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 talk will be emailed to members around a week in advance of the event. To receive these emails (including Zoom joining instructions for online meetings), you must be signed up to the Branch News & Events - Talks & Workshops mailing list.
When:
7.30pm
Wednesday 17 September (online)
Alasdair Reid, John Simpson & speaker TBA – SOC Branch Survey Work
Thursday 9 October
Gavin Ross – National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) (NB venue: Elgin Community Centre, thereafter moving to Elgin Library for future meetings)
Wednesday 15 October (online)
Dr. Stephen Moss – Britain’s Favourite Birds
Thursday 13 November
Alan Knox – Out of the dark: breeding Nightjars in NE Scotland
Wednesday 19 November (online)
Douglas Russell – Interesting Bird Nests & Eggs: writing a popular book on 250 years of avian architecture
Wednesday 10 December (online)
Laurie Campbell – Photographing birds: more than just the species
Thursday 11 December
Blaise Martay – Impacts of climate change on Scottish birds
Thursday 8 January
Richard Somers Cocks – Focus on Findhorn
Wednesday 21 January (online)
Adam Nicolson – Birds in the Hebrides and a Sussex wood; Q & A
Thursday 12 February
Daisy Burnell – Seabirds Count
Wednesday 18 February (online)
Liz Myhill – Evocative encounters with the natural world; a talk & demonstration
Thursday 12 March
AGM & Members’ Evening
Wednesday 18 March (online)
Prof. Tim Birkhead – The Most Perfect Thing; Q & A
Wednesday 15 April (online)
Prof. Claire Spottiswoode – Show me the honey: communication between people and wild birds in Africa
Contact:
Chris Thomas, email
Venue for in-person meetings:
October's meeting will be held at Elgin Community Centre, Trinity Rd, Elgin IV30 1UE (click here to view a map of the venue and surrounding area). and thereafter at Elgin Library, Cooper Park, Elgin IV30 1HS (click here to view a map of the venue and surrounding area).
We hope that the branch provides an opportunity for those who share a common interest in birds to meet for regular social occasions. At our indoor meetings we usually have a speaker and the emphasis is on local birds and birding – with plenty of time to get to know those whose names we may recognise but faces we do not!
In addition to evening meetings between autumn and spring, we have regular outings through the year, and offer the opportunity for club members to get involved in some surveys of our local birds. All are welcome to attend these activities, including non-members of the Club. If you are not yet an SOC member and are interested in finding out more information about joining, please email us or visit our Join us page.
Outings
Details of planned outings will be sent to SOC Moray branch members by email, if you have signed up for this (or click here if you haven't already done so).
Saturday 19 July
RSPB Troup Head
Contact:
Chris Thomas, email
Branch Committee
Chair:
Martin Cook
Secretary:
Chris Thomas, email
Treasurer:
Melvin Morrison
Representative of the branch on SOC Council:
Richard Somers Cocks
Committee members:
Karen Cunningham, Graham Larrington, Sue Larrington, David Law, Richard Somers Cocks and Alastair Young
Moray & Nairn recorder:
Other Information
Talks and outings 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. A similar reminder service operates for outings. 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.
Website:
Birds in Moray and Nairn www.birdsinmorayandnairn.org is a comprehensive website operated by Martin Cook. The site includes details of the latest sightings, forthcoming survey work (and how to get involved), branch meetings and outings, as well as giving users the option to view or print the latest and previous editions of the Moray & Nairn bird report – for free!
Social media:
Martin Cook also runs a WhatsApp group, Moray & Nairn Rare Birds. If you're interested in joining, please contact Martin.
Minutes from the 2025 Moray Branch AGM:
Click here to download a copy of the minutes from the recent Moray Branch AGM.
Beginners Birdwatching courses:
Organised by Martin, these courses run periodically. Please contact Martin for more info.
Bird recording in this area
Visit the Moray & Nairn recording area page. A guide to different aspects of bird recording in the area can also be found at www.birdsinmorayandnairn.org .
The Breeding Birds of North-East Scotland
Click here to read about this atlas, which covers Moray, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City.
