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 18 September speaker – Andre Farrar, ‘Stepping Up for Birds’ will be at the Newman Hall.
Field Meetings.
Saturday 21 June – Marshfield (evening) Leaders: Sue and Nigel Kempson
Meet at 19:30 at Marshfield off the A420. Park in the lay-by on the south side of the Marshfield bypass. A level walk on lanes, tracks and farmland. The specialties of this area are Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting, with the possibility of Grey Partridge and Quail.
Tuesday 24 June – Pucklechurch Leader: Graham Blacker
Meet by the green at Becket Court/St Aldams Drive for a circular walk of open countryside via Blue Lodge. This walk can get quite muddy in places. For anyone interested in literature Blue Lodge was the home of Anna Sewell, author of the classic ‘Black Beauty’.
Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June – Peregrine Watch
Join club members at our annual event on Clifton Downs watching the Avon Gorge Peregrines, and hopefully the recently fledged juveniles as they learn their flying and hunting skills. We will be by the Peregrine Watch noticeboard on Circular Road from 9 to 5 each day. If you have the time, you can volunteer to help out, no expertise needed, details at the end of Club News.
Sunday July 06 – Oldbury Power Station Leader: Di Bunniss
Meet at 09:30 for a relatively short, leisurely and flat walk around the Oldbury Power Station site which has a reputation for interesting bird sightings. From the car park the walk takes us over a stile to a lake and a number of reed beds which were formerly large water reservoirs for the once active power station. To get to the Severn Way we use a well-worn path that leads around the reed beds to the coastal path. To get to the footpath we either use a gap in the hedge which is on a slope or climb over a five-barred gate. The path follows the Severn Way with good views of the estuary across to Wales. Returning to the car park there is a large orchard which makes an excellent (weather permitting) setting to enjoy a rest or picnic lunch before departing. Approx three miles.
Tuesday 08 July – Coalpit Heath: Leader: Graham Blacker
Meet in Woodside Road, Coalpit Heath. From Bristol take the A432 towards Yate and Chipping Sodbury. Passing through the village of Coalpit Heath turn right into Rose Oak Lane or into Woodside Road, opposite the Badminton Arms and park in one of the surrounding streets. The walk is over farmland and a bridleway, fairly level and easy going but can be muddy, with seven stiles and five gates. Expect mixed farmland and woodland birds.
Saturday July 12 -Forest of Dean, note evening only meeting: Leader Robert Hargreaves.
Meet at 20:00 at Speech House Woodland Car Park. We will go up Crabtree Hill looking for Nightjar and Woodcock. Insect repellent, a hat and closed footwear is recommended. Expect to be in the forest until well after 22:00 for the Woodcock, so bring a torch and a bat meter if you have one. Please contact Robert if you have any queries. There are plenty of birds to see at Nags Head and Cannop Ponds Stone Works if you arrive earlier.
Tuesday 15 July – Bourton Combe: Leader: Graham Blacker
Only the second time here for BOC, last time being 28 years ago. Follow the A370 out of Bristol until you reach Stancombe Lane (just after leaving Flax Bourton, left hand side) Park in lay-by 100 yards up this lane or at the bottom of the lane, right hand side. This is a very hidden, peaceful shady deciduous woodland. Fairly easy with a climb up Bourton Combe, a little rocky underfoot and maybe muddy if there has been rain. No stiles.
Saturday July 19 and Sunday July 20th – Peregrine Watch
oin club members at our annual event on Clifton Downs watching the Avon Gorge Peregrines, and hopefully the recently fledged juveniles as they learn their flying and hunting skills. We will be by the Peregrine Watch noticeboard on Circular Road from 9 to 5 each day. If you have the time, you can volunteer to help out, no expertise needed, details at the end of Club News.
Tuesday 22 July – Stockhill Woods (Picnic): Leader: Graham Blacker
Meet in the main car park off the B3134. This is a wonderful well looked-after coniferous woodland within the Mendip Hills and can prove immensely popular. Two stiles. Target birds will be woodland and heath species.
Sunday July 27 Pilning Wetlands/New Passage: Leader:Jane Cumming
Walk from the foreshore at New Passage along the Severn Way embankment to Pilning Wetland pools and back the same way. The birds should be constantly changing as the tide drops from the 10:00 high tide to expose more mud. We will be looking for ducks and waders, so bring a telescope if you have one. Where the B4055 Easter Compton/Pilning road meets the A403 Avonmouth road, take the B4064 west through Redwick village to a mini roundabout where you go right to New Passage. Park at the dead end if you can keep
the road clear enough to allow bin lorries through, or park discreetly further up the road and walk – please car-share if possible. Meet at 09:30 where the Severnside promenade turns east inland along the Chessell Pill at ST 545864.
Tuesday 29 July – Clevedon/Walton Common and Coast Path (Picnic Walk): Leader: Robin Martin
Picnic Walk: Meet on the triangle opposite the gateway to Clevedon Golf Club. Turn off B3124 to the road going north-west between Clevedon School playing fields. At the top of the hill park in The Avenue. Some steep hills with climbs, tricky walking and some uneven paths. If weather is bad we could return to cars by 13.30.