fnh journal vol 24 - Forth Naturalist and Historian - University of Stirling

44 C.J. Henty
C 15 AoT Blackdevonmouth 11 May (DOE).
WHITETHROAT Sylvia communis (B)
BBS shows highest total in 7 years, three times the average.
1st records in April: 24th Skinflats, Camelon 27th, Cambus, Carronshore &
Kinneil 30th; May 2nd Lecropt, widespread by 7th (GO MA ATAB DT DOE et
al).
GARDEN WARBLER Sylvia borin (B)
Very scarce in BBS surveys, on average 25 % as frequent as Blackcap.
1st records in May: Camelon on 1st, Port of Menteith on 3rd, Braes of Doune on
4th (MA DOE KD). Last at Skinflats 28 Aug, eating berries (AB)
BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla (B)
BBS shows increase of 30 % compared with 1999. Overall close to 7 year
average, but only 1.5 per 10 Km in two best habitats.
Winter records: Stirling, 2M from 9 Jan to 8 Apr (CJM), F on 12 Dec & M from
14th to year end (JGH) - at bird tables, aggressive to other species; M on 30 Nov
& 3 (2F) on 28 Dec, fed on apples (IW). 1Carronshore 16 to 23 Dec (AB). Birds at
Stirling 19 Mar & BoA 9 Apr possibly overwintered, spring arrivals were later in
Apr – 5 Polmont on 21st, Gartmorn on 22nd, 2 Skinflats on 23rd (RJ DMB MA
DAC). Last Kinneil 30 Sep (DMB).
WOOD WARBLER Phylloscopus sibilatrix (B)
Underrecorded
1st records Lake of Menteith 30 Apr, Callander on 2 May & Invertrossachs on
7th (DOE MA RAB). Low numbers in Trossachs oakwood (HR).
CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita (B)
1st records in March: Plean on 19th, Doune Ponds & Blairlogie 25th, Alva,
Larbert, Polmont (4) & Skinflats 26th. 1 Buchlyvie 1 Oct, 1 Airthrey on 4 Oct &
5 Dec (DT DOE DAC CJH MA GO DMB).
WILLOW WARBLER Phylloscopus trochilus (B)
BBS shows 56 per 10 km in conifers, 17 in farmland, 22 in ‘Urban’; 6 % up on
1998 (NB).
1st records in April: Airthrey on 6th, Larbert & Plean on 14th, Skinflats on 16th,
Thornhill on 18th & Carronshore on 19th; widespread by 23rd (DMB MA DT
GO SS AB et al).
S Juvs in garden at Stirling from 23 Jul, last on 16 Sep (RJ).
GOLDCREST Regulus regulus (B,W)
BBS shows 21 per 10 km in conifers, 1 in farmland & ‘Urban’. Overall up 88 %
over 1999, now close to 7 year average.
Widespread in small numbers, max 6 Wallacebank Wood (Falkirk) 14 Feb (AS).
F Through year at Skinflats (AB).
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa striata (B)
Under-recorded (Ed). Scarce in BBS, 1 per 10 km, only in farmland; slight
increase this year, slightly above 7 year average (NB).
1st records: Doune & BoA 12 May, L. Katrine on 21st, Tamfourhill on 28th,
S.L.Tay on 8 Jun (DOE DMB DAC MA PWS).
S 3 AoT Lendrick 13 Jun. Many seen Stronachlachar-Glengyle 16 Jul. Family
parties at Doune, Flanders Moss (DJC KD DOE).
PIED FLYCATCHER Ficedula hypoleuca (b)
S Numbers at Trossachs colony 47 % down, 27 prs reared 70 Y – poor success,
much predation by Great Spotted Woodpeckers (HR). 11 prs (7 successful) at
G.Finglas boxes reared 31Y (DJC).
LONG-TAILED TIT Aegithalos caudatus (B,W)
Always the scarcest of the four tits, BBS shows similar to 1999, well below 7 year