Scottish Birds 37:3 (2017)

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Scottish Birds 37:3 (2017) Contents Scottish Birds 37:3 (2017) 194 President’s Foreword J. Main PAPERS 195 Potential occurrence of the Long-tailed Skua subspecies Stercorarius longicaudus pallescens in Scotland C.J. McInerny & R.Y. McGowan 202 Amendments to The Scottish List: species and subspecies The Scottish Birds Records Committee 205 The status of the Pink-footed Goose at Cameron Reservoir, Fife from 1991/92 to 2015/16: the importance of regular monitoring A.W. Brown 216 Montagu’s Harrier breeding in Scotland - some observations on the historical records from the 1950s in Perthshire R.L. McMillan SHORT NOTES 221 Scotland’s Bean Geese and the spring 2017 migration C. Mitchell, L. Griffin, A. MacIver & B. Minshull 224 Scoters in Fife N. Elkins OBITUARIES 226 Sandy Anderson (1927–2017) A. Duncan & M. Gorman 227 Lance Leonard Joseph Vick (1938–2017) I. Andrews, J. Ballantyne & K. Bowler ARTICLES, NEWS & VIEWS 229 The conservation impacts of intensifying grouse moor management P.S. Thompson & J.D. Wilson 236 NEWS AND NOTICES 241 Memories of the three St Kilda visitors in July 1956 D.I.M. Wallace, D.G. Andrew & D. Wilson 244 Where have all the Merlins gone? A lament for the Lammermuirs A.W. Barker, I.R. Poxton & A. Heavisides 251 Gannets at St Abb’s Head and Bass Rock J. Cleaver 254 BOOK REVIEWS 256 RINGERS' ROUNDUP Iain Livingstone 261 The identification of an interesting Richard’s Pipit on Fair Isle in June 2016 I.J. Andrews 266 ‘Canada Geese’ from Canada: do we see vagrants of wild birds in Scotland? J. Steele & J. Nadin 274 Glaucous-winged Gull on Fair Isle, 2 March 2017 - first Scottish record D. Parnaby 276 Cattle Egret, Stranraer, January–March 2017 - third record for Dumfries & Galloway B.D. Henderson 279 Allen’s Gallinule, St Kilda, 26 March 2017 - first Scottish record W.T.S. Miles, J.G. Pilkington, R. Riddington & M. Collinson SIGHTINGS 284 Scottish Bird Sightings 1 April to 30 June 2017 S.L. Rivers PHOTOSPOT BC Cuckoo B. McMillan 37:3 (2017) Scottish Birds 193 President’s Foreword President’s Foreword The past few months have been busy ones for the Club. In July, the fourth successful Young Birdwatchers’ Training Course took place on the Isle of May organised by the Club in conjunction with the Isle of May Bird Observatory. As in previous years six keen youngsters stayed on the island for a week learning ringing, recording and other skills. The course was led by Stuart Rivers and Mark Oksien and assisted by Alison Creamer, with support from CEH and SNH. On the organisational front our Librarian Karen Bidgood bade farewell to the Club earlier this year to live in Cumbria with her husband Nigel. We wish Plate 154. James Main, Aberlady, Lothian, July 2016. them both well. Karen was not only an excellent © Doreen Main librarian but also was a valued member of the Waterston House team who was willing to turn her hand to anything if needed. We also welcome Susan Horne, who has volunteered in the Library for some time, and takes over as Librarian from Karen. The Club is also looking to recruit a Finance Officer to take over from Jean Torrance, who has been a mainstay of the Club for many years and who will be retiring in December. Jean has contributed hugely to the Club over the years and will be much missed. A Finance Committee has been formed under our Treasurer Andrew Thorpe to oversee the management of the Club’s finances. This covers a variety of areas as many things have an impact on cash flow. A small Strategy Group has also been formed to consider the Club’s position in the future. The remit is wide-ranging and the Group is looking at the strategy and overall governance of the Club, its structure and operations. This is to ensure that we comply with the Charity Regulator’s requirements. There are a number of projects under consideration at the moment, including a major web-site redesign and a mobile application - watch out for developments. The art exhibition at Waterston House by Lucy Newton was very successful and the current exhibition is a joint one between John Hatton and Robert Greenhalf. I should like to remind you all that the SOC Annual Conference will be held at the Atholl Palace Hotel, Pitlochry from 20–22 October. The theme is ‘Movements and Migration’. To paraphrase the title of one of the talks ‘Why are they here and what do they do when they are not?’ seems to sum it up. There is a varied programme with many excellent speakers from Scotland, England and Holland. A detailed programme is on the website. There may be places left and, if you haven’t booked already, give Kathryn Cox at Waterston House a call. I do look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. With the migratory season coming up I hope you all have a good autumn’s birding James Main, SOC President 194 Scottish Birds 37:3 (2017) Potential occurrence of the Long-tailed Skua subspecies Stercorarius longicaudus pallescens in Scotland Potential occurrence of the Long-tailed Skua subspecies Stercorarius longicaudus pallescens in Scotland C.J. MCINERNY & R.Y. MCGOWAN Two Long-tailed Skuas Stercorarius longicaudus reported in Scotland, an adult male collected at Sule Skerry, Orkney in June 1908, and an adult observed at East Burra, Shetland over four summers during 2009–2012, showed features suggesting the east Siberian and Nearctic subspecies S. l. pallescens. If confirmed they would be the first two records of that subspecies for Scotland and the UK. At present, the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC) does not accept records of the subspecies in Britain without independent confirmation of their origin, such as a ringing recovery, as ‘BBRC’s research has not established criteria by which a vagrant could be identified‘ (BBRC 2016, Stoddart 2016). This note puts these observations on record pending future developments, so that they can be considered and, if accepted, added to the Scottish and British Lists. Background Long-tailed Skua is a trans-equatorial migrant, breeding in Arctic regions during the summer, and flying to areas of the southern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at other times of the year (del Hoyo et al. 1996). Two subspecies are recognised: S. l. longicaudus (hereafter longicaudus) breeding in the Western Palearctic from northern Fennoscandia to Russia, and S. l. pallescens (hereafter pallescens) breeding from eastern Siberia to Nearctic regions of Alaska, Canada and Greenland. While Siberian and western Nearctic populations of pallescens migrate through the eastern Pacific, populations of both subspecies from eastern Canada, Greenland, Fennoscandia and Russia migrate through the mid-Atlantic (Cramp & Simmonds 1983, del Hoyo et al. 1996). Each year variable numbers of longicaudus are observed in Scotland both on spring and autumn migration, as they move past the country (Griffin & McInerny 2007, Forrester et al. 2007, McInerny & Griffin 2007, Wynn et al. 2014). In contrast, pallescens has not officially occurred in the UK, with the subspecies on neither the British nor Scottish Lists. The presence of pallescens on the British List has a somewhat curtailed history. It was added on the basis of a specimen collected at the Sound of Harris, Outer Hebrides by Richard Meinertzhagen on 19 August 1941, and preserved at the Natural History Museum, Tring (BMNH 1965.M.4109) (BOU 1958, 2009). However, a number of British records based on Meinertzhagen specimens were subsequently removed from the British List due to the likelihood of fraud (BOU 1993, Knox, 1993, Kehoe 2006). Following a recommendation that Long-tailed Skua should be treated as polytypic, with pallescens considered valid (Sangster et al. 2004), the status of this subspecies on the British List was reviewed: as the Sound of Harris record was the only occurrence in Britain, it was removed (BOU 2009). 