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The Events Programme for 2021 is now published showing the effects of Covid 19 and defining the remaining events for 2021.

A provisional Events Programme is also published listing possible RAFOS activities for 2022.

The next Committee Meeting is scheduled for Thurs 25 November 2021.

The next Annual General Meeting is planned to be held on Saturday 19 March 2022.

The minutes and appendices of AGM 2021 are now available on the RAFOS website

under About/AGM Minutes/AGM 2021.

A Note from the RAFOS Newsletter production manager

Apologies to those members who have elected to receive a printed copy of the RAFOS Newsletter, but who have not yet received Newsletter No. 111 Spring 2021.

Owing to the Covid 19 Lock-down it has not been printed as the printing and mailing services we use are unavailable to us at this time. Once these facilities are able to return to normal working after Lock-down and a printing schedule is established, a further update will be provided.

Meanwhile please do read the e-version of the Newsletter at:

Newsletter No. 71 onwards – The Royal Air Force Ornithological Society website (rafornithology.org.uk).

The Spring 2021 Newsletter is now available on the website under Publications

The 2021 AGM is to be an on-line event as per the agenda and business email supported by a voting form and, for photo competition entries, a revised rules document. The voting form can be copied into a word processor, compiled and attached to an email.

Addition on 27 Jan 21: List of articles published in the two Newsletters of 2020 for consideration by the committee for the Best Written Article award.

The RAFOS AGM in November has been postponed until 20 March 2021. The astute among you may well have already put two and two together and come up with four reasons why the Committee has decided to postpone the AGM. First, there is this nasty little virus going around and although things seem to be improving, we are far from out of the woods yet – so the Mess may not be open for business as usual in November. Next, even if it is open there may still be several ‘frequent flyers’ to the AGM in the VP category (that’s Valuable Person) who may not be able to travel to the venue – we might not make a quorum and more importantly everyone’s health is a primary concern. Then, even if we did manage to put it all together there is a strong chance we might have to cancel at short notice if things took a turn for the worse as winter approaches. Finally, we felt a move to a spring AGM might be worth trying anyway as the recent AGM survey reported in the last edition of the Newsletter, though not conclusive, did show a slight preference for a spring meeting. Therefore, the Committee have decided the November AGM is postponed to 20 March 2021 with the expectation it will take place at High Wycombe on that date. In the meantime, the Committee will continue to make sensible decisions about funding expeditions such as WINTER DUCK and ISLAY MIST among other things until we can restore a more normal service. Stay safe folks and good birding.

It is with great regret, but unavoidable, that the planned visit by RAFOS to this venue has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the necessary restrictions on movement and association.

Sad news received today 3rd March 2020 that Pete Tithecott has passed away. He joined RAFOS in about 1965 as I recall but dropped out of the society some years ago. An engaging character he was always good company particularly on expeditions but we understand he lost his wife a few years ago. Notified by Fran Eggby via Karen Sims.

The JNCC have asked RAFOS to mount an expedition to survey the length and breadth of the Outer Hebrides such that this is the initial trawl for members wishing to participate.

Likely dates are 14th – 28th June 2020 and with the general format and travel arrangements established on previous RAFOS JNCC surveys.

Keith Cowieson is the co-ordinator.

The JNCC expedition for June 2020 has been postponed due to the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic. A further update to be prepared subsequently

The Winter Duck annual Wetland Birds survey in Northern Scotland is due to commence on 25 January so here’s hoping all goes well.

The next RAFOS event is the Somerset Levels visit on 17 – 19 April 2020 based in Glastonbury. Co-Ordinator is Pete Evans.