In 1963 discussions were held to create an Ornithological Society that would encompass Stockton Heath,Chester,Nantwich,Knutsford and Congleton.The first committee meeting was held on 14th November of the same year. It was decided that membership should be limited to 30 and meetings held at Winnington Hall Club. So the Society was born but it was predominantly men employed by ICI who attended. There were 24 members initially but by the time of the first AGM in January 1965 this had had risen to 50. A coach was hired to pickup members for outdoor meetings the pickup point being the Memorial Hall in Northwich. 

As time passed more and more members who joined weren’t from ICI and included increasing numbers of lady members. By 1967 the meetings were switched to the Railway Hotel Acton Bridge which was later refurbished and renamed the Hazel Pear.

Throughout the late sixties and seventies meetings were held at this venue. Up to 100 members attended and it was suggested that meetings should be limited to this number .The early eighties saw the venue switched to Hartford village hall where numbers grew and many years later after a refurbishment of the hall we could no longer be accommodated due to the fire restrictions on numbers and we moved to Cuddington.

In the early 2000's one of our members, Colin Butler, organised budget overseas trips for the group to Israel (Red Sea - Eilat) in 2000 and then to Goa in India in 2002. The logistics for organising a trip abroad for a sizeable group were difficult and sadly no further overseas holidays have been organised. However, over the years the Society has organised weekend visits to various parts of the UK including Norfolk, Suffolk, Dorset, Kent, Devon,Somerset, East Yorkshire plus Islay, Speyside & Dumfries & Galloway in Scotland and Anglesey & Ceredigion in Wales. The weekend trips are still extremely popular and we now organise 3 during the season.

Since the COVID pandemic membership numbers have declined but the Society continues to thrive and in 2024 we moved our meetings back to Hartford Village Hall where we meet monthly during the season and you will be assured of a warm welcome. 

Thanks to Derek Todd (MCOS founder member) for his memories of the group's early days.