Coach Outings Programme
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We normally have 8 coach trips each September - June season within about 3h of London.
Our September 2023 - June 2024 programme is posted below.
In the light of higher coach costs post-Covid and although we are now opening up our 53-seater coaches (with WC),
we are continuing to charge £25 to MBS Members and £30 to non-members.
Please note coach details - boarding time and place, return journey, what to bring etc are all in the column to the right on a pc or laptop screen.
Please pay for coach trips using the relevant PayPal button below each coach trip (remembering to click on the arrow to select non-member if appropriate).
To book your seat on the coach you must also send an email to birdsmbs@yahoo.com stating destination and/or date and your phone number.
You can pay for e.g. 2 members or 2 non-members using these buttons but not e.g. 1 member and 1 non-member or seats on different coach trips.
You will also find "shopping cart" buttons on a separate page if you wish to try more complex combinations of bookings.
If you wish to book by post & cheque or need to discuss alternative methods of payment please email birdsmbs@yahoo.com.
Saturday 2 December 2023 NB change from original Nov date.
Rye Harbour, Sussex
Habitats: Saltmarsh, shingle, pools, reedbeds, scrub, mudflats, sea.
Species: Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Goldeneye, Scaup, Long-Tailed Duck; Bittern, Great White and Little Egrets; Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Barn Owl (Merlin, Hen Harrier, Short-Eared Owl possible); Grey and Golden Plovers, Sanderling, Curlew; Bearded Tit, Kingfisher, Rock Pipit.
We plan to leave the site 1/2h later than usual, in the hope of catching the Bittern roost from the viewing platform.
Facilities: Visitor Centre, toilets, viewing platform, hides, cafes, pub.
Reserve information
Saturday 27 January 2024
Pulborough Brooks RSPB West Sussex.
Habitat: Wet grassland, pools and scrapes; fields and woodland.
Species: Wildfowl incl. Teal, Wigeon, Pintail; Bewick s Swan possible; Lapwing, Black-Tailed Godwit, Snipe; Peregrine, Buzzard, White-Tailed Eagle, (Hen Harrier & Short-Eared Owl possible); Redwing, Bullfinch, all 3 woodpeckers, Marsh Tit.
Facilities: Visitor Centre with Cafe, toilets, hides.
Reserve information
Saturday 24 February 2024
Keyhaven Marshes, Hampshire
Habitats: Fresh and saltwater marsh, salt lagoons, grassland, scrub, sea.
Species:divers and scarcer grebes possible; Brent Geese, Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Red-Breasted Merganser, possible Sea Duck; Black and Bar-Tailed Godwits, Ruff, Grey and Golden Plover; Peregrine (Merlin, Hen Harrier, Short-Eared Owl Possible); Kingfisher, Dartford Warbler, Rock and Water Pipits, Skylark.
Facilities: Toilets, pub
Reserve information
Saturday 23 March 2024
Abberton Reservoir, Essex Wildlife Trust
Habitats: Reservoir, marsh, grassland, woodland, scrub.
Species: Wigeon, Pochard, Goldeneye, Teal, Goosander, Bewick s Swan, scarcer grebes and divers possible; Lapwing, Golden Plover, Dunlin; Great White & Little Egrets (Cattle possible); Peregrine, Buzzard; Corn and Reed Buntings, Skylark, Kingfisher.
Facilities: Visitor Centre (caf , shop, & toilets), hides & screens.
Donation to EWT requested.
Reserve information
Saturday 27 April 2024
Dungeness Observatory, ARC Pits & RSPB Reserve, Kent
Habitats: Sea, shingle spit, rough pasture and scrub, marshes, pasture & scrub, gravel pits.
Species: passage divers, gulls, terns; Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Hobby; Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Lapwing, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Whimbrel; Garganey; Little and Great White Egrets; Bearded Tit, Tree Sparrow, Wheatear, Sedge and Reed Warblers, Meadow Pipit
Facilities: Toilets and caf at Observatory; Toilets, Visitor Centre, Hides at the RSPB reserve.
Reserve Observatory information and RSPB information
Saturday 18 May 2024
Ashdown Forest (Old Lodge), Sussex
Habitats: Heath, woodland, grassland.
Species: Hobby, Buzzard, Raven; Dartford Warbler, Stonechat, Spotted Flycatcher, Woodlark, Tree Pipit, Common Redstart, Cuckoo. Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Warblers incl. Willow, Garden, Common Whitethroat. Dragonflies, butterflies.
Facilities: Visitor Centre, loos.
Reserve information.
Saturday 8 June 2024
Minsmere RSPB & Dunwich Heath, Suffolk
Habitats: Heath, woodland, scrub, freshwater marsh and reedbeds, dunes, sea.
Species: Marsh Harrier, Hobby; Common, Sandwich and Little Terns; Kittiwake; Stone Curlew, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Avocet; Bittern; Shelduck, Garganey; Warblers incl. Sedge, Reed, Grasshopper, Cetti s; Nightingale; Marsh Tit, Stonechat, Sand Martin, Kingfisher. Otters, Red Deer.
Facilities: Toilets, Visitor Centre, Caf , Hides.
Reserve information. and Dunwich Heath
Earlier this season
Saturday 28 October 2023
Hook-with-Warsash, Hampshire
Habitats: Shingle, grassland, wetland and woodland at the mouth of the River Hamble.
Species: Ringed Plover, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Greenshank, Green and Common Sandpipers, Dunlin; Shelduck; Water Rail; Peregrine, Buzzard; Dartford Warbler, Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler, Bearded Tit, Kingfisher, Rock Pipit.
Facilities: WC, pub.
Reserve information
35 people enjoyed the day despite being hampered by flooded paths. Highlights included Short-eared Owl, Red-throated Diver, Avocet, Pintail, Brent Geese, Buzzard and Great White Egret. They also enjoyed great views of a Greenshank feeding with a group of Redshank. The group saw and heard a total of 69 species.
Local Outings
Our 2023-24 programme
Reports
Reports on past outings and events:
