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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20261128T083000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261128T113000
DTSTAMP:20261110T213639Z
CREATED:20261110T213639Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261110T213639Z
UID:1296-1795854600-1795865400@dbwps.org
SUMMARY:Ashleworth Ham
DESCRIPTION:Leader: Colin Greenfield\nMeet: at the bird hide on Ham Road\, Ashleworth Ham\, at 08:30\nVenue: Ashleworth Ham (Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust)\, Ham Road\, between Ashleworth and Hasfield\, GL19 4LD (grid ref SO 828 264) \nAbout the day\nA morning in the hides at one of Gloucestershire’s best winter wetlands. Ashleworth Ham sits beside the Severn north of Gloucester\, and its low-lying meadows flood in winter\, drawing large flocks of wildfowl\, waders and winter thrushes. The reserve itself is closed to the public\, as it’s a sensitive breeding site\, so we’ll watch from the bird hide and the roadside viewing screens along Ham Road. They give a wide view across the meadows without disturbing the birds. How much water is lying will decide what we see\, and after a wet autumn it can be spectacular. \nWhat we might see\nVery likely (if the meadows are flooded): wigeon\, teal\, pintail\, shoveler\, mallard\, mute swan\, Canada goose\, lapwing\, snipe\, curlew\, grey heron\, little egret\, cormorant\, black-headed gull\, buzzard\, kestrel\, fieldfare\, redwing \nGood chance: white-fronted goose\, golden plover\, ruff\, green sandpiper\, pochard\, gadwall\, great white egret\, peregrine\, sparrowhawk\, reed bunting\, stonechat \nPossible: Bewick’s swan\, whooper swan\, merlin\, marsh harrier\, short-eared owl\, water pipit\, dunlin \nLook out for the winter thrush flocks too: up to 4\,000 fieldfare have been counted here. \nCost and booking\nThere’s no event fee. \nCar sharing\nCar sharing will be arranged on the group’s WhatsApp channel in the week before the trip. Please post if you can offer a lift or need one. From Stroud\, allow about 45 minutes to reach the reserve. Parking is very limited\, so please share cars where you can. \nParking\nPark on the roadside verges along Ham Road\, near the hide and viewing screens. Space is limited\, so please park considerately and don’t block field gates. \nFacilities\nThere’s a bird hide (reached by a short flight of steps with handrails) and roadside viewing screens. There are no toilets or other facilities. \nPractical information\nBring binoculars and a telescope\, as many of the birds will be distant across the flooded meadows. Wear warm layers\, as it’s cold standing still in a hide in late November. Bring a hot drink. There’s no public access to the meadows\, and dogs aren’t permitted. When the Severn is high\, floodwater can cover the local roads\, so check conditions before setting out. \nIf the trip has to change\nCancellations\, weather changes or road flooding will be shared on the group’s WhatsApp channels. \nFurther reading\nGloucestershire Wildlife Trust: Ashleworth Ham \nBernard DUPONT from FRANCE\, CC BY-SA 2.0\, via Wikimedia Commons
URL:https://dbwps.org/event/ashleworth-ham/
LOCATION:Ashleworth Ham\, WQP2+62\, Gloucester GL19 4HJ
CATEGORIES:Field Trip
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dbwps.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Common_Snipe_Gallinago_gallinago_26144727151-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261212T083000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261212T130000
DTSTAMP:20261110T231332Z
CREATED:20261109T215651Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261110T231332Z
UID:1250-1797064200-1797080400@dbwps.org
SUMMARY:Severn Beach & New Passage
DESCRIPTION:Leader: Colin Greenfield\nMeet: Cheapside Car Park\, Stroud\, at 08:30\, returning around 1.00pm\nVenue: Severn Beach seafront\, Severn Beach\, South Gloucestershire BS35\nTides at Avonmouth: high water about 04:30\, so the tide will be falling through the morning. \nAbout the day\nA morning trip of about 3 hours on the Severn Estuary\, which has one of the biggest tidal ranges in the world. We’ll walk the sea wall from Severn Beach north to New Passage. We’ll scan the mudflats and saltmarsh\, where waders and wildfowl feed as the tide drops\, and the rough grassland and reens behind the wall. If the weather is good and birds have been reported\, we’ll finish by driving the short distance to Aust. It’s a good site for short-eared owl\, which hunts over the grassland and can be seen in the daytime in winter. \nWhat we might see\nVery likely: dunlin\, redshank\, curlew\, shelduck\, wigeon\, teal\, mallard\, little egret\, grey heron\, cormorant\, lapwing\, black-headed gull\, herring gull\, lesser and great black-backed gulls\, buzzard\, kestrel\, rock pipit\, meadow pipit\, stonechat\, reed bunting \nGood chance: grey plover\, ringed plover\, knot\, turnstone\, oystercatcher\, black-tailed godwit\, snipe\, peregrine\, sparrowhawk\, Mediterranean gull\, kingfisher\, Cetti’s warbler \nPossible: short-eared owl (at Aust)\, merlin\, marsh harrier\, great white egret\, water pipit\, yellow-legged gull\, avocet\, pintail \nCost and booking\nThere’s no event fee. Organisation and car sharing will be arranged