Scottish Birds the Journal of the Scottish Ornithologists' Club
SCOTTISH BIRDS THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' CLUB
\QlJ4E 16 1990-92
El:iitors N. PlOOZZI (1990) A-M. SHOUT (1991-92) El:iitorial Panel M.P. HARRIS. M.A. OOILVIE & S. WANLE$ (1990) D. JENKINS . J .B. NELSON AND P.J.B. SLATER (1991-92)
ISSN 0036 9144 Scottillh Birds. the official jrurnal of the Scottish Ormthologists' Club. publishes original matenal relating to ornIthology m Scotland. Papers and notes should be sent to The Eiiitor. Scottillh Birds. 21 Regent Terrace. FJ::I.inburgh EH? 5BT.
Two issues of Scott111h Birds are p.Jb1 ished each year. in June and December. Scottillh Birds is issued free to members of the Scottish Omi thologists ' Club. who also receive the qulSrterly newsletter Scottillh Bird. News and the Scottillh Bird. Repcrt.
The Scott111h crnithologist8' Club was farmed in 1936 to encourage all aspects of ornithology in Scotlarxl.. It has local branches which meet in Aberdeen. Ayr. the Borders. D..unfries. D.Jrrlee. FJ::I.inb.Jrgh. Glasgow. Inverness. New Galloway. Orkney, St An:irews. Stirling. Stranraer and Thurso. each with its own programme of field meetings and winter lectures. The Waterston Library at the Club's headquarters at 21 Regent Terrace. FJ::I.inburgh EH? 5BT is one of the most comprehensive ornithological libraries in Scotland. and is available for reference durillJ office hours (Mon:1ay to Friday 9 . 00am to 5.00pn.). It. ccmprehensive stock of Scottlsh local bird reports is held at the headquarters arxl. may be purchased by mail order.
Published by the Scottish OrnIthologists ' Club. 21 Regent Terrace. FJ::I.inburgh EH? 5Br Printed by Alexan:1er RitchIe & Son Ltd .. 163 Bonm[lJton Road. FJ::I.mrurgh lli6 SRE. Contents ot VolUllle 16 . 1990-1992 t+.Jmber 1 (December 1990)
East Greenlam Barnacle Geese in Scotlarrl, spri01 1988. A.D. Fax, M.A. Ogilvie, N. Easterbee & E.M. Bignal ...... 1 Probable lOO1-term sympatry of CaDmon arrl Scottish Crossbills in northeast Scotlam. A.G. Knox ...... 11 Brood feedi01 am dIVision of parental care by crested Tits. D. Hope .•...... • ...... • • •• ..•...... 19 Maximum dive depths attained by auks feedi01 young on the Isle of May, Scotlam. M.P. Harris, H. Towll, A.F. Russell & S. Wanless ...... 25 Movements of Cormorants from the Lamb, Firth of Forth. R.W. SUmmers & S. Lai01 ...... 29
Short Notes Differences in weight :wi01 len]th relationships of Razorbill chicks at Hennaness am Fair Isle in 1989. M.G. Pennin]ton, K. Osborn & P.V. Harvey ...... 33 Pink-footed Goose numbers at arrival sites in eastern am centra 1 Scotlam. S . F. Newton, M. V. Be 11. A. W. Brown & R. MurTay ...... 35 Common Sarrlpiper stalki01 am catchi01 small fish. B.M. Lynch ...... 36 Hunti01 distance of breedi01 Merlins in GrampIan irrlicated by ri01ed wader chicks taken as prey. G.W. Rebecca, B.L. Cosnette, A. D..tncan, N. Pico=i am D.e. Catt ...... 38 Merlin killi01 am retrIevi01 a Dipper from a loch. K . ~ ...... 40 Proximity of successful Ri01 Qjzel am Mistle Thrush nests. T.W. DcxJgall ...... 40 Chaffinch egg hatched by Blue Tit. B. Mearns ...... 41 Little Ri01ed Plovers breedi01 in Fife. D. W. Oliver ..... 42 Nuthatch breeds in Scotland. J. Strowger ...... 43 Shore Larks nesti01 in Scotlam in 1977. P.M. Ellis ..... 43 An observation of a Heron plUOJe-dive. P.S . Taylor & D.N. Carss ...... 44 Long-tailed Ducks winteri01 off the coast of the Outer Hebrides. P. N. Ferns ...... 45 Inter-islam flights by Sanderl irgs at dusk am dawn in Orkney. R.W. SUmmers ...... 46 Capercaill ie numbers on three Loch Lomorrl islarrls . A.M. Jones ...... 47 Obituary - R.D. Smillie. A.D. Peirse-Ouncombe ...... 48 Items of Scottish interest. W.G. Harper ...... 49 IUI};)er 2 (December 1991)
