The Scottish Ornithologists' Club

Photo of a slide from a talk by Paul Dufour on vagrancy in birds depart g a MacGillvray’s Petrel.

Second evening of the @scottishbirding.bsky.social SBRC online conference. And a cracking talk by Paul Dufour on various aspects of vagrancy inc his current work looking at the origins of commoner Siberian migrants. Do they come from a common origin? #BirdingScotland

Two tables with binoculars and telescopes lined up on them next to windows overlooking the pond at Waterston House

OPTICS DEMO TOMORROW

Saturday 21st February | 10am - 3pm | Free event | No Booking

We’re having an Optics Demo event at Waterston House, Aberlady tomorrow. This is a fantastic chance to get expert advice and test optics outdoors in field conditions: www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/event/...

#BirdingGear

Waterston House with the garden in flower in the foreground on a sunny summer's day © June Scott

Visitor Experience Officer - last chance to apply!
Closing date: Sunday 22 February

Based at the Club’s headquarters in Aberlady, the role is central to delivering a welcoming & informative front-of-house experience for visitors & members

For vacancy details & to apply, visit tinyurl.com/hkyweftu

Night Heron © Frank Gibbons Night Heron (small mostly grey heron with relatively long yellow legs, long pointed bill and black cap) in a tree #RareBirdsUK

SBRC Online Conference - last chance to book!

24-26 February 19:00-21:15

Join us as we talk about one of the most exciting aspects of birding in Scotland and beyond: rarities & rare bird recording!

Secure your free place before bookings close on 19 Feb www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/event/...

Hamza Yassin © DML Talent

We’re delighted to commemorate our 90th anniversary with a talk + Q&A from the much-loved wildlife cameraman, author + TV presenter, #HamzaYassin on 11 April! With over 60% of tickets sold, don't delay in getting yours today! Book now tinyurl.com/3ertyepc Tickets £10 - £20. See website for details

Photo of Colonsay's coastline and cliffs with the text "Scottish Bird Camp Applications open for 2026!". Photo © Steve Willis

SOC/BTO Scottish Bird Camp - applications open!

Open to young people aged 12-16, Camp is a fully-funded, unforgettable weekend celebrating Scotland's magnificent birdlife!

📅 Friday 22 - Monday 25 May 2026
📍 Isle of Colonsay

Find out more and apply: www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/event/...

We are receiving increased reports of dead auks, including Puffins, particularly in North East Scotland. It's quick and easy to report any dead or sick birds you find through the 'Deceased bird' function on the home page of the BirdTrack app

Photo: Puffin by Richard Selman / BTO

#ukbirding

Front cover of the report which features a photograph of a Barn Owl in flight and the title text 'Borders Bird Report 2024'

Borders Bird Report 2024 is now available

2024 was another excellent year for birds in the Borders with the second highest species total in a year (230 species). The report is priced at £13 with both print and digital copies available: www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/local-...

Waterston House with the garden in flower in the foreground on a sunny summer's day © June Scott

We're hiring!

We're looking for a Visitor Experience Officer to join our team. Based at Waterston House in Aberlady, this role is central to delivering a welcoming and informative front-of-house experience for visitors, members and researchers.

Find out more and apply at tinyurl.com/hkyweftu

We're delighted to be celebrating 90 years of the SOC with a talk, Q+A & book signing from wildlife cameraman, author & TV presenter, Hamza Yassin. Don’t miss this inspiring celebration! Book your place to be part of this milestone event in our history. Tickets: £10 - £20. See tinyurl.com/3ab3ujw2

This is a fantastic offer of support for young birders to attend the Scottish Birdwatchers' Conference! Thanks to SOC Highland for their generosity.

🦉🏕️ We'll launch the details and application for Scottish Bird Camp in the first week of February- keep your eyes peeled here or on the @scottishbirding.bsky.social pages! #BTOYouth #BirdingScotland

Whooper swan and cygnet © LaurieCampbell.com

SOC Highland Branch are giving 15 Highland-based young birdwatchers the opportunity to attend the SOC/ @btoscotland.bsky.social Spring Conference on Sat 14 March '26 for just £10! Places are limited & will be allocated through an application process. Application criteria applies tinyurl.com/4cwscusk

We still have key vacant sites available in Orkney for the International Swan Census (ISC) this weekend (17th-18th January 2026).🦢

To request a site, please visit: app.bto.org/gsmp/public/...

@stevedudley.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

We still have key vacant sites available in Shetland for the International Swan Census (ISC) this weekend (17th-18th January 2026).🦢

To request a site, please visit: app.bto.org/gsmp/public/...

