Highland Council car park at 09.30. Contact: Maureen on 01463 220013.

The May trip will be on Thursday 08 May when we will be walking at Rosehaugh, Rosemarkie & Fairy Glen looking for summer migrants. Meet at Inverness Retail Park at 09.30, or at the hide overlooking Munlochy Bay on the A832 at 09.50. This trip will be led by Keith and Rosie Barnes. Contact: Keith or Rosie on 01997 421193.

The coach and boat trip to the Isle of May on Saturday 07 June led by Doreen Manson still has plenty of free places. The coach will leave Inverness at 08.30. The boat trip lasts for 4 - 5 hrs with 2 - 3 hrs on the island. Cost is £20 for the coach and £24 for the boat (concessions £20). The date should coincide with the best time to view the maximum amount of puffins, plus all the other cliff nesting birds and various terns.

With the co-operation of the weather it should prove to be a good day out with plenty of photo opportunities.

There is a booking form for the trip at the back of this newsletter. Contact: Doreen on 01997 433283.

Keith Barnes

Reminders

Seating at Meetings: remember that the front

row of seats are available to those of you with difficulties with walking, hearing, or seeing. Please avail yourselves of this facility or ask any committee member if you need extra help. Any front row seats still vacant shortly before the start of the meeting can then be used by anyone else.

Stamps: Rosie Barnes is still collecting used

postage stamps on behalf of the RSPB Save the Albatross appeal.

Bad weather contacts. If you are in doubt

that a meeting will take place due to bad weather conditions please contact any committee member for up to date information. In the case of field trips contact the trip leader.

RSPB Sales: Maureen Macdonald will take

orders throughout the year for goods from the catalogue. Remember that the group funds benefit from your purchases and you do not pay post and packaging.

HIGHLAND BIRDS

The newsletter of the RSPB Highland Local Group

March 2014

The RSPB is a registered charity in England & Wales 207076, in Scotland SC037654

Issue 84

Editorial

What a winter it’s been down south with all that rain; fortunately we missed the worst of it up here! Most noticeably here has been the lack of garden birds - probably it’s been the relatively mild weather (for the time of year) which has meant that there has been plenty of food for them to find in the countryside, and so they don’t need to visit our feeders so often (except for the rooks, which seem to come and raid next doors feeder every morning at first light).

Do you have any wildlife stories or experiences that you would like to share? If so, or if you do get some over the summer, then please send them to me and I’ll put them into the next issue of our Newsletter (September’s).

Until then, thank you very much to all the contributors of articles so far and to the NSRO for the continued use of the printing facilities.

Ed

Field Trips

For March – June 2014

In a change to the advertised programme the West Coast trip on Saturday 29 March will now be led by Doreen and John Manson. They intend to visit Loch Shieldaig followed by Loch Kishorn and Lochcarron. Meet at the Highland Council car park, Inverness at the usual time of 09.30 or at the second pick-up point in Conon Bridge at 9.50am. Contact: Doreen or John on 01997 433283.

On Saturday 26 April Maureen MacDonald will lead a trip to Speyside, which will include a visit to the RSPB reserve at Insh. Again, meet at the

The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home.

Official Notification

AGM

RSPB Highland Local Group

Thursday 24 April 2014 - 19.30

Fraser park Bowling Club

MacEwen Drive, Inverness

From your Group Leader The birds are telling us that spring has arrived.

This winter there have been several sightings of birds less commonly seen on our shores; the most obliging has been the American coot at Loch Flemington, which never tires from posing for photographs and seems to have taken a shine to our own common coot (watch this space!).

Other birds of particular interest have been a tundra bean goose, several white fronted geese, little tern, both a little egret and a great egret, a crane flying overhead and a yellow-browed warbler. It remains to be seen if any of these, and any others I may have forgotten to mention, remain in the area. My money goes on the little egret.

We are in discussion at the moment with the RSPB office about our Bird Booklet. In its present form l and several others think a reprint would not be successful, but we have now moved on to the idea of producing it as an ‘app’ for mobile phones. It is under discussion that a third year student at Inverness College may compile this, but there will be a lot of preparatory work to be undertaken, mostly the checking of sites; and there will be proof reading to do – anyone who would like to help with this please let me know.

ON now to the committee. We really do need

two new committee members – please consider helping us out as we are getting to the stage where we are worried about the future of the group if nobody comes forward.

Please put in your booking forms for the Isle of

May Trip; we would like to seen as many members as possible on this trip.

There are still some good talks and birding trips to come, and l wish you all a good Summer.

Doreen Manson

Indoor Meeting RSPB North Scotland Office Update

05 December 2013

Gale force winds followed by snow showers giving freezing slippery conditions kept many people at home this evening so unfortunately there was a poor turnout. As usual, George Campbell opened the evening and this year and entitled his talk ‘What we will be up to in 2015’. He began with the new strapline ‘giving nature a home’, explaining that the RSPB was working closely with other conservation bodies for all species and should not be considered as just conserving birds. One of the challenges the RSPB is facing is that the society had stopped

growing; especially the adult membership. The television advert ‘saving nature’ has been an incredible success and the society now has more than 1.1 million members for the first time – generating more resources for conservation. It also attempts to raise awareness of nature to the many children who have no access to the countryside by encouraging them to get out into their gardens.

He then outlined some of the local areas covered by the RSPB’s contribution to landscape-scale conservation ‘Futurescapes’, space for nature, land for life. These ‘Futurescapes’ include the Caledonian Forest such as Abernethy, where more broadleaf trees are to be planted, the Spey valley where the RSPB is working with farmers to provide more wader habitat, peatlands such as Forsinard and the machair on the Uists.

Seabirds and waders are a main focus for the future with curlews especially doing very badly in the UK. One four year project is to remove the black rats from the Shiant Islands, which are owned by the writer Adam Nicholson and have huge seabird colonies on which the rats predate. Some species will get less attention e.g. ospreys, red kites, black grouse and sea eagles are all well established and expanding their range so less monitoring is needed.

Improving the visitor experience is another priority and future schemes include plans for a visitor centre at Dunnet Head, a new observatory at Forsinard where visitors will be able to sit and look at the landscape through large viewing windows or from a viewing platform above, similar to the new hide at Insh marshes. Also at Forsinard a new field centre with research facilities, volunteer accommodation and office space is planned.

The RSPB will be doing more work as an organisation for mammals such as mountain hares and wildcats, plants and insects, and working with other conservation organisations to improve the environment and continuing to work with crofters and farmers.

After the break Pete Mayhew gave us a very interesting talk on his holiday (sorry, sabbatical) on St Helena and Ascension Island. The islands are part of the British Empire and as a British organisation the RSPB is involved with conservation work over there. The islands are volcanic and in the South Atlantic, requiring a 5 day boat trip from South Africa. Pete began on St Helena and gave us a short history of the country, with images of capital Jamestown and the house where Napoleon was held. Napoleon died on the island and his gravestone has no inscription on it as the English and French couldn’t agree on the wording. His body was eventually dug up and moved to Paris.

The island is very rugged volcanic terrain with

Curlew

forest in the centre. The endemic vegetation includes a remarkable cabbage tree, which is a member of the daisy family, and is now threatened with extinction due to introduced species and overgrazing by sheep and donkeys.

Much of the island has been identified as being important for bird conservation, especially the endemic wirebird – a plover with long spindly legs; of which there are probably only about 450 remaining. The RSPB is attempting to improve the habitat and control the feral cat population which predates the plovers.

Pete was visiting the islands to train the local conservation workers in mist netting and ringing storm petrels and to fit GPS Loggers on masked boobies and red-billed tropicbirds to see where the birds were fishing, for future management of fish stocks. The loggers are taped to the top of the tail and when the bird returns from fishing it has to be caught again and the logger removed. The tropicbirds can go to sea for up to 10 days at a time and results showed that some travelled 500 kilometres from St Helena.

Pete then sailed to Ascension Island, which also holds significant seabird colonies. On one small adjacent island all the worlds population of Ascension frigatebirds breed – between 5-8000 birds. GPS Loggers were attached and recoveries showed some birds going up to 1000 kilometres south to fish. Generally, birds were fishing all round the islands and the information gathered helps towards future management of fishing. Pete was very proud of the number of birds recaptured to collect the data.

Thanks to both speakers for a very enjoyable and informative evening. It was a pity so few members were able to attend.

Rosie Barnes

Christmas Birding and Lunch Sunday 15 December 2013

Once again we managed a window of good

weather for our Black Isle trip. 30 group members assembled at 09.00 and we set off on our venture. As is usual for our Christmas trip we held a sweepstake and guesses as to the number of species to be seen varied from 23 to 85!

Our first stop was Chanonry Point, which was fairly quiet but the long-tailed duck showed up well and we followed on with our usual spots of Cromarty, and Newhall point where we walked looking for small birds. Our best sighting was a large flock of tree sparrows all drawing attention to themselves by some loud twittering! Our final stop of Udale Bay turned us all into ‘twitchers’ as

we all spotted the American wigeon. Then it was on to

the station hotel, Avoch where we all enjoyed an excellent meal. The total bird species count of 54 was won by Roy Nelson.

Doreen Manson

New Year Bird Count Saturday 04 January 2014

Eighteen members turned out for this annual event on 04 January, which turned out to be a relatively mild day with low cloud.

This year the roll call took place at the Station Hotel, Avoch, after a much appreciated selection of wonderful home baking.

The total number of species seen was 97 – one less than 2013 but, importantly, with two new species to add to the running list for the event; these were ring-billed gull and chiffchaff. The list now stands at a very impressive 140. For the fourth year running the winners were Rosie and Keith Barnes with 71 species. They were re-presented with the trophy by group leader Doreen.

We should look forward to the

2015 event and to pushing the

running list towards the magical

150 mark.

David & Mary Galloway

Indoor Meeting

Swanning around in Scotland & Iceland 30 January 2014

This evening, the guest speaker was Professor Chris Spray MBE, who gave a presentation on “Swanning around in Scotland and Iceland – the whooper swan story”.

Everyone is aware that the whooper swan is an Arctic species which migrates to Scotland and Northern and Southern Ireland for the winter months. Chris showed graphs depicting their migration route with the years non-breeders leading the way. Whooper swan numbers are down in Scotland; massive numbers make their way to Northern and Southern Ireland, as well as England, flying up to a height of 29,000 feet (8,923 meters). Chris pointed out that some do not migrate, but instead stay in Iceland. A very small number of 6 or 7 pairs breed in Scotland.

When seen in Scotland, their flock size is around eighteen birds and it is very easy to determine their breeding success each year from the number of cygnets within a flock.

Chris mentioned that, contrary to what some people say, when a swan’s head is down and the tail up, it is impossible to determine the species

Long-tailed ducks

Chiffchaff

whether it be mute or whooper swan. A picture confirming this fact was shown for everyone to see and, quite clearly, the difference between the mute and whooper’s tails (lesson learnt, especially by me)! Whilst here, their first preference is to feed in rape fields, second, winter cereal

and lastly, stubble and grass. Chris visited Iceland during the moulting season

when it is much easier to catch and ring birds because they moult all of their wing feathers at once. At this time, blood samples were also taken from the birds to find out the quantity of lead content in their bodies.

We enjoyed several scenic views of Iceland during the short spring/summer months and spectacular sunsets, as well as bewick swan, Slavonian grebe, red-necked phalarope, grey plover, purple sandpipers, snow buntings, goldeneye, harlequin and long-tailed ducks in their amazing summer rigouts.

Flowers were also included, especially several saxifrage species which seem to thrive in this part of the world and the Icelandic orchid.

We all know that swans can survive for many years: their commonest premature death cause is flying into wires. Oil, too, can be a problem. We also believe that unless death do them part, pairs are monogamous. Scientists have now proved through their studies of ringed birds that this is not always the case. Some incompatible pairs do divorce and find other partners (not many though).

Chris answered many questions from the audience before Doreen thanked him on behalf of everyone present for his excellent talk.

Maureen MacDonald

Around the Beauly Firth Saturday 01 February 2014

Strong winds, low temperatures and a very high

tide did not augur well for our outing around the Beauly Firth, but not to be deterred, 19 of us gathered at the turning circle at South Kessock in brilliant sunshine. Several long-tailed ducks and good numbers of guillemots plus a few razorbills were on the sea. After studying these, most of the party walked along the path, seeing a pair of teal and a little grebe, amongst others. We returned by the boardwalk and behind the wood, with a wonderful view of a pair of bullfinches, and two of

us saw a female siskin high in a tree. The next stop was at Bunchrew Caravan Site where we were delighted to see 40+ black-tailed godwits

by the shore, along with oyster-catchers. Then a peregrine appeared and put up some of the birds. Further along four Slavonian grebes swam up a small inlet.

On the way to Beauly we passed a field with numerous pink-footed geese and some grey-lags, and those who stopped to look more carefully identified 2 white-fronted geese among them.

Lunch was eaten at Lily Loch, where coal-tit was added to the list. The next site was down past the old quarry at Killearnan, where we had permission from the owners of Quarry Cottage to walk across their garden. The very high (5.1m.) tide was now fully in. On the garden feeders were various species, including greenfinch and tree-sparrow. Some of us walked to the old telephone box while the drivers brought along the cars. Then we continued along by the firth, stopping several times to watch large flocks of linnets flying swiftly by, more geese and a sparrowhawk. Finally, at the car park near Charleston, a yellowhammer showed itself, a kestrel flew high above some trees, and a juvenile shag (unwell?) looked up at us from the shore.

So, after a satisfying day’s bird-watching, with 52 species seen, we dispersed. Thanks to all who attended and helped spot the birds.

Gillian Wylie

Indoor Meeting Ultima Thule - a journey to the remoter isles of northern & western Scotland

27 February 2014 David took us on a journey to the remoter isles of

Northern and Western Scotland on board the Finnish built vessel Professor Molchanov.

First port of call was to be Fair Isle, but rough seas prevented a landing so it was on to Shetland where Mousa, the first port of call, was more hospitable to the group and they were able to land in the zodiacs. Other islands visited were Unst to see Hermaness, and also Out Stack and Muckle Flugga – where the lighthouse built by the Stephensons in 1854 is sited. And Foula where, in days gone by, it was necessary to lift the ferry back from the sea to keep it safe. Foula also boosts one of the highest cliffs in the country at 1220ft.

Now on to the Flannans, or the seven hunter, 40 miles off the west coast of Lewis. It was here in 1900 that the lighthouse was found to be deserted and the fate of the keepers has never been discovered.

North Rona was the next island visited. It has an interesting history, inhabited as early as 737, it was abandoned after Viking raids in the 12th or

Whooper swan

13th century but re-settled in the 17th century until a series of disasters, including a plague of rats, resulted in the last resident leaving in 1844. There are still remains of the church partly; built in the 7th century and beautifully constructed with inward leaning walls bridged over with stone slabs. The rest of the church was built in 12th century. Next on to the St Kilda islands we have all heard about. David’s pictures showed the deserted main street – one could imagine what it was like in its hey day.

On now to Mingulay, Barra and Vatersay (now linked by a causeway to Barra). Vatersay and Barra both remain inhabited, but Berneray, Pabbay, Sandray and Mingulay were all abandoned in 1912.

Pabbay was once fertile with a population of 100, but in 1846 the island was cleared for sheep. There are several surviving monuments including several weathered slabs from the 6th-9th century. The most important is the Pabbay stone, the only Pictish symbol stone to be seen in the Western Isles and one of only five in the Hebrides.

Here David brought us to the end of his journey. He certainly covered some of Scotland’s remoter islands and as well as the history he showed us the bird life of these Isles. Thank you David for a most informative talk.

