Which Birds to Report

Introduction

If at all possible use the Argyll Bird Club Bird Recording System. Until very recently, most bird records were supplied in a variety of formats: e-mails, letters, phone calls, lists in various formats etc.. These all have to be processed into a standard format before they can be added to the database. Delays in publishing various reports result from the backlog of work on processing records (the database for 2005 holds over 18,000 records).

As well as being a valuable resource for producing the various reports on the website, in the Eider and in annual reports, the database is extensively used when answering queries about birds in Argyll from all sorts of organisations e.g. RSPB, BTO, SNH, WWT, JNCC, Rare Breeding Birds Panel, government departments, environ-mental consultants, research students etc.

If all records are received in an approved standard format it is very quick and easy to maintain an up- to- date and accurate database. To facilitate this process, Committee member Danielle Clark has devised a brilliant (and I use the word advisedly!) automated bird record template. You simply enter the basic information about the birds you have seen and the template produces a standardised Excel file of records that can be automatically e-mailed to the Recorder. With just a little practice you can also use it to keep your own bird records.

To use this system you will need a PC with Excel software and an internet connection. The software comes complete with full instructions and I am also happy to talk people through the system on the phone if help is needed. Why not try the Argyll Bird Record System out and save myself and the kind people who have assisted me with processing bird records over recent years (Tom Callan, Morag Rea, Mary Gregory and Jane Mitchell) literally hours (indeed days!) of our time. All you need to do to obtain this time saving system is to e-mail Paul Daw ( ) telling him which operating system your computer uses (e.g. Microsoft XP, Vista etc.) and which version of Excel (2000 or later) you have and he will send you a ZIP-file of the software and the instructions for using it.

Argyll Rcording Area

Below a map showing the Argyll Bird Recording Area. For the addresses of the recorders of the neighbouring counties, we refer to the SOC website

Confidentiality

With certain rare species you may have concerns about having details of their occurrence/breeding published and the information leading to some form of persecution of the birds. However, it is nearly always in the best long-term interests of the birds for there to be some permanent record of their presence/breeding. If you are concerned about the safety of the birds please include a note with your record and only the most general comment will be made in the Argyll Bird Report or, if you wish, the record will not be published at all. No details will be released to other organisations without your express permission.

General advice

 For those of you who do not have easy access to a computer or the internet I am happy to continue to receive records on paper. Click here for the Record form and Instructions

NB For reports of rare birds see the special Rare Birds section

Recording requirements individual species

It is difficult to generalise about the distribution of bird species in Argyll. Species that are relatively common in England may be very scarce in Argyll (e.g. Eurasian Nuthatch and Lesser Whitethroat). Similarly species that are common on the mainland may be very scarce on some of the islands (e.g. Blue Tit, Great Tit and Coal Tit are all rare on Tiree). And, even on the mainland, distribution of common species can be very patchy (e.g. there are many gardens where the appearance of a House Sparrow makes it a red letter day). Conversely seeing a White-tailed Eagle on Mull is not really unusual.

However we hope the following general guidance will help.

1. Report all Argyll rare species (see ‘Rare Birds in Argyll’).
2. Report all sightings of the remaining birds on the Argyll List except for the following common species: Mallard, Common Eider, Common Pheasant, Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Wren, Robin*, Blackbird, Coal Tit*, Blue Tit*, Great Tit*, Hooded Crow, Common Chaffinch*. It is still worth reporting flocks of 5 or more for these species. * Records are required for these species for Coll, Tiree and any of the smaller islands.
3. For frequently seen garden birds it is usually better to simply record the maximum seen in any one week (as with Garden Bird Watch) or any one month. When using the ABC recording system to enter such records, use the First date and Last date columns and put ‘maximum’ (or max.) in the Comments column.
4. All breeding records, even of common species, are worth reporting (especially while the 2007-11 Bird Atlas is in progress). Where possible use the Bird Atlas breeding codes.
5. It is always worth recording the arrival dates for summer and winter migrants. Don’t worry if someone has already seen one earlier it is the general pattern of arrival we want. It is also useful to record last dates, although these may be more difficult to notice.
6. Ringed birds. The Recorder has contacts with most of the people operating the many colour ringing, wing tagging, neck collars etc. schemes so you can report any birds you find (or photograph) with such markings to him and he will report them for you. You can report many of these via the "Euring website (www.euring.org) yourselves if you wish. If you do submit them direct please let the Recorder know the outcome as we try to include all information about ringed birds found in Argyll in the Argyll Bird Reports.
7. Many people seem to think their records are not interesting enough. Let us be the judge of this! When compiling the Argyll Bird Reports almost all the records submitted have some value and anything you think is unusual is almost certainly worth knowing about. So – if in doubt send in your record.
8. Lastly please use the Comments column to include anything you think worth noting. The little anecdotes people report to us will help to liven up the text of Recent Reports in The Eider and of the Argyll Bird Reports.