Trip reports
 | Sunday, 7 March 2010 Walk around Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits We all had excellent views of a small party of Yellowhammers and several Tree Sparrows, along with Reed Buntings, Chaffinches and Goldfinches, in the hedgerows surrounding Tyttenhanger Farm. But while we were admiring the gathered throng, this encounter was topped, when two Red Kites decided to put in an appearance and drifted overhead! More... |
 | Saturday, 20 February 2010 We thought it was a pretty quiet day by Cley's standards but 81 species of bird were recorded during the day, including all three divers, the two subspecies of Brent geese that regularly winter in Britain (dark-bellied and pale-bellied), Barn owl, bearded tits and a corn bunting. More... |
 | Wednesday, 17 February 2010 Morning walk at Holyfield Hall Farm & Lake, Fishers Green area Highlights of the walk were a Little egret flying overhead, Common buzzard perched on tree, Yellowhammer by the animal barns and Goldeneye on the Lake and in the channel. More... |
 | Sunday, 7 February 2010 Local Walk around Glen Faba lakes & the Stort valley Phil Blatcher led this walk on a calm, grey and overcast but dry day, max temp 45 degF. 26 members enjoyed this walk, including 6 newcomers to our events. More... |
 | Sunday, 17 January 2010 Car trip to RSPB Rainham Marshes Terry Smith led todays walk around the reserve and the Thames path. We were fortunate to have a sunny day, mild, with only a light wind - very pleasant. The reserve was very busy - we were told that today was their 2nd busiest day ever! More... |
 | Wednesday, 13 January 2010 A morning fundraising walk at Fishers Green. We all had excellent views of 2 bitterns in front of the Bittern Information point hide, one being chased by the other and forced to climb up the reeds before flying across the lake! At least 5 water rails were seen during the walk. More... |
 | Sunday, 3 January 2010 Car trip to Tollesbury and Abberton An excellent day - we suspect a few people may have been put off by the weather forecast! At Abberton we enjoyed excellent view of a North American rarity - a spotted sandpiper. At Tollesbury, amongst the highlights here were 3 great northern divers, marsh harrier, smew and slavonian grebe. More... |
 | Wednesday, 16 December 2009 Morning walk at Fishers Green to learn more about our local birds We had brief sightings of 3 treecreepers, at least 4 goldeneye, good views of redwing and several glimpses of kingfisher. More... |
 | Sunday, 13 December 2009 Highlight of the day? Take your pick! Maybe, the 300 Brambling from the car park at Santon Downham or good views of Crossbills at both Santon Downham and Lyndford Arboretum or perhaps, tens of thousands of Starlings performing a spectacular aerial display, before dropping into their overnight roost in the reedbeds, at Lackford Lakes. More... |
 | Sunday, 6 December 2009 Local walk around Cedars & Theobalds Parks, Cheshunt It looked like it was going to be a complete wash-out, with torrential rain just before Mike left at 9.30, hence just four people turned up! The Met Office predicted rain moving away and sunshine in our area about 10.00, they were spot on fortunately... More... |
 | Sunday, 22 November 2009 Coach Trip to RSPB Elmley Marshes, Kent Some of the birds that we had hoped to see, such as barn and short-eared owls were keeping their heads down but a respectable total of 58 bird species were seen plus lots of hares, rabbits, a fox and a stoat. More... |
 | Wednesday, 18 November 2009 Morning walk around Hall Marsh scrape, Bowyers Water and Hook Marsh pit, Waltham Abbey. Terry Smith led todays morning walk around Hall Marsh scrape, Bowyers Water and Hook Marsh pit, Waltham Abbey. It was very windy, but was dry at first with a short spell of fine rain then became dry again at the end of the walk. More... |
 | Sunday, 1 November 2009 4 members braved the very wet morning to join Ann on this walk, visibility was very poor at times and only the ducks seemed to appreciate the conditions! More... |
| Wednesday, 28 October 2009 Morning walk around Cornmill Meadows We had very good views of green woodpeckers feeding in the grassy areas. A flock of siskins, with some goldfinches, were found amongst the alders. More... |
