Regenerating Scots pine in Glen Lui

Saturday 12 March took Michael and I to Glen Lui on the Mar Lodge Estate to do an outstanding pine seedling count on a plot my father can no longer get to. The trek in to the site takes you past a landscape of the ancient pines many of which are now on their last legs and the interest is in the rate of regeneration, starting with seedlings such as the one above. We also passed a team of workers doing "ring barking" in an adjacent plantation, a practice designed to thin the forest and thereby promote the growth and health of the remaining trees (as described in Gus's blog, and on the SRUC conservation field trip from last year).

Arriving at the plot we were thankful for GPS or we would have been struggling to find the remains of the pegs. Two Blackcock were flushed and flew to the adjacent wood, and droppings on the plot itself suggested they had been there and may have even been grazing on seedlings, though we could not prove either point. With young helper we counted a minimum of 285 Scots pine seedlings and 8 larch on the 4x15m plot, pro rata that is 5 million pine seedlings per 1km square, or 500 million per hectad - they are regenerating for sure! But the tallest was only 47cm, some may have been grazed.

No raptors were spotted and indeed the only other large birds on the BirdTrack list were a pair of Mallard, though we had seen flocks of Curlew, Oycs and the odd Lapwing on our way up through Glen Clunie. Most pleasing was the sighting of a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying across open moorland heading for the wood where the ring barking had been done, in fulfilment of Gus's prediction last year!

My father has handed over the further monitoring of sites in this valley to SNH, after 40 years of study so far, so in theory we won't need to go back. The long term study will now be written up, with the benefit of one final data point for the last site. On related topics, and perhaps of interest for any botanist readers, he has two recent publications on the impact of grazing and lack of burning (for 50 years) on the evolution of moorland vegetational composition, from a set of seven sites (on Deeside and in Glen Clunie) that I am very familiar with, having often accompanied him to them in earlier years, recording birds along the way. Note, only abstracts of these papers may be available outside institutional subscriptions.

[Photos (except 3rd last) copyright Michael C. Welch, aged 10 yrs]

Nordic Jackdaws (Stockholm)

An apparently resident Nordic Jackdaw at Craigmillar in Edinburgh has previously featured on this blog, and Geoff's, so when at Stockholm airport this week I was on the look-out for this species to see what they look like on home territory. Spotted a few on the slushy pavement outside Arlanda terminal 4 but they flew off before I emerged, so spent 20 minutes trudging round seeing nothing more than a Hoodie and a Magpie. All of a sudden they were back and appreciated the remains of my breakfast, half a slice of black bread - thereby managed to get some photos of two birds with just a hint of a collar, though they seemed grey enough given the light. Two others had slightly more marked collars, none very pronounced though. Stockholm ought to be well into the range of monedula but clearly they can vary.

Second individual:

Have previously refered to the Offereins papers (1, 2) but also found these reports on a Pembrokeshire blog, including a resident breeder there which is clearly "Nordic". Despite the very small sample from Sweden, I feel more comfortable now about accepting that the Craigmillar bird is the real deal, I'm less confident about speculating on origins, instinctively I feel that rather than an individual wintering bird pairing and thus getting stuck in the "wrong" country it has to be more likely that our own resident population includes small numbers of birds matching this appearance?

On the other hand, no doubts about the purity of the Hoodies here, with no hint of dark in undertail coverts:

My trip also took me to Luleå at the head of the Baltic but in the short daylight the only additional species seen was Raven!

Review of year 2012

Above pic is not a great shot but nice reminder of a good patch at Seton from mid-August, with a large tern influx including ringed Roseates, then Black Tern and also a new high count of 7 Med Gulls at the Seton Burn. Abundant rings to read on Shags, gulls, terns, etc! These were surpassed in the gale of 25 September which brought Leach's Petrels (2?) and various other good seabirds to Gosford Bay (and the Forth in general), an event that might not be repeated here for many years.

