sign in sign up
<<
Home , Ingrebourne Valley, Lesnes Abbey Woods, Ruislip Woods, Walthamstow Marshes, Woodberry Wetlands

DISCOVER ’S WILDLIFE

1

London Natural History Society LONDON BIRD CLUB #londonbirds A section of The London Natural @londonbirdclub History Society londonbirdclub @LNHSoc Version: 16 Sep 2018 CONTENTS

PART 01 London Bird Club Talks

PART 02 London Natural History Society Programme

PART 03 Events from other London wildlife organisations

London Wetland Centre, Barnes LONDON BIRD CLUB A section of the London Natural History Society 2 INTRODUCTION TO THIS PACK London is one of the greatest capital cities in the world. What is less well known is that it is also one of the best places in the world to enjoy wildlife, and to acquire the skills of a naturalist and wildlife photographer. A large and varied network of reserves and some of the best wildlife-visitor infrastructure in the world, means that London is a surprisingly good destination for wildlife photographers, naturalists and tourists.

The presence of a number of local natural history clubs and societies who organise field meetings led by outstanding all-round naturalists means it is also probably unmatched in the potential it offers for people to build their skills as naturalists. Furthermore, London has a long history of having some of the world’s pre-eminent scientific and biological institutions, together with smaller local societies also with long histories staging public talks ranging from cutting edge science to discovering wildlife in your backyard. London is amazing for enjoying wildlife and for developing field skills. For tourism companies, London is attractive with its high density of affluent travellers with an interest in wildlife.

Some of London’s wildlife societies also run day trips from central London, within a 3 hour drive radius. These are run at cost allowing people to have inexpensive guided wildlife tours to explore a variety of habitats in superb nature reserves further afield from London.

This pack was developed primarily to share details of the talks programme of the London Bird Club, a section of the London Natural History Society. However, it also covers events from other LNHS sections and other organisations that are of interest to wildlife enthusiasts. LONDON BIRD CLUB A section of The London Natural #londonbirds londonbirdclub History Society 3 PART 01: LONDON BIRD CLUB TALKS PROGRAMME

AUTUMN 2018-SPRING 2019

LBC talks are at: Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead, London, NW3 1LT Entry £2; free for under-18s and students. No prior booking needed. (For joint events, check details).

LONDON BIRD CLUB A section of The London Natural History Society 4 LBC TALKS SUMMARY: SEP 2018 TO APR 2019

1 Wed 19 Sep 2018 Ralph & Belinda Todd: Return of the Ospreys 2 Tue 30 Oct 2018 Tony Thorne: Birds and Wildlife of Guyana

John Beaufoy, Myles Archibald & Pippa Jacks: 3 Tue 13 Nov 2018 Wildlife Publishing: An Insider's View

Rick and Elis Simpson 4 Tue 22 Jan 2019 New Moon on the Wane -The Curse of the Curlews

5 Thu 21 Feb 2019 Steve Piotrowski: Gull Identification and Behaviour

6 Tue 12 Mar 2019 Mathew Frith: Managing London for Birds and Wildlife 7 Fri 12 Apr 2019 Jackie Garner: Birds in Art (joint event with MBS. Not at Burgh House)

LONDON BIRD CLUB A section of The London Natural History Society 5 RETURN OF THE OSPREYS Ralph & Brenda Todd Ralph and Brenda Todd have travelled extensively in the UK, Europe, Central Asia, North America, Africa, China, Argentina, Ecuador, Antarctica and the Galapagos in search of and photographing birds and wildlife. For 45 years they have been actively involved with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, being founder members of three local members’ groups .

The talk is based on many separate weeks as volunteer wardens at the famous RSPB Scottish reserve at Loch Garten, in the shadow of the Cairngorms. This talk tells the history, changes and developing story, through a typical volunteer’s week, of the ospreys returning to Scotland as a breeding bird, the protection they have been afforded, some of the conservation issues surrounding them plus some of the beautiful habitats, scenery and wildlife within striking distance of the reserve.

Wednesday 19 September 2018 at 7pm (doors open at 6.30) Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead, London, NW3 1LT LONDON BIRD CLUB Entry £2; free for under-18s and students A section of The London Natural History Society 6 THE BIRDS AND WILDLIFE OF GUYANA Tony Thorne Tony is Managing Director of Wilderness Explorers which was the official tour operator partner of the USAID funded project to develop birding tourism in Guyana. Tony represents Guyana annually at the British Birdwatching Fair where he delivers a lecture on the birds and wildlife of the country. Tony has a passion for using tourism to support grass-roots indigenous sustainability and conservation and been instrumental in assisting numerous Amerindian communities develop tourism products.

As part of the Guiana Shield the country is not only remote and barely explored but it is home to healthy populations of species that threatened in other countries. The talk will explore some of the 850+ species of the rare, endangered, colourful and magnificent birds and the range of mammals that can be seen whilst out birdwatching. From rainforest and savannah to the amazing Kaieteur Falls and the coastal forest. With a country the size of Britain and 87% covered in forest it is a birders and wildlife enthusiasts’ dream come true.

Tuesday 30 October 2018 at 7pm (doors open at 6.30) LONDON BIRD CLUB Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead, London, NW3 1LT A section of The London Natural Entry £2; free for under-18s and students History Society 7 WILDLIFE PUBLISHING: AN INSIDER’S VIEW Wildlife publishing has many genres from art books, nature writing to field guides and family monographs. Wildlife publishing is constantly evolving to keep up with changing consumer demands, new discoveries in science and improvements in photography. What books sell? How do publishers find their photographers and writers? How should you pitch an idea? Why is wildlife publishing in the print media proving so resilient? This event is a chance to have your questions answered and gain an insight into some of the stories behind the books. A chance to meet two of the most influential wildlife publishers in the world who will make individual presentations followed by a panel discussion and an audience Q&A.

