Free Walks with the London Bird Club

London Bird Club Walks in 2016

The London Bird Club (LBC) is part of the London Natural History Society (LNHS). See www.lnhs.org.uk The LBC has a varied program of walks many of which are free and these are open to non members. People can join these walks by reaching the location at the stated meet up point using the good public transport infrastructure in London. For specially arranged coach trips there is a charge for the cost of transport.

I have over the years joined many of these walks and seen a lot and learnt a lot from walk leaders and others who join these walks. It’s a wonderful way to spend time on the week end and especially so if you are interested in wildlife. It’s also a terrific way to accelerate your learning and upping your skill levels if you are looking to pursue a career in field biology or conservation. As someone very keen on wildlife photography, I have found them useful to learn locations and how to find subjects for photography.

For ease of reference, I have copied below into my blog an extract of the walks run by the LBC. Visit the website for more details and also consider becoming a member. In addition a varied programme of events, members also receive three high quality publications, The London Naturalist its annual journal, the annual London Bird Report, a fact filled chunky tome published annually, and a quarterly slim Newsletter. Members get a lot for what is a relatively modest annual membership fee.

 

MARCH 2016

6 Sun. BIRDS. Hampstead Heath for ducks and woodland birds, including Nuthatch and Green Woodpecker. Possibly Kingfisher and early arriving spring migrants. Joint walk with Marylebone Birdwatching Society. Marion Hill & David Allen.  Meet 09.45 Belsize Park tube station (Northern) or 10.00 Hampstead Heath Overground Station. Long half-day. (Toilets.)

13 Sun.  BIRDS.  Beddington Farmlands for Green Sandpiper, Tree Sparrow and perhaps Water Pipit and Jack Snipe.  Derek Coleman.  Meet 09.30 Hackbridge Stn (NR Vic).  Stout footwear recommended.  AM only.  (No toilets.)

20 Sun. BIRDS. Brent Reservoir for wildfowl, late winter visitors (Bullfinch possible) and early summer migrants.  Andrew Peel. Meet 10.00 Cool Oak Lane Bridge (TQ219 877).  Nearest station, Hendon (NR St. Pancras.).  AM only.  (No toilets.)

26 Sat.  BIRDS.  Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens for wildfowl, gulls & possibly Tawny Owl.  Helen Baker.  Meet 09.30 at top of escalators, Marble Arch Stn (Cent).  AM only.  (Toilets).

 

APRIL 2016

9 Sat. BIRDS. Amwell NR for Buzzard, wildfowl and perhaps Marsh Tit. Pete Lambert. Meet 09.30 at St Margaret’s Stn (NR L’pool St). Bring lunch. (No toilets.)

16 Sat.  BIRDS. Fairlop Waters for spring migrants.  Alan Bell.  Meet 08.30 Fairlop Stn (Cent).  AM only.  (No toilets.)

24 Sun. BIRDS.  Crossness for early migrants and waders.  George Kalli.  10.00 Belvedere Stn. (NR Char X).  Bring lunch.  (No toilets.)

30 Sat. BIRDS. Stocker’s Lake for wildfowl, summer visitors and possibly Red Kite. Helen Baker. Meet 09.30 Rickmansworth Station (Metropolitan or NR Marylebone Station). Bring lunch. (Café and toilets at Bury Lake).

 

MAY 2016

7 Sat.  BIRDS. Dungeness for passage sea birds and migrants, with chance of rarities. Previous trips have produced Whiskered Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Great White Egret and White Stork. Neil Anderson. Meet 08.00 at Embankment U’grnd Stn. Bring lunch. £20 to leader (contact details page 15). Permit fee for non-RSPB members.

14 Sat.  BIRDS.  Wandsworth Common for spring migrants.  Peter White.  Meet 09.30 ticket office Wandsworth Common Stn (NR Vic).  AM only.  (Toilets).

21 Sat.  BIRDS.  Cheshunt Gravel Pits for warblers, Nightingale and Hobby.  Martin Shepherd.  Meet 09.30 Cheshunt Stn (NR Liverpool St).  Bring snack.  (Toilets.)

29 Sun. BIRDS. Greenwich Park for Nuthatch, Woodpeckers, Blackcap and fledglings. Joe Beale.  Meet 09.00 at Blackheath Gate entrance (TQ392768).  Nearest stn Blackheath (NR Charing Cross) and buses 53, 54, 202, 380. AM only.  (Toilets).

JUNE 2016

5 Sun. BIRDS. Totteridge/Darlands Lake for woodland birds & spring flowers.  Robin Blades.  Meet 10.00 Totteridge & Whetstone Stn (Northern).  Bring lunch.  (No toilets.)

25 Sat. BIRDS. Strumpshaw Fen for warblers, Bittern, Marsh Harrier,

Swallowtails and Norfolk Hawker, maybe Otter, Chinese Water Deer, Water Vole. Neil Anderson. Coach trip 08.00 from Embankment U’grnd Stn. Bring lunch. £20 to leader (contact details page 15).Fee for RSPB Reserve for non-RSPB members.

 

JULY 2016

30 Sat. BIRDS. Tooting Common for young Sparrowhawks.  Peter White.  Meet 09.30 south entrance Tooting Bec Stn (Northern).  AM only.  (Toilets).

 

AUGUST 2016

6 Sat.  BIRDS.  Lee Valley Country Park for breeding warblers, waders, Buzzard, butterflies & dragonflies.  Roy Woodward.  Meet 10.00 Cheshunt Stn (NR L’pool St).  Bring lunch.  (Toilets.)

14 Sun. BIRDS.  Greenwich Peninsula & Ecology Park for Common Terns, Kingfisher, Reed & Sedge Warblers, Whitethroat and Swift.  George Kalli.  Meet 09.30 North Greenwich Stn (Jubilee).  AM only. (Toilets at station and at the Ecology Park.)

21 Sun. BIRDS. Staines Reservoir and Staines Moor for wildfowl, grebes and waders.  Goosander and Water Pipit possible. Andrew Peel.  Meet 10.00 Hatton Cross Stn (Picc) then 203 bus to reservoir.  All day for both sites, finishing at Staines Stn. Bring lunch. (No toilets.)

27 Sat. BIRDS.  Rainham Marshes RSPB for waders, other passage birds and raptors.  Pete Lambert.  Meet 09.30 Reserve Car Park (TQ547788).  Nearest stn Purfleet (NR F’church St).  Bring lunch.  (Toilets.)

 
COACH TRIPS
For ease of reference I have repeated below details of the coach trips.
 

7 May 2016 Sat.  BIRDS. Dungeness for passage sea birds and migrants, with chance of rarities. Previous trips have produced Whiskered Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Great White Egret and White Stork. Neil Anderson. Meet 08.00 at Embankment U’grnd Stn. Bring lunch. £20 to leader (contact details page 15). Permit fee for non-RSPB members.

25 June 2016 Sat. BIRDS. Strumpshaw Fen for warblers, Bittern, Marsh Harrier,

Swallowtails and Norfolk Hawker, maybe Otter, Chinese Water Deer, Water Vole. Neil Anderson. Coach trip 08.00 from Embankment U’grnd Stn. Bring lunch. £20 to leader (contact details page 15).Fee for RSPB Reserve for non-RSPB members.

Images below of Brent Geese and Sanderling are from the London Bird Club Coach trip to Holkham NNR in Norfolk on Saturday 16 January 2016.

 

NOTES

Changes to the Programme

Changes are posted on the LNHS website (www.lnhs.org.uk). Changes are also posted (for members only) on its message board and in the newsletter.

Outdoor Meetings

These are field meetings or guided tours. Lunch and Tea should be brought on all whole-day meetings. You do not need to have a car - where the programme says 'cars needed' this is to remind drivers they will need to pick up people at the station or meeting point. At meetings involving cars, those receiving lifts are expected to contribute to the cost of petrol used.

For more information on our on-going surveys at Bookham Common and Hampstead Heath, and our Bookham Field Study Days, visit our Surveys page.

 

Taking Public Transport to Outdoor Meetings
Train times where given should be checked, as timetables change and engineering works take place on Saturdays and Sundays. There is also an extensive programme of engineering works taking place on the Underground at weekends at present.

'NR' in the programme refers to National Rail lines (as opposed to Underground/Docklands Light Railway lines).

For NR train times and information, phone 08457-484950, or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk, or www.thetrainline.com, or the websites of individual train companies. The latter are a useful source of information about current and planned engineering works.

For London bus, Underground, DLR and Tram information,  phone 020-7222 1234, or visit the TFL website.

Coach Trips

These go to well-known wildlife sites in the South and East of England. Bookings must be made in advance using the booking form that is mailed to members. It can also be downloaded from the LNHS website. Members can bring guests (at the same rate per person) so long as they are included on the booking form. The coach trip organiser is Neil Anderson TEL: (020) 8578 2464.

Members are asked not to travel to coach meetings independently, although in some cases the organiser may be prepared to allow this if application is made in advance.

Coaches normally leave from the road alongside the south entrance to Embankment Underground station. Occasionally they can pick up at a second point en route on the outskirts of London (check with organiser). Bear in mind that engineering work and weekend line closures are taking place on the Underground - please check in advance whether your route to Embankment station will be affected.