees. This was very much as a result
of the volume of correspondence received by
MSP’s from conservation bodies and concerned
individual members of the public on the back of
the dreadful cases outlined above.
It has come about because the fitting of
satellite-tags to eagles and kites has made it
easier to detect those areas where this
indiscriminate activity is carried out, because the
enforcement agencies have caught some of the
perpetrators and removed some of the illegal
chemicals from circulation, and because of
peer-pressure in an industry whose reputation
was being dragged through the gutter.
The placing of baits laced with poison in the
open countryside has been illegal for a century.
It is a shame that it has taken so long for there
to be any hint that this horrific practice Is
perhaps starting to disappear.
But in 2012, we still had three Golden Eagles as
well-publicised victims of crime. A. satellite-
tagged bird was found poisoned in Lochaber in
March; a satellite-tagged bird died as a result of
being illegally trapped in May; and an adult bird
was found shot in Dumfries-shire in October.
While poisoning may be on the decline, there is
no room for complacency when our protected
birds of prey continue to be shot, trapped or
have their nests destroyed.
47
Articles, News & Views
While the number of people engaged in
poisoning may be dropping, there is no
evidence that bird of prey persecution Is in
decline. Indeed there is plenty to suggest that
there has merely been a change in tactics by
those who wish to kill these species. Hen
Harriers continue to be absent from most of
southern and eastern Scotland; Peregrine nests
continue to be destroyed; Buzzards and
Goshawks are shot and trapped; Red Kites are
still confined to a few core areas; Golden Eagles
do not live long enough to reach breeding age.
It has been a long, hard struggle to get where
we are today. | appreciate the support given by
SOC members in reporting potential wildlife
crime incidents to us, the police or SSPCA, and
in writing to our elected representatives to
ensure that these crimes are not ignored.
The death of those three eagles on that moor in
east Sutherland back in May 2010 was
appalling, but, | hope, not in vain. We have
further improved our laws, and we are perhaps
seeing the beginning of the end of illegal
poisoning as a result.
Plate 25. Poisoned Red Kite, Glen Kyllachy & Farr, Inverness-shire, May 2011. © RSPB Scotland
But, 2013 sees the reform of the Scottish Police
service with the formation of a new single force.
How far up the list of priorities will wildlife crime
be? There is considerable pressure on our
decision-makers to allow licensed killing of
Buzzards and Sparrowhawks due to perceived
predation levels on pheasants or grouse. There
has been a recent relaxation of the rules
governing the use of crow traps, many of which
trap birds of prey.
It is surely up to all of us who care about birds
of prey to ensure that those who continue to
shoot, trap or otherwise persecute these birds
face the full force of the law and that our
decision-makers do not just hear the voices of
those who wish to ‘legalise persecution’.
Here's hoping this Year of Natural Scotland, and
those yet to come, are good for our birds of prey.
lan Thomson, RSPB Scotland
Email: ian.thomson @rspb.org.uk
33:1 (2013)
NEWS AND NOTICES
New SOC Members
Borders: Miss S. Burthe, Mr & Mrs P. Carr, Mr &
Mrs R. Goodwill, Mr S. Nicolson & Ms T. Hopkins,
Mr & Mrs J.M. Rea, Mr N. Stratton, Mrs C. Tees,
Caithness: Mr G. Anderson, Central Scotland:
Dr B. Darvill, Miss B. Helm, MrJ. Short, Clyde: Mr
N. Kempe, Mr CE. Stuart, Dumfries: Mr D.
Deeson, Mr A. Lynn, England, Wales & NI: Mr M.
Crutch, Mr R.C. Dalrymple, Mr M. Dawson, Mr S.
McCormick, Mr J. Mercer, Mr A. Miller, Mr S.
Sweeney, Fife: Mr P. Bambridge, Mr A. Bowie, Ms
LJ.N. Fahey, Mr B. Forbes, Mr & Mrs H. Freel, Prof
& Mrs A. Riches, Ms X. Zhu, Grampian: Mr S.
Addison, Mr J. Gallagher, Mr A. Irvine, Mr M.
Souter, Mr D. Stewart, Highland: Mr R. Anderson,
Mr J. Clarke, Dr M. Collins, Mr & Mrs |. McLaren,
Mr D. Miller, Ms C.S. Miller, Mr D. Pullan, Rev Dr
J.S. Ross, Ms L. Rowe, Mr D.M. Shields, Ms L.
Shove, Mr P. Smith, Mrs AJ. Storie, Ms F.
Strachan, Mr J. Teesdale, Mr & Mrs M. Thomas,
Ms R. Thornton & Mr R. Charlesworth, Lothian: J.
Aldous & B. Sommerville, Mrs E.E. Berry, Dr &
Mrs J. Best, Mr & Mrs M. Bonar, Mr & Mrs P.
Collins, Ms A. Coppins, Rev R. Edge, Mr I.
Finlayson, Mrs A.D. Hawke, Mr R. Hutchinson, Mr
& Mrs B. Irving, Mr D. Jarrett, Mr & Mrs T. Lambert,
Mr & Mrs A.T. Lawrie, Ms A.J. Mackenzie & Mr R.
Johannesson, Mr D.C. MacKinnon, Mr & Mrs J.
Martin, Mr D. McLanaghan, Dr & Mrs H. Miller, Mr
S.B. Morrice, Mr & Mrs W. Muir, Mr H. Paton, Mrs
C. Purves, Mr S. Rafferty, Mr C. Rodger, Ms P.
Runciman, Mr & Mrs J.M. Sharp, Mr T. Simpson,
Ms E. Sutherland, Mr J. Taylor, Mr & Mrs A.
Truesdale, Mr M. Wilson, Orkney: Mr B.
Ribbands, Scotland - no branch: Mr A. Dawes,
Stewartry: Mr K.W. Gillies, Tayside: Mr J. Carter,
Mrs C. Webster.
200 Club
The latest prize winners are: December: 1st
£30 RS. Smith, 2nd £20 Mrs F. Hewlett, 3rd
£10 G. Shepherd. January: Ist £30 M. Nicoll,
2nd £20 Mrs V. Wells, 3rd £10 Mrs F. Hewlett.
The 200 Club, entering its 25th year in May, is
an invaluable source of funding for furniture and
equipment for Waterston House. An annual
payment of £12 allows members to be entered
in a number of prize draws during the year for
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
44 cash prizes. To join the 200 Club, please
complete the enclosed form and send to
Daphne Peirse-Duncombe along with your
payment or Standing Order mandate.
The SOC starts tweeting
Having successfully launched the SOC Facebook
page (currently with 400 fans and rising),
Management thought it would be timely to
expand the Club’s growing reach on social
media by setting up a Twitter account.
Staff and volunteers have been engaging with
our members and wider audiences, ‘tweeting’
details of upcoming branch talks, Headquarters
events and sharing articles, news and reviews
that relate to the Club, our work and ornithology
in general. Thank you to our partner organi-
sations BIO Scotland, BirdTrack and others, for
the very warm welcome we have received on
the forum.
Don't have a Facebook or Twitter account?
No problem - you can still view the SOC
Facebook and Twitter pages without being
signed up to either. Follow the links from the
Club's homepage at www.the-soc.org.uk to both
these sites or else visit:
® www.facebook.com/scotlandsbirdclub
® twitter.com/ScottishBirding
If you need any help in viewing these pages, or
you would like to contribute to our Facebook and
Twitter postings, then please contact Jane at
Waterston House on 01875 871 330 or email
jane.cleaver@the-soc.org.uk
Change of recorder
Hywel Maggs was bird recorder for North-east
Scotland for seven years. During that time, this
voluntary role has become ever more complex
and time-consuming (as is the case for all local
recorders) and the volume of records has
increased dramatically, especially since the
growth of BirdTrack and the sharing of
thousands of records submitted via the BTO. At
the same time, requests for data from
consultants and conservation bodies, including
49
50
Articles, News & Views
RBBP, have become more frequent and
detailed, often with pressing deadlines.
Addressing these things in one's ‘spare’ time is
no mean feat! The local recorder’s role ts still
pivotal in British ornithology, and Hywel was
able to develop this in the north-east with great
success. Thankfully, he will now have time to
find even more rarities in this bird-rich part of
the country. We wish Nick Littlewood (details
below), as incoming recorder, all the best as he
takes over the mantle (and the burden!); no
doubt he will continue to develop the role still
further and make a strong contribution to the
Scottish bird recording network.
Nick Littlewood, The James Hutton Institute,
Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH.
Email: nesrecorder@yahoo.co.uk
lan Francis
Dumfries & Galloway
Bird Report 2011 (No. ' Birds in j
pedis —
22) ae = and < :
Edited by Duncan Irving. The ~~ Sy
price is the same as last ~ey = mc
year, £8 to non-members 4 “i
and £6 to SOC members +
£1.50 p&p. From: Peter .—
Swan, 3 Castle View, on Ee
Douglas DG7 1BG. Tel:
01556 502144. E-mail: : :
pandmswan@btinternet.com. Please a
cheques payable to “SOC Dumfries & Galloway
Branches”. Also available from Waterston House,
WWT Caerlaverock and RSPB Mersehead.
re
Events at Waterston House
Art Exhibitions
@ John Busby, Fran Knowles & Sonas Maclean,
showing until 10 April
® Tim Wootton, 13 April-5 June
@ Lucy Newton, 8 June—24 July
Spring Optics Demo
Sunday 28 April - a chance to try out a wide
range of binoculars and scopes or just come
along for some friendly, expert advice!
Scottish Birds online
Over the years Scottish Birds has published a
great many important papers as well as notes
and obituaries documenting the history and
development of Scottish ornithology. The Club
currently provides access to 50 years of back
issues of Scottish Birds free of charge through
our web site at www.the-soc.org.uk/scottish-
birds-online.htm. This has been — greatly
appreciated by Club members and others
around the world who do not have their own
printed copies or sets of the journal in a nearby
library. In parallel with the Club website, Council
is planning to make access to back issues even
more widely available through the Biodiversity
Heritage Library. The BHL www.biodiver-
sitylibrary.org, whose main partners in the UK are
the Natural History Museum and the Royal
Botanic Gardens at Kew, has become the world’s
main free archive of digitised natural history
literature, and has established itself as a leading
online research library. If you don't already know
it, you should have a look - it offers free access
to a vast amount of historical books and journals,
including the Scottish Naturalist and the Annals
of Scottish Natural History through to 1922, the
Proceedings of the Glasgow Natural History
Society, rare books by Pennant, Harvie-Brown,
MacGillivray and much more. By adding Scottish
Birds to the BHL we hope this will allow more
people around the world to find and read our
journal and appreciate its contribution to
ornithology. It will also highlight the role of the
SOC to a new audience.
Authors, photographers and _ artists originally
submitted their articles and other material to
Scottish Birds for print publication, mostly before
the idea of digital access came along. It is now
impracticable or impossible to trace all the
individual contributors or their legal represen-
tatives, but we believe that most or all would be
happy to see their work now reaching new and
wider audiences to the overall benefit of
Scottish ornithology. If any copyright holder
does not wish to have their material included in
free digital access, they should contact
mail@the-soc.org.uk to discuss this with us as
soon as possible, preferably before 1 June 2013.
Arrangements are in place to have material
removed from web access where necessary.
33:1 (2013)
SOC Annual Conference 2013
This year's conference Is provisionally scheduled
to take place 25—27 October. Please check the
SOC website for updates, including venue
details. Speakers confirmed at the time of writing
include Tony Marr, Mark Avery (political birder),
Martin Collinson (ornithological fraud), Steve
Roberts (Honey-buzzards), Bob Furness
(seabirds & windfarms) and Dario Fernandez-
Bellon (world raptors).
Planning a spring clean?
If you find yourself with more bird books than
you know what to do with and you're looking to
downsize your collection - then please get in
touch with us! We're now collecting donations
for our second-hand book stall at the Birdfair this
May and would be delighted to take good
quality bird and natural history books off your
hands! Last year we raised nearly £600 for the
Club at the fair, thanks to donations and legacies
of some very good natural history books we
were extremely fortunate to receive, so we're
hoping for similar this year!
Annual book sale
There is no book sale planned _ for
spring/summer at Waterston House.
However, the Club will have a bookstall at this
year's Bird Fair. Any plans for an autumn sale
will be announced in Scottish Birds and on
the SOC website.
Amendments to SOC Constitution
The following changes to the Constitution were
unanimously accepted by members at an
Annual General Meeting held on 27 October
2012 at MacDonald Aviemore Resort,
Aviemore: Amend parts b, d and g of section
3 (Membership) as follows:
b) Amend the word ‘sign’ to read ‘complete’
with reference to the membership form, to
reflect the fact that online forms will not
require a signature.
d) Amend reference to ‘married couples’ to reflect
modern families and civil partnerships:
‘Family membership and Life Family
membership shall be available for up to two
adults and any nominated children under 18
years of age sharing the same address’.
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
g) Amend text to read ‘Subscriptions are due on
Joining and on each subsequent anniversary
of the joining date. Council shall have the
power to offer the option of quarterly
payment of subscriptions by instalment. A
member whose subscription is not paid
within three months of the due date shall
cease to belong to the Club’.
A copy of the updated Constitution can be
viewed on the SOC website. Alternatively, if you
would like a hard copy sent by post, please
contact the office.
The 2013 Scottish Birdfair, 11 & 12 May
at Hopetoun House, Lothian
We're pleased to let you know that the RSPB
have offered SOC members £2 off the adult
ticket price*, available at the time of booking.
A definite date in the birdwatchers’ and nature
lovers’ diary!
After a very successful event last year, Jane our
Development Officer is busy preparing for this
year's Birdfair, putting together a varied
programme of talks, walks and workshops for
event-goers over the weekend. Keep an eye on
the Club website for full details of our activities at
the Birdfair and visit www.scottishbirdfairorg.uk
for more information on the range of events you
can enjoy over the weekend. Programmes will
be available nearer the time. Hope to see you
there! * Membership identification not required.
Large collection of Birdwatching, Natural History
& Ecology titles including: Handbook of the Birds
of the World, Collins New Naturalists, Poyser,
Helm, Pica etc. & various field guides, VHS tapes
& journals; British Birds, British Wildlife, African BC,
Neotropical BC, Oriental BC, OSME, BSBI etc.
Send S.A.E. to S.L. Rivers for full list:
Flat 8, 10 Waverley Park, Edinburgh, EH8 8EU.
or Email: slr.bee-eater@blueyonder.co.uk
32
Articles, News & Views
Plate 26. The co-authors (I-r): Ron Forrester, Doug Menzies and lan Hopkins at the launch of The Birds of
Bute held at the Bute Museum on 26 January 2013. © SOC
The Birds of Bute
R. FORRESTER
The following publication, Birds of Bute, which
the SOC helped publish through The Birds of
Scotland Fund, is described here by one of its
authors, Ron Forrester. Who better than a
resident of the island itself to introduce us to
this excellent book.
The island of Bute ts situated in the upper Clyde
estuary on the west coast of Scotland, among
the most magnificent scenery. The Kyles of
Bute, at the north end of the island, has been
designated an Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty, and there are spectacular views from
the island stretching to the Argyll hills, Arran and
the Ayrshire coast. Bute is 24.5 km long and 8
km at its widest point, but less than 2 km at tts
narrowest. The coast is irregular in shape and
with many bays and points the high tide
shoreline is approximately 77 km in length. The
highest point is the summit of Windy Hill at 278
-m. Whilst it is an island lying off the west coast
of Scotland, Bute has the advantage of being
only a half-hour sail by CalMac ferry from
Wemyss Bay, which Is itself less than an hour by
car or train from the centre of Glasgow, therefore
the island is far from remote.
Bute has been described as a Scotland in
miniature, having a great variety of habitats and
an extraordinarily rich bird life. There are two
important Sites of Special Scientific Interest
(SSSIs), one at the north end of the island with
breeding Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Red-throated
Diver and Black Grouse. The other, covering the
central lochs, was designated primarily for
wintering wildfowl, but Shoveler, Osprey and
Water Rail have all bred in recent years. In fact,
Bute has over 100 breeding species,- but yet
more species fall into a category of non-
breeding birds that are regularly seen from the
island during summer, including Gannet,
Cormorant, Manx Shearwater, Guillemot,
Razorbill and Sandwich Tern. The island is also
important for wintering birds, particularly
wildfowl, with seven species of ducks and geese
present in nationally important numbers (1% or
more of the Scottish population). In particular
the central lochs are an_ internationally
important roosting site for wintering Greylag
Geese, supporting a major concentration in
excess Of 1% of the north-west European
population. During winter again there are more
than 100 species ever-present, with many more
that are less frequently observed.
The birds on the island of Bute were systemat-
ically recorded as part of the national atlas
project, organised by the British Trust for
33:1 (2013)
Ornithology, The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club
and BirdWatch Ireland, to record and map the
distribution of birds throughout Britain and
Ireland during four winters and four breeding
seasons, from November 2007 until July 2011.
As well as taking part in this truly massive
project, birders on Bute were able to make
genuine advances in the understanding of the
island's birds. This acted as a stimulus to fully
document what is known about the birds found
on this wonderful island, and resulted in the
production of The Birds of Bute, which has been
jointly published by the SOC and the Buteshire
Natural History Society.
John Morell McWilliam, who for several years was
a Church of Scotland minister on Bute, produced
a book The Birds of the Island of Bute in 1927,
which has until now been the only compre-
hensive account of the island's birds. Although at
the time it was rightly acclaimed as an excellent
avifauna, it is now seriously out of date. Since that
time a number of short updates have appeared
in print, but until now, nothing has been remotely
comprehensive in scope. However, the birdlife of
the island has undergone a considerable
ai St
.., | |) Ninian's f
6A Liye “Bay JKi a
| Intertidal
ae Woods
oy Re
Scalpsie |
Bay \
Arran
Figure 1. Map of Bute.
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
upheaval and whilst some species previously
common are now rare or missing, others have
increased in abundance and many species have
occurred for the first time.
Inchmarnock is a small island that lies little more
than one kilometre from Bute and the Burnt
Islands are a small group of islands that are even
closer. For completeness, the birdlife of these
other islands has also been covered in the book.
The Birds of Bute documents the many changes
to Bute’s birds, provides information on current
status and with the aid of two hundred maps
clearly shows their distribution. For some
species, it will act as a conservation tool, partic-
ularly in connection with land management.
Although maps show the current distribution of
bird species on Bute, this is more than just an atlas;
it is a local avifauna, providing in-depth historical
and current information for all species recorded.
More than 170 photographs illustrate the book.
Key features
® 360 full-colour pages
@ texts for each of the 220 species provide
detailed historic and current status information
® 200 maps show summer and winter distri-
bution for many species
® 171 photographs, all taken on Bute
@ land management Issues are highlighted and
good practices recommended for many
species of conservation concern
® population estimates are included for all regular
breeding and wintering species
® a complete and up to date island avifauna
Hopefully the book will stimulate visitors to
enjoy the island's birdlife and encourage them
to record their observations. Buy the book and
come to our beautiful island. Even a few hours
is enough to view from a few of the four bird
hides, but a stay of two or three days would
enable a more in-depth look at the island's
birdlife. The changing seasons all have their
different selections of birds and once you've
paid a visit you may well want to come back
time and time again.
