The autumn 2025 out-of-area PBC trip is to Essex & Suffolk on Sat/Sun 20/21 Sep 25.

The outline plan is to visit Abberton Reservoir and Fingringhoe Wick (both Essex Wildlife Trust) on Saturday and Landguard Point and Minsmere RSPB on Sunday.

We'll overnight in Ipswich. The suggested hotels are Holiday Inn Ipswich-Orwell or Premier Inn Ipswich South East. As per previous trips, please arrange your own accommodation - either at the Holiday Inn, the Premier Inn or elsewhere in that area.

Please let Richard know (rfw1967@hotmail.co.uk) if you want to join the trip or contact him if you have any questions.

27/04/25          Woodwalton Fen
This season we will try 2 Dawn Chorus walks. This, the first, is targeted at warblers and other song birds. Woodwalton is one of the best Warbler sites in the PBC area. We can expect to hear upto 9 species of warbler singing. There are usually several Grasshopper Warblers reeling. We may also hear booming Bittern and several other species of songbird.Meet at 0700 by the entrance bridge to the reserve. Park alongside the drain adjacent to the reserve PE6 7QB. Leader Ian Gordon.

04/05/25          Castor Hanglands
Our traditional Dawn Chorus walk followed by breakfast at the Granary café at Willowbrook Farm. As well as a good selection of warblers there should be several singing Nightingales. Meet at 0600 at Willowbrook Farm PE6 7EL. Leader Keith Lievesley.

14/05/25          Rutland Water Nature Reserve
A second visit to the fabulous Rutland Water, this time to the nature reserve. As well as the usual wide selection of birds there should be nesting Ospreys. Meet at 1000 at the nature reserve car park LE15 8BT. There is an entry charge for non-members. After lunch plan to drive round to the Lynden visitors centre for a short walk to the hides on Manton Bay for good views of Osprey on the nest. Leader tbc

07/06/25          RSPB Lakenheath Fen and Weeting Heath
A second visit to the Brecks. This time to the fabulous RSPB  Lakenheath Fen reserve. The reserve is newly extended with additional land added along the river.  At this time of year we have an excellent chance of multiple Bittern sightings, nesting Marsh Harriers, Hobby hawking dragonflies and Cuckoos. There is also a chance of seeing the breeding Crane population. Please carry a packed lunch and drink with you as the plan is to take lunch at Joist Fen to give the maximum time searching for target species from this fabulous viewpoint. After lunch we will walk back along the river bank to the visitors centre. From here we will take a 10 minute drive to NWT Weeting Heath. This is a specialist reserve targeted at breeding the rare and endangered Stone Curlew. For RSPB Lakenheath park at the visitors centre IP27 9AD. For NWT park at the visitors centre IP27 0FD. Both reserves have entry charges for non-members. Leader Stewart Short & Ian Gordon

28/06/25          RSPB Titchwell  and NNR  Dersingham Bog
An afternoons birding at RSPB Titchwell followed by a Fish and Chip supper at Erics and then transfer to NNR Dersingham Bog where we will arrive by 8PM for anybody wanting to just join for the evening. The main aim of this visit is to hear, and hopefully see, the unique Nightjars churring and flying around sunset time. This is the nearest site to Peterborough for you to enjoy this unique spectacle. In addition to Nightjars, we hope to see Woodlark, Woodcock making their roding flights, Stonechat and Tree Pipits. Meet at RSPB Titchwell car park PE31 8BB at 1500. Meet at Dersingham Bog PE31 6HA at 2000hrs. Leader Stewart Short/Ian Gordon

20-21/09/25          Essex/Suffolk  2025

The autumn 2025 out-of-area PBC trip is to Essex & Suffolk on Sat/Sun 20/21 Sep 25.

The outline plan is to visit Abberton Reservoir and Fingringhoe Wick (both Essex Wildlife Trust) on Saturday and Landguard Point and Minsmere RSPB on Sunday.

We'll overnight in Ipswich. The suggested hotels are Holiday Inn Ipswich-Orwell or Premier Inn Ipswich South East. As per previous trips, please arrange your own accommodation - either at the Holiday Inn, the Premier Inn or elsewhere in that area.

