Scottish Ornithology Club BioBlitz with National Museums Scotland

The SOC, in partnership with National Museums Scotland, will be hosting its first-ever BioBlitz at Waterston House, the Club’s Headquarters in Aberlady. This fast-paced biological survey will create an instant record of biodiversity found across the garden, meadow and pond, and coincides with the Royal Entomological Society’s Insect Week, celebrating the importance of insects.

Visitors are invited to be a scientist for the day, identifying and recording as many species as possible with the help of expert National Museums Scotland entomologists, Ashleigh Whiffin and Dorothy Lyle, who will assist with identifying insects under the microscope. Ornithologists will also be recording birds in the garden using optical equipment, which visitors will have the opportunity to try.

Throughout the day, there will be dynamic drawing sessions led by Society of Wildlife Artists member Chris Wallbank. Visitors can also examine moths, assisted by East Lothian Council Countryside Rangers, to identify species active in the garden during the night. Pond dipping sessions will be led by the Club’s Librarian, Rosie Filipiak, offering the chance to discover the underwater ecosystems beneath the surface. All experts will be on hand to answer questions about species identification and wildlife drawing.

Everyone is welcome to join the Waterston House BioBlitz. Simply come along and, if you wish, bring a smartphone to use apps such as iNaturalist (https://www.inaturalist.org/) to identify and upload photographs to a global data atlas.

Suitable for

• 0-5 Years
• 11-13 Years
• 14-18 Years
• 6-10 Years
• Adults

Event type

• Biological recording
• Open day
• Walk

Organised by

National Museums Scotland