MORAY FIRTH MONITORING WINTER 1994/5
JEFF STENNING
MARCH 1995
NORTH SCOTLAND REGIONAL OFFICE ETIVE HOUSE, BEECHWOOD PARK, INVERNESS
Registered charity no 207076 MORAY FIRTH MONITORING
WINTER 1994/5
JEFF STENNING
A report by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to BP Petroleum Development Ltd and Scottish Natural Heritage
RSPB North Scotland Office Etive House Beechwood Park Inverness IV2 3BW
March 1995 CONTENTS
Summary 3
1. General Introduction 5
2. Seaduck Monitoring 5
2.1 Introduction 2.2 Study Area 2.3 Methods
2.4 Results 6 2.4.1 Scaup 2.4.2 Eider 2.4.3 King eider 7 2.4.4 Long-tailed duck 2.4.5 Common scoter 2.4.6 Velvet scoter 2.4.7 Surf scoter 2.4.8 Goldeneye 8 2.4.9 Red-breasted merganser 2.4.10 Goosander 2.4.11 Red-throated diver 2.4.12 Black-throated diver 2.4.13 Great northern diver 2.4.14 Slavonian grebe 2.4.15 Red-necked grebe 9
2.5 Discussion
3. Seabird Use of the Inner Firths 14
3.1 Introduction 3.2 Study Area 3.3 Methods
3.4 Results 15 3.4.1 Inner Dornoch Firth 3.4.2 Cromarty Firth 3.4.3 Inverness/Beauly Firth
3.5 Discussion
4. Co-ordinated Wader and Wildfowl Counts 16
4.1 Introduction 4.2 Study Area 4.3 Methods 4.4 Results 17 4.5 Discussion 5. British Trust for Ornithology's Satellites and Sediments Project 18
5.1 Introduction 5.2 Methods 5.3 Results 6. Geese and Swans
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 22
References 23 SUMMARY
1. 1994/5 was the fourteenth successive and final winter of seaduck monitoring in the Moray Firth as part of the BP/RSPB Beatrice Field Environmental Monitoring Programme. In 1994/5 the Programme was part- funded by BP, RSPB and SNH.
2. Counts of seaduck, divers and grebes were undertaken monthly from September 1994 to March 1995. The highest monthly total of all seaduck species occurred in February, when 11 558 birds were recorded.
3. Scaup numbers peaked in January at 453.
4. Eider were recorded in their highest numbers in October when 1714 were present.
5. The peak monthly total of long-tailed duck was recorded in November, when only 3742 were present, including 2441 between Burghead and Cu1bin and 759 in the Riff Bank/Inverness Firth area. The "best estimate" population index for the winter was 5608. Numbers this winter were the lowest ever.
6. Common scoter numbers peaked at 2764 (including apportioned unidentified scoter) in February and around 2200 were present throughout the study period.
7. Velvet scoter numbers peaked at 540 (including apportioned unidentified scoter) in March.
8. There were fifteen records of surf scoter, involving a minimum of three males and one female.
9. Goldeneye peaked at 976 in March and the main site was the Inverness Firth where birds are drawn to the Longman sewage outfall.
10. Red-breasted merganser peaked at 1787 in December, when 1422 were present in the Inverness Firth alone, making this (rather than the Riff Bank) the most important site for the second consecutive year.
11. Goosander numbers on the Beauly Firth were the highest since 1988/89, peaking at 603 in February.
12. Red-throated diver numbers peaked at 385 in January, when there were 250 in the Inverness Firth.
13. Black-throated diver numbers peaked at 35 in January, although 32 were present in October.
14. Great northern diver numbers peaked at 14 in November, with no marked influxes and/or concentrations anywhere during the period under review.
15. The peak monthly total for Slavonian grebe was 66 in October, and the most important single site was the Outer Dornoch Firth, with a peak of 26 birds in November.
16. At least 7 Red-necked grebes were present over the winter (peak monthly total of 6 in December) and birds were recorded in every month from September to March, more than in any other winter except 1986/7 and 1991/2.
3 17. Counts of seabirds in the inner firths were undertaken each month. A large influx of auks was recorded in January, most apparent in the Inverness Firth, when a minimum of over 2500 were present.
18. Assistance was given to the network of volunteer counters taking part in the British Trust for Ornitho1ogy's/Wi1dfow1 and Wetlands Trust's Wetland Bird Surveyor WeBS (part funded by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee). Data on wildfowl and wader numbers were collated at RSPB's Inverness office for forwarding to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and a monthly newsletter was produced for the counters.
19. Assistance was given to volunteer counters in gathering improved data on numbers of swans and geese using in the Moray Firth area. Data were voluntarily collated and forwarded to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust by Ivan Brockway, but have been included in Table 2.
20. Low-tide surveys were carried out in the Cromarty Firth on behalf of the British Trust for Ornithology as part of their two-year satellite and sediments project. This involved eight surveys between November and February inclusive at both Udale and Nigg Bays in the Cromarty Firth.
21 The Moray Firth area currently (1990/91 - 1994/5) supports internationally important wintering numbers (at least 1% of the north-west European population) of the following species (in order of importance): greylag goose (28%), pink-footed goose (5%), wigeon (4%), bar-tailed godwit (4%), redshank (4%), whooper swan (3%), red-breasted merganser (2%), curlew (1.5%), turnstone (1.5%), Slavonian grebe (1%), teal (1%), oystercatcher (1%), ringed plover (1%), knot (1%), purple sandpiper (1%) and dun1in (1%).
22. The Moray Firth currently holds nationally important wintering numbers (1% of the British population) of the following species (in order of importance): long-tailed duck (37%), velvet scoter (25%), common scoter (11.5%), red-throated diver (7%), goldeneye (7%), goosander (5%), b1ack- throated diver (4%), scaup (4%), eider (3%), pintail (2%), tufted duck (1.5%), mute swan (1%) and mallard (1%).
4 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1994/5 is the fourteenth successive and final winter that wintering seaduck have been monitored in the Moray Firth as part of the Beatrice Field environmental monitoring programme undertaken by RSPB for BP Petroleum Development Ltd. This year's Programme was part-funded by BP, RSPB and SNH.
This report covers the period September 1994 to March 1995 and includes:
1. Results of monthly seaduck counts in the Moray Firth, from Helmsdale to Spey Bay.
2. Results of monthly seabird counts in the inner firths.
3. Summary results of co-ordinated wader and wildfowl counts carried out as part of the British Trust for Ornithology and Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS).
4. Summary results of low-tide counts carried out as part of the British Trust for Ornithology's satellite and sediments project.
2. SEADUCK MONITORING
2.1 Introduction
The history of monitoring wintering bird populations in the Moray Firth has been detailed by Akers (1989 and 1990).
