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Scotland Borders

Coal Tit Parus ater ŠNigel Blake http://www.nigelblake.co.uk/

You will notice that there is no introduction to this section yet.

I would like to fill this gap with an introduction from a local birder [or someone who is a frequent visitor] for every on of the geographical pages. The many thousands of birders now regularly using these pages prefer to read something written by someone who can see the place from an insider's point of view. They know the best spots, not just the ones that first time overseas visitors usually visit or that are on the normal birding trip itineraries.

Each introduction carries the e-mail address of the contributor so that birders can get in touch with them if, for example, they are planning a trip [unless the contributor is unable to do this].

Please get in touch if you feel you can contribute an introduction to this page - you don't have to be an expert; I'm not!

county recorder

Ray Murray
4 Bellfield Crescent, Eddlestone, Peebles. EH45 8RQ
01721 730677
ray.d.murray@ukgateway.net

useful reading

Bird-life of the Borders

Chapman & Davies Hardcover - 280 pages ( 1 June, 1990) The Spredden Press
ISBN: 1871739101
Buy this book from NHBS.com

The Borders Bird report No 18

$5.60p (inc postage - cheques SOC) Michael Bickmore, Moss Side, Hartwoodburn, Selkirk TD7 5EY

Top 50 Birds of Northumberland and the Borders

Graham Bell Paperback (June 1997)
ISBN: 095310110X
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Where to Watch Birds in Scotland

Mike Madders, Julia Welstead Paperback - 332 pages (May 1997) Christopher Helm
ISBN: 0713644877
Buy this book from NHBS.com

clubs

Berwick Swan & Wildlife Trust

http://www.swan-trust.org
Over the years the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed has become home to the second largest mute swan colony in Britain. The swans are now such a familiar feature of the Tweed estuary that they have become a well-known tourist attraction, and at peak times almost 800 birds have been counted on the river. The Berwick herd is what is known as a moulting colony, and this means that numbers fluctuate throughout the year. There are around 200 permanent residents (mainly non-breeding adults and juvenile birds) but the size of the herd increases in late summer and through the winter as swans from other areas arrive to undergo the annual moult or to take advantage of the rich feeding at the Tweed estuary.

The Borders Forest Trust

http://www.bordersforesttrust.org/
Our vision for the South of Scotland is a place where a rich network of native woodlands and wild places flourish, cared for by local communities. We work to conserve, restore and manage native woodlands and other natural habitat for the benefit of people and wildlife. We support community woodland, habitat restoration, education and arts projects and develop woodland-based economic activities...

Tweed Valley Osprey Project

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-68JMKV
The project aims to protect the nesting ospreys and to encourage others to settle and breed in suitable locations in the area. The project is also working to improve the knowledge and understanding of these spectacular birds...

reserves

Ettrick Flood-Plain Habitat Enhancement Project

http://www.ettrickyarrow.bordernet.co.uk/organisations/flood-plains.html
The project proposed to Millennium Forest for Scotland (MFST) by Borders Forest Trust (BFT) aimed to enhance the existing conservation interest by restoring and enlarging the site to produce a floodplain of national and international quality. BFT are undertaking responsibility for the implementation and management of the project`s objectives. The first stage of the project comprises of survey work, the securing of land management agreements and the planning of subsequent work schedules...

Forestry Commission - Caberston Forest

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/WildWoods.nsf/
Look out for coniferous seed eaters such as crossbills...

Forestry Commission - Glentress Forest

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/WildWoods.nsf/
Buzzards are particularly easy to see at Glentress from any of the vantage points. You can also visit the Osprey Centre and see adults and young on the nest...

Scottish Seabird Centre - North Berwick

http://www.seabird.org/
The Scottish Seabird Centre is an award winning wildlife visitor centre and one of Scotland`s five star attractions. From its stunning location overlooking the sea and islands of the Forth, visitors enjoy a close encounter with nature to remember...

St Abb`s Head National Nature Reserve

http://www.discovertheborders.co.uk/places/68.html
Formed by an extinct volcano, St Abb`s Head is the best known landmark along the Berwickshire coast. Home to thousands of nesting seabirds in summer, it is also home to a wide range of other wildlife. A new remote camera facility allows visitors to the Nature Reserve Centre to eavesdrop on the nesting birds...

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you cant find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page give them a try!

2002 - The Great Seabird Break - The Farne Islands & S Scotland

http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/england/farnes/farnes-june2002.htm
Ever since watching a Bill Oddie programme on the Farne Islands, I have had an ambition to have a trip to these islands during the main breeding season to witness first hand this amazing spectacle. At the beginning of the year it became apparent that I was going to allowed leave at the end of May to make this possible. Having studied my road map to find the best route, I was quickly dismayed to find that I was on page eight following the A1 from Southend and still hadn`t reached the area! I then decided to take a different approach and consulted the Go Airways website. I had soon booked a flight on-line for Ł34.00 return to Edinburgh!

tour operators

Birding Pal

http://www.birdingpal.org/Unitedkingdom.htm
Local birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...

places to stay

Holmlands Country House

http://www.holmlandscountryhouse.co.uk/
Holmlands Country House was built as a country retreat for a Glasgow industrialist in 1903 to enjoy the pure air, sport and scenery of the Clyde Valley, at Crawford.

Westwood Guest House - Houndwood, Eyemouth

http://www.4hotels.co.uk/uk/eyemouth18097.html
The surrounding coast and countryside is a haven for bird watchers, ramblers and naturalists alike...

Borders Birds

http://bordersbirds.blogspot.com/
This is a diary of the birds which visit my garden ... and my birding trips out and about in the Scottish Borders and surrounding area...

Osprey Viewing

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2004/05/5559
Visitors to the Tweed Valley Forest Park will soon be able to watch osprey chicks live as two viewing centres in the Borders open their doors. Thanks to an automatic camera close to a secret eyrie, live pictures with sound are to be beamed to centres in Glentress Forest and Kailzie Gardens, both just outside Peebles...