Scottish Birds 43(3) September 2023 - Sneek peek

published by the SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

Scottish Birds 43:3 (2023)

194 Foreword R. Briggs

PAPERS & SHORT NOTES

195 Wader population trends and productivity 1987–2022 in Mid Deeside, North-East Scotland, and the factors driving them D. Jenkins, T.H. Sparks & D.M.B. Parish

206 Decline of Great Black-backed Gulls breeding in Caithness, 2002–2022 M. Oksien & R.M. Sellers

212 Does the decline in numbers of Ringed Plovers breeding in a river catchment in the central Highlands of Scotland reflect the extent and suitability of habitats? N.E. Buxton

225 Lapwing chick with three feet K. Brockie

226 Mute Swans hatching and raising two broods A.W. and L.M. Brown & B. Renwick

228 A major mortality of Gannets due to a probable outbreak of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza on Sule Skerry in 2022 M.P. Harris & S. Wanless

231 Gatherings of juvenile Stonechats in upland Scotland M. Souter & B.S. Bates

233 Continued decline of Marsh Tit in the Borders and likely extinction as a breeding species in Scotland G.K. Paterson, A. Reid & T. Brewis

CLUB ARTICLES, NEWS & VIEWS

236 Caithness and Highland Branches 60th Anniversary celebrations N. O’Hanlon

238 NEWS AND NOTICES

245 SOC/BTO Scottish Bird Camp, 26–28 May 2023 J. Allison

247 Ring Ouzels foraging on Cairngorm snow patches Dr P. Cosgrove

248 Lapwings and Redshanks successfully hatching in a field ploughed while incubation was in progress R. Rae & R. Duncan

251 Double-brooded tree-nesting Oystercatchers in Galloway J. Howie

253 BOOK REVIEWS compiled by N. Picozzi

BIRDING ARTICLES & OBSERVATIONS

254 RINGERS' ROUNDUP

258 Pacific Diver, 24 January 2023, Leven, Fife - first for Fife and mainland Scotland G. Robertson

261 Ptarmigan on Hoy, Orkney, 7 February 2023 - the first modern Orkney record G. Campbell

263 Cetti’s Warbler, Bemersyde Moss, February 2023 - first Borders record R. Jackson

265 Fife’s five species of scoter in a day - Largo Bay, spring 2023 J. Wilson

270 Black-winged Stilts in North-East Scotland and Caithness, May 2023 S. Doyle & W. Manson

274 Pallid Harrier at Aberlady Bay, 4 May 2023 - the first Lothian record A. Simmons

277 Dark-eyed Junco, Rattray Head, 9–11 May 2023 - first North-East Scotland record A. Carroll

281 Grey-headed Lapwing in Moray & Nairn and Outer Hebrides, May 2023 - first Scottish records

J. and M. Cook & S. Duffield

285 Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Ham, Foula, 10 June 2023 - second Shetland record D. & G. Atherton

287 Pacific Golden Plover, Musselburgh, 17–18 June 2023 - third Lothian record K. Gillon

PHOTOSPOT

BC Greylag Goose J. Davidson

43:3 (2023)

Branching out

Dear member,whenever I’m drafting my latest foreword to Scottish Birds, I have a quick look through a few recent editions, sometimes for inspiration! Then my quick look turns into a longer browse as I look again at articles, notes and photos and admire all that our quarterly journal contains. Authors, editors, contributors – please take great pride in this flagship publication; readers – please continue to enjoy and support.

I want to say a little about SOC Branches. It’s very easy for me as President to be somewhat HQ-focussed, involved with national committees, management and strategy. But our Branch structure is an integral part of the Club, making activities and other opportunities more accessible to members across the country. I was very pleased to visit and meet members at nine Branch meetings earlier this year and hope to catch up with more soon.

Here are some personal reflections about Branches, ahead of writing up results from the little survey I commissioned from those of you I met:

n They are a vital part of our Club; displaying varying degrees of autonomy according to local ambitions and preferences;

n They provide focus for local projects and collection of ornithological data;

n They foster friendship and shared experiences among members;

n They can tailor meetings and activities to the interests and needs of local members;

n They can, and do, innovate locally;

n They can form local informal partnerships with other bodies;

n They can share ideas and experiences with each other;

n They are highly valued by those who attend talks, outings and discussion groups;

n They aspire to attract a younger audience and membership.

