Issue 98, March 2019

Highland Birds The Newsletter of RSPB ’s Local Group

Inside this Edition: Photo: Nuthatch, Keith Barnes (RSPB Scotland Highland Local Group)

Indoor Reports: Field Trip Reports: • Capercaillie on the National Forest Estate • Ardersier • Saving the Spoon-billed Sandpiper • Easter Ross • Migration of Waders; Highland Ringing Group Projects • Where the Birds are • This is my Story: Discovering Cultural and Natural Heritage • Morning Birding and Christmas Lunch in Slovenia • 2019 New Year Bird Count • Attempt to Avert a Black Future for a Black Duck • North of

Surprise Field Trip Extra Report: Letter from Tanzania •

From our Organising Team Capercaillie on the National Forest Estate Alan Jones, Hilary Rolton, Maureen MacDonald Indoor Meeting; Thursday 27th September 2018

Welcome members to the second Newsletter from the Organising Team. We are approaching the end of the 2018/2019 programme and the AGM which is on Thursday 25th April.

Please note an error in the printed program and read Saturday 30th March (not Thursday) for our Abernethy field trip. Our final field trip will be to RSPB Scotland Loch Leven Reserve by coach. At the time of writing, there are few places remaining and so the booking form will not accompany this Newsletter. Capercaillie, Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com) This programme of events would not have been Our speaker for this evening was Kenny Kortland, a possible without the contributions which many Species Ecologist with Forest Enterprise Scotland members have made. First of all, the indoor having joined them in 2008. Previously, after meetings could not run without the very important studying ecology at Aberdeen University, he worked tea-making team who also help with any assistance for the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology as a required with the equipment made available by research assistant on capercaillie before taking up Greyfriars Free Church Hall. Then there are the a post with RSPB Scotland for eleven years on members who have acted as Chairperson raptors and woodland grouse. This included being introducing the Speaker on the various evenings. Capercaillie Project Officer for RSPB/FCS/SNH for nine years. Kenny now works on a wide range of Members have also been willing to lead field trips species conservation and management issues, and the Galloways made the continuation of the including capercaillie. Forest Enterprise Scotland New Year Bird Count possible and kindly hosted the (FES) is Government owned and responsible for the event. management of ten areas throughout Scotland, a total of 400,000 hectares consisting of forest, Newsletters would also not be possible without the moorland and peat land. FES employ 750 staff, 70 reports written by members describing talks and of whom look after the environment. trips to bring back memories of the events. We have an excellent additional article written by Fiona Reid Male capercaillie can be very aggressive especially as well as her photography and also the front cover when flying and leking. During the lek, females photo courtesy of Keith Barnes. Finally, the RSPB observe the males displaying before choosing the Scotland Inverness staff are always very helpful, “one” for them; similar to the human species, the particularly in arranging the layout of the Newsletter. only possible difference being they do not have to get up for 5,00 a.m. Just imagine having to look None of this could happen without the continued your very best at that time in the morning! Over the attendance and loyalty of Group Members and the years, Kenny has had many sightings; two that team spirit and cooperation evident at any event stand out in his memory was a male displaying in Alan, Maureen or myself have attended. the Linn of Dee car park, the other at Glenmore Hilary Rolton where a male had been killed by another male; it was found dead on the lek at the end of the season.

Official Notification Up until 2010 the species was in decline, and by 2017 subject to significant habitat fragmentation. RSPB Highland Local Group The causes are due to predators, high deer AGM numbers, deer fences and disturbance but the Thursday 25th April 2019 at 7.30pm biggest issue is the weather. Climate change and At Greyfriars Free Church of Scotland rain especially in the breeding season result in not Balloan Road, Inverness enough chicks are being reared. Female deaths are significant due to collision with deer fences when the birds are in flight. The problem has been addressed Long Tailed Tit, John Bridges (rspb-images.com) by modifying the design of the fences to be more The forecast for our outing promised to be dry until visible. The main predators are crows, foxes and late afternoon as 12 of us set off for Alturlie as our pine martins which are responsible for 32% of the first point of call. The tide was extremely far out with nests eaten. The good weather in June this year led seaweed covering the sand and stones in front of us to fewer crows and higher capercaillie chick and the sky reflected in the pools gave a lovely numbers; it is not all doom and gloom. silvery light. Oystercatchers, curlews, carrion Strathspey has a dense population and fares better and hooded crows were busy pecking among the than average. Between 2002 – 2015 the number of sea wrack with a couple of grey heron spaced males has gone from 5 to 45. At Rothiemurchus, along the edge of the incoming tide. Two greylag, there is a lot of juniper, blaeberry and heather which wigeon, gannet, common gull and cormorant capercaillie like. A study has shown that birds are were also visible in the distance. thriving in Inshriach because small areas are being It was surprisingly warm for October with 17/18 felled rather than large areas; this is creating degrees all day. The beeches are changing colour corridors and opening up the canopy, letting more and the wych elms are already a lovely bright light into the undergrowth to help the blaeberry yellow. Continuing along the coast road we spotted growth which in turn, helps with the production of 8-10 goldeneye, a little grebe, and a solitary more insects, especially caterpillars; so important to wigeon, unusual as they are gregarious and are chicks in their first few weeks of life. commonly seen in large family groups. The birds in Glenmore Forest are not breeding We then set off for Ardersier taking a detour en route successfully, possibly due to the fact that it has where a very active kestrel was wheeling around a 300,000 visitors a year at present; this will increase large number of straw bales diving between them in the future. Dog walkers and people going off track again and again only to resurface empty handed or are disturbing the birds. Better facilities are required empty beaked! Near Easter Dalziel Farm pair of to discourage this practice and to address other yellowhammer were as interested in us as we were problems, for example on a hot day, at Loch Morlich, of them and at that moment a large number of pink- up to twenty bin liners of rubbish can be collected. footed geese swirled above us in a graceful arc and On a more positive note, 2018 saw three pairs of descended onto a nearby field just out of sight, goshawk at Glenmore as well as sightings of probably a field of stubble which is their favourite. golden eagle and jay. Kenny remains optimistic about the future of the capercaillie. At the end of the Parking alongside the beach in Ardersier there were very informative talk which was accompanied by six rock pipits sitting on the posts of an old wooden some excellent photography Alan, the chair for the breakwater. They were so well camouflaged that evening, proposed a vote of thanks to Kenny and had they not flown off I doubt that I would have the audience showed their appreciation in the usual noticed them. A real treat to see them so close at way. hand. Lots of mallard and wigeon were paddling about in the shallows of the incoming tide, along Maureen MacDonald with black-headed and greater black-backed Field Trip to Ardersier gulls and seven redshank. Far out on the relatively Thursday 11th October 2018 calm water were nine red-breasted merganser and someone guillemots in the distance.

