Sunday 4th May 2025

 

We are hoping that many of you will join us in this “worldwide celebration of nature's greatest symphony” [The Wildlife Trusts]. Dawn Chorus Day grew from humble beginnings in Birmingham in the 1980s to a worldwide event encompassing over 80 countries. 

 

So, why not embrace the dawn at first light on the 1st weekend in May and take the time to really appreciate what nature has to offer? We are asking all NENBC members to make a special effort to log their early morning records (including noc-migged) on the club website over the weekend, sliding the ‘SINGING’ button across on your record. This will help us with our on-going Bird Song Periods Project. 

 

If you can get out in your garden or out for a walk at dawn, please do but, don’t forget, if that is a bit too keen for a weekend, just open your window, whether you are town or rurally based, and just listen...

 

Want more info on how to recognise birdsong? Take a look at our April 2021 newsletter.

 

DATE: Sunday 4th May 2025

 

TIME: 9:00am to 1:00pm

 

WALK LEADER: Janice Darch

 

BOOKING REQUIRED: So that we don’t monopolise car parks or take over at smaller locations, we ask for advance bookings on some of our walks and limit the group size to 15. Please remember to sign up with Janice if you would like to come on this one by emailing her on janicedarch@gmail.com before 5.00pm Friday 2nd May.

WALK DESCRIPTION: Although we will park at the RSPB car park, the walk will be on Snettisham Country Park to the north of the RSPB reserve. We will follow a drain on a level path northwards through an area which is one of the few reliable Norfolk sites left for Turtle Dove where often they are perched in the trees or the wires or telegraph poles. On our last visit we had splendid views of this species and Hobby overhead and perched. To the landward side of the sea defence are a series of scrapes which should have Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank and various other wader species. Common Tern and a range of gull species are often on or over the scrapes and the reed beds may have Sedge and Reed Warbler, or maybe something rarer. A Great Reed Warbler spent several weeks there in 2022 and Glossy Ibis have been seen there more recently. Our return will be through the sandy country park where day flying Barn Owl are a possibility along with Marsh Harrier, Kestrel and passerines in the bushes. On the shore and offshore we will look for more terns and gulls.

MEETING POINT: Meet in the car park at RSPB Snettisham.

 

PARKING AND SITE INFORMATION: Park in the RSPB car park at Beach Road, Snettisham, King's Lynn, PE31 7RA. This is free to RSPB members so bring your membership cards and works as a pay and display for non-members. 

 

DISTANCE: Around 3 miles.

 

ACCESSIBILITY: Most of the walk on public and permissive footpaths and is not suitable for wheelchair users. Do please contact us on nenbc@aol.co.uk to see which of our other events can currently accommodate wheelchair users or could be adapted to do so.

 

FACILITIES: There is now a toilet at the RSPB car park.

 

STAR STATUS: This walk is not within the NENBC recording area so the bird species you see or hear won’t be able to count towards your personal NENBC Star Badges on this occasion (Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum awards based on the number of species you have seen or heard in the club area).

 

GOING GREEN!: This walk is out of the club area so the bird species you see or hear can’t count towards your Eco-badges for birding without the use of motorised transport but if you are able to walk or cycle to the start point from home, or even use public transport, that would be fantastic! Alternatively, car-sharing is encouraged. We are working on a way to best facilitate this but in the meantime, have a chat with folks at any of our events or message them via the member page of our website to arrange something for next time.

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES: Binoculars are always recommended to gain full enjoyment from your birding and if you want the added bonus of using a scope, please do bring your own along. Stout footwear is recommended as paths may be slippery or muddy particularly after rain. Young people aged 16 and 17 are welcome to attend unaccompanied with prior written consent from a parent or guardian who has also supplied a phone number where they can be contacted in an emergency but children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Sorry no dogs except guide dogs. Please respect social distancing on the walk when appropriate for current conditions and preference of participants.

 

DATE: Saturday 17th May 2025

 

TIME: dawn to dusk

 

The aim of the Big Sit is to record as many species as possible from a chosen 17-feet diameter circle in a 24 hour period, though realistically most sites are up and running for a period between dawn and dusk. From doing the Big Sit we hope to gain valuable data about visible migration and the birds in our area. As well as this it is a fun day out, a chance to share the excitement of the early hours with your fellow members (and just have a chat and some lunch with them in the quieter times) and interact with passing members of the public who inevitably come and ask us what we are up to.

 

We will be operating from a couple of public sites across the club area on a mission to exceed our species totals from previous years so why not come along and share in the fun? Hopefully we can hit the just right spot between too cold and no birds or too hot and no birds - 

Felbrigg Park - Trevor Williams will be in the usual spot at the Warren, just above the lake from 5am to 8pm.

 

Beeston Common - Francis Farrow will be at Pill-box Hill, towards the south of Beeston Common as usual from dawn (sunrise 0506) until 1300 (possibly longer if plenty of birds and its not too cold). Grid ref: TG164240 / W3W: edgy.yourself.wolves

COME AND JOIN US!

DATE: Wednesday 21st May 2025

TIME: 9.00am to 11:00am

WALK LEADER: Trevor Williams

NO BOOKING REQUIRED: It is always nice to know if you are coming via nenbc@aol.co.uk but by no means essential so if it takes your fancy on the day, please just turn up as we would love to see you!

 

WALK DESCRIPTION: This walk caters for all levels of birding ability so come and give us a try! We are a friendly bunch and always pleased to have folk join us whether they are NENBC members or not. We take a leisurely walk around the park and lake, route dependent on the local bird and other wildlife recently reported or likely to be present on the day. We regularly see over 40 bird species on an average walk and even on the worst of days more than 30.
 

