RSPB Croydon Local Group Programme 2016

Indoor Meetings & Events Our monthly meetings are open to everyone, not just RSPB members. Admission: £4.00 (includes tea/coffee). They are held at Whitgift Sports Club, The Clubhouse, Croham Manor Road, South Croydon, CR2 7BG between 2pm-4pm and again between 8pm-10pm. 9th May 2016 - “The Science and Beauty of Birds”. Ever wondered why a raptor has an orbital ridge or what the purpose is of a tubenose on a petrel? In this talk, Oliver Smart guides us through some fascinating insights into the science of birds, their adaptations, evolution and physiology. 11th July 2016 - “Japanese Adventure”. So good was the feedback from members following Jenny Hibbert’s inaugural talk to the group in 2015 that we have taken up her offer to hear about her travels through Japan. This journey will take us through the Jigokudani Monkey Park, on to Kishiro Shitsugen National Park, then Kussharo Lake and journey’s end is at Rausu on the Shiretoko Peninsula. 8th August 2016 – General Meeting (afternoon) and AGM (evening). There will be a talk (content to be confirmed) before We meet here Buses 64 and 433 stop both the General Meeting and the Annual General Meeting. in Croham Road 12th September 2016 - “London’s Birds”. “People often tell me they never see anything but pigeons in the capital,” says David Daryll-Lambert, chairman of the London Bird Club, “But it’s amazing what you see here these days; everything from tawny owls to parakeets and an estimated 20 breeding pairs of peregrine falcons. Tonight he will plot the changes in London’s 11th January 2016 - “The Falklands”. We welcome Gordon Small bird population. back to Croydon to give his first-hand insight into wildlife on The Falkland Islands. From Cara-Cara and Giant Petrel to moulting 10th October 2016 - “Wildlife of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve”. Elephant Seals and more, Gordon takes us on a tour of what he Ian Rumley Dawson makes a welcome return to Croydon. He is a describes as a ‘totally different experience’. freelance wildlife photographer and lecturer who has travelled to many remote regions of the world, but today we look forward to 8th February 2016 - “Natural Quarry”. In 1998 David Boag was his talk about his local patch in East Sussex, an area well known approached to photograph, write and design a book that to many who take part in our Field Trips – Rye Harbour. captured the natural beauty and wildlife of a working quarry. His books are a credit to David's artistry and ability to track down 14th November 2016 - “Penguins – Fish With Feathers”. A fish illusive subjects. He is one of the world's leading nature with feathers was how an early explorer described these strange photographers and he revisits that initial quarry with us. birds of Antarctica. Dr Michael Leach has had the privilege of working with all18 species in the world today, from the 14th March 2016 - “A Birding Journey Through Spain”. Len Clark Galapagos to mainland Antarctic. This talk covers identification, starts his journey in the Spanish Pyrenees, before moving to the myths, habits, breeding and predators of these amazing birds. baking hot steppes of the upper Ebro basin. Ever-further south to Extremadura with its wide range of different habitats, then to the 12th December 2016 - “A Nature Photographer's Year at Home & Doñana with extensive reed and water areas plus plains, Abroad”. Robert Canis brings our year of talks to a splendid end. Robert considers himself to be very much a stay-at-home nature woodland and marshes. We finish our tour in the SW corner of photographer, repeatedly visiting the same locations and AndalucÍa and Gibraltar Straits area. spending extended periods photographing his subjects. This talk 11th April 2016 - “Wild Wonder”. Iain Green makes a welcome will be concentrating on birds from the UK plus those from return to Croydon. One winter night, just two metres from his northern and eastern Europe. house, he discovered a feathered green and golden globe resting on an elder branch. This real-life sleeping beauty was a Saturday 12th March 2016 - Quiz Night with a Fish & Chip Supper kingfisher. Iain went on to form “Wild Wonder”, and will recount RSPB Croydon Local Group’s annual quiz night at All Saints’ this with stunning images to complement the talk. Parish Church Hall, Sanderstead at 19:15 for 19:30 start, tickets £12.00. With Quiz Master Mark Cooper and his team of markers. Alternative suppers are available if arranged at time of booking.

