Trip reports

Tree sparrow on twig

Sunday, 29 January 2012

Despite some unpromising weather to start, it turned into an excellent day with drake smew, long-tailed duck ad firecrest - 59 species in all, and then, as we were about to leave, a great white egret made it a very satisfying sixty. More...

View across ponds on edge of Burrowes Pit, Dungeness RSPB reserve

Sunday, 11 September 2011

A recent field trip to this exposed site in appallingly windy conditions was nevertheless very productive, with sightings of a great white egret, migrating whinchats and streams of swallows and sand martins passing through. There were also chance sightings of lizards, grass snakes and, most unexpected of all, a stoat dragging a rabbit across the track. More...

View across ponds on edge of Burrowes Pit, Dungeness RSPB reserve

Sunday, 12 September 2010

A wonderful day's birdwatching, with lots of birds, visible migration, the odd rarity such as great white egret and pectoral sandpiper, brilliant views of a bathing marsh harrier, and even three grass snakes. More...

Avocet wading in water

Friday, 7 May 2010

On the morning after the election ten of us escaped to the countryside around Calais for a day's birdwatching. Despite poor weather we managed to see 84 species and had wonderful views of roe deer. More...

Adult bittern wading in reedbed at Lee Valley Country Park

Sunday, 21 February 2010

A really interesting walk with 45 species seen in just two hours, including bittern, goldeneye and little owl. More...

Adult bittern wading in reedbed at Lee Valley Country Park

Sunday, 25 January 2009

Despite atrocious weather, members who braved the cold, rain and wind were delighted to see a bittern, a flock of over one hundred Bewick's swans, slavonian grebe, kingfisher and much more besides. More...

Snipe perched on fence post

Monday, 17 November 2008

It started out as an ordinary walk, but ended up with sightings of waxwing and cranes! More...

Coach trip to Norfolk

Saturday, 12 July 2008

A trip in search of stone curlews, golden orioles and cranes, plus a visit to Oxburgh hall. More...

Cuckoo perched in tree

Monday, 19 May 2008

Close views of cuckoo, hobby and a range of waders were enjoyed on our visit to Stodmarsh. More...

Short-eared owl sitting on the ground

Monday, 17 March 2008

An interesting walk, with good views of short-eared owl, merlin, merganser, scaup and many other waders and ducks. More...

Male bearded tit perching on Phragmites

Monday, 18 February 2008

A horribly foggy day made birdwatching conditions extremely difficult, but we managed excellent views of bearded tits and a buzzard circling over our heads. More...

Reed warbler singing in reedbed

Sunday, 8 July 2007

If you didn't want to watch Wimbledon, the Tour de France or the Grand Prix, Stodmarsh was the place to be today, with a marsh harrier flying low overhead, and Cetti's warblers singing nearby. More...

Male merlin perched on mossy hummock, Shetland Isles

Sunday, 25 February 2007

This trip was originally scheduled for the 18th, but unfortunately family matters arose and this meant rearranging the date. My apologies for this, and to those who were unable to tie in wit More...

Male goldeneye

Sunday, 28 January 2007

Another mild day greeted us as we arrived at this reasonably new RSPB reserve on the North Kent marshes, just a few miles from the more established Northward Hill reserve. Both of these impo More...

Reeds at sunset, Strumpshaw Fen

Sunday, 14 January 2007

After weeks of grey skies, strong winds and much-needed rain, it was very nice to see blue sky and enjoy warm sunshine for our annual afternoon visit to this Natural England reserve, in the  More...

little egret, wading, water

Sunday, 10 December 2006

The first hard frost of the winter, with ice on the puddles and the wet soil feeling solid underfoot. A good number of us gathered on this bright, crisp morning to see if the disused gravel  More...

little egret, wading, water

Sunday, 5 November 2006

Our usual meeting point for this trip is an improvised layby on Raspberry Hill Lane. It gives a good vantage point from which to scan the tidal inlet that is Funton Creek. The weather was in More...

Redshank perched on post

Sunday, 22 October 2006

Every year the City of Canterbury holds a festival for two weeks in October, with many indoor and outdoor activities at a wide range of venues, catering for a variety of interests. Our Local More...

Hobby chasing dragonflies

Monday, 18 September 2006

We met at the Sportsman pub at 10am. As high tide was to be around 11am, the outward journey in a westerly direction towards Castle Coote would be on a full tide, whilst the return walk woul More...

RSPB Dungeness nature reserve

Saturday, 9 September 2006

We met at the old lighthouse at 9.30 on this lovely sunny morning, starting as usual with some seawatching at "The Patch", an area where seabirds gather to feed on the fish and invertebrates More...