through the group’s WhatsApp channels. \nParking\nPark on the seafront at Severn Beach. Please park considerately in residential streets. \nFacilities\nThere are no facilities along the sea wall or at Aust. \nPractical information\nThe sea wall is very exposed in December\, so wear warm\, windproof and waterproof layers\, plus a hat and gloves. Bring a telescope\, as the birds will often be distant out on the mud. Bring a drink and a snack. The walking is flat on tarmac and grass\, about 3km in total. \nIf the trip has to change\nCar-sharing logistics\, cancellations\, weather changes and any late decisions about Aust will be shared on the group’s WhatsApp channels. \nFurther reading\nTide times: Port of Bristol (Avonmouth) \nJacob Spinks from Northamptonshire\, England\, CC BY 2.0\, via Wikimedia Commons\n 
URL:https://dbwps.org/event/severn-beach-new-passage/
LOCATION:Severn Beach\, H87M+F8F Bristol
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dbwps.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Dunlin_9400639547.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20270110T090000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20270110T120000
DTSTAMP:20261110T215029Z
CREATED:20261110T215029Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261110T215029Z
UID:1300-1799571600-1799582400@dbwps.org
SUMMARY:Whelford Pools
DESCRIPTION:Leader: Dot Jones\nMeet: at the reserve car park\, Whelford Pools\, at 09:00am\nVenue: Whelford Pools (Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust)\, Whelford\, near Fairford GL7 4DY (grid ref SU 173 994; what3words: exhale.bouncing.dragonfly) \nAbout the day\nA winter morning at Whelford Pools\, a small but rewarding Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust reserve at the eastern end of the Cotswold Water Park\, between Fairford and Lechlade. The flooded former gravel pits are now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and hold large numbers of wintering wildfowl. Two hides and a viewing screen look out over the water and the cormorant colony. The Cotswold Water Park is one of the best places in the country to see red-crested pochard\, so look out for the males’ bright orange heads. \nWhat we might see\nVery likely: wigeon\, red-crested pochard\, pochard\, tufted duck\, goldeneye\, gadwall\, teal\, shoveler\, mallard\, little grebe\, great crested grebe\, coot\, moorhen\, mute swan\, cormorant\, grey heron\, little egret\, black-headed gull\, buzzard \nGood chance: goosander\, kingfisher\, water rail\, Cetti’s warbler\, reed bunting\, siskin\, lesser redpoll\, sparrowhawk\, red kite\, great white egret \nPossible: smew\, scaup\, black-necked grebe\, bittern\, peregrine\, otter \nCost and booking\nThere’s no event fee\, and entry to the reserve is free. \nCar sharing\nCar sharing will be arranged on the group’s WhatsApp channel in the week before the trip. Please post if you can offer a lift or need one. From Stroud\, allow about 40 minutes. The reserve car park only holds about 12 cars\, so please share where you can. \nParking\nUse the reserve car park (about 12 spaces). From the A417\, turn towards Whelford by the Shell garage\, and Whelford Pools is the third turning on the left. \nFacilities\nThere are two hides\, both with ramps and wheelchair-friendly turning space\, and a viewing screen. There are no toilets or other facilities. \nPractical information\nThe paths are wide but can be uneven and muddy after rain\, so wear waterproof boots. Bring binoculars and a telescope\, warm layers and a hot drink. Parts of the reserve are closed to protect roosting birds\, so please keep to the paths. Dogs are allowed if kept under effective control. \nIf the trip has to change\nCancellations or weather changes will be shared on the group’s WhatsApp channels. \nFurther reading\nGloucestershire Wildlife Trust: Whelford Pools \nTisha Mukherjee\, CC BY-SA 4.0\, via Wikimedia Commons\n 
URL:https://dbwps.org/event/whelford-pools/
LOCATION:Whelford Pools\, M6VX+HH Fairford
CATEGORIES:Field Trip
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dbwps.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/1280px-Red-crested_Pochard_by_Tisha_Mukherjee_02.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20270124T083000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20270124T113000
DTSTAMP:20261110T220953Z
CREATED:20261109T220501Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261110T220953Z
UID:1255-1800779400-1800790200@dbwps.org
SUMMARY:Frampton in Winter