99% of birding confined to usual haunts in East Lothian, did not even manage any viewing at Musselburgh or Dunbar this year, just one nocturnal foray to West Lothian where we saw LEO. Much of this again towards local atlas, also usual WeBS, grey geese and swans surveys, etc. Concentration in local area perhaps the reason for lowest bubo total in four years at 155 (Lothian self found). c. 70 species logged on trektellen in 18.5 hrs timed counts included fire Marsh Harrier, plus the Pilot Whales, another memorable event. Garden annual total matched last year's low of 72, but did add Osprey and a remarkable nocturnal migrant Quail (2nd record), plenty of Waxwings recently too. 9 local Barn Owl casualties (all on A1/A720 between East Linton and Fairmilehead) is low, with only two in autumn, but an increase on last year; species remains very depressed locally based on owling excursions for atlas.

Being effectively confined to patch birding have decided to give patchwork challenge a shot and defined a 3km2 "patch" along the Seton shore to Ferny Ness, with excursion past Seton Chapel to Blindwells. Totted up 137 species for this same area for 2012, which gave me 177 points by their scoring system. Might not expect to match this with several locally scarce birds in 2012 but it is a target. Some others locally are going for Foot-it, but this requires time input in January which I will be short of! Patch or not, I now log my records in BirdTrack at tetrad level, as used in atlas, knowing how much more useful this type of info is when we come to plot general maps like those on the local atlas website for 1991-2006 LBR & BBR records.

Lists are OK per se, a bit of fun, but also of interest to see what is missing, even on a yearly basis. By pasting my bubo lists to a spreadsheet I can see I missed Green Woodpecker, Stonechat, Lesser Whitethroat and Brambling in 2012, but had first local Yellow Wagtail since 2008. My combined total seen *in and from* the 3km2 "patchwork" area is 169 species. Of species not yet seen there are historical records for the following: White-billed Diver (1955-56, 1991), Storm Petrel (1993, 2004), Black Stork (1946), Common Crane (2000), American Wigeon (1995-6), Western Sandpiper (1997), Turtle Dove (1992, and bred many years ago), Corn Bunting (to 1987), plus the following not (yet) submitted/accepted: Balearic Shearwater (2012), Red Kite (2007), another Black Stork (2010); from local records archives other more expected species which I'm yet to connect in the patch area include: Little Egret, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff, Green Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Little Tern and Long-eared Owl. To this I would also add Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper and Raven which may have occurred and I think there is a chance of seeing, plus Hobby having seen at least two over the garden! Also more optimistically, perhaps King Eider, Water Pipit, Grey Phalarope and some rarer gulls including Yellow-legged. But realistically it would take many more years watching to reach 180 species.

In the wider area, inland in NT47 I can add 6 scarcer waders plus Dipper, Yellow Wag, Cuckoo (179 species), then Mandarin, RLP, LEO, Turtle Dove and Raven in NT58, and further beyond in East Lothian also Balearic Shearwater, Garganey, Goshawk, Red Grouse, Redstart, Red-backed Shrike and Hooded Crow (193 species). All based on "self-found", so Surf Scoter and Smew also remain targets.

Concluding this brief "review" with two sunset images, and wishing good birding to all readers in 2013!

Forth Guillemot wreck

View above from Ferny Ness on Thursday evening, a nice scene except for the fact that there were now 12 dead Guillemots in a 200m stretch, and more beyond! Next shot is the auk hunt team, operating for 10p per bird:

More seriously, there have been some recent discussions of the reasons for the current auk wreck in the Forth, with many displaced seabirds heading inland too, including Guillemots both far inland and in exceptional numbers on some inland waters. One possible explanation is that this is a result of a shortage of food in a wider area, these being food stressed birds which have come to the Forth due to absence of normal feeding in their usual areas. However I suspect that this is not the whole story. Perhaps on the contrary it was relatively good feeding earlier this year that has drawn greater numbers of seabirds into the Forth - witness the earlier fish shoals which attracted hordes of feeding gulls and Gannets, and the exceptional influx of terns from earlier in the summer. Certainly terns were taking sandeels earlier but gulls, terns and auks were seen all seen taking sprats at shoals in August (was it a coincidence the pilot whales appeared around the same time?)

It was in August that the auk numbers ramped up markedly with estimates of thousands on the sea off Musselburgh and in Gosford Bay; one can only presume their arrival at that stage was nothing to do with hardship but more about the shoals of sprats, and/or, other fish (cf. discussion of seasonal trend in diet in earlier blog post). In many thousands some are always destined to perish in the challenge of feeding themselves, especially young birds, so some mortality would have been expected (we have this every year with young Gannets). More recently they have presumably been hampered by strong winds in stormy weather last week; until the winds increased I suspect there may not have been any greater numbers of fatalities than occur normally, pro rata, but now it seems that we are definitely experiencing a significant wreck (cf. also report of 91 dead Guillemots in 2.5 km at Blackness on 27 September).

Referencing the Bird Study paper [1] on the 1983 wreck we find these observations:

The total of 34,000 birds killed in the latest wreck exceeds the highest kill previously recorded in a wreck in Britain.

Most of the corpses examined during the wreck were emaciated (Hope Jones et al 1984), indicating that the birds had been in poor physical condition before their deaths. There was no evidence of any infectious disease.

Most wrecks of seabirds are associated with severe weather conditions such as storms and gales, and these are likely to contribute to the deaths of the birds. Storm conditions can influence mortality by (a) displacing birds perhaps to areas with less food, (b) by making food more difficult to obtain or (c) through increased heat loss and battering. Birkhead (1976) suggested that Guillemots may have difficulty in finding and capturing food when strong winds cause rough seas. The severe westerly gales in January 1983 may have displaced auks from northern waters into more sheltered areas in the North Sea. In January, particularly high numbers of auks were seen close inshore in Shetland.

The arrival of dead and dying birds along the east coast closely followed the 5 February change in wind direction from westerly to easterly. A routine Beached Bird Survey at the end of January had not revealed any unusually high or low densities of auks on either the east or west coast, but on the Continent high numbers of corpses had been reported from at least mid-January and in some areas from December. It would appear that the birds were dying some time before British beaches received unusual numbers of corpses.

Despite the storm around 25 September (which brought Leach's Petrels to this same spot) it seems odd that it could have had such a drastic impact on these auks, which much be pretty hardy creatures wintering offshore in much worse weather. But perhaps timing is the key, if those perishing are mainly young inexperienced birds then perhaps they were not yet adequately prepared for severe weather?

Thus it would also be worth examining these corpses to age them, comments from Mike Harris per forthbirding post: "Birds are aged using the greater (longest) underwing coverts. In 1st winter birds these have obvious clearly defined white tips. Older birds have grey coverts. Birds with silvery white tips without a clear border between grey and whitish should not be classified." See also ageing manual on www.oiledwildlife.eu

Some examples below from the birds at Ferny Ness:

Seems those above are indeed youngsters (as were probably 4 out of 6 birds examined carefully, a very small sample though) - the three lower images above are all from one individual very freshly dead, now sent for post mortem.

Three photos below are apparently an adult, in full primary moult when it died (per BWP, adult post-breeding moult "Starts with head and body in late July, completed November. Primaries late July to September; shed within 1–3 days. Secondaries late August to late September. Flightless for c. 45–50 days, until primaries 70–80% grown".

Gulls may be playing some role in dispatching many of these birds - such as the young GBB killing one on adjacent Gosford Sands on Sunday; someone else mentioned to me 8 auks floating in sea off Portobello on 27 September, and witnessing "at least 3 being killed by gulls [twice by Great Black Backed and once a Herring Gull] by drowning. Each time they grabbed them whilst a "feeding frenzy" was going on and then drowned them, on each occasion they gave up trying to eat them as it seemed to difficult to do this in the water and just left them floating."

Another unexplained feature is all these dead birds seem to be Guillemots, whilst I had estimated 60% of the 850 auks visible in Gosford Bay on 24 August were Razorbills - so why the apparent difference in mortality now - where have all the Razorbills gone?

To end of a positive note, there was a further paper on the 1983 wreck, this being an assessment of impact on subsequent breeding, which determined this to be relatively minor [2]. So hopefully they will bounce back again this time too.

