Events

All Day Car Trip to RSPB Ouse Washes Reserve.

Location: Meet at Ouse Washes RSPB Reserve car park at 09:15, OS TL471861.

From the south and east head to Ely, take the A142 to Chatteris and follow signs to Manea. Entering the village, turn right at the RSPB sign towards Welches Dam, continuing to the signposted car park. From the west go to Chatteris, head towards Ely (A142) then follow directions above. From the north, head for March, take the A141 towards Chatteris then follow the signs for Manea. On reaching the village, turn right at the T-junction, then left opposite the Rose and Crown pub. Turn left at the next T-junction towards Welches Dam, continuing to the signposted car park.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/o/ousewashes/directions.asp
Latitude/longitude: 52.45212,0.16328 (Google map)

It was in December 2009 that we last "swanned" off to the Ouse Washes, its time to go again.

In the heart of The Fens, the Ouse Washes forms the largest area of washland (grazing pasture that floods in the winter) in the UK. The reserve attracts thousands of ducks and swans in winter.

The winter months can host some of the most spectacular birding opportunities available in the eastern region. When water levels are ideal, the reserve maintains 100,000 wildfowl and waders. You can expect to see whooper and Bewick's swans which have journeyed from Iceland and northern Europe. Ducks include large flocks of grazing wigeons; mallards, pintails, shovelers, and gadwalls will be seen feeding in shallow waters along with teals hiding in the longer vegetation. Tufted ducks and coots dive for food in deeper areas. Large numbers of waders use the washes as well, including lapwings, golden plovers and black-tailed godwits. Hen harriers, short-eared owls, peregrines and merlins hunt over the washes and surrounding farmland.

Toilet facilities are available at the reserve.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/o/ousewashes/index.asp

Please bring a packed lunch. Leader, Mick Price.

Time: Meet at Ouse Washes RSPB Reserve car park at 9.15 am.

Price: Free to RSPB members.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: michaelboyd@mypostoffice.co.uk

Indoor Meeting, "A year in Eastern England" by Paul Forecast.

Location: Houghton Regis Social Centre, 12, Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, Beds. LU5 5QN.

Postcode LU5 5QN is correct as far as Royal Mail are concerned but is unreliable for Sat Nav use. Indoor meetings are held at Houghton Regis Social Centre, 12, Parkside Drive. The Social centre is near to the roundabout at the Chequers Pub, look for the burger van which is usually parked adjacent to the entrance to the centre.

Using the postcode LU5 5QP for 28 Parkside Drive may prove more reliable.
Postcode: LU5 5QN (Google map)

"A Year in Eastern England" by Paul Forecast.

Paul is Regional Director leading the RSPB's work in Eastern England, one of the richest places for nature in the UK.

Paul, who studied forestry and wildlife management began his conservation career working as a countryside ranger for a local authority. He joined the RSPB twelve years ago as Volunteering Development Officer in the South West. He subsequently went on to lead the Public Affairs team in the Midlands, set up a brand new office and team in London before becoming Head of People Engagement, leading the RSPB's work connecting people with nature at events, citizen science projects and at nature reserves.

Time: Doors open 19:15, meeting commences 19:45.

Price: Modest charge to cover cost of hall.

E-mail: mickeyp@ntlworld.com

All Day Car Trip to Pitsford Reservoir.

Location: Sunday 25th March. Pitsford Reservoir, Holcot, Northamptonshire. Meet at the Causeway car park. (OS SP780702). The reservoir is a short distance from the A43 NE of Northampton. Postcode for the Fishing Lodge is NN6 9SJ, the car park is a little further on.

The Causeway car park is located at the Brixworth end of the causeway between Holcot and Brixworth.

The Pay & Display machine in the Causeway car park is on the left as you enter the car park, opening times of the Fishing Lodge are variable.
Postcode: NN6 9SJ (Google map)

An all day trip to Pitsford Reservoir, the site is good for wintering ducks and grebes. Red necked grebe, Smew and Red crested pochard have all been noted at the site and Willow tit is also possible.

