In 2007, UK-wide surveys of breeding Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula and Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius were undertaken, the first national surveys for these species since 1984. Since then, declines had been reported in some local populations of Ringed Plover – notably in the stronghold of the Outer Hebrides where several waders have suffered greatly from egg predation by introduced Hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus.

This report provides an update on the current population sizes of Ringed Plover and other wader species in four Scottish Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated for Ringed Plover. Population changes for feature wader species are calculated using recent previous estimates for the SPAs taken from the UK SPA Review (Stroud et al. 2001).

Breeding numbers of Ringed Plovers and other feature wader species are provided for four Scottish SPAs – North Uist Machair and Islands and South Uist Machair and Lochs in the Outer Hebrides, Sleibhtean agus Cladach Thiriodh (Tiree Wetlands and Coast) and Papa Stour in Shetland – following surveys in spring 2007.

Declines in breeding Ringed Plover numbers were noted on all four SPAs. On Papa Stour, numbers have decreased by 22% since those published in the SPA Review; numbers on the other SPAs showed smaller decreases (3-6%; over various timescales).

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus breeding numbers have increased by 9% and 20% respectively on the South Uist and Tiree SPAs since previous published estimates, but have decreased by 5% on the North Uist SPA.

Numbers of breeding Dunlin Calidris alpina have declined marginally (by 6 and 7% respectively) on the North and South Uist SPAs since previous published estimates. Larger declines were reported over North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist as a whole since a previous survey in 2000.

Redshank Tringa totanus breeding numbers have increased by 8% on the North and South Uist SPAs since previous published estimates, reflecting increases on North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist as a whole since 2000.

Numbers of Lapwing Vanellus vanellus and Snipe Gallinago gallinago – neither features of the SPAs surveyed – are also summarised.