2.2 Study Area
The study area extends from Helmsdale in the north to Spey Bay in the south-east and includes the Dornoch, Cromarty, Beau1y and Inverness Firths. The area follows that previously described by Mudge and Aspinall (1985) and is divided into twelve standard count sections (Figure 1).
2.3 Methods
A full account of methods is given by Akers (1989). Counts of wintering seaduck, divers and grebes were made from standard count points, positioned to ensure complete coverage of the coast without overlap. Counts were made on an opportunistic basis according to the weather conditions, but every effort was made to survey sections in geographical sequence and to complete coverage of the whole Moray Firth as quickly as possible each month.
The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's winter period for wildfowl counts extends from September to March. In 1994/5 in the Moray Firth counts were completed each month between September 1994 and March 1995. For most species one daytime count per section per month in good conditions was regarded as adequate. Supplementary counts of scaup, goldeneye and goosander were made at traditional sites and additional data for slavonian grebe, goldeneye and sawbi11 ducks were collected during the co-ordinated wader and wildfowl counts.
5 Because of the difficulties involved in counting long-tailed duck (they are small, cryptically coloured and can feed further off-shore than other seaduck species), monthly totals of daytime counts are not the most accurate means of estimating the true population level. Additional surveys were undertaken from vantage points on land for birds flying to or from night-time roost sites, of which three are known in the Moray Firth, although checks are made at other sites. These are in Burghead Bay, which draws birds from both east and west and which is counted from Findhorn and from Burghead; over the Riff Bank, counted from Chanonry Point and holding birds which feed in the Inverness Firth as well as in the Riff Bank section itself; and off Brora, generally drawing birds from further north. A co- ordinated count was undertaken at these four points on February 11th, but as Brora produced only 4 birds, a higher figure of 195 from a count on the 8th was used instead.
Counts of roost-flighting long-tailed ducks were assigned to the standard sections in which they are assumed to be feeding (ego birds flying into Burghead Bay from the west are assigned to the Culbin section), but were only included in the monthly totals if the roost count exceeded the daytime count for the section. Five main long-tailed duck areas were identified (Figure 2), incorporating from one to three standard count sections and monthly totals were calculated for these larger areas. An index figure (corresponding to the "best estimate" peak total given in previous reports) for the winter was calculated by taking the peak monthly total for each of the five larger areas and summing the area totals.
2.4 Results
The peak total for all seaduck (sum of the peak total for each species regardless of month) for 1994/5 was 12,584, a very significant 10,133 less than in 1993/4 and representing a reduction from the five-year mean of -34% (see 2.5.4, .5 & .6).
2.4.1 Scaup Aythya marila
Total scaup numbers in the Moray Firth peaked in January at 453. Following a peak of 406 in the Cromarty Firth in tbe same month, much reduced numbers there were mirrored by increases in the Dornochand Inverness Firths to respective peaks of 85 and 173 in March (Figure 3). The only other regular birds were 3 in Burghead Bay from January into March.
2.4.2 Eider Somateria molissima
Eider numbers in the Moray Firth in 1994/5 peaked at 1714 in October, when 1264 were present along the south coast of the outer Moray Firth (Nairn to Spey Bay), which was also the highest area total (Figure 5).
As in 1993/4, numbers on the Sutherland section dropped rapidly between the October and November counts. It seems that the area is still relatively important ..for eider in the autumn, but that it no longer holds large numbers of eider into the mid-winter period.
6 2.4.3 King eider Somateria spectabilis
The presumed same drake as in 1993/4 was recorded on the Morayshire section from the end of October into mid-February.
2.4.4 Long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis
The highest monthly total (including daytime and roost counts) for the Moray Firth was 3742 in November, when 2441 were present in the Burghead- Culbin section, 759 were in the Riff Bank/Inverness Firth section and 153 were in Spey Bay. Numbers off the east Sutherland coast peaked at 323 in February (Figure 7).
The index ("best estimate") for the whole winter (calculated by summing the peak monthly totals for each section) was 5608.
2.4.5 Common seoter Melanitta nigra
Peak numbers of common scoter occurred in February when 2764 were present (including apportioned unidentified scoter). As in 1993/4, numbers were less stable throughout the study period than in 1992/3 (range 1036 - 2764, Figure 9).
The four main sites were as usual Spey Bay (830 January), Burghead Bay (1087 March), Culbin (1502 February) and the outer Dornoch Firth (236 January).
2.4.6 Velvet scoter Melanitta fusca
Peak numbers occurred in March, when 540 were present (including apportioned unidentified scoter). Before this, numbers were unstable in the autumn/mid-winter period, with the second highest peak of 532 occuring in November.
The main sites were as usual the same as those for common scoter: Burghead Bay (324 March), Spey Bay (129 February), the outer Dornoch Firth (30 March) and Culbin (143 March).
2.4.7 Surf scoter Melanitta perspicillata
There were fifteen records, including those extracted from WeBS and Birdline Scotland, involving a minimum of three males and one female.
All records are given below:
9 Oct 94 1 first-year male Burghead Bay 16 Oct 94 1 male Burghead Bay 28 Nov 94 1 male Burghead Bay, different male off Burghead 29 Nov 94 1 male Burghead Bay, pair Nairn Bar 1-3, 11 & 13/14 Dec 94 1 male Burghead Bay 4 Dee 94 2 males Burghead Bay 10 Dee 94 1 male off Burghead 15 Jan 95 1 male Burghead Bay 14 Feb 95 1 male Burghead Bay
7 2.4.8 Go1deneve BucepheIa cIanguIa
Goldeneye numbers peaked in March at 976, when 710 were present in the Inverness Firth and 110 were in the Cromarty Firth. Apart from 76 in the Inner Dornoch Firth in February, no other site held more than 60 birds (Figure 13).
2.4.9 Red-breasted mer2anser Mergus serrator
Red-breasted merganser numbers peaked in December, when 1787 were present throughout the Moray Firth, with the vast majority, 1422, in the Inverness/Beauly Firths.
2.4.10 Goosander Mergus merganser
Goosander numbers peaked at 603 in March. The majority of records, as usual, came from the Beauly Firth, but elsewhere there were autumn gatherings in Spey Bay, peaking at 60 in September, with 176 in Burghead Bay in October.
2.4.11 Red-throated diver Gavia steIIata
The highest monthly total of red-throated divers was 385 in January, when 250 were in the Inverness Firth. Spey Bay held 178 in December and Burghead Bay 140 in October. Elsewhere, numbers nummbers did not exceed 60 in anyone section.
Overall, recorded numbers increased steadily through to January, thereafter gradually decreasing.
2.4.12 Black-throated diver Gavia arctica
Black-throated diver numbers peaked at 35 in January, when 20 were in the Inverness Firth. Prior to this, 32 were present in October with all but 4 in Burghead Bay; numbers then fluctuated between 29 in November and 15 in December, declining after the peak to another low spring level of only 5 in March.
