DATE: Sunday 5th May 2024

TIME: Around dawn!

 

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, making sure you slide the ‘SINGING’ option to the right when uploading your records to the website so we know you heard the bird singing. 

 

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, open your window, whether you are town or rurally based, and just listen...

DATE: Saturday 11th May 2024

 

TIME: dawn to dusk

 

Coinciding with Global Bird Day and World Migratory Bird Day, 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. We will be operating from a series 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? 

 

FELBRIGG PARK with Trevor Williams and friends from 5am to dusk, just above the lake at The Warren. We will have an events shelter up once the dawn chorus mele dies down so you will be able to spot us from afar! Don't forget that there may be some road closures around Felbrigg village so check the websites before coming that way.

BEESTON COMMON with Francis Farrow and friends from dawn onwards and through the morning, longer if there is stuff to see and folk to support, by the pillbox. The pillbox is reached by following the path from the layby to the pond then left along the main track until you pass the last bungalows then take a right through the wood. On passing through the wood ascend the Hill and you will see the old pillbox. We'd love to see a few members turning out to support Francis in this lesser-watched spot - hope you can make it! 

 

As the event coincides with Global Big Day and we hope that if you are birdwatching on this day you additionally log as many of your records as possible on the club website from your walks, your garden potterings or other activities. We will be entering an NENBC 'Team' on the eBird website for Global Big Day with our combined results from the public Big Sit sites and all your records from your walks and home sightings during the day so don't forget to get recording!

DATE: Wednesday 15th May 2024

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: [Website - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/felbrigg-hall-gardens-and-estate]. 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.

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.

Unfortunately, we haven't had enough interest in this normally popular course this year so we are giving it a miss for 2024 but hope to be back again with it next year.

Wednesday evenings, 3 consecutive weeks from 6.30pm to 9.30pm 22nd May, 29th May and 5th June

 

 

£10 per person for the series (£15 for non-members) 

 

Workshop One − The Basics of Bird Identification including: bird topography, feathers, moult, size, structure, colour, behaviour, sound 

 

Workshop Two − Finding and Seeing Birds including: field guides, optics, attracting birds to your garden, where to go to see birds 

 

Workshop Three − Migration including: reading the weather, bird movement, visible migration, vagrancy, taking your interest to the next level, making the most of the club website. 

 

If you haven’t already, please let Carol know on nenbc@aol.co.uk if you are interested. and we will keep you posted as details become finalised/

DATE: Wednesday 22nd May 2024

 

TIME: 9.00pm to 10.30pm [a torch may be useful for the return walk]

 

WALK LEADER: Janice Darch

 

BOOKING REQUIRED: The maximum number of participants on this walk is 15. Please book a place by emailing Janice on janicedarch@gmail.com before 5pm on Monday 20th May.

WALK DESCRIPTION: This will be a specialist walk with the prime aim of seeing and hearing 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.

MEETING POINT: Kelling Heath car park off Holgate Hill

 

PARKING AND SITE INFORMATION: The slightly obscured turn into the car park is on the western side of the road in a dip near the summit between the Kelling Estate garden centre and Weybourne. Kelling Heath car park off Holgate Hill, Holt NR25 7ER [OS Explorer TG 100419]. You are advised to bring insect repellent, warm clothing, as even summer nights can get chilly and a torch may be useful for the walk back to the car park. 

 

DISTANCE: About 1 mile

 

ACCESSIBILITY: The walk is through a range of habitats, not all on level paths and at dusk and as such this event probably isn’t suitable for wheelchair users. However, if you think it could be adapted to suit, let us know beforehand. Please do 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: None

 

STAR STATUS:  Part of this walk is within the NENBC recording area so some of the 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 seen or heard in the club area).

 

GOING GREEN!: If you are able to walk or cycle to the start point from home, that would be fantastic, and as part of the walk is within the NENBC recording area, some of the birds you see or hear can contribute to your personal NENBC Eco-badges (Green or Super-Green)! There are plenty of local footpaths in the vicinity and there are bicycle racks available at the start.  Kelling and Weybourne are served by public transport, but buses are not frequent and 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: You are advised to bring insect repellent, warm clothing, as even summer nights can get chilly and a torch may be useful for the walk back to the car park. Binoculars are recommended to gain full enjoyment from your birding. The leader will carry a telescope for her personal use only so if you would like to use one during the walk please bring your own along. Stout footwear is advised. 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.