Barn Owl road kill in Lothian

Barn Owl road casualties are always a tragic sight, yet have clear potential for providing insight into the status of the species in particular areas. This might be particularly useful where there is no dedicated monitoring, as has apparently been the case in Lothian in recent years. Whilst casual records showed a marked increase in 2004 there were no confirmed breeding records in either 2003 or 2004 and considerable uncertainty on the current health of the population in the area.

Historical reporting rates of road-kill averaged 2.4/year between 1984-1993 and only 1.0/year 1994-2003 [from Lothian Bird Reports]. This picture is consistent with a general view that the species has declined drastically in the area over the last 40 years. However, within a few weeks of the author moving East Lothian in August 2004 increased numbers of casualties were being recorded and a personal study commenced. Despite the fact that no special effort was made to find them, a total of 51 Barn Owls were thereafter recorded as RTA’s on Lothian roads during the two-year period from October 2004.

This article presents a summary of the findings from this initial two-year study period, with the intention of providing a baseline against which future trends can be monitored. Valuable additional insights have been obtained by means of post mortem analyses of 18 casualties, all courtesy of veterinary surgeon Jason Waine of Redditch. Other reports have appeared recently in Barn Owl Link (p.6), the newsletter of the Barn Owl Conservation Trust, and in the Lothian Bird Report for 2005.

Lothian Barn Owls

My bird records

This is a chronological record of a selection of my own bird sightings which I find of interest due to some unusual aspect of the record - including things like plumage variants and behaviour. In most they are of no particular significance but might just be of interest to people who've birded the same places, or recorded the same individuals.

I prefer to find my own birds, rather than chase after others' rarities, and most of the birds listed here were my own finds (those which I didn't find myself or discover independent of any specific information are marked with an asterisk*).

Most of the locations are in the UK the exceptions being a small number of sightings from the Faeroe Islands, Russia, Japan, Finland, the US and Nigeria. Banchory and Loch of Strathbeg are located in NE Scotland, North Ronaldsay is one of the Orkney Islands, and Bardsey Island is off the Llyn peninsula in North Wales.

1973

9 October - ID of male and female Blackbird, also Starling and Carrion Crow on aerial, Banchory

1974

4 October - Aberlady Bay visit, geese seen

1975

28 August - Edinburgh zoo visit, decided an Avadavat would be a good pet

1976

22 April - pair of Osprey, Loch of Lowes
(bred here from 1969, the year I was born!)

1978

8 May - 2 pairs Raven, Beinn Dearg, Skye

1979

14 July - visited Common Gull colony in Correen Hills near Rhynie

25 August - Hen Harrier, on moor near Rhynie (the sort of thing that can inspire a lifetime love of wildlife, but unlikely to be seen now due to the huge intensification of grouse moor management, with endemic and systematic persecution of native wildlife, proof here at the very same place: Gamekeeper shooting Hen Harrier on Cabrach and all so an ultra rich elite can enjoy killing things, robbing ordinary people of our heritage, an utter disgrace in modern Scotland; hopefully as a new generation grow up in this country, an enlightenment in the appreciation of our native wildlife for what it is, rather than killing it, will finally put an end to an out-dated industry built on criminality)

1981

July - Golden Eagle, Toe Head, Harris

July - Corncrake, Harris

1984

20 July - 2 Peregrines caught young crow, near Inchnadamph, Ross and Cromarty

1985

23 April - late Waxwing, Raemoir Road, Banchory

8 June - Osprey carrying fish mobbed by 4 Oystercatchers, Gicht, Aberdeenshire

1986

31 May - 13 Dotterel, Glas Maol, Cairngorms

8 July - 2 Black-throated Divers with 2 chicks, near Ben Stack, Sutherland

11 July - female Hen Harrier attacked male Merlin with prey, hillside near Gordonbush, Loch Brora

27 September - Glossy Ibis, single briefly at Starnakeppie, Loch of Strathbeg, flew off SE - 8th for NE Scotland, following records in 1844, 1880, 1902, 1907, 1920 and 1938; presumably same refound by the warden on 30 October and last seen on 23 November; sadly, the remains of a dead bird were found in January of the following year

31 December - dead Black-headed Gull, ringed as healthy adult, Vaasan Uääni, Finland, 25 June, 1981, and controlled at c. Southport Pier, 25 February 1986 (distance 1832km, direction WSW, duration 5 years, 6 months, 6 days)

1987

21 February - 3 Puffins on sea, Bullers of Buchan (at the time, said to be earliest Scottish record for return to breeding site)

26 May - Wryneck glimpsed, Dinnet, upper Deeside

6 June - Fulmar flying west, Loch of Leys, Banchory (c. 15 miles from coast)

1 August - Osprey carrying small fish W, Kirkton of Culsalmond, Inverurie

8 August - c.8 Storm Petrel flying round rocks close inshore, Dundonnie, Boddam, Peterhead (wind NW5 and WNW5-6 previous day)

17 October - Swift sp., Snettisham, Norfolk

31 December - 2nd-win Ring-billed Gull*, ad. Mediterranean Gull, Seaforth, Merseyside

1988

26 July - 2 Storm Petrels S, Loch Linnhe, Fort William, after strong SW wind (SSW6-7 previous day)

27 July - 13+ Storm Petrels flying around inside the harbour, flat calm conditions (but up to SW6 previous afternoon), Mallaig

4 August - Least Sandpiper*, Cove, Aberdeenshire (3rd for Scotland, 16th for Britain)

1989

24 June - Little Stint, Rosehearty, Aberdeenshire

14 July - Gannet high over Kinellar, Blackburn, Aberdeenshire (c. 6 miles inland)

16 August - Albino Swallow, Woolhillock, Westhill, Aberdeenshire

3-11 September - up to 4 Scarlet Rosefinch, North Ronaldsay

7 September - male Scarlet Rosefinch* caught and photographed by warden, North Ronaldsay

7-14 September - male Mandarin, North Ronaldsay (7th for Orkney)

