Commissioned Report 252 - Scottish Natural Heritage

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Eurasian wigeon, mallard, dunlin, bar-tailed godwit (all these species showing almost 50% reduction in numbers), and northern lapwing. There is little evidence that these declines are due to increased disturbance. The decline in ducks, may be due to reduced feeding opportunities, following the closure of a sewage pipe leading into the upper part of the loch from the Cambussavie Hospital in the late 1980s (T Mainwood pers com). Table 4. Wildfowl and Wader numbers in Loch Fleet WN T. MA OC RP L. KN DN BA CU RK TT Pre 1995 7 4 6 7 3 4 4 6 5 5 5 1 Post 1994 6 4 5 7 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 1 The main roost on the north side of the loch is on the saltmarsh in Balbair Bay from NH80397 97345 to NH80127 97207, centred around NH80297 97296 (site A on Fig 4). When disturbed some of the birds move to roost on a large spit on the east side of the bay at NH80507 96727 (B on Fig 4). Access to Balblair Bay is by a long bumpy track from the A9, so disturbance tends to be limited. Details of current usage of these and the other Loch Fleet roosts are given in table 5. Figure 4. Roosts at Loch Fleet. C Based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of the controller of HMSO © Crown copyright (1996) Licence no. 100017908 On the inner part of the bay there is a small roost on the saltmarsh, centred at NH76896 97290 (site C on fig 4), where Eurasian curlew often roost, spreading out to NH76943 97133. Duck frequently haul out here. Access to this area is difficult so the birds are relatively undisturbed. On very high tides (>4.7m), the waders often roost at the mound, west of the A9. 7 D A E B
Table 5. Numbers of waders using Loch Fleet roosts in recent years. OC RP L. KN DN BA CU RK Roost A 6 0 0 4 4 4 4 4 Roost B 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 Roost C 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 Roost D 5 0 3 4 4 4 3 2 Roost E 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 On the south side of the bay the main roost is at Skelbo point, centred on NH79446 95339 and spreading out along the saltmarsh east to around NH79629 95214 (site D on Fig 4). Despite the close location of a nearby car park and public notice board, birds appear to be used to people. A deep channel between the car park and roost site, also reduces potential disturbance. The final roost is found on the beach on the south side of the mouth at NH81242 95388 (site E on Fig 4). This roost is used almost exclusively by Eurasian oystercatcher (table 5). Ringed plover also roost on the beach though slightly further south. A nearby car park encourages lots of walkers to this general area. As the tide rises, however, a large creek fills with water, making access to this site quite difficult. Occasionally walkers come north from Embo and disturb the roost, causing the birds to return to roost D or disperse over to the beach on the north side, where disturbance is a much more regular occurrence, due to a network of tracks. Embo There is a small roost on the tip of the pier at NH82041 92105, mainly used by ruddy turnstone and purple sandpiper (A on Fig 5). If disturbed they fly to the point at NH81656 91998 (B on Fig 5), which tends to be used by Eurasian oystercatcher and Eurasian curlew (Table 6). Figure 5. Roosts in Embo area. Based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of the controller of HMSO © Crown copyright (1996) Licence no. 100017908 B A C Disturbance here is a regular occurrence with people walking south from the caravan site at Grannies Hielan Hame. There was a small late summer – autumn roost on the shore at the north end of Dornoch Golf course at NH81233 91218 (site C on Fig 5), which was mainly used by ringed plover. Increased disturbance by walkers, 8
Page 1 and 2: Scottish Natural Heritage Commissio
Page 4 and 5: COMMISSIONED REPORT Summary Moray F
Page 6 and 7: INTRODUCTION.......................
Page 8 and 9: List of tables Table 1. Wader numbe
Page 10 and 11: INTRODUCTION The Moray Firth is the
Page 12 and 13: These changes should be taken into
Page 14 and 15: RESULTS DALCHAM-DORNOCH Dalcham, Br
Page 18 and 19: following the coastal track boundin
Page 20 and 21: 88319. Even here, however, walkers
Page 22 and 23: Table 10. Wildfowl and wader number
Page 24 and 25: Figure 11. Roosts on the Morrich Mo
Page 26 and 27: CROMARTY FIRTH Nigg Ferry There is
Page 28 and 29: This is the most important roost si
Page 30 and 31: Table 25. Changes in wader numbers
Page 32 and 33: Alness Bay Table 30 gives details o
Page 34 and 35: There has been little change in num
Page 36 and 37: y the river on the south side and d
Page 38 and 39: This bay appears to have been subje
Page 40 and 41: and walkers on the road. The duck a
Page 42 and 43: Munlochy Bay Munlochy Bay holds lar
Page 44 and 45: Longman Point - Alturlie Point This
Page 46 and 47: vehicles and walkers is regular and
Page 48 and 49: INNER MORAY FIRTH Fort George - Whi
Page 50 and 51: The largest roost is found on the t
Page 52 and 53: On the east side of the bay roosts
Page 54 and 55: SUMMARY OF CHANGES Of the 121 Moray
Page 56 and 57: disturbance to roosts and forcing t
Page 58: Scottish Natural Heritage is a gove

Commissioned Report 252 - Scottish Natural Heritage

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