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.
Wednesday 26th November (morning) Kempton Nature Reserve Leader: Mike White 07981- 037004 Email: mikew.norbury@btinternet.com
Meet at the reserve entrance at 9.30am. The reserve entrance is on the corner of Main Street and Nallhead Rd, Hanworth. A code is required to enter, so wait if you do not have the code. If going by bus, 111, there is a stop a short walk from the entrance at the corner of Green Lane and Main Street. Grid Ref TQ11693 71072. There are composting toilets on site. Thames Water will be carrying out resurfacing and drainage works at some stage so be sure to contact Mike beforehand.
Wednesday 3rd December (morning) WWT Barnes. Leader: Jonathan Hannam 07745 022695 Email: jon.hannam@btinternet.com
The reserve doesn’t open until 10am so that’s when we’ll meet, either by the Sir Peter Scott statue near the entrance or in the Observatory. WWT members, please remember to bring your membership cards! The cost of entrance for adult non-members is £19.95 (£18.10 without gift aid), reduced to £18.10 (£16.45 without gift aid) for those over 65 years old. Note that there is a 10% discount on these prices if they are purchased in advanced on-line, up to midnight the day before. This will be a relaxed walk, with plenty of stops. We’ll start in the Observatory and then to walk along the South Route to the Peacock Tower before returning to the Visitor Centre for a spot of lunch. This can either be bought in their café or you can bring along your own picnic. We’ll then walk along the West Route, with the aim of finishing the trip between 2pm and 3pm. There are good paths around the site with a number of hides providing good views of the lakes and scrapes. At this time of year, there will be a lot of wintering wildfowl, with always the possibility of Bittern, Snipe or Jack Snipe. Maybe something even more exotic will have dropped in.
Sunday 14th December Wallasea Island, RSPB. Leader Peter Knox gsw9859@gmail.com
Meet at 09:30 in the carpark at RSPB Wallasea Island postcode SS4 2HD This reserve has only been open for a few years and is a very isolated site. It has no facilities on site and only one hide and thus it is very exposed. There is café at a nearby sail club where we can get coffee. A SATNAV system would be useful to navigate to the site or careful planning using a map. The site is a combination of grasslands, saltmarsh, mudflats, lagoons and is bordered by the river Crouch and Roach which if we are lucky may provide views of a variety of waders plus Marsh Harriers, Short Eared Owls and Corn Bunting. There are three marked walks which added up to 7miles of reserve to explore. If the weather has been wet the site can be very muddy so, bring your wellies. Don’t forget to bring lunch, snacks and a hot drink.
Sunday 4th January Isle of Sheppey. Leader Chris Turner Tel: 07909 992956. Email: christurnerbirds@gmail.com
The Isle of Sheppey in January can be positively arctic with the wind coming in off the North Sea. However, it is a very special place for birds, and with luck we should experience the usual extravaganza of raptors, wildfowl and waders. To make the most of a lunchtime high tide we will change the order a little and will start by taking a walk around the Swale NNR. In the past this has been the best place on Sheppey to see the flock of wintering White-Fronted Geese. However, this rough grazing area is also excellent for other wildfowl as well as for a range of winter raptors. We will then head off to Shellness, were we can enjoy lunch as the rising tide brings 1,000s of waders to us. Expect flocks of Oystercatchers and Golden Plover as well as Dunlin, Knot, Curlew, Avocet and all the other usual shorebirds. Divers, sea duck and perhaps a winter Grebe on the sea are also possible. We have been lucky enough on a past visit to find Snow Bunting on the shingle bank. Then to Chapel Fleet. Marsh Harriers should be the order of the day as they quartering the rough pastures. This can also be an excellent spot for Corn Bunting, Short-eared Owls, Hen Harriers or even a Merlin. Bring very warm clothing, lunch and a hot drink as they are no facilities once we are out and about Meet at 9.30 at the Swale NNR carpark Shellness, Leysdown-on-sea, ME12 4RP. What3Words///monorail.balance.survived Directions: From the A2 M20, take the A249 north onto the Isle of Sheppey. A2500 eastwards towards Leysdown-on-Sea. This becomes the B2231 Leysdown Road. Follow this through Leysdown until it becomes the Shellness Road. This is a poorly maintained, but passable, track. There is a car park at the end, but no toilets. Please let Chris know if you are planning to come and/or if you would like a lift from Surbiton.
Wednesday 14th January (morning) Home Park. Leader: Jonathan Hannam 07745 022695 Email: jon.hannam@btinternet.com
This will be a gentle morning stroll through the northern half of Home Park. For those coming by car, we’ll meet at Diana Fountain car park at 9.30 am. For those coming by bus (111, 216, 411), please gather outside Lion Gate and wait for the group to join you by 9.45 am. We will walk a short distance along the road and enter Home Park through the gate from the Walled Paddock. The walk will cover Long Water, Hampton Wick Pond, grassland and woodland. There should be plenty of water birds plus some winter thrushes alongside the usual resident species.
Wednesday 21st January Moor Green Lakes. Leader Peter Knox 0208 543 0472 gsw9859@gmail.com
Please try and arrive by 09:30 Unfortunately, there are no toilets on site. This site is a complex of lakes resulting from the restoration of gravel extraction pits from the Blackwater valley. It is a good site for Goosander and a wide collection of ducks with the possibility of Smew. Winter Thrushes can be seen as well as Siskin and Redpoll. We may be able to get access to the two hides I am in contact with the Site Liaison Officer. Do not forget to bring lunch and snacks. There is a nearby café at a sailing club.
Sunday 25th January Hayling Island. Leader: Rebecca Dunne 07879 645971 Email: rebecca9dunne@gmail.com
Hayling Island looks over Langstone and Chichester Harbours which comprise tidal mudflats that are home to large numbers of wintering waders and wildfowl. Black-necked Grebes may be seen, plus Slavonian Grebes, Great Northern Divers, Red-breasted Mergansers and maybe a Red-necked Grebe or Long-tailed Duck. Our itinerary will depend on the weather and recent sightings. However high tide is about 4pm so we will visit the Oyster Beds in the afternoon for the high tide wader roost (let’s hope it’s not completely dark). We will probably start the trip by driving to Sandy Point Nature Reserve which overlooks Chichester Harbour, then visit Sparkes or Northney Marinas. We found a good café at Northney Farm during our October trip so might visit that, especially if the weather is poor! This is an exposed site so please dress appropriately. Meet: 09:30 The Ship Inn pub car park, Langstone Rd, PO9 1RD (on the A3023 just before Langstone Bridge onto Hayling Island). There are public toilets outside The Ship Inn and on the southern end of Hayling Island (parking charges may apply). Rebecca will co-ordinate lifts, either offered or required. Please message Rebecca to let her know of your attendance.