North-East Scotland

North-East Scotland Bird Report

Editor:

Mark Sullivan

Published by:

SOC - North-East Scotland Branch

Latest issue:

2022

Contains:

Farewell to Jim Dunbar 1930–2022
The Ornithological Year 2022
The 2022 Systematic List
Grampian Ringing Group 2022 Summary
A “yellow-legged” gull and a Yellow-legged Gull at Inchgarth Reservoir
The Rise of Little Ringed Plover in NE Scotland
Autumn Wader Passage at Loch of Skene
Mammals in North-East Scotland 2022
Amphibians & Reptiles in North-East Scotland 2022
Butterflies in North-East Scotland 2022
Dragonflies and Damselflies in North-East Scotland, 2022

Cost:

Copies are available at a cost of £12.50 (incl. p&p) by contacting Mark Sullivan by email: geolbird@gmail.com or on 07966 412172.  Copies may also be available to purchase over the counter at Waterston House, priced at £11.00 (please check before travelling - Tel 01875 871330). Subscribers are advised ahead of any new issues via contact preference of their choice. Please contact Mark Sullivan if you wish to be on the subscribers’ list.

Available from:

Mark Sullivan, as above. 

First published:

1974

Back issues:

The North-East Scotland Bird Report has been published since 1974, and a number of back issues are available for most years.  For further details, please contact Mark Sullivan as above.

Contents of the 2021 Report

The Ornithological Year 2021
Grampian Ringing Group 2021 Summary
Birds of the Ythan Estuary: 2011-2015 Part 2 - Waders
Butterflies in North-East Scotland 2021 (*New for this issue)
Mammals in North-East Scotland 2021
Amphibians & Reptiles in North-East Scotland 2021

Contents of the 2020 report:

The Ornithological Year, 2020
Grampian Ringing Group 2020 Summary
Birds of the Ythan Estuary 2011 – 2015 Part 1 – Wildfowl
Egrets in North-East Scotland
Avocets at RSPB Scotland Loch of Strathbeg
Mammals in North-East Scotland 
Amphibians and Reptiles in North-East Scotland 

Contents of the 2019 report:

The Ornithological Year, 2019
Grampian Ringing Group 2019 Summary
First Record of Iberian Chiffchaff
Gull-Billed Tern at Inverbervie
Inchgarth Birding
Mammals in North-East Scotland (click here to download a PDF)
Amphibians and Reptiles in North-East Scotland (click here to download a PDF)

Contents of the 2018 report:

The Ornithological Year, 2018
Grampian Ringing Group 2018 Summary
Movement of Seabirds off Peterhead, Aberdeenshire
Sooty Tern July 2018 - First for North-East Scotland
The Status of White-billed Diver in North-East Scotland
Mammals in North-East Scotland (click here to download a PDF)
Amphibians and Reptiles in North-East Scotland (click here to download a PDF)

Contents of the 2017 report:

The Ornithological Year, 2017
Grampian Ringing Group: 2017 Summary
Siberian Chiffchaffs Wintering at Nigg Bay, January 2017
BOU Decision to Adopt the IOC Checklist – Rationale and Implications
Mammals in North-East Scotland (click here to download a PDF)
Amphibians and Reptiles in North-East Scotland (click here to download a PDF)

Contents of the 2016 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 2016 Ringing Summary
Isabelline (Daurian) Shrike, October 2016: the first for the Region
Pallid Harrier, September 2016B: the second for North-East Scotland
Little Gulls successfully breeding at RSPB Scotland’s Loch of Strathbeg Reserve: a first for the UK
The New Arc – Little Auk wreck, January 2016
Increase and spread of Ravens in North-East Scotland since 2001
Continuing spread of the Chiffchaff in North-East Scotland
The need for descriptions

Contents of the 2015 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 2015 Ringing Summary
Harlequin Duck, January to May 2015: the first for the region
Black-winged Pratincole, 3 June 2015: the second for the region
Recording Bean Geese in North-East Scotland

Contents of the 2014 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 2014 Ringing Summary
Savi's Warbler at Loch of Strathbeg, May-June 2014: the first for the region
Blyth's Reed Warbler and Citrine Wagtail at Girdle Ness: two second records for the region
Spotted Sandpiper at Inverallochy, October 2014: the first for the region
Bar-headed Geese in North-East Scotland: pattern of occurence and provenance

Contents of the 2013 report:

Grampian Ringing Group: 2013 summary
Black-throated Thrush at Banchory, 25-30 March 2013: the first for the region
Subalpine Warbler at Cruden Bay, 14-16 May 2013
Rock Thrush at St Fergus, 18-22 July 2013: the first for the region
Bridled Tern at Cairnbulg & Ythan Estuary, August 2013: the second for the region
Brown Shrike at Collieston, 28-29 September 2013: the first for the region
Ivory Gull at Boddam, 7 December 2013: the reality of rarity-finding
A Year on Patch: Girdle Ness, 2013