Doreen Manson

Sea Duck Safari Saturday 01 March 2014

There was a good turnout for this field trip with

the sun already shining by 8am! Our first stop was Milton of Culloden where a great many wigeon were happily socialising around on the high tide; a few mallard and a Slavonian grebe were also in evidence. A large number of scaup were then spotted further down towards Inverness together with goldeneye, teal, curlew and herring gull. Shelduck were hunkered down on the point as the wind was still quite nippy and around the woodland verge we added robin, starling, chaffinch, goldfinch, blackbird, great tit, hoodie and carrion crow. A little further on at Alturlie Bay there were redshank probing at the water’s edge, black-headed and greater black-backed gulls, cormorants and some sharp Swarovski eyes picked out a red-throated diver in the far distance.

En route to Loch Flemington seven whooper swans were seen in a field, and upon arrival at the Loch the American coot was awaiting our arrival obligingly nearby for close scrutiny! Having been admired by all and sundry over the last two months, I wonder when instinct will call it away from its enforced Highland holiday. The mute

swans with their cygnets were clearly very put out at not being the centre of attention and became very demanding until they realised that no food was forthcoming! Moorhens, a little grebe, a coot, a heron and three disdainful cormorants sitting on a railing were visible and several goldfinches were busy foraging in the bushes.

Our next stop was Findhorn Bay and on the way oystercatchers, woodpigeon, jackdaw, buzzard and a kestrel were seen. The tide still seemed pretty high and there were pink-footed geese, pintail, turnstone and curlew spotted there with a meadow pipit nearby. The sunny bright light was still excellent for our Burghead Harbour stop, a lone purple sandpiper was surrounded by several dozing turnstone in a gash in the pier wall which was affording them a welcome respite from the cold gusty wind. A strange sight was awaiting us in the sheltered harbour water; a motley self-conscious duck of mixed piebald appearance. It was a female long-tailed duck moulting into her spring plumage – a truly odd sight! Eiders were bobbing happily off shore as, indeed, were common scoter and a great northern diver. Our lunch break was taken over by the ugly brewery buildings and no additional ducks were spotted from that point.

We then turned about to Kingsteps in Nairn where the scrub and wooded area was alive with bird chirping, too early for polished song but evidence none the less that spring is on its way. Blue, coal, great and long-tailed tit were flitting to and fro and even a perky goldcrest was too busy pecking seeds from a cone to worry about the audience watching his every move! A handsome yellowhammer was perched high on a branch showing off his smart breeding coat and a magpie, a collared dove, and a pied wagtail added to our count. Making our way along the boggy marshland and over the River Nairn a lone redshank was wading along the edge probing deep into the mud. We then continued through the sand dunes to get a good view of the seashore (and weekend dog walkers!). Bar-tailed godwits were having their morning nap, head under wing on a sandbank and distant sanderling were also running back and forth following the every movement of the water’s edge. Someone spotted a red-breasted merganser overhead. Returning towards the car park our leader couldn’t resist the temptation of walking/wading cautiously into the boggy reeds in the hopes of putting up an egret which is known to be wintering there. No egret but three alarmed snipe careered off up and away which was fun to see. No guns in our party...

Finally, our return via Nairn Golf Course was well worth the detour with two groups of the expected Brent geese feeding around the rocks which the descending tide had

Brent geese

exposed. They are remarkably tame as this is a popular golf course and they seem very used to the continual movement of cars and people around and about. Lots of redshank were poking around the weeds and rocks and with the light becoming overcast we all set off homewards and some greylag geese were spotted en route in the fields. Fantastic weather for this successful outing and a big thank you to Keith and Rosie for such a well-planned and rewarding day. The day’s species count was an excellent 67.

Freydis Campbell

Down in the Glen

The winter certainly passed very quietly indeed with the garden birds hardly noticeable. Around the start of the year word reached me of a flock of goldfinches around the village, so it was out with the Niger seed and after a visit from a couple of siskin to begin with, eight goldfinches arrived. The number stayed between four and eight for a few weeks. This was unusual as we are fortunate to see one or two at most.

As many will know Niger seed does leave a mess to be cleaned up but I noticed when there were a number of birds at the feeder many were happily picking around the so called leavings on the ground, suggesting that the feeding is untidy. Now we are not so quick to clear up the debris.

Two further ‘flocks’ arrived this winter the first being eighteen starlings. They have come and gone over the years, but they have been absent for a year or so. I came across them in a roost one Sunday night during a walk round the village. I stood under the tree and listened to two of them mimicking the call of a buzzard while another had the call of a curlew almost perfected. I had heard it on my walk and was slightly mystified as it is early for curlews to be about the area. They are great mimics and where we lived in Edinburgh one from the local flock had the house telephone ring tone in its repertoire – most annoying when had just settled in a deck chair in the rear garden!!

The other flock was one of over twenty jackdaws that are not at all seen in the area. They were with the rather large rook flock that frequents the village and as a species they have been known to roost together. Interesting to see if they stay and breed.

Another uncommon sighting was that of a red kite over the fields at the rear of the Fire Station in January. They have appeared from time to time over the years but it is sometime since one has been seen. One shortage in the area has been that of great tits. Usually there are a few dotted around the village in the gardens but not so far.

The annual clean of the nest boxes took place in January. Only one of the normal boxes had been

used – a bit disappointing. Our daughter gave me an owl box some years ago and it has been situated in the same tree, unused since then. However when I looked in it this year there was something white completely covering the bottom of the box. Down it came and I emptied it to find I had been looking at a complete slice of white bread with an owl’s egg on the top!! Almost egg on toast! Our neighbour puts out a lot of bread for the birds and the gulls are the most regular attendees in her garden. The tawny owls were about a lot last spring and it must be unusual for one to have collected a slice of bread and carried about fifty yards to a nest box.

A kind of mini dawn chorus started at the beginning of February with blackbirds and chaffinches being the main songsters. We then had four mornings of a song thrush with blue and coal tits singing most of the day along with a robin. However by the end of February it had become infrequent but it will not be long before it swells to a most welcome sound.

I took a break this winter from bird counts on the west coast and have spent the time visiting sites from Inverness to Burghead with varying amounts of success. The most impressive by far were the sightings of long-tailed ducks close to shore at Alturlie and particularly at Nairn. The combination of sun and a calm sea made them a sight to remember for a long time. Also impressive has bee the large numbers of shelduck both at Dingwall and in the Moray Firth. There seems to have been a large number of Slavonian grebes in the Moray Firth also. It was a different but interesting way to spend the winter bird watching.

Richard Prentice

The Wryneck

In the last Newsletter I mentioned a sighting of a wryneck in the village so it was with some interest that when the Bird Atlas 2007 – 2011 was delivered I turned to the page headed Wryneck. During the period of the Atlas most records of possible breeding were to be found in the Scottish Highlands mainly around Strathspey but also in Easter Ross and further north. The text adds ‘Due to the scarcity of the species, and the abundance of potentially suitable habitat in Scotland, it is possible that the Atlas underestimates the true status of the species’.

I thought it would be of interest to the person who passed me the information of the sighting so with the Atlas I set of for a visit with Nanny, as she

Tawny owl

is known locally. A local ‘lass’ who has spent her life here and worked in the forests for part of the last war she knows her stuff. She read the page with considerable interest then produced for me peruse at my leisure ‘A History of British Birds’ by William Yarrell V.P.L.S., F.Z.S. – the fourth edition printed in 1871 in four volumes. These had been acquired by her late husband and certainly were interesting to look at. The individual birds are introduced with a very fine shaded drawing followed by a full description – for example the one of the reed bunting or ‘reed sparrow’ as it was also known was unmistakable in its detail.

Looking up the wryneck in Volume 2 at page 492 it states; ‘Mr. R. Gray cites an instance of breeding in Inverness-shire, besides its occurrence in Aberdeenshire and Sutherland, while Mr. Edward records one killed in Banffshire and Mr Shearer mentions two examples in Caithness’. Fascinating to know they are still around in areas not too far removed from those days. The afternoon with tea and biscuits with much chatting passed very pleasantly with me being told about the field across the river from the house where corncrakes were annual visitors for many years and so on. A lovely way to spend an afternoon in the company of a very knowledgeable lady!