2.4.13 Great northern diver Gavia immer
Great northern diver numbers peaked at 14 in November, with no significant gatherings then or subsequently in the winter, although there were 8 in the outer Dornoch Firth earlier, in October.
2.4.14 Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus
The highest monthly count of Slavonian Grebes was 66 in October, when 31 were present in the Cromarty Firth and 14 in Burghead Bay. The outer Dornoch" Firth held 26 in December and there were 31 in the Inverness Firth in March, corresponding with low counts at the main resorts (Figure 22).
8 2.4.15 Red-necked grebe Podiceps grisegena
There were 15 records involving a minimum of 7 birds. Certainly 2 birds used the outer Dornoch Firth, with singles off Portmahomack in September, December and March, off Brora in October and off Dornoch/Golspie in October, December and February. A presumed same single was in the Inverness Firth in October and December, simi1iar1y 1 in Burghead Bay in September and November. A single off the Cu1bin Bars in October with 3 there in December are probably the same birds as the single off Nairn in January and March and the 2 there in February.
2.5 Discussion
2.5.1 Scaup
Scaup numbers have remained fairly stable in the Moray Firth throughout the period 1977/8 - 1994/5 (Figure 4). The mean annual peak for the Moray Firth for the five winters 1990/91 - 1994/5 is 465, approximately 4% of the revised population estimate for Great Britain (Waters and Cranswick 1993). The Cromarty Firth is the only one of the three main scaup sites in the Moray Firth to have held in excess of 110 birds in each of the last five winters, making it nationally important for the species. Up until 1993/4, both the other two sites, Edderton in the Dornoch Firth and Longman Bay in the Inverness Firth, also held nationally important numbers of scaup. However this winter the Longman Bay flock peaked at 173 in March, reinstating its importance and the Edderton flock increased from last winter to peak at 85, also in March. However, it is interesting to note that numbers in the Cromarty Firth declined by 93% between January and March suggesting a redistribution of numbers between the three sites.
2.5.2 Eider
Peak eider numbers since 1977/8 have remained fairly stable, fluctuating between 2000 and 3000 (Figure 6). The mean peak total for the five winters 1990/90 - 1994/54 is 2410, around 3% of the GB wintering population (Waters and Cranswick 1993).
The two most important sections of coast are the east Sutherland coast from Helmsdale to Dornoch and the Morayshire coast from Culbin to Spey Bay. Annual changes in numbers at these two sites follow overall Moray Firth changes closely (Figure 6). Five year means for east Sutherland and Morayshire are 1336 and 1258 respectively, making both sites nationally important for wintering eider.
Peak numbers on the east Sutherland coast have declined significantly over the period 1977/8 - 1993/4, while numbers on the Morayshire coast have increased significantly over the same period.
9 2.5.3 Kimz eider
King eider is regarded as a scarce but regular visitor to the Moray Firth, particularly the outer Dornoch Firth. In recent years the frequency of mid-winter records here has declined, coincident with reduced use of the east Sutherland coast by eider in mid-winter and indeed only one drake, presumed to be the same individual as in the previous two winters, could be located (on the Morayshire section) this winter.
2.5.4 Lon2-tailed duck
The Moray Firth is the most important wintering site in Britain and Ireland for wintering long-tailed ducks. The mean peak monthly total for the five years since 1990/91 is 8488, approximately 37% of the most recent GB population estimate (Waters and Cranswick 1993). The 1994/5 peak monthly total of 3742 (November) represents a 56% decline from this five-year mean and was most apparent along the Sutherland coast, where there was a 75% decline from that area's five-year mean. The above-average temperatures in November may have induced more birds to remain along the Norwegian coast and/or in the Baltic, the origins of British winterers being unknown. Alternatively, there may have been an unquantified reduction in preferred food items, but whatever the reason(s), the decline in numbers of long- tailed duck this winter contributes significantly to the overall reduction in seaduck.
Peak monthly totals should be regarded as absolute minima. Long-tailed ducks (along with divers and grebes) are susceptible to being under- recorded by land-based counts in less than perfect conditions. Dusk and dawn movements between roosting and feeding areas are not always reliable, either due to poor weather conditions or to birds moving when it is too dark for observers to distinguish the birds. However, improved accuracy would probably involve increased coverage and resources.
"Best estimate" totals for the Moray Firth have fluctuated considerably over the years (range <6000 to >22,000 for years with complete coverage, Figure 8). Site usage within the Moray Firth has varied from winter to winter, although the most consistently important area has been the Burghead - Culbin section, including the Burghead Bay roost. The roost certainly draws birds from feeding areas off Culbin and Burghead, which was largely the case both this and last winter, unlike in November and December 1992 when many birds appeared to be flying to roost from the north-east, possibly from feeding areas over the Guillam Bank and in shallow areas off the East Ross peninsula, where large flocks of long-tailed ducks were detected by NCC boat surveys during 1984/5 (Mudge and Aspinall 1985). The Burghead Bay roost is not currently thought to draw birds from feeding areas over the Riff Bank.
2.5.5 Common scoter
Common scoter numbers peaked in February at 2764 but numbers fluctuated throughout the winter, with a steady build-up into December, followed by a drop in January, increase to the peak in February, with fewer again in March). Overall peak numbers were slightly above the mean for the last five winters (2667 birds - 11.5% of the GB wintering population), with peak
10 numbers at Burghead Bay and Cu1bin both above average (excluding April counts), while those in Spey Bay dropped by around 8% and in the outer Dornoch Firth by a massive 81%, these 'missing' birds therefore contributing to the overall reduction in seaduck numbers in the Moray Firth this winter.
There was some redistribution of common scoter between sites as the winter progressed, with Burghead Bay and the Cu1bin sharing the majority of the birds in the autumn, Spey Bay holding the highest numbers in November and January, Culbin in December and February and Burghead Bay in March. The significantly lower numbers in the outer Dornoch Firth remained at the same level from October to January and then at a slightly lower level until March.
It is twelve years since the Moray Firth held internationally important numbers of common scoter (Figure 10), although each of the four main sites in the area holds nationally important numbers. The decline in numbers in the Moray Firth seems to be part of a wider and perhaps long-term decline throughout Britain and Ireland (Kirby ee al. 1993).
2.5.6 Velvet scoter'
The Moray Firth as a whole is the second only to St. Andrews Bay in importance for wintering velvet scoter (Kirby et al. 1993). During 1994/5, numbers were below average for the Moray Firth as a whole (mean 1990/91- 1994/5 = 751, 25% of the GB wintering population), and for three of the four main sites, Burghead Bay,Spey Bay and the outer Dornoch Firth, by 27.5%, 36% and 79% respectively, the last closely matching the percentage decline of common scoter there this winter. Only Culbin was stable, at 1.5%. The only seasonal pattern of abundance similar to that for common scoter was that Burghead Bay was the most important site in the autumn/early winter, but remained so throughout. Elsewhere, Culbin and Spey Bay shared smaller but bradly~ similiar numbers from November into February, with more at Culbin in March. The much reduced numbers in the outer Dornoch Firth were fairly stable, although none were recorded in September, October or February.
