SCOTLAND
H12 idgehcelmigbherts
A report to the news services of a Tengmalm’s Owl on Orkney, complete with a photograph of said bird sitting on a poop-spattered outhouse loo seat, was as gripping as it was bizarre and suspicious in equal measure. Other megas included a probable Eastern Black Redstart at Maidens, Ayrshire and a couple of probable Eastern Yellow Wagtails on Shetland.
ABERDEENSHIRE ABERDEEN CITY: Waxwings could be found in many parts of the city. A flock of over 100 flew over the RSPB regional office in Albyn Place (7th). Sea-watching from Girdle Ness (3rd) produced a Little Auk and a Pomarine Skua. Also on the 3rd the male Mandarin was reported as back on Walkers Dam – it was still there into December. A probable Pallid Swift was reported from Donmouth (10th). FORVIE NNR:
A redhead Smew was at Logie Buchan (14th) and a pair of Bearded Tits were trapped and ringed there (16th). LOCH OF STRATHBEG RSPB:
The WEBS count (11th) produced 132 Mute Swans, 1,167 Whooper Swans, 6,979 Pink-footed Geese, 22 Greylag Geese, 2,871 Wigeon, four Gadwall, 472 Teal, 405 Mallards, eight Pintail, 15 Shovelers, four Pochards, 36 Tufted Ducks, seven Long-tailed Ducks, 131 Goldeneyes, two Red-breasted Mergansers, a Slavonian Grebe, 11 Cormorants, two Little Egrets, four Grey Herons, four Moorhens, 18 Coots, 1,000 Golden Plovers, 1,109 Lapwings, 17 Snipe, 40 Curlew, a Common Sandpiper and two Redshanks. On the 22nd a female Velvet Scoter was at the south end of the Loch. OTHER SITES:
Waxwings were still being seen in Fraserburgh at the beginning of the month with good numbers being found inland at Banchory, Aboyne and Ballater. The biggest flock reported was 180 at Kemnay (25th). On the 4th a single Shore Lark was seen briefly with a Water Pipit and c.20 Rock Pipits at Collieston. On the same day two Hawfinches was found at Park House, Drumoak. A Long-eared Owl was at Balmedie CP (5th), staying until 11th. A blue phase Snow Goose was reported from Loch of Skene (7th). On the 10th a Yellow-browed Warbler was at the Kinneff Old Church. A Snow Bunting was at Rosehearty Beach (15th). A Mediterranean Gull was seen at Rattray (18th). Also on the 18th two probable Parrot Crossbills were discovered at Ballochbuie. A Glaucous Gull was present at Cairnbulg (20th). On the 21st an Avocet was a mile north from the Lecht Ski Centre. A redhead Smew was on Loch of Skene (23rd) with a female Long-tailed Duck and a first-winter Greenland White-fronted Goose. Mike Chandler
ARGYLL ISLAY: A Great White Egret flew through off The Oa (21st). There were multiple sightings of a Little Egret, still a rarity here. A Bean Goose was at Kilmany, four Pinkfeet at Coull (20th) and a dark-bellied Brent Goose at Rockside (22nd). Still scarce on Islay were two Pochards on Loch Skerrols (9th), an Iceland Gull (16th) and a Snow Bunting (29th). There were 25 Choughs at Kilchoman (14th). Hen Harriers, Merlins and Golden Eagles were well reported. White-tailed Eagles included three together off Port Ellen (18th). There were 230 Chaffinches at Loch Gorm, 240 Linnets on Gruinart flats, 470 Twite at The Oa, 438 Whooper Swans at Mulindry and three Golden Eagles at Storakaig (9th). Loch Gruinart logged 1,500 Golden Plovers, 332 Lapwings, 252 Mallards, 2,150 Teal, 62 Pintails, 31 Snipe, five Herons, a White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle and Hen Harrier. The goose count logged 30,438 Barnacle Geese, 6,696 Greenland Whitefronts and 823 Greylags. TIREE:
