Talks
We're delighted to share details of the meetings season (September 2024 - April 2025) for members to enjoy. This year's programme will be a 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 and workshop booking information, where applicable), you must be signed up to the Branch News & Events - Talks & Workshops mailing list.
When:
7.30pm
Tue 7 Jan
Shaila Rao – Mar Lodge (online)
Wed 15 Jan
Barbara Mearns – Biographies for birders (online)
Tue 4 Feb
Bob McMillan – Skye Birds
Wed 19 Feb
Dr Mark Eaton – Rare breeding birds (online)
Tue 4 Mar
Anthony Wetherhill – Tracking Goosanders in Scotland and beyond
Wed 19 Mar
Dr Guy Anderson – How to save migratory birds: contrasting approaches for Turtle Dove and Swift in the UK (online)
Tue 8 Apr
AGM & Derek McGinn – Half a century in Scotland with recorder and camera
Wed 16 Apr
Darren Woodhead & Chris Rose – Capturing the spirit of birds (online)
Contact:
Mary Galloway, send Mary an email or phone 07598 320978.
Venue:
In-person meetings 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 there may be a small charge to cover room hire.
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.
Thu 19 Dec
Go Where Birds Are (Leader: Sue Seright and Hugh Fearn, email)
Sat 11 Jan
Bird Race (Leader: Carol Miller, email)
Thu 23 Jan
Go Where Birds Are (Leader: Alister Clunas, email)
Sun 9 Feb
Strathdearn (Leader: John Poyner, email)
Thu 20 Feb
Go Where Birds Are (Leader Mary Galloway, email)
Sat 8 Mar
Strathspey (Leader: Pete Gordon, email or alternate email)
Sat 15 Mar
Annual BTO/SOC Spring Conference, Inverness Millburn Academy
Thu 20 Mar
Culbin Bar (Leader, Alastair Young, Forestry & Land, email or Mary Galloway, email)
Sat 12 Apr
Corrimony (Leader: Carol Miller, email)
Thu 24 Apr
Go Where Birds Are (Leader TBA)
Sat 10 May
Handa (Leader: Mary Galloway, email and Alan Jones, email)
Sat 17- 21May
Trip to North Ronaldsay. FULLY BOOKED
Thu 22 May
Dundreggan & Social (Leader: Carol Miller, email)
Contact:
Mary Galloway, tel. 07598 320978 or email
Branch Committee
Secretary:
Mary Galloway, 07598 320978
Chair:
Treasurer:
Carol Miller
Committee members:
Jon Clarke, Stu Crutchfield, Alex Joss, Caroline Pearson, John Poyner, Fiona Reid and Alice Taylor
Committee member & Representative of the branch on SOC Council:
Peter Gordon
Highland recorder:
Outer Hebrides recorder:
Other Information
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 2024 Highland Branch AGM
Click here to download a copy of the minutes from the 2024 Highland Branch AGM.
Branch grapevine:
An email sightings service, contact 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.
