August 2015 November Sunday 17 Coach trip to Lackford SWT (am) and RSPB Sunday 30 Own transport trip to College Lake and the Friday 6 The Wild Canadian Rockies - from Alberta to Lakenheath Fen (pm). We visit two excellent Tring Reservoirs - Our new season starts with British Colombia. Martin Davies shares his “watery” reserves in Suffolk. Lackford will a day out in the attractive Chilterns countryside, knowledge of the wildlife in this beautiful provide a large range of woodland birds and where we will be looking for migrant birds landscape: from grizzly bears and moose to wildfowl, whilst bittern, common crane and (particularly waders) as well as enjoying the ground squirrels and chipmunks. Beautiful bearded tit have all regularly been seen by us at resident wildlife, which is likely to include lots of slipper orchids, amazing butterflies and a wealth Lakenheath in recent visits. We will stay on dragonflies and butterflies. Meet at College of birdlife illustrate the richness of these here until dusk to watch the Joist Fen harrier Lake car park (O/S 165; SP 936 142: £3 northern forests and alpine meadows. roost. Lackford: £2.00 donation. donation) at 9.30am. Hitchin: 7.45am. Letchworth: 8.00am. Royston: Leader: Martin Johnson Sunday 15 Coach trip to Elmley NNR (Joint trip with RSPB 8.20am. Stevenage LG). Now managed by a farming Leader: John Dingemans Members’ Subscriptions Due family, this huge fresh water grazing marsh reserve on the Isle of Sheppey still attracts a February September Friday 5 The Butterflies of Herts - As the county Friday 4 Birding Down Under - Richard Pople presents fantastic variety of wintering birds, with raptors (peregrine, hen harrier, short-eared owl etc.) a butterfly recorder for Hertfordshire, Liz the birds and sights of Singapore, Australia and Goodyear shares her expertise in identifying New Zealand. Includes bowerbirds, albatross, speciality. Donation: £2.50. Letchworth: 7.30am. Hitchin: 7.45am. species and encouraging butterflies into our penguins, Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef. gardens. Stevenage: 7.55am. Leader: Malcolm Ingram Sunday 20 Coach trip to Cley (Norfolk Wildlife Trust). Sunday 21 Coach trip to RSPB Titchwell (Joint trip with Cley in September is a fantastic place for December Friday 4 Birdwatching in the Colne Valley - Steve RSPB Stevenage LG). This iconic RSPB birdwatchers, as breeding birds such as bittern, reserve is perhaps at its best in winter. Waders, marsh harrier and bearded tit compete for our Carter’s talk will satisfy even the most ardent birders. The diverse habitats of the Colne Valley waterfowl and gulls throng the lagoons and out attention with passage migrants and soon to at sea scoters, long-tailed ducks, “rare” grebes depart summer visitors, which often include gravel pits hold a vast array of species, in particular wildfowl such as Smew. In the alders, and early migrating gannets are all possible. rarities! Permits: £5.00 with Gift Aid: NWT Stevenage: 7.35am. Hitchin: 7.45am. members free. flocks of siskins oblige and the flooded valley floor produces water rail and snipe at both Letchworth: 8.00am. Royston: 8.20am. Hitchin: 7.30am. Letchworth: 7.45am. Royston: Leader: Val Thompson 8.05am. Maple Lodge and Stockers Lake. Leader: Val Thompson March Sunday 13 Own transport trip to Stockers Lake (am) and Friday 4 Primates of the World - Steve Lovell’s talk will October Amwell (pm). Located just off the M25 look at the status, behaviour, distribution and Friday 2 The Wildlife of Stow Maries Aerodrome - (junction 17), Stockers Lake hosts a wide threats to the survival of monkeys and apes that Photographer Russell Savory presents his slide variety of wintering wildfowl (including are considered our closest relatives, They are show featuring owls and how to go about goldeneye and possible red-crested pochard) found throughout the world, ranging in size from photographing them, as well as field craft and and woodland birds. It is also a Hertfordshire tiny Marmosets right up to the mighty gorillas. how to obtain great images without spending a stronghold for the ring-necked parakeet! In the fortune. Includes a short film on water voles and afternoon there will be an optional visit to the Sunday 20 Coach trip to Attenborough GP (Notts. Wildlife the owls at the aerodrome. HMWT reserve at Amwell. Meet 9.30am at Trust). We make a welcome return to this site of Springwell Lane car park (O/S 176; TQ 042 varied habitats, adjacent to the River Trent. Sunday 18 Coach trip to Gibraltar Point NNR (Joint trip 933) Cetti’s warblers and tree sparrows breed here with RSPB Stevenage LG). This RAMSAR listed Leader: Martin Johnson and we may see wintering bitterns as well as site, which incorporates three miles of the early returning sand martins investigating their Lincolnshire coastline near sunny Skegness, Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year new artificial nesting bank. boasts a wide variety of habitats. We will be To All Our Members Hitchin: 7.45am. Letchworth: 8.00am. looking, amongst other things, for passage Leader: Martin Johnson migrants and returning winter visitors. January 2016 Stevenage: 7.35am Hitchin: 7.45am. Friday 8 The Biggest Twitch - We are delighted to April Letchworth: 8.00am. welcome Alan Davies and Ruth Miller with a Friday 1 Wildlife of Bhutan - Jeff Blincow’s talk will Leader: Malcolm Ingram warts-and-all tale of bird watching in 27 guide us through the dramatic scenery, superb countries around the world following their 2008 wildlife and unique culture of this 'Land of the ‘Big Year’. Thunder Dragon'. Visiting this small country gives you a true flavour of the wildlife of the Himalayas. Sunday 17 Coach trip to Rye Harbour SWT (Joint trip with VISITORS will be admitted on payment of £2.50 admission RSPB Stevenage LG). We visit the East fee. Sussex coast, looking for recently arrived Indoor Meetings will be held on Fridays in accordance with summer visitors as well as passage migrants on the programme, at 'The Settlement', Nevells Road, this attractive reserve. Letchworth, SG6 4UB, commencing at 7.30pm. Letchworth: 7.15am. Hitchin: 7.30am. Stevenage: 7.40am. Outdoor Meetings by coach are subject to a fee of £14.00 Leader: Malcolm Ingram per adult (juniors under 18 £7.00). This fee is liable to alteration should hire charges increase. Bookings cannot be May considered firm until payment is received. Friday 6 Feeding Wild Birds: The Winners and Losers Martin Johnson investigates our passion for All Bookings and Payments To: feeding wild birds. With the aid of some Malcolm Ingram amusing and revealing images and video clips 5 Redhill Road Hitchin Herts, SG5 2NQ The Royal Society he will use this practice to explore man’s Tel: 01462-451320 complex relationship with his feathered friends. Or at prior Indoor Meetings. Preceded by a short AGM. For The Coach Pick-up Points Sunday 15 Coach trip to The Peak District (Tittesworth Hitchin – St. Mary's Square Reservoir and RSPB Coombes Valley) Letchworth – Arena Car Park & Hospital Baldock – By prior arrangement Protection of Birds This trip offers us a rare chance to see some of Registered charity no 207076 our special upland breeding summer visitors, *Royston – Newmarket Road *Stevenage – Waitrose’s car park, Primett Road such as pied flycatcher, in their natural (* only where specified in the programme) and agreed points en route. environment (the beautiful Peak District National Park). Group Leader Hitchin: 7.00am. Letchworth: 7.15am. Martin Johnson - 1 Cartwright Road Royston. SG8 9ET Leader: Martin Johnson Tel: 01763 249459 June Treasurer Sunday 12 Coach trip to Hickling Broad NWT. This is a Malcolm Ingram - 5 Redhill Road Hitchin. SG5 2NQ perfect trip for the all-round naturalist! Tel: 01462 451320 Swallowtail butterflies, Norfolk hawker Secretary dragonflies, Chinese water deer and orchids Vacant might vie for your attention alongside breeding bitterns, cranes, marsh harriers, cetti’s warblers Indoor Meetings Secretary and bearded tits. Boat trips (extra charge) may Laura McLellan Tel: 01462 683242 be possible. Permits: £4.50 with gift aid (NWT Outdoor Meetings Secretary members free) Martin Johnson (trips) Hitchin: 7.15am. Letchworth: 7.30am. Royston: Malcolm Ingram (bookings) 7.50am. Leader: Martin Johnson Raffles ………...... Janet Southwood Tel: 01462 491617 Summer Meetings Publicity Evening 'own transport' trips to local venues will be Helen Lumley Tel: 01438 315683 arranged for the summer months. Details will be Committee Members announced before the end of April, or can be obtained Jean Crystal Tel: 01462 433912 Hitchin and Letchworth from Martin Johnson. It may be possible to arrange for Colin Hawkins Tel: 01462 676457 Local Group members to share cars, if required. Contact Martin if you Val Thompson Tel: 01462 813606 need or can offer a lift. ………...... Programme An Annual Subscription of £12.00 per member (£6.00 for juniors under 18) is payable to cover expenses and will admit August 2015 – June 2016 Visit our Web site at members to all meetings for the period of the programme. www.rspb.org.uk/groups/hitchinandletchworth