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 September 22 – East Devon, Exe or Axe Estuary Leader: Jane Cumming
You must contact the leader if you are going because she will determine at the last minute whether Black Hole Marsh at Seaton or Bowling Green Marsh at Topsham is likely to produce the most interesting birds, depending on the latest news. Email me at and I will reply with the meeting point, or you can call me at home on the Saturday evening to check the decision.
Tuesday 24 September – Tickenham/Cadbury Camp Leaders: Lois Pryce and Jan Pridie.
Meet at the Church of St. Quiricus and St. Julietta, Church Lane, Tickenham off the B3130 Clevedon road (left from Bristol, right from Clevedon) for a hilly walk which can be muddy after rain. Parking limited please car share if possible.
Saturday September 28 – Sand Point Leader: Matt Hull
Meet in the National Trust car park at Sand Point at 09:00 for a walk around the Point and along to Middle Hope. Parking free for NT members with your card. Expect a bit of a climb to the Point and uneven ground, so stout footwear suggested.
Tuesday 01 October – Woodchester Park (Picnic Walk) Leader: Di Bunniss
Picnic Walk. Meet at the National Trust car park (postcode is for the Mansion) where there is a charge of £3 (NT members free). Woodchester Park is a National Trust property signposted off the B4066 Dursley to Stroud road. We aim to be back at the cars by 15:00 but there are breakaway points for anyone who needs to leave early. With a mixed habitat of woodland, pasture and lakes we hope to see and hear plenty! There may be muddy patches. Do have a look at the NT Woodchester website if you don’t know the valley.
Tuesday 08 October – Clevedon Pill, Wains Hill (Poets Walk) Leader: Jane Cumming
Park along the road between The Salthouse and Little Harp pubs, and meet on the promenade behind the Salthouse. We will walk over Wains Hill and around Clevedon Pill – two and a half miles if there is a lot to see or nearly four miles if we decide to do the whole circuit via Dowlais Farm. High tide approximately 10:42.
Saturday October 12 – Cheddar Reservoir Leader: Elaine Lambert and Nick Jobson-Wicks
Meet in the southern reservoir car park at 9:30. From the A38 Bristol to Bridgwater road at the top of Shute Shelve take the A371 to Cheddar and then on a sharp bend turn right along the B3151 for Wedmore, over a bridge, and almost immediately turn right into Sharpham Road signposted Cheddar Nurseries / Playing Fields / Cemetery. At the end, drive through the blue coloured gates into the car park. This will be a circular walk of around four miles covering about a third of the reservoir bank and the remainder on droves and paths beside rhynes. Walking will be flat and easy but may be very muddy.
Tuesday 15 October – South Stoke Leader: Graham Blacker
From the Keynsham by-pass (A4) through Saltford, turn off the A4 at the Globe roundabout, second exit and climb up the hill signposted Twerton, cross over the A3062 and right onto the B3110 and right again at the Cross Keys pub to the village of South Stoke where parking is limited. A few stiles, a longish hill at the end plus possible mud. Meet in the middle of the village by phone box. A lovely walk following the old Somerset coal canal.
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.
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.