Scottish Snow funti~ numbers in summer 197 3lort Notes Egg retrieval by Slavonian Grebe. M.J . Pollard ...... 139 Black-throated Diver attacki~ am. killinJ Red-throated Diver. A. Mee ...... 140 Hen Harrier stalki~ prey. G.W. Rebecca ...... 141 Aerial chases by Merl ins in autumn and winter. R.C. Dickson ...... 141 Correspondence The seabirds of Troup Head. W.R.P. Eourne ...... 143 Inter-island flights by SaOOerli~ at North Ronaldsay. R. Youngman ...... •...... 144 Re8earch Index ...... 145 Items of Scottish interest. W.G. Harper ...... 147 European journals in the Waterston Library. M.H. Murphy . ... 151 ~ 3 (June 1992) Research Progress Reports A Forty-three year study on the fulmars on Eynhallow, Orkney. G.M. ~t ...... 155 Variatlons in the So~ of the Cllaffinch. P.J.B.Slater .. 160 Status, distrirution and breedi~ biology of the Merlin in north-east Scotland 1980-89. G.W. Rebecca, B.L. Cosnette, J.J.C. Hardey & A.G. Payne ...... 165 DistrirutlOn am number of feral Greylag Geese in Scotland. A. W. Brown & G. D1Ck ...... 184 Colonisation am popul ation growth by Gannets at Fai r Isle. N. Riddiford & P . V. Harvey ...... 192 Counts of Seabirds i n Easter Rces i n 1969-91". R. L. SWarm . ~ 200 Operation Seafarer am Arctic Terns. W. R.P. Bourne & D. Saurrlers ...... 205 Rare Migrants. Baillon' s Crake. Fair Isle. Shetlarrl. D. &Jddaby & P . V. Harvey ...... 211 Pi ed Wheatear in Shetlarrl: the fifth record for Scotlarrl. P. Ellis ...... 214 Olimney SWift in st 1Irrlrews: a first for Scotlarrl? R. W. Byrne & J .A. Graves ...... 216 Short Notes Aberrant plumages in a pai r of Peregri nes in north Scotlarrl. G.G. Bates ...... 219 Merlin feedirl] on rabbit carrion. B. Thomas ...... 219 Alann calls used by a presumed Spotted Crake in the Grampian Region. W.R.P . Bourne ...... 220 WaxwirlJ8 actively searchil'l1 for insects. R. runcan & J. Q1Urch ...... 221 Female natal philopatry in a Scottish Wigeon population. R. Duncan. J . Cooper and A. Leitch ...... 222 Corresporrlence Sawbill ducks at fish fanns in Argyll. B. Zonfrillo .... 223 Sawbill ducks at fish fanns in Argyll : a reply to the Clyde branch. D.N . Carss ...... 223 Richard ' s Pipits on Stronsay. J . Holloway ...... 225 Items of Scottish interest . W.G. Harper ...... 226 lliropean journals in the Waterston Library. M.H . !oUrphy .... 229 ~ 4 (o.tce.ber 1992) Research Progress Reports A Twenty year study of Sparrowhawks in Eskdale. 1. Newton ...... 231 Shags on the Isle of May : who mates Wlth whom? J . Graves and J.O. Ruano ...... 236 Recent status charlJe of scme birds on Islay. M.A. Clg'ilvie ...... 240 Devel~nt of an internationally important Pink-footed Goose roost at West Water Reservoir. Borders Region. 1966- 90. A.W .& L.M. Brown ...... 260 Grey geese ard agriculture in north east Scotlam. J. Matthews ...... 