Moray Firth

Proposed Special Protection Area (pSPA)

NO. UK9020313

SPA Site Selection Document:

Summary of the scientific case for site selection

Document version control

Version and

date

Amendments made and author Issued to

and date

Version 1 Formal advice submitted to Marine Scotland on

draft SPA.

Nigel Buxton & Greg Mudge.

Marine

Scotland

10/07/14

Version 2 Updated to reflect change in site status from draft

to proposed in preparation for possible formal

consultation.

Shona Glen, Tim Walsh & Emma Philip

Marine

Scotland

30/06/15

Version 3 Updated with minor amendments to address

comments from Marine Scotland Science in

preparation for the SPA stakeholder workshop.

Emma Philip

Marine

Scotland

23/02/16

Version 4 Creation of new site selection document.

Susie Whiting

Emma

Philip

17/05/16

Version 5 Document updated to address requirements of

revised format agreed by Marine Scotland.

Emma Philip

Greg

Mudge

21/06/16

Version 6 Quality assured

Greg Mudge

Emma

Philip

22/6/16

Version 7 Final draft for approval

Emma Philip

Andrew

Bachell

22/6/16

Version 8 Final version for submission to Marine Scotland Marine

Scotland,

24/06/16

Contents 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1

2. Site Summary ....................................................................................................... 2

3. Bird survey information ....................................................................................... 5

4. Assessment against the UK SPA Selection Guidelines .................................... 7

5. Site status and boundary .................................................................................. 15

6. Information on qualifying species .................................................................... 15

7. References .......................................................................................................... 37

Annex 1. Site map .................................................................................................. 39

Annex 2. Citation .................................................................................................... 40

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1. Introduction

This document provides Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) advice on the proposed classification of a Special Protection Area (SPA) in the marine waters of the “Moray Firth” for inshore wintering waterfowl and foraging areas for European shag. It summarises the evaluation for each of the species of interest according to the SPA site selection guidelines (JNCC, 1999) and provides an overview of how the site boundary was developed. The Moray Firth has been selected to provide protection to important wintering grounds used for feeding, moulting and roosting by waterfowl, many of which migrate to Scotland every year to overwinter or to stop off at as one of their staging posts while on migration. The inshore area to the north of site is also selected as an important foraging area for breeding European shag. The protection of these inshore waters will make a key contribution to the maintenance of these species in their natural range in UK marine waters and form part of a coherent network of sites at a European level.

The importance of the marine environment for birds which spend all or part of their lives around our coasts is well recognised, particularly in Scotland. A total of 106 species of bird are thought to use UK marine waters of which 45 occur in numbers greater than fifty each year and are dependent on the marine environment for a large part of their lifecycle. All of these 45 species except one (black guillemot1) are considered rare or vulnerable bird species (Annex 1), or regularly occurring migratory species by the Birds Directive (EC Directive on the conservation of wild birds (amended) - 2009/147/EC). This means that all Member States are obliged to take account of the requirements of Article 4.1 of the Birds Directive for each of these 44 species.

Article 4.1 states that “Member States shall classify in particular the most suitable territories in number and size as special protection areas for the conservation of these species, taking into account their protection requirements in the geographical sea and land area where this Directive applies”. EU guidance on the establishment of SPAs in the marine environment (2007) sets out the groups of marine birds for which SPAs should be considered in the marine environment. This includes sites for wintering waterfowl and foraging areas for breeding European shag, including those used by birds from existing terrestrial SPAs to ensure they have continued access to key food sources.

In the UK, whilst some coastal SPAs include marine waters below the Mean High Water Springs (MHWS) there are only four entirely marine SPAs classified; Outer Thames Estuary SPA (England), Liverpool Bay/Bae Lerpwl SPA (England/Wales) and Bae Caerfyrddin/Carmarthen Bay SPA (Wales) and Belfast Lough - Open Water SPA (Northern Ireland). In Scotland, 31 marine extensions to seabird colony SPAs have also been classified. The existing suite of sites is not considered sufficient to

1 Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas were designated in August 2014 for black guillemot.

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meet the requirements of Article 4.1 because it currently does not include suitable territories at sea for all of the species that the UK has a responsibility for.

This site is being proposed as part of a suite of marine sites that aim to fulfil the requirements for SPAs in the marine environment for rare or vulnerable birds and regularly occurring migratory birds in the UK. As required by Article 4 of the Directive, the classification of this site will enable the application of special conservation measures concerning the habitat of Annex 1 and regularly occurring migratory birds in order to ensure their survival and reproduction in their area of distribution. Full details of the site survey methodologies, data and analysis used to inform the proposed selection of this site are provided in Lawson et al (2015) for non-breeding inshore waterfowl and Kober et al (2010 and 2012) for seabird aggregations. All scientific work received full external independent peer review at key stages

2. Site Summary

The Moray basin is an extensive site stretching seaward from Buckie in the south to Helmsdale in the north and encompassing several different geographically separate water bodies; the Beauly Firth, the Inner Moray Firth, the Cromarty Firth, Dornoch Firth, Loch Fleet and the vast open water area in the outer Moray Firth (Figure 1).

It qualifies under Article 4.1 by regularly supporting a non-breeding population of European importance of the following Annex 1 species:

Great northern diver Gavia immer

Red-throated diver Gavia stellata

Slavonian grebe Podiceps auritus

The site further qualifies under Article 4.2 by regularly supporting populations of European importance of the following migratory species:

Greater scaup Aythya marila

Common eider Somateria mollissima

Long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis

Common scoter Melanitta nigra

Velvet scoter Melanitta fusca,

Common goldeneye Bucephala clangula,

Red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator

European shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis.

The Moray Firth pSPA comprises in total an area of 1,762.36 km2 The Moray Firth proposed SPA (pSPA) is a funnel-shaped body of sea on the north-east mainland coast of Scotland. Most of the Firth is shallow water (less than 20 metres(m) over a sandy substrate (Barne et al 1996), apart from a 50m deep channel running east-west through muddy substrate Firth (Tilbrook, 1986). Tidal flows are relatively weak with a maximum tidal range of 3m (Harding-Hill, 1993) and

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the Firth is relatively sheltered, at least in comparison to the exposure of the Atlantic west coasts. In winter, both salinity and temperature increase along a south-west to north-east gradient due to the considerable input of fresh water from rivers flowing into the Moray Firth. The Moray Firth supports a wide variety of both pelagic and demersal fish and is an important spawning ground and/or nursery for several fish species. Shellfish, such as Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus, mussels Mytilus edulis (Hopkins 1986; Harding-Hill 1993) and other bivalves also form part of the diverse fauna. All are important prey species for marine waterbirds. Divers, mergansers and shags feed on a wide variety of fish that are associated with a range of seabed substrates. These birds catch fish by diving from the surface and pursuing their prey underwater. The fish species taken will be influenced by what is locally most readily available, but the diet of divers and merganser includes haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus, cod Gadus morhua, herring Clupea harengus, sprats Sprattus sprattus and gurnard Eutrigla gurnardus along with smaller species such as sand-eels Ammodytidae, pipefish Syngathidae, gobies Gobiidae, flatfish Pleuronectidae and butterfish Pholis gunnellus. Sand-eels are favoured by shags during the breeding season, but adult birds take a wide variety of species. Slavonian grebe feed on small fish species but their diet also includes small amphipods and other crustaceans. Great northern divers also feed opportunistically on small crustaceans. Common eider, velvet scoter, common scoter, and long-tailed duck feed almost exclusively on molluscs and small crustaceans, diving from the surface to pluck their prey from the seabed. Common goldeneye and greater scaup feed mainly on a variety of invertebrates such as molluscs, worms, aquatic insects and crustaceans but will take also small fish. Diving activity varies among species but average foraging dive depths for most are shallower than 15m. However, substantially greater maximum dive depths have been recorded for some species, particularly great northern diver (maximum dive depth of 55m; Ropert-Coudert et al 2016) and shag. The presence of high densities of wintering waterfowl in this area is indicative of the importance of these productive waters at this time of year. Eider and shag are resident throughout the year, but the long-tailed duck, great northern diver, common goldeneye, greater scaup and Slavonian grebe migrate long distances from their northern breeding grounds to reach the wintering grounds. Red-breasted mergansers are typically short distance migrants, using coastal areas in winter.