Then off to Fort George with a magpie, starling and blackbird seen en route. The MOD red flags were well in evidence so we had to keep away from the tempting paths among the scrub and gorse, and yes, we did hear lots of shooting practice taking place. We could see patches of sunlight over on the Black Isle but we had not a gleam on our side all day; in fact a mist was coming down over the far hills. We were treated to a very extensive flotilla of eider duck just off the point and a curious seal poked his head out of the water from time to time. As we returned across the grass of the ramparts a in south-east Asia, where interest in birds tends to large flock of chatty, restless, long-tailed tits sped be focussed on them as a food source. It is hard to off across the gorse, followed by a smaller flock of know how many survive, still less how to help them coal tits. We heard a robin too but it remained well back from the brink. Working for the Wildfowl and hidden. From time to time during the day we saw Wetlands Trust (WWT), Ewan has been at the skeins of geese on the move, sometimes high in the forefront of efforts to achieve this. sky and at other times fairly low clearly looking for a place to settle, a lovely feature of this time of year. There are two strategies to address their plight. Captive breeding programmes, such as those at Nothing of note was spotted at Delnie beach so we Slimbridge, the WWT headquarters and another in set of for Loch Flemington as our final stop. We saw their breeding grounds in north-west Russia, aim to the usual species of coot, moorhen, little grebe, build up a healthy population from which birds can mallard, tufted duck, blue tit and lots of mute be released in time to join the autumn migration. swans with cygnets towards the far bank which was Secondly, continued miniaturisation of satellite an excellent finale to a most enjoyable outing. The tracking devices has meant that they can now be total species count was 46. fitted to spoonies, to get more details of their migration routes and the hazards they face on their Very many thanks to David Reid and Jim Fulton our journey. guides. This migration is indeed hazardous. Spoonies end Freydis Campbell up, like other waders, caught in fishing nets or Saving the Spoon-billed Sandpiper hunted for food. Ewan described an inspirational project in south-east Asia where the local bird Indoor Meeting; Thursday 25th October 2018 scavengers, who are members of the lowest caste and who trap birds for food because it is one of the few options available for them, were given money to lift themselves off the bottom of the economic ladder by setting themselves up in alternative occupations. This resulted in them advocating strongly for birds in local schools and villages, as opposed to eating them!

Recently, satellite technology has shown that one migration route takes spoonies over the Kamchatka peninsula, and many trackers stopped transmitting here, an area where bird hunting is a strong tradition. Some intervention with the local people, Artwork, Spoon-billed sandpiper Mike Langman (rspb- similar to that in south-east Asia, could be images.com) considered here. Furthermore, tracking has discovered that one of the spoonies’ wintering Can the spoon-billed sandpiper be saved? That grounds is in the demilitarised zone between North was the question Ewan Weston posed at the start of and South Korea, hardly the easiest area in the a fascinating presentation. It is a unique bird, with world to study an endangered bird species, still less its spatulate bill which doesn’t seem essential to any to make changes to ensure their survival! of its several feeding methods. No-one knows why the bill evolved that way unless, (to judge from the There are different threats on the return journey. enthusiastic “aaah!”s of the audience in response to For millennia, waders on this route have stopped in Ewan’s photos), its’ cuteness gives it some the Yellow Sea basin to rest and refuel; but now the evolutionary advantage. mudflats are disappearing, partly due to huge Chinese land reclamation schemes and partly However, the “spoony” needs every advantage it because massive hydro schemes on the Yellow and can get. It is “critically endangered” i.e. on the very Yangtze rivers have greatly reduced the amount of verge of extinction. In common with many waders, riverborne silt deposited at their mouths. However, its’ numbers have gone into steep and steady Ewan reported that the Chinese government has decline. It lives in very remote areas; breeding in accepted the environmental arguments against the far north-east of Russia and migrating to winter wetland infill and committed itself to halting these plover, knot, redshank, dunlin and bar-tailed programmes (though the government machine runs godwit. The moving tide caused the wader flocks very slowly!) to rise up, swirl around and settle again, their plumage caught in the sunlight as they twisted and Can the spoon-billed sandpiper be saved? Ewan’s turned. Lapwing were settled on the grass next to cautious answer to his own question is that it may the mud. There were 2 female reed bunting in a still be possible. This is based on the increased bush very close to the hide but no activity at the knowledge brought about by satellite tracking, the newly constructed scrape. Vast numbers of wigeon potential of re-introduction programmes, combined were on the water and in amongst them were some with both small and large-scale attempts to reduce Brent geese. the hazards these birds face. In appreciation of his intriguing and enthusiastic talk, our RSPB Local We next moved to Nigg Ferry Terminal. There was Group presented Ewan with a cheque for £100 for a raft of not too distant eider, close to a buoy. the WWT, to further their work on behalf of Further away, Keith spotted long-tailed duck and “spoonies”. black guillemot through the scope and Rosie found a common guillemot just as it dived. On the shore Alan Jones were rock pipit. We then moved to Balintore Field Trip to Easter Ross Harbour where it started to rain, the bright sun turned to grey skies and the snow disappeared. On Saturday 27th October 2018 the harbour wall was a lovely selection birds; ringed plover, turnstone, purple sandpiper and oystercatcher. Our final stop was Dalmore Distillery but it was closed to visitors and so it proved an appropriate time to end the day and return home in the rain. Thanks go to Rosie and Keith for an excellent day and our species total was 57.