[1] Underwood, L.A. & Stowe, T.J. (1984) "Massive wreck of seabirds in eastern Britain", Bird Study 31:2, 79-88
[2] Harris, M.P. & Wanless, S. (1984) "The effect of the wreck of seabirds in February 1983 on auk populations on the Isle of May (Fife)", Bird Study 31:2, 103-110

Night Herons

Update on zoo Night Herons - in February Geoff had found both of the known survivors still in residence, these free flying birds were once thought to be extinct (back in 2007, and BS3); there is now a new picture of the red/green left bird on SOC gallery; the published longevity record for this species (hoactli race) is 21 years but this ancient bird seems now to have reached 25yrs+ (2010 summary, my own poor photo from that date above).

[Post from November 2011: another out of area item, alerted to this Night Heron story by Ian, bird recovered from Dungarit near Stranraer (where mobbed by Buzzards).

Originally from Edinburgh zoo, this is my understanding of the colour-ringing regimes adopted there 1984-2004:

* 1982-1987(8) - red right, 3 colours left
* 1989-1995 - red right, blue/yellow left (some blue/red left 1994)
* 1997-2004 - ad hoc 0, 1 or 2 red, blue/yellow bands either leg

So this individual would seem to be one of the last batch, thus probably rather younger than the two survivors at the zoo itself (one each from the two earlier ringing regimes).]

More gular patches

Another candidate for Continental Cormorant (sinensis) at Duddingston Loch, far shore, 23 May. Also watched at close range while fishing confirming gular angle in excess of 90 degrees. Compare Geoff's photos of 1st-win at same site in Jan 2010.

Return of Sandie?!

[Warning - read to end, the initial report blogged here was a hoax!]

Report of Sandhill Crane S over Dunbar 08:15hrs Friday 16 September may relate to the same individual famously tracked S in 2009, later wintering in France? Could this be the same bird as was seen in Finland on 5 September, then Estonia on 8 September? A further report over West Walton, Norfolk, on Saturday 17 September.

In retrospect, given it would have needed to break free from carrier species (Common Crane) and get across the North Sea angled very much to the west, this would seem very unlikely - as concluded by others. Perhaps more likely is there are two - the current UK one either being a new arrival, or possibly the 2009 bird retracing its route having been missed on other migrations? The east coast track is consistent with the latter view, though equally could be adopted by a new arrival if it had again made landfall on the Northern Isles.

The rest is history of course, Sandhill Crane at Strathbeg 22-26 September, possibly a couple of days earlier, where amazing photos were finally achieved; as of Thursday 29 September was again being tracked south - over Newbiggin 09:16hrs then down into Durham, Cleveland and N Yorks by early afternoon. Looks like we missed a chance in a lifetime in Lothian, oh to have been watching on the Wednesday!!!

It seems to be widely accepted that this is the same bird as initially reported mid-September, and with a lack of any other sightings this does have some logic - though many east coast sites are well watched - could it really have got all the way back up from Norfolk to Strathbeg without being seen? Possibly from Berwick (after all we missed it coming south again, though it may have been out over the sea), but even that looks a bit odd. All speculation, though availability of high res images from Strathbeg may now help. Comparison of details is possible with pics from Scandinavia, unfortunately low res but better than nothing, e.g. these for head profiles, right (Strathbeg and Estonia), and left (Strathbeg and Estonia), there may in fact seem to be some hints of similar patterns, is the cheek patch lower in the right? But the flight shot from Finland shows one nick in the left wing, not seen on Strathbeg bird. Perhaps time will tell.

Comparison with better photos from Finland seems to confirm it is definitely a different individual, much greater contrast of white cheeks on Scandinavian bird. Also discussed on BirdForum.

Postscript 1 - re comments below, time has indeed told, it later came to light that the Dunbar report was a hoax, still made it into the pages of BB though!

Postscript 2 - on 9 November the much anticipated message came through of relocation of the bird in Iberia, it has apparently found Common Cranes in Badajoz province of Spain and was seen there on 4 November, full details.

Nordic?

Continuing the substandard subspecies theme, with which Geoff has whole-heartedly joined in, I offer these pics of a candidate for "Nordic" Jackdaw; picked up as I was driving down the Niddrie Mains Road towards dusk, not the best spot for digiscoping and it was quite active along the main road, it was noticeable that the white stripe varied in impact according to viewing angle, as per pics below. Front view shows the "headlamp" effect noted by Geoff in January.

