The next PBC out-of-area trip is to Wiltshire & Hampshire from Sunday 26th April to Tuesday 28th April.

The outline plan is:

The target birds include: Corn Bunting, Dartford Warbler, Firecrest, Great Bustard, Hawfinch, Honey Buzzard, Redstart and Tree Pipit.

We'll overnight in Salisbury on both nights. The suggested hotel is Premier Inn Salisbury South Milford (SP1 2FF). As per previous trips, please arrange your own accommodation - either at the Premier Inn or elsewhere in that area. The cost of the Great Bustard Group tour is £30 per head and places are limited to 15. To secure a place, please transfer £30 to the Club (43366904, 23-05-80) and drop an email to Richard Whitticase accordingly.

Note that unlike previous trips we won’t be going to reserves with visitor centres, café’s, etc and some walking (1-2 miles) will be involved at each location.

Please contact Richard Whitticase (rfw1967@hotmail.co.uk) if you have any questions.

The outdoor meetings from January to June 26 have now been added, so update your calendars and leaders of all outdoor meetings have been updated. We look forward to seeing you at Frampton on 12th October at 10:00 to kick start the PBC season. Hopefully the water levels will have recovered by then, but keep an eye on the website/whatsapp in case we need to re-schedule or change the event.

There may also be a change of date for the Eldernall outdoor meeting on 29/10/25 as it conflicts with the indoor meeting on the same night, so keep an eye on the web site/whatsapp.

Also there is a change on the indoor programme with Dawn Bulmar's talk on Monitoring Our Rare Breeding Birds coming forward to January's meeting and Jeff Blincow's Wildlife In Finnmark moving back to February due to diary issues. 

The latest PBC out-of-area trip covered Abberton Reservoir, Fingringhoe Wick, Landguard Point and Minsmere RSPB. 15 club members took part including one new member.

Abberton Reservoir was relatively quiet but provided an opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit. There were still plenty of Swallow and Common Tern around, but the highlight was a flock of 25 Spoonbill. In addition, there were a number of Great White Egret dotted around the water’s edge, but these birds have become so commonplace that hardly anyone remarked upon them. The Visitor Centre Café went down extremely well and we were able to combine a coffee with good views of Chiffchaff and Blackcap as they refuelled on migration.

After lunch we moved on to Fingringhoe Wick, another Essex Wildlife Trust reserve with great views over the River Colne estuary towards Brightlingsea. This reserve got the thumbs-up from everyone – it included some very well sited hides and greatly added to our wader count. Between us we saw: Oystercatcher, Avocet, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Grey Plover (with some still in summer plumage), Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper (unconfirmed but the subject of much debate), Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Redshank and Greenshank. We also had fantastic views of an Osprey fishing in the river. Fingringhoe Wick is definitely worth a return visit.

We overnighted on the edge of Ipswich with the group split between a Premier Inn and a Holiday Inn and dinner courtesy of the nearby Brewers Fayre. The hotels were comfortable and the food was adequate. This combination of accommodation and dining appears to work well and provides a useful model for future trips.

The next day we met at 9am at Landguard Point – a small piece of rough ground surrounded by the sea to the south and east and a large container port to the north west and including a fort dating back to Henry VIII. The area proved to be teeming with migratory birds including good numbers of Chiffchaff, Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail, two Black Redstart and a Spotted Flycatcher. Unfortunately the Wryneck and Hoopoe that were seen during the week appeared to have moved on. However, it was a lovely place to visit and also worthy of return trips.

Our final location was Minsmere RSPB – somewhere that most people knew, but too far from home to be a regular haunt and therefore a good place to head to on an out-of-area trip. We spent most of the time in the East Hide (which was being vigilantly guarded by a young kestrel) where we made a few additions to our list incl: Barnacle, Canada, Greylag & Egyptian Geese,  and Shelduck. Along the sea wall we saw more Wheatear and a pair of Stonechat, and distantly two Great Skua and two Shearwater (Sooty I think).

Overall we saw 80 species. We explored some new sites and some old favourites. And we had a lot of fun. 

