The Nineteenth ARGYLL BIRD REPORT with Systematic List for the year 2002/2003 Edited by Tom Callan Assisted by Paul Daw Systematic List by Paul Daw assisted by Bob Furness (seabirds) and Tom Callan Published by the Argyll Bird Club (Scottish Charity Number SC008782) Copyright: Argyll Bird Club Cover Photo: Rose-coloured Starling, by Jim Dickson Founded in 1985, the Argyll Bird Club aims to promote interest in and conservation of Argyll’s wild birds and their natural environment. The rich diversity of habitats in the county supports an exceptional variety of bird life. Many sites in Argyll are of international importance. The Club brings together people with varied experience, from complete beginners to experts, and from all walks of life. New members are particularly welcome. Activities Every spring and autumn there is a one-day meeting with illustrated talks and other features. These meetings are held in conveniently central locations on the mainland. Throughout the year there are field trips to local and more distant sites of interest. Publications The annual journal of the Club is the Argyll Bird Report, containing the Systematic List of all species recorded in the county during the year, together with reports and articles. The less formal quarterly newsletter, The Eider, gives details of forthcoming events and activities, reports of recent meetings and field trips, and articles and shorter items by members and others. Website www.argyllbirdclub.org Honorary Secretary: Katie Pendreigh, The Whins, Ferry Road, Tayinloan, PA29 6XQ. Tel 01583 441359 E-mail: [email protected] To apply for membership, please (photocopy and) complete the form below and send to out Membership Secretary: Sue Furness, The Cnoc, Tarbet, G83 7DG. Tel. 01301 702 603 E-mail: [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I/We wish to apply for membership of the Argyll Bird Club. Name(s): Address: ___________________ Postcode Telephone number(s) __________________ E-mail ________________________ Please make cheques payable to “Argyll Bird Club”. If you wish to pay by standing order, which reduces our administration and costs, please ask the Membership Secretary to send you the appropriate form. Annual subscription (please tick): Ordinary £10 Junior (under 17) £3 Family £15 Corporate £25 Argyll Bird Club Officials and Committee as at 1 January 2006 Chairman David Wood, Drovers House, Bellanoch, Lochgilphead PA31 8SN Vice-Chairman Nigel Scriven, 2 Allt na Blathaich, Loch Eck, Dunoon PA23 8SG Secretary Katie Pendreigh, The Whins, Ferry Road, Tayinloan, PA29 6XQ Treasurer Prof. Bob Furness, The Cnoc, Tarbet, Loch Lomondside, G83 7DG Committee Roger Broad, Tom Callan, Paul Daw, David Merrie, Katie Pendreigh, Dr Steve Petty Membership Sue Furness, The Cnoc, Tarbet, G83 7DG Secretary Argyll Bird Dr Tristan ap Rheinallt, Roger Broad, Jim Dickson (Secretary), David Records Committee Jardine, John Bowler, Dr Malcolm Ogilvie Editor of Argyll Bird Tom Callan, Corra, Otter Ferry, Tighnabruaich, Argyll, PA21 2DH Report Editor of The Eider Dr Steve Petty, Craigielea, Kames, Tighnabruaich PA32 2AE (newsletter) Other useful addresses S.O.C. Recorder for Argyll: Paul Daw, Tigh-na-Tulloch, Tullochgorm, Minard, Inveraray PA32 8YQ. Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) Organiser for Argyll: Dr Malcolm Ogilvie, Glencairn, Bruichladdich, Isle of Islay PA49 7UN. B.T.O. Representatives for Argyll: North Argyll, Mull, Coll, Tiree & Morvern: Sue Dewar, Auchnacroish House, Torosay, Craignure, Isle of Mull, Argyll PA65 6AY Islay, Jura and Colonsay: Dr Malcolm Ogilvie (address above). Argyll South, Bute and Gigha : Richard Allan, An Grianan, Easdale Road, Isle of Seil, Oban, PA34 4RF R.S.P.B. Conservation Officer, Argyll & Bute: Roger Broad, 6 Birch Road, Killearn, Glasgow G63 9SQ Contents Editorial Tom Callan 5 Systematic List for 2002/3 - Introduction 6 Paul Daw/Bob Furness/Tom Callan Swans 17 - 18 Geese 18 - 25 Ducks 25 - 40 Game birds 40 - 41 Divers & grebes 42 - 44 Fulmar, shearwaters, petrels 44 - 47 Gannet, cormorants, egrets, herons 47 - 50 Raptors 50 - 60 Rails 60 - 62 Waders 62 - 80 Skuas, gulls, terns 80 - 89 Auks 90 - 91 Pigeons & doves 91 - 93 Cuckoos & owls 93 - 96 Nightjar, swift, kingfisher, woodpeckers 96 - 98 Skylark, swallows, pipits, wagtails 98 - 103 Waxwing to wheatear 103 - 107 Thrushes 107 - 110 Warblers 110 - 115 Goldcrest, flycatchers, tits, treecreeper 115 - 119 Orioles, shrikes & crows 119 - 123 Starlings, sparrows, finches 123 - 130 Buntings 130 - 132 Escapes & introductions 133 Rejected and Pending records 133 - 134 Acknowledgements & contributors 134 - 135 Index 136 - 139 EDITORIAL The last Argyll Bird Report was introduced with an apology for the late appearance of the 2001 report and I am afraid an even more humble apology is due for