Cambrian Ornithological Society
Welsh Ornithological Society
COS is the county bird club for northwest Wales and produces the annual Cambrian Bird Report for the counties of Caernarfon, Anglesey and Meirionnydd. COS is affiliated to the Welsh Ornithological Society, which hosts these pages.
Speaker meetings are held at either Pensychnant Conservation Centre (01492 592595) at the top of Sychnant Pass, above Conwy, LL32 8BJ) or on Zoom. The Zoom meetings are offered during the dark and less clement winter months. These are clearly listed in the programme. This actually allows for us to reach a wider range of speaker and a wider audience. All meetings start at 7.30pm.
Starting times for field trips vary – see programme below for times. For field visits bring lunch and suitable outdoor clothing. Contact details of the leader are given on the programme and we ask that you let the leader know if you are intending to come. Occasionally field trips have had to be cancelled due to inclement weather. Please phone the trip leader if interested in car sharing for field excursions. Bring lunch, and suitable outdoor clothing.
For Zoom meetings you will be sent a link to connect to the group. For field trips you need to register with the leader beforehand.
The most recent Bulletin (no. 199) can be downloaded here.
Subscriptions 2022: Adult (single) £12; Couple £14; Student / Junior £6.
LECTURES, FIELD VISITS and Bird Race
PROGRAMME 2024
Sunday 28th April
So You Want to be a Birding Tour Leader? – by Keith Offord
The COS has enjoyed many expert talks with superb photography by Keith Offord over the years. Now, by special request, he will share some of the interesting (and amusing) anecdotes from his career as a guide for his tour company, Wild Insights.
Wednesday, 8th May
Panama, by Gareth Jones
Gareth always gives an interesting and amusing evening. This time it is with the exotic birds of Central America.
Saturday 1st June, 6.00am to 6.oopm
Bird Race North Wales, Coordinator Shaun De Clancy (shaundeclancy@hotmail.com
Just for fun, and to bring people together, we propose a 12hr Bird Race in the COS recording area. Teams of 3/4. Start anywhere in North Wales. Finish at Four Crosses, Menai Bridge. Register with Shaun. Race rules will be provided.
Wednesday 12th June or Thursday 13th June
Birdy Bioblitz at Pensychnant – Contact Julian Thompson
Hopefully Pied Flycatcher, Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher will be around. We aim to record as many species of bird and other wildlife at Pensychnant as possible in the day. Highlights: there will be opportunities to watch bird ringing by Kelvin Jones. Crafts for children (and adults). Tea & cake on sale!
Friday 6th September at Pensychnant
Zimbabwe, by Ben Stammers
With an avifauna of about 700 species, Zimbabwe is an excellent birding destination.
Saturday 21st September
Cemlyn, Inland Sea and Valley Lakes – leaders Mel ab Owain with Tony White
The terns will have left by now, but migrants should be present and these may include some rarities. Meet in car park, west side of the lagoon, SH329936 at 9.00am.
Friday 4th October, 7.30pm at Pensychnant
Film by Richard Birch
Richard Birch is a chartered ecologist with interests ranging from botany to paleontology….. and film-making. The topic of his film is yet to be decided.
Friday 1st November, 7.30pm by Zoom
Investigating Hawfinch Declines by Will Kirby (RSPB)
Hawfinches are one of our most enigmatic bird species. The RSPB Centre for Conservation Science has been studying their ecological needs and preferences in an effort to reverse the decline of this bird of conservation concern.
Friday 6th December, 7.30pm at Pensychnant
AGM & Members’ Slides
Presentations from members and a social event. Details will be posted in the Bulletin and on Facebook nearer the time.
Mel ab Owain, our Chair, will send out the link for each Zoom meeting to all members a few days before the date. Non-members should contact Mel if they also wish to join a meeting – please do not pass the link on directly to others. For this or any queries the contact is Mel ab Owain.
All evening will meetings start at 7:30pm. Please disable your microphone while the talk is in progress, and re-enable it at question-time.
Field Trips will be publicised via the Bulletin, and Facebook For field visits you must register with the leader beforehand.
Publications
In 2017 COS published Birds of Caernarfonshire, the first county avifauna since 1997, written by Rhion Pritchard. Click here to order yours (discount for COS and WOS members).
COS has also published Adar Meirionnydd/Birds of Meirionnydd, written by Rhion Pritchard. Click here for details.
Members receive the Cambrian Bird Report and four Bulletins (click here for the latest issue) each year. And there’s a year-round programme of indoor meetings and field trips. The annual subscription, due in January, is £12 (£14 for couples, £6 for student/junior members).
Officers 2024
- Hon. President: Mel ab Owain, 01745 828528 melabowain@gmail.com
- Vice President: Maryann Williams, Plas Elwy, Llanfair T.H., Abergele LL22 8YT, 07881 831468 maryannwilliams@icloud.com
- Hon. Treasurer: Gareth Jones, Felin Hen Uchaf, Tregarth, LL57 4BB. 01248 681268. gareth.jones58@mail.com
- Hon. Secretary: Julian Thompson, Pensychnant, Sychnant Pass, Conwy LL32 8BJ. 01492 592595. julian.pensychnant@btinternet.com
- Membership Secretary: Jo Porteous, 07799112205 joporteous56@gmail.com
- Bird Report Editor: Rhion Pritchard 01248 671301 rhion678pritchard@gmail.com
- Bulletin Editors: Jeff Williams: plaselwy@gmail.com; Mel ab Owain 01745 828528 melabowain@gmail.com