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
Sunday October 20 – Uphill and Bleadon Leader: Jane Cumming
Park on Links Road (parking is free at this time of year) or Thornbury Road which is first right after the Uphill Boatyard entrance heading towards the beach. Meet at the gate to the golf course, on the left just before the beach car park at Uphill at 09:30 and bring a telescope if possible. We will spend some time watching from the beach so ensure you have warm clothing. Following this we will have a short walk over the hill towards the Bleadon Levels. There will be more watching than walking and we can drop telescopes off in cars after the beach watch. High water approx 09:30.
Tuesday 22 October – Steart (Picnic Walk) Leader: Elaine Lambert
Meet at the WWT car park. Leave the M5 at junction 23 for Bridgwater and take the A39 to Minehead. Do not take the bypass at Cannington but go into the village and turn right onto the road towards Combwich and Hinkley Point. Follow the signs for Steart. Watch for the right turn to Steart which is now well signed. The car park is on the left hand side of the road. Depending on what birds are reported we will visit the WWT reserve first and move to the Natural England car park in Steart village after lunch TA5 2PX. A flat walk to the WWT and Natural England hides
overlooking the estuary, marshes and River Parrett. There should be a variety of water birds, some waders including Avocets and farmland birds.
Tuesday 29 October – Old Down/Tockington Leader: Sue Black
Meet in the car park on the far side of the football pitch. The playing field can be found at the top of the hill from the centre of Tockington village. A walk in the countryside with stiles and possible mud.
Tuesday 05 November – Bleadon Levels Nature Reserve Leader: Jane Cumming
Meet at 10.00 at the public car park at Weston Sewage Treatment Works near Bleadon. Directions: head towards the hospital at Weston-super-Mare but before you reach it turn south at the roundabout onto the A370. In Bleadon village turn right at the Anchor Inn onto Accommodation Road signposted to Brean and Berrow. After half a mile and immediately after the railway bridge turn right onto an unsigned road with a 20mph sign. (Take care it’s on a
blind corner.) Follow this road for half a mile, through the Wessex Water gate and on past the well marked bridle path. The car park is on the right 100 yards further on; if it’s full you can park at the end of the road beyond that. Bring a telescope to look for bird roosts on the River Axe. A very easy walk, flat and mostly on a cycle path. (The car park is open on weekdays only, Monday-Friday, 8:00 – 15.30)
Sunday November 10 – Newport Wetlands Leader: Peter Bryant
Meet at RSPB car park at 09:30 .Note that there is now a £3 charge for the RSPB car park for non-members so if you are a member, bring your RSPB card and consider car sharing. We will look out for Marsh Harrier, Bittern, Bearded Tit and Cetti’s Warbler as well as arriving winter raptors and
passerines. Wildfowl and waders should be in good numbers on the Severn Estuary.Directions: Take the M4 over the Prince of Wales bridge towards Newport to junction 23a and take the A4810. After three roundabouts this long straight road continues past industrial estates and new housing developments. Eventually the dual carriageway curves first right then left. Go straight through the next small roundabout and at the second, larger roundabout follow the RSPB sign onto the West Nash Road. Keep on this road for about one and a half miles. Watch for a brown coloured reserve sign on the left indicating the almost immediate right turn into Nash village. Keep on through the village with the power station in full view. The RSPB car park is on the left-hand side.There are brown duck signs at the various junctions but they can easily be missed.
Tuesday 12 November – Ashton Court Leader: Graham Blacker
Meet at the Golf Course car park (small charge) which can only be accessed from the top entrance of the park. (A369) A lovely walk around Ashton Court and the deer park, lots of woodland, no stiles, one small incline, we should see Treecreeper, Nuthatch and Skylark.
Tuesday 19 November – Upton Cheney/Swineford Leader: Geoff Hardman
Meet in the car park of the Upton Inn, Upton Cheney. Mostly easy walking but some steps and a hill at the end. Parking limited, car share if possible.
Sunday November 24 – Ham Wall Leader: Nick Page
Please remember to contact the leader in advance in case of changes to the itinerary in light of bird reports. Meet at 09:30 outside the Information Centre at the RSPB car park. From the middle of Meare village on the B3151 Wedmore to Glastonbury road, take the minor road south signposted Ashcott. The car park is about a mile down this road opposite the Meare Heath/Ashcott Corner car park, beyond the Railway Inn. We will walk around the hides at RSPB Ham Wall (a couple of miles). We may extend the meeting to visit another site after lunch if enough people are interested (bring food and drink for the day). We hope for sightings of Marsh Harrier, Great White Egret, Great Crested and Little Grebe, and perhaps Bearded Tit. We may hear wintering Chiffchaff and Blackcap. The walk is mostly along flat hard ground although there are some rough wet grass tracks. Parking charges apply but free to RSPB members with your RSPB card. Natural England’s car park opposite is not free.
Tuesday 26 November – Snuff Mills 3.7 miles *** 30th Anniversary walk *** Leader: Nick Hawkridge.
Please join us for the 30th anniversary of BOC Tuesday walks, the first also being at this venue. There will be surprises in store. 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 a leisurely walk along the river. Approximately four miles and will be muddy after rain. *A parking charge now applies.
Saturday November 30 – 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.
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 17 October at Newman Hall, 19:30 – Tom Mabbett “The Best of Britain, from Ardnamurchan to the Forest of Dean”
Tom, a Naturetrek tour manager, will speak to us of his favourite UK wildlife locations, from
the “wild west” of Scotland to his local Forest of Dean, talking of wildlife discoveries and the best of what our varied isles have to offer.