Ayrshire

While social distancing remains in place due to Covid-19, SOC Council has decided that all face-to-face indoor branch meetings should be postponed until at least the end of 2020 when the situation will be reviewed.  This is in order to ensure the safety of our members and speakers. 

However, we are pleased to announce that the branch will be running some virtual meetings, via Zoom, and we hope that you will be able to join us.

An invitation with a link to the Zoom meeting will be sent out a few days before the event via email.  To receive this notice, please ensure that you are on the appropriate mailing list held by HQ.  If you are unsure, you can check your mailing list preferences by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or if you know you do not receive branch notices but would like to, you can sign up here.

For instructions on how to use Zoom, please click here.

When:

The following Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm.

4 Aug 2020       AGM

8 Sep 2020       Andrew Stevenson - Island Ups and downs: 20 years of Uists birding

13 Oct 2020     Ben Darvill (BTO) - Tracking Arctic Skuas

10 Nov 2020    Andrew Bielinski - Wildlife of the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire biosphere

8 Dec 2020      Speaker to be announced

Further meetings will be announced in due course.

Contact:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 01292 541981

Venue:

Once indoor meetings resume, they will be held at Monkton Community Church & Pioneer Cafe, Main Street, KA9 2RN (click here to view a map of the venue and surrounding area).

The branch organises their field trips jointly with RSPB Central Ayrshire Local Group and outdoor leader Jim Thomson. There are two coach trips organised annually- one in winter and one in late spring. Members attending our monthly outings will have the benefit of an experienced observer who will be on hand to help with some of the trickier aspects of field identification.

No outings are currently planned, due to Covid-19 restrictions.  Updates will be provided here in due course.

Contact:

For outings and to arrange car share contact Jim Thomson 01292 571889 or Anne Dick 01292 541981 or send Anne an This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For coach trips please contact Tony Scott on 01292 281085 or send an This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Secretary:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Rowanmyle House, Tarbolton, Mauchline, KA5 5LU, Tel 01292 541981

Chair

Brian Lennox

Vice Chair

Andy Shand

Representative of the branch on SOC Council:

David Rackham

Treasurer:

John Drummond

Environmental Advisor:

Roger Hissett

Newsletter Editor (The Stonechat)/Trips organiser:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Indoor meetings organiser:

(Vacant)

Outdoor meetings organiser:

Jim Thomson

Hon. President:

Norman Lawrie

Ayrshire recorder:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Assistant Ayrshire recorder:

Angus Hogg

Talks reminders:

Members who've consented to Local Branch news and events e-communications from SOC, are sent a reminder about forthcoming talks (with more information on the speaker and subject where possible), usually a week or so in advance of the meeting. If you don’t already receive these alerts and would like to, please make sure you've completed a Mailing List Consent Form to allow the Club to contact you. If you've already completed a form, check your junk/spam/clutter folders to make sure our emails aren't landing there. Still nothing? Contact Headquarters as we may not have a correct or up to date email address on file for you.

Branch newsletter:

The Stonechat: click here to download the latest issue (September 2018) of the branch newsletter. The publication comes out twice a year in February and September. Subscribers are emailed a PDF version of the newsletter. If you would like to receive The Stonechat directly to your inbox, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Website:

SOC Ayrshire branch sponsors a local website, www.ayrshire-birding.org.uk, which is a one-stop shop for anything to do with birds and birding in the area – news, sightings, site guides, latest photos and branch activities.

Forum/News group:

Ayrshire Bird News (Yahoo group) https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ayrshirebirding/. This shares news of both common and rare birds. This forum also welcomes discussion on the identification of birds in Ayrshire and other relevant birding issues plus other pertinent wildlife, conservation issues and events.

Bird recording in this area

Visit the Ayrshire recording area page for details of the latest bird report, back issues, species considered locally and for Local Recorder contact information.

‘Ayrshire Birders Abroad’

These popular holidays, organised independently by seasoned tour guide and SOC/RSPB Member Tony Scott, have taken SOC and RSPB members, as well as interested local birders, to a wide variety of places both in Europe and further afield. Please get in touch with Tony Scott as above, if you would like to receive notifications of these trips. Details of future trips are also published in The Stonechat and on the Ayrshire Birding website.