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, from September – March.
Thursday 22 May on Zoom at 19:30 – Sophie-lee Williams – The White-tailed Eagle Re-introduction Project.
This special meeting is re-scheduled from 20 February. This is a Zoom only meeting
Field Meetings.
Sunday 18 May – Quantocks – Leader: Robin Martin
Meet at the car park in Holford at 10:00. Turn left off the A39 in Holford village and drive down the lane to a small car park. We aim to walk through Hodder’s and Slaughterhouse Coombes, then up over the open ground to Bicknoller Post, across Longstone Hill or Lady’s Edge before dropping down into Holford. Bring a picnic lunch and stout footwear. This four mile meeting will last into mid-afternoon. Target species are Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Tree Pipit. Open ground may deliver Whinchat, Cuckoo and possibly Dartford Warbler.
Tuesday 20 May – Hambrook Leader: Joyce Donkor and Kate Cashmore
A non-strenuous walk around the village of Hambrook where Bradley Brook converges with the River Frome. Meet in the car park of the White Horse pub. From the A4174 ring road take the B4058 to Hambrook. The ‘White Horse’ is on the right as you come from under the M4. Will be muddy when wet, five stiles which can be avoided, one quite steep set of steps. Care needs to be taken as part of the walk runs alongside a river with no barrier.
Saturday 24 May – Inglestone Common Leader: Mike Jackson
Meet at the Lower Woods GWT Nature Reserve car park at 08:30 for this morning only walk. From Wickwar take Chase Lane to cross a cattle grid onto Inglestone Common. Continue for about 850 yards and take the track to the right which leads to Lower Woods Nature Reserve car park. We will walk through the woods to the Common where we hope to see and hear both resident and summer visiting breeding birds.
Tuesday 27 May – Litton Reservoirs / Hinton Blewitt Leaders: Sue and John Prince
Meet in the small lay-by opposite the Ring O’ Bells in the village of Hinton Blewitt. Car share if possible as parking is limited. A walk through fields and past the Litton Reservoirs. One short hill.
Saturday 31 May – Frampton on Severn Leaders: Mike Jackson and Caron Thornton-Trippit.
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 B4071towards 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 Hobby, terns, freshwater birds and summer passerines. The surface is level, firm and even, with a few stiles.
Tuesday 03 June – Wick/Golden Valley Leader: Geoff Hardman
From Bristol turn left off the A420 into London Road, this road continues first right towards the petrol station. Park here and meet at London Road/Bury Lane corner for this Golden Valley Walk covering a range of habitats from farmland scrub, woodland and waterside. A few stiles and could be muddy, car share if possible as parking is limited.
Tuesday 10 June – Puxton Moor Leader: Gareth Roberts
Meet by the parish noticeboard in Puxton village. Please car share if you can as parking is limited. From A370 two miles west of Congresbury (going towards Weston) turn left at Hewish, signed Puxton and brown tourist sign for Holy Saviour Church. (If approaching from M5 J21 stay on A370 at first Puxton sign and turn right at Garden Park Garden Centre). On entering Puxton turn right at the signpost (to Hewish and Weston) and park on the left after the
church path. Please keep off the soft verges. A walk around Avon Wildlife Trust’s Puxton Moor reserve. Flat with two stiles (can be by-passed). Can be uneven, muddy and wet. A mixture of grazed pasture (likely to be cattle), reed-lined ditches, mature hedgerows, and river; hopefully with birds to match, and at a peak time for dragonflies.
Saturday 14 June – Goldcliff, Gwent Leader: Jane Cumming
Travel via M4 and at Junction 23a take the A4810. Go through four roundabouts then turn left at the next roundabout where there is a RSPB sign to Newport Wetlands, along Nash Road. Do not take next turn right to the Wetlands, but carry on past Goldcliff village to the parking area. Meet at 10:00 (High tide 09:49) for a morning exploring the wetlands at Goldcliff. There is some off-road parking just up the lane or careful parking on the road verge. A morning only meeting. RSPB Newport Wetlands, where there are facilities, is nearby if you wish to stay on. Both sites are reasonably level but the paths at Goldcliff can be uneven and muddy. We will be looking for breeding waders and passerines.
Tuesday 17 June – Sandford Wood Leader: Graham Blacker
Picnic walk. Meet at the Railway Inn on the A368 (please use the overflow car park) The walk includes three short stiff climbs plus three stiles ascending Sandford Hill, Lyncombe Hill and the Mendip Trail leading to Sandford Quarry. Some declines may be tricky especially if wet. It later follows a track past some old Lime kilns before heading back to the Railway Inn.
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.