Thirty one of us travelled by coach to go on a bird watching boat trip round Poole Harbour, organised by the RSPB Poole Local Group.  The weather was overcast, but dry, with a light breeze - a very welcome interlude during the recent stormy period.  We had excellent views of many winter migrants, among them being Dark Bellied Brent Goose, Great Northern Diver, Red Breasted Merganser, Avocet and Black Tailed and Bar Tailed Godwit.  Good views were also seen of more common species such as Little Egret, Eurasian Curlew, Dunlin and Common Greenshank.  At the conclusion of the boat trip we crossed to Studland by way of the chain ferry and stopped at Shell Bay and South Haven Point.  Here Great Northern Diver and Black Necked Grebe were swimming close in to shore

A total of 45 species were seen

Birds seen on trip

A very cold day with a strong north westerly wind and 100% cloud cover made for somewhat difficult birding! However the nine of us had really excellent views of several Smew.  The best was of two males and two females very close at hand.  We also got a good view of a Water Rail and some of us got a glimpse of e Bittern!  Unfortunately it was not visible for the majority of the group.  This site again proved a good one even though we only saw 44 species during the trip.

Birds seen on trip

21 Mar 2004 

A very strong south west wind kept the smaller birds well hidden.  It was mainly sunny though there was one very heavy shower whilst we were in a hide!  The birding was good bearing in mind that there were so few passerines in evidence.  We saw just forty species but these included both Sand Martin and Willow Warbler both making very welcome signs of the summer to come.

Birds seen on trip

Thirty three of us travelled by coach, this was a very good number for the Group. The weather was war, fine but overcast through the morning but sunny later on.  On arriving we were met by a continuously singing Blackcap.  Once all had seen it we moved on over the heath, some of us to the hide which overlooks Arne Bay, and some to Shipstal Point.  On the heath all of us saw Dartford Warbler and in the woodland most of us saw Redstart.  Later , those of us ho decided to take the new bird watcher's trail to the south of the car park, rather than linger at the tearoom, saw Crossbill.  The bird last for the day included fifty seven species.

Birds seen on trip

Bat Walk near Iffley Lock, Oxford

After a period of unsettled weather the evening was fine with little wind, which looked promising for finding bats. After crossing the lock at Iffley we walked around the river meadows downstream from the lock watching and listening to the evening birds. About twenty bird species were located, including Great Crested Grebe, Cuckoo, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Cetti's Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat and Garden Warbler. As dusk fell we switched on the bat detector and soon had a very obliging pipistrelle which flew round and round in a tight circle at head height among those gathered. Although the light was failing it was clearly visible and in the end we had to leave it and move on. As we approached Iffley Triangle pipistrelles became numerous and when darkness fell we watched, with the aid of powerful torches, Daubenton's bats hunting low over the river, gaffing insects off the surface with their feet. We did not locate either noctules or serotines although both are in the area. Some were able to hear a long-eared bat through the detector, it was however brief and typically quiet.

Blean Woods RSPB Reserve & Stodmarsh NNR, Kent

Nineteen of us, including four with us for the first time left for a very sunny day in Kent.  Blean Woods was a first for the whole group and we were very impressed with the beauty of this ancient woodland.  Naturally enough because of the leaf cover we did not get particularly good views of birds but heard a particularly vocal Nightingale.  We then progressed to Stodmarsh, where we had good views of a Marsh Harriers three Garganey.  In all we saw or heard seventy species

Birds seen on trip

Ten of us arrived in Leiston to be greeted by the chef's girlfriend, who had not heard that we were due to arrive!  Fortunately the whole thing was resolved and we checked in before going on the 

North Warren RSPB Reserve - Day 1

The weather was sunny, though rather cold with a moderate NW wind.  The birding was good in mixed habitat   We saw a total of forty-six species and after a hard afternoon's walking we drove back to the hotel via the Parrot and Punchbowl Inn at Aldringham, where we decided to book in for dinner.

