Wildmoor Heath. Meet at 10.00am at the reserve car park on the Sandhurst road south of Crowthorne at SU842627. Contact: Bill Nicoll (01344 455403)
Cornwall (Long weekend) Our previous trip lasted only 3 days (but we found lots of birds including yellow-browed and barred warbler), so this 4 day trip could be even better. We will spend a day travelling down and spend the weekend at various sites around Cornwall. Contact: Colin Wilson (01252 837411) as soon as possible.
Greenham Common. Meet at 10.00am at the Control Tower Car Park (SU499652). The ranger Andy Phillips will guide us on this walk. Contact: Dot Lincoln (0118 9427563)
Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve (Full day or morning only) This attractive reserve is always well worth a visit. It has plenty of hides and a decent café if it rains. The reserve opens at 10.00am and there is an entry charge (about £3.70 for non-members). Meet on Meon sea front near Stubbington (SZ533023) at 9.00am. Contact: Ruth Angus (0118 9894928)
Little Marlow Gravel Pits and woods. Park and meet at 10.00am outside the church (Manor House on the map) in Church Road off the A4155 (SU874878). Contact: Harry Matthews (01628 624440)
Rainham Marshes RSPB (Full day) This new marshland reserve on the eastern edge of London is good for wildfowl, waders, and birds of prey and a selection of interesting species (including water pipit) often turn up. For more information try: www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/r/rainhammarshes Meet at the reserve centre near Purfleet (TQ552792) at 9.30am. Contact: Colin Wilson (01252 837411)
Moor Green Lakes with optional Christmas lunch. Meet at Lower Sandhurst Lane car park (SU805628) at 10.00am (lunch at 1.15pm). Contact the organiser 6 weeks ahead to be sure of a seat for lunch. Contact: Dot Lincoln (0118 9427563)
Theale area (Morning only) Start your year with a selection of the best local birds. Visit several lakes, marshy areas and woodland sites around the area. Local knowledge should help us to find the more unusual wintering species. Meet at Moatlands car park (SU664705) at 9.00am. Contact: John Lerpiniere (0118 9426225)
Twyford Lakes/Lodden BBOWT Reserve. Meet at 10.00am in the car park of the Wagon and Horses near the reserve on the A3032 (SU785760) and stop for a drink afterwards. Contact: John Roberts (0118 9482137)
Sevenoaks WP and Bedgebury (Full day or afternoon only) Sevenoaks Wildlife Park is a large area of lakes and woodland that holds a range of winter ducks and waders and a good variety of woodland species. See www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk for more information. After lunch we will move to the Pinetum at Bedgebury where roosting finches usually include hawfinch. Meet at the Sevenoaks wildlife centre, north of Sevenoaks (TQ519567) at 9.30am or at 2.00pm at Bedgebury Pinetum (TQ726334) - charge of about £6 per car. Contact: Bill Nicoll (01344 455403)
Elmley RSPB (Full day coach outing with East Berks RSPB) There is always a lot to see here, especially wildfowl and wintering birds of prey. Come prepared for a 4 mile walk and winter weather. Cost - £17. Pick-up at Bray Nature Centre (SU895794) at 7.00am. Contact Ernie Allen (East Berks RSPB organiser) on 01628 625324.
North Norfolk (Weekend trip) The weather may be unpredictable, but we can confidently predict that we will see lots of birds, including some scarce winter visitors. Enjoy walks through the marshes, including the incomparable Titchwell RSPB reserve, followed by sociable evenings. Book early because places are limited and, as this trip is so popular, members must take priority over guests. Contact: Ted Rogers (01344 883237) quickly to book a place.
