Scottish Birds Scottish SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Published by The
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PhotoSP T © SCOTTISH BIRDS Plate 69. I’m just a migrant to the Isle of Skye, a several shots of it in the headlights, which also gave Londoner who has managed to get my family to me cover. Dropping the shutter speed down to holiday there for the last three years. I am more 1/40th second (and holding my breath) I was able into sound recording than photography and had to get some shots at the highest ISO of 12,800, this headed up to Ben Aslak to sound record Ptarmigan is the best one by miles. - I had no joy. When I first got a DSLR camera back in the early Heading back, I disturbed several Woodcock from 2000s, I used to think taking any picture over 400 the edge of the road in the failing light, I ended up ISO was risky, let alone 12,000 ISO. counting 21. One bird kept landing just a few Volume 40 (1) metres away from my car. With this amazing Equipment used: Nikon D850, 300 mm lens, opportunity, I grabbed my camera for some Shutter Priority, ISO 12,800, 1/40 sec, f4.0. through-the-windscreen shots. It then dawned on me to get out to take a few shots. I repositioned the David Darrell-Lambert, Bird Brain UK Ltd., Suite car to try to gain the maximum cover and hoped the 11908, 20–22 Wenlock Road, London N1 7GU. Woodcock would behave well. It allowed me to get Email: [email protected] March 2020 Scottish Birds published by the SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Featuring the best images posted on the SOC website each quarter, PhotoSpot will present stunning portraits as well as record shots of something interesting, accompanied by the story behind the photograph and the equipment used. Upload your photos now - it’s open to all. V OLUME 40(1) M ARCH 2020 Scottish Birds is the quarterly journal for SOC members, and is SOC Branch Secretaries published in March, June, September and December annually. Scottish Ayrshire: Anne Dick Lothian: Alison Creamer Containing original papers relating to ornithology in Scotland, Rowanmyle House, Tarbolton, Mauchline KA5 5LU. 12 Glencairn Terrace, Bathgate, EH48 4DL. topical articles, bird observations, reports of rare and scarce bird Tel: 01292 541981 Tel 07815 037330 Birds sightings, alongside branch and Club-related news, our members tell Email: [email protected] Email [email protected] Established in 1958. us that Scottish Birds is one of the key benefits of belonging to the Borders: Neil Stratton Moray: Alison Ritchie SOC. Its different sections have been developed to meet the wide Heiton Mains, Main Street, Heiton, Kelso TD5 8JR. 45 Highfield, Forres IV36 1FN. Tel: 01573 450695. Published quarterly by: needs of the birdwatching community, and the publication is Tel: 01309 674379 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, renowned for its first-class photography. Waterston House, Aberlady, An archive of the journal is available on the SOC website, where Caithness: Nina O’Hanlon North-East Scotland: John Wills East Lothian EH32 0PY. 5 Churchill Road, Castletown, Thurso KW14 8UW. Bilbo, Monymusk, Inverurie AB51 7HA. links can be found to other Club publications including the Scottish Tel: 07810 300392 Tel: 01467 651 296 Email: [email protected] Bird Report online. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: 01875 871330 www.the-soc.org.uk More about the SOC… Central: Neil Bielby Orkney: Helen Aiton 56 Ochiltree, Dunblane FK15 0DF. On the one hand, a birdwatching club. Established in 1936, the Cuppar, Evie, Orkney KW17 2PJ. www.facebook.com/ScotlandsBirdClub Tel: 01786 823830 Tel: 01856 751482 twitter.com/ScottishBirding Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC) is Scotland’s bird club with 15 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] branches around the country and a growing membership of over Clyde: Ian Fulton Stewartry: Joan Howie Editors: 3,000. Through a programme of talks, outings, conferences and 8 Barrachnie Avenue, Baillieston, Glasgow G69 6SR. The Wilderness, High Street, New Galloway, Tel: 0141 773 4329 Co-ordinating editor other events, it brings together like-minded individuals with a Castle Douglas DG7 3RL. passion for birds, nature and conservation. Email: [email protected] Tel: 01644 420 280 Ian Andrews Email: [email protected] Peer-reviewed papers On the other, a network of volunteers across Scotland, gathering Dumfries: Lesley Creamer vital, impartial information about our wild birds. The data we Braeside, Virginhall, Thornhill DG3 4AD. Tayside: Brian Brocklehurst Dr Stan da Prato Tel: 01848 330821 collect is made available to conservationists, planners and 146 Balgillo Road, Broughty Ferry, Dundee DD5 3EB. Assisted by: Email: [email protected] Tel: 01382 778 348 Dr I. Bainbridge developers, and is used by organisations