Spring/Summer 2019 Newsletter of the Aberdeen and District RSPB Local Group Issue 13

At a glance at Fowlsheugh in 2018

Seabirds at Fowlsheugh 18 .. 1 by Lorna Dow A Living Memorial...... 3 Otter Watching in Aberdeen . 4 Angela Gowdy - BEM ...... 4 Whimbrel Migration ...... 5 The SOC ...... 6 Speckled Wood ...... 7 How long do birds live? ...... 7 Reserves Round-up...... 8 New Interns ...... 9 Calling all bakers ...... 9 Subscriptions ...... 9 Writing this on a wet and windy spring day, the heat of last June seems a long time ago. 2018 brought a Full Colony Count at RSPB Fowlsheugh. We do this on a three-year cycle due to the time involved Keep up to date with all in counting so many seabirds. We do take a smaller snapshot of the our summer outings by colony on an annual basis through Annual Seabirds Census plots at the checking our website cliff. and our Facebook page The dry summer was a benefit for the colony count, providing good Please come along to survey conditions. Staff and volunteers could be found throughout June our events - it doesn't sitting for periods of time at the top of the cliffs, getting a bit cross-eyed matter whether you are over auks! The only downside to the weather was the heat haze created a novice or an on some days; some sections of Fowlsheugh need to be counted at a experienced distance through a telescope, which wasn’t easy at times. These birdwatcher, all are sections were redone on days with less haze. welcome. Most of the cliff can be counted from the More information about land, but there are some sections that the Local Group and its have traditionally been counted from a activities can be found boat. Due to the availability of a drone, on the Group's website: piloted by Site Manager Richard www.rspb.org.uk/ Humpidge, with the correct permissions groups/aberdeen from SNH, photographs were taken of these sections using the drones and the For more Local Group images analysed on a computer. I would news, visit us on like to say that we had some sort of Facebook at: whizzy programme to do this, but the www.facebook.com/ analysis entailed long hours in front of RSPBNorthEastScotland Photoshop counting each bird. Photo: Lorna Dow

Page | 1 Page | 1 We use different count units for different species. Guillemots, and Puffins are counted as individuals (Ind), Kittiwakes and other as apparently occupied nests (AON), Fulmars and Shags as apparently occupied sites (AOS). The table below shows the colony count data from 1992 onwards, species by species. In 2018 there was a total colony of 92,843 birds at Fowlsheugh.

Year 1992 1999 2006 2009 2012 2015 2018 Guillemot (Ind) 59911 62330 54195 50556 44922 55507 61416 (Ind) 6827 6362 4280 4632 5260 7426 11750 Kittiwake (AON) 34872 18800 11140 9454 9439 9655 9444 Puffin (Ind) 59 50 30 21 27 23 Fulmar (AOS) 416 352 246 193 119 164 157 Shag (AOS) 10 1 3 Herring (AON) 528 267 274 214 259 125 220 GBB Gull (AON) 0 1 2 2 3 2 3 LBB Gull (AON) 4 1 0 0 0

Below is the same data in graph form which helps show the fluctuations in the population on site.

There are some interesting changes at Fowlsheugh. Guillemot numbers have been on the increase since the low of 2012. Razorbills are also on the increase, which mirrors the national trend. Kittiwakes seem stable, if substantially down on 1992 figures, although this graph doesn’t tell the whole story. Kittiwake productivity in 2018 was very poor, particularly bad when compared to the last few years of positivity. The late spring caused Kittiwakes to take a long time to settle to breed, meaning the season was very spread out. The hot weather wasn’t great for chicks in the nest; many are likely to have overheated. Fingers crossed 2019 will prove to be a better year for productivity.

