Photo of Waterston House and below is the text: "We're Hiring! / ASSISTANT DEVELOPMENT OFFICER / To apply by 10 May at 5pm and learn more about the position, visit the link in our bio!"

JOB OPPORTUNITY - Assistant Development Officer

We're seeking an ADO to lead on our bird camp youth initiative, our winter talks programme and support our Scotland-wide network of local branches and volunteers.

Details of the vacancy and how to apply can be found at goodmoves.org/vacancy/a4sP...

Looking forward to Hamza Yassin’s talk tonight, celebrating the SOC’s 90th anniversary, in Kirkcaldy. @scottishbirding.bsky.social

House Martin (small dark blue bird with a forked tail and white rump and underparts) in flight with some mud that it has collected in its bill. There is some mud and wetland vegetation in the background. © John N Chapman

It's been a busy week for spring migrants with a flurry of Swallows, House Martins & Willow Warblers, as well as the first records of returning Swifts, Tree Pipits, Yellow Wagtails, Sedge Warblers & Pied Flycatchers.

Keep up to date with all the spring arrivals at www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/spring...

A hand holding a phone displaying the Where to Watch Birds in Scotland app. Aberlady Bay (one of the sites featured in the app) can be seen in the background. It has a grassy/saltmarsh edge and the bay beyond is filled with water at high tide with a wooden bridge crossing it.

Where to Watch Birds in Scotland launched on this day in 2019

With 1.75 million site views since then, our free app helps beginner & experienced birders alike discover the best places to see birds across Scotland.

If you haven't downloaded it yet, you can do so here www.the-soc.org.uk/about-us/app

Crested Tit © Chris Rose

To mark our 90th anniversary and raise vital funds for the charity, we've collaborated with artist Chris Rose #swla to produce an exclusive SOC limited edition print of his popular Crested Tit painting. Only 100 Crested Tit prints have been produced. Now available at £120 (+p&p) tinyurl.com/2r4apt58

We are pleased to announce that copies of ‘The Birds of Fair Isle’ are now on sale at The SOC, Waterston House, Aberlady, East Lothian at £85. @scottishbirding.bsky.social

Monday 7:30: Dr Mark Bolton talking about the changing fortunes of Scotland's 2 small breeding petrels. @scottishbirding.bsky.social MR1 in University Library, Bedford Road, Aberdeen AB24 3AA. All welcome.

#petrelheads

Added Bonus: (brief) branch AGM!!

Four Mallard ducklings swimming © Bob Hamilton

Anyone can take part, no matter your level of bird knowledge. All you need to do is keep an eye out for broods of Mallard ducklings this spring and take a note of how many you saw, when, where and their approximate age.

Find out more and submit your sightings at citsci.org/projects/ducklingwatch

DucklingWatch poster. The information displayed on the poster can be found at citsci.org/projects/ducklingwatch

DucklingWatch

The DucklingWatch citizen science project, led by Hannah Coburn at the University of Essex, returns for its second year. Submitting your records of Mallard ducklings will help improve understanding of duckling survival rates and drivers of population trends.

Make your records count by submittimg them on @birdtrack.bsky.social

Photo of Colonsay's coastline and cliffs with BTO and SOC logos and the text "Scottish Bird Camp / Application deadline Sunday 29th March at 11:59pm". Photo © Steve Willis

LAST CHANCE TO APPLY!

SOC/BTO Scottish Bird Camp applications close at 11:59pm on Sunday 29th March.

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

Apply now at www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/event/...

BirdTrack What is BirdTrack? BirdTrack is an exciting web-based bird recording project that looks at phenology (i.e. what birds are doing and when) and distributions of birds throughout Britain and Ireland. It ...

Out birding this weekend? Submitting your records to @birdtrack.bsky.social ensures that they reach the local bird recorder and can be included in the Spring Migrants Table.

