What’s been top in 2017 – nature highlights from the year

With the end of 2017 rapidly approaching we thought we’d take a look back at some of our nature highlights over the past year. There’s been so much happening this year you can’t help but be inspired to get out exploring Scotland and seeing some incredible wildlife!

Winter thrills

The start of the year kicked off with some great…

Coul Links, a rare coastal habitat, in under threat from proposals to build a golf course. We're one of a partnership of conservation organisations along with Buglife, Butterfly Conservation Scotland, Plantlife Scotland, Marine Conservation Society and Scottish Wildlife Trust campaigning to save it from destruction. Here's an update on some of the recent coverage about the site and development plans.

Coul Links…

Coul Links, a rare coastal habitat in East Sutherland, is under threat from proposals to build a golf course. We’ve been campaigning in partnership with Buglife, Butterfly Conservation Scotland, Plantlife Scotland, Marine Conservation Society and Scottish Wildlife Trust to save it from destruction. Here Isobel Mercer, policy officer at RSPB Scotland, provides an update on the latest stage in the efforts to save Coul Links…

For the last few years RSPB Scotland has been involved in a legal challenge regarding consents granted to four offshore windfarms in the Firths of Forth and Tay which many of you may have been following. Here our director Anne McCall reflects on the recent decision by the UK Supreme Court to decline our application to appeal against these consents.

RSPB Scotland will continue to do all it can to protect Scotland’s outstanding…

Charlotte Mackenzie, Communications and Youth Officer at RSPB Scotland, fills us in on a great community project taking place in Durness.

Corncrake and cake!

One of my earliest memories is being given some paints by my granny so my passion for art must have started at a very young age!  I was then given every encouragement by my mum and one of those teachers who just helps whisks you along the path that you know you…

Record numbers of barnacle geese arrived at our Mersehead reserve in Dumfries & Galloway this year, warden Rowena Flavelle tells us a bit more about these birds and the site. 

Once late September arrives, every morning is filled with anticipation, have the barnacle geese arrived back at Mersehead? These geese have an incredible migration of 2,000 miles from their Arctic breeding grounds in Svalbard returning to…

Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland, recently spoke at the European Environment Bureau Conference. Here she reflects on the conference and the importance of co-operation for our environment.

Brexit or no Brexit: the environment needs international governance and cooperation

Anne speaking at the EEB Conference

It's a cliché but also entirely appropriate: the environment really does know no boundaries. …

Sheila George, our land use policy officer, spent a week at our RSPB Scotland Forsinard Flows reserve. In this blog Sheila fills us in on how her time was spent and on the amazing landscape that makes up the reserve.

Forsinard Flows: where size matters

I’m recently back from a fantastic week of volunteering at Forsinard Flows. If you haven’t been, here are a few reasons to get up there:

It’s all about scale…

This year's annual survey of corncrake numbers in Scotland show that numbers are at their lowest level since 2003. In this blog Paul Walton, our head of habitats and species, takes a closer look at these birds, the work done to help them so far and what now must happen to ensure corncrakes remain a breeding species in Scotland.

Scottish corncrakes in decline

To hear corncrakes calling from Hebridean meadows…

Barn owls are classic, much loved birds of the countryside, recognisable by their heart-shaped faces, buff back and wings, and pure white underparts. Population estimates suggest we have up to 1000 breeding pairs nesting in Scotland and although they are nocturnal, you may be able to spot one hunting voles along field edges or roadside verges. The best time to keep an eye out is at dusk. Here are five facts we thought…