INDOOR MEETINGS 2024-2025
Our meetings take place in Elgin Library, Cooper Park, Elgin IV30 1HS, on the second Thursday of each month during October-March. Meetings start at 7:30pm. For this session only, our January, February and March meetings will be held in Elgin Community Centre.
Meetings begin with a short discussion of notable recent sightings, followed by the main presentation. The evening finishes with the opportunity to chat with friends over refreshments.
Everyone with an interest in birds is very welcome to attend, whether or not you are a member of SOC.
There is a small admission charge of £2 for SOC members and £3 for non-members.
For enquiries and further information please contact the Moray Bird Club secretary, Chris Thomas, at moraysecretary@the-soc.org.uk
Dates for the 2024-2025 session are:
Wednesday 18 September
Jonathan Meiburg – The Caracaras would like to meet you: introducing the world’s smartest and strangest birds of prey (online)
Thursday 10 October. Elgin Library
Martin Cook and David Law (Moray Bird Club) – Spotlight on Speymouth
An exploration of the area around the River Spey as it approaches the sea, looking at birds, plants and other wildlife.
Wednesday 16 October
Dave Parish (NatureScot) – Stepping up efforts to save Scotland’s critically endangered Chough (online only)
Thursday 14 November. Elgin Library
Ian Francis (African Bird Club) – African birds – supporting their conservation: the work of the African Bird Club
The next indoor meeting of Moray Bird Club will take place on Thursday 14 November at 7.30pm in Elgin Library. We will be welcoming Ian Francis, Conservation Officer for the African Bird Club.
Ian has extensive knowledge of the birds in our area and was formerly Area Manager for RSPB here. He co-edited (with Martin Cook) The Breeding Birds of North-East Scotland and is a member of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, Grampian Ringing Group and North-East Scotland Raptor Study Group.
His talk, however, will be covering aspects of the work of the African Bird Club, with a particular focus on conservation efforts. Ian is one of the volunteers running the Club (Programmes – African Bird Club) and will also be including some species familiar to us as he looks at the other end of some migration journeys.
Booking isn’t required though we ask for a £2 donation (£3 for non-members) to help cover room hire. There will be tea and coffee and an opportunity to chat with other members at the end of the meeting.
Wednesday 20 November
Ian Thomson (RSPB) – Ending raptor persecution on Scotland’s grouse moors? (online only)
Thursday 12 December. Elgin Library
Anthony Wetherhill (BTO) – Tracking Goosanders
BTO’s Fieldwork Co-ordinator on the work he has been leading, focussing on Goosanders.
Thursday 9 January. Elgin Community Centre
Gavin Ross – The work of the National Wildlife Crime Unit
Thursday 13 February. Elgin Community Centre
Nina O’Hanlon (BTO Scotland) – Skuas
Focussing on the migrations of Scottish breeding Arctic Skuas as revealed by geolocator-tagged birds.
Thursday 13 March. Elgin Community Centre
AGM and Members’ Evening
Including 2-3 short presentations by Club members – to be announced nearer the time.
The online Wednesday meetings are for SOC members only. Members will be notified of joining arrangements by SOC HQ.
Contact:
Chris Thomas, Moray Branch Secretary at moraysecretary@the-soc.org.uk
WINTER OUTINGS 2024-2025
Saturday 19 October – Spey Bay and the Spey estuary on the Kingston side. Leaders: Graham and Sue Larrington
Saturday 23 November – Cloddach wetland. Leader: Martin Cook
December – No outing
Sunday 19 January – Culbin Forest and Nairn Bar. Leader: Richard Somers Cocks
Saturday 22 February – Lossiemouth, from estuary to harbour. Leader: Melvin Morrison
Saturday 15 March – Portknockie and Cullen. Leader: David Law
All outings run between 10am-1pm on Saturdays, except for Sunday 19 January (to avoid possible wildfowling at Nairn Bar on the Saturday)
Reports on previous outings:
Club outing, Findhorn Bay 16 October 2022
Club outing, Cloddach wetland 13 November 2022
Club outing, Lossiemouth 10 December 2022
Club outing, Spey Bay and Portgordon 28 January 2023
Club outing, Burghead-Hopeman 18 February 2023
Club outing, Findhorn Bay 1 October 2023
Club outing, Burghead-Cummingston 14 October 2023
Club outing, Loch Spynie RSPB Reserve 11 November 2023
Club outing, Cloddach wetland 16 December 2023
Club outing, Lossiemouth 13 January 2024
Club outing, Cullen 10 February 2024
Club outing, Scalan 1 June 2024
Club outing, Spey Bay and Kingston 19 October 2024