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. 7:30 start
Thursday 22 October – ‘Colorado Grouse Leks and other US species’ by Keith Williams.
Keith will take you on an exhausting tour of Colorado and into a few neighbouring states as well. Not only will you see the fabulous grouse leks in close up, but also the magnificent scenery, many other birds and some of the 31 mammals from a two-week trip in April 2025.
Thursday 19 November – Peter Cranswick – ‘Flight of the Swans’
How do you save a species in trouble that ranges over 11 countries? A swan that breeds in the high Arctic and winters in the UK? To understand the dangers facing Bewick’s Swans during their 3,500-mile journey, and to galvanise people across all those countries to help, we created a human swan. This is the story of a pioneering conservation expedition, to migrate with the swans from the top of Russia to the safety of WWT Slimbridge in Gloucestershire
Field Meetings.
Tuesday 20 October – Easter Compton (Spanorium skyway) :Leader: Graham Blacker
Meet in the Fox car park or park sensibly on the main road of Easter Compton. We will follow footpaths, short
sections of roadway lanes. Note if it has been raining recently you will need wellies. Wonderful views from the top of the hill across the Severn, ancient church, quiet woods. Couple of steep climbs and descents, no stiles just lots of gates.
Tuesday 27 October – Priddy Leader: Beth Yates
Meet around the village green in the middle of the village for a lovely walk on the Mendips. One short steepish hill, can be some very muddy paths. Seven stiles (two quite difficult). Chance to break away a little earlier if
necessary.
Sunday 01 November – Pilning/New Passage – Leader Robin Martin (Extra meeting not in Programme)
Meet at 09.30. A walk for all members from New Passage along the Severn Way embankment to Pilning Wetland pools and back the same way. With the high tide at 11:11 the birds should be constantly changing with the exposure of mud. We will be looking for ducks, waders, and other migrants. 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 end near Caroline Cottage keeping the road clear to allow safe traffic movements, or park discreetly further back and walk the short distance. Please let the leader know if you intend to join us.
Tuesday 03 November – Luckington Leader: Graham Blacker
Park in the village lay-bys along The Street or where you can, we will meet outside the Old Royal Ship pub. This Cotswold walk starts at the quaint village of Luckington and takes us along Hancock’s Well spring to the lovely village of Sherston. From there, across lush fields and charming country lanes. Five stiles and muddy when wet.
Tuesday 10 November – Dolebury Warren Leader: Jac Tonkin
We will meet in the car park of the Crown Inn, Churchill. If coming from Bristol on the A38 turn right at Churchill traffic lights and the turning to the pub is about 200yards on the left; or if coming on the A368 from Bath go straight over the lights and then turn left. The pub is 100 yards past the Nelson Arms and the car park is on the right before the Crown Inn (if using the pub car park buying a drink/food would be appreciated). Alternatively, park on the lane. A hilly walk with a few stiles and passing through deciduous and coniferous woodland, limestone grassland and scrub. The ridge is exposed and the going can be muddy in places when wet.
Tuesday 17 November – Clevedon Pill, Wains Hill (Poets Walk) Leader: Jane Cumming
Park along the road between The Salt House and Little Harp pubs and meet on the promenade behind the Salt House. We will walk over Wain’s 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.
Sunday 22 November – Ham Wall and Shapwick – family walk at 14:00
Meet at Ham Wall car park at 14:00 (parking is £5 or free to card-carrying RSPB members) and visit the hides to see winter wildfowl and raptors, then approaching sundown we will watch the murmuration from either Ham Wall or Shapwick Heath, depending on where the murmuration is best showing. Expect to finish after sunset.
Tuesday 24 November – Saltford Leader: Robert Hargreaves
Taking the A4 from Bristol to Saltford, turn left at any turning in Saltford, park as near as you can to St Mary’s Church entrance where we will meet (the car park we have previously used is now three hours max and charges). A walk over the fields around Avon Farm. There are six stiles in one section, but they can be avoided by taking the road for 500 yards. Muddy if wet.