8 September - total 829 Sooty Shearwater N in two main flocks (313, and 383 individuals), off North Ronaldsay

11 September - flock of 8 Grey Heron in off sea, joined by juv from Gretchen Loch, continuing south, North Ronaldsay

13 September - Barred Warbler*, Red-breasted Flycatcher*, Holland House, North Ronaldsay, Yellow-browed Warbler*, Lum, North Ronaldsay (for the latter, earliest Scottish record at the time)

29 September - imm. Golden Eagle chasing deer down steep slope on Meall Tionail, Bynack Lodge, Cairngorms (published as Short Note in Scottish Bird News, 17, 7, March, 1990)

1990

10 January - 2nd-win Iceland Gull, roost by Dee at Crathes, Banchory (c. 15 miles inland)

26 March - Kumlien's Gull*; Banff

15 June - Red-backed Shrike*, 3 Woodlark; Thetford Forest at Santon Downham

6 August - Ivory-phase Fulmar, off Mousa, Shetland, several Common Crossbill, Lerwick, Shetland

10-11,22 August - Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrest, Vidalundin Park, Torshavn, Faroe Islands

11-23 August - 13+ Common Crossbill, various locations (Torshavn, Gjogv, Oyndafjordur, Klaaksvik, Kunoy), Faroe islands

24 August - Willow Warbler, pair, Kunoy plantation, Faroe Islands

27 August - 7 Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, a second individual with yellow feet, light brown legs, but weak Chiffchaff song/call, Vidalundin Park, Torshavn, Faroe Islands

1 September - juv Pectoral Sandpiper, Anachie Lagoon, St Fergus (14th for NE Scotland)

10 September - Red-necked Grebe, Donmouth; Baird's Sandpiper*, Anachie Lagoon, St Fergus (2nd for NE Scotland)

18 September - Grey Phalarope, Starnafin, Loch of Strathbeg (9th for NE Scotland since 1950; 27th record overall)

1991

31 May - 1500 Lesser Blackback (of adults, 29 out of 64 adjudged L.f.intermedius with 2 coal-black, apparently as dark as L.f.fuscus), Hurst End, Cranfield, Bedfordshire

8 September - 3 young Goldfinch fledged from nest at Lanchester Hall, Cranfield Institute, Bedfordshire

21 September - Kittiwake with light brown legs, Macduff

12 October - Goshawk over Cranfield Institute, Bedfordshire (a genuine one, not a mis-ID)

1992

10 September - c. 11,000 Lesser Blackback, 4,300 Blackheaded Gull; Stewartby Lake, Bedfordshire

11 September - c. 40 Black Tern circling lake at dusk, Brogborough reservoir, Bedfordshire

29 November - c. 28,000 gulls (mainly Black-headed Gulls), Stewartby Lake, Bedfordshire

1993

1 January - albino Rook, Paythorpe, Lancashire

24 January - c. 20,000 Black-headed Gulls, Stewartby Lake, Bedfordshire

19 April - male Ring-necked Duck*, Killington reservoir, M6

1995

28 November - albino Oystercatcher, Morecambe

1996

6-13 September - imm./female Red-backed Shrike, Cape Clear Island, County Cork

11 September - c. 50 Storm Petrels seen on pelagic trip S off Cape Clear Island, County Cork

25 October - several Killer Whales, Girdleness, Aberdeen

1997

14 August - Corncrake walking amongst tourists in park in central Moscow

13 October - juv Barred Warbler, Cristin, Bardsey Island

17 October - 4 Mediterranean Shearwater, 2 (+4 probable) Pomarine Skua, off South End, Bardsey Island

1998

16 April - Red-breasted Goose*, Starnafin, Loch of Strathbeg

26 October - American Wigeon*, Hayle estuary, Cornwall

27 October - 74 Storm Petrel W (12:45-17:10hrs, wind WSW7-8 at times, could barely stand), Porthgwarra, Cornwall, Firecrest, Penberth, Cornwall

30 October - juv Surf Scoter*, Helston Loe, Cornwall, male Ring-necked Duck*, male Black Duck*, Stithians Reservoir, Cornwall

1999

14 June - 2 Quail calling, Brancaster, Norfolk

16 June - Laughing Gull* at the Three Swallows pub, Cley-next the sea, for less than one minute

26 September - 10 Black-crowned Night Heron, 5 Fork-tailed Swift, 2 Red-necked Stint, Lake Kasumigama, Tsuchiuria, Japan

2 October - Arctic Warbler, Sooty Flycatcher, 2 Japanese White-eye, 2 Grey-tailed Tattler, c. 60 Black Kite, 2 Blue Rock Thrush, Enoshima Island, Shonan, Japan

2000

8 January - Waxwing, West Riding, Bricket Wood, Herts.

5 September - Long-tailed Skua, 2 juv W off Great Orme, Great White Egret, Alaw estuary

2001

1 February - 1st-win Laughing Gull*, Stewartby Lake, Bedfordshire (1st for Beds); while we were watching it 4 Waxwings landed in the tree above us!