the delay in the production of this. As usual most of the work for this, as in the past, has fallen on our esteemed recorder Paul Daw without whose enormous efforts we would have been further behind. Invaluable assistance was given by Mary Gregory, Jane Mitchell and Morag Rea in the processing of data and by Bob Furness in the preparation of the Systematic List. Many thanks are also due to Jim Dickson who has taken on the role of Secretary of the Argyll Bird Records Committee and dealt with all the processing of rare bird records. I have also helped with the data and the preparation of the List and, from this, I have a very clear understanding of the debt we owe to Paul. During the work on this report Paul has also been heavily involved with the forth coming book on the birds of Argyll – not to mention coaching a new editor. Hopefully, under less of a load we should not be so late with the next report. You will notice that for the first time the report covers two rather than the usual one year. This should help us to catch up and the next report will be for 2004 and 2005 i.e. two years as is this one; allowing us to become even more up to date. Once again may I make a plea on records. We are very dependant, not just on the records, but on their being submitted as soon as possible after the year end or sooner if you prefer. Paul is more than happy to give advice on the form we prefer the records should take. He even has a simple template for inputting records on computer. I know you all watch birds but I also know that you do not all submit records. Common birds are just as important as the Booted Warblers or the Semipalmated Plovers of this world: in some ways more so. How else are we to gauge what is happening to the vast majority of the birds we see. Some recording areas are particularly poorly covered such as Cowal and North Argyll. I feel very strongly that our report is important for existing and particularly new members. This year you will see that we have introduced an index which hopefully should make the report much easier to use for the majority of our members. Any other suggestions would be very welcome. Finally, this being my first attempt and at fairly short notice of editing the Argyll Bird Report, may I apologise if it does not match up with the impeccably high standards of our previous editor Clive Craik. May I send him thanks from us all for his many years of service. Tom Callan Editor October 2006 5 Argyll Bird Report 19 Systematic list for 2002-2003 Paul Daw Tigh-na-Tulloch, Minard, Inveraray, Argyll, PA32 8YQ Tel. 01546 886260 e-mail: [email protected] INTRODUCTION The systematic list below includes entries for 215 species recorded in Argyll during 2002 and 220 species recorded in 2003 (cf average 213 species during the years 1993 – 2001). Two of these species, viz. Ferruginous Duck and Forster's Tern are additions to the Argyll list, which now totals 328 species (NB this includes Yellow-legged Gull which, since October 2005, has been treated by the BOU as a separate species). For the information of readers we have included at least a status summary in the text of all species on the Argyll list except those in Category B (see beginning of the systematic list). To save space we have dispensed with the month by month Ornithological Review for this issue. BIRD RECORDING IN ARGYLL Advice to contributors When submitting records, sightings should be listed in Voous order (as in this report) and should include the following details: Species name. The commonly used English name is usually sufficient (British Birds – List of English Names), but scientific (Latin) name is helpful if reporting sub-species. EURING Code No. - if possible (helps to speed up computer input). Date. Please give exact date whenever possible (rather than ‘June’ or ‘Spring’) as this makes the record much more valuable and enables us to relate it to other records received. Grid reference if known. The six figure ref. is preferred, but a four figure ref. is often sufficient. Location name. Used in conjunction with the above to avoid ambiguity (e.g. there are umpteen Loch Dubhs in Argyll) but mistakes can also occur with grid refs! Number of individuals. Precise number whenever possible or, failing this, an estimate. Even a rough estimate is more useful than ‘many’, ‘large flock’, ‘several’ or ‘few’, which are too subjective to have much value. 6 Sex and age - if known Other interesting comments are always welcome e.g. indications of breeding, behaviour, food, interactions with other birds/animals etc. Individual anecdotes add value to what can otherwise be rather a ‘dry’ report. Rare birds Details of all rare bird sightings should be sent in as soon as possible after the sighting to Jim Dickson, 11 Pipers Road, Cairnbaan, Lochgilphead, Argyll, PA31 8UF.