Ron Forrester
54
Articles, News & Views
Plate 27. Portrait of Alexander Wilson by Thomas Sully,
CHOOG RNS:
Alexander Wilson
Bicentenary
B. ZONFRILLO & P. MONAGHAN
2013 marks the 200th anniversary of the death
of Alexander Wilson, the greatest American
ornithologist prior to Audubon. While Wilson is
very much celebrated in North America, he
remains something of an unsung hero in his
native Scotland. To celebrate his bicentenary, a
number of events are being co-ordinated in a
cooperative venture involving Glasgow
University, Paisley Museum, SOC, the RSPB and
the Glasgow Science Festival. Some of these are
funded by the British Ecological Society (as part
of the Society's Festival of Ecology, which
celebrates the BES centenary in 2013), the
SOC's The Birds of Scotland Fund and Glasgow
University. Below is a list of these events, all of
which are free, with brief details. Further
information will be available on the Paisley
Museum web site: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/
webcontent/home/services/leisure+and-+cultu
re/artst+and+museums/els-jcp-paisley-
museum, Glasgow University’s Hunterian
Museum web site: www.gla.ac.uk/hunterian
and on the Glasgow Science Festival web site:
www.glasgowsciencefestival.org.uk.
Exhibitions
@ Alexander Wilson: Paisley's poet, America’s
ornithologist. Paisley Museum, High Street,
Paisley, 14 June to 1 September 2013.
@ Alexander Wilson and the science of
ornithology. Hunterian Museum of Zoology,
University Avenue, Glasgow, 15 June to 15
September 2013.
Talks
® Glasgow University, Friday 14 June 2013.
Graham Kerr Building, Lecture Theatre 1. An
evening with Alexander Wilson. Come and
hear talks about Wilson the naturalist, poet
and artist. This includes a talk on Wilson’s life,
given by Prof. Jed Burtt*, Ohio Weslyan
University, a co-author of a new biography of
Wilson to be published in May 2013. We
hope that copies will be on sale.
Hunterian Museum Tuesday Insight talks
As part of the Hunterian’s regular programme
of Tuesday lunchtime ‘10 minute talks’, during
the run of the exhibition there will be a
number of these on topics related to Wilson
and bird research - details will be posted in
due course on the Hunterian website.
Lunchtime talks at Paisley Museum (all at
12.30 pm)
e 8 May 2013. Wilson and Lochwinnoch
Paula Baker, Assistant Site Manager for
RSPB Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve
e 19 June 2013. Renfrewshire’s Frontier Poet,
Local historian Alan Steele
e 26 June 2013. Wings over the Heather, Clyde
Muirshiel Regional Park Ranger Service
In addition, there will be events for children
organised by RSPB, in Glasgow and at
Lochwinnoch.
*Note also that Jed Burtt will also give a special
lecture on bird feathers, with spectacular
illustrations, during the Glasgow Science Festival
on the evening of Wednesday 12 June. This is
likely to be of special interest to Club members.
While the above events are free, tickets may be
required for the 12 & 14 June talks. Details will
be on the Glasgow Science Festival web site.
33:1 (2013)
Alexander Wilson (1766-1813):
ornithologist and poet
Apprenticed as a weaver in 1779, young
Alexander Wilson was then just 13 years old, but
once fully trained, he worked for relatives
engaged in the weaving business. He was well
educated, despite his humble birth, and spent
much of his free time walking and observing
wildlife in the countryside surrounding Paisley,
where the mills were situated. He also wrote
poetry and it was this that had a major bearing on
his crossing of the Atlantic. Not a clamour for his
poems in America, but because of the social
injustices he encountered and the treatment of
weavers by their capitalist employers. These he
criticised satirically in his poetic works, in much
the way his contemporary Robert Burns would
also do with his cronies, but in Wilson's case it
lead to his inflammatory comments being
subject to litigation and accusations of libel. Court
cases in the 1790s were as relatively expensive
as they are today and this quickly relieved Wilson
of any wealth he had accumulated. He spent a
short period in prison and was forced to burn his
critical manuscripts in public.
In May 1794, Alexander
Wilson and his 16-year-
old nephew William
Duncan had enough of
oppression and decided
that a life in the New
World beckoned and
they left for America.
They landed at New
Castle, Delaware in
July 1794, but to earn
money he once more
resorted to weaving,
and travelled to sell
BS his produce.
Eventually, he found living
quarters at Gray's Ferry, a small town near
Philadelphia, where he was employed as a
teacher. There, a _ local naturalist and
ornithologist William Bartram rekindled his
interest in birds. Bartram’s forté was botany, but
he also compiled lists of local birds found in his
extensive gardens. With nothing for reference
and only a list of local birds to hand, Wilson
quickly saw the need for a treatise covering all
the species to be found in North America. He
- {bok NDER
yl Ss O° N
tthe Scot Who Founded
Menon RG AN
ORNITHOLOGY
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
utilised Bartram’s knowledge to sort out his
birds, their ages, sexes and new species.
Thus, by 1802, he had accumulated enough
knowledge and research to launch the
publication of his nine-volume work American
Ornithology. The first volume was published in
1808 and the final volume was published in
1814, a year after his death. Before that, he had
met John James Audubon a few times and no
doubt these conversations with Wilson, the
older man, helped inspire Audubon to produce
his own mammoth work Birds of America.
Wilson's series illustrated 268 bird species of
which 26 species were described as new to
science. Wilson attempted for the first time to
set out the taxonomic relationships of North
American birds and describe some of their
habits. He travelled widely in America and
illustrated every species he shot or obtained. To
complete his final volume Wilson sought some
elusive water birds and in doing this met his
untimely end. Accounts differ from him having
drowned while pursuing a bird that had fallen in
a river, to contracting dysentery in mid-August
1813 leading to his death ten days later. The
latter seems a more likely scenario.
His statue stands outside Paisley Abbey in
Renfrewshire where he is acclaimed as
‘ornithologist and poet’.
Ornithologist Elliot Coues, one of the first editors
of The Auk, the journal of the American
Ornithologists’ Union once commented that if
all the ornithological knowledge of American
birds before Wilson's American Ornithology
were to suddenly vanish, then nothing much
would be lost. Wilson’s book set a standard,
perhaps also with Audubon, of what could be
achieved by individuals driven by the need to
satisfy knowledge and the belief that their
legacy would last far beyond their own lifetime.
How right they were.
Wilson's birds (and modern taxonomy)
Birds named after Alexander Wilson are Wilson's
Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus, Wilson's
Plover Charadrius wilsonia, Wilson's Phalarope
Phalaropus tricolor, Wilson's Snipe Gallinago
delicata , Wilson's Thrush (or Veery) Catharus
fuscescens and Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla.
55
56
Articles, News & Views
Ni
es
Plates 28-33. (clockwise) Wilson’s Plover, Canada
Warbler, Wilson's Snipe, Wilson's Warbler, Hooded
Warbler, (centre) Wilson's Phalarope. © Barry
Cherrieve and Tom Thomas
The Genus Wilsonia of the New World wood-
warblers (Parulidae) has two other members,
the Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina and the
Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis. Recent
taxonomic changes based on molecular
examination have now placed Canada Warbler
and Wilson’s Warbler in the genus Cardellina
and Hooded Warbler was moved to Setophaga
(American Redstarts). Like many. of these
studies however, the taxonomic veracity of the
conclusions has not been independently
verified - a proof considered standard before
modern times. Thus these changes are probably
not the final word. Taxonomic shifts have long
been evolving, ever since their original naming.
For example, Wilson's Warbler was_ first
described in 1811 by Alexander Wilson, who
placed it in the Old World flycatcher genus
Muscicapa. The species was later moved to Its
current genus, Wilsonia, by the French naturalist
and ornithologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte in
1838. However, it did not remain there for long;
zoologist Thomas Nuttall moved it to the now-
defunct genus Sylvania in 1840, and by 1845,
many authors included tt in the also-now-
defunct genus Myiodioctes. In 1899, the
American Ornithologists’ Union returned the
species to Wilsonia, where it has remained until
recently. For our purposes, we shall keep it there
in memory of this famous Scots ornithologist’s
200th anniversary.
Acknowledgement
Photographs of some of Wilson's birds have
been kindly provided by Canadian photog-
raphers Tom Thomas and Barry Cherriere; we
are grateful for their permission to use these
superb shots to illustrate this note.
Bernie Zonfrillo & Pat Monaghan,
Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and
Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building,
University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ.
Email: bernard.zonfrillo @glasgow.ac.uk
Email: pat.monaghan @glasgow.ac.uk
33:1 (2013)
Saturday 17 November 2012, :
kye=birds.com
hosted by WW
Set in the heart of the Highlands in one of the
most stunning locations in Scotland, Sabhal Mor
Ostaig proved an inspiring venue and unique
location for the first ever SOC Mini Conference,
with numerous speakers and delegates arriving
via Western Isles, or the Small Isles ferries.
Advancing heavy cloud cover ushered 91
delegates into the bright and airy atrium of
the Gaelic college where attendees enjoyed
tea and coffee before settling in for the
morning session, which began with a warm
welcome to delegates and exhibitors from
Club President, Ken Shaw.
Ken expressed the SOC's delight to be present in
Skye, running the Club's first ever mini
conference and sincerely thanked our more
widely dispersed members for their continued
support despite the long distance from the hub
of their local’ branch. Ken went on to thank Bob
McMillan (of Skye-Birds website & SOC member)
for all his hard work and commitment in
organising the conference and SOC Highland
branch for their help and valued support in
running and chairing the event. As Club
President, Ken echoed the organisers’ delight at
an attendance of nearly a 100 delegates, many
of which were non-members living locally, before
passing over to Bob, who with the aid of a
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
chalsh & Lochaber mini
& SOC Highland Branch
Plate 34. The venue, Sabhal Mor Ostaig. © David Palmar (www.photoscot.co.uk)
PowerPoint presentation eloguently set the
scene for the rest of the day's proceedings.
Moving from Perth to live on Skye in 2003,
there was a realisation that opportunities to
attend evening lectures in winter were going to
be limited. Highland branch of the SOC covers a
huge area and it would have been easier to
attend branch meetings from our previous
home near Perth, than our new home in remote
Elgol, on the Strathaird Peninsula. Bird recording
in the area had also been fairly sporadic and this
influenced me to follow the example in Mull
and establish the Skye Birds website
© David Palmar
Plate 35. Bob McMillan.
(www.photoscot.co.uk)
D1
58
Articles, News & Views
(www.skye-birds.com). In the networks of bird
recording in Scotland, local websites are often
underestimated in their importance, not just in
terms of generating many new records which
have been gathered to go into official national
systems, but also in recognising the huge
amount of untapped interest amongst
individuals living in such areas, many of whom
are not affiliated to any established organi-
sations. It was this level of interest which first
stimulated the idea of a local conference and
with Highland Branch firmly behind the concept
and Jane Cleaver in post as the Development
Officer; the decision was taken to push ahead.
The venue of the Gaelic college, Sabhal Mor
Ostaig and its spectacular location overlooking
the Sound of Sleat proved ideal. The timing of the
conference had been planned to allow delegates
to come over on the morning ferry from Mallaig
to Armadale and make it back in time for the
ferry's late afternoon return leg of the journey.
The conference programme itself was very much
locally based, reflecting on some long-term
personal research projects, as well as local and
national initiatives for the conservation of some of
Scotland's most iconic and treasured birdlife:
Golden and White-tailed Eagle, Manx Shearwater
and Corncrake all featured in the day's line-up.
Bob McMillan
“30 years of Golden Eagles on Skye and
Raasay - a beautiful bird in decline?”
Kate Nellist, Golden Eagle Ecologist
It was a real coup for the conference to have a
presentation from Kate on her and her partner
Ken Crane's studies on the Skye Golden Eagle
population. They began monitoring their local
eagles in the late 1970s and from 1984 onwards
have been checking all the ranges on Skye and
Raasay. Whilst there is justifiably considerable
interest in satellite tracking studies today, their
work highlights the value of spending time in the
field watching the birds - and there can be few, if
any, that have spent more time watching Golden
Eagles than they. In particular their ability to
identify individual eagles has provided an
extremely valuable insight into pair dynamics, as
well as the startling fact that five individuals are at
least 35 years old today.
Plate 36. Kate Nellist.
(www.photoscot.co.uk)
| © David Palmar
Kate: used. their records to good effect,
displaying breeding histories (number of young
produced each year) for individual ranges from
1984-2012, including details of when there
was a change in the pair. This included
examples of four ranges where breeding
success appears to have been repeatedly
disrupted by White-tailed Eagles, and indeed
one range that was abandoned due to them.
A line graph summarising the cumulative
breeding success of all the ranges over their
monitoring period was perhaps Kate’s most
significant slide. Whilst the number of Golden
Eagle pairs has remained steady at around 30,
there has been a large decline in eaglets
fledged each year. As Kate pointed out, Skye
has traditionally enjoyed high productivity
compared to adjacent areas of the mainland but
in recent years this has fallen to match this. The
ability to show these long-term trends,
produced from a vast amount of records
obtained thanks to a truly incredible amount of
dedication, highlighted the importance of their
work. Their standard of field study is certainly
something to aspire to for those of us new to
Golden Eagle monitoring.
Rule Anderson
33:1 (2013)
“Corncrakes on Skye and the Small Isles”
Shelagh Parlane, RSPB Corncrake Officer
Shelagh started with a recording of a calling
Corncrake; a sound familiar to most, if not all,
present. However, many have never seen a
Corncrake. The bird is generally secretive, calling
from deep cover. Concealment is their best
defence against predators. Occasionally though,
a calling bird will show itself, maybe on top of a
boulder or on a dyke.
Formerly known as a Landrail, the Corncrake is a
member of the rail family. It was traditionally
found in cornfields. The birds migrate to Scotland
from Africa, where they winter, a round trip of
some 6,000 miles. They return to breed close to
their natal site, sometimes to the same patch of
nettles or flag iris. They prefer vegetation at least
20 cm high, though not too dense, to enable
them to run through it. When the birds return in
late April, the meadows are still pretty flat and so
provide little cover. However, nettles, docks or
flag iris growing along the field margins do
provide cover at this time and are a rich source
of food for the returning birds. Much time and
effort Is spent in winter trying to develop these
areas of early cover.
The global population is estimated to be
between 1.7 and 3.5 million birds. The species
breeds widely across Eurasia from the Atlantic to
Siberia. Traditionally, Corncrakes were thought to
winter in the savannahs of south-east Africa, but
one of Bob Swann’s ringed birds was found in
the Congo. Satellite tracking of birds ringed on
Coll has shown that they winter in west Africa.
Given the world population mentioned earlier,
why be concerned about Corncrakes? 100-120
years ago the birds were found throughout the
British Isles, but increasing mechanisation of
farming pushed them out. Now they are found
only in low-intensity, cattle-based agricultural
crofts of north and west Scotland. In the 1980s,
the RSPB set about identifying the causes,
working to halt the decline. The results
determined the way ahead. Crofters received
payments to delay mowing if a calling Corncrake
was on their land. Mowing practices changed,
with cutting starting from the centre of fields,
pushing birds to the edges and to safety. One
very clear outcome was that: if we want
Corncrakes, we need crofting, so the key to their
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
survival was to find a balance where crofting
and Corncrakes could co-exist!
The combined efforts of conservationists, crofters
and farmers, agencies and government over the
last 20 years, has resulted in the number of
calling males increasing from 400 to over 1,200,
surely a sign of a successful partnership.
The birds arrive in May, laying and incubation
starting in the middle of the month. Males stop
calling when they pair but start looking for another
mate when the first is halfway through laying. Up
to 10-12 eggs are laid and females raise two or
more broods. Females with chicks are on the go
from mid-June onwards. Second clutches are laid
in July and females again appear with broods from
late July onwards. The adults moult in the period
from early July to early September, when they are
flightless for 2-3 weeks. Birds depart from the last
week of August and are generally all gone by the
end of September.
Shelagh wound up her very interesting talk
mentioning the summer Corncrake survey
which runs from 20 May to 10 July, appealing
for any information on calling males trom
anywhere in Skye, even outside these dates.
David Bain
© David Palmar
Plate 37. Shelagh Parlane.
(www. photoscot.co.uk)
a)
60
Articles, News & Views
Plate 38. Bob Swann. © David Palmar (www.photoscot.co.uk)
“Skye, Lochalsh & Lochaber Atlas Results”
Bob Swann, BTO Scottish Atlas Co-ordinator
The presentation reminded us of our introduction
to the Atlas when Bob Swann visited Skye for a
briefing/training session during October 2007.
This stimulated interest with excellent tetrad
coverage locally over the two fieldwork periods,
winter and summer for the years 2007-11.
PowerPoint images illustrated comparisons with
data from the early to mid-1980s showing winter
Stonechats sightings improving by 113%. Other
selected species, Dunnock, Skylark and
Woodcock showed good winter distribution over
our area. Winter surprises included Crested Tit in
the far north west of Skye and Nuthatch in
Lochalsh during autumn. Turning to summer
fieldwork, Bob illustrated the wide distribution
and density of Willow Warbler but with Tawny
Owls naturally favouring woodland, their distri-
bution was limited. The distinction from winter to
summer was well illustrated with Woodcock only
featuring at low levels in three southerly 10-km
Squares during summer, compared to blanket
coverage in winter. Nationally, Scotland was
shown to be important for the breeding distri-
bution of Wheatears and to a slightly lesser extent
Wood Warblers. Numbers of Greylag Geese,
Great Skua and Goldfinches had increased. There
was. considerable satisfaction when Bob
announced that all 1,101 10-km squares has
been visited in Scotland - a job well done.
Roger Cottis
“Gaelic Names of Birds”
Tristan ap Rheinallt, Lewis-based Gaelic
scholar & birder
Originally from Wales, Tristan, an excellent
birder, has a degree in Gaelic and is now a
Lewis-based Gaelic scholar. After wondering
what he had let himself in for, he decided that
for this audience, Gaelic names of birds in place
names was a good introduction. What interest
was there in these names for the ornithologist?
Place names with birds are mostly of form:
[generic geographical feature] of (the) [bird(s)].
Skye names which fitted the pattern above
included: Bidein an Fhithich (‘bidein’ =
pinnacle, ‘fitheach’ = Raven, so ‘The Pinnacle of
the Raven’, Fhithich being the genitive), and
Cnoc nam Fitheach (‘The Knoll of the Ravens’ -
Fitheach is genitive plural)
Gaelic bird names
Plate 39. Tristan ap Rheinallt. © David Palmar
(www.photoscot.co.uk)
33:1 (2013)
Promising that in this after-lunch slot there would
be no more reference to nouns or the genitive
case, he then considered what these names can
tell us about birds. Existence of a Gaelic name
showed that the bird in question was known to
Gaelicspeakers. Conclusions are hampered by
the general nature of most names, e.g. iolair
(eagle), faoileag (gull), and the fact that the
majority of names feature widespread species.
Examples of names and the number of
occurrences from Carloway, Lewis, included:
eun bird (often eagle) 12
geadh goose 1
speireag Sparrowhawk (more likely, Merlin) 6
calman Rock Dove
fitheach Raven 6
faoileag gull 5
iolair eagle 4
sgarbh Cormorant 3
feadag Golden Plover 2
arspag Great Black-backed Gull 2
Although the numbers in this table might relate to
the abundance of the species when the places
were named, the situation is complex, but the
names can still give an indication of past distri-
bution such as traditional nesting sites eg a
current Merlin nest site near Druim Gil Speireig
(‘The Ridge of the Ravine of the Merlin’) and
nearby is Druim Speireag (‘The Ridge of Merlins’).
Of the five raptors with the most Gaelic names,
three were persecuted to extinction in the 19th
century. An average of five names per species
hides a range of names, from one or two for
rarities, five to eight for common species (12 for
Corncrake), and an especially large number for
water birds and raptors.