DESCRIPTION:Leader: Nick Goatman\nMeet: the car park at the end of The Green\, Frampton on Severn\, at 08:30\nVenue: Watery Lane\, The Green\, Frampton on Severn GL2 7DZ \nAbout the day\nJoin Nick Goatman\, our local patch aficionado\, for a winter morning at Frampton on Severn. The flooded gravel pits\, the canal\, the river and the Severn bank give Frampton a wide range of habitats\, and wildfowl\, egrets\, geese and swans are all here in good numbers in midwinter. Frampton has also turned up a wintering yellow-browed warbler in recent Januaries\, so keep an ear out for its call. \nWhat we might see\nVery likely: tufted duck\, pochard\, wigeon\, teal\, gadwall\, mallard\, great crested grebe\, little grebe\, cormorant\, little egret\, grey heron\, mute swan\, Canada goose\, greylag goose\, lapwing\, curlew\, buzzard\, redwing\, fieldfare\, reed bunting \nGood chance: goosander\, goldeneye\, great white egret\, peregrine\, kingfisher\, Cetti’s warbler\, water rail\, chiffchaff\, stonechat\, siskin \nPossible: yellow-browed warbler\, scaup\, short-eared owl\, marsh harrier \nCost and booking\nThe trip is free. Organisation and car sharing will be arranged through the group’s WhatsApp channels. \nParking\nPark at the car park at the end of The Green (Watery Lane\, GL2 7DZ)\, where we’ll meet. \nFacilities\nThere are pubs in the village\, but no public toilets on the route. \nPractical information\nWear wellingtons or waterproof boots\, as some paths flood in winter. Bring binoculars\, a telescope if you have one\, and a warm drink. \nIf the trip has to change\nCancellations or weather changes will be shared on the group’s WhatsApp channels. \nAndreas Trepte\, CC BY-SA 2.5\, via Wikimedia Commons\n  \n 
URL:https://dbwps.org/event/frampton-in-winter-2/
LOCATION:Frampton on Severn\, Watery Ln\, The Green\, Frampton on Severn\, GL2 7DZ\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Field Trip
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dbwps.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Aythya-fuligula_Tufted-Duck.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20270207T093000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20270207T133000
DTSTAMP:20261110T172353Z
CREATED:20261109T221516Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261110T172353Z
UID:1258-1801992600-1802007000@dbwps.org
SUMMARY:Slimbridge Hides: Winter Special
DESCRIPTION:Leader: Dot Jones [TBC]\nMeet: WWT Slimbridge car park at 09:30\, opening time\nVenue: WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre\, Bowditch\, Slimbridge\, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT \nAbout the day\nOur annual winter visit to Slimbridge\, on our doorstep. We’ll head straight out to the hides and towers that overlook the Rushy Pen\, South Lake\, the Tack Piece and the Dumbles saltmarsh\, as far as the Severn. \nFebruary is still peak season for the wild winter flocks\, and with so many hides there’s plenty of shelter if the weather turns. \nWhat we might see\nVery likely: white-fronted goose\, wigeon\, teal\, pintail\, shoveler\, gadwall\, pochard\, tufted duck\, shelduck\, lapwing\, black-tailed godwit\, dunlin\, redshank\, curlew\, ruff\, little egret\, grey heron\, buzzard\, peregrine \nGood chance: Bewick’s swan (numbers start to drop in February)\, golden plover\, snipe\, spotted redshank\, avocet\, water rail\, kingfisher\, marsh harrier\, great white egret\, crane\, Cetti’s warbler\, chiffchaff \nPossible: jack snipe\, merlin\, short-eared owl\, bittern\, little stint\, Mediterranean gull\, glossy ibis \nCost and booking\nWWT members get in free. Non-members pay standard entry: adult £19.75\, concession (65+) £17.65\, booked online the day before\, or more on the day.  Organisation and car sharing will be arranged through the group’s WhatsApp channels. \nParking\nThere’s free parking at WWT Slimbridge. \nFacilities\nThe centre is open 09:30 to 17:00 (last entry 16:00). There’s a café\, toilets and a shop\, and the paths to most hides are accessible. \nPractical information\nBring binoculars and a telescope\, as many of the birds are distant from the towers. Wear warm layers\, as the hides can be cold. You can bring a packed lunch or use the café. \nIf the trip has to change\nCancellations or weather changes will be shared on the group’s WhatsApp channels. \nFurther reading\nWWT Slimbridge: plan your visit\nWWT Slimbridge: latest sightings \nUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service\, Public domain\, via Wikimedia Commons
URL:https://dbwps.org/event/slimbridge-hides-winter-special/
LOCATION:Slimbridge\, WWT Slimbridge\, Bowditch\, Slimbridge\, Gloucestershire\, GL2 7BT
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dbwps.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Northern_Pintail.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20270221T080000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20270221T183000
DTSTAMP:20261110T222344Z
CREATED:20261109T210331Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261110T222344Z
UID:1246-1803196800-1803234600@dbwps.org
SUMMARY:River Exe: Bowling Green Marsh & Bird Watching Cruise
DESCRIPTION:Leader: Amanda Sultan-Black\nMeet: Cheapside Car Park\, Stroud\, at 08:00\, returning around 6.45pm\nVenues: RSPB Bowling Green Marsh\, Topsham\, in the morning\, then Stuart Line Cruises\, Exmouth Marina\, EX8 1FE\, in the afternoon \nAbout the day\nBack by popular demand\, we’re taking to the water. We’ll start the morning at RSPB Bowling Green Marsh\, on the edge of Topsham where the River Clyst meets the Exe. A hide and a viewing platform look out over the flooded grazing marsh\, and the Goatwalk path gives views across the Clyst. At about 12:15 we’ll drive the short distance to Exmouth. We’ll have lunch on board as we sail up the estuary with Stuart Line Cruises\, whose local ornithologist guides give live commentary throughout. On the boat we’ll get much closer to the mudflats and sandbanks than we can from the shore\, and see the winter flocks feeding and roosting at close range. \nItinerary \n\n\n\nTime\n\n\n\n\n\n08:00\nLeave Cheapside Car Park\, Stroud\n\n\n10:00\nArrive Topsham; park and walk to Bowling Green Marsh (about 10 minutes)\n\n\n10:00–12:15\nBirding at Bowling Green Marsh: hide\, viewing platform and the Goatwalk\n\n\n12:15\nDrive to Exmouth (about 20 minutes)\n\n\n12:40\nPark at Exmouth Pier Head Car Park\n\n\n12:50\nMeet at the Booking Office; collect boarding passes\n\n\n13:15\nBoard the boat\n\n\n13:30–16:30\nGuided Bird Watching Cruise\, with lunch on board\n\n\n16:45\nLeave Exmouth\n\n\n18:45\nBack in Stroud (approx.)