What, therefore, might Branches, or the Club as a whole, need in order to enhance their benefits? Perhaps it’s more people to help by offering to take a turn on their Branch committee or similar – we all have something to offer and lots of knowledge or contacts aren’t necessarily prerequisites! Or to clarify the extent to which Branches are a part of the ‘corporate whole’ of the Club and its collective responsibilities for managing risk alongside offering opportunities.

Is there a chance of starting up a Branch where none presently exists? Can more be done to actively promote SOC membership, especially to currently under-represented groups? Are Local Bird Recorders and those preparing regional bird reports as fully part of Branch structures as might be wished?

Those are my initial thoughts and I’ve run out of space to say more! Branches will continue to be supported and promoted in any way that I, and the SOC’s Council, can. We want to build on the discussions held among Branch representatives one weekend last year. My thanks to all local organisers and committee members and heartfelt appreciation for all your involvement.

Ruth Briggs, SOC President

Plate 153. Ruth Briggs looking out to sea at Port Appin, Argyll, May 2023. © Robin Briggs

Wader population trends and productivity 1987–2022 in Mid Deeside, North-East Scotland, and the factors driving them

D. JENKINS, T.H. SPARKS & D.M.B. PARISH

Long-term population trends are described for Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Curlew on Deeside, with accompanying breeding productivity figures for the first two species. Population trends are more positive for these species on Deeside than in Scotland at large or the UK, though there is evidence of a decline for Curlew. Breeding densities were much higher on the hill-farm Birse Glen sites than on the low-lying Flood Plain sites. We suggest that this is the result of differences in agricultural practices in the two areas, rendering Flood Plain less suitable for breeding waders, and to reduced productivity at the Flood Plain sites due to high rates of egg and/or chick predation. Wader populations on the Flood Plain sites are not sustainable and must be maintained by immigration from source populations. Source populations of waders in the UK and across much of Europe are highly unlikely in the absence of sympathetic habitat management coupled with legal predator control.

Introduction

Breeding waders have declined over recent decades in the UK (Woodward et al. 2020). For Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus and Curlew Numenius arquata, survival rates have remained high or are increasing and it is accepted that the main factor limiting population growth is a low reproductive rate (Roodbergen et al. 2012). That said, the period of steepest population decline for the Lapwing (1980s) was also associated with decreased adult survival related to a series of harsh winters, but survival rates have since recovered (Robinson et al. 2014). Low reproductive success has been associated with changes in agricultural land use (e.g. Taylor & Murray 2004, Bell & Calladine 2017, Franks et al. 2017) and increased egg and chick predation (e.g. Valkama & Currie 1999, Fletcher et al. 2010, Roodbergen et al. 2012, Ludwig et al 2019). These two factors are often intimately linked, with habitat alterations sometimes increasing predation rates (e.g. Baines 1990, Chamberlain & Crick 2003).

Of the three species considered here, Lapwing and Curlew currently have UK red list status and Oystercatcher amber (Stanbury et al. 2021), with UK population declines of 43%, 48% and 24% respectively between 1995 and 2018 (Woodward et al. 2020). Lapwings have greatly decreased in Mid Deeside where they were formerly widely distributed (Buckland et al. 1990). Now, they are usually confined to the few traditional lowland farms and wetlands with or near short grass, and to grassy areas on hill farms.

Plate 154. Lapwing nest, Auchnerran Farm, NorthEast Scotland, May 2017. © Marlies Nicolai

Decline of Great Black-backed Gulls breeding in Caithness, 2002–2022

M. OKSIEN

& R.M. SELLERS

This paper describes a project to monitor the numbers of Great Black-backed Gulls breeding in Caithness which shows that the population underwent a decline between 2002 and 2022, amounting to a loss of about two-thirds of the population. Reasons for the decline are discussed, the most important probably being reduced food availability impacting on survival. Other factors including poor productivity in the final years of the study, and predation or disturbance by Foxes may also be implicated at certain colonies.

Introduction

For much of the past half century Caithness has been an important breeding area for Great Blackbacked Gulls Larus marinus. Figures from the first two national seabird censuses suggest that its population here had remained stable between 1970 and at least 1985 at around 1,000 apparently occupied nests (AON) representing a little over 5% of the then British population and about 6.5% of that in Scotland (Mitchell et al. 2004). By the time the third national seabird survey, Seabird 2000, was carried out in 1998–2002, the population is reputed to have fallen to just 211 AON, a decrease of 79% from the 1985–88 figure, and then partially recovered to about 336 AON in 2015/16 according to surveys undertaken for Scottish Natural Heritage (Swann 2016, 2018). In 2002 we began a series of annual counts at selected sites around Caithness. The results show the Caithness population has undergone a progressive decline in numbers over the past 20 years.

Methods

Great Black-backed Gull breeding numbers were monitored annually in 2005–20 and in 2022 at 21 sites in Caithness, and these, together with some preliminary counts, at a smaller number of sites between 2002 and 2004, form the basis of the population monitoring we describe here. Monitoring sites were selected because: (i) they were being visited for monitoring of other species notably Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo (see Sellers 2020), (ii) habitat type (to include both colonies on stacks and on beaches) and (iii) geographical spread (in particular to ensure that colonies on both the north and east coasts of Caithness were included). Although counting larger colonies provides the most efficient way of monitoring overall numbers, some small (1–3 AON) colonies have been included to investigate how numbers at these have varied. The distribution of the monitoring sites is shown in Figure 1, and their key features are summarised in Table 1.

Figure 1. Distribution of Great Black-backed Gull monitoring sites in Caithness (Numbered as shown in Table 1).

Does the decline in numbers of Ringed Plovers breeding in a river catchment in the central Highlands of Scotland reflect the extent and suitability of habitats?

N.E. BUXTON

The number of pairs of breeding Ringed Plovers decreased on rivers in Badenoch in the central Highlands of Scotland during 1993–2017. Breeding birds were counted along a 42 km section of the River Spey, its associated tributaries and adjacent lochs. Potential influences on the population were assessed. By 2007 Ringed Plovers had ceased to breed on most shingle banks along the main stem of the River Spey, decreased on its tributaries and also at some nearby lochs in the catchment. Whilst the extent of available breeding habitat decreased and management of adjacent agricultural areas had changed, potential prey abundance on territories suggested no trend over seven years, and changes in river flow rates were subtle. A confounding factor was that wintering numbers in Scotland and the UK decreased along with the breeding numbers in the study area so further work is necessary to determine whether limiting factors are acting on the breeding or wintering grounds.

Introduction

The Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula breeds commonly in both coastal and inland habitats throughout many parts of the UK (Balmer et al. 2013), and has done so for many decades (Holloway 1996). Murray (1986) suggested that there had been a sequential new colonisation by breeding birds from the coast along the River Tweed in the last few years of the 18th century and, whilst many observers including Harvie-Brown & Buckley (1887), Booth et al. (1984), Smout (1986), and Vittery (1997) have noted pairs inland, few have commented on changes in numbers. The three BTO breeding bird atlases (Sharrock 1976, Gibbons et al. 1993, Balmer et al. 2013), presenting data approximately 40 years apart (1968–72, 1988–9 & 2007–11) and national population surveys (Conway et al. 2019), allowed both range and some numerical comparisons within the UK, but the only contemporary detailed study in the UK until the late 20th century was in north-west England (Briggs 1983). As a result, in comparison to coastal birds, little was known of the dynamics of inland populations. This was the case in the Badenoch area, where Ringed Plovers have bred for over 100 years (Harvie Brown & Buckley 1896, Nethersole-Thompson & Watson 1981, Dennis 1995). The aim of this study was to describe the distribution and any fluctuations in numbers of Ringed Plovers over 25 years (1993 to 2017) in Badenoch in relation to variations in the availability of breeding habitat and prey.

Methods Study area

The study area lay in Badenoch in the central Highlands of Scotland (Figures 1a & b) and comprised locations within a 42 km stretch of the River Spey, from Kingussie westwards to 12 km upstream of Spey Dam (the upper River Spey) and lengths of three of its tributaries (the Rivers Truim, Calder, and Dulnain) and the River Findhorn (Table 1), along all of which shingle banks occurred. All the shingle banks within the study area were initially surveyed for breeding Ringed Plovers and those supporting

Does the decline of Ringed Plovers breeding in the central Highlands reflect the extent and suitability of habitats? 43:3 (2023)

SOC/BTO Scottish Bird Camp, 26–28 May 2023

“It was really great fun and so was the rest of bird camp. It was the best weekend of my life!”

2023 Bird Camp participant

“Thank you very much for what sounded like an incredible weekend. Our son loved every minute and I’m sure it will be an experience he will never forget. We have heard so much about it and I’m sure we will hear even more over the next wee while!”

Parent of Bird Camp participant

Testament to the success of the first Scottish Bird Camp in June 2022 (see SB42(4), pp. 342–345) and SOC /BTO’s respective efforts to engage, support and develop young bird enthusiasts in Scotland, we were delighted to be met with a flurry of applicants from 100 young people, all eager to take part in the 2023 event. It was no small task whittling down this unprecedented number of applications in order to award the 14 available places to children aged 10–16 years from across Scotland.

Our first-class team of residential and session leaders who joined us for last year’s Camp generously returned to support this year’s event, which meant participants were able to enjoy:

n a moth trapping session with specialist Katty Baird

n several bird identification training activities expertly led by Camp co-organisers, Ben Darvill and Steve Willis (BTO Scotland staff), ably assisted by Carol Miller (volunteer Leader and SOC Highland Branch Committee member) and Ptolemy McKinnon (volunteer Leader and SOC Youth Connect member)

n paper bird model making with lecturer, Darren Woodhead

n a nest-finding demo with nest finding-wizard, Colin Davison

n a boat trip out to the Bass Rock with Blue Wild Nature Boat Tours

n a nest box making session with young birder Mike Sinclair - new for 2023!

n a ringing demo with Lothian Ringing Group

Plate 179. Examining the remains of a predated Long-tailed Tit nest, 27 May 2023. © BTO

Ring Ouzels foraging on Cairngorms snow patches

On the early morning of 14 June 2023, I was walking up the southeast facing slope to the South Top on Beinn a’ Bhuird on the Mar Lodge estate in the Cairngorms. By 08:30 hrs it was already hot and approaching 20oC, with a light southeasterly breeze. Just below the South Top in the southeast corrie was a remnant snow patch (at c. 1,130 m a.s.l.) and I rested below it and watched as a pair of adult Ring Ouzels caught several invertebrate prey items and fed them to at least two recently fledged nearby chicks. The adults sat on rocks immediately adjacent to the snow patch, and regularly flew down to catch what were appeared to be ‘Cranefly (Tipulids)’ which were being blown upslope on to the snow patch from the glen below. Presumably, the invertebrate prey was much more visible once it had blown on to the snow patch, and the adults were quick to repeatedly take advantage of this foraging opportunity.

I moved on, and was soon walking across the plateau towards the Munro summit at the North Top. After approximately 2 km I could hear a

watched, an adult male Ring Ouzel flew down to another remnant snow patch high up in the corrie (at 1,150 m a.s.l.), caught a prey item, and flew off to a nearby boulder field to feed a youngster. On this second observation, I was too far away to see what the prey item was, but the adult chased something mobile on the snow patch before catching it, in a manner similar to the first pair I had observed near the South Top.

Not having seen this behaviour before in this species, I was intrigued to see the adult Ring Ouzels targeting their foraging on the last few snow patches. As this was the first time I was on this part of the plateau in 2023, I was not able to determine if the Ring Ouzels had nested high in the corries or had nested lower down and brought their recently fledged chicks up on to higher ground. Given climate change modelling suggesting reductions or complete loss in Scotland’s summer snow patches, I wonder how long such foraging opportunities will be available to breeding Ring Ouzels in the Cairngorms?

Dr Peter Cosgrove, Coilintra House,

Plate 182. Beinn a' Bhuird South Top snow patch, North-East Scotland, 14 June 2023. © Peter Cosgrove

Double-brooded tree-nesting

Oystercatchers in Galloway

For eight years, a pair of Oystercatchers has nested in a mossy indentation in the branch of an oak tree overhanging a river at the bottom of a private garden in Dumfries & Galloway. The nest is about six metres above the water, but only two metres above the level of the garden. This year they raised three chicks.

On 17 May 2023, at about 11:00 hrs, the parents left the nesting branch and flew to the far side of the river, and called constantly for about half an hour. One parent bird then flew under the branch which held the nest, dropped its feet in the water and made a ‘trail’ across the river to its mate on the far shore and landed beside it.

About five minutes later, the first chick dropped down into the water and paddled across to the parents, followed about 25 minutes later by the second chick. To the two observers, both chicks appeared to follow the exact same line of the now vanished ‘trail’ made earlier by the adult’s feet. All this time the parents continued to call.

Finally, about 45 minutes later, the reluctant third chick dropped into the river, seemed disorientated and turned twice before paddling like mad on what appeared to be the same line taken by its two siblings to join its parents.