Hilary Rolton

Field Trip; Where the Birds are Saturday 24th November

Spotted Redshank in breeding plumage, Mike Langman (rspb-images.com) There were 17 members for this trip, 5 of whom were new. Most of us met at Dingwall car park (the second pickup) where we travelled north to Tain and the Shore Road for some bracing sea watching. We were greeted by a large expanse of mud and deep blue sea beyond against a backdrop of snow on the hills bathed in sunshine and temperatures of 3 to 4 degrees. There were large numbers of shelduck on the mud together with, wigeon, teal and a few shoveler. Waders included redshank, dunlin and curlew. Our leaders Rosie and Keith, after careful scanning with scopes found a spotted redshank and a pintail.

We then moved on to hide at RSPB Scotland Nigg Bay reserve where bird watching could be combined with lunch and socialising. There was a nice group Whooper Swan, Ben Hall (rspb-images.com) of whooper swan and we had time for excellent views of waders moving closer to the hide as the tide gradually covered the mud. There were golden When 18 Members set off in the morning it was dry tailed tits were seen as well as blue, coal and and windless, the mist was very low and visibility great tits and others at the feeders. It was a very was almost nil! However, at our first stop – South successful day with 65 species seen and our thanks Kessock - we found that the mist had lifted showing to Mary Galloway. a mirror Firth and just in front of us an otter was wrestling with a large fish. This went on most of the Isobel MacMaster time we were there till eventually both fish and otter disappeared! Around it, the many birds seemed Migration of Waders; Highland Ringing Group unconcerned; grey heron, oystercatcher, wigeon, Projects mallard, some ringed plovers and turnstones Indoor Meeting; Thursday 13th December 2018 and, close in, teal. Further out were guillemot, a red-throated diver, goldeneye and cormorant.

We walked along the path towards the Canal – always hoping to see that Kingfisher! The tide was quite far in so the pools were full of more herons, some redshank, a lone godwit, a moorhen, little grebe, a snipe and noisy mallard. At the canal, more godwits flew over so we followed them over the railway line to see if we could find them on the shore but by now the tide was fully in against the bank. On return to the cars we saw more herons –

14 together at one point - but we were near the local heronry at Clachnaharry! Common Sandpiper, Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) The group welcomed Ron Summers whose talk Next stop was Bunchrew Caravan Park and that’s covered the research he has done, as a member of where the godwits were in a large group along with the Highland Ringing Group, in conjunction with oystercatchers. With most godwits knee deep in Brian Etheridge and others. Louise de Raad of water with heads tucked under wings and facing us UHI (whose work on the Cairngorm reindeer herd we weren’t too sure which kind we had but enough featured twice on TV shortly after the meeting) is movement let us know there were both bar-tailed also a member of the team. The work uses and black-tailed godwit. Out in the Firth on a geolocators to improve knowledge of the migration sandbank were over 150 cormorants in a line and in of a number of wader species. the trees nearby, a flock of greenfinch and a redpoll. The principal focus for the evening was the common sandpiper, whose UK breeding On now to Loch Ussie looking carefully as we went population has been declining at 1.7% per annum for geese – some members saw only one flock of for 20 years. Prior to the geolocator work, common pink-foot and a lone greylag in a field near Beauly. sandpiper ringed in the UK during the breeding As we ate lunch we watched great spotted season had been recovered in France and Spain; woodpecker, some goldfinch a couple of red kites birds ringed in the UK outside the breeding season flying around and 2 buzzards sitting on telegraph had been recovered from Scandinavia which is part poles. Loch Ussie, like the Firth, was mirror like with of the species' very extensive breeding few birds to be seen but after lunch and a walk range. Some research has also been done on the towards the Island we found a number of mute "refuelling" habits and departure weights of passage swan and 2 whooper swans. Also, there was a migrants at Findhorn Bay. lone female goosander and then later, 4 males and a raft of tufted duck were seen. The geolocator work has studied birds using two breeding areas, one on Speyside and a second in The light was fading by now but we did go to the Sutherland. A number of designs have been used RSPB Scotland Tollie Red Kite Feeding Station. for fitting geolocators to different species; Ron and Only two had been to the feeding table that day as his colleagues have attached them to common they had found a better source of food – dead sandpipers using loops which fit over the birds' pheasant after a nearby Shoot! However, a kestrel, thighs or attached to leg flags. Ron went on to some bullfinches, woodpeckers, a jay, and long- explain, with a number of diagrams, how geolocators work. A significant constraint is that, season), apparently taking advantage of large tides unlike satellite tags, the bird has to return to the and ice-free shores in the Hudson Strait, before same territory in order to recapture the bird and returning non-stop to Scotland as late as the end of download the data from the tag. They record light December. Evidently much of this eastbound level referenced by date and time, and these migration takes place in the dark. This strategy records can be interpreted to estimate the history of appears to take advantage of the anticlockwise the birds' latitude and longitude. This is because the winds around north Atlantic low-pressure systems. daylight length at a particular time of year is The Highland Ringing Group hopes to move on to determined by latitude and longitude can be similar studies of turnstone and wood sandpiper - deduced from the timing of "local noon" relative to watch this space for future talks maybe? noon GMT. Denise Lloyd & Peter Batten The method has a number of limitations. Around the equinoxes, day length is much the same over a Morning Birding and Christmas Lunch th wide range of latitudes - so latitude can only be Saturday 15 December 2018 deduced to within a large error range. Also, at high latitude when there is 24-hours of daylight in summer, neither latitude nor longitude can be deduced. Furthermore, analysis is limited to birds recaptured at the nest site the following year; hence the data is incomplete and may be skewed.