37:3 (2017) Scottish Birds: 195–201 195 Potential occurrence of the Long-tailed Skua subspecies Stercorarius longicaudus pallescens in Scotland Other reports Shetland 2009–2012 An adult Long-tailed Skua summered at Easter Heog, East Burra, Shetland on four consecutive summers 2009–12. The bird was observed amongst a colony of Arctic Skuas S. parasiticus, where it set up territory, attempting to find a mate (Harrop 2010). The locations and dates were: Kettla Ness, Burra, Voe, and Easter Heog, East Burra: 22 June to 23 July 2009. Easter Heog, East Burra and elsewhere on Burra: 27 May to 17 July 2010. Easter Heog, East Burra and elsewhere on Burra: 12 May to 3 July 2011. Easter Heog, East Burra, elsewhere on Burra and Wester Quarff: 12 May to 19 July 2012. This individual had plumage features, including pale underparts with white flanks and belly, and just a grey vent, suggesting pallescens (Cramp & Simmonds 1983). Though in some published photographs the underparts looked slightly darker, direct field observations showed strikingly pale flanks and belly (C. McInerny pers. obs.). These features are in contrast to those shown by longicaudus which instead exhibits consistently darker underparts, with grey flanks, belly and vent, with just a pale small breast ‘bib’. One of the authors (C.M.) has seen many hundreds of longicaudus and pallescens in the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans, respectively. The East Burra individual most closely resembled those seen in the North Pacific, suggesting that it was pallescens. To explore further whether the Shetland bird might be pallescens, Long-tailed Skua specimens of both subspecies were examined at National Museums Scotland (NMS), Edinburgh. Only skins of adults (having unbarred underwings) were considered. Sub-adults were disregarded, as this age- class of both subspecies shows pale underparts and are therefore indistinguishable (Cramp & Simmonds 1983).
Recommended publications
  • North Vorthumberland
    Midlothian Vice-county 83 Scarce, Rare & Extinct Vascular Plant Register Silene viscaria Vicia orobus (© Historic Scotland Ranger Service) (© B.E.H. Sumner) Barbara E.H. Sumner 2014 Rare Plant Register Midlothian Asplenium ceterach (© B.E.H. Sumner) The records for this Register have been selected from the databases held by the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. These records were made by botanists, most of whom were amateur and some of whom were professional, employed by government departments or undertaking environmental impact assessments. This publication is intended to be of assistance to conservation and planning organisations and authorities, district and local councils and interested members of the public. Acknowledgements My thanks go to all those who have contributed records over the years, and especially to Douglas R. McKean and the late Elizabeth P. Beattie, my predecessors as BSBI Recorders for Midlothian. Their contributions have been enormous, and Douglas continues to contribute enthusiastically as Recorder Emeritus. Thanks also to the determiners, especially those who specialise in difficult plant groups. I am indebted to David McCosh and George Ballantyne for advice and updates on Hieracium and Rubus fruticosus microspecies, respectively, and to Chris Metherell for determinations of Euphrasia species. Chris also gave guidelines and an initial template for the Register, which I have customised for Midlothian. Heather McHaffie, Phil Lusby, Malcolm Fraser, Caroline Peacock, Justin Maxwell and Max Coleman have given useful information on species recovery programmes. Claudia Ferguson-Smyth, Nick Stewart and Michael Wilcox have provided other information, much appreciated. Staff of the Library and Herbarium at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh have been most helpful, especially Graham Hardy, Leonie Paterson, Sally Rae and Adele Smith.
