We have a new group. There are wonderful bird-watching opportunities around. Let's get a group together to arrange occasional outings. Of course butterflies, and other wild animals can be included in our spotting!!

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NEXT TRIP: Will be posted here and on our WhatsApp group shortly

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TRIP REPORT: RSPB Broadwater Warren near Tunbridge Wells on 30 June 2026.

There was an air of Midsummer Night’s Dream about our trip to the vast heathland of the RSPB’s Broadwater Warren.

We were treated to views of one of the country’s most mysterious, otherworldly, birds, the nightjar.

For millennia this summer visitor from Africa  was thought to drink milk from the udders of goats - hence its Latin name Caprimulgus Europaeus, or European goat milk.

Almost impossible to see on the ground, they are pretty tough to see in the air because they only emerge at dusk.

But on a perfect midsummer night - warm, clear skies, little or no breeze - our patience was rewarded when we heard the first nightjar sing. It sounded like a giant grasshopper, churring in the bracken and heather.  Soon others joined in, proclaiming their territories.

Then one flew past, as sleek as a falcon with long pointed wings, and soon after two flew right in front of us, with a male performing his courtship display, clapping his wings with a loud crack. It was breathtaking.

About thirty minutes earlier a high-pitched yickering had alerted us to a pair of hobbies which treated us to an aerobatics display to make the Red Arrows jealous as the sun went down.

Much earlier we had perfect views of a yellowhammer perched at the top of a dead tree, his yellow head bright in the sunlight.

We also saw tree pipits, a large mixed band of long-tailed and blue tits with willow warblers. There was even time to see a bat racing to the moths before the nightjars came out to play.

Quite an evening barely 50 miles from the heart of London.

BIRDS SEEN OR HEARD: A shorter list than on some trips but some unbeatable sights... Black-headed gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker,  Great Tit, Hobby, Jackdaw, Jay, Linnet, Long-tailed Tit, Nightjar, Song Thrush, Stonechat, Tree Pipit, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren and a Yellowhammer.

We also saw a fox, a deer and a bat.

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TRIP REPORT: THURSLEY NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE, SURREY on 12 June 2026.

DESCRIPTION: Vast area of Surrey heathland, meres and woods.

Thursley lived up to its billing with wonderful views of Dartford Warblers, including a family of young which had just left the nest. We also had good views of tree pipits signing and displaying, woodlarks and saw or heard several warblers including Willow and Garden warblers, Whitethroat and Chiffchaff. There was also a probable redstart and a mystery buzzard.

BIRDS SEEN OR HEARD: Blackbird, Blue tit, Buzzard, Canada goose, Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal tit, Cormorant, Dartford warbler with young, Dunnock, Garden warbler, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great spotted woodpecker, Green woodpecker, Kestrel, Linnet, Little grebe, Long-tailed tit, Magpie, Mallard, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Skylark, Stonechat, Swift, Teal, Tree pipit, Whitethroat, Willow warbler, Woodlark, Woodpigeon and Wren. There were lots of Common lizards basking in the sun, rabbits and a Meadow Brown as well as damselflies.

Dartford warbler - Pic: Deb Skinner

Dartford warbler - Pic: Deb Skinner

Goldfinches and Linnets - Pic: Deb Skinner

Male Stonechat - Pic: Deb Skinner

Unidentified moth with spectacular antennae - Pic: Deb Skinner

Probable Broad-bodied chaser - Pic: Deb Skinner

Damselfly - Pic: Deb Skinner

Common lizard basking - Pic: Deb Skinner

Common lizard - Pic: Deb Skinner

Common lizard - Pic: Deb Skinner

Probable Early Marsh orchid with Hoverfly - Pic: Deb Skinner

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TRIP REPORT: SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST'S OLD LODGE NATURE RESERVE on Friday 8 May 2026.

At first I thought this would be one of those days where we heard plenty but saw little. However, it became a feast of birds, including most of the ones I had hoped we would see at what was a new reserve for most of us. We saw a cuckoo on two occasions, a woodlark with food, a tree pipit performing its song flight, and two lucky people had a perfect view of a male redstart. The rest of us made do with hearing them sing. The birdsong was beautiful on this mix of heathland and woodland in the Ashdown Forest.

