FIELD TRIPS
Field trips will start from Gargrave Road (Coach Street) Car Park in Skipton at 0800 unless otherwise stated. Car sharing (with a small contribution towards costs if you are in another's car) will be arranged on the day. Bring lunch, warm clothing, waterproofs and stout shoes as necessary.
Booking and last minute details will be available at the indoor meeting immediately prior to the field trip. If you cannot make that particular indoor meeting and wish to go on the next field trip please contact either Ewart Dawson or Colin Straker as early as possible before the field trip. Likewise if you are unable to make a field trip on which you are booked, please let us know as soon as possible.
No car? No problem! Turn up and we'll sort it.
Trips have been planned and organised by Ewart Dawson who, with others, will usually be on hand to guide and assist you with bird recognition if necessary. Even if you're a beginner we'll do our best to help you.
Below is a list of our meetings in the current programme.
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2009 |
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Summer break |
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September 26, 2009 Saturday |
Hartlepool and South Gare (Cleveland) |
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Hartlepool Head is a major headland jutting out to sea just north of the town which at any time of year is a strategic position to see seabird movements. An onshore wind in autumn can bring Skuas & Shearwaters close to shore and the whole headland picks up migrants in gardens, the churchyard, the bowling green and everywhere else for that matter. South Gare is on the other side of the river Tees, just north of Redcar, with Teesmouth harbour on one side and Coatham Sands on the other. This site can also be good for migrants in good fall conditions. Our last trip there produced an impressive list of waders. |
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October 22, 2009 Thursday |
** Spurn (East Yorkshire) |
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Another trip to one of our favourite sites. If it's as good as on previous visits we will be well satisfied. Spurn acts as a funnel for birds heading south on their autumn migration and has a reputation for rarities and outstanding autumn "falls". We will probably start at the Blue Bell car park with its café and toilets but local information will dictate where we go after that. Possibly the classic triangle of Blue Bell, Crown and Anchor, and Canal Scrape or down Easington Lane to the lagoons. Alternatively, we can pay or use membership cards to enter the YWT reserve and go down the narrows to Spurn Point. |
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November 19, 2009 Thursday 1000 hours start |
Warton Bank and Marton Mere, Blackpool (Lancashire) |
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Warton Bank, situated on the north bank of the river Ribble just east of Lytham, is a little known site where we will look for waders being brought in by the tide. The 8.8m high tide is at 1201. The site often has wintering raptors such as Marsh and Hen Harrier, but it also has a habit of turning up rarities. Marton Mere is near Blackpool Zoo. The large lake with its 6 hides is good for waterfowl, with Water Rail in the surrounding reedbeds. The scrub woodland on the north side regularly has a winter roost of Long-eared Owls and the berry-laden trees often have wintering thrushes. We shall be staying late to watch the Starlings gather at the fantastic roost with an estimated 65,000 birds. |
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December 12, 2009 Saturday |
Nicholson's Flash and Nosterfield (North Yorkshire) |
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These two sites near Ripon are ideal for a short winter day's birdwatching. Nicholson's Flash near Ripon racecourse has 2 hides overlooking the flash which holds a good selection of wildfowl. Nosterfield nature reserve some 6 miles west of Ripon, near West Tanfield, has a very large hide/visitor centre, plus a viewing screen. The shallow lagoon is good for both waders and wildfowl. The nearby Lingham Lake and Flask Lake are situated in Nosterfield quarry where there is a car park and a small visitor centre and toilet. In winter the whole Nosterfield complex can be good for geese and swans and the site has turned up an impressive list of rare and scarce birds. |
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2010 |
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January 21, 2010 Thursday |
**** Martin Mere (Lancashire) |
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A Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve with its excellent visitor centre with a shop and good restaurant, affords good, as well as comfortable, winter birding. This is a prime time to visit with its large flocks of Pink-footed Geese and big herds of Whooper Swans, and even possibly a few Bewicks Swans as well. Swan feeding time is a sight to behold, being a chance to pick out the family parties and the separate breeding area populations. There are often rare ducks amongst the Teal and Wigeon and the site often has wintering birds of prey and, at this time of year, daytime hunting Barn Owls. |
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February 18, 2010 Thursday |
Banks Marsh and Marshside RSPB (Merseyside) |
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This is virtually a repeat of our January, 2008 trip. The Banks Marsh area is a winter haven for wildfowl, especially Pink-footed Geese and ducks such as Wigeon and Teal. The incoming high tide (of 8.8m at 1321) could put up large flocks of waders such as Dunlin and Knot. Large numbers of Skylarks, which winter on the saltings, are hunted by Peregrines and Merlins. Small mammals are targeted by Short-eared Owls. The RSPB reserve at Marshside on the very edge of Southport is famous for large flocks of Black-tailed Godwits which, along with other waders, can be watched from the comfort of the hides. |
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March 20, 2010 Saturday |
* Saltholme (Cleveland) |
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We visited this reserve in March, 2007 during its construction and had a brilliant day birding. Now Saltholme is officially open, complete with its excellent visitor centre. It's still a little bit raw and needs time to (reed)bed in, but it's already turning up good birds. There are 3 hides as well as being able to watch from the windows of the restaurant. There is also a viewing area at Haverton Viewpoint overlooking the north west pools and reedbeds. |
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April 24, 2010 Saturday |
* Hodbarrow, Millom (Cumbria) |
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A return visit to this RSPB reserve which consists of a large lagoon surrounded by scrub covered banks. Our first visit in February, 2003 gave us a good selection of waterfowl, including Red Breasted Merganser which breeds at the site. In April we will hopefully see the site's breeding Terns with Sandwich, Little and a few Common Terns. This time of year is also good for passage species which has in the past included Black Tern, Ruff, Garganey and Little Gull. The site regularly turns up Mediterranean Gull. Lesser Whitethroat is a speciality of the scrub woodland. |
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May 14-16, 2010 Friday to Sunday |
Anglesey weekend |
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Having had a very successful visit in June, 2002, this will be our second weekend trip to this North Wales island. Where we visit will depend to some extent where we stay but will undoubtedly include the RSPB reserve at South Stack with its magnificent aerobatic Choughs, breeding auks on the cliffs and the occasional patrolling Peregrine. A visit to Cemlyn Lagoon is also a must, where the tern colony sometimes has Roseate Terns. Further details to follow. |
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June 10, 2010 Thursday |
Whisby Nature Park (Lincolnshire) |
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Our second visit to this Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust reserve which has a huge, well-appointed visitor centre. It is a complex of flooded gravel pits, wet willow scrub and dry grassland, with some denser willow and birch scrub and a small oak woodland along the railway embankment. On out first visit in May, 2007 Nightingales were singing everywhere and everyone saw at least one. Lesser Whitethroat was also common and Turtle Dove and Cetti's Warbler are other possibilities. |
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Non-members are welcome at all our events.
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Sites belonging to * RSPB Please bring membership card(s) if you have them. |
The RSPB is the UK charity working to secure a healthy environment for birds and wildlife, helping to create a better world for all of us. We belong to BirdLife International, the global partnership of bird conservation organisations.
The RSPB is a registered charity number 207076
Last updated May 14, 2009
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