MEETING POINT: National Trust Main Car Park, Felbrigg Park [Postcode: NR11 8PP will get you to the main entrance | what3words: denoting.reminds.bags for the car park | Grid Reference: TG197394 for the car park]
 

PARKING AND SITE INFORMATION: Although access to the grounds is free to all and parking is free in the main car park for National Trust [NT] members with their machine-validated membership card, a parking fee is payable via the machines for non-NT members (£5 per vehicle). At time of writing, Sexton’s Lodge car park at the western end of the estate however remains free to all users and you can walk up from there along the internal estate road to our start point (about 10 mins). Do check out the NT website nearer the time though in case of any changes to their arrangements, including the free car parking at the Lodge. For further information see Felbrigg Hall, Gardens and Estate | Norfolk | National Trust
 

DISTANCE: Approximately 2-mile circular walk
 

ACCESSIBILITY: The walk is usually ‘off-road’ along dirt footpaths and tracks, across fields, through woods and can include a few stairs by the lake. As such, this event isn’t suitable for wheelchair users but please do contact us on nenbc@aol.co.uk to see which of our events can currently accommodate wheelchair users or could be adapted to do so.
 

FACILITIES: Toilets and café facilities available at Felbrigg Hall.
 

STAR STATUS: This walk is within the NENBC recording area so any bird species you see or hear can all count towards your personal NENBC Star Badges (Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum awards based on the number of species you have personally seen or heard in the club area and recorded on our website since becoming a member).
 

GOING GREEN!: If you are able to walk or cycle to the start point from home, that would be fantastic, and as the walk is within the NENBC recording area, all the birds you see or hear can contribute to your personal NENBC Eco-badges (Green or Super-Green)! The Weavers’ Way and many other public footpaths bisect the park, as does the regional cycle route formerly named route 30. Bicycle racks are also available in the main car park. Felbrigg village and Aylmerton are also served by public transport, but buses are not frequent and unfortunately unlikely to fit with walk timings. Alternatively, car-sharing is encouraged. We are working on a way to best facilitate this but in the meantime, have a chat with folks at any of our events and contact them by email via the member page of our website to arrange something for next time.
 

ADDITIONAL NOTES: Binoculars are always recommended to gain full enjoyment from your birding. We don’t specifically carry a telescope on the walk unless one of our regulars brings theirs as it usually isn’t necessary but if you’d like to use one, please bring one along. Stout footwear is advised as paths may be slippery or muddy any time of year, particularly after rain. Young people aged 16 and 17 are welcome to attend unaccompanied with prior written consent from a parent or guardian who has also supplied a phone number where they can be contacted in an emergency but children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Sorry no dogs except guide dogs. When appropriate for prevailing conditions and preference of participants, please respect social distancing when requested.

[Note change of date from originally advertised 20th of May]

LOCATION: Kelling Heath

 

DATE: Tuesday 27th May 2025

 

TIME: 8:45pm to 10:30pm

 

WALK LEADER: Janice Darch

 

BOOKING REQUIRED: So that we don’t monopolise car parks or take over at smaller locations, we ask for advance bookings on some of our walks and limit the group size to 15. Please remember to sign up with Janice if you would like to come on this one by emailing her on janicedarch@gmail.com before 5.00pm Sunday 25th May.

WALK DESCRIPTION: This will be a specialist event with the prime aim of seeing Nightjars coming out of their daytime roosts to feed at dusk. In recent years the heath has had several pairs of Nightjars and so our chance of seeing several birds as the sun goes down is very high. Before it gets dark we have a chances of seeing Turtle Dove, Woodlark, Stonechat, Garden Warbler, Bullfinch, tit flocks, Chiffchaff and perhaps a Dartford Warbler

 

SUGGESTIONS: It is worth bringing some insect repellent plus some warm clothing as even summer nights can get chilly. A torch may be useful for getting back to the car park.

MEETING POINT: Meet in the car park at Kelling Heath.

 

PARKING AND SITE INFORMATION: Park in the Kelling Heath car park off Holgate Hill, Holt NR25 7ER, OS Explorer TG 100419, between the Kelling Estate garden centre and Weybourne. The slightly obscured turn into the car park is on the western side of the road in a dip near the summit.

 

DISTANCE: Around 1 mile.

 

ACCESSIBILITY: The walk is along footpaths which aren’t suitable for wheelchair users and it will also be dusk / dark for most of the time. Do please contact us on nenbc@aol.co.uk to see which of our events can currently accommodate wheelchair users or could be adapted to do so.

 

FACILITIES: None.

 

STAR STATUS: This walk is mostly within the NENBC recording area so many of the bird species you see or hear will count towards your personal NENBC Star Badges (Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum awards based on the number of species you have seen or heard in the club area).

 

GOING GREEN!: This walk is mostly in the club area so many of the bird species you see or hear will count towards your Eco-badges for birding without the use of motorised transport if you are able to walk or cycle to the start point from home. Alternatively, car-sharing is encouraged. We are working on a way to best facilitate this but in the meantime, have a chat with folks at any of our events or message them via the member page of our website to arrange something for next time.

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES: Binoculars are always recommended to gain full enjoyment from your birding and if you want the added bonus of using a scope, please do bring your own along. Stout footwear is recommended as paths may be slippery or muddy particularly after rain. Young people aged 16 and 17 are welcome to attend unaccompanied with prior written consent from a parent or guardian who has also supplied a phone number where they can be contacted in an emergency but children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Sorry no dogs except guide dogs. Please respect social distancing on the walk when appropriate for current conditions and preference of participants.