Three Ring-necked Ducks were at Loch Bhasapol (from 12th). A Ring-billed Gull was at Sandaig (from 11th). A Todd’s Canada Goose was at Caoles (from 15th). A late Dotterel was at Scarinish (to 19th). There was a Little Egret at Balephetrish (12th), two Long-eared Owls at Balephuil (5th-6th), with a Siberian Chiffchaff there (2nd), 16 Jackdaws at Heylipol (12th-15th), a Rook at Crossapol (10th), five Blackcaps, two eastern-race Chiffchaffs, two Bramblings and 10 Snow Buntings. There were 1,200 Redwings and 200 Blackbirds around the island (17th) but only three Fieldfares. There were three Pied Wagtails, two Dunnocks, four Goldfinches, a Greenfinch and two Goldcrests. Six Hen Harriers, five Merlins, six Peregrines, three Kestrels and three Sparrowhawks hunted. An all-island count (15th-16th) found 2,963 Barnacle Geese, 2,363 Greylags, 812 Greenland Whitefronts, ten Pinkfeet, 2,935 Golden Plovers, 2,845 Lapwings and 132 Whooper Swans. A Scaup was at Loch a’ Phuill (1st-12th), with a Pochard there (to 18th) and five late Black-tailed Godwits (12th). Two Grey Plovers were at Miodar (1st), a Jack Snipe at the Reef (1st) and a Woodcock at Balephuil (17th-19th). Phill Catton (www.islaybirds.blogspot.com) and Dr John Bowler (john.bowler@rspb.org.uk) BORDERS HIGHLIGHTS: Faseny Bridge (Lammermuirs) had a Hen Harrier, two Rough-legged Buzzards and a White-tailed Eagle. Forty Pinkfeet were at Cammerlaws, with 80 at Hestruther (21st). A Kingfisher was at Whitelaw. Nine Waxwings were in a Ravenscraig garden. A Crane was a regular visitor to Lees (Coldstream). A Great White Egret fished Blackadder Water, Whiteadder Waters and a small burn at Putton Mills, Duns. James D Lough
CENTRAL REGION HIGHLIGHTS: Common Scoters were on the Lake of Menteith (19th) and Loch Iubhair (24th). Waxwings included up to 32 in Falkirk, one at Gartmore and seven in Dunblane. CLACKMANNANSHIRE:
Gartmorn Dam held a record 164 Mute Swans, 11 Great Crested Grebes, nine Gadwall, seven Pochards and a record 156 Goosanders (1st). Two Whooper Swans collided with power lines and were killed at the Blackdevon Wetlands (c.15th). A Blackcap was in an Alloa garden (20th). FALKIRK DISTRICT:
There were 28 Whooper Swans at Mains of Powfoulis (5th). A Jack Snipe was at Loch Ellrig (15th), when 20 Bean Geese were at Slamannan. SKINFLATS:
A Long-tailed Duck, Jack Snipe and a few Twite were present (10th). Two Little Egrets were seen (23rd), with a Little Egret, 102 Pintails and 10 Twite (24th). STIRLING DISTRICT:
There were 64 Wigeon, 160 Teal, a Jack Snipe and 18 Snipe at Loch Coulter (12th), when 80 Tree Sparrows were on Flanders Moss. Several Bramblings were in a large Chaffinch flock near Greenyards, Dunblane (18th). UPPER FORTH ESTUARY:
A count (11th) produced a Red-throated Diver, 10 Great Crested Grebes, 21 Grey Herons, two Little Egrets, 1,499 Pinkfeet, 19 Whooper Swans, 746 Shelducks, 179 Wigeon, 1,330 Teal, 82 Pintails, a Long-tailed Duck, 22 Red-breasted Mergansers, 126 Oystercatchers, two Ringed Plovers, 153 Golden Plovers, 588 Lapwings, 44 Knot, 1,370 Dunlin, 350 Black-tailed Godwits, 441 Curlews and 1,284 Redshanks. Neil Bielby
DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY HIGHLIGHTS: A Great White Egret, Pintail, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Kestrel, Merlin, 10,000 Barnacle Geese and Teal were at Caerlaverock. A Brambling was at Mainsriddle (4th). A Slavonian Grebe, 100 Brent Geese and Eiders were at Loch Ryan (8th). Scaup were off all coasts, with Little Egret and Whimbrel on the south coasts. LOCH RYAN/THE WIG:
Highlights included Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Dunlin, Wigeon, Red-breasted Merganser, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Turnstone, Redshank, Stonechat, Sky Lark, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch, Mute Swan and Whooper Swan. OTHER SITES:
Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Siskin and Nuthatch were at Mainsriddle. There were 75 Curlews, Oystercatcher, Lapwing,