Contents of the 2012 report:

Grampian Ringing Group: 2012 summary
The Influx of Tundra Bean and European White-fronted Geese in Winter 2011/12
Lesser Scaup at Loch of Skene, 6-8 January 2012: the first for the region
The White-winged Gull Invasion of 2012 and a Review of the Status of Kumlien’s Gull in North-East Scotland
Greater Yellowlegs at Loch of Strathbeg, March to May 2012
Roller at New Pitsligo, 12-15 July 2012
Paddyfield Warbler at Ladymire, Ythan Estuary, 8 September 2012: the first for the region
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler by Mains of Slains, Collieston, 26 September 2012: the first for mainland Scotland and the region
Laughing Gull at Rosehearty, 19-31 December 2012: the first for the region

Contents of the 2011 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 2011 Ringing Summary
Loch of Leys Constant Effort Site (CES) 2009-2011
Egyptian Goose at Meikle Loch, March 2010 – an addition to the North-East Scotland List
The White-winged Scoter at Murcar, June 2011 – a new bird for North-East Scotland and for Britain
Black Scoter at Blackdog and Murcar, June to October 2011 – a new bird for North-East Scotland
Sandhill Crane at Loch of Strathbeg, September 2011 – a new bird for North-East Scotland
The Semipalmated Sandpiper on the Ythan Estuary, September to October 2011 – a new bird for North-East Scotland
The Pallid Harrier at the Ythan Estuary, October 2011 – a new bird for North-East Scotland

Contents of the 2010 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 2010 Ringing Summary
Nuthatch at Netherley – a new bird to North-East Scotland
Frigatebird sp. (Fregata sp.) off Peterhead
The Lanceolated Warbler at Collieston – a new bird for mainland Scotland
Blyth’s Reed Warbler at Foveran Bushes – a first for the North-East
The Southern Grey Shrike at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB Reserve – a first for mainland Scotland
SMD Alexander (1932-2010)

Contents of the 2009 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 2009 Ringing Summary
Caspian Gull, Peterhead – the first record for North-East Scotland
Stilt Sandpiper, RSPB Loch of Strathbeg – the first record for North-East Scotland
Lesser Sandplover at Donmouth – a new species for Britain
The North-East Scotland speciality you are least likely to see: Eskimo Curlew
Arrival and departure dates of summer and winter visitors in North-East Scotland

Contents of the 2008 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 2008 Ringing Summary
The intriguing case of North east Scotland’s sailed Eiders
Upland Sandpiper at RSPB Loch of Strathbeg – a first for North-East Scotland
Greater Sand Plover on the Ythan Estuary – the first record for North-East Scotland
The White’s Thrush at Parkhill – the first Aberdeenshire record for 95 years
What will be the next first for the region?

Contents of the 2007 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 2007 Ringing Summary
The Brünnich’s Guillemot at Girdle Ness
Aberdeen Red Kites
Seasonal distribution and population trends of waterfowl on Loch of Skene
Birds in Mid Deeside, 1970-2008
New additions and taxonomic changes that affect the North-East Scotland List

Contents of the 2006 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 2006 Ringing Summary
Franklin’s Gull on the Ythan Estuary – a first for North-East Scotland
Ospreys in North-East Scotland 1993–2007
Glen Clunie Ring Ouzel breeding ecology project
Some aspects of Buzzard breeding ecology in mid-Deeside
Recent trends in numbers of some breeding birds in North-East Scotland
A new breeding bird atlas for North-East Scotland: 2006, the final year of the project

Contents of the 2005 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 2005 Ringing Summary
Black Grouse in North East Scotland in 2005
Barrow’s Goldeneye at Meikle Loch – the first record for North-East Scotland
Bonaparte’s Gull at Peterhead – a first for North-East Scotland
Belted Kingfisher in Aberdeen – the first Scottish Record
Black-headed Bunting at Loch of Strathbeg – the first record for North-East Scotland
A new breeding bird atlas for North-East Scotland – 2005, the fourth year of the project

Contents of the 2004 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 2004 Ringing Summary
The early autumn fall of 2004 in North-East Scotland
The Black Duck at New Pitsligo – the first record for North-East Scotland
The Pallid Swift at Newburgh – the first record for North-East Scotland
A new breeding bird atlas for North-East Scotland – the project’s third year

Contents of the 2003 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 2003 Ringing Summary
Thirty years of Birdwatching in North-East Scotland, 1974–2003
Pacific Golden Plover – a new bird for North-East Scotland
Corn Bunting projects and farmland bird surveys in North-East Scotland
A new breeding bird atlas for North-East Scotland – 2003, the second year of the project

Contents of the 2002 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 2002 Ringing Summary
Northern Goshawk in North East Scotland
Recording ‘Scottish crossbills’
A new breeding bird atlas for North-East Scotland
The Stone-curlew at Blackdog
The occurrence of the Great Grey Shrike in North East Scotland, 1970–2000
St. Cyrus – a birding paradise?

