Field Meetings

2024

There will be a field meeting to Dungeness on Thursday 19th September, meeting in the cinema car park at 9.15am to help with car sharing. If its more convenient to go straight to Dungeness RSPB we will be there by 9.50. Please inform us if you are meeting us there.

2023

There will be a field meeting at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve on Wednesday 22nd November meeting in Rye Harbour Car Park at 10.00 am.  Jenny and Heather will be leading the morning and we will be  finishing by 1 pm approx. The car park is free although donations are welcome and there are cafe and toilet facilities. Please let Heather know if you plan to attend on 01233 637067 or  ABWCinfo@birdlover.com

2022

Our next Field Meeting will be to Rye Harbour on Wednesday, November 23rd. Meet in the Car Park at 10.00am. We aim to finish around 13.00.  Please let Heather know if you plan to attend on 01233 637067

Our first Field trip for this autumn was to Stodmarsh. 

The species seen were:

Robin, Cetti’s Warbler (H), Wren (H), Green Sandpiper, Pochard, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Pintail, Gadwall, Mallard, Common Teal, Cormorant, Greylag Goose, Wood Pigeon, Marsh Harrier, Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwit, Water Pipit, Kestrel, Greater Black-backed Gull, Redwing, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Moorhen, Coot, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Peregrine Falcon, Common Buzzard, Green Woodpecker (H), Ruff, Little Grebe, Goldcrest (H), Kingfisher (H), Magpie, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Grey Heron, Bearded Tit (H), Common Starling, and Long-tailed Tit (H).

The total is 42 species seen over 2 and a half to three hours.

2022 Field Meetings.

July 2021 onwards

We plan to resume outdoor field meetings; details will be sent to members about 2 weeks prior to each walk, with a reminder 1 week beforehand. 

To hear about our field meetings and to book a place please email:  ABWCinfo@birdlover.com

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May 2021    Field Meetings are currently limited to 5 persons + the leader. 

Please note during Covid restrictions we need to observe the following rules:

1. Please do not attend if you have or suspect Covid symptoms
2. email  ABWCinfo@birdlover.com if you wish to attend with your telephone number/email in case we need to track and trace afterward
3. Numbers are limited to groups of 5 +  leader . If we have more than 5 people, we will have 2-3 leaders.
4. At the location we must keep strictly to our groups and avoid mixing
5. Within each group follow current government guidance such as keeping your distance from each other and respecting their personal space
6. Each group should stick together as we go around the location
7. No sharing of optics eg telescopes, binoculars

To hear about our meetings and to book a place please email:  ABWCinfo@birdlover.com

OUR FIELD MEETINGS REMAIN  CANCELLED FOR THE TIME BEING DUE TO  THE CONTINUING AND NEW CORONAVIRUS MEASURES AS AT 10 SEPTEMBER 2020

2019 FIELD MEETINGS

In addition to any ABWC field meetings you may also be interested in attending the weekly field meetings through East Kent Wildlife Group; click on the link on the right to check their programme.

Next Field Meeting

Tuesday 18th February 2020   Oare Marshes

Weather permitting our next meeting will be at Oare Marshes, meeting at the CP there at 10.00am on Tuesday 18th February.

It is likely to be wet and muddy underfoot on the far path so wellingtons might be useful. 2-3 hours likely.

Please let me know if you are intending to come and do feel free to check with me the night before that the meeting is going ahead.

Andrew

Thursday 30th January 2020       Sheppey: Elmley NNR and the raptor viewpoint

Meet at the entrance to Elmley NNR at 10.00am. Please note there is a £5.00 per car entrance fee (Friends of Elmley can enter for free). We will drive in convoy along the entrance track birdwatching from our cars up to the CP area. After our visit to Elmley we will then drive to the RSPB's Raptor viewpoint to look for harriers and other raptors coming into their evening roost.

Please email or call/text Andrew on (mobile) 07962 038052 if you intend to come.  In case of a forecast of inclement weather please check with Andrew in case the meeting is cancelled.

Thursday 19th December Dungeness RSPB Reserve

Meet in the CP at the visitor centre at 10.00hrs  for a couple of hours winter birding. Remember to bring your RSPB membership card and wrap up well. Bring your telescope if you have one. Please email or call/text Andrew on (mobile) 07962 038052 if you intend to come.  In case of a forecast of inclement weather please check with Andrew in case the meeting is cancelled.

andrew_lapworth@hotmail.com

Tuesday 6 August 2019      Oare Marshes. 10.00-13.00  Meet at CP at Oare Marshes. Mainly for waders on return migration. Leader: Andrew Lapworth

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Spring 2019 Field meetings

Tuesday 16th April         Rye Harbour. 10.00 Meet at Martello CP. Spring birding

Tuesday 30th April         Faggs Wood meeting at 05.00 for Dawn Chorus

Wednesday 8th May      Surrenden Lakes; meeting on A28 at 17.00; hoping for Nightingale and Turtle Dove. NB. Access to this private site is restricted; please email or telephone me in advance so I know numbers

Wednesday 26 June      Kings Wood, Challock; 20:30. Nightjars.

