Details of meetings, including a comprehensive programme of mid-week meetings, can be found in Bird News, (the club’s monthly publication for members)
W/E meetings start at 09:30 and on Tuesdays at 10:00, unless otherwise stated.
Please note the revised Safeguarding Policy
Indoor meetings.
The Club’s indoor meetings will be held at the Newman Hall, 28 Grange Court Road, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4DR.
Thursday 20 November – Peter Cranswick, ‘Saving the Madagascar Pochard’
Saving the world’s rarest bird. Last seen in 1991, some 20 Madagascar Pochards were found by chance on a
remote lake in 2006, literally teetering on the brink of extinction. An emergency rescue mission was scrambled to bring birds into captivity, buying time to devise a long-term plan. But finding a new home for a duck in one of the world’s poorest countries, where most wetlands are heavily degraded, in a hard-to-reach location, throws up many and varied challenges. Hear how a pioneering approach, some innovative thinking, and not a little determination is helping keep this duck’s head above water.
Thursday 18 December – AGM followed by Oliver Smart – From 60 Degrees North
Field Meetings.
Sunday 23 November – RSPB Ham Wall / Shapwick Heath NNR. Starling murmuration meeting Leader: Nick Page
The final location depends on where the roost is. Meet at Ham Wall car park at Ashcott Corner at 14:00. Updates may be sent out via email and Whatsapp. From the middle of Meare Village on the B3151 Wedmore to Glastonbury road, take the minor road south, with a brown signpost to the Nature Reserve. After approximately one mile the car park is situated on the left just after the Railway Inn and the drain bridge, NB – not the Shapwick car park, which is on the other side of the road. Level walking but may be muddy in places following rain. Parking charges apply for non-RSPB members; RSPB members are exempt (place membership card in the windscreen). The car parks can fill up on the weekends so we will do some birding as we make our way to the roost, though please note the location does vary from night to night so there is no 100% guarantee to see it.
Tuesday 25 November – Stanton Drew Leader: Alan Craddock
Meet at the upper car park of the Druids Arms, Stanton Drew. If coming from the A38 turn onto the B3130 and go through Winford and Chew Magna before turning right at the toll house to Stanton Drew. If coming from the A37 Wells Road, turn onto the B3130 north of Pensford and turn left at the toll house. There is a narrow bridge and sharpish double bend in the village before coming to the Druids Arms on your left. The car park is beyond the pub. Take the second entrance to the car park up a short incline to the upper car par park. Stone circles, disused railway viaduct but no stiles. Can be muddy in places with some minor road walking up a hill coming back out of Pensford.
Saturday November 29 – Eastville Park / Stoke Park Leader: Rich Scantlebury
Meet at the bottom of Elmgrove Road on Thingwall Park at 09.30. As it is a Saturday the Eastville car park will be full up with Park Run runners.
Tuesday 02 December – Steart (Picnic Walk) Leaders: Elaine Lambert – Nick Jobson-Wicks
Leave the M5 at junction 23 for Bridgwater and take the A39 to Minehead. Take the bypass at Cannington and head for Combwich and Hinckley Point. Stay on that road and follow signs for Steart. Watch for the brown well-signposted right turn sign for Steart. The WWT car park is on the left. A flat walk on the WWT Otterhampton loop overlooking the estuary, marshes, lagoons and River Parrett. There should be a variety of water birds including Avocet and farmland birds. We will stop for coffee at the viewing platform or near the river, before heading to the Parrett hide then onto the Quantock hide for lunch. Those who wish to finish early can easily break away back to the car park (well signposted); otherwise we will continue along the wetland walkway as far as the large pond before heading back to the cars, possibly stopping off at the two Polden platforms.
Sunday 07 December – Frampton on Severn Leader: Alastair Fraser
Meet at 10:00 at the car park at the far end of the village green. From the A38, just south of M5 J13, take the B4071 towards Frampton on Severn. Just before the Bell pub turn left to bisect the village green. When the green starts to narrow opposite The Three Horseshoes pub, turn left into Watery Lane. We shall walk around the gravel pit lakes, through farmland, woodland and parkland where a good variety of birds should be present. Target species are freshwater birds and passage migrants. The surface is generally level, firm and even with a few stiles.
Tuesday 09 December – Lower Failand Leader: Alan Craddock
Park along Sandy Lane beside St Bartholomew’s Church in Lower Failand. This is a walk through rolling
countryside (hilly in places) with some wooded areas. No stiles. Can be muddy in one or two places
Saturday 13 December – Chew Valley Lake Leader: Nick Page
Meet at 09:30 at Herriotts Bridge where there is plenty of parking. This walk explores the public access areas so it is likely that permits will not be required. However, depending on where the birds are we may visit Woodford Lodge to get a permit if needed on the day. Due to the distances involved we will drive between locations, with the exception of a potential walk between Woodford and the Dam. We hope to see any interesting new arrivals as well as the wintering wildfowl. Due to the low water levels, please bring a scope if you have one. This walk will be suitable for young people to see the birds at their best local reservoir.
Tuesday 16 December – Saltford (Christmas Lunch) Leader: Robert Hargreaves
Park in the Riverside pub car park, The Shallows, Saltford. *Please don’t forget to register your car registration
number in the pub whether you are stopping for lunch or not. We will have a shortened walk in order to return to the pub by 12:30. All are welcome on the walk irrespective of whether you have booked for lunch.
Tuesday 23 December – Snuff Mills Leader: Caron Thornton-Trippet
Meet in the car park in River View, off Broomhill, Frenchay Road. Snuff Mills is a popular site for locals and visitors who come from far and wide to enjoy the tranquillity and natural surroundings. The river Frome is also home to some of Bristol’s otters. Join us for an effortless walk along the river. Approximately four miles and will be muddy after rain. *A parking charge now applies.
Tuesday 30 December – Portbury Leader: Judy Copeland
From the M5 Junction 19 Gordano, do not take the Portishead Road but take the A369 to Bristol, using right hand lane to Portbury village. At bend to left, check oncoming traffic and go straight on, then turn right to park on Station Road. Please do not park in the pub (The Priory) car park. We will walk over the M5 on the footbridge at the end of Station Road. A circular walk out to Portbury Wharf and the Severn, all on lanes and public footpaths, likely to be muddy.
Thursday 01 January 2026 – WWT Slimbridge Leaders: Graham Blacker – Di Bunniss
Meet in the car park at 09:30 – – more details next month
Sunday 11 January – RSPB West Sedgemoor Leader: Gareth Roberts
Meet at 10:00 (finish 13:00). An opportunity to visit a reserve, only available to booked groups, at the southern end of the Somerset levels. There will be an RSPB guide and most of the session will be in the hide giving panoramic views of large numbers of wintering wetland birds, also raptors and, often, cranes. Telescopes provided, but do bring your own. Fee to RSPB is £10 pp, or £7 with RSPB card, payable on the day. Booking essential, as numbers limited to 18 maximum. Contact [email protected], or phone the leader if no email. Car parking is limited, so car share if at all possible. Dress warmly, and the path may be muddy across fields. From M5 J25 (Taunton), take A358 (Yeovil). After 2.8 miles turn left onto A378 (Langport) for 6.7 miles. On entering Curry Rivel village take first left onto Heale Lane, (narrow road.) At the next junction turn left onto Red Hill. After 0.4 mile RSPB is in farm buildings on the left. On the return journey you could visit RSPB Greylake (15 min), or RSPB Ham Wall (30 min) for the Starling murmuration.