Contents of the 2001 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 2001 Ringing Summary
Grasshopper Warblers at a breeding site in Banffshire 1990-2002
Autumn turnover of Pink-footed Geese at Meikle Loch
The occurrence of a European Storm-petrel in apparent first-summer plumage
Whiskered Tern at Meikle Loch – the second Scottish record, 27 June-3 July 2001

Contents of the 2000 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 2000 Ringing Summary
Recent trends in numbers of some bird species in North-East Scotland
Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel in Cove – a new bird for Scotland
The eastern race Olivaceous Warbler at Collieston, 13-21 September 2000
Tawny Owls in North-East Scotland 2000

Contents of the 1999 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 1999 Ringing Summary
Breeding ecology of Ring Ouzels in Glen Clunie; a preliminary report for 1998/99
Corn Buntings in and around Aberdeen 1967-1985
Corn Buntings in NE Scotland 1998-1999
Water Pipit at Burnhervie 12-30 January 1999 – first record for NE Scotland
Collared Flycatcher at Cove 30 April-1 May 1999 – first record for NE Scotland
Short-billed Dowitcher at Rosehearty 11-24 September 1999 – the first record for Britain
Harlequin Duck at Peterhead, 6th November 1999 – first record for NE Scotland
Colour-ringed Spoonbill at Loch of Strathbeg 1999

Contents of the 1998 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 1998 Ringing Summary
Black Stork, Ythan estuary 13-19 July 1998 – a first for NE Scotland
Red-breasted Goose, Loch of Strathbeg 1-18 April – first record for NE Scotland
Tawny Owls in 1998 – a Grampian Ringing Group Report
A survey of Rock Pipits on the NE Scotland coast, winter 1998
Citrine Wagtail, Girdleness -first record for NE Scotland
Red-flanked Bluetail, Newburgh 27-28 September – first record for NE Scotland

Contents of the 1997 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 1997 Ringing Summary
A survey of the breeding birds of inland waters in North-East Scotland 1997
Desert Wheatear at Girdleness, 7 November 1997; the first record for North-East Scotland
The BTO Breeding Bird Survey and its use in this report
Short note on the range expansion of Common Buzzard in North-East Scotland

Contents of the 1996 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 1996 Ringing Summary
‘Tundra’ Bean Geese in North-East Scotland
Breeding Merlins in Aberdeenshire during 1993-1996
A survey of Lapwings in North-East Scotland, 1996
Crested Tits in the Frontier Zone

Contents of the 1995 report:

Grampian Ringing Group 1995 Ringing Summary
Common Crossbills in Deeside in 1995
Mute Swan nesting on the River Dee at Aberdeen: first breeding record for the Dee
The movement of wildfowl off Peterhead, Grampian

 

The Breeding Birds of North-East Scotland

Click here to read about the Breeding Birds of North-East Scotland Atlas, which covers Moray, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City. This publication is sold out now, however a digital version is available to download, or SOC members can borrow a copy of the Atlas from the library (available to non-members for reference) subject to availability and borrowing terms and conditions.

 

Birds of North-east Scotland

A digital version of Birds of North-east Scotland (published 1990) is also available - please click here to find out more. A copy is also available in the SOC library.

 

What happens to the data?

All records that contain at least the minimum information (species, date, place and observer) are collated into a single spreadsheet with all the year’s records. This is used for writing the Species Accounts in the Bird Report. Data are also used or shared with others in a variety of other ways:
• The collated data form an incredibly valuable resource that can assist with conservation, planning and research. To enable this, the data are passed each year to the North East Scotland Biological Records Centre (NESBReC) which acts a core biodiversity data portal for the region.

• Records may be passed on directly, where appropriate, to the Rare Birds Breeding Panel (see their website for details on how they use the information).

• The records are also loaded by the Regional Recorder onto the BirdTrack system which collates the results from both casual birdwatching records and from more systematic surveys into a central national database. The sheer volume of records held means that robust information can be derived on species status and trends.

• Via BirdTrack, records feed into projects such as the national breeding and wintering distribution atlases for which fieldwork has recently been completed. Note that records that are loaded straight to BirdTrack by individual birdwatchers are downloaded for use in this report by the Regional Recorder so there is no need to send these records in again.

• There are also plans in hand for the data that reach BirdTrack to be made available on the National Biodiversity Network (www.nbn.org.uk). We will update in future issues of this report on progress with this plan.

• As well as being published in the paper copy of the Bird Report, the compiled species accounts are to be made available three years after publication as part of the Scottish Bird Report.