We meet at 7.30 pm, on the third Tuesday of each month (except August) in the hall of St Matthews C of E Primary School, Langley Road, Surbiton, KT6 6LW. We welcome non-members to our meetings.

20 May Social Evening

This is an opportunity for members to get together for an enjoyable social evening which will feature a buffet, bird quiz and raffle, among the evening’s activities. The fee to cover the cost of the buffet and drinks will be £8 payable on the door on the night.
We are happy to cater for those with particular dietary requirements (e.g. gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan etc). To let us know if you have such requirements or for more details about the event, contact Thelma Caine.

17 June Keith Betton: Return of the Red Kite and Peregrine

Keith was a member of the SDBWS back in the 1970s and remembers our founder, Hockley Clarke. As a teenager he was a bird recorder for the Royal Parks and founded the Richmond & Twickenham RSPB Group. He became an expert on birds and has travelled widely, seeing nearly 9,000 species in over 100 countries. In a varied professional career, he was a travel expert and a spokesman on radio and TV for ABTA. He has also been a media trainer, a PR consultant and is an author of wildlife books, including revising the popular guidebook ‘Where to Watch Birds in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight’. He has been a Council Member of both the RSPB and the BTO. He is also an advisor to BirdLife International and a tour leader for Naturetrek, as well as lecturing widely to natural history groups. He lives in Hampshire and is Chairman of the Hampshire Ornithological Society. In particular, he is an expert on Peregrine Falcons which, together with Red Kites, is the subject of this evening’s talk.

15 July Brian Nobbs: Senses and Migration

Brian is based in Kent and is an active member of the Sevenoaks RSPB Group. He has travelled to a number of countries around the world and is a keen photographer. He regularly gives talks to wildlife groups and in this evening’s talk, he will be sharing his knowledge of how bird’s senses are adapted to different needs, including their migratory journeys.

August No Meeting

16 September Nick Martin: Secret Wildlife of the Forest of Dean

21 October AGM: followed by Guest Speaker

18 November Andrew Cleave: The Birds and Wildlife of Oman

9 December Members’ Slides