Tristan considered land birds, aquatic species,
raptors, local breeding land birds and rarities
before ending with some puzzles: why does the
common Short-eared Owl only have one Gaelic
name? Why does the rare Wryneck have 12
Gaelic names? Perhaps it was more common
than now, and has become extinct as a breeding
species in Scotland through the removal of trees.
Tristan’s talk was an excellent introduction for a
non Gaeli¢speaking audience and left us with
much to ponder.
David Palmar
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
“25 years of bird recording in Lochalsh”
Brian Neath, Local Naturalist & South West
Ross Field Club
1 April 1988 was the first day of the second
BTO Breeding Atlas fieldwork. So, when Brian
moved to Dornie on that date, he contacted the
local co-ordinator and volunteered to help. He
received an enthusiastic response: “thanks very
much - you're on your own!” So he got stuck in
and has been recording birds in Lochalsh
almost single-handedly ever since!
Comparisons with his data from the third
(2007-2011) BIO Atlas showed the changes
he’s seen over the years. Each had 83 species
probably or definitely breeding but losses include
Redwing, Jackdaw and Lapwing and gains Little
Grebe, Collared Dove and Goldfinch. Cuckoos
have increased, unlike in the rest of UK. He also
detailed species found in Winter Atlas surveys,
Non-Estuarine Waterfowl Surveys, Heronries
Census, Garden Birdwatch and Garden Bird
Feeding Survey - without him, the BTO would
have missed so much data in Lochalsh. Rarities
he’s seen in the area include Pallas’s Warbler,
Scarlet Rosefinch, Roller and Lapland Bunting.
One of the most unexpected records was of a
Nuthatch feeding in his garden for several
months in late 2010; when | moved up from East
Lothian in 2011 they'd only recently become
established there, so to hear of one up here in
Lochalsh was a surprise. With 53 species
recorded in his garden and over 100 from the
garden, | was amazed by what can be seen.
Oe hs i oe i
{ % H =
Plate 40. Brian Neath. © David Palmar
(www.photoscot.co.uk)
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62
Articles, News & Views
Lochalsh has a wide variety of habitats, from sea
lochs to Munros, and Brian has covered the lot
in his 25 years here. His inspiring talk showed
the value of regular recording, especially in an
area with so few birders! | hope to be able to
add to the store of ornithological knowledge in
the area but | don’t think I'll get near Brian's
continuing contribution.
Paul Speak
“Manx Shearwaters on Rum”
Mike Werndly, Countryside Ranger for Rum &
Martin Carty, Mallaig-based naturalist
Another topic of local interest to north-west
Scotland is the Manx Shearwater colony on the
island of Rum, where 20-30% of the world’s
population come to breed in burrows high up
on the island's hills. We were treated to two
talks on different aspects of the work being
carried out in relation to the colony.
First Mike Werndly from Scottish Natural Heritage
on Rum gave a presentation on the breeding
cycle of the birds, their nest sites and then their
susceptibility to predation. Nesting in burrows
provides protection from avian predators, but not
from terrestrial mammalian predators such as the
(introduced) Brown Rat. The birds only produce
one egg per pair per year, So predation Is a serious
issue and research is now going on into the
ecology of the Brown Rat on Rum - its population
dynamics, home range and habitat use.
Mike was followed by Martin Carty from the
Mallaig Shearwater Project which has been going
© David Palmar
Plate 41. Martin
(www.photoscot.co.uk)
Carty.
David Paimar
Plate 42. Mike Werndly. ©
(www.photoscot.co.uk)
on for six years. Recently fledged young birds from
Rum usually migrate south to the waters off the
eastern shores of South America. However, many
can be found grounded in the fishing port of
Mallaig. A particularly high number were found
this year and it is thought that strong westerlies
blow the birds towards the mainland, where they
are disorientated by the bright lights particularly
around the fish factory and harbour. The project
involves local people and volunteers collecting the
birds, which are then held in cardboard boxes
overnight before being weighed, ringed and then
released at a quiet coastal site. Because of their
wide wing span and short legs, the birds really
need to take off from sloping ground or water.
There has been wide media coverage of the
project - on Radio Scotland, Autumnwatch and
Landward for instance. There are future plans to
investigate why more birds are grounded in one
area than another, to investigate alternative forms
of lighting around the industrial areas of the
harbour and to encourage further involvement
with local industry and the wider community.
Ann Sime
“The Sea Eagle Saga”
John Love, Author, Historian & Guide
For many attendees, hearing about the history of
the White-tailed Eagle in Scotland directly from
John Love was a highlight of the conference. The
talk was extremely well illustrated with John first
taking the time to remind us of the considerable
differences between Golden Eagle and White-
tailed Eagle, emphasising that the White-tailed is
very much a ‘sea eagle’.
33:1 (2013)
John's knowledge of the early re-introduction
attempts was impressive and | thoroughly
enjoyed him walking us through their early
history in Scotland, interspersing images of the
birds and locations, with photographs of the key
people involved. | always have a wee smile
when | see that image of a young Roy Dennis
with George Waterston on Fair Isle. This re-
introduction failed of) course, but the band
waggon was beginning to roll.
We were lucky to hear the beginnings of the
Rhum re-introduction from the ‘horse’s mouth’
and again John took the time to introduce us to
the Norwegian ornithologists whose help had
made this possible. This re-introduction did work
and as John described the complicated start to
birds breeding on Mull, | found myself waiting for
the iconic image of Madders and Sexton (the
species protection wardens on Mull at the time)
and to hear the story of the first successful
breeding - Dave Sexton now back on Mull doing
a great job, Mike Madders much missed.
It was not all plain-sailing of course, and |
remember at the time Rhys Green explaining to
us that the population wasn't big enough and
there was a serious chance of failure - again!
Happily further re - introductions followed and
today's success became ensured. Towards the
end of his talk John updated us with some
interesting images of White-tailed Eagles and the
local communities, both in Scotland and Norway.
There followed a lively discussion about the
interaction between White-tailed Eagles and
Golden Eagles on Skye. An excellent session,
John, as ever; measured and very informative.
Ken Shaw
Raffle
The last item on the day's agenda was the
eagerly anticipated raffle - the SOC stand had
been inundated with ticket sales since registration
that morning! The list of organisations and
businesses kindly contributing prizes to the raffle
was long and varied including: Misty Isle Boat
Trips, Skye Birds, The Scottish Seabird Centre, Isle
of Skye Brewing Company, SOC Highland Branch,
SOC Headquarters, Hebridean Whale Cruises,
BIO, RSPB, Talisker Whisky, The MacDonald
Marine Hotel, photoscot.co.uk and Brigadoon
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
Plate 43. John © David Palmar
(www.photoscot.co.uk)
Love.
Boat Trips. Thank you to everyone who donated
to the raffle and to those buying tickets - you
helped to raise £176 for the Club, which will be
used by SOC Highland Branch for more outreach
work across the expansive Highland region.
Sunday Fieldtrips
Though officially a one-day event, many delegates
elected to stay overnight and several fieldtrips
were arranged for the Sunday. Conference goers
could take their pick from looking for Otters and
their signs with Roger Cottis, birding Broadford Bay
and Ardnish with Martin Benson or opt. for
birdwatching in Portree and Trotternish with
myself. More than 30 people joined in the trips
and sightings included Greenland White-fronted
Goose flocks, Hen Harrier, Waxwing, Slavonian
Grebe and several Otter sightings. Conditions
were ideal with bright skies and a bit of wind and
within the space of an hour one group managed
to observe three pairs of Golden Eagles and a
couple of single birds, a fitting climax to a
memorable weekend.
Bob McMillan
We were delighted to welcome four new
members to the Club on the day of the
conference: thank you to Alasdair Dawes, Lyn
Rowe, Jan Storie and Linda Shove - we
appreciate your support!
63
64
Articles. News & Views
Plate 44. Golden brown. © Tim Wootton
Tim Wootton’s artistic career began, aged 5, by
copying illustrations from Thorburn’s Birds and
because his mother was “the unofficial Doctor
Doolittle of the village” there were always Jays,
Magpies, squirrels and other creatures around
the house for him to study.
After graduating with a degree in illustration and
then working for 16 years as a. freelance
illustrator, in 2002 Tim moved to Orkney with
his wife and children. Orkney had always
appealed as a place to live, mainly because tt Is
full of birds! “As a birder | have always known
about Orkney,” Tim says. “It is a Mecca
destination. Now, birds, light, landscape and
seascape are what I'm all about. | am never
short of subjects to paint: if | need inspiration, |
just go for a walk.
“Every season brings new subjects - ducks,
geese and all the waders in winter, for example,
and interesting migrants arriving in the spring
and autumn. Often | will concentrate on one
species and make a whole series of paintings
on that, perhaps eiders or skuas. | make studies
and take photographs on site and. those,
together with stored images in previous
sketchbooks, will give me enough reference
information for dozens of different paintings.
. "
= at.
4 Mes
Pe
UE ; ty P ws
Plate 45. Tim Wootton, September 2012.
33:1 (2013)
“| don’t think | will ever run out of ideas in
Orkney, so | seldom travel to anywhere else.
However, | was privileged last year to be invited
by the Artists for Nature Foundation to go to the
tiny Channel Island of Sark with other artists and
work there. Some of that work has since been
published in a book for the Foundation and is
included in a travelling exhibition that will visit
Guernsey, Sark and finally Nature in Art, in
Gloucestershire.”
“My work is based entirely on_ first-hand
observation. Many of my drawings and some
paintings are started and completed in the field
- but usually | gather studies and other reference
which are collated in the studio where a more
considered approach may ensue.”
“My primary concerns are with the represen-
tation of the natural environment and the
creatures which live there. Since relocating to
the Northern Isles ten years ago, my work has
predominantly evolved from the seascapes and
birds of our watery land. | find myself
increasingly drawn to the interpretation of the
places where sea meets land.”
Tim works in a variety of media, including
charcoal and conte, watercolour, oils, acrylics
and ink and wash. He has a preference for
watercolour, but often it will be the subject
matter which dictates the media. For instance,
he rarely uses watercolour for seascapes, being
more inclined to use oils or acrylics. When
working in watercolour he uses heavy quality
Fabriano or Saunders Waterford Not papers, at
least 425gsm/200lb, which he doesn't need to
peau ike sete
Plate AG. Common Seals, Eiders and: Arctic Skua. ©
Tim Wootton
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
ARAN SD TS
Plate AT. Three Eiders. © Tim Wootton
stretch. The beauty of watercolour lay in. tts
immediacy and the fact that by adopting an
alla-prima approach and working across the
whole surface simultaneously there's a
freshness and spontaneity which perhaps
heavier media lack.
In recent years, he has been developing a style
he calls ‘Sharpie Painting’ which entails
composing the major elements of the painting
in ‘Sharpie’ pen (fibre-tipped marker) and
painting washes of watercolour over this.
He sometimes starts by making a few
thumbnail sketches to help plan the
composition, and sometimes he makes pen
and wash drawings using a black Sharpie fine
line marker pen with watercolour. These can be
drawings in their own right or act as preliminary
work for an oil or acrylic painting. “With the oil
and acrylic paintings, which are usually
seascapes or landscapes, there is much more of
a conscious decision about the composition,”
he explains. “I have a pretty good idea of what
I'm going to do and how it should end up. With
watercolour, the process is more spontaneous:
there is a philosophical difference between the
two approaches.
“However, the greatest freedom is with the ink
drawings. | feel | can be braver with these, less
serious, so they are quite liberating. Because the
initial marks are black marks on a white surface,
they are quite unlike anything in nature and so
there would be little point in trying to create the
65
Articles, News & Views
same sort of realistic image that | might achieve
in watercolour or a detailed acrylic painting.
Instead, they open up different avenues of
design and character.
“For me, the most successful wildlife paintings
are those that come close to revealing
something of the original experience or
incident in nature that inspired the painting.
My aim is to encapsulate something about the
natural world that | have seen and the
particular moment when | saw It. So, my
paintings are about moments in time. But |
don’t want them to be frozen moments, such
as you might find in a photograph instead |
want them to have life and emotion.”
Work is executed in a wide variety of media, but
more recently this has manifested itself in large
charcoal renderings and watercolour paintings.
Tim was announced as the winner of the
Birdwatch / Swarovski Artist of the Year 2011
Award to a packed crowd during the Society of
Wildlife Artists Annual Exhibition at London's Mall
Galleries in October. His expansive and naturalistic
a ey
Plate 48. Should | stay, or should | go. © Tim Wootton
charcoal piece entitled “Pale and Intermediate
Phase Arctic Skuas” received the much-desired
award and was presented by wildlife documentary
presenter and conservationist Mark Carwardine
and SWLA President Harriet Mead.
During the same exhibition, Tim was also
elected an Associate Member of the Society of
Wildlife Artists; a great personal honour.
The award and election to the ranks of the
prestigious SWLA rounds off a spectacular 12
months for Tim, during which he won both a
category in the BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year
and the PJC Award for Drawing. He was
selected to exhibit for the David Shepherd
Wildlife Artist of the Year 2011 and won the
Wildscape Magazine Wildlife Artist of the Year
Award in 2009.
His book Drawing & Painting Birds was
published in January this year - published by the
Crowood Press. The first printing completely
sold out in eight months and the book was
reprinted later the same year (2011).
33:1 (2013)
BOOK REVIEWS
Birds in a Cage. Derek
Niemann, 2012. Short Books,
London, ISBN 978-1-78072-
093-7, Hardback, 312 pages,
PAO:
This moving and
most interesting
book tells how
four British &
Oil ees
incarcerated
together in
Warburg POW
Camp in Germany in 1941
overcame hardship by devoting
their time to studying birds (without
binoculars). Not only did they
involve fellow prisoners, but also
some of the German guards, at
great risk to all. Following their
wartime experience, all four went
on to become major figures in
wildlife conservation. Among them
was SOC's co-founder George
Waterston, and in 2011 the book's
author Derek Niemann (editor of
RSPB's children’s magazines) came
to Waterston House to see material
relating to George in the SOC
archive. Crucial items there which
were used in the book were
George's “secret” notebook Birds
seen in Crete (before he was
captured in 1941), with an official
POW camp stamp on it, and
correspondence about those
Cretan observations from a senior
German officer and eminent
ornithologist, Erwin Stresemann.
The correspondence is dated
August 1943 and George was
repatriated on grounds of ill health
shortly afterwards. Stresemann
evidently helped secure that
repatriation, and he maintained his
friendship with George and
another of the prisoners, John
Buxton, for the rest of his life.
Pert ory
<i on. \ we
b wey
BIC Wy mh
Stagione hark
SOC members will learn much in
this book about George Waterston,
who studied Wrynecks and planned
33:1 (2013)
a bird observatory on Fair Isle while
at Warburg, and who did so much
subsequently to promote
ornithology and conservation in
Scotland. They will learn more,
however, about the other three
prisoners, simply because they
wrote more (there is nothing
published by Waterston in the
Bibliography). John Buxton, a gifted
poet as well as ornithologist, was
brother-in-law to Ronald Lockley
who established Britain's first bird
observatory on Skokholm. He wrote
the first Collins New Naturalist bird
monograph The Redstart (1950),
based on his POW studies of that
species, but, although remaining
active in conservation, he became a
lecturer in English at Oxford
University. John Barrett (and Richard
Purchon) spent hundreds of hours
observing breeding Chaffinches
and Tree Sparrows at Warburg, while
also acting as lookouts for the
camp's escape committee! Barrett
subsequently became warden. at
Dale Fort Field Studies Centre in
Pembrokeshire, where perhaps he
is best remembered as author of
Collins Guide to the Seashore,
published in 1958. The most
information concerns Peter Conder,
and this is because a previously
unknown cache of letters from him
was made available to Derek
Niemann, and that was the spur for
this book. Conder studied several
species while a POW, notably
migrating Skylarks and corvids (and
at one point tried to assess whether
animal dung or human dung was
more attractive to ravenous crows!),
Black Redstarts and Goldfinches.
He managed to escape from a
marching column at the end of the
war. Later, after a spell as warden of
Skokholm, managed by John
Barrett, he joined RSPB and was its
director from 1963 to 1975. He
worked on Wheatears for more than
40 years and his monograph The
Wheatear was published by
Articles, News & Views
Christopher Helm in 1989. There
were other ornithologist POWs of
course, and correspondence about
birds between Barney Thompson,
another prisoner at Warburg, and his
brother, Peter «back home. (s
especially poignant because Barney
survived the war but Peter, a
bomber pilot, did not.
There are so many fascinating
and often harrowing stories in
this book, and all four main
characters suffered after-effects
from their incarceration. It is well
illustrated with photographs and
drawings (by Rob Hume), and,
especially because of George
Waterston's importance in SOC's
history, | cannot recommend it
highly enough.
John Savory
Puffins: an artist's
sketchbook. Derek Robertson,
2012. Woodlands Studios, Fife,
ISBN 978-0-9539324-3-6,
softback, 48 pages, £9.99.
This — well-known
SHG On tatlasen
artist/author has
produced another
sketchbook of his
work, the latest |
subject being the |
study of Puffins. “=
Several short chapters tell
of his experiences with this bird on
various Scottish islands, notably the
Isle of May and St. Kilda. It is
beautifully illustrated with 23 colour
paintings and 19 black-and-white
sketches/photographs.
At a modest price it is good value
and well worth adding to your
bookshelf.
David Clugston
BIRDWATCHING
ON MULL
68
Articles, News & Views
Birdwatching on Mull and
lona: a pocket guide with
maps. David Sexton & Philip
Snow 2011. Brown and
Whittaker, Tobermory, ISBN
9781904353140, paperback,
40 pages, £4.95.
This is a reprint of
this popular guide,
originally entitled
Birds of Mull
- (1987), and has
_ been brought up
| to date. The book
is conveniently
divided into area
sections and with Mull
being a large island enables the
reader to quickly locate what may
be looked for in a chosen locality. A
selection of excellent maps is
accompanied by good _ useful
species illustrations by Philip Snow.
Providing many useful tips and local
information, this is a must-have for
anybody visiting these bird-rich and
beautiful islands.
AND IONA
\ pocket guide with maps
x3 Lite,
and Philip Snow
Keith Macgregor
Southern African LBJs Made
Simple. Doug Newman &
Gordon King, 2011. Struik
Nature, Cape Town, ISBN 978-
1-7707-799-7, paperback, 136
pages, £14.99.
| oe”. ee,
While some birders | LBJs
might feel lucky to,
have relatively few |
“Little Brown Jobs” |
to contend with in |
Britain, the ///ss
authors of this ili
excellent and innovative little
volume categorise almost 170
southern African species as LBJs.
These include cisticolas, prinias,
scrub-robins, pipits, and over 30
species of lark, plus females of the
likes of canaries, bishops and
weavers. Some of the latter are
more green and/or yellow than
brown, but it is certainly useful to
have them on board.
A detailed introduction provides
the modus operandi of identifying
LBJs via the characteristics and
habits of the various families and
‘visual groups’. Generally high-
standard photographs of each
species and_ their habitats,
annotated illustrations highlighting
key features, and ‘at a glance’ tips
aid identification. A quick look at
distribution will make the
elimination process easier for
many species. The maps could
perhaps have been larger and
brighter to facilitate this.
The included CD of songs, calls and
wing-snaps is outstanding and a
pleasure to listen to in its own right
- the evocative Greater Honeyguide
certainly brightened up a dreich
Scottish day for me. A series of
comparative recordings with helpful
commentary Is included.
A tremendous amount of useful
information has been cleverly
incorporated into this book and it
will surely make LBJ misery in the
subcontinent a thing of the past.