The project has identified the mudflats and mangroves of the Bijagos Archipelago, in Guinea- Bissau (West Africa), as an important wintering area for Scottish common sandpipers. This area offers fiddler crabs as a food source, but the habitat is under pressure from felling mangroves for wood fuel and expansion of rice fields. Refuelling stops in the Red Kite, Ben Hall (rspb-images.com) southwestern Iberian Peninsula are also evident. Overlaying prevailing wind information The Christmas coach outing is always an enjoyable onto the tracking data shows that the Spring event and means everyone can sit back and relax northbound migration is typically hampered by for the morning with no worries about parking or strong cross and headwinds, leading to more route getting lost en route! Saturday 15th December was variation than on the southbound migration. The no exception and it was good to see some of our team's analysis provides a starting point for further members who cannot get to evening meetings. research into the challenges common sandpipers face on this migration route. Ron then spoke briefly The weather proved fine and we had chosen a very about greenshank, which has a wide wintering scenic route from where we met the coach at distribution in the southern hemisphere. Geolocator Beauly. We set off along the shoreline through tracking of birds from a Sutherland site has, Redcastle along to North Kessock; unfortunately, however, revealed that these birds may winter as far the tide was well out so not many waders or ducks away as ... Ireland ... and sometimes Essex. to be seen, but at Redcastle we did see redwing, curlew, oystercatcher and redshank. One of the The final species Ron discussed was purple best sightings of the day was a red kite that flew sandpiper. Before geolocator tracking, it was overhead being chased by a carrion crow; it was known that wintering birds from Moray Firth sites, caught in a brilliant light which enhanced all its such as Brora, travelled to Iceland and parts of glorious colours. Further along the firth we did southern Greenland but our birds do not breed manage to spot a few duck species namely, there. Analysis of geolocator data has proved that mallard, wigeon, goldeneye. Under the bridge at they go much further west, to the shores of the North Kessock we spotted 3 black-throated divers, Hudson Strait to the south of Baffin Island and again the back light was brilliant and we all enjoyed apparently to breeding sites further north, such as admiring these beautiful birds. Devon Island. The birds typically remain in Canada for the Autumn (after most scientists have left for the We journeyed towards Munlochy Bay any then over This is my Story: Discovering cultural and the hill via Mount Eagle on to Culbokie; the drive natural heritage in Slovenia was devoid of birds, but the views were breath- Indoor Meeting: Thursday 31st January taking. Heading down towards the Cromarty causeway we spotted a few greylag and a small The speaker for the evening was Isabel Morgan, group of whooper swan in the fields. Next stop was RSPB Scotland Warden, Central Highland at the ferry point in Dingwall, where once again the Reserves since 2016. Isabel, known to most of us tide was well out but we still saw a group of dunlin as Izzy, has also worked for the RSPB elsewhere and some lapwing. over the years and is currently working to earn a kingfisher badge as a volunteer! In other words, For our final stop we went to the garden of the she’s keen on nature conservation. Manson household, where we hoped to see Last summer, she went on an exchange visit to nuthatch. A pair have been resident since Slovenia, organised by EU Erasmus and others to September. Happily, the nuthatch did appear; a explore sustainable tourism and its impact. The title first sighting for some of the group. We also added of her talk came out of the fact that everyone she several small birds to the list. Now it was time to met started their introduction with “this is my story”! return to Beauly where our lunch awaited us at the Her talk started with a potted history of the country Priory Hotel. We thanked Davy, at the wheel of the which was part of the Roman Empire until the 4th coach, for his excellent driving. The total bird count Century. There followed a very muddled period of for the day was 43 and Terry won the sweepstake; various rulers until the Hapsburg Empire gained he kindly donated the money to go towards group ascendancy. This created some stability allowing funds. Thank you to Maureen for organising the art and literature to develop. A move towards lunch which was voted excellent by all. independence started as early as 1848 but by 1900 Doreen Manson there were still many different factions trying to gain control. There was a period of emigration to the New World but after WW1, a new kingdom of Serbs, New Year Bird Count 2019 Croats and Slovenes came into being but with no Friday 4th January true unification. Four teams and two individuals contested the During WW2, the area was occupied by the trophy. The weather and visibility were fair for the Germans and Italians but eventually, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was created under the time of year; high water was around midday. leadership of Marshall Tito. Although aligned with In total 95 species were recorded as teams birded the communist bloc, Tito was able to rule with a rod Findhorn Bay, Tain, the Black Isle and further afield. of iron resulting in a return to stability. Slovenia and The total was 2 less than in 2018 but contained two the other states were allowed a certain level of new species for the running list; a little egret at autonomy. In 1991, Slovenia declared Kingsteps and a nuthatch in Strathconon. A re- independence from Yugoslavia and was able to join appraisal of the running list of species seen since the EU. Today, it has a relatively stable economy the event began in 1996, is now 145. Feral pigeon which is mainly based on agriculture and forestry has been deleted! The day ended in Fortrose with but tourism is becoming more important. One a social hour of tea and cakes before team tallies problem is that the country doesn’t have a sea port were recorded. The winning team, for the third year so any exports have to go over a border. in succession, were Rosie and Keith Barnes with 74 species; Doreen and John Manson were an Izzy was with a group of visitors who stayed in a extremely close second with a score of 73. Liz and hostel on an industrial estate. The first day took Bob Shannon provided a very welcome dram, for them to an intermittent lake, so-called because it non-drivers, to round off an excellent outing. can dry out when the water table falls too low and the underlying limestone rock allows the water to There are still new species to be added to the drain away. This leaves a large area of grassland running list. Rather than list them now it would be which is grazed and used by the local farmers. A more appropriate to produce a note on other river with seven names flows through it and its’ 'possibles' in the autumn newsletter prior to the course is being changed to allow the water to flow 2020 event. more slowly and perhaps not dry up in the summer. Due to the inheritance system, most farmers only Mary and David Galloway have small pockets of land which are uneconomic or moved away. The group also visited another to use for agriculture. These are now being bought farm which was run on traditional lines but with an up in order to create and control a national nature innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. Going against reserve. The area is being managed to provide the local trend, the farmer was actually buying land suitable habitats for corncrake and bittern and the and was intent on developing a new breed of cattle, park infrastructure is being updated to allow for using Aberdeen Angus and a Japanese breed. more access by tourists. The group visited a system of caves which is a major tourist attraction with The group next visited a man-made lake which guided walks and 7 underground lakes to explore. featured an outdoor pursuits and water-sports Cave centipedes, proteus amphibians and blind centre (privately run), complete with café, waterslide cave beetles make their home here, among other and a giant frying pan, designed to be used as a hot interesting fauna and flora. Above ground, the tub. This was duly tried, with some excited wetland meadows were full of wild flowers, insects anticipation but unfortunately, the fire had not been and butterflies, some now rare in the UK. lit long enough to warm the water and there were some squeals. The site also had log cabins and Lunch was taken at a local farm which defied the glamping facilities for the faint-hearted. local trends and embraced technology. However, they still used horses for some work and took care Sunday lunch was taken with a local family where not to needlessly damage the environment. The several generations live in the same house; quite farmer’s wife, Katerina, works in a local factory and normal in Slovenia. The main item on the menu was provided an excellent lunch including various a local speciality called mush, basically mashed salamis and sausage, bread and preserved potatoes, buck wheat and flax wheat, fried with skill vegetables. It should be noted that Slovenians don’t and sensitivity; delicious of course. Over lunch, really provide vegetarian food and vegans would not there was some discussion about the country’s fare well either. Katerina was also admired for the progress and some of the elder generation felt that quality and quantity of alcohol distilled on the in some ways at least, things were better under the premises using locally sourced fruit. Perhaps no communists. Everyone was guaranteed a job and further comment about this is required. nobody starved. All in all, an interesting afternoon. The following day was spent in the nearby forest Another day, another reserve; this time near the guided by one of very few female foresters, coast where salt pans have been in existence for Marianne. The forest is being managed for wildlife hundreds of years. The 700 ha. reserve surrounds and tourism and has nesting white-tailed eagle and the salt pans and actually strays over the border in osprey. Bear and wolf are present, protected by to Croatia. The salt pans are owned by a private law, but with some strictly controlled hunting company which leases out the pans to people who allowed. These big predators are tolerated by the want to work them for a peppercorn rent of 1 Euro. local communities who see them as an asset for The workers have to produce some salt to keep their increased tourism and farmers are compensated for pan and the salt is then sold on by the company. any loss of livestock due to predation. Marianne The workers get a share of any profit. The costs of was mystified by our clear-felling policy in British maintaining the pans are high because the whole Forestry. They will only remove a few trees at a area is below sea-level and has to be protected from time, allowing natural regeneration of the forest in a unintentional flooding. The salt costs about 42c per sustainable way. There was one stretch of forest kg to produce and sells locally for about 1 euro. which has been left completely untouched by man Some is exported to the rest of Europe and even and will remain so. If a tree falls and blocks one of Japan where it fetches a significant premium. It the existing paths, it cannot be removed and any takes about three weeks for the salt water to walker would just have to climb over it. This evaporate to a density where the crystals start to woodland was surrounded by meadows with form, assuming there is no rain to dilute the water. beautiful wild flowers and butterflies. The crystals are scraped up in to heaps and then transported away from the pans using a little railway Marianne also took the group to a local village which and then packed ready for sale. There is another was showing the effects of decline and loss of highly valuable variety called salt flour which is population as the youngsters move out to the towns much more difficult to make and consequently much and cities. She was most bothered by the lack of more expensive; it is used solely as a condiment. community spirit as the essential amenities closed The park has about 250 species of birds including black-winged stilt and greater flamingo. It greylag, pink-footed goose, carrion crow and attracts about 50,000 visitors a year and gets some hooded crow as well as a buzzard were seen. When EU funding by devious means. The salt company we arrived at The Mound, the car park area was like a may soon convert to an NGO in order to survive and skating rink but, fortunately, we were able to walk on help further develop the park. the grass verges around the perimeter. The scenery was spectacular, from the snow-covered mountains to Tourism in Slovenia is alive and well. There is the partially frozen water of this area of Loch Fleet. It adventure tourism in other parks offering canoeing did not take long for Isabel to point out male and female and other more challenging activities. Where there goldeneye; Jim added a robin and thanks to the are clashes between water-sport enthusiasts and occupants of the house, to the right of the car park, and fishermen, compromises are agreed and their birdfeeders coal, blue and great tits together with implemented. Izzy, a keen mountain-biker was siskin were added. A leucistic male chaffinch had disappointed to learn that that particular sport has been recorded on these feeders during the week; Terry got off to a shaky start due to initial mis-information. was the only one who was lucky enough to get a good No doubt the issue will be resolved. Isabel view of it. We also added rock dove, little grebe and obviously enjoyed her trip and found it informative, red-breasted merganser. thought-provoking and ultimately very useful. She did visit one area where they were trying to After a warming coffee break, we continued to Golspie encourage a certain type of more affluent tourist. then Balblair Wood for a short walk as far as the bridge, This was not to her taste. Her parting words of which, not surprisingly did not produce any species for advice were to visit Slovenia now while it is still our list. Returning to the cars, we had a short stop at relatively unspoilt by commercial tourism. I for one, the end of the wood beside the plastic covered bales of certainly enjoyed her talk and I’m sorry if any of our hay where shelduck, wigeon, mallard, oystercatcher local group missed it. and redshank were added. At Little Ferry house sparrow, cormorant and grey heron helped to swell Nigel McMillan our number of species. As we retraced our route to Golspie, rook was seen. Then from Golspie to our next North of Inverness Field Trip stop, on the south side of Loch Fleet, lapwing was Saturday 2nd February recorded. We intended having lunch here and were able to enjoy it sitting or standing outside, with the sun shining on our backs, just great. Who would believe that we were able to do this at the beginning of February! During our lunch break, we had two new additions curlew and turnstone. In the week prior to our visit, a white-tailed sea eagle had been recorded flying over the Loch, sadly, not today – oh well, maybe next time?