31 May - male Thrush Nightingale in vigorous song, shore on lake at Espoo, Helsinki

23 June - male Black Redstart in song on roof of Moss Bros, Watford Town Centre

2-5 July - Corncrake: 3+ calling, near cemetry at Bhatarsaigh; 6 calling, Eolaigearraidh, Barra; 3 calling, Acairseid Mhor/Na Pairceanan, Eriskay

3 July - 3rd-sum Iceland Gull at cockleshell dump in backyard of Barratlantic fish factory - Aird Mhidhinis/Bagh Shiarabagh, Barra

8 July - Water Rail, Common Crossbill at Horgabost, Harris

11 July - pair of Black-throated Diver with two young, northern Skye

12 July - Storm Petrel - 5-10 individuals feeding about 2 miles SE of Sgeir Fhiaclach Beag, off east coast of Barra (from Lochboisdale to Castlebay ferry)

26 August - Serin - single over our garden in Garston, Watford; the high-pitched buzzing call betrayed its presence, and the distinctive erratic bouncing flight confirmed its ID, probably the same was seen later in the week in central Watford

27 October - Mediterranean Shearwater S off Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire

28 October - Willow Warbler (late!), Black Redstart, 6 Blackcap, 15000 Starlings S at Whitesands, Pembrokeshire, and another Black Redstart on the roof of St David's Cathedral

10 December - Dartford Warbler, Hatch End Pond, New Forest

2002

5 March - Belted Kingfisher and Swamp Sparrow - pond at Holiday Inn, Gaithersburg, Maryland

June/July - Barn Owls (possibly breeding) found not far from my home in Watford

11 July - Colour-ringed Canada Goose at the Moor Mill near St Albans which had been ringed as an adult exactly 8 years previously on the River Thames at Hampton

23 October - Lesser Yellowlegs*, Amwell gravel pit, Herts

10 November - Brown Sunbird at Whispering Palms, Badagry

11 November - Fire-bellied Woodpecker - Nigeria Conservation Foundation reserve at Lekki

14 November - Long-crested Eagle high over Lagos expressway S of Ibadan

15 November - c. 20 Wood Sandpiper, c. 20 Common Sandpiper, pair of Long-legged Pipits (1st for Nigeria! - record published as Thibault et al. (2012) "First records of Long-billed Pipit for Nigeria and Benin" in Bull African Bird Club 19(2) 2012)

17 November - Slender-billed Weavers in garden in Festac Town

24 December - 8 pale-bellied Brent Goose, Donmouth, Aberdeen

2003

15 March - male Firecrest at my workplace, BRE, Watford

9 August - Least Sandpiper*, Tring, Herts (1st for Herts, 28th for Britain)

12 August - stunning view of Red Kite over airfield near our house in Watford

19 September - group of Sandwich Terns over our house calling late evening, our first child having been born that morning!

2004

18 March - Avocet on dam at Hilfield Resr, Herts, went onto the water at dusk (17:15hrs) and drifted out onto reservoir; by 18:40hrs had approached within a few metres of the gull roost flock in the middle of the reservoir; at 18:46hrs (40 mins after sunset) stretched wings upwards once, then a couple of seconds later suddenly took off direct from the water, moving initially W in the direction it was facing but glimpsed flashing back to the right, perhaps circling to gain height; did not call; not present following day so this was probably its departure

26 April - flock of 26 Little Gulls giving marvellous views over Marsworth Resr, Tring, part of a record movement of 40+ birds through

30 April - mixed flock of waders including 14 Bar-tailed Godwits and 10 Grey Plovers NE over Hilfield Resr, Herts

21 May - male Great Spotted Woodpecker scaling the brick wall of the office building at Hilfield Resr, Herts - took c. 60s to climb from 2m to top, mainly with one foot on corner but also grasping wall and flapping to maintain height; once on top climbed horizontally pecking under top slab

12 September - ad Long-tailed Skua E past Craigielaw, Lothian

7 October - ad Mediterranean Gull, red colour ring 7P8 (ringed as an adult on 14 May 2004 by the Vistula at Zwirownia, Skoki Duze, west of Warsaw, Poland (52 36N 19 24E), distance 1505km, direction WNW; first seen in the area on 7 August 2004), Ferny Ness, Lothian

6 December - flock of 175 Waxwings feeding on Swedish Whitebeam berries at Craigmillar in Edinburgh (part of large influx)

18 December - ad Mediterranean Gull, light green colour ring, Seton Sands, Lothian (presumed 3CT6)

2005

15 January - albino Yellowhammer, Balgone, East Lothian

2 February - 2 Little Auks W past Ferny Ness, Lothian, occasionally dropping onto water (part of large influx)

24 March - flock of 111 Waxwings feeding mainly on rosehip berries at Tranent A1 junction, Lothian

18 May - f/imm Marsh Harrier SE over A1 near Blindwells, Lothian

19 June - Common Quail in song on Whitekirk golf course during BBS

27 June - 3rd-sum California Gull - St Luis Reservoir, San Jouquin Valley, California; Anna's Hummingbird, Nuttall's Woodpecker and Loggerhead Shrike all seen in San Jose urban area

3 July - male Common Nighthawk hunting over Edinburgh USA golf course, Brooklyn, Minneapolis

14 August - Long-tailed Skua SE past Barns Ness, Lothian

21 August - albino House Martin, Balgone, East Lothian

19 September - Chinese Little Bittern, Chinese Pond Heron, 70+ Azure-winged Magpie, imm Black-headed Gull - Summer Palace lake, Beijing, China

25 September - juv Pectoral Sandpiper at a flood in East Lothian (18th for Lothian)

5 November - 1-2 ad Mediterranean Gull regular in Seton Sands roost from this date until year end, including Polish-ringed bird 7P8 (7/10/04 above)

2006

4 January - Black-necked Grebe, Ferny Ness, Lothian (and several dates thereafter until 18 February)

29 January - 24 Common Crossbill, Longniddry c/p 2, Lothian

12 March - a colour-ringed female Snow Bunting seen at Drem Pools. East Lothian, was one of a number caught in a project at Caister-on-sea, Norfolk, during winter 05/06; the ringer reported that the bulk of the flock had remained in the ringing area until a couple of weeks prior to this sighting

20 May - as part of winning SOC team logged 127 species in Lothian in a 24-hr bird race (total seen by at least 3 of team was 125); highlight of the day was a male Goshawk with prey; full account here

3 June - added Grasshopper Warbler to current garden list, bird reeling 450m NW of house by coast road (species 69, or 90 for all gardens)