BIRDS SEEN OR HEARD: Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Cuckoo, Dunnock, Garden Warbler, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Linnet, Magpie, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Red Kite, Redstart, Robin, Song Thrush, Stock Dove, Stonechat, Tree Pipit, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodlark, Woodpigeon and Wren.                                                                             

We also saw a Large Red Damselfly and four butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small Heath and Speckled Wood.

Woodlark with food - Pic: Deb Skinner

Cuckoo - Pic: Deb Skinner

Male redstart - Pic: Deb Skinner

Male redstart - Pic: Deb Skinner

Tree Pipit - Pic: Deb Skinner

Willow Warbler - Pic: Deb Skinner

Robin - Pic: Deb Skinner

Male Blackcap - Pic: Deb Skinner

Large Red Damselfly - Pic: Deb Skinner

Speckled Wood - Pic: Deb Skinner

Large White - Pic: Deb Skinner

Wood Ant with a heavy load - Pic: Deb Skinner

An ex-Grass Snake - Pic: Deb Skinner

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TRIP REPORT: BOUGH BEECH RESERVOIR, KENT, Saturday April 18 2026

A dogfight between a Kestrel and a Red kite provided a memorable air display at Bough Beech reservoir.

The kestrel repeatedly dive bombed the much bigger kite, presumably  to drive it away from its nest.

We also heard the voice of Spring, the cuckoo, got superb views of the normally elusive garden warbler and were treated to the songs of several other warblers. 

We found a Canada goose on its nest, a family of Coots with three chicks, and three newly emerged types of butterfly.

Birds seen or heard: Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue tit, Buzzard, Canada goose, Carrion crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common tern, Coot, Cormorant, Cuckoo, Dunnock, Gadwall, Garden warbler, Goldfinch, Great crested grebe, Great spotted woodpecker, Great tit, Green woodpecker, Grey heron, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lesser black-backed gull, Little grebe, Magpie, Mallard, Mandarin duck, Moorhen, Pheasant, Pied wagtail, Pochard, Red kite, Reed Bunting, Reed warbler, Robin, Shoveler, Stock Dove, Swallow, Tufted duck, Whitethroat, Willow warbler, Woodpigeon and Wren.

Butterflies: Comma, Orange-tip and Peacock.

Cuckoo - Pic: Deb Skinner

Kestrel attacking a Red kite - Pic: Deb Skinner

Garden warbler - Pic: Deb Skinner

Young Coot - Pic: Deb Skinner

Great crested grebe nest-building - Pic: Deb Skinner

Little grebe - Pic: Deb Skinner

Male Reed bunting - Pic: Deb Skinner

Robin with food - Pic: Deb Skinner

Male Chaffinch - Pic: Deb Skinner

Speckled wood - Pic: Deb Skinner

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TRIP REPORT: KENT WILDLIFE TRUST'S SEVENOAKS WILDLIFE RESERVE, Friday 10 April 2026

A fantastic day out at this lovely reserve which has a mix of big lakes and woodland. There were so many highlights it is hard to pick them out but... mine were a little ringed plover in virtually the same spot as last June, a great white egret right in front of the hide and a heron feeding three downy young in a treetop nest. We saw a host of newly arrived summer visitors including sand martins, swallows and house martins and heard a willow warbler. The birdsong was pretty spectacular too with blackcaps and chiffchaffs in full voice.

Birds seen or heard: Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cetti's Warbler, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coot, Dunnock, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Great White Egret, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Martin, Jackdaw, Jay, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Little Ringed Plover, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Reed Bunting, Ring-necked Parakeet, Rook, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Shoveler, Stock Dove, Swallow, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren

We also saw two butterflies - an Orange-tip and a Speckled Wood.

