Highland

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 to the branch's members 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.

Highland branch talks are normally held on Tuesdays, but while Covid-19 restrictions remain, the branch will hold virtual meetings in conjunction with Caithness and Orkney branches, who normally meet on Wednesdays and Thursdays respectively.   Meetings will therefore be held on varying days of the week until indoor sessions resume.

When:

The following days at 7.30pm:

Tue 07 Sep          Ewan Weston – Golden Eagles
Wed 06 Oct        Stephen Rutt – The Eternal Season: Birds and nature writing
Thu 04 Nov         David Douglas – Upland birds
Tue 07 Dec          Darrell Stevens – Peatland restoration and Forsinard Reserve

Contact:

Mary Galloway, send Mary an This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 07598 320978.

Venue:

Once indoor meetings resume, they will be held at Culloden Library, Keppoch Road, Culloden, Inverness, IV2 7LL (click here for a map of the venue and surrounding area). Please note that the cost is £3 for members and £5 for non-members.

It is hoped to resume outings from September 2021. For guidance on how branches will manage outings in relation to Covid-19, please click here.

Once they resume, we plan to hold two outdoor trips per month – a full day outing on a Saturday or Sunday and a Thursday morning outing. On our outdoor trips, the aim is not just to see the largest number of birds, but to find and watch and enjoy. We think the pleasure comes from birdwatching with like-minded people, learning identification skills, enjoying the splendid sights and taking delighted in the unexpected find. If this whets your appetite and you feel you would enjoy these field trips, then you’d be most welcome to come along.

Due to uncertainty of ongoing Covid restrictions, car sharing may not be possible. Times and meet places are therefore detailed on the the branch's website Highland Birds, with contact emails of leaders. Otherwise, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 07598 320978.

Details:

Weekend excursions are full day, Thursdays are usually mornings only. Thursday outings will be led by a committee member.

Sun  05 Sep        Pelagic Trip  from Arisaig (Bob McMillan) - apologies, fully booked

Thur 23 Sep        Weekday Birding (Alister Clunas)          

Sun 10 Oct          Dornoch Firth area (Dean MacAskill)                   

Thur 21 Oct        Weekday Findhorn Bay (Pete Gordon)    

Sat 06 Nov          Whiteness Head (Al McNee )                

Thu 18 Nov         Black Isle (David & Mary Galloway)   

Sun 12 Dec         Beginners Guided walk (Sue Sykes)     

Thu 23  Dec        Weekday Birding (Sue Seright)

Contact:

Mary Galloway, by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 07598 320978.

Secretary:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 14 Boniface Gardens, Fortrose, IV10 8RP, Tel 07598 320978

Chair:

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

Treasurer:

Alister Clunas

Committee members:

Jon Clarke, Alex Joss, Tony Laidler, Alastair McNee, Bob McMillan, John Poyner and Susan Seright

Committee member & Representative of the branch on SOC Council:

Peter Gordon

Highland recorder:

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

Outer Hebrides recorder:

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

Species Focus 2021

Highland branch are asking for your help with its Species Focus this year – a citizen science project for a ‘stay at home’ summer.  For further details, please click here.

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.

Minutes from the 2021 HIghland Branch AGM

Click here to download a copy of the minutes from the 2021 Highland Branch AGM.

Branch grapevine:

An email sightings service, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Al McNee to be added to the mailing list.

Branch website:

Highland Birds http://www.highlandbirds.scot/ is a website run by and for members of Highland branch, as well as visitors to the region. The site provides information on where to go birding in the region. There is a recording page showing how to submit your records, as well as a gallery of previous rarities and information on how to to download the latest Highland Bird Report and purchase back issues.

Birdwatching in the area

The Highland Branch website, Highland Birds, should be your first port of call for information on where to birdwatch across the Highland region. Likewise, if you're planning a trip to Skye and surrounding areas on the mainland, Skye Birds website is also a one stop shop for everything to do with birds and birding in the area!  

Bird recording in this area

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

Highland Bird News- Archive

Click here to view archive issues of the branch's local newsletter, Highland Bird News. 

Highland Bird Report Gazetteer

SOC Highland branch has produced a gazetteer, listing almost 2600 site names referred to in the Highland Bird Report and their grid references. This can be downloaded from the Highland recording area page.