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 April 2022. 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 01 Feb         Hywel Maggs - Cranes breeding in Scotland 

Tue 01 Mar         Sara Frost - The wildlife of St Kilda and the Scottish Hebrides 

Thu 14 Apr          AGM & Kate Clarke - Speyside wader survey

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.

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, those wishing to participate on outings MUST contact the leader of the day to register.  Time and place of meet will then be given.  Car sharing may not be possible. 

Details:

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

Thu 27 Jan          
Weekday Birding (Alister Clunas, tel. 07437 900103 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)                         

Sat 5 Feb            
Strathspey (John Poyner, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)                  

Thu 10 Feb            
Nairn River (Jon Clarke, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)                       

Sat 5 Mar            
North East (David & Mary Galloway, tel 07598 320978 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Thu 17 Mar        
The Loch District South of Inverness (Alex Joss, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Sun 17 Apr        
Lochaber Outing (Tony Laidler, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Carol Miller, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Thu 21 Apr        
Whiteness Head  (Jon Clarke, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)         

Sat 7 May            
Gairloch and Poolewe (Tracy McLachlan and Carol Miller, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thu 19 May        
Evening outing to Arabella Woodlands, Hill of Fortrose (David & Mary Galloway, tel 07598 320978 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). BYO supper!

Contact:

Mary Galloway,  tel. 07598 320978 or 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., 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.