Please bring a packed lunch.

Leader, Mick Price.

http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/leisure/what-to-see/water-parks/pitsford/

http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/_assets/media/pitsford-water-nature-reserve.pdf

Time: Meet at the Causeway car park at 09.00.

Price: There is a small fee for a permit, available from the Fishing Lodge. Pay & Display car park, £2.50.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: michaelboyd@mypostoffice.co.uk

Indoor Meeting, "The Jewel Hunter" by Chris Gooddie.

Location: Houghton Regis Social Centre, 12, Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, Beds. LU5 5QN.

Postcode LU5 5QN is correct as far as Royal Mail are concerned but is unreliable for Sat Nav use. Indoor meetings are held at Houghton Regis Social Centre, 12, Parkside Drive. The Social centre is near to the roundabout at the Chequers Pub, look for the burger van which is usually parked adjacent to the entrance to the centre.

Using the postcode LU5 5QP for 28 Parkside Drive may prove more reliable.
Postcode: LU5 5QN (Google map)

"The Jewel Hunter" by Chris Gooddie.

A taste of the Orient. Tonights talk details the adventures involved in trying to see all thirty two species of pitta in a single year.

Chris has been birding since he was twelve years old. A lifelong RSPB member, he originally hails from Manchester but now lives in London with his long suffering wife and Jason, the cat.
After earning a living as a musician and later as a sales director in the profesional audio business, he set fire to his career ladder in 2009 and went to live his dream in the rain forests of Asia. He returned to write the story of his adventure, the ensuing book, "The Jewel Hunter" was published in 2010.

Please visit Chris' website to see these stunningly colourful birds at:
http://www.pittasworld.com/Site/PITTASWORLD_HOME.html

You can read a review of his book at:
http://www.britishbirds.co.uk/book-reviews/the-jewel-hunter-by-chris-gooddie

Time: Doors open 19:15, meeting commences 19:45.

Price: Modest charge to cover cost of hall.

E-mail: mickeyp@ntlworld.com

Morning Car Trip to Ivinghoe Beacon and Steps Hill.

Location: Saturday 14th April. Meet at 08.00 at the Beacon car park (OS SP963160).

The car park is located on the B489 between Dunstable and Ivinghoe.

Morning Car trip to Ivinghoe Beacon and Steps Hill. Good site for early spring migrants including Ring Ouzel and Wheatear.

Leader, Tony Stachnicki.

http://www.bucksgeology.org.uk/ivinghoe_beacon.html

Time: Meet at the Beacon car park at 08.00.

Price: Free.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: michaelboyd@mypostoffice.co.uk

Car Trip to Dungeness and RSPB Reserve.

Location: Sunday 22nd April. Meet at 09.45 at beach car park near the Old Lighthouse (OS TR089170). After assembling and visiting the beach and observatory area we will move on to the RSPB Reserve (Postcode TN29 9PN)
Latitude/longitude: 50.93980,0.93364 (Google map)

Car trip to Dungeness and RSPB Reserve. Dungeness is situated on a shingle foreland extending into the English Channel. There is always the chance of a rarity on this Reserve.

The first sand martins of the season should be seen in mid-March, closely followed by wheatears, black redstarts and yellow wagtails. Cuckoos should be present from mid-April whilst there will be a large increase in warblers. Sedge and reed warblers and whitethroats all nest on the reserve whilst willow warblers, chiffchaffs, and blackcaps pass through on migration. Wader passage should be noticeable with bar-tailed and black-tailed godwits, whimbrels, greenshanks, green and common sandpipers, little ringed plovers, avocets and ruffs all likely. Look for lapwings displaying over the fields and listen for marsh frogs calling from the lakes and ditches.

The reserve centre has toilets and a small shop that can offer hot and cold drinks and confectionery.