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Figure 1. The location of the Moray Firth pSPA

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3. Bird survey information

Inshore wintering waterfowl (divers, grebes and seaduck)2

Areas of search Existing data (including Wetland Bird Surveys (WeBS), Important Bird Areas (IBA) under BirdLife International, existing survey data and an atlas of seabird distributions) and information from published scientific literature were used to determine which initial areas might be important for inshore wintering waterfowl. Based on this initial assessment, 46 areas of search were identified across the UK, with 22 of these in Scotland. Moray Firth was one of the areas of search identified as holding potentially large numbers of birds and therefore merited further survey. A combination of aerial survey and shore-based surveys were conducted between 2001 and 2011.

Aerial transect surveys 2001/02 – 2006/07 Data on the numbers and distribution of seaduck, divers and grebes in the Moray Firth Area of Search were collected using ten aerial surveys during the winter seasons of 2001 to 2007. These included one strip transect survey in 16/17th January 2001 and nine line transect surveys. All of these surveys were conducted by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (Lawson et al 2015). Surveys were conducted between November and March to enable estimates of wintering populations to be made. No data were collected during migration periods or for aggregations of moulting birds. The line-transect surveys were carried out on 8/9th January and 24/25th February 2002. Subsequent surveys were carried out on 11th December and 17th March 2002/03, 6/7th December and 15th February 2003/04, 6th March 2005, 30th January/4th February 2006 and 4/18th February 2007. The data from the aerial transect surveys were used to produce density distribution maps for great northern diver, red-throated diver, common eider and long-tailed duck and to calculate mean maximum counts of individuals (population estimate) for these species (except long-tailed duck). The population estimates were compared against the relevant national and/or biogeographic reference population estimates (Musgrove et al 2013 or Wetlands International 2014) to provide a percentage of the reference population for each species of interest (Lawson et al 2015). Shore-based count surveys Aerial surveys are one of the most effective methods for surveying inshore concentrations of birds over large areas. However, certain species are not amenable to survey from aircraft and some species that remain very close to the shore may often be missed, as the aircraft makes sharp turns at the shoreline. Grebes and mergansers are not easily detected during aerial surveys. 2 Full details of the methodologies, data and analysis used are provided in the Joint Nature

Conservation Committee (JNCC) Report 567: Lawson et al 2015 and the JNCC generic document ‘Identification of important marine areas for inshore wintering waterbirds’. JNCC Report 567 received full external independent peer review.

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Shore-based RSPB seaduck counts provided complementary data on waterbird numbers in the Moray Firth. These surveys were initiated in 1977 (Mudge & Allen 1980) and were conducted each winter through to the mid-2000s (Kalejta-Summers and Butterfield 2005). Shore-based Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) count data generally had good coverage and the most recent five years of available data (2006/07 to 2010/11) were assessed. Aggregations of seabirds: European shag3 The European Seabirds at Sea (ESAS) database, covering all 12 months of the year, is the most comprehensive and longest running data-set for the distribution of seabirds at sea in north-west European waters (Pollock and Barton 2006). The data were obtained from ship-board transects and those from 1980-2006 were extracted for the analysis. Observers counted all birds on the water within a 200m or 300m wide line transect parallel to the vessel’s track. The data were used to provide sequences of point locations along transects, each holding information about seabird numbers and survey effort deployed at that particular location. Subsequent analyses, to identify potential hotspots of activity for individual seabird species and seasons throughout UK waters, used continuous seabird density distribution maps generated from these point data. These analyses enabled areas holding consistently large aggregations of seabirds, relative to surrounding areas, to be identified (Kober et al 2010 & 2012). To estimate the seabird population size in a given hotspot, the boundary of the hotspot was superimposed on the relevant seabird density map, and population size was calculated from the map (i.e. adding up the number of birds within each grid cell within the hotspot boundary). The population estimates were compared against the relevant national and/or biogeographic reference population estimates (Musgrove et al 2013) to provide a percentage of the reference population for each species of interest. Estimating numbers of inshore wintering waterfowl and seabirds within an SPA boundary SPA boundaries were drawn only for those species which occurred in qualifying numbers in the areas of search (section 4) and for which suitable at sea distributions data were available (section 5). ArcGIS was used to calculate the area [km2] of each cell (1km x 1km for inshore wintering waterfowl, 6km x 6km for ESAS), or partial cell, located within the new boundary. For each cell the total number of individuals for each species was then estimated by multiplying the cell area with the species

3 Full details of the methodologies, data and analysis used are provided in the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) Reports 431 and 461: Kober et al 2009 and Kober et al 2012 and in the JNCC generic document ‘Identification of possible marine SPAs for seabirds: The European Seabirds at Sea database, analysis and boundary delineation’. JNCC Report 431 received an independent peer review by Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNBOs). Report 461 received full external independent peer review.

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densities within each individual cell. The total of individuals for each species within the new boundary was provided by summing all cell totals within the boundary by species and season. The population estimates for red-throated diver and great northern diver were calculated by applying the ratio of diver species recorded in the survey area. The number of birds within the SPA boundary was then reassessed against the UK SPA Selection Guidelines to ensure the site still qualified for consideration as an SPA.

4. Assessment against the UK SPA Selection Guidelines

The UK SPA Selection Guidelines establish a two stage process for SPA identification (JNCC, 1999). Stage 1 allows identification of areas that are likely to qualify for SPA status. Stage 1 To qualify under Stag 1 the area needs to meet one or more of the following four guidelines. 1.1. An area is used regularly by 1% or more of the Great Britain population of a

species listed in Annex I to the Birds Directive in any season. 1.2. An area is used regularly by 1% or more of the biogeographical population of a

regularly occurring migratory species (other than those listed in Annex I) in any season.

1.3. An area is used regularly by over 20,000 waterbirds (waterbirds as defined by the Ramsar Convention) or 20,000 seabirds in any season.

1.4. An area which meets the requirements of one or more of the Stage 2 guidelines in any season, where the application of Stage 1 guidelines 1.1-1.3 for a species does not identify an adequate suite of most suitable sites for the conservation of that species.