During our journey to our next destination, Embo Pier, red-legged partridge were seen by Isabel and Terry. At the pier, we added eider duck; only one male with Eider, Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) two females. Changed days, many of you will recall in the past seeing large flocks of eider at this site – is this Due to the weather we can experience in the north of due to climate change? Margaret sighted a diver but, Scotland at this time of the year, I decided some time unfortunately during our time there, it either dived or ago, if road conditions were favourable, we would travel was hidden from view by a wave and we were unable a bit further in the warmth of the cars and have short to determine whether it was a black-throat or great periods of birdwatching. The temperatures were fairly northern but, it was definitely a diver going by the beak. low all week leading up to the outing and the forecast Our final stop, Dornoch beach was short because there for Saturday was to be very cold with slight snow were too many dog walkers about. However, we did showers and sunshine. Our list began at Conon Bridge enjoy the company of one cheeky, fat robin who had car park with collared dove, blackbird, jackdaw, discovered how well his bread was buttered at the starling and herring gull. Five of us then departed for picnic tables. The Mound and although it was very cold, we had a clear blue sky and beautiful sunshine. En route, The light was beginning to fade by this time so, we back to the car park we spotted a buzzard sitting on headed for home. I would personally like to thank a post as they so often do at this time of year. Isabel, Jim, Margaret and Terry for braving the cold, At Nairn Harbour were two mute swans looking also, for their contributions to the bird list; I hope they lovely on the still water with the sun shining down on enjoyed the day as much as I had. As expected, our them. There was nothing of note on the sea so we count for the day was low, 36 species recorded. took a walk up the River Nairn, where we immediately spotted a goosander sailing Maureen MacDonald downstream. From Merryton Bridge, two dippers were spotted followed by a greenfinch and lots of Surprise Field Trip house sparrows in the trees beside the river. We Thursday 14th February crossed the bridge and returned to the harbour, where there were three very handsome male goosander near the river mouth. On the way to Fort George, there was a big flock of pink-footed geese in a field. From the car park we walked across the grass for a view of the Moray Firth where there were mergansers, oystercatchers plus a few more eider; a quiet day on the sea. A kestrel was spotted on our way back to the cars.