Leaders, Mick Price & Paul Trodd.

Paul who now lives in Lydd is well know to members of the group, he was a former bird recorder for Bedfordshire and warden of Dunstable Wetland Reserve, Paul is the author of many articles and several books on birds and is also a regular contributor to Birdwatching magazine. He has spent much of his time birding in the Home Counties, East Anglia and Kent, but also has a passion for our native islands and in particular seabird cities from St Kilda to the Farnes and Handa to Lundy.

Read more about Paul at: http://www.plovers.co.uk/index.htm

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/d/dungeness/about.aspx

Please bring a packed lunch. Note, we will meet initially at the beach car park.

Time: Meet at 09.45 at beach car park near the Old Lighthouse (OS TR089170).

Price: RSPB and Wildlife Explorer members free. Non-members: adults £3, concessions £2, under 16s £1, families (up to two adults and four children) £6.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: michaelboyd@mypostoffice.co.uk

Early Morning Trip, Dunstable Downs - Dawn Chorus.

Location: Sunday 6th May, Meet 04.00 at Dunstable Downs Gateway Centre car park. (OS TL005195).
Postcode: LU6 2GY (Google map)

One for the skylarks! Early Morning Trip, Dunstable Downs - Dawn Chorus.

Get out of that warm bed and head for the Gateway Centre on Dunstable Downs, Mick Price will guide you round the surrounding area and introduce you to the call of the birds as they greet the new day.

This trip is run in conjunction with the National Trust.

Booking is essential, a small fee will be charged.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-dunstabledownscountrysidecentrewhipsnadeestate

Once more details are known they will be published via the group website and newsletters.

Time: Meet 04.00 at Dunstable Downs Gateway Centre car park.

Price: A small fee will be charged.

Booking essential

Telephone: 01582 500920

E-mail: dunstabledowns@nationaltrust.org.uk

Indoor Meeting, Annual General Meeting & Film Show.

Location: Houghton Regis Social Centre, 12, Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, Beds. LU5 5QN.

Postcode LU5 5QN is correct as far as Royal Mail are concerned but is unreliable for Sat Nav use. Indoor meetings are held at Houghton Regis Social Centre, 12, Parkside Drive. The Social centre is near to the roundabout at the Chequers Pub, look for the burger van which is usually parked adjacent to the entrance to the centre.

Using the postcode LU5 5QP for 28 Parkside Drive may prove more reliable.
Postcode: LU5 5QN (Google map)

Tonight we hold our Annual General Meeting which will be followed by a film show. Come along and hear about how the group has fared during the previous year. It's also your chance to air your views on how the group is run.

Time: Doors open 7.15pm, meeting commences 7.45pm.

Price: Modest charge to cover cost of hall.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: mickeyp@ntlworld.com

The Big Beds Bird Count.

Location: Meet at 07-00 at Dunstable STW car park inside the main gates off Thorn Road (OS TL003244).

In place of the annual Bird Race we are giving members the oppurtunity to visit the sites which are used during the race.

The objective is to introduce you to sites you may have heard about but never knew their location, along the way we will try to see as many species as we can in Bedfordshire.

Although the event will start at 07.00 we aim to arrive at certain locations at specific times so that you may join/leave the event as you choose.

Please bring a packed lunch.

More details to follow via website and newsletters.

Time: Meet at 07-00 at Dunstable STW

Price: Free.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: michaelboyd@mypostoffice.co.uk

Car Trip to RSPB Freiston Shore and RSPB Frampton Marsh.

Location: Meet at Freiston Shore car park at 09.30, OS TF398425. Frampton Marsh, OS TF356392, PE20 1AY.