Have a look at our recently released Indoor Programme for 2025/26. Come and find out more about Ethiopia, who D. H. Hudson was and what he influenced, what we can learn from bird song, have a look at North Norway, understand more about the Rare Breeding Birds Panel and how many birds can be seen in our local area. If any of these have sparked your interest we look forward to seeing you at our indoor meetings.

Outdoors we start our meetings with a visit to Frampton for waders and raptors, followed by Eldernell with a focus upon owls, revisit WWT Welney as last year’s floods put many off and look for grebes and divers around the dam at Rutland Water to complete 2025. We will release 2026 details shortly. 

Come along and meet interesting and friendly people who have an interest in birdwatching, just like you. 

Use the link, similar to the image above, to Vine House Farm from our Home Page and enter the discount code BC10 to obtain a 10% discount on orders placed online this includes free delivery. Please use to buy your seed etc... as this offer will only exist, if we use it.

Click the link, select your seed etc, enter BC10 and it will turn up on your door step. no more lugging sacks of seed. Win Win.

What are you waiting for? 

Please find below details of the next two out-of-area trips. The dates for Essex/Suffolk are confirmed and 7 people have signed up for this trip so far. The dates for Wiltshire/Hampshire are provisional.

 

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

The 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.

 

The spring 2026 out-of-area PBC trip is to Wiltshire & Hampshire .

It will be a 3 day (2 night) event taking place around the weekend of 9/10 May 26, but the exact dates are to be confirmed.

The outline plan is:

Day 1: Great Bustard tour on Salisbury Plain.

Day 2: New Forest – Honey Buzzard, Dartford Warbler, Firecrest, Redstart & Tree Pipit.

Day 3: Lymington – waders, Little Tern and White-tailed Eagle.

I’ve made initial contact with the Great Bustard Group, but can’t firm up a date until the autumn.
Please let Richard know (rfw1967@hotmail.co.uk) if you want to join the trip or contact him if you have any questions.

Despite a dire weather forecast 11 members met up at RSPB Lakenheath Fen for our latest outdoor meeting. Fortunately for us the weather was nowhere near as bad as forecast. Between 1000 and 1500 we experienced one heavy rain shower, fortunately for us in a place where we could shelter. 

We set of from the reserve office following the path towards New Fen. Blackcap was the first bird heard followed by a great display of flying and singing from a very showy Whitethroat. At New Fen we waited hopefully for a Bittern whilst watching Mallard and Coot ducklings. Reed Warblers, Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting flew across in front of us. We were fortunate to see a Hobby and a Cuckoo in flight heading in opposite directions. Eventually we achieved our objective and saw three Bittern flights. A first ever Bittern for some of those present. 

We then followed the newly cut track alongside the reedbed giving good views across the top of the reedbed. Another Bitter flew across the reedbed towards us and went into the reeds close to us. We then followed a family of Greylags and their gosling up to the end of the track. From there we walked the short distance to the Mere. Bitterns have not bred there this year and no sign of the usual Kingfisher but we had excellent views of a pair of adult Great Crested Grebes catching fish and feeding it to their humbugs (duckling). 2 Hobbies also became very active and flew low over the reeds in front of the trees giving excellent views including catching and eating dragonflies whilst on the wing, After this we moved to Joist Fen and lunch in the rain! Whilst at Joist Fen we had another 4 Bittern flights, good scope views of a very persistent Cuckoo, 2 Great White Egrets and Cranes were heard calling but could not be seen. We left Joist Fen to walk back to the reserve office via the path alongside the River Little Ouse. Heron was the only bird seen until we arrived at the Hockwold Washes. Here there was a mix of ducks and waders including Mallard, Shovelor, Gadwall, Coot, Moorhen, 2 Avocets, several Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits. Then back to the office for one of the best spots of the day - a freezer full of Ronaldos ice-cream. An excellent finish to a very good day.

A few photos posted in the gallery.

The latest PBC out-of-area trip was to Wales including the Elan Valley, Ynys-hir RSPB, Snowdonia, Cemlyn Bay and South Stack RSPB on Anglesey, and World’s End near Wrexham. 

We started by exploring the ancient oak woodland around Afon Elan just below the dam. Hearing birds was easy, but finding them amongst trees in leaf was more tricky, but eventually we managed to locate Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart and Wood Warbler.