At the car park in Ardersier we saw curlew, knot and several species of gulls. Next, we headed to Alturlie, hoping for lapwing, but the fields were all

With a title like that, l couldn’t resist setting out to Goosander (male), Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) see what it was all about; after all it was Valentines’ Day! There were 10 of us gathered at the Inverness ploughed and empty. Some of us went to the pools Retail Park car park, 9 members and a visitor. at the top of the hill but only found wigeon and some Leaders for the day were Maureen and Alan, this splendid teal, one with a bright yellow beak! Our was Alan’s first time leading a trip; so that was part last stop was at Milton of Culloden where we saw a of the surprise. massive raft of scaup. Here, we finished our day with a count of 47 and thanks to our two leaders Anyway, it was a fine day and l quickly got over my Alan Jones and Maureen MacDonald. It was an disappointment at not getting red roses and enjoyable day and as l set off home, l wondered if chocolates and we set off for Kingsteps where we my husband had broken the habit of a lifetime and met up with Hilary. On the way, l remarked that our rushed out to buy me a bunch of red first bird would probably be a magpie and of course roses...... !!! there were two sitting in the field as we drove into the car park. The group immediately saw Doreen Manson yellowhammer in the trees which were joined by some goldfinches, chaffinches and a calling wren; we heard a drumming great spotted woodpecker. There were also blue tit, great tit and coal tit. We walked down to the salt marsh all eager to spot the little egret which had taken up residency this winter. There was a bit of excitement when someone spotted it, but it soon turned to laughter when we realised it was a white plastic bag! There was a redshank and a red-breasted merganser on the Ministers Pool.