Definitely one to take down south
along with your regional field guide.
Mike Fraser
Bird Sense: what its like to be
a bird. Tim Birkhead & Katrina
van Grouw (illustrator), 2012.
Bloomsbury Publishing,
London, ISBN 9781408820137,
hardback, 288 pages, £17.
This book is in many ways a
companion volume to Tim
Birkhead's Wisdom of Birds (voted
BB/BTO Best Bird Book of 2008).
In that work he traced the scientific
world's acquisition of knowledge
(or wisdom) of all things avian. In
Bird Sense he does the same but
concentrating on the sensory
powers of birds. There are
predictable chapters on seeing,
hearing, smell, taste and touch but
also, perhaps less expectedly,
magnetic sense.
The narrative is as
much about the
scientists as the
birds themselves.
hms > 1 Tr ed
researchers are
celebrated and
their landmark
discoveries
catalogued - but in a style
that sometimes reads like a
detective novel. The research story
is brought right up to date with
descriptions of very recent
discoveries and | was treated to
more than a few satisfying well-I-
didn't-know-that moments.
TIM BIRKHEAD
The gaps are a reflection of how
little the scientific world knows
about some areas of bird biology.
The author draws attention to our
mystification as to how flamingos
can detect distant rain for instance,
and on more than one occasion he
comments that ‘this would make a
good PhD project.’ This is partic
ularly true for his final chapter on
bird emotions - a controversial and
notoriously difficult field of study to
be objective and quantitative.
Tim Birkhead's storytelling ability is
excellent, especially when the
Stories describe his own
experiences. Each time a paragraph
started with something like, ‘The
most memorable thing about my
brief encounter with...’ | had a
warm glow and thought, ‘I'm going
to enjoy this bit’.
The illustrations by Katrina van
Grouw are good, but sparse.
In summary this is a volume
packed with science but made very
accessible and enjoyable to read.
Mike Bagshaw
33:1 (2013)
Jewels Beyond the Plough: a
celebration of Britain's
grasslands. Richard Jefferson &
John Davis, 2012. Langford
Press, Peterborough, ISBN 978-
1-904078-41-8, hardback, 168
pages, £38.00.
This book ts
yet another
masterpiece
in the
, Langford
Ele eSeS
Wildlife Art
Series. _ Its
aim is to
and raise
Jewels Beyond the Plough
A Celebration 0} Bi ‘ass!
inspire
awareness of the beauty and value
to society of our wildflower-rich
grasslands. In this tt succeeded for
me, and both the informative text
and the cleverly composed
illustrations impressed me greatly.
Richard Jefferson is an ecologist
and Senior Grassland Specialist
for Natural England. After a
Foreword by Chris Packham, and
a contrast of the “Wee Grey
Fergie” with modern tractors, his
text is divided into 13 sections
dealing with different categories
of grassland and associated flora
and fauna. Thus, an introduction
to grasses and grasslands Is
followed by evolution — of
landscape through the ages, old
meadows and pastures,
downland to upland, and
grasslands that are either
calcareous, acid, marshy, Scottish
machair, coastal and flood plain,
water meadows, or roadside
verges. At the end there is a
helpful gazetteer and map of
British nature reserves (14 in
Scotland) containing areas of
semi-natural wildflower
grasslands of different types, a
glossary of grassland names and
terms, references, and a
comment on modern farming.
My one reservation is that the
conservation message, alluded to
frequently, could have been
made more explicit.
33:1 (2013)
John Davis, who has. illustrated
magazines and books over many
years, is an excellent wildlife
watercolourist and his many lovely
landscapes in this book, with their
prolific wildflower foregrounds and
representative fauna, are truly
evocative. His plants, insects,
mammals and birds (including a
stunning frontispiece in oil of a
redshank with chicks in a
meadow), while seemingly done
quite loosely, contain just the right
amount of subtle detail and are
beautifully portrayed.
John Savory
Pelagic Birds of the North
Atlantic: an identification
guide. Andy Paterson, 2012.
New Holland, London, ISBN
978-1-78009-228-7, paperback,
BP) (DEIZES, 2S S)S)
ey cua ceu ete tii 1)
North Atl:
wn Identification Gy
Andy Patorson
hy Bbworks of Sitios
atvd artworks of it ots ei
:
This slim, flexible, ring-bound
booklet covers the 56 species that
may be seen in the North Atlantic,
complete with 272 black and white
illustrations of all the species,
mostly shown in flight, and usefully
depicting both upper and
underparts. Adjacent to each
picture are brief notes commenting
on the salient features likely to be
seen on what often may be distant
views. The author is a widely |
experienced ornithologist and long
involved with seabirds and their
distribution. Any keen seabird
enthusiast should find this small
booklet invaluable, presented as it
is on waterproof paper.
Keith Macgregor
Articles, News & Views
All the Birds of Nova Scotia.
lan A. Maclaren, 2012.
Gaspereau Press, Halifax, Nova
Scotia, ISBN 9-781554-471164,
hardback, C$47.95.
It may seem strange for SB to host
a review of a book from a
Canadian province but, over the
past decade, around 75 North
American landbird vagrants of 25
species have been recorded in
western and northern Scotland. Of
these, many are species found
regularly in Nova Scotia from
where oceanic migrants are prone
to being drifted off course across
the Atlantic by unfavourable winds.
Many waders suffer a similar fate -
hence the link between ‘new
Scotia’ and ‘old Scotia’.
An introduction reveals the book's
scope and information sources,
followed by an explanation of
weather patterns _ affecting
migration. The remainder
describes status and identification
issues, but not biology, of every
species found in the province,
including vagrants. The 124
supporting photographic plates
portray characters that separate
subspecies and closely related
species, although some locally
sourced images are of variable
quality. Aimed at local birders
accompanied by standard field
guides, the value of the book to
UK birders is to highlight further
vagrant species that may arrive in
future. The author, a prominent
Canadian birder, enthuses about
=a the importance of
| photographing
», vagrants and gives
some interesting
©) hints on identifi-
/\ cation that might
not appear in
European field
guides.
Norman Elkins
69
Articles, News & Views
RINGERS’ ROUNDUP
If you have any interesting ringing recoveries, articles, project updates or requests for
information which you would like to be included in the next issue, please email to Raymond
Duncan at Raymond @waxwing.fsnet.co,uk. Thank you very much to the British Trust for
Ornithology (BTO) and the many ringers, ringing groups and birders who provided the
information for this latest round up. Thanks also to the many bird watchers who take the
time and trouble to read rings in the field or find dead ringed birds and report them.
Shag wreck
After two very severe storms in quick succession
in mid-December 2012 there followed a serious
wreck of Shags (lot of birds dying) in north-east
Scotland. Over 200 were found dead between
Peterhead and Burghead on the Moray coast in
late December 2012 and early January 2013.
The casualties included a number of individuals
marked with field-readable coded rings (see
Plate 49). Fortuitously, the wreck occurred in the
midst of an intensive field resighting project run
by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the
University of Aberdeen, meaning that both the
ringed individuals that succumbed, and others
that have so far survived, have known breeding
success and winter histories.
q i % ,
® Al ™ | in
. N re " i fal
: , ‘ia m \ 1
i 4 ¥
, ; 1 ' , ‘
Y i] i ’
Bid a :
en 7 3
s 1
’ 1 tho 4
: hy a
\ y Vi ie ¥
ve, at
{ | ry \
An mY = -
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{ i a '
loM
Bullers
Plate 50. One of the Shag roost ledges at Fraserburgh
showing the roost spots of darviced individuals 5
November 2012 © Jane Reid
Plate 50 shows one of the roost piers at
Fraserburgh with the birds basking in the sun (!)
pre roost in November. Ringed birds and their
traditional roost spots are arrowed and labeled
with their ring code and place of ringing (loM =
Isle of May). Sadly after the storm, four of these
old friends were lost. Yellow ZFl-and ZFX, winter
roost neighbours, but not a breeding pair, were
particularly hard to bear. ZFX was ringed as a
chick on the Isle of May in 2003, returning there
to breed from 2008 onwards, and recorded back
on its ledge at Fraserburgh in the intervening
winters. ZFl had a similar history.
If there is any consolation at all to this story, it is that
the wreck was fairly localized and good numbers
were reported alive and well at Portknockie and
North Sutor further along into the Moray Firth and
in Fife during or not long after the wreck.
Please check all Shags for darvics and report to
shags@ceh.ac.uk. There's a reward for west
coast winter sightings (and we'll know if you're
Me) Ny :
Plate 49. Some of the dead Shags picked up in an afternoon cheating!)
at Fraserburgh, several with darvic rings © Raymond Duncan
70 | Scottish Birds 33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls
on their travels
The maps (Figures 1 and 2) by Euan Ferguson
show the results from recent darvic ringing of
Scottish Lesser Black-backed Gulls, mainly of chicks
ringed at colonies on Horse Island in the Firth of
Clyde and on St Serfs Island on Loch Leven; and
Herring Gulls, mainly of summer immatures and
adults ringed in North-east Scotland.
The migration south into Portugal, Spain and even
Africa of Lesser Black-backed Gulls for the winter
contrasts with the movements of our more
‘resident’ Herring Gull, but who would have
expected a picture of such widespread winter
dispersal throughout England and across onto the
continent of ‘oor toon gull’? With individual
Figure 1. Lesser Black-backed Gull movements
of
Plate 51. A Horse Island Lesser Black-backed Gull chick
on a pelagic trip with some Wilson's Petrels off north-
west Spain, September 2012. © Antonio Gutierrez Pita
Figure 2. Herring Gull movements
inscribed darvics and an avid band of gull ring
readers along their flyways this is an excellent way
to monitor these species movements, fidelity and
survival in times of changing climate, food
Plate 52. A St. Serfs Island Lesser Black-backed Gull
chick on a sunny(!) beach at Chipiona in Spain Supplies and intensive urban resistance.
November 2012. © Rafa Garcia
33:1 (2013) Scottish Birds
Articles, News & Views
For yellow darvics/black inscription beginning T
and 3 numbers please email:
e.ferguson17@hotmail.co.uk.
For white darvics/red inscription ending with C
please please email: iainlivcrg@googlemail.com
For any others please email:
pete.rock@blueyonder.co.uk
Scottish Common Gull chick in Spain!
Scottish Common Gull chick ET47509 from
Loch Tarff in the Highlands has featured several
times previously in this round-up. Last update, it
was seen back in Sligo Harbour, Ireland by
Michael Casey in October 2011 for its eight
consecutive autumn. So, It was rather a surprise
when a sighting from 180 chicks darviced at a
colony in Donside, North-east Scotland in 2012
came from Santa Cruz de Oleiros in north-west
Spain on 1 November from Sergio Paris (plate
53). This is only the second BTO-ringed
Common Gull in Spain from over 90,000 birds
ringed. The other was ringed in Kerry, Ireland in
1957 and found 7 miles away from this one!
en | mt
ANd |
" 4 Mi 4
Plate 54. Jack Snip
Nv
es in the hand Strath
}
Plate 53. Common Gull 2XKN in Santa Cruz de
Oleiros, north-west Spain, 1 November 2012.
© Antonio Lopez Porto
How to census and monitor Jack Snipe?
lan Livingstone and other Clyde Ringing Group
members like to get wet and muddy for a good
cause... catching, ringing and counting Jack Snipe.
Plate 54 shows a record catch of six in one net!
Retraps have demonstrated a degree of site
fidelity within and between winters. One exciting
find was a ringed bird (above the knee), which
had been ringed in the Netherlands.
7}
7
é /
clyde, November 2012. © Adam Cross
33:1 (2013)
Waxwings
Everybody will have been aware of another
invasion of Waxwings In autumn 2012. We seem
to be on a run of bi-annual arrivals now, after
previous invasions in 2008 and 2010. Three
colour-ringed birds from North-east Scotland
went their very different ways, showing how
difficult it is to know how many are actually in
the country and how unpredictable their
movements can be.
Plates 55-56. Waxwings NW49062 (colour rings dark
blue/light green) and NW50152 (colour rings white
over light green over light green) in Leamington Spa,
Warwickshire, 6 December 2012. © Stephen Clarkson
Plate 57. Waxwing NW65180 (co
December 2012. © Niek and Cheis Klaassen
33:1 (2013)
lour rings yellow/white/orange) in Huissen, Lingwaard Netherlands, 25
Articles, News & Views
Plate 58. Waxwing NW31182 in Whitehead, Co.
Antrim, Northern Ireland, 18 December 2012.
© Cameron Moore
NW31182: Juv male 30/11/12,
Aboyne, North-east Scotland
Photographed 18/12/12, Whitehead, Co.
Antrim, N. Ireland - 316 km SW
NW49062: Juv 5/11/12,
Kincorth, Aberdeen, North-east Scotland
Photographed 06/12/12, Leamington Spa,
Warwickshire, England - 541 km S
NW50152: Juv fem 28/11/12,
Aberdeen, North-east Scotland
Photographed 06/12/12, Leamington Spa,
Warwickshire, England - 541 km S
NW65180: Juv fem 07/12/12,
Aberdeen, North-east Scotland
Photographed 23/12/12, Huissen, Lingwaard,
NETHERLANDS - 775 km SE
te rai a at
Ne Fe eer Oe |
74
Articles, News & Views
Osprey
In the early days of recolonisation of the
Osprey in Scotland it was shown by ringing
that Scandinavian birds were involved. A
recent sighting suggests there may also be
some exchanges the other way. John Brain
and Hugh Insley ringed an Osprey chick (white
darvic KU) near Inverness on 2 July 2009. It
then turned up near Hildal, Hordaland in
Norway on 4 September, shortly after fledging
following a westerly gale. Interestingly, it was
resighted on autumn migration on 21
September 2012 at Makkum, Friesland in the
Netherlands, suggesting that it may have
transferred to the Scandinavian breeding
population, perhaps after successfully
migrating south from Norway in 2009?
West coast waders;
Dunlin and Turnstone
Thanks to David Jardine and John Bowler for
some recent colour-ring sightings of passage
waders on the west coast islands.
Two Dunlin colour-ringed at the same site at
Santarem, Portugal on 30 January and 30
April 2010 were resighted on the Isle of
Colonsay, on spring passage, one only 20
days after ringing, whilst a colour-ringed
Turnstone resighted in Mitlon Harbour on the
Isle of Tiree on 23 October 2012 had been
ringed as an adult male on its breeding
grounds at Alert, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut,
Canada on 2 June 2008.
John comments, “Oddly perhaps, this bird was
in exactly the same spot as another colour-
ringed Turnstone (a female ringed on 25 June
2006 at Alert, Ellesmere Island, Canada) that
wintered in 2008/09. We have over 1,000
Turnstones wintering here, so it’s bizarre that |
should find two ringed birds in this very small
flock and not elsewhere (I've checked through
hundreds of birds in the last few winters
including the Milton Harbour flock).”
These movements demonstrate the site
fidelity and rapidity of the huge numbers of
waders passing through Scotland every spring
and autumn on their way to and from
breeding and wintering grounds far to the
north and south.
Have you seen our Sparrowhawks?
The ecology of urban Sparrowhawks has been
studied within Edinburgh since the late
1980s, however, despite ongoing monitoring
of a number of nests across the city, little is
known about the dispersal strategies and
survival rates of juvenile birds once they
fledge the nest.
In an attempt to improve our understanding of
the behaviour of these juvenile birds, 32
Sparrowhawk chicks from eight nest sites in
Edinburgh have been ringed with unique
colour rings this year. You can greatly assist this
research project by watching for and reporting
observations of these colour-ringed birds.
The colour rings are white, uniquely coded
with two vertical alphanumeric characters (i.e.
letter over number or letter over letter) and are
placed on the right leg. To provide ease of
visibility, these codes are repeated twice
around the circumference of the ring. The
rings can be read on a perched bird at a
distance of c.20 m with binoculars or up to 75
m using a scope. If you don’t have such
equipment, taking a picture with a digital
camera will often allow the ring to be read
once the picture is uploaded. A small unique
metal BTO ring has also been applied to the
left leg of the chicks, but these cannot be read
unless the bird is in the hand.
If you observe one of these colour-ringed
Sparrowhawks, please record the rings code,
date and time, as well as the location. Please
report all sightings to Alan Heavisides,
even if you were unable to determine the
ring code.
Alan Heavisides (Chairman of the
Lothian & Borders Raptor Study Group)
Email: alanheavisides @yahoo.com
33:1 (2013)
B. ALLAN
The weather forecast for the weekend of 13-14
October looked good for birding on the east
coast and on the Sunday | was able to head
across to Fife Ness and see what was about. |
arrived at Kilminning, about half way to the point
at Fife Ness from Crail, at 8.00am and it was
clear from the outset there had been a
significant fall of migrants. It was generally
overcast with a few bright spells and occasional
light rain. After a couple of hours | met Rab
Shand, and he had just found a Yellow-browed
Warbler, which we quickly relocated and soon
after a Red-breasted flycatcher was found in the
same general area. | decided to search other
areas alone and headed to Fife Ness Muir where
| located another Yellow-browed Warbler. | left
quite happy but the draw of all the vegetation
cover at Kilminning lured me back and | headed
down to the seaward car park. On arrival there
was a minibus of visiting birders scouring the
south-east area of the car park, so | decided to
get away from the crowd and walked over the
33:1 (2013)
mound toward the ruined toilet block. Some
light rain started to come down and so | took
some shelter behind the toilet block. When it
stopped, | walked over the next rise and stopped
to scan the rose bushes. A male Blackcap
appeared almost immediately, and as _ it
‘chacked’ away | stood looking into bushes on
the embankment checking for any movement.
Then, out of the blue, a bird appeared in the
rose bushes, and surprisingly it wasn’t just a
head or tail but the entire bird was in full view,
instantly. | knew | had something good, and
quickly took mental notes: long pale grey
warbler, thick strong grey legs, very long, thin
bill, very plain look, no noticeable wing panel.
Thirty seconds and it was gone. As | waited, |
was thinking Olivaceous Warbler, and started
eliminating other possibilities: leg colour not
right for Blyth’s Reed, size wasn’t huge and the
bill too thin for Olive-tree, no wing panel and bill
shape wrong for either Melodious or Icterine
15
Zs!
Plate 60. Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Ki
Articles News & Views
Warblers. Thankfully the bird re-appeared and |
got a better look: it had a square-ended tail -
again eliminating Blyth’s Reed, and a short
supercillium that stopped just behind the eye,
and long, pale buff undertail coverts. Then the
bird pumped its tail and called simultaneously
and | recalled the seeing birds in Bulgaria doing
exactly the same thing. Mentally, | shouted
Eastern Olivaceous! Then | remembered where
| was and recalled the bird claimed as an
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler earlier in the
autumn at the same site, and thought no one
would believe this.
| desperately needed to get other people to see
this bird. | knew Rab Shand had been in the
area and hoped he was still present. | phoned
him and eventually got a broken garbled
message to him including the words “big grey
hippo”, “big grey legs", “big plain warbler’,
“Kilminning bottom car park, get here now”. The
bird showed sporadically in the ten minutes it
took Rab to get to me.
Thankfully, the bird showed within a few minutes
of his arrival, but Rab’s first views were with the
bird in the shade of the bush and he
commented on it looking like a Blyth’s Reed, as
it seemed brownish. | procrastinated mentioning
the leg colour was wrong and the bird was all
se ‘S t
a nh
: ‘
Iminning, Fife, October 2012. © Barry Farquarson
grey and eventually when the bird came out into
full view Rab concurred with the salient points |
had noted earlier. | remember saying to Rab “tell
me why It's not an Eastern Olivaceous” and |
think his reply was something like “Aye”. That day,
the bird showed reasonably well for four other
birders, but later the bird disappeared.