John Beaufoy John Beaufoy founded his eponymous publishing company in 2008 after 30 years working in corporate publishing, including 20 years as MD of New Holland. John Beaufoy Publishing specialises in books about natural history and travel, and has 150 titles in print, focusing on the Indian sub- continent, Southeast Asia and Australia.

Myles Archibald is the Publisher of Collins Natural History, one of the longest established and biggest international publishers of natural history. Besides benchmark series such as the Collins New Naturalist Series, they have also published the leading field guides to birds and other wildlife in Britain, Europe and the rest of the World.

Pippa Jacks (Moderator) is Group Editor at Travel Trade Gazette (TTG Media) - a leading tourism industry publisher – where she oversees several magazines and conferences. She is an RSPB volunteer and committee member of the LBC. She frequently joins press trips to wildlife destinations, and writes about eco-tourism, wildlife travel and sustainability wherever she can. LONDON BIRD CLUB Tuesday 13 November 2018 at 7pm (doors open A section of The London Natural at 6.30) History Society Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead, London, NW3 1LT 8 Entry £2; free for under-18s and students NEW MOON ON THE WANE – THE CURSE OF THE CURLEWS Rick & Elis Simpson Rick and Elis are a husband and wife team who dedicate their lives to promoting wader conservation. Rick is a lifelong birder, writer and artist and worked for some time as a bird guide in the UK, Spain and Brazil. Elis is a keen photographer whose main interest is birds and wildlife in general. They founded Wader Quest a non-profit, entirely voluntary, charity dedicated to raising awareness about the problems that waders face across the world and to raising funds to support the Community Wader Conservation projects that protect them.

Curlew species are declining across the world. Two of them, the Eskimo and Slender-billed Curlew are probably already extinct. The Eurasian Curlew, evocative of coastal estuaries and marshes has seen its population in the UK fall precipitously, to almost half. The UK holds a third of Europe’s breeding population. This talk looks at why curlew populations are falling and talks about each of the species in the genus Numenius drawing on the personal experience of the authors who have travelled around the world to study waders. Tuesday 22 January 2019 at 7pm (doors open at 6.00pm for LBC AGM at 6.30pm. Talk will start at 7pm after AGM.) Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead, London, NW3 1LT No entry fee for this talk. LONDON BIRD CLUB A section of The London Natural History Society 9 GULL IDENTIFICATION AND BEHAVIOUR Steve Piotrowski Steve is a general naturalist and experienced birder. Author of the recently published ‘Birds of Suffolk’, co-author of ‘The Butterflies of Suffolk’ and a Principal Recorder during recent ‘Dragonfly Atlas’ fieldwork. A founder member of Landguard Bird Observatory (1982) and Waveney Bird Club (2006). He specialises in bird migration and holds a BTO bird-ringing ‘Trainer’ permit. He works as an associated tutor for the Field Studies Council and British Trust for Ornithology and is ornithological advisor for Suffolk Wildlife Trust.

The first part looks at the identification of gulls. Especially the challenge of separating Caspian, Yellow-legged & Armenian Gull in the ‘Herring Gull complex’. Also, the Lesser Black- backed Gull complex (Baltic & Heuglin’s). The multiple age classes in the larger ‘white- headed’ gulls present a challenge to birders which you love or hate. Steve takes you through the latest developments in field identification. Gulls are also fascinating, intelligent birds whose amazing migratory patterns have begun to unfold in recent years thanks to ringing, leg tagging and satellite tracking. Learn how the gulls in your park may have been on foraging visits to Scandinavia, Germany, France, etc., true citizens of the EU. Thursday 21 February 2019 at 7pm (doors open at 6.30) Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead, London, NW3 1LT Entry £2; free for under-18s and students LONDON BIRD CLUB A section of The London Natural History Society 10 MANAGING LONDON FOR BIRDS & OTHER WILDLIFE Mathew Frith Mathew is Director of Conservation, and has nearly 30 years’ experience of land management policy and practice in urban nature conservation with voluntary organisations and public bodies, including the London Ecology Unit, English Nature and Peabody. He has managed nature reserves, and developed policies to advocate the protection, creation and promotion of natural green spaces, and co- founded Neighbourhoods Green in 2003. He has a particular interest in the relationship between nature and society in towns and cities, which underpins London Wildlife Trust’s work in the face of a rapidly growing capital. www.wildlondon.org.uk @WildLondon The talk will provide an overview of the London Wildlife Trust’s work on birds over the years. This will include which is a flagship reserve as it provided a bird rich habitat in a part of London which has a high density of housing as well as the recently opened Wetlands, the largest urban wetland reserve in Europe. The talk will also cover policy-based work on some of London’s other birds in the spotlight such as Black Redstart & Ring-necked parakeet as well as the Trust’s broader citizen science campaigns such as Kestrel Count and Owl Prowl.

Tue 12 March 2019 at 7pm (doors open at 6.30) Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead, London, NW3 LONDON BIRD CLUB 1LT A section of The London Natural Entry £2; free for under-18s and students History Society 11 BIRDS IN ART Jackie Garner Jackie Garner is a professional wildlife artist with her work held in collections in Norway, South Africa, Trinidad and Australia, and has been shown on BBC television. She is the author and main illustrator of The Wildlife Artist's Handbook (The Crowood Press, 2013). Jackie originally concentrated solely on British wildlife art, but four weeks in the Falkland Islands in 2005 led to a reputation for penguin paintings. In 2008 she spent six weeks on a research trip in Egypt which will be the basis of illustrations for a book on the wildlife art of ancient Egypt.

