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Oliver’s talk will cover his life working with birds in Britain and around the world over the last 20 years. He will speak about a variety of the different jobs that he has done, ranging from finding exciting rarities to undertaking Bird Observatory work to seabird protection of the rare and endangered Roseate Tern. Not to mention tracking down elusive Ant pittas in Ecuador as well as seeing 5 species of Vulture whilst surveying in remote Zambia. .

Oliver works as a professional ornithologist, currently undertaking consultancy work on bird surveys in Norfolk and Suffolk. He started birding over 30 years ago, aged 6, in a hide at Minsmere. He has subsequently spent his whole life watching and studying birds. He is an experienced ringer holding a BTO “A” permit. He is particularly interested in bird migration, seabirds and the birds of Central and South America. He has worked at numerous Bird Observatories and has worked on seabird protection at many of the British and Irish Tern colonies. He has also worked as a Neo-tropic bird-guide. His new book, “Birds, Birding and a Career in Ornithology”, covers in detail the amazing experiences that he has had and the special birds that he has encountered from remote Rockabill to the canyons of Utah. 
 

Willow Tree Fen is now well known as the site of the first breeding of Common Cranes in Lincolnshire for over 400 years. The reserve consists of reclaimed fen farmland. Until 15 years it grew root crops until bought by LWT and turned into a fen nature reserve. Since the Cranes arrived the reserve has no access beyond the viewpoint. In winter it holds a large Crane and Harrier roost together with a large number of ducks and geese. This gives a great spectacle as evening falls. 

Meet: In reserve car park/viewpoint at 1500
Leader: Ian Gordon