Sand martins and a swallow - Pic: Deb Skinner

Wren - Pic: Deb Skinner

Great white egret - Pic: Deb Skinner

Speckled wood - Pic: Deb Skinner

Great crested grebe - Pic: Deb Skinner

Male Blackcap - Pic: Deb Skinner

Male Shoveler - Pic: Deb Skinner

Heron with young on nest - Pic: Deb Skinner

Dunnock - Pic: Deb Skinner

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TRIP REPORT: BOUGH BEECH RESERVOIR, Tuesday 17 February 2026.

Bough Beech turned into Raptor Central with a pair of buzzards, a kestrel, a sparrowhawk (twice) and a red kite winging in. There were also plenty of wintering wildfowl, from teal to wigeon, a few snipe, great spotted woodpeckers drumming and lots of fieldfare.

Birds seen or heard: Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Egyptian Goose, Fieldfare, Gadwall, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Little Grebe, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Tit, Moorhen, Pheasant, Pochard, Red Kite, Robin, Snipe, Sparrowhawk, Teal, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren.

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TRIP REPORT: RSPB PAGHAM HARBOUR, near Chichester, Monday 19 January 2026

We had a great trip to RSPB Pagham Harbour , thanks in part to the rain clearing as soon as we arrived. We clocked up an impressive 56 species thanks to the diversity of habitats - freshwater, flooded salt marshes, sea, woodland and farmland. There were many species seeking refuge from northern climes for the winter. Highlights included green sandpiper, avocet, knot, golden and grey plover, a pair of pintail, hundreds of Brent geese and lapwing, and plenty of redwing and fieldfare.

Birds seen or heard: Avocet, black-headed gull, black-tailed godwit, blackbird, blue tit, Brent goose, buzzard, Canada goose, crow, chaffinch, Common gull, cormorant, curlew, dunlin, fieldfare, golden plover, goldfinch, Great black-backed gull, Great crested grebe, Great spotted woodpecker, Great tit, green sandpiper, green woodpecker, grey heron, Herring gull, House sparrow, jay, kestrel, knot, lapwing, Little egret, Little grebe, Long-tailed tit, magpie, mallard, moorhen, mute swan, oystercatcher, pintail, red-legged partridge, redshank, redwing, robin, rook, shelduck, shoveler, snipe, Song thrush, starling, stock dove, teal, turnstone, wigeon, wood pigeon and wren. A grey squirrel also popped up.

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TRIP REPORT: Friday December 19 - Bough Beech Reservoir, near Edenbridge, Kent

Bough Beech was looking at its best in glorious winter sunshine, which was very welcome after so much rain. The highlight was a pair of goosander among wigeon, teal, gadwall, pochard and great crested grebes. There were excellent views of snipe which emerged from the reeds into the sun and a grey wagtail feeding on the shore.

Birds seen or heard: Blue tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Cormorant, Dunnock, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Grey Wagtail, Heron, Jackdaw, Little Grebe, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Nuthatch, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pochard, Robin, Snipe, Song Thrush, Stock Dove, Teal, Wigeon, Woodpigeon and Wren.

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TRIP REPORT: Tuesday December 2 - Kent Wildlife Trust's Oare Marshes near Faversham, Kent.

A gloriously sunny day in between the storms showed how this is a haven for migrating and wintering birds. Among the stars of the show were a lone spotted redshank and a couple of cattle egrets living up to their name by feeding around the hooves of some cattle. There was also an obliging Dartford warbler who kept returning to the same brambles to sit and flick his tail. Elsewhere we saw plenty of birds taking a break from the Arctic such as grey plover, sanderling, turnstone and teal. Just to round the trip off, a seal also appeared, swimming close inshore.

Birds seen or heard: Black-headed Gull, Blue Tit, Cattle Egret, Cetti's Warbler, Cormorant, Curlew, Dartford Warbler, Dunlin, Gadwall, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Grey Plover, Herring Gull, Kestrel, Lapwing, Magpie, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Rook, Shelduck, Shoveler, Skylark, Spotted Redshank, Starling, Stonechat, Teal, Turnstone and a seal.

