PETERBOROUGH BIRD CLUB

About us

Welcome to the web-site of Peterborough Bird Club. We are a friendly group and warmly welcome new members. Whether you are a beginner or an expert the Club aims to bring people together who have a shared interest in birding in Peterborough and surrounding areas.

The Club runs a programme of indoor talks from September to April in central Peterborough. Topics recently have included local conservation projects such as the Nene Washes, the Ouse Washes and the Great Fen; research on seabird behaviour, migration and the impact of global warming and of Avian Influenza; farming and wildlife; and overseas birding destinations such as Colombia, Florida, Morocco, Northern Europe, Scotland, the Pantanal and the Spanish Pyrenees.

The Club arranges two outdoor trips per month between September and June. Destinations include local sites eg. Rutland Water, Deeping Lakes, Nene Washes... and further a field eg. the RSPB reserves at Frampton, Lakenheath and Titchwell and Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserves at Cley and Weeting Heath... Recently, we have added some completely out-of-area trips to East Yorkshire and Kent. These are free to attend apart from entrance and car park fees and accommodation (where appropriate) once you get there.

The 2024/25 programmes can be found in articles under the NEWS tab or in the Calendar tab on the appropriate day.

Learn more about us below and apply to become a member by clicking on the ASK TO JOIN button. Membership is £12 per year but under 21’s and students in full-time education can join free of charge. Alternatively, you are welcome to attend one of our Indoor meetings for a small donation or one of our many Outdoor events free of charge. We look forward to meeting you.

Ask to join

RSPB Eldernell Outdoor Event

Date

Tuesday 28th October at 2:00pm

Location

RSPB Eldernell

Note a change of date, it has moved from 29/10/25 to 28/10/25 to avoid clashing with the indoor meeting.

An afternoon on the Nene Washes to see the winter wildlife and roost. Hopefully we will have the possibility of Short-
eared Owls, Long-eared Owl, Barn Owl and the famous Tawny Owl if it has returned to its winter roost hole in Lords
Halt. Marsh Harriers, and Cranes will hopefully roost in good numbers. Half-day meeting.
Anybody with an interest in nature, from beginner to expert, are welcome to join us on our Outdoor Events that are
free. It is a good way to get to know existing members and possibly improve your expertise.

Meet: At 1400. Park in the small RSPB car park at the end of Eldernell Lane.
Post code: PE7 2DD.
Map ref:
Leaders: Ian Gordon

Click for location details

Note a change of date, it has moved from 29/10/25 to 28/10/25 to avoid clashing with the indoor meeting. An afternoon on the Nene Washes to see the winter wildlife and roost. Hopefully we will have the possibility of Short- eared Owls, Long-eared...
View more
FINDING W.H. HUDSON – THE WRITER WHO CAME TO BRITAIN TO SAVE THE BIRDS by Conor Jameson Indoor Event

Date

Wednesday 29th October at 7:30pm

Location

St Mark's Church Hall

Conor’s talk reveals how this unschooled, impoverished, battle-scarred immigrant came to be so influential in the creation and rise of the modern-day conservation movement, and the “only man in the room” who supported pioneer female campaigners from the start. Conor’s talk links Hudson’s life and legacy to today and compares then and now. It’s a costume drama with plenty of birds. Conor says : “For some years now I have been immersed in restoring Hudson, a name that recurs in the literature of natural history, though the man himself remains mysterious and largely forgotten. Leafing through Hudson’s surviving letters has helped me to build a picture of the man, his milieu and his passions. One of these passions was Norfolk and its wildlife, and it is here that my life intersects with his and I find it easiest to re-imagine him.”

Conor was born in Uganda, brought up in Scotland and now lives in Norfolk. He has worked in conservation for over 20 years in the UK and abroad and has written for a wide range of publications. In April 2022 he gave us a tremendous talk based on his book “Looking for the Goshawk” which was published in 2013.

Click for location details

Indoor Events are free to members and we warmly welcome nature loving non-members for a small donation of £2.50 cash on the door.

Conor’s talk reveals how this unschooled, impoverished, battle-scarred immigrant came to be so influential in the creation and rise of the modern-day conservation movement, and the “only man in the room” who supported pioneer female campaigners fr...
View more
WWT Welney Outdoor Event

Date

Saturday 15th November at 10:00am

Location

WWT Welney

Appalling weather and flooded roads made this an almost wash – out. So another chance to visit Welney to view
winter wildfowl, Swans, Swan feeds, Tree sparrows etc. Entry charge for non-members. Café, facilities and a heated
main hide. Full day outing
Anybody with an interest in nature, from beginner to expert, are welcome to join us on our Outdoor Events that are
free. It is a good way to get to know existing members and possibly improve your expertise.

Meet: At 1000 at the Reserve car park. Park at the reserve.
Post code: PE14 9TN.
Map ref:
Leaders: Stewart Short

Click for location details

Appalling weather and flooded roads made this an almost wash – out. So another chance to visit Welney to view winter wildfowl, Swans, Swan feeds, Tree sparrows etc. Entry charge for non-members. Café, facilities and a heated main hide. Full day ...
View more

Red Kite seen at Nene Washes - Eldernell

Oct 10
Red-tailed Shrike seen out and about

Oct 6
Glossy Ibis seen at Maxey Gravel Pits

Aug 30
Greylag Goose, Great Egret, Eurasian Bittern and 4 other species seen at Lakenheath Fen RSPB

Jun 7
Northern Lapwing, Greylag Goose, Black-headed Gull and 38 other species seen at Frampton Marsh RSPB

May 1

PETERBOROUGH BIRD CLUB

PETERBOROUGH BIRD CLUB

About us

Upcoming Events

RSPB Eldernell Outdoor Event

FINDING W.H. HUDSON – THE WRITER WHO CAME TO BRITAIN TO SAVE THE BIRDS by Conor Jameson Indoor Event

WWT Welney Outdoor Event

Recent sightings

Photo Gallery

Affiliated Links