Plate 189. Oystercatcher with chick in tree nest, Dumfries & Galloway, 17 May 2023. © Maisie Welsh

BOOK REVIEWS

The book reviews published in Scottish Birds reflect the views of the named reviewers and not those of the SOC.

The Peregrine Falcon Richard Sale & Steve Watson, November 2022. Snowfinch Publishing, UK, ISBN: 9780957173262, hardback, 526 pages, numerous colour and b&w photos and illustrations, £49.99.

With over 500 pages, the chapters cover falcons in general, with an introduction to Peregrines in particular, their diet, flight, breeding behaviour, movements, allies and enemies, population numbers and trends. The book is packed with information delivered in a clear and easily understood manner.

I was not looking forward to reading this, having

I was not looking forward to reading this, having been brought up on Derek Ratcliffe’s book of the same name. The challenge of this new book was that I would always be comparing it to his book published over 40 years ago in 1980 which was, in my opinion, fantastically well written. However, I am pleased to say that I was most impressed by the detailed and sensitive handling of huge amounts of data and also found it to be a very good read, even if some of the technical detail around aerodynamics and flight speeds pushed my simple brain to its limits. The book is full of useful illustrations, and the numerous photographs are of extremely high quality and well selected.

As a long-term raptor fieldworker, I was pleased to see that ten pages in the Population chapter are devoted to the human persecution of the Peregrine Falcon in the UK, confirming the negative impact in areas managed for gamebird shooting.

This beautifully illustrated book will be for a long time a major ‘go-to’ reference. It incorporates substantial new data using the latest technology which has become available since Ratcliffe’s pioneering monograph.

George Smith

New Books also received in the George Waterston Library

Flight Paths: How the mystery of bird migration was solved. Rebecca Neismann, 2023. Swift Press. ISBN: 978-1-800-752924, hardback, 263 pages. £16.99.

The (Big) Year that Flew By. Arjan Dwarshuis, 2023. Chelsea Green Publishing. ISBN: 978-1-645021919, paperback, 256 pages. £18.99.

The Green Woodpecker: A Natural and Cultural History of Picus viridis. Gerard Gorman, 2023. Pelagic Publishing. ISBN: 978-1-78427-436-8, paperback, 212 pages. £24.99.

The Archaeology of Wild Birds in Britain and Ireland. Dale Serjeantson, 2023. Oxbow Books. ISBN: 978-1-78925-956-8, hardback, 256 pages. £60.00.

In Eagle Country: Some long studies and short stories. Kate and Ken Crane, 2023. K&K Crane. ISBN: 978-1-3999-4752-7, paperback, 216 pages. £18 (incl. UK p&p).

The George Waterston Library is open for browsing and borrowing during Waterston House opening hours (check SOC website). Books can either be borrowed directly or can be posted out (UK only, conditions and p&p charges apply) by emailing the Librarian: Library@the-soc.org.uk

RINGERS' ROUNDUP

Thank you very much to the many ringers, ringing groups, birders and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) who provided the information for this latest round up. Thanks also to the many bird watchers and folk who take the time and trouble to read rings in the field or find dead ringed birds and report them.

If you have any interesting ringing recoveries, articles, wee stories, project updates or requests for information which you would like to be included in the next issue, please email to Raymond Duncan at: rduncan393@outlook.com

For lots more exciting facts, figures, numbers and movements log on to www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/ringing/publications/online-ringing-reports

Interesting ringing movements

Chk = chick, Juv = juvenile, Im = Immature, Ad = adult, Unk = unknown, M = male, F =female

Sghtd = ring(s) read in field, Rtpd = retrapped

Barn Owl

GY05756 Chk 15/06/21 Invershin, Highland

Dead19/12/22 Achterless, North-East Scotland 128 km SE, 552 days

GY41231 Ch 18/07/22 Balbeg, Glenurquhart, Highland

Dead13/03/23 Ashentrool, Stirling, Upper Forth 139 km S, 238 days

Blackbird

LN79433 JuvM20/10/22 Holland, North Ronaldsay, Orkney

Rtpd 27/03/23 Grimstadvatnet, Hareid, More og Romsdal, Norway 563 km NE, 158 days

7619115 AdF 22/10/22 Slevdalsvannet, Vest-Agder, Norway

Rtpd 15/12/22 Clarkston, Clyde 709 km SW, 54 days

Blackcap

D479887 Juv 04/08/18 St Abb’s Head, Borders

Rtpd 10/04/23 Portland Bill, Dorset 599 km S, 1,710 days

17246808JuvF 06/09/22 Waremme, Liege, Belgium

Rtpd 19/11/22 Kinneil Lagoons, Falkirk, Upper Forth 836 km NW

74 days

Black-headed Gull

EY21806 Chk 14/06/15 Broad Law, Moorfoot Hills, Borders

Sghtd02/01/17 eastern Northern Ireland

Sghtd29/05/23 Downpatrick, Northern Ireland 235 km W, 2,906 days

Interesting movement of a Scottish chick apparently remaining to breed in its wintering area.

Brambling

EH07056 ImM 29/08/14 Dividalen FS, Malselv, Troms, Norway

Rtpd 16/04/22 Comers, North-East Scotland 1,701 km SW, 2787 days

At nearly eight years old, this Brambling is seven months short of the oldest one on BTO records.

Plate 193. Male and female Blackcap with Belgian ringed female. © Liam Reid

Pacific Diver, 24 January 2023, Leven, Fife - first for Fife and mainland Scotland

G. ROBERTSON

This was my first trip of 2023 along the Fife coast to Largo Bay, which is regarded as the best site in the area for a variety of sea ducks, divers and grebes. My initial stop was at Lower Largo (12:00 – 13:00 hrs) which produced a reasonable selection of all three categories of birds, but the emergence of strong sunlight suggested that Leven to the west would offer better viewing.

I arrived at the car park at the east end of Leven promenade at 13:30 hrs. The lighting conditions were excellent and it wasn’t too long before I found a winter-plumaged Blackthroated Diver. Shortly after this, a potential

second Black-throated was seen a little further out with a large group of Red-breasted Mergansers and Common Scoters. On closer inspection there was no sign of any white thigh patch on the diver and there appeared to be a dark chin-strap on an otherwise white throat and breast. I studied the bird carefully for the next 10–15 minutes as it swam and dived with the mergansers and scoters but saw no sign of any white thigh patch and the chinstrap was quite clear at an estimated distance of 400–500 metres and a zoom of x30. Pacific Diver was a clear possibility, but with no camera and no other observers present a second opinion was needed urgently.

43:3 (2023)

Plate 197. Pacific Diver with Common Scoter and Red-breasted Merganser, Leven, 26 January 2023. Given good views, the bird could be aged as a juvenile by the prominent pale fringing to the upperparts. Generally resembled the corresponding plumage of Black-throated Diver, but note the complete lack of any white ‘thigh patch’ and the silver-grey bulging nape at the rear of the head. The bill, although deep based, tapered quickly to a fine tip. © John Nadin

Ptarmigan on Hoy, Orkney, 7 February 2023 - the first modern Orkney record

G. CAMPBELL

Being a keen wildlife photographer living on mainland Orkney, I try to make an annual trip over to the island of Hoy during winter to photograph the Mountain Hares in their winter coats. Generally, they can be found on the highest point of Ward Hill on Hoy, which stands at 481 m (1,579 ft). 7 February was a nice calm winter’s morning when I took the ferry on the short crossing and started my hike and climb up from the west side of the hill. My intentions were to hike across the summit and make my descent down via the south side.

I was slightly disappointed during my climb to the summit as I hadn’t spotted any Mountain Hares, so I decided to take a break and have a snack, followed by taking some

pics of the scenery with my camera and launching my drone for a few aerial photos. I was just packing up and getting ready to set off across the summit when I noticed a white object behind some rocks and immediately thought “Yes, a hare”. I got my camera ready and slowly crept around at a distance, so as not to disturb it. Just at that, this white bird stood up from behind the rocks and stared at me! I immediately thought “It’s a white grouse” then “No, it can’t be a Ptarmigan, as we don’t get them on Orkney” . After photographing the bird for a few more minutes, I decided to retreat and hike across the summit and start my descent from the hill, where I finally encountered a few hares in their white coats.

Plate 201. Ptarmigan, Hoy, Orkney, 7 February 2023. © Graham Campbell

Fife’s five species of scoter in a day -

Largo Bay, spring 2023

J. WILSON

For several decades Largo Bay in Fife was the go-to site in the UK to see Surf Scoter, with multiple birds present for extended periods of time attracting birders from far and wide. The five years leading up to spring 2023 marked a real change in fortune however, with Surf Scoter vanishing from Largo Bay and the numbers of Common and Velvet Scoter also dropping off noticeably during this period. The exact reason for this decline wasn’t clear, but presumably was linked to changes in food availability.