From Boston, take the A52 road towards Skegness. Upon reaching Haltoft End after two miles, turn right and follow the brown tourism signs from here directing you to RSPB Freiston Shore reserve.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/about.asp

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/index.asp

At Freiston Shore there are excellent views of waterbirds on the salt water lagoons, especially at high tide when wading birds roost, sometimes in their thousands.
In spring, the air is filled with song as birds compete to establish territories and attract a mate. Birds include avocets and ringed plovers nesting on the lagoon, skylarks and corn buntings singing, migrants such as wheatears, yellow wagtails and common sandpipers.

During spring at Frampton Marsh the wintering brent geese are supplemented by passage birds from the south coast, but will have all gone by May. Passage waders can be seen on the marsh and in the wet grassland, with up to 50 whimbrels being a regular feature of April. The breeding redshanks are very vocal on the saltmarsh and can be seen harrying predatory gulls and crows.

Summer presents a fantastic time of year for passage waders, with a large variety of species and often a few surprises. Southbound migrants include many common, green and wood sandpipers feeding along the shallow margins of the numerous pools and channels. The sand martin nest bank should be a hive of activity - with over 70 occupied nests there will be hundreds of mouths to feed. The saltmarsh is alive with colour at this time of year, and it is the best time to see hunting marsh harriers or even perhaps the rare Montagu's harrier.

Both sites are close together but are separated by Boston.

There are no facilities at Freiston Shore. At Frampton Marsh there are refreshment and toilet facilities in the visitor centre.

Please bring a packed lunch. Leaders, Mick Price/Allyn Hill.

Time: Meet at Freiston Shore car park at 09.30.

Price: Free at both reserves for members.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: michaelboyd@mypostoffice.co.uk

Evening Car Trip to Stewartby Lake and MVCP.

Location: Meet at 19.00 in the layby off A4210 at the western end, near Marston Mortaine (OS SK878072)

Evening Car Trip to Stewartby Lake and MVCP. Enjoy an evening walk around the lake, possible sightings are Turtle dove and Grasshopper warbler.

Leader: Mick Price.

http://www.marstonvale.org/countrypark/

Time: Meet at 19.00 in the layby off A4210 at the western end, near Marston Mortaine (OS SK878072)

Price: Free.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: michaelboyd@mypostoffice.co.uk

All Day Car Trip to Rutland Water Nature Reserve.

Location: Meet in the reserve car park at 09.15 (OS SK878072).

Rutland Water Nature Reserve Egleton, Oakham, Rutland LE15 8BT


Postcode: LE15 8BT (Google map)

All Day Car Trip to Rutland Water Nature Reserve. An excellent site for breeding Osprey and all round birding. Please bring a packed lunch.

A permit, available from the visitor centre is required. Facilities include a shop and toilets.

Leaders: Mick Price/Allyn Hill.

http://www.rutlandwater.org.uk/

Time: Meet in the reserve car park at 09.15 (OS SK878072).

Price: Adults £5.20, Senior citizens £4.10.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: michaelboyd@mypostoffice.co.uk

Morning Car Trip to RSPB Fowlmere.

Location: Meet in the reserve car park at 09.00 (OS TL407461).

From the A10 (Cambridge to Royston) turn towards Fowlmere at the Fowlmere-Shepreth crossroads (no RSPB sign); after 1 mile (1.5 km), turn right by the cemetery (RSPB sign); after another 0.6 mile (1 km), turn left into the reserve (RSPB sign).
Latitude/longitude: 52.09534,0.05108 (Google map)

Morning Car Trip to RSPB Fowlmere. The reserve is a good site for Water Rail, Barn owl, Warblers, Little grebes, Mute swans, dragonflies and butterflies.

In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world.

There is a picnic area and toilets.

Leader: Mick Price.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/fowlmere/index.aspx

Time: Meet in the reserve car park at 09.00.

Price: Donation requested from non-members.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: michaelboyd@mypostoffice.co.uk

Evening Car Trip to RSPB Nene Washes.

Location: Meet in the reserve car park in Eldernell Lane at 18.00 (OS TL318991), postcode PE7 2DD.

