Shropshire Ornithological Society
Registered Charity No.: 514487
Welcome to the website of the Shropshire Ornithological Society (SOS). In these pages you will find information about the objectives, activities and work of the SOS. Just select the links on the menu above or in the listing below.
If you find any errors or have material for inclusion on the site, please contact the web manager.
BREAKING NEWS
Annual Maintenance Work at Venus Pool. We will be undertaking our regular autumn maintenance work at Venus Pool on Wednesday, Thursday and possibly Friday 28th – 30th September to prepare the reserve for the winter. The reserve will remain open during these three days, but there will inevitably be some disturbance. If work is taking place on the accessible parts of the reserve please stay well clear of these areas. If anyone wishes to help with this work please join us from 10am onwards – bring appropriate footwear, working gloves and loppers etc if you have them.
Introductory Birding Course. The Church Stretton Branch of the SOS (in collaboration with the National Trust, Carding Mill Valley) will again be offering an introductory bird-watching course this year. For details go to https://introbirdcourse.wordpress.com. If you know of anyone who might be interested in this course, please direct their attention to this opportunity.
IMPORTANT – Access to VP. Due to a recent increase in undesirable activity in the Venus Pool car park, the car park gate will now be locked last thing at night and opened first thing in the morning.
Youth Engagement and SOS. For more on this important topic, follow this link for an introduction from Ellie Micklewright.
Field Trips Organiser/Leader & Raffle Organiser. I wish to let the Society members know of my decision to resign from the above roles, which I have been doing for a great deal of time. The reason is that I have had recent health issues, but also feel that these roles need to be passed on to fresh hands.
I have been doing the Fields Trips Organiser role since 2008, and counting next year’s programme, this is a period of 15 years. This role requires making up a programme of monthly visits to various reserves or birding areas, indicating a leader for this visit, who hopefully would write up a short report of the visit for publication in the Buzzard and on the website. The types of visits would be up to the organiser which could include coach trips and weekends away to areas further afield. There is a deadline of the programme being ready for publication by November 1st annually.
I have been doing the Raffle at Indoor Meetings for over 20 years. This role helps with the financing of the Indoor Meetings, and can either be a Raffle with prizes or any other method which can be devised, such as the Bird Game. This is open to anyone, who would be happy to help with the Indoor Meetings during the season from October to April each year.
I would be grateful if anyone who can decide to take on these roles, would please get in contact with me at publicity@shropshirebirds.co.uk or phone/text at 01939 262450 or 07713 164463.
Sue Brealey
Indoor Meeting Co-Ordinator. It is with regret that Steve Dawes, who has been the Co-ordinator for the last few years, has given notice that due to a change to his future commitments. He has done a really good job in booking the indoor speakers for our meetings, especially having to deal with matters over the pandemic, and this has been greatly appreciated by the Society.
Steve is in the process of booking speakers for 2023, but we now need to ask for a volunteer to take over this position, which is so important to the Society’s role. This involves the booking of a variety of speakers for 7 months during the winter and autumn, co-ordinating with the Treasurer for the payments involved, and helping out with the meetings at Bayston Hill Memorial Hall. I am sure that Steve would be able to inform his successor about the role in more detail.
Please could anyone who would like to take this important role on, get in contact with me at publicity@shropshirebirds.co.uk or phone at 01939 262450.
Coach Trip to WWT Martinmere. As can be noted from the programme, there is a coach trip to WWT Martinmere on Sunday, 11th December 2022. Due to the cost increases we are all affected by, I am unsure of the amount it will be to hire a coach. I therefore would be grateful if all those members interested in coming on this trip, could book their place(s) as soon as is convenient. Once I have the numbers I can book a coach, maybe a smaller coach than normal. I can then decide on the amount to charge, but in reality, I believe I may have to charge more than I have in the past. I am sure that members will understand these proposals, and continue to support this venture and enjoy a great day’s birding at a supreme reserve. Contact: Sue Brealey / Mob: 07713 164463 / Tel: 01939 262450/ fieldtrips@shropshirebirds.co.uk/
A County-Wide Project on Kestrels – Appeal for Volunteers. For more on this project and information on taking part, follow this link.
SOS Save our Curlews Campaign
The website for this project has just been updated. This includes results of 2021 Project work, and monitoring across the County by Community Wildlife Groups (summary here)
It is vitally important to continue the project work in 2022, and we need to raise more money to be able to do it all. We also hope to start work in the north-west of the county, around Oswestry, subject to having the funds. We are therefore re-launching the appeal. Please donate if you feel able to. See here for the Appeal Leaflet and to download a donation form. Please also complete the Gift Aid certificate if you are a UK taxpayer, as SOS can claim 25% in addition to your donation from HMRC.
Report Available. Swallows & House Martins in Hopesay Parish 2021 (John Tucker): [page 1] [page 2]
SAVE YOUR SOCIETY PRINTING COSTS, VOLUNTEER TIME AND POSTAGE & PACKAGING – GET YOUR COPY OF ‘THE BUZZARD’ ONLINE. Further information on this option is available HERE.
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The Society |
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Trips & Meetings |
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Shropshire Birds & Birding
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Bird Research & Recording |
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Miscellanea |