269 Some post_ar declines in Corn 8.Jntil'l1 ruabers in north east Scotlard. A. Watson ...... 273 Rare Migrants . Little SWift on Fair Isle : the second Scottish record. H.R. Harrop ...... Z76 Seml-palmated Sandpiper on Fair Isle: a first record for Scotland. S.C. Votier ...... 271 Dark-eyed Junco in Hamilton . I . Shedden ...... 280 Short Notes . Merlln ' s hunting effectiveness . R.C . Dickson ...... 282 Great Skuas attacking a flock of moulting Eiders . M. Heubeck ...... 284 Predation of birds' eggs and chicks by herbivorous mammals . M.G. Pennington ...... 285 Unusual fuzzard nest sites in Glen Roy . D. Sargent .... 286 Unripe grain. a major food for young finch-like birds. A. Watson ...... 287 Heron attacked by Osprey. B. M. & E. M. Homon ...... 288 Errata 288 Errata 290 Correspondence Baillon' s Crake at Fair Isle. R. Y. McGowan & A. Ki tchener ...... 289 Discoloured Peregrines in the north of Scotland W.R .P. Bourne ...... 290 Research Index ...... 291 Items of Scottish interest. W.G. Harper ...... 297 .lliropean journals in the Waterston Library. M.H . Murphy .. . 3OO Advice to contrirutors ...... 302 &lpplement : SX>'ITISi BIRD RERRI' 1989 No. 22. E)jited by A.D. Wood. (Dacember 1991) Eiii toria 1 ...... 1 Acknow 1ec\gements ...... 1 Introduction ...... 2 SpeCies List ...... 3 Notice to Contrirutors ...... 44 Loca 1 Reports ...... 44 Quail in Scotland, 1989. R. Hurray ...... 45 The First SUccessful Breeding of the Nuthatch in Scotland R. Hurray ...... 51 The Scottish Birds Records Committee ...... 56 Local Bird Report Areas and sce Recorders ...... 58 INDEX TO VOUJME 16 Compiled by W.G. Harper Species mentioned in general artIcles ani in the species list of Scottish Bird Reports are not iooexed. The Scottish Bird Report for 1989 is treated as a supplement to Volume 16. rut with separate pagination. an:i is inclu1ed in the Iooex. Mvi ce to contriJ::utors: 302 Argyll: Sawbills at fish farms 223 Auks: Dive depths: Isle of May 25 Auks: Razorbills 33 AVERY.M. A re-examination of the Operation Seafarer estimates of Arctic Tern populations for Orkney an:i Shetlani 113 lWiG.K.W .. CLARK.H .. MAC Caithness: Snow funtings 57 Capercai 11 ie: Loch Lomord 47 CARSS.D.N. Sawbill ducks at fish fanns in Argyll: a reply to the Clyde Branch 223 CARSS.D.N. see TA~.P.S. Chaffinch: song 160 0tJRQi. J. see OONCAN. R. CLARK.H . see !WiG.K. W. ColI: Gulls 131 OOOPER.J. see ~.R. Correction : t o ~. ~ &. LEITCi (SB 16 : 222) 288 to ELLIS (SB 16 : 214) 290 Correspon::ience : B:URNE.W.R.P. : The Seabi rds of Troup Head 143 B:URNE.W.R.P .: Discoloured Peregrines in the North of Scotland 290 ~.R.'{. &. ~.A. : &illon's Crake at Fair Isle 289 Ya.I1D4AN,R. : Inter-islam flights by Saroerlill;1S at North Rooaldsay. 144 J:».IJE)IR;RI',D.L. 1he spring ~e of Long- tailed 9tuas off North Uist in 1991. ~ OENNIS.R.H. see MUDGE.G .P. DIO(.G. see lRlWN.A.W. DICKSON.R.C . Aerial c~ by Merlins in autumn an::i winter 141 DICKSON.R.C. Merlin ' s hunting effectiveness 282 Diver: killed by diver 140 Duck : Long- tailed 45 Duck: Sawbills 223 Duck : Eiders attacked by Great Sruas 284 Duck: Wigeon 222 (correction 288) ~.A. see RE&XX:A.G.W . ~.K. Merlin killing am retrievmg a Dipper from a loch 40 ~.R. &. OIJROi.J. Waxwings actively searching for insects 221 ~.R .