Stage 2 Those areas that meet one or more of the Stage 1 guidelines undergo further consideration using one or more of the ecological judgements set out in Stage 2. There are seven Stage 2 judgements. These judgments are used to facilitate the selection of the most suitable areas from the areas identified at Stage 1 to produce a network of marine SPAs in Scotland. The Stage 2 judgements are: 2.1 Population size and density 2.2 Species range 2.3 Breeding success 2.4 History of occupancy 2.5 Multi-species area 2.6 Naturalness 2.7 Severe weather refuges

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Application of Stage 1.4 Ten species of non-breeding migratory birds (non-Annex 1) frequently occur in Scottish marine waters in substantial numbers. All of these species have very large biogeographic populations often spread over extensive areas. This means that applying guideline 1.2 (area regularly used by 1% or more of the bio-geographical population of a regularly occurring migratory species), which has been helpful in identifying important areas on land, would largely fail to identify important areas at sea for these non-breeding migratory species. It is SNH and JNCC’s view that the absence of these species from a suite of marine SPAs would not satisfy the requirements of Article 4.1 of the Birds Directive. Therefore, to ensure these species are represented they were considered using guideline 1.4. This is specifically designed to capture cases where a species' population status, ecology or movement patterns may mean that an adequate number of areas cannot be identified from guidelines 1.1-1.3 alone. Our experience is that marine bird ‘hotspots’ usually support several species in substantial numbers potentially resulting in an SPA with rich biodiversity. In applying this fourth guideline, SNH only considered sites that had already been identified as potential SPAs for one or more species using guidelines 1.1-1.3. This approach allows for all ten species of non-breeding migratory birds (non-Annex 1) to be represented in the proposed SPA suite. Without prejudice to any forthcoming review of marine SPA sufficiency, our view is that inclusion of these species in the proposed suite will provide an adequate number of areas for these species. To assess which sites may be considered as suitable areas for those migratory birds that did not meet the threshold of 1% or more of their bio-geographical population, SNH focused on three of the Stage 2 judgments (population size and density, species range and multi-species area). To provide a consistent and quantifiable population threshold for species that may be considered using guideline 1.4, species only became candidates for inclusion in a site where they occurred in numbers in excess of 1% of their Great Britain (GB) population. This population threshold is consistent with the population threshold used to identify named qualifiers of a waterbirds or seabird assemblage selected under guideline 1.3. At this pSPA, common eider, long-tailed duck, common scoter, velvet scoter, greater scaup, goldeneye and red-breasted merganser have been identified using this approach (>1% GB population), each with a high proportion of their distribution overlapping qualifying Annex 1 species. The approach has been reviewed and supported by SNH’s Scientific Advisory Committee.

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Assessment against Stage 1 of the UK SPA Selection Guidelines Great northern diver, red-throated diver and Slavonian grebe are Annex 1 species and were present in numbers at or above 1% of the GB population. These species all met Stage 1.1 of the SPA guidelines (Table 1). European shag is a regularly occurring migratory species present in numbers at or above 1% of the biogeographical population. This species therefore met Stage 1.2 of the SPA guidelines (Table 1). Common eider, long-tailed duck, common scoter, velvet scoter, greater scaup, goldeneye and red-breasted merganser, are also regularly occurring migratory species but did not occur in numbers at or above 1% of their biogeographical population and therefore did not meet Stage 1.2 of the guidelines. All of these species did however exceed 1% of the GB population and could therefore be considered under Stage 1.4 (Table 1).

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Table 1: Assessment against Stage 1 of the UK SPA Selection Guidelines

Species and

season

Annex 1 or

migratory

Population

size in site4

% of GB

population5

Stage 1

guideline

Great northern

diver

(non-breeding)

Annex 1 144 5.8 1.1

Red-throated

diver

(non-breeding)

Annex 1 324 1.9 1.1

Slavonian grebe

(non-breeding)

Annex 1 43 3.9 1.1

Greater scaup

(non-breeding)

Migratory 930 17.9 1.4

Common eider

(non-breeding)

Migratory 1733 2.9 1.4

Long-tailed duck

(non-breeding)

Migratory 5001 45.5 1.4

Common scoter

(non-breeding)

Migratory 5479 5.5 1.4

Velvet scoter

(non-breeding)

Migratory 1488 59.5 1.4

Common

goldeneye

(non-breeding)

Migratory 907 4.5 1.4

Red-breasted

merganser

(non-breeding)

Migratory 151 1.8 1.4

European shag

(breeding & non-

breeding)6

Migratory 5,494+ (b)

6,462+ (nb)

10.2 (2.7)

5.9 (3.2)

1.2

Assessment against Stage 2 of the UK SPA Selection Guidelines

One or more of the Stage 2 guidelines are used to identify the most suitable areas for classifying as SPA from those areas that meet the Stage 1 guidelines. The focus for considering which areas were most suitable concentrated on three of the seven judgements; population size and density, species range and multi-species areas. Population densities were only considered for non-breeding Annex 1 species.

4 The population estimates are based on the mean maximum population estimates provided in

Lawson et al 2015 for all inshore aggregations of non-breeding waterfowl and Kober et al 2010, 2012 for European shag and amended, where appropriate to the site boundary. 5 Reference populations are from Musgrove et al 2013 and Wetlands International 2014.

6 The % of the biogeographic population of shags is given in parentheses.

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Non-breeding waterfowl (not including European shag) Fourteen areas around Scotland (from the initial 22) were identified as meeting Stage 1.1 for non-breeding Annex 1 species (great northern diver, black-throated diver, red-throated diver and Slavonian grebe). To help identify the most suitable sites for SPAs from the initial 14 areas, the non-breeding Annex 1 species were ranked for each site according to their population size, density and number of other non-breeding qualifying species also present within each area. Particular emphasis was placed on identifying areas that function as “hotspots” for many species rather than just a few. The results of the ranking exercise for the Moray Firth are provided in Table 2.

Table 2: Summary of initial Annex 1 ranking and overlapping multi-species

interest.

nb = non-breeding, b = breeding

Assessment/

Qualifying feature

Ranked importance for non-breeding Annex 1

species 7

Great northern diver 6th most important site

Black-throated diver Not qualifying

Red-throated diver 3rd most important site

Slavonian grebe Excluded from analysis as population estimate

was less than 50 individuals.

Moray Firth supports three non-breeding Annex 1 species, with it being the third most important for red-throated diver and sixth most important site for Slavonian grebe. Stage 2 judgements were also assessed for the other non-breeding (non-Annex 1) species considered at stage 1.4 on the basis of their populations exceeding 1% of the GB population (long-tailed duck, common eider, greater scaup, common scoter, velvet scoter, common goldeneye and red-breasted merganser) to ensure it was appropriate to include these species within the site (Table 3). For these species, which are more widely distributed, the Moray Firth pSPA holds important concentrations within their GB wintering ranges. European shag The ESAS analysis identified several thousand seabird “hotspots” within the British Fisheries Limit. Only a few “hotspots” identified as regularly holding 1% or more of the biogeographical populations of migratory seabirds (Kober et al 2010 & 2012). This included three hotspots in the Moray Firth, all for European shag. Stage 2 judgements were also applied to European shag to ensure that it was appropriate to include tit within the pSPA (Table 3).

7 Ranking was only applied to non-breeding Annex 1 species to provide an initial short-listing of most

suitable areas that could then be subject to further checks for other marine bird interests. Ranking combines population size, density and multi-species interest to provide an overall rank.