It is certainly not as obvious as some, moreover it would not seem to be a good time for Scandinavian arrivals - Jackdaw is a late autumn migrant, main movement picking up from the middle of October and continuing to late November (trektellen graph). Perhaps it's just a turrium intermediate, as suggested by Geoff for his Irish birds? Intermediates also pondered on Birding Frontiers.

Subsequent records of presumably same bird in same neighbourhood have now shown it is a resident breeding bird, and by 2018 is at least 8 years old, all known sightings:

1. 22/9/11 Niddrie, S Welch, as per above
2. 31/10/11 Niddrie, S Welch;
3. 4/11/12 Craigmillar, by Geoff Morgan, his first sighting;
4. 30/1/13 Niddrie, S Welch;
5. Seen at least 3 times around Craigmillar, Geoff March, August and September 2013 (paired);
6. 19/12/14 Niddrie, S Welch [photo on Twitter]
7. Some time in 2014 independently discovered by Martin Scott;
8. 21/11/15 Niddrie, Geoff;
9. 24/1/16 Niddrie, Martin particularly interesting as on same day likely same bird seen by Geoff at Alnwickhill/Mortonhall, 3-4kms distant, regular Jackdaw roost flights across city;
10. 14/5/17 Niddrie/Craigmillar, Geoff;
11. 9-10/8/18, still, paired, at front entrance to new Home Bargains store, recently built on former open area haunt on north side of the road.

Wknd 12-13 March

Late afternoon Saturday saw 20 Whoopers (1 juv) resting on sea in Gosford Bay; whooping started and they flew at 17:25hrs, passing Longniddry c/p 2 in a single line; no darvics were apparent, at least on left legs! Proceeded SW along coast towards Cockenzie powerstation. After Lesser Blackback, the second species seen on active migration this spring - numbers in East Lothian plummet every March but I rarely catch them in motion; will find out on WeBS tmrw how many remain locally.

Sunday update - at noon a flock of 37 Whoopers at Ballencrieff (6 juv, no darvics in 34 standing), in cereal (first seen here, though once previously nearby at Mungoswells; hard to say on origins, as had gone at 13:15hrs and no sign in scanning from Garleton, just possibly genuine migrants); still 146+ at Muirton and 4 at Waughton.

[Postscript - further evidence of passage with news from Mike of 30+ over his house in Penicuik on Sunday evening, then a sighting of 23 on Blindwells by George on Monday afternoon; also 3 past Coates on Saturday!]

Sunday evening, a nice full summer Med Gull on the Seton shore (unringed); stalked to get a shot and was mystified by an insistent and distinctive "yow" call amongst the noise of calls until throo scope I saw it was the Med; called loudly until it took flight, then continued in flight, a new experience for me. Also a very white-backed leucistic BHG on the sea. Presumed same Med again on shore on Monday.


Nothing to do with Lothian I found this interesting blog for Midway Atoll in the Pacific which documents the impact of the Japanese tsunami on the breeding albatrosses; amongst them "Wisdom", a ringed Laysan Albatross of age 60+ yrs, has apparently survived with her chick.

More local, another blog post worth noting is this recent pic of one of the remaining Night Herons at the zoo. All the information we have points to this being a chick banded in 1987 or earlier, thus approaching at least 24 years old, far exceeding known longevity records for this species (17 yrs - Europe, 21 yrs - North America).

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

Persecution of European birds

Migrant birds have traditionally been killed in large numbers in a number of Mediterranean countries. However, what was once a traditional pastime carried out on a small scale has now escalated to become a major industry, with hunters employing an array of equipment and techniques (like mist nets, tapes lures and "liming" - covering twigs where migrants alight in a sticky glue) to harvest vast numbers of birds. Thus the number of birds caught is increasing year-on-year and is now estimated to be in the region of half a billion individuals in the Mediterranean region. This number represents a significant proportion of the total number of migrants.