During late winter and early spring 2023 the situation began to improve, with the Common Scoter flock at Ruddon’s Point increasing to a couple of thousand birds, and on 8 April the flock was joined by an adult male first Surf Scoter, a promising sign. However, during April 2023 it was the increase in the number of Velvet Scoter off Lower Largo that was

most striking, with more than 800 present during the latter part of the month, and on 26 April a pair of Surf Scoter was found amongst them. Ever the optimists, some Fife birders began to wonder out loud whether it might mean that we finally got in on some of Lothian’s White-winged Scoter action.

On my way back from a meeting in Edinburgh on the evening of 27 April I briefly stopped off at Lower Largo to see the Surf Scoter pair as it had been a few years since I had seen a female. It was rather murky due to drizzle but I picked them out within a few minutes and was so impressed by the number of Velvet relatively close inshore (Lower Largo is one of the better spots in Fife for reasonably good views of seaduck) that I made a mental note to come back the following day, assuming that the viewing conditions had improved, to check through them properly.

Plate 206. Surf Scoter (centre), Largo Bay, Fife, 9 April 2023. © Mark Wilkinson

Grey-headed Lapwing in Moray & Nairn and Outer Hebrides, May 2023 - first Scottish records

J. AND M. COOK & S. DUFFIELD

Grey-headed Lapwing, Lossiemouth, 13 May 2023 - first Moray & Nairn record

JC: Each year in May, Moray Bird Club (the Moray branch of the SOC) holds its Big Birdwatch. Club members spend time birding during a 24-hour period, and we get together in a local hall in the evening for a meal and to compile a combined list of all species that have been seen during this time. The appointed date in 2023 was 13 May and the day proved memorable not only for the combined day total record of 128 species.

As usual on Big Birdwatch day the Cooks were joined by our friend Sheena Nicolson. Finishing time was 18:00 hrs and we intended having a look at Loch Spynie, a frequently productive site, while making our

way slowly towards the hall. Martin suggested we have a quick stop at the nearby Balormie pig farm before reaching Loch Spynie, as a few interesting birds had recently been seen there. We piled out of the car onto the verge beside the pool and while Martin was setting up the scope and subsequently peering at a couple of waders to the left, I was scanning the pool to the right and called out ‘What’s that wader over there? I don’t recognise it’. Martin paid little heed at first (Martin is used to me not recognising the obvious!) but I persisted saying it was a wader with long yellow legs and a large bill. However, when he at last turned his attention to the bird he realised with a loud (and uncharacteristic) ‘wow’ that it was not anything obvious.

Plate 226. Grey-headed Lapwing, Lossiemouth, Moray & Nairn, 13 May 2023. © David Main

Photo SP © T

Plate 235. One of my favourite holiday spots in Scotland is Applecross, in Wester Ross, where one of the many attractions is its wildlife – so whenever I visit, my camera is always with me.

On 10 March 2023, I went for a wander along the shore of Applecross Bay looking for suitable photographic subjects. As I strolled along the waters edge, hoping to encounter any of the many waders, ducks and gulls that can be found there, the conditions were stunning; snow had fallen a few days earlier and the sky was almost cloudless.

Having spent time with Rock Pipits foraging on the shoreline and a small flock of Ringed Plover camouflaged amongst the multi-coloured small rocks, I then became aware of Greylag Geese calling behind me – they often share the grazing with Red Deer and Highland Cattle in front of Applecross House and this morning was no different.

As I watched, two of the geese took off. They flew parallel to each other, so I adjusted the lens’ aperture, hoping to get both geese sharp if they passed at ninety degrees to me, but alas they parted company. One returned to the fields and the other continued across the bay.

I took a series of photographs and selected this particular shot, with the backdrop of the island of Raasay, as my favourite image. Luckily, my camera settings were similar to what I might use in summer rather than late winter due to the bright skies and up-lighting from the snow.

This trip was a good one, with many species of birds seen and regular visits to the cottage by Pine Marten, Badger and Red Deer.

John Davidson, Blackford, Perthshire Email: jrdfolk@btinternet.com

Equipment used: Nikon D500 camera, 500mm f5.6 lens, Aperture priority, 1/2,000 second, ISO 560, f8.

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