Like common scoter, velvet scoter numbers dropped sharply in the early 1980's (Figure 12) and although their numbers had peaked at over 1000 both in 1992/3 and 1993/4, the population level is still well below that recorded in the early years of the Beatrice Field environmental monitoring programme.
As with common scoter, the Moray Firth no longer holds internationally important numbers of velvet scoter, although all of the four main sites within the firth still hold nationally important numbers. Again like common scoter there is evidence to suggest a wider and possibly long-term decline in velvet scoter numbers in Britain and Ireland (Kirby et al. 1993).
2.5.7 Surf scater
Surf scoter is an annual visitor in small numbers to the Moray Firth, with a tendency to peak in the spring in some years. In 1994/5 surf scoterswere
11 recorded in all months except September and March, probably involving 3 drakes and 1 duck.
2.5.8 Go1deneye
Numbers for the Moray Firth as a whole peaked in March, a month later than the typical pattern for recent winters. The Inverness Firth is now the prime site in the Moray Firth and the birds feed in the vicinity of the Longman sewage outfall.
Peak numbers for the Moray Firth have exceeded 800 for the last eight winters and 1,000 for five winters 1988/89 - 1992/3 (Figure 14). The Moray Firth is nationally important for goldeneye, holding on average 1150 birds for the period 1990/91 - 1994/5, or 7% of the UK wintering population and is the third most important site in the UK after Lough Neagh and the Firth of Forth (Waters and Cranswick 1993).
2.5.9 Red-breasted merganser
The Moray Firth is the only site in Britain and Ireland to hold internationally important numbers of red-breasted merganser (Waters and Cranswick 1993): the five year mean peak total for 1990/91 - 1994/5 is 2245 birds (Figure 16), approximately 2% of the north-west European and 22% of the British wintering populations.
The peak count (1422, Dec.) for the Inverness/Beauly Firth was less than half of the numbers using this site last winter, but still made this (rather than the usual Riff Bank) the most important site within the Moray Firth. Over 1100 were present here into February (and over 900 in March), but they had to compete with a large influx of other piscivorous species (red-throated diver, shag, guillemot and razorbill) from around the New Year. It is interesting, if only speculative, to note that numbers in the Cromarty Firth and off the Culbin Bars both peaked in October, at 314 and 623 respectively, when only 25 were over the Riff Bank. Thereafter, the first two sites held lower numbers, while those in the Inverness Firth and over the Riff Bank increased, albeit marginally with the latter.
2.5.10 Goosander
Goosander numbers in the Beauly Firth were the second highest this decade (595, February cf. 610, November 1990), possibly indicating that food supplies for these birds are now undergoing restoration following a period of low levels (Akers 1990, Evans 1991 and 1992).
The five year mean for peak numbers of goosander in the Beauly Firth up to and including 1994/5 was 414 birds is about 5% of the British wintering population, but is below the qualifying level for international importance (1500 birds, Waters and Cranswick 1993). Until 1990/1, the Beauly Firth was the only internationally important site for wintering goosander in Britain. Elsewhere there were 60 in Spey Bay in September declining to 4 in December, 176 in Burghead Bay in October (making this site of temporary national importance and possibly involving a redistribution of some of the
12 Spey Bay birds) and up to 14 in the inner Dornoch Firth between September and February.
2.5.11 Red-throated diver
Peak totals for sections within the Moray Firth and for the firth itself have been fairly stable over the period 1984/5 - 1994/5 (with the exception of 1987/8 when there was a marked influx into Spey Bay in the late autumn - Figure 20). The 1994/5 peak total of 385 birds was only around 3% more than the five year mean peak for 1990/91 - 1994/5.
During the first half of winter, Spey Bay held (as an average) nearly 60% of the population which fluctuated to a peak in January, when around70% were then in the Inverness Firth, where they joined other piscivorous species to feed presumably on sprats (see 2.5.9).
The Moray Firth as a whole holds nationally important numbers with around 7% over the last five years (Waters and Cranswick 1993).
2.5.12 Black-throated diver
Black-throated diver numbers in the Moray Firth normally peak at around 20 - 35 in February - March, with the most important sites being the outer Dornoch Firth and Burghead Bay.
Numbers were about average during 1994/5 (Figure 21) and the peak total of 35 birds occurred in January, with 20 in the Inverness Firth and 10 in the outer Dornoch Firth. Prior to this, the maximum recorded was 32, with all but 4 in Burghead Bay. 25 were still here in November, but declined thereafter to single figures.
The mean peak total for black-throated divers in the Moray Firth for the five years 1990/91 - 1994/5 is 31, around 4% of the British wintering population (Waters and Cranswick).
2.5.13 Great northern diver
Great northern divers tend to stay further off-shore than other diver species and as a result may well be under-recorded in the Moray Firth. The peak total of 14 birds for 1994/5 was 42% below the mean for the period 1990/91 - 1994/5 (24 birds; Figure 21), with, as last year, no notable concentrations anywhere.
Great northern divers are generally commoner on the west coast of Britain and Ireland than the east (Parrack 1986a) and numbers recorded in the Moray Firth are usually well below the 1% qualifying level for national importance.
13 2.5.14 Slavonian 2rebe
Slavonian grebe numbers are easy to underestimate, as they can be difficult to see in less than perfect counting conditions because of their size and colouration. Nevertheless, peak monthly totals for the Moray Firth for the past five years give a mean population figure of 54 (Figure 22), which under the revised qualifying levels (Waters and Cranswick 1993) approximates to 13.5% of the British wintering population estimated by Chandler (1986a) and, as a new departure, just over 1% of the north-west European population.
2.5.15 Red-necked 2rebe
Red-necked grebes are annual winter visitors to the Moray Firth in very small numbers. The British wintering population is too small (c. 100 birds, Waters and Cranswick 1993) for the 1% qualification level for national importance to have any meaning for this species.
3. SEABIRD USE OF THE INNER FIRTHS
3.1 Introduction
The Inverness/Beauly Firth, the Cromarty Firth and the inner Dornoch Firth can hold important concentrations of seabirds in winter. The present study continues work undertaken in previous winters, from 1981/2 to the present (Mudge et al. 1984, Parsons et al. 1988, Akers 1989 and 1990, Evans 1991, 1992 and 1993 and Stenning 1994).