NEXT TRIP: Details shortly. ***************************************************************************************************************** TRIP REPORT: Monday 10 November 2025 - RSPB Cliffe Pools, near Rochester, Kent

We defied the weather forecast and found a lengthy gap in the downpours which gave us time to spot four marsh harriers, including at least one that must have hatched this year. There were migrating grey plover and curlew as well as wintering wildfowl including pochard and shoveler. The ones that got away were a sparrowhawk and a black-necked grebe - we just couldn't be sure about them. And then the monsoon hit ...

Birds seen or heard: Avocet, Blackbird, Blue tit, Carrion crow, Cetti’s Warbler, Chaffinch, Coot, Curlew, Goldfinch, Great black-backed gull, Great crested grebe, Great tit, Heron, Grey plover, Greylag goose, Herring gull, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lapwing, Little egret, Little grebe, Long-tailed tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh harrier, Mute swan, Pheasant, Pochard, Redshank, Robin, Shelduck, Shoveler, Skylark, Starling, Stock dove, Tufted duck, Woodpigeon

***************************************************************************************************************** TRIP REPORT: MONDAY 20 OCTOBER 2025 - BOUGH BEECH RESERVOIR NEAR EDENBRIDGE, KENT.

Fortune favoured the brave on our trip to Bough Beech. We shrugged off torrential showers and, during the sunny interludes, were rewarded with a Green sandpiper on migration from Northern Europe, feeding on the muddy banks of the reservoir. There were also two very late appearances by summer visitors - a swallow and an unidentified tern who should by now be well on their way to Africa. Another highlight was a snipe resting by the water and a sparrowhawk overhead.

Birds seen or heard: Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Cormorant, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Green Sandpiper, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Jackdaw, Jay, Lapwing, Little Egret, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Red Kite, Robin, Snipe, Sparrowhawk, Swallow, Teal, Unidentified tern, Wigeon, Woodpigeon and Wren

***************************************************************************************************************** TRIP REPORT: TUESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2025 - NUTFIELD MARSHES, MERSTHAM

Another lovely day. Our local lakes provided recently hatched grebes, a few house martins rearing a late brood and superb views of a hobby which will soon be following the swallows and martins back to Africa.

Birds seen or heard: Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock,Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Green Woodpecker, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Hobby, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Nuthatch, Robin, Starling, Tufted Duck and Woodpigeon

***************************************************************************************************************** REPORT OF TRIP: TUESDAY 26 AUGUST 2025 - RSPB DUNGENESS, KENT.

The autumn migration was in full swing with swallows, martins and swifts heading south to Africa while many waders flew in from the Arctic. Among the highlights were three young little stint. These sparrow-sized waders breed in the north of Norway and Russia and winter south of the Sahara - a remarkable journey for such a tiny bird. They were joined by fellow northerners such as ruff, little ringed plover, common sandpiper, golden plover, grey plover, greenshank and turnstone. We also saw at least six great white egret, large herons whose appearance 25 years ago would have sent twitchers into a frenzy.

Birds seen or heard: Black-headed Gull, Blue Tit, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cetti's Warbler, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Egyptian Goose, Feral Pigeon, Gadwall, Golden Plover, Great Black-backed Gull,  Great Crested Grebe, Great White Egret, Greenshank, Grey Heron, Grey Plover, Grey Wagtail, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Martin, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Little Ringed Plover, Little Stint, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pochard, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Ruff, Sand Martin, Shoveler, Snipe, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Swift, Tufted Duck, Turnstone, Woodpigeon plus a Red Admiral butterfly.

Little Grebe - Pic: Deb Skinner

Common sandpipers - Pic: Deb Skinner

Little stints, pied wagtail and ringed plover - Pic: Deb Skinner

Great White Egret - Pic: Deb Skinner

Common tern - Pic: Deb Skinner

Two ruff and young little-ringed plover - Pic: Deb Skinner

Migrant hawker - Pic: Deb Skinner

Common blue - Pic: Deb Skinner

Marsh frog - Pic: Deb Skinner

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REPORT OF TRIP: WEDNESDAY 12 AUGUST 2025, THURSLEY NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE, NEAR GUILDFORD.