Please let Richard know (rfw1967@hotmail.co.uk) if you want to join the trip or contact him if you have any questions.

We have agreed with the Langdyke Countryside Trust to promote each others events. They put on a number of interesting events during the year based around nature and the John Clare countryside, ranging from archaeology to art as well as the more pure nature events. Details can be found by clicking Events – Langdyke Countryside Trust or going to their website. 

19 people gathered in the Frampton car park at 1000 including a new member and 3 people through our link with the Langdyke Country Trust. It was a cloudy and cold morning. This was soon to change as the sun appeared for the remainder of our visit. 

We set off to walk down the road to the seawall, checking Marsh Farm in front of the car park there were thousands of birds, Mainly Lapwing, Wigeon, Teal and Golden Plover. 2 Peregrines were found sitting on the fence near the barn. On the reedbed scrape immediately behind the Visitors Centre was yet more Lapwing, Wigeon, 3 pairs of Goldeneye actively displaying. A single Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, several Avocet and several groups of Dunlin were also present. The only Pochard of the day was seen in the far corner. The Dunlin actively scurrying around in their typical fashion. As we were walking down the road thousands of birds were taking to the sky in regular large groups. One of the winter characteristics of Frampton. Further down the road we found more Black-tailed Godwits, a Great White Egret demonstrating how long it’s neck was, a single Ruff and several Redshank. Also the 2 Peregrines had relocated to near the seawall giving much better views.

We climbed the seawall steps into the usual Frampton icy wind.  Unfortunately there was a mist swirling around and coming and going out on the marsh towards the sea. This made viewing difficult. The only birds of note we could make out on the saltmarsh were 3 Marsh Harriers, several Corvids, loads of Starlings and masses of Wigeon. Flocks of Brent Geese were moving around the salt marsh and reserve all the time.

We continued round the seawall to the steps leading to the North Hide. We added several Ringed Plovers and Little Egrets before we reached the steps. The North Hide yielded no new species so we headed back towards the cross track and lunch. In the corner at the end of the cross-track we came across the Frampton resident Whooper Swan. It was feeding with 2 Canada Geese well away from the Mute Swans which tend to bully it. It is coming to the end of its second winter at Frampton being unable to leave due to a broken wing. En-route to the Visitors Centre we came across several confiding Stonechats flitting around the reeds feeding and giving point-blank views.

After lunch we set off to explore the Reedbed loop. The shrubs, bushes and trees were nearly devoid of passerines. However the disappointment was soon forgotten when Stewart found a Merlin hunkered down on the ground. We managed to get all the scopes onto it and everyone got acceptable views. As we were moving on it flew across the field giving excellent in flight views. Alas no Bearded Tits or Corn Buntings along the back bushes. Turning back along the cross track the confiding Stonechats appeared again. We checked the views from the Reedbed and 360 degree hide. Excellent views of the Avocets from the Reedbed hide and some great views of Pintail feeding close. We headed back to the visitors centre and were greeted by the Merlin zooming low past us heading towards the sea wall. A great bird to finish an excellent day with.

My bird of the day was the Merlin, but my birds of the day without doubt was the fabulous site of thousands of birds wheeling around in the winter sky. What a spectacle.

 

We look forward to welcoming you to one or more of this season’s indoor events.

All are at St Mark's Church Hall, Lincoln Road, Peterborough, PE1 2SN
 
 7.30 pm Wednesday 26 February The Best of Scotland
STEPHEN LOVELL
A condensed tour of the very best of Scotland with its birds, mammals, locations and folklore  Steve ran his own garden design and wildlife garden creation business for 30 yeas up to 2023. He is a qualified adult education tutor and teaches natural history related topics. He had short spell working for the RSPB as a community project officer. Since 2015 he has been leading his own bird/nature tours in the UK and is the only registered nature guide for his  home County of Lincolnshire.  

7.30 pm Wednesday 26 March Global Seabird Conservation
DR RICHARD PHILLIPS
Seabirds are amongst the most globally-threatened of all birds. This talk will provide an overview of the main threats to seabirds, including fisheries, invasive species and climate change, and how research on their demography can help us understand the drivers of population change and prioritise management effort to improve their conservation.   