A few people took the scenic route to Aberystwyth (where we were staying for the first night) and were rewarded with Wheatear and Ring Ouzel.

On day 2 we visited Ynys-hir and Snowdonia. Ynys-hir is a delightful reserve including deciduous woodland and fantastic views across the Afon Dyfi estuary.

En route to Bangor we stopped at Llyn Ogwen where we walked a little way up Glyder Fawr (we got to 400m above sea level whereas the summit is at 1001m). Surprising we saw a Great Crested Grebe and a pair of Canada Geese as well as Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Cuckoo, and Raven. 

The third day was spent on Anglesey. Cemlyn Bay, a wild and wonderful place on the northern coast of the island, is home to a large tern colony which affords very close views of Arctic, Common and Sandwich Terns. We also saw Gannet, Red-breasted Merganser and Whimbrel.

Anglesey is actually quite flat, but that can’t be said of Holy Island the home of South Stack RSPB. Here we had great views of Chough and various auks including Puffin. We also saw Shag, Fulmar and Kittiwake, but only in small numbers unfortunately.

We briefly stopped at Holyhead Harbour to catch up with a few Black Guillemot before heading to Newborough Forest in search of Red Squirrel. We quickly worked out that the best approach to squirrel watching is to find a feeder and wait. Before long 5 appeared shortly before the sky turned black and the heavens opened. However, apart from an hour of heavy rain, we were blessed with exceptional weather – 20 degrees C, blue sky and light breeze.

 

On the final day we visited World’s End, an area of moorland near Wrexham. A few people made an early start and caught the end of a Black Grouse lek. However, everybody managed to see Red Grouse, Whinchat and Wheatear.

Overall we saw 101 species across deciduous and pine forest, moorland, mountain, rivers, streams and lakes, cliffs, shingle beaches, reed beds and estuaries.

Bird of the trip: a beautiful Redstart that sang endlessly on a open bough above Afon Elan. 

Biggest disappointment: we tried very hard, but we couldn’t find a Dipper. Instead we had to make do with a Robin impersonating a Dipper. Oh well, we’ll have to go again! 

 

 

OBJECTION BY PETERBOROUGH BIRD CLUB TO THE PROPOSED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THE DRAFT LOCAL PLAN NORTH OF THE A47 NEAR CASTOR/AILSWORTH

The draft Peterborough Local Plan has reinstated the proposal formerly known as Great Kyne which is situated north of Castor/Ailsworth and north of the A47. The proposal is for 1800 dwellings before 2044 and 1200 thereafter in three discrete “villages.” In addition there will be 13 hectares of employment land as well as essential infrastructure. The land is in public ownership in the form of Homes England, the land having originally been designated as part of the New Town Master plan in 1967. 

The issue of concern to Peterborough Bird Club is that the site lies just south of Castor Hanglands, a National Nature Reserve/SSSI of national importance. It is also a Nature Conservation Review site meaning that it is one of the most important places for nature in Britain. Its importance is broadly-based covering plants, invertebrates, insects and birds. In the City It is the ecological equivalent of Peterborough Cathedral. In Spring it receives a full set of migrant Warblers : Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, and Willow Warbler. But its importance for bird-life is principally because it is the most northerly important site for Nightingales. Between 1967 and 2022 it has been estimated that Nightingales in the UK declined by 95%.  They are now only found in in a small area of southern and eastern England during the breeding season. Many sites have been lost because their scrubby woodland has been degraded and lost, often to browsing deer. 

There are now fewer than 6000 singing males left in Britain of which 35 or so come to Castor Hanglands. Various Conservation bodies jointly produce periodic assessments of Birds of Conservation Concern (BOCC) based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List approach. The Nightingale is one of 67 red-listed species and its inclusion is based on the decline in the breeding population. The continuing good numbers coming to the Hanglands are something to be cherished. For many years Paxton Pits down the A1 was the pre-eminent place to go to listen to Nightingales but they have greatly reduced there to a handful and Castor Hanglands is by far the County’s pre-eminent site. 