\n\n\n\n\nWhat we might see\nThe Exe is one of the most important estuaries in the South West for wintering birds. This list is based on February records for the Exe Estuary on eBird. \nVery likely: redshank\, shelduck\, dark-bellied brent goose\, oystercatcher\, red-breasted merganser\, avocet\, dunlin\, black-tailed godwit\, wigeon\, teal\, curlew\, little egret\, grey heron\, cormorant\, mute swan\, black-headed gull\, herring gull\, great black-backed gull\, buzzard \nGood chance: common gull\, greenshank\, shag\, great crested grebe\, grey plover\, golden plover\, bar-tailed godwit\, lesser black-backed gull\, knot\, turnstone\, lapwing\, sanderling\, shoveler\, gadwall\, snipe\, little grebe\, Mediterranean gull\, peregrine\, kingfisher\, rock pipit\, reed bunting\, stonechat \nPossible: pintail (Bowling Green is the best spot on the Exe for it)\, cattle egret\, ringed plover\, spotted redshank\, spoonbill\, great white egret\, Slavonian grebe\, great northern diver\, eider\, marsh harrier\, water rail\, Cetti’s warbler\, chiffchaff\, cirl bunting \nMammals: grey and common seals often haul out on the sandbanks. \nCost and booking\nThe cruise costs £14.00 per person. The group rate is £12.50 per adult for 15 or more. Please let Amanda know by 14th November if you’d like a place (use our WhatsApp Group). The sailing is popular\, so early booking is recommended. \nLunch\nWe’ll eat on board. Either bring a packed lunch\, or pre-order a Chunk pasty (steak or vegetarian) from Stuart Line when you book. Pasties must be ordered in advance\, at least 48 hours and ideally a week before\, and aren’t guaranteed without a pre-order. The licensed bar also serves hot drinks\, local ales\, cider and light snacks. \nParking\nTopsham: Bowling Green Marsh has no parking of its own. Use Topsham’s public car parks [check which] and walk to the reserve.\nExmouth: Exmouth Pier Head Car Park\, EX8 1FE. This is long-stay pay and display\, up to 24 hours. It’s private and takes cash\, card or RingGo\, and is a 1-minute flat walk from the Booking Office. \nDon’t use the seafront short-stay bays\, which have a 3-hour limit and won’t cover the cruise. To get there\, follow the brown tourist signs for Stuart Line Cruises\, turn right onto the seafront and follow the road down to Exmouth Marina. \nBoarding\nThe Booking Office is the blue and white building on the corner at The Point\, opposite The Beach pub. You must collect your boarding pass from the Booking Office before boarding. Your booking confirmation email can’t be used to board. We’ll meet there at 12:50\, ready to board at least 15 minutes before departure. \nFacilities\nBowling Green Marsh has a hide and a viewing platform\, but no toilets. Toilets and cafés are in Topsham.\nOn board the lower saloons are heated and covered\, with panoramic windows\, and there’s an open top deck. There are toilets on board\, and a limited number of binoculars can be borrowed free of charge. \nPractical information\nBring a telescope for the morning and leave it in the car for the cruise. Bring binoculars\, a camera and plenty of warm\, windproof layers\, as it gets cold on the top deck in late afternoon. \nIf the trip has to change\nCancellations or weather changes will be communicated by phone and WhatsApp. \nFurther reading\nRSPB Bowling Green and Goosemoor [check link]\nStuart Line Cruises: Guided Bird Watching Cruise\nStuart Line Cruises: Find us in Exmouth\neBird: Exe Estuary hotspot \nB.Folkstedt\, CC BY-SA 3.0\, via Wikimedia Commons
URL:https://dbwps.org/event/river-exe-bowling-green-marsh-bird-watching-cruise/
LOCATION:River Exe\, Marina\, Pier Head\, Exmouth\, EX8 1FE
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dbwps.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Red-breasted_merganser.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20270307T070000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20270307T170000
DTSTAMP:20261110T225321Z
CREATED:20261109T230537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261110T225321Z
UID:1267-1804402800-1804438800@dbwps.org
SUMMARY:Acres Down & New Forest