 | Friday, 23 October 2009 Group weekend in North Norfolk Hotel better than ever with excellent food! 17 Members enjoyed this weekend. A total of at least 98 species were seen by members this weekend. More... |
 | Saturday, 17 October 2009 32 Members enjoyed this special trip to Snettisham. An estimated 70,000 birds were seen! More... |
 | Sunday, 4 October 2009 Local walk at Amwell Quarry Nature Reserve Derrick Ling led our first walk of the Group's "New Year". 17 supporters joined him for the walk at a popular venue. It began well with fine weather, dry, mainly sunny, with light wind at beginning of the walk and we saw a good variety of species. More... |
 | Saturday, 19 September 2009 CAR TRIP TO NORTH KENT MARSHES The group's "New Year" got off to a very enjoyable start with good weather and an excellent variety of birds. 80 species were seen or heard at the two sites visited, RSPB Cliffe Pools & Kent Wildlife Trust Oare Marsh Reserve. More... |
| Friday, 3 July 2009 AN EVENING WALK AROUND RSPB RYE MEADS The evening began on a high note with excellent views of a peregrine on the top of a pylon across the road from the car park. More... |
 | Saturday, 13 June 2009 Summer Family Walk at Fishers Green On today's family walk with the Rye Meads WEX group we watched several large carp swimming in the channel, from the road bridge. A pair of great crested grebes were diving and feeding two well grown young nearby and we saw several mallard ducks with broods of ducklings. More... |
 | Saturday, 13 June 2009 RSPB Lakenheath was visited first where there were excellent views of a male golden oriole at the nest with visits by the female. Hobbies and cuckoos were flying around, bitterns were booming and up to 5 marsh harriers were seen in the sky. Garganey was seen on the return path. More... |
 | Wednesday, 10 June 2009 Morning fundraising walk at Fishers Green We managed to hear and see several nightingales, busy collecting food. We spotted an oystercatcher, calling as it flew overhead. A silent cuckoo, probably a female, landed on the tree next to the Bittern Information hide, and was chased off by small birds. More... |
 | Sunday, 7 June 2009 Morning walk at Standon Green End Farm Tony and Joyce Spackman have farmed it for 35 years. Tony is a keen birdwatcher and manages the farm in a way sympathetic to birds and wild flowers. More... |
| Saturday, 16 May 2009 We had good views of Marsh harriers and hobby flying over the reedbeds. A bittern was heard 'booming' and Cetti's warblers seemed to be everywhere! More... |
 | Wednesday, 13 May 2009 Highlights: 10 nightingales were heard singing but not seen. Good views of a garden warbler. 4 Black Terns feeding over Holyfield Lake with many swifts. More... |
 | Sunday, 10 May 2009 We heard 8 nightingales singing and had fleeting glimpses of some of them. 9 hobbies were seen hunting over 70 acres lake. More... |
 | Friday, 1 May 2009 Group Weekend in Portland, Dorset On Portland various group members found their way to two major rarities: Collared Flycatcher and Eastern Bonnelli's Warbler, succeeding in seeing one or both of these - a good start to the weekend. The dining room at the Heights has spectacular views of Weymouth Bay and Chesil Bank. More... |
| Sunday, 26 April 2009 We had several sightings of osprey, sitting by the nest and flying over. Good views of red kite both from the coach and over the reserve. A drake garganey was seen and a grasshopper warbler was heard and seen. From the new hides we had good views of several yellow wagtails including a sub species, thought to be a Beema. Some were lucky enough to see and hear Turtle Dove calling. More... |
 | Wednesday, 22 April 2009 Morning walk at Fishers Green for Nightingales & Warblers We stood listening to the songs of the nightingales and all the warblers in the very pleasant warm sunshine this morning. More... |
| Sunday, 5 April 2009 Local Walk at HMWT Willowmead & Hertingfordbury Early arrivals were rewarded with views of a kingfisher on the Mimram. Other highlights were 2 blackcaps singing and a sparrowhawk overhead. More... |
 | Saturday, 28 March 2009 69 sp seen in all, highlights included: Jack snipe, peregrine (seen several times), mediterranean gull (c.10), swallow (c.8), chiffchaff (10) & wheatear (2). More... |
 | Wednesday, 18 March 2009 Morning walk around Cornmill Meadows, Waltham Abbey We had excellent views of 4 common buzzards soaring overhead on a sunny and warm spring morning. More... |