Luckily the bird remained in the area for over five
weeks, until 20 November, making it the longest
saying British record. It showed well for most of
its stay and was admired by hundreds of birders.
Description
The bird was a little smaller and slimmer than the
nearby male Blackcap. It had overall pale grey
concolourous upperparts, with silky very pale
underparts. The only dark area on the wing was
the alula which was a few shades darker than the
other wing feathers. The supercillium was short
and pale, creamy-white, stopping just behind the
eye and was slightly darker edged above. The
lores were darkish, showed a little warmth in tone
and contrasted with the pale white throat. The
undertail coverts were long and cream-coloured,
and the tip projected further back than the tips of
the wing projection. The tip of the primaries
reached the furthest tip of upper tail coverts. The
tail was long, grey, and square-ended, with a
paleness noted to the inner web of the outer tail
33:1 (2013)
feathers. The bill seemed ridiculously long, and
was broad at the base. It was pale, fleshy-coloured
with a dark culmen, and a paler tip. The legs were
strong and pale greyish-blue. It often gave a harsh
‘chack’ call - very similar to that of a Blackcap. The
bird was not particularly skulking and often
showed very well at close range at which time it
was possible to observe its habit of pumping its
tail in a downward direction, especially when it
was calling.
When | returned home | was keen to eliminate
two other similar species to be absolutely certain
of the identification. | ruled out Upcher's Warbler
on the fact that that species swings it tail from
side to side (and doesn't pump it up or down),
the thinness of the bill on the Kilminning bird was
not as big and robust as on Upcher's and also on
that species the leg colour, is more brownish-grey.
| eliminated Western Olivaceous Warbler by the
lack of any warm brownish plumage tones to the
upperparts of the Kilminning bird and the fact
that the tail-pumping behaviour is not seen in
Western Olivaceous.
This record is subject to acceptance by the
British Birds Rarities Committee.
Brian Allan, Stirling
= Ais fF EN RR Es mn pe emen | | opm ta ors
Email: bdadesign @aol.com
Status in Scotland
All records of Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Britain
are believed to be of the eastern subspecies
(Iduna pallida elaeica). This is the most
widespread and numerous form and breeds from
coastal Slovenia, Croatia, and Albania, Hungary,
Romania and the western Black Sea coast south-
eastwards through Greece, Turkey and the
Caucasus to Syria, The Lebanon, Israel and Jordan,
and eastwards through northern Iraq, Iran, to
Central Asia, and along the south-west coast of
the Arabian Gulf. The entire population is
migratory and winters in East Africa.
There have been 17 accepted records of this
species in Britain to the end of 2011 with eight
of these in Scotland:
1967, 24-26 September: One, Isle of May.
1995, 5-13 June: One, Fair Isle.
2000, 13—21 September: First-winter, Collieston,
North-east Scotland.
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
October 2012. © Tristan Reid
2002, 18-28 August: Adult,
Hoswick, South Mainland, Shetland.
2008, 23-25 September: First-winter, Harrier,
Foula, Shetland.
2009, 21 June: One, the Plantation, Fair Isle.
2010, 11-12 September: First-winter, Ireland,
South Mainland, Shetland.
2011, 2-3 September: First-winter, Taft &
Schoolton, Fair Isle.
Sandwick/
The status section of the article about the
discovery of the Foula bird in 2008 (Gordon &
Scott 2010) covered the distribution and
occurrence pattern of this species in Britain. It also
contained details of the taxonomic revision in
2002 which split Olivaceous Warbler into Eastern
and Western Olivaceous Warblers (becoming
Hippolais pallida and H. opaca respectively).
Since then these two species have been the
subject of further taxonomic studies and are now
reclassified as members of a new genus /duna
(Sangster et a/, 2077), with three other species on
the British List also now placed there: Thick-billed
Warbler [/, aedon], Booted Warbler [/. caligata]
and Sykes's Warbler (/. rama).
Gordon, P.R. & Scott, M.S. 2010. Eastern
Olivaceous Warbler, Foula, Shetland, 23-25
September 2008 - the fifth Scottish record.
Scottish Birds 30(1): 70-72
Sangster, G., Collinson, J.M., Crochet, P-A.,
Knox, A.G., Parkin, D.T., Svensson, L. &
Votier, S.C. 2011. Taxonomic recommen-
dations for British birds: seventh report. /bis
153: 883-8972.
Plate 61. Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Kilminning, Fife
7G
78
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. Pea
R.M. FRAY
The weekend of 13/14 October 2012 produced
a veritable glut of Olive-backed Pipits in
Shetland, with at least ten found in the islands
during the two-day period. Try as | might, |
couldn't rustle up one myself in my usual south
Mainland haunts; | put this down to a
combination of work commitments, bad luck
and general incompetence. Monday 15 October
dawned cool and relatively calm, with a light
easterly breeze; ideal weather for finding myself
an Olive-backed Pipit, or perhaps something a
little more interesting. However, a change of
scenery was required. | have always liked the
look of Scalloway - Shetland’s ancient capital
and ‘second city’. It contains lots of mature
gardens and big (by Shetland standards) groups
of trees. And, | surmised, nobody would have
looked there over the last few days.
Plate 62. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Scalloway, Shetland, October 2012. © Hugh Harrop
q 8 2 aa
wTeryywe sy
1 ft -q fad 7
on |
ra J tt Se Oh DE oa oa UA @
J
| arrived at Scalloway during the late morning
and had a good look round the likely spots.
Small flocks of Bramblings and Siskins were all
very nice, but not really what | had in mind, and
after a couple of hours | was beginning to think
of moving on to pastures new. My last port of
call was the area around Scalloway Health
Centre, and the aptly-named Sycamore Avenue.
Whilst having a small ponder over which
direction to set off, a small black and white bird
bounded across in front of me and landed in
the tall sycamores adjacent to the Health
Centre. Great Spotted Woodpecker seemed the
likely candidate, as | was aware one had been
frequenting Scalloway for a few days previously,
but following the bird through bins as it alighted
in the trees sent me in to panic mode. This was
no Great Spot - it was tiny! Prominent black and
33:1 (2013)
white ‘laddering’ on the upperparts and a lack of
red anywhere in the plumage, combined with its
diminutive stature, instantly suggested Lesser
Spotted Woodpecker. A rather frantic session of
waving the camera in its general direction
followed, after which the bird moved away
through the trees and was lost to view.
It was now time to collect my thoughts. | had just
seen a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker; in a tree in
Scalloway. This was obviously a ridiculous notion.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker wasn't on the
Shetland List, and nobody had ever seriously
considered it as a realistic candidate to turn up in
the islands. | was faced with the prospect of a
single-observer record of a completely unlikely
addition to the Shetland List. Was | making some
elementary mistake? The photos on the back of
my camera told me otherwise. | needed a bit of
moral support, so rang Gary Bell. He didn't
answer. My text to him along the lines of “ring me
or get to Scalloway NOW!” prompted him to ring
me back. “Lesser Spot isn’t on the Shetland List is
it?” | enquired. “It's not even on the Scottish List.
Why do you ask?” “Because I've just found one in
Scalloway.” Silence. Given the news just imparted
to him, | assumed Gary was quickly checking for
the phone number of the nearest social worker so
that | could get the help | quite clearly needed. |
went through the events with Gary, and he was
persuaded to set off for Scalloway to help with the
search. | managed to release the news via the
local text grapevine and waited for the inevitable
querying of my sanity. First on the phone was
Dave Okill: “are you joking?” he asked in his dulcet
Scouse tones. Next was a downright rude text
from a BBRC member (no names, but he lives on
Unst) speculating on what sexually-transmitted
disease | had contracted that meant | was visiting
Scalloway Health Centre! Fortunately, after a
couple of hours, the bird was relocated in gardens
not far from the Health Centre, and showed on
and off during the evening and over the following
few days; it was last reported on 19 October.
A minor issue
As can be seen from the accompanying
photographs, identification as Lesser Spotted
Woodpecker was straightforward. With regards to
ageing and sexing of the bird, the combination of
buff forehead patch (as opposed to white), buffy
ear coverts, and rather ill-defined, not-quite-black,
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
October 2012. © Jim Nicolson
streaking on the underparts rendered the bird a
juvenile. The lack of red on the crown meant It
had to be a female.
The British form of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
(Dendrocopos minor comminutus) 1s endemic
and resident, and is restricted to England, Wales
and the Channel Islands; it does not occur in
Scotland or Ireland. It has declined significantly
and very rapidly since around 1980, following a
shallower increase; it had already contracted in
range between the first two atlas periods
(Gibbons et a/. 1993), and has subsequently
disappeared from many more of Its former
localities. The species easily qualifies for the
‘Birds of Conservation Concern Red List’ (Eaton
et al, 2009), and indeed has become so scarce
that all breeding records since 2010 have been
compiled by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. This
subspecies is not known to move any great
Plate 63. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Scalloway, Shetland
719
80
Articles, News & Views
distance, and the likelihood of an English or
Welsh bird suddenly deciding to move
northwards to Shetland seems unlikely.
Cramp (1985) states that up to 20 races of
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker are described for
the Western Palearctic alone, although variation
is probably clinal and only nine races are
generally recognised. Of greatest interest in
relation to the Scalloway bird is the nominate
race (D. m. minor), which breeds in Fenno-
Scandia and from eastern Poland to western
Siberia. Although Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
has been one of the most strongly declining bird
species in Europe, with widespread rapid
decreases since 1980 (Pan-European Common
Bird Monitoring Scheme 2007, 2011), some
populations in Fenno-Scandia have stabilised or
even increased during the last 10 to 15 years,
and this species has been removed from the
national ‘Red Lists’ in both Finland and Norway
(Gohli et a/. 2011).
The race minor is nomadic or partially migratory,
moving into southern parts of the breeding range
or slightly beyond. In some autumns,_ this
movement assumes the character of a small-
scale irruption (thought to be in response to food
shortages or hard weather, and often in
conjunction with larger movements of Great
Spotted Woodpeckers), and during such times
birds may reach the Black Sea, central Europe
and the Netherlands, although always in small
numbers. The largest recorded trruption of Lesser
Spotted Woodpeckers was in the autumn of
1962, when records included 20 at Revtangen
(south-west Norway), 250 at Falsterbo
(southern Sweden), and 40 in Denmark.
Subsequent smaller irruptions in Europe have
been most apparent in the east Baltic region,
although in autumn 1972 birds attributed to
minor were reported from Germany, Switzerland
and the Channel Islands.
Autumn 2012 saw an irruption of Lesser Spotted
Woodpeckers throughout northern Europe;
although precise details are conspicuously
difficult to access, reports on the internet site
Birdforum include several hundred flying west
over the Baltic Sea at Puise (western Estonia) in
late September, and 133 migrating past Hanko
Bird Observatory (Finland) in mid-October.
Interestingly, one was trapped on the Island of
Utsira, off the western coast of Norway (only
about 220 miles from Shetland), the day before
the Scalloway bird was found, although
photographs show that it was a different
individual to that seen in Shetland.
Although circumstantial evidence points to the
Scalloway bird being a continental immigrant,
confidently attributing it to the nominate race
minor (which is not currently on the British List)
is somewhat speculative. To be 100% certain
would have probably involved trapping the bird
and taking biometrics and DNA samples.
However, observations in the field, and
subsequent examination of photographs, do
suggest that it was a minor, based on, amongst
other things, the distinctly buff/off-white
forehead, ear-coverts and underparts, and the
extent of streaking on the underparts. In
addition, nominate minor is slightly larger than
the British race comminutus, and several
observers commented that, although the bird
was obviously small, it did not seem as tiny as
expected; one estimate was that it was perhaps
20% larger than nearby House Sparrows.
33:1 (2013)
Associated arrivals in Shetland
Late autumn 2012 was notable in Shetland for
the appearance of above-average numbers of
other species that had irrupted out of northern
Europe. Blue and Great Tits were to the fore,
with about 17 of the former and 26 of the latter
recorded, including a Blue Tit in Lerwick that had
been ringed in Norway. Large numbers of
Waxwings descended on the islands from late
October onwards, whilst at least three Great
Spotted Woodpeckers and a single Treecreeper
also arrived. At one stage in October, Scalloway
alone held four Blue Tits, four Great Tits, a Great
Spotted Woodpecker and the Lesser Spotted
Woodpecker - a list of birds more reminiscent of
a woodland in southern England rather than a
few wind-blown trees in Shetland!
Status in Scotland
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker has a chequered
history in Scotland. At the time of the publication
of The Birds of Scotland (Forrester et al. 2007),
there was one accepted national record of this
species, involving up to three birds occasionally
visiting a bird-table in a garden next to Duchray
Castle, Aberfoyle (Upper Forth) during September
1968 and January 1970. The birds were
apparently absent during the intervening period,
and were never seen by other observers who
went searching for them. In addition, Forrester et
al. detail a number of other, earlier, unaccepted
records, including reports from Orkney in 1774
and 1823, Dumfries & Galloway in 1860, 1865
and 1905, and Renfrewshire in 1904 (the latter of
which involved a nest with seven eggs which was
subsequently identified as belonging to a
Wryneck). More recently, birds were reported in
Perth & Kinross between 1968 and 1972, and
Badenoch & Strathspey in 1980 and 1982, but
these records were considered open to doubt and
no supporting evidence was ever submitted.
In 2011, as part of its remit to examine older
records, the Scottish Birds Records Committee
(SBRC) announced that, after review, the Upper
Forth reports in 1968 and 1970 were
considered unproven; this resulted in Lesser
Spotted Woodpecker being removed from the
Scottish List (MclInerny 2011). The Scalloway
individual therefore becomes the first Scottish
record, less than a year after this species was
removed from the Scottish List. | doubt
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
anybody would have predicted that its
reinstatement would be so swift!
As a footnote, | never did find myself an Olive-
backed Pipit during the autumn of 2012, although
birders looking for the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
in Scalloway did unearth one there, so my initial
idea was not without merit. Bumbling into a first
for Scotland was, however, ample compensation.
References
Cramp, S. (ed) 1985. The Birds of the
Western Palearctic. Volume 4. Oxford
University Press, Oxford.
Eaton, M.A., Brown, A.F., Noble, D.G.,
Musgrove, AJ., Hearn, R., Aebischer, N.J.,
Gibbons, D.W., Evans, A. & Gregory, R.D.
2009. Birds of Conservation Concern 3: the
population status of birds in the United
Kingdom, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
British Birds 102: 296-341.
Forrester, R.W., Andrews, I.J., Mcinerny, C.J.,
Murray, R.D., McGowan, R.Y., Zonfrillo, B.,
Betts, M.W., Jardine, D.C. & Grundy, D.S.
(eds) 2007. The Birds of Scotland. The
Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, Aberlady.
Gibbons, D.W., Reid, J.B. & Chapman, R.A. 1993.
The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and
Ireland: 1988-1991. T. & A.D. Poyser, London.
Gohli, J., Roer, J.E., Selas, V., Stenberg, I. &
Lislevand, T. 2011. Migrating Lesser Spotted
Woodpeckers Dendrocopos minor along the
coast of southern Norway: where do they
come from? Ornis Fennica 88: 121-128.
MclInerny, C. on behalf of SBRC. 2011. SBRC
Announcement: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Upper Forth 1968-70. Scottish Birds 31: 238.
Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring
Scheme. 2007. The State of Europe's Common
Birds 2007. Czech Society for Ornithology/The
Royal Society for Protection of Birds, Prague.
Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring
Scheme. 2011. Population Trends of Common
European Breeding Birds 2011. Czech Society
for Ornithology, Prague.
This record is subject to acceptance by the
Scottish Birds Rarities Committee.
Rob Fray, Sunnydell, East Shore,
Virkie, Shetland ZE3 9JS.
Jot at dake
PVT WTaAVI(WVWDUN I = ,
IFAS WULF ILC:
81
Detection and identification of
immature drake Black Scoters
N. LITTLEWOOD |
Plate 65. First-winter drake Black Scoter, 19 February 2009, Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada. ©Jukka
Jantunen (www.birdphotos.ca). Early in its second calendar year, the colour tones on this bird's bill are rather
subdued and there is no sign of a raised profile to this basal area. However, the pale area extends to the bill base
and cloaks the upper sides of the basal half. Taken together with the flat-crowned, square-headed profile, a vagrant
at this age should be readily identifiable given sufficient views. Note also that the slender droopy-tip to the bill, set
off with a sharply curved nail, is shown well in this photo.
82
The Blackdog and Murcar coastline, north of
Aberdeen, hit the birding headlines in June 2011
with the detection and identification of a first-
summer drake White-winged Scoter (Baxter et
al. 2011). Although the species had been
mooted as a potential vagrant to Britain, few
people knew what first-summer birds looked
like and it took sharp eyes and some detective
work by the finders to nail the identity. The
month then culminated in the finding of an
adult drake Black Scoter (Littlewood 2011), a
further addition to North-east Scotland's list. This
meant that the site had, in a single month,
notched up all of the world's scoter species that
are currently recognised by the BOURC.
Fast forward to 2012 and, on 14 June, | was
lucky enough to be able to study a group of
Common Scoter that was sat close to shore, a
short way beyond the surf line. Among these
birds, one with rather more extensive yellow
across the bill caught my attention and | soon
realised that it was a Black Scoter. But, rather
than being a return of the adult drake from 201],
this bird was clearly a first-summer drake.
Although this would be the first Western
Palearctic record of a Black Scoter that was not
an adult drake, given these good initial views,
the identification was straightforward. The critical
factor was the extent and shape of yellow on the
upper mandible, with structural features
providing further supporting evidence.
33:1 (2013)
The history of Black Scoter
identification in Europe
The first European Black Scoter was recorded in
the Netherlands in 1954. There have
subsequently been around 45 records spread
from Spain in the south-west up to Finland in
the north-east (Wegst & Kratzer 2010). Prior to
the 2012 Blackdog bird, all records had been of
adult drakes and indeed, even as late as the
early 1990s, some references cautioned that
vagrant Black Scoters could only be identified in
this plumage (e.g. Astins 1992). However,
Alderfer (1992) described how immature males
were sufficiently distinctive to be identified in
their first winter, whilst Waring (1993) provided
features by which even some females might be
detectable. Subsequent to the splitting of Black
Scoter from Common Scoter by the BOURC (see
Collinson et a/. 2006 for a full explanation), the
identification of Black Scoters in immature and
female plumages has been explored by Garner
(2008), whilst further useful pointers and
photographs were provided in the write-up of a
recent adult bird in Northumberland (Bradbury
2011). Meanwhile, Wegst & Kratzer (2010)
provided a comprehensive overview of identifi-
cation in all plumages.
Identification
As with most or all records of adult drake Black
Scoters in the UK, the Blackdog bird of 2012 was
detected and identified primarily on character-
istics of the bill. Crucially, the yellow area
reached back to the bill base and down to a
narrow black border running along the cutting
edge. On adult drakes this coloured bill base
can show an exaggerated convex bulge in
profile. The shape on immature birds is variable,
but usually more subtle. Nonetheless, the
Blackdog bird showed a slightly raised profile to
this basal area, the extent of which perfectly
matched the yellow-orange colouration. Thus it
was very different to the straighter, or slightly
concave, shape shown by Common Scoters
along the greater part of the bill length, with the
coloured portion being more restricted in extent.
