Lothian and Borders Raptor Study Group (formerly The South East Scotland Raptor Study Group) was formed in 1983. With currently around 22 members most breeding raptor species are monitored to a greater or lesser extent.

The area is particularly well monitored for Peregrine and Goshawk. Both species are monitored as part of long term breeding studies. The Peregrine in particular has over the last twenty years become a more widespread and more frequently successful breeder. The Goshawk does well in some forested areas of the Borders and has bred a few times at least in Lothian. Merlins have been monitored extensively in some grouse moorland areas for many years although complete annual coverage of all suitable habitat is not possible. Buzzards, rare breeders in this area when the group was formed, are now ubiquitous. The spread of this species has been quite well recorded and the group continue to monitor the few areas where they are not yet established. Rarer breeders including Golden Eagle and Osprey are also monitored annually. The latter species will hopefully spread now that a few pairs have bred successfully in recent years within the group's study area. A moorland Kestrel monitoring area has been established and hopefully the fortunes of other breeding pairs will be recorded by group members in the future. Surprisingly perhaps during the group's existence little has been done in this area with Sparrowhawks. The exception to this omission being those breeding in the city of Edinburgh, where an intensive professional study over a few seasons was undertaken. In recent years some rather ad hoc monitoring of owls particularly Barn Owls and Short-eared Owls has been undertaken.

Each monitored raptor species has a designated co-ordinator who gathers all of the available information from members and other sources and prepares an annual summary report. These are made available to appropriate bodies and the Raptor Monitoring Officer. Since 2003 the group has put these reports together in the form of an annual report.

As well as individual members monitoring of particular species or particular geographical areas the group regularly participate in national surveys of particular species. During such survey years efforts are made to cover less frequently monitored areas.

The group meets twice a year and invites the Raptor Monitoring Officer and on occasions other appropriate individuals to attend.

Contact: Alan Heavisides

Fancove

Ringing quarry nesting Peregrines

Typical crag nesting site