We had a glorious, sweltering day on this Surrey heath. The heather was at its best -  a sea of purple against a backdrop of conifers. But the birds were very elusive in contrast to our visit in May when they were all singing away. Many of them are skulking while they moult and, once the breeding season ends, romance dies. Those fickle males stop singing! But it was a wonderful morning in a gem of a reserve.

Birds seen or heard: Blue tit, carrion crow, chiffchaff, coal tit, goldcrest, goldfinch, great spotted woodpecker, great tit, green woodpecker, hobby, long-tailed tit, magpie, mallard, possible marsh tit, red kite, robin, stonechat and wood pigeon.

Plus: lots of lizards basking on the wooden boardwalks, dragonflies and a grayling butterfly.

Thursley National Nature Reserve - Pic: John Ingham

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REPORT OF TRIP: FRIDAY 27 JUNE 2025 - KENT WILDLIFE TRUST'S OARE MARSHES

On a glorious midsummer’s day at Oare Marshes opposite the Isle of Sheppey, we witnessed the start of the autumn migration. In the middle of a flock of black-tailed godwits was a Spotted redshank in its black summer plumage, a long way from its breeding grounds in Arctic Norway and Russia. It was joined by another Arctic breeder, a knot, and a dazzling summer visitor, a yellow wagtail. We also heard a cuckoo - possibly our last before they start flying south to the Congo in a couple of weeks. There were curlews on the mudflats and avocets in the lagoons, with a musical accompaniment provided by goldfinches, linnets, dunnocks and Cetti's warblers. Just as we were leaving, some of us saw a little ringed plover, another visitor from Africa. There was even an unconfirmed call heard - a Bonaparte's Gull. We couldn't find it but one has been seen here for a few years after getting blown across the Atlantic from America. We also sampled the pure, sweet water from a centuries old spring by the car park. No pictures this time - our photographers couldn't make it. They were sorely missed!

Birds seen or heard: Avocet, Black-headed Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cetti's Warbler, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Cormorant, Cuckoo, Curlew, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Knot, Lapwing, Linnet, Little Egret, Little Ringed Plover, Long-tailed Tit, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mediterranean Gull, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Shelduck, Skylark, Spotted Redshank, Swallow, Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellow Wagtail

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REPORT OF TRIP: THURSDAY 12 JUNE 2025 - THE SEVENOAKS WILDLIFE RESERVE

June is supposed to be a quiet time for birds but nobody had told them that. Warblers, including reed, Cetti's, chiffchaff, garden and blackcap were in full song and we are pretty sure we saw the normally reclusive Cetti's flying over one of the many ponds. Other highlights included four little ringed plovers together on a sand bar in a lake while Common terns performed aerobatics overhead.

Birds seen or heard: Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cetti's Warbler, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Tern, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Egyptian Goose, Garden Warbler, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Jay, Lapwing, Little Egret, Little Ringed Plover, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Reed Warbler, Robin, Song Thrush, Stock Dove, Swift, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Wren.  

Also making guest appearances were slow-worms, frogs and a red admiral. 

Little ringed plover - Pic: Deb Skinner

Common tern -Pic: Deb Skinner

Young long-tiled tit - Pic: Deb Skinner

Slow worm - Pic: Deb Skinner

Banded demoiselle - Pic: Deb Skinner

Probable Emperor dragonfly - Pic: Deb Skinner

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REPORT OF TRIP: MONDAY 19 MAY 2025 - THURSLEY NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE NEAR GUILDFORD

A pair of hobbies hawking for dragonflies were the stars of our trip to Thursley National Nature Reserve near Goldalming. They had stiff competition from Dartford Warblers, tree pipits, woodlarks, stonechats, willow warblers and a whinchat, while cuckoos and curlews also added to the soundscape.

BIRDS SEEN OR HEARD:

Blackbird, Blue tit, Canada goose, Carrion crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Cuckoo, Curlew, Dartford warbler, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great spotted woodpecker, Great white egret, Greenfinch, Hobby, Jackdaw, Linnet, Little grebe, Long-tailed tit, Magpie, Mallard, Pheasant, Red Kite, Reed bunting, Robin, Rook, Stonechat, Swallow, Swift, Tree pipit, Tufted duck, Whinchat, Whitethroat, Willow warbler, Woodpigeons, Wren.