Field Outings 2016 Guided visits to the premier birding sites of south-east England (many of them also excellent for butterflies and dragonflies during the summer months). All outings will be in shared cars unless stated otherwise and willingness by drivers to share their vehicles with other participants will be greatly appreciated. Please keep an eye on our website where any changes will be shown - http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/croydon/events/ Note: Entrance fees are chargeable at sites marked * and at some RSPB Reserves for non-members. For weekend car outings turn up near the bend by Leafy Way on the northern section of Park Hill Rise, East Croydon, by 08:00 unless otherwise specified. Everyone is welcome! Contact John Parish for more info on 020 8681 7475 (or 07586332763 on outing days only). Midweek outings start at the venue at 10:15 or (for those marked below with Ɨ) at 09:15 to arrange car sharing in the car park at Tesco Purley Extra near the recycling bins and furthest from the store itself. As an experiment we are giving details that can be used with satnav [postcode; OS ref; co-ordinates]. Those for Tesco are postcode CR8 2HA; co-ordinates for entrance; N51.337108/W0.115782. For those going direct to the venue they are given in the list below. Details of contacts will be posted on the Group’s website. January, 2016 September, 2016 Sun 3rd - Shellness, Isle of Sheppey, Kent Sat 10th - Oare Marshes, Kent Sat 16th - Lee Valley, Herts/Essex Tues 20th - RSPB, Sussex Ɨ [RH20 2EL; Tues 19th - Sevenoaks Wildlife Trust*, Kent [TN13 3DH; TQ058164; 50.93729, -0.49562] TQ520565; 51.286112, 0.180967] Sun 25th - Dungeness RSPB, Kent Sat 30th - Rye Harbour, E Sussex October, 2016 February, 2016 Sat 8th - Hayling Island & (east side), West Sun 14th - Motney Hill & Cliffe Pools RSPB, Kent Sussex Tues 16th - Rainham Marshes RSPB, Essex Ɨ [RM19 1SZ; Wed 19th - Nutfield Marsh & Holmethorpe [Please note that this TQ552792; 51.49040, 0.23413] is a Wednesday not a Tuesday.] [RH1 4EU; TQ299517; Sat 27th - Burton Mill Pond, W Sussex 51.249639, -0.139471] Sun 23rd Isle of Sheppey, inc Elmley Marshes, Kent March, 2016 Sun 13th - Wat Tyler CP & Two Tree Island, Essex November, 2016 Tues 15th - Bushy Park [no p/c; TQ160694; 51.411867, -0.333401] Sat 5th - Foreness & Reculver, Kent Sat 26th - Pagham Harbour RSPB, W Sussex Tues 15th – London Wetland Centre, Barn Elms WWT* [SW13 9WT; TQ227767;51.47718,-0.23522] April, 2016 Sun 20th - Farlington Marshes, Hants Sun 10th - Dungeness RSPB, Kent Tues 19th - , Cuckmere Haven & Beachy Head, E December, 2016 Sussex Ɨ [BN25 1JJ; TV489982; 50.764768, 0.108237] Sat 3rd - Pegwell Bay & Grove Ferry, Kent Sat 23rd - Fingringhoe Wick* & Abberton Reservoir*, Essex Sat 17th - Swanbourne Lake & Burpham, Tues 20th - Beddington Park & Farmlands [SM6 7DJ; TQ287652; May, 2016 51.370446, -0.152535] Sat 7th - Samphire Ho & St Margaret’s Bay, Kent

Tues 17h - Northward Hill & Cliffe Pools, RSPB, Kent Ɨ [ME3 8DS;  Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the weather TQ768765; 51.458196, 0.544553] and ground conditions. Sun 22nd - Stodmarsh, Kent  Bring a packed lunch and drinks. June, 2016  Bring RSPB or other membership cards as appropriate Sat 4th - Lakenheath RSPB, Suffolk & Weeting Heath*, Norfolk when visiting reserves [Please note that this outing departs at 07:30.]  Make a contribution to driver’s costs on car outings and st Tues 21 - Weirwood Res & NR, Sussex [no p/c; avoid muddying cars on wet days TQ382342; 51.089507, -0.025799]  Avoid bright or white clothing th Sun 19 - Thursley Common, Surrey  Making a noise and not keeping together increases July, 2016 disturbance. Sun 3rd - Iping Common, West Sussex Sat 16th - Springhead Hill & Waltham Brooks, West Sussex Other Events Tues 19th - Rye Harbour NR, E Sussex Ɨ [TN31 7TT; TQ942190; 50.937061, 0.762827] May 2016 Choose your own date during May to participate in the Sun 31st - Cliffe Pools RSPB, Kent Croydon Challenge 2016. Details are in our newsletter and will be posted on our website nearer the time. August, 2016 th Sat 13 - Titchfield Haven* & Farlington Marshes, Hampshire th Tues 16 - Oare Marshes NR, Kent Ɨ [ME13 0QD; TR013647; 51.346065, 0.889172] th Sat 27 - Beachy Head, E Sussex