Events

Field Trip - Blakeney Point and Cley Marshes

Location: From Morston Quay, North Norfolk by boat to Blakeney Point, followed by a short journey East to Cley Marshes.

On arrival at Morston Quay the group will set sail in one of the many boats operating from the area to Blakeney Point.

Further details to be made available shortly.

Time: Meet in car park (NT) at Morston for 10am. this should give time for a look around the nearby creeks before queing for the 11am boat out to the point.

Price: The boat trip is £9 per person, payable on booking by 31st May. If you are requiring transport, a donation towards petrol is usually required. Please speak to Andrew Camps for more details.

Booking essential

Telephone: 01638 741018

E-mail: mel_brensmith@hotmail.co.uk

Field Trip - Lakenheath Fen then Weeting Heath, Mayday Farm or Kings Forest TBC

Location: Starting at Lakenheath Fen
see the following website for more information on Lakenheath and directions:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/l/lakenheathfen/

Starting at Lakenheath Fen RSPB Reserve the group will hope to see Golden Oriole, Bittern, Marsh Harriers, Common Crane and Hobbies to name but a few of the key species at this wonderful reserve. Then depending on local sightings the group will move to Weeting Heath for Stone Curlews, and in the evening move to either Mayday Farm or Kings Forest depending on a recce.a day two before for Nightjars,Wood Larks and other forestry birds.

Time: 2.30pm

Price: Free to RSPB National members - however if you are requiring transport, a donation towards petrol is usually required. Please speak to Andrew Camps for more details.

Telephone: 01638 741018

E-mail: mel_brensmith@hotmail.co.uk

Field Trip - Minsmere and Dunwich Heath

Location: Minsmere, Suffolk
Dunwich Heath (National Trust)

Further information shortly on this popular trip to one of the RSPB's best reserves.

Time: 10am in car park

Price: Free to RSPB & National Trust members - however if you are requiring transport, a donation towards petrol is usually required. Please speak to Andrew Camps for more details.

Telephone: 01638 741018

E-mail: mel_brensmith@hotmail.co.uk

Bird Fair - Rutland Water

Location: Rutland Water.

A chance to visit the final day of the 3 day Bird Fair held at Rutland Water. There will be an opportunity to visit many of the seminars/presentations on the day (further details to follow) which last year included presentations by Simon King, Johnnie Kingdom and David Lindo. A marquee full of wildlife artists and sculpturers and an opportunity to look at some interesting wildlife holiday destinations.

There is also usually a ringing station - run by the BTO. Last year I was lucky to see a Lesser Whitethroat, Tree Creeper and a family of Blue Tits being measured and ringed!

If the Bird Fair sounds too hectic, remember to bring your binoculars and take a walk around the reserve (fee included in the entry ticket). This area is reknown for its Osprey breeding programme.

Time: Leave Cambridge at 8:45am

Price: TBC (concessions for National RSPB Members) however if you are requiring transport, a donation towards petrol is usually required. Please speak to Andrew Camps for more details.

Telephone: 01638 741018

E-mail: mel_brensmith@hotmail.co.uk

Bill Baston - Birds of Northern Greece

Location: St John's Hall
Hills Road
Cambridge
Postcode: CB2 2RN (Google map)

Further information Shortly

Time: 7:15pm for 7:30 start

Price: Free to local group members - £2.00 on the door from non members (Guests are most welcome!).

Telephone: 01954 202354

E-mail: mel_brensmith@hotmail.co.uk

A Fair Isle Season

Location: St John's Hall
Hills Road
Cambridge
Postcode: CB2 2RN (Google map)

Rebecca's talk will be about the Fair Isle season and her passion for the birds in that Isle.

Rebecca is a freelance Bird Photographer and Ecologist living and working between Cambridge and Woodbridge, Suffolk. Rebecca is an accomplished photographer, her work regularly appearing in monthly bird magazines, journals and books. She's one of the top 10 photographers who supplied images for the long-awaited 'Birds of Scotland' and is the commissioned photographer of the New Naturalist book 'A History of Ornithology' by Peter Bircham, an instant best seller! She also finds time to combine her photography with ecological work and wildlife tour leading.

At University in Winchester Rebecca gained a 2:1 BSc Hon's degree in Geography and Environmental Studies and a certificate in Ornithology before embarking on conservation-based seasonal posts throughout the country. This was followed by an MSc in Conservation Management before more seasonal contracts including work for the RSPB before heading to Fair Isle, the UK's birding 'Mecca'.

Rebecca spent two years during 2003-4 working as an Assistant Warden/Seabird Monitoring Officer on Fair Isle, Shetland - a place she now regards as her second home, before embarking on freelance Wildlife Photography full-time in 2005.

Rebecca held a stand in the Art Marquee at the British Birdwatching Fair and won Best Photographic Display. It was here that she also launched her successful range of 'Puffin Passion' greeting cards which are now on sale at major outlets around the country.

Rebecca is widely travelled, having experienced many far flung destinations on all continents. She's well acquainted with many foreign birds and cultures and now enjoys sharing and showing others whilst tour leading for The Travelling Naturalist and Avian Adventures. Rebecca is a keen bird ringer and holds a BTO 'C' ringing permit.

Time: 7:15pm for 7:30 start

Price: Free to local group members - £2.00 on the door from non members (Guests are most welcome!).

Telephone: 01954 202354