One of the most extreme cases is in Malta where it is well known that the authorities make little attempt to enforce hunting laws. Millions of birds are killed on their annual migration through the country, many illegally (cf newspaper articles on Malta Tourist Action website). Whilst the populations of native breeders have been badly hit (last pair of Maltese Falcons shot dead in 1982) it is migrants which use the island which are of most concern. Migrant raptors (bird of prey) rely on thermals from warm ground and cannot easily cross large water bodies. Thus, thousands are channelled over the Maltese islands where they come under indiscriminate fire from shooters. So whilst Ospreys are being conserved and protected in places like Scotland (and recently at Rutland Water in England) they are subsequently shot on their migration to their wintering grounds in Africa.

The Maltese hunters are also renowned for cruelty to birds, with liming used to catch songbirds and birds used as lures often confined in tiny cages. For example, a consignment of 600 greenfinches was recently found dead at the airport, in 4 suitcases, see the Birdlife site.

This quote from the diary of a volunteer at an anti-poaching camp gives a feeling for what goes on there:

"Day three (pm): went to Catona, a suberb of Reggio di Calabria, renowned for its high density of poachers and Mafia activities. Four of us stood in a lay-by, watching the sun set behind Sicily and counting 22 Honey Buzzards flying low and slow towards us ... a hundred shots pierced the air all around us and I felt desolation and unspeakable anger amidst this deafening, relentless nightmare. After seven long minutes we counted just five surviving birds rising up the ridge behind Catona..."

Massacre of Honey Buzzards - purely for sporting purposes - has continued through the early years of the 21st century, despite the fact that Malta is about to enter the EU and has accepted preconditions to do with reducing illegal persecution. For example, on 10 May 2002 Malta witnessed the largest ever recorded migration of honey buzzard with several flocks of 300 seen and an estimated 2000 individuals in total. Maltese hunters opened fire on the migrants indiscriminately across the islands, gunning down hundreds. Dead and injured were found throughout the islands. The police unit charged with law enforcement (the bird is "officially protected") had a single car at its disposal and was clearly overwhelmed in the face of such a widespread problem.

Again in April 2004, large numbers of Honey Buzzards were killed, see this online article.

In May 2005, just after the inspection of the EU Commissioners, there is no change: "A heavy passage of honey buzzards were seen flying inland from the south against the strong northwest wind last Friday (9 May). Some 200 honey buzzards were seen in small parties at Xrobb l-Ghagin and practically all were shot." Overall, this remains an ongoing international disgrace and is totally unacceptable.

Cyprus is perhaps just as bad, and getting worse year on year. Melis Charalambides of the Cyprus Ornithological Society estimated that c. 20 million birds were trapped or shot on the island in 2000. Most of these (c. 12-15 million) are fully protected species. Furthermore, they were killed by-and-large using sophisticated and illegal methods by organised teams of criminals for the local and international delicacy market (estimated to be worth £20 million).

An example of the state-of-affairs there is highlighted by the events reported by two well-known birder-watchers from NE Scotland last year (cf December issue of Bird watching magazine, pp. 15-16 and Scottish Bird News No 61, March 2001). These men received rough treatment and were threatened by hunters while photographing the bird harvest. Thereafter they were questioned by police (who informed them that they liked to eat the trapped migrants!), not about the illegal trapping, but over allegations that they were 'spying' and their hotel room was searched. This followed another birder being beaten up and a bomb attack on a bird hide.

The fact of the matter is that many in authority are clearly in collusion with the powerful hunting lobby, with support/financial backing of the hunting industry. Species such as blackcaps can fetch up to £1.50 each for the pot, so bird harvesting is big business. From a legal point of view, experience has shown that hunting legislation is barely worth the paper it is written on. Even France has openly flouted the EU Birds Directive by extending the hunting season two months more than advised, ignoring a petition signed by more than 2 million people which was supported by 520+ conservation groups. In other EU countries, such as Italy, the hunting lobby are putting forward declarations via MEP's (e.g. the Ebner Declaration) in attempts to weaken the protection given to migratory birds.

Thus there are no simple answers to these issues. Some conservationists are campaigning on the basis that the entry of Cyprus and Malta to the EU should be blocked unless they introduce and enforce effective hunting laws, whilst others maintain the opposite reasoning that there will be a great improvement if they do join and become subject to the EU laws. Tourism boycotts are generally not supported by conservation bodies as most believe that the revenue earning potential from eco-tourists could be one of the most effective levers for change. Thus they encourage people to travel, making clear to locals why they have come. Perhaps the best long-term hope is education programmes for young people.

