branch meeting programme 2010/2011
Welcome to the 2010/2011 Winter Meetings Programme. We hope that you enjoy the selection of topics and speakers this year. Please support your local branch by going along once a month to listen to the superb presentations and to meet up with your fellow SOC members.
Your SOC membership entitles you to attend meetings anywhere in Scotland so, if you find yourself away from home in another branch area, feel free to go along to any of the meetings. It's an excellent opportunity to meet new people.
All the best for the 2010/2011 season!
Ayrshire
Meet at Monkton Community Church and Pioneer Cafe (Tue 7pm for 7.30pm). Contact: Gordon Riddle 01655 750335.
- 14 Sep: Paul Walton – Birds in a marine environment
- 12 Oct: Bobby Smith – Applegarth Wildlife Sanctuary update
- 09 Nov: Bob McGowan – Tiree Frigate Bird and other tales
- 14 Dec: Iain English – Fieldcraft
- 11 Jan: Liz Leyden – Maybe Madagascar
- 08 Feb: Mandy Cook – BTO nest box record scheme
- 08 Mar: Anne McCaull – RSPB future scapes
- 12 Apr: AGM & Russell Nisbet – How good is your bird ID?
Borders
Meet at Scott Room, George & Abbotsford Hotel, Melrose (unless otherwise stated), (Mon 7.30pm). Contact: Graham Pyatt 01721 740319.
- 13 Sep: Tony Lightley – Forestry Commission bird conservation projects
- 11 Oct: David Steel – Farne Islands uncovered
- 08 Nov: Angus Hogg – Seabirds of the Western Pacific
- 13 Dec: Members' Night
- 19 Jan: Joint meeting with RSPB – speaker to be announced (Wed) (Corn Exchange, Melrose)
- 07 Feb: Ken Shaw – Western Palearctic birder: A guide to some difficult species
- 07 Mar: Derek McGinn – Sea to summit: Birds etc. from the shores of the Moray Firth to the Cairngorm plateau
- 11 Apr: AGM & Quiz Night
Caithness
Meet at Thurso Club, Janet Street, Thurso (Wed 8pm). Contact: Stan Laybourne 01847 841 244.
- 06 Oct: Ian Thomson – RSPB investigations and wildlife crime
- 03 Nov: Ron Summers – Crossbills of Scotland
- 02 Feb: Angus Hogg – Seabirds of the Western Pacific
- 02 Mar: Claire Smith / Trevor Jones – Arctics and Bonxies: The ecology of Handa Island's Skuas
Central Scotland
Meet at The Allan Centre, Fountain Road, Bridge of Allan (Thu 7.30pm). Contact: Roger Gooch 01259 742326.
- 07 Oct: Mike Betts – In the land of Prester John: A birding trip to Ethiopia
- 04 Nov: Mike Carrier – The Solway and its birds
- 02 Dec: To be announced
- 13 Jan: To be announced
- 03 Feb: Stuart Rivers – Fife Ness
- 03 Mar: David Anderson – Buzzards of Central Scotland
- 07 Apr: To be announced
Clyde
Meet at Zoology Department, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow (Mon 7.30pm). Contact: Hayley Douglas 07715 634079.
- 20 Sep: Members' Night
- 04 Oct: Ron Forrester – Birding in Africa
- 01 Nov: Bob Furness – Tracking seabird migrations and behaviour in winter
- 06 Dec: Lindsay Henderson – Ornithological research in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park: Employing the Blue Tit as a model species
- 10 Jan: To be announced
- 07 Feb: Mike Betts – A birding trip to East Bhutan
- 07 Mar: Stuart Rivers – Fife Ness
- 04 Apr: AGM & Members' Night
Dumfries
Meet at Cumberland St Day Centre, Dumfries (off Brooms Rd Car Park) (Wed 7.30pm). Contact: Pat Abery 01556 630483.
- 08 Sep: Elizabeth Tindall – Wild Goose & Osprey
- 22 Sep: Bobby Smith – A Bobby Smith spectacular (extra date)
- 13 Oct: Mike Betts – In the land of Prester John: A birding trip to Ethiopia
- 10 Nov: Norman Elkins – Climate change and wildlife
- 08 Dec: Jeremy Brock – Spanish Steppes: Birds of the Laguna de Gallocanta
- 12 Jan: Mike Carrier – A look at migration
- 09 Feb: Gordon Yates – Islay: Queen of the Hebrides
- 09 Mar: Russell Nisbet – The Gambia
- 06 Apr: AGM & Dave Fairlamb – Mersehead on the move
Fife
Meet at St Andrews Town Hall Supper Room (Wed 7.30pm). Contact: Karen Dick 01334 848278.
- 08 Sep: Ranald Strachan – The Eden Estuary: 32 years on
- 13 Oct: Ron Forrester – Birding in Africa
- 10 Nov: Mike Carrier – A look at migration
- 08 Dec: Members' Night
- 12 Jan: Neil Mitchell – Loch Leven: Into the 21st century
- 09 Feb: Ken Shaw – Western Palearctic birder: A guide to some difficult species
- 09 Mar: Derek McGinn – Sea to summit: Birds etc. from the shores of the Moray Firth to the Cairngorm plateau
- 13 Apr: AGM & Members' Night
Grampian
Meet at Sportsman's Club, 11 Queen's Road, Aberdeen (Mon 7.30pm). Contact: Graham Cooper 01339 882706.
- 13 Sep: To be announced
- 04 Oct: Raymond Duncan – Grampian Ringing Group: A history and new projects
- 01 Nov: Ian Thomson – RSPB investigations and wildlife crime
- 06 Dec: David Jardine – Change and continuity: Wildlife studies in the Inner Hebrides
- 10 Jan: Fiona Leckie – Windfarms
- 07 Feb: To be announced
- 07 Mar: Jane Reid & students – Warblers, Starlings, Shags and more: Summaries of bird research at Aberdeen University
- 04 Apr: AGM & Colin McClean – Natural history of Glen Tanar
Highland
Meet at Culloden Library, Inverness (Tue 7.30pm - please note change of time). Contact: Ann Sime 01463 236529.
- 07 Sep: Sinclair Dunnett – Alaska: Birds, beasts and botany
- 05 Oct: Ian Thomson – RSPB investigations and wildlife crime
- 02 Nov: Ron Summers – Crossbills of Scotland
- 07 Dec: Al McNee – Arizona: Birding the second spring
- 11 Jan: Duncan Watt – The art of conservation
- 01 Feb: Angus Hogg – Seabirds of the Western Pacific
- 01 Mar: Claire Smith / Trevor Jones – Arctics and Bonxies: The ecology of Handa Island's Skuas
- 12 Apr: AGM & David Jardine – Exploring the birds of the Big Garden: Lois Mor
Lothian
Meet at Meadowbank Stadium, London Road, Edinburgh (Tue 7.30pm) except **Waterston House, Aberlady. Contact: Doreen Main 01620 844532.
- 14 Sep: Mike Groves – Merlins and Hen Harriers in Angus
- 12 Oct: Ron Forrester – Birding in Africa**
- 09 Nov: Stuart Rivers – Fife Ness
- 14 Dec: Members' Night and quiz with Ian Thomson
- 11 Jan: David Kelly – Bird recording in Lothian
- 08 Feb: Ken Shaw – Western Palearctic birder: A guide to some difficult species
- 08 Mar: Derek McGinn – Sea to summit: Birds etc. from the shores of the Moray Firth to the Cairngorms**
- 12 Apr: AGM & Members' Night
Orkney
Please check time and venue before each meeting (Thursday). Contact: Colin Corse 01856 874484.
- 07 Oct: Ian Thomson – RSPB investigations and wildlife crime
- 04 Nov: Ron Summers – Crossbills of Scotland
- 03 Feb: Angus Hogg – Seabirds of the Western Pacific
- 03 Mar: Claire Smith / Trevor Jones – Arctics and Bonxies: The ecology of Handa Island's Skuas
Stewartry
Meet at Kells School, New Galloway (unless otherwise stated), (Thu 7.30pm). Contact: Joan Howie 01644 430 226.
- 23 Sep: Keith Kirk – Photographing wildlife in Dumfries & Galloway
- 14 Oct: Mike Betts – In the land of Prester John: A birding trip to Ethiopia (Ken Bridge Hotel)
- 11 Nov: Norman Elkins – Climate change and wildlife
- 09 Dec: Richard Hesketh – Wildfowl and wetlands
- 13 Jan: Edmund Fellowes – Some northern birds, followed by New Year's Welcome
- 10 Feb: Gordon Yates – Islay: Queen of the Hebrides
- 10 Mar: Russell Nisbet – The Gambia
- 31 Mar: AGM & Members' Night (NB: There is no April meeting)
Tayside
Meet at Methodist Church Halls, 20 Marketgait, Dundee (Thu 7.30pm). Contact: Brian Boag 01828 686669.
- 09 Sep: Bruce Lynch – The Bird Atlas 2007-2011: The final push
- 14 Oct: Ron Forrester – Birding in Africa
- 04 Nov: David Jardine – Choughed with Colonsay
- 09 Dec: Members' Night
- 06 Jan: Bob McCurley – Angus birds and their habitats
- 10 Feb: Ken Shaw – Western Palearctic birder: A guide to some difficult species
- 03 Mar: Stuart Rivers – Fife Ness
- 07 Apr: AGM
West Galloway
Meet at Stranraer Library, North Strand Street, Stranraer (Tue 7.30pm). Contact: Geoff Sheppard 01776 870 685.
- 12 Oct: Mike Betts – In the land of Prester John: A birding trip to Ethiopia
- 09 Nov: Norman Elkins – Climate change and wildlife
- 07 Dec: Karl Munday – NTS Threave Estate
- 11 Jan: Members' Night & Social Evening
- 08 Feb: Gordon Yates – Islay: Queen of the Hebrides
- 08 Mar: Russell Nisbet – The Gambia