 | Sunday, 1 March 2009 Morning Walk at Copped Hall Estate, Epping Surprise of the day was a female Hooded Merganser, on a pond just north of the Hall - clearly a 'fence hopper' from some nearby wildfowl collection but nice to see nevertheless. More... |
| Sunday, 22 February 2009 Beached Bird Survey at Tollesbury, Essex Six people met at Abberton reservoir before moving to Tollesbury. It was a cloudy day with a fresh wind, but thankfully more mild than of late. The recent snow and cold weather suggested it was likely that there would be a high count on the survey, but fortunately we found only one dead bird. More good news is that there was no evidence of oiling on the beach. More... |
 | Wednesday, 18 February 2009 Morning walk to Holyfield Hall Farm & the Grand Weir hide At the farm, a buzzard was spotted perched in a tree and one was seen soaring over the woods. Singing skylarks & meadow pipits were seen and heard over the fields, and various geese were feeding on the fields near the path. More... |
 | Sunday, 15 February 2009 Coach trip to Holkham & RSPB Titchwell Marsh The highlights at Holkham included, excellent views of a small flock of Pink-footed Geese in the fields next to Lady Anne's Drive, clearly unperturbed by the comings and goings of walkers and birdwatchers just a few yards away. More... |
 | Saturday, 14 February 2009 Highlights were the common buzzard sitting on a small tree for ages and then another two seen soaring, the small herd of fallow deer along the wood edge and, of course, the icy puddles! More... |
| Sunday, 1 February 2009 Morning walk around the N Met & Ashley Gravel Pits Ashley has, for the last few winters, been the lake of choice for many of the Valley's goosander, one of the areas specialities. We were fortunate to see several females and smaller numbers of drakes on the pit. More... |
 | Saturday, 17 January 2009 Car Trip To Isle of Sheppey (Capel Fleet & Elmley RSPB Reserve) A long wait watching a large raptor sitting on a hay bale resulted in the confirmation of a Rough-legged Buzzard, ring-tailed Hen Harriers were at the same site, as were several Marsh Harriers and a small flock of Bewick's Swans. More... |
 | Wednesday, 14 January 2009 Highlights were the bittern seen in front of the Bittern Information Point hide, the kingfisher seen flying and then perched along the channel, 2 male smew and a female goosander seen from the Grebe hide. More... |
 | Sunday, 4 January 2009 Annual car trip to Abberton Reservoir & Tollesbury The highlight of the day for most people was a Cattle Egret at Abberton. Other highlights included drake Smew (at Abberton and Tollesbury), Slavonian Grebe (Abberton and Tollesbury), Red-crested Pochard (Abberton), Velvet Scoter (Tollesbury) and Hen Harrier (ring-tail) at Tollesbury. More... |
 | Wednesday, 17 December 2008 Morning walk at Fishers Green to get to know our local birds Highlights: A male kingfisher, perched along the river just pass the Bailey bridge, giving excellent views. Peregrine on pylon in front of the Grebe hide, preening and showing well. More... |
 | Sunday, 14 December 2008 Car trip to SWT Trimley Marshes The highlight was a short-eared owl hunting close by before settling on a post about 100m away giving good views More... |
| Sunday, 7 December 2008 Morning walk around Hall Marsh Scrape and Bowyers Water Decisions, decisions - do we look at the barn owl or the pair of peregrines calling and flying overhead? More... |
 | Wednesday, 19 November 2008 'Get to know your local birds' - A morning walk around Hall Marsh & Bowyers Water Our first winter visitors were seen: wigeon on Friday Lake and on Bowyers Water along with a male goldeneye. Redwings were seen feeding amongst the bushes by the path around Bowyers Water. More... |
 | Sunday, 9 November 2008 Coach trip to RSPB Ouse Washes & WWT Welney The weather was much better than expected, bright at first and then clouding over with a couple of light showers around dusk. Strong SW wind, max temp 12degC. Heavy showers after dark at Welney, but this did not matter as we were inside! More... |
 | Sunday, 2 November 2008 Local walk around Amwell Gravel Pits The drake ferruginous duck seems to have gone from the area but a yellow-legged gull was found, and a total of 55 species were seen or heard by the group. More... |
