news
Group XII art exhibition
Starting on Saturday 28th January, Waterston House hosts an exhibition by Group Twelve, a group of textile artists based in Edinburgh. "The Environment" runs until Wednesday 22nd February, and is open 7 days from 10am-4pm.
Click here or on the image to see the exhibition poster.
(added 10 Jan 2012)
Carol Barrett art exhibition
"Africa in Sight" is an exhibition of work by Edinburgh-based wildlife artist Carol Barrett. The exhibition is at Waterston House from Saturday 25th February until Wednesday 4th April, and is open 7 days from 10am-4pm.
(Weekend opening times change to 12 noon - 6pm BST, starting from Sat 24th March.)
Click here or on the image to see the exhibition poster.
(added 3 Feb 2012)
SBR online: Now with added rarities!
The database for the online Scottish Bird Report page now includes thousands of additional rarity reports, compiled by Keith Naylor from published British Birds Rarities Committee reports (1958 to date) and other older sources.
These include reports from as far back as the early 1800s (and a small number even older).
Simply tick the Rarities box to view these records in addition to the local bird report entries.
(added 2 Feb 2012)
Dumfries & Galloway Bird Report
The new Dumfries & Galloway Bird Report, covering 2010, is available at the reduced price of £6 for SOC members, and £8 for non-members. See the D & G recording area page for details.
(added 1 Feb 2012)
Borders Bird Report
The new Borders Bird Report, covering 2010, is now on sale priced £8.50. See the Borders recording area page for more information.
(added 30 Jan 2012)
Lothian Bird Report
Lothian branch has simultaneously published two issues of the Lothian Bird Report, covering the years 2008 and 2009 respectively. These are now available at the bargain price of £10 for both issues (ie £10 for two reports).
See the Lothian recording area page for more information.
(added 17 Nov 2011)
Scottish Bird Report online
In the summer of 1969, the first printed Scottish Bird Report appeared (as part of the SOC's Scottish Birds). Publication continued annually until the 2001 issue, when financial and technical constraints brought the run to an end.
The SOC is now pleased to announce the return of the SBR, this time in an online format via the SOC website. The new facility is free and simple to use: go to the Scottish Bird Report online page, choose a species, and select the year(s) and region(s) you're interested in.
(added 14 Sep 2011)
Brent Goose study
Scientists from Aarhus University in Denmark are studying the autumn migration of Pale-bellied Brent Geese, some of which will be moving down the east coast of Scotland on the way to Lindisfarne in Northumberland. If you spot any, please remember to record them on BirdTrack, noting the number of birds, direction of flight, and time. The results will be combined with data obtained from six satellite-tagged birds - see the Brent Goose Blog for more information.
(added 27 Aug 2011)
SBRC review: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Upper Forth 1968-70
The Scottish Birds Records Committee (SBRC), as part of its remit to examine older records, has recently reviewed the only accepted record of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor on the Scottish List. This record described up to three birds seen near Aberfoyle (Upper Forth) in consecutive winters during the period 1968-70, as described in Scottish Birds 6:210-212 (4MB PDF file).
This review resulted in the rejection of this record, and as this was the only accepted record for this species for Scotland, the species is now removed from the Scottish List.
Chris McInerny, on behalf of SBRC
(added 25 Jul 2011)
SOC switches to solar power
Visitors to Waterston House can now inspect the SOC's new state-of-the-art photovoltaic (PV) system, which generates electricity from solar panels mounted on the roof. For more information see the Waterston House page.
(added 12 Jul 2011)