Evening walk on the Berkshire Downs

On a summer evening, this area of the Downs can reveal an assortment of buntings, finches and warblers, as well as partridges, raptors and a variety of other wildlife. Be prepared for a good walk of about 4 miles.

Meet at 19.00 at the North end of Churn Road, Compton. Grid Reference: SU 507 821

 

Early morning birdsong walk at Dinton Pastures

It is an exciting time of year, with up to nine warbler species, Common Tern, Cuckoo and Hobby all possible.

Meet 07:30 at Dinton Discovery Centre car park (SU786725, RG10 0SU or ///dragon.dash.spicy) (Parking charge £1.50/hr)

 

Day trip by car to Titchfield Haven, Hants

At this time of year there can be a wide variety of birds on passage along the Meon valley, as well as sea birds on the Solent.

Meet 9:30 on Meon sea-front (SU535023, PO14 3JT, ///racks.comic.promising)

 

Day trip by car to Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes

This area offers a mix of marsh, meadow, gorse scrub and sea. It can produce a huge list, ranging from raptors to Dartford Warblers, from divers to sandpipers.

Meet 09:30 at the main car park in Keyhaven (SO41 0TP, SZ306915 or ///soaks.polar.zaps). Note all parking in the vicinity is now pay and display.

 

Weekend trip by car to Somerset

Somerset is a large and diverse county, with many well-known birding sites such as Steart Marshes WWT, and Greylake and Ham Wall RSPB reserves, the winter home to thousands of wildfowl and waders, Cranes and raptors, and up to a million murmurating Starlings. We will stay in a hotel in Bridgwater – please contact me by 19th December for more details or to book your place, though numbers may already be limited by the hotel capacity.

 

Joint BOC/RSPB Wokingham & Bracknell Local Group day trip by coach to Slimbridge WWT

The Slimbridge experience is unique, with an extensive collection of wetland birds surrounded by a patchwork of water, marsh and fields, where thousands of wild birds gather. Rarities are frequent. The facilities and food are excellent.

Charge to be arranged, additional entry charge for those not members of WWT. Priority given to BOC and RSPB Wokingham & Bracknell Local Group members until October 31st 2024.

Pick-ups 07:30 at Finchampstead Village Hall and 08:00 at Reading University car park 1A, Shinfield Road main entrance (SU728719, RG6 6UR). Free parking.