Our walks, normally a stroll lasting about 3 hours, are open to everyone from beginners to the more knowledgeable. Don't worry if you're a novice as there is always someone on hand to help in identifying the birds. You don't have to be a member, just come along. We particularly like to help beginners and you're guaranteed a warm welcome. Binoculars and stout footwear are normally useful. You can click on each venue e.g. Stockers Lake for more information or on the map reference e.g. OS176/043928 for a map of where to meet.
Coach trips, also open to everyone from beginners to seasoned 'birders', start from Braywick Nature Reserve, Hibbert Road, Maidenhead (click on OS175/SU895796 for a map) and are usually an all day affair. A packed lunch is often advisable. Seats must be booked and fully paid for (£18) at least one week in advance whilst early reservation helps us guarantee the viability of booking the coach. (Cheques payable to RSPB please). Call Ernie Allen on 01628 625324 for more details.
Click here for reports of previous walks and trips.
Season 2010/2011 - Programme will be published soon (website modification in progress). Details of coach trip on 11th September 2010 have been added.
Season 2009/2010
Complete Birdlists for Outdoor Trips
Committee Member John Shelton has compiled ongoing spreadsheets.
CLICK HERE to download the 2009 lists.
CLICK HERE to download the 2010 lists.
Reminder: click site name for information about each site and Map reference for a map of the parking area and the site.
Sat 11th Sept 2010
| Dungeness RSPB Reserve, Kent - Contact Ernie Allen on 01628 625324 A dry shingle beach jutting out into the English Channel at Britain's most south-easterly point. Excellent for migrant birds. | |
Sun 27th Sep 2009 9.30am (Morning outing) | Bowdown Woods/Lower Farm Gravel Pits, Berks | |
Fri 16th - Sun 18th Oct 2009 | Gibraltar Point Field Station, nr Skegness, Lincs A weekend at this National Nature Reserve consisting of sea shore, sand dune, saltmarsh and freshwater habitats with autumn migrants and waders. Contact Carol Winder (01753 854393) for details. Cost is £94.00 pp for full board. | |
| Sat 24th Oct 2009 10.00am (Morning outing) | College Lake, Herts Another BBOWT site being a reclaimed chalk quarry with marshland and chalk grassland. Expect, waders, waterbirds and raptors. Small entrance fee. Meet at 10.00am in site car park off B288 at Map 165/933139. | |
| Sun 29th Nov 2009 9.30am (Morning outing) | Wraysbury Gravel Pits, Berks An area of open water, islands, grassland, scrub and woodland, now designated SSSI. Look for Goosander, Smew and many other species. Meet in Hythe Heath lay-by (please do not restrict residents' access). Map 176/018/727. | |
Wed 9th Dec 2009 9.30am (Morning outing) | Dorney Wetlands, Berks An area especially created for wildlife on the man-made flood channel for the River Thames. Target ducks, waders and Grebes. Meet in car park off Lake End Road (B3026) at Map 175/929799. | |
| Fri 1st Jan 2010 10.00am (Morning outing) | Little Marlow Gravel Pits, Bucks Come and blow out the cobwebs! Our traditional and popular New Year's Day walk to see Kingfisher, wildfowl and raptors. Meet in Spade Oak car park, off Coldmoor Holme Lane at Map 175/884876. | |
| Sat 23rd Jan 2010 9.30am (Morning outing) | Weston Turville Reservoir, Bucks Morning outing to this large reservoir surrounded by woodland and reedbeds. Expect waterfowl, gulls and possible Water Rail, Scaup, Smew and Goosander. Meet in car park in World's End Lane off the B4009, at Map 165/860093. | |
Sun 7th Feb 2010 | Elmley Marshes RSPB Reserve, North Kent - Contact Ernie Allen on 01628 625324 A wilderness made up from farmland, ditches, salt marsh and tidal mudflats. Look for waders, raptors and wildfowl. Possible extra trip to raptor viewpoint at Capel Fleet. Be prepared for bleak, windy, damp and cold conditions. Five hides, toilets, but no visitor centre. | |
Sun 21st Feb 2010 9.30am (Morning outing) | Stockers Lake, Herts A nature reserve situated alongside the Grand Union Canal and is one of the oldest gravel pits in the Colne Valley. Good for wildfowl including Smew and Goosander. Meet in the carpark off Springwell Lane at Map 176/043928. | |
Wed 17th Mar 2010 9.30am (Morning outing) | Thatcham Nature Reserve, Berks This large SSSI and SAC nature reserve has reedbeds, lakes, damp woodlands, a river and a canal which attract waders, wildfowl and possibly the three Woodpeckers. Meet in the carpark off Lower Way at Map 174/506672. | |
| Wed 7th April 2010 9.30am (Morning outing) | Watlington Hill, Oxfordshire High in the Chilterns this SSSI consists of chalk downland, scrub and beech woodland. Expect to see Red Kite, Common Buzzard, woodland and scrubland birds. Meet in the car park off Hill Road at Map 175/710936 | |
| Sun 25th April 2010 9.30am (Morning outing) | The Lodge (RSPB HQ), Sandy, Beds Restoration is on-going to provide wood, heath and grassland. Expect Warblers, Woodpeckers and Thrushes. Toilets and shop on site. Meet in car park off Potton Road (B1042) at Map 153/191485. (Post Code SG19 2DL - for those with satnavs) | |
| Sat 8th May 2010 9.30am | Titchwell Marsh, north Norfolk - Contact Ernie Allen on 01628 625324 One of the most popular coastal RSPB sites with reedbeds and shallow lagoons should provide a good range of birds including spring migrants, waders, Marsh Harrier and Bittern. Excellent visitor centre and cafe available. | |
| Sun 23rd May 2010 9.30am (Morning meeting) | Warburg Reserve, Oxfordshire Premier BBOWT site with chalk grassland and ancient woodland. See Red Kite, Woodpeckers and Warblers. Toilets available. Meet in reserve car park (take B480, north of Middle Assendon, turn 2nd left, 50m past The Rainbow Pub, then 2 miles) at Map 175/720878 | |
| Wed 16th June 2010 9.30am (Morning meeting) | Burnham Beeches, Bucks Owned by the Corporation of London, this site is one of the finest ancient woodlands in GB. 56 species of bird are known to breed here. Possible Sparrowhawk, Hawfinch, Redstart, Nightingale and Mandarin Duck. Meet in main car park (via Beeches Road) at Map 175/957850 | |
Fri 2nd July 2010 7.30pm (Evening meeting) | Thursley Common, Surrey Despite extensive fire damage in 2006, this site remains as one of the best lowland heath, mire and woodland in the south of England. The evening should produce Woodlark, Nightjar, Dartford Warbler, Stonechat and Barn Owl as well as butterflies and dragonflies. Meet in the Moat carpark at Map186/900416 | |