Ageing on plumage
The Blackdog bird showed mottled sooty-brown
body feathers, a dark brown crown and hind-
neck with slightly contrasting paler lower cheeks
and fore-neck. Thus the bird somewhat
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
Plate 66. First-summer drake Black Scoter, Blackdog, North-
east Scotland, 14June 2012. © Nick Littlewood. The general
plumage of this bird was not dissimilar to that of an adult
female Common Scoter, although the body was darker and
the pale area on the cheeks and foreneck was less
extensive. The image here also shows the dark chin-strap
that was particularly apparent on this bird.
Plate 67. First-summer drake Black Scoter, Blackdog,
North-east Scotland, 14 June 2012. © Nick Littlewood.
Here two Common Scoters mask much of the Black
Scoter, but the raised profile to the yellow basal area of
the bill is readily apparent.
Plate 68. First-summer drake Common Scoter, Blackdog,
North-east Scotland, 20 May 2012. © Nick Littlewood. This
bird attracted attention due to the rather extensive, triangular
coloured area of the bill. Such birds are not unusual.
Compared to drake Black Scoters of the same age, note that
the coloured portion of the bill does not extend to the bill
base and that the colour tends towards orange rather than
yellow, as is more typical on immature drake Black Scoters.
Scottish Birds | 83
>; News & Views
Plate 69. First-summer drake and three female Black Scoter, Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada, 6 April 2012.
©Jim Martin (www.crazym.ca). The drake is a little more advanced, plumage-wise, than the Blackdog bird, but
shows a very similar bill pattern and profile. Note also that although some females can show more extensive yellow
bill marking than Common Scoter, many do not, and under typical field conditions, these birds would be exceedingly
difficult to detect if found within the normal range of Common Scoter.
84
resembled a female, although the contrast of
paler and darker areas on the face was less
pronounced than in females of both species
which are much cleaner and whiter in the face.
It has been suggested that the plumage of
immature drake Black Scoters develops more
slowly during the first year following hatching
than does that of Common Scoters (Waring
1993). However, this was not especially
apparent in June and July 2012 at Blackdog
when first-summer drake Commons displayed a
variety of plumage stages, including some on
which maturation was less advanced than on
the Black Scoter. First-summer birds typically
show a paler, off-white belly than the flank and
body plumage and this was indeed apparent on
the Blackdog Black Scoter as it preened.
Bill features of immature drake scoters
Early in tts second year of life, the Blackdog Black
Scoter had developed a bill that, whilst not quite
so eye-catching as that of an adult drake,
nonetheless resembled it in most ways. In
particular the coloured area extended back to
the bill base and down to a uniform black
border along the lower edge. The coloured area
appeared mainly yellow, whilst that on the 2011
adult at Blackdog was a rich fiery orange. This
feature is probably to some extent age-related,
with immature birds showing yellow bill bases,
whilst the colour on adults varies from yellow
through to orange.
Immature drake Common Scoters can show a
significant extent of colour. The bird in Plate 68
demanded attention, with the triangular shape
of the bill colour superficially recalling Black
Scoter. However, the coloured area did not
extend far enough down the bill sides for that
species and, most crucially, the entire circum-
ference of the bill base was black. The orange
colour on this first-summer drake Common
Scoter is typical for the species, but differed from
the yellow base of the Black Scoter’s bill, and
may provide a further supporting ape in the
identification of putative birds.
Structure
Drake Black Scoters in all plumages appear to be
bulkier birds than Common Scoters and this is
especially apparent around the head and neck.
In particular, Black Scoters tend to show a
steeper forehead, flatter crown and fuller nape
giving a rather squarer-headed appearance than
is the case with Common Scoters. Furthermore,
the neck of Black Scoter is thicker and does not
give the slender or even sinuous-necked
appearance often given when an alert Common
Scoter raises its head.
It has been suggested that Black Scoters sit
higher on the water than Common Scoters (e.g.
Astins 1992). | have not found this a useful
characteristic to focus on so much as Black
Scoters simply giving an impression of a greater
bulk. Black Scoters are also said to hold their tail
33:1 (2013)
Plate 70. First-summer drake Black Scoter, 15 July 2012,
Sandy Hook National Park, New Jersey, USA. ©Mike
Kolakowski. This bird shows a rather smoother bill profile
than most, but would nonetheless be readily identi-
fiable as a vagrant by the extent of the yellow area.
Note also the stocky, square-headed appearance.
erect in a Ruddy Duck-like manner more so than
do Commons. This habit was certainly noted on
the Blackdog birds in both 2011 and 2012, but
again it is not especially useful as an identifi-
cation feature with Common Scoters frequently
adopting the same position. However, the tail of
Black Scoter is also slightly shorter and _ this
feature is detectable on reasonable field views.
Plate 71.
Articles, News & Views
particular behavioural trait displayed by the first-
summer bird at Blackdog may circumstantially
support the identification of other distant putative
Black Scoters. When interacting with other scoters,
the Blackdog bird was at times seen to adopt a
rather peculiar posture with the head raised and
the bill held open and slanted slightly downwards
for periods of a second or more. This was
commented upon and witnessed several times
(Paul Baxter pers. obs.) and is probably related to
the longer call of Black Scoter. The posture is also
illustrated well for the 2011 Northumberland bird
in Bradbury (2011). Furthermore, the 2012
Blackdog bird was, at times, especially aggressive,
chasing other birds that came close to a female
Common. Scoter with which it, at least
temporarily, appeared to be paired.
aT
q |
An additional potentially very useful trait that
may aid in securing the identification of a Black
Scoter is the apparent propensity for the species
to frequent the surf line (Garner 2008).
Certainly both the 2011 and 2012 Blackdog birds
were rather close to shore when first discovered
though, after the first few days, both
subsequently spent the remainder of their stays
at typical scoter distance.
Female Black Scoter, Walnut Point, Talbot Co., Maryland, 22 August 2006. ©Bill Hubick
(www.billhubick.com). A bird showing some yellow marking along the culmen. Any such birds should be closely
grilled to fully decipher structural features. For more on the identification of female Black Scoters, see Garner
(2008), Waring (1993) and Wegst & Kratzer (2010).
33:1 (2013)
85
Articles, News & Views
identification pitfalls
When faced with the identification of any vagrant
birds, the possibility of variation within a
commoner species needs consideration. This is
particularly the case for Black Scoter. Variation in
the extent of colour on the bills of Common
Scoter, together with the often challenging
conditions under which birds are observed,
necessitates that a candidate Black Scoter needs
to be viewed from a variety of angles, especially
from the side, to ascertain fully the extent and
shape of bill colouration. Common Scoters
showing a greater extent of yellow than typical
birds are not that unusual (one was described by
Garner 1989; see also Wegst & Kratzer 2010).
An adult drake probable hybrid between
Common and Surf Scoter in Moray was
described by Pullan (1998). This bird showed an
entirely orange bill and was apparently reported
at times as a Black Scoter by unsuspecting
viewers. A further bird with an entirely orange bill,
considered possibly to be the same hybrid
combination, was also at Blackdog at the same
time as the 2012 Black Scoter (see Plate 74). This
latter bird developed scattered white nape
feathering later in its stay, supporting tdentifi-
ee
- ma = a
Plate 72. First-summer drake Common. Scoter,
Preston Dock, Lancashire, England, 26 June 2011. ©
Paul Slade. This bird has moulted its head and most
of the body feathers, but still shows juvenile wing
and mantle feathers.
cation as this hybrid combination. Immatures of
this hybrid combination have not been
described, but observers faced with a possible
immature drake Black Scoter should at least bear
in mind the possibility of hybrids showing
extensive pale bill colouration.
Plate 73. First-summer drake Black Scoter, Cape May, New Jersey, USA, 10 July 2009. ©Tony Leukering. Immature
drakes of both species may show a pale belly and, whilst birds rarely show as well as this one, the feature can be
readily seen on preening birds.
86
Scottish Birds
33:1 (2013)
Plate 74. Drake possible hybrid Common x Surf Scoter,
Blackdog, 9 August 2012. ©Nick Littlewood. The
extensively orange bill on such a bird may, at a
distance, recall Black Scoter. However, the similarities
are superficial. As well as structural differences, closer
examination shows that the black lower border to the
bill of a Black Scoter is lacking here. Furthermore, in the
case of this bird at least, white at the bill base and on
the nape further hinted at the likely identity.
identification summary under typical
field conditions
Given good views, immature drake Black Scoters
are relatively straightforward to identify. More
typically, tt is likely that the observer will be faced
with a distant bird among a dense ‘soup’ of
other scoters, often disappearing behind waves
or diving repeatedly. Throw in wind, rain and
poor visibility and the challenge to secure a safe
identification may be considerable. Features of
the bill will still likely draw attention initially to a
putative Black, whilst a bird that is repeatedly
detected and, most importantly, stands out from
the crowd in side-profile as well as head-on
warrants close scrutiny. Structural differences
from Common Scoter, especially around the
head, are usually pretty clear, even at a distance.
Poorly-seen birds may have to be left as
‘possibles’, but, in combination, the features
described here produce a bird that can be
surprisingly distinctive.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Paul Baxter for useful comments
that considerably improved the manuscript.
Thanks also to the photographers credited
alongside the images for permitting their use, to
Lisa Becker for translating parts of Wegst & Kratzer
(2010) and to Rose Toney for proof reading.
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
References
Alderfer, J. 1992. Immature Black Scoters.
Birding World 5: 193-194.
Astins, D. 1992. Identification of Black Scoter.
Birding World 5: 58-59.
Baxter, P., Maggs, H. & Gibbins, C. 2011. The
White-winged Scoter in Aberdeenshire - a new
Scottish bird. Scottish Birds 31: 269-275.
Bradbury, G. 2011. The Black Scoter in
Northumberland. Birding World 24: 154-159.
Collinson, M., Parkin, D.T., Knox, A.G.,
Sangster, G. & Helbig, A.J. 2006. Species
limits within the genus Melanitta, the scoters.
British Birds 99: 183-201.
Garner, M. 2008. Frontiers in Birding.
Birdguides Ltd., Sheffield.
Garner, M.S. 1989. Common Scoter of
nominate race with extensive yellow on Dill.
British Birds 82: 616-618.
Littlewood, N. 2011. Black Scoter at Murcar and
Blackdog, June to August 2011 - a first for
North-east Scotland. Scottish Birds 31:
276-278.
Pullan, D. 1998. Probably hybrid Common x
Surf Scoter. Birding Scotland 1: 88-89.
Waring, D. 1993. Identification forum: female
Black Scoter. Birding World 6: 78-79.
Wegst, C. & Kratzer, D. 2010. Die
Unterscheidung der Pazifiktrauerente
Melanitta americana von der Trauerente /.
nigra. Limicola 24: 192-212.
Nick Littlewood, Aberdeen.
Email: nick.littlewood @hutton.ac.uk
87
; “Plate 7/5y, Laplan
Articles, News & Views
Lapland Buntings
in Scotland in
spring 2011
(with additional
comments on
the autumn 2010
influx)
S.L. RIVERS
wil .
&
May
SIR
2012. © David Davenport
88
This short article is a follow-on from the
previous paper (Rivers & Forsyth 2012) which
documented the record-breaking influx of
Lapland Buntings into Scotland (and Britain) in
autumn 2010. Given the huge numbers of
birds involved in that influx it is not surprising
that the following spring also produced record
numbers in several recording areas, not just the
Northern and Western Isles.
Early winter records in Scotland in 2011
A small number of birds from the 2010 influx
had lingered in Scotland into late November
and December. Consequently several
recording areas reported birds in the following
January and February.
Though none were reported from Shetland or Fair Isle,
on Orkney two were noted at Lairo Water, Shapinsay on
8 January; one at Birsay Links, Mainland on 9 January
and one on North Ronaldsay on 26 February. On the
Outer Hebrides five were still on the Bornish machair
(South Uist) on 1—2 January; five were in a garden on
the Eye Peninsula (Lewis) on 7 January; two at Eochar
(SU) and 10 at Kilpheder (SU) on 9 January; one on
Balemore (North Uist) on 21 January; at least eight were
at Eochar on 30 January.
In Fife up to eight were present on Crail Airfield, Fife Ness
(Fife) during January. In Agyll three were at Oronsay
airstrip, Colonsay on 8 January; two at Ardnave RSPB
Reserve, Islay on 9th and 16 January; one at Saligo Bay,
Islay on 23rd and 27 January and 2 February, and one at
Killinallan, Islay on 2 February. Two were at Priestside,
near Dumfries (D&G) on 20-21 February and one at
Caerlaverock WWT Reserve (D&G) on 27 February.
Spring records in Scotland in 2011
Mid-March saw a number of birds beginning to
move north again, particularly on the west
coast areas of Argyll and the Outer Hebrides.
The biggest numbers occurred in mid to late
April, with a few noted in early May and the last
was one still on Fair Isle on 29 May.
Shetland: one was at Copister, Yell on 26 March. There
were 10 at Quendale, South Mainland on 15-16 April;
10 at Virkie, South Mainland on 16 April; a male at
Haroldswick, Unst on 17th; five at Lamba Ness, Unst on
20th, 15 at Quendale and 17 at Virkie on 20—21st; three
on Foula on 21st; four there on 22nd plus one at Skaw,
Whalsay; five at Uyeasound, Unst on 24th; three there
on 25th plus two on Foula, and one on Foula on 28
April. In May singles were at Cullivoe, Yell and Westing,
Unst on Ist; one at Baltasound, Unst on 3rd; two on
Foula on 6th; one at Northdale, Unst on 9th, and finally
one on Foula on 17 May.
33:1 (2013)
The count of 17 birds at Virkie in April constitutes the
highest spring site counts recorded in Shetland. The
previous highest counts were of five birds on Foula on 10
May 1954, and four on Fetlar on 30 April 1977.
Fair Isle: singles were noted on 6 March and 18-21
March. In April there was one on 2—3rd; up to two on
4—6th; one on 9—10th; up to three on 11—12th; up to
five on 15—17th; up to nine on 19th; two on 20th; six on
21st; 10 on 22nd; two on 24th; three on 25—26th; 14 on
28th; 10 on 29th; and nine on 30th. In May eight were
seen on Ist; six on 2nd; two on 4th; and then singles
noted on 8—9th, 11th and 21—29 May.
The count of 14 birds on 28 April is a new record spring
day count for the island. The previous highest count was
of six on 24 April 1961 and 23rd and 26 April 1988.
Orkney: on North Ronaldsay one was seen intermittently
during March, with an influx of 16 birds on 30th and 20
present on 31 March. There were peak counts on North
Ronaldsay of 65+ birds on 10 April and of 75 on 14 April,
with ‘up to 40’ noted on several other dates mid-month.
Five were present on 1 May and two on 4—5 May.
Elsewhere on the islands there was one on Egilsay on 8
April; one at South Ronaldsay on 12th; 15 at Loch of
Tankerness, Mainland on 13th, one near Stromness,
Mainland on 15-16 April; four at South Walls, Hoy on
16th; two on Egilsay on 17 April; one on Burray the same
day; five at The Gloup, Deerness on 21st, a summer-
plumaged female on Westray on 28 April, and one was
at Loch of Skaill, Mainland on 1 May.
The count of 75 birds on North Ronaldsay on14 April
vastly exceeds the previous spring highest day counts
on North Ronaldsay (and Orkney/ Scotland) of seven
birds on 25 April 1988 and 30 March 2008, and is a
new record spring site count for these recording areas
and for Scotland.
Outer Hebrides: there were reports of returning birds
from 13 March when two were seen at Eochar (South
Uist), with five there on 20th, and seven at Butt of Lewis
(Lewis) on 26 March - a new peak count for the month.
Birds were noted throughout April with highest counts
from Balranald (North Uist) peaking at 54 on 19th, with
two nearby at Aird an Runair and 21 at Drimsdale (SU),
the same day. Elsewhere there were two at Peninerine
(SU) and three at Culla Bay (Benbecula) on 2nd; six at
Ardvule and seven at Askernish (both SU), on 12th; two
at Grenitote (NU), and singles at Barvas and Breinish
(both Lew), on 15th; 10 at Clachan (NU) on 17th; one
at Eoropie on 18th; three at Siadar on 20th; and one at
Butt of Lewis (all Lew) on 23rd; one at Rubha Ardvule
and six at Drimsdale (both SU), on 26th; two at Siadar
on 28th; a singing male at Labost (Lew) on 29th and a
female at Butt of Lewis on 30th. The last sightings were
singles at Balranald (NU) on Ist and 5 May, and Siadar,
Lewis on 4 May
The 54 birds at Balranald on 19 April constitute a new
spring site count record for the Outer Hebrides. The
previous highest ‘spring’ counts had been four at
33:1 (2013)
Articles, News & Views
Balranald (NU) on 29 April 1989, and four near Loch
Carnan (SU) on 24 January 1997.
Highland: a female was at Kirkton Bay, Lochalsh on 28
March; a male at Kildonan, Isle of Eigg on 3—6 April (first
island record); a male at Achnahaird Campsite, Enard Bay
on 10th; one at Morefield, near Ullapool on 13th; a male
at Elgol, Skye on 13 April, with three males and a female
there on 14-16 April at least; a female at Corntown, near
Conon Bridge on 17th; one at Achiltibuie on 19th; two at
Traigh House, 4 miles SSW of Mallaig on 23 April, and
two were reported at Broadford, Skye on 25 April.
The four birds at Elgol, Skye on 14-16 April constitute a
new highest spring site count for the recording area. Two
at Glen Goibhre, on 1 February 1987 was the previous
largest first-half of the year count.
Moray & Nairn: three were at Spey Bay on 15 April - a
new record spring site count for the recording area,
exceeding two birds seen near Aldunie, Cabrach on 21
March 1988.
Perth & Kinross: six were near Carn na Gabhar, Beinn a’
Ghlo on 10 April. This constitutes a new record day count
for the recording area.
Argyll: one was present around Oronsay airstrip,
Colonsay from 9-12 March, and three were at Loch
Gruinart, Islay on 28 March. In April one was at
Balephetrish, Tiree on 11th; one at Traigh nan Gilean,
Tiree on 12th; two at Loch a’ Phuill, Tiree on 24th, and
one at Ardnave RSPB Reserve, Islay on 28 April. One was
present at Heylipol Church, Tiree on 1—9 May.
A count of at least four at Kilchoman, Islay on 6 April
1988 remains the highest spring site count for the
recording area.
Clyde Islands: four were at St. Ninian’s Bay, Isle of Bute
on 10 April - the first sighting for the recording area.
Additional autumn 2010 records
Moray & Nairn: A sighting of six birds at
Inchrory, Glen Avon on 10 November 2010 was
still being assessed by the local records
committee at the time the previous paper was
written but has now been accepted. It
constitutes the highest day count for the
recording area, just exceeding the previous
record of five at Spey Bay on 19 October 1977.
Scale of the 2010/11 Lapland Bunting
influx
It is no surprise to find that several recording
areas in England, Wales and Ireland also
experienced record numbers of Lapland
Buntings during the 2010/11 influx. The nine
recording areas in England with new record
89
90
Articles, News & Views
site counts are all from the south-west of the
country or the south coast, plus five inland
counties/recording areas, while only four of
the 14 Welsh recording areas plus the Isle of
Man also returned new peak counts
(Pennington et a/. 2012).