Wigeon, raven and Goldeneye in Kirkcudbright Bay. Shelduck, redshank and Goldfinch were at rough Firth. Teal, Dunlin, Little Grebe and Fieldfare were on the river Dee. Kestrel, mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Goosander and Little Grebe were at Carlingwark Loch. The Inner Solway held red-throated Diver, Guillemot, Common Scoter, Sanderling, Black-tailed Godwit, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, red-breasted merganser and Snipe. There was a movement of Goldcrests into the region. Pam Woods (Dumfriesandgallowaybirding@ yahoogroups.com)
Fife
HIGHLIGHTS: Ferryhills logged Whooper Swans, Great Skuas, Black-throated Divers, red-throated Divers, Great Northern Divers, Black-tailed Godwits, Little Gulls, a Wood Lark, Jack Snipe, Long-eared owl, Twite and Bramblings. Whooper Swans passed Kirkcaldy (15 on 13th), the Wilderness (78 on 13th), Balbuthie (14 on 24th), Loch Gelly and Cowdenbeath. Pale-bellied Brent Geese remained at outhead. There were 105 Pochards at Loch Gelly. St andrews Bay held 45 Scaup, 1,000 Common Scoters, Velvet Scoters, two Surf Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks and Great Northern Divers. Common Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks were also off Seafield. Smew were at Lochore meadows, Cameron reservoir (two) and Loch Gelly. red-throated Divers were off Seafield, Fife Ness, on Kilconquhar Loch, in St. andrews Bay, at outhead and off Kinghorn and Braefoot Point. Black-throated Divers and Great Northern Divers passed Fife Ness. Slavonian Grebes were at outhead, Dalgety Bay and Braefoot Point, with Great Crested Grebes at outhead, Valleyfield Lagoons and Braefoot Point. manx Shearwaters and Sooty Shearwaters passed Fife Ness (7th). Little egrets remained in the eden estuary. a hen harrier was at Kingsbarns (12th), a Goshawk at Crail airfield and a merlin at Tentsmuir. Loch Gelly held two Water rails. Purple Sandpipers were at Seafield and Kingsbarns. There were 35 Black-tailed Godwits in the eden estuary. Woodcocks were at Fife Ness, Kilminning and Denburn Wood. Grey Partridges were at Gauldry. Jack Snipe were at Kilminning and Cockleburn marsh. a few Great Skuas, Pomarine Skuas and arctic Skuas were off Fife Ness, anstruther and Kinghorn. eleven Fulmars were at St andrews. a mediterranean Gull passed Kinghorn and a Little auk passed Fife Ness (2nd). Barn owls hunted at moss Plantation and Limekilns. Short-eared owls were at rossie Bog and over elie Ness. a Water Pipit was at Pittenweem beach (10th). Waxwings in Kirkcaldy peaked at 150, with 21 in Dunfermline and 10 at Dalgety Bay. The red-breasted Flycatcher was still at Fife Ness (1st). Dunfermline held a Nuthatch (5th). Twite were at Kilrenny mill, Kilminning (25), Kingsbarns (120) and Boarhills (30). Crossbills were at St andrews, in Devilla Forest and at Blairadam. a Snow Bunting flew over Kincraig Point, with a Lapland Bunting at Kingsbarns. David Heeley (dw.heeley@btinternet.com)
Lothian HIGHLIGHTS: The american White-winged Scoter remained off musselburgh (to 9th). a Cory’s Shearwater passed Ferny Ness (4th). a rough-legged Buzzard was at aberlady Bay (6th). Two were in the Lammermuirs around Faseny (8th-19th), with a White-tailed eagle there (10th-30th). a Common or Pallid Swift was at aberlady (7th-9th). a richard’s Pipit was at Yellowcraigs (12th). a Great Grey Shrike was south of Dunbar (15th). a Siberian Chiffchaff was in an edinburgh garden (27th).
Aberlady: a Pintail and seven Black-tailed Godwits were in the bay (1st). There were two Scaup, two Gadwall, six Snow Buntings (5th-6th), two Shore Larks (12th-25th), a Water rail (18th) and five Little Gulls (22nd). Gullane Point held two Great Northern Divers, a red-necked Grebe and Surf Scoter (27th), 17 Brent Geese (25th), two Little egrets (18th), four Short-eared owls (10th) and 70 Twite (18th-25th).
