What's On at Waterston House in 2008

General Information

Waterston House is the Headquarters of the SOC. Situated to the west of Aberlady village, just off the scenic A198 coast road from Edinburgh (First Bus X5/124), the centre offers panoramic views of Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve and houses the George Waterston Library – the largest collection of ornithological reference books and journals in Scotland, open to the general public. A small retail area offers optical equipment, Club merchandise, bird seed, hand-carved wooden birds, wildlife art books, second hand natural history books and bird guides, including the SOC's award-winning book, "The Birds of Scotland" published in 2007. Hot and cold drinks are available in the foyer.

Opening Times

Waterston House is open to visitors 7 days a week and entry is free.

Summer (BST): 10am–4pm weekdays/12 noon-6pm weekends
Winter (GMT): 10am-4pm daily
Closed during the Christmas/New Year holiday period.

Art Exhibitions/Shows

The Donald Watson Gallery, named after the well-known Scottish ornithologist and wildlife artist (1918-2005), is a custom-built room within Waterston House. It has large floor-to-ceiling windows giving good natural light as well as panoramic views over Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve. Opened in October 2005 by the late Magnus Magnusson, it is a favoured exhibition space by many of the UK's leading wildlife artists and photographers. Art shows are held throughout the year and entry is free. If you are interested in attending the preview of a particular exhibition, please contact us.

Binoculars & Telescopes

In addition to the optical equipment available for sale all year round at Waterston House, we also host demonstration days twice a year (see dates below) where staff from Viking Optical Ltd will be on hand to give free expert advice on a wide range of binoculars, telescopes and tripods and this is a great opportunity to compare models and try them out in field conditions.

2008 Demo Days:

Sunday 27th April, 10am – 4pm
Sunday 12th October, 10am – 4pm

Sale of Natural History books

All year round we stock a wide selection of second hand books and journals, which have been donated to the SOC. Many are selected for the George Waterston Library and any duplicates are sold to raise funds. As a consequence, stock is changing constantly and it is always worth a visit to check for the latest bargains...perhaps a field guide for that exotic birding trip or that missing number from your New Naturalist collection?

Annual Book Sale

Visitors to the SOC's annual book fair find a treasure trove of second-hand natural history books and journals as well as titles covering more general interest areas such as travel and topography. In addition to SOC stock, a number of guest specialist book dealers are present.

Goose Watch

Thursday 16th October 4.30pm.

Late afternoon in early October, we hold our annual Goose Watch, where members of the public can learn about the migration of Pink-footed Geese from Iceland and Greenland to their wintering grounds here in Scotland. After the short illustrated presentation, there is the opportunity to watch the breathtaking spectacle of thousands of geese (usually 15,000+) flying in to their night roost on the nearby nature reserve. When confirmed, dates and times will be available on the SOC website or call Waterston House. There is a small charge for this event and places are limited.

Guided Walks

During the year we run a number of bird watching courses for beginners. These take the form of a series of guided walks led by experienced birdwatchers to sites in the Lothians. Cost is £24 for a course of four walks of approx three hours – a great way to get started! The walks are very popular and there is usually a waiting list. For more information and to register your interest, please contact Waterston House.

Room Hire

The library and gallery at Waterston House are available for hire. Please call for information on availability, conditions and charges.

Membership of the SOC

Membership is open to anyone with an interest in Scotland's bird life. An annual subscription includes the Club's quarterly publications and a programme of indoor meetings and outings. Members are automatically allocated a local branch (there are 14 SOC branches throughout Scotland) but all members are free to participate in any of the branches' activities. Click here for more information and an application form.



The SOC reserves the right to cancel or postpone any of its programmed events due to unforseen circumstances.