• OOOPER.J. &. LEITOf.A. Female natal philopatry in a Scottish Wigeon population 222 (correction 288) IXJNNEl'.G.M . A forty-three year study on the FUlmars on EynhallCN, Orkney 155 Easter Ross : Seabirds 200 EAS'lllmEE. N. see rox. A. D. ELLIS.P.M. Pied Wheatear in 3letlam 214 ELLIS.P.M. Slore Lar1 Fair Isle: &illon's Crake 211 Gannets 192 Little SWift Z16 Razorbills 33 Sem1;Jalmated Sandpiper zn Fme.P.N. Long-tailed Ducks wintering off the coast of the Gannets: Fair Isle 192 Geese: East Greenlaoo Barnacle: Scotlaoo 1 Geese: Feral Greylag: Scotlaoo 184 Geese: Grey: northeast Scotlaoo 269 Geese: Pink-footed: Borders Region 260 Geese: Pink-footed: east & central Scotlarxi 35 Grampian: CaDmon Gulls 106 Merlins 38 GRAVE5,J. & RU»«),J.O. Shags on the Isle of Hay: who mates WIth whom 236 GRAVE5,J.A. see BYRNE.R.W. Grebe: Slavonian 139 Gulls: CaImon: Grampian 106 twlIE'i, .J.J.C. see Rmln,G.W. HARPER,W.G. Publications of Scottish ornithological interest 49. 147, 226, 297 Harrier: Hen: etalkirg prey 141 HMRIS.M.P., TCML,H., RU9SEU.,A .F . & WANlB3S.S. Maximum dive depths attained by auks feedirg yourg on the Isle of Hay, Scotlaoo 25 HARRDP,H.R. Little Swift on Fair Isle 276 HARVE'i ,P.V. see paIU~.M.G. HARVE'i, P . V. see RIIDIRR>, N . HARVE'i, P . V. see SlJIIWr{, D. Heron: attacked by Q:lprey 288 Heron: plung~ive 44 HElJllEXX.M . Great 3ruas attackirg a flock of moultirg Eiders 284 HElJllEXX,M see ~I~,M.G. ~.B.M. & ~.E.M. Heron attacked by Q:lprey 288 ~.E.M. see ~.B.M. HOLLOWAY.J. Richard's Pipits on Stroneay 225 HOPE.D. Brood feedirg arxi division of parental care by Crested Tits 19 Inner Hebrides: ColI: Gulls 131 Islay: recent status changes 240 Isle of May : Auks 25 3lags 236 Items of Scottish interest 49. 147. 226. 297 Jam3.A.M. Capercaillie rumbers on Loch Lomond 47 KI'OC,A .G. Probable lorg-term sympatry of CaDmon and Scottish Crossbills in northeast Scotlarxi 11 lAIt«>. S. see aJI4ER3. R. W• LEITOi. A. see OONCAN. A. Local Bird Report areas: SER 1989: 58 Local Bird Reports 51. 149. 227. 298 Local Recorders: SER 1989: 58 Loch I..omorU: Caperca1l1ie 47 LYNOi.B.M. CccDmon Sdrdpiper stalkiTY,I am catchiTY,I fish 36 ~.I. see BYARB.T. ~.R.Y. 6. ~.A. Baillon's Crake at Fair Isle 289 MacKAY.I.R.K. see ~.K.W. MacKAY.S.G. see ~.K.W. MARTIN.A.R . see PENNINGTON.M.G. MARTIN.M .W.A. see SUMMERS.R.W. MATIliEWS.J. Grey Geese am agriculture in northeast Scotlam 269 MATIliEWS.J .M. see ~.M.L . MDRNS.B. Cl1affinch egg hatched by Blue Tit 41 NEE.A. Black-throated Diver attackiTY,I am killiTY,I Red-throated Diver 140 MEEK.E.R. see SUMMERS.R.W. Merlin: aerial chase by: 141 Merlin: feediTY,I on rabbit carrion 219 Merlin: huntiTY,I distance 38 Merlin: huntiTY,I effectiveness 282 Merlin: killing am retrievin;J a Dipper 40 Merlin: status in northeast Scotlarrl 165 NJOOE.G .P .• ~IS.R.H .• TMB:1I'.T.R. 6. lHW>.R.A. Olarges in the breediTY,I status of Black-throated Divers in Scotlarrl 71 M.1RFHY.M.H. furopean journals in the Waterston Library 151. 229 . 300 MJRRAY.R . see ~.S.F . KJRRAY.R .D. OJail in Scotlarrl. 1989. sm 1989: 45 MJRRAY.R.D . The first successful breeding of the Nuthatch in Scotlam. SBR 1989: 51 ~.I. A 2D-year study of Sparrowhawks in FBkddle 231 ~.S . F .• BElL.M.V .• !HJWN.A.W. 6. tlJRRAY.R. Piti<-footed Goose rrumbers at arrival sites in eastern arrl central Scotlam 35 Nuthatch: breediTY,I in Scotlard 43 Nuthatch: first successful lreediry;r in Scotlarxl.: gm 1939 : 51 Obi tUdl]': of Ruby f4illie 48 OGILVIE.M.A. Recent status change of some birds on Islay 240 OGILVIE.M.A. see FOX.A.D. cu:vm.D.W. Little RiTY,Ied Piovers treeding in Fife 42 Orkney: Arctic Terns 113 Fulmars on Eynhallow 155 Sarrlerl ing IDOvements 46 shorebirds 90 ~.K. see PENNINGTON.M.G. C5prey: attacks Heron 288 Olter Hebrides : Long-tailed I:IJcks Wintering 45 Long-tailed Srua passage 85 Papers arrl Reports of Scottish ornithological interest 49. 147. 226. 297 PAYNE.A.G. see REBBOCA.G.W. PEIFISEi-OONCXJ4BE.A.D. Obituary of R.D. f4illie 48 PENNItGI'ON.M.G. Predation of birds' eggs am chicks by herbivorous mammals 285 PENNItGI'ON.M.G .• MARTIN.A.R. S. HE1JBEXX.M. The l:reediTY,I birds of Hermaness. Shetlarrl 118 PEHat«n'CH.M.G •• ~.K. & HARIIE'r'.P.V. Differences in weight:Wlrg length relationships of Razorbill chicks at Hermaness and Fair Isle In 1989: 33 Peregrines: aberrant plumages 219 Fhotographic competition 1992 266 PIOlZZI.N. see REHL'CA.G.W. FCU..\RD.M.J. Egg retrieval Dt Slavonian Grebes 139 ()Jail: in Scotland in 1989: S1E 1989: 45 Rarity Reports: Baillon's Crake 211 Little SWift 276 Chimney SWift 216 Pied Wheatear 214 Dark-eyed Junco 280 Correction: 290 Semi-palmated San::lpiper Z77 RfHX:CA.G.W .• Cll3NEl1E.B.L .• twD:Y.J.J.C. & PAYNE.A.G. Status, distrirution and treedirg biology of the Merlin in northeast Scotland. 1980--89 165 Rf&X:CA. G. W.. Cll3NEl1E. B. L.. IX.ItON. A.. PIOlZZI. N. 6. CATI'. D. C. t-h.Int irg distance of breedirg Merlins in Grampian irxlicated Dt rirged wader chicks taken as prey 38 RE&X:CA. G. W. Hen Harriers stalkirg prey 141 Research Irxlex: fieldwork and research at Scottish Universities, etc. Aberdeen University 145. 291 RSPB 293 Edinh.irgh University 145. 291 St Arrlrews University 146. 294 Glasgow University 291 SNH 295 ITE Banchory 293 Stirlirg University 146. 296 JNCC Seabirds Team 293 Research Plogles5 Reports: 155. 160. 231. 236 RIIDIRED.N. & HMIIE'i.P.V. Colonisation and population growth Dt Gannets at Fair Isle 192 RtIAN:).J .0. see GRAVE9.J. RUSSElL.A.F. see HARRIS.M.P. ~.D. lJruJBual B.Jzzard nest sites in Glen Roy 286 Scotland, Black-throa.ted Divers 77 east and central: Geese 35 northeast: Corn funtirYJS 273 northeast: Crossbi lIs 11 northeast: Geese 269 northeast: Merlins 165 Snow funtirYJS 53 Scottish Birds Records CaDmittee: SBFt 1989: 56 fnJI'IlSi BOO RERRI' 1989: a Slpplement to this volume Seabirds: Easter Ross 200 SEl.UR3.R.M. see IWt TALBJI'. T . R. see KJOOE,G.P. TAS vcrrrm,s.c. Semi-palmated Sandpiper on Fair Isle: a first record for Scotland. 277 Waders: Common Sandpiper 36 Little Ringed Plovers lreedirq in Fife 42 Sarxierling movements 46 Semi-palmated Sanipiper on Fair Isle 277 WANlE3S.S. see ~S, .M.P. Warblers: Lesser Whitethroat : Strathclyde 66 WAnaI,A. Some post-'War declines in Corn funtirq numbers in northeast. Scotl ani 273 WA19JN.A. Unripe grain, a major food for YOllllJ finch-like birds 287 WA19JN.A. & EI4I1H.R. Scottish Snow funting numbers in SUllllller 197CH37 53 Waxwing : searching tor insects 221 WEBS.A. SP.6 TAS ~ . R. corresporrlence 144 ~Iu.o,B. Sawbill ducks at fish farms in Argyll 223