RSPB identifies recreational disturbance as 'key cause' for 2024 breeding flop of Slavonian Grebes and Dotterel

                                                           

Slavonian Grebe - population dip at former breeding stronghold on Scottish loch

A NOTE of real concern has been sounded on the declining breeding status of  three species associated with upland habitats.

According to the RSPB's report for its nature reserves, the species that fared "particularly badly" in 2024 were;

* Ring Ouzel

* Slavonian Grebe

* Dotterel

Says the report: "Ring Ouzels declined to an all-time low on those of our reserves where they are  monitored.

"Numbers of Slavonian Grebes fell to their lowest level in modern times on the whole of Loch Ruthven, near Inverness.

"And there were no breeding Dotterels recorded for the first time on the area of the Cairngorms plateau covered by our Abernethy reserve."

It continues: " Recreational disturbance is likely to be a key cause of the decline in the last two species, with climate change also a cause of concern for the future of Dotterel."

On the plus side, last year saw populations of Bitterns, Cranes, Spoonbills and Great White Egrets continued to increase in both number and range. 

Says the report: "These rare wetland birds make use of the high-quality wetland habitat created and maintained on RSPB nature reserves."

Meanwhile,  Capercaillie and Black Grouse numbers increased, while, outside reserves, site-specific interventions proved successful at maintaining the breeding populations of under-pressure ground-nesting birds such as Corncrakes, beach-nesting Ringed Plovers and other waders such as Curlews.

The RSPB says Roseate Terns had a productive breeding season at Coquet Island, off Northumberland  - their main UK breeding colony - but populations of Sandwich, Arctic, Common and especially Little Terns were all low on RSPB reserves.

Meanwhile,  productivity has also been "very poor" for two wet grassland-breeding species -  Black-tailed Godwits and Stone Curlew.

                                      

Dotterel - no longer breeding on Cairngorms plateau near Aviemore (photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Ring Ouzels are now at an all-time breeding low on RSPB reserves

                                           

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