Richard Prentice

If I Had My Time Again

If I had my time again I think I would try and be an all round naturalist, instead of just mainly a bird watcher. I envy those members of our RSPB Group who do qualify as such. Of course it is laziness on my part for not learning more about other aspects of the natural world. The term Nature Study now seems rather old fashioned, but past exponents have included such ‘giants’ as Gilbert White the 18

th c. pioneer of ecology and

parish priest, to whom everything in nature was fascinating. Also, the great Charles Darwin with interests ranging from birds (Darwin’s finches), through freshwater mussels to botany, and geology. These men were all-rounders, they did not compartmentalise various aspects of nature, but were able to take an overall view.

The 19th c. American Indian Chief Seattle

summed things up in his speech to the ‘Great White Chief’ in Washington, after having to hand his lands over to settlers. He spoke not only of his beloved buffalo, but also of rivers, the sky and other aspects of nature. He ended by saying ‘all things are connected’. This demonstrated his understanding of subjects we now call ecology and sustainability – knowledge that would have been foreign, to many of the white settlers. His speech is still considered to be one of the greatest

ever made in the cause of conservation.

For my part I have some knowledge of butterflies and moths, am an indifferent botanist, and as for, say, bats or pond life these are gaps in my education. I recall a party of visitors to Loch Ruthven who not only wanted to see the Slavonian grebes but also to check out the species of dragonfly to be found at the reserve. I later read somewhere that dragonflies are considered to be the ‘bird watchers insects’. As bird watchers we are well placed to enjoy other nature. Can you imagine a birder visiting a game park in Kenya, and not being intrigued by say the ‘Big five’, or those graceful antelopes? Then there is that mysterious world known to scuba divers. Coral reefs, the seabed, and - closer to home - those rocky shores with tidal pools. Here occur a mass of exotic life forms that make our terrestrial plants and animals seem to be rather ‘ordinary’. A closed book to people like me.

Visit an RSPB reserve and check out the display boards, 30 or more years ago and these would have almost entirely about identification of the local avifauna. Now there is much more by way of factual information, for example regarding waders. How the very varied bills are adapted to source particular food items from the mudflats – be they on the surface or many inches below it blue tits and great tits may both occupy the same tree, but they will use that tree differently as regards nesting site selection, areas to feed in or for singing and display purposes. Our magazine ‘Birds’ (now renamed Nature’s Home) gives much information on non-avian life forms, and RSPB reserves offer protection to such. For example RSPB Forsinard is rightly renowned for its array of mosses, lichens and other ‘lowly’ plant forms.

Are we being gently ‘groomed’ to view our hobby from a different angle? Perhaps future bird watchers will be encouraged to become more ‘rounded’ naturalists than we the present generation are. Maybe the craze (especially, although not entirely) amongst new young bird watchers to become ‘world listers’ will change. Perhaps in the future it will be more about the relationship of birds to the nature around them. As Chief Seattle said 150 or more years ago ‘all things are connected’. Yes, if I had my time again!

Mike Strickland

Computer Corner The latest on the Scottish cuckoos is that they

are all south of the Sahara with Patch, Livingstone and Waller well established in their wintering grounds – you can continue to follow them on

Slavonian grebe

www.bto.org/cuckoos.

(CTRL + click to open the link). Carl Baggot’s blog at

www.bagawildone.blogspot.co.uk is well worth a visit. Click on what’s up in Scotland for some great images of Cairngorm specialities.

You can gain information about local raptors by visiting www.raptortrack.org although it is historical for some species. It has excellent information about golden eagles.

There is currently a request for information about coloured ringed shags. The rings have a unique three letter code on a red, yellow, white, blue or green background. Email any sightings to shags@ceh.ac.uk

Bird Track priorities currently are for winter sightings of curlew, goosander, kestrel, ptarmigan, raven and whooper swan. If you do not have an account with Bird track you can send the sightings to whatsup@bto.org

I recently acquired Bird Guides DVD-Rom ‘Guide to British Birds’ Version 9. It hosts a vast amount of information on individual species with pictures, film in flight and diagrams. It also gives song and in some cases flight calls for the species. The maps show breeding, passage areas and wintering ranges. I mention the reported sighting of a wryneck in Down in the Glen. The passage map for that species shows it may occur right up the east coast of the country and into the Moray Firth and beyond. It is a valuable addition to help in bird identification and I would recommend it.