Target species were cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, shag P. aristotelis, guillemot Uria aalge, razorbill Alca torda and kittiwake Rissa tridactyla. Other species may also occur, but only occasionally and usually in small numbers, for example, fulmar Fulmaris glacialis, gannet Sula bassana, little auk AIle aIle, skuas Stercorarius spp. and terns Sterna spp ..
3.2 Study Area
The Inverness/Beauly Firth and Cromarty Firth area boundaries and count points were described by Mudge et al. (1984) and those for the inner Dornoch Firth by Mudge and Aspinall (1985).
3.3 Methods
Counts were made from the standard count points (3.2 above) and were carried out monthly, at the same time as the seaduck counts for the inner firths. All birds were identified to species if possible, but when shag could not be separated from cormorant or guillemot from razorbill they were recorded in a category separate from birds positively identified.
14 3.4 Results
3.4.1 Inner Dornoch Firth
Peak totals were: fulmar 1 (September only): cormorant 46 (October); guillemot 8 (February only); razorbill 5 (February only).
3.4.2 Cromarty Firth
Peak totals were: fulmar 13 (September only); cormorant 32 (September); shag 33 (September); kittiwake 7 (December); sandwich tern 6 (September only); guillemot 38 (January); razorbill 3 (October and January).
3.4.3 Inverness/Beauly Firths
Peak totals were: fulmar 4 (September); gannet 5 (October only); cormorant 456 (February); shag 600 (March); pomarine skua 15 (October); arctic skua 4 (November); long-tailed skua 7 (October); kittiwake 400 (February); sandwich tern 8 (September); common tern 2 (September); arctic tern (19 September); guillemot 1776 (March); razorbill 1500 (January); black guillemot 2 (November); little auk 1 (February only); auk sp. 18 (December); kittiwake 400 (February).
3.5 Discussion
Seabird numbers in the inner Dornoch and Cromarty Firths during 1994/5 were about normal. Although not as high as last winter, the numbers of cormorant (Figure 18), shag and auks using the Inverness/Beauly Firth were certainly well-above the levels recorded between 1990 and 1993, possibly indicating that stocks of fish of suitable size/age class have recovered from the pattern of those years (Akers 1990, Evans 1991 and 1992). Also in the Inverness Firth, at least 2 pomarine and 1 arctic skua overwintered and 2 long-tailed skua were still present in December, following an unprecedented autumn passage of this species through the Moray Firth, with over 350 (mostly adults) recorded.
15 4. CO-ORDINATED WADER AND WILDFOWL COUNTS (WeBSl
4.1 Introduction
The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) is carried out nationwide by a network of volunteer counters for the British Trust for Ornithology and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
Counts of waders and wildfowl have been undertaken in the Moray Firth since 1969 and both Prater (1981) and Symonds and Langs10w (1985) demonstrated the importance of the Moray Firth for wintering shorebirds and wildfowl.
Coverage of the Moray Firth since 1985/6 has been co-ordinated from RSPB North Scotland Regional Office in Inverness, where the results were collated before being checked by the local BTO representative and forwarded to the BTO and WWT for inclusion in the national WeBS records.
4.2 Study Area
Coverage extended with some breaks from Brora in the north to Buckie in the east. The firth was divided into six main sections, from north to south:
1) Brora - Dornoch Point [with a gap between Broraand Go1spie]
2) The Inner Dornoch Firth [Dornoch - Carbisda1e - Tarbat Ness]
3) The Cromarty Firth
4) The Beau1y Firth
5) The Inner Moray Firth [Inverness Firth to Findhorn Bay]
6) Rocky Shores [Wi1khaven - Rockfield; Ba1intore; Burghead - Hopeman; Lossiemouth; Spey Estuary; Portgordon - Buckie]
4.3 Methods
The firth was divided into 55 small sections for counting purposes and one or more of these sections was assigned to one of more than 40 volunteer counters. For each co-ordinated count, each section was counted on the ts same rising or high tide. Counts were normally made with binoculars and telescope, but precise methods varied according to the preference of the counter or the dictates of the site. Count dates were 9th October, 4th December, 15th January and 19th February. Any section missed or poorly counted on the specified date was counted again as soon as possible afterwards.
High tide counts do not adequately cover whooper swan, greylag goose and pink-footed goose which use agricultural land and freshwater sites within the coastal zone. These species are discussed further in Section 5 (below).
16 4.4 Results
Monthly species totals for the Moray Firth are shown in Table 1 and peak annual totals for the five winters 1990/91 - 1994/5 are shown in Table 2. WeBS counts produced totals of 44 265 wildfowl (excluding seaduck) and 45- 581 waders for 1994/5.
Numbers of pintail, oystercatcher, golden plover, knot, dunlin and greenshank were at least 3% higher than their respective means for the five year period. Numbers of the remaining species, except grey plover which was stable (at -0.5%), were all between 3% and 42% below their respective means for the same period.
4.5 Discussion
4.5.1 Internationally Important Species
Between 1990/91 and 1994/5 the Moray Firth held at least 1% of the north- west European (wildfowl) or East Atlantic Flyway (waders) populations of the following species (in order of importance): greylag goose, pink-footed goose, wigeon, bar-tailed godwit, redshank, whooper swan, curlew, turnstone, oystercatcher, teal, ringed plover, knot, purple sandpiper and dunlin ..
4.5.2 Nationally Important Species
Between 1990/91 and 1994/5 the Moray Firth held at least 1% of the British wintering populations of (in order of importance): pintail, tufted duck, mute swan and mallard.
17 5. BRITISH TRUST FOR ORNITHOLOGY'S SATELLITES AND SEDIMENTS PROJECT
5.1 Introduction
The BTO in conjunction with the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology have been awarded a major contract on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry to produce a method, using new techniques in the computer enhancement of satellite images of sdiment~ types, to predict the effects of large-scale developments on estuarine birds.
5.2 Methods
Twenty-four estuaries in Scotland, Wales and England were selected for monitoring on at least 14 occasions over the two winters 1993/4 and 94/5. Each section of an estuary is divided into at least 20 seperate counting units, each preferably of one sediment type and waterfowl species were mapped two hours each side of low tide and distinctions made between feeding and roosting birds. Nigg, Udale and Edderton Bays in the Cromarty Firth were those selected in the Moray Firth, the first two counted by the post holder and a volunteer and the last by the BTO representative for Ross and Cromarty. Each site was counted twice each month between November and February (total of eight counts) in the 1994/5 winter.
5.3 Results
Count maps and forms were sent to BTO for analysis and copies retained at the RSPB's North of Scotland Regional Office. Counts produced mean totals of 3212 wildfowl and 7976 waders at Nigg Bay and 1265 wildfowl and 789 waders at Udale Bay.