Further details will be emailed to members ahead of each meeting.

Andrew Lapworth

Previous meetings

 Thursday 14th February 2019

The Isle of Sheppey.  Meet at 10.00am at the RSPB's Raptor Viewpoint over Capel Fleet on the Harty Ferry Road. It is likely to be bitterly cold so wrap up well and bring lunch and warm drinks etc. Scopes and tripods useful here. If the weather is OK we may drive before dusk along the track into Elmley NNR, birdwatching from the car. Each car costs £5.00 to use the track (free for Friends of Elmley).  For Location details see:

https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/capel-fleet/

Capel Fleet Nature Reserve, Isle of Sheppey - The RSPB Capel Fleet Raptor Viewpoint is simply a car park and raised viewing point maintained by the RSPB to provide visitors to the Isle of Sheppey with a strategic location to experience one of the foremost assemblages of raptors in the UK. www.rspb.org.uk

Grateful if members decide to come they can email of phone me beforehand.

Andrew Lapworth

Autumn 2018

Tuesday 13th November
3 parts: Reculver Towers followed by Grove Ferry and Stodmarsh

Meet at Reculver Towers CP (fee payable) at 11.00 for a short sea watch and scan from the Towers; we will then drive to.....
or meet at: 
Grove Ferry CP (fee payable) at 13.00 hrs; we will scan from the ramp for a short while then move round to Stodmarsh CP to try and see Harriers coming into roost as it gets dark at c 4pm.
Telescopes useful; dress for cold weather & have stout shoes or boots (Wellingtons probably not necessary). NB it will be dark at Stodmarsh so a torch also useful to go back to the CP.
If you intend to come please let me know, and say if you are coming for the whole trip starting at Reculver or just for the afternoon starting at Grove Ferry.

Andrew
andrew_lapworth@hotmail.com



Please make a note in your diaries for 2 forthcoming dates for field meetings:

Thursday 25th October     Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Meet 10.00am in Martello CP.
and
Tuesday 13th November (venue to be confirmed in due course)

Please let me know if you are intending to come  andrew_lapworth@hotmail.com

Andrew


 Summer 2018

June 6th 8.30pm    Nightjars at Kings wood, Challock forest, led by Andrew Lapworth, meet at Kings Wood car park, on White Hill, Challock.

If you plan to attend please contact Andrew on 01303812200 or email Andrew_lapworth@hotmail.com

July 18th 10.00am  Dungeness to see the summer migrants, led by Jenny Jackson and Robert Carr. Meet at the car park at the RSPB centre.
If you plan to attend, please contact Jenny on 01303 812324 or email jenny.jackson28@btinternet.com

August 28th 10.00 am. Oare Marshes to see the wader migration,

led by Jenny Jackson. Meet at the main car park at the end of Church Road, Oare.If you plan to attend, please contact Jenny on 01303 812324 or email jenny.jackson28@btinternet.com

It is planned to try and have walks each month throughout the winter too. Destinations and dates will be provided at the winter meetings. 

Field Meetings April and May 2018

Tuesday April 3^rd – Meet at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve by Martello Tower at 10.00 hrs

Wednesday 9^th May – Meet at Faggs Wood, Hamstreet Car park at 19.00 hrs for Nightingales, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and others
Grid Ref. TQ986347 

Tues 15th May - Meet at large Lay-by on A28 (Great Chart ByPass), and go in convoy to Surrenden Lakes WE SHOULD MEET BY THE LAY-BY AT 5pm.

Arranged by ABWC Member Frank Newington & Andrew, who have special permission from the Angling Society. It is important to follow the rules & guidance to avoid disturbance to persons fishing. We need to have a list of names and car regs. attending and it would be helpful if members car-share to minimise cars in the lakes Car Park.  Frank has key.
 Please email names and car regs. to andrew_lapworth@hotmail.com by Sun May 13th.

Other venues to be announced at a later date.

Field Meetings 2017/18

Our 2017 outdoor meetings will be on the following dates:

Thursday October 12th: Rye Harbour Nature Reserve  Meet CP by Martello Tower @ 10.00hrs

Tuesday 7th November: Oare Marshes Nature Reserve. Meet at the CP @ 10.00hrs

Tuesday 19th December   Dungeness RSPB Reserve; Meet at the CP @ 10.00 hrs

Venues to be confirmed nearer each date but are likely to include: Oare Marshes, Reculver, Sheppey, Stodmarsh/Grove Ferry, Dungeness, Rye Harbour, Fagg's Wood, Kings Wood, Challock.