News archive
March 2009
Friday, 20 March 2009
Bird Surveys
for surveys run by the British Trust for Ornithology with other organisations such as the RSPB and
the Scottish Ornithologists Club.
A new Breeding and Winter Bird Atlas [for the British Isles and Ireland from 2007 to 2011] is in
its early stages. The surveys are simple to carry out and volunteers are needed.
Volunteers are also needed for the Breeding Birds and Heronries surveys. We would also like to
know of the existence of any heronries
Please contact
Graham Cooper for South Aberdeenshire
Email grahamwcooper@beeb.net
Telephone: 013398 82706
OR
Paul Doyle for North Aberdeenshire
Email paul@albaecology.co.uk
Telephone: 01358 751384
OR
Visit the BTO website: http://www.bto.org
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Total List 2008
Blackbird, blackcap, corn bunting, bullfinch, reed bunting, buzzard, chaffinch, chiffchaff, coot, cormorant, carrion crow, hooded crow, common crossbill, cuckoo, curlew, dipper, black-throated diver, red-throated diver, collared dove, rock dove,
long-tailed duck, tufted duck, dunlin, dunnock, golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, little egret, eider, peregrine falcon, fulmar, gadwall, gannet, garganey, bar-tailed godwit, black-tailed godwit, goldcrest, goldeneye, goldfinch, goosander, barnacle goose, brent goose, Canada Goose, greylag goose, pink-footed goose, goshawk, great crested grebe, little grebe, greenfinch, greenshank, red grouse, black guillemot, common guillemot, black-headed gull, common gull, glaucous gull, great black-backed gull, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull, little gull,
hen harrier, marsh harrier, hawfinch, grey heron, jackdaw, jay, kestrel, red kite, kittiwake, knot, lapwing, linnet, magpie, mallard, house martin, sand martin, merlin, red-breasted merganser, moorhen, tawny owl, oystercatcher, grey partridge, pheasant, feral pigeon, meadow pipit, rock pipit, golden plover, grey plover, ringed plover, raven, razorbill, lesser redpoll, redshank, redstart, robin, rook, ruff,
sanderling, common sandpiper, wood sandpiper, purple sandpiper, common scoter, surf scoter, velvet scoter, scaup, shag, Manx shearwater, sooty shearwater, shelduck, shoveler, siskin, Arctic skua, great skua, skylark, common snipe, house sparrow, tree sparrow, sparrowhawk, starling, little stint, stonechat, swallow, Bewick's swan, mute swan, whooper swan, swift, teal, Arctic tern, common tern, Sandwich tern, mistle thrush, song thrush, blue tit, coal tit, crested tit, great tit, long-tailed tit, treecreeper, turnstone, twite, willow warbler, sedge warbler, grey wagtail, pied wagtail, wheatear, whinchat, whitethroat, wigeon, great spotted woodpecker, woodpigeon, wren,
yellowhammer
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Friends of Strathbeg - Update
Thanks to the loyal support of many RSPB members, and members of Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scottish Ornithologists Club, National Trust for Scotland, North East Mountain Trust, Royal Scottish Geographical Society, Cairngorm Club and Saltire Society and many individual supporters our funds are climbing back up again. Hopefully by the time RSPB present their next Grant Application, which will probably involve de-silting the loch, we'll be able to repeat our previous donation. So please go out your way to chose Friends of Strathbeg when buying your bird food and nest boxes!
On the subject of Nest Boxes so many questions are asked - so here's a few answers!
1. Always buy thick boxes - too thin and the chicks will "cook"!
2. Like bird feeders, avoid locating boxes in the open. Predators lie in wait for birds crossing open spaces - especially juicy young fledglings!
3. Unless shielded by buildings or trees, boxes should ideally face generally northwards - to avoid the relentless rays of the midday sun - dream on!
4. Parasites are a serious problem - the effects are not dissimilar to humans being scalded. Boxes ought to be cleaned thoroughly after the breeding season - preferably using boiling water.
5. The best time to erect boxes is in the early spring [February / March] but boxes erected in June have been known to be occupied within two hours!
6. Ideally boxes need to be high enough to be out of reach of cats - reportedly responsible for 55 million bird deaths each year. Netting or branches suitably positioned can be successful deterrents.
7. If Grey Squirrels are regular visitors, metal nest plates are essential. The Grampian Red Squirrel
Conservation Officer would also like to know if greys are in your area - a stock of recording cards
is always available - a stock of recording cards is always available when collecting your supplies!
8. Squirrel damage to a nest box is shown in the photo!
Bill Craigie