Here are the details of our planned outdoor trips. For general information on outdoor trips please visit the outdoor trips page.
We have visited this WLT reserve at various times of the year & never been disappointed. Always a good chance of seeing the elusive Bittern. New Visitor Centre opens Dec 2016 & a hot meal at lunch time can be booked. Facilities: Café & toilets. Cost £6.50 or £2.50 for WLT members – cards will be req’d The 2nd Earl of Leicester planted the distinctive belt of pine trees in the 19th century to help stabilise the dunes. So it’s time we reinforced the city connection & enjoyed a trip to the North Norfolk Coast. We hope to see plenty of Geese and Waders Facilities: Toilets at nearby Wells. Cost £2.50 A first visit to this site close to Stafford Town Centre . Small lagoons, a good mix of shrub & hedgerows, and plenty of reed beds cater for many species of birds. Marsh Harriers visit regularly. In the afternoon we will take a walk through woodland along the shore of Blithfield Reservoir. Facilities: at a nearby Supermarket. Cost £2.50 This Bucks WLT Reserve has a good mix of habitat. Plenty of Waders and summer visitors at this time of year. If there is time we will also visit nearby Ivinghoe Beacon. NB: Trip is a week later than usual due to Easter Facilities: Café. Cost £2.50 Annual Bird Race for the coveted “Swift Trophy”. Free to all members. This is a great site for raptors, such as Hobbies, Marsh Harriers & Peregrines. There will be plenty of Warblers & we may also be lucky to see Bearded Tits. RSPB cards required Facilities. Toilets. Cost £2.50. A Hawk & Owl Trust site that has been developed since the club’s last visit in 2009. Boardwalks will make for easy perambulating and there are 5 hides in all. A new aerial walkway climbs to a platform 4 metres above the site, giving spectacular elevated views over the fen and reed bed. They have Tawny & Barn Owls here and we should still see summer visitors enjoying their last few days in this country. Time permitting, we will stop off at Eldernell Lane, Whittlesey on the way home for more Owls! Two reserves close to each other in Hertfordshire. Amwell was formerly gravel pits but is now an SSSI, with 3 hides overlooking the reserve for us to view waterfowl and tardy migrants. Rye Meads has reed beds, so we should see a wide range of birds on the day. NB 1 week later than normal. One week away from the shortest day of the year, we need to make the most of daylight hours. Where better than this wonderful reserve with so many hides to choose from, less than an hour’s drive away.
Facilities: Toilets. Coffee machine only. Cost £6.50
http://hawkandowl.org/sculthorpe
Facilities: None at Amwell. Toilets and Coffee machine at Rye Meads.
Cost £2.50
http://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/Amwell & http://rspb.org.uk/ryemeads
As the quarry becomes worked out, more of it is being handed over to the RSPB for further development. However, this reserve is already a pleasant site to visit with lagoons and reedbed areas, which have attracted Bitterns, Bearded Tits & Water Rail. A pontoon walkway forms part of the circular path.
We may also visit a Notts Wildlife Trust site at Besthorpe for wintering ducks and geese, and/or Spalford Warren which is a heathland reserve close by.
Facilities: None, but cafés in the vicinity. Cost £2.50
http://rspb.org.uk/langfordlowfields
Facilities: Toilets and coffee machine
Cost £6.50 or £2.50 with valid Rutland Water Nature Reserve pass
http://rutlandwater.org.uk