DISCOVER ’S WILDLIFE

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LONDON BIRD CLUB A section of The London Natural London Natural History Society History Society #londonbirds @londonbirdclub Version: October 2019 londonbirdclub @LNHSoc www.lnhs.org.uk CONTENTS

PART 01 London Birders Calendar

PART 02 London Bird Club Talks

PART 03 London Natural History Society Programme

PART 04 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 by coach from , 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.

LONDON BIRD CLUB A section of The London Natural #londonbirds londonbirdclub History Society 3 INTRODUCTION TO THIS PACK cont ……. 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.

Cancellations Please always check for updates from the websites and social media of the institution organising an event. Due to weather and logistics issues events may be cancelled at short notice (although this rarely happens in practice).

Email of pdf of this pack This pack is updated and emailed as a pdf with each of the 6 ‘LBC Talks Reminders’ that are sent out by the Chair of the London Bird Club a few days before the 6 LBC Talks that take place in a year. If you would like to receive a copy please email him with ‘Subscribe LBC Reminder’ in the header. To reduce the work load and to avoid being a nuisance for recipients, emails are kept to just 6 a year.

Email: gehan.desilva.w (at) gmail.com

Social Media For more timely updates, you can also subscribe to meetup groups managed by the LNHS and RSPB CLLG for example. But manage your settings aggressively otherwise you will receive a flood of emails from the app.

LONDON BIRD CLUB A section of The London Natural #londonbirds londonbirdclub History Society 4 PART 01: LONDON BIRDERS CALENDAR This section provides a calendar overview of the talks, walks, day trips and coach trips (which are also day trips) by the LBC, MBS, RSPB and Central London Local Group. See the accompanying slides and websites of these organisations for more detailed information.

Residents of arguably the greatest capital city in the world is spoilt for choice when it comes to wildlife activities.

Acronyms BOC British Ornithologists Club LBC London Bird Club, a section of the LNHS LNHS London Natural History Society MBS Marylebone Bird Watching Society RSPB RSPB Central London Local Group (CLLG)

5 WEEKEND BIRDING FOR CENTRAL LONDONERS: SEP 2019 - FEB 2020 Weekend Birding for Central Londoners: Sep 2019 - Feb 2020 September October November December January February Sat Sun Sat Sun Sat Sun Sat Sun Sat Sun Sat Sun 01 05 06 02 03 01 04 05 01 02 LBC Woods RSPB 07 08 12 13 09 10 07 08 11 12 08 09 LBC LBC Walthamstow Crossness RSPB LBC LBC RSPB Wetlands RSPB Oare Greenwich Marshes RSPB Titchwell Marsh MBS River Lee CP Marshes Peninsula Pagham Abberton Harbour Reservoir 14 15 19 20 16 17 14 15 18 19 15 16 LBC Two Tree MBS LBC MBS MBS MBS Island Rainham Bedfont Lakes Oare Two Tree Island Regent's Park MBS Marshes Marshes Cheshunt 21 22 26 27 23 24 21 22 25 26 22 23 LBC London MBS LBC RSPB RSPB RSPB Wetland Amwell Alexandra Rainham Hook with Welney Park Marshes MBS Warsash WWT Pullborough Brooks 28 29 30 28 29 29 MBS MBS Keyhaven Minsmere Marshes

Bird Watching Walk, including day trips using trains. Coach Trip

LBC http://www.lnhs.org.uk/index.php/activities/bird-club-walks NB. Links do not MBS http://www.birdsmbs.org.uk/ work on jpeg 6 RSPB CLLG https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/centrallondon version. MONTH AT A GLANCE FOR LONDON BIRDERS

September 2019 Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su 01

02 03 04 05 06 07 08

LBC

09 10 11 12 13 14 15 RSPB Talk Turtle Doves 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 LBC Talk MBS Talk BOC Birds, MBS LBC Birdwatch Hastings Mammals & Amwell Alexandra ing in Rarities Butterflies Park Yunnan of Borneo 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 MBS Keyhaven Marshes 30

Bird Watching Walk, including day trips using trains. Dungeness, Kent Coach Trip Talks Event (with an indoor element) 7 MONTH AT A GLANCE FOR LONDON BIRDERS October 2019 Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su 01 02 03 04 05 06

07 08 09 10 11 12 13

LBC RSPB Talk Crossness Dragonflies and Volunteers Cheshunt RSPB Pagham Harbour 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

LBC Talk MBS Talk MBS The Intriguing When Birds Sing Two Tree Island Dunnock

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Crossness RSPB Rainham Marshes

28 29 30 31

Bird Watching Walk, including day trips using trains. Oare Marshes Coach Trip Talks Event (with an indoor element) 8 MONTH AT A GLANCE FOR LONDON BIRDERS November 2019 Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su 01 02 03 LBC RSPB Abberton Reservoir 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 RSPB Oare Marshes 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Beddington LBC Talk RSPB Talk MBS Talk LBC Unravelling Bird Intriguing Dunnock Biking Birder Two Tree Island Migration

MBS Cheshunt 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 LBC London Wetland MBS Pullborough 25 26 27 28 29 30

Bird Watching Walk, including day trips using trains. Coach Trip Talks Event (with an indoor element) 9 MONTH AT A GLANCE FOR LONDON BIRDERS December 2019 Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su 01

02 03 04 05 06 07 08 RSPB Titchwell Marsh 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 MBS RSPB Talk Regent's Bees and wasps Park 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31

Bird Watching Walk, including day trips using trains. London Wetland Centre Coach Trip Talks Event (with an indoor element) 10 MONTH AT A GLANCE FOR LONDON BIRDERS January 2020 Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su 01 02 03 04 05

06 07 08 09 10 11 12

LBC Walthamsto RSPB Talk w Wetlands Lead ammunition & wildlife MBS Abberton Reservoir 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 LBC MBS Bedfont Rainham Lakes Marshes

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 LBC Talk MBS Talk RSPB Filey Seabird Hook with International Nirvana Warsash 27 28 29 30 31

Bird Watching Walk, including day trips using trains. Coach Trip Talks Event (with an indoor element) 11 MONTH AT A GLANCE FOR LONDON BIRDERS February 2020 Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su 01 02

03 04 05 06 07 08 09

RSPB LBC River Lee Greenwich CP Peninsula

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 RSPB Talk MBS Rainham Marshes Stone curlews to Oare skylarks Marshes 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 LBC Talk MBS Talk RSPB How to be Inspiratio Welney an Urban n of WWT Birder Waders 24 25 26 27 28 29 MBS Minsmere

Bird Watching Walk, including day trips using trains. Coach Trip Talks Event (with an indoor element) Rye Harbour 12 LONDON BIRD CLUB TALKS SEPTEMBER 2019 TO APRIL 2020

LONDON BIRD CLUB A section of The London Natural John Beaufoy Publishing History Society johnbeaufoy.com jetwinghotels.com serendipityretreats.com

Ticket Sponsor Venue Sponsor Speaker Sponsor 13 LBC TALKS SEPTEMBER 2019 TO APRIL 2020 PROGRAMME AT A GLANCE

Quentin & Honor Phillipps - Birds, Mammals & Butterflies of 1 Tue 17 Sep 2019 Borneo 2 Wed 16 Oct 2019 Tony Wileman - The Intriguing Dunnock

3 Tue 12 Nov 2019 Rob Sheldon - Unravelling Bird Migration

4 Wed 22 Jan 2020 Mark Pearson - Filey International

5 Wed 19 Feb 2020 David Lindo – How to be an Urban Birder

6 Wed 11 Mar 2020 Nigel Hicks - Birds and Wildlife of the Philippines 7 Fri 24 Apr 2020 Dominic Couzens - Birding a Local Patch. (Joint event with MBS. Not at Burgh House)

John Beaufoy Publishing johnbeaufoy.com jetwinghotels.com serendipityretreats.com

Ticket Sponsor Venue Sponsor Speaker Sponsor LONDON BIRD CLUB A section of The London Natural History Society

14 BIRDS, MAMMALS & BUTTERFLIES OF BORNEO The Bornean rainforest has the highest diversity of plant and insect life in the world. Quentin will talk on ‘Hornbills, Orangutans and Elephants’. He will also offer guidance on how to maximise the wildlife viewing on a visit to this large tropical island. Borneo is home to around 1,000 species of butterfly ranging from the spectacular Birdwings with a wingspan of up to 18cm to the dainty Blues. Honor’s talk will be an introduction to the butterflies of Borneo and will look at representatives of each of the six Bornean families, with a focus on the most visible species.

Quentin Phillips Quentin was born on the island of Borneo in Sabah, Malaysia and has spent many years exploring and photographing the varied wildlife. Quentin has written popular field guides to the birds and mammals.

Honor Phillips Honor is the author of a Field Guide to the Butterflies of Borneo, illustrated with photographs taken in the wild on her journeys around Borneo. Tuesday 17 September 2019 at 7pm Doors open at 6.30pm. Burgh House, New End Square, , LONDON BIRD CLUB London, NW3 1LT A section of The London Natural Open to all. FREE admission sponsored by History Society www.johnbeaufoy.com John Beaufoy Publishing, Jetwing Safari www.jetwinghotels.com Camp Yala & Serendipity Retreats. www.serendipityretreats.com 15 WHEN A SPARROW IS NOT A SPARROW, THE INTRIGUING DUNNOCK The talk looks at the intriguing life of the often overlooked but common bird known as the Dunnock along with a host of other sometimes misleading and confusing names. The Dunnock also gained fame in a study that showed how males engage in cloacal pecking to render void a prior mating attempt by a rival suitor. As a declining species, the talk will look at its physiology and ecological requirements across its geographical range and look how its behaviour, food sources and association with people has both positive and negative effects on its population.

Tony Wileman Tony Wileman is a trained ecologist working for the with over 25 years experience in nature conservation. His interest in birds spans 37 years and he has travelled to five continents watching and recording them. He has a particular interest in species to species and habitat interactions and is passionate about ensuring wildlife in all its forms obtains a voice for its preservation. Wednesday 16 October 2019 at 7pm Doors open at 6.30pm. LONDON BIRD CLUB Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead, A section of The London Natural London, NW3 1LT History Society www.johnbeaufoy.com Open to all. FREE admission sponsored by www.jetwinghotels.com John Beaufoy Publishing, Jetwing Safari www.serendipityretreats.com Camp Yala & Serendipity Retreats. 16 UNRAVELLING BIRD MIGRATION Rob Sheldon Rob Sheldon has worked in nature conservation for almost 20 years, including 12 years with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Since 2013, he has been the Chair of the Ornithological Society of the Middle East, The Caucasus and Central Asia (OSME). Most recently he has worked for the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) as the Director of the King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre (KKWRC) in Saudi Arabia. He now works freelance as a consultant through RDS Conservation.

Migration is one of the wonders of the natural world. Recent technological advances has led to some fascinating insights into the migratory behaviour of a wide range of species that occur in the UK and elsewhere. This talk will draw upon examples of migration from around the world. It will discuss the technology that scientists are using such as satellite tagging that have unveiled the amazing and hazardous migratory journeys of iconic species, as well as discuss some of the challenges they face. Tuesday 12 November 2019 at 7pm (doors open at 6.00pm for AGM at 6.30pm. Talks commences after AGM). Burgh House, New End Square, LONDON BIRD CLUB Hampstead, London, NW3 1LT A section of The London Natural www.johnbeaufoy.com Open to all. FREE admission sponsored History Society www.jetwinghotels.com by John Beaufoy Publishing, Jetwing www.serendipityretreats.com Safari Camp Yala & Serendipity Retreats. 17 FILEY BIRD OBSERVATORY: FOUR SEASONS OF DRAMA

Mark Pearson Mark is a well known and obsessive coast birder and naturalist whose roles include wildlife guide, ecologist, speaker, writer and educator. He is regularly asked to share his knowledge and enthusiasm via mainstream media for conservation organisations, and delights in spreading the gospel by any means necessary, whether through outreach, education and community engagement or campaigning on local, national and international stages for conservation.

Fasten your seatbelts! Migration never stops at this east coast hotspot - and neither does Mark in his pursuit of its wonders. Let him take you on a whistlestop tour through four seasons of high drama at his beloved Filey Bird Observatory. Mark has shone the spotlight on this idyllic corner of the east coast through his very popular series of articles in Birdwatch magazine and Birdguides, his radio and television contributions (including co-presenting recent features from Filey with Chris Packham and for BBC with Michaela Strachan) and his ongoing work celebrating his remarkable adventures there.

Wednesday 22 Jan 2020 at 7pm. Doors open at 6.30pm. Burgh House, New End Square, LONDON BIRD CLUB Hampstead, London, NW3 1LT A section of The London Natural www.johnbeaufoy.com Open to all. FREE admission sponsored by History Society www.jetwinghotels.com John Beaufoy Publishing, Jetwing Safari www.serendipityretreats.com Camp Yala & Serendipity Retreats. 18 HOW TO BE AN URBAN BIRDER David Lindo David Lindo, also known as The Urban Birder is a broadcaster, writer, naturalist, photographer, public speaker and a tour leader. He is passionate about making urban dwellers notice the birds and other wildlife in their urban environments. He has also pioneered leading overseas birding tours with an urban birding element injected into his tour itineraries.

In this talk David Lindo, a Londoner and former Chair of the London Bird Club, explains ‘How to Be an Urban Birder’. David Lindo talks about what you need to know about birds and birding in towns and cities in the UK and overseas. He will give a brief history of urban birding in the UK. He covers the best places to look for birds in towns and cities and helps you get to know your urban birds. There are useful tips on how to attract birds to your garden and what gear you need and how to go about being an urban birder. Wednesday 19 Feb 2020 at 7pm. Doors open at 6.30pm. LONDON BIRD CLUB Burgh House, New End Square, A section of The London Natural Hampstead, London, NW3 1LT History Society www.johnbeaufoy.com Open to all. FREE admission sponsored www.jetwinghotels.com by John Beaufoy Publishing, Jetwing www.serendipityretreats.com Safari Camp Yala & Serendipity Retreats. 19 WILD PHILIPPINES Nigel Hicks Nigel Hicks originally trained as a biologist before becoming a professional photographer. He works mainly in travel and tourism, though with a special interest in ecotourism, particularly in Southeast Asia, and most especially in the Philippines. He is a member of the National Geographic Image Collection, the photo agency wing of the USA's prestigious National Geographic Society, and is a Fellow of the British Institute of Professional Photography.

In this talk, Nigel summarises the essence of his book ‘Wild Philippines’ (due Summer 2019), concentrating especially on some of the Philippines' many endemic species, particularly its birds. Through his talk, he describes a few of these species, and outlines both the huge problems faced as a result of habitat loss and some of the progress being made by the country's increasingly active and prominent conservation movement. Nigel has worked off and on for around 20 years in the Philippines and the talk will be richly illustrated with images of its fauna. Wednesday 11 March 2020 at 7pm Doors open at 6.30pm. LONDON BIRD CLUB Burgh House, New End Square, A section of The London Natural Hampstead, London, NW3 1LT History Society www.johnbeaufoy.com Open to all. FREE admission sponsored www.jetwinghotels.com by John Beaufoy Publishing, Jetwing www.serendipityretreats.com Safari Camp Yala & Serendipity Retreats. 20 BIRDING A LOCAL PATCH Dominic Couzens Dominic is a prolific, best-selling author of nature books. His writing varies from nature columns in popular magazines to detailed photographic field guides. There is unlikely to be anyone serious about British nature who does not have a book by Dominic in their book shelf. He is also an entertaining speaker.

Some birdwatchers are casual, finding birds when and where they can for fun. Others are more obsessive, travelling the length and breadth of the country to find rarities for their British list. And then you’ve got Patch- watchers, who are every bit as keen as their twitcher colleagues, but are content to watch day-in, day-out, at the hallowed area of the ground that they call their Local Patch. This talk is all about being in the Patch-watcher’s category.

