August 2015
Sunday 30 Own transport trip to College Lake and the Tring Reservoirs - Our new season starts with a day out in the attractive Chilterns countryside, where we will be looking for migrant birds (particularly waders) as well as enjoying the resident wildlife, which is likely to include lots of dragonflies and butterflies. Meet at College Lake car park (O/S 165; SP 936 142: £3 donation) at 9.30am.
Leader: Martin Johnson
Members’ Subscriptions Due
September
Friday 4 Birding Down Under - Richard Pople presents the birds and sights of Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. Includes bowerbirds, albatross, penguins, Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef.
Sunday 20 Coach trip to Cley (Norfolk Wildlife Trust).
Cley in September is a fantastic place for birdwatchers, as breeding birds such as bittern, marsh harrier and bearded tit compete for our attention with passage migrants and soon to depart summer visitors, which often include rarities! Permits: £5.00 with Gift Aid: NWT members free.
Hitchin: 7.30am. Letchworth: 7.45am. Royston: 8.05am.
Leader: Val Thompson
October
Friday 2 The Wildlife of Stow Maries Aerodrome -
Photographer Russell Savory presents his slide show featuring owls and how to go about photographing them, as well as field craft and how to obtain great images without spending a fortune. Includes a short film on water voles and the owls at the aerodrome.
Sunday 18 Coach trip to Gibraltar Point NNR (Joint trip with RSPB Stevenage LG). This RAMSAR listed site, which incorporates three miles of the Lincolnshire coastline near sunny Skegness, boasts a wide variety of habitats. We will be looking, amongst other things, for passage migrants and returning winter visitors.
Stevenage: 7.35am Hitchin: 7.45am. Letchworth: 8.00am.
Leader: Malcolm Ingram
November
Friday 6 The Wild Canadian Rockies - from Alberta to British Colombia. Martin Davies shares his knowledge of the wildlife in this beautiful landscape: from grizzly bears and moose to ground squirrels and chipmunks. Beautiful slipper orchids, amazing butterflies and a wealth of birdlife illustrate the richness of these northern forests and alpine meadows.
Sunday 15 Coach trip to Elmley NNR (Joint trip with RSPB Stevenage LG). Now managed by a farming family, this huge fresh water grazing marsh reserve on the Isle of Sheppey still attracts a fantastic variety of wintering birds, with raptors (peregrine, hen harrier, short-eared owl etc.) a speciality. Donation: £2.50.
Letchworth: 7.30am. Hitchin: 7.45am. Stevenage: 7.55am.
Leader: Malcolm Ingram
December
Friday 4 Birdwatching in the Colne Valley - Steve Carter’s talk will satisfy even the most ardent birders. The diverse habitats of the Colne Valley gravel pits hold a vast array of species, in particular wildfowl such as Smew. In the alders, flocks of siskins oblige and the flooded valley floor produces water rail and snipe at both Maple Lodge and Stockers Lake.
Sunday 13 Own transport trip to Stockers Lake (am) and Amwell (pm). Located just off the M25 (junction 17), Stockers Lake hosts a wide variety of wintering wildfowl (including goldeneye and possible red-crested pochard) and woodland birds. It is also a Hertfordshire stronghold for the ring-necked parakeet! In the afternoon there will be an optional visit to the HMWT reserve at Amwell. Meet 9.30am at Springwell Lane car park (O/S 176; TQ 042 933)
Leader: Martin Johnson
Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year
To All Our Members
January 2016
Friday 8 The Biggest Twitch - We are delighted to welcome Alan Davies and Ruth Miller with a warts-and-all tale of bird watching in 27 countries around the world following their 2008 ‘Big Year’.
Sunday 17 Coach trip to Lackford SWT (am) and RSPB Lakenheath Fen (pm). We visit two excellent “watery” reserves in Suffolk. Lackford will provide a large range of woodland birds and wildfowl, whilst bittern, common crane and bearded tit have all regularly been seen by us at Lakenheath in recent visits. We will stay on here until dusk to watch the Joist Fen harrier roost. Lackford: £2.00 donation.
Hitchin: 7.45am. Letchworth: 8.00am. Royston: 8.20am.
Leader: John Dingemans
February
Friday 5 The Butterflies of Herts - As the county butterfly recorder for Hertfordshire, Liz Goodyear shares her expertise in identifying species and encouraging butterflies into our gardens.
Sunday 21 Coach trip to RSPB Titchwell (Joint trip with RSPB Stevenage LG). This iconic RSPB reserve is perhaps at its best in winter. Waders, waterfowl and gulls throng the lagoons and out at sea scoters, long-tailed ducks, “rare” grebes and early migrating gannets are all possible.
