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An introduction to foraging from James Reynolds, Head of Media & Communications for RSPB Scotland. Nature's larder: making the most of spring greens For the forager, the winter months offer extremely lean pickings. It is a time to hunker down and savour the goods that one invested time...

Brand new blog from RSPB Scotland Trainee Ecologist, David Freeman. Find out more about the fascinating Bryophytes found on our reserves! A New Career in a New Town Back in March, I was delighted to be offered the position of Trainee Ecologist based at RSPB Scotland's Edinburgh HQ. The role...

RSPB Scotland Research Assistant, Davide Scridel, is out searching for an elusive bird in the Outer Hebrides. Find out more about his experiences and check out his fantastic photos below! Island living: searching for twite in the Hebrides The subject of the 2013 Statutory Conservation Agency/RSPB...

Brand new blog from Chris Knowles, RSPB Scotland Nature Counts Trainee Ecologist. Taking the slow road: surveying fungi on the banks of Loch Lomond This end of a frosty spring is about as far from being mushroom season as you can get, and yet that’s what I had high hopes of finding on one...

Introducing a new series of blogs from RSPB Scotland Conservation Scientists. First up is Emily Scragg, Senior Research Assistant with the Seabird Tracking And Research team on Colonsay. Greetings from the STAR (Seabird Tracking And Research) team on Colonsay! It is our fourth year here on the...

Countdown to Scottish Birdfair! May 11-12 at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh With a little over 1 week to go before the second annual Scottish Birdfair, it’s all go in the office as we finalise plans for the big weekend. The award-winning festival* attracted some 5,000 visitors in 2012 and...

RSPB Trainee Ecologist, David Freeman, tells us more about his work at Forsinard Flows . In search of the Golden Bog Moss Sphagnum pulchrum Before arriving at Forsinard I had already decide to try to use some of my spare time constructively by improving my knowledge of the Sphagnum Mosses...

RSPB Scotland Trainee Ecologist, David Freeman, on his first trip to Forsinard Flows . A trip to the far north The Flow country of Scotland is one of the most important and dynamic landscapes in the world, its deep peats have built up over thousands of years locking away masses of carbon and preserving...

Scottish Birdfair team member, Stacey Maden, on preparing for the big day. Countdown to the Scottish Birdfair With just 1 month to go before the Scottish Birdfair, it’s all go in the office as we finalise plans for the big day. This year we are excited to welcome even more exhibitors...

Stuart Benn, RSPB Conservation Manager, on the Year of Natural Scotland. How do you see us? It’s been the usual series of highs and lows with Scottish sport in the last couple of weeks – our women curlers were crowned world champions and Andy Murray ground it out in the Miami heat to...

Over the last week, we’ve received reports of hundreds of seabirds, mostly puffins, as well as smaller numbers of guillemots and razorbills, washing up on beaches along Scotland’s east coast and on down to Northumberland. These seabird ‘wrecks’ are thought to be the worst in...

New blog from Conservation Manager Stuart Benn. Crowd Atlas There’s really nothing else quite like it. Every 20 years or so, all of Britain and Ireland’s birds are counted and mapped, and the results put out in a Bird Atlas. This info, when added to other more regular counts, is...

Exciting news! We have been shortlisted by the European Outdoor Conservation Association for a potential award of nearly 20,000 Euros. Our project will re-connect Abernethy to its neighbouring Caledonian forest, Glenmore, through the planting of 30,000 native trees, re-establishing a huge wildlife corridor...

Jim Densham, Senior Land-Use Policy Officer (climate) at RSPB Scotland, tells us about a new short story collection exploring the impact of climate change. Today a new short story book will be published. Beacons: stories for our not so distant future is a collection of fictional stories penned by...

Weekly update from Stuart Benn, RSPB Conservation Manager in North Scotland. The Eagle has Landed I had to paint a ceiling at the weekend but, whilst it took Michelangelo four years to manage that with the Sistine Chapel, I was done in a couple of hours. And with the days drawing out, that still...

In his weekly blog Stuart Benn, Conservation Manager in north Scotland, discusses a little known connection between bird song and house music. Connections Here in the north, there’s a battle going on between Winter and Spring. I was out on the hill on Sunday and it was as wild a day as I’ve...

Parliamentary Assistant, Allan Whyte, gives us an update on the campaign to protect seabirds and other marine life in Scotland. We’re all on the sea' s side I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for your continued support for the Scottish Marine Protected Areas campaign. Together...

Weekly update from Conservation Manager, Stuart Benn. Reality TV? Between Winterwatch and The One Show it’s been a mad couple of weeks. But, whilst appearing on live telly and meeting famous people is great, it’s not what the rest of my life is like and it’s not what most other...

Guest blogger ,Stacey Paul, tells us why she is looking forward to participating in Big Garden Birdwatch for the first time. All eyes on the feeder in Dumfries & Galloway Feeling inspired by my role with the Dumfries & Galloway Wild Spring Festival http://www.wildspringfestival.com/...

In his weekly blog, Conservation Manager Stuart Benn, tells us what it's like to chat about Golden eagles next to a rock star. The Day I Worked with Jon Bon Jovi!! Sometimes you just never know what is waiting around the corner! Back in the summer we made a film with the One Show of us...

Jackie Brown, our Volunteering Development Officer, on volunteering opportunities for 2013. Resolving to volunteer I often wonder about what fun and interesting New Year’s resolutions people come up with to challenge themselves for the next 12 months after a decadent festive period. I...

12 Days or Christmas Challenge The holidays are rapidly approaching and it may be tempting to curl up in front of the TV and watch your favourite Christmas film or enjoy a festive drink with friends and family, but this year why not set yourself a new challenge? Instead of spending the season indoors...

Ross Watson is back from his journey to Malaysia for the World Youth Foundation on Health and Environment Conference and is feeling inspired by the efforts of the young delegates to champion the environment. From the Scottish Highlands to the Cameron Highlands As I slept fitfully, I kept an eye...

Tracey Stewart, RSPB Scotland School Links Officer, tells us about a brand new Youth and Education Award in Scotland. The Nature of Scotland Awards returns for a second year to celebrate excellence, innovation and outstanding achievement in Scottish nature conservation. This year, the awards also...

Today we are featuring a guest blog from marine & coastal ecology expert and TV presenter, Maya Plass . Find out what amazing creatures are hiding beneath the waves! Maya Plass on our brilliant seas Last week I had the pleasure of a shore dive in our UK waters. My eyes feasted on all the stunning...