Richard Prentice

Stevie’s Snippets

24 Dec. A tight flock of several hundred knot were stranded by the rising tide on a sandbank close to the end of the E harbour wall at Nairn; so we stayed to watch for the inevitable. Several small groups were marching this way and that, searching for higher ground, but they were already on it! Within minutes they were tightly packed and up to their thighs. Then it happened. They all rose as one, with a loud whirring, buzzing, and flapping – looking like a cross between a helicopter and a flying carpet. The mass hovered low over the water against the wind for a moment, as if deciding which way to go. Then they lifted, swelled in size to a giant sausage-shape and banked. They all turned white as the sun glinted off their flanks as they wheeled seawards...then...Whooosh – they were gone! Marvellous.

09 Jan. I was in the greenhouse at dusk and robins and a pair of great tits were singing to each other. Then, as the light faded, one of the great tits flew to the nest box by the greenhouse and squeezed through the hole (it’s a little tight for

great tits) - obviously to spend the night roosting there. I think I shall get one of those nest box cameras to allow us to view inside.

Mid Jan. Several robins round the garden singing at dusk, trying to out-compete each other - such a lovely song.

19 Feb. A blackbird was singing at dusk (the first this year) from our roof. It sounded really beautiful - adding some unusual embellishments which sounded like it had copied from robins or mistle thrushes.

10 Feb. A male sparrowhawk caught a sparrow and proceeded to eat it on our fence. It was so intent on feeding that it let me carefully approach to get some photos (see next page).

02 Mar. We had a walk around Loch Morlich and were surprised to see a pair of waxwings feeding amongst the heather. They flew into a pine tree and we had some good close views of them.

Field Trip Notes

Please note the following for your safety and

guidance when on field trips:

Our trips are usually low risk and take account of the ages of the group but occasionally they may involve rocky paths, slippery duckboards or boggy ground. You can help to keep our trips enjoyable and trouble free by observing the following advice:

Check the weather forecast and bring appropriate footwear, normally sturdy boots and warm waterproof clothing. It can be wet, windy, muddy, slippery or (even sometimes) very hot! There may be insect bites and ticks to contend with. You should consider taking a whistle, stick, walking pole, map, a small first aid kit and even sun protection cream for the head and neck. A mobile phone can be useful in an emergency and of course do not forget your binoculars and scope.

Comply with route and safety instructions at sites and with the request of the trip leader.

Do not get separated from the group, especially in the hills or unfamiliar terrain. Make sure that you know where the meeting place is and at what time you should be there.

If you have any particular health problems that may slow you down, or prevent you from safely completing the walk, or birding in time, please speak to the group leader. If you are in any doubt, stay with your vehicle or the bus.

If you are carrying other members of the group in your own car, please ensure that your insurance covers this. Most policies are invalidated if passengers are charged or contribute to the cost of petrol.

Sparrowhawk © Steve Austin

Coach Booking Form

I wish to book ............ place(s) for the Isle of May coach trip on Saturday 07 June 2014 - at £24 per person (£20 concession), plus £20 for the coach). Coach leaves Inverness 08.30.

Name(s)......................................................................... Address…………………...........………………………...

.................................................... .... Post Code ................................... Tel no. ............................................

I enclose cheque (made payable to: RSPB Highland Group) for: £............................(£40 or £44 per person)

Please send cheque and completed form to: Maureen MacDonald, 30 Glengarry Road, Inverness, IV3 8NJ

The RSPB is a registered charity in England & Wales 207076, in Scotland SC037654

The RSPB Highland Local Group would like to keep your details to send you further information about group activities and the work of the RSPB. If you want to amend or update your details or you do not want us to use them in the way stated, please contact me at the address below. Maureen Macdonald, 30 Glengarry road, Inverness, IV3 8NJ or email: macdonald456@btinternet.com

If you wish to receive this information electronically, please confirm your e-mail address

here: ...

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And finally....

P.s. Have a good summer

Here ‘s one I took earlier...

Note: all drawings in the Newsletter are courtesy of RSPB Publishing Resources.