The description of the 1993/94 influx of
Lapland Buntings in Birds in England (Brown
& Grice 2005) omitted details of birds noted
on the English east coast, particularly at
Flamborough Head, Yorkshire (lan Wallace in
litt.). This arrival involved birds of
Scandinavian/Russian origin and was
correlated with large movements seen in
continental Europe. Sightings at Flamborough
occurred from 11 September 1993 to 27
March 1994 with a peak count of 416 birds on
28 October and an overall bird-days total of
2,334 sightings. The total number of birds in
Yorkshire alone in this period was conserva-
tively estimated at 1,500-—2,000 individuals
(Flamborough Ornithological Group Report
1993; lan Wallace in /itt.). While it is clear that
the 2010/11 influx brought the greatest
number of birds ever recorded in Scotland, this
may not be the case in England. Given the
number of birds involved in the arrival in
1993/94, and that fewer than a quarter of
English recording areas (9/42) had a new
record site day-count during the 2010/11
influx (Pennington et a/ 2012), it would
appear very likely that the former event
brought higher numbers to England. However,
the number of birds present in Scotland during
the winter of 1993/94 was calculated to be
below 100 birds (Forrester et a/, 2007), with
only North-east Scotland experiencing high
totals in that period. Though Lincolnshire,
Norfolk, Kent and counties from Dorset to
Cornwall, plus the Isles of Scilly also had
exceptional numbers during the 1993/94
influx, none recorded totals in excess of 110
birds. Therefore, it appears that the influx of
2010/11 was indeed the largest recorded in
Britain, albeit from a different vector and
population than that in 1993/94.
The influx did not just involve birds reaching
Britain, and the true enormity of the
movement is more apparent from the fact
that sites in Iceland, southern Norway,
Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Spain and
Poland all experienced record numbers of
birds (Pennington et a/. 2012, Yésou 2013,
Lawicki 2013).
Acknowledgements
My thanks to all the Scottish bird recorders who
provided details on the numbers of Lapland
Buntings in their respective areas during the
2010/11 influx, and to Angus Murray for
information from Birdline Scotland records. | am
particularly grateful to lan Wallace for drawing
my attention to the extent of the Lapland
Bunting influx of 1993/94 in England, and in
particular for details of numbers at
Flamborough and elsewhere in Yorkshire.
Stuart L. Rivers, Edinburgh
Crmril- clr han_antarAQbliiavn . rk
Email: sir.bee-eater @blueyonder.co.uk
References
Brown, A. & Grice, P. 2005. Birds in England.
Poyser, London.
Forrester, R.W., Andrews, IJ., Mclnerny, C.J.,
Murray, R., McGowan, R.Y., Zonfrillo, B.,
Betts, M.W., Jardine, D.C. & Grundy, D.
2007. The Birds of Scotland. SOC, Aberlady.
Lawicki, L. 2013. The Lapland Bunting influx in
central Europe in 2010/11. British Birds 106:
45-47.
Pennington, M.G., Riddington, R. & Miles, W.T.S.
2013. The Lapland Bunting influx in Britain &
lreland in 2010/11. British Birds 105: 654-673.
Yésou, P. 2013. The Lapland Bunting influx in
France in 2010/11. British Birds 106: 45.
33:1 (2013)
S.L. RIVERS
Records in Scottish Bird
Sightings are published for
interest only. All records are
subject to acceptance by the
relevant records committee.
The following abbreviations for
recording areas are used: Angus
& Dundee - A&D; Argyll - Arg;
Ayrshire - Ayrs; Borders - Bord;
Caithness - Caith; Dumfries &
Galloway D&G; Highland - High;
Lothian - Loth; Moray & Nairn -
M&N; North-East Scotland - NES;
Outer Hebrides - OH; Perth &
Kinross - P&K; Shetland - Shet;
Upper Forth - UF.
The momentum of autumn
migration continued unabated from
September. Once again the Northern
and Western Isles picked up most of
the rarities, including a_ rather
unexpected first for Scotland, but the
mainland was not — entirely
unrewarded. On Shetland there were
exceptional numbers of Olive-backed
Pipits from mid-October to early
November and of Hornemann’s
Arctic Redpolls from October into
December. Also unusual for those
islands was the widespread arrival of
Blue Tits and Great Tits in mid-
October, some lingering to the end of
December. Similarly unexpected was
a large influx of Long-tailed Tits noted
in Orkney, Highland, Argyll and the
Outer Hebrides.
Ross's Goose: one was seen at
Loaningfoot, near Southerness Point
(D&G) on 24 November. Snow
Goose: two white-phase birds were
at Coull, Islay (Arg) on 2—3 October;
one was near Stromness (Ork) in
mid-October, with up to three
different birds on Orkney in
November; two white-phase_ birds
were in the Balranald/Knockintorran
33:1 (2013)
area, North Uist (OH) from 18
October to 18 December at least. A
blue-phase bird was noted near Loch
Gruinart, Islay (Arg) on 1 November,
and one at Skinnet/Halkirk, near
Thurso (Caith) on 29 November to 2
December. Vagrant Canada Geese:
presumed Nearctic birds were noted
as follows - a Lesser (race parvipes)
was at Loch Gruinart, Islay (Arg) from
3 October, with a Richardson's (race
hutchinsi) there as well from 4th.
Five Autchinsii were at Loch Indaal,
Islay on 23 October, with four there
and one at Gruinart on 27 October,
one in the Gruinart area throughout
November, and at least two still on
the island in December. A
Richardson's was near Tayinloan,
Kintyre (Arg) on 1-2 November, with
it or another at Kilchenzie, near
Campbeltown, Mull of Kintyre from
22 November to 24 December at
least. A Richardson’s was on
Berneray, North Uist (OH) on 14-15
November, and one was near
Kirkbean (D&G) on 16 November,
with it or another on Preston Merse
near Loaningfoot/ Southerness Point
(D&G) from mid-November to 22
December at least. A Todd's (race
interior) was in coastal fields
between Rhunahaorine — and
Tayinloan, Kintyre at the end of
October, with it or another near
Campbeltown, Mull of Kintyre on 20
December. Four were on Islay from
end October to mid-November, and
an adult Todd's was NW of
Southerness Point at the end of
December. Red-breasted Goose:
an adult was on Islay (Arg) from 21
October to end December; an adult
was at Preston Merse near
Loaningfoot/Southerness Point
(D&G) from 19-31 December.
Mandarin: an unusual record was a
drake on Loch Leodasay, Clachan on
Scottish Bird Sightings
3 December before relocating to
Baleshare, both North Uist (OH)
from 7-31 December. American
Wigeon: a drake was on Loch Bee,
South Uist (OH) on 4 October, and
again on 24-28 October; a drake
was at Kirk Loch, Lochmaben (D&G)
on 13 October to 2 November; one
was at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB
Reserve, (NES) from 31 October to 5
November and again from 3
December to the end of the year; a
drake was at St. John’s Loch, near
Dunnet (Caith) from 3-18
November. A drake was at Udale Bay
(High) on 24-31 December. Green-
winged Teal: single drakes were
noted as follows: at Kinneil (UF) on 5
October; on Shapinsay (Ork) on 12
November; at Loch of Strathbeg
RSPB Reserve from 18 November;
on Loch a’ Phuill, Tiree (Arg) from
18-21 November; on Loch of
Kinnordy RSPB Reserve (A&D) on 22
November; on Loch Mor/Loch
Sandary, Baleshare, North Uist (OH)
on 3-31 December, and _ at
Caerlaverock WWT Reserve during
November and again from 23-31
December. Black Duck: the
presumed returning drake was at
Loch Sunart, Strontian (High) on
23-28 December at least. Blue-
winged Teal: a drake was seen at
Threave (D&G) irregularly from 29
November to the end of December.
Ring-necked Duck: a female was at
Loch a’ Phuill, Tiree (Arg) on 19
October; an immature was on Loch
Holsta, North Uist (OH) on 6
November and 28 November to 2
December at least; a drake was at
Loch Alvie, near Aviemore (High) on
7—8 November, and a drake at Loch
Watten, near Lynegar (Caith) on 10
November. Lesser Scaup: two drakes
were at Loch Watten, near Lynegar
(Caith) on 10 November, with one
91
92
Scottish Bird Sightings
remaining to 13th, and one or other at
St John’s Loch, near Dunnet (Caith)
on 18 November. A drake was at
Soulseat Loch, near Castle Kennedy
(D&G) on 26 November, and a first-
winter female at Loch of Ayre, St
Mary's (Ork) from 20 December to
2013. King Eider: a drake lingered off
Burghead (M&N) from September to
at least 27 December; a drake was at
Rosehearty (NES) on 29-31
December, and a near-adult drake
was at Symbister, Whalsay (Shet) on
31 December. Surf Scoter: the bird at
Muckle Roe, Central Mainland (Shet)
remained from September to 3
October; a juvenile was at Bunessan
Bay, Mull (Arg) on 1 October; a drake
was in Inganess Bay and Kirkwall Bay
(Ork) from 17-19 October at least. In
Fife a drake was in Largo Bay from 13
October to the end of December, and
one flew past Kinghorn on 17
December; a female was off Embo
(High) on 27-29 October, and an
immature bird was at Loch na Reivil,
North Uist (OH) from 29 November
to 10 December at least.
a“
Scottish Birds
“ South “Uist
Plates 76-77. Gyrfalcon, Kilpheder,
Outer Hebrides,
December 2012. © John Kemp
Black-browed Albatross: one flew
past Frenchman's Rocks, Islay (Arg)
on 8 November. Eurasian Bittern:
one was at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB
Reserve (NES) from 4 November;
one at Loch of Kinnordy RSPB
Reserve (A&D) from 16 November,
and one at Castle Loch LNR, near
Lochmaben (D&G) from at least 24
December to 2013. Cattle Egret: the
bird at Kilmuir Church/ Balranald,
North Uist (OH) in September
remained to 4 October. Little Egret:
in October one was noted at the
Eden Estuary (Fife) on several dates,
one on the River Don, Aberdeen on
13 October; at least four were in D&G
at the end of October and throughout
November, with at least two still in
December. In Lothian there was one
in Belhaven Bay, Dunbar (Loth) from
10-29 November, one at
Musselburgh on 2 December with at
least two at Tyninghame Bay, near
Dunbar from 14 December. One was
at Skinflats (UF) on 16 December.
Pied-billed Grebe: a 1st-winter bird
was at Loch Smerclate/Loch na Bagh,
South Uist (OH) on 26-30
November and 5-10 December.
Hobby: one was on Yell (Shet) on
19 October. Gyrfalcon: a white-
phase bird was at Bornish, South Uist
(OH) on 18 November, presumably
the same bird was at Balranald,
North Uist (OH) on 1 December,
Ardivachar, South Uist on 3
December, Balranald/Baleshare on
11 December, while another [on
plumage] was at Loch Paible, North
Uist on 16 December, then
Kilpbheder and Orosay, South Uist on
17—18th. A dead white-phase bird
was found at Eoligarry, Barra (OH)
on 1 December. One was at Mull
Head, Deerness (Ork) on 13
December, with presumably the
same juvenile bird near Stromness.
Water Works on 22 December.
Spotted Crake: one was on Foula
(Shet) on 13-14 October. American
Coot: one was seen near Daliburgh,
South Uist on 26 November.
American Golden Plover: on
Shetland one remained at
Veensgarth, Central Mainland from
September to 10 October, and one
was at Tingwall, Central Mainland on
12-13 October; on Orkney one
lingered on North Ronaldsay from
September to 29 October, with a
juvenile at The Loons, Marwick,
Mainland on 5 October. About seven
to nine birds were present.on the
Outer Hebrides in October; a
juvenile was at Barrapol/Sandaig,
Tiree (Arg) on 1—9 October, and one
lingered from September to 13
October at The Wig, and then Kirk
Loch, Lochmaben (both D&G).
White-rumped Sandpiper: a
juvenile was at Northton, Harris
(OH) on 18 October, and a juvenile
at Brora (High) on 28-30 October.
Baird's Sandpiper: one was
reported at Northton, Harris (OH) on
19 October, and one was at
Baltasound, Unst (Shet) on 26
November. Pectoral Sandpiper: on
the Outer Hebrides about seven
different birds were seen in the first
half of October, including three at
Loch Grogarry, North Uist between
2-7th. Buff-breasted Sandpiper:
two remained at Loch of Strathbeg
RSPB Reserve (NES) from
September to 5 October; singles
33:1 (2013)
were at Aberlady Bay (Loth) on 13
October and at Loch Hempriggs,
near Wick (Caith) on 14 October.
Long-billed Dowitcher: a juvenile
was at Loch Grogarry, North Uist
(OH) from 4—8 October; a juvenile
was in the Baleshare area, North
Uist, on 23rd and 26 October, with
presumably the same individual also
seen on 11th and 16 November.
Spotted Sandpiper: a juvenile
remained at Lower Voe, Central
Mainland (Shet) from September to
2 October. Lesser Yellowlegs: One
was at Little Kilmory, Isle of Bute
(Arg) on 1-3 October.
Bonaparte’s Gull: an adult was off
Rubha Reidh, near Melvaig (High) on
16 October. Laughing Gull: a
second-winter at Rosehearty (NES)
from 19-31 December also visited
Phingask Bay, Fraserburgh (NES) on
29 December. Mediterranean Gull:
a good series of sightings away from
the usual Firth of Forth hotspots
included: an adult near St. Mary's,
Holm (Ork) on 1-3 October with it
or another at Graemeshall Loch,
Holm on 4 November and an adult
at Stromness (Ork) the same date.
An adult was at Burghead (M&N) on
7 October; a second-winter at
Blackdog (NES) on 24 November; an
adult at Rosehearty (NES) on 20th
and 29 December, a second-winter
at Lunan Bay (A&D) on 25 October,
with one at Arbroath (A&D) on 2
December, and one was at
Kilconguhar Loch (Fife) on 30
November. In Upper Forth one was
at Blackness on 7 October and
Kinneil occasionally during the
month, and one was just north of
Stenhousemuir on 18 November. In
Lothian one was at Dunbar on 15
December, and one at Dirleton on
16 December. In Argyll one was at
Machair Bay, Islay on 21 October, a
first-winter was on Islay on 22
October and an adult was at
Lochgilphead (Arg) on 1-2
December. In Ayrshire one was at
Maidens on 14 October, with two
there on 16-18 October, six at Largs
on 6 November, one at Doonfoot on
8th and 28 November, an adult at
Barassie from 18 December to 2013,
33:1 (2013)
an adult and a first-winter were at
Doonfoot on 29 December, and a
first-winter was near Tarbolton on 30
December. One was at Soleburn
/Loch Ryan (D&G) throughout
October and again on 10-11
November, with it or another nearby
at Stranraer in November and
December. Ring-billed Gull: the
presumed returning adult was
present at Kinneil Lagoon (UF) to 16
October. Glaucous Gull: earliest
records in the period included singles
on Yell and on Unst (both Shet) on 4
October; on Fair Isle on 9 October;
on North Ronaldsay (Ork) on 12
October; at Eoropie, Lewis (OH) on
13 October, and one at Machir Bay,
Islay (Arg) on 7 October. Fairly
widespread in northern and western
areas by November, but numbers still
scarce. Iceland Gull: virtually none
were reported in October, but did
include one on North Ronaldsay on
1-2 October. Reported in small
numbers in north in November, and
rather more numerous and
widespread by late December.
Turtle Dove: reports included one at
Huxter, West Mainland (Shet) on 5
October, and up to four birds present
on the Outer Hebrides in the first half
of October. Hoopoe: one was on Out
Skerries (Shet) on 14 October, with it
or another on Whalsay (Shet) on 1-3
November. Wryneck: one was. at
Barns Ness (Loth) on 1-3 October,
and one at Helendale, Lerwick (Shet)
on 21 October. Lesser Spotted
Woodpecker: a first-winter female
was at Scalloway, Central Mainland
(Shet) on 15-19 October - the first
record for Scotland since the species
removal from the Scottish list after an
SBRC review in 2011. Its arrival
coincided with an influx of Blue Tits
and Great Tits to Shetland. Golden
Oriole: one was at Sandness, West
Mainland (Shet) on 18-20 August,
one on North Ronaldsay (Ork) on 20
August, with another at Ollaberry,
North Mainland (Shet) on 10
September. Isabelline Shrike: one
remained near Toab, South Mainland
_ (Shet) from September to 5 October.
Red-backed Shrike: on Shetland
singles were at Sandwick, South
Scottish Bird Sightings
Mainland on 1-3 October, Grutness,
South Mainland on 5-6th and
Whalsay on 14-16 October. A
juvenile was at Eoropie, Lewis (OH)
on 7 October. Great Grey Shrike:
one was on Fair Isle on 11-18
October, and one at Baltasound, Unst
(Shet) on 14 October.
Firecrest: one was at Gartantoid,
Loch Gruinart, Islay (Arg) on 14
October; one at Loch of Strathbeg
RSPB Reserve, (NES) on 14 October;
one at Lunan Bay (A&D) on 18
October; one at Tobermory, Isle of
Mull (Arg) on 13 November; and one
at = Oldi Kimond--(NES) on 231
December. Blue Tit: an exceptional
influx occurred on Shetland with birds
reported widely: the first were two at
Vidlin, Central Mainland on 14
October, but reports continued to the
end of the year, mostly ones and
twos, but with a peak count of up to
12 at Vidlin on 21 December. One
was on Fair Isle on 24—28 October
(first there since 1989), and singles
on Orkney near Loch of Tankerness,
Mainland on 31 October, on St.
Margaret's Hope, South Ronaldsay
from 7 November into December,
and on Stronsay in December. Great
Tit: exceptional numbers were noted
on the Northern Isles. On Shetland
the first were two on Out Skerries
(Shet) on 14 October, and reports
continued to the end of the year,
mostly singles but with a peak count
of four at Scalloway, Central Mainland
on 19 October. One on Fair Isle on
13-17 October was joined by a
second from 18th to at least 28
October, with one still on the island
throughout November — and
December. On Orkney there was one
on Sanday and a male on Shapinsay
during December. Woodlark: one
was on Fair Isle on 16-31 October,
and a first-winter on the Isle of Eigg
(High) on 27-28 October. Red-
rumped Swallow: three were
reported at Addiewell railway station
(Loth) on 20 October; a first-year was
at Mirbister, Harray (Ork) on 22
October, and one at Blackness
(UF/Loth) on 3—4 November. Long-
tailed Tit: unusual numbers (dark-
headed subspecies) were noted
93
PI
Scottish Bird Sightings
oN ii ee ge
ate 78. Woodlark, Isle of Eigg, Highland, October 2012. © Bob McMillan
outside the normal range, with
singles on Shetland from 1-11
October. Larger numbers were noted
on Orkney with three at Windwick,
South Ronaldsay from 11 October,
followed by up to six there on 16th,
up to eight at Langskaill Plantation,
Tankerness on 22nd, at least six at
Binscarth Wood/Finstown on 3-9
November, 10+ there on 17th, five
still on 18 November, and then birds
present at Finstown to 1 December,
three at Echnaloch Bay, Burray on
5th, and five in Kirkwall on 6-26
December at least. A notable influx of
birds occurred on the Outer
Hebrides, starting with a group of at
least six on Barra on 11 October, peak
counts of 20+ on Barra on 15-18th
and 20 at Northton, Harris on 17-18
October, and 12 in Stornoway on 5
November, and the last report was of
a group of four at Loch Eynort, South
Uist on 9 December. On Skye (High)
a flock of nine was at Ose on 20
October, c10 at Caroy on 22 October,
24 at Kyleakin on 25 October and 6
November. Many more than usual
were noted in Argyll, with up to 38 on
Tiree on 14 October.