The reserve is 8 miles (13 km) east of Peterborough, and north-east of Whittlesey. There is a car park at the end of Eldernell Lane, off the A605 east of Coates. There is currently no signposting to the reserve.
Latitude/longitude: 52.574026,-0.056477 (Google map)

Enjoy an evening walk looking for breeding Snipe and possible Common Crane and Corncrake.

Breeding waders are still present in June but become less easy to see as summer progresses. Yellow wagtails are present in increasing numbers, often around the feet of the grazing cattle. Look out for barn owls, warblers and tree sparrows in the vicinity of car park. Marsh harriers should be very obvious.

There are no visitor facilities apart from the car park and a planned information board (there are public toilets on Eastgate and Station Road in Whittlesey).

Leader: Mick Price.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/n/nenewashes/about.aspx

Time: Meet in the reserve car park in Eldernell Lane at 18.00 (OS TL318991), postcode PE7 2DD.

Price: Free, but donations to help us continue the work here are appreciated.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: michaelboyd@mypostoffice.co.uk

Evening Car trip to Dunstable STW Nature Reserve.

Location: Wednesday 8th August at 19.00. Dunstable Wetland Reserve (Dunstable Sewage Treatment Works), car park inside main gate off Thorn Road (OS TL003244).

An evening car trip to Dunstable STW Nature Reserve.

A walk around a local reserve with the accent on returning waders, the reserve has the reputation for turning up less common species, what will we see tonight? Little ringed plovers are regular breeders at the site.

Leaders: Mick Price/Brian Horne.

Time: 19.00.

Price: Free.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: michaelboyd@mypostoffice.co.uk

Car trip to Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve.

Location: Meet in the reserve car park at 10.00 (OS SU535025). Postcode PO14 3JT.

From Junction 9 of the M27, take the third exit for Fareham/Titchfield (A27). At the next roundabout, with the Holiday Inn on your left, carry straight on. Soon you will see signs for Stubbington/Lee-on-the-Solent (B3334), move to the right hand lane to follow these. At roundabouts in Stubbington, carry straight on. Just after the next pedestrian crossing, turn right into Bells Lane, it is signed to Hill Head with a brown tourism sign to Titchfield Haven NNR. Follow this road, (it leads into Crofton Lane, then Hill Head Road) past the Osborne View Pub on your left. Once close to the Solent (now in Cliff Road), look for the car park on the left, adjacent to Hill Head Sailing Club. Park here - walk left and then cross the road.
Postcode: PO14 3JT (Google map)

An all day car trip to Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve. Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve covers 369 acres of the Lower Meon valley. Enjoy a tranquil walk and see a variety of wetland habitats containing a wealth of wildlife. The haven is a good site for Roseate and other migrant terns.

Permit required, currently £3.90. Please bring a packed lunch.

Facilities include tea room, shop and toilets.

Leaders: Mike Pinhorn/Jackie Lyon.

http://www3.hants.gov.uk/titchfield

Time: 10.00, Visitor Centre and Reserve Cliff Road, Hill Head, Fareham, Hampshire PO14 3JT

Price: Currently £3.90.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: michaelboyd@mypostoffice.co.uk

Indoor Meeting, Mongolia-mountains, steppe & desert by Phil & Anne Farrer.

Location: Houghton Regis Social Centre, 12, Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, Beds. LU5 5QN.

Postcode LU5 5QN is correct as far as Royal Mail are concerned but is unreliable for Sat Nav use. Indoor meetings are held at Houghton Regis Social Centre, 12, Parkside Drive. The Social centre is near to the roundabout at the Chequers Pub, look for the burger van which is usually parked adjacent to the entrance to the centre.

Using the postcode LU5 5QP for 28 Parkside Drive may prove more reliable.
Postcode: LU5 5QN (Google map)

Mongolia-mountains, steppe & desert by Phil & Anne Farrer, we give a warm welcome to Phil & Anne for the first talk of our Autumn/Winter season.