BARNS Ness: a Glaucous Gull was at Whitesands Quarry (3rd and 11th) with another nearby (29th). Four Snow Buntings were at Thorntonloch (4th). Two Black redstarts were at Torness (3rd-16th) with two Swallows (4th) and a Snow Bunting (11th-16th). Skateraw held a Woodcock (16th), three Water Pipits (25th) and a Snow Bunting (27th).
Musselburgh: The Surf Scoter remained (to 17th), with a Scaup (2nd), Jack Snipe (4th), five Gadwall (5th) and a Little Gull (17th). a mediterranean Gull was at the eskmouth (10th). Some 35 Waxwings flew over (2nd). Two Short-eared owls were seen (11th).
TYNINGHAME: a Little Gull was at Seafield Pond (1st). a Jack Snipe, Woodcock, Little Gull and Waxwing were at John muir CP (4th). Four Waxwings were at West Barns (28th).
OTHER sites: a Water Pipit was at Ferny Ness (5th-13th). a Pomarine Skua and two Sandwich Terns were at Seafield (10th). Duddingston Loch held 30 Gadwall (10th) and a Long-tailed Duck (28th). Two Woodcocks (10th) and a red Kite (12th) were at Faseny. There were 1,610 Common Gulls at Whiteadder (25th). a Water rail was at Inverleith Park (22nd-25th). hound Point had a Pomarine Skua and five arctic Skuas (15th), plus three Brent Geese, a Great Skua and Sandwich Tern (19th). a Snow Bunting was at Prestonpans (24th). There were 61 Twite by Chapel reservoir (25th). Waxwings included three at Port Seton (4th), five in Longniddry (27th) and 16 in Gullane (30th). Jim Nicholson
outer hebrides HIGHLIGHTS: Vagrant Canada Geese included a small bird at Borve, Barra throughout, which was joined by three Todd’s Canada Geese (14th-16th). a Canada Goose and Cackling Goose were together in the Knockinttoran/ Paible area (from 6th). a Snowy owl was on hirta, St. Kilda (6th).
OTHER sites: Green-winged Teal were on Loch Sandary (3rd-30th) and at Loch mor, Benbecula (18th). The american Wigeon was seen again at Loch aileodair and nearby oban Trumisgarry. a ring-necked Duck was on Coot Loch (18th). Three Surf Scoters were in the Sound of Taransay and one off Berneray (24th). a White-billed Diver was off ardmhor, Barra (24th). a Great White egret was in Carloway (28th). a ruff was at eoropie and a Glaucous Gull at Loch Stiapabhat (2nd). a Little Gull was at Balranald (30th). a rough-legged Buzzard was at Langass Wood (24th). a Pomarine Skua flew past the Butt (4th). Little auks passed ardvule (22nd & 27th), with another off Barra (24th). Waxwings included eight in Lewis Castle Grounds, Stornoway (3rd), and singles at Barvas (8th) and Langass (20th). a mistle Thrush was on Grimsay (17th). a late Willow Warbler was in Carinish (1st). Fifty Bramblings were in Willowglen, Stornoway (30th). a hawfinch was in a Paiblesgarry garden (28th). Nine Crossbills were in Langass Wood (19th). Common rosefinches were at Port of Ness and on Grimsay (5th). Snow Buntings included 105 on Berneray (24th), 25 at eoligarry and 17 at Peninerine (29th). Steve Duffield (www.western-isles-wildlife.co.uk)
Perth and Kinross HIGHLIGHTS: Loch Leven held eight Slavonian Grebes (13th), three Little egrets (8th-24th), 9,181 Pinkfeet, 434 Greylags, nine Scaup (13th), a Long-tailed Duck (5th), two Jack Snipe (13th), a Short-eared owl (12th), 12 Jays (10th), and two Twite plus 200 Lesser redpolls (13th). Thirty Bearded Tits were at Powgavie (30th). Waxwings included 27 at alyth (3rd) and 64 in Kinross (26th). There were 174 mute Swans and 144 Whooper Swans on the river earn (25th). Kinbuck held 7,500 Pinkfeet (4th). a merlin was at Drumharvie (5th). Kingfishers