In this talk Jackie will discuss the different mediums in which she paints (acrylic, watercolours, pencil sketches) and provide an insight into the behind the scenes work on a number of paintings, mainly on birds but also a few other animals and plants. The first part of the talk is about how wildlife art has changed through the years and how it relates to wildlife conservation. The second part is about her own work, the practicalities of creating images inspired by the natural world and the importance of fieldwork. Fri 12 April 2019 at 7.15pm (doors open at 7.00pm) Gospel Methodist Church. Agincourt Road, NW3 2NT. (Entrance in Lisburne Road. Entrance charge of £5 (£3 for MBS or LNHS members). Note that this joint event is not at the usual LBC venue of Burgh House. Also note that the MBS entrance fees structure will apply and LNHS members who are not MBS LONDON BIRD CLUB members can pay £3. A section of The London Natural Joint event with the Marylebone Birdwatching Society www.birdsmbs.org.uk History Society 12 Burgh House New End Square, Hampstead, London NW3 1LT.

For the London Bird Club talks which start at 7pm, the doors open at 6.30pm. For the talks, it is open on all week days.

However, for visiting Burgh House and the Museum, opening times are 12pm - 5pm from Wednesday to Friday and Sunday. Closed on Saturday.

The lovely Burgh House, the venue for the LBC Talks is just a few minutes walk from Hampstead tube station on the Northern Line (not - that's the nearby Overground station).

Tip: Hampstead is a delightful village which can be explored with a lot of cafes. The Heath is just minutes away from Burgh House and can be explored in a mini nature walk.

Left Panel: Hampstead. Right panel: Burgh House 13 PART 02: THE LNHS PROGRAMME

London Natural History Society

14 Birdwatching with the LNHS

The London Bird Club, a section of the LNHS organise around 25 field meeting a year, averaging one a fortnight. They are a superb way to learn your birds and learn London’s best locations for bird photography. It is possible to see around 200 species in a year in London which boasts a checklist of 370 species.

15 LNHS: London Bird Club Events #1 (Prior booking is not needed for Field Meetings of the LNHS sections. See also the LNHS online programme)

SEPTEMBER 2018 Sat 8 ▪ for Whinchat and other autumn migrants; perhaps Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail. Pete Lambert. Meet 09:30 at Ferry Lane entrance (TQ 347895). Nearest station Tottenham Hale (Victoria/NR Liverpool St). AM only. (Toilets.)

Fri 14 ▪ Marshes for Autumn migrants, Skylark, Corn Bunting, Little Owl and Waders by the Thames. Donna Zimmer. Joint Walk with RSPB . Meet Donna Zimmer 10am corner Moat Lane, Station. No facilities and bring lunch. In the unlikely event of cancellation check @LondonBirdClub Twitter on day of walk.

Sat 15 ▪ Alexandra Park for woodland birds, woodpeckers, waterbirds (maybe Kingfisher), possible migrants. Andrew Peel. Meet 10:00 in the entrance to Wood Green U/g Station (Picc). AM only. (Toilets & cafe).

Wed 19 ▪ TALK Return of the Ospreys. 19:00-20:30. Ralph and Brenda Todd share their amazing story, as volunteer wardens at the RSPB Scottish reserve at Loch Garten, about the history, conservation work and issues of Ospreys grand returning to Scotland to breed again. Burgh House, NW3 1LT. Doors open 18:30. £2 entry, free for under 18s and in full-time education.

Sun 23 ▪ London Wetland Centre. One of Europe’s premier urban wetland reserves. Summer birds and other wildlife. Shailesh Patel. Meet 10:00 outside the visitor centre by Sir Peter Scott statue. Tickets required for non- members.

OCTOBER 2018 Sun 7 ▪ for migrants. George Kalli. Meet 10:00 Belvedere Stn (NR Charing Cross). Long half day. Bring snacks. (No toilets).

Sat 27 ▪ Woods NNR for woodland birds and wildfowl. Neil Anderson. Meet 10:00 at bus stop in Reservoir Road (TQ087892). Nearest station Ruislip (Met/Picc), then H13 to Lido or 331 bus to Ducks Hill Road. Long half day. (Toilets, cafe & pub!) If the weather forecast is for very wet weather, this walk will be cancelled. Please contact 16 Neil on 020 8578 2464 or 0792 223 2801 for confirmation. LNHS: London Bird Club Events #2

OCTOBER 2018 cont…… Tue 30 ▪ TALK Birds and Wildlife of Guyana. 19:00-20:30. Tony Thorne will explore some of the 850+ species of the rare, endangered, colourful and magnificent birds and the range of mammals that can be seen whilst out birdwatching. Burgh House, NW3 1LT. Doors open 18:30. £2 entry, free for under 18s and in full-time education.

NOVEMBER 2018 Sun 4 ▪ Beddington Farmlands for Tree Sparrow, Green Sandpiper and late migrants. Derek Coleman. Meet 09:30 Hackbridge Station. (NR Victoria). Wellies recommended. AM only. (No toilets).

Sun 11 ▪ for Brent Geese, Avocet and high tide wader roost. Robin Blades. Meet 10:30 Leigh-on- Sea Station (NR Fenchurch Street). All day. Bring lunch. (Toilets).