6. GEESE AND SWANS
The Moray Firth area holds large numbers of whooper swans and greylag and pink-footed geese, particularly during the autumn (greylag goose and whooper swan) and spring (all three species). The birds are not confined to coastal habitats, but use agricultural land and freshwater sites in the low-lying coastal zone of the Moray Firth, as well as saltmarsh and intertidal areas on the coast itself.
Daytime wildfowl counts on coastal and freshwater sites (WeBS counts, Section 4 above) tend not to cover these species adequately, but the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust organises additional counts for these species during the autumn (October and November). The absence of national goose counts in recent springs led to a lack of data on the status on pink-footed goose in the Moray Firth area, as the species occurs in large numbers here only during the spring (see below).
During winter 1994/5, counts were made at the key goose sites in October, November, and January, but the April count figures have not been incorporated at the time of writing, such that the pink-footed goose figures (normally around 10% of the Icelandic/Greenland population use the Moray Firth in spring) are low. The national census of wild swans took place in January.
18 Data gathered from these counts have been incorporated into Table 2, which demonstrates the importance of the Moray Firth coastal zone for greylag goose (on average 28% of the Icelandic breeding population has used the area in the last five winters), pink-footed goose (5% of the Icelandic/Greenland breeding population) and whooper swan (nearly 3% of the Icelandic breeding population).
19 TABLE 1: Monthly totals of wildfowl (excluding seaduck) and wader species recorded in the Moray Firth on Yet1and Bird Surveys 1994/5.
SPECIES/MONTH OCTOBER DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY
Mute swan 276 268 305 267 t.7hooperswan 7 199 44 35 Pink-footed goose 51 265 0 72 Greylag goose 2500 5440 2126 1517 She1duck 79 786 1127 1008 Yigeon 25922 25061 17642 6445 Teal 2388 4661 4560 1703 Mallard 3184 365 4957 2295 Pintail 229 362 610 85 Pochard 1 0 0 0 Tufted duck 153 553 778 293
Oystercatcher 9408 9223 11800 9790 Ringed plover 469 369 287 345 Golden plover 160 505 0 5 Grey plover 171 34 59 27 Lapwing 851 501 615 1220 Knot 1313 2820 5699 3973 Sanderling 38 44 23 8 Purple sandpiper 2 349 61 139 Dunlin 1795 10586 10499 9288 Ruff 5 0 0 0 Snipe 14 13 2 9 Bar-tailed godwit 1762 1586 3648 3752 Curlew 3976 3353 4145 5018 Redshank 5153 5059 3620 3995 Greenshank 6 13 2 6 Turnstone 633 783 710 713
20 TABLE 2: Peak and mean peak totals for wildfowl (excluding seaduck) and wader species recorded in the Moray Firth area 1989/90 - 1993/4. together with mean percentages of British and north-west European populations of the species. Data include WeBS counts and supplementary goose, swan and wildfowl counts where relevant (*= species with supplementary data).
SPECIES/WINTER 90/91 91/2 92/3 93/4 94/5 MEAN %GB EUR~
Mute swan 316 313 374 322 305 326 1.3 0.2
Whooper swan * 1115 421 398 234 199 473 8.6 2.8
Pink-f. goose * 10000 14866 13444 4822 4500 9526 5.0 5.0 Greylag goose * 31679 19189 29894 45758 14282 28160 28.2 28.2 She1duck 1354 1231 1296 1111 1127 1224 1.6 0.5 .
Wigeon 36471 42249 30266 23686 25922 31719 11.3 4.2
Teal 5857 4430 4236 4682 4661 4773 3.4 1.2
Mallard 5693 6253 4699 5376 4957 5396 1.1 0.3
Pintail 682 279 317 431 610 464 1.7 0.7
Tufted duck 957 812 864 955 778 873 1.5 0.1
Oystercatcher 10746 11140 11356 12190 . 11800 11446 3.2 1.3 Ringed plover 839 542 565 557 469 594 2.0 1.2
Golden plover 427 851 31 141 505 391 0.1 -
Grey plover 48 65 9 566 171 172 0.4 0.1
Lapwing 1184 1173 1778 1932 1220 1457 0.1 0.1
Knot 2511 3102 2997 6361 5699 4134 1.4 1.2
Sanderling 101 105 54 76 44 76 0.3 0.1
Purple sandpipe1: 680 462 417 355 349 453 2.2 1.0
Dun1in 13661 13412 10252 14198 10586 12422 2.3 1.0
Bar-t. godwit 4711 3642 4528 3249 3752 3976 7.9 4.0
Curlew 3187 6469 5823 5400 5018 5179 4.3 1.5
Redshank 5952 6117 5104 5635 5153 5592 5.1 3.7 Greenshank 14 10 2 14 13 11 - - Turnstone 1170 1277 948 1022 783 1040 1.6 1.5
21 REFERENCES
Akers PG (1989) Moray Firth Monitoring: Winter 1988/9. Unpub1. RSPB report to BP Petroleum Development Ltd.
Akers PG (1990) Moray Firth Monitoring: Winter 1989/90. Unpubl. RSPB report to BP Petroleum Development Ltd.
Aspinall SJ and Dennis RH (1988) Goosanders and Red-breasted Mergansers in the Moray Firth. Scot. Birds 15: 65-70
Aspinall SJ and Mudge GP (1986) Seaducks and Divers in the Moray Firth 1985 - 1986. Unpubl. RSPB report to Britoil pIc.
Barrett J and Barrett CF (1983) Moray Firth Seaducks: Winters 1981/2 and 1982/3. Unpubl. RSPB report to Britoil pIc.
Barrett J and Barrett CF (1985) Wintering Goldeneye in the Moray Firth Scot. Birds 13: 241-249
Baxter EV and Rintoul LJ (1953) The Birds of Scotland. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh.
Campbell LH, Barrett J and Barrett CF (1986) Seaducks in the Moray Firth: a review of their current status and distribution. Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin. 91B: 105-112
Chandler RJ (1986a) Slavonian Grebe, in Lack (ed.) (1986)
Chandler RJ (1986b) Red-necked Grebe, in Lack (ed.) (1986)
Cramp S et a1. (1977) Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (The Birds of the Western Pa1earctic): Vol. 1. Ostrich to Ducks. Oxford University Press.
Evans RJ (1991) Moray Firth Monitoring: Winter 1990/1. Unpubl. RSPB report to BP Petroleum Development Ltd.
Evans RJ (1992) Moray Firth Monitoring: Winter 1991/2. Unpubl. RSPB report to BP Petroleum Development Ltd.
Evans RJ (1993) Moray FirthMonitoring: Winter 1992/3. Unpubl. RSPB report to BP Petroleum Development Ltd.
Harvie-Brown JA and Buckley TE (1895) A Vertebrate Fauna of the Moray Basin. David Douglas, Edinburgh.
Kirby JS, Fearns JR, Waters RJ and Prys-Jones RP (1991) Wildfowl and Wader Counts 1990-91. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge.