European campaigns are being mounted to apply pressure on the relevant authorities. To read more information and/or join these campaigns, see for instance the Proact website, Malta Tourist Action website, the Italian League for Bird Preservation and the RSPB Cyprus information page. In addition, the "Keep birds free" campaign against the illegal trade in wild birds in East Africa is now being run by Proact associates.

Nearer to home, rare and beautiful birds of prey are being poisoned in the Scottish mountains by keepers intent on boosting the game bag. I myself have seen poisoned eggs laid out and dead birds (normally crows) which have suffered the consequences, but securing proof of wrong-doing in such cases is extremely difficult. In rare cases where convictions are brought, penalties are generally insignificant (e.g. a fine of £300 for possession of 1000 clutches of eggs including golden eagle and osprey). The Scottish Ornithologists' Club, of which I am a member, is one organisation campaigning for the effective protection of our native birds of prey. The Scottish Bird News magazine reports poisoning incidents, including dozens of poisoned birds of prey annually, e.g. 4 red kites in both 1997 and 1998 and three golden eagles in 1999. The latest issue reports 5 kites poisoned on or next to sporting estates in the last 12 months (up to June 2001). One successful prosecution is also reported, that of Douglas Ross, a gamekeeper at Craigmill, Knockando estate who was videoed shooting a fledgling hen harrier near its nest. Ross was fined £2000 and allowed to keep his job. It is to be hoped that tougher penalties will be introduced.

Another major issue here is 'egg-collecting'. In 1999 there were 231 confirmed nest robberies, with most being egg robberies. These included four golden eagles, three common scoters, two ospreys, 57 little terns, 33 avocets, 14 peregrines, two Slavonian grebes, and one each of merlin, hen harrier, red kite, stone-curlew and chough. More information about these matters and other issuing regarding persceution of wild birds is given on the RSPB website.

Rev. Dr. William Serle O.B.E. (1912-1992)

Images copyright (c) Natural History Museum, London

Dr. William Serle made a great contribution to ornithological knowledge, and that of West Africa in particular. Born in Duddingston Manse, Edinburgh on 29 July 1912 he attended George Watson's Boys College before studying medicine at Edinburgh University. His interest in birds followed that of his father who he accompanied on early ornithological trips.

From his father's literature, Dr. Serle realised the great potential for further ornithological research in West Africa. Following his graduation in 1936 he joined the Colonial Medical Service and sailed for Lagos, Nigeria, in 1937.

For the next 20 years, Serle made extensive collections in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, British Cameroon and parts of East Africa. He made 60 publications on status, distribution, breeding and taxonomy. He is credited with the descriptions of 18 new avian taxa, including the rare Mount Kupe Bush Shrike (Malaconotus kupeensios).

During the war he served with the West African Field Ambulance Corps, travelling to India and Burma. He was awarded the O.B.E. in 1946 for his outstanding army service.

Following his marriage in 1956 he felt called to train for the ministry and was ordained and inducted to Drumoak, near Banchory in Kincardineshire, Scotland in 1959, where he remained until his retirement in 1987.

Later he donated the bulk of his skins collections to the Natural History Museum in Tring and his egg collection to the National Museums of Scotland.

Reference

Obituary - Dr William Serle O.B.E, by R.Y McGowan, Department of Natural History, Royal Museum of Scotland, Scottish Birds (1993) vol. 17, pp. 66-67

Personal note

It was only when I obtained a copy of Collin's "A Field Guide to the Birds of West Africa" (1977), prior to our trip to Nigeria, that I realised that the author was one and the same as the Church of Scotland minister and naturalist of Drumoak just east of the town of Banchory where I grew up. My father knew him and I might even have seen him myself! So it was quite fascinating to go through the Plain-backed Pipits trays at the Natural History Museum in Tring seeing so many of his careful hand-written labels on the specimens, as illustrated above for a female Plain-backed Pipit collected on 6 August 1954 at Enugu! What a wonderful legacy...