| Sunday, 26 October 2008 North Norfolk weekend trip report This year 19 Members enjoyed staying at The Linksway Hotel in Old Hunstanton, organised by Phil Blatcher. 93 species were seen by the group over the weekend programme, and a grand total of 110 species were seen, including birds spotted whilst travelling, Friday-Sunday. More... |
 | Wednesday, 22 October 2008 Morning walk at LVRPA Cornmill Meadows, Waltham Abbey The weather was dry, sunny and a little chilly to start. Attractive autumn foliage was much admired and the bird highlights included Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Hobby, Cetti's warbler (heard), Stonechat, Kingfisher and Siskin. More... |
| Sunday, 12 October 2008 Coach trip to NWT Cley Marshes Cley is renowned for its long list of rare birds and we were fortunate to encounter a Wilson's Phalarope, a rare vagrant wader from North America, which had been in the area for the last few days. More... |
| Sunday, 5 October 2008 Local walk in the Kings Mead area Wet!! Wet!! Wet!! It was a grey and increasingly wet morning as 10 people gathered in Ware Library car park for a walk on the Meads. More... |
 | Saturday, 20 September 2008 10 members of the group found their way to Bradwell on the Essex coast for the first outing of the new season. More... |
 | Friday, 27 June 2008 Evening walk at Cornmill Meadows, Waltham Abbey Most people heard and saw a kingfisher at close quarters along the old River Lea. More... |
 | Sunday, 22 June 2008 Coach trip to RSPB Strumpshaw Fen reserve The sun shone for most of the day but a strong breeze kept many birds hidden from view. The breeze did not seem to affect the marsh harriers and they were seen doing acrobatics in the air. More... |
 | Saturday, 14 June 2008 We were delighted to find a pair of Emperor dragonflies on the smaller, open pond, the female was laying eggs and we were able to watch her through the telescope and have excellent views. More... |
 | Sunday, 1 June 2008 Local Walk at Northaw Great Wood The highlights of the day included good views of Goldcrest, regularly visiting a hidden nest in one of the Yew trees near the car park More... |
 | Saturday, 17 May 2008 Another excellent day at one of our favourite venues, 100 species were seen or heard by the group despite the persistent light rain! More... |
| Sunday, 4 May 2008 The highlights were 5 Black Terns over Holyfield Lake. There were many singing nightingales - about 10 were counted - but only a few members of the group had a sighting More... |
| Sunday, 20 April 2008 Coach trip to Stodmarsh NNR & Grove Ferry 28 supporters were on the coach, everyone seemed to enjoy the day and most people appreciated the liquid refreshment (tea or Shepherds Neame) in the Grove Ferry Inn at the end! More... |
 | Sunday, 6 April 2008 The snow had two advantages, one it made the views picturesque but perhaps more importantly it kept the golfers away and eliminated the risk of being hit by a flying golf ball! More... |
 | Saturday, 29 March 2008 Coach trip to RSPB Dungeness and Dungeness NNR We had excellent views of a pair of peregrines displaying near the power station, a pair of black redstarts, at least 4 firecrests... More... |
 | Sunday, 2 March 2008 Morning walk at Clayton Hill, Nazeing Another good turn out and at least two new people came on the walk, led by Mike Oakland. The weather was mostly sunny but with a blustery wind. 23 supporters joined this walk More... |
| Sunday, 24 February 2008 In terms of important conservation tasks, 'Beached bird survey organiser for South East Hertfordshire' sounds a bit like 'Admiral of the Swiss navy'. However the South-East Herts Group has been participating in the Beached Bird survey for many years, monitoring a stretch of the Blackwater estuary in Essex, at Tollesbury. More... |
| Sunday, 17 February 2008 Coach Outing to RSPB Titchwell & Holkham NNR We could not have had a better start to the day, within minutes of leaving the coach we were getting outstanding views of two insomniac barn owls flying around the fields at Holkham. More... |
| Saturday, 9 February 2008 Family walk at Fishers Green, jointly with Rye Meads WEX group The children saw lots of birds, mud and puddles! More... |
| Sunday, 3 February 2008 Local walk around Holyfield Farm and looking over the Goosefield at Fishers Green 4 Buzzards were seen, with very good views of one pair 'hanging' in the air over the field, and perching on trees. More... |
| Saturday, 12 January 2008 Car trip to RSPB Rainham Marshes & EWT Thorndon Country Park 27 supporters were on this trip, enjoying the winter sunshine and the wildlife. More... |
| Sunday, 6 January 2008 Our annual car trip to Abberton and Tollesbury Our Annual New Year walk at Abberton and Tollesbury with festive fare out at the point! More... |
| Saturday, 15 December 2007 Winter in the Brecks - Car Trip Report The day ended at Lackford Lakes (SWT) with incredible views of Starlings, approximately 20,000, going to roost. More... |
| Sunday, 2 December 2007 Local Walk around Nazeing Pits Six intrepid members braved the weather forecast to attend this local walk! More... |
| Sunday, 25 November 2007 Coach trip to RSPB Pulborough Brooks A good start to our day with Nuthatch, Marsh Tits and Coal Tit on the feeders outside the visitor centre. More... |
| Sunday, 4 November 2007 Morning walk around Cornmill Meadows, Waltham Abbey 30 of us were on this walk, which after a foggy start, became sunny and bright. The bushes and trees looked very attractive in their Autumn colours. More... |
| Friday, 26 October 2007 Group Weekend in North Norfolk This year 21 Members took over The Linksway Hotel, Old Hunstanton for the weekend. As usual we enjoyed good hospitality and excellent food in this cosy hotel. More... |
| Saturday, 20 October 2007 Undoubtedly the star bird of this trip was a Great Grey Shrike seen by many members of the group. Other highlights included Barn Owl, Pink-footed Geese, Grey Partridge and a rather dubious Snow Goose amongst the feral Greylags! More... |
| Sunday, 7 October 2007 Local walk around Amwell Quarry and New River Path Derrick decided to change his route to avoid walking along a footpath across the field where a riding event was taking place! More... |
 | Sunday, 16 September 2007 Car Outing to RSPB Cliffe Pools & Kent Wildlife Trust Oare 74 species seen at these two excellent venues on our first outing of the new season. More... |
 | Sunday, 8 July 2007 Dragonfly walk at Kings Mead, Ware Seven intrepid explorers joined Alan to investigate the wilder parts of King's Meads! More... |
| Friday, 29 June 2007 |
| Saturday, 16 June 2007 |
| Sunday, 3 June 2007 Local morning walk in the Thundridge area
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 | Friday, 25 May 2007 |
| Sunday, 20 May 2007 |
| Sunday, 6 May 2007 In search of Nightingales at Fishers Green
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| Saturday, 21 April 2007
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 | Sunday, 1 April 2007 Sewardstone Marsh morning walk
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 | Sunday, 25 March 2007 Coach trip tp Sandwich and Pegwell Bays
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| Sunday, 4 March 2007 Report of the Annual Beached Bird Suvey |
| Sunday, 4 March 2007 Local walk around Hall Marsh scrape, Hooks Marsh and Bowyers Water
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 | Saturday, 10 February 2007 Coach trip to Holkham and RSPB Titchwell
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| Sunday, 4 February 2007 Local walk around Walthamstow Reservoirs |
 | Saturday, 20 January 2007 Car trip to the Riverside Country Park, Kent
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| Sunday, 7 January 2007 Annual New Year walk at Abberton Reservoir & Tollesbury, Essex
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| Saturday, 16 December 2006 Trip to the London Wetland Centre
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 | Sunday, 3 December 2006 Local Walk around Amwell Gravel Pits
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| Sunday, 19 November 2006 Coach trip to RSPB Ouse Washes & WWT Welney
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| Sunday, 5 November 2006
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| Friday, 27 October 2006 Report of the Autumn Group Weekend in North Norfolk 27 - 29 October 2006
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| Sunday, 15 October 2006 Coach Trip to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Sussex |
| Sunday, 1 October 2006 Morning walk in the London Colney area, at Tyttenhanger gravel pits and surrounding area |
| Saturday, 16 September 2006 Abberton Reservoir and RSPB Old Hall Marshes
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