Forthcoming Outings

Guidance for members

Members intending to join an outing are requested to contact the leader in advance so that lifts can be arranged where possible and members can be contacted in the event of cancellation. The leader will provide advice about the arrangements for the visit. Please ensure that you are aware of these before travelling.
Please be prepared to share fuel & parking costs.

Sunday 6th October, Cliffe Pools RSPB. Leader: Peter Knox

Meeting at the entrance to the car park at 09;00 post code ME3 7SX 09:00. An important issue is that there are no toilets or facilities or hides on site. The aim is to do the circular walk (4 miles approx.) around the site and view the various pools as well as viewing the river Thames. This site at this time of the year could have some waders and birds of prey.

Wednesday 16th October (morning), Barnes WWT. Leader: Rebecca Dunne 07879 645971

Meet at 10am by the Sir Peter Scott statue outside the main entrance. If you are delayed join us in the Observatory. NB 10am is the new opening time for the London Wetland Centre. WWT members remember to bring your membership cards. Non- members: Adults £16.54 Concessions including over 65s: £14.90 This will be a relaxed walk, with plenty of stops. We’ll start in the Observatory and then walk along the South Route before returning to the Visitor Centre for a spot of lunch or a coffee. This can either be bought in their café or you can bring along your own packed lunch. You can stop the walk at this point but there will be an option to then walk along the West Route, with the aim of finishing the trip around 2pm. There are good paths around the site with several hides providing good views of the lakes and scrapes. At this time of year winter wildfowl will be returning with hopefully good numbers of Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon and Gadwall as well as the usual residents.

Sunday 27th October Pagham Harbour RSPB. Leader: Mike White 07981 037004

Meet in the RSPB Visitor Centre car park at 9.00am. Postcode PO20 7NE Grid Ref SZ 85696 Toilets are open 9.00am-5.00pm, Visitor centre for hot drinks/ice creams 10.00am-4.00pm. Note: Parking charges are now in operation for non-members. £3.00 per day. Members place membership card on dash. We should see a good selection of wildfowl, including many winter visitors. We will remain flexible regarding the sites we visit depending on what is about.

Sunday 3rd November (morning) Kempton Nature Reserve Leaders: Mike White 07981 037004

Meet at the reserve entrance at 9.30am. The reserve entrance is at the corner of Main Street and Nallhead Road, Hanworth, TW13 6XH. (next to Lindon Bennett School). A code is required to enter, please wait if you do not have the code. If going by bus No.111, there is a stop a short walk from the entrance at the corner of Green Lane and Main Street. A morning walk so bring drink and a snack.

Wednesday 13th November (morning), River Thames & Home Park. Leader: Mike White 07981 037004

Meet Mike behind the coffee stall at the Diana Fountain car park in Bushy Park at 09.30am. Toilets are situated in Bushy Park adjacent to the childrens playground, there are no facilities in Home Park. We will walk across the front of Hampton Court Palace to the River Thames and along the Barge Walk, entering Home Park via the Surbiton Passage Gate. Then on past Rick Pond and the Longwater and exit via Paddock Gate, returning to Bushy Park. Many of the commoner winter species of birds should be seen with Redwing, Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush, Little Owl, Kestrel, Peregrine and various finches all possible and a selection of wildfowl on the river and Longwater.

Sunday 24th November, Otmoor. Leader: John Barkham 07803 295555

Day car outing to RSPB Otmoor in Oxfordshire to see the Starling murmuration. Starlings gather at Otmoor in the late afternoon before sunset (around 4pm), with spectacular displays seen before they go to roost. The Reserve also attracts wintering wildfowl as well as Redwings and Fieldfares. Barn and Short-eared Owls are often sighted hunting over the fields. RSPB Otmoor is located off the B4027, which links the A34 and the A40. The Reserve is 10 minutes from these main roads. After entering Beckley, take Otmoor Lane next to the Abingdon Arms and follow to end of the lane. It’s around a 1½ hour drive from Surbiton. Meet at 11.00 am in the reserve car park Otmoor Lane, Beckley, Oxford OX3 9TD. The car park has limited parking spaces. There are no toilets on the Reserve: the nearest public toilets are in Headington around 4½ miles away. Bring a packed lunch: we shall eat in one of the 3 hides on the reserve. If attending, please inform the Leader in advance.

December 8th, Sunday (all day) Pulborough Brooks RSPB

December 18th, Wednesday (morning) Midweek Walk: Water Meads (Mitcham)