Berkshire Downs. Meet at 2.00pm at Bury Down car park, just off A34 near West Ilsley (SU480840). Contact: John Lerpiniere (0118 9426225)
Farlington Marsh and Langston Harbour (Full day or morning only) We hope to find the earliest of the spring migrant passerines plus many species of waders, wildfowl and birds of prey. In the morning we shall walk the footpath around the 3 mile perimeter of the grazing marsh. After lunch we shall move the short distance to Langstone Harbour. Meet at Farlington Marsh car park (SU678044) at 9.00am. Contact: Bill Nicoll (01344 455403)
Swallowfield Area. Meet at 10.00am at Swallowfield village hall (SU727650). Contact: Colin Wilson (01252 837411)
Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire and Newport Wetlands (Full day) The main aim is to watch goshawks perform their aerial spring display. The rest of the day will be spent around the Newport wetlands, a superb new reserve with a huge reedbed and various other wet habitats. Meet at New Fancy View car park (no facilities) at 10.00am (SO625094) and Newport Wetlands reserve centre (ST334834). Contact: Ted Rogers (01344 883237)
Pirbright Common (Evening only) All the local resident birds should be active and migrants will be returning. Expect to see a good selection of woodland and heathland species, with the possibility of something unusual. Meet at 4.30pm (when firing range red flags come down) at junction NE of Longdown Hill (2 miles west of Pirbright) at SU918556. Contact: Colin Wilson (01252 837411)
Pamber Forest and Silchester Common. Meet at 10.00am in the car park, Impstone Rd, Tadley (off B road from Silchester to Tadley) at SU616608. Contact: Ray Reedman (0118 9864338)
Dungeness, Kent (Full day) Migration should be at its peak with the prospect of skuas at ‘the patch’, waders on the RSPB reserve and passerines could be anywhere. Contact the leader before 14th February if you want to come, because we shall arrange a coach if there is enough interest. Meet at the Old Lighthouse car park (TR089168) at 10.00am or come early and join a sea-watch at the patch (TR084165) at 7.30am. (Meeting time and place will change if we use a coach). Contact: Ray Reedman (0118 9864338)
Bird Song Walk at Dinton Pastures Country Park. Meet at Lavell’s Lake car park, Sandford Lane (SU786727) at 7.30am. Contact: Ray Reedman (0118 986 4338)
Minsmere RSPB (Full day coach outing with East Berks RSPB) At this time of year migration is still substantial – passerines will be going through and there should be wader and seabird passage.. Cost - £17. Pick-up at Bray Nature Centre (SU895794) at 7.00am. Contact Ernie Allen (East Berks RSPB organiser) on 01628 625324.
New Forest and Pennington Marshes (Full day or morning only) In the forest, woodland birds should still be singing and we will look for some soaring raptors in the mid morning thermals. After lunch, the marshes should hold passage migrants, especially waders. Meet at Acres Down car park, 1 mile SW of Minstead (SU268097) at 7.30am for woodland birds or at 10.00am for raptor watching. Contact: Martin Sell (0118 9471170)
Bramshill Plantation. Meet at 10.00am in the car park on the N side of the Eversley to Heckfield Road where power lines cross (SU760613). Contact: Ray Reedman (0118 9864338)
Lakenheath RSPB Reserve, Suffolk (Full day) This new RSPB wetland reserve holds marsh harriers, hobbies, bearded tits and warblers, along with golden orioles in the poplar plantations The reserve is still being developed and has no hides, but it has a reserve centre (with toilets). For more info see : http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/l/lakenheathfen/index.asp If there is time, we might also visit the Norfolk NT reserve at Weeting Heath to seek some scarce Breckland species (£3 charge). Meet at the reserve centre near Brandon (TL722864) at 9.30am. Contact: Bill Nicoll (01344 455403)
Poole Harbour, Dorset (Evening boat trip) Take an RSPB sponsored evening cruise along the Purbeck cliffs and view the seabird colonies on St Albans Head. The boat leaves Poole at 6.30pm, returning at 9.30pm. Subject to cancellation due to bad weather. Tickets cost £10.50 per person. Early commitment and payment will be necessary. Contact: Ray Reedman (0118 9864338) for details and booking (at least 6 weeks in advance)
Woolhampton Area. Meet at 10.00am in the car park of the Rowbarge Pub (SU573665) and stop for a drink afterwards. Contact: Martin Sell (0118 947 1170)
Coach Trip to the Rutland Birdfair (Full day) A full tour of the Birdfair, which includes optics, talks, holidays, art, books and more can last all day, and there is also good birdwatching from the hides (tree sparrow and osprey are very possible). For more information try: www.birdfair.org.uk. A price of around £25 (to be confirmed) will cover the transport and entry fee. Coach will leave Newbury (Wharfe) at 6.30am, Reading University (main gate in Shinfield Road) at 7.00am and Bray Wick, Maidenhead (Hibbert Road) at 7.20am. Contact: Ray Reedman (0118 9864338) at least a month ahead to reserve a seat
All members, their friends/family are welcome, especially beginners. Please telephone the named leader if you want to come, otherwise you may not be aware of any change of plan. Most outings are by private car and lifts can often be arranged if you ask in advance. Please bring food and drink for full day outings. When visiting reserves there is sometimes a charge for non-members. Most trips involve walks of varying lengths on footpaths so please bring suitable footwear.
Please telephone the leader as early as possible (e.g. at least 6 weeks in advance) so that suitable accommodation and transport can be arranged. Prices will be kept as low as practicable, the trip leaders can advise on likely costs.
A programme of half day trips will be arranged, normally on the morning of the third Thursday of the month. Details will be announced at indoor meetings and in the club newsletter. Contact Dot Lincoln for more information.