Talks
We're delighted to share details of the meetings season (September 2025 - April 2026) for members to enjoy. This year’s programme will be held as a hybrid (online/in-person) programme.
More information about each meeting will be emailed to members around a week in advance of the event. To receive these emails (including Zoom joining instructions ad workshop booking information, where applicable), you must be signed up to the Branch News & Events - Talks & Workshops mailing list.
When:
7.30pm
Wednesday 3 September (online)
Andrew Whitelee – Construction sites and birds: it’s not all bad news
Wednesday 17 September (online)
Alasdair Reid, John Simpson & speaker TBA – SOC Branch Survey Work
Wednesday 8 October
Alan Knox – Out of the dark: breeding Nightjars in NE Scotland
Thursday 16 October (online) NB change of date from originally advertised
Dr. Stephen Moss – Britain’s Favourite Birds
Wednesday 5 November
Chris Rose – How to be a wildlife artist: a painting demonstration
Wednesday 19 November (online)
Douglas Russell – Interesting Bird Nests & Eggs: writing a popular book on 250 years of avian architecture
Wednesday 3 December
Members’ Night & annual Christmas quiz
Wednesday 10 December (online)
Laurie Campbell – Photographing birds: more than just the species
Thursday 4 December (online)
The Great Auk – Q & A with Prof. Tim Birkhead
Tuesday 6 January (online)
Ellie Owen – Looking after a million seabirds: NTS’s work to protect and restore Scotland’s seabirds
Wednesday 21 January (online)
Adam Nicolson – Birds in the Hebrides and a Sussex wood; Q & A
Tuesday 3 February (online)
David Steel – Isle of May
Wednesday 18 February (online)
Liz Myhill – Evocative encounters with the natural world; a talk & demonstration
Wednesday 4 March
Rachel Steenson – Spring with the Midlothian Dippers
Wednesday 18 March (online)
Prof. Tim Birkhead – The Most Perfect Thing; Q & A
Wednesday 1 April
AGM and Talk & speaker TBA
Wednesday 15 April (online)
Prof. Claire Spottiswoode – Show me the honey: communication between people and wild birds in Africa
Contact:
Nina O'Hanlon on 07810 300392 or send Nina an email.
Venue for indoor meetings:
Castletown Heritage Centre, Harbour Road, Castletown, Caithness, KW14 8TG (click here to view a map of the venue and surrounding area)
Outings
Excursion details will be sent to SOC Caithness branch members by email, if you have signed up for this (or click here if you haven't already done so).
Further outings will be announced in due course.
Contact:
Nina O'Hanlon on 07810 300392 or send Nina an email.
Branch Committee
Secretary and representative of the branch on SOC Council:
Nina O'Hanlon, 07810 300392
Chair:
Donald Omand
Vice Chairs:
Julian Smith
Treasurer:
Donald Clarke
Caithness recorder:
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.
Branch newsletter:
The branch published its first Caithness Birds newsletter in August 2024, following the various celebrations that took place as part of its 60th year anniversary. You can read it here.
Social media:
Find Caithness Birds on Bluesky and Facebook.
Bird recording in Caithness
Visit the Caithness recording area page for details of the latest bird report, back issues, species considered locally and for Local Recorder contact information.
Birds of Caithness including the Breeding & Wintering Atlas 2007 – 2012
The ‘Birds of Caithness’ DVD was published in December 2015 by Caithness SOC. It is the distillation of over 200 years of observations documenting the fascinating birdlife of the county. The 458 page document is formatted to allow for viewing either as double-page spreads on the web or as high-resolution pdfs. To find out more about the publication, click here.
Caithness SOC were then delighted to announce the publication of a revised edition of The ‘Birds of Caithness’, in book form! This hard-backed book, 458pp and A4 in size with dust jacket, is now unfortunately sold out.
Loch of Mey hide
The hide is open all year for public use (apart from 31st December). It provides excellent views of wildfowl and waders, and is suitable for wheelchair access. It is situated on the north Caithness coast, west of the village of Mey. The signposted track starts opposite the road leading to Harrow harbour near the village of Scarfskerry. Parking is available at the old ruin.
The hide and footpath were funded by: Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise, Leader, Scottish Natural Heritage, BT Countryside for All, SOC, East Sutherland Bird Club, RSPB, Northern Studies, Highland Council and The Castle Arms Hotel.
