Indoor Meetings
Start at 8pm (NEW TIME) at the Friends Meeting House, 82 Rainsford Road , Chelmsford unless otherwise stated. There is an entrance charge of £2.00 for members and £3.00 for non-members. Please click here for a detailed Map of Chelmsford. The orange arrow points to the building. Except as noted these are all on a Friday evening in Chelmsford starting at 8 pm.
2010 - 2011
Friday 3rd September David Darrell-Lambert – ‘RAPTOR IDENTIFICATION'. An interesting evening ensues to assist with the identification of eagles, hawks, harriers and falcons. An evening not to be missed.
Friday 1st October Peter Caton – ‘ ESSEX COASTAL WALKS'. Essex has one of the longest county coast lines in the country, much of which is unknown and a secret haven for wildlife. Discover many of these superb areas on our doorstep.
Friday 5th November Dougal Urquhart, Essex County Council Ranger – ‘The WILDLIFE OF MERSEA ISLAND '. Nestled at the mouth of the Blackwater Estuary Dougal divulges some of the delights of this special Island and its habitats.
Friday 3rd December Rick Vonk, RSPB Stour Estuary Warden – ‘ CATTAWADE MARSHES & STOUR VALLEY ''. Takes us on a journey around the Estuary and Marshes of north-east Essex . An excellent evening portraying more of Essex to look forward to and explore.
Friday 7th January Dr Simon Cox, Society President – ‘WILDLIFE IN CHILE '. We look forward to an enthralling evening of superb slides and commentary of the wildlife for this diverse country.
Thursday 13th January - “GEOFF PYMAN MEMORIAL LECTURE” Maldon Town Hall , Market Hill. Chris Knights, the very well known Norfolk Farmer – ‘WILDLIFE ON A BRECKLAND FARM'. How to commercially farm combining wildlife very successfully. An excellent talk superbly illustrated by Chris's own photographs. An evening not to be missed. (Tickets £5 from Alan Rutland 01376 342903) Held in conjunction with Maldon Local Group of Essex Wildlife Trust.
Friday 4th February Robert Coleman, RSPB Manager for Titchwell & Snettisham Reserves – ‘MAMMOTHS to TANKS to BIRDS''! A must see very interesting evening waits.
Friday 4th March (19:30 start) A very quick AGM, followed at 20:00 by Jeff Baker, BTO Marketing Manager – ‘WARBLER IDENTIFICATION''. An excellent opportunity to find out how to distinguish the difference between many of those “Little-Brown-Jobs”!
Friday 1st April Iain Green, Wildlife Photographer & Author of “Wild London ” – ‘The NATURE OF THE CAPITAL'. An insight into the birds and wildlife that co-exist in our Town's and City's, some closer than you might think! Come along to find out more.
Field Meetings
For more details and to reserve coach seats, phone Gerry Johnson on 07775 663166 (after 7pm). Due to a larger free car parking facility next to the County Hotel in Chelmsford and better coach access, all Coach trips to commence from Trinity Church (opposite the County Hotel, Chelmsford), at 07:30, with pick-ups at Shenfield (Shenfield High School) at 07:45 and Grays (Oak P.H.) at 08:10 or Stanway (Swan P.H.) at 08:00, depending on the destination of the day.
Outdoor Field Trip Meeting - Non coach trips £2.00 each - Coach trips between £14-£18 each subject to the distance travelled to the destination, the numbers attending and the increases in fuel costs. Accompanied children under 16 'Free' -
(*) Entrance charges apply to some reserves for non-members of RSPB, NWT and/or WWT. Late cancellations will incur the full cost of the trip.
Except as noted all coach trips starting in Chelmsford at 7.30 am (non coach trips start at 9.00 am).
2010-2011
Sunday 26th September SANDWICH B.O.(*) and PEGWELL BAY – A primetime to visit in search of early wintering migrant waders, wildfowl and hopefully migrant passerines such as Pied Flycatcher and Redstart and always the chance of a rarity. Shenfield & Gray pick-ups as required.
Sunday 24th October CLIFFE POOLS RSPB RESERVE (*)(HIGHAM BIGHT & SHORNE MARSH) An expanse of marshes along the south side of the Thames Estuary. With suitable weather conditions, Firecrest, Merlin, harriers, waders and wildfowl. Plus Pallas's and Yellow-browed Warbler are always possible. Shenfield & Grays pick-ups as required.
Sunday 14th November (07:00 start) FRAMPTON MARSH RSPB RESERVE (*) – Situated on the northern side of the Wash. A superb new winter venue looking for Lapland Bunting, Twite, Snow Bunting, Shorelark, geese & waders, along with winter raptors & other rarities. Chelmsford only.
Sunday 12th December (No Coach) OLD HALL MARSHES RSPB RESERVE (*) – Sample the delights of one of the best coastal sites in Essex . Expect Smew, Avocet, Red-breasted Merganser, Scoter, winter divers, grebes, geese, raptors, owls, waders, wildfowl and much, much more.
Sunday 9th January (No Coach) (09:30 start) RAINHAM MARSHES RSPB RESERVE (*) – We return to this excellent habitat between the Thames and industrial Essex only a stones throw from east London where this superb reserve promises a selection of winter visitors, Redstart, Water Pipit, Rock Pipit, raptors, waders and wildfowl. Plus always the chance of a rarity.
Sunday 6th February DUNGENESS RSPB RESERVE (*) & RYE HARBOUR / PETTS POOLS – An old favourite. We return for Gannets, winter grebes and divers, plus Bittern, Woodcock, owls and harriers. Shenfield & Grays pick-ups as required.
Sunday 6th March DUNWICH to WALBERSWICK / BLYTH ESTUARY – An area for some of the best bird watching in Suffolk . Water Rail, Dartford Warbler, Stonechat, Bittern, harriers and waders such as Black-tailed Godwit. Stanway pick up as required.
Sunday 10th April CUCKMERE VALLEY C P & SEAFORD HEAD – An excellent area of different habitats in the Sussex South Downs for Greenshank, Wheatear, Nightingale, Firecrest, Yellowhammer, Whimbrel and sandpipers. Plus other early summer migrants. Shenfield & Grays pick ups as required.
Sunday 8th May (07:00 start) PAGHAM HARBOUR – A chance to explore the complete harbour from Church Norton to Pagham lagoon. A west Sussex ‘hot-spot' for Hobby, Whimbrel, Redstart and harriers. Shenfield & Grays pick ups as required.
Sunday 6th June THURSLEY & FRENSHAM COMMON – Surrey Heaths excellent for Hobby, Dartford Warbler, Nightjar and Woodlark. Plus a fantastic chance to look for butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles and sundews. Shenfield & Grays pick ups as required.