The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has recently published results from its tracking of Nightingales, following on from its pioneering work on Cuckoos. This has shown that all the UK birds winter in the humid zone of West Africa in an area focussed on The Gambia. Unlike Nightingales which breed in other parts of the African continent, the British birds have no interaction with birds from other areas. They demonstrate what is known as “extreme migratory connectivity” between their breeding and wintering grounds. This leaves UK Nightingales vulnerable because any adverse issues can’t be mitigated by a wider population pool. So, any impact on breeding grounds will only exacerbate the difficulties Nightingales face in their wintering grounds. 

Nightingales favour dense scrub within woodlands and nest on or near the ground. The great danger is that locating several thousand houses adjacent to Castor Hanglands will lead to major incursions by cats – it has been estimated that cats kill 100,000,000 birds a year nationally - and much greater use of the Hanglands by dog walkers with dogs off leads. The latter behaviour has caused great problems further north at Hills and Holes NNR at Barnack. The proposal to create a country park south of the A47 to mitigate the potential damage is nonsense because it may divert some walkers but will not prevent an invasion by cats. Also, residents would have to use a bridge to cross over the dual-carriageway A47. It would be easier to head north to the SSSI. Currently, the A47 is an effective barrier but certainly not if the houses are built. However, this proposal for a new country park graphically demonstrates that Homes England and PCC recognise that there will be a major impact from the proposed development on Castor Hanglands NNR/SSSI just a few hundred metres away..

It should also be pointed out that the City Council has recognised John Clare Countryside as an area to be taken account of when developing policy and judging applications. Twenty-one Parish Councils have come together to produce Nature Recovery Plans – promoted by central Government - across this area which sweeps across the west of the city from the Welland valley in the north-east by the Lincolnshire border down to the Nene Valley in a NE to SW direction.  This area now has much land formerly exploited for minerals which has been restored for nature. Crossing in a SE/NW direction is a proposal by 3 large estates to link up their woods and adjoining land to create a conservation corridor from Peterborough to Stamford, including Castor Hanglands and other remnants of the mediaeval Rockingham Forest such as Southey Wood. These two initiatives will provide the lungs of Peterborough and give greater access to the countryside, but in a managed context to avoid damage to species. The landscape also has cultural significance as in many respects it still resembles the landscape described by John Clare, resident of Helpston just a few miles north of the Hanglands. He also wrote about the Nightingale. 

It should be added that major utility lines run across the Castor/Ailsworth site and the westernmost of the three “villages” proposed is crossed by a high-pressure gas main with a wide statutory safety margin around it. So this sterilises a wide channel for development and renders it pointless. In addition, the whole area is an archaeological treasury yet to be excavated. The internationally important Roman town of Durobrivae lies SW of Castor and Castor church lies within what was the largest building in Roman Britain, the Praetorium. Roman walls are exposed by the roadside just east of the church. The areas north, south and west of Castor include much post-Roman archaeology and need archaeological exploration.  The constraints mean that It would be sensible and logical for the City Council to drop this development and focus elsewhere.

A good alternative site would be the proposal for a new settlement of 4500 houses, the Sibson Garden Community, at the old Sibson Airfield just down the A1 where housing numbers can be met without a catastrophic hit on the environment. It has the advantages of better integration of housing and employment and better access to the A1. It wouldn’t create the problems that are likely to be generated by the Castor/Ailsworth schemes at the A1/A47 interchange. It is not within PCC’s administrative area at present but, if devolution proposals come into force in 2028, then the current Unitary Authority will be replaced by a new one, possibly/probably including Huntingdonshire where Sibson is located. So it will become within Peterborough’s ambit of interest and contribute to the new Authority’s housing target.

Finally, Nightingales have been recognised by the planning system as worthy of preservation in other areas. In Kent the famous case of Lodge Hill is a parallel to Castor where houses were proposed adjacent to a SSSI which was a major site for Nightingales. The application was refused by Medway District Council and, at appeal, the planning inspector supported Medway and refused development.  

So, in conclusion, this proposed development is in the wrong place for a whole raft of reasons, of which the negative and irreversible impact on Nightingales is the most emotive. We therefore register a strong objection to the proposals. 

 

KEITH LIEVESLEY 

Chair

 

On behalf of Peterborough Bird Club


If you wish to send an email expressing your objections to the housing north of Castor Ailsworth, you should send it to:

Planningpolicy@peterborough.gov.uk

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.