Clyde

With the ongoing uncertainty on when face-to-face indoor meetings will be able to resume, due to Covid-19, SOC branches will continue with virtual meetings, via Zoom, until the end of 2021 when the situation will be reviewed. This is in order to ensure the safety of our members and speakers, and to allow us to plan an online programme of talks that we can be confident of delivering, regardless of where things might stand in relation to the pandemic.

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 (please note these will only be sent to SOC members).

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

When:

Thu 8 Apr 2021       

Simon Gillings - Nocturnal migration: things that go tseep in the night

Contact:

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Venue:

Once indoor meetings resume, details of the venue will be announced here.

Meet at the venue at 10.00am unless otherwise specified. If you want a lift or can offer one, please contact David Palmar in advance. Bring a packed lunch. Excursion details will be sent by email, if you have signed up for this.

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

Contact:

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

Secretary:

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Chairperson and representative of the branch on SOC Council:

Zul Bhatia

Treasurer:

Liz Parsons 

Committee members:

Emma Anderson, Rebecca Dickson, Iain Gibson,  Sandy McNeil, Fiona McLean, David Palmar, Andrew Russell, Kevin Sinclair, Donald Wilson and Toby Wilson.

Ex officio members:

Val Wilson

Clyde recorder:

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Clyde Assistant recorder:

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Clyde Islands recorder:

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Argyll recorder:

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Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) on the Clyde Estuary

The national WeBS is organised by the BTO, and in Scotland coordinated by the SOC. In the Clyde area we have had excellent coverage for many years, but recently there has been a marked decline due to a shortage of volunteer counters. The most important site urgently in need of new counters is the Clyde Estuary, which requires a team of at least 12 regular volunteers and several reserve counters. The Clyde Branch has been coordinating monthly bird counts of the estuary for the past 45 years, with a break only in 1978 due to shortage of volunteers in that year. Two of our current team of volunteers have been counting throughout that entire period!  If you are interested in joining the team either as a regular or stand-in volunteer, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. the Clyde area organiser, John Clark. John can provide helpful guidance on how best to survey individual sectors, and the count methodology. He can also arrange for you to shadow an existing counter to gain experience. We are also looking for additional volunteers to take on a number of freshwater sites. Adopting a regular patch can be an enjoyable and very rewarding experience, as well as making an important ‘citizen science’ contribution to the conservation of our local wild bird populations.

For more information on the Wetland Bird Survey see  http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/webs.

Branch grapevine:

To subscribe to Clyde branch’s (member-only) daily Grapevine email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Val Wilson. As well as sharing notable bird sightings from across the region, Grapevine incorporates images of birds and other wildlife, shares details of forthcoming branch meetings and also alerts members to national and local environmental notices and potential developments that might threaten a site.

Social media:

Facebook: Type ‘Clydebirds’ in the Facebook search bar. Twitter: @clydebirding

Minutes from the 2020 Clyde Branch AGM

Click here to download a copy of the minutes from the recent Clyde Branch AGM.

‘Boxes for Barnies’ 

Clyde Branch have launched a new initiative to create nest boxes for breeding Barn Owls in the Lochwinnoch area with the hope of boosting the species' numbers and recovery in the region. Branch members are working closely with the local community to recruit volunteers to construct, install and help monitor the boxes, as well as approaching local landowners to host a box on their property. Find out more about the project here.

A Guide to Bird Watching in the Clyde Area

This publication is now sold out, however, a reference copy is available in the George Waterston Library at SOC HQ.

Bird recording in this area

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