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With regard to the other Stage 2 judgements, all sites where considered largely ‘natural’, judgements on breeding success was irrelevant for inshore wintering waterfowl and no information was available to provide further consideration to ‘severe weather refuge’. Further details on the selection process and the final suite of sites being proposed is provided in the SNH supplementary document ‘Site selection of the marine SPA suite’ (SNH, 2016).

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Table 3: Summary of assessment against Stage 2 of the UK SPA Selection Guidelines.

nb – non-breeding, b - breeding

Stage 2 judgement/

Qualifying features

Population size8 Species range Influence on site boundary?

Great northern

diver

(nb)

9th largest population in Scotland.

Only concentration in the east and representative of the southern extent of their range in GB.

Together with red-throated diver it is the pre-dominate species influencing the eastern extent and central core of the site.

Red-throated diver

(nb)

3rd largest population in Scotland.

Large population in the northern extent of their range in GB.

Together with great northern diver it is the pre-dominate species influencing the eastern extent and central core of the site.

Slavonian grebe

(nb)

7th largest population in Scotland and GB

Important population in the north and easterly part of their range in GB.

One of four species influencing the eastern extent of the boundary in the Beauly Firth.

Common eider

(nb)

5th largest population Scotland.

Large concentration in the northern extent of their range in GB.

One of six species connecting the two distributions of divers within the site.

Long-tailed duck

(nb)

Largest population in Scotland.

Largest concentration in the north of their range in GB.

One of six species connecting the two distributions of divers within the site.

Greater scaup (nb) 3rd largest concentration in Scotland.

Only significant population on coast of Scotland representative of the eastern part of their range in GB.

One of six species connecting the two distributions of divers within the site and one of four species influencing the eastern extent of the boundary in the Beauly Firth.

Common scoter Largest population Largest concentration in the north One of six species connecting the

8 The population sizes are the mean maximum population estimates provided in Lawson et al 2015 for all inshore aggregations of non-breeding waterfowl and Kober et al

2010 &2012 for European shag.

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(nb) in Scotland. of their range in GB. two distributions of divers within the site.

Velvet scoter (nb) Largest population in Scotland.

Largest concentration in the core of their range in GB.

One of six species connecting the two distributions of divers within the site.

Common goldeneye

(nb)

Largest population in Scotland.

Largest concentration in the north of their range in GB.

One of four species influencing the eastern extent of the boundary in the Beauly Firth.

Red-breasted

merganser

(nb)

5th largest population in Scotland.

Important component in the core of their range in GB.

One of six species connecting the two distributions of divers within the site and one of four species influencing the eastern extent of the boundary in the Beauly Firth.

European shag (b &

nb)

Largest breeding and non-breeding populations in Scotland.

Largest concentration in the north of their range in GB.

Influences northern boundary.

Stage 2 judgement (whole site)

Multi-

species

area

Three non-breeding Annex 1 species (great northern diver, red-throated diver and Slavonian grebe) with seven other inshore waterfowl species occur in nationally important numbers during winter in close association. The pSPA also supports biogeographically important populations of breeding and non-breeding shag makes a contribution to each species range representation. In addition, a further Annex 1 species, the red-throated diver, uses most of the area for feeding during the breeding season. A total of seven qualifying species regularly occur in the pSPA.

History of

occupancy

The BTO winter atlas (Lack 1986) confirms the Moray Firth as one of the most consistently important marine areas in Scotland for seaduck species in the late 20th century. The Moray Firth remains an outstanding seaduck location, especially for red-throated divers, Slavonian grebe, scaup, long-tailed duck, common scoter, velvet scoter and red-breasted merganser, both in Scotland and the UK, right up to the modern day (Forrester et al 2007).

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5. Site status and boundary

The proposed name for this site is the “Moray Firth SPA”.

Marine sites present no visual surface features by which a seaward boundary can be identified. A site boundary was developed by reviewing the distribution of each species and selecting those areas which contained the highest densities. Great northern diver, red-throated diver, common eider and long-tailed duck were recorded in good numbers from aerial survey and these data were used to establish mean density surfaces for each species and then applying maximum curvature to determine a density threshold. The threshold densities identified by maximum curvature were: 0.29 birds.km-2 (diver species), 1.14 birds.km-2 (common eider) and 0.5 – 92.0 birds/km2 (long-tailed duck). A line was then drawn around all cells that exceed the density threshold to produce a species-specific boundary. The area covering the species-specific boundary for great northern diver and red-throated diver (qualifying under guideline 1.1) was then compared with the distributions of other wintering wildfowl to establish the degree of overlap. At the Moray Forth pSPA, the distribution of great northern diver and red-throated encompasses a substantial proportion of the species-specific boundaries for Slavonian grebe, common eider, long-tailed duck, greater scaup, common scoter, velvet scoter, goldeneye and red-breasted merganser. These combined distributions were used to produce an inshore wintering waterfowl composite species boundary. The inshore wintering waterfowl composite boundaries also overlapped three hotspots identified for European shag (breeding and non-breeding) by analysis of the ESAS database. The final boundary was created by drawing the boundary as tight as possible to the ESAS hotspots and the composite inshore wintering waterfowl boundary ensuring all cells exceeding density thresholds (maximum curvature) where included within the boundary. To avoid creating an over-complex boundary however some rationalisation of the final boundary was required, resulting in small areas with cells not exceeding the density threshold also being included in the final boundary. Whilst these areas did not exceed the density threshold, they are still likely to support lower densities of the qualifying species. The proposed site extends to 1,762.36km2. Boundary co-ordinates for the pSPA are given on the site map in Annex 1.

6. Information on qualifying species

Great-northern diver Great northern divers tended to be concentrated in the Outer Dornoch Firth and Spey Bay. However in general diver species were widely dispersed throughout the Moray Firth in all survey months, during the period 2001/02 – 2006/07, and the areas used tended to be shallow and associated with the 20 m sea depth contour (Figure

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2). Numbers of this species exceeded the Stage 1.1 threshold of 1% of the GB population (25 birds) and the default site selection threshold of 50 birds (for those scarce species with a small population or where the population is not known with certainty) in four of the five years of the aerial survey. The maximum population estimate for the whole search area of 280 birds was in February 2002. Overall the mean peak population estimate within the pSPA over the 5 years of survey was 144 birds; relatively few birds (11% of the total) occurred outside this area (Lawson et al 2015). Population size and density The northern and western seaboards of Scotland are the winter strongholds of the British great northern diver population, with the Moray Firth as the most southerly of the notable concentrations on the east coast. Supporting an estimated 144 birds (5.8% of Great Britain population), this is the smallest of the great northern diver totals in the site series but is the only one on the east coast of Scotland. Overall diver densities varied between less than 0.1 and 2.0 divers/km2, which were lower than more northern and western maximum densities but this probably reflects the southern extremity of core range. Distribution within the site The distribution of great northern diver together with red-throated diver is the predominant influence on the site boundary in all but the north of the pSPA (Figure 2). Species range The birds in the Moray Firth are the most notable concentration on the east coast of Scotland and representative of the southern extent of their range in Great Britain. History of occupancy There is no evidence to suggest that this area has ever been anything but important for the species. The earliest record of its occurrence was by Harvie-Brown (1895) in the late 19th century and its continued presence has been noted many times throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, suggesting this area has true long-term viability. Red-throated diver Red-throated divers, recorded on all aerial surveys during the period 2001/02 – 2006/07, were most common in the Outer Dornoch Firth, the Inverness Firth, around Spey Bay and between the Cromarty Firth and Tarbat Ness along the coast of

