ABC FACEBOOK GROUP ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/1913276852095925/about/ )
A Facebook group has been set up appeal to members and others who like to use this media. Please share your photos, video clips, ask for ID advice or share an experience with the group!
ARGYLL BIRD REPORT Volume 35 – with Systematic List for the year 2023. Published on 21 Feb 2024 and available for download by subscribed Argyll Bird Club members.
ARGYLL BIRD REPORT Volume 34 – with Systematic List for the year 2022. This report is now available as a full colour PDF for download by anyone – see under ‘Publications’.
AVIAN INFLUENZA (BIRD FLU) – FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE LINKS BELOW
https://www.gov.scot/publications/avian-influenza-bird-flu/pages/dead-or-sick-wild-birds-what-to-do/
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/disease-and-garden-wildlife/avian-influenza-updates/
FORTHCOMING FIELD TRIPS AND MEETINGS – Reviewed 2/10/2024:
If there is a chance that adverse weather might lead to the cancellation of a field trip, please check this page of the website or contact the organiser the night before or in good time prior to setting off. Please wear suitable footwear and bring waterproof clothing if rain is forecast.
FIELD TRIPS 2024
Field trips are currently limited to 15 participants so it is essential that you contact the leader of a trip beforehand to make sure a place is available.
If there is a chance that adverse weather might lead to the cancellation of a field trip, please check this page or contact the organiser the night before or prior to setting off. Please wear suitable footwear and bring waterproof clothing if rain is forecast.
There will be a risk assessment and safety briefing at the start of each field trip.
Saturday 19th October (Rescheduled from 28th September). An outing to Bute led by Alistair McGregor (mobile phone ,e-mail ). Please let Alistair know if you would like to go on this trip, to check that places are available. Meet Alistair at the Colintraive Ferry at 10.00hrs. We aim to share cars to take the minimum number over on the 10.30hrs ferry. Ian Hopkins will meet the group on the Bute side of the ferry. The trip will include several short walks on level ground.
Saturday 30 November. Danna (and Keills). Led by David Jardine (email ). Rendezvous at 10.00hrs at Tayvallich Village Hall (grid ref NR741870). Please bring a packed lunch. Warm clothing and strong waterproof footwear are advised. This trip will involve walking around 5km on farm tracks, rough ground and the shore. Please let David Jardine know if you hope to attend this outing so that he can provide last minute information as necessary.
Please bear in mind that the situation can change quickly, so please check this page for updates.
INDOOR MEETINGS 2024
Autumn Meeting & AGM 2024. Saturday 2 November.
The meeting will be held at the Inveraray Inn, Inveraray (phone 01499 302466). The programme is shown below and available for download here . If you are going to the meeting, please book your place so that we know how many teas/coffees we need to cater for. Also a soup and sandwich lunch will available at the meeting, which must be booked in advance (£12 payable on the day). Book your lunch with the membership secretary (contact details on back page). Thank you.
| Programme for the ABC’s Autumn Meeting Saturday 2 November at the Inveraray Inn, Inveraray | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Session/Speaker | Subject | Time slot |
| 0930—1000 | Doors open, coffee and tea | 30 | |
| 1000—1010 | Nigel Scriven | Welcome & Introduction | 10 |
| 1010—030 | Bird Club | Summer Sightings Round-up | 20 |
| 1030—1100 | Vince Lea, Countryside Regenera on Trust | Waterlife Recovery: a Mink-free Britain | 30 |
| 1100—1130 | Coffee/tea break | 30 | |
| 1130—1200 | Catriona Laird NatureScot | Saving Scotland’s Choughs | 30 |
| 1200—1230 | Mark Wilson BTO Scotland | The potential of PAM: Passive acoustic monitoring as a tool for monitoring birds and other taxa | 30 |
| 1230—1245 | Nigel Scriven | Club Conservation Plan: Where do we go from here? What are the options? | 15 |
| 1245—1400 | Lunch | 75 | |
| 1400—1430 | Argyll Bird Club | AGM | 30 |
| 1430—1515 | Leah Kelly, RSPB | Results of the 2023 Hen Harrier Survey | 45 |
| 1515—1545 | Coffee/tea break | 30 | |
| 1545—1615 | Penelope Whitehorn Highlands Rewilding | Tayvallich Estate - Rewilding in Argyll | 30 |
| 1615—1630 | Nigel Scriven | BTO Update -WinGS | 15 |
| 1630—1645 | Club Members | Raffle and closing remarks | 15 |
Spring Meeting 2025. Saturday 8 March. The meeting will be held at St Mun’s Church Hall, Dunoon. Further details will be provide in the Eider and on this page.
Should you be interested in giving a talk at an indoor meeting for a possible Autumn 2024/Spring 2025 season, please contact David Jardine (phone . Further details will be provided on this page, the Club’s Facebook page and via email to Club members.
https://www.the-soc.org.uk/files/docs/SOCZoomGuideforMembers.pdf
Additional details of how to join our online meetings (including a weblink) will be sent to members by email just before each meeting. If you aren’t yet a member please join
FUNDING FOR BIRD CONSERVATION PROJECTS IN ARGYLL
The ABC is willing to fund or part fund worthwhile bird conservation projects in Argyll. For example, help was given towards the costs of field work for the recent Seabird Monitoring Programme (seabird counts 2015-2019). More recently the club has helped to fund the provision of nest boxes for Grey Wagtails and Dippers in Kintyre and nest boxes for Swifts. Applications for funding should be submitted to the Secretary –