Tue 13 ▪TALK Wildlife Publishing: An Insider's View. With John Beaufoy, Myles Archibald & Pippa Jacks. From art books, nature writing to field guides and family monographs, come and explore the various genres of wildlife publishing. What books sell? How do publishers find their photographers and writers? 19:00 - 20:30. Burgh House, NW3 1LT. Doors open 18:30. £2 entry, free for under 18s and in full-time education.

Sat 17 ▪ Rainham Marshes RSPB for waders and raptors, including Marsh Harrier, Pintail, perhaps Golden Plover, Ruff, Rock Pipit and Water Pipit. Pete Lambert. Meet 09:30 Reserve Car Park (TQ547788). Nearest station Purfleet (NR Fenchurch St). All day, bring lunch. Fee for non-RSPB members. (Toilets).

Sat 24 ▪ London Wetland Centre. One of Europe’s premier urban wetland reserves. Winter birds and other wildlife. Richard Bullock (Biodiversity Officer, WWT) and Gehan de Silva. Meet outside visitor centre at 10:30 by Sir Peter Scott statue. Non WWT members, do not get your tickets until the group has assembled.

17 LNHS: London Bird Club Events #3

JANUARY 2019 Sun 20▪ Bedfont Lakes for Teal, Snipe, Kingfisher, woodpeckers, perhaps Smew, Bittern. Andrew Peel. Meet 10:00 Hatton Cross Station (Picc), then H26 bus, or at Bedfont Road entrance car park (next to cemetery). Long half day, bring snacks. (Toilets).

Tue 22 ▪ LBC AGM & Talk New Moon on the Wane - The Curse of the Curlews. Why curlew populations are falling? Speaker Rick and Elis Simpson have travelled around the world to try to find the answer. The LBC AGM will start at 18:30. Talk 19:00-20.30. Doors open 18:00. Burgh House, NW3 1LT. No door charge.

FEBRUARY 2019 Sun 10 ▪ Greenwich Peninsula & Ecology Park for winter ducks, Kingfisher, Green Sandpiper and possibly Water Rail. George Kalli. Meet 09:30 North Greenwich Station (Jubilee). AM only. (Toilets at station and Ecology Park).

Thu 21▪ TALK Gull Identification and Behaviour. Challenging yet addictive, Steve Piotrowski will lead us to sail through the sea of gull identification. Come and test your eyes on separating Caspian, Yellow-legged & Armenian Gull in the ‘Herring Gull complex’. 19:00-20:30. Burgh House, NW3 1LT. Doors open 18.30. £2 entry, free for under 18s and in full-time education.

Sat 23 ▪ for winter wildfowl including Goldeneye and perhaps Scaup and Goosander and gulls. Pete Lambert. Meet 09:30 entrance to Res, opposite Ferry Boat Inn pub (TQ350893). Nearest stns, Tottenham Hale or Blackhorse Rd (Vic). Café. AM only. (Toilets).

RSPB Rainham Marshes, a popular site for LBC walks 18 Ecology & Entomology with the LNHS

A wide variety of animal life is recorded within the recording area of the LNHS. The Ecology & Entomology and Surveys (Bookham Common & Hampstead Heath) sections run a series of events which are a brilliant introduction to London’s wildlife.

19 LNHS: Ecology & Entomology and Survey Events # 1

SEPTEMBER 2018 Sat 1 ▪ Hampstead Heath Plant Galls Survey Tommy Root (LNHS plant galls recorder). A look at the fascinating variety of tree galls that can be found on the Heath. Of interest to beginners and experts alike. Bring lunch. Survey Area: Sandy Road/Sandy Heath area of Hampstead Heath. Meet at: Spaniards End entrance (located at the junction of Spaniards Road, NW3 7JJ, and Spaniards End, NW3 7JG). TQ 26592 87158.

Sat 8 ▪ Bookham Common Survey. More details on later slide.

Sat 15 ▪ Colne Valley / Orchard Farm. Adam Cheeseman has provided LNHS access to several private sites at , in particular the Colne Valley/ Orchard Farm area. Meet 10:30 at the Compass Centre, Hounslow, where transport to the sites will be provided. The Compass Centre can be reached via bus number 423 bus Hounslow or number 7 from Heathrow Terminal 5.

OCTOBER 2018 Sat 6 ▪ Hampstead Heath Spider Survey. Edward Milner (LNHS spider recorder). Meet at 2pm outside Hampstead Heath overground station (which is a few minutes’ walk from Belsize Park tube station on the Northern line). End time is approximate.

Sat 13 ▪ Bookham Common Survey. More details on later slide.

NOVEMBER 2018 Sat 3 ▪ Hampstead Heath Birds Survey. Meet at 10:30 outside Hampstead Heath overground station (which is a few minutes’ walk from Belsize Park tube station on the Northern line). End time is approximate. Bring lunch.

Sat 10 ▪ Bookham Common Survey. More details on later slide.

Sat 24 ▪ Hampstead Heath Fungus Survey. Andy Overall (LNHS fungi recorder). Meet at 10:30 outside Golders Green underground station (Northern line). End time is approximate. Bring lunch.

20 LNHS: Ecology & Entomology and Survey section events # 2

DECEMBER 2018 Sat 8 ▪ Bookham Common Survey. More details on later slide.

