Highland

Outings

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.

Booking is essential through the leader of the day and places are restricted.  Time and place to meet will be given at time of booking. Car sharing is only with agreement between driver and passengers. 

Details:

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

Sunday 7 September               
Ullapool/Stornoway Ferry (Leader: Alan MacAskill, email amacaskill146@btinternet.com)  

Thursday 18 September                       
Go Where birds are (Leader: Alex Joss, email ejoss99@btinternet.com)             

Saturday 11 October               
Whiteness Head (Leader: Jon Clarke, email jonathan83clarke@yahoo.com)

Thursday 23 October               
Culbin Forest  (Leader: Alister Clunas, email alister.clunas@icloud.com and Alastair Young, Forestry & Land)

Sunday 9 November 
Cromarty/Dingwall/Balintore (Leader: Simon Cohen, email saraandsimon@hotmail.com)

Thursday 20 November                        
Inner Moray Firth (Leader: Alan MacAskill, email amacaskill146@btinternet.com)

Sunday 7 December
Black Isle (Leader: Sue Sykes, email sueforgery@btinternet.com)

Thursday 18 December                        
Evanton Shore area & lunch (Leader: Sue Seright, email susanseright@gmail.com)

2026

Saturday 10 January (NB: change from previously advertised date)                
New Year Bird Race (Leader: Carol Miller, email carol.miller1230@outlook.com)

Thursday 22 January               
Wader roosts Cromarty Firth (Leader: Fiona Reid, email darfreid@gmail.com)

Saturday 7 February                               
Dornoch area (Leader: Dean MacAskill, email deanatthepoint@gmail.com) 

Thursday 19 February                            
Strathspey (Leader: Pete Gordon, email nethypete@btinternet.com)

Sunday 8 March          
Strathdearn (Leader: John Poyner, email johnpoyner@hotmail.co.uk)

Thursday 19 March                  
Go Where the Birds are (Leader: Alister Clunas, email alister.clunas@icloud.com)

Saturday 11 April        
Laikenbuie Reserve, Nairn/Kingsteps (Leaders: Mary Galloway, email galloway09.mg@gmail.com and David Tompkins, RSPB)

Thursday 23 April                      
Go where the birds are (Leader: Alex Joss, email ejoss99@btinternet.com)

Saturday 9-11 May     
Weekend in Arisaig area including a day trip to Knoydart (Leaders: Finlay Greig + Mary Galloway, email galloway09.mg@gmail.com). Places are restricted to 16 people (for the transport to Knoydart) and we suggest booking your own accommodation in Mallaig area once we've confirmed your place, as it is a popular weekend. 

Thursday 21 May        
Craigellachie Nature reserve & Loch Garten (Leader: Caroline Pearson, email carolinepearson60@gmail.com)

Contact:

Mary Galloway,  tel. 07598 320978 or email

Branch Committee

Secretary:

Mary Galloway, 07598 320978

Chair:

Alister Clunas

Treasurer:

Carol Miller

Committee members:

Jon Clarke, Andy Douse, Alex Joss, Caroline Pearson, John Poyner, Fiona Reid, Sue Sykes and Alice Taylor

Committee member & Representative of the branch on SOC Council:

Peter Gordon

Highland recorder:

John Poyner

Outer Hebrides recorder:

Position vacant

Other Information

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 2025 Highland Branch AGM

Click here to download a copy of the minutes from the 2025 Highland Branch AGM.

Branch grapevine:

An email sightings service, contact Al McNee to be added to the mailing list.

Branch website:

Highland Birds 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! In addition, the SOC's award-winning Where to Watch Birds in Scotland app is free to download, and includes many excellent birding sites in the Highland region.

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 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.