Banbury Ornithological Society - The New Birds of the Banbury Area

The New Birds of the Banbury Area by T.G. Easterbrook is the fourth decennial (10 year) report by the BOS, covering the years 1982-1994. The report includes the full list of bird species seen in the BOS survey area up to 1994. The report features coloured charts of species distribution, abundance and habitat usage, generated from the computerised records that started back in 1976. This was a significant technical achievement at this time by a small society and shows the benefits of the digital management of bird records.

The report can be viewed and downloaded by selecting this link: The New Birds of the Banbury Area. Note that there is an 1 page addendum at the end of the report with details of species that were omitted from the Systematic List section due to a publishing issue.

The contents of the report include:

- Systematic List: a review of each species in the period 1982-1994

- Fieldwork undertaken by the BOS during the period

- Analysis of Random Square Surveys from 1975-1993

- Review of the Annual Breeding Season Survey results from 1962-1993

- Habitat changes in the decade, including the results of the BOS land use survey (Domesday Survey)

Sean Woodcock, MP for Banbury visited the BOS reserve at Balscote Quarry recently, to see conservation in action. Steve Holliday, one of the site wardens said, “Balscote may be a small site (6ha) but, through positive management, it holds Red List birds such as Lapwing and Yellowhammer, 24 species of butterfly and much more." We looked at the vital role volunteers play in habitat management on site and, in light of BOS data on local bird declines, how we can develop a more joined-up approach to nature conservation locally. We finished by discussing how new proposals in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill can benefit, not harm, biodiversity.

Two Islands - Handa, Scotland & The Farnes, Northumberland - Graham Lenton

Handa a beautiful island off the north-west coast of the Highlands of Scotland boasts up to 150,000 seabirds. Its location seems to have its own weather pattern and the island is uninhabited apart from a seasonal warden and reserve volunteers. It is accessed by a ten-minute ferry from the hamlet of Tarbet and its white sandy shores and clear blue waters make it appear almost tropical. The seabird colonies of puffin, guillemot, razorbill, kittiwake and fulmar are easily viewed from the top of the island where sea cliffs of the Torridonian Sandstone reach over 300ft (100metres). Other notable birds that breed on the island are great and arctic skua, stonechat, wheatear, cuckoo, twite, oystercatcher, arctic tern, common, herring and great black-backed gulls, shag, eider, red grouse, ringed plover, snipe, rock dove, meadow and rock pipit and reed bunting. Most of the divers can be seen flying or on the sea around the island and black guillemots are often seen in the bay. Read more ...

The New Birds of the Banbury Area - 1982-1994

Sean Woodcock MP visits Balscote Quarry

14 September 2026 - Indoor Meeting at 7.30pm