JANUARY 2019 Sat 12▪ Bookham Common Survey. More details on later slide. Tue 15▪ E&E AGM & TALK The secret life of flies. 18:30-21:00. E&E AGM followed by talk by Dr Erica McAlister. Senior Curator for Diptera and Siphonaptera. Natural History Museum. ILEC Conference Centre, 47 Lillie Road, London, SW6 1UD. Earl's Court or West Brompton stations.

FEBRUARY 2019 Sat 9 ▪ Bookham Common Survey. More details on later slide.

LNHS AGM DECEMBER 2018 Tue 11▪ LNHS AGM Location and time to be confirmed. Please see website for updates.

London has an amazing variety of habitats and some of the best nature reserve visitor infrastructure in the world. The LHNS and other London based nature organisations take full advantage of this. 21 LNHS: Ecology & Entomology and Survey Events # 3

BOOKHAM COMMON SURVEY & FIELD STUDY DAYS

Survey: The surveys are opportunities for individual or group studies to investigate and monitor aspects of the natural history of 400 acres of deciduous woodland and scrub grassland, with a stream and nine ponds, on this N.T. common. Large scale maps, aerial photographs, progress reports, identification handbooks and charts available. Explorer No 146 recommended. Meetings are held on the second Saturday in each month. Meet at Society’s hut (grid ref. TQ125563) at 11:00 or between 13:00 and 14:00. Car parking on common at grid ref. TQ121567, 134569 and 130557. Anyone needing to be met at station please phone 013 7245 6143 the day before. Bring lunch. Tea made at hut. Beginners and experts all welcome.

Field Study days: These are designed for the beginner or someone with ‘just a little knowledge’ who may wish to increase their knowledge and gain confidence in their area of interest. They are informative, friendly and fun. Teaching material is supplied. In the event of rain, sessions are held in the hut. Study days are held in the summer months on dates indicated in the body of the programme. They start at 10:30 (unless otherwise stated) and finish at 16:00. Bring lunch, notebook, pencil and reference book (a few available at hut). Meet Bookham Station (NR Waterloo/Victoria, but check).

HAMPSTEAD HEATH SURVEY The Hampstead Heath Survey is a long-term project to record the flora and fauna in this large area (more than 300 ha) of semi-natural habitat entirely surrounded by the urban environment of North London. Walks and study events, focused on various aspects of the ecology and wildlife of the heath, are held throughout the year. All are welcome, experts and beginners alike, so come along and bring your friends if you want to discover more about Hampstead Heath's diversity of wildlife. For further information contact Kat Duke ([email protected]). 22 Botany with the LNHS

Several hundred species of plants can be seen by participating in the botany walks organised by the LNHS. A good chance to learn some of the common as well as scarcer plants in the capital.

23 LNHS: Botany Events # 1 March to August 2018

SEPTEMBER 2018 Sun 2 ▪ Botany for Beginners at Woods. George Hounsome. Meet 10:30 Lesnes Abbey Lodge (TQ478787). Nearest station (TQ472790), 5 minutes walk from meeting point. To reach the lodge, leave the station by the main entrance and take the steps immediately to your right which lead you down to the Abbey Arms public house. Turn right on to Wilton Rd. Walk to the end of the parade and turn left onto Abbey Rd. Pass beneath the flyover and take the 2nd right (New Rd). Walking uphill, the entrance to is on your left just after Monks Close. The path will lead you directly to the rear of the Lodge. Free on-street car parking available in New Rd (TQ477785), the road dividing the site. Joint with the Lesnes Abbey Woods Conservation Group.

Sat 15 ▪ A Watery Weekend Day 1. Waterways of East London. A six mile circular walk along East London canals recording aquatic plants in eight monads for the LFP. John Swindells. Meet 10:30 at Mile End u/g (TQ365825, Dist, Ham & City, Cent.). Bring lunch.

Sun 16 ▪ A Watery Weekend Day 2. and Lee Navigation. Frances Dismore & Mark Spencer. Meet 10:30 at the entrance to the Lee Valley Ice Centre (TQ35638675). Nearest station Clapton (TQ34788654, London Overground). Bring lunch.

Sun 30 ▪ Nonsuch Park for botany, bryophytes, lichens, fungi, etc. Meet 14:15 at the Cheam Gate (TQ238635). Nearest station Cheam (TQ244633, the gate near Nonsuch High School, NR Vict). Joint with Nonsuch Watch.

OCTOBER 2018 Sun 7 ▪ Horsenden Hill. Fungi and botany for beginners. Mark Spencer. Meet 11:00 Perivale u/g (TQ164833, Cent.). Bring lunch.

Sun 14 ▪ South London Botanical Institute. We will do some urban recording nearby then go to the SLBI for lunch and an introduction to the Institute and its resources. Roy Vickery. Meet 10:30 Tulse Hill station (TQ318729, NR ). Bring lunch. Joint with the SLBI.

24 LNHS: Botany Events # 2 March to August 2018

OCTOBER 2018 Cont.. Sat 27 ▪ The Haringey Fungus Foray. Andy Overall and Alan Skipp. Meet 10:00 LNR (TQ318883), corner of Green Lanes and Umfreville Rd N4, five minute's walk from Manor House u/g (Picc.). Sites visited will be as last year: after searching Railway Fields we will go to Queens Wood and then to Alexandra Palace. Bring lunch. Cars needed. Joint with LWT.

Tue 30 ▪ Workshop on Conifers led by George Hounsome. 17:30–20:00. Angela Marmont Centre, Natural History Museum.

