Commissioned Report 252 - Scottish Natural Heritage

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COMMISSIONED REPORT Summary Moray Firth Wildfowl and Wader Roosts Commissioned Report No. 252 (ROAME No. F98LG20) Contractor: Bob Swann, North of Scotland Ornithological Services Year of publication: 2007 Background Much of the economic activity in the Highlands is concentrated around the coastline of the Inner Moray Firth. This coastline is internationally important for its wintering shorebird populations and several Special Protection Areas have been designated to protect these interests. Development pressures along the coast require SNH staff to have detailed information on the location of shorebird feeding areas and roost sites. The information on roost sites is not available from standard sources of data such as Wetland Bird Survey counts. This report gives the location of all known shorebird roosts in the Moray Firth between Brora and Burghead. It also gives details of how the number of birds using these roosts has changed over the last 25 years and describes possible causes of these changes, particularly with regard to recreational activities. Main findings 121 roosts were located in the Moray Firth between Brora and Burghead. Of these roosts 35 had shown an increase in the numbers of waders using them, whilst 34 had remained unchanged and 52 had declined. Of the latter group only 7 had actually completely ceased to be used. The main reason for wader roosts declining was increased disturbance, particularly by walkers. Often this disturbance comes from a very small number of people, but these people are disturbing the site on a very regular basis. Dog walkers in particular fall into this category. Dunlin, bar-tailed godwit, common redshank, red knot and Eurasian oystercatcher appeared to be most prone to desert roosts, particularly small ‘marginal’ roosts. The main reason for wader roosts increasing in numbers was their location in areas that had difficult access, thus reducing potential disturbance. At some roost sites some wader species have become habituated to the close proximity of walkers, but these are mainly sites where some form of barrier, prevents direct disturbance. Of roosts used by ducks 22 had shown an increase in the numbers using them, whilst 19 had remained unchanged and only 15 had declined.
Fewer duck roosts showed declines, due to the habit of duck just drifting offshore, when disturbed by walkers. For further information on this project contact: Simon Cohen, Scottish Natural Heritage, Fodderty Way, Dingwall Business Park, Dingwall, IV15 9XB Tel: 01349–865 333 For further information on the SNH Research & Technical Support Programme contact: Policy & Advice Directorate Support, SNH, Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness, IV3 8NW. Tel: 01463 72500 or pads@snh.gov.uk
Page 1 and 2: Scottish Natural Heritage Commissio
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 16 and 17: Eurasian wigeon, mallard, dunlin, b
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
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Commissioned Report 252 - Scottish Natural Heritage

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