13 June - 2 Spoonbill, Boo, Cantabria, Spain

13 June - 13 Sanderling, Playa de Liencres, Cantabria

17 June - 3rd-sum Great Blackback, 6 Common Scoter, 3 Spoonbill, Purple Heron - Laredo-Santona; 7 Grey Plover (6 1st-sum), Somo, Cantabria; Great Blackback, Astillero

19 June - birding in Pico de Europas, Cantabria - lifers including Crag Martin (20+), Griffon Vulture (20+), Egyptian Vulture (2), Alpine Chough

19 June - Audouin's Gull in evening roost at San Vicente de Barqueta, Cantabria, Spain (2nd for Cantabria, after first at Somo on 5/5/02)

23 June - 1st-sum Great Blackback, Somo, Cantabria

13 August - adult Roseate Tern ENE past Gullane Point, Aberlady

17 August - adult Mediterranean Gull red-7P8, as above, back in Seton Sands roost, Lothian

24 August - Common Terns calling over Longniddry during the night as they departed S on migration, presumably overland to the Solway

14 November - 5 (2 ad, 2nd-win, 2 1st-win) Mediterranean Gull in Seton Sands roost near our house (probably the highest indivdual total yet recorded in Scotland); a good autumn for them here, a total of 41 bird-days, with at least 9 different birds present, probably more

28 December - flock of redpolls appeared visible from our house in Longniddry, including 12+ Mealy Redpolls

Local patches

Over the years I've visited a number of "local patches" on a regular basis and whilst never finding anything particularly rare have enjoyed some good birding. Below are a few notes about some of these patches with more photos to follow in due course.

Grove Mill, Watford, Hertfordshire, England Map Annotated species list

This site is the first area of countryside you get to on the west of Watford and lies adjacent to the Grand Union canal. It is part of the Grove Estate and the main interest is various large ponds which are part of the newly landscaped golf course. I started visiting regularly in 2002, logging migrants for BTO's "Migration Watch" and watching the new ponds. Disturbance due to work on the estate limited numbers of birds but visiting waders included Green and Common Sandpipers and Ringed Plover. A single Little Grebe was resident and range of waterfowl bred around the pools (Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen) along with Grey Wagtail and Sedge Warbler. Other ducks included Shovelers and Gadwall, whilst Hobby and Kingfisher were also seen.

In May 2003 an interesting interaction was observed with an intruding pair of Mute Swans driving the resident pair (female depicted below) from the area and possibly killing all their young - more details in species list.

Also in spring 2003 Little Grebe numbers increased to two pairs and, with territorial birds, breeding was suspected for Tufted Duck, Kingfisher, Sedge Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Bullfinch and Reed Bunting. By the end of August was able to confirm breeding of Little Grebe and Reed Bunting and 3 Kingfishers were seen together suggesting that they too had bred successfully somewhere locally.

From late August into September both Green and Common Sandpipers were again recorded regularly on the large pool.

At the year end the 6 Little Grebes were still present on the canal loop adjacent to the large pool with Common Snipe back on the island.

In spring 2004 a Great Crested Grebe arrived and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen.

The best "non-bird" creature I've seen at this site was a grass snake swimming across the canal.

A few of my bird pictures from the area are shown below - please click on thumbnails for larger versions (Little Grebe; Grey Heron; Cormorant & "Victoria" the Mute Swan; Shovelers & Mallard; Green and Common Sand; Grey Wag & juv female Reed Buntings)...

PS - a more detailed site guide for this area is now available on the Herts Bird Club webpages.

Whippendell Wood, Watford, Hertfordshire, England Map

I undertook a personal survey of this site in spring 2002 by means of dawn visits. I found the expected woodland species: Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Marsh Tit, and plenty of Blackcap and Goldcrest. Owls included several Tawnys, with Barn Owls also at another (undisclosed) locality in the neighbourhood. More details are on this linked page.

Hilfield Reservoir, near Watford, Hertfordshire, England Map

I started visiting this HMWT reservoir in 2003 to count the gull roost which can be viewed from the footbridge over the M1. The above image shows less than 25% of the roost. During winter, the roost is dominated by Black-headed Gulls, with over 10000 present, typically accompanied by about 500 Common Gulls, up to 200 Lesser Blackbacks, and up to 75 Herring Gulls and occasional Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull and Great Blackback. The record books show that several thousand Herring Gulls were present in former times (e.g. 7250 on 11/1/69) but it seems that changes in waste disposal practices have forced them to move elsewhere (cf Crow's Nest observations below).

Into the first week of April 2003, numbers of Black-headed and Common Gulls had fallen to single figures, though about 120 large gulls were still present in the roost including at least 30 Herring Gull. It was fascinating to see how the latter species arrived much later in the roost, most coming in from the south, often well after dark!

On 17 January 2004 I took part in the full BTO roost census at the site and we counted nearly 17000 Black-headed Gulls, 2300 Common Gulls, 380 Lesser Blackbacks, and 90 Herring Gulls. I also observed a fine adult Mediterranean Gull on the water prior to the count. These totals suggest that all of my own counts last year had been significant underestimates, though I'd noticed higher numbers of Common Gulls this year.

I followed up these observations with a study of the roost flightpath of the Herring Gulls arriving at Hilfield from the south-east. This is described in full on the linked page here, and downloadable as a pdf here.

Aldenham reservoir

The reservoir lies immediately south of Hilfield within Aldenham Country Park. It is a popular location for family days out and rather less attractive for birds, but on my few trips there I've come across Mandarins lurking along the western shore of the lake. The following are pictures taken in October 2003:

Loch of Leys, Banchory, Kincardineshire, Scotland Map Annotated species list

Whilst in Banchory, my local patch was the Loch of Leys only a short cycle ride from our house in the north of the village. This is more a bog than an loch and it is now almost possible to walk to the old crannog in the middle. Open water is virtually eliminated by scrub.