@scottishbirding.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

Scottish Birds Records Committee Online Conference The SOC

To view the programme and book your place, visit www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/event/...

Night Heron © Frank Gibbons Night Heron (small mostly grey heron with relatively long yellow legs, long pointed bill and black cap) in a tree #RareBirdsUK

SBRC Online Conference
24-26th February 19:00-21:15

Taking place over three consecutive evenings, the conference is open to all & free to attend. Attendees can look forward to three talks each night from an exciting line-up of speakers at the cutting edge of rare birds & their identification.

Winter plumage Golden Plover in flight with a breaking wave in the background © John Agnew

Only two weeks left to apply for a Research and Survey Grant ahead of the 31st January deadline.

The SOC Endowment Fund supports amateur research projects which further the knowledge of the birds of Scotland.

For more details and to apply, visit: www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/resear...

#ornithology

Patchwork Challenge Ever wondered about taking up patch birding or even Patchwork Challenge? Patchwork Challenge is a fun birding competition, focused on engaging and understanding your local birding patch, to see how ma...

Looking for a new birding challenge for 2026? Why not take up patch birding and participate in Patchwork Challenge?

Find out more about this fun birding competition in our guest blog from @patchbirding.bsky.social: www.the-soc.org.uk/blogs/blog/p...

#PatchBirding #PWC2026 #LowCarbonBirding

New Local Bird Recorder

Ian Ward has taken on the role of Outer Hebrides Bird Recorder. Ian is a keen lifelong birder now based in Ness at the northern tip of Lewis.

For more information about bird recording in the Outer Hebrides and to contact Ian, visit: www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/local-...

Christmas can be an expensive time of year, so how about something for free?

The @scottishbirding.bsky.social and Scottish Birds Records Committee are hosting a FREE online conference over the evenings of February 24th to the 26th. Three talks per night and some real belters among them.

Winter plumage Golden Plover in flight with a breaking wave in the background © John Agnew

Research and Survey Grant applications

The Endowment Fund supports amateur research projects which further the knowledge of the birds of Scotland.

The deadline to submit your application is 31st January.

For more details and to apply, please visit: www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/resear...

#ornithology

The new update to the BirdTrack app introduces several features aimed at helping us collect accurate bird data and alert you to those slip of the finger data entry errors #ukbirding

LATE OPENING TOMORROW FOR JÓLABÓKAFLÓD
Sat 6 Dec | 5pm - 8pm | Free event | No Booking

Late-night opening at Waterston House, Aberlady, to embrace the Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflód, the giving of books at Christmas. We'll be serving hot chocolate & offering the latest nature-books to buy. 🎁🎄

Scottish Birdwatchers' Conference 2026 The SOC

🚨Bookings for the 2026 Scottish Birdwatchers' Conference are now live! 🚨
Head over to the SOC's website to get yourself booked on. It's a great programme of events- see you there! For more info. and to book your place go here: www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/event/... #BirdingScotland

Whooper Swan © LaurieCampbell.com

Scottish Birdwatchers' Conference 2026

Join us & @btoscotland.bsky.social for next year's Spring Conference in Dundee on Saturday 14 March.

View the full programme of talks on 'The Birds of Tayside: conservation, migration and habitats' and book your place at www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/event/...

The cover of the November 2025 issue of British Birds, with a Little Ringed Plover sheltering its chicks

The latest report from the RBBP, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2023, is out now in British Birds. It reports on the 104 species and races of rare breeding birds recording breeding, or showing signs of breeding, in 2023. Read the summary at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... #ornithology #ukbirds 🧵[1/15]

OPTICS DEMO EVENT TOMORROW
Saturday 8th November | 10:30am - 3pm | Free event | No Booking

We’re hosting a Viking Optical demo at our HQ #WaterstonHouse in Aberlady! This is a fantastic chance to try out optics in field conditions and get advice from experts: www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/gettin...

Image of a deceased Puffin lying on the ground. White wording on an orange background reads: Please report sightings of dead birds.

⚠️ Please report sightings of dead birds for possible testing for Avian Influenza. ⬇️

📌 In England, Wales & Scotland: www.gov.uk/guidance/...
📌 In Northern Ireland: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/...
📌 In Republic of Ireland: aviancheck.apps.serv...

#UKBirding #BirdingWales #BirdingScotland

Stonechat © Lauriecampbell.com

Last chance to book your place at SOC's Conference! This year's event centres around the effect of climate change on birds & looks at how these changes can be managed as positively as possible. There'll be a chance to socialise, network & enjoy a first-class line-up of speakers! tinyurl.com/2s43k3dj