Swallow (small bird predominantly white below with a blue head, red throat and a long forked tail) in flight photographed from below against a blue sky with some white cloud. © Angus Hogg

The latest addition to our Spring Migrants Table is the first Swallow of the year; a single bird seen at Auchenmalg Bay in Dumfries and Galloway on 17th March.

You can view the full table and sign up for updates at www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/spring...

Angus & Dundee Bird Report 2020 cover featuring a photo of a Rose-coloured Starling

Arran Bird Report 2025 cover featuring a photo of a colour-ringed Whimbrel (yellow flag A2)

North-East Scotland Bird Report + 2024 cover featuring a photo of a Bufflehead

New local bird reports out now:
Angus & Dundee 2020
Arran 2025
North-East Scotland 2024

These reports are filled with detailed records of their area's birdlife, interesting birding articles and stunning photos. For more info on how to get hold of copies, see: www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/local-...

Photos of the Colonsay coastline showing sea and cliffs with the text 'Scottish Bird Camp Q&A / Thursday 19th March 6:30pm - 7:30pm Free online event Booking essential

SOC/BTO SCOTTISH BIRD CAMP Q&A

Thursday 19th March | 6:30pm | Free | Booking essential

Interested in bird camp but have questions before you apply? Join us for an informal Q&A session on Zoom to learn more about camp & ask any questions you may have.

Book at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1982434183...

Male Wheatear on a dry stane dyke © Bob Hamilton

When you're out birding this spring, don't forget to add your sightings to @birdtrack.bsky.social to help keep track of our spring migrants.

You can view the full Spring Migrants Arrivals Table and sign up to the mailing list to hear about new arrivals at www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/spring...

Sand Martin (small bird brown above and pale below) in flight © Richard Whitson

Reports of Chiffchaff and Sand Martin have continued to increase, with Chiffchaff now appearing to be widespread. A Sand Martin in North-East Scotland on 4th March and another in Highland on 6th March were the earliest ever records for their respective recording areas.

Osprey in flight © Bob Hamilton

Spring migrants update

Arrivals have been gathering pace over the last week, with the first returning Wheatears, Sandwich Terns and Manx Shearwaters being sighted. In Highland, a pair of Ospreys have made a remarkably early return to their nest site.

Sand Martin (small bird brown above and pale below) in flight © Richard Whitson

When you're out birding this spring, don't forget to add your sightings to @birdtrack.bsky.social to help keep track of our spring migrants.

Chiffchaff (small olive-coloured warbler) singing from a tree branch which is bare apart from a few green buds © Bob Hamilton

The Spring Migrants Table is now live for 2026!

A sunny start to March has certainly made it feel like spring along with the return of the first Chiffchaffs and Sand Martins.

You can view the full table & sign up to the mailing list to hear about new arrivals at www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/spring...

BirdWatch Ireland CEO Andrew Kelly & BTO CEO Juliet Vickery are sitting at a table outside smiling as they get ready to sign a partnership agreement for the Bird Atlas 2027–31.

RSPB Chief Executive Beccy Speight & BTO CEO Juliet Vickery are sitting together at a table in the David Attenborough Building in Cambridge holding pens ready to sign a partnership agreement for the Bird Atlas 2027–31.

BTO CEO Juliet Vickery & Scottish Ornithologists Club President Ruth Briggs are sitting at a table smiling and holding pens ready to sign a partnership agreement for the Bird Atlas 2027–31.

BTO CEO Juliet Vickery & Welsh Ornithological Society Chair Anne Brenchley are sitting at a table together looking down and holding pens as they get ready to sign a partnership agreement for the Bird Atlas 2027–31. Wildlife and nature themed artwork hangs on the wall behind them.

1/ Five leading charities forge partnership for bird conservation for the Bird Atlas 2027–31! 🐦 But what is the Bird Atlas? ⬇️🧵 #Ornithology

@btobirds.bsky.social @birdwatchireland.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @birdsinwales.bsky.social

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