such as the RSPB, as one Email: [email protected] Dr M. Marquiss of the first points of reference in informed conservation planning. Fife: Caroline Gordon Dr C.R. McKay 25 Mackie Crescent, Markinch, Glenrothes KY7 6BB. West Galloway: Geoff Sheppard Club Headquarters can be found at Waterston House, Aberlady, Tel: 01592 750230 Dr W.T.S. Miles The Roddens, Leswalt, Stranraer DG9 0QR. overlooking the scenic local nature reserve. Housed within, is the Email: [email protected] R. Swann Tel: 01776 870 685 George Waterston Library, the largest ornithological library in Email: [email protected] Articles, news and views Highland: Kathy Bonniface Scotland, and the Donald Watson Gallery - one of the jewels in the Alt Dubh, North End, Tomatin, IV13 7YP. Jimmy Maxwell Waterston House crown, exhibiting wildlife art all year-round. Tel: 01808 511740 Dr Stuart L. Rivers Email: [email protected] Harry Scott Join us… Book reviews As well as receiving Scottish Birds every quarter, SOC members Nick Picozzi have access to a programme of talks and outings across Scotland SOC Local Recorders and affiliation to a local branch of the Club. New members will Editorial correspondence: Angus & Dundee: Jon Cook Dumfries & Galloway: Lothian: Stephen Welch receive a welcome pack on joining, plus a thank you gift if paying 01382 738495 Paul N. Collin 01875 852802 c/o SOC, Waterston House, their subscription by direct debit. Aberlady, East Lothian EH32 0PY. [email protected] 01671 402861 [email protected] [email protected] Email: [email protected] Annual membership rates* Argyll: Jim Dickson 01546 603967 Moray & Nairn: Martin Cook [email protected] To advertise in Scottish Birds or Adult (aged 18 and over) £ 36.00 Fair Isle: David Parnaby 01542 850296 Assistant recorder: Malcolm Chattwood [email protected] obtain back issues, please contact Family (2 adults and all juniors at same address) £ 48.00 [email protected] [email protected] Waterston House. Junior (aged 17 or under) £ 14.00 Ayrshire: Fraser Simpson Fife: Graham Sparshott NE Scotland: Ian Broadbent Student (in full-time education) £ 14.00 [email protected] 07770 225440 07790 562892 Designed and typeset by: Unwaged (in receipt of state benefits) £ 14.00 Assistant recorder: Angus Hogg [email protected] [email protected] Pica Design, 51 Charlton Crescent, Concession (Pensioner) £ 27.00 [email protected] Aboyne, Aberdeenshire AB34 5GN. Chris Pendlebury Orkney: Russ Neave & Joint Concession (at same address) £ 35.00 Borders: David Parkinson Forth (Upper): Email: [email protected] 07798 711134 Emma Neave-Webb Life £ 700.00 07979 365134 and [email protected] 01857 600272 Life Family (at same address) £ 1050.00 Martin Moncrieff 01835 822398 [email protected] [email protected] Assistant recorder: Neil Bielby Printed by: Library £ 60.00 † [email protected] Yvonne Benting Swallowtail Print Limited, Caithness: Sinclair Manson Outer Hebrides: Unit 2 Drayton Industrial Park, For non-UK addresses, there is a £15.00 supplement to all categories to cover postage. 01847 892379 07501 332803 Rates valid until end of August 2020 (†31 December 2020), subject to change thereafter. Highland: John Poyner [email protected] Taverham Road, Drayton [email protected] 07875 094666 Norwich, Norfolk NR8 6RL. [email protected] For more information about the Club and its activities, including Clyde: Iain Gibson 01505 705874 Perth & Kinross: Scott Paterson [email protected] 01577 864248 Front Cover: details of how to join, please visit www.the-soc.org.uk or Assistant recorder: Val Wilson Isle of May: Iain English [email protected] Goldfinch, Musselburgh, July 2019. contact Waterston House on 01875 871 330, or email [email protected] 01698 891788 [email protected] Shetland: Rob Fray © Ian Andrews [email protected] Clyde Islands: Bernard Zonfrillo 01950 461929 0141 557 0791 [email protected] [email protected] ISSN 0036-9144 Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation SC 009859 Contents Scottish Birds 40:1 (2020) 2 President’s Foreword I. Bainbridge PAPERS 3 Changes in the distribution of breeding birds in South-east Scotland between 1988–94 and 2008–13 based on tetrad atlas methodology I.J. Andrews & M. Holling 21 Analysis of pellets from wintering Great Grey Shrikes at two afforested areas in Dumfries and Galloway B.D. Henderson 27 Observations on breeding and dispersal by Capercaillie in Strathspey K. Fletcher & D. Baines CLUB ARTICLES, NEWS & VIEWS 35 SOC Annual Conference, Atholl Palace Hotel, November 2019 46 NEWS & NOTICES 50 OBITUARIES Mike Peacock (1953–2019) D. Jardine, P. Roberts & D. Beaumont Jon Hardey (1950–2019) D. Thompson, M. Marquiss, R. Rae & L. Steele 54 My journey towards ‘patching’ in the Glasgow area D. Wilson 58 The Werritty Report from the Grouse Moor Management Review Group S. da Prato 60 Gyr and hybrid falcons released into the Scottish countryside S.