Imagine a country six times the size of Britain where even the bottoms of the valleys are a mile above sea-level; all open land with no hedges or fences, and the only "roads" are the wheel tracks of other vehicles - then think of the birds that might live there.

Ann was group leader of Hemel Hempstead Group for over twelve years, Phil is a publisher and Chartered Biologist as well as a keen photographer. They have travelled to many parts of the world in pursuit of their joint interest in birds. Tonights talk is based on one of their journeys.

http://www.talkingofbirds.org.uk/index.html

Time: Doors open 19:15, meeting commences 19:45.

Price: Modest charge to cover cost of hall.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: mickeyp@ntlworld.com

Car Trip to Languard Point & Trimley Marshes NR

Location: Meet at 09.15 at Languard Point car park (OS TM283317). Postcode IP11 2EN refers to Manor Terrace, the car park is at the end of the terrace.

Languard Point, car parking is available at the end of Manor Terrace, Felixstowe, where there is also a public convenience.

Trimley Marsh car park, end of Cordy's Lane (OS TM278358). Postcode IP11 0UD refers to Cordy's Lane, Trimley Marshes, Trimley St Martin, Felixstowe
Postcode: IP11 2EN (Google map)

All day car trip to Languard Point & Trimley Marshes NR.

Both reserves are in the shadow of the sprawling Port of Felixtowe but dont let that put you off, good sites for seabirds and wildfowl offshore (and container ships!) and more common and sometimes unusual species.

Trimley Marshes is an exciting wetland reserve created almost entirely from arable land alongside the River Orwell. Most of the wildlife here today has colonised the site since it was created in 1990 to mitigate against the loss of Fagbury mudflats as a result of the expansion of the Port of Felixstowe.

There are toilets in the car park at Languard Point.

Please bring a packed lunch.

Leaders Mick Price/Allyn Hill.

http://www.sogonline.org.uk/Birdsites/LandguardBirdObservatory/tabid/118/Default.aspx

http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/reserves-and-visitor-centres/trimley-marshes-/

Time: Meet at 09.15 at Languard Point car park.

Price: Car parking charge at Languard Point.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: michaelboyd@mypostoffice.co.uk

Indoor Meeting, "The changing wildlife of the Chilterns" by John Tyler.

Location: Houghton Regis Social Centre, 12 Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, LU5 5QN.

Postcode LU5 5QN is correct as far as Royal Mail are concerned but is unreliable for Sat Nav use. Indoor meetings are held at Houghton Regis Social Centre, 12, Parkside Drive. The Social centre is near to the roundabout at the Chequers Pub, look for the burger van which is usually parked adjacent to the entrance to the centre.

Using the postcode LU5 5QP for 28 Parkside Drive may prove more reliable.
Postcode: LU5 5QN (Google map)

"The changing wildlife of the Chilterns" by John Tyler. From coral seas, through Ice Ages, tundra and forest to the farmland of today we travel through a hundred million years to trace the origins of the Chiltern landscape and the wildlife that it supports, and speculate about what the future might hold.

Tonight we see a welcome return of John Tyler, John trained originally as a zoologist and then spent four years with the Ecological Parks Trust (now the Trust for Urban Ecology), creating urban nature reserves where inner city children could come into contact with wildlife. For the next twenty two years he was the warden at the Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve in Kent.

http://www.johntyler.co.uk/talks.htm

Time: Doors open 19:15, meeting commences 19:45.

Price: Modest charge to cover cost of hall.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: mickeyp@ntlworld.com

Indoor Meeting, "The birds of the Eastern Algarve" by Jonathan Forgham.

Location: Houghton Regis Social Centre, 12 Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, LU5 5QN.

Postcode LU5 5QN is correct as far as Royal Mail are concerned but is unreliable for Sat Nav use. Indoor meetings are held at Houghton Regis Social Centre, 12, Parkside Drive. The Social centre is near to the roundabout at the Chequers Pub, look for the burger van which is usually parked adjacent to the entrance to the centre.