DESCRIPTION:Leader: Simon Ashley\nMeet: Cheapside Car Park\, Stroud\, at 07:00\, returning around 5.30pm\nVenue: Acres Down car park\, near Minstead\, New Forest\, Hampshire [check postcode] \nAbout the day\nEarly March is the best time of year to watch birds of prey displaying over the New Forest\, and Acres Down is one of the best raptor watchpoints in southern England. We’ll spend the morning on the ridge above the car park\, scanning across a wide sweep of forest canopy. On a bright\, calm morning\, goshawks soar and display as the air warms\, often alongside buzzards\, sparrowhawks and ravens. After lunch we’ll move on to Blackwater Arboretum\, where the tall conifers and old woodland hold some of the Forest’s specialities. We’ll finish on the open heath and bogs around Beaulieu Road Station\, one of the best places in the Forest for Dartford warbler. Our key targets for the day are goshawk\, lesser spotted woodpecker\, firecrest\, woodlark\, hawfinch and Dartford warbler. Early March\, before the trees come into leaf\, is one of the best times to find them. \nWhat we might see\nKey birds: \n\nGoshawk: soaring and displaying over the canopy from the Acres Down ridge\, best on sunny\, still mornings as the air warms\nLesser spotted woodpecker: drumming and calling in the old oaks and birches in early spring\, before the leaves hide it\nFirecrest: in the hollies and conifers around Acres Down and Blackwater\, singing from early March\nWoodlark: song flights over the clearings and heath at Beaulieu Road\nHawfinch: best looked for in the tall conifers and yews at Blackwater Arboretum\, especially early in the day\nDartford warbler: perched up on the gorse at Beaulieu Road\, most visible on still\, sunny afternoons\n\nOther raptors: common buzzard\, sparrowhawk\, red kite\, raven\, kestrel\, with peregrine possible\nWoodland: crossbill\, siskin\, lesser redpoll\, brambling\, goldcrest\, marsh tit\, nuthatch\, treecreeper\, great spotted woodpecker\, mistle thrush\nHeath and bog: stonechat\, meadow pipit\, reed bunting\, snipe\nPossible: hen harrier (a late wintering bird)\, curlew (returning to breed on the bogs)\, early chiffchaff \nAlso look out for: fallow deer and New Forest ponies \nCost and booking\nThere’s no event fee. Organisation and car sharing will be arranged through the group’s WhatsApp channels. \nParking\nAcres Down car park is free and next to Acres Down Farm. In the afternoon there’s parking at Blackwater and at Beaulieu Road Station. \nFacilities\nBlackwater has toilets. There are no facilities on the ridge or on the heath at Beaulieu Road. \nPractical information\nThere’s a short uphill walk on a gravel track to the viewpoint on the ridge. The afternoon walks are on level forest tracks and heathland paths\, and the paths around the bogs at Beaulieu Road can be wet\, so wear waterproof boots. Bring a telescope for scanning\, and a folding stool if you have one\, as there can be long waits at the watchpoint. Bring warm layers\, as it’s cold standing still in March\, plus a packed lunch and water. Please stay on the paths during the ground-nesting season. \nIf the trip has to change\nCancellations or weather changes will be shared on the group’s WhatsApp channels. Goshawks display best on sunny\, still mornings\, so on a wet day we may switch the order around. \nFurther reading\nBirdfact: Acres Down (New Forest) \nAndy Morffew\, CC BY 2.0\, via Wikimedia Commons
URL:https://dbwps.org/event/acres-down-new-forest/
LOCATION:Acres Down\, V9PH+GJ Ringwood
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dbwps.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Goshawk_20120569249-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20270321T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20270321T153000
DTSTAMP:20261110T223005Z
CREATED:20261110T223005Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261110T223005Z
UID:1311-1805616000-1805643000@dbwps.org
SUMMARY:Dix Pit & Farmoor Reservoir
DESCRIPTION:Leader: Colin Greenfield\nMeet: Cheapside Car Park\, Stroud\, at 08:00\, returning around 3.30pm\nVenues: Dix Pit (park at Devil’s Quoits car park\, Stanton Harcourt\, OX29 5BB) in the morning\, then Farmoor Reservoir\, Cumnor Road\, Farmoor\, Oxford OX2 9NS\, in the afternoon \nAbout the day\nA day across the border in Oxfordshire\, at two of the county’s best inland wetland sites\, timed for the changeover from winter to spring. We’ll start at Dix Pit\, a vast\, deep gravel pit in the Lower Windrush Valley. Its size makes it a favourite with rafting wildfowl and great crested grebes\, and the views are distant but rewarding. We’ll park next to the Devil’s Quoits\, a reconstructed Neolithic stone circle. Then we’ll head to Farmoor Reservoir\, just west of Oxford\, for lunch at the café and an afternoon’s birding. The causeway between its two basins and the concrete banks let you get close to waders and terns as they move through on migration\, and the willow beds and the Pinkhill reserve beside the Thames hold warblers\, finches and kingfisher. Late March is when the first summer migrants start to arrive\, so there’s always a chance of something unexpected. \nWhat we might see\nDix Pit: great crested grebe (often in good numbers)\, tufted duck\, pochard\, goldeneye\, wigeon\, gadwall\, shoveler\, cormorant\, with possible goosander\, red-crested pochard\, scaup and pintail. Look through the gulls for yellow-legged gull. \nFarmoor: great crested grebe\, little grebe\, tufted duck\, pied wagtail\, meadow pipit\, kingfisher\, Cetti’s warbler\, reed bunting\, siskin. Early arrivals could include sand martin\, wheatear\, little ringed plover\, chiffchaff and blackcap. \nPossible: white wagtail\, black-necked grebe\, little gull\, common scoter\, rock pipit\, water pipit\, early swallow\, osprey (on passage)\, Caspian gull\, and any rarity that drops in. \nOverhead: red kite\, buzzard\, peregrine. \nCost and booking\nThere’s no event fee\, and parking at both sites is free. \nCar sharing\nCar sharing will be arranged on the group’s WhatsApp channel in the week before the trip. Please post if you can offer a lift from Stroud or need one. It’s about an hour’s drive to Dix Pit\, and about 15 minutes from there to Farmoor. \nParking\nDix Pit: Devil’s Quoits car park\, Stanton Harcourt\, OX29 5BB. A short walk takes us to the viewpoints over the pit. Parking is limited\, so please share cars.