Nesting Ardrishaig gulls

Sir, As the Argyll Bird Recorder, I have recently received considerable communication following the front page story in last week’s Argyllshire Advertiser, both from local folk and from various social media groups.

Concerns have been voiced about some of the points raised by Mr Tongue’s letter and responses as whether or not the ‘amber listed’ Common Gull colony at the site has been affected or that it actually exists as a traditional colony which was perhaps mistakenly implied by the Argyll and Bute Council.

I am supportive of this exciting canal heritage project going ahead and wish it well, however I also believe it necessary to clarify the past and current situation regarding this decreasing bird species of gull at this site.

I can confirm, from records, that a colony of 1520 pairs of Common Gulls has been using the area behind and nearby to the large oil tanks (now removed) used by Gleaner Oils for many years, as well as two or three pairs of Oystercatchers.

It appears that the Argyll and Bute planning department had perhaps not been made aware of the presence of this colony at an early enough stage in the planning process, and despite my approaches to the department no one has got back to me in recent weeks to discuss if any environmental impact studies took this colony in to account.

The situation with the Common Gulls this year is that up to 20 pairs turned up at their traditional site and started nest building on April 22 when no building work was in progress over the weekend. At times when the builders are working the gulls understandably leave the site but then return during the evenings and at weekends. Several birds were again sitting on apparent nests as recently as May 4, however it looks like many others may have moved elsewhere.

Measures have since been taken by the builders to encourage the birds to leave the area prior to laying their eggs and to give them a chance of nesting elsewhere soon. Recently I had a meeting with SNH (Scottish Natural Heritage) and the RSPB and both were sympathetic and understanding of the situation.

I also plan to meet with the Scottish Canals environmental scientist soon in the hope that perhaps provision can be made, within the scope of the hub project, to allow for a nesting area for the Common Gulls in future years at the site.

This could give rise to an exciting opportunity enabling the public and visitors to the new heritage centre to view these gulls raise their chicks, for which is effectively the rarest colony of nesting birds in the Crinan Canal corridor.

Jim Dickson, Argyll Bird Recorder, Cairnbaan