Irish Wetland Bird Survey: Waterbird Status and Distribution 2009/10 – 2015/16
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ISSN 1393 – 6670 N A T I O N A L P A R K S A N D W I L D L I F E S ERVICE IRISH WETLAND BIRD SURVEY: WATERBIRD STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION 2009/10 – 2015/16 Lesley Lewis, Brian Burke, Niamh Fitzgerald, David Tierney and Seán Kelly I R I S H W I L D L I F E M ANUAL S 106 National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) commissions a range of reports from external contractors to provide scientific evidence and advice to assist it in its duties. The Irish Wildlife Manuals series serves as a record of work carried out or commissioned by NPWS, and is one means by which it disseminates scientific information. Others include scientific publications in peer reviewed journals. The views and recommendations presented in this report are not necessarily those of NPWS and should, therefore, not be attributed to NPWS. Front cover, small photographs from top row: Coastal heath, Howth Head, Co. Dublin, Maurice Eakin; Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris, Eddie Dunne, NPWS Image Library; Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia, Brian Nelson; Puffin Fratercula arctica, Mike Brown, NPWS Image Library; Long Range and Upper Lake, Killarney National Park, NPWS Image Library; Limestone pavement, Bricklieve Mountains, Co. Sligo, Andy Bleasdale; Meadow Saffron Colchicum autumnale, Lorcan Scott; Barn Owl Tyto alba, Mike Brown, NPWS Image Library; A deep water fly trap anemone Phelliactis sp., Yvonne Leahy; Violet Crystalwort Riccia huebeneriana, Robert Thompson Main photograph: Light-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla hrota, Brian Burke. Irish Wetland Bird Survey: Waterbird Status and Distribution 2009/10 – 2015/16 Lesley Lewis, Brian Burke, Niamh Fitzgerald, David Tierney and Séan Kelly Keywords: Wintering waterbirds, Population estimates, Population trends, 1% thresholds, Site assessment, Distribution. Citation: Lewis, L. J., Burke, B., Fitzgerald, N., Tierney, T. D. & Kelly, S. (2019) Irish Wetland Bird Survey: Waterbird Status and Distribution 2009/10-2015/16. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 106. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Ireland. The NPWS Project Officer for this report was: Séan Kelly ([email protected]) ISSN 1393 – 6670 An tSeirbhís Páirceanna Náisiúnta agus Fiadhúlra 2019 National Parks and Wildlife Service 2019 An Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta, 90 Sráid an Rí Thuaidh, Margadh na Feirme, Baile Átha Cliath 7, D07N7CV Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, 90 North King Street, Smithfield, Dublin 7, D07 N7CV Contents Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................................. i Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................................. ii 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Methods ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Waterbirds covered by the scheme ................................................................................................... 3 2.2 The Core Count Scheme ..................................................................................................................... 3 2.3 Count methods .................................................................................................................................... 4 2.4 Additional related surveys ................................................................................................................ 4 2.5 Data analyses and interpretation ...................................................................................................... 5 2.5.1 Waterbird population estimates ................................................................................................... 5 2.5.2 Trends and annual indices ............................................................................................................ 5 2.5.3 Site importance ............................................................................................................................... 7 2.5.4 Pressures and threats ..................................................................................................................... 7 3 Coverage ........................................................................................................................................................ 8 4 Species Accounts ........................................................................................................................................ 11 4.1 Layout of species accounts............................................................................................................... 11 4.2 Notes on interpretation .................................................................................................................... 13 4.3 Mute Swan Cygnus olor..................................................................................................................... 14 4.4 Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii .................................................................................. 17 4.5 Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus ........................................................................................................ 19 4.6 Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhyncus ......................................................................................... 23 4.7 Greenland White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons flavirostris ......................................................... 25 4.8 Greylag Goose Anser anser ............................................................................................................... 28 4.9 Greylag Goose (feral) Anser anser ................................................................................................. 31 4.10 Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis ....................................................................................................... 33 4.11 Canada Goose Branta canadensis ...................................................................................................... 36 4.12 Light-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla hrota ............................................................................. 38 4.13 Shelduck Tadorna tadorna ................................................................................................................. 41 4.14 Wigeon Mareca penelope .................................................................................................................... 43 4.15 Gadwall Mareca strepera ................................................................................................................... 46 4.16 Teal Anas crecca .................................................................................................................................. 48 4.17 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos .............................................................................................................. 51 4.18 Pintail Anas acuta ............................................................................................................................... 53 4.19 Shoveler Spatula clypeata ................................................................................................................... 55 4.20 Pochard Aythya ferina ........................................................................................................................ 58 4.21 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula ............................................................................................................. 60 4.22 Scaup Aythya marila ........................................................................................................................... 63 4.23 Eider Somateria mollissima ................................................................................................................. 65 4.24 Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis ................................................................................................ 67 4.25 Common Scoter Melanitta nigra ...................................................................................................... 69 4.26 Goldeneye Bucephala clangula .......................................................................................................... 71 4.27 Smew Mergellus albellus ................................................................................................................... 73 4.28 Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator ....................................................................................... 74 4.29 Goosander Mergus merganser .......................................................................................................... 77 4.30 Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata..................................................................................................... 79 4.31 Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica ................................................................................................... 81 4.32 Great Northern Diver Gavia immer .................................................................................................. 83 4.33 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis ................................................................................................... 85 4.34 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus ...........................................................................................