Easter Ross. They tended to be more widely spread throughout the Moray Firth compared to great northern divers (Figure 2). The red-throated diver was the commonest diver in the Moray Firth during the winter. Numbers exceeded the Stage 1.1 site selection threshold (1% or more of the Great Britain population of an Annex 1 species), which for red-throated diver is 170 birds, in each of the five aerial survey years. The maximum population in the whole search area of 565 birds was recorded in January 2006. The mean peak population estimate for the five survey seasons in the pSPA was 324 birds (1.9% of Great Britain population) with only a relatively

17

small number (9.8% of the total) at low density outwith this area in the remainder of the Firth. Population size and density The Northern Isles, the east mainland coast of both Scotland and England and the Irish and English coast bordering the Irish Sea, especially Liverpool Bay all support concentrations of the species. Recent assessments (O `Brien et al 2008) have estimated the non-breeding red-throated diver population in Great Britain at 17,000 birds. Although birds occur as far north as Unst in Shetland the birds in the Moray Firth are the most northerly concentration in Scotland, with 324 (1.9% of Great Britain population) being the largest known non-breeding gathering of the species north of the Forth and Tay. Whilst overall diver densities varied between less than 0.1 and 2.0 divers/km2 red-throated divers are more than twice as numerous as great northern divers and hence must comprise a significant component in this density.

Distribution within the site The distribution of red-throated diver together with great northern diver is the predominant influence on the site boundary in all but the north of the pSPA (Figure 2). Species range During winter the red-throated diver occurs right round the coastline of the United Kingdom, as far north as Shetland and as far south as south-west England, and the east and south coast of the Republic of Ireland. With the largest concentrations in Great Britain in the Outer Thames and Liverpool Bay the most significant northerly concentrations are in the Solway on the west coast and the Forth/Tay and the Moray Firth on the east. History of occupancy This area has a long record of use as a wintering area; Harvie-Brown (1895) specifically referred to its presence in the late 19th century and many authors have referred to it throughout the 20th century (Lack 1986).

18

Figure 2. The distribution of diver species (red-throated diver and great northern divers) in the Moray Firth pSPA.

19

Slavonian grebe Estimates of Slavonian grebe numbers, and their distribution were determined from systematic land-based counts, during 2001/02 – 2005/06 as aerial survey was unsuitable for this species (Figure 3). The Slavonian grebe is the most widespread of the grebe species using marine habitats in the Great Britain and, during the winter, is the most marine in behaviour. Nevertheless, although distributed widely, no-where is it truly abundant, occurring mainly in ones and twos rather than aggregated flocks. Numbers did not exceed the Stage 1.1 default site selection threshold of 50 birds but did exceed the threshold of 1% of the Great Britain population of an Annex 1 species which, for Slavonian grebe, is 11 birds by a considerable margin in all of the five survey years. Population size and density The Slavonian grebe`s winter distribution encompasses most of the coastline of Great Britain but rarely is it abundant and concentrations occur in relatively few widely distributed locations. In the last five years, no WeBS count for any area in Great Britain has been higher than 90 birds, and most have been much lower than 50. Hence a mean peak population estimate of 43 birds (3.9% of Great Britain population) is of considerable importance, being the seventh largest in Scotland and Great Britain. No density estimates are available. Distribution within the site Slavonian grebe is widely distributed along the coast throughout the site (Figure 3). Species range Whilst the winter range of the Slavonian grebe encompasses the whole of the coastline of Great Britain particular concentrations occur in Scotland in the Firth of Forth, the Moray Firth, the Northern Isles, north-west Scotland including the Outer Hebrides and Kintyre. Hence an SPA in the Moray Firth is an important component in representing the species range in Scotland. History of occupancy Slavonian grebes have been recorded in the Moray Firth for over 100 years (Harvie-Brown 1895) and in good numbers for several decades (Prater 1981, WeBS 2014).

20

Figure 3. The distribution of Slavonian grebe in the Moray Firth pSPA. Point symbols represent the relative number of Slavonian grebe in each RSPB count sector.

21

Greater scaup Greater scaup occurred in small concentrations, usually of less than 50 birds, widely dispersed along both margins of the Firth, and close inshore (Figure 4). The largest flocks were in the Inner Moray Firth and off Culbin Bar. Numbers of birds did not exceed those needed to meet the Stage 1.2 guideline (1% or more of the biogeographic population), 3,100 birds, but considerably exceeded the level of 1% of the Great Britain total (52 birds) in all of the five surveys conducted between 2001/02 and 2005/06. In most years the population estimate was between 223-998 birds but the maximum estimate in the 2004/05 winter was 2,641. Overall the data suggest a mean peak annual non-breeding population in the pSPA for the years of 2001/02 to 2005/06 of 930 birds (17.9% of the Great Britain population); no birds were observed outwith this area. Population size and density

Scaup is most commonly present in Great Britain during the winter. Nevertheless, whilst it is widespread around the coast, numbers in most localities are relatively small with significant concentrations consistently present in only very few areas; only four locations in Scotland have supported a mean population of over 500 birds in the last decade (WeBs 2014). Outside Northern Ireland a mean peak population estimate of 930 birds (17.9% of Great Britain population) is the third largest in Scotland and the only sizable population on the east coast. Distribution within the site Scaup are widely distributed along the coast throughout the site with the highest densities occurring in the Beauly Firth and off the coast at Nairn (Figure 4). Species range Whilst scaup is widespread around the coast of the United Kingdom, the largest numbers are found in the north-east of Northern Ireland although smaller but sizeable flocks are also found in south-western Scotland in Loch Ryan, Loch Indaal and the Solway Firth and in north-east Scotland in the Moray Firth. Fifty years ago very large numbers were present in the Firth of Forth but, with the improvement in water quality on the south side of the Firth, these huge flocks have gone, leaving the Moray Firth as the sole significant concentration on the east coast. History of occupancy Scaup have been recorded in the Moray Firth for at least 100 years (Harvie-Brown 1895.) and consistently so for the last few decades of the 20th century (Atkinson-Willes 1963, Prater 1981, WeBS 2014).

22

Figure 4. The distribution of greater scaup in the Moray Firth pSPA. Point symbols represent the relative number of scaup in each RSPB count sector. Count sectors with the highest relative count that warranted inclusion within the proposed boundary were identified by maximum curvature.

