Seaduck survey data

JNCC has carried out surveys of inshore waterbirds (seaduck, divers and grebes) since the winter of 2000/01, primarily using aerial surveys. Aerial survey data are summarised in aerial survey annual reports. These data are currently being further analysed as part of work progressing the identification of inshore SPAs for non-breeding aggregations of marine waterbirds.

Aerial surveys are a time and cost-effective technique for surveying inshore concentrations of birds over large areas. However, they rarely record grebes or species such as common goldeneye and black-throated diver. Land-based counts and surveys from boats allow more time for detection and identification of smaller or less abundant species that might otherwise be overlooked.