The characteristic birds at this site are the Water Rails and Common Buzzards. The former can be heard throughout the summer but almost impossible to see whilst the latter are present year round and very visible. I once made a concerted efforts count the calling Water Rails (April 1990) and concluded that there were at least 15 individuals calling. Reed Buntings also breed in some numbers and I found 18 males together in a neighbouring field the same week. Willow Warblers are also common breeders along with Redpolls and Siskin. Long-tailed Tits and Jays are often seen along the south shore and Common Crossbills and Green Woodpecker occasionally in the wood to the north. Reedbed roosts of Swallow and Starling once numbered over 1000 birds each but I've not been able to count them recently. Gulls gather in nearby fields after visiting the local dump (next section) and can be seen moving to and from the Loch of Skene roost at the ends of the day. There was formerly a Black-headed Gull colony at the site. My best find here was a Fulmar on 5 June 1987 which was somewhat lost nearly 20 miles up the Dee valley from the sea at Aberdeen, and over 10 miles from the nearest coast at Stonehaven; what may well have been the same bird had been seen previously at Milltimber 10 miles east down the Dee valley on 30 May and was subsequently reported about 35 miles further west up the valley at the Linn of Dee, near the heart of the Cairngorms, on 20 June!

Crow's Nest amenity site, Banchory, Kincardineshire, Scotland Map Detailed information

I have watched the gulls at this site for the last 20 years or so since my first interest in birds as a teenager. When I first counted the Herring Gulls on 7/1/88 there were over 4000 present but these days around 1000 is more normal for mid-winter. Great Blackback numbers seem to have shown the opposite trend, with very few in the mid-80's but about 150 present in winter 98/99. Lesser Blackbacks are present in smaller numbers, rarely in mid-winter, and I observed a presumed hybrid LBBxHG on 26/12/98. Only once did I find a white-winged bird amongst them, this being a 2nd-win. Iceland in the nearby dayroost at Maryfield.

In December 2003 numbers had fallen to less than 1000 birds and the manager informed me that "bird scaring" (with falcons) is now used on a daily basis to satisfy demands of SEPA. These birds included only 7% 1st-winters, much lower than averages for the early 1990's of 26% and perhaps to do with the scaring? Also, less than 1% were argentatus-race birds, including the adult and 4th-win individuals shown below - quite a low number, cf the paper of study of Coulson et al. 135 Carrion Crows were accompanied by 5 Hooded-Carrion hybrids and 3 pure-bred Hoodies - high counts for NE Scotland.

A more detailed description of the trends in large gulls numbers in this area is now included in this linked document.

Trip report - California, 25-28 June, 4-7 July 2005

Introduction

This is a brief summary of birds recorded on our first visit to the West Coast of the United States. The purpose of the trip was primarily to visit my brother-in-law and family in San Jose, and birds were seen along the way, rather than vice versa! Unlike the Nigeria bird trip report on this site there is no need for general info on travelling to the area, or its birds, so only a few brief highlights are mentioned.

Flights and preparation

We flew from Edinburgh via LHR and Calgary on Air Canada. Three species were noted at Calgary airport - Red-tailed Hawk, Black-billed Magpie and a single hirundine.

Bird information

Useful info on birding in the Bay area is here: San Francisco Bay bird observatory. A relevant summer trip report is here.

Bird records

On 25 June we did some shopping taking us south to Gilroy. At least 10 Turkey Vultures were logged along the valley south (HW101), along with Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels.

On 26 June we visited San Francisco and did the Bay tour past Alcatraz to the Golden Gate bridge; highlights were up to 20 Brown Pelicans over and fishing near the bridge, Snowy Egret over Alcatraz island, abundant Western Gulls* both along the coast (roof-nesters), following the boat and a large feeding flock at the tide surge under the bridge, Brandt's, Pelagic and Double-crested Cormorants, with large feeding flocks also under the bridge; several Common and Pigeon Guillemots were feeding on the sea. A single orange-billed tern distantly was presumably Caspian and this species was definitely seen over San Francisco Bay from HW101 near San Mateo, together with more numerous Forster's Terns. A group of 40 Cliff Swallows were seen feeding beside HW101, together with other hirundines and a few White-throated Swifts.

On 27 June we ventured out to Yosemite National Park, crossing the San Joaquin Valley and entering the Sierra Nevada. As co-driver I was able to make a few bird observations en route.

Most noticable were raptors, and of these Turkey Vulture and Rough-legged Hawk were most prominent, without about 20 individuals of each seen, in groups of up to 3. A male Northern Harrier quartering fields near the junction of HW59 and HW152E, at Red Top south of Merced, was dive-bombed by a probable Swainson's Hawk. Three or four further Swainson's Hawks were suspected, but ID not confirmed from the speeding car. A couple of American Kestrels were noted and a group of 3 Common Ravens just east of St Luis Reservoir at the HW5 crossing.

In the San Jouquin Valley proper we logged all of Snowy Egret, Great White Egret and Great Blue Heron in flight. Brief Killdeer and Wilson's Phalarope were also seen, with another of the former on the shore of St Luis Reservoir. A group of gulls on a small island at the north-east side of the reservoir were mainly scruffy immature Ring-billed Gulls, but also a presumed third-summer California Gull - with clean beak like an adult but a few dark marks still in tail band, a very pleasing lifer.

Passerines were tricky from the car, but a couple of Northern Mockingbirds were seen on Plainsburg Road in Merced, along with Black-billed Magpie, and an American Robin in Los Banos. Tree Swallows included a group of about 50 near Los Banos. Cliff Swallow was also seen and Violet-green Swallow tentatively identified (wooded valley off HW140 about 10 miles SW of Cathey's Valley). A probable White-headed Woodpecker flew over the road near Cathey's Valley.

