Trip reports
 | Friday, 12 November 2021 Local Walk, Norheads Lane & Biggin Hill Valley Eighteen members braved the rain on their search for buzzards and other wildlife. Thanks to Eric Barlow for the trip report, and Ian Micklewright for leading the walk. More... |
 | Sunday, 7 November 2021 Car Trip: RSPB Dungeness, Kent Find out how the group got on during our recent trip to RSPB Dungeness. Thanks to Carol Wilcox for organising and writing the report! More... |
 | Sunday, 17 October 2021 Car Trip: RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex Our first group trip out after an enforced break of over 18 months was a return visit to an established favourite, RSPB Rainham Marshes. Many thanks to Carol Wilcox for compiling the report. More... |
 | Tuesday, 5 October 2021 Local Walk, Ruxley Gravel Pits Find out how our group fared on our latest local walk. Many thanks to Sandie Wood for organising, Bob Francis for leading the group, and Ian Micklewright for compiling the report. More... |
 | Saturday, 11 September 2021 Ian Coupar sheds light on the local group's adventures through the Nash Area, Keston. Many thanks to Sandie Wood for leading the walk. More... |
 | Saturday, 10 July 2021 Find out how our group fared on their walk around this ancient woodland! Many thanks to Rob Bryant for the report, and to Jane Andrews for leading the group. More... |
 | Tuesday, 22 June 2021 Many thanks to Sue Wellens for this detailed trip report on our recent group outing to Hutchinson's Bank. Thank you also to Bob Francis for leading the group! More... |
 | Tuesday, 8 June 2021 Pauline Smith provides us with an in-depth account of our recent local walk around Downe. Many thanks to Terry Pyle for leading the group and Sandie Wood for organising! More... |
 | Saturday, 22 May 2021 Local Walk, Darrick and Newstead Woods Find out how our group fared in our latest local walk. Many thanks to Trevor Morgan and the Friends of Darrick and Newstead Woods for leading the group Report by Jo East. More... |
 | Sunday, 9 May 2021 Dawn Chorus Walk, Jubilee Park Nicola Hope provides us with a scintillating account of the most recent Dawn Chorus Walk at Jubilee Park, led by Peter Smart. More... |
 | Thursday, 22 April 2021 Local Walk, Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve Peter Smart and Geoff Coad led separate groups around Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve. Located upon former sand and gravel pits, it is home to some fascinating wildlife. Trip report by Mark Symons. More... |
 | Sunday, 18 April 2021 Leslie Angel provides a report on the second local walk around Hayes Farm in as many days, again led by Geoff Coad. Our intrepid explorers spotted more than thirty bird species! More... |
 | Saturday, 17 April 2021 A plethora of birds, butterflies and even a buzzard made an appearance on our second Local Group walk since the easing of coronavirus restrictions, led by Geoff Coad. Trip Report by Ian Coupar. More... |
 | Thursday, 15 April 2021 Local Walk, Sydenham Hill Wood Anne Tullett provides an in-depth report of our much-needed first local walk since the easing of coronavirus restrictions. Bob Francis and Peter Smart led two socially-distanced groups in their search for wildlife. More... |
 | Monday, 23 March 2020 Find out how the group fared in their search for great spotted woodpeckers, goldcrests and the elusive sparrowhawk! More... |
 | Tuesday, 28 January 2020 Waterbirds, winter thrushes and dinosaurs in one of London's most famous parks More... |
 | Sunday, 19 January 2020 Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Sussex Crisp winter sun and waders galore on the Sussex coast More... |
 | Sunday, 29 December 2019 Five highly active great spotted woodpeckers, and several redwings, were among the highlights of this lively walk through suburban parks and local commons, led by Geoff Coad. More... |
 | Sunday, 8 December 2019 Waterfowl, raptors and waders, and rather a lot of wigeon. More... |
 | Sunday, 24 November 2019 Passerines, water fowl, raptors, gulls and owls and an unexpected marine mammal on an enjoyable day out. More... |
 | Friday, 15 November 2019 Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, Kent A mix of water fowl and woodland birds at Sevenoaks Nature Reserve. More... |
 | Wednesday, 30 October 2019 Twenty five enjoy a fine walk with a grey wagtail, little egret and rumours of a kingfisher and of a water rail! More... |
 | Sunday, 20 October 2019 A wide selection of bird sightings along with fungi and insects on a rewarding visit to this RSPB reserve in autumn. More... |
 | Sunday, 22 September 2019 Bird watching outing led by Jonathan Barnard (Birding Tour Guide) More... |
 | Tuesday, 3 September 2019 Darrick and Newstead Woods, Orpington A pleasant walk in a largely unknown local parkland with a good selection of birds and flora typical of this urban parkland environment. More... |
 | Saturday, 24 August 2019 Keston Common, Bromley (bat walk) Pipistrelle and Daubenton's bats in a dusk walk at Keston Ponds in Kent. More... |
 | Saturday, 13 July 2019 Keston Common, Bromley (butterfly walk) Varied habitats, historical sites and a range of flora and fauna ensured a rewarding and well-attended local walk. More... |
 | Sunday, 7 July 2019 A varied mix of waders, gulls, and passerines at a reserve that would reward a repeat visit. More... |
 | Saturday, 15 June 2019 RSPB Broadwater Warren, Kent (nightjar walk) Rainbows, nightjars and crepuscular delights! More... |
 | Saturday, 8 June 2019 Orchids and skylarks in Darwin's countryside. More... |
 | Friday, 31 May 2019 Carol Wilcox gives us an evocative account of the group's outing to RSPB Tudeley Woods. More... |
 | Sunday, 19 May 2019 Thomas Thorn's account of the visit to RSPB Arne in May 2019 More... |
 | Monday, 6 May 2019 Leybourne Lakes Country Park, Kent RSPB Bromley Group member Anne Tullett shares her memories of our group's visit to Leybourne Lakes Country Park in May 2019. