ARGYLL BIRD REPORT ~ with Systematic List for the year 1997 Volume 14 (1998) PUBLISHED BY THE ARGYLL BIRD CLUB Cover Illustration LEACH’S PETREL (foreground) and STORM PETRELS Drawing by EDDIEMAGUIRE The Fourteenth ARGYLL BIRD REPORT with Systematic List for the year 1997 Edited by J.C.A. Craik Assisted by P.C. Daw Systematic List by P.C. Daw Published by the Argyll Bird Club (Scottish Charity Number SC008782) October 1998 Copyright: Argyll Bird Club I ABOUT THE ARGYLL BIRD CLUB The Argyll Bird Club was formed in 1985. Its main purpose is to play an active part in the promotion of ornithology in Argyll. It is recognised by!he Inland Revenue as a charity in Scotland. The Club hold$two Qne:day meetings each year, ip spring and autumn. The venue of the spring meeting is rotated between different towns (Dunoon;Oban, Lochgilphead andTarbert) while the autumn meetin andA Mare held in Inveraray, aconveniently central location. 4 4 The Club organises field trips for members. It also publishes the annual Argyll Bird Report and a quarterly members' newsletter, The Eider, which includes details of club activities, reports from meetings and field trips, and feature articles by members and others. Each year the subscription entitles you to the Argyll Bird Report, four issues of The Eider, and free admission to the two annual meetings. There are four kinds of membership: current rates (at 1 October 1998) are: Ordinary E10; Junior (under 17) E3; Family E15; Corporate E25. Subscriptions (by cheque or standing order) are due on 1 January- Anyonejoining after 1 October is covered until the end of the following year. Furlher infomiion can be obtainedfrom the Membership Secretary: Peter Staley, Lincluden, Blairmore, Dunoon, PA23 8TL. THERE IS A DETACHABLE APPLICATION FORM AT THE BACK OF THlS REPORT Argyll Bird Club Officials and Committee as at 1 October 1998 Chairman: Nigel Scriven, 2 Allt na Blathaich, Loch Eck, Dunoon PA23 8SG. Secretary: Roger Broad, 6 Birch Road, Killearn, Glasgow G63 9SQ. Treasurer: Prof. Robert Furness, The Cnoc, Tarbet, Loch Lomondside G83 7DG. Membership Secretary: Peter Staley, Lincluden, Blairmore, Dunoon PA23 8TL. Committee: Roger Broad, Dr Clive Craik, Paul Daw, Prof. Robert Furness, Dr Steve Petty, Nigel Scriven, Bill Staley, David Wood. Argyll Bird Records Committee: Dr Tristan ap Rheinallt, Roger Broad, Paul Daw, David Jardine, Dr Arthur Jennings, Dr Malcolm Ogilvie. Editor ofArgyll Bird Report: Dr Clive Craik, ScottishAssociation for Marine Science, P.O. Box 3, Oban, Argyll PA34 4AD. Editor of Newsletter (The Eider): Nigel Scriven, 2 Allt na Blathaich, Loch Eck, Dunoon PA23 8SG. Other useful addresses S.O.C. Recorder for Argyll: Paul Daw, Tigh-na-Tulloch, Tullochgorm, Minard, Inveraray PA32 8YQ. Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) Organiser forArgyll: Dr Malcolm Ogilvie, Glencairn, Bruichladdich, Isle of Islay PA49 7UN. B.T.O. Representatives for Argyll: North Argyll iiichrding Mitll, Col1 arid Tiree: Mike Madders, Carnduncan, Gruinart, Bridgend, Isle of Islay PA44 7PS. Islay, Jim and Colorisay: Dr Malcolm Ogilvie (address above). R.S.P.B. Conservation Officer, Argyll & Bute: Roger Broad (address above). Further copies of this report can be obtained from Bill Staley, 16 Glengilp, Ardrishaig, PA30 8HT. Price E5 including postage. Most previous annual Argyll Bird Reports are also available at E4 including postage. 3 Contents Editorial J. C.A. Craik 5 Systematic List for 1997 RC. Daw 6 Increases in Fulmars breeding on Colonsay 1975-1997 D.C. Jardine 94 Recent mink-related declines of gulls and terns in west Scotland and the beneficial effects of mink control J.C.A. Craik 98 4 Editorial Many people contribute each year to the Argyll Bird Report, but by far the greatest burden of work falls on the shoulders of the County Recorder. I would like to thank the new Recorder for Argyll, Paul Daw, for his excellent Systematic List which forms the greater part of this year’s volume. Thanks also to David Jardine for his valuable paper on the Fulmars of Colonsay; studies such as this, summarising changes over many years, make fascinating reading. I would also like to thank Eddie Maguire for the drawing on the this year’s cover and for the vignette of the tern, and Margaret Staley for the other vignettes. I would like to repeat my plea for more people to submit papers or notes to the Argyll Bird Report. Much interesting work has been carried out in the county, but very little of it finds its way into these pages. Please consider whether you can contribute something to next year’s report. Finally, very many thanks to all who have contributed to this year’s Report, particularly to the many observers who send their records to the Recorder, to various committee members for helpful comments, and to Printworks Oban for their speedy and helpful co-operation in printing the final product. J CACraik Editor of Argyll Bird Report October 1998 5 Argyll Bird Report (1998) 14: 6-93 Systematic list for 1997 Paul Daw ?igh-na-Tulloch, Minard, Inveraray, Argyll PA32 SYQ ORNITHOLOGICAL REVIEW OF 1997 Introduction The systematic list below includes entries for 216 species, not including escapes or races. Eleven of these species were not recorded in 1997 and their entries below describe records from 1996 (5 species), 1995 (3), 1994 (one), 1989 (one) and 1987 (one). These records were omitted, or in some cases deleted due to lack of evidence, from previous Argyll Bird Reports. This leaves a total of 205 species recorded in Argyll during 1997 (cfrevised totals of 213 in 1996,203 in 1995,213 in 1994 and 213 in 1993), with claimed sightings of a further five currently under consideration by the rarities committees. Two of the 205 species, Stone Curlew and Scops Owl, are additions to the Argyll list which now stands at 311 species. Significant omissions from the systematic list for 1997 are: Bewick's Swan Cygnus columbianus, Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus, Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus, Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus, Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus and Tree Sparrow Passermonranus. Some of these may simply have been overlooked, but it is the first time for many years that not a single Tree Sparrow has been reported, January to March On the first day of the New Year a single Waxwing at Younger Botanical Garden CowaZ was presumably a last remnant of the influx from the previous year. Only one other wasseen,at ConnelN0rthArgyllon27~Jan.Areportof50+SiskinsatKilmichael Beg, Minard Mid-Argyll on 9" Jan heralded a spate of reports of flocks of up to SO birds from many areas of Argyll. A Puffin at Frenchman's Rocks Islay on 13mJan was an unusual visitor for that time of year. More typical was the Iceland Gull at Oban Mid-Argyll on 19* Jan, the first of at least 4 individuals that were seen around the town until early May. TWO Crossbills at Loch Leathan Mid-Argyll, also on 19", were the first of many early reports in an unusually good year for the species. On the following day 3s Slavonian Grebes at Loch na Kea1 Mull in flat calm conditions was the highest count on the island for many years. This species was generally more numerous this year: 12 on the same day (200 Jan) at Loch Indaal Iday increased to 44 by 15*Apr, also a high count for Islay. Also on 20'" Jan, our only winter Blackcap for the early part of the year was at Islay House Islay. A Kingfisher in Glen Shim Mid-Argyll on 24" Jan was a splash of colour in the winter landscape. More in keeping were the 50 Snow Buntings at Kilchoman 6 SYSTEMATIC LIST 1997 Islay on 14IhJan, our largest flock of the early winter period. At the end of the month high numbers of some of our scarcer duck congregated at Loch Bhasapol Tiree including 43 Pochard, 98 Tufted Ducks and 38 Goldeneye. These were followed on ls Feb by 105 Whooper Swans at Loch a'Phuill also on Tiree. February was relatively quiet, although on the 8" a Great Crested Grebe at Loch Gruinart RSPB Reserve Islay was an uncommon visitor. On 6" Mar a large flock of about 120 Hooded Crows were feeding at the head of Loch Feochan Mid-Argyll. On 9" Mar a Wheatear, our first summer migrant, was near Keills, Loch Sween Mid- Argyll. This was the first of many early arrivals, and 30" Mar was also an early date for the Willow Warbler at Bunessan Mull. Rare bird of the period was the Lapland Bunting at Loch Gruinart on 23"1 Mar, our first since 1993. ALittle Gull at Frenchman's Rocks, on the same day, was one of five in Argyll during the year. A co-ordinated Argyll-wide count of geese at the end of March produced totals of 35,053 Barnacle Geese, 2,675 Greylag Geese, and 16,985 Greenland White-fronted Geese. Numbers of the first two species were well up on last year while those of the last were slightly lower. April and May The 15" Apr was a fairly typical date for our first Cuckoo (at Mulindry Islay) but arrival dates for many summer migrants were earlier than usual. At Taynish NNR Mid-Argyll, for example, 2"" May for Garden Warbler, 22"" Apr for Wood Warbler and gthApr for Willow Warbler were all earliest dates on record for the reserve. Similarly 12LhAprwas a very early date for the male Pied Flycatcher seen at Minard Mid-Argyll. These were not just isolated individuals as the main arrival of Willow Warblers, for example, was also earlier than usual. A male Ring Ouzel on Kerrera Mid-Argyll on 41hApr was one of only two records for the species this year.