Fife

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 the end of our 2020/21 winter talks programme in April 2021, 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:

On the following Wednesdays; the meetings will start at 7.00pm for participants to log in, a meet and greet and What’s About Chat, and the talks will start at 7.30pm:

16 Sep 2020   

AGM & Professor Jeremy Greenwood, who will give a presentation about ‘Emma Turner, the pioneer woman bird photographer, student of behaviour, author and ringer, who flourished in the early 20th century’

14 Oct 2020 

George Smith - Peregrines in Scotland: A long term study

11 Nov 2020     

Ben Darvill (BTO) - Tracking Arctic Skuas

9 Dec 2020       

Members' Night 

Further meetings will be announced in due course.

Contact:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 01592 750230

Venue:

Once indoor meetings resume, they will be held at the Supper Room of St Andrews Town Hall (at the corner of South Street & Queen’s Gardens), KY16 9TA (click here for a map of the venue and surrounding area).

*UPDATE - following the new 6 person / 2 household rules in Scotland in place from 14 September 2020, all branch outings are on hold until further notice*

For guidance on how branches are managing outings in relation to Covid-19, please click here.

Field trips normally take place on the weekend following each indoor meeting. The normal pattern is to alternate between Saturday and Sunday outings, and between half-day and full day trips, to cater for members’ differing preferences and other commitments. Outings continue during May and June, when there are no indoor meetings, and there is usually a long weekend trip around the end of May. Beginner and experienced birdwatchers are welcome both at indoor meetings and on field trips.

Sun 13 Sep    St Andrews *CANCELLED*
Meet at 9am at the car park for the Eden Clubhouse. Access is off the A91 at the west edge of the town. Take the road past the driving range and around to the large, and free, car park.  Please contact Andrew Riches, by Friday 11^th September, to let him know if you’re going to be coming. Either This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone on 07846 268113 and let him  have your mobile phone number so we can contact you on the day if there is any change to arrangements. 

Further outings will be announced here in due course.

Contact:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 01592 750230, or contact the leader.

Secretary:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., tel: 01592 750230

Chair and representative of branch on SOC Council::

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Treasurer:

John Irwin

Committee members:

Rob Armstrong, Andy Falconer, David Heeley and Andrew Riches

Fife recorder:

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

Isle of May recorder:

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Talks and outings 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. A similar reminder service operates for outings. 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:

Fife Branch Newsletter comes out every three months and features details of branch activities, field trip reports, letters, photographs, sightings and other interesting articles. Subscribers are emailed a PDF version of the newsletter and the latest issue of the publication is also available to download here (June 2020 issue). Back issues of the newsletter can be downloaded here.  To either contribute or subscribe and receive Fife Branch Newsletter directly to your inbox, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Minutes from the 2019 Fife Branch AGM

Click here to download a copy of the minutes from the 2019 Fife Branch AGM.

Birdwatching in Fife

Click here for our guide to Birdwatching in Fife and here for our guide to Birdwatching the Fife coast.

Planning a trip to the Isle of May? Read our guide to Birding the Isle of May here

Bird recording in this area

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

The Breeding and Wintering Birds of Fife

Norman Elkins, Jim Reid and Allan W. Brown

Published by the Fife Ornithological Atlas Group and the SOC, in August 2016.

This large format, hardback book brings up to date an earlier publication published in 2003, the Fife Bird Atlas.  Click here to find out more and for details of how to purchase a copy.