NOVEMBER 2018 Sat 3 ▪ Country Park for Lichens. John Skinner. Meet 10:30 Visitor Centre (parking at TQ536849, toilets) in , via Squadrons Approach off Suttons Lane, Hornchurch, RM12 6DF. Nearest station is Hornchurch u/g (Dist.), approx. 1km walk. Bring lunch. If coming by train please inform leader in advance on [email protected].

Wed 7 ▪ BOTANY AGM & TALK. Plant folklore past and present, 18:30-21:00. Lecture by Roy Vickery, South London Botanical Society, after Botany AGM. Bertrand Russell Room, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL.

Sat 17 ▪ Maze Hill, recording for the LFP in TQ3978. Nick Bertrand. Meet 11:00 Maze Hill Stn. (TQ391778, NR London Bridge). Your chance to tick off wildflowers. How dare they occupy space and not pay rent.

25 LNHS: Botany Events # 3

DECEMBER 2018 Sat 1▪ Wildflowers in flower in Deptford on the first day of winter. Nick Bertrand. Meet 11:00 Deptford Stn (TQ371774, NR Cannon St). Joint with the Creekside Education Trust.

JANUARY 2019 Sun 13 ▪ A Winter Walk with Botany. George Hounsome. Meet 10:30 under bridge on south side of river by Barnes Bridge Stn (TQ214762, NR W'loo). We will walk from here along the south side of the river to Kew Bridge then back along the north side looking at whatever we happen to find. Bring lunch.

Tue 22 ▪ Best Botanical Photos. 18:30-21:00. Bertrand Russell Room, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL.

Sun 27 ▪ Trent Country Park, Cockfosters, for bryophytes. Pete Howarth. Meet 10:30 at the main car park off Cockfosters Road (TQ281969, entrance TQ279966, satnav EN4 0PS), about 500m from Cockfosters u/g (TQ281963, Picc).

FEBRUARY 2019 Tue 5 ▪ Botany Quiz led by George Hounsome and John Swindells. 18:30-21:00. Bertrand Russell Room, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL.

Sat 16 ▪ Islington for street botany. Mark Spencer. Meet 11:00 Farringdon Station (TQ316818, NR, or u/g Circ, Ham & Cit, Met). Bring lunch.

Sun 24 ▪ Mickleham & Box Hill for winter botany. Paul Bartlett. Meet 10:30 Box Hill & West Humble station (TQ167519, NR Vic). Bring lunch.

26 Why join the London Natural History Society?

London is a great place to observe wildlife, having a lot of places with very special and varied biodiversity

• The membership benefits are excellent value for money. • A great way to discover London’s wild spaces in the company of like-minded people. • Access to the knowledge of experts who are friendly and welcoming to beginners. • An excellent way to develop your skills and knowledge for recreation or for a career in conservation. • Support a society that collects data and influences how London’s biodiversity is managed and conserved.

The LNHS is over 150 years old and traces its history back to 1858. 27 LNHS Sections

• Membership of the LNHS automatically covers all of its sections which include the:

• Ecology and Entomology section • Botany section • London Bird Club (its ornithology section) • Other sections include the Bookham Common Survey and the Hampstead Heath Survey. • There are no separate ‘section membership’ fees.

28 Print Publications (free for LNHS Members)

The following print publications are received by members. Back copies of The London Naturalist and the London Bird Report can be purchased by anyone.

The London Naturalist Annual journal with scientific papers. Ove 90 issues to date. It is an A5 sized full colour publication, typically around 200 pages.

London Bird Report Published since 1937 and with 80 issues to date, sets a benchmark. It is an A5 sized full colour publication of 256 pages.

LNHS Newsletter The quarterly Newsletter carries many trip reports and articles and useful announcements. A4 sized, typically 30 pages.

LNHS Programme This compact, A6 sized single colour publication is sent out twice a year. Its pocket size means many members keep it permanently in their bag.

29 LNHS Library

Library • The LNHS library has one of the largest collections on natural history related to London.

• In the Angela Marmont Centre in the Natural History Museum in South Kensington.

• Any member of the public can access the LNHS library for reference, but borrowing rights are only for members.

30 LNHS Social Media & Membership

Social Media

• Twitter @londonbirdclub, @LNHSoc

• Facebook London Natural History Society

• MeetUp London Natural History Society

• Instagram londonbirdclub

• Yahoo Message Board. See http://www.lnhs.org.uk/index.php/about-us/social-media

How do I become a member? Details are on the website www.lnhs.org.uk Student and family membership options are available at modest rates. Membership subscriptions can be paid by PayPal or a Standing Order set up. The ordinary individual membership of £20pa is outstanding value for money.

If you are seeing this at a talk and would like a pdf of this presentation emailed to you, please speak to Gehan de Silva, the Chair of the London Bird Club or email him on [email protected] 31 London Bird Club Reading Circle

Read the major birding periodicals for less! Members can elect to subscribe to some or all of a number of shared publications. All you have to do after reading the periodical is to post it to the next person on the list. For more information contact Angela Linnell (LBC Reading Circle Secretary) at [email protected] Shared Subs Full Private Cost pa Subscription £ Ardea is a Dutch scientific journal on birds. All articles are in English. 1.50 Euro 45 British Birds has papers on identification, rarities and conservation. 6.75 £60.00 Dutch Birding is a technical journal, includes papers on identification and rarities. About half the papers are in English. 3.50 Euro 43.50 Ibis is one of the world's leading scientific journals on birds, published by the British Ornithologists Union. 8.00 £55.00 Irish Birds has reports and records and papers on Irish birds. 2.00 Scottish Birds has reports and records and papers on Irish birds. 5.00 £36.00 32 London Bird Atlas ‘Every birder in the capital should own a copy of this important book’. Dominic Mitchell, Founder & Editor, Birdwatch Magazine

‘The wealth of information in this impressive volume will add significantly to our understanding and enjoyment of the capital’s birdlife’. Roger Riddington, Editor, British Birds • Published November 2017. • 280 x 215 mm (nearly A4 size). Hard cover with dust jacket. 416 Pages. • Readable accounts of species with informative graphs and tables • Photographs for each of the 188 species given full accounts. • 502 maps. • RRP £39.99. Check pricing and availability online.