Kirby JS, Evans RJ and Fox AD (1993) Wintering seaducks in Britain and Ireland: populations, threats, conservation and research priorities. Aquatic Conservation, Marine and Freshwater Ecosystem.
Lack P (ed) (1986) The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland. Poyser, Calton.
23 Mudge GP and Allen DS (1980) Wintering seaducks in the Moray and Dornoch Firths, Scotland. Wildfowl 31: 123-130
Mudge GP and Aspinall SJ (1985) Spring, Autumn and Winter Concentrations of Seaduck and Divers in the Moray Firth 1984 - 1985. Unpubl. RSPB report to Britoil pIc.
Mudge GP and Cadbury CJ (1987) The Moray firth: its importance for seabirds and seaducks. RSPB Conservation Review 1: 51-55.
Mudge GP, Crooke CH and Barrett CF (1984) The Offshore Distribution and Abundance of Seabirds in the Moray Firth, 1982 and 1983. Unpubl. RSPB report to Britoil pIc.
Parrack JD (1986a) Red-throated Diver, in Lack (ed.) (1986)
Parrack JD (1986b) Black-throated Diver, in Lack (ed.) (1986)
Parrack JD (1986c) Great Northern Diver, in Lack (ed.) (1986)
Parsons SM, Aspinall SJ and Campbell LH (1988) Seabirds and Shorebirds in the Moray Firth 1986/7. Unpubl. RSPB report to Britoil pIc.
Prater AJ (1981) Estuary Birds of Britain and Ireland. Poyser, Calton.
Swann RL and Mudge GP (1989) Moray Basin wader populations. Scot. Birds 15: 97-105.
Stenning JM (1994) Moray Firth Monitoring: Winter 1993/4. Unpubl. RSPB report to BP Petroleum Ltd.
Symonds FL and Langslow DR (1986) The distribution and local movements of shorebirds within the Moray Firth. Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin. 91B: 143-167.
Waters RJ and Cranswick PA (1993) The Wetland Bird Survey 1992-93: Wildfowl and Wader Counts. BTO/WWT/RSPB/JNCC, Slimbridge.
24 FIGURE 1: Moray Firth Seaduck Study Area, showing count sections.
FIGURE 2: Moray Firth Long-tailed Duck areas FIGURE 3: MORAY FIRTH SCAUP MONTHLY TOTALS 1994/5
FIGURE 4: MORAY FIRTH SCAUP PEAK TOTALS 1977/8 - 1994/5 FIGURE 5: MORAY FIRTH EIDER MONTHLY TOTALS 1994/5
FIGURE 6: MORAY FIRTH EIDER PEAK TOTALS 1977/8 - 1994/5 FIGURE 7: MORAY FIRTH L-T DUCK MONTHLY COUNTS 1994/5
FIGURE 8: MORAY FIRTH L-T DUCK BEST ESTIMATES 1977/8 - 1994/5 FIGURE 9: MORAY FIRTH COMMON seaTER MONTHLY TOTALS 1994/5
FIGURE 10: MORAY FIRTH COMMON SCOTER PEAK TOTALS 1977/8 - 1994/5 FIGURE 11: MORAY FIRTH VELVET seaTER MONTHLY TOTALS 1994/5
FIGURE 12: MORAY FIRTH VELVET SCOTER PEAK WINTER ESTIMATES 1977/8 - 1994/5 FIGURE 13: MORAY FIRTH GOLDENEYE MONTHLY COUNTS 1994/5
FIGURE 14: MORAY FIRTH GOLDENEYE PEAK TOTALS 1977/8 - 1994/5 FIGURE 15: MORAY FIRTH R-B MERGANSER MONTHLY COUNTS 1994/5
FIGURE 16: MORAY FIRTH R-B MERGANSER PEAK TOTALS 1977/8 - 1994/5 FIGURE 17: BEAULY FIRTH GOOSANDER PEAK TOTALS 1964/5 - 1994/5
FIGURE 18: INV/BEAULY FIRTH CORMORANT PEAK WINTER TOTALS 1981/2 - 1994/5 FIGURE 19: MORAY FIRTH R-T DIVER MONTHLY TOTALS 1994/5
FIGURE 20: MORAY FIRTH DIVERS PEAK TOTALS 1984/5 - 1994/5 FIGURE 21: MORAY FIRTH DIVERS PEAK TOTALS 1984/5 - 1994/5
FIGURE 22: MORAY FIRTH SLAVONIAN GREBE PEAK COUNTS 1985/6 - 1994/5 APPENDIX 1
SEPTEMBER 1994 Helms. Brora Golsp. Inn. E Ross Cram. Inv/B Riff Culbin B'hd. B'hd. Spey TOTAL -Brora -G1sp. -Darn. Dor.F Fth. Fth. Bank Bars Bay -Loss. Bay
Scaup 0 0 0 2 0 1 7 5 20 0 0 0 33
Eider 28 102 467 37 0 30 0 23 340 275 177 42 1521
Common Seater 0 2 17 0 0 0 0 0 400 608 0 9 1036
Velvet Seater 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 186 1 0 197
Seater sp. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Long-tailed Duck 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goldeneye 0 0 0 25 0 0 115 0 0 0 0 0 140
Red-br. Merganser 0 42 53 41 0 148 77 171 139 19 0 2 692
Goosander a 0 0 10 a 6 59 a 0 0 a 60 135
Red-throated Diver 0 0 2 0 0 0 a 2 7 37 0 59 107
Black-throated Diver 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 a 2 3
Great Northern Diver 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 a 0 1 0 a 3
Diver sp. a 0 0 a 0 0 0 0 a 0 0 0 0
Slavonian Grebe 0 0 0 0 a 0 5 0 0 7 0 0 12 APPENDIX 2
OCTOBER 1994 Helms. Brora Golsp. Inn. E Ross Crom. Inv/B Riff Culbin B'hd. B'hd. Spey TOTAL -Brora -Glsp. -Dorn. Dor.F Fth. Fth. Bank Bars Bay -Loss. Bay
Scaup 0 0 0 13 0 186 24 0 0 0 0 0 223
Eider 33 137 222 0 50 8 0 19 383 26 539 297 1714
Common Scoter 0 2 211 0 0 0 0 0 282 587 4 49 1135
Velvet Scoter 0 0 0 a 0 0 0 0 7 271 4 29 311
Scoter sp. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 0 0
Long-tailed Duck 0 0 52 0 0 53 200 51 577 2520 21 170 3644
Goldeneye 0 1 0 6 0 49 99 0 0 0 0 0 155
Red-br. Merganser 0 37 73 11 3 314 272 25 623 220 a 10 1576
Goosander 0 a 4 14 a 0 237 a 6 176 a 32 469
Red-throated Diver a 2 44 a 7 0 12 0 18 140 7 155 266
