Sunday 2nd April, Bushy Park Family Event – Guided Bird Walks in the Woodland Gardens

Club members will be leading guided bird walks in the Woodland Gardens Bushy Park during the morning, for adults and children, starting at the entrance gate from the Pheasantry car park. The walks will last for around 45 minutes each, starting hourly from 9.30am with the last walk at 11.30pm. The Woodland Garden is an ideal place to identify some of the many birds that feed and breed in the park including Woodpeckers, Finches, Tits, Thrushes, Warblers, Ducks, and many more. This is a family event. Beginners are welcome and there will be a bird quiz for children. Binoculars will be available for loan. For more details contact Thelma Caine  – Email: thelmacaine512@btinternet.com

Want to learn more about local birds and how to take part in bird surveys?

The SDBWS carries out summer and winter bird surveys at 5 Elmbridge Commons sites including the Esher Common SSSI and Molesey Heath and at Home Park including the grounds of Hampton Court Palace. Joining a bird survey team is a great way to learn more about our local birds as well as contributing to knowledge about bird populations. If you are able to identify common birds and would like to learn how to take part in surveys, with training provided by experienced members of a survey team, please contact Thelma Caine for more details – email thelmacaine512@btinternet.com.

Facebook

Take a look at our Facebook page Surbiton Bird Watchers to see some of the wonderful pictures of birds taken by members on our regular outings. Join us  at www.facebook.com/groups/surbbirds/ and share your pictures too. You’ll also find notice of our outings, meetings and other events as well. If you see any bird you can’t name then take a pic, post it and our experts are sure to identify it.

Island Barn Reservoir

Island Barn Reservoir in West Molesey is one of the best bird watching sites in the area. The Surbiton & District Bird Watching Society has an affiliation with the Island Barn Sailing Club as Associate Members. This enables a limited number of members of the SDBWS to access the reservoir for birdwatching. We have an Island Barn Members Group through which access is arranged. The Members Group pays a subscription to the Sailing Club, currently £150 per annum, with the fee shared among the group members. If you are interested in joining the group, please request a membership form from alicesdbws@martinhwatson.co.uk

Newsletters by email

The Newsletter is now available by email a few days before the meeting. It is recommended that this option is taken as it provides colour and saves the Society money.

Records sub-committee – a plea to all members

A recent study of SDBWS records has shown that several sites in the Society’s recording area, which over the years have produced worthwhile sightings, no longer appear to be visited regularly by Society members. Below is a list of species you might expect to see during a birding year at three adjoining sites close to Epsom.

As the table shows, you don’t have to travel far to see good birds! Other worthwhile sites not covered on a regular basis are:

If you live close to any of these ‘forgotten’ sites, please think about visiting them, the more frequent the better, and submit your records.