Meetings
The Committee will continue to review meeting arrangements regularly in line with Government and Health Service COVID19 Guidelines and will publicise any further changes as widely as possible via emails to members and on this website. The BOS will endeavour to take all necessary Covid19 precautions; hand gel will be available and members may wish to continue to wear face masks even if these are no longer compulsory.
Changes to the Cricket Club Entrace
The entrance to the Cricket Club has been redesigned and is no longer in Whitepost Road. Coming off the Oxford Road (A4260) at the roundabout follow the road sign to Bodicote, but do not take the next left towards Bodicote; follow the road into the new Davis Wilson Homes estate, Blackwell Drive. Immediately turn left off Blackwell Drive (before you get to the houses) - as if you are going into the new primary school car park - and then turn right onto the Cricket Club drive. Their new sign is on order and may be in position before our next indoor meeting. View map.
Outdoor Meeting: 13 June 2022 @ 7pm
A visit to Duns Tew Nature Reserve.
The Nature Reserve has been established by Smiths Bletchington at the old sand quarry which is home to a colony of Sand Martins - hopefully they will be in residence on our visit. There is an area of scrub which is good for warblers too. The site is also of botanical interest, including the possibility of Bee Orchids.
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Outdoor Meeting: 11 July 2022 @ 7pm
Bicester Wetland Reserve
Directions for Bicester Wetland Reserve: the entrance to the reserve is immediately after the EXIT from Bicester Avenue Garden Centre postcode OX25 2NY. (What3words: hopes.jumpy.walks). Turn into the open gates (A large blue and white "Thames Water" sign is just to right of the gates). Drive along entrance road for approx. 300m and park on the left by the tower hide.
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Outdoor Meeting: 8 August 2022 @ 7pm
We will visit the Sun Rising Natural Burial Ground and Nature Reserve, CV35 0DG or SP3505 4581
This may be found on the road to Lower Tysoe off the A422 Banbury to Stratford Road.
12 September 2022 - Indoor Meeting at 7.30pm
Thermal Birding with Ben Dolan
West Midlands Ringing Group pioneered thermal technology for bird surveys, winning the BTO Marsh Ward in 2021 for innovative technology. The WMRG believe necessity drives innovation and this resulted in the revolutionary development of thermal imaging technology within ornithology. Read more ...
10 October 2022 - Indoor Meeting at 7.30pm
Nigel Adams Hedgelaying and Countryside Management
Nigel Adams grew up on a large farm on South Oxfordshire’s Chiltern Hills where his father was manager of 1,200 acres of mixed farmland. On leaving college he started work for the then Nature Conservancy Council at a local reserve then became a warden for the National Trust in the Chilterns. He spent time as a time as a tree surgeon, as a reserve manager for English Nature and then came a move to Devon where he became Head Warden for the National Trust on Dartmoor. He has now returned to the Chiltern Hills to be self-employed, carrying out a broad range of countryside management tasks and advising land owners on how to improve the nature conservation value of their land. He also has 120 sheep which he grazes on SSSI land. Read more ...
14 November 2022 - Indoor meeting at 7.30pm
Scotland - Land of mountains and wilderness
Dr Graham Lenton has a PhD in Ecology (Barn owls in Malaysia) and has lived and worked in Malawi, Sudan and Malaysia. He has been an avid traveller and wild-life photographer throughout his career and he has published many articles and photographs on natural history, in particular birds. His photographs have been accepted for membership of the Royal Photographic Society and is a registered RSPB speaker. Several of his photos have been shortlisted for the Wildlife and Bird Photographer of the year. His working life has been in ecology and science education and he was a former lecturer at Oxford University and latterly Oxford Brookes University. He has also worked in India, Pakistan, China, Philippines, Dominican Republic and USA and for the United Nations (FAO) in Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia as a researcher into the pest bird Quelea quelea. He has travelled and photographed in over 80 countries of the world. Read more ...
12 December 2022 - Indoor Meeting at 7.30pm
First we will hold the Banbury Ornithological Society's Annual General Meeting, quickly followed by the annual quiz - a great time to put formalities aside and enjoy a fun, convivial evening.
The changing fortunes of Curlew Numenius arquata in the heart of England in the past 100 years
This new paper, published on World Curlew Day on 21 April 2022, describes the current and historical status of the Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata in an area of 1200 square kilometres centred on Banbury. Click here to link to the paper Read more ...