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Common eider Common eiders were recorded during all surveys and were mainly observed along the south coast of the Moray Firth (Figure 5). They were usually recorded close inshore, in very shallow water, along the whole of this coast, from Buckie to Nairn. In contrast on the northern edge, whilst still close inshore, they tended to be both scarce and local. Numbers of common eider in the proposed SPA did not meet the Stage 1.2 guideline (10,300 birds) but considerably exceeded the level of 1% of the Great Britain total (600 birds) in all of the five line transect surveys conducted between 2001/02 and 2006/07. In most years the population estimate was between 1,000-2,500 birds with the maximum estimate in February 2004 of 2,506. Overall the data suggest a mean peak annual non-breeding population, for the years of 2001/02 to 2006/07, of 1,733 birds (2.9% of the GB population); very few birds occurred outwith the pSPA (less than 1%). Population size and density Throughout the early years of the 21st century the Moray Firth has consistently supported a sizeable population of eiders. For a species which has a very sizeable biogeographic population of about 1,030,000 birds no location in Great Britain nearly reaches the 1% selection level to meet the Stage 1.2 Guideline. Nevertheless Great Britain supports a large national population, with most in Scotland, and hence, with a mean of peak estimates population of 1733 birds (2.9% of the Great Britain population), identifies the Moray Firth as an important site, thereby meeting the SPA site selection guidelines. Density estimates range from 0.3 – 23.0 birds/km2 comparable with those on the West Coast of the Outer Hebrides but lower than those in the Firths of Tay and Forth where there are sizeable local breeding colonies. Distribution within the site Common eider are distributed throughout most of the site between Dornoch and Portsoy. Their distribution mostly compliments that of great northern and red-throated diver but also influences a core of multispecies inshore wintering waterfowl off the Morayshire coast between Nairn and Lossiemouth (Figure 5). Species range Whilst eiders are widely distributed and, during winter, may occur round virtually the whole UK coastline the range is predominantly in northern England and especially mainland Scotland and the Scottish island groups. The Moray Firth is one of the main non-breeding concentrations of eider on the east coast, along with the Firths of Forth & Tay, Montrose Basin and Aberdeen Bay, representing the north of this mainland distribution.

History of occupancy Common eider have been recorded in the Moray Firth for at least 100 years and consistently so for the last few decades of the 20th century (Harvie-Brown 1895, Atkinson-Willes 1963, Prater 1981, WeBS 2014).

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Figure 5. The distribution of common eider in the Moray Firth pSPA.

25

Long-tailed duck Long-tailed duck were abundant and widely dispersed throughout the whole of the survey area and, in contrast to other species, in water up to 40m deep (Figure 6). They were recorded most frequently in Spey Bay and along the south coast of the Moray Firth and, least frequently, in the Dornoch Firth. Numbers of long-tailed duck did not exceed those needed to meet the Stage 1.2 guideline (16,000 birds) but considerably exceeded the level of 1% of the Great Britain total (110 birds) in all of the five line transect surveys conducted between 2001/02 and 2006/07 and the five years of seaduck counts (shore- based counts) between 2001/02 and 2005/06. In most years the population estimate was between 1,250-4,620 birds but over the periods 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06 the maximum estimates were 6,122, 6,322 and 8630 birds. Overall the data suggest a mean peak annual wintering population for the years of 2001/02 to 2005/06 of 5,001 birds (45.5% of the Great Britain population); few birds (less than 1%) occurred outwith this area. Population size and density The population of long-tailed ducks in the Moray Firth, albeit only a small proportion of the biogeographic population, is by far the largest in Scotland (and Great Britain), when compared to the other notable concentrations in south-east Scotland, Orkney, Shetland and on the West Coast of the Outer Hebrides. Whilst that in the Moray Firth is one of three on the eastern seaboard of Great Britain, further south the closely adjacent Firths of Forth and Tay together only support around 2000 birds. Moreover the population in the Moray Firth alone almost equals the combined total of the other 6 notable locations (Forth and Tay, Scapa Flow, North Orkney, the Outer Hebrides and East Shetland). The mean peak numbers in the pSPA are estimated to be 5001 individuals (45.5% of the GB population). Density estimates range from 0.5 – 92.0 birds/km2. Species range The species occurs right round the coast of Great Britain during winter, but the main distribution is eastern Scotland and the island groups. Within that broad range locations where long-tailed duck are abundant are few and widely spaced. The Moray Firth lies right at the centre of the core range. Distribution within the site The distribution of long-tailed duck is similar to that of common eider with significant overlaps with great northern diver and red-throated dive (Figure 6). History of occupancy Long-tailed duck have been recorded in the Moray Firth for at least 100 years

(Harvie-Brown (1895) considered them common throughout the area including the Dornoch Firth) and consistently so for the last few decades of the 20th century (Atkinson-Willes 1963, Prater 1981, WeBS 2014).

26

Figure 6. The distribution of long-tailed duck in the Moray Firth pSPA.

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Common scoter Numbers of common scoter in the proposed SPA did not exceed those needed to meet the Stage 1.2 guideline (5,500 birds) but considerably exceeded the level of 1% of the Great Britain total (1,000 birds) in all of the five line transect surveys conducted between 2001/02 and 2006/07 and the five years of shore-based seaduck counts between 2001/02 and 2005/06. In most years the population estimate was around 3,000 birds but in the periods 2002/03 and 2005/06 the maximum estimates were 8,333 and 6,842 birds. Overall the data suggest a mean peak annual wintering population for the years of 2001/02 to 2005/06 of 5,479 birds (5.5% of the GB population). Population size and density The common scoter is most commonly present in Great Britain during the winter.

With the exception of north-west Scotland it is widespread around the UK coastline, with concentrations in a number of areas. The two most substantial flocks frequent west Wales and northwest England. Scottish flocks are much smaller but nevertheless sizeable and represent important locations in the species range. That in the Moray Firth, with a mean of peak estimates of 5479 birds (5.5% of the Great Britain population) is the largest both in Scotland and on the east coast of Great Britain. Distribution within the site Scoter species were less widely distributed than other seaduck in the Moray Firth. They were generally concentrated close inshore between Burghead and Nairn, around the mouth of the inner Dornoch Firth, in Spey Bay and on the Riff Bank (Figure 7). Species range The species occurs right round the coast of Great Britain during winter, but the main distribution in Great Britain is in England and Wales with eastern Scotland representing the majority of the northern range. The Moray Firth is the northern-most sizeable population. History of occupancy As with the other seaduck in the area, common scoter have been recorded in the Moray Firth for at least 100 years and consistently so for the last few decades of the 20th century (Harvie-Brown 1895, Atkinson-Willes 1963, Prater 1981, WeBS 2014)

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Figure 7. The distribution of common scoter in the Moray Firth pSPA. Point symbols represent the relative number of common scoter in each RSPB count sector. Count sectors with the highest relative count that warranted inclusion within the proposed boundary were identified by maximum curvature.

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Velvet scoter Numbers of velvet scoter did not exceed those needed to meet the Stage 1.2 guideline (4,500 birds). However numbers considerably exceeded the threshold of 1% of the Great Britain population (25 birds) and the default site selection threshold of 50 birds (for those scarce species with a small population or where the population is not known with certainty) in three of the five line transect surveys conducted between 2001/02 and 2006/07 and all five years of shore-based seaduck counts between 2001/02 and 2005/06. The seaduck surveys tended to count most birds, amounting to between approximately 500- 2,500 birds. Overall the data suggest a mean peak annual wintering population for the years of 2001/02 to 2005/06 of 1,488 birds (59.5% of the Great Britain population). Population size and density The velvet scoter is present in Great Britain during the winter, with a distribution very similar to that of the common scoter except that it is far less numerous. With the exception of north-west Scotland it is widespread around the UK coastline in small flocks and single birds. Consequently localities where there are concentrations, notably eastern Scotland, are important. That in the Moray Firth, with a mean of peak estimates of 1,488 birds (59.5% of Great Britain population) is now the largest, both in Scotland and Great Britain. Distribution within the site There was no discernible difference in common and velvet scoter distributions (Figure 8). Species range The species occurs right round the coast of Great Britain during winter, with the main distribution being eastern mainland Scotland and Orkney. The Moray Firth is the most sizeable population in the midst of the core range. History of occupancy Whilst being one of the scarcer species, as with the other seaduck in the area, velvet scoter have been recorded in the Moray Firth for at least 100 years and consistently so for the last few decades of the 20th century (Harvie-Brown 1895, Atkinson-Willes 1963, Prater 1981, WeBS 2014).

