Scottish Birds Published by the SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB
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PhotoSP T © SCOTTISH BIRDS Plate 109. Having decided to head down to Loch of Kinnordy, Angus and Dundee, for first light on 1 December 2013, my wife and I spent an enjoyable couple of hours at each of the three hides seeing some good birds, including the regular drake Smew. It was a brilliantly bright, but very cold day, a good three degrees colder than when we left Stonehaven, so from the Swamp Hide we decided to move on to the Montrose area. As is customary, I usually take longer to pack up and leave, I continued watching for a few more minutes whilst my wife headed back to the warmth of the car. I said farewell to the only other people in the hide, a couple of Aberdonian birders, before I left but soon I was distracted by a few Bullfinches just above me along the trail. As I waited for a clear view of them, one Volume 34 (1) of the guys nipped out from the hide to tell me that there was a male Bearded Tit zipping about the reeds. Bearded Tit are always such a delight to see in Scotland, though I’ve always found them a bit of a challenge to photograph. This time however, I was in the right place at the right time! The lighting was tremendous and even though the bird was typically restless and moving about quickly, it did venture up towards the top of the rushes on one occasion. Leaning on the side window of the hide for support, I managed to quickly capture a sequence of very pleasing images. The ‘beardie’ was only in view for perhaps two minutes in total, so I will be eternally grateful to the two birders for giving me the shout - I must apologise for forgetting their names. On returning to the car, my wife thought I was winding her up but after she saw some of the pictures on the camera screen, she did agree I had a valid reason for being late this time! Equipment used: Canon 7D with Sigma 120-400mm IS lens, shutter speed 1/500 sec at f5.6 and ISO 500. Ian Hastie, 21 Burnside Gardens, Stonehaven. Email: [email protected] March 2014 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. Send in your photos now - it’s open to all. V OLUME 34(1) M ARCH 2014 SOC Branch Secretaries Scottish Birds is the quarterly journal for SOC members, and is Scottish published in March, June, September and December annually. Ayrshire: Anne Dick Highland: Kathy Bonniface Containing original papers relating to ornithology in Scotland, Rowanmyle House, Tarbolton, Mauchline KA5 5LU. Alt Dubh, North End, Tomatin, Tel: 01292 541981 Inverness-shire IV13 7YP. topical articles, bird observations, reports of rare and scarce bird Email: [email protected] Tel: 01808 511740 Birds sightings, alongside branch and Club-related news, our members tell Email: [email protected] Established in 1958. us that Scottish Birds is one of the key benefits of belonging to the Borders: Graham Pyatt The Schoolhouse, Manor, Peebles EH45 9JN. Lothian: Doreen Main SOC. Its different sections have been developed to meet the wide Tel: 01721 740319 Seatoller, Broadgait, Gullane EH31 2DH. needs of the birdwatching community, and the publication is Email: [email protected] Tel: 01620 844532 Published quarterly by: renowned for its first-class photography. Email: [email protected] The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, An archive of the journal is available on the SOC website, where Caithness: Angus McBay Waterston House, Aberlady, Schoolhouse, Weydale, Thurso KW14 8YJ. Moray & Nairn: Martin Cook links can be found to other Club publications, including the Scottish Tel: 01847 894663 Rowanbrae, Clochan, Buckie AB56 5EQ. East Lothian EH32 0PY. Raptor Monitoring Scheme Report and the Scottish Bird Report online. Email: [email protected] Tel: 01542 850 296 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: 01875 871330 More about the SOC… Central: Roger Gooch www.the-soc.org.uk On the one hand, a birdwatching club; Established in 1936, the The Red House, Dollarfield, Dollar FK14 7LX. Orkney: Colin Corse Tel: 01259 742 326 Garrisdale, Lynn Park, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1SL. Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC) is Scotland’s bird club with 14 Email: [email protected] Tel: 01856 874 484 branches around the country and a growing membership of over Email: [email protected] Editors: 3000. Through a programme of talks, outings, conferences and other Clyde: Ian Fulton 8 Barrachnie Avenue, Baillieston, Glasgow G69 6SR. 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New members will SOC Local Recorders Email: [email protected] receive a welcome pack on joining, plus a thank you gift if paying Angus & Dundee: Jon Cook Fair Isle: David Parnaby Orkney: Jim Williams To advertise in Scottish Birds or their subscription by direct debit. 01382 738495 01595 760258 01856 761317 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] obtain back issues, please contact Waterston House. Annual membership rates* Argyll: Jim Dickson Fife: Malcolm Ware Outer Hebrides: Yvonne Benting Adult (aged 18 and over) £ 32.00 01546 603967 07733 991030 & Ian Thompson 01878 700849 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Designed and typeset by: Family (2 adults & all juniors at same address) £ 43.00 Pica Design, 51 Charlton Crescent, Junior (aged 17 or under) £ 12.00 Ayrshire: Fraser Simpson Forth (Upper): Chris Pendlebury Perth & Kinross: Scott Paterson Aboyne, Aberdeenshire AB34 5GN. Student (in full-time education) £ 12.00 [email protected] 07798 711134 01577 864248 Unwaged (in receipt of state benefits) £ 12.00 [email protected] [email protected] Email: [email protected] Borders: Ray Murray Concession (pensioner) £ 24.00 01721 730677 Highland: Peter Gordon Shetland: Rob Fray Printed by: Joint Concession (at same address) £ 31.00 [email protected] 01479 821339 01950 461929 Swallowtail Print Limited, Life £ 620.00 [email protected] [email protected] Caithness: Sinclair Manson Unit 2 Drayton Industrial Park, Life family (at same address) £ 930.00 Taverham Road, Drayton 01847 892379 Isle of May: Iain English For non-UK addresses, there is a £15 supplement to all categories to cover postage. [email protected] 01698 891788 Norwich, Norfolk NR8 6RL. [email protected] * Rates valid until August 2015, subject to change thereafter Clyde: Iain Gibson 01505 705874 Lothian: Stephen Welch For more information about the Club and its activities, including [email protected] 01875 852802 Front Cover: [email protected] Eider, Lerwick Harbour, Shetland, details of how to join, please visit www.the-soc.org.uk or Clyde Islands: Bernard Zonfrillo December 2013. contact Waterston House on 01875 871 330, or email 0141 557 0791 Moray & Nairn: Martin Cook © Rebecca Nason [email protected] [email protected] 01542 850296 [email protected] Dumfries & Galloway: Scottish Charity Reg. No. Paul N. Collin NE Scotland: Nick Littlewood 01671 402861 07748 965920 ISSN 0036-9144 SC 009859 [email protected] [email protected] Contents Scottish Birds 34:1 (2014) 2 President’s Foreword C. McInerny PAPERS 3 The Mediterranean Gull in Dumfries and Galloway B.D. Henderson 11 Intra-specific attack on an incubating Greenshank B. Etheridge, N. Christian, R.W. Summers & S. Pálsson 13 Gannet and Guillemot breeding on Rockall, North Atlantic, in 2013 S. Murray, I. Smith & A. Smith SHORT NOTES 16 An extension to the autumn 2008 influx of Grey Phalaropes D.I.M. Wallace & A. McGeehan 16 Possible use of mimicry by a Jay to deter predators A.