The tide was on its way out as we walked down to the shore line, where there was the inevitable group of wigeon, a separate gathering of bar-tailed godwit and a couple of eider off shore. On our way Attempt to Avert a Black Future for a Black Duck such as a river being dammed, providing there are Indoor Meeting: Thursday 28th February still opportunities to breed. Alison reeled off a number of recent studies looking at the breeding conditions the species are likely to prefer such as an invertebrate food source (mayflies, caddis flies, water beetles etc.) in excess of 4 mg and a shallow water depth of less than 1.3 metres beside the nests to allow the ducklings to practice their diving. Studies have shown that more large invertebrates are found where fish numbers are low, while camera traps have proved that breeding success has often been drastically reduced because of predation, particularly from pine marten and fox; in one year 90 eggs laid at West Inverness-shire loch sites resulted in only 8 Common Scoter, Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) fledglings! Core samples taken from lochans in the The black duck, referred to in the presentation given Flow Country have demonstrated the significant by Dr Alison MacLennan, RSPB Scotland changes in their ecology during the 1960/70’s Conservation Officer for Skye, is of course the resulting from extensive afforestation and the common scoter, the only one of the 6 scoter consequent adverse impacts on not only common species found worldwide to breed in the UK. The scoters but also many waders. presentation introduced us to the common scoter, All this work had led to (excuse the pun!) a raft of its decline, the research undertaken to better measures designed to help the common scoter. On understand it and the problems it faces and finally the hydro lochs of West Inverness-shire, in the ideas being implemented to hopefully assist association with SSE, the aim is to achieve water what is clearly now a very uncommon duck. The level regimes that provide the shallow water detail in the presentation might have been conducive to nest building together with the overwhelming had it not been so very, very establishment of large artificial floating islands to interesting, but unfortunately there is insufficient provide potential nest sites which are safe from space here to cover it all. unwelcome predators. Alison updated us on the construction of these structures made from recycled The male of the species is totally black with a small fish farm material and the assistance of Marine patch of yellow on the bill while the female is lighter Harvest in their anchorage. They have now been in with a pale face. A picture of a duckling drew an place for two seasons and whilst they have exclamation of delight from a member of the interested the common scoter as places to rest they audience behind me, which was fully justified; it was have yet to build a nest; perhaps this year? The gorgeously cute! Unfortunately, in the UK they are damage caused by predators has led to the design now rarely seen with the species in the UK having of a fence which is to be rolled out this year on an experienced a decline in number and a contraction experimental basis at a few sites. It is almost as of their breeding range, now mainly confined to the high as a deer fence with a lower close mesh stock Flow Country and the Lochs of West Inverness- fence, with a snout level electric wire, topped with shire. There had been 100’s of pairs in Scotland not an electric fence. Hopefully that will see off the foxes long ago, but by 1995 the total had fallen to 95 pairs and pine martens! At Forsinard increased angling and to only 52 pairs in 2007. It is now a Red Listed is being tried, with the assistance of the local angling Species. club, to reduce trout numbers and improve the abundance of aquatic insects. Research by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust in the early 1990s to find out where ducks breeding in Time will tell whether these initiatives will bear fruit, West Inverness-shire overwintered showed strong but Alison was optimistic, with the return of common fidelity to sites in the Moray Firth, the Irish Sea off scoter to Shetland last year, after an absence of the north-west coast of England, to the west of over 20 years, an indication of what is possible. In Ireland and off the coast of Morocco. This site reply to a question, Alison mentioned the fidelity applies equally to their breeding grounds development of an expert group from Ireland and even when significant environmental changes occur Scandinavia to share experience and no doubt cooperate in further initiatives to provide the common scoter with a brighter future. Indeed, one of the most cheering aspects of the presentation was the apparent enthusiasm of a wide range of private, public and voluntary organisations, plus interested individuals, to work together to help this threatened species. Alison indicated a willingness to update us on progress and I, for one, look forward to that.

Bob Shannon

The adventures of one of our members: Letter from Tanzania Amethyst Sunbird, Fiona Reid (RSPB Highland Group)

It is 7am and I have settled down to write this on our There are some small insects in the acacia above veranda, with a cup of tea. The sun is rising behind my head that brings in the insectivores; chinspot me, between the peaks of Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt batis, paradise flycatcher and yellow-breasted Meru, and it is already casting its warmth on my apalis to name a few. Last week we had our very back. In front the thin band of riverine forest drops first Narina’s trogon, a flash of red, green and white down into a ravine through which the Usa River and then it perched silently, deep in the leaves rushes. above the river, not allowing itself to be photographed for posterity! The grey-olive It is a time of change. It’s been a long cold winter! greenbuls and robin chats feed at lower levels and The rains started in March and finished in June (the are rarely seen but often heard. The sombre longest rains in living memory) and then the greenbul, heralds its presence at the top of the temperature dropped (minimum recorded here was trees with its ‘willieee’ call and will carry on even 13 C) and no rain has fallen since. We don’t really through the hottest day. expect any until late October, but you never know. In the last couple of weeks, the winds picked up and The millet is out and, a metre from my feet, the seed the heat poured in. Baobabs and acacias dropped eaters gather: the emerald-spotted, laughing, their leaves and four species of fig sprouted fruit. red-eyed and ring-necked doves; the tiny pink Vervet and Sykes monkeys are feasting…and then red-billed firefinches and noisy hordes of there’s the birds…. chestnut weavers. But the pieces de resistance are the shy, skulking Peter’s twinspots, lured out The frugivores are here in droves. I can hear green of the forest by the millet to show off their gorgeous pigeons, as well as silvery-cheeked and red heads and black and white-spotted breasts. trumpeter hornbills high in the canopy. Blue- naped and speckled mousebirds clamber amongst the foliage, their long tails like those of the rodents they are named after. Scores of tiny Abyssinian white-eyes, flit from tree to tree in musical waves. Brown-breasted and white-eared barbets join the feast and the violet-backed starlings catch the sun’s rays with a startling iridescence.