North Warren © Ian Kilshaw

Birds seen during day

Minsmere RSPB Reserve - Day 2

Minsmere lived up to its anticipated excitement.  On arrival on a sunny though rather cold day again, we noted that a Purple Heron was visible from the Bittern Hide.  On arrival at the hide we found that it was full to overflowing and there was some disappointment among those in the hide that the Purple Heron had not been seen since 9:00.  The numbers dropped very considerably and we were rewarded for our patience by two wonderful flights by the bird.  The view was fantastic being only about forty feet away.  That made a great start.  Afterwards we saw on several occasions, Bitterns flying quite long distances at close range.  Excellent sightings were made of Marsh Harriers.  Several pairs were flying all around and mad a great sight.  We saw in all, eighty-three species.  What a day!`  Dinner at the Parrot and Punchbowl again!

The Bittern Hide at Minsmere © Ian Kilshaw

Birds seen during day

Walberswick Fen NNR - Day 3

The third day took us to Walberswick Fen NNR.  This is a large nature reserve with mixed habitat of woodland and coastal marsh.  The weather was slightly warmer than it had been as the wind was shifting towards the W.  It remained mainly sunny.  The birding was good and we saw several species for the first time on the trip.  Total for the day was sixty-four.  Another good day but not quite up to Minsmere!  Dinner once again at the Parrot and Punchbowl!

Walberswick © Ian Kilshaw

Birds seen during day

Minsmere RSPB Reserve - Day 4

The final day saw us back once again at Minsmere.  We only had some three hours to have the last look for the trip but we managed to get some good birds and in particular Bitterns both flying and excellent views in the reeds.  The weather was very much warmer as the wind had virtually dropped and had gone totally to the W.  It remained mainly sunny.  Marsh Harriers were again in full view.  Sixty-six species for three hours was quite good going.

Birds seen during day

Dinner at the Parrot & Punchbowl Inn © Ian Kilshaw

Weeting Heath NR - Day 5

We called in at Weeting Heath on the way back to Oxfordshire and had particularly good views of Wood Lark and Spotted Flycatcher, with distant views of Stone Curlew

A total of one hundred and two species of birds gave us an excellent weekend.  Let's hope that next year is as good!

Birds seen on the whole trip

Snelsmore Common, Berkshire

A balmy evening awaited as twelve of us arrived at Snelsmore.  The weather was perfect, little or no wind, very mild, and lots of insects!  We had glorious views of Tree Pipits parachuting in their courting displays.  Later we had several good viewings of Woodcock as they roded around in the late evening.  Nightjars could be heard and finally we got an excellent view of one perched on a bush through a telescope.  Excellent!  What a way to spend a Sunday evening!

Birds seen or heard on the trip

Pagham Harbour, W Sussex

An excellent late summer day saw twenty one of us on the way to an old favourite, Pagham Harbour.  The birding was excellent and we saw a total of seventy four species, which for the time of the year was considered to be an excellent total.  Relatively unusual birds for the group were Curlew Sandpiper and Sandwich Tern.  Excellent views of a pair of Peregrine, the female of which was feeding and two Spotted Flycatchers were had.

Birds seen on the trip

Twenty one of us arrived at Rutland Water to be greeted by an ex member of the group, who is now living in Norwich.  It was great to be able to talk over old times.  The weather was overcast with a single shower.  Rather cold, but it did not interfere with the birding! The birding itself was fantastic.  We saw over sixty species but the outstanding feature of the day was the large number of so many different species.  4000 Tufted duck were counted whilst we were there and certainly we saw over 2000 in one flock.  About 800 Shoveler were also in a single flock.  Common Snipe were plentiful as well, eighteen were counted at one site all visible at the same time.  That made the Tree Sparrows seem almost commonplace.