Fri 24 April 2020 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 is a Joint Event with MBS and is not at the usual LONDON BIRD CLUB LBC venue of Burgh House. Also note that the MBS entrance A section of The London Natural fees structure will apply and LNHS members who are not MBS History Society members can pay £3. 21 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 (not - that's the nearby Overground station).

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. Right panel: Burgh House

Left Panel: Hampstead 22 ADVANCE NOTICE: LONDON BIRD CLUB TALKS SEPTEMBER 2020 TO MARCH 2021

LONDON BIRD CLUB John Beaufoy Publishing A section of The London Natural johnbeaufoy.com jetwinghotels.com serendipityretreats.com History Society

Ticket Sponsor Venue Sponsor Speaker Sponsor 23 LBC TALKS SUMMARY: SEP 2020 TO MARCH 2021

1 Wed 16 Sep 2020 Geoffrey Davison: Birds of Peninsular Malaysia

2 Tue 13 Oct 2020 Steve Portugal: Bird Flight & Co-operative Aerodynamics 3 Tbc Nov 2020 tbc 4 Tue 19 Jan 2021 Andy Sands: Secret Britain 5 Tue 16 Feb 2021 Jonathan Forgham: The Birds of the North Norfolk Coastal Footpath 6 Tbc March 2021 tbc

LONDON BIRD CLUB www.johnbeaufoy.com A section of The London Natural www.jetwinghotels.com History Society www.serendipityretreats.com 24 BIRDS OF PENINSULAR MALAYSIA Geoffrey Davison Geoff has worked for many years in Southeast Asia, most recently as a staff member of the National Parks Board, Singapore. He has specialised in bird ecology and behaviour, and the ecology of bird communities in tropical rain forest in Malaysia, with an emphasis on pheasants and partridges. Peripheral interests have included bats (inside caves), molluscs (living on the limestone outside the caves), and zooarchaeology (in the earth at cave mouths) of Peninsular Malaysia. He has been responsible for various Malaysian birding books and natural history books.

Peninsular Malaysia more than 600 species of birds, mostly within forest. The most urgent for conservation purposes include the birds of lowland forest, particularly forest over level ground in the extreme lowlands. They include iconic species such as White-bellied Woodpecker, Wallace's Hawk-eagle and Malaysian Peacock-pheasant. The birds of occasionally inundated peat-swamp forest, and of hill forest, form distinctive communities dominated by birds with a distribution centred on Sundaland (Malaya, Sumatra, Borneo), whereas many birds of mountain forest are of Himalayan origin. All forest bird communities are likely to be in decline, compensated by an increase in the habitat available for open country birds of lesser conservation concern. Wednesday 16 September 2020 at 7pm (doors open at 6.30) Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead, London, NW3 1LT LONDON BIRD CLUB www.johnbeaufoy.com Open to all. FREE admission sponsored by A section of The London Natural www.jetwinghotels.com John Beaufoy Publishing, Jetwing Safari History Society www.serendipityretreats.com Camp Yala & Serendipity Retreats. 25 BIRD FLIGHT & CO-OPERATIVE AERODYNAMICS Steve Portugal Steve is a Reader in Animal Behaviour and Physiology at Royal Holloway University of London. He is a comparative ecophysiologist, who studies how animals adapt their behaviour and ecology to the challenges of their environment. His research has focused on naked mole rats, Siamese fighting fish, and the role of vision in the propensity for certain bird species to fly into man-made objects. His main research, however, is bird flight, and what happens when birds come together in flocks. Steve has published over 60 academic papers, and acted as scientific advisor for numerous nature documentaries including Springwatch, David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities, Conquest of the Skies, , and Nature’s Boldest Thieves.

This talk is about how birds co-operate and the mechanisms they employ to save energy during flight. The distinctive V formation of bird flocks has long intrigued researchers and continues to attract both scientific and popular attention. Through the use of novel biologging technology, and by working with the reintroduction scheme of the critically endangered Northern Bald , studies have been performed on the relative positioning of individuals in a V-formation, and the co-operative aerodynamic interactions that take place, at a level and complexity not previously feasible.

Tuesday 13 October 2020 at 7pm (doors open at 6.30). Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead, LONDON BIRD CLUB www.johnbeaufoy.com London, NW3 1LT Open to all. FREE admission sponsored by John A section of The London Natural www.jetwinghotels.com History Society www.serendipityretreats.com Beaufoy Publishing, Jetwing Safari Camp Yala & Serendipity Retreats. 26 SECRET BRITAIN Andy Sands Andy shoots on a range of digital cameras from Nikon and Olympus and for the past 15 years his photographs have been marketed by Nature Picture Library and regularly published in books and magazines. He also owns and runs his own camera shop, Chiswick Camera Centre. His main interest is British natural history and he does a lot of bird and small mammal photography, with a particular interest in macro photography. Recent projects have engaged his fascination with bees and wasps and also Autumn fungi and British wild flowers. Andy likes showing people things they probably walk past every day but never notice. www.andysands.co.uk

This is a general talk on British wildlife with a bias towards the lesser seen and more secretive species. Birds covered include Nightjar, Nightingale, Garden Warbler and many other species that can be elusive as well as nocturnal mammals, various insects and also a few of the more secret/lesser visited locations of the British Isles. Hopefully the audience will be enthralled by this photographic journey through the fantastic array of strange and elusive creatures that can be found here in Britain, without the need for long distance travel!

Tuesday 19 January 2021 at 7pm LONDON BIRD CLUB (doors open at 6.30). A section of The London Natural Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead, History Society London, NW3 1LT Open to all. FREE admission sponsored by John www.johnbeaufoy.com Beaufoy Publishing, Jetwing Safari Camp Yala & www.jetwinghotels.com Serendipity Retreats. www.serendipityretreats.com 27 BIRDS OF THE NORTH NORFOLK COASTAL FOOTPATH Jonathan Forgham Jonathan is a life long birder and all round naturalist. He records all the natural history of the rural parish of Little Hadham, East Herts where he has lived since 2007, totalling over 780 moth species and 109 bird species. He contributes a column on local nature around Bishop's Stortford to the local newspaper once a fortnight and back in 2011, published all his village records in a book detailing the natural history of Little Hadham.

Jonathan has completed the 47 mile North Norfolk Coastal Footpath on 3 occasions over the years and has been visiting this area for 5 decades, building up a fairly impressive list of species which is now approaching 300. In 2019 he decided to fund raise for a Sri Lankan project by setting off on foot from his front door to cover the 160 miles to Cromer in 9 days, with the last 3 days being the Coastal Footpath Trail.

Tuesday 16 February 2021 at 7pm LONDON BIRD CLUB (doors open at 6.30). A section of The London Natural Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead, History Society London, NW3 1LT Open to all. FREE admission sponsored by John www.johnbeaufoy.com Beaufoy Publishing, Jetwing Safari Camp Yala & www.jetwinghotels.com www.serendipityretreats.com Serendipity Retreats. 28 Ticket Sponsor for London Bird Club Talks

John Beaufoy Publishing johnbeaufoy.com

29 Venue Sponsor for London Bird Club Talks

www.jetwinghotels.com 30 Speaker Sponsor for London Bird Club Talks

www.serendipityretreats.com 31 PART 03: THE LNHS PROGRAMME

London Natural History Society

32 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.

33 LNHS Programme #1 See also the LNHS online programme

AUGUST 2019 Sat 31 Aug 2019 10.00am – 3.00pm Field Recorder Day Booking essential To book a space on this free event and for more info please see the FSC BioLinks website: www.fscbiodiversity.uk/courses

SEPTEMBER 2019 Sun 1 Sep 2019 11.00am – 4.00pm Walk for trees Bettina Metcalfe We will look at the trees along the New River between Halton Cross Street and St Paul’s Road. Meet 11.00am at South Library on Road, N1 2SL (TQ319839, NW side of road opposite Dibden St. Nearest station NR Essex Rd). Bring lunch.

