INDOOR MEETINGS FIELD MEETINGS AND EVENTS SUNDAY 12 th MARCH

Day trip to Walberswick NN Reserve, Suffolk, for a variety SUNDAY 9 th OCTOBER of wintering and resident species. Meet in car park off VENUE Day visit to RSPB Cliffe Pools Reserve, Kent, for migrants B1125, TM450726, at 9.00am. All meetings will be held in Village Hall, at the and residents. Meet in main car park at end of Salt Lane, Leader: Kevin Sharpe junction of and Road, Maulden MK45 2DN TQ723760, at 9.00am.

(TL 049381), commencing at 8.00pm sharp (except the AGM Leader: Kevin Sharpe SUNDAY 2 nd APRIL which starts at 7.45pm). Doors open 7.30pm. Refreshments Morning visit to Marston Vale Millennium CP for early will be available. Visitors are always welcome. SUNDAY 13 th NOVEMBER migrants and resident species. Meet in car park, TL004417, Day trip to WWT Reserve, Slimbridge, Glos. for wildfowl at 8.00am. Entrance fee £2.50 for non-permit holders. collection and good variety of wild specialities. Meet in Leader: Bob Hook TUESDAY 27 th SEPTEMBER reserve car park, SO723048, at 9.30am. Admission fee

‘Amazing Birds’, by Chris Collins, freelance tour guide and applies. SUNDAY 23 rd APRIL photographer discusses some incredible facts from the avian Leader: Don Green Morning bird walk over Hills for spring migrants. world. Park and meet in car park of Live and Let Live Inn, Pegsdon, SUNDAY 11 th DECEMBER TL121303, at 8.00am. TUESDAY 25 th OCTOBER Day visit to Welney and Wicken Fen for wildfowl and other Leader: Jon Palmer ‘Birdwatching in Italy’ and ‘The Work of LIPU, Birdlife wetland species. Meet at WWT Welney Reserve car park, partner in Italy’ by David Lingard, LIPU UK. A country rich TL547944, at 10.00am. Visit Wicken Fen NT Reserve later. WEEKEND 29 th APRIL – 1st MAY in bird life but suffering serious human persecution. Admission fees apply. 10X10 challenge. See Bird Club website for details of how Leader: Peter Soper to join in the fun. TUESDAY 29 th NOVEMBER Organiser: Steve Blain ‘Fighting for Birds’ by Dr Mark Avery. Topical issues of the CHRISTMAS DAY to NEW YEAR’S EVE birding world addressed by our campaigner-in-chief, always The Great Christmas Bird Hunt. See Bird Club website for SUNDAY 30 th APRIL interesting, often controversial. details. Early morning birding around Broom Gravel Pits for spring Organiser: Andy Banthorpe migrants. Park and meet at end of Kings Road off High TUESDAY 20 th DECEMBER Street, Broom, TL172433, at 7.00am. ‘The Birding Year - 2016’ by Richard Bashford. A review of SUNDAY 8 th JANUARY Leader: John Tomlin the birds in recorded on video by our own All day visit to East Norfolk for wintering specialities. Meet talented photographers with free seasonal refreshments plus in Strumpshaw Fen RSPB reserve car park, TG342006, at SUNDAY 7th MAY raffle. 9.00am. Annual Dawn Chorus in Maulden Wood. Meet in lay-by at Leader: Pete Marshall top of Deadman’s Hill on A6, TL073394, at 4.15am. Hot TUESDAY 31 th JANUARY fried breakfast to follow at 7.00am, price £3.00. Please order ‘Saving Nature abroad – the RSPB’s international work’ by SUNDAY 15 th JANUARY 7days in advance with John Adams on 01234 381532. Dr Tim Stowe, Director International Operations. A The Great Duck Hunt, our annual countywide census of Leader: Pete Marshall privileged insight into some of its vital projects around the wildfowl. See Bird Club website for details.

Organiser: Steve Blain globe. All meetings are suitable for beginners and experienced birdwatchers alike. th th TUESDAY 28 FEBRUARY starting at 7.45pm SUNDAY 29 JANUARY Bird Club AGM followed by ‘Birding Israel’ by Mike Morning birding around Stockgrove and Rushmere Country The Sewage Treatment Works will be open to all Alibone, Northants Bird Recorder and optics guru. A Parks, , for a good variety of woodland members on the first Sunday of each month between 8.00am and supreme avian hotspot and so accessible. birds. Meet in Stockgrove car park, SP920293, at 9.00am. noon except for November to February inclusive when it will open Parking £2 (coins). at 9.00am . Park in Birdwatchers’ car park inside the main gate off TUESDAY 28 th MARCH Leader: Sheila Alliez Thorn Road TL003243. To contact the Honorary Warden, Rob ‘Making your records count’ by Nick Moran, BTO, organiser Dazley, call 07719 700512. of BirdTrack. The system expounded and your questions SUNDAY 12 th FEBRUARY answered. Day visit to Summer Leys LNR and Ditchford Lakes and To contact the Honorary Warden of Wader Scrape, Allan Meadows NR, Northants mainly for wetland birds. Meet at Cutts, call 01582 412135 or e-mail [email protected]

Summer Leys, SP886634, at 8.30am. Contact Don Green (01582 867258) if lifts are required or with any Leaders: Malcolm & Carolyn Hawkes queries regarding the programme. BEDFORDSHIRE BIRD CLUB COMMITTEE

Hon. President – DAVID ANDERSON RICHARD BASHFORD 88 Eastmoor Park, Harpenden AL5 1BP 6 Brook Road, Eaton Ford, PE19 7AX Tel: 01582 712604 Tel: 01480 212932

Hon. Vice Presidents - STEVE BLAIN DAVID KRAMER 9 Devon Drive, SG18 OFJ 7 Little Headlands, Putnoe, MK41 8JT Tel: 07979 606300 Tel: 01234 349307 STUART ELSOM BARRY NIGHTINGALE 117 Andrew Road, St Neots PE19 2PP 7 Bloomsbury Close, Woburn MK17 9QS Tel: 01480 471910 Tel: 01525 290314 ROGER HICKS OFFICERS 3 Elm Close, SG16 6BY Tel: 01462 816028 Website: www.bedsbirdclub.org.uk Hon. Chairman – MATT BURGESS 22 Manor Place, Upper Caldecote, Biggleswade SG18 9DA Tel: 01767 224313 BTO Representative: ROGER HICKS Hon. Secretary - SHEILA ALLIEZ 3 Elm Close, Henlow SG16 6BY Flat 61 Adamson Court, Hillgrounds Road, Tel: 01462 816028 WINTER PROGRAMME Kempston MK42 8QZ Tel: 01234 855227 Bird Ringing Co-ordinator: E-mail: [email protected] KATIE FULLER 2016/2017 c/o RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy SG19 2DL Hon. Assistant Treasurer – SONNIE WING E-mail: [email protected] ‘Oakview’, 8 Manor Park Drive, MK45 5LS Sponsored by Tel: 01525 716031

Hon. Research Officer – GRAHAM GOODALL For membership or subscription information contact: 26 Courtlands Drive, Biggleswade SG18 8PQ Tel: 01767 312419 MARY SHERIDAN (BNHS Membership Secretary) 28 Chestnut Hill, ,

LU7 2TR Hon. Bulletin Editor – ANDY GRIMSEY Tel: 01525 378245 61 Wychwood Avenue, Luton LU2 7HT E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 07402 429312

Hon. Meetings Secretary - DON GREEN

Red Cow Farm, Bidwell, Dunstable LU5 6JP

Tel: 01582 867258 The Bedfordshire Bird Club is the ornithological section of

the Bedfordshire Natural History Society County Bird Recorder (ex officio) - STEVE BLAIN (Registered Charity No. 268659) 9 Devon Drive, Biggleswade SG18 OFJ

Tel: 07979 606300 E-mail: [email protected] (for records and other official communication)