Birds seen on the trip

Holiday break in Norfolk

This was to be the first holiday that the Group had experienced with another party.  The party concerned was the Macclesfield Rural U3A Bird Watching Group which was led by John Collens, an old friend of our Group.

Monday 1 Nov

Strumpshaw Fen RSPB Reserve

The Oxford party  stopped at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB Reserve on the way to Titchwell.  The weather was dull though dry with a light NE wind.  The birding was good with particularly good views of a Kingfisher perching for several  minutes just in front of the Tower hide and excellent views of two Western Marsh Harriers searching for food.

On leaving the site we proceeded to Briarfields at Titchwell where we were met by the U3A group.

Birds seen on the day

 Tuesday 2 Nov

Titchwell RSPB Reserve

We were met at the reserve by Paul Eele who is now a warden there.  Paul was well known to the Oxford party as he had been a warden at Otmoor before moving to Titchwell about eighteen months ago.  He introduced the site to us and gave us an update as to the birds that might be seen in the area  This was an excellent introduction to the Norfolk coast and was well appreciated by the party.  As on the previous day, the weather was dull, though relatively mild with a light NE wind, but again we did not have any rain.  Memorable birds that were clearly seen were Long Tailed Duck, Black Winged Stilt, Western Marsh Harrier, Common and Velvet Scoter.  Particularly good was the opportunity to see together both Common and Spotted Redshank where we were able to compare and contrast the two in autumn plumage.

Titchwell Marsh RSPB Reserve © Ian Kilshaw

Holme Dunes NWT Reserve

After lunch we went to the Holme Dunes Reserve.  The weather remained dull and dry.  Unfortunately the light started to deteriorate more or less as soon as we got there and so we did not get to see many birds and none new for the trip.

Birds seen on the day

Wednesday 3 Nov

Holkham

By now the weather started to improve and we had a more or less clear day with excellent light for viewing and little wind.  The first birds that we really saw were a flock of Horned Lark.  These were seen at very close range and the low sun was directly behind us giving really excellent views.  We were also able to watch for at least two minutes, at a distance of no more than ten feet a Goldcrest as it searched for insects  Excellent views of Western Marsh Harrier and Kingfisher were had.  Large flocks of various geese were also noted.

Watching the Horned Larks © Ian Kilshaw

Cley-next-sea NWT Reserve

Cley gave us the best views of the whole trip with Red Throated Diver and Common Scoter being the rarest birds.  Most notable though was the views we had of Little Egret and Common Teal where the plumage was really clear.

In a hide at Cley © Ian Kilshaw

Eurasian Coot at Cley © Ian Kilshaw

Birds seen on the day

Thursday 4 Nov

Snettisham RSPB Reserve

Another brilliant day with excellent light.  The wind was quite strong on the bank at Snettisham but not particularly cold.  There were enormous flocks of Red Knot, Eurasian Oystercatchers, Bar Tailed and Black Tailed Godwits.  It was fascinating to see these enormous flocks as they took to the sky wheeling round and round before coming in to land again.  A wonderful way to end a wonderful break. 

What's that in my coffee? © Ian Kilshaw

Birds seen on the day

A total of ninety three species which considering that there virtually no passerines seems a very good number.  The Oxford participants all agreed that the participation with another group had been a real chance to widen friendships.

Birds seen on the trip

Keyhaven & Pennington Marsh, Hants

Joint with Vale of White Horse Group

This was the first trip run on a joint basis between the two groups.  It was very clear from the large numbers attending that had a dramatic impact on the cost of the trip, that the idea was well worth continuing in the future.  The weather was dull but unlike the weather at home it remained dry until the last minute before we got on to the coach.  Birding was excellent with sixty nine species seen. Both groups appeared to have enjoyed the trial event and look forward to seeing if the remainder work out as well.

Birds seen on the trip

A dull but dry day gave us opportunity to see many familiar species.  We got fifty three species on the trip.  The most notable was Red-crested Pochard. 

Birds seen on the trip