Page | 2 A Living Memorial by Mark Sullivan Welcome to our new Local Group member, Professor members: Nigel Trewin, who passed away in Anja Morris-Oosting October 2017 following a battle with melanoma, had long expressed a Andrew & Debbie desire to contribute to funding Dalgarno conservation in the NE of Scotland. I Anne Shearer was not surprised therefore to be contacted by his widow, Margie, to Kev McPhee Smith be told that he had left a legacy in Harris Booker his will to the RSPB, for use in our area under the direction of the Local Linda Walker Group. I was however surprised to Ronay Thomson hear from the RSPB that the donation was a very generous £1000. The Local Group committee Mark Woodfin decided that the money should be used at the , Amanda Cardy where much of our fund-raising is spent, and where Nigel had spent many happy days birding. Jason Reynolds I was privileged to know Nigel, firstly as a geologist, who had, in Jeffrey Stockdale his quiet unassuming way, revolutionised the study of ancient life Stephen Ackroyd with his work on the Rhynie Chert and fossil fish, both of the Devonian Period. He led parties of geologists from various oil and companies on field trips to study the Moray Firth rocks, and it was welcome back to on one of these that I first met him. Marjorie Dick On his “retirement” (although he was publishing scientific papers until just before his death) he took up birdwatching more seriously, and could often be found at Strathbeg, the Ythan or Girdle Ness – Work Party dates often on the look-out for rare migrants. He was a great person to Contact David White meet with in the field, enthusiastic towards anything he saw. [email protected] After discussions with Richard Humpidge, Site Manager at

Strathbeg, it was agreed that the money would go towards the newly created woodland which is to be an extension of the If you no longer wish to hear from the RSPB “Rookery Wood” at the entrance to the reserve. This is also a Aberdeen and District Local project where the Local Group has provided work parties to help Group, please contact Mark plant 3000+ trees. Sullivan on 01224 861446 confirming your name and I checked with Margie that this would accord with his wishes, and address and stating you received the following reply: wish to unsubscribe from “I am delighted that Nigel's legacy will be going to the Loch of the RSPB Aberdeen and District Local Group's Strathbeg, one of his favourite places. I know that is what he was communications. hoping would happen. He truly loved the times he had up at Strathbeg - his birding was so therapeutic and important to him, The Royal Society for the especially in the last three years of his life when we knew that his Protection of Birds [RSPB] is a melanoma cancer was terminal. I am so very pleased that Nigel’s registered charity; England and Wales number 207076, donation can go towards the planting and fencing of the extension Scotland number SC037654 of Rookery Wood, and I hope to come and see it one day. Nigel would indeed approve.”

Page | 3 Otter Watching in Aberdeen by Gordon Grieve

Photo: Gordon Grieve

I have been watching and photographing otters on the River Don in and around Seaton Park (and elsewhere) for seven years. In that time I have seen many adults and their cubs. In 2015 I discovered that one of the local females had managed to get something around her neck, under the outer guard hairs. This did not seem to give her any problems, but the resulting, easy-to-see, line in the fur meant that she was easily recognisable. She can still be seen in the area today. Up until this point I had not been confidently able to identify individual otters. In the winter of 2017-2018 a male “appeared” along the river, with a broken tooth and characteristic markings on his nose. About the same time a younger female was found, with a young cub. She also had markings on her nose, meaning that she could be identified, and by extension so could her cub. This was the first time in watching the otters that I could identify four individual animals. This last female appears to have since left the area, but the cub is still around and can be seen patrolling the river. However, no distinguishing marks are evident on this animal. The photograph above is of the resident “ring-necked” female, with a cub born in 2018, and a cub from the previous year. Keep an eye out along the Rivers Don and Dee, Aberdeen harbour and any streams or bodies of water and you never know, you may be lucky enough to see an otter (or even two or three!).

Angela Gowdy – BEM

In case you were not aware of the announcement in December 2018, our long-serving Local Group Committee Member, Angela Gowdy, was awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year Honours, for services to charity. Angela volunteers both for the RSPB, and also the Home-Start Garioch, a charity helping young families that are struggling with the demands of life. She will be familiar to you all as an enthusiastic attendee at our outings, while for the indoor meetings she organises the raffles, ensures that there are abundant cakes available from our team of bakers and helps to make the meetings go smoothly. Out of sight to many of our members, she is “the pin-badge lady” running a team of pin- badge sellers across , ensuring that she raises thousands of pounds for the RSPB (she has previously received the RSPB’s President’s Award for this). A huge “well done” to Angela, the reward for all her hard work is truly merited.

