Outdoor Events
Outdoor Meetings
OUR PROGRAMME of mid-week walks generally last for about two hours and are open to non-members, as we feel they offer newcomers an ideal opportunity to see what the club can offer. PBC owns several pairs of binoculars, so if you have any friends who’d like to see what birdwatching is all about, we can cater for their needs.
Visits to reserves at weekends are exclusive to PBC members and generally last between three and five hours. We look forward to meeting up with you again on one of the following dates:
Upcoming Outdoor Events
Mid Week
Weekend
Saturday, November 13 – Summer Leys and Stanwick nature reserves, Northants.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THERE HAS BEEN AN UPDATE TO THE MEETING INSTRUCTIONS - MEET FIRST AT SUMMER LEYS NOT STANWICK LAKES.
Car parking at Summer Leys Nature Reserve is currently free, but during late November 2021 the Wildlife Trust BCN will be introducing a new car park charging system at this site. In order to access free parking at Summer Leys you will need to be a member of the Wildlife Trust BCN and then register your Vehicle Registration Number by completing their online form. Find out more on the BCN website. [this should link to https://www.wildlifebcn.org/summer-leys-car-parking-charges]
These two Nene Valley reserves lie close to Wellingborough and are fast developing into leading inland sites for a wide range of birds. The Stanwick Lakes 750-acre site is managed by the Rockingham Forest Trust and features three bird hides and bird feeding station. Alongside the regular Wigeon, Gadwall and Teal, there may be species such as Smew and Goosander.
Summer Ley’s large, ex-gravel pit is made up of a main lake with gently sloping banks, shallow areas of water and ponds, low-lying islands, a large scrape and a fringe of reeds surrounded by grassland and wet woodland.
This is ideal habitat for wintering birds: Goosander, Wigeon and Gadwall reach nationally important numbers, joined by large numbers of roosting Lapwing and Golden Plover.
Meet: At 10:00am in the Summer Leys car park lies off Hardwater Road, near Wollaston
Map Ref: SP 886 634
Post Code: NN29 7TD.
Meet: At at roughly 13:00pm in the carpark in Stanwick Lakes that is well signposted off the Stanwick roundabout on the A45 between Thrapston and Wellingborough. Car park fee: £3.80.
Map Ref: SP 967 714
Post Code: NN9 6GY.
Leader: Bob Titman – 07922 164 676.
Wednesday, November 24 – Blatherwyke Lake
For mixed farmland, woodland and wetland birds with the chance of Mandarin duck, plus the usual Kite fest.
Meet: At 10:00am in the village just over the bridge off the road by the first bend.
Map Ref: SP 973956.
Leader: David Cromack – 01733 561739.
Sunday, January 2 – North Norfolk.
Our usual New Year’s bash, which will give you the chance to kick start your ‘Year list’ with an early coastal visit.
Note: There is a parking fee for non RSPB members.
A decision will be made as to where we will go after lunch nearer the visit, dependant on what is reported locally.
Meet: At 10:00am in the car park at Titchwell Marsh RSPB, Main Rd. Titchwell.
Map Ref: TF 750438
Post Code: PE31 8BB.
Leader: Bob Titman – 07922 164 676.
Thursday, January 13 – Nene Washes
For wildfowl including wild swans plus raptors, owls and cranes.
Meet: At 14:00pm in the car park at Eldernell which is off the A650 at Coates.
Map Ref: TF 652329.
Leader: Ian Gordon – 07453971727.
Saturday, February 5 – Paxton Pits Nature Reserve.
An extensive reserve with a wide range of habitats which include lakes, riverside meadows, reed beds, scrub and woodlands. The area is a SSSI
We should see a good variety on resident a visiting winter species especially wildfowl.
Meet: At 10:00am in the reserve car park
Map Ref: TL 196629
Post Code: PE19 6ET.
Leader: David Cromack – 01733561739.
Tuesday, February 22 – Rutland Water (Not on the Reserve)
We will progress on to Barnsdale, Burley fishponds and the Hambleton peninsular.
For hopefully rarer grebe, divers, scaup, and a wide range of wildfowl .
Meet: At 10:00am in the Sykes car park at the Dam Empingham. Note; there is a parking charge.
Map Ref: SK 936083.
Leader: Bob Titman – 07922164676.
Sunday, March 13 – The Brecks, Lynford Arboretum, Santon Downham & Cockley Cley.
Target species list to include Brambling, Mandarin, Lesser spotted Woodpecker, Hawfinch, Woodlark and Goshawk. This is an all day walk spread across a number of locations, but you can just do the morning or part of the day and then return home, if you would prefer.
Meet: At 10:00am in the Santon Downham Forestry district office car park.
Map Ref: TL 815877
Post Code: IP27 0WB.
Meet: Later at Cockley cley site is on the roadside.
Map Ref: tbc
Post Code: tbc
Leader: Bob Titman – 07922164676..