RSPBin rowover shooting ofbirds

The developer behind a proposed new Sutherland golf course claims RSPB Scotland has ignored its plans to stop the shooting of protected birds at the site.

US businessman Todd Warnock insisted the legal winter shooting of dozens of teal and wigeon – protected in the Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet Special Protection Area – by the local landowner would cease if the 18-hole course at Coul Links went ahead.

An environmental statement in the plans, produced by Alba Ecology ltd, also stated that the move would stop other birds expending their energy by flying elsewhere to rest and feed due to the loud gunshots.

Mr Warnock said: “We

“Weare basically creatingabird sanctuary”

are basically creating a bird sanctuary there and would have expected the RSPB to be supportive of that. If RSPB is in fact the Royal Society for Protection of Birds.

“We are surprised they have not joined our effort to protect the birds at Coul Links.”

Kate Bellew, senior conservation planner for RSPB Scotland, said Coul Links was part of a globally important wildlife site supporting over 20,000 wintering birds.

She has argued that a golf course would destroy habitat and increase disturbance to birds by improving access across the rest of the protected area.

She said: “It is misleading to suggest that the golf course will be able to prevent disturbance from shooting birds as there is a statutory right for any person to do this from the foreshore.”

But the developers maintain they would close the course during winter when these birds were in the region.

And their design team has moved the course away from a dune slack habitat used by breeding birds.