In Yosemite Park itself Steller's Jays were prominent, chasing tourist scraps at the main visitor center and elsewhere, and White-headed Woodpeckers were at the campsite. Northern Flicker and Brown-headed Cowbird were also seen. Over 10 White-throated Swifts were seen at various places in the rocky gorges of the Sierra Nevada.

On the way back, 2 Loggerhead Shrikes were seen on the wires over waste ground at Evergreen Commons shopping complex off HW101 in San Jose.

On other days we observed various other species in San Jose, including Great White and Snowy Egrets overhead, Nuttall's Woodpecker (single on a roadside tree by traffic lights on Monterey Highway), Black-chinned* and Anna's Hummingbirds at Santa Palmia and finally a large owl sp. over HW85, near Los Gatos Creek Park, at 22:00hrs on 6/7, which was most likely a Great Horned Owl.

Linked page

• San Jose "yard" bird list

* = image formerly on linked page.

Systematic list - Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, 30 June-3 July 2005

This is the systematic list of species seen on our visits to Coon Rapids Regional Park, Minneapolis, spanning 4 days from the end of June 2005. The site straddles the Mississippi River at the Coon Rapids Dam in northern Minneapolis, Minnesota, see visitor center websites for more details: East Visitor Center and West Visitor Center.

• Double-crested Cormorant - single upstream 2/7
• Great Blue Heron - 10+ including juvs, (at least 3 nests)
• Great White Egret * - 1 West Pond
• Green Heron - 2 West Pond, 1 NE river branch
• Canada Goose * - 38 (12 juv) NE river branch, 9 (4 juv) S swamp; one of the latter was distinctly more sturdy than the others in the group, with a very thick neck base, c.f. photos - possibly a maxima race bird, the others being moffitti?
• Mallard - 8 NE river branch pond 30/6, fb5 West Pond 3/7
• Wood Duck - single m, West Pond, 3/7
• Hooded Merganser - pr daily upstream of main dam
• Common Goldeneye - 1st sum m daily upstream of main dam
• Osprey * - nest
• Cooper's Hawk - singles 1,2/7
• American Kestrel - up to 3, nest
• Spotted Sandpiper - pr daily, possibly 2 prs
• Ring-billed Gull - single trout lake, 1/7
• Feral Pigeon - at least 10, nesting under main dam bridge
• Mourning Dove - common
• Chimney Swift - 3+ in evening, 30/6
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird - single, West Visitor Center, 30/6
• Belted Kingfisher - single, West Pond, 30/6
• Red-bellied Woodpecker - pr, junction of West River Rd and Russell Ave N, 2,3/7
• Northern Flicker - pr west river bank, 3 West Pond (5 in total?) 30/6
• Downy Woodpecker * - at least 2 on 30/6 and 3/7
• Eastern Phoebe - 4 seen 30/6
• Eastern Wood-Pewee * - single near W end of main dam, 2/7
• Great Crested Flycatcher - single East Visitor Center pond, 30/6, single main island 3/7
• Eastern Kingbird - hunting savannah area, 2,3/7
• Red-eyed Vireo - single, southern swamp, 2/7
• Warbling Vireo - single, southern Cotton Trail, 2/7
• Blue Jay - pr west bank 30/6, 1 3/7
• American Crow - common
• Tree Swallow * - at least 8, mainly feeding over river banks
• Purple Martin - at least 5 over N end of island 30/6
• Bank Swallow - at least 105 feeding over river 30/6
• Cliff Swallow * - several daily, nesting under main dam
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow - up to 5, nesting near East Visitor Center
• Barn Swallow - pr nesting at Pavilion by trout pond
• Black-capped Chickadee - common
• White-breasted Nuthatch - singles 30/6, 3/7
• House Wren * - at least 7 near West Pond; also on east bank
• Eastern Bluebird - attending nest box behind East Visitor Center
• Catharus thrush sp. - two singles, probably Veerys
• American Robin - common
• Grey Catbird * - common
• Eurasian Starling - common
• Cedar Waxwing - 4 on 30/6, 2 on 3/7
• Yellow Warbler * - common
• American Redstart - common
• Song Sparrow * - common
• Savannah Sparrow - at least one
• Northern Cardinal - about 5 on the west bank
• Red-winged Blackbird - numerous at West Pond (10+); also on east bank
• Common Grackle * - plenty West Pond (5+)
• Brewer's Blackbird * - present
• Brown-headed Cowbird - juvs on the dam island; others on east bank
• Baltimore Oriole - singles West Pond, 30/6 and Cotton Creek, 1/7
• House Finch - family on dam island
• American Goldfinch * - common
• House Sparrow - common

* = image formerly on linked page.

Trip report - Minneapolis, 29 June - 3 July 2005

Introduction

This is a summary of birds recorded at Coon Rapids in Minnesota on our brief visit there in summer 2005. The purpose of the trip was primarily to attend my sister-in-law's wedding in Minneapolis, and birds were seen along the way, rather than vice versa! Unlike the Nigeria bird trip report on this site there is no need for general info on travelling to the area, or its birds, so only a few brief highlights are mentioned.

Flights and preparation

We flew from San Francisco on Delta, via Salt Lake City on the way out and Atlanta on the way back. At Salt Lake City we could see many swans spread out over local lakes as the aircraft came in; in Altanta we disappointingly saw not one bird from the airport terminal in over an hour of observation!

Bird information

Detailed information for the state is available here: The Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. We also got useful information at both the East and West visitor centers in the park, with monthly bird logs available and daily sightings updates, together with help and advice from knowledgeable local staff. Clearly, visiting in mid-summer, we had missed the main warbler passage and were rather early for returning shorebirds - nevertheless, the trip served its purpose as an introduction to the range of interesting and generally colourful passerine residents in the area.

Bird records

Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park (Visitor center info is here: East Visitor Center and West Visitor Center).

This Regional Park straddles the Mississippi River at the Coon Rapids Dam in northern Minneapolis, Minnesota. We visited on 4 dates (30/6-3/7) and spent at least 12 hours in the park on both sides of the river.