    [Show full text]
  • MIDLOTHIAN COUNCIL ARCHIVES the BRYCE COLLECTION GB584/BRY Name of Creator the Bryce Family of Roslin Biographical History This
    MIDLOTHIAN COUNCIL ARCHIVES THE BRYCE COLLECTION GB584/BRY Name of creator The Bryce family of Roslin Biographical history This collection of photographs and photographic glass plates is named after the Bryce family of Roslin. From about 1880 to the Second World War, two generations of the family lived and worked in a draper’s shop and post office on Roslin High Street. One daughter of the family, Margaret or ‘Maggie’ married a man called Thomas Ritchie, who was a keen amateur photographer. In the early years of the twentieth century, Ritchie took many photographs of Roslin and the surrounding area. Some of these were made into postcards and sold in the Roslin post office. On 16 July 1858, George Bryce (born c.1829 in Roslin) married Fanny Crawford Law (born c.1836 in Glencorse). The couple had two daughters: Marion Anderson Bryce (born 13 August 1859 in Roslin) and Margaret or ‘Maggie’ Bryce (born 22 April 1862 in Roslin). The census of 1881 shows the Bryce family living in the Post Office on Roslin High Street. George’s occupation is given as a millwright and Margaret, his daughter, a letter carrier. Hector Law, George’s father-in-law, is also living at the same address. Ten years later, the family are still in the post office. George is described as a gunpowder packer, Marion a milliner and Maggie a telegraphist. By 1901, George has become a postmaster and newsagent. Margaret Bryce married Thomas or ‘Tom’ Ritchie on 30 April 1897 in Roslin. Thomas Ritchie, who was also known as ‘Frosset’, was born around 1864 in Glasgow.
    [Show full text]
  • 2020 Cruise Directory Directory 2020 Cruise 2020 Cruise Directory M 18 C B Y 80 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−− 17 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
    2020 MAIN Cover Artwork.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2019 16:16 Page 1 2020 Hebridean Princess Cruise Calendar SPRING page CONTENTS March 2nd A Taste of the Lower Clyde 4 nights 22 European River Cruises on board MS Royal Crown 6th Firth of Clyde Explorer 4 nights 24 10th Historic Houses and Castles of the Clyde 7 nights 26 The Hebridean difference 3 Private charters 17 17th Inlets and Islands of Argyll 7 nights 28 24th Highland and Island Discovery 7 nights 30 Genuinely fully-inclusive cruising 4-5 Belmond Royal Scotsman 17 31st Flavours of the Hebrides 7 nights 32 Discovering more with Scottish islands A-Z 18-21 Hebridean’s exceptional crew 6-7 April 7th Easter Explorer 7 nights 34 Cruise itineraries 22-97 Life on board 8-9 14th Springtime Surprise 7 nights 36 Cabins 98-107 21st Idyllic Outer Isles 7 nights 38 Dining and cuisine 10-11 28th Footloose through the Inner Sound 7 nights 40 Smooth start to your cruise 108-109 2020 Cruise DireCTOrY Going ashore 12-13 On board A-Z 111 May 5th Glorious Gardens of the West Coast 7 nights 42 Themed cruises 14 12th Western Isles Panorama 7 nights 44 Highlands and islands of scotland What you need to know 112 Enriching guest speakers 15 19th St Kilda and the Outer Isles 7 nights 46 Orkney, Northern ireland, isle of Man and Norway Cabin facilities 113 26th Western Isles Wildlife 7 nights 48 Knowledgeable guides 15 Deck plans 114 SuMMER Partnerships 16 June 2nd St Kilda & Scotland’s Remote Archipelagos 7 nights 50 9th Heart of the Hebrides 7 nights 52 16th Footloose to the Outer Isles 7 nights 54 HEBRIDEAN
    [Show full text]
  • Northern Europe & British Isles Expedition Cruise
    DUBLIN TO REYKJAVIK: NORTHERN EUROPE & BRITISH ISLES EXPEDITION CRUISE Experience how different and yet how beautiful three countries can be on this journey through Scotland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland. We will sail from Ireland's capital to Iceland's capital, Dublin to Reykjavik, with stops in Scotland and the Faroe Islands. The voyage starts with Iona and Lunga in Scotland and seeing the UNESCO World Heritage site of St. Kilda. Via the Orkneys and Shetland Islands with their UNESCO World Heritage Sites we head for the Faroe Islands and Iceland, looking for puffins, gannets and guillemots. In Iceland there will be time to explore the volcanic landscapes and to watch for whales. Throughout the voyage, learn about the history, geology, wildlife and botany of these naturally beautiful locations from lecture presentations offered by your knowledgeable onboard Expedition Team. ITINERARY Day 1 DUBLIN Ask any Dubliner what's happening and you may hear echoes of one of W. B. Yeats's most-quoted lines: "All changed, changed utterly." No matter that the decade-long "Celtic Tiger" boom era has been quickly followed by the Great Recession--for visitors Dublin remains one of Western Europe's most popular and delightful urban destinations. Whether or not you're out to enjoy the old or new Dublin, you'll find it a colossally entertaining city, all the more astonishing considering its intimate size. Day 2 IONA 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com around six hundred years, was the northern outpost of the Dalriadic Scots. The thriving port of Mallaig is situated on the With a population of 120 residents, Iona is Located off the North West coast of Scotland.
    [Show full text]
  • Ipas in Scotland • 2
    IPAs in Scotland • 2 • 5 • 6 • 3 • 4 • 15 • 10 • 11 • 14 • 16 • 12 • 13 • 9 • 7 • 8 • 17 • 19 • 21 • 26 • 29 • 23 • 25 • 27 31 • • 33 • 18 • 28 • 32 • 24 • 20 • 22 • 30 • 40 • 34 • 39 • 41 • 45 • 35 • 37 • 38 • 44 • 36 • 43 • 42 • 47 • 46 2 Contents Contents • 1 4 Foreword 6 Scotland’s IPAs: facts and figures 12 Protection and management 13 Threats 14 Land use 17 Planning and land use 18 Land management 20 Rebuilding healthy ecosystems 21 Protected areas Code IPA name 22 Better targeting of 1 Shetland 25 Glen Coe and Mamores resources and support 2 Mainland Orkney 26 Ben Nevis and the 24 What’s next for 3 Harris and Lewis Grey Corries Scotland’s IPAs? 4 Ben Mor, Assunt/ 27 Rannoch Moor 26 The last word Ichnadamph 28 Breadalbane Mountains 5 North Coast of Scotland 29 Ben Alder and Cover – Glen Coe 6 Caithness and Sutherland Aonach Beag ©Laurie Campbell Peatlands 30 Crieff Woods 7 Uists 31 Dunkeld-Blairgowrie 8 South West Skye Lochs 9 Strathglass Complex 32 Milton Wood 10 Sgurr Mor 33 Den of Airlie 11 Ben Wyvis 34 Colonsay 12 Black Wood of Rannoch 35 Beinn Bheigier, Islay 13 Moniack Gorge 36 Isle of Arran 14 Rosemarkie to 37 Isle of Cumbrae Shandwick Coast 38 Bankhead Moss, Beith 15 Dornoch Firth and 39 Loch Lomond Woods Morrich More 40 Flanders Moss 16 Culbin Sands and Bar 41 Roslin Glen 17 Cairngorms 42 Clearburn Loch 18 Coll and Tiree 43 Lochs and Mires of the 19 Rum Ale and Ettrick Waters 20 Ardmeanach 44 South East Scotland 21 Eigg Basalt Outcrops 22 Mull Oakwoods 45 River Tweed 23 West Coast of Scotland 46 Carsegowan Moss 24 Isle of Lismore 47 Merrick Kells Citation Author Plantlife (2015) Dr Deborah Long with editorial Scotland’s Important comment from Ben McCarthy.
