Record/survey/id – Paisley Natural History Society

GNHS and PNHS outing to Boylestone Quarry, Barrhead

Saturday 26th July 2025 Boylestone Quarry is a geological SSSI on the outskirts of Barrhead. The site was quarried for road metal but has been disused for decades. The main mineralogical interest of the quarry is the presence of prehnite (calcium aluminium silicate). The walls of the quarry also feature a good example of twoContinueContinue reading “GNHS and PNHS outing to Boylestone Quarry, Barrhead”

PNHS Moth Evening at Muirshiel Visitor Centre

Two people looking at a moth trap with a bright light

Friday 20th June 2025 A wild night was had by the few who ventured out after 9pm on a Friday night to go mothing up by Lochwinnoch. Gordon Phillips had arranged with Pat Emslie, Ranger at Muirshiel Country Park, to host a moth trapping evening to which members of PNHS were invited, along with localContinueContinue reading “PNHS Moth Evening at Muirshiel Visitor Centre”

Join in the Big Butterfly Count

Brown and white butterfly on yellow flowers

The Big Butterfly Count started yesterday, Friday 18th July and and runs until Sunday 10th August. Male Common Blue butterfly It is an annual UK-wide survey organised by Butterfly Conservation. By taking part we can help them assess the health of our environment simply by counting the amount and type of butterflies (and some day-flying moths) thatContinueContinue reading “Join in the Big Butterfly Count”

Outing at Dykebar and Hollybush, Paisley

group of people wearing waterproofs and carrying umbrellas in a woodland standing next to a log on the ground

14 June 2025 A small group of six, brave enough to come out, despite the wet weather, set off through the woodland shelterbelt at Dykebar hoping to get protection from the rain. The plan wasn’t as effective as we’d hoped, but without the downpour we would never have seen what turned out to be theContinueContinue reading “Outing at Dykebar and Hollybush, Paisley”

PNHS Greenan shore outing

group of 6 people standing in foreground with hill in the background

Saturday 3rd May 2025 An adventurous five members turned up in glorious sunny conditions and despite the strong westerly breeze there was plenty of Green-veined Whites and Orange-tips already flying about. This trip was about seeing the Lesser Whitethroat and hopefully the Holly Blue butterfly as I had seen both in amongst the coastal HawthornContinueContinue reading “PNHS Greenan shore outing”

Dawn Chorus Walk

Group of people standing in Woodland at low light wearing waterproofs and binoculars

As far as we know there’s never been an organised dawn chorus walk at Jenny’s Well Local Nature Reserve before, so we needed to put that right! It was about 04:50 when I arrived at Jenny’s Well Road, to see that two or three other PNHS folks had already turned up. Over the next 10ContinueContinue reading “Dawn Chorus Walk”

Volunteers wanted for Birds in Green Spaces pilot project

Screen grab from Birds in Greenspaces Pilot 2025 Overview leaflet with photographs of 2 birds and information on why get involved, where, when and how.

Birds in Greenspaces is a new UK-wide citizen science project that will take place in 2026. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) are currently planning a UK-wide pilot that will run between April and June 2025, that will ask volunteers to record birds in one or more local greenspaces. In addition they will be carryingContinueContinue reading “Volunteers wanted for Birds in Green Spaces pilot project”

Introduction to Recording using Apps

Group of people standing on a grassy slope and photographing lichens on rocks protruding from the ground

9th April 7pm – Via Zoom Recording wildlife sightings may seem challenging and time consuming. However there are a number of apps for mobile phones that make it simple, easy and fun to contribute to citizen science projects and help protect our environment. This zoom talk will give a practical overview of how to useContinueContinue reading “Introduction to Recording using Apps”

PNHS summer study group outings

Group of 9 people wearing waterproofs, posing formally in a grassy field with trees in the background

We plan to have weekly or fortnightly outings to some of our local wildlife places. There are many local places to be explored, including Renfrewshire Local Nature Conservation Sites that need more surveying. Along with this, we hope to help members develop more skills in identifying the local wildlife with a bit of training, depending onContinueContinue reading “PNHS summer study group outings”

Report on Tree Walk, Spier’s School Grounds, Beith

Group of 13 people dressed in warm coats and hats standing beside a tree with red, sinewy trunk

Saturday 15th February 2025 A change from our usual winter tree walk in woodland plantations, this year we went to the grounds of the Old Spier’s School in Beith, which has more mature formal planting and some challenging, unusual species. Fortunately, there is a tree trail map and we had the invaluable help of SimonContinueContinue reading “Report on Tree Walk, Spier’s School Grounds, Beith”