30

Figure 8. The distribution of velvet scoter in the Moray Firth pSPA. Point symbols represent the relative number of velvet scoter in each RSPB count sector. Count sectors with the highest relative count that warranted inclusion within the proposed boundary were identified by maximum curvature.

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Common goldeneye Common goldeneye were one of the least abundant waterfowl on the coast (Figure 9). Numbers of goldeneye did not exceed those needed to meet the Stage 1.2 guideline (11,400 birds) but considerably exceeded the level of 1% of the Great Britain total (200 birds) in all the five years of seaduck counts between 2001/02 and 2005/06. In most years the population estimate was between 750-1,500 birds; in only 2005/06 was it lower with 222 birds counted. Overall the pSPA supported a mean peak annual non-breeding population for the years of 2001/02 to 2005/06 of 907 birds (4.5% of the Great Britain population). Population size and density The goldeneye is most commonly present in Great Britain during the winter. With the exception of south and west England and south Wales, it is widespread around the coastline of Great Britain and on inland freshwater bodies. However, abundance tends to be northerly and greatest in Scotland, especially on or around the east coast and Orkney. Even in Scotland sizeable concentrations tend to be scarce; that in the Moray Firth, with a mean of peak estimates of 907 birds (4.5% of Great Britain population) is the largest in Scotland. Distribution within the site Goldeneye were mainly distributed either in the most southerly and shallow parts of the Inverness Firth, in the Dornoch Firth or occasionally on the southern shore in the Culbin/ Findhorn area (Figure 9). Species range The species occurs right across Great Britain, except south and south western England and Wales, during winter, with the main coastal distribution being eastern mainland Scotland and Orkney. The Moray Firth is the most sizeable population in the midst of the core range. History of occupancy Goldeneye have been commonly recorded in the Moray Firth for over 100 years, throughout the 20th century to the present day (Atkinson-Willes 1963, Prater 1981, WeBS 2014).

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Figure 9. The distribution of common goldeneye in the Moray Firth pSPA Point symbols represent the relative number of goldeneye in each RSPB count sector. Count sectors with the highest relative count that warranted inclusion within the proposed boundary were identified by maximum curvature.

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Red-breasted merganser Numbers of red-breasted merganser did not exceed those needed to meet the Stage 1.2 guideline (1,700 birds) but considerably exceeded the level of 1% of the Great Britain total (84 birds) in two out of the five line transect surveys conducted between 2001/02 and 2006/07 and in each of the five years of shore-based seaduck counts between 2001/02 and 2005/06. In most years the population estimate was between 100-200 birds with the maximum of 209 recorded in 2001/02. Overall the pSPA supported a mean peak annual non-breeding population for the years of 2001/02 to 2005/06 of 151 birds (1.8% of the Great Britain population). Population size and density The non-breeding red-breasted merganser population is distributed generally close inshore in relatively sheltered areas throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, with most areas supporting between 100-300 birds. In Scotland

the species is notably concentrated around the west mainland, the Outer Hebrides and the Northern Isles. On the mainland birds tend to number around 150-200 although numbers in the Northern Isles tend to be greater. The Moray Firth with a mean of peak estimates of 151 birds (1.8% of Great Britain population), along with the Firths of Forth and Tay, support the largest populations on east mainland Scotland. Distribution within the site Red-breasted mergansers occurred at a number of localities along the southern shore and in the inner firth, but a large aggregation was present only in the Beauly Firth (Figure 10). Species range The red-breasted merganser occurs right round the coastline of the United Kingdom and Eire, but is notably concentrated in west mainland Scotland, the Outer Hebrides and the Northern Isles. On the east coast distribution is one of local abundance with the Moray Firth being important in the centre of the range. History of occupancy The red-breasted merganser has been recorded in the Moray Firth for over 100 years, throughout the 20th century to the present day.(Harvie Brown 1895, Atkinson-Willes 1963, Prater 1981, WeBS 2014).

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Figure 10. The distribution of red breasted mergansers in the Moray Firth pSPA. Point symbols represent the relative number of red-breasted merganser in each RSPB count sector. Count sectors with the highest relative count that warranted inclusion within the proposed boundary were identified by maximum curvature.

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European shag (breeding and winter) During the winter this area regularly supported a total of at least 6,462 shags during the period of October to February. Of these during the survey period at least 3,179 birds (1.6% of the biogeographic population & 2.9% of the GB population) regularly occurred on the north coast and a further 1,967 birds (more than 1.8% of the GB population) regularly occurred on the south coast (Figure 11). Therefore the Moray Firth supported a total population of shags in winter amounting to over 3.2% of the biogeographic population and 5.9% of the Great Britain population. During the breeding season of March to September this area regularly supported a total of at least 5,494 birds (2.7% of the biogeographic population & 10.2% of the Great Britain population). This total comprised two adjacent regularly occurring

concentrations which were both closely adjacent to the breeding area on the north coast of the firth (Figure 11). Population size and density The non-breeding aggregation of 3,179 birds was the largest identified round the coast of Great Britain during the ESAS work and, with 19.4 birds/km2,was also the second-most dense concentration. The densest concentration was that on the south side of the firth (57.9 birds/km2) but was only the fourth largest identified with 1,967 birds present on average. The breeding season location formed the largest concentration (5,494 birds) of European shags identified on the mainland of Great Britain and second in size to that identified around Foula off the west coast of Shetland. However densities were far higher in the Moray Firth; in some locations birds aggregated at a density of 28.8 birds/km2, compared to 4.0 birds/km2 off Shetland. Distribution within the site Two distinct non-breeding distributions exist in the pSPA. On the Morayshire coast non-breeding shag distribution overlaps with that of red-throated diver and great northern diver. In the north of the site, high density breeding and non-breeding shag distributions lie of the coast between Brora and Berriedale, influencing the northern extent of the boundary (Figure 11). Species range During winter the European shag is virtually ubiquitous round the coast of Great Britain but it is relatively most abundant in the north and west of Scotland and the big east-coast firths. The Moray Firth and the Firth of Forth both represent the major

east coast concentrations. The breeding range of the species in Great Britain is substantially northern and western but with the southern-most colonies occurring in the south-west of England. The shag is largely absent as a breeding species in eastern and southern England with only small numbers south of Northumberland. The Moray Firth is one of the major breeding locations on the east mainland coast of Scotland and, along with the Firth of Forth, represents the southern extremity of the breeding range.

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History of occupancy Detailed records of seabirds, including shags, are rare prior to the twentieth century although seabird colonies around the firth have long been recognised. Both the first national seabird breeding survey (Operation Seafarer in the late 1960s – Cramp et al 1974) and the first ornithological atlases (breeding birds in the late 1960s and wintering birds early in the 1980s – Sharrock 1976, Gibbons et al 2008, Lack 1986) recognise shags in the area and there is no reason to suppose any real change in their presence from much earlier. Figure 11. The major concentrations of shags in the Moray Firth pSPA.

