WeBS
Introduction
The inner Moray Firth is the most northerly extensive estuarine complex in Europe, and due to its geographical position has long been recognised as internationally important for wintering waterbirds (divers, grebes, swans, geese, ducks and waders). It is also a vital part of the North Atlantic Flyway, being an important spring and autumn staging site for wildfowl and waders migrating between their breeding grounds in Canada, Greenland, Iceland, the Faeroes, Orkney, Shetland, Scandinavia and Russia and their more temperate wintering grounds in western Europe and, for some species, West Africa. It also provides ideal conditions for several species of both resident and migratory birds to moult in late summer/early autumn. Furthermore, in some years, it acts as a vital refuge for wildfowl and waders forced out of northern continental Europe during spells of severe cold weather. For all these reasons the area has been notified as a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.
Knot Feeding
Bird populations are valuable indicators of environmental quality, and long-term monitoring is a vital tool in assessing changes and trends in population levels. Monitoring in the inner Moray Firth is currently comprised of five different components:
- Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) high tide counts
- Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) low tide counts
- Dedicated counts of divers, grebes and seaducks
- Ringing studies
- Monitoring of seabird breeding colonies
- International and National importance
To qualify as Internationally important for a species, a site has to regularly hold at least 1% of an international (in this case European or NW European) population. Similarly, to qualify as nationally important for a species, a site has to regularly hold at least 1% of a national (in this case British) population.
In recent winters, internationally important numbers of ten species of waterbirds have regularly been recorded in the survey area, with three other species occurring in internationally important numbers during autumn or spring migration. In addition, nationally important numbers of a further 19 (possibly 20) species were recorded. While we tend to treat the inner Moray Firth as one biological unit, individual sections (e.g. the Cromarty Firth) can qualify as internationally or nationally important in their own right.
For certain species which achieve internationally or nationally important qualifying levels, the true number of birds present throughout the migration period is far higher than that suggested by the peak counts. For example, in April 2000, when northerly winds held up the spring migration of pink-footed geese returning to their breeding grounds in Iceland, a huge concentration built up in the inner Moray Firth. This was conservatively estimated at around 30,000 birds. It is likely that this number utilise the area annually, but in most years the true total is less apparent due to the high turnover of birds.
In an average winter, the inner Moray Firth supports over 130,000 waterfowl, with many more using the area for a brief period whilst on migration.
Winter 2000/01
In winter 2000/01, Scaup and Goldeneye recorded their highest peak winter totals since our monitoring began, and Mute Swan, Wigeon and Scoters (both Common and Velvet combined) recorded their second highest peak count. Numbers of Slavonian Grebe and Knot have also increased in recent years.
Knot feeding
Eight species (Red-throated Diver, Cormorant, Eider, Long-tailed Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, Bar-tailed Godwit and Purple Sandpiper) had declined to their lowest recorded peak winter totals in 1999/00. Of these, six showed a slight increase in 2000/01, and Long-tailed Duck encouragingly showed a 100% increase. However, Red-breasted Merganser numbers continued to decline to a new low. Numbers of Shelduck have also shapely decreased. It will be interesting to see how these changes develop in future years.
We are always on the look out for reserve counters. If you would like to help with future monitoring of birds in the Moray Firth, please contact:
Dave Butterfield (Assistant Conservation Officer) at RSPB Scotland 01463 715000
or
Kenna Chisholm (Ross-shire and Moray Firth Officer) at RSPB Scotland 01463 811748
(e-mail: dave.butterfield@rspb.org.uk or kenna.chisholm@rspb.org.uk)
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to Talisman Energy (UK) Ltd, Scottish Natural Heritage and Highland Council for their continued support of this important monitoring work.
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