Titchwell Marsh RSPB Reserve, Norfolk

24 members and friends left Maidenhead on a dry but murky morning arriving in Norfolk to sunny intervals. The clouds gradually disappeared leaving us in near perfect, calm birdwatching conditions. Initial good views of Hobby and Marsh Harrier led to later sightings of Peregrine Falcon, Sparrowhawk and Honey Buzzard. Sea watching produced Pomarine, Actic and Great Skua, Sandwich and Common Tern, Red-throated Diver, Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Eider and Common Scoter. The lagoons provided a good range including Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Pintail, Shoveler, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Golden and Grey Plover, Knot, Sanderling, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper and Spoonbill. Good views of Whinchat, Common Redstart, Bearded Tit, Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler, Blackcap and Willow Warbler added to the Group's total of 95 species for the day.  A warm and sunny drive home gave many the opportunity to catch up with some  well-earned sleep.      

Chobham Common, Surrey

12 members and friends met at 8.00pm on this large lowland heath site. (An earlier 'reccy' by 4 of the group resulted in good views of Dartford Warbler). A walk into the valley produced Chiffchaff, Kestrel, Lapwing and Meadow Pipit.  Woodcock were seen on their twilight roding flights whilst Nightjar were clearly heard 'churring' as the light diminished.  A group total of 24 species were identified during this pleasant evening stroll.

Berkshire Downs, Berks

A bright morning encouraged 26 members and friends to visit this remote area on the Downs.  An immediate possible distant sighting of Stone Curlew got the trip off to a good start.  A walk along the Ridgeway and surrounding area produced Red Kite, Kestrel, Red-legged and Grey Partridge, Skylark, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, and Corn Bunting.  40 species were 'ticked' during this dry and sunny outing

Minsmere RSPB reserve
Suffolk

38 members and friends travelled by coach to Minsmere on a beautiful spring day.  The weather attracted many visitors and at one point, it appeared that there were more humans than birds! The trip started well with good views of Sand Martins nesting in the sand bank followed shortly by a Bittern flying low across a reed bed, a ‘lifer’ for some viewers. Warblers were singing and displaying well including Cetti’s, Sedge, Reed, Willow, Garden, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat. Sandwich, Common, Little and Black Terns had arrived along with a Mediterranean Gull.  Raptors included Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel and Hobby. Amongst waders were Oystercatcher, Avocet, Lapwing, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Knot, Sanderling, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff, Black and Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Common Sandpiper and Turnstone. At the end of a very productive day, the Group count amounted to 102 species.

Blackwater Valley
Surrey/Hants

Despite travel directions which, if followed, required some off-roading, 15 members met in the car park on a very sunny morning!  Good views were soon had of a pair of nesting Blackcap and a single Chiffchaff. Early migrants in the form of Swallow and Common Tern were then seen over the lakes with Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting in the reed beds.  The woodland produced Nuthatch and Jay with Buzzard and Kestrel overhead. A Group total of 38 species was rather low and might have been improved if the walk was taken a little later in the year.

Paxton Pits
Cambs

A beautiful, sunny morning met the 10 members and friends at the Visitor’s Centre.  We were very fortunate in having Ann and Bob Scott to kindly act as guides and to show us the site ‘hot-spots’. On the waters were seen Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Goldeneye, Red-crested Pochard and Redshank. Early Sand Martins were seen with Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting.  At lunchtime at bat was seen flying across the car park, but not identified.  49 species were seen in total and it was generally agreed that a visit, perhaps, two or three weeks later would have been more productive.  However, a good day out at a still-developing site with excellent facilities. 

Burnham
Bucks

Our second mid-week walk attracted 21 members and friends to this very windy and initially overcast ancient woodland site. A few metres from the car park, good views were had of Goldcrest and Coal Tit. On the Upper and Middle Ponds were Mandarin Ducks with a female wrestling to swallow a large frog, eventually giving up in disgust. Treecreeper and Nuthatch followed as we crossed Lord Mayors Drive into Sevenways Plain, Mendelssohns Slope and New Coppice. Welcome hot drinks were then purchased at the café, where a Group total of 28 species was calculated. The morning ended brightly with a welcome appearance from the sun.

Bury Down
Oxon

Two Police cars were present when the Group met on the Ridgeway at Bury Down. We did not discover which of our attending 24 members they were investigating! The weather remained blustery but dry. Yellowhammer provided a good start to the walk near the car park, with Linnet and frequent Corn Bunting added quickly. A convenient dog walker flushed two Short-eared Owls, a targeted species, and good views were had. Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were then seen with Stonechat finding it very difficult to perch securely in the strong wind. In all, 26 species were seen, a reasonable count in this virtually treeless habitat.

Elmley Marshes RSPB reserve
North Kent

Despite a very cold, windy and overcast day, 34 members and friends travelled by coach to this wild and remote grazing marsh. A Little Owl was sheltering a few metres from the car park near to a good number of Lapwing and Golden Plover. Raptors seen on the walk included Marsh and Hen Harrier, Peregrine and Kestrel. Views over the River Swale included Grey Plover, Oystercatcher, Knot, Dunlin, Black and Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone and Green Sandpiper. Duck counts included Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Pintail and Shoveler with Bewick’s Swan nearby. Geese included White-fronted, Greylag, Barnacle, Canada and Brent. Few passerines were seen but included Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, House Sparrow and Reed Bunting. A good finish to the day was provided by a Short-eared Owl making the group’s total up to 69 species. Stoat, Fox, Hare and Rabbit were also spotted. A productive day despite the unfriendly climate.

Little Marlow gravel pits
Bucks

On a damp, foggy but mild morning, 49 members and friends (is this a record?) met for the traditional New Year’s Day walk. As the walk progressed, the mist lifted, visibility improved and the sun revealed itself for a few minutes. Not too many surprising ticks included Greylag, Canada, Egyptian and Ross’s Geese: Ruddy Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler and Pochard; Red Kite, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard: Golden Plover, Lapwing and Common Snipe; Black-headed, Common, Herring, Lesser Black-backed and Greater Black-backed Gulls; Stock Dove; Ring-necked Parakeet; good views of Kingfisher, brightening a dull day; Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker; Skylark; Grey and Pied Wagtail; Fieldfare, Redwing, Song and Mistle Thrush; Long-tailed and Coal Tits; Siskin, Bullfinch and Reed Bunting. With so many pairs of eyes available, the group list rose to 65 species.