Wed 13th September 2017 at 7.15pm for wintering wildfowl. Meet at the Reserve’s car park (N17 TALK: Egypt: Birds and Antiquities, Phil and Ann Farrah 9NH). 5 min walk from Tottenham Hale train station. Phil and Ann tell us about their travels in search of birds and history along the Nile, from the delta to Sudan. Wed 13th December 2017 at 7.15pm Wine and Wisdom Evening by Bob Francis Sun 24th September 2017 at 10.00am A fun wildlife quiz. Bring your own refreshments. TRIP: Rainham Marshes led by RSPB Medieval marshes next to the Thames – home to waders, Thurs 14th December at 9.30am ducks, raptors and owls. Meet at the Reserve’s car park LOCAL WALK: Jubilee Park led by Margaret Rusbridge Local (RM19 1SZ). 15 min walk from Purfleet train station. One of Bromley’s best reserves, the Park attracts bullfinch, woodpeckers, redwing, fieldfare, redpoll and much more. Wed 27th September 2017 at 9.30am Meet at the Blackbrook Lane car park (BR2 8AY). Group LOCAL WALK: Footscray Meadows led by Sandie Wood A walk along the River Cray through ancient woods and Sun 17th December 2017 (pick-up at 8.00am**) meadows for woodland and waterbirds including kingfisher. COACH TRIP: Dungeness led by Bob Francis Meet at the car park off Rectory Lane (DA14 5BT). If you haven't been to Dungeness, nothing can prepare you for this landscape - mile after mile of shingle! The pools are Wed 11th October 2017 at 7.15pm exceptional for waterbirds, often including a rare grebe or TALK: Swifts and their Conservation, Edward Mayer diver, and it is a great place to see the delightful smew. Swifts bring spectacular action to our summer skies. They have shared our homes for centuries but modern buildings Wed 10th January 2018 at 7.15pm exclude them. Find out about them and how you can help. TALK: Birds Beyond The Boughs, Simon Ginnaw Ever wished you could understand what birds are saying or Thurs 12th October 2017 at 9.30am how woodland birds all live together? Simon will reveal the LOCAL WALK: led by Derek McWalter secret lives and fascinating ecology of our familiar birds. A walk through a rolling landscape of woods and farms in the North Downs to enjoy a wide range of birds. Meet at Sun 14th January 2018 at 9.30am Cudham Rec Car Park (TN14 7QB). LOCAL WALK: led by Geoff Coad A walk through Hayes’ parks and then onto Hayes Programme of nature Sun 15th October 2017 (pick-up at 8.00am**) Common for a variety of birds including nuthatch, goldcrest COACH TRIP: Pagham Harbour led by Bob Francis and winter thrushes. Meet outside Hayes train station. talks, walks and trips An unspoilt haven for wildlife on the Sussex coast. Autumn migration sees birds such as ring ouzels passing through Sun 21st January 2018 at 10.00am and brings in thousands of ducks, geese and waders. CAR SHARE TRIP: Murston Pits led by Jonathan Barnard These pits next to the Swale, near Sittingbourne, are an Sept 2017 - Aug 2018 Wed 8th November 2017 at 7.15pm excellent birding area. Red-breasted merganser, TALK: Streaky and Proud, David Darrell Lambert goldeneye and often scaup can be found, along with black An illustrated talk on identifying larks, pipits and wagtails. and bar-tailed godwits (over 60 species are likely). Park in All our events are open to everyone, of all David has visited us several times and his humorous and lay-by just before Tonge Corner, Church Road (ME9 9BA). ages: members and non-members, expert interactive talks are always hugely entertaining. birdwatchers and absolute beginners Sat 10th February 2018 at 9.30am Thurs 9th November 2017 at 9.30am LOCAL WALK: Spring Park led by Dick Eddowes LOCAL WALK: Kelsey Park led by Liz Anderson A walk through this peaceful ancient oak woodland and Visit our website: This attractive park is rich in all kinds of flora and fauna. 65 meadow in . Meet at Sparrows Den car park www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bromley species of birds and plenty of other wildlife have been (BR4 9BB). Follow us on Facebook: recorded. Meet outside new information centre (BR3 3LS). Wed 14th February 2018 at 7.15pm www.facebook.com/RSPBBromley Sun 19th November 2017 at 10.00am TALK: The Plight of the Bumblebee, Dr Nikki Gammans TRIP: led by David Hampson An introduction to our bees and their conservation, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654. This site, opening to the public this year following a multi- including a project to reintroduce the short-haired million pound transformation, is of international importance bumblebee to Kent, which was declared extinct in the UK. Sun 18th February 2018 (pick-up at 8.00am**) Sun 6th May 2018 DAWN CHORUS WALK (venue and Date to be confirmed (late June) – check website COACH TRIP: Lymington & Keyhaven Marshes led by time to be confirmed – check website) EVENT: Countryside Day at Chris Robinson Stall at the Friends of ’s annual event. Outstanding marsh and mudflats on the Hampshire coast Mon 7th May 2018 at 10.00am that provide a winter home to a mass gathering of Brent TRIP: Leybourne Lakes Country Park led by Bob Francis Sat 28th July 2018 at 10.30am geese and a great variety of waders and ducks. This Park, near Maidstone, is probably the closest site to BUTTERFLY WALK: White Hill led by Kent BC Bromley to hear singing nightingales in all their