Black-throated Diver a 0 3 0 a a 1 a a 28 a a 32
Great Northern Diver a 1 8 a 0 a 0 1 a 1 1 1 13
Diver sp. a a a a a 0 a a a a a a a
Slavonian Grebe a a 17 0 a 31 4 a a 14 a 0 66 APPENDIX 3
NOVEMBER 1994 Helms. Brora Go1sp. Inn. E Ross Crom. Inv/B Riff Cu1bin B'hd. B'hd. Spey TOTAL -Brora -Glsp. -Dorn. Dor.F Fth. Fth. Bank Bars Bay -Loss. Bay
Scaup 0 0 0 0 0 190 0 0 0 0 0 0 190
Eider 71 19 34 0 45 3 0 0 34 102 452 188' 930
Common Scoter 2 10 224 0 0 0 0 0 700 616 0 819 2371
Velvet Scoter 0 0 22 0 0 0 0 0 113 319 1 77 532
Scoter sp. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 130 0 0 130
Long-tailed Duck 51 87 145 0 24 42 329 430 1179 1262 40 153 3742
Goldeneye 0 6 9 29 6 33 177 18 3 12 13 27 333
Red-br. Merganser 2 3 75 46 2 27 616 61 8 15 3 47 905
Goosander 0 0 0 2 0 0 514 0 1 0 0 17 534
Red-throated Diver 7 5 44 2 1 0 2 1 16 31 19 128 256
Black-throated Diver 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 0 3 29
Great Northern Diver 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 4 14
Diver sp. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Slavonian Grebe 0 0 21 0 0 9 4 0 2 4 0 0 40 APPENDIX 4
DECEMBER 1994 Helms. Brora Golsp. Inn. E Ross Cram. Inv/B Riff Culbin B'hd. B'hd. Spey TOTAL -Brora -Glsp. -Darn. Dor.F Fth. Fth. Bank Bars Bay -Loss. Bay
Scaup 0 0 0 8 0 254 16 0 0 0 0 0 278
Eider 35 13 47 0 92 6 0 18 120 89 355 95 870
Common Seater 0 0 219 0 0 0 0 0 1502 741 11 186 2659
Velvet Seater 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 43 99 0 48 200
Seater sp. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 178 0 0 178
Long-tailed Duck 3 50 61 0 57 87 312 556 1430 606 49 77 3288
Goldeneye 0 1 23 46 4 102 539 17 0 22 46 17 817
Red-br. Merganser 3 7 11 33 0 179 1422 78 40 4 0 10 1787
Goosander 0 0 0 6 0 0 364 0 0 1 0 4 375
Red-throated Diver 0 2 9 0 4 0 36 11 28 28 5 178 301
Black-throated Diver 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 0 0 15
Great Northern Diver 1 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 9
Diver sp. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Slavonian Grebe 0 0 26 0 0 12 6 0 0 5 0 0 49 APPENDIX 5
JANUARY 1995 Helms. Brora Golsp. Inn. E Ross Cram. Inv/B Riff Culbin B'hd. B'hd. Spey TOTAL -Brora -Glsp. -Darn. Dor.F Fth. Fth. Bank Bars Bay -Loss. Bay
Scaup 0 0 0 18 0 406 26 0 0 3 0 0 453
Eider 64 10 64 8 124 0 0 35 153 16 460 128 1062
Common Scoter 0 4 236 0 0 0 0 1 711 712 37 830 2531
Velvet Scoter 0 0 29 0 0 0 0 0 100 141 7 89 366
Scoter sp. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Long-tailed Duck 176 105 23 0 54 244 194 428 560 221 59 60 2124
Goldeneye 4 5 34 50 7 139 383 24 5 2 6 2 661
Red-br. Merganser 3 4 20 30 9 142 1219 72 7 3 1 '2 1512
Goosander 0 1 0 3 0 0 554 0 0 0 0 0 558
Red-throated Diver 2 52 18 1 3 13 250 24 18 1 2 1 385
Black-throated Diver 2 0 10 0 0 0 20 0 0 3 0 0 35
Great Northern Diver 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 8
Slavonian grebe 0 0 5 0 0 12 2 0 0 3 0 0 22 APPENDIX 6
FEBRUARY 1995 Helms. Brora Golsp. Inn. E Ross Crom. Inv/B Riff Culbin B'hd. B'hd. Spey TOTAL -Brora -Glsp. -Dorn. Dor.F Fth. Fth. Bank Bars Bay -Loss. Bay
Seaup 0 0 0 30 0 171 90 0 0 3 0 0 294
Eider 36 18. 65 a 160 1 0 28 142 181 421 237 1289
Common Seoter 2 0 170 0 0 a a 20 880 694 314 684 2764
Velvet Seoter 0 0 a a a a a a 139 231 5 129 509
Seoter sp. 0 0 a a 0 a a a a a a a a
Long-tailed Duek 195 4 124 4 36 129 1172 524 260 438 630 105 3621
Goldeneye 19 3 31 76 13 88 464 12 23 8 27 43 807
Red-br. Merganser 19 10 2 46 3 93 1184 51 3 5 1 10 1427
Goosander 0 a a 8 0 a 595 0 0 0 a 0 603
Red-throated Diver 5 8 24 1 12 5 210 7 4 6 1 7 290
Black-throated Diver 2 0 10 0 0 0 5 1 0 6 0 0 24 , Great Northern Diver 1 4 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 12
Slavonian Grebe 0 0 7 18 0 12 13 0 0 0 0 0 50 APPENDIX 7
MARCH 1995 Helms. Brora Golsp. Inn. E Ross Crom. Inv/B Riff Culbin B'hd. B'hd. Spey TOTAL -Brora -Glsp. -Dorn. Dor.F Fth. Fth. Bank Bars Bay -Loss. Bay
Scaup 0 0 0 85 0 29 173 0 0 3 0 6 296
Eider 35 26 35 0 46 9 0 22 81 98 493 159 1004
Common Scoter 0 0 160 0 0 0 0 228 725 1087 147 346 2693
Velvet Scoter 0 0 30 0 0 0 0 0 143 324 2 41 540
Scoter sp. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 45 150 0 0 195
Long-tailed Duck 38 7 53 0 15 81 611 177 120 638 581 92 2413
Goldeneye 0 1 18 29 8 110 710 19 4 24 32 21 976
Red-br. Merganser 0 3 19 17 0 55 944 55 18 3 0 3 1117
Goosander 0 0 0 0 0 0 498 0 0 0 0 0 498
Red-throated Diver 1 2 34 1 6 2 114 41 11 12 23 19 266
Black-throated Diver 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 5
Great Northern Diver 0 a 0 0 a a a 1 1 0 0 5 7
Slavonian Grebe 0 0 8 0 0 4 31 a 0 4 0 0 47