Saturday 30 April 2016

London Bird Club: Coach Trips 2015/2016

Fantastic guided day trips from London for British Wildlife
 
For ease of reference, I have copied below into my blog an extract of the forthcoming coach trips. Visit the website for more details http://www.lnhs.org.uk/ and also consider becoming a member of the London Natural History Society (LNHS). Non LNHS members are welcome.
 
7 May 2016 Sat.  Dungeness for passage sea birds and migrants, with chance of rarities. Previous trips have produced Whiskered Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Great White Egret and White Stork. Neil Anderson. Meet 08.00 at Embankment Underground Stn. Bring lunch. £20 to leader. Permit fee for non-RSPB members.

25 June 2016 Sat.  Strumpshaw Fen for warblers, Bittern, Marsh Harrier,
Swallowtails and Norfolk Hawker, maybe Otter, Chinese Water Deer, Water Vole. Neil Anderson. Coach trip 08.00 from Embankment Underground Stn. Bring lunch. £20 to leader (contact details page 15). Fee for RSPB Reserve for non-RSPB members.

More details below.

Images below of Brent Geese and Sanderling are from the London Bird Club Coach trip to Holkham NNR in Norfolk on Saturday 16 January 2016.




 
NOTES

Changes to the Programme
Changes are posted on the LNHS website (www.lnhs.org.uk). Changes are also posted (for members only) on its message board and in the newsletter.

 
Coach Trips
These go to well-known wildlife sites in the South and East of England. Bookings must be made in advance using the booking form that is mailed to members. It can also be downloaded from the LNHS website. Members can bring guests (at the same rate per person) so long as they are included on the booking form. The coach trip organiser is Neil Anderson TEL: (020) 8578 2464. neil@anders42.freeserve.co.uk

Members are asked not to travel to coach meetings independently, although in some cases the organiser may be prepared to allow this if application is made in advance.

Coaches normally leave from the road alongside the south entrance to Embankment Underground station. Occasionally they can pick up at a second point en route on the outskirts of London (check with organiser). Bear in mind that engineering work and weekend line closures are taking place on the Underground - please check in advance whether your route to Embankment station will be affected.
 

The London Bird Club (LBC) is a part of the London Natural History Society (LNHS). See www.lnhs.org.uk The LBC and LNHS have a varied program of walks, talks and coach trips many of which are free and these are open to non members. People can join these walks by reaching the location at the stated meet up point using the good public transport infrastructure in London. For specially arranged coach trips there is a charge for the cost of transport.

I have over the years joined many of these events and seen a lot and learnt a lot from walk leaders and others who join these walks. It’s a wonderful way to spend time on the week end and especially so if you are interested in wildlife. It’s also a terrific way to accelerate your learning and upping your skill levels if you are looking to pursue a career in field biology or conservation. As someone very keen on wildlife photography, I have found them useful to learn locations and how to find subjects for photography.

In addition a varied programme of events, members also receive three high quality publications, The London Naturalist its annual journal, the annual London Bird Report, a fact filled chunky tome published annually, and a quarterly slim Newsletter. Members get a lot for what is a relatively modest annual membership fee.


The images below were taken on the coach trip to HIckling Broad on 6th June 2015. Black-tailed Skimmer, Broad-bodied Chaser, Four-spotted Chaser, Painted Lady, Swallowtail and Wall Brown.