Richard is the leader of the Higher Predators and Conservation group within the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Core Science Ecosystems programme, an Honorary Professor at the College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Dept. of Zoology, University of Cambridge. He also works closely with the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP), including as convenor of the ACAP Populations and Conservation Status working group, and is a member of Expert Group on Birds and Marine Mammals of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).His research concentrates on the population, physiological and evolutionary ecology of seabirds, particularly albatrosses and petrels. His main field sites are Bird Island (South Georgia), Signy Island (South Orkneys) and Rothera (Adelaide Island).
 
7.30 pm Wednesday 30 April The Spanish Pyrenees – Birds, Butterflies and Orchids
BOB GILL  
A look at the flora and fauna of this spectacular region  Bob is a Northampton-born and bred naturalist with a keen interest in all things wildlife. A birdwatcher since his schooldays his interests have since developed to cover moths, butterflies, dragonflies and, more recently, bugs and beetles. For many years he has been Chair of Northamptonshire Bird Club and he has led many Club trips in Britain and overseas. Since the pandemic he has also co-led some tours for Naturetrek to Ardnamurchan in Scotland and to Iceland and Mallorca.

Hi, 
Happy New Year.

January is when renewal memberships are due to be paid. Thank you for those who have already paid the £12 fee. A quick reminder to those that haven't  paid yet or who are still paying the old amount, it is now £12. 

This will enable the club to continue 

well into the future.

It was a bit chilly to start with and squishy under foot, but after negotiating the track on the way in your car, a good time was had by the 20 or so people who turned up, including a few new members. Welcome to your first of many outdoor trips.

There were few birds around until we got to the first screen, when a lot of common waterfowl could be seen including Coot, Mallard, Black Headed Gulls, Canada Geese and the odd Wigeon. Sulking on the far bank of the lake was an Egyptian goose.

The route down to the hide was unfortunately rather uneventful, but right next to the hide, there were 4 Long Eared Owls, two easily visible about 3 metres away, but the other two were not so much of an exhibitionist. All of the party had time to see the two and try to see the other two coming away with one of their best ever views of Long Eared Owls.

Strolling alongside the main lake a number of pairs of Goldeneye could be seen, some starting to display, along with more Coot, Cormorants and a little Grebe amongst some Tufted Ducks. Also along this path, a pair of Jays were seen briefly and a Cetti’s Warbler was first heard then seen before disappearing off.

On the river bank, a Little Egret crept along the water’s edge while a few Buzzards soared above accompanied by a Red Kite and a seemingly large Kestrel kept watch from a small tree on the other bank. As we progressed round a small flock of Fieldfare flew from a hedge row into some taller trees before departing and being replaced by a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Further round, while surveying the old willow for the Little Owl, we came across a small tree sheltering a flock of Goldfinch. After some time and painstaking checking, Stewart found the Little Owl ‘hidden behind some wispy bits’. It gave us a few turns of the head and stared at us just to show it wasn’t a lump of bark.

Three of us ventured further to the railway bridge seeing three Moorhens on the river edge and then through the bridge a solitary Kingfisher perched on a branch over the river, lit beautifully by the sun. All appeared to enjoy the morning seeing some 31 odd birds and looking forward to the next outdoor trip to RSPB Frampton Marsh on Sunday 16th February. See you there. 

The morning weather forecast was for mist, so was another PBC outdoor meeting going to be
affected by the conditions? The outlook on the way to the reservoir was not promising, heavy mis
over the hills as I entered Rutland. However, upon arrival the reservoir was clear! 14 members, a
good turnout, ventured to the location to be greeted with good views several Pintails, Golden Eye
and 3 male Smew with a red headed female diving and being pursued by the males on
resurfacing.

We headed along the shore towards the bridge over the Eye Brook. On the way, a snipe was
spotted by Mr. Eagleye, Stewart, as it flew over the reservoir. We could see a group of Lapwing
on the muddy area at the bridge end of the water which also contained a group of Golden Plover
and several Dunlin feeding. A group of Greylag Geese were feeding in the ploughed field on th
opposite hillside that also contained two Egyptian Geese and on the edge of the field were tw
Stock Doves feeding around a pheasant feeder.

