Events
Unless otherwise specified, you do not need to be a member of the RSPB (or the local group) to join us on our events, and birdwatching experience is not necessary. If you have any questions please call the contact number shown with the event details.
February 2012
Tue14
Illustrated talk: The Remarkable Trees of St Albans
Location: St Saviour's Church Hall, Sandpit Lane, St Albans, AL1 4DF
Limited parking is available at the side and in front of the church.
Postcode: AL1 4DF (Google map)
We all recognise the importance of trees to our environment, not least for their contribution to the well-being of our wildlife. Kate Bretherton’s illustrated talk will give us a flavour of her detailed and fascinating book on the history, beauty and importance of some of our special local trees.
Time: Doors open at 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm start
Price: Admission: RSPB Members £2.00, others £2.50
Telephone: 01923 678534
Sun19
Morning bird watching outing to Fishers Green
Location: Meet in the car park at the end of Stubbings Hall Lane, north of Waltham Abbey. OS Landranger map ref TL377031.
Latitude/longitude: 51.710494,-0.0082 (Google map)
This site can offer good chances to see the rarer winter wildfowl, goldeneye, smew and goosander, especially if the winter has been cold further north but has left the lagoons of the Lee Valley relatively ice free. The watch point might give sightings of bittern and water rail and the surrounding areas can add redwing, fieldfare and wintering geese to our list
Time: 9:30
Price: Free
Telephone: 01923 678534
March 2012
Tue13
Illustrated talk: Saving Special Places - Thirty Years of Stepping up for Nature
Location: St Saviour's Church Hall, Sandpit Lane, St Albans, AL1 4DF
Limited parking is available at the side and in front of the church.
Postcode: AL1 4DF (Google map)
Andre Farrar has been with the RSPB for many years and now heads the media team at The Lodge. His current mission is to support the RSPB's conservation work by telling the stories of the teams in the field who work to preserve the best place for wildlife.
Time: Doors open at 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm start
Price: Admission: RSPB Members £2.00, others £2.50
Telephone: 01923 678534
Sun18
Morning nature walk in Cassiobury Park, Watford
Location: We meet in the car park at the end of Gade Avenue, Watford. OS Landranger Map Ref. TQ092967
Latitude/longitude: 51.658927,-0.421981 (Google map)
We are repeating the visit to Cassiobury that was so successful last year. The habitat is a mixture of woodland, formal parkland, playing fields and a small nature reserve alongside the River Gade and Grand Union Canal on the outskirts of Watford. Perhaps we will have more luck with the green woodpeckers this time.
Time: 9:30 am
Price: Free
Telephone: 01923 678534
April 2012
Tue10
Illustrated talk: Hope Farm and Corn Bunting research
Location: St Saviour's Church Hall, Sandpit Lane, St Albans, AL1 4DF.
Limited parking is available either side of the church.
Postcode: AL1 4DF (Google map)
We have a fascinating double bill in April from Ian and Rosemary Dillon . Ian is manager of Hope Farm where the RSPB is demonstrating the successful combination of biodiversity and commercial farming. Rosemary will be presenting the results of Corn Bunting research in Cornwall and East Anglia.
Time: Doors open at 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm start
Price: Admission: RSPB Members £2.00, others £2.50
Telephone: 01923 678534
Sun15
Full day bird watching outing to RSPB Reserve at Otmoor
Location: Meet in the reserve car park at the end of Otmoor Lane, Beckley, Oxford.
Grid ref SP570126.
Latitude/longitude: 51.809583,-1.173907 (Google map)
It is a while since we visited this relatively new RSPB Reserve on the outskirts of Oxford. There have been extensions and improvements since then. This spring visit holds the prospect of displaying lapwings, redshanks, snipe, curlews and skylarks, migrating waders and warblers in the reeds
Time: 10:00 am
Price: Free but donations to help continue the work are welcomed
Telephone: 01923 678534
May 2012
Tue8
AGM and Team Quiz night
Location: St Saviour's Church Hall, Sandpit Lane, St Albans, AL1 4DF.
Limited parking is available either side of the church.
Postcode: AL1 4DF (Google map)
Please join us for the short AGM this evening to find out what your committee has been up to during the year. This year we are reviving the “Question of Birds� team quiz night. It was great fun the year before last and knowledge of birds is purely optional to join in the fun.
Time: Doors open at 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm start
Price: Admission: RSPB Members £2.00, others £2.50
Telephone: 01923 678534
Sun13
Morning bird watching outing to Chorleywood House Estate
Location: The Estate entrance is on A404 between Rickmansworth and Amersham. We will meet in the Dell Wood car park. OS map ref TQ035970
Latitude/longitude: 51.662261,-0.505003 (Google map)
Though not far away, this venue includes a small HMWT nature reserve, woodland, meadows and a pleasant walk alongside the River Chess. Previous visits in other seasons have provided the odd surprise so it should be interesting to try one in the spring.
Time: 9.30 am
Price: Free
Telephone: 01923 678534
June 2012
Tue12
Evening walk at Tyttenhanger
Location: Meet in the car park by St Peter's Church, London Colney. Grid Ref TL182037
Latitude/longitude: 51.71973,-0.2905 (Google map)
Walking alongside the River Colne northwards from London Colney you pass under the A405, through farmland and on to the nature reserve based on the former gravel pits. It is a favourite birding spot with summer warblers, woodland birds and waders on the list of possible sightings.
Time: 7.30 pm
Price: Free
Telephone: 01923 678534