33 Get Involved with the London Bird Club

Over 30 people holds posts in the LBC and share the workload. Here are a few skills/people we are looking for.

London Bird Report Editorial Board Keen birdwatchers to assist with writing species accounts for the annual London Bird Report or to take on a wider role in assisting the Editorial Board.

Website Skills To help manage web content, so that the LBC can have a liaison team to support the LNHS webmaster.

Design Skills People with experience in using professional publishing software to produce books, posters and flyers. To help with the LNHS Learning series.

34 PART 03: EVENTS FROM OTHER LONDON ORGANISATIONS

35 Marylebone Birdwatching Society 1

Talks Venue: All Indoor Meetings start 7.15pm at Gospel Oak Methodist Church. Agincourt Road, NW3 2NT. (Entrance in Lisburne Road). Entrance charge of £5 (£3 for MBS members).

❑ Friday 21 September 2018: The Dreda Farrell Lecture and MBS AGM, Conor Jameson - Looking for the Goshawk.

❑ Friday 19 October 2018: Stuart Elsom - Spring in Texas - Spectacular Spring Migration.

❑ Friday 16 November 2018: James Lowen – Double bill. Japan - the best winter birdwatching in the world plus Britain’s Best Wildlife Watching Weekends.

❑ Friday 18 January 2019: Lee Morgan - Wildlife of the Canadian Rockies.

❑ Friday 22 February 2019: Steve Piotrowski - The Fall and Rise of Reggie Peregrine.

❑ Friday 15 March 2019: Andrew Cleave - Birds of the Coast.

❑ Friday 12 April 2019: *Joint Meeting with London Bird Club*- Jackie Garner - Birds in Art.

36 Marylebone Birdwatching Society (MBS) www.birdsmbs.org.uk/ Marylebone Birdwatching Society 2

Coach Trips

❑ Saturday 13 October 2018, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, East Sussex

❑ Saturday 24 November 2018, Pulborough Brooks RSPB Reserve, West Sussex

❑ Saturday 12 January 2019, Hook-with-Warsash Local Nature Reserve, Hampshire

❑ Saturday 9 February 2019, Pagham Harbour RSPB/Local Nature Reserve, Hampshire

❑ Saturday 30 March 2019, Dungeness, Kent (Observatory, ARC Pits and RSPB Reserve)

❑ Saturday 27 April 2019, Minsmere RSPB Reserve, Suffolk

❑ Saturday 11 May 2019, Keyhaven Marshes Local Nature Reserve, Hampshire

❑ Saturday 1 June 2019, Ashdown Forest, East Sussex

Coach Trips (but not local outings) require prior booking and payment. See the MBS website for details. www.birdsmbs.org.uk/

37 Marylebone Birdwatching Society 3

Local Outings ❑ Hampstead Heath Walks, most Tuesday mornings throughout the year, weather permitting

❑Saturday 29 September 2018, Oare Marshes, Kent ❑Saturday 20 October 2018, Rye Meads RSPB, Hertfordshire ❑Saturday 17 November 2018, Rainham Marshes, Essex ❑Saturday 15 December 2018, Regent's Park Pre-Christmas Bird Walk ❑Saturday 19 January 2019, Stocker's Lake, Hertfordshire ❑Saturday 23 February 2019, Two Tree Island, Essex. ❑Saturday 16 March 2019, Cheshunt, Fishers Green, Lee Valley, Hertfordshire ❑Saturday 13 April 2019, , Essex ❑Saturday 18 May 2019, Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire ❑Saturday 15 June 2019, Fairlop Waters Country Park, Ilford, IG6 3HN

See the MBS website for more details. www.birdsmbs.org.uk/ 38 RSPB Central London Group 1

TALKS Venue: St Columba's Church Hall, Pont Street, SW1X 0BD. Nearest tubes: Knightsbridge, Sloane Square or South Kensington. Time: 6.45 pm. Tea, coffee and biscuits available from 6.15pm. Price: There is an entrance fee of £4 (RSPB members) or £5 (non-members). Under-16's and NUS members: free. See website for more details about the talks nearer each date. www.rspb.org.uk/groups/centrallondon/events/

❑ Thurs 13th Sept 2018 – ‘The Wildlife of ’ by Peter Warne. ❑ Thurs 11th Oct 2018 – ‘The World of Corals’ by Brian Roy Rosen. ❑ Thurs 8th Nov 2018 – ‘A Tuscan Summer’ by Eugenia Parisi. ❑ Thurs 13th Dec 2018 – Christmas party and talk ‘Otmoor' by David Wilding. Plus members’ photo show. ❑ Thurs 10th Jan 2019 – ‘Masters of the Flyway’ by Mark James Pearson. ❑ Thurs 14th Feb 2019 – ‘Lead ammunition and wildlife conservation’ by Dr Rob Sheldon. ❑ Thurs 14th March 2019 – ‘Gardening for Wildlife’ and, after the interval, ‘Homes for Nightingales and Swifts’ by Adrian Thomas, RSPB. ❑ Thurs 11th April 2019 – ‘The Wildlife of Upper Teesdale' by Andy Sands. ❑ Thurs 9th May 2019 – AGM, Summer party & talk ‘Drawn to Birds’ by Les McCallum. 39 RSPB Central London Group 2

FIELD TRIPS Coach Trips (but not Day Trips using public transport) require prior booking and payment. Join their MeetUp group for online bookings. www.rspb.org.uk/groups/centrallondon/events/

❑ Sunday, 30th September 2018. Beddington Farmlands.

