Meetings 2024 - 2025
Important Note: 2024/25 meetings shall be held using a mixture of indoor and ZOOM meetings. Details of ZOOM meetings will be sent to members near the time of the meeting. Zoom meetings are open from 7.30 pm for a 7.45 pm start. Indoor meetings will start at 7.45pm. These meetings are only open to members.
Indoor meeting charges: Members £3, non-members £5.
Indoor meetings will be held in the Mere and Tabley Community Club, Warrington Road, Knutsford, WA16 0PU.
4th October 2024
‘NOCTURNAL MIGRATION: THINGS THAT GO TSEEP IN THE NIGHT’ by Simon Gillings (ZOOM meeting)
Every spring and autumn, millions of birds migrate over us whilst we sleep. Recent years have seen considerable interest in using audio recorders to capture the flight calls of these migrants, either to boost garden lists or as part of more structured monitoring. I will introduce nocturnal migration, discuss how recordings can be taken and illustrate some of what I have learned about this topic. Expect to have your eyes, ears and minds opened to what could be skimming over your rooftop whilst you slumber.
1st November 2024
'ARDNAMURCHAN: ALMOST AN ISLAND’ by Mike Roberts (indoor meeting)
This talk focuses on a wide variety of birds and wildlife of this western most part of the mainland. It includes White-taile Eagles, Black-throated Divers as well as many coastal species including birds seen on the relatively easily accessible islands of Staffa and The Treshnish Isles. A variety of cetacean species are included as well as Basking Sharks. Of course Otters and Pine Martins are included as well as the elusive Scottish Wildcat.
6th December 2024
'CANARY ISLANDS' by Mark Woodhead (ZOOM meeting)
Situated in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa and just north of the Tropic of Cancer, the Canary Islands have a unique location, isolation, vegetation and climate. This has led to a continuously evolving bird diversity ranging from Berthelot's Pipits to Blue Chaffinches. I hope to show you most of the island endemics in this presentation. If you have not already visited, I hope that my talk will persuade you to add this destination to your ornithological bucket list.
3rd January 2025
'PRAIRIES TO POLES' by Colin Bradshaw (ZOOM meeting)
Colin is an English physician, ornithologist and musician who was chairman of the British Birds Rarities Committee from 1997 to 2008. The 'Prairies to Poles' is a new talk and has lots of photos of American Warblers, shorebirds, wildfowl and sparrows as well as other wildlife.
7th February 2025
'CURLEWS IN THE LANDSCAPE' by Andrew Brockbank (indoor meeting)
Andrew hails from the Western Lake District from where he gained his love of nature and the desire to work in the field of countryside management and conservation. Curlews nested in hay fields close to home , with their evocative call a prominent part of the spring soundscape. Were we slow to notice the decline of the Curlew population as changes in agricultural systems brought dramatic changes to the countryside? And should we be surprised to find the Curlew at the centre of some contentious current issues in conservation? From the transition in upland agriculture to the push for net-zero, or the controversy over grouse moors to the impacts of recreation, the Curlew's future hangs in the balance! Andrew's illustrated talk will highlight a range of actions for Curlew recovery and touch on the prospects for other shoreline. moorland and farmland birds amongst the complex challenges we face in working for nature's recovery.
7th March 2025
AGM followed by:
'SUMMER WINGS - SAVING SWIFTS , SWALLOWS AND MARTINS' by Louise Bentley, Bolton and Bury Swifts (indoor meeting)
Swifts, Swallows and Martins have lived alongside us for centuries as our close companions but how well do we know these summer visitors? Discover more about these magical migrants, as slowly they reveal their secrets to us. Find out why it's not all bad news and how conservation measures can make a difference to our Swifts and hirundines. An upbeat, highly informative, illustrated and interative presentation by Louise. Our project supports Swift and martin conservation locally, encouraging boxes, bowls and bricks in new development. I am also and RSPCA accredited rehabilitator for Swifts and hirundines.
