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 and workshop booking information, where relevant), 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
Alan Knox – Out of the dark: breeding Nightjars in NE Scotland
Wednesday 15 October (online)
Dr. Stephen Moss – Britain’s Favourite Birds
Thursday 6 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
Thursday 4 December (online)
The Great Auk – Q & A with Prof. Tim Birkhead
Wednesday 10 December (online)
Laurie Campbell – Photographing birds: more than just the species
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 – The Isle of May
Wednesday 18 February (online)
Liz Myhill – Evocative encounters with the natural world; a talk & demonstration
Thursday 5 March
Rachel Steenson – Spring with the Midlothian Dippers
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:
01856 751482
Venue for in-person meetings:
In-person meetings will be held at The Corner Room, Ground Floor, King Street Halls, 6 King Street, Kirkwall KW15 1JF (click here to view a map of the venue and surrounding area). Please note that there may be a small charge to cover room hire.
Branch Committee
Chair:
Steve Sankey
Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-chair and representative of the branch on SOC Council:
Helen Aiton, 01856 751482
Orkney 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.
Social media:
Facebook: Type ‘Orkney Birding’ in the search bar
Birdwatching in Orkney
Click here for our guide to Birding North Ronaldsay
Bird recording in Orkney
Visit the Orkney recording area page for details of the latest bird report, back issues, species considered locally and for Local Recorder contact information.
