Trip reports

Curlew standing on weed, County Cork, Ireland

Saturday, 2 August 2008

Waders to test one's ID skills and peregrines to terrorise the waders in their turn! More...

Adult black-tailed godwit in summer plummage, at the RSPB Snettisham nature reserve, Norfolk

Saturday, 12 July 2008

A new site to visit for the group brings gulls, terns, waders as expected, and fledgling warblers galore! More...

Puffin perched on rock, Isle of May

Thursday, 12 June 2008

A stroll on the beautiful Dorset coast to see Puffins, Razorbills and Guillemots, Sandwich terns and Kittiwakes. A bonus view of bee and pyramidal orchids too. More...

male stonechat perched on bramble

Tuesday, 10 June 2008

A trip to see the famous Porton Down stone curlews at dusk, brought other downland birds and many other natural history treasures besides. More...

Male redstart perched on branch

Sunday, 8 June 2008

A sublime New Forest experience with a stunning parade of raptors. More...

Turtle dove

Sunday, 18 May 2008

Turtle doves remained elusive but birds and butterflies galore made this visit to a National Nature Reserve a feast for the eyes, ears and heart! More...

Willow warbler

Friday, 16 May 2008

An evening of tranquil bliss in the woods, seeing, and hearing, the peculiar territorial roding flights of the woodcock. Willow warblers and song thrush to fill the gaps! More...

male stonechat perched on bramble

Sunday, 4 May 2008

Searching for firecrests, listening to redstart and wood and dartford warblers, glimpsing hawfinch, stone chat and whinchat, a good New Forest array of birds, with a bonus red kite "thrown in"! More...

Nightingale singing

Thursday, 24 April 2008

In search of nightingales with no luck, sadly, but an exciting American vagrant saved the day! Green-winged Teal was a new species for several people. More...

Male green woodpecker feeding on ground

Sunday, 13 April 2008

Grasshopper Warbler and Yellow Wagtail proved elusive but woodlark, raptors galore and a large flock of Golden Plover made up for these missing migrants. More...

Little ringed plover wading in shallow water

Saturday, 15 March 2008

Great views of Peregrines but NO Little Ringed Plover to be seen! More...

Adult male siskin on feeder

Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Goshawks, Ravens and a great grey shrike, deep in the Forest of Dean. More...

Whooper & Bewick's swans feeding in ploughed field

Sunday, 3 February 2008

Wild and captive wildfowl, and mixed flocks of waders captivate a coachload of keen birdwatchers at this amazing bird-watching venue. More...

Dark-bellied brent goose on water at Hayling Island

Monday, 14 January 2008

Glorious light and absent rain give wonderful views of Divers, Mergansers, Brent geese and lots of wildfowl. A magnificent 50 species seen during a most delightful visit to Shell bay and environs. Hooray after all the gloomy, wet weather! More...

Goosander on water

Saturday, 15 December 2007

Fantastic wildfowl to be seen at the Cotswold Water Park tempted a lot of people away from Xmas shopping! A brilliant day's birdwatching with some 64 species recorded, with a spectacular starling roost finale. More...

Male goldeneye

Wednesday, 5 December 2007

A pair of Long Tailed duck and a group of Hawfinch make for a fantastic visit to Normandy Marsh and Blackwater Arboretum More...

Drake teal profile

Sunday, 25 November 2007

Star turns by redwings, beautiful pintails galore, and a bonus peregrine falcon. More...

RSPB Lodmoor nature reserve

Saturday, 27 October 2007

64 species despite a quiet day at Portland and Lodmoor. A black Redstart and a "greenland" wheatear made the day. More...

Redshank perched on post

Wednesday, 17 October 2007

Shy spotted redshanks and far from shy birds of prey at a small reserve that always gives a lot of species and pleasure! More...

Hobby chasing dragonflies

Saturday, 22 September 2007

A Kingfisher and a high-speed Hobby bring colour and excitement to Chew Valley LAkes. More...

Male bearded tit perching on Phragmites

Tuesday, 4 September 2007

Yellow wagtails and a splendid bearded tit make for a species-packed and thrilling day at Titchfield Haven. More...

Osprey in larch tree

Saturday, 25 August 2007

Yellow wagtails galore, and a fine osprey, make the day at Needs Ore Point. A surprise nightjar is the icing on the cake! More...

Willow warbler

Tuesday, 7 August 2007

Sunshine, waders and warblers and dazzling heather-clad cliff walks More...

