Merlin Magic

Young Merlin

Mike Groves and I were out on the Angus hills checking on some Merlin fledglings recently to record their numbers at sites that we have discovered over and above the few sites traditionally monitored by the local raptor study group. Reports of traditionally monitored sites being abandoned by the birds have come to my attention. Two sites that we discovered a few years ago were dutifully reported to the raptor study group Merlin coordinator for their monitoring (a decision now regretted). One of the sites when we discovered it had Merlin chicks nearly at fledging point but inspection a couple of years later revealed no Merlin activity at all.

Young Merlin

The other successful site that we discovered was also reported to the raptor study group and again this year no Merlin activity. Game-keepers have reported raptor study group monitors out in bad weather doing surveying or ringing and also monitors chasing Merlin chicks through the heather in order to ring them after the chicks have jumped the nest in fear. Monitors frequently spend up to four hours at a prospective nesting area in order to discover its location leading to disruptive disturbance.

Young Merlin

Raptor breeding can be up and down depending on the weather or predation or indeed invasive monitoring, as I have even heard of monitors standing on chicks as they search for a hidden nest in deep heather. It seems to me that invasive and incompetent Merlin, or indeed Hen Harrier, monitoring is reducing year on year reoccupation of traditional nest sites, and one game-keeper in the Angus glens is of the mind that over zealous monitoring has been the cause of abandonment at one of his sites where Merlin have freely nested for many years.

Young Merlin

Mike's discovery of new nest sites has doubled the number of recorded breeding Merlin in Angus and, in my opinion, Merlin are better off left alone without invasive and unnecessary ringing or monitoring. Some sites are naturally abandoned by Merlin because of habitat change, such as muir-burn, but generally the Merlin will move to nearby, new nest sites; there seems to be no indication that raptor study group monitors actually attempt to find those new sites and this has been exemplified by Mike's discoveries. Hard work, dedication and perseverance pays off.

Notes;........article in progress............

All text, photographs and sketches done on the 9 July 2019 and subject to copyright - no reproduction.

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If you are inspired to go out into the hills and glens of Scotland please leave it as you find it, respect the environment, do not litter or discard so called 'biodegradable' fruit and especially if you are a dog walker keep your beast on a lead and do not bag up its waste then chuck it by the wayside. I recently came across one black poo bag neatly hung on a tree branch for someone else to take home and also a bright blue one thrown in the moorland verge....why?

Moorland birds like Golden Plover, Dunlin, Dotterel, Ptarmigan and many raptors nest on the ground, it is advisable to keep dogs at heel or preferably on leads when walking on the high plateaux of the Cairngorms during summer months.

Please be aware that it is illegal to disturb nesting eagles or other raptors and you may do so inadvertently in your journeys into the highlands. Observe protected species at a respectful distance usually from about 1000 metres and for short periods of time only.

No wildlife was unduly or knowingly disturbed by my presence or for the purposes of this web page other than what would be expected on a normal hill walk. Many geographic names and location recognizable photos have been omitted to prevent persecution or ringing-monitoring disturbance to named species.

Canon camera 200D with optical zoom lens EFS 55-250mm used; please note that the zoom range distance if given is calculated by OS map from subject location to camera