Greenish Warbler: one was on Out
Skerries (Shet) on 18 August, and
one at Norwick, Unst (Shet) on
23-24 September; one was on
North Ronaldsay (Ork) on 14-15
August. Arctic Warbler: one was on
Fair Isle on 2 October; one was at
Ronas Voe, North Mainland (Shet)
on 21-22 October, and one at
Helendale, Lerwick (Shet) on 6-11
Cer tdhnen te Dia
94 | Scottish Birds
ieee
November. Pallas’s Leaf Warbler:
one was at Hatton Water Works, near
East Haven (A&D) on 12-15
October, one at Easter Muchalls,
(NES) on 13-15 October, and one
on Rousay (Ork) on 10 November.
Yellow-browed Warbler: up to 40
birds were noted in Shetland to mid-
~ October, with a late bird at Brae,
Central Mainland on 3 November.
Up to 11 birds were on Fair Isle
between 1—24 October; on Orkney
up to six were on North Ronaldsay
between 5-23 October, plus singles
at Deerness, Mainland on 15
October and at Windwick, South
Ronaldsay on 18-20 October. At
least a dozen were seen on the
Outer Hebrides up to 19 October,
and in Argyll one was at Balephulll,
Tiree on 3—5 October, another there
on 13-19 October; one at
Gartantoid, Loch Gruinart, Islay on 14
October, one at Port Charlotte, Islay
on 26 October and one at Erasaid,
Islay on 31 October to 2 November.
Elsewhere in October, at least four
were seen in NE Scotland: about six
in Angus & Dundee, two were at Fife
Ness (Fife) on 12 October, with up to
eight individuals between Crail and
“the Patch” in mid-month; singles in
Lothian at Skateraw and Barns Ness
on 12th, at Scoughall on 23rd and at
Barns Ness again on 24 October.
Hume’s Warbler: singles were at
Norwick, Unst on 16-17th and 24
October; one was on Fair Isle on
17-18 October. Dusky Warbler: on
Shetland one was at Symbister,
Whalsay on 12 October, one at
Sandwick, South Mainland on 19th,
and one at Sumburgh, South
Mainland on 20 October. Radde’s
Warbler: two were at Kilminning, Fife
Ness (Fife) on 18-19 October, with
one still on 20—21st, and one was at
Lunan Bay (A&D) on 18-21 October.
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler: one
was on Fair Isle on 3 October.
Lanceolated Warbler: an unringed
bird was on Fair Isle on 2 October,
with a ringed bird [t&r Fair Isle 26
September] relocated on 3-10
October, and seen again on 16-20
and 22 October. One was trapped on
North Ronaldsay (Ork) on 17
October. Eastern Olivaceous
Warbler: a first-winter was at
Kilminning, Fife Ness (Fife) from 14
October to 20 November - a new
record longest stay for this species in
Britain, and only the second on the
Scottish mainland. Paddyfield
Warbler: one remained on Fair Isle
from September to 1 October. Blyth’s
Reed Warbler: one remained at
Hametoun, Foula (Shet) to 2
October; one remained on Fair Isle
from September to 1 October; one
was in a garden at Bornish, South Uist
(OH) on 2 October; one was on
North Ronaldsay (Ork) on 9 October;
one was on Fair Isle on 11 October;
one at Dale of Walls, West Mainland
(Shet) on 12 October; one at
Northbay, Barra (OH) on 16 October,
and one near Inverness (High) on 20
October. Marsh Warbler: singles
were at Thorntonloch (Loth) on 3
October, and on North Ronaldsay
(Ork) on 5-6 October. Eurasian
Reed Warbler: a bird showing some
features of the ‘Caspian’ race fuscus
was at Kergord, Central Mainland
(Shet) on 4-5 November. Great
Reed Warbler: one was at Rerwick,
South Mainland (Shet) on 5 October.
Barred Warbler: in Shetland up to 11
were seen in October, and one at
Kergord, Central Mainland on 4
November. One was on Fair Isle on 5
October; while in Orkney one was on
North Ronaldsay. (Ork) on 11
October, one on South Ronaldsay on
16 October, and one at Tankerness,
Mainland on 4 November. Up to
eight were found on the Outer
33:1 (2013)
Hebrides in October, including two
on Barra on 7th. Elsewhere one was
at Barns Ness (Loth) on 2-3
October, one at Thorntonloch (Loth)
on 7th; one at Burnmouth (Bord):
two were at Fife Ness in the latter half
of October; one was at Portlethen
(NES) on 27 October; one at
Kilminning, Fife Ness (Fife) on 4-14
November; and one at Balephuil,
Tiree (Arg) on 16 November.
Waxwing: the earliest report of the
autumn was one at Quoyangry,
South Ronaldsay (Ork) on 10
October. The first on Shetland was
one at Norwick, Unst on 14 October,
though the main arrival was not until
late October and early November,
with up to 130 in Lerwick on 30
October. The first autumn birds on
Fair Isle and North Ronaldsay (Ork)
both arrived on 19 October. The
peak count on Orkney was of 150+
birds at Stromness on 3 November.
A notable influx occurred on the
Outer Hebrides, with the first bird at
Gleann/Brevig, Barra on 17 October,
a peak count of 350 birds at
Stornoway, Lewis on 4 November,
and the last sighting was of one at
South Glendale, South Uist on 26
December. Elsewhere the first arrival
in NE Scotland was one at Edzell on
24 October, in Lothian at Haddington
on 25 October, and in Argyll was on
Tiree on 28 October. Large counts
included about 1,000 at Kyle of
Lochalsh (High) on 12 November,
with 780 there on 17 November,
600 at Ullapool (High) on 22-23
November, 600 in Glasgow on 22
November, and 424 in Aberdeen
(NES) on 10 November. In
December high counts included up
to 800 at the Eastern Cemetery,
Dundee (A&D); 200+ at Annan and
Minigaff (both D&G); 200+ in
Corstorphine, Edinburgh (Loth) and
100 at Wester Hailes, Edinburgh on
29 December. Nuthatch: one at
Inverawe, near Taynuilt (Arg) on 8
November was well outside the
normal ‘core’ area, but one in
gardens at Dollar, Clacks (UF) during
November, two in Dunblane (UF) on -
and one at
(UR om =
29 November,
Blairdrummond
33:1 (2013)
December may indicate northward
range expansion in Central Scotland,
rather than ‘lost’ individuals. Black-
bellied Dipper: one was at
Gulberwick, South Mainland (Shet)
on 3—16 November.
White’s Thrush: one was. at
Creachan, Barra (OH) on 13
October. Swainson’s Thrush: one at
Morghan, Barra (OH), on 2-3
October was relocated at Creachan,
Barra on 4th. Siberian Thrush: a
male was seen briefly at West Heath,
Holm, Mainland (Ork) on 14
October. Eyebrowed Thrush: one
was on Foula (Shet) on 13 October.
Black-throated Thrush: a first-winter
male was on Fair Isle on 6 October;
and one was near Loch of Benston,
Central Mainland (Shet) on 1
December. Bluethroat: up to eight
were on Shetland in October; one
remained on Fair Isle from
September to 1 October, with
another there on 30-31 October;
and two were present on North
Ronaldsay (Ork) on 11-12 October.
Siberian Rubythroat: a female was
present around Schoolton, Fair Isle
from 23 October to 3 November.
Red-breasted Flycatcher: up to
nine were present on Shetland in
October, plus one on Fair Isle on 11
October; on Orkney singles were on
North Ronaldsay on 8th and 20
October; at least five were noted on
the Outer Hebrides in the first half of
October, with a high count of three
on Barra on 6th. Elsewhere singles
were at Balephuill, Tiree (Arg) on 13
October and Ballinoe, Tiree on 20
October [first and second island
records]: one at Balmedie CP (NES)
on 13th, two at Fife Ness (Fife) from
14 October; one at Mains of Usan
(A&D) on 14th, and one at Easter
Muchalls (NES) on 15 October.
Siberian Stonechat: on Shetland
one remained at Sandwick
/Hoswick, South Mainland from
September to 8 October, another
was at Mioness, Out Skerries on 1
October, and one was at Norwick,
Unst, on 29 October. Pied
Wheatear: one was at Quendale,
South Mainland on 23 October and
then at Virkie, South Mainland
Scottish Bird Sightings
(Shet), on 24th. Desert Wheatear: a
female was at Rattray Head (NES)
on 2—31 December.
Citrine Wagtail: one was on Fair Isle
on 5 October. Richard's Pipit: on
Shetland singles were noted on Fetlar
on 2nd and 10 October, at Norwick,
Unst on 12 October, at Quendale and
Sumburgh (both South Mainland) on
13th, at Old Scatness, South Mainland
on 19th, and one was on Foula on 27
October. On Fair Isle up to three
different birds were noted from 1-10
October. Three were near Burwick,
South Ronaldsay (Ork) on 14
October. One was at Fishtown of
Usan (A&D) on 13 October; one was
at Barns Ness (Loth) on 15
November, and one was at Loch
Ordais, Lewis (OH) on 25-26
December. Olive-backed Pipit: on
Shetland singles were at
Northmavine, North Mainland, at
Quendale and at Brake, both South
Mainland on 13 October, and at
Haroldswick, Unst on 13-15 October;
at Vidlin, Central Mainland, and at
Levenwick and Old Scatness (both
South Mainland) on 14 October. One
was on Foula and one at Tresta, West
Mainland on 14-15 October, one at
at Helendale, Lerwick on 14-16
October, and singles were at
Scalloway and Kergord (both Central
Mainland) on 15th; at Skaw, Unst; at
Voe, Central Mainland and on Foula
on 16 October. Singles were at West
Voe of Sumburgh and Maywick (both
South Mainland), and at Baltasound,
Unst on 18 October, at Boddam, and
at Fladdabister (both South Mainland)
on 19 October. One was on Out
Skerries on 21 October, and one flew
over Virkie, South Mainland on 24
October. One was at Burrafirth, Unst
on 3 November. On Fair Isle two were
seen on 11 October, with one still on
12th. Another was found there on 16
October, and a different bird (on
plumage) was present on 17th. Four
were present together near Schoolton
(Fl) on 18 October, with two seen on
19-21st, three on 22nd, two on
23-24 October and one on 25—26th.
On Orkney singles were on North
Ronaldsay on 12th and 22-23
October, and Skelwick, Westray on 14
95
96
Scottish Bird Sightings
October and Noup, Westray on 17
Ocotober. One was at Ardveenish,
Barra (OH) on 16 October. Water
Pipit: one was at Barns Ness (Loth)
throughout November and December
to 2013. Buff-bellied Pipit: on
Shetland at least one was present at
Rerwick/Scousburgh, South Mainland
from September to 4 October, and
one was on Foula on 28 October.
One remained at Smerclate, South
Uist (OH) from September to 2
October. Pechora Pipit: one
remained at Norwick, Unst (Shet)
from September to 2 October; one
was at Shirva, Fair Isle on 1-2 October,
and one was seen on the Isle of May
on 13 October - a first for the island.
Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll: on
Shetland one remained at Norwick,
Unst from September to 11 October.
One was on Out Skerries on 5
October, one on Foula on 16
October, one at Vatshoull, Whalsay on
18-22 October, one at Maywick,
South Mainland on 27 October, one
at Baltasound, Unst, on 30 October
to 2 November, and two at North
Roe, North Mainland on 4
November. Five were at Baltasound,
Unst on 4 November, with four there
on 5th, two on 7th, and four on 8th,
then five again on 9th, four on
12—27th November, then three on 1
December; two were at Halligarth,
Unst on 6 November, with one still
there on 7th, and two were at
Uyeasound, Unst on 11-13
November, and three on 18th. One
was at Norwick, Unst on 29-30
November. There were two. at
Uyeasound, at least one at
Baltasound and one at Norwick on 2
December, and finally one at
Baltasound on 17 December. On Fair
Isle one was noted on 18 October,
and another on 25 October. On
Orkney a first-winter male was on
North Ronaldsay (Ork) on 17-22
October, with two on 19th, and a
third individual on 22nd. Singles were
on Westray on 6th and 19th, and one
on South Ronaldsay on 8 October.
On the Outer Hebrides there was
one was at Port of Ness, Lewis on 14
October, two at Eoropie, Lewis on 16
October, one at Butt of Lewis, Lewis
on 20 October, two at Port of Ness
on 29 October, and two there again
on 3 November. Coue’s Arctic
Redpoll: one was at Baltasound,
Unst on 13 October, one on Fair Isle
on 2 November, and one found dead
at Harray, near Dounby (Ork) on 15
October was probably of this form.
Common Rosefinch: up to eight
were on Shetland in October, and one
was on Fair Isle on 21 October.
Elsewhere a female was at Aird Mhor,
Barra (OH) on 1 October, and an
immature at Balranald, North Uist
(OH) on 19 October. Hawfinch:
sightings away from the Scone (P&K)
site included several on Shetland: one
at Sandwick, South Mainland on 1
October, one on Out Skerries on 2
October, and three at Norwick, Unst
on 24 October, with one still on 25th.
On Orkney one lingered on North
Ronaldsay from September to 10
October, one was seen at Stromness
on 20 October, one on Burray on 2
November, and a female at Finstown,
Mainland from 15-24 December at
least. Elsewhere there was one at
Cotehill Farm, Sands of Forvie (NES)
on 12-17 October, one at
Auchenblae (NES) on 13-15 October
at least, a male near Port Ellen, Islay
(Arg) on 24 October, with a female
there on 26 October. One was in
Kingston (M&N) on 11 December.
Lapland Bunting: earliest reports
were of one North Ronaldsay (Ork)
on 31 August, at Aird an Runair, North
Uist (OH) on 2 September, one at
Butt of Lewis, Lewis (OH) on 3rd, one
at Scatness, South Mainland (Shet)
on 4th, and two on Fair Isle on 5th.
Moderate numbers were reported
from then on. Chestnut-eared
Bunting: one was at Eastshore, Virkie,
South Mainland on 23-25 October -
the second Scottish and British
record. Rustic Bunting: one was on
North Ronaldsay (Ork) on 5 October.
Little Bunting: on Shetland singles
were at Harrier, Fouia and Kergord,
Central Mainland on 2 October, one
on Whalsay on 5 October; one at
Scatness, South Mainland on 12
October; singles at Sumburgh,
Geosetter and Scousburgh, all South
Mainland, on 13 October; singles at
Burravoe, Yell and Sumburgh, South
Mainland on 14 October; one at
Haroldswick, Unst on 27 October, and
one at East Burrafirth, West Mainland
on 7-17 December. Two were on Fair
Isle on 3 October, one on 23-24
October, another on 25th, one on 28
October. One was on North
Ronaldsay (Ork) on 14-18 October,
and one was at Castlebay, Barra (OH)
on 16 October. Bobolink: one was at
Brake, near Hillwell, South Mainland
(Shet) on 28 October.
i Bg ‘
‘ 6 WEA se FSNe ry :
Piste 79. Bee Brake, Shetland coe 2012. © ate Harrop
33:1 (2013)
SOC Branch Secretaries
Ayrshire: Anne Dick
Rowanmyle House, Tarbolton, Mauchline KA5 5LU.
Tel: 01292 541981
Email: Anne.Dick@sac.ac.uk
Borders: Graham Pyatt
The Schoolhouse, Manor, Peebles EH45 9JN.
Tel: 01721 740319
Email: d.g.pyatt@btinternet.com
Caithness: Angus McBay
Schoolhouse, Weydale, Thurso KW14 8YJ.
Tel: 01847 894663
Email: angmcb@btinternet.com
Central: Roger Gooch
The Red House, Dollarfield, Dollar FK14 7LX.
Tel: 01259 742 326
Email: roger@dollar11.plus.com
Clyde: Hayley Douglas
Top Right, 35 Church Street, Lochwinnoch PA12 4AE.
Tel: 07715 634079
Email: h.a.douglas@hotmail.co.uk
Dumfries: Pat Abery
East Daylesford, Colvend, Dalbeattie DG5 4QA.
Tel: 01556 630483
Email: eastdaylesford@onetel.com
Fife: Alison Creamer
52 Balgarvie Crescent, Cupar KY15 4EG.
Tel: 01334 657188
Email: alisonhcreamer@yahoo.co.uk.
SOC Local Recorders
Angus & Dundee: Jon Cook
01382 738495
1301 midget@tiscali.co.uk
01595 760258
Argyll: Paul Daw
01546 886260
monedula@globalnet.co.uk
07755 991030
Ayrshire: Fraser Simpson
recorder@ayrshire-birding.org.uk 07798 711134
chris@upperforthbirds.co.uk
Borders: Ray Murray
Fair Isle: David Parnaby
fibo@btconnect.com
Fife: Malcolm Ware
malcolm.ware 12 @talktalk.net
Grampian: Hugh Addlesee
31 Ashtree Road, Banchory AB31 5JB.
Tel: 01330 829 949
Email: grampian.secretary@the-soc.org.uk
Highland: Kathy Bonniface
Alt Dubh, North End, Tomatin,
Inverness-shire IV13. 7YP.
Tel: 01808 511740
Email: kathybonniface@aol.com
Lothian: Doreen Main
Seatoller, Broadgait, Gullane EH31 2DH.
Tel: 01620 844532
Email: doreen.main@yahoo.com
Orkney: Colin Corse
Garrisdale, Lynn Park, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1SL.
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Email: ccorse@btinternet.com
Stewartry: Joan Howie
60 Main Street, Dalry, Castle Douglas DG7 3UW.
Tel: 01644 430 226
Tayside: Brian Boag
Birch Brae, Knapp, Inchture PH14 9SW.
Tel: 01828 686 669
West Galloway: Geoff Sheppard
The Roddens, Leswalt, Stranraer DG9 OQR.
Tel: 01776 870 685
Email: geoff.roddens@btinternet.com
Orkney: Jim Williams
01856 761317
jim@geniefea.freeserve.co.uk
Outer Hebrides: vacancy
c/o Brian Rabbitts
01876 580328
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Forth (Upper): Chris Pendlebury
Perth & Kinross: Scott Paterson
01577 864248
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Caithness: Sinclair Manson
01847 892379
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Clyde: lain Gibson
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Clyde Islands: Bernard Zonfrillo
0141 557 0791
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Dumfries & Galloway:
Paul N. Collin
01671 402861
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Highland: Hugh Insley
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Isle of May: lain English
01698 891788
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Lothian: Stephen Welch
01875 852802
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Moray & Nairn: Martin Cook
01542 850296
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NE Scotland: Nick Littlewood
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PhotosPpOT ©
Plate 80. Usually ‘Blue’ Fulmars in Scotland are onl; seen fying out at sea, so when this arctic
morph flew along the cliff edge just in front of me,on Fair Islet was worth a second look. Indeed,
it was a smart-looking bird which not only gave some nice close fly-bys, but repeatedly landed on
various ledges of one particular cliff-face at Dutfield. Aftesthe initial ‘record shots’, | began to take
a bit more care with the pictures that | was taking and’ spent some time trying to frame a white
morph bird alongside the blue. First seen on 9 Octobé i pbpresent until at least the 14th, it wasn’t
until the second day that | managed to achieve thi First, | had to wait a while for a white bird to
land close enough to its rarer cousin, and then I n éeded both birds berke P a good head pose at
the same time and long enough for me to activate the shutter. The “Shutte “speed had to be fast
enough to freeze any head movements but | also had to be mindful ot ei } enough depth of
~
Equipment used: Canon 7D with? 2° "eae"? Fe: “ Bx
Canon 400mm f5.64ens on tripod, =
ISO 800, shutter apeed. 1/500th, i &
eerie 8. Lae ae eg ie |
Dave Pullan
. bes images posted on zat
rtraits as well as recor
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