Photo: Paddy Grant

Page | 4 Whimbrel Migration

By Mark Sullivan

May is probably the best time to see Whimbrel in our region, as the birds move north to their breeding grounds. Despite this being a globally abundant species (1 – 2.3 million birds) with between 340 – 400 thousand pairs in Europe, we only get relatively small numbers on passage. A very few pairs nest on Shetland and Orkney each year, but none in mainland Scotland. Questions are therefore, where and when can we see them, and given the large population in Europe, why do we see relatively low numbers here? As stated above, generally the largest numbers in our area occur in spring, up to mid-May, with a smaller peak on the return migration particularly in August. However, maximum flock sizes are generally less than 50 birds in spring. Where do the wintering birds go, and why do we not see more of them? Over a quarter of a million pairs (perhaps 40% of the global population) breed in Iceland, and winter in western Africa and western Iberia. It might be expected that these migrate along the of Europe, however, recent research has shown that this is not the case. The use of geo-locators on a sample of birds has allowed tracking of them during migration. Four birds were successfully tracked. Leaving Iceland in the autumn, they travelled to west Africa, a distance of 4000 – 5500 km in five days of non-stop flying. In spring two of the birds flew via Ireland where they spent 11 and 15 days respectively, before heading off to Iceland. The other birds flew directly to Iceland, a shorter overall flight, but with no safety net. Our area is clearly not on the preferred migration route of these Icelandic birds. They make one of the longest non-stop flights so far recorded, by-passing the UK so it is likely that the relatively few birds we do get on passage are breeding either in the UK or in northern Europe.

Fig 1 (left): Whimbrel ringing records – circles: winter, triangles: spring, inverted triangles: autumn Fig 2 (right): Satellite tracking data – left autumn migration, right spring migration

See https://www.bou.org.uk/mendez-whimbrel-migration/ for more information.

Page | 5 The Scottish Ornithologists Club

By John Wills

The SOC exists to promote the study, enjoyment and conservation of wild birds and their habitats across Scotland. The SOC is a birdwatching club with 15 local branches across the country from Orkney to West Galloway and a growing membership of over 3000. We bring together like-minded individuals with a passion for birds, nature and conservation, through our programme of talks, outings, conferences and via the Club's quarterly members' journal, Scottish Birds. Our bread and butter is recording birds. The SOC acts as the umbrella organisation for bird recording in Scotland, supporting the Local Recorders' Network and the Scottish Birds Records Committee which maintains the official Scottish List on behalf of the Club. As a BirdTrack partner, we work with the RSPB, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), and other national organisations in England, Wales and Ireland to promote the practice of keeping bird records and submitting them to support research. The North-East Scotland branch of the SOC has a wide-ranging programme of evening talks from October to April covering interesting subjects relating to birds, other wildlife and topics of interest in the North-East. For instance, next winter we hope to cover Honey Buzzards, Curlews, raptor persecution, sound recording and marine mammals. In a new move, we are also planning a structured programme of activities throughout the year to engage beginners, improvers and experienced birdwatchers in the enjoyment of birdwatching in our local environment. Broad topics for meetings and outings will cover bird identification in different habitats, bird songs and calls, seasonal birds, migration, breeding behaviour, photography, surveying and recording. SOC's Aims are

• To promote the study, recording and documentation of Scotland’s birdlife • To support the conservation of wild birds and their habitats throughout Scotland • To promote an interest in our wild birds • To provide a focus for anyone with an interest in, and for more information relating to, the study of birds in Scotland • To promote the arts of natural history NEW THIS MONTH: the SOC’s free mobile app - Where to Watch Birds in Scotland In April the SOC is launching a free mobile app with hundreds of the best birdwatching sites across the country (and more added all the time). This easy-to-use guide will help you prepare and ensure you get the most out of your next (or first!) birdwatching trip. For each location on the app, find out: what birds to look for, where and when; how to get around the site; recent bird sightings (from BirdTrack); how to get to the site with full navigation instructions; rare and unusual species that have been recorded at the sites; other wildlife spectacles to look for; accessibility. Plus, help conservation by sending in your bird sightings via links in the app. You’ll get maps and information on over 500 bird species (from SOC’s landmark publication, The Birds of Scotland) and discover where these species are likely to be seen. You can use the core features of the app even without a signal. You can also save your favourite sites to go back to later. Find out more at www.the-soc.org.uk/about-us/app.

Page | 6 Speckled Wood – a success story!

By Mark Sullivan

2018 saw a major expansion of the Speckled Wood butterfly into the city of Aberdeen. Less than 50 years ago its Scottish distribution was confined to the west and areas around Inverness (a distribution still suggested in the field guides of 2008 and 2010). It has spread very rapidly both northwards in England, and south and east in Scotland. Before 2018 the only sighting in Aberdeen was in Hilton Woods in 2015, but in 2018 it was recorded all over the city and south of the Dee at Kincorth Hill. It has experienced an extraordinary 71% increase in distribution and 84% increase in abundance across the UK in the last 40 years as a result of the warming climate. The Speckled Wood prefers partially shaded areas of woodland, gardens and hedgerows and likes to feed on honeydew, but has also been known to nectar on plants like Ragwort or Dandelion. The females lay their eggs on long grasses and the next generation of adult butterflies will be seen between July and September. Butterfly Conservation is appealing for volunteers to help with butterfly surveys in 2019 so the charity can continue monitoring the progress of the Speckled Wood and other butterfly species across Scotland. Anthony McCluskey, BC Scotland’s Urban Butterfly Project Officer commented “Without volunteers we wouldn’t know how our butterflies are doing and it’s thanks to the volunteers at Kincorth Hill this summer that we now know more about the Speckled Wood and how it is doing in Aberdeen. We are hoping to have new surveys set up at different locations this year, so it would be brilliant to have more people helping us.” To find out more about how you can take part in the surveys, visit www.butterfly-conservation.org/scotland or email Anthony McCluskey on: [email protected] or call 01786 459 811. This year’s Big Butterfly Count runs from Friday 19th July to Sunday 11th August 2019. See www.bigbutterflycount.org for more info.

How long do birds live?

By Mark Sullivan

In January 2019 I was at Cairnbulg, watching a large group of Redshank feeding on kelp fly maggots, produced from rotting piles of kelp. One bird stood out, as it was wearing a yellow “flag” on its left leg. The power of digital photography meant that I was able to take a picture and read the number on the flag. I sent the photograph to Raymond Duncan ([email protected]) of the Grampian Ringing Group, to find out what was known about this bird. Since the bird was ringed as a juvenile on the Ythan in August 2014, it has been reported three times – interestingly always in winter, and always in the Cairnbulg / Inverallochy area. The records were in November 2014 (Cairnbulg), January 2017 (Inverallochy) and January 2019 (Cairnbulg, my sighting). This means that when I saw the bird it was in its 5th year, but we do not know where it spends its summers or where it breeds. If you find any colour-ringed birds, or birds with large numbered rings or flags, note the

Page | 7 number, or colour combination (or take a photograph) and send the records to Raymond at the above e-mail, or via https://grampianringing.blogspot.com/ In return, you will learn a bit more about the bird(s) you have found, and also provide information about the bird’s movements that can be of use in conserving important feeding, breeding or wintering areas.

NE Scotland Reserves Round-up

By Lorna Dow

RSPB Scotland Loch of Strathbeg Winter normally bring lots of maintenance on the reserve and this past winter has been no different! Lots of small jobs have been caught up on and a few bigger ones have been completed. Work on removal of the plantation continues, with various days of bonfires to burn the resulting brash created by the felling. More bonfires were built not far from Bay Hide; here willow scrub was cut back and burnt on the peninsula that creates the ‘Bay’. Work will continue on both next autumn/winter. Track repairs are a constant headache for us; we inevitably get more heavy rain as soon as we do any remedial work on the track through the winter, washing all our hard work away! More infrastructure work included continuing the upgrade of paths around the woodland area at Strathbeg so they are more accessible. Tower Pool Hide had its access ramp replaced and the Dunbar Hide had baffles added outside to help create a bit more shelter at the door. The boardwalk to the Fen Hide needed some repairs and it was shut for just over a week, while various boards were replaced and new chicken wire was put down. Ed and Kat got a good amount of topping completed on the low ground, bashing back the soft rush to help the ponies create a more open sward. The first of this year’s foals have arrived, with more safe arrivals hoped for over the spring. The tern island has been weeded in preparation for the gulls and terns

Stapling chicken wire on Fen boardwalk returning and we have gulls starting to display already. A few colour rings Photo: Lorna Dow have been spotted and one was ringed as a chick at Forvie in 2017. We do need to say a big thank you to the Local Group for regularly helping at work parties! Wetland Bird Surveys and goose roost counts have continued as usual on a monthly basis through the autumn/winter, with a few extra goose counts, including the international Grey Goose counts. Numbers of pink-footed geese were lower than some years with a peak of 14,526 on 8th Dec 2018. However, we did get an exceptionally good count of whooper swans of 1167 in November. We are now turning our attention to the breeding season ahead and what that might bring! RSPB Scotland Loch Spynie The winter work at Spynie has focused on habitat improvements in the area we call the northeast fen. Cattle were in grazing for a time during autumn, thanks to the new fence put in by the reserve’s owners Pitgaveny. Once they were out we started removing birch and willow seedlings that have been taking over the fen habitat. A small amount of felling of slightly larger birch trees has expanded the area of fen. A few bonfires were had to tidy up the brash! This work will continue next autumn and winter, hopefully pushing back the trees and reeds to allow a larger area of the fen habitat to thrive. If you visit the Spynie Hide you might notice that the hide has had a wee facelift – new interpretation boards have been installed and the hide interior has had a freshen up.

Page | 8 New Interns at NE Scotland Coastal Reserves

By Lorna Dow

The end of February saw us say goodbye to the interns of 2018/19, Kim Grant and Sally Dunbar. Kim has gone on to start her own business - www.kimgrantphotography.co.uk - and Sally has a contract with the National Trust on the Farne Islands. We wish them both good luck in their next adventures! However, with one set of interns leaving, that means new interns starting! Katie Horton and Julie Ellis arrived at the beginning of March and after a very busy few weeks are getting settled into Strathbeg life. If you see them at any of the reserves, please say

(L-R) Katie Horton & Julie Ellis, Photo Lorna Dow hello.

Calling all bakers

If you are willing to help provide baking for our indoor meetings could you please let Angela know either by phone (07767 065361) or by e-mail ([email protected]). All help is gratefully appreciated – our tea breaks are famous, and we are one of the few Local Groups who still provide home baking at indoor meetings. Also, if anyone is willing to help out at indoor meetings (helping to set up and clear away, sell books, raffle tickets etc.), could you also contact Angela, before indoor meetings you plan to attend, to let her know. The increase in numbers attending our indoor meetings means that the committee members are beginning to be overwhelmed.

Subscriptions

Important Annual Subscriptions are now due for May 2019-2020 £5 per household Those who have already paid should see their enclosed note

Payable by cheque to Aberdeen RSPB Local Group (send to Mark Sullivan at 29 Earlswells Rd, AB15 9NY) or bank transfer to Sort Code 82-68-07 Acc No 10468356 (reference your name)

IF YOU ALREADY PAY BY STANDING ORDER PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU DO NOT PAY TWICE! If you no longer wish to remain a member of the Group please let Mark know, so that you may be removed from our database.

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