Scottish Nature Notes

RSPB Scotland's Allie McGregor tells us about her weekend exercise in seabird spotting.

RSPB Scotland’s Allie McGregor explores why we should be using peat-free compost; especially as the climate crisis heats up.

RSPB Scotland Community Events Officer, Ally Lemon, describes how a new project in Fife is putting the links between food, farming and wildlife on the map.

Find out about how RSPB Scotland staff and volunteers have been helping common terns by providing alternative nest sites.

Aberdeen has a growing reputation as one of the best places in Europe to watch bottlenose dolphins from an urban site. Obviously wild dolphins don’t arrive to a schedule, but the team have seen them on every day they have been on site this year and are hoping for a glorious summer of dolphin watching with special family events throughout the holidays too. Dolphinwatch Visitor Experience Officer Emily Burton tells us more…

RSPB Scotland's Species and Habitats Officer James Silvey discusses taking an evidence-based approach to the current unsustainable practise of mountain hare management.

Ed Tooth, RSPB Scotland's Black Grouse Project Officer, explores some of the outcomes of this years black grouse lek monitoring season under the Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership.

One of the delights of Scotland’s summer are the seabirds that fill our cliffs and seaside with life. It’s not just puffins that deserve the love: In this blog RSPB Scotland’s Allie McGregor shares some facts about one of her favourite birds, the guillemot.

Last week Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) recommended that Menie links, the stretch of coast where Trump’s golf course was built, should have its conservation status revoked because the development has destroyed the special features of the site. Kate Bellew, RSPB Scotland’s Senior Conservation Planner tells us more.

Heather Beaton, RSPB Scotland Uists Warden, shares a lovely piece on the magical flying rowan...

Nigg Bay is an incredible place with habitats supporting thousands of wintering ducks and waders. In this blog, RSPB Scotland’s Allie McGregor reflects on the conservation efforts that have made this reserve a wildlife haven.

Corn buntings were once one of Scotland’s fastest declining birds, but thanks to the efforts of farmers and landowners across Fife, Angus and NE Scotland they are now on the road to recovery. Kirsty Nutt explains how the work of landowners is helping to bring them back from the brink of extinction and details how a new project is celebrating their story and the links between food, farming and wildlife.

One of our brilliant volunteers, Richard Marriott, shares his experience with counting pearl-bordered fritillary and the exciting year they have had.

Last month we had the spectacular Orkney Nature Festival. Ian McNab tells us all about what they got up to on the fun-filled week of wildlife watching.

Sophie Gerrard is an award-winning photographer specialising in contemporary documentary stories with environmental and social themes. Last year, she began a project focussing on the gentle and undulating peatlands of the Flow Country, to document this starkly beautiful landscape in Caithness and Sutherland, the people who work there, and something of its social and cultural history. RSPB Scotland has helped Sophie make…

For three years, people from all walks of life all over the UK have been flocking to RSPB Scotland Forsinard Flows Nature Reserve in the summer and autumn for a holiday with a difference – our ‘Conservation Working Holidays’. During their stay at the reserve’s field centre, visitors get the chance to help make a positive difference to conservation while enjoying the great outdoors of The Flow Country - one of Scotland…

In this blog, Conservation Officer Julia Gallagher shares some stories from our National Lottery Heritage funded project working to conserve Greenland white-fronted geese

Molly Doubleday, RSPB Scotland's Capercaillie Advisory Officer, shares some of her knowledge of these charismatic creatures.

The Nature-Friendly Farming Network is an independent network of farmers and crofters committed to producing food in a nature- and climate-friendly way. Our policy officer, Anna Brand, attended their first event in Scottish Parliament last week, and was impressed with the positive atmosphere and the many people who turned out to support nature-friendly farming. At RSPB Scotland, we are so encouraged to see such a passionate…

Dr Ron Summers, Principal Conservation Scientist, RSPB Centre for Conservation Science and author of “Abernethy Forest. The history and ecology of an old Scottish pinewood.” shares some of the astonishing history of Abernethy Forest in this blog.

Cairngorms Connect Monitoring Office Ellie Dimambro-Denson creates beautiful art inspired by her work with nature. In this blog she explores how the Cairngorms inspires her creative side.

If you have been inspired to volunteer with us this week, this blog shares a unique opportunity with one of our amazing reserves in the North of Scotland.

In this blog RSPB Scotland's Senior Species Policy Officer Keith Morton shares lots of amazing facts about lovely pine martens - they're more than just a cute face!

Our Edinburgh Local Group Leader shares what they love about volunteering in our fourth blog celebrating volunteer’s week and the amazing work our volunteers do.

On World Environment Day we’re celebrating the recent decision to refuse a major road scheme in Wales due to impacts on a nationally protected wildlife sites.