glory. A downland walk led by Kent Butterfly Conservation, Thurs 8th March 2018 at 9.30am Meet at the Park’s car park (ME20 6AA). hoping to see chalkhill blues and marbled whites. LOCAL WALK: Selsdon Wood led by Edna Tincknell Meet outside Shoreham train station (TN14 7RT). A walk through woodland and meadows for winter birds. Wed 9th May 2018 at 7.15pm Meet at car park off Old Farleigh Road (CR2 8QF). TALK: Conserving Biodiversity in Bromley, Ian Wright Sat 18th August 2018 (pick-up at 8.00am**) A talk on the conservation of Bromley’s wildlife. Ian is from COACH TRIP: Rutland Bird Fair, Rutland Water Wed 14th March 2018 at 7.15pm idVerde, which manages Bromley’s green space. A visit to the world’s largest birdwatching fair, including the TALK: Wild Britain Diary, Chris Ward chance to see the Reserve’s breeding ospreys. Superb images from a selection of favourite UK wildlife Sat 12th May 2018 at 10.00am sites through the seasons. TRIP: Northward Hill led by David Saunders Sat 25th August 2018 at 6.30pm This reserve has it all! Ancient bluebell woodland, singing BAT WALK: Mote Park, Maidstone by Simon Ginnaw Sun 25th March 2018 at 10.00am nightingales, the UK’s largest heronry, breeding lapwings A guided walk first looking at the Park’s wildlife, trees TRIP: Cliffe Pools led by David Hampson and avocets and turtle doves. Meet in car park off and history, before searching for bats on International A walk past lagoons, scrub and fields in one of Kent’s best Northwood Avenue, High Halstow (ME3 8SX). You can Bat Night. Meet at the main car park (ME15 7SU). birdwatching sites. Meet at Reserve’s car park (ME3 7SX). reach Rochester by train and then bus to High Halstow. You can reach the Reserve by train to Rochester then bus.

Sun 20th May 2018 at 9.30am Date to be confirmed (early April) – check website LOCAL WALK: Hayes Farm led by Geoff Coad TALKS – all our talks are held in the United Reformed EVENT: Heronwatch 2018 at Kelsey Park, A walk through varied habitats – woods, meadows and Church (in the Verrall Hall), Widmore Road, Bromley, Our annual joint event with the Friends of Kelsey Park. ponds – should produce plenty of wildlife. Meet at Rookery BR1 1RY. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.15pm start (NEW Lane, off Rd (BR2 8HB). TIME). They end by 9pm. The price for RSPB Members Wed 11th April 2018 at 7.15pm is £3.50 (£4.50 for non-members). Talks are given by TALK: From the Place of Dry Water to the Smoke that Sun 3rd June 2018 (pick-up at 8.00am**) expert speakers on a wide range of nature topics. Thunders (Namibia to Zambia), Brian Summerfield COACH TRIP: Broadwater Warren led by RSPB A talk on Brian’s recent African trip along the Okavango A walk with the RSPB warden to see how this major LOCAL WALKS – all local walks start at 9.30am and River to the Victoria Falls, featuring his own superb images. heathland restoration project is progressing. We should see end around midday. They are a chance to learn about tree pipits, woodlarks, hobbies and rare butterflies and and enjoy the wealth of wildlife in Bromley. Fri 13th April 2018 at 10.00am dragonflies. We will also visit the spectacular Eridge Rocks. TRIP: Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve led by Peter Smart TRIPS – trips normally start at 10.00am and last all day A walk looking for early migrants including sand martins Wed 13th June 2018 at 7.15pm so please bring a packed lunch. The trips take us to and warblers. Meet at Reserve’s car park (TN13 3DH). 15 TALK: Operation Turtle Dove, Nicole Khan (TBC) some of the best nature reserves in southeast England, min walk from Sevenoaks or Bat and Ball train stations. A short AGM followed by a talk on the efforts to save the all within an hour’s drive or by using public transport. much-loved turtle dove from extinction in the UK. Sat 21st April 2018 at 9.30am **COACH TRIPS – all coach trips start with a 8.00am LOCAL WALK: Gravel Pits led by Bob Francis Sat 16th June 2018 (pick-up at 6.30pm**) pick-up at Hawthorne Road, , BR1 2HH (except Possibly Bromley’s best site for birdwatching, this normally COACH TRIP: Old Lodge, Ashdown Forest led by the for Old Lodge on 16 June, which has a 6.30pm pick-up). closed reserve is an ideal place to see spring migrants. Sussex Wildlife Trust’s warden The cost will be stated on our website. Booking is Meet at Edginton Way entrance (DA14 5AD). A dusk walk to listen for the unforgettable and unique sound of ‘churring’ nightjars and ‘roding’ woodcocks. essential. These trips last all day so bring a packed Sun 29th April 2018 (pick-up at 8.00am**) lunch. They go to the UK’s best places for wildlife. They COACH TRIP: Ouse Washes led by RSPB Tues 19th June 2018 at 9.30am are a chance to see birds not often seen in our area and A visit to the UK’s largest area of washland (flooded LOCAL WALK: South Norwood Park led by Val Bryant to learn about the RSPB’s conservation work. meadows) where hundreds of snipe, lapwing, redshank A walk around wetland, woods and meadows at the height and black-tailed godwit breed, along with cranes and turtle of summer. Meet 9.30am at the entrance opposite Dorset If you have any questions please email doves. Anything can turn up in the spring migration! Rd (BR3 4EA). [email protected] or call 07392 790 719.