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Upland Scrub 1996 - 1998

Concerns about overgrazing and declining grouse stocks in the uplands have generated a growing interest in the creation of more natural vegetation types within the uplands. Reductions of grazing and burning would result in expansion of scrub on moorland. This is perceived as a conservation opportunity by some, though others may see a conflict with the conservation of open moorland habitats, especially heather moorland. The most extensive areas of upland scrub are currently in various parts of the Scottish Highlands and these present an opportunity to assess the types of bird communities that might develop were scrub to encroach on moorland.

In 1996 work was undertaken to document breeding bird communities at Dinnet National Nature Reserve (NNR) in Deeside, Scotland. This site was chosen because it offered a range of naturally regenerating birch and pine habitats together with open Calluna-Arctostaphylos heath. In 1997 work was undertaken at Creag Meagaidh NNR, Cairngorms NNR and on various private estates with expanses of scrub. Work in 1998 revisited these sites to consolidate data collected in earlier years.

The aim of the work has been to describe the types of bird communities that exist in the main different scrub types (birch, Scots Pine, Juniper and willow) and at different successional stages. Alongside this descriptive work we have been setting up a monitoring programme to record how bird communities change as scrub develops in the future. We have already recorded the base-line of what habitat and birds are currently present and plan to resurvey each area every three to five years.

Early results suggest that the scrub communities are dominated by common species such as Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, Meadow Pipit and Tree Pipit. In older stands of scrub, where deadwood is present one finds hole nesting species such as Great Tit, Treecreeper and Redstart. Juniper scrub appears to be particularly favoured by Whinchat, Ring Ouzel and Black Grouse. From such results we can make predictions of the likely effects of continued scrub encroachment on moorland and woodland species. For more details on this work, and the implications for management of upland landscapes see page 10 of BTO News issue 213 and the following:

Gillings, S. & Fuller, R.J. (1998) The breeding bird communities of upland Juniper scrub in eastern Scotland. Scottish Birds 19: 231-238

Gillings, S., Fuller, R.J. & Henderson, A.C.B. (1998) Avian community composition and patterns of bird distribution within birch-heath mosaics in north-east Scotland. Ornis Fennica 75: 27-37.

Gillings, S., Fuller, R.J. (2000). Breeding birds in the Scottish Highlands: variation in community composition between scrub type and successional stage. Scottish Forestry in press.

Fuller, R.J., Gillings, S. & Whitfield, D.P. (1999) Responses of breeding birds to expansion of scrub in the eastern Scottish Highlands: preliminary implications for conservation strategies. Vogelwelt 120, Suppl: 53-62.

This work was funded by a partnership of the British Trust for Ornithology and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (on behalf of English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales, and also on behalf of the Environment and Heritage Service in Northern Ireland.

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