We also saw a Roe deer and dragonflies and damselflies.

Hobby - Pic: Deb Skinner

Hobby - Pic: Deb Skinner

Probable Whinchat - Pic: Deb Skinner

Male Stonechat - Pic: Deb Skinner

Great White Egret - Pic: Deb Skinner

Goldfinch - Pic: Deb Skinner

Marsh orchid - Pic: Deb Skinner

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REPORT OF TRIP: MONDAY 12 MAY 2025 - RSPB PULBOROUGH BROOKS, SUSSEX

Another magical trip out where we were entertained by at least four nightingales singing away, hoping to woo a mate. Once heard they’re never forgotten. Nightjars also began their churring early in the day for us while hobbies hawked over the wetlands for dragonflies. The woods were alive with warblers singing away. By the time we’d finished we’d seen or heard 51 bird species - quite an afternoon.

BIRDS SEEN OR HEARD:

Avocet, Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, 

Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cetti's Warbler, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Cormorant, Cuckoo,Dunnock, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Garden Warbler, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Hobby, House Sparrow,Jackdaw,Lapwing,Lesser Whitethroat,Linnet, Little Grebe, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Moorhen, Mute Swan,Nightingale, Nightjar, Pheasant, Red Kite, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Rook, Shoveler,Skylark, Song Thrush, Stonechat, Tufted Duck,  

Whitethroat, Wigeon, Woodpigeon,Wren. 

MAMMALS: 

Grey Squirrel, Rabbit  

BUTTERFLIES:

Large White, Red Admiral, Small White, Speckled Wood. 

Dunnock - Pic: Brian Smith

Speckled Wood - Pic: Brian Smith

Reed Bunting - Pic: Deb Skinner

Linnet - Pic: Deb Skinner

Chiffchaff - Pic - Deb Skinner

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REPORT OF TRIP: TUESDAY 29 APRIL 2025, BOUGH BEECH RESERVOIR, KENT

Cuckoos calling were among the highlights on a gloriously sunny day at Bough Beech. We were also treated to the sight of a kingfisher while swallows swooped in to refuel on their trip north from South Africa. At times there were so many warblers singing it was hard to keep track.

Birds seen or heard: 

Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Tern, Coot, Cormorant, Cuckoo, Egyptian Goose, Garden Warbler, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Jackdaw,

Kingfisher, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Lesser Whitethroat, Little Grebe, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mandarin Duck, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Ring-necked Parakeet, Robin, Stock Dove, Swallow, Tufted Duck, Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Wren

Egyptian Goose - Pic: Tony Carroll

Nesting Cormorants - Pic: Tony Carroll

Chiffchaff - Pic: Tony Carroll

Greylag Goose - Pic: Tony Carroll

Shy Great Crested Grebe - Pic: Tony Carroll

Common Tern - Pic: Deb Skinner

Lapwing - Pic: Deb Skinner

Whitethroat in song flight - Pic: Deb Skinner

Garden Warbler - Pic: Deb Skinner

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REPORT OF FIRST TRIP: WEDNESDAY 16 APRIL 2025 - NUTFIELD MARSH AND SPYNE’S MERE, MERSTHAM

Newly arrived summer visitors were the stars of the first outing for Caterham & District U3A’s birding group.

They included swallow, sand martin, garden warbler, whitethroat and reed warbler as well as blackcap and chiffchaff.

They took the total of species seen or heard on the trip to Merstham’s Nutfield Marsh and Spyne’s Mere to 40.

The full list:

Blackbird, Blackcap, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Garden Warbler, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Grebe, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pheasant ,Pied Wagtail, Pochard, Red Kite, Reed Warbler, Robin, Sand Martin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Tufted Duck, Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Wren

Great Crested Grebe and dinner - Pic: Liz Whittaker

Mute Swan - Pic: Liz Whittaker

U3A Birding at Spyne's Mere - Pic: Liz Whittaker

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