Northern Frontier (2007)

NEIL R GRUBB

A documentary which describes the colonisation of Lothian, SE Scotland, by the Eurasian Wood Nuthatch. This species was not known to have bred in Lothian until 2005 (first bred in Scotland in 1989). I located, photographed and filmed one of the first breeding pairs in the county. Northern Frontier was filmed in standard definition, and 200 copies were distributed as a DVD with the annual Lothian Bird Report.

Fantasia (2009)

A short film about peregrines, which have repopulated my local area and started to breed in 2007 after a long absence. Although the film is only six minutes long, it incorporates footage shot over two seasons.

Oasis: The Birds of the Esk Valleys (2011)

Oasis is a 27 minute documentary about the bird life in the Esk Valley river system in Midlothian. It is filmed in high definition and, along with Northern Frontier and Fantasia, has been shown to many local and national clubs and societies. Oasis was shown as the closing event for the Scottish Birdwatchers’ Conference in March 2011.

Disconnect and Reconnect (2011)

A two minute short film produced as an entry for the Worldwide Fund for Nature’s film competition – Life. Nature. You. Make the connection. This film contains footage recorded for the sequel to Oasis, the working title of which is Nature’s Cauldron, which will be completed in summer 2012.

Publications

The Nuthatch in Lothian. Scottish Bird News 2006;81:8-9.

An article for the Scottish Ornithologists Club detailing the colonisation of the Lothians by Wood Nuthatch (Sitta europaea).

Talks to local and national clubs and societies

2006 15th May Esk Valley Trust (AGM guest lecture) Birds of the Esk Valleys

2007 8th January Roslin Heritage Society Birds of the Esk Valleys

10th April Scottish Ornithologists Club (Lothian Branch members’ night) Nuthatches

Scottish Ornithologists Club (Fife Branch) Nuthatches

2008 15th January Edinburgh Photographic Society (Nature Photography Group) Birds of the Esk Valleys

10th March Scottish Ornithologists Club (Borders Branch) Nuthatches

18th November Midlothian Camera Club Birds of the Esk Valleys

2009 14th September Scottish Ornithologists Club (Borders Branch) The Esk Valleys : A Local Patchwork

16th November Lasswade and District Civic Society Lothian Springwatch

2010 10th February Scottish Ornithologists Club (Fife Branch) The Esk Valleys : A Local Patchwork

9th March Scottish Ornithologists Club (Ayrshire Branch) The Esk Valleys : A Local Patchwork

13th April Scottish Ornithologists Club (Lothian Branch members’ night) Wildlife Films

Talks:

26th January Fife Bird Club Nuthatches

11th March RSPB Local Group (North Ayrshire) Birds of the Esk Valleys film show

15th March RSPB Local Group (Edinburgh) Birds of the Esk Valleys film show 19th March Scottish Ornithologists Club 75th Anniversary Conference Esk Valleys Film showing

1st November Esk Valley Trust Autumn Meeting The Esk Valley – nature documentaries and projects

Other film screenings:

24th March Edinburgh Cine and Video Society – High Definition Evening Screening of Oasis: The Birds of the Esk Valley

2nd April Esk Valley Trust 10th Annual General Meeting Screening of Oasis: The Birds of the Esk Valley

16th January Scottish Ornithologists Club (Borders Branch) and RSPB joint meeting Wildlife documentaries

19th January RSPB Local Group (Hamilton) Birds of the Esk Valley

22nd February Edinburgh Natural History Society Bird documentaries

25th February Museum of Communication, Burntisland, Fife Bird documentaries

10th April Scottish Ornithologists Club (Lothian Branch) AGM meeting Nature’s Cauldron

14th September Association of Open University Graduates, Edinburgh Bird documentaries

11th October SOC Joint Lothian and Borders East meeting, Dunbar To be confirmed

20th March RSPB Local Group (Borders) Nature’s Cauldron