\nFarmoor: free parking in the main car park off Cumnor Road. \nFacilities\nThere are no facilities at Dix Pit. Farmoor has toilets and a café\, a good place for lunch\, and there’s a bird hide at the Pinkhill reserve. \nPractical information\nThe paths at both sites are level. At Farmoor they’re paved or wide gravel tracks\, and the causeway walk is exposed\, so bring a windproof layer. Bring a telescope\, as Dix Pit’s birds are often distant. Bring a packed lunch\, or buy lunch at the Farmoor café. \nIf the trip has to change\nCancellations or weather changes will be shared on the group’s WhatsApp channels. \nFurther reading\nOxford Ornithological Society: Farmoor Reservoir\nOxford Ornithological Society: Dix Pit \nSteve Garvie from Dunfermline\, Fife\, Scotland\, CC BY-SA 2.0\, via Wikimedia Commons
URL:https://dbwps.org/event/dix-pit-farmoor-reservoir/
LOCATION:Dix Pit\, Devil's Quoits Car park\, PHPR+X3 Witney
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dbwps.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Flickr_-_Rainbirder_-_Great_Crested_Grebe_Podiceps_cristatus.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20270410T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20270410T143000
DTSTAMP:20261110T182651Z
CREATED:20261110T084830Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261110T182651Z
UID:1271-1807344000-1807367400@dbwps.org
SUMMARY:Greenham Common
DESCRIPTION: Leader: Simon Ashley\nMeet: Cheapside Car Park\, Stroud\, at 08:00\, returning around 2.30pm. If you’re driving direct\, meet us at the Control Tower car park\, Greenham Common\, at 09:15.\nVenue: Greenham Common\, main car park at the Control Tower\, Burys Bank Road\, Thatcham RG19 8DB (grid ref SU 499 651) \nAbout the day\nGreenham Common was once a Cold War airbase and is now one of the largest areas of open lowland heath in southern England\, managed by BBOWT. The old runways have gone\, replaced by gravel heath\, heather\, gorse scrub\, ponds and wooded valleys\, grazed by Exmoor ponies and cattle. Our target for the day is woodlark. By mid-April they’re on territory\, and the best way to find them is to listen for their soft\, fluting song as they circle high over the heath\, or watch for them feeding on the short turf. We’ll walk a loop across the open common\, timed for the start of spring\, when resident heathland birds are in full song and the first summer migrants are arriving. \nWhat we might see\nKey bird: \n\nWoodlark: song flights high over the heath\, and birds feeding on short turf and bare ground. Greenham is one of the most important sites in Berkshire for breeding woodlark.\n\nHeathland: Dartford warbler\, stonechat\, skylark\, meadow pipit\, linnet\, yellowhammer\, lapwing (breeding on the open common)\nNew arrivals: chiffchaff\, willow warbler\, blackcap\, sand martin\, swallow\nGood chance: buzzard\, red kite\, kestrel\, green woodpecker\, bullfinch\, reed bunting\nPossible: early whitethroat\, nightingale\, cuckoo\, redstart\, wheatear\, tree pipit\, hobby\nAlso look out for: adders and common lizards basking on warm mornings\, plus Exmoor ponies and cattle \nCost and booking\nThere’s no event fee. \nCar sharing\nCar sharing will be arranged on the group’s WhatsApp channel in the week before the trip. Please post if you can offer a lift from Stroud\, how many seats you have\, or if you need a lift. Drivers and passengers will meet at Cheapside Car Park for an 08:00 departure. Car sharing also matters here because the Greenham car park gets busy on Saturday mornings with parkrun. \nParking\nParking at the Control Tower car park is free\, and donations are welcome. Parkrun uses the common on Saturday mornings\, so the car park will be busy when we arrive (08:30 to 10:30). If it’s full\, use Pyle Hill car park (RG19 3BX) at the western end of the common\, and we’ll regroup by WhatsApp. \nFacilities\nThe Control Tower café and visitor centre is open Saturdays from 09:00 [check spring hours]. There’s an accessible toilet at the main car park. \nPractical information\nThe main tracks across the common are level\, firm and easy walking. Some of the side paths through the wooded valleys are uneven\, with steps. Bring binoculars\, a telescope (useful for scanning the heath)\, a drink and a snack. Woodlark\, skylark and lapwing all nest on the ground\, so please keep to the paths. Dogs must be on a lead on the main common from 1 March to 31 July. \nIf the trip has to change\nCancellations or weather changes will be shared on the group’s WhatsApp channels. Woodlarks sing best on calm\, dry mornings\, so we may adjust the timing if the forecast is poor. \nFurther reading\nBBOWT: Greenham and Crookham Commons\nGreenham Control Tower \nJán Svetlík\, CC BY-SA 2.0\, via Wikimedia Commons
