The Twenty Sixth ARGYLL BIRD REPORT With Systematic List for the year 2014 Edited by Jim Dickson Assisted by John Bowler, Robin Harvey and David Jardine Systematic List by John Bowler, Neil Brown, Malcolm Chattwood, Paul Daw, Jim Dickson, Bob Furness, Mike Harrison, David Jardine, Andy Robinson and Nigel Scriven ISSN 1363-4386 Copyright: Argyll Bird Club Feb. 2016 Argyll Bird Club Scottish Charity Number SC008782 Founded in 1985, the Argyll Bird Club aims to promote interest in and conservation of Argyll’s wild birds and their natural environment. The rich diversity of habitats in the county supports an exceptional variety of bird life. Many sites in Argyll are of international importance. The Club brings together people with varied experience, from complete beginners to experts, and from all walks of life. New members are particularly welcome. Activities Every spring and autumn there is a one-day meeting with illustrated talks and other activities. These meetings are held in conveniently central locations. Throughout the year there are field trips to local and more distant sites of interest. Publications The annual journal of the Club is the Argyll Bird Report, containing the Systematic List of all species recorded in the county during the year, together with reports and articles. The less formal quarterly newsletter, The Eider, gives details of forthcoming events and activities, reports of recent meetings, bird sightings, field trips, articles, and shorter items by members and others. Website www.argyllbirdclub.org To apply for membership, please (photocopy and) complete the form below and send to our Membership Secretary: Sue Furness, The Cnoc, Tarbet, G83 7DG. Tel. 01301 702 603 E- mail: [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I/We wish to apply for membership of the Argyll Bird Club. Name(s): Address: ___________________ Postcode Telephone number(s) __________________ E-mail ________________________ Please make cheques payable to “Argyll Bird Club”. If you wish to pay by standing order, which reduces our administration and costs, please ask the Membership Secretary to send you the appropriate form. Annual subscription (please tick): Ordinary £10 Junior (under 17) £3 Family £15 Corporate £25 2 Argyll Bird Club Officials and Committee as at Feb. 2016 Chairman Mike Harrison, 8 Ferryfield Drive, Connel, Oban PA37 1SP Vice-Chairman Nigel Scriven, 14 Taylor Ave., Kilbarchan, Johnstone PA10 2LS Secretary Anne Archer, Springbank, Tighnabruaich PA21 2EJ. Treasurer Prof. Bob Furness, The Cnoc, Tarbet, Loch Lomondside G83 7DG Committee Neil Brown, Malcolm Chattwood, Jim Dickson, Gordon Holm, David Jardine, Dr. Steve Petty, Andy Robinson and Blair Urquart. Membership Sue Furness, The Cnoc, Tarbet, Loch Lomondside G83 7DG Secretary Argyll Bird Dr John Bowler, Roger Broad, Jim Dickson (Secretary), David Records Committee Jardine, Dr Malcolm Ogilvie and Andy Robinson Editor of The Eider Dr Steve Petty, Cluaran Cottage, Ardentinny, Dunoon, Argyll PA23 (newsletter) 8TR S.O.C. Recorder for Argyll and Editor of the Argyll Bird Report: Jim Dickson, 11 Pipers Road, Cairnbaan, Lochgilphead, Argyll PA31 8UF E-mail: [email protected] Assistant Recorder: Malcolm Chattwood, 1 The Stances, Kilmichael Glassary, Lochgilphead, Argyll PA31 8QA E-mail: [email protected] Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) Organisers: for Argyll mainland & Mull: Paul Daw, Tigh-na- Tulloch, Tullochgorm, Minard, Inveraray PA32 8YQ E-mail: [email protected] For Tiree and Coll: John Bowler, Pairc na Coille, Balephuil, Isle of Tiree, Argyll, PA77 6UE E-mail: [email protected] For Islay, Jura and Colonsay: David Wood, Kinnabus, The Oa. Islay, Argyll. E-mail: [email protected] B.T.O. Representatives: For North Argyll, Mull, Coll, Tiree & Morvern: Geoff Small, E-mail: [email protected] For Islay, Jura and Colonsay: David Wood, E-mail: [email protected] For Argyll Mainland, Bute and Gigha: Nigel Scriven, E-mail: [email protected] R.S.P.B. Conservation Officer: For Argyll & Bute: Andy Robinson, RSPB S&W Scotland RO, 10 Park Quadrant, Glasgow, G3 6BS E-mail: [email protected] Argyll Raptor Study Group: David Warden (Chair) Tweedhill Garden, Paxton, Berwick upon Tweed TD15 1XQ E-mail: [email protected] 3 Contents Editorial 5 Bird Recording in Argyll 6 Interpretation of Species Accounts 9 Studies carried out in 2014 12 Systematic List for 2014 Swans 15 - 16 Geese 16 - 22 Ducks 22 - 33 Game birds 33 - 35 Divers & albatross 35 - 37 Fulmar, shearwaters, petrels 37 - 39 Gannet, cormorants, egrets, herons 39 - 44 Grebes 44 - 45 Raptors 45 - 51 Rails 51 - 54 Waders 54 - 72 Skuas, gulls, terns 72 - 85 Auks 74 - 76 Pigeons & doves 85 - 86 Cuckoos & owls 86 - 87 Nightjar, swifts, kingfisher, woodpeckers etc. 88 - 90 Vireo, oriole, shrikes 93 - 94 Crows 94 - 97 Goldcrest – tits 97 - 99 Larks 99 - 100 Swallows & long-tailed Tit 100 - 101 Warblers 101 - 106 Nuthatch, treecreeper, wren, starlings 106 - 107 Dipper & thrushes 107 - 108 Flycatchers, robin, nightingale, chats 110 - 113 Dunnock & sparrows 114 - 114 Wagtails & pipits 115 - 117 Finches 117 - 122 Buntings etc. 122 - 124 Escapes & introductions 125 Rejected and Pending records 126 - 127 Articles 128 - 141 Argyll Ringing Recoveries 142 - 148 Recent Literature on Argyll Birds 149 - 152 Acknowledgements & contributors 153 - 155 Species Index 155 - 159 4 Editorial 2014 was an exciting year for the wide range of species recorded, setting a new record of 240 which is four more than the previous record in 2010. An exceptionally prolonged easterly airflow in May gave rise to our best ever spring for rare and scarce migrants, particularly on Tiree. Two new species for Argyll were accepted, both in spring: Collared Flycatcher and White- throated Sparrow. Continental Great Cormorant was also added as a new sub-species. We had our 2nd Argyll records of American Herring Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Red-rumped Swallow and Melodious Warbler, 3rd records of Pied-billed Grebe, Black Kite, Marsh Warbler and Rustic Bunting, of which three turned up. Other notable sightings included White-billed Diver, Glossy Ibis, Rough-legged Buzzard, Temminck’s Stint, White-rumped Sandpiper, Bonaparte’s Gull and Bee-eater, with a good supporting cast of many other scarce species. As exciting as it is to see such birds it is of course important not to forget the bigger picture…. In 2014 BirdLife International’s most recent assessment showed that 1,373 species (13% of extant species or roughly one in eight) are globally threatened with extinction. Looking at the trend over the past 20 years confirms that the state of the world’s birds has been getting worse, with species moving ever faster towards extinction. In 2015 the fourth Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC4) was published and since the last assessment in 2009 the findings have been alarming for the UK with a further 20 species being added to the Red List. Many of these species are very relevant in an Argyll context with seabirds continuing to give cause for concern and Shag, Kittiwake and Puffin now added to the Red List. White- fronted Goose moves from Green to Red and again highlights the international importance of Islay, Tiree and Coll, and parts of Kintyre for this species. Some waders are not doing well and Curlew, declining as a breeding species throughout the UK, is particularly affected. Woodcock is also now Red Listed and reports of 270 birds being shot by one shooting party in Cowal is just one worrying example. With species such as Whinchat, Grey Wagtail and Mistle Thrush now Red Listed alongside other notable Argyll species such as Wood and Grasshopper Warbler to name but a few, it is hoped that this will give rise to an increased observer awareness and the importance of bird recording. Hundreds of observers have kindly contributed thousands of records to this report which helps greatly to give an accurate picture of our changing bird life. Jim Dickson (Jan 2016). 5 Bird Recording in Argyll If all records are received in an approved standard format it is very quick and easy to add them to the database. To make it easier for club members (and others) to do this we have devised a user friendly automated bird record template. You simply enter the basic information about the birds you have seen and the template produces a standardised Excel file of records that can be automatically e-mailed to the Recorder. With just a little practice you can also use it to keep your own bird records. To use this system you will need a PC with Excel software and an internet connection. The software comes complete with full instructions and Malcolm Chattwood will be happy to talk you through it. All you need to do to get your hands on this brilliant and time saving system is to e-mail Malcolm: [email protected] with details of the operating system you are using (e.g. Microsoft XP, Vista etc) and the version of Excel you have (e.g. Excel 2000 or later releases) and he will send you a ZIP-file of the appropriate software and the instructions for using it. Advice on what to record is available on the Argyll Bird Club website www.argyllbirdclub.org under ‘Bird Recording’. Rare birds Details of all rare bird sightings should be sent in as soon as possible after the sighting to Jim Dickson, 11 Pipers Road, Cairnbaan, Lochgilphead, Argyll PA31 8UF. Tel: 01546 603967 E-mail: [email protected]. Please use the standard form (available from Jim Dickson. These will be judged locally by the Argyll Bird Records Committee (whose members are listed on p. 3), sent on to the Scottish Birds Records Committee (SBRC), or passed to the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC), as appropriate. The list below details rare species whose occurrence in Argyll needs to be fully documented i.e.