At the bridge is a well stocked feeding station which attracted different tit species, including
Marsh Tits giving good views as they fed.

We headed back to to car parking area for lunch after which several members departed leaving a
small group to head off to the other side of the reservoir. Before departure, Coal Tits were spotte
in ivy growing up a tree with a Rook behind. Upon arrival at the farm gate which allows views over
the dam end of the reservoir, the Sun very kindly appeared and some of the mist was dissipated
and a Raven was spotted flying between the mist clouds. From here we returned to the ca
parking area which marked the end of an enjoyable time birding at Eyebrook Reservoir resulting in
a count of 50 species of birds being identified during our visit.

Our group met in the car park at Welney on what turned out to be a much warmer day, though the skies were cloudy. Walking towards the Visitor Centre, we were greeted by lively Tree Sparrows and House Sparrows fluttering around the feeders.

After purchasing our entrance tickets, we were delighted to receive complimentary passes for a future visit, as only one hide was open due to flooding.

From the Visitor Centre, we surveyed Lady Fen, which was alive with bird activity. Among the numerous species, we observed Geese, Lapwings, Ruff, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Shelduck, Wigeon, Shovelers, Teal, and a lone Whooper Swan. In the distance, a Marsh Harrier glided gracefully, while Roe Deer grazed   and more Whooper Swans arrived overhead.

We made our way to the main hide, enjoying its welcome warmth since the paths to the other hides were impassable due to flooding. Here, we saw a good number of Pochard, mostly males, along with a scattering of Whooper Swans and distant Pintails. On our way back across the bridge, we spotted six Cattle Egrets on the bank of the drain.

The sun broke through the clouds as we strolled along the grassy path at Lady Fen. A cameraman kindly pointed out a Short-eared Owl camouflaged in the grass. Other highlights included a Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Curlew, with Whooper Swans, and  Geese flying overhead. At the far end of the fence, we spotted three Cranes in the distance. On our return, a Hare crossed our path, pausing briefly to be admired.

Back at the Visitor Centre, flocks of Golden Plovers arrived in spectacular fashion, with a lone Grey Plover spotted among them. Chinese Water Deer grazed on the fen, adding to the afternoon’s wildlife sightings.

After indulging in a well-earned late lunch at the café, we returned to the main hide for the swan feeding session. As we waited, we found a single Bewick’s Swan among the Whoopers, along with more Marsh Harriers patrolling the area. The feeding began with Pochard diving energetically for food just below the hide’s windows..

As the day drew to a close, we crossed the bridge again to the evocative calls of Whooper Swans. On Lady Fen, a group of 13 Cranes had just arrived, providing a fitting finale. In the car park, a Water Rail called in the gathering dusk.

The day was memorable not only for the 54 species recorded but for the sheer abundance of birds, the stunning variety of wildlife, and the camaraderie of the group.  

Stewart

A surprising number of people brave the icy cold and windy weather at Eldernell on our latest trip. These were rewarded with the site of a peregrine tracking backwards and forwards in front the woods straight out in front of us on the washes. To add to the display good views of a sparrowhawk which flew around the trees behind the houses behind us. Unfortunately we weren’t able to locate any short eared owls and the tawny was not present in the usual tree, however we did manage to find two long eared owls in the bushes to the left. This did take some describing to ensure everyone could see them.

One surprise was the number of fieldfare occupying the odd trees and bushes close to us and the wooded edges, some 250 if not more. In a separate bushy hedge we found three redwing sat in the top of the bush clearly visible in the late sunshine. A bit later, two lots of whooper swans flew across the washes in front of us, five in first group followed shortly afterwards by four.

Other birds seen were a few marsh harriers, grey heron, carrion crow, cormorant, little egret, snipe, mute swan, a flock of linnets, tufted duck, coot, kestrel, red kite and great white egret. Due to the dropping temperature we cut short the outing. There were rumoured to be a short eared owl and some cattle egret, but we could not locate them. Thanks to all those who braved the weather conditions and we hope the birds more than made up for it. 

Look forward to seeing you on the next outdoor meeting at Welney on 30th November at 10:00 or the next indoor meeting on 27th November given by Dr Chris Hewson about the results and where next with the Cuckcoo Tracking Project.