There were some highlights from the WOS conference; firstly the venue was superb(a gift from the Laura Ashley company)and it started with a bang as Iolo rattled through the rare bird report with his laudable frankness(applause for his comments about the RSPB Wales Newsletter...well un-news more like) followed by some worthy but less inspiring words about habitat improvements at Newport and Malltraeth wetlands. Dawn Balmer had more words about the Atlas and if you persevere, you can find on the web-site, a list of the birds you should have found! She is a wonder woman,(considering the number of times she has done this) exhorting us to get out there and confirm breeding before its too late or some areas will go down in history without recording a robin! Our long serving( nearly said long suffering!) BTO regional organiser Moira Convery was there, with others, to beat the drum. Also present were the great and good of Welsh birding,ringers young and old,county recorders ,and legends like Peter E Davis and Prof Mike Hayward,who posed some pertinent questions. Dee Doody finished off the proceedings, after the usual masterly performance by Dr Steph Tyler discussing our river birds,with a super filmshow.
Derek Moore and Ian Spence have enlivened this organisation and have improved the WOS web-site, they deserve our support as Welsh birds need all the champions they can get!