❑ Saturday, 6th October 2018. Coach trip to RSPB Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk.

❑ Saturday, 3rd November 2018. Coach trip to Egleton Nature Reserve

(Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust), Rutland Water.

❑ Saturday, 17th November 2018. Day trip to RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex.

❑ Saturday, 1st December 2018. Coach trip to Dungeness, Kent (Bird

Observatory, ARC Pits and RSPB reserve).

❑ Saturday 8th December 2018. Day trip to Oare Marshes, Kent.

40 RSPB Central London Group 3

FIELD TRIPS cont……. See website for details. www.rspb.org.uk/groups/centrallondon/events/

❑ Saturday, 26th January 2019. Coach trip to Cley Marshes (Norfolk Wildlife Trust), Norfolk. ❑ Saturday, 23rd February 2019. Coach trip to Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve, Hampshire. ❑ Saturday, 2nd March 2019. Day trip to River Lee Country Park. ❑ Saturday, 13th April 2019. Coach trip to (), Essex. ❑ Sunday, 28th April 2019. A Dawn Chorus Walk in , Lambeth. ❑ Sunday, 28th April 2019. Day trip to Oare Marshes, Kent. ❑ Saturday, 11th May 2019. Dawn Chorus walk in St James’s Park. ❑ Saturday, 18th May 2019. Coach trip to RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk. ❑ Saturday, 22nd June 2019. Coach trip to Weeting Heath (Norfolk Wildlife Trust), Norfolk and RSPB Lakenheath Fen, Suffolk. ❑ Saturday 6th July 2019. Day trip to Little Marlow (Spade Oak local nature reserve) & Thames Path to Cookham. ❑ Saturday, 20th July 2019. Coach trip to Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve, Hampshire. ❑ Saturday, 3rd August 2019. Coach trip to Rye Harbour National Nature Reserve (Sussex Wildlife

Trust), East Sussex. 41 London Wetland Centre

London Wetland Centre www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/london/ Probably the best urban nature reserve in the world in terms of its visitor facilities and variety of wildlife. Always something to see, whatever the weather. Open 365 days a year.

42 London Wildlife Trust

London Wildlife Trust www.wildlondon.org.uk

Walthamstow Wetlands, www.walthamstowwetlands.com The largest urban wetland reserve in Europe. The London Bird Club hold walks there.

Woodberry Wetlands in a busy residential area of London provides access all year round to Londoners.

43 London Wildlife Trust

London Wildlife Trust www.wildlondon.org.uk • The LWT manage 41 nature reserves across the capital. • Wild London is published three times a year.

For information on activities and the nature reserves of the London Wildlife Trust, see the LWT website.

44 Other Organisations 1

British Ornithology Club www.boc-online.org/

BOC MEETINGS are at 6.30pm, doors open at 6pm. Upstairs at The Barley Mow, 104 Horseferry Road, Westminster, SW1P 2EE. Nearest tubes: Victoria, Pimlico and St James’s Park. The 507 bus, from Victoria to Waterloo, stops very nearby.

Monday 17 September, 6.30 pm. Huw Lloyd: Crabs, cranes, and cuckoos: developing bird conservation science in China.

Monday 12 November, 6.30 pm. Joe Tobias: The shape of birds, and why it matters.

Ecology and Conservation Studies Society www.bbk.ac.uk/geography/our-research/ecss/activities Birkbeck Free Lecture series. Every Spring and Autumn.

45 Other Organisations 2

Zoological Society of London www.zsl.org/science/whats-on

The ZSL have a number of free evening lectures (in addition to ticketed events) open to the public, usually comprising of a number of panellists drawn from field scientists and conservationists and leading academics. The auditorium is often packed out.

Linnean Society www.linnean.org/meetings-and-events

The Linnean also have a number of free evening lectures and some lunch time lectures (in addition to ticketed events) open to the public. Talks vary from popular science to being technical. They are popular and online registration is required.

46 Coach Trips

Coach Trips are run by a few of the natural history societies in and around London. They are fantastic value for money (run on a not for profit basis) to travel in the company of like-minded people for day trips. You could be watching migrant Brent Geese on the Norfolk coast or wild flowers on shingle beaches on the southern coastline. The RSPB Central London Local Group and the Marylebone Birdwatching Society run coach trips with pick up points in central London. They take you up to fantastic nature reserves and aim to be back in London around 7pm. See their websites for details.

RSBP Central London Local Group: https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/centrallondon/events/ Marylebone Bird Watching Society: http://www.birdsmbs.org.uk/coach.html RSPB North Western London Local Group: https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/nwlondon/events/

47 Local Outings

The natural history groups based in London or on its suburbs run local outings to destinations typically around an hour from London by train, then walking or sharing taxis to a reserve. You are transported to a different world from the hustle and bustle of London. The pictures below were all take on a single day on a local outing organised by the Marylebone Birdwatching Society to Oare Marshes in Kent. The RSPB Central London Local Group and the LBC (to a lesser extent) organise local outings.

48