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
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
Gavin Ross – The work of the National Wildlife Crime Unit
Thursday 13 February. Elgin Community Centre
Nina O’Hanlon (BTO Scotland) – Chasing Skuas
Thursday 13 March. Elgin Community Centre
AGM and Members’ Evening
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
Saturday 18 January – Culbin Forest and Nairn Bar. Leader: Richard Somers Cocks
Saturday 22 February –Lossiemouth, from estuary to harbour. Leader: Melvin Morrison
Saturday 22 March – Portknockie and Cullen. Leader: David Law
Our final outing of the winter season is on Saturday 22nd March, in the company of Club Committee member David Law. We will be taking in some coastal exploration between Portknockie and Cullen.
Plan:
We will meet at 10:00am at the big car park at Cullen, near the viaduct. Heading east from Portknockie, turn left under the viaduct as you come into Cullen, signposted for the beach and golf course (OS Grid ref: NJ 505674; What3words: ///starring.nuzzling.chimp).
Weather permitting, the plan is that we will be car sharing for the short drive to Portknockie (where parking is limited, car park grid ref is NJ492686; What3words: ///passports.onion.flip). We will spend some time looking at the cliffs before walking back to Cullen along the cliff tops and beach. We hope to spot a good variety of seabirds on the cliffs and sea, and there may also be a few interesting songbirds in the rough grassland. The target for the outing is 40 species!
We shall be walking around 3km on well-defined paths which may however be very uneven in places and we will be descending around 70 steps to get to the beach, so suitable walking shoes or boots are highly recommended. Please be aware that the walk is along cliff tops, so caution is needed, especially if you tend to be adventurous.
Walks usually take around three hours, and we will be back at the cars by 1:00pm.
What to bring:
Please bring optics and suitable outdoor clothing and footwear. Cullen has a variety of tempting food outlets to consider for your return. Toilets are available to the west of the Cullen Golf Course Club House.
Please note:
Participants are reminded that the Club, its branches and individual leaders of outings cannot accept responsibility for any injury suffered by individuals taking part in these outings, or any loss or damage to their property.
All outings run between 10am-1pm on Saturdays
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
Club outing, Cloddach wetland 23 November 2024
Club outing, Nairn east beach 18 January 2025
Club outing, Lossiemouth 22 February 2025