were at Port allen (24th) and on the river earn (25th). Dippers were at Balmacolly, alyth and aberfeldy. Stonechats were at Pitcarmick (7th), megginch (10th) and Ben Vrackie (18th). There were 35 redwings at Pitroddie (28th) and 430 Fieldfares at errol (12th). There were 300 Chaffinches and 20 Bramblings at Sheriffmuir (20th). Scott Paterson (pkrecorder@the-soc.org.uk) shetland HIGHLIGHTS: White-billed Divers were at Kirkabister (2nd-30th) and Lambaness (2nd). a Black-throated Diver was at West Voe of Sumburgh (24th-26th). The Pied-billed Grebe remained at Loch of Spiggie. a Tundra Bean Goose was on Whalsay (18th-19th). The ring-necked Duck remained at Clumlie (to 20th). a Velvet Scoter was at Sumburgh (22nd). a White-tailed eagle roamed Cunningsburgh (16th-30th). Little auks included seven off Sumburgh head (17th), one off Bressay (17th) and one off Lerwick (19th). a Snowy owl was at Uyea (4th). Short-eared owls were at Bakkasetter (10th) and hillwell (8th-16th). a Shore Lark was on Fetlar (19th). an eastern Yellow Wagtail was at Sumburgh (8th-30th). Black redstarts were at Baltasound (10th), Sandwick (16th), hillwell (18th) and Symbister (18th). The Pied Wheatear remained on Foula (to 8th). a Desert Wheatear was seen at Scalloway (18th). Waxwings were at hillwell (1st-3rd), Lerwick (three on 1st and one on 8th), Scatness (two on 2nd), Brae (8th), easting (21st) and Baltasound (21st). a Dusky Warbler was at Garth (8th). a late Common rosefinch roamed between Northdale and Baltasound (8th-16th). Hugh Harrop (www.shetlandwildlife.co.uk)
tayside HIGHLIGHTS: Thirty Twite were seen at montrose Basin (1st), with a hoopoe also there (12th), plus Little egret (23rd) and two Short-eared owls nearby. There was an influx of 115 Waxwings into the county at nine different sites. Kinnordy held a Bittern and three red Kites (4th), a White-tailed eagle (13th) and nine Bearded Tits (15th). montreathmont Forest held a Great Grey Shrike (10th). a rose-coloured Starling visited a montrose garden (19th). Two Green Sandpipers were at murton reserve, Forfar (23rd), with one at monikie CP (25th). Loch of Lintrathen held 16 Crossbills (24th). The Nature Park at Invergowrie (25th) had a Spotted redshank on the shoreline.
MONTROSE BASIN: The count (4th) logged five Little Grebes, 63 Cormorants, a Little egret, 16 Grey herons, three mute Swans, 14,000 Pinkfeet, 1,161 Shelducks, 4,627 Wigeon, 283 Teal, two Shovelers, 98 eiders, 150 mallards, four Goldeneyes, a red-breasted merganser, 32 Pintails, two Goosanders, 1,128 oystercatchers, 15 Golden Plovers, a Grey Plover, 226 Lapwings, 13 Purple Sandpipers, 474 Dunlin, 74 Black-tailed Godwits, four Bar-tailed Godwits, 1,865 redshanks, 14 Turnstones, 125 Black-headed Gulls, 31 Common Gulls, 37 herring Gulls and five Great Black-backed Gulls.
OTHER sites: Three Whooper Swans were at morphie (4th). monikie CP (11th) held nine Wigeon, 45 Teal, 10 Tufted Ducks, 12 Little Grebes, three moorhens, five mute Swans, nine mallards, four Snipe, 26 Black-headed Gulls, eight Cormorants, 11 Goldeneyes and three herring Gulls. The Nature Park at Invergowrie held two Bullfinches, a Kestrel, magpie, four Teal, two Long-tailed Tits and 300 Pinkfeet (13th). Clatto CP (17th) had 25 Goosanders, mute Swan, Teal, Tufted Ducks, Grey Wagtail, Goldfinch, Bullfinch and Brambling. Forfar Loch (26th) held 80 Goldeneyes, 56 Goosanders, eight Wigeon, six Little Grebes, 11 magpies, nine Bullfinches, 28 Tufted Ducks, 16 redwings and a Tree Sparrow.