Using the postcode LU5 5QP for 28 Parkside Drive may prove more reliable.
Postcode: LU5 5QN (Google map)

Indoor Meeting, "The birds of the Eastern Algarve" by Jonathan Forgham.

Since retiring from teaching Jonathan has been able to devote more time to his passion for traveling and ornithology which has take him all over Western Europe, Australia and Sri Lanka. Whilst on his travels he is keen to go birding and enjoys sampling the local cuisine and drink. His hobbies include gardening and cricket.
He recently became a Level 2 qualified English Cricket Board cricket coach and now coaches youngsters at Bishop's Stortford CC. He still plays, if somewhat more slowly, for Much Hadham in the Herts and Essex League and for Chrishall in Sunday friendlies.

http://www.forgham.co.uk/jonathan.html

Time: Doors open 19:15, meeting commences 19:45.

Price: Modest charge to cover cost of hall.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: mickeyp@ntlworld.com

Car Trip to Swale NNR and Harty Marshes.

Location: Meet at 09.15 at Capel Fleet Raptor viewpoint car park, (OS TR023682).

The RSPB Capel Fleet bird of prey viewpoint is the elevated mound two miles down the minor road from the B2231 (east of Eastchurch) towards the Harty Ferry Inn.

Car Trip to Swale NNR and Harty Marshes.

The new RSPB viewpoint at Capel Fleet on Sheppey is perhaps the best bird of prey viewpoint in the UK, with rough-legged buzzards regularly seen in winter. The area can be exposed, so wrap up well, and prepare for an amazing trip. Opening times: daily (not Tuesdays) 9 am to 9 pm or sunset when earlier.

The Swale NNR site has an outstanding assemblage of scarce plants. Narrow-leaved and dwarf eel grass are found on the mudflats while Ray's knotgrass and white sea kale are found on the beach. The saltmarsh supports glassworts and golden samphire.

Apart from waterfowl, gargany, marsh harrier, avocet and short-eared owl have been known to breed on the reserve and the area is also a hunting ground for barn owl and Montagu's harrier.

Many rare and uncommon migrant butterflies and moths can be found at the reserve. These include Essex emerald, ground lackey, the clouded yellow butterfly and the convolvulus and bedstraw hawk-moths. Macro moths such as shaded pug, sand dart, dotted fan foot and obscure wainscot have also been known to breed or visit the reserve.

The area is best visited in the spring and early summer, for breeding birds (particularly waders) or the winter, for ducks, geese and waders.

Please bring a packed lunch and warm clothes! Leaders: Mick Price/Allyn Hill.

http://www.kentos.org.uk/articles/Raptorviewpoint.htm

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006143.aspx

Time: Meet at 09.15 at Capel Fleet Raptor viewpoint car park, (OS TR023682).

Price: Admission and car parking charges are unknown.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: michaelboyd@mypostoffice.co.uk

Morning Car Trip to Wraysbury Gravel Pit Lakes.

Location: Meet at 09.15 at the main car park on The Green (OS TQ005743). Postcode TW19 5NA.
Postcode: TW19 5NA (Google map)

Leave the Christmas preparation behind for a few hours and join us on a morning Car Trip to Wraysbury Gravel Pit Lakes.

Part of the gravel pits left over after motorway building, the complex of open water consists of Wraysbury in the south, Horton in the north and a few sailing pits between. In winter the they are covered with wild fowl - the stars being smew and goosander but you can look forward to guest appearances of scaup and the odd diver. Good site for wintering wildfowl and a large colony of Rose ringed parakeets.

Leader, Mick Price.

Time: Meet at 09.15 at the main car park on The Green (OS TQ005743). Postcode TW19 5NA.

Price: Free.

Telephone: 01582 507490

E-mail: michaelboyd@mypostoffice.co.uk