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Local Outings Programme 2011-12

We visit several locations in and around the London area every year by public transport.

Hampstead Heath walks

Most Tuesday mornings throughout the year, weather permitting.
Several of our members meet for an informal and friendly stroll on Hampstead Heath to see what birds are around. Members, non-members and visitors are welcome.
Walks last around two hours, usually finishing near Kenwood House.
Bring binoculars if you have them.
Meet - 10.00 am, Parliament Hill Staff Yard, NW5 1QR. Enter Heath from Highgate Road, follow path past tennis courts. We meet at the junction of paths near the toilets, noticeboards, café and drinking fountain.

Saturday 10 September 2011
Rainham Marshes, Essex
Habitats: low-lying grazing marsh, reedbeds, wet grassland, ditches, scrub.
Species: godwits, whimbrel; merlin and peregrine hunting over wader flocks.
Facilities: Hides and open viewing areas, Visitor Centre, Cafe, Shop.
Meet: 10.35 Purfleet Station (*Fenchurch Street 10.05, *Barking 10.19).
Reserve information

Saturday 8 October 2011
Brent Reservoir (Welsh Harp), Cool Oak Lane, Kingsbury
Habitats: reservoir, woodland.
Species: grebes; gulls; snipe.
Facilities: Hides.
Meet: 10.30 Hendon First Capital Connect Station (*Kentish Town 10.12, *West Hampstead (Thameslink) 10.16, *Hendon 10.22). Local buses to West Hendon (Station Rd, Broadway).
Reserve information

Saturday 5 November 2011
Blue House Farm, Essex
Habitats: 600 acre farm on north bank of River Crouch.
Species: Brent geese, wigeon, teal; waders including lapwing, curlew, avocet; peregrine; skylark; corn bunting; Barn owl possible; hares.
Facilities: Hides.
Meet: 10.30 North Fambridge (*Liverpool Street 09.35, change Wickford).
Reserve information

Saturday 3 December 2011
Amwell Nature Reserve, Hertfordshire
Habitats: canal, lake, reedbeds, woodland.
Species: bittern; wildfowl including smew and gadwall; woodpeckers; possible red kite, buzzard.
Facilities: Hides, no toilets on site.
Meet: 10.20 St Margarets Station (*Liverpool Street 09.42, *Tottenham Hale 09.55).
Reserve information

Saturday 17 December 2011
Regent's Park Pre-Christmas Bird Walk
Habitats: woodland, grassland, lakes.
Species: wildfowl; heronry; woodpeckers; kestrel; water rail.
Facilities: Cafe, Toilets.
Meet: 10.30 at number 2 Park Road (NW1 4SH), near the traffic lights closest to the park. Morning walk only. Morning only - lunch not required.
Reserve information

Saturday 28 January 2012
Two Tree Island, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
Habitats: mudflats, saltmarsh, lagoons, grassland, scrub, reedbeds.
Species: waders including avocet, dunlin, turnstone, grey plover, curlew; Brent goose.
Facilities: Hides, no toilets on site.
Meet: 10.30 Leigh-on-Sea Station (*Fenchurch Street 09.40, *Barking 09.54).
Reserve information

Saturday 4 February 2012
Stocker's Lake, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
Habitats: a large water-filled gravel pit with islands; reedbeds, carr, scrub.
Species: redwing; kingfisher; herons; siskin; little owl; wildfowl including possible goosander, smew, goldeneye.
Facilities: Hides, Toilets.
Meet: 10.35 Rickmansworth Station, LU Metropolitan Line (*Baker Street 09.58, *Finchley Road 10.04).
Reserve information

Saturday 10 March 2012
Banstead Common, Surrey (Canons Farm. Banstead Woods)
Habitats: farmland, woodland.
Species: buzzard, sparrowhawk; little owl; fieldfare, redwing; skylark; yellowhammer, brambling, lesser redpoll; stonechat; all three woodpeckers possible.
Facilities: no toilets on site.
Meet: 10.35 Kingswood Station (*Victoria 09.36).
Reserve information

Saturday 14 April 2012
Oare Marshes, Kent
Habitats: grazing marsh with freshwater dykes, scrapes, seawall, saltmarsh.
Species: waders including godwits and curlew; wildfowl including garganey; divers; grebes; marsh harrier, peregrine; bearded tits; sedge warbler; reed bunting; yellow wagtail; wheatear; terns.
Facilities: Hides, no toilets on site.
Meet: 10.40 Faversham Station (*Victoria 09.22 OR *St.Pancras 09.25). Then local taxi/cars to reserve.
Reserve information

Saturday 12 May 2012
Paxton Pits, Cambridgeshire
Habitats: large water-filled gravel pits with islands; meadows, grassland, scrub, woodland, reedbeds.
Species: nightingale; raptors including hobby; warblers; hirundines.
Facilities: Hides, Visitor Centre, Toilets. £2.50 donation requested (includes tea/coffee).
Meet: 10.15. St Neots Station (*Kings Cross 09.23, *Finsbury Park 09.27). Then taxi/cars to reserve.
Reserve information

Friday 8 June 2012
Hampstead Heath Stroll
Habitats: lakes, grassland, scrub, woodland.
Species: kingfisher; kestrel; great crested grebe.
Bring Binoculars. Bring your friends! Sometimes ends in the pub.
Meet: 19.00 Hampstead Heath Station (London Overground). Prompt departure!
Reserve information

Saturday 9 June 2012
Cheshunt, Lee Valley, Hertfordshire
Habitats: large water-filled gravel pits with islands; rivers, ditches, wet grasslands, woodland.
Species: wildfowl; waders including green sandpiper; hobby; nightingale; kingfisher; warblers.
Facilities: Hides, Toilets.
Meet: 10.20 Cheshunt Station (*Liverpool Street 09.58, *Tottenham Hale 10.10).
Reserve information

*Please check train times and intermediate stops given in the programme. Rail timetable will change after this programme is published. Please also check for weekend work on rail and tube lines. See More Details above.

Combined Programme:

All our outings and meetings on one page.