AT the Kidderminster branch April indoor meeting, Gerry Griffiths hosted an extremely well-attended 'in-house' identification workshop. Birdsong sounds were taken from Witherby's Sound Guide to British Birds, although the emphasis of the evening was placed on non-passerines rather than passerines.

On May 1 the outdoor meeting to the Shropshire Ornithological Society's Venus Pool Nature Reserve, just off the A458 between Cressage and Cross Houses, was also very well attended.

It was a wonderful venue for birdwatchers, with 45 species being identified and watching the young chicks of lapwings, oystercatchers and Canada geese was a privilege. Common sandpiper were also observed and the following day one was seen on Hurcott Pool.

On May 22 members met at 5am in the car park next to the Warden's Lodge for the annual dawn chorus walk on Kinver Edge.

On Wednesday, June 22, the annual summer evening walk will be around Dudmaston Pools and Woods, meeting at 6.30pm just beyond Dudmaston Sawmill.

The first indoor meeting of the 2005/06 season will be held on Wednesday, September 28 at St Oswald's Church Centre, Broadwaters at 7.30pm, when Tony Wharton will give an illustrated talk entitled 'Faces of Nature.'

Anyone interested in wildlife, birdlife and conservation in general is always welcome to join both indoor and outdoor meetings.

For more details, call 01562 67748.