    [Show full text]
  • Scotland 2014 Outer Hebrides & the Highlands
    Scotland 2014 Outer Hebrides & the Highlands 22 May – 7 June 2014 St Kilda Wren, Hirta, St Kilda, Scotland, 30 May 2014 (© Vincent van der Spek) Vincent van der Spek, July 2014 1 highlights Red Grouse (20), Ptarmigan (4-5), Black Grouse (5), American Wigeon (1), Long- tailed Duck (5), three divers in summer plumage: Great Northern (c. 25), Red- throated (dozens) and Black-throated (1), Slavonian Grebe (1), 10.000s of Gannets and 1000s of Fulmars, Red Kite (5), Osprey (2 different nests), White-tailed Eagle (8), Golden Eagle (1), Merlin (2), Corncrake (2), the common Arctic waders in breeding habitat, Dotterel (1), Pectoral Sandpiper (1), sum plum Red-necked Phalarope (2), Great Skua (c. 125), Glaucous Gull (1), Puffin (c. 20.000), Short- eared Owl (1), Rock Dove (many), St Kilda Wren (8), other ssp. from the British Isles (incl. Wren Dunnock and Song Thrush from the Hebrides), Ring Ouzel (4), Scottish Crossbill (9), Snow Bunting (2), Risso’s Dolphin (4), Otter (1). missed species Capercaillie, ‘Irish’ Dipper ssp. hibernicus, the hoped for passage of Long-tailed and Pomarine Skuas, Midgets. Ptarmigan, male, Cairn Gorm, Highlands, Scotland, 3 June 2014 (© Vincent van der Spek) 2 introduction Keete suggested Scotland as a holiday destination several times in the past, so after I dragged her to many tropical destinations instead it was about time we went to the northern part of the British Isles. And I was not to be disappointed! Scotland really is a beautiful place, with great people. Both on the isles, with its wild and sometimes desolate vibe and very friendly folks and in the highlands, there seemed to be a stunning view behind every stunning view.
    [Show full text]
  • Argyll & the Isles
    EXPLORE 2020-2021 ARGYLL & THE ISLES Earra-Ghàidheal agus na h-Eileanan visitscotland.com Contents The George Hotel 2 Argyll & The Isles at a glance 4 Scotland’s birthplace 6 Wild forests and exotic gardens 8 Island hopping 10 Outdoor playground 12 Natural larder 14 Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 16 What’s on 18 Travel tips 20 Practical information 24 Places to visit 38 Leisure activities 40 Shopping Welcome to… 42 Food & drink 46 Tours ARGYLL 49 Transport “Classic French Cuisine combined with & THE ISLES 49 Events & festivals Fáilte gu Earra-Gháidheal ’s 50 Accommodation traditional Scottish style” na h-Eileanan 60 Regional map Extensive wine and whisky selection, Are you ready to fall head over heels in love? In Argyll & The Isles, you’ll find gorgeous scenery, irresistible cocktails and ales, quirky bedrooms and history and tranquil islands. This beautiful region is Scotland’s birthplace and you’ll see castles where live music every weekend ancient kings were crowned and monuments that are among the oldest in the UK. You should also be ready to be amazed by our incredibly Cover: Crinan Canal varied natural wonders, from beavers Above image: Loch Fyne and otters to minke whales and sea eagles. Credits: © VisitScotland. Town Hotel of the Year 2018 Once you’ve started exploring our Kenny Lam, Stuart Brunton, fascinating coast and hopping around our dozens of islands you might never Wild About Argyll / Kieran Duncan, want to stop. It’s time to be smitten! Paul Tomkins, John Duncan, Pub of the Year 2019 Richard Whitson, Shane Wasik/ Basking Shark Scotland, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh / Bar Dining Hotel of the Year 2019 Peter Clarke 20ARS Produced and published by APS Group Scotland (APS) in conjunction with VisitScotland (VS) and Highland News & Media (HNM).
