V 14 No.4 - The Scottish Ornithologists' Club

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192 A. Watson & R. Rae S8 14 (4) young were well feathered, but still retained some down, and so were not fully grown or fully fledged. At the end of each area section in the Results, the first figure (max.) is the largest number of pairs seen in any year there since 1973, and the second (est.) the estimated total number of pairs each year. The first figures cannot be added to give a grand total, as many are from different years. To get the second figure, we took the first one, estimated by eye on the map the approximate area that it applied to, added by eye any extra areas where Dotterel have been seen in one or more years, and multiplied according to the visually estimated area of other suitable-looking ground. This was necessarily rough, as few observations involved complete searches of measured areas. For these calculations we assumed that Dotterel were present every year on every hill where they have been seen even just once. For example, an observer might see a pair on Hill A in 1985 and a pair on nearby Hill B in 1986, but might not search Hill B in 1985 or Hill A in 1986; this would appear in the Results as two pairs, but there might be only one. On some hills which are well known haunts, birds have been found breeding on every late-summer visit by an experienced observer. However, in most cases in the east, and nearly all in the west Highlands, the notes covered only one or two visits per hill over many years. This possible error will be overcome only if observers go to a reasonably big sample of hills in the same summer. We assumed, as there was no evidence for doing otherwise, that numbers on each hill were fairly constant each year, as on A. W. 's three study areas. However, these study areas are all on good habitat, and may export birds to less suitable ground. Numbers on sites that may be marginal possibly fluctuate more; perhaps such sites may be colonised each year by a varying overspill only after the better places are fully occupied. A regional survey in one year could not overcome this problem; several years study of good and possibly marginal nearby sites would be needed. If many sites prove to be marginal, with few or no birds in some years, our total will be too high. However, it may be too low for other reasons (see Habitat, below). Distribution and numbers The following notes refer to years since Nethersole-Thompson's book (1973), except for pre-1973 information that was not in the book. We use "hill" to mean a separate, distinct hill, not a subsidiary top or summit. Above 3000 ft (914 m), it corresponds to the term "Munro" , and below 3000 ft to other lesser but separate hills as defined in Scottish Mountaineering Club guides (Donaldson, 1984). Aberdeenshire-Banffshire, east of the Caimgorms massif. Pairs have been seen on eight hills. Young have been reared on three, and nests found on two others. Max. 6, est. 10+ . Aberdeenshire-Angus. Has bred on six boundary hills between the Perth-Braemar road and Kincardineshire, and on three hills to the north, with 5-7 pairs annually on a study area on part of one hill. On another hill, an observer came across seven nests in 1979 . Found breeding on every late-summer visit to six hills. Max. 32, est. 70 + . Angus. Has bred on three hills between Glen Isla and Glen Clova, on one between Glen Cl ova and Glen Esk, and on one in Glen Esk, and has been seen on two other hills in Glen Esk. Max. 6, est. 10 + . Kincardinesbire. Pairs have been seen in June at four sites on three hills, an adult in July at one of them, and an adult in early August on a fourth hill. At 580 m on one hill, 6-7 have been seen together in late Julyearly August in several years back to the early 194Os, and in July 1942 or 1943 a gundog picked up a flightless chick. Max. 4, est. 5 +. Aberdeenshire-Perth. Has bred on five boundary hills from Inverness-shire to Angus, and on three to the north, including tops down to 750 m. Max. 13, est. 20+ . North-east Pertbsbire. Has bred on
1987 Dotterel numbers in Scotland 193 eight hills from Glen Bruar eastwards. Max. 11, est. 20+ . South Inverness-shire. Has bred on five hills in the Ben Alder range, on two east of Ben Nevis, and on three in the Creag Meagaidh-Carn Liath range. D. Pierce saw six broods in July 1984 on one range. Max. 12, est. 45 + . Monadb Liatb. Has bred on four hills. Pairs have been seen on three subsidiary tops, and other hills and tops have suitable habitat. Max. 9, est. 30 + . South Inverness-sbire-Perthsbire. Has bred on ten hills between Loch Ericht and the Aberdeenshire boundary. Pairs have been seen on two other hills and on three subsidiary tops. Thompson (1983) studied part of this area in mid June, mainly while birds were incubating, finding 8 + pairs in 1976, eight in 1977, 13-14 in 1978 and 1979, and eight ("possibly an underestimate") in 1980. On two hills in 1986, 12 pairs or nests were seen. Max. 23, est. 65 +. Soutb and west Pertbsbire. Has bred on four hills between Lochs Tay and Rannoch, and on two in upper Glen Lyon. Has been seen on three other hills, including south of Loch Tay. There is suitable habitat on 17 other hills. S. Payne estimates 10-25 pairs on hills south of Loch Ericht, and "there could well be 30 pairs". Max. 4, est. 30+. Cairngorms massif in Aberdeensbire, Banffsbire and soutb Inverness-sbire. An early note on high numbers by Gordon (1915) was of a score or so after a June snowstorm, on a west-central Cairngorms hill. Since 1973 has bred on 17 hills and on many tops and ridges, with 16-17 pairs on a central study area, and about the same on an eastern study area. Pairs have been found on five hills at 640-750 m, and have nested on two and probably had young on another. Has been found breeding on every latesummer visit to 15 hills. Max. SO, est. 150 +. Inverness-sbire nortb of Great Glen. Pairs have been seen on 11 hills, and eggs or young on six. In July 1979, R. Hewson saw four broods on one Inverness-Ross hill and one on another. Max. 6, est. 40+. Ross-sbire. Pairs have been seen on 16 hills, and eggs or young on nine. Dotterel "may be more widespread than is generally realised" in this area, to judge from the extensive stretches of typical habitat (Watson, 1955). Nine pairs were on one hill in 1986. On a May weekend, five pairs were seen on a second hill and four pairs on a third. As a nest has been found in the Fannichs as low as 460 m (Nethersole Thompson, 1973), the possible area is large. Max. 10, est. 75 + . Sutberland and Caitbness. Pairs have been seen on seven hills, and other hills have Incubating Dotterel. R.T. Smith
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Page 19 and 20: 1987 Ring Ouzels in SE Scotland 207
Page 21 and 22: 1987 Short Notes 209 Short Notes Go
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Page 25 and 26: 1987 Short Notes 213 References Gra
Page 27 and 28: 1987 Short Notes 215 Kestrels copul
Page 29 and 30: 1987 Items of Scottish Interest 217
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November publication TheSKUAS by Ro
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Part 4 December 1987 Contents Dotte
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V 14 No.4 - The Scottish Ornithologists' Club

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