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 19th March Members Evening – Talks from two members
Keith Williams – Post-Soviet Bulgaria.
Keith will give a talk of his holiday in this country of south-eastern Europe, with its rich biodiversity and wide range of ecosystems and habitats, and, of course, its variety of bird species.
Tim Snowdon – Photographing Birds
Tim is an ex-professional photographer who will talk about why photographing birds (and wildlife) has drawn him closer to nature whilst also creating a deeper understanding of its fragility and beauty. He will also talk about the techniques he uses and how these try to reflect the way the human brain sees the world – which is not remotely objective. He will also give some advice on how to get started yourself.
Field Meetings.
Saturday 21 February – Portbury Wharf Leader: Peter Bryant
Meet at 0930. From the M5 Junction 19 Gordano, take the A369 to Bristol (rather than the Portishead Road) then use the right-hand lane to Portbury village. At the bend to the left, check oncoming traffic and go straight on, then turn right to park on Station Road (not the pub car park). We will walk over the M5 on the footbridge to the end of, Station Road (where the X4 Portishead bus from Bristol stops). A circular walk out to Portbury Wharf and the, Severn, looking for winter thrushes and wildfowl. All on lanes and public footpaths, but likely to be muddy..
Tuesday 24 February Lansdown – Bath Leader: Robert Hargreaves
Meet at Lansdown Park and Ride site north of Bath. Partly on the Cotswold Way with farmland and woodland birds.
Tuesday 3 March Kelston Leaders Caron Thornton-Trippit and Graham Blacker
Meet in Church Lane. Coming from Bristol drive past The Crown and take the next right, plenty of parking here. A lovely walk over flat fields and following the Avon on the opposite side of Saltford, unfamiliar territory for many. Finish by the Bath Cheese Company where there is a lovely café.
Sunday 8 March Forest of Dean Leader: Robert Hargreaves
Meet at 10:00 on the village green in Park End, to look for Hawfinch. Via the M48, turn right for Chepstow and take the A48 to Lydney. At Lydney take the B4234 to Park End. New Fancy View is north out of Park End on Fancy Road, right at the fork. After approximately one mile turn left, signposted Speech House. Within a quarter of a mile turn right into the car park. We will be searching for forest residents including Crossbill, Siskin and Goshawk. Then we will check out places such as Nags Head RSPB and Cannop Ponds which may hold Mandarin and other wildfowl (depending where the best birds are at the time). Bring food and drink for the day, and stout footwear. Car sharing is encouraged.
Tuesday 10 March Sand Point – Middle Hope Leaders Caron Thornton-Trippit and Graham Blacker
Picnic walk. Meet in the NT car park at the north end of Sand Bay for a walk to Sand Point and then along the coast towards Woodspring Priory. Breakaway opportunities, easy walking with care, a few stiles.
Tuesday 17 March – Elm Farm, Burnett Leader: Philippa Paget or Graham Blacker
From Bath, take the A39 and right at traffic lights onto the B3116. Fork left on farm drive as you enter Burnett. The farm is 112 hectares in size and consists of 17 hectares of arable crops, over six hectares of woodland and five hectares of crops exclusively for the benefit of birds and other wildlife. No fertiliser is used on the species rich grassland which is managed to encourage insects, birds and bats as well as other wildlife. Many field margins next to hedges or water are preserved for conservation and the remaining grassland is grazed by cattle, sheep and ponies. Field walking with an uphill return to Elm Farm.
Tuesday 24 March – Pilning Wetlands / New Passage Leader: Jane Cumming
Where the B4055 Easter Compton/Pilning road meets the A403 Avonmouth road, continue 500m north-west on B4064 through Redwick village to mini roundabout. Take right turn along New Passage Road (Redwick Road), crossing over the M4. Then either park at end of road near yellowish Caroline Cottage (but only if you can keep the road clear enough to allow bin lorries through and able to turn); or stay back up the road and park discreetly along New Passage Road cul-de-sac on left; in layby further on right; or by large modern farm buildings; and walk the half mile or less to the meeting point where the Severn-side promenade turns east inland along the Chessell Pill at ST 545864. Bring a scope if possible. Walk includes estuary and foreshore watch from New Passage, along the Severn Way embankment beside the salt marsh and Pilning Wetland pools, and along path by inland pools, returning the same way. Though not a circular walk, the birds should be constantly changing as the tide changes.
Saturday 28 March – Watercress Farm, (Belmont Estate) Wraxall Leader Alastair Fraser
Watercress Farm is a rewilding project. The site includes rough pasture, formerly arable fields, woodland and a small river. Uneven underfoot, no stiles, can be muddy in places, one small incline. From Bristol take the Clevedon Road B3130 towards Wraxall. Pass the gatehouse to Belmont Estate on your right then a sign for Wraxall on the left. 200 metres further on there is a sign to Watercress Farm on the left. Go down the farm lane to the car park. From the opposite direction, pass through Wraxall and the turn off is on the right about half a mile from the village. Meet at 09:30.
Tuesday 31 March – Hanham Mills Leaders Karen Birmingham, Jean Oliver and Jenny Weeks
A walk mostly through mixed woodland beside the River Avon, including good views of the active heronry. Park (and lunch) at The Chequers Inn, Hanham Mills. Can be muddy in places with some short steepish slippery areas, but no stiles. Expect to see a variety of small birds and of course, herons.