    [Show full text]
  • The Wave and Tidal Resource of Scotland
    Renewable Energy 114 (2017) 3e17 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Renewable Energy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/renene The wave and tidal resource of Scotland * Simon P. Neill a, , Arne Vogler€ b, Alice J. Goward-Brown a, Susana Baston c, Matthew J. Lewis a, Philip A. Gillibrand d, Simon Waldman c, David K. Woolf c a School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Marine Centre Wales, Menai Bridge, UK b University of the Highlands and Islands, Lews Castle College, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, UK c International Centre for Island Technology, Heriot-Watt University, Old Academy, Back Road, Stromness, Orkney, UK d Environmental Research Institute, North Highland College, University of the Highlands and Islands, Thurso, UK article info abstract Article history: As the marine renewable energy industry evolves, in parallel with an increase in the quantity of available Received 7 July 2016 data and improvements in validated numerical simulations, it is occasionally appropriate to re-assess the Received in revised form wave and tidal resource of a region. This is particularly true for Scotland - a leading nation that the 14 February 2017 international community monitors for developments in the marine renewable energy industry, and Accepted 11 March 2017 which has witnessed much progress in the sector over the last decade. With 7 leased wave and 17 leased Available online 16 March 2017 tidal sites, Scotland is well poised to generate significant levels of electricity from its abundant natural marine resources. In this state-of-the-art review of Scotland's wave and tidal resource, we examine the Keywords: Marine renewable energy theoretical and technical resource, and provide an overview of commercial progress.
    [Show full text]
  • Driven Grouse Shooting
    Driven grouse shooting RSPB Council updated our previous policy on driven grouse shooting in October 2020. Our policy is to support licensing of driven grouse shooting across the UK, following expected progress on this issue in Scotland in 2020. Unless substantial progress (including effective licensing, stopping raptor killing, cessation of burning on peat soils, and banning use of lead ammunition) is made in reforming driven grouse shooting by 2025 in line with RSPB principles for sustainable gamebird shooting, we will consequently call on governments to introduce a specific ban on driven grouse shooting. Background Driven grouse shooting is defined as where shooters sit in lines of grouse butts on open moorland, and red grouse are then driven by beaters and dogs over the guns to shoot. The activity usually involves shooting large grouse “bags” (where large numbers of grouse are shot in a day). It is a unique hunting type to the UK (mainly England and Scotland) and shooters will pay large sums of money for a day’s shooting. Typically, gamekeepers are employed to kill predators that eat grouse; heather is burned to create young heather (the main foodplant of red grouse); and other additional management techniques are employed to produce as many red grouse as possible for shooting. The red grouse shooting season opens on the 12 August (“the Glorious Twelfth”). The alternative walked up grouse shooting involves a small number of shooters accompanied by dogs. They generally take small and sustainable numbers of grouse, as walked up shooting is more about the hunting experience. This is much less of a conservation issue for us.
    [Show full text]
  • Layout 1 Copy
    STACK ROCK 2020 An illustrated guide to sea stack climbing in the UK & Ireland - Old Harry - - Old Man of Stoer - - Am Buachaille - - The Maiden - - The Old Man of Hoy - - over 200 more - Edition I - version 1 - 13th March 1994. Web Edition - version 1 - December 1996. Web Edition - version 2 - January 1998. Edition 2 - version 3 - January 2002. Edition 3 - version 1 - May 2019. Edition 4 - version 1 - January 2020. Compiler Chris Mellor, 4 Barnfield Avenue, Shirley, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 8SE. Tel: 0208 662 1176 – E-mail: [email protected]. Send in amendments, corrections and queries by e-mail. ISBN - 1-899098-05-4 Acknowledgements Denis Crampton for enduring several discussions in which the concept of this book was developed. Also Duncan Hornby for information on Dorset’s Old Harry stacks and Mick Fowler for much help with some of his southern and northern stack attacks. Mike Vetterlein contributed indirectly as have Rick Cummins of Rock Addiction, Rab Anderson and Bruce Kerr. Andy Long from Lerwick, Shetland. has contributed directly with a lot of the hard information about Shetland. Thanks are also due to Margaret of the Alpine Club library for assistance in looking up old journals. In late 1996 Ben Linton, Ed Lynch-Bell and Ian Brodrick undertook the mammoth scanning and OCR exercise needed to transfer the paper text back into computer form after the original electronic version was lost in a disk crash. This was done in order to create a world-wide web version of the guide. Mike Caine of the Manx Fell and Rock Club then helped with route information from his Manx climbing web site.
