Showing papers by "The Lodge published in 1987"

Identification of predators of wader eggs from egg remains

Abstract: The remains left by egg predators near wader nests are described. Small chippings of eggshell were found in nests in which clutches had hatched and larger fragments were found in or near the nest of about half of the clutches destroyed by predators. Punctures thought to be caused by mustelid or Hedgehog teeth were found in some eggshells; crushing damage to the fractured edges of the shells was associated with these punctures. The relative importance of egg predation by mammals and birds varied between study areas.

Foods of breeding Merlins Falco columbarius in Wales

Abstract: Merlin prey remains collected throughout Wales comprised 6366 birds of 55 species. Compared with previous lists from Scotland and Northern England there were fewer waders and more scrub and woodland passerines. Capture of non-moorland species was particularly prevalent in the spring. More nestlings (mainly Meadow Pipits) were taken than previously recorded in Britain. Pairs nesting nearer moorland edges took a more varied diet and laid larger eggs. Breeding success was heavily influenced by complete failure of nests and was not obviously related to diet.

A photographic study of seabird attendance at Moray Firth colonies outside the breeding season

Abstract: Daytime attendance of Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Fulmars at colonies in east Caithness was monitored by time-lapse photography over the winters of 1982/83, 1983/84 and 1984185. Fulmars frequented the colonies over a large part of each non-breeding period but were absent for extended spells in mid-winter. Guillemot visits were infrequent and usually involved relatively small numbers. They became more frequent in February in 1984 and 1985, but not in 1983, the year of a large wreck of auks on the east coast of Britain. Razorbills and Kittiwakes were absent throughout autumn and winter and re-appeared in late February or early March. The low level of winter attendance by auks, which contrasts with reports from colonies elsewhere, was probably because few adults wintered within easy reach of the Caithness colonies.