Sat 7 Sep 2019 9.30am Tottenham Marshes for Whinchat and other autumn migrants; perhaps Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail Pete Lambert Meet 9.30am at Ferry Lane entrance (TQ347895). Nearest station is (Victoria/NR Liverpool St). AM only. (Toilets.)

10.00am – 4.00pm Field Recorder Day Booking essential. Free event - to book a place and for further information please visit https://www.fieldstudiescouncil.org/individuals-and-families/courses/2019/ho/perivale-wood-recorder-day.aspx

10.30am – 3.00pm Hampstead Heath Plant Gall 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. End time is approximate. Bring lunch. Everyone is very welcome, members or not, so spread the word. Survey Area: East of the Mixed Bathing Pond area of Hampstead Heath. Meet 10.30am at The entrance of the Heath. The Gospel Oak entrance is located on Gordon House Road a few metres up from Gospel Oak overground station. Bus C11 also stops here.

34 LNHS Programme #2 See also the LNHS online programme

Sat 14 Sep 2019 10.30am – 4.00pm Bookham Common Survey See later slide for details.

10.30am – 4.00pm Chobham Common for heathland flora Paul Bartlett Meet 10.30am Virginia Water station (TQ001679, NR W'loo). Cars needed. Bring lunch.

Tue 17 Sep 2019 7.00pm – 8.30pm Mammals & Butterflies of Borneo by Quentin Phillips (Doors open 6.30pm). Location: Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead, London, NW3 1LT. FREE admission sponsored by John Beaufoy Publishing & Jetwing Safari Camp Yala.

Sat 21 Sep 2019 11.00am – 4.00pm Earthworms & Snails of Nonsuch Park Keiron Brown (Earthworm Society of Britain) and Dr June Chatfield (Conchological Society of Britain) Join us to record the molluscs and earthworms of Nonsuch Park. Bring lunch. Adults only, no dogs. Meet at the Cheam Gate (TQ238635). Nearest station is Cheam (TQ244633), the gate near Nonsuch High School, NR Vict.). Please note that this event will involve individuals collecting, preserving and killing invertebrate specimens for identification purposes in order to assist us in generating a site species list. Joint event with the Earthworm Society of Britain

Sun 22 Sep 2019 10.00am Alexandra Park for woodland birds, woodpeckers, waterbirds (maybe Kingfisher), possible migrants Andrew Peel Meet 10.00am in entrance to U/g Station (Picc). AM only. (Toilets).

Thu 26 Sep 2019 5.30pm Plant ID workshop. Plant ID workshop led by George Hounsome. Location: Angela Marmont Centre, Natural History Museum

Sat 28 Sep 2019 11.00am – 4.00pm Sutton Community Farm Roy Vickery Sutton Community Farm, 40A Telegraph Track, Wallington, SM6 0SH (TQ284620). Former nursery site with relic plants and many ruderals. Meet 11.00am Wallington Station (TQ288639, NR Vic.), approx. 2km to north, from whence we will either walk to the site or use cars if there are sufficient. Joint with the Botanical Institute. Bring 35 lunch. 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.

36 LNHS Programme #3 See also the LNHS online programme

OCTOBER 2019 cont…

Sat 5 Oct 2019 10.30am – 3.00pm Hampstead Heath Autumn Spider Survey David Carr (BAS recorder) Meet at 10.30am outside Hampstead Heath overground station (which is a few minutes’ walk from tube station on the Northern line). End time is approximate. Bring lunch. Everyone is very welcome, members or not, so spread the word.

10.30am Plant Gall Survey Tommy Root Meet at Lodge Avenue car park (not sports centre car park) TQ465845. Nearest station Becontree, District Line (approx 1km walk). Bring lunch. No toilets. Joint with Essex Field Club.

2.00pm – 5.00pm Dave Bevan Meet 2.00pm U/g station (TQ272892, Northern line).

Sat 12 Oct 2019 10.00am – 2.00pm Crossness for migrants George Kalli Meet 10.00am Belvedere Stn (NR ). Long half day. Bring snacks. (No toilets).

10.30am – 4.00pm Bookham Common Survey See later slide for details.

10.30am – 4.00pm Brookwood Cemetery for conifers George Hounsome Brookwood Cemetery for conifers and anything else we might see. Meet 10.30am Brookwood Stn (SU952569, NR W'loo). Bring lunch.

Wed 16 Oct 2019 7.00pm – 8.30pm When a sparrow is not a sparrow: the Intriguing Dunnock by Tony Wileman (Doors open 6.30pm) Location: Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead, London, NW3 1LT FREE admission sponsored by John Beaufoy Publishing & Jetwing Safari Camp Yala. 37 LNHS Programme #4 See also the LNHS online programme

OCTOBER 2019

Sun 27 Oct 2019 10.00am – 4.00pm The Haringey Fungus Foray Andy Overall and Alan Skipp Meet 10.00am at LNR (TQ318883), corner of Green Lanes and Umfreville Rd N4, five minutes’ walk from Manor House U/g station (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. To avoid turning up late please note that the clocks will have gone back the night before.

NOVEMBER 2019

Sat 2 Nov 2019 9.30am – 2.00pm Hampstead Heath Bird Survey Pete Mantle Meet at 9.30am 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 if you wish to continue after 1pm, as many of us doubtless will. Everyone is very welcome, members or not, so spread the word.

10.00am – 3.00pm Ruislip Woods NNR for woodland birds and wildfowl Neil Anderson Meet 10.00am at bus stop in Reservoir Road (TQ087892). Nearest station is Ruislip (U/g 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 Neil on 020 8578 2464 or 0792 223 2801 for confirmation.

10.30am – 4.00pm for lichens John Skinner Meet 10.30am Barnes Station (TQ222756, NR W'loo). Bring lunch. Leader can be contacted on 07508 956 839 or [email protected].

Brad Ashby Memorial Lecture (time TBC) In conjunction with the Annual BENHS Exhibition (Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, , London, WC1R 4RL). Check the LNHS website for details. 38 LNHS Programme #5 See also the LNHS online programme

Sat 9 Nov 2019 10.30am – 4.00pm Bookham Common Survey See later slide for details.

Tue 12 Nov 2019 6.30pm – 8.30pm LBC AGM & Talk: Unravelling Bird Migration by Rob Sheldon (Doors open at 6.00pm for AGM at 6.30pm) Location: Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead, London, NW3 1LT Talks commences at 7pm after AGM. FREE admission sponsored by John Beaufoy Publishing & Jetwing Safari Camp Yala.

Wed 13 Nov 2019 6.30pm – 9.00pm Botany AGM & Talk Location: Bertrand Russell Room, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL Talk by John Edgington: "From Banckes to Stace - 500 years of British Botany" will commence after Botany AGM.

Sat 16 Nov 2019 10.00am – 5.00pm Two Tree Island for Brent Geese, Avocet and high tide wader roost Robin Blades Meet 10.00am Leigh-on-Sea Station (NR Fenchurch Street). All day. Bring lunch. (Toilets).

Sat 23 Nov 2019 10.30am – 2.00pm London Bird Club Walk: London Wetland Centre for winter birds and other wildlife in autumn Richard Bullock and Gehan de Silva Wijeyaratne At one of ’s premier urban wetland reserves, we will look for Bittern, wintering wildfowl and more. Meet 10.30am outside visitor centre by Sir Peter Scott statue. Non WWT members, please do not get your tickets until the group has assembled. Directions & Facilities: See London Wetland Centre website. (Café & Toilets.)

39 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.

40 LNHS Programme #6 See also the LNHS online programme

DECEMBER 2019

Sun 1 Dec 2019 11.00am – 4.00pm Wildflowers in flower in Deptford Nick Bertrand The traditional hunt for wildflowers in flower in Deptford on the first day of winter. Meet 11.00am Deptford Stn (TQ371774, NR Cannon St). Joint with the Creekside Education Trust.

Mon 2 Dec 2019 10.00am – 4.00pm Making and Using Insect Collections Location: Angela Marmont Centre, Natural History Museum Booking is essential as spaces are limited. This workshop, run in partnership with FSC Biolinks and the AMC, is aimed at complete beginners and will cover some basic collections skills such as pinning and equipment as well as give an overview of facilities available to recorders at the AMC. Participants will also be able to use AMC microscopes and photo stacking equipment. Please check the LNHS website for booking details. There is a £5 admin fee.

Tue 3 Dec 2019 10.00am – 4.00pm Beetle Collections Workshop Location: Angela Marmont Centre, Natural History Museum Booking is essential as spaces are limited. The aim of this workshop, organised in partnership with FSC Biolinks and the AMC, is to bring together both new and existing beetle recorders. The AMC beetle collections will be available for use and there will be short presentations on different beetle groups. Please check the LNHS website for booking details. This workshop is free to attend.

Sat 7 Dec 2019 10.30am – 3.00pm Hampstead Heath Winter Spider Survey David Carr (BAS recorder) Meet at 10.30am 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. Everyone is very welcome, members or not, so spread the word.

Wed 11 Dec 2019 6.30pm – 8.30pm LNHS AGM Location: Swedenborg Hall, Barter St, Holborn, London WC1A 2TH The society's annual AGM. To be followed by an address at the invitation of council (details to be confirmed, check 41 the LNHS website for information). LNHS Programme #7 See also the LNHS online programme

DECEMBER 2019 cont…..

Sat 14 Dec 2019 10.30am – 4.00pm Bookham Common Survey See later slide for details.

JANUARY 2019

Tue 7 Jan 2020 6.30pm – 8.30pm E&E AGM Location: ILEC Conference Centre, 47 Lillie Rd, Fulham, London SW6 1UD A talk given by Andy Sands (topic TBC) will follow after E&E AGM. Check the LNHS website for information.

Sat 11 Jan 2020 9.30am for winter wildfowl, including Goldeneye and perhaps Scaup and Goosander, and gulls Pete Lambert Meet 9.30am entrance, opposite Ferry Boat Inn pub (TQ350893). Nearest stations: Tottenham Hale (U/g Vic, NR London Liverpool St) or Blackhorse Rd (U/g Vic, Overground). Café. AM only. (Toilets.)

10.30am – 4.00pm Bookham Common Survey See later slide for details.

Sun 12 Jan 2020 10.30am – 4.00pm Thames footpath - A winter walk with botany George Hounsome Meet 10.30am under the southern end of Bridge. We will walk upstream along the Surrey side as far as Richmond Lock then return along the side, retrace our steps or do anything else that seems suitable. Nearest station is Kew Bridge (TQ190781, NR W'loo). Bring lunch.

Sun 19 Jan 2020 10.00am Bedfont Lakes for woodpeckers, redwing, wildfowl; smew and bittern possible Andrew Peel Meet 10.00am Hatton Cross Station (Picc), then H26bus, or at Bedfont Road entrance car park (next to cemetery). AM only (Toilets). 42 LNHS Programme #8 See also the LNHS online programme

JANUARY 2019 cont…

Sun 19 Jan 2020 10.00am Bedfont Lakes for woodpeckers, redwing, wildfowl; smew and bittern possible Andrew Peel Meet 10.00am Hatton Cross Station (Picc), then H26bus, or at Bedfont Road entrance car park (next to cemetery). AM only (Toilets).

Mon 20 Jan 2020 5.30pm “Winter Twigs” Workshop led by John Poland Location: Angela Marmont Centre, Natural History Museum

Wed 22 Jan 2020 7.00pm – 8.30pm Filey Bird Observatory: four seasons of drama by Mark Pearson (Doors open 6.30pm) FREE admission sponsored by John Beaufoy Publishing & Jetwing Safari Camp Yala.

Thur 23 Jan 2020 6.30pm Best Botanical Photos Location: Bertrand Russell Room, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL

43 LNHS Programme #9 See also the LNHS online programme

FEBRUARY 2019

Sat 1 Feb 2020 10.30am – 3.00pm Hampstead Heath Bryophyte Survey Prof. Jeff Duckett We will explore both the West Heath sphagnum bog and the sphagnum bog near , (two of only a handful in the London area). Meet at 10.00am outside Hampstead underground station (Northern line) OR at 10.30am at the car park by Jack Straw's Castle (From Archway - Northern Line tube - the 210 bus goes to Jack Straw's Castle). End time is approximate. Bring lunch. Everyone is very welcome, members or not, so spread the word.

Sat 8 Feb 2020 10.30am – 4.00pm Bookham Common Survey See later slide for details.

Sun 9 Feb 2020 9.30am Greenwich Peninsula & Ecology Park for winter ducks, Kingfisher, Green Sandpiper and possibly Water Rail George Kalli Meet 9.30am North Greenwich Station (U/g Jubilee). AM only. (Toilets at station and Ecology Park).

7.00pm – 8.30pm How to be an Urban Birder by David Lindo (Doors open 6.30pm) Location: Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead, London, NW3 1LT FREE admission sponsored by John Beaufoy Publishing & JetwingSafari Camp Yala.

Tue 11 Feb 2020 6.30pm Botany Quiz Location: Bertrand Russell Room, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL

Sat 29 Feb 2020 11.00am – 4.00pm Brompton Cemetery and its environs Mark Spencer Meet 11.00am West Brompton station (TQ254780, U/g Dist.). Bring lunch.

44 LNHS SURVEYS

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 . 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]). 45 LONDON’S HABITATS 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.

46 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.

47 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.

48 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. 49 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.

50 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] 51 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 £ 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 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 52 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.

53 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. The LBC 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.

54 London Bird Report: Call for Writers

• The London Bird Report Editorial Board is looking to expand the number of writers from 20 to 40. • A chance to sharpen your skills as a birder and writer and have a citable piece of work. • More details on the LNHS website. See http://www.lnhs.org.uk/index.php/publications/lbr-writers • Or contact Pete Lambert the Chair of the Editorial Board on [email protected].

55 The London Naturalist: Call for Papers & Cover Photos

Papers Volume 98 of The London Naturalist, the annual journal of the LNHS, will appear in November 2019. Any authors wishing to submit papers – or who are considering doing so – should contact the Editor, Nick Rutter, by email at [email protected]. Nick will be very happy to discuss ideas for papers. The deadline for submission of papers is likely to be 31 July, but it would be helpful to receive indications of proposed papers no later than 31 March 2019.

Cover Photographs Members of the LNHS are invited to submit photos for consideration for use on the cover of future issues of The London Naturalist. The photos will be considered by The London Naturalist editorial team, with input from other photographers including Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne.

Criteria • Photos should be on the theme of “London and its wildlife”. • Any aspect of London’s natural history may be covered, but priority will be given to non-ornithological subjects (as birds are well catered for in the London Bird Club’s publications). • Photos should be submitted to the Editor, Nick Rutter, by 31 July 2019. • Photos should not already have appeared in other56 publications. Please send submissions, or any questions, to Nick at [email protected] PART 04: EVENTS FROM OTHER LONDON ORGANISATIONS

57 Marylebone Birdwatching Society 1. Talks

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).

2019

Fri 20 Sep 2019 Jeff Blincow - Birdwatching in Yunnan. Lecture followed by AGM. Following a talk about Bhutan in March 2017, Jeff returns to describe his three-week winter trip to Yunnan. Most of the birds will be unique to Asia: Rusty-Fronted Barwing & Scimitar Babblers as well as bulbuls, barbets, flycatchers, laughing-thrushes, leafbirds & sunbirds. Jeff's talks are always interesting, educational and not all about birds. This talk will feature trees, fungi, dragonflies and even dinosaurs!

Fri 18 Oct 2019 Saffron Summerfield - When Birds Sing Saffron Summerfield is a musician, composer, passionate bird observer and bird song recordist. When Birds Sing is a digitally illustrated talk which combines latest scientific research and human reaction to bird song, illustrated with her own field recordings, sonograms and music.

Fri 15 Nov 2019 Gary Prescott - The Biking Birder Gary, a special needs teacher from Worcestershire, has always been a keen birder, cyclist and promoter of environmental causes. He will be telling stories from his 3 years on the road as he cycled around the UK visiting every RSPB and Wildlife & Wetlands Trust nature reserve.

Marylebone Birdwatching Society (MBS) www.birdsmbs.org.uk/ 58 Marylebone Birdwatching Society 2. Talks

2020

Fri 24 Jan 2020 Mark Pearson - Seabird Nirvana: Bempton Cliffs & Filey Bay Mark is an ecologist, nature writer, speaker, wildlife guide, conservationist, expert birder and a passionate and engaging communicator. In this talk, he takes us to one of Yorkshire's most iconic and breath-taking panoramas and the best bay for birds on the east coast.

Fri 21 Feb 2020 Rick and Elis Simpson - An Inspiration of Waders The founders of Wader Quest spoke to us before about their work supporting shorebird conservation. This talk explores how waders have inspired people, the arts, culture, myths & legends and how they are, in themselves, a most inspiring group of birds.

Fri 20 March 2020 Ashley Grove - Jewels of The Gambia Ashley and his wife run Experience Nature offering birding holidays at home and abroad. Ashley’s talks are known to be informative and colourful and show his true passion for wildlife and the great outdoors. He will share his experience of regular visits to The Gambia.

Fri 24 April 2020 Joint Meeting with London Bird Club Dominic Couzens - Birding a Local Patch Dominic is a writer and field trip leader. He is passionate about sharing his experience and knowledge of bird behaviour. He has written many books and is a frequent contributor to birding and wildlife magazines. Drawing on his experience as the Patch-watcher at Longham Lakes, Dorset, he will fully cover all the many delights and frequent disadvantages of being a Patch-watcher.

Marylebone Birdwatching Society (MBS) www.birdsmbs.org.uk/ 59 Marylebone Birdwatching Society 3. Local Outings

2019

Sat 21 Sept 2019 Amwell Wildlife Trust SSSI, Herts Reserve with 2 waterbodies and a variety of wetland, grassland & woodland habitats. Great Crested Grebe, Heron, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Water Rail, Common Sandpiper, Yellow Wagtail, Stonechat, Wryneck, Whinchat & Hobby. No facilities but there’s The Jolly Fisherman, near the station, (opens 11am) where toilets are available for the price of a coffee. Liverpool Street to St Margarets. Meet 10.30. 10-min walk to reserve.

Sat 19 Oct 2019 Two Tree Island, Essex 640-acre island of grassland, scrub, reedbed and lagoons. Waders including Knot, Dunlin, Lapwing, Curlew, Grey Plover. Also Brent Geese and a variety of ducks. Station Café & WC plus a Café by the golf range nearer the reserve. London Fenchurch Street to Leigh-on-Sea. Meet 10.30. 10-min walk.

Sat 16 Nov 2019 Cheshunt, Fishers Green, Lee Valley, Herts Wetland, rivers and streams, open water, grassland, woodland. Bittern, Goosander, Goldeneye, Water Rail, Buzzard, Red Kite. WC in car park by station, WC at Fishers Green plus hot drinks at Bittern Information Point. WC, Café in YHA near station. Liverpool Street to Cheshunt. Meet 10.30. Walk to reserve.

Sat 14 Dec 2019 Regent’s Park pre-Christmas walk Meet at 2 Park Road, NW1 4SH, NW of Baker Street tube by Santander cycle dock. 10.30 departure. Morning only. Packed lunch not needed. Water (including collection) and woodland birds. Cafés, WC.

See the MBS website for more details. www.birdsmbs.org.uk/ 60 Marylebone Birdwatching Society 4. Local Outings.

Sat 18 Jan 2020 Rainham Marshes RSPB, Essex Medieval marshes next to the . Marsh Harrier, Avocet, Bearded Tit, Godwits and many wildfowl. Thrushes & Finches. Hides and open viewing areas, Visitor Centre with café, shop and WC. Fenchurch St to Purfleet. 20-min walk. Meet at reserve centre 10.30.

Sat 15 Feb 2020 Oare Marsh, Kent Grazing marsh, reedbed, saltmarsh and seawall. Brent Geese, Curlew, Dunlin, Merlin, Hen Harrier, Bittern, Twite. WC at station. Victoria or St Pancras to Faversham. Meet 10.30. Cars/taxis to reserve.

Sat 21 March 2020 College Lake, Tring, Herts 65-hectare reserve in a former chalk quarry with marshland, chalk grassland, woodland scrub and hedgerows. Lapwing, Redshank, Skylark, Kestrel, Thrushes, Finches and Tits. Hides. Visitor Centre, WC, shop, café. Euston to Tring. Meet 10.30. Cars and taxis to reserve.

Sat 4 April 2020 Totteridge Valley and Darlands Lake Lake, brooks, willow & sallow carr, woodland & ancient hedgerows. Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrow Hawk, Red Kite; Spotted Flycatcher, Stonechat, Yellow Wagtail; Warblers. WC at the station. Café in Finchley Nurseries Garden Centre. Northern Line to Totteridge and Whetstone. Go to Orange Tree Pub, westerly direction, 20-min walk (0.8mile) or 6-min on bus 251 from Stop B opposite station. Meet at pub 10.30.

Sat 23 May 2020 Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire 78 hectares of lakes, riverside, meadow, reedbed, scrub & woodland. Hirundines, warblers including possible Garden Warbler, Common and Artic Tern, Hobby, Avocet, Cuckoo, Nightingale. Visitor Centre with WC, hot drinks and snacks. Kings Cross to St Neots. Meet 10.30. Cars/taxis to reserve.

Sat 13 June 2020 Stocker’s Lake (HWT) and Rickmansworth Aquadrome LNR, Herts. Lakes, scrub marshland, the Grand Union canal, river and reed bed. Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Common Terns, Little Egret, Swallow, Kingfisher, waterfowl. WC at station. Café with WC at Bury Lake. Chiltern Rly from Marylebone or Metropolitan line to Rickmansworth. Meet at 10.30. Walk to reserve. 61 Marylebone Birdwatching Society 5. Coach Trips.

2019

Sat 28 Sept 2019 Keyhaven Marshes NNR Hampshire Sea, saltmarsh, salt lagoons, freshwater marsh, rough pasture, scrub. Knot, Sanderling, Curlew & Wood Sandpipers, Little Stint, Greenshank, Spoonbill, Bearded Tit, Sandwich & Little Terns, Shelduck, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, Raven, Rock Pipit, Dartford Warbler, Kingfisher. WC in Car Park. Pub.

Sat 23 Nov 2019 Pulborough Brooks RSPB, West Sussex Heath, woodland, pasture, water meadows, river, marsh. Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Bewick’s Swan, Dunlin, Snipe, Lapwing, Black-Tailed Godwit, Woodpeckers (all 3 possible), Marsh Tit, Bullfinch, Redwing, Fieldfare, Peregrine Falcon, Buzzard. Hides, Visitor Centre, Café, WC. Entry fee for non-RSPB members £6.

2020

Sat 11 Jan 2020 Abberton Reservoir, Reservoir, farmland, scrub. Goldeneye, Goosander, Smew, Bittern, Slavonian Grebe, Great White Egret, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Dunlin, Golden Plover, Corn Bunting, Skylark, Dartford Warbler. Hides, Visitor Centre with café, shop, WC, hides. Suggested don £2.

Sat 29 Feb 2020 Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk Woodland, heathland, reedbeds, lagoons, scrapes, beach. Red Throated Divers, Common Scoter, Eider, scarcer Grebes, Wigeon, Teal, Goldeneye, Bittern, Water Rail, Marsh & Hen Harriers, Barn & Short Eared Owls, Snipe, Lapwing, Jack Snipe, Bearded Tit, Water Pipit, Siskin, Marsh Tit, Woodpeckers. Gulls may include Glaucous & Iceland. Starling murmuration probable. Red deer, otter. Hides, Visitor Centre, Café, WC. Entry fee for non-RSPB members £9. Coach Trips (but not local outings) require prior booking and payment. See the MBS website for details. www.birdsmbs.org.uk/ 62 Marylebone Birdwatching Society 6. Coach Trips.

Sat 28 March 2020 Dungeness, Kent (Observatory, ARC Pits and RSPB reserve) Sea, shingle spit, scrub, lakes, reedbeds, marsh, rough pasture. Scoter, Red-Throated Divers, Black Redstart, Wheatear, Marsh Harrier, Bittern, Great White Egret, Garganey, Bearded Tit, Tree Sparrow. Obs: Café, WC. RSPB reserve: Hides, Visitor Centre, drinks machine, WC. Entry fee for non-RSPB members £5.

Sat 18 April 2020 Rye Harbour NNR, East Sussex River, sea, saltmarsh, shingle, pools, reedbeds, marsh, pasture, scrub. Mediterranean Gull, Sandwich & Little Terns, Avocet, Whimbrel, Skylark, Little Ringed Plover, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, warblers, Marsh Harrier, Barn Owl, Cuckoo & Corn Bunting. Hides, 2 Cafés and Pub, WC.

Sat 9 May 2020 Weeting Heath (NWT) Norfolk and Lakenheath (RSPB) Suffolk Heath, woodland, freshwater marsh, pools, rough pasture. WH: Stone Curlew, Woodlark, Spotted Flycatcher, Little Owl, Marsh Tit, Yellowhammer. L: Common Crane, Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Bearded Tit, Cuckoo, Common Tern, Sedge, Reed, Grasshopper & other warblers. Visitor Centre, WC, hides at both reserves. Entrance fee at Weeting for non-Norfolk Wildlife Trust members £3.75.

Sat 6 June 2020 New Forest National Park, (Acres Down & Bolderwood), Hampshire Heath, woodland, scrub. Buzzard, Honey Buzzard, Goshawk, Hobby, Woodlark, Common Redstart, Wood Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Firecrest, Crossbill. Hawfinch & Lesser Spotted Woodpecker possible. WC en route & at Bolderwood where there’s also an ice cream van.

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

63 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. Season tickets for CLLG members for all nine evening meetings (excluding refreshments): £28. See website for more details about the talks nearer each date. www.rspb.org.uk/groups/centrallondon/events/

2019

Thurs 12th Sept 2019 – ‘Turtle Doves’ by Nicole Khan, RSPB Turtle Dove Conservation officer. How the RSPB is working to provide food and breeding habitat for this species which is unique as our only migratory dove, but on the brink of UK extinction.

Thurs 10th Oct 2019 – ‘Dragonflies and Volunteers’ by David Courtneidge, LWT. How dragonflies and damselflies in London are faring, why they need conserving and how we have built a network of volunteers dedicated to surveying them across the capital.

Thurs 14th Nov 2019 – ‘When is a sparrow not a sparrow – The intriguing life of the dunnock’ by Tony Wileman, LWT. How its unusual behaviour, its food sources and association with people have positive and negative effects on its population.

Thurs 12th Dec 2019 – Christmas party, members’ photo show and talk: ‘Bees and wasps – Extraordinary connected lives’ by Andy Sands, multi-award-winning professional wildlife photographer, naturalist and birder. With 263 bee and over 9,000 wasp species in the UK, Andy will immerse you in closer look through macro- photography at a fascinating world of predators and prey and complex relationships that occur on a tiny scale. 64 RSPB Central London Group 2. Talks

2020

Thurs 9th Jan 2020 – ‘Lead ammunition and wildlife conservation’ by Dr Rob Sheldon. The evidence for the devastating toxicity of widespread lead in the environment from lead ammunition and the question of why the UK is lagging behind in tackling this problem. Rob has recently written a book on the subject.

Thurs 13th Feb 2020 – ‘From stone curlews to skylarks’ by Richard Winspear, RSPB. From a national low of 170 pairs in the 1980s, hear how the stone curlew of the lesser-known Wessex population in particular is bouncing back. Also, an update on farmland bird conservation at the RSPB’s Hope Farm Project.

Thurs 12th March 2020 – ‘The Biking Birder’ by Gary Prescott. Gary has cycled to every RSPB UK reserve twice and is the British, European and World Green Birding champion. He will show some of the incredible wildlife, mostly birds, that he saw, some of his amazing experiences, and some tales from all his Biking Birder adventures, be they in the UK or in Peru!

Thurs 2nd April 2020 – ‘Birds without borders: the challenge of migration' by Peter Holden. Amazing new facts about their journeys, with a look at migration strategies of other animals and insects for a more complete overview of the subject. Short Bird- Life film to demonstrate global travel and conservation issues.

Thurs 14th May 2020 – AGM, Summer party & talk ‘London’s Bats’ London has 17 of the 18 species of bat in the UK. How to identify them, their ecology and where to see them, with reference to the scope of the London Bat Survey. (Speaker tba). www.rspb.org.uk/groups/centrallondon/events/

65 RSPB Central London Group 3. Day Trips

2019

Saturday, 26th October 2019 Day trip to RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex. Meet at Fenchurch Street Station at 9.30am. Train to Purfleet, then a 15-min walk to the reserve (check train times nearer the day). Marsh harrier, lapwing, redshank, curlew, snipe, wigeon, teal, tufted, shoveler, Cetti’s warbler. Visitor Centre, café, shop, toilets, hides. Non-RSPB members £6. Bring packed lunch. Leader: James Aylward.

Saturday, 9th November 2019 Day trip to Oare Marshes, Kent. 9.10am train from Victoria arrives Faversham at 10.25am (check times nearer the day), then bus or shared taxis to Oare. Marsh harrier, peregrine, bearded tit, little owl, Brent geese, wigeon, pintail, teal, grey and golden plovers, black and bar-tailed godwits, knot, rock pipit. Toilets at Faversham. Bring packed lunch. Leader: Andrew Peel.

2020 Saturday, 8th February 2020 Day trip to River Lee Country Park. Meet at 10am at Cheshunt Station (National Rail services from Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale). Waders, wildfowl; possible water rail and bittern. Information Centre, hides and toilets. Bring packed lunch. Free entry. Leader: Graeme Hutchinson.

Saturday, 4th April 2020 Day trip to Oare Marshes, Kent. 9.10am train from Victoria arrives Faversham at 10.25am (check times nearer the day), then bus or shared taxis to Oare. Marsh harrier, peregrine, bearded tit, little owl; garganey, little ringed plover, greenshank; turtle dove, sedge & reed warblers, skylark. Toilets at Faversham. Bring packed lunch. Leader: Andrew Peel. www.rspb.org.uk/groups/centrallondon/events/ 66 RSPB Central London Group 4. Day Trips

Sunday, 19th April 2020 Dawn Chorus Walk – , . Held in conjunction with the Friends of Brockwell Park. Meet at 6am sharp at the gate. (NB gates will be locked again when the walk starts.) 25+ species likely. Café (opens 8am) and toilets. Leader: Czech Conroy.

Dawn Chorus Walk – Abney Park Dawn Chorus Walk – Central London Dawn Chorus Walk – Dawn Chorus Walk – Kilburn Details for the above dawn chorus walks will be announced as spring approaches. Watch our website and social media and our Central London Local Group Members’ Winter Newsletter for further information.

Saturday, 16th May 2020 Day trip to RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex. Meet at Fenchurch Street Station at 9.30am. Train to Purfleet, then a 15-minute walk to the reserve (check train times nearer the day). Marsh Harrier, reed warbler, sedge warbler, grasshopper warbler (possible), Cetti’s warbler, red shank, lapwing. Visitor Centre, café, shop, toilets, hides. Non-RSPB members £6. Bring packed lunch. Leader: James Aylward. www.rspb.org.uk/groups/centrallondon/events/

67 RSPB Central London Group 5. Coach Trips

Coach trips leave promptly at 8.00am from near the riverside entrance to Embankment Underground Station. Please arrive at 7.45am as the coach cannot wait for latecomers. Advance booking is essential. Please contact the Bookings Secretary ([email protected] or 07974 351548) or see our Meetup page (www.meetup.com/RSPB-Central-London-Local-Group).

Saturday, 12th October 2019 Coach trip to RSPB Pagham Harbour, West Sussex. Brent geese, lapwing, black-tailed godwit, grey plover, golden plover, dunlin. Slavonian grebe and red-breasted merganser. Visitor Centre, café, shop, toilets, hides. Free entry.

Saturday, 2nd November 2019 Coach trip to Abberton Reservoir (Essex Wildlife Trust), Essex. Brent geese, wigeon, teal, pochard, tufted duck, shoveler, gadwall, goldeneye, pintail, great crested grebe. Slavonian/black-necked grebe (possible), divers, marsh harrier, peregrine. Visitor Centre, shop, toilets, hides. Non-EWT members £2.

Saturday, 7th December 2019 Coach trip to RSPB Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk. Residents include barn owl, marsh harrier, scoter, black-tailed godwit, bearded tit, bittern, water rail, garganey, greenshank, wood & curlew sandpipers, whimbrel & gannet; shearwaters & skuas possible. Visitor Centre, café, shop, toilets, hides. Free entry.

Saturday, 25th January 2020 Coach trip to Hook with Warsash Nature Reserve, Hampshire. Wildfowl, sawbills, snow buntings (possible), waders, bearded tit, bittern (possible), water rail. Facilities: WC at car park. Free entry.

68 RSPB Central London Group 6. Coach Trips

Saturday, 22nd February 2020 Coach trip to Welney (Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust), Norfolk. Bewick’s swan, whooper swan, pochard, tufted duck, shoveler, gadwall, black-tailed godwit, lapwing, marsh harrier. Visitor Centre, café, shop, toilets, hides. Non-WWT members £7.

Sunday, 25th April 2020 Coach trip to Knepp Wilding Project & RSPB Pulborough Brooks, West Sussex. Nightingale, sedge and willow warblers, common and lesser whitethroat, woodland species, swallows and martins, kingfisher, skylark, shelduck, curlew, redshank, ringed plover. Facilities (Pulborough): Visitor Centre, café, shop, toilets, hides. Non-RSPB members £6.

Saturday, 30th May 2020 – 5pm return Coach trip to RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk. Bittern, marsh harrier and bearded tit resident. Nightingale, sedge and reed warblers, marsh tit, avocet, stone curlew, garganey, kittiwake, little gull, hobby, common, little and Sandwich terns. Red deer, otters. Visitor Centre, café, shop, toilets, hides. Non-RSPB members £9.

69 RSPB Central London Group 7. Coach Trips

Saturday 27th June 2020 Coach trip to Lyndon Nature Reserve (Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust), Rutland Water. Osprey, water rail, sedge warbler, reed warbler, marsh harrier, red kite (possible), tree sparrow. Visitor Centre, shop, toilets, hides. Non-permit holders £4.

Saturday, 25h July 2020 Coach trip to Thursley National Nature Reserve, Surrey. Hooby, woodlark, stonechat, Dartford warbler, curlew and common tern. Facilities: WC on route. Free entry.

Saturday, 22nd August 2020 Coach trip to Wicken Fen (National Trust), Cambridgeshire. Bittern, swallow, sand martin, swift, sedge warbler, reed warbler, Cetti’s warbler, cuckoo, hobby, and marsh harrier. Visitor Centre, hides, café, WC. Non-NT members £6.85.

70 British Ornithology Club

BOC Talks

2019 Monday 18 March 2019, 6.30 pm. Julia Day: Continental vs. island evolution of a ‘great speciator’ resolving the Zosterops taxonomic conundrum.

Monday 20 May 2019, 6.30 pm. Julian Hume: The Birds of Lord Howe Island: Past, Present and Future.

Monday 16 September, 6.30 pm. Pat Morris: The Hastings Rarities – Taking The Long View.

Monday 18 November, 6.30pm. Tim Birkhead: The Wonderful Mr Willughby: The Start of Scientific Ornithology.

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.

www.boc-online.org 71 MONDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2019: THE HASTINGS RARITIES – TAKING THE LONG VIEW It is now over 50 years since hundreds of bird records were dismissed as potentially fraudulent on the grounds that it was unlikely that so many rare species would turn up within a short period of time and a limited area around Hastings. Statistical analysis confirmed a significant difference between the number of records within that area and time compared with other areas of Kent/Sussex. In ornithological terms, it makes limited difference, as most of the suspect species have been found subsequently in that area. It has long been widely accepted that fraud occurred and that a local taxidermist, George Bristow, was responsible for perpetrating this. Bristow was unable to defend himself, having died, and the taxidermy profession was besmirched. Although protests were made at the time the issue appears closed. However, there remain worrying doubts when the evidence is examined closely. At the same time, in retrospect there may be further evidence to confirm Bristow’s guilt. A colleague, Philip Redman, who has also been studying details of the Hastings affair, may hopefully be able to join us from Paris.

Pat Morris Dr Pat Morris was Senior Lecturer in Zoology at Royal Holloway, Univ. of London, and well known for his studies of mammal ecology. He is a past Chairman of the Mammal Society, a former Council Member of the National Trust, and has published >70 scientific papers and c.20 books. A consultant to several major publishers and the BBC Natural History Unit, in his spare time he has pursued a long-standing interest in the history of taxidermy and was appointed the first Hon. Life Member of the Guild of Taxidermists. He was awarded the Founder’s Medal by the Society for the History of Natural History and made MBE in the 2015 Honours List ‘for services to the natural and historic environment’.

BOC MEETINGS are open to all and are FREE. 6.30pm, doors open 6.00pm. Upstairs at The Barley Mow, 104 Horseferry Road, Westminster, SW1P 2EE. Nearest tubes are Victoria, Pimlico and St James’s Park. www.boc-online.org 72 MONDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2019: THE WONDERFUL MR WILLUGHBY: THE START OF SCIENTIFIC ORNITHOLOGY The first scientific bird book was The Ornithology of Francis Willughby, named in Willughby’s honour by his friend John Ray after Willughby’s death at the age of just 36 in 1672. These two men were pioneers of the scientific revolution and changed the way we think about birds. Until recently, it was widely assumed that Ray was the brains and Willughby a mere ‘talented amateur’, but after a decade of research, I have been able to show that Willughby was every bit as brilliant as his co-author and friend John Ray. In this talk, I will tell the story of Willughby’s short but spectacularly productive life – a story every ornithologist ought to know.

Tim Birkhead Tim Birkhead is emeritus professor of behavioural ecology at the Univ. of Sheffield. He completed a D.Phil. at Oxford on guillemots (Alcidae) in 1976, before taking a lectureship at Sheffield in 1976, where he has been ever since. Tim is a Fellow of the Royal Society – the UK’s most prestigious scientific society. His main research is on promiscuity in birds, but he is also interested in the history of science. He has maintained a long-term study of Common Guillemots Uria aalge on Skomer Island, Wales, for the last 47 years and raised £150,000 through crowd-funding to keep the study going. Tim has won several awards for his undergraduate teaching. He is also an award-winning author and has written 15 books, including several popular science works. He has featured on BBC Radio 4’s Life Scientific, The Infinite Monkey Cage and Inside Science, and his book The Most Perfect Thing: The Inside (and Outside) of a Bird’s Egg was made into a TV programme with David Attenborough, who referred to the book as “Magnificent”.

BOC MEETINGS are open to all and are FREE. 6.30pm, doors open 6.00pm. Upstairs at The Barley Mow, 104 Horseferry Road, Westminster, SW1P 2EE. Nearest tubes are Victoria, Pimlico and St James’s Park. www.boc-online.org 73 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.

74 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.

75 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.

76 Other Organisations

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

Holland Park Ecology Centre https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/subsites/wildlife.aspx

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.

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.

77 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/

78 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.

79 Books for London Birders & Naturalists

80