Birdwatchers fly into Oban for conference
More than 200 birdwatchers from across Scotland gathered in Oban at the weekend to hear all about the Atlantic Coast’s ornithological highlights, writes Kathie Griffiths.
The Wings Over Western Skies event was at The Corran Halls on Saturday jointly organised by the British Trust for Ornithology, Argyll Bird Club and the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC).
This year’s Scottish Birdwatchers’ Conference turnout was the biggest number of delegates ever, said a delighted Dr Chris Wrenham, Head of The British Trust for Ornithology Scotland.
She added: ‘We’ve had about 240 delegates, our biggest yet in terms of numbers coming from all over Scotland and some from Yorkshire and from Worcestershire to join us.
‘Argyll certainly has more of its fair share of species which makes it such a popular place to come and bird watch.’
The first day of the conference included a welcome from the SOC president Ian Bainbridge.
The population status and conservation needs of corncrake in Scotland, a lifetime of raptor research, tracking short-eared owls, putting auks on the map and resolving the conflict between sea eagles and livestock were among the presentations.
Wildlife cameraman John Aitchinson was also there to talk about filming on the west coast and the Hebrides.
Sunday saw a number of field trip options on offer to delegates from spotting raptors on Mull to looking out for waders on Loch Etive and hoping to catch a glimpse of Great Northern Divers in the Firth of Lorn from Kerrera.