URL:https://dbwps.org/event/greenham-common/
LOCATION:Greenham Common\, 9PJ8+V7 Thatcham
CATEGORIES:Field Trip
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dbwps.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Lullula_arborea_Jan_Svetlik.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20270424T070000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20270424T173000
DTSTAMP:20261110T220115Z
CREATED:20261109T225042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261110T220115Z
UID:1261-1808550000-1808587800@dbwps.org
SUMMARY:Keyhaven & Pennington Marshes
DESCRIPTION:Leader: Amanda Sultan-Black\nMeet: Cheapside Car Park\, Stroud\, at 07:00\, returning around 5.30pm\nVenue: Keyhaven car park\, Keyhaven\, near Lymington\, Hampshire (Keyhaven village green\, SO41 0TG) \nAbout the day\nThe Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes stretch along the Solent shore between Keyhaven and Lymington\, looking out to Hurst Spit and the Isle of Wight. A flat sea wall path runs past saltmarsh\, a chain of coastal lagoons and grazing marsh\, so there’s always something to scan. Late April is one of the best times of year here. Waders and terns are moving through on spring migration\, the breeding birds are settling in\, and there’s always a chance of something scarce dropping in. We’ll walk the sea wall from Keyhaven towards Pennington\, taking in Keyhaven Lagoon\, Fishtail Lagoon and the Pennington lagoons\, and return by the inland track past the grazing marsh and scrub. \nWhat we might see\nBased on eBird records for late April at Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes: \nVery likely (seen on more than half of visits): redshank\, shelduck\, oystercatcher\, little egret\, lapwing\, avocet\, black-tailed godwit\, dunlin\, turnstone\, whimbrel\, greenshank\, ringed plover\, curlew\, little tern\, common tern\, Mediterranean gull\, great black-backed gull\, cormorant\, great crested grebe\, gadwall\, tufted duck\, shoveler\, teal\, coot\, whitethroat\, Cetti’s warbler\, reed warbler\, linnet\, skylark\, meadow pipit\, pied wagtail\, reed bunting \nGood chance (seen on 20–50% of visits): marsh harrier\, Sandwich tern\, bar-tailed godwit\, spotted redshank (often in breeding plumage)\, spoonbill\, ruff\, little ringed plover\, grey plover\, snipe\, eider\, brent goose\, wigeon\, pintail\, little grebe\, water rail\, sand martin\, swift\, wheatear\, lesser whitethroat\, raven\, common gull \nPossible: common sandpiper\, knot\, sanderling\, curlew sandpiper\, little gull\, garganey\, yellow wagtail\, bearded tit\, water pipit\, green sandpiper\, merlin\, white-tailed eagle (from the Isle of Wight reintroduction) \nAlso look out for: stonechat\, sedge warbler\, Dartford warbler\, peregrine\, osprey\, hobby\, cuckoo and whinchat. \nCost and booking\nThere’s no event fee. Organisation and car sharing will be arranged through the group’s WhatsApp channels. \nParking\nKeyhaven public car park\, beside the village green\, is pay and display. \nFacilities\nThere are public toilets at Keyhaven car park\, and the Gun Inn is in the village. There are no facilities along the sea wall. \nPractical information \nThe walk is about 6 km\, level throughout\, on a gravel sea wall path\, grassy tracks and a quiet single-track road. The sea wall is exposed\, so bring a windproof layer even on a sunny day. Bring a telescope\, as many of the birds will be out on the lagoons and saltmarsh. Bring a packed lunch and water. \nIf the trip has to change\nCancellations or weather changes will be shared on the group’s WhatsApp channels. \nFurther reading\nNew Forest National Park: Keyhaven Marshes walk\nHampshire County Council: Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes\neBird: Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes LNR \nBoris Nedosekov\, CC BY-SA 4.0\, via Wikimedia Commons
URL:https://dbwps.org/event/keyhaven-pennington-marshes/
LOCATION:Keyhaven\, PCCM+R2R Lymington
CATEGORIES:Field Trip
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dbwps.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Охота_малой_крачки_Sternula_albifrons-scaled.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20270604T070000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20270607T200000
DTSTAMP:20261110T225708Z
CREATED:20261110T225708Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261110T225708Z
UID:1316-1812092400-1812398400@dbwps.org
SUMMARY:Pembrokeshire Weekend: Puffins\, Shearwaters & Seabird Cliffs
DESCRIPTION:Residential trip\, 3 nights · Leader: [TBC]\nPlaces: limited to 9 \n\n⚠️ Sign up now: places are limited to 9\nSkomer landing tickets for 2027 go on sale on 1 December 2026\, and early June sells out fast. We need to know numbers before then so we can book our places on the day tickets are released. \nPlease register your interest as soon as possible on the group WhatsApp or by email to dursleybirders@gmail.com \, by Sunday 29 November. \nThe trip is limited to 9 places. If more than 9 people sign up\, we’ll hold a lottery for places and keep a waiting list for any that come free. \nAbout the weekend\nOur annual residential trip heads to Pembrokeshire for three nights in early June\, the peak of the seabird season\, returning on the Monday. The highlight is a full day on Skomer Island\, one of the most important seabird colonies in Europe. In spring 2026 the wardens counted a record-breaking 52\,019 puffins\, beating the previous record of 43\,626 set just a year earlier. Skomer is also home to thousands of razorbills and guillemots and to nearly 350\,000 breeding pairs of Manx shearwaters\, the largest colony in the world. We’ll land on either Saturday or Sunday\, depending on ticket availability and the weather. \nWe’ll also take an evening shearwater trip on a fast RIB from St Justinians\, near St Davids. We’ll run along the towering cliffs of Ramsey Island\, with their seabirds and seals\, then head out towards the North Bishops to watch thousands of Manx shearwaters gathering at dusk before they return to their burrows. Even when we’re travelling at 20mph\, the shearwaters glide past barely beating a wing. It’s one of the great wildlife spectacles in Britain\, and not to be missed. \nThe rest of the weekend is packed with the best birding hotspots on the south Pembrokeshire coast\, including Stack Rocks (Elegug Stacks) on the Castlemartin peninsula\, where the stacks just offshore are covered in breeding guillemots\, razorbills\, kittiwakes and fulmars. \nWhat we should see\nSkomer: puffin\, razorbill\, guillemot\, Manx shearwater\, fulmar\, kittiwake\, lesser black-backed gull\, great black-backed gull\, shag\, chough\, short-eared owl\, wheatear\, rock pipit\, sedge warbler\, plus grey seals and possibly harbour porpoise\nEvening shearwater trip: Manx shearwater in their thousands\, gannet\, auks\, fulmar\, kittiwake and chough on the Ramsey cliffs\, grey seals\, with storm petrel\, dolphins and porpoise possible\nStack Rocks and the Castlemartin coast: guillemot\, razorbill\, kittiwake\, fulmar\, chough\, peregrine\, raven\, stonechat\, linnet\, rock pipit \nThe Skomer landing\nThe boats leave from Martin’s Haven on the Marloes peninsula. You check in at Lockley Lodge one hour before departure\, and sailings run between 10:00 and 12:00. That gives about 4½ hours on the island\, with a return boat between 15:00 and 17:00. Tickets are non-refundable unless the boat operator cancels for weather or sea conditions. \nThe evening shearwater trip\nWe’ll go with Thousand Islands Expeditions on their Evening Cruise and Shearwater Trip. It leaves from St Justinians\, about 2 miles from St Davids\, and lasts about 1½ hours. Parking at St Justinians is limited: there are two free bays\, plus a field at £4 per car (cash only) in high season. Alternatively\, park in St Davids and take the Celtic Coaster bus. We’ll need to be at the departure point 20 minutes before sailing\, as the boat won’t wait. \nWhat it costs\nWe’ll keep the weekend as economical as possible. As a rough guide: \n\n\n\n\nApprox. cost per person\n\n\n\n\nAccommodation (3 nights at £60–70 a night)\n£180–210\n\n\nSkomer landing (2026 price £46 plus booking fee; 2027 price to be confirmed)\nabout £49\n\n\nEvening shearwater trip (Thousand Islands Expeditions)\n£48\n\n\nFuel (shared cars)\nabout £40\n\n\nTotal\, before food\nabout £320–350\n\n\nFood\nSelf-catering or pub meals\, at your own cost\n\n\n\nAccommodation will be booked nearer the time\, once numbers are confirmed. Skomer tickets will be booked on 1 December\, so we’ll need payment for those soon after you’re given a place. \nCar sharing\nCar sharing will be arranged on the group’s WhatsApp channel nearer the time. Pembrokeshire is about 3 to 3½ hours’ drive from Stroud\, and sharing keeps fuel to around £40 each. \nPractical information \n\nSkomer: there are 87 steep steps up from the landing\, and the island paths are uneven\, so a reasonable level of fitness is needed. There’s no café on the island\, so bring a packed lunch and drinks (water can be bought there). The island is exposed\, so bring waterproofs and warm layers even in June. Dogs aren’t allowed.\nEvening shearwater trip: it’s always colder at sea\, especially in a fast boat in the evening. Plenty of warm layers and a wind- and waterproof jacket are essential\, and the operator may turn away anyone who isn’t suitably dressed. Secure your binoculars and camera.\nStack Rocks: the cliff tops are on the MOD Castlemartin Range\, so access depends on range firing times. We’ll check before we go.\n\nIf the trip has to change\nSkomer landings and boat trips depend on sea conditions and can be cancelled at short notice. Any changes will be shared on the group’s WhatsApp channels. \nFurther reading\nWildlife Trust of South and West Wales: Skomer Island\nWildlife Trust of South and West Wales: Wildlife and history of Skomer Island\nWildlife Trust of South and West Wales: Another record-breaking year on Skomer\nPembrokeshire Islands: Land on Skomer\nThousand Islands Expeditions: Evening Cruise and Shearwater Trip \nRichard Bartz\, CC BY-SA 3.0\, via Wikimedia Commons
URL:https://dbwps.org/event/pembrokeshire-weekend-puffins-shearwaters-seabird-cliffs/
LOCATION:Skomer\, PQM4+X6 Haverfordwest
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dbwps.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Papageitaucher_Fratercula_arctica_02.jpg
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