On first arriving at the East Visitor Center on 30/6, in very warm and humid conditions, we set off towards the dam and scanned the sandy islands in the downstream side of the NE river branch. Some small brown birds could be seen lurking at the water's edge which looked exciting - but once pinned down these turned out to be House Sparrows, familiar to us from our garden back home in the UK! Thereafter things only got better.

On the upstream pond there was a loafing 1st-sum male Common Goldeneye and a pair of Spotted Sandpiper, and upstream of the main dam there were a pair of Hooded Mergansers, the male apparently also a 1st-sum, i.e. in an eclipse plumage.

At the dam itself there was a large flock of hirundines feeding over the water; this eventually yielded all five expected species of hirundine, though the majority (over 100) were Bank Swallows ("Sand Martin" in the UK). At least 8 Tree Swallows were present, though these tended to feed over the edges of the river and along the river bank. There were a few Cliff Swallows and these were nesting under the dam itself; by the last date juvs were out on the wire fences on the river bank, see photos. Northern Rough-winged Swallow was also breeding, visiting a pipe in the wall under the viewing area nearest the East Visitor Center. A single Barn Swallow was seen in the evening, over the river bank, and a nest was later found under the pavilion by the Cenaiko Trout Lake on the east bank. Finally, a handful of Purple Martins turned up in the evening and fed over the western river branch round the main island, hanging low at the tip of the island itself at times. Chimney Swifts also showed up in the early evening.

On the west side of the river, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird was glimpsed at the West Visitor Center. An Osprey was seen over the west river bank and the nest there later seen care of the "Osprey Man" (Paul Fusco) (see photo showing the two juvs).

Following the Cotton Trail on the west bank we caught up with a number of delightful species, including 2 Downy Woodpeckers*, 2 Northern Flickers, Eastern Phoebe, 2 Blue Jays, White-breasted Nuthatch, Grey Catbirds, Cedar Waxwings, several Yellow Warblers, American Redstarts, Northern Cardinal, and a number of American Goldfinch. A catharus thrush species was seen very briefly, probably a Veery, and an equally fleeting vireo species which was probably Warbling. None of these proved easy to photograph, the only success being a single Downy Woodpecker.

At the West Pond the most prominent species was the noisy Red-winged Blackbird, along with Common Grackles*. Two Green Herons showed themselves and a Belted Kingfisher was seen fishing at the far bank. A party of 3 Northern Flickers perched high in a dead tree on the east bank. Noisy wrens there were later confirmed to be the common House Wren. A stunning Baltimore Oriole was seen.

Back on the east bank, I explored the dam island, were 3 Cedar Waxwings were seen - seeming rather out-of-place in the humid heat to a Brit accustomed to seeing "waxwings" in the depths of winter. One small clearing near the top of the island provided a fine set of Grey Catbird*, American Robin, Yellow Warbler, American Redstart and Song Sparrow, the first-mentioned uttering its plaintive mewing call which gives rise to the species name.

Back at the north river branch dam a Great Crested Flycatcher was observed feeding over the pond and another Green Heron came down to the islands.

On the second trip we focused on the east bank trail. A Cooper's Hawk passed overhead at the mouth of the Coon Creek. At least 3 Great Blue Heron nests were observed at the end of the main island, one containing three well-grown juvs. American Kestrel was also nesting there, with a juv calling for food - I was later informed that they breed inside the metal pylons using holes cut by woodpeckers. Spotted Sandpipers were on the river along the island. A single Ring-billed Gull flew over the Cenaiko Trout Lake. Yellow Warbler*, American Redstart, Baltimore Oriole and American Goldfinch* were again delightful. Savannah Sparrow was logged and one of the numerous Song Sparrows* well photographed.

On the third visit I went down to the swamp area on the west bank, and visited the Cotton Trail and West Pond again. I discovered that the best place to see the latter is from the West River Rd outside the park.

Near the West Visitor Center I met Paul Fusco, the "Osprey man", and got great views of the Osprey* nest through his 80x magnification astronomical telescope. We also saw and heard an Eastern Wood-Pewee* perched briefly in the top of a nearby tree.

In the savannah area (Cotton Trail) an Eastern Kingbird was hunting from the nest boxes and a pair of Northern Cardinals were feeding. A Warbling Vireo was watched for some time but eluded being photographed.

The southern wood yielded Red-eyed Vireo, another Northern Cardinal, several American Robins and the Cooper's Hawk was seen again. A Doubled-crested Cormorant flew up the river. A group of Canada Geese* were on a small pond, one of which was distinctly more sturdy than the others in the group, with a very thick neck base, c.f. photos; I wondered if this might be a maxima race bird, the others being moffitti, c.f. Wilson and Sibley ID articles. Nearby, a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers were found at a nest hole at the junction of West River Rd and Russell Ave N.

At the West Pond blackbirds and grackles were again very evident and a Great White Egret* was seen feeding.

On the final visit I again concentrated on the west bank, seeing many of the same species, including the 3 heron species, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Blue Jay. The pond yielded a Wood Duck which flew off W, and there were at least 7 House Wrens there including 4+ singing birds and a family party with squeaking juvs.

Tipped-off on the location of the Pileated Woodpecker nest tree on the east bank I made a quick visit but found nothing there except a White-breasted Nuthatch. Perhaps the young had flown? A Great Crested Flycatcher was hunting off the riverside trees opposite as I departed.

Elsewhere in Minneapolis

Killdeer chicks at large at the side of the Liquour Mart at 1921 Coon Rapids Blvd (junc with Hanson Blvd NW) on 30/6, adult Broad-winged Hawk over HW694 at Fridley at 17:00hrs on 1/7, male Common Nighthawk hunting over Edinburgh USA golf course, Brooklyn, in the early hours of 3/7, Great White Egret by HW94 at Lowry Avenue on 3/7, repetitive cricket-like call in the hotel car park (at 155 Coon Rapids Blvd) tracked down to a singing Chipping Sparrow on 4/7.

Systematic list for Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park

• Double-crested Cormorant - single upstream 2/7
• Great Blue Heron - 10+ including juvs, (at least 3 nests)
• Great White Egret* - 1 West Pond
• Green Heron - 2 West Pond, 1 NE river branch
• Canada Goose* - 38 (12 juv) NE river branch, 9 (4 juv) S swamp; one of the latter was distinctly more sturdy than the others in the group, with a very thick neck base, c.f. photos - possibly a maxima race bird, the others being moffitti?
• Mallard - 8 NE river branch pond 30/6, fb5 West Pond 3/7
• Wood Duck - single m, West Pond, 3/7
• Hooded Merganser - pr daily upstream of main dam
• Common Goldeneye - 1st sum m daily upstream of main dam
• Osprey* - nest with 2 juvs
• Cooper's Hawk - singles 1,2/7
• American Kestrel - up to 3, nest
• Spotted Sandpiper - pr daily, possibly 2 prs
• Ring-billed Gull - single, Cenaiko Trout Lake, 1/7
• Feral Pigeon - at least 10, nesting under main dam bridge
• Mourning Dove - common
• Chimney Swift - 3+ in evening, 30/6
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird - single, West Visitor Center, 30/6
• Belted Kingfisher - single, West Pond, 30/6
• Red-bellied Woodpecker - pr at nest-hole, junction of West River Rd and Russell Ave N, 2,3/7
• Northern Flicker - pr west river bank, 3 West Pond (5 in total?) 30/6
• Downy Woodpecker* - at least 2 on 30/6 and 3/7
• Eastern Phoebe - 4 seen 30/6
• Eastern Wood-Pewee* - single near W end of main dam, 2/7
• Great Crested Flycatcher - single East Visitor Center pond, 30/6, single main island 3/7
• Eastern Kingbird - hunting savannah area, 2,3/7
• Red-eyed Vireo - single, southern swamp, 2/7
• Warbling Vireo - single, southern Cotton Trail, 2/7
• Blue Jay - pr west bank 30/6, 1 3/7
• American Crow - common
• Tree Swallow* - at least 8, mainly feeding over river banks
• Purple Martin - at least 5 over N end of island 30/6
• Bank Swallow - at least 105 feeding over river 30/6
• Cliff Swallow* - several daily, nesting under main dam
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow - nesting near East Visitor Center
• Barn Swallow - pr nesting at Pavilion by Cenaiko Trout Lake
• Black-capped Chickadee - common
• White-breasted Nuthatch - singles 30/6, 3/7
• House Wren* - at least 7 near West Pond; also on east bank
• Eastern Bluebird - attending nest box behind East Visitor Center
• Catharus thrush sp. - two singles, probably Veerys
• American Robin - common
• Grey Catbird* - common
• Eurasian Starling - common
• Cedar Waxwing - 4 on 30/6, 2 on 3/7
• Yellow Warbler* - common
• American Redstart - common
• Song Sparrow* - common
• Savannah Sparrow - at least one
• Northern Cardinal - about 5 on the west bank
• Red-winged Blackbird - numerous at West Pond (10+); also on east bank
• Common Grackle* - plenty West Pond (5+)
• Brewer's Blackbird* - present
• Brown-headed Cowbird - juvs on the dam island; others on east bank
• Baltimore Oriole - singles West Pond, 30/6 and Cotton Creek, 1/7
• House Finch - family on dam island
• American Goldfinch* - common
• House Sparrow - common

We missed Bald Eagle, Common Turkey (present daily with 7 juv in savannah area), 3 Black Tern (3/7) and Pileated Woodpecker.

Linked page

• Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park systematic list

* = image formerly on linked page.

Annotated bird list for Santa Palmia, San Jose, California

This is a list of the species seen from a balcony in the Santa Palmia estate in San Jose, California, between 24 June and 7 July 2005. This is a modern apartment block complex with limited habitat for birds in the courtyard consisting mainly of shrubs and palm trees.

Species which were only seen overhead are marked with an asterisk *.

1. Snowy Egret (Bubulcus ibis) * - two singles and a couple seen over
2. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) - regularly hunting over, nest traced to a hole in a large palm nearby, at the base of the leafy section
3. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) * - group of 10 N over in the evening
4. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia) - common
5. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) - common; a nest with two eggs was observed on a metal drainpipe cover nearby
6. Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) - one or two regularly made rounds of the flowers in the yard; ID was confirmed on seeing the male, but at least two birds were regular, one of which is depicted below (not an adult male)
7. Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorous) - the most obvious bird in the estate, with a least 5 permanently resident on the small line of palms at the front entrance
8. Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) - loud squeaking of a juv betrayed the presence of this delightful bird one evening, the adult busily fetching food for it around the yard
9. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) * - regular in small groups over, max 5
10. American Robin (Turdus migratorius) - occasional, preferring the larger lawns outside the complex; once squabbling with the Brewer's Blackbirds
11. Eurasian Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) - present
12. Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) - common, in flocks as large as 25 including young juvs
13. House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) - most permanent resident of the yard, some almost always in sight or hearing, 5+ including young being fed
14. Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria) - regularly heard over and a pair in the "yard" palms one the morning; observed roving the entire estate later one afternoon
15. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) - regular in the "yard"

    Other species seen locally some of which are probably regularly visible from the complex included:

16. Great White Egret (Ardea alba) - single S over SE side of town, c. HW82
17. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) - seen over dry hillsides to immediate E
18. Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) - this species was tentatively seen and heard outside the courtyard, and based on call was suspected in the "yard" too
19. Nuttall's Woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii) - single on a roadside tree by traffic lights on Monterey Highway
20. Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) - a couple on wires over waste ground by the Evergreen Commons shopping area off HW101