Peter’s Twinspot, Fiona Reid (RSPB Highland Group) The sunbird feeders not only attract in 7 species but are enjoyed by the bulbuls…and are finished off at night by the bushbabies! The sunbirds have also been enjoying the winter flowering aloes. We noticed that the collared and amethyst sunbirds love the feeders but that the variable sunbird will not go near them. The olive sunbird loves to bathe frequently and the others, never. The scarlet- chested sunbird likes one side of our house and not the other. The beautiful sunbird rarely comes close to the house, and once we had a bronzy sunbird here in August …an altitudinal migrant coming down from Mount Meru to avoid the coldest spells.

Violet Backed Starling, Fiona Reid (RSPB Highland Group) We have a box of meal-worms, feeding on bran and banana peels who in turn feed a couple of brown – hooded kingfishers, who will sit waiting patiently for us if we forget.

Down in the river we also have the vociferous giant kingfisher, patrolling mountain wagtails and, if we are very lucky, African finfoot and black duck. We are privileged to be so close to a regular haunt of the finfoot and have noticed some weird and wonderful calls, which are made by them but have never been recorded. But as we only hear one call every few months and as there is the constant sound of the rushing river, we don’t know how to change this situation. So, I write it down. A falling bubbly boo, balloo, balloo balloo. Or a deep drumming, interspersed with rapid clicks. What to do?

The sun is really up now and it’s too hot on my back so it’s time to get on with my day….

Fiona Reid, Usa River, September 2018

Notes and Reminders • Field Trip Notes

• Indoor Meeting venue: Please note that the indoor Please note the following for your safety and meeting venue is: Greyfriars Free Church of guidance when on field trips: Scotland, Balloan Road. Our trips are usually low risk and take account of all Directions: From the Inshes roundabout, turn onto ages and abilities of the group but occasionally they the Southern Distributor road (B8082) (Tesco will be may involve uneven or wet terrain. You can help to on your left). At the second roundabout turn right, keep our trips enjoyable by observing the following sign posted Hilton, Drakies. At the traffic lights turn advice please: left. The venue is on the left a short distance along • Comply with route and safety instructions at sites Balloan Road, almost opposite a play park. There and with the request of the trip leader. is plenty of parking available and the venue is fully

accessible and also has a speaker system. • Do not get separated from the group, especially

in the hills or unfamiliar terrain. Please make Please also note that the front row of seats is sure that you know where the meeting place is available for those who have mobility, sight or and at what time you should be there. hearing difficulties, please avail yourselves of this • If you have any health problems that could affect facility. your ability to complete a walk, please speak to

the group leader prior to the trip. If you are in any • Adverse weather contacts: If you are in any doubt doubt on the trip, stay with your vehicle or the that a meeting will take place, please contact one of bus. the organising team for up-to-date information or in

the case of field trips please contact the trip leader. • If you are giving other members of the group lifts

in your own car, please ensure that your • Shared Transport. If you do not have a car or would insurance covers this, as most policies are like a lift for a field trip please let us know at our first invalidated if passengers are charged or meeting, or alternatively phone the field trip leader contribute to the cost of petrol. who will be pleased to help you.

• Check the weather forecast and be prepared by • RSPB Collection of used Postage Stamps bringing: Following a press release on 30th November 2018 o appropriate sturdy footwear (boots), from The Charity Commission, and subsequent o waterproof and warm layers of clothes stories in the national press regarding the fraudulent o Long trousers and socks to protect against use of used postage stamps, the RSPB have been insect bites. reviewing the current Albatross Stamp Appeal o Walking pole (optional) Scheme. o Small first aid kit

o Sun cream It has been decided to cease collection of used o Mobile phone in case of emergency bulk postage stamps immediately but continue o Whistle (optional) with requests for the donation of stamp o Don’t forget your binoculars or/and scope collections, first day covers and albums. o Lunch if required

o Water The RSPB are determined to avoid risking to any

fundraising activity and to continue to raise thousands of pounds every year to save albatrosses from extinction both at sea and on land – with your support.

If any RSPB Highland Group Member has any of the above acceptable items, Margaret Colles will be happy to receive them on behalf of the Group.

Extra photos from Tanzania: Some doves visiting our garden and a sunbird that sadly didn’t make it

Laughing Doves, Fiona Reid (RSPB Highland Group) Red-eyed Dove, Fiona Reid (RSPB Highland Group)

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Fiona Reid (RSPB Highland ‘Some sunbirds don’t make it’, Fiona Reid (RSPB Highland Group) Group)

For further information or if you have a story or photos you wish to share with us please contact:

Maureen MacDonald Hilary Rolton Alan Jones [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 01463 220013 01309 611210 01463 223679

RSPB Scotland is part of the RSPB, the UK’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. Together with our partners, we protect threatened birds and wildlife so our towns, coast and countryside will teem with life once again. We play a leading role in BirdLife International, a worldwide partnership of nature conservation organisations.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654