    [Show full text]
  • The Invertebrate Fauna of Dune and Machair Sites In
    INSTITUTE OF TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY (NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL) REPORT TO THE NATURE CONSERVANCY COUNCIL ON THE INVERTEBRATE FAUNA OF DUNE AND MACHAIR SITES IN SCOTLAND Vol I Introduction, Methods and Analysis of Data (63 maps, 21 figures, 15 tables, 10 appendices) NCC/NE RC Contract No. F3/03/62 ITE Project No. 469 Monks Wood Experimental Station Abbots Ripton Huntingdon Cambs September 1979 This report is an official document prepared under contract between the Nature Conservancy Council and the Natural Environment Research Council. It should not be quoted without permission from both the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology and the Nature Conservancy Council. (i) Contents CAPTIONS FOR MAPS, TABLES, FIGURES AND ArPENDICES 1 INTRODUCTION 1 2 OBJECTIVES 2 3 METHODOLOGY 2 3.1 Invertebrate groups studied 3 3.2 Description of traps, siting and operating efficiency 4 3.3 Trapping period and number of collections 6 4 THE STATE OF KNOWL:DGE OF THE SCOTTISH SAND DUNE FAUNA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SURVEY 7 5 SYNOPSIS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING THE SAMPLING PERIODS 9 5.1 Outer Hebrides (1976) 9 5.2 North Coast (1976) 9 5.3 Moray Firth (1977) 10 5.4 East Coast (1976) 10 6. THE FAUNA AND ITS RANGE OF VARIATION 11 6.1 Introduction and methods of analysis 11 6.2 Ordinations of species/abundance data 11 G. Lepidoptera 12 6.4 Coleoptera:Carabidae 13 6.5 Coleoptera:Hydrophilidae to Scolytidae 14 6.6 Araneae 15 7 THE INDICATOR SPECIES ANALYSIS 17 7.1 Introduction 17 7.2 Lepidoptera 18 7.3 Coleoptera:Carabidae 19 7.4 Coleoptera:Hydrophilidae to Scolytidae
    [Show full text]
  • 6335 Rhins of Galloway Lighthouse Booklet 200X110
    Lighthouse Guide Discover the aids to navigation on the Rhins of Galloway Coast Path Since people first ventured out on perilous journeys across the sea many attempts have been made to build landmarks warning sailors of dangers or guiding them to safety. This guide will help you discover lighthouses, foghorns and beacons along the Rhins of Galloway Coast Path as well as reveal some of the ships that have been wrecked on the rugged shore. This Lighthouse Guide has been produced as part of the Rhins of Galloway Coast Path project managed by Dumfries and Galloway Council. Portpatrick Cover: Corsewall Lighthouse How to use this guide The 3 operational Lighthouses on the Rhins are important features on the coastal landscape, managed by the Northern Lighthouse Board to perform a vital role in keeping mariners safe in all weathers. Discover a variety of navigational aids many of which are designated as listed buildings. Get up close with lighthouse tours and an exhibition at the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse or admire at a distance decommissioned lighthouses and redundant beacons. The map at the back of the guide shows you the location of these visually striking reminders of how dangerous the rocky coast of the Rhins can be to mariners. Killantringan Lighthouse Mull of Galloway Lighthouse Designed by Robert Stevenson and first lit in 1830, the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse is perched on Scotland’s most southerly point. It was automated in 1987 and the former Lightkeepers’ accommodation are now managed as self-catering holiday 1 cottages. Structure: White tower 26m high Position:54°38.1’N 4°51.4’W Character:Flashing white once every 20 seconds Nominal range:22 miles Lighthouse Tours, Exhibition & Foghorn The Mull of Galloway Lighthouse is open to visitors during the summer with the exhibition open every day and tours available at weekends and daily in July and August.
    [Show full text]