Important Note: 2024/25 meetings shall be held using a mixture of indoor and ZOOM meetings. Details of ZOOM meetings will be sent to members near the time of the meeting. Zoom meetings are open from 7.30 pm for a 7.45 pm start. Indoor meetings will start at 7.45pm. These meetings are only open to members.
Indoor meeting charges: Members £3, non-members £5.
Indoor meetings will be held in the Mere and Tabley Community Club, Warrington Road, Knutsford, WA16 0PU.
4th October 2024
‘NOCTURNAL MIGRATION: THINGS THAT GO TSEEP IN THE NIGHT’ by Simon Gillings (ZOOM meeting)
Every spring and autumn, millions of birds migrate over us whilst we sleep. Recent years have seen considerable interest in using audio recorders to capture the flight calls of these migrants, either to boost garden lists or as part of more structured monitoring. I will introduce nocturnal migration, discuss how recordings can be taken and illustrate some of what I have learned about this topic. Expect to have your eyes, ears and minds opened to what could be skimming over your rooftop whilst you slumber.
1st November 2024
'ARDNAMURCHAN: ALMOST AN ISLAND’ by Mike Roberts (indoor meeting)
This talk focuses on a wide variety of birds and wildlife of this western most part of the mainland. It includes White-taile Eagles, Black-throated Divers as well as many coastal species including birds seen on the relatively easily accessible islands of Staffa and The Treshnish Isles. A variety of cetacean species are included as well as Basking Sharks. Of course Otters and Pine Martins are included as well as the elusive Scottish Wildcat.
6th December 2024
'CANARY ISLANDS' by Mark Woodhead (ZOOM meeting)
Situated in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa and just north of the Tropic of Cancer, the Canary Islands have a unique location, isolation, vegetation and climate. This has led to a continuously evolving bird diversity ranging from Berthelot's Pipits to Blue Chaffinches. I hope to show you most of the island endemics in this presentation. If you have not already visited, I hope that my talk will persuade you to add this destination to your ornithological bucket list.
3rd January 2025
'PRAIRIES TO POLES' by Colin Bradshaw (ZOOM meeting)
Colin is an English physician, ornithologist and musician who was chairman of the British Birds Rarities Committee from 1997 to 2008. The 'Prairies to Poles' is a new talk and has lots of photos of American Warblers, shorebirds, wildfowl and sparrows as well as other wildlife.
7th February 2025
'CURLEWS IN THE LANDSCAPE' by Andrew Brockbank (indoor meeting)
Andrew hails from the Western Lake District from where he gained his love of nature and the desire to work in the field of countryside management and conservation. Curlews nested in hay fields close to home , with their evocative call a prominent part of the spring soundscape. Were we slow to notice the decline of the Curlew population as changes in agricultural systems brought dramatic changes to the countryside? And should we be surprised to find the Curlew at the centre of some contentious current issues in conservation? From the transition in upland agriculture to the push for net-zero, or the controversy over grouse moors to the impacts of recreation, the Curlew's future hangs in the balance! Andrew's illustrated talk will highlight a range of actions for Curlew recovery and touch on the prospects for other shoreline. moorland and farmland birds amongst the complex challenges we face in working for nature's recovery.
7th March 2025
AGM followed by:
'SUMMER WINGS - SAVING SWIFTS , SWALLOWS AND MARTINS' by Louise Bentley, Bolton and Bury Swifts (indoor meeting)
Swifts, Swallows and Martins have lived alongside us for centuries as our close companions but how well do we know these summer visitors? Discover more about these magical migrants, as slowly they reveal their secrets to us. Find out why it's not all bad news and how conservation measures can make a difference to our Swifts and hirundines. An upbeat, highly informative, illustrated and interative presentation by Louise. Our project supports Swift and martin conservation locally, encouraging boxes, bowls and bricks in new development. I am also and RSPCA accredited rehabilitator for Swifts and hirundines.
© All images copyright of the author 2024
Cheshire and Wirral
Ornithological Society
Ornithological Society
Registered Charity No. 702484