outings – Paisley Natural History Society

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”

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”

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”

Gleniffer Braes Lichen Outing

Group of people standing chatting at an open gate next to an old mossy wall

On Saturday 18th January 2025 Eleven people met at the Nethercraigs Road entrance to the country park for the third of the now annual lichen walks run by the society. Most were members of the society but we also had one person from the local British Lichen Society group. The intention of this walk wasContinueContinue reading “Gleniffer Braes Lichen Outing”

Braving the weather on a New Year Plant Hunt

Large red multi-storey building next to a river which has burst its banks and two swans standing on the grass in the foreground

Every year the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland (BSBI) organise a New Year Plant Hunt. All you have to do is spend a couple of hours looking for wild plants in flower between 29 December 2024 to 1st January 2025. Ours was arranged for 31st December. It is a lovely way to spend aContinueContinue reading “Braving the weather on a New Year Plant Hunt”

PNHS outing to Cashel Forest

A group of people standing in a wood with bracken in the foreground

6 July 2024 The weather looked promising as we made our way to the eastern Loch Lomond banks for the postponed Cashel Forest trip. Although the temperature was rather low for July, it proved to be a lovely day with only a short shower at lunch time. Society members were treated to a tour ofContinueContinue reading “PNHS outing to Cashel Forest”

Glow-worm weekend on Isle of Cumbrae

Close-up of a beetle with two lower segments of its body glowing bright green and perched in a grassy area.

22-23 June 2024 Fintry Bay We arrived on the Isle of Cumbrae at lunch time and headed over to the Fintry Bay Café, with beautiful views over the Clyde Estuary. After a delicious lunch we made our way along the coast towards Millport and discovered the walking track uphill to Millport Golf Club. Our routeContinueContinue reading “Glow-worm weekend on Isle of Cumbrae”

Beginners’ Botany with Michael Philip at Thornly Park

A group of people standing in a grassy area surrounded by trees

A group of 7 members gathered for this evening walk on 5th June, to learn about botany in the grassland adjacent to South Avenue, Paisley. It was led by Michael Philip, Vice-county Co-recorder for Lanarkshire (vc77) and co-ordinator of the Renfrewshire Vice-county (vc76) Botany Network. Rather than repeat the same route as last year, weContinueContinue reading “Beginners’ Botany with Michael Philip at Thornly Park”

Neilston Pad outing

Group of people scattered across open grassland looking downwards

On 25 May 2024, a group of twelve, including insect and plant specialists from both Glasgow and Paisley Natural History Societies, gathered in the south-west car park at Neilston Pad. Known locally as ‘The Pad’, it is an old volcanic plug surrounded by several dams and offers a variety of habitats to explore. The areaContinueContinue reading “Neilston Pad outing”

Outing at Ardeer Peninsula

Group of people standing in front of a metal-link fence with gorse scrub behind

Around 13 members from the Paisley Natural History Society, Glasgow Natural History Society and interested delegates from the recent Scottish Ornithologists Club/ British Trust for Ornithology conference arrived at Broom Farm for 11.00 am on Saturday 4th May, to walk about in the extensive brownfield site at Ardeer, looking in particular for the rare LesserContinueContinue reading “Outing at Ardeer Peninsula”