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7. References

Atkinson-Willes, G. L. 1963. Wildfowl in Great Britain. Nature Conservancy

Monograph No. 3. London.

Barne, J. H., Robson, C. F., Kaznowska, S. S., Doody, J. P. & Davidson, N. C. eds

1996. Coasts and seas of the United Kingdom. Region 3 North-east Scotland: Cape

Wrath to St Cyrus. Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. (Coastal

Directories Series.)

Cramp, S., Bourne, W. R. P., & Saunders, D. 1974. The Seabirds of Britain &

Ireland. Collins, London

Gibbons, D. W., Reid, J. & Chapman, R.A. 1993. The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in

Britain and Ireland: 1988-1991. London. T. & A. D. Poyser.

Harding-Hill, R. 1993. The Moray Firth Review. SNH Report, Inverness

Harvie-Brown, J. A. & Buckley, T. E. 1895 . A vertebrate fauna of the Moray Firth.

David Douglas.

Hopkins, P. J. 1986 Exploited fish and shellfish species in the Moray Firth.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 91B, 57-72.

JNCC. 1999. The Birds Directive. Selection Guidelines for Special Protection Areas.

Peterborough, JNCC. 6pp.

Forrester, R & Andrews, I. 2007. The Birds of Scotland. SOC.

JNCC generic documents:

Identification of possible marine SPAs for seabirds: The European Seabirds at Sea

database, analysis and boundary delineation

Identification of important marine areas for inshore wintering waterbirds

Kaletja-Summers, B. & Butterfield, D. 2005. Numbers and distribution of wintering

divers, grebes and seaducks in the Moray Firth, Scotland, 1998/99-2003/04.

Unpublished RSPB report.

Kober, K., Webb, A,, Win, I., Lewis, M., O`Brien, S., Wilson, L, J. & Reid, J.B. 2009.

An analysis of the numbers and distributions of seabirds within the British Fishery

Limit aimed at identifying areas that qualify as possible marine SPAs. JNCC Report

No 431.

Kober, K., Wilson, L. J., Black, J., O`Brien, S., Allen, S., Win, I., Bingham, C., & Reid,

J.B. 2012. The identification of possible marine SPAs for seabirds in the UK: The

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application of Stage 1.1-1.4 of the SPA selection guidelines 85pp. JNCC Report No

461.

Lack, P. 1986, The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland. Calton, T & A.D. Poyser.

Lawson, J., Kober, K., Win, I., Bingham, C., Buxton, N.E., Mudge, G., Webb, A., Reid, J.B., Black, J., Way, L. & O’Brien, S. 2015. An assessment of numbers of wintering divers, seaduck and grebes in inshore marine areas of Scotland. JNCC Report No 567. JNCC, Peterborough.

Mudge, G. P. & Allen, D.S. 1980. Wintering seaducks in the Moray and Dornoch

Firths, Scotland. Wildfowl, 31, 123-130.

Musgrove, A., Aebischer,, N Eaton, M., Hearn, R., Newton, S Noble S., Parsons, M.,

Risely, K. & Stroud, D. 2013. Population estimates of birds in Great Britain and the

United Kingdom. British Birds 106; 64-100.

O’Brien, S. H., Wilson, L. J., Webb, A, & Cranswick P.A.2008 Revised estimate of

wintering Red-throated Divers Gavia stellata in Great Britain. Bird Study 55:152-160

Prater, A. J. 1981. Estuary Birds of Britain and Ireland. T & A.D. Poyser.

Sharrock, J. T. R. 1976. The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland.

Berkhampsted, T. & A. D. Poyser.

SNH 2016. ‘Site selection of the marine SPA suite’. Supplementary document.

Tilbrook, P. J. 1986 Nature Conservation in the Moray Firth. Proceedings of the

Royal Society of Edinburgh, 91B, 13-25.

WeBS. 2014. http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/webs/publications/webs-annual-

report

Wetlands International ( 2014). "Waterbird Population Estimates" . Retrieved from

wpe.wetlands.org on Friday 18 Apr 2014

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Annex 1. Site map

40

Annex 2. Citation

Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the

conservation of wild birds (this is the codified version of Directive 79/409/EEC as

amended)

CITATION FOR PROPOSED SPECIAL PROTECTION AREA (SPA)

MORAY FIRTH

(UK9020313)

Site Description:

The Moray Firth proposed Special Protection Area (SPA) is a funnel-shaped body of

sea on the north-east mainland coast of Scotland. Most of the Firth is shallow water

(less than 20metres (m)) over a sandy substrate, apart from a 50m deep channel

running east-west through muddy substrate. Tidal flows are relatively weak with a

maximum tidal range of 3m and the Firth is relatively sheltered, at least in

comparison to the exposure of the Atlantic west coasts

The Moray Firth is an important spawning ground and nursery area for a number of fish species, which together with abundant bivalve molluscs, are important prey species for marine waterbirds.

Qualifying Interest:

The Moray Firth proposed Special Protection Area (SPA) qualifies under Article 4.1

by regularly supporting a non-breeding population of European importance of the

following Annex 1 species: great northern diver Gavia immer (a mean peak annual

non-breeding population of 144 individuals (5.8% of the Great Britain population) for

the years 2001/02-2006/07), red-throated diver Gavia stellata (a mean peak annual

non-breeding population of 324 individuals (1.9% of the Great Britain population) for

the years 2001/02-2006/07) and Slavonian grebe Podiceps auritus (a mean peak

annual non-breeding population of 43 individuals (3.9% of the Great Britain

population) for the years 2001/02-2005/06).

The site further qualifies under Article 4.2 by regularly supporting populations of

European importance of the following migratory species: greater scaup Aythya

marila (a mean peak annual non-breeding population of 930 individuals (17.9% of

the Great Britain population) for the years 2001/02 to 2005/06), common eider

Somateria mollissima (a mean peak annual non-breeding population of 1,733

individuals (2.9% of the Great Britain population) for the years of 2001/02 to

2006/07), long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis (a mean peak annual non-breeding

population of 5,001 individuals (45.5% of the Great Britain population) for the years

of 2001/02 to 2005/6), common scoter Melanitta nigra (a mean peak annual non-

41

breeding population of 5,479 individuals (5.5% of the Great Britain population) for the

years 2001/02 to 2005/06), velvet scoter Melanitta fusca (a mean peak annual non-

breeding population of 1,488 individuals (59.5% of the Great Britain population) for

the years 2001/02 to 2005/06), common goldeneye Bucephala clangula (a mean

peak annual non-breeding population of 907 individuals (4.5% of the Great Britain

population) for the years 2001/02 to 2005/06), red-breasted merganser Mergus

serrator (a mean peak annual non-breeding population of 151 individuals (1.8% of

the Great Britain population) for the years of 2001/02 to 2005/06) and European

shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis (at least 6,462 individuals during the non-breeding

season (3.2% of the biogeographic population and 5.9% of the Great Britain

population) and 5,494 individuals during the breeding season ((2.7% of the

biogeographic population & 10.2% of the Great Britain population) for the years

1980-2006).

Area: 1,762.36 km2 (176,235.95 ha).

Location: 58o 06.925’ N 3o 64.839’ W

OS Sheet 1:50,000 – 17, 21, 26, 27 28 & 29

20/06/2016

Scottish Natural Heritage