Stevenage: 7.35am. Hitchin: 7.45am. Letchworth: 8.00am. Royston: 8.20am. Leader: Val Thompson
March
Friday 4 Primates of the World - Steve Lovell’s talk will look at the status, behaviour, distribution and threats to the survival of monkeys and apes that are considered our closest relatives, They are found throughout the world, ranging in size from tiny Marmosets right up to the mighty gorillas.
Sunday 20 Coach trip to Attenborough GP (Notts. Wildlife Trust). We make a welcome return to this site of varied habitats, adjacent to the River Trent. Cetti’s warblers and tree sparrows breed here and we may see wintering bitterns as well as early returning sand martins investigating their new artificial nesting bank.
Hitchin: 7.45am. Letchworth: 8.00am.
Leader: Martin Johnson
April
Friday 1 Wildlife of Bhutan - Jeff Blincow’s talk will guide us through the dramatic scenery, superb wildlife and unique culture of this 'Land of the Thunder Dragon'. Visiting this small country gives you a true flavour of the wildlife of the Himalayas.
Sunday 17 Coach trip to Rye Harbour SWT (Joint trip with RSPB Stevenage LG). We visit the East Sussex coast, looking for recently arrived summer visitors as well as passage migrants on this attractive reserve.
Letchworth: 7.15am. Hitchin: 7.30am. Stevenage: 7.40am.
Leader: Malcolm Ingram
May
Friday 6 Feeding Wild Birds: The Winners and Losers
Martin Johnson investigates our passion for feeding wild birds. With the aid of some amusing and revealing images and video clips he will use this practice to explore man’s complex relationship with his feathered friends. Preceded by a short AGM.
Sunday 15 Coach trip to The Peak District (Tittesworth Reservoir and RSPB Coombes Valley)
This trip offers us a rare chance to see some of our special upland breeding summer visitors, such as pied flycatcher, in their natural environment (the beautiful Peak District National Park).
Hitchin: 7.00am. Letchworth: 7.15am.
Leader: Martin Johnson
June
Sunday 12 Coach trip to Hickling Broad NWT. This is a perfect trip for the all-round naturalist! Swallowtail butterflies, Norfolk hawker dragonflies, Chinese water deer and orchids might vie for your attention alongside breeding bitterns, cranes, marsh harriers, cetti’s warblers and bearded tits. Boat trips (extra charge) may be possible. Permits: £4.50 with gift aid (NWT members free)
Hitchin: 7.15am. Letchworth: 7.30am. Royston: 7.50am.
Leader: Martin Johnson
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Summer Meetings
Evening 'own transport' trips to local venues will be arranged for the summer months. Details will be announced before the end of April, or can be obtained from Martin Johnson. It may be possible to arrange for members to share cars, if required. Contact Martin if you need or can offer a lift.
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An Annual Subscription of £12.00 per member (£6.00 for juniors under 18) is payable to cover expenses and will admit members to all meetings for the period of the programme.
VISITORS will be admitted on payment of £2.50 admission fee.
Indoor Meetings will be held on Fridays in accordance with the programme, at 'The Settlement', Nevells Road,
Letchworth, SG6 4UB, commencing at 7.30pm.
Outdoor Meetings by coach are subject to a fee of £14.00 per adult (juniors under 18 £7.00). This fee is liable to alteration should hire charges increase. Bookings cannot be considered firm until payment is received.
All Bookings and Payments To:
Malcolm Ingram
5 Redhill Road Hitchin Herts, SG5 2NQ
Tel: 01462-451320
Or at prior Indoor Meetings.
Coach Pick-up Points
Hitchin – St. Mary's Square
Letchworth – Arena Car Park & Hospital
Baldock – By prior arrangement
*Royston – Newmarket Road
*Stevenage – Waitrose’s car park, Primett Road
(* only where specified in the programme) and agreed points en route.
Group Leader
Martin Johnson - 1 Cartwright Road Royston. SG8 9ET
Tel: 01763 249459
Treasurer
Malcolm Ingram - 5 Redhill Road Hitchin. SG5 2NQ
Tel: 01462 451320
Secretary
Vacant
Indoor Meetings Secretary
Laura McLellan Tel: 01462 683242
Outdoor Meetings Secretary
Martin Johnson (trips)
Malcolm Ingram (bookings)
Raffles
Janet Southwood Tel: 01462 491617
Publicity
Helen Lumley Tel: 01438 315683
Committee Members
Jean Crystal Tel: 01462 433912
Colin Hawkins Tel: 01462 676457
Val Thompson Tel: 01462 813606
Visit our Web site at www.rspb.org.uk/groups/hitchinandletchworth
The Royal Society
For The
Protection of Birds
Registered charity no 207076
Hitchin and Letchworth
Local Group
Programme