Dartford warbler perching on heather

Monday, 18 June 2007

Only 8 Members were attracted to this am/pm extension trip, possibly due to the poor weather forecast, at least for the morning. As it turned out, the rain stopped at 9.45 am, with only a li More...

Avocet wading in water

Friday, 8 June 2007

A group of 19 birdwatchers attended this trip.

We started the morning walk at 9.30 am, quickly picking up Whitethroat in song just beyond the car park. The Ferry Pool held the 2 sum More...

Curlew standing on weed, County Cork, Ireland

Saturday, 19 May 2007

17 people attended the morning walk, 12 stayed on for the afternoon amble. Included in the party was a Dorset couple, who had found our details in the South West Region programme on display  More...

Hobby chasing dragonflies

Wednesday, 9 May 2007

A group of 14 enjoyed this minibus trip to the Levels. A wet day was forecast, but there were some dry periods, although no sun, with temperatures peaking at 14C.

There was plenty  More...

Nightingale singing

Sunday, 29 April 2007

Two contrasting RSPB Woodland Reserves in one day! The trip attracted 25 Members. After a cool and cloudy start, the temperature soon reached 18C, perfect for our 2 hour saunter around Highn More...

Drake teal profile

Tuesday, 20 March 2007

Nineteen keen folk left Salisbury at 8am, on a bright, cold windy day, the first target being the long-staying first winter Laughing Gull at Countess Wear. After our customary stop at Exeter More...

Male snipe singing in the rain

Tuesday, 20 March 2007

Nineteen keen folk left Salisbury at 8am, on a bright, cold windy day, the first target being the long-staying first winter Laughing Gull at Countess Wear. After our customary stop at Exeter More...

Goosander on water

Thursday, 8 February 2007

Despite overnight snow enveloping much of the country, Salisbury and surrounding districts got away with only a light covering fortunately. The day remained dry, cold and sunny. However, onl More...

Drake teal profile

Wednesday, 10 January 2007

After such a run of mild, but very wet weather, it was just great to be out in sunny, dry conditions, despite the fresh wind. We reached Shell Bay at 1015. Immediate reward came in the shape More...

little egret, wading, water

Monday, 25 December 2006

Christmas Day 2006 dawned cloudy, cold and windy - not ideal for a stroll along the Solent but I set forth anyway, swaddled in suitable warm clothes, with a keen dog for company.

I  More...

Dartford warbler perching on heather

Saturday, 18 November 2006

After a very wet period, the weather was crisp, dry and sunny for this Saturday excursion from Ashley Walk to Pitts Wood, with an afternoon addition into Amberwood. Twelve people joined in t More...

Male goldeneye

Friday, 10 November 2006

21 people participated on a bright, mild day with generally light southerly breezes.

A return walk was made via the Ferry Pond, which held a reasonable selection of species - notabl More...

Heather at Arne nature reserve

Saturday, 21 October 2006

Despite a poor weather forecast, the rain didn't materialise, but the high tide and strong wind put paid to both waders (no mud), and Dartford Warblers. Before lunch we headed for the Shipst More...

Male bearded tit perching on Phragmites

Thursday, 12 October 2006

19 people attended on a warm sunny day with temperatures peaking at 18 C. The calm conditions encouraged activity amongst the Bearded Tits, with up to 18 in the air, and subsequently 4 perch More...

View over lagoon, Titchwell Marsh RSPB reserve

Saturday, 30 September 2006

14 of us left Salisbury by 8.30am on a warm, bright and breezy Saturday morning, arriving (after an unsuccessful attempt to twitch a Red necked Grebe at Downham Market) at the RSPB Titchwell More...

Yellow wagtail in winter wheat

Thursday, 21 September 2006

No less than 26 people arrived at Ferrybridge on a very warm, sunny and breezy morning, in the forlorn hope that the previous day's Red necked Phalarope would still be in situ. Alas, only Du More...

Barn owl looking over its shoulder

Sunday, 20 August 2006

21 people took part in this trip to the south coast on a windy and cloudy day. Recent heavy rain had filled the lagoon, so there was no wader habitat unfortunately. Most of the waders were d More...

Adult black-tailed godwit in summer plummage, at the RSPB Snettisham nature reserve, Norfolk

Wednesday, 2 August 2006

Nineteen people took part on a bright, breezy day. As usual, we started by viewing the river mouth and the sea. Amongst the many Common Terns, Dick found us the first of several Little Terns More...

Red squirrel in Scots pine tree

Thursday, 13 July 2006

25 people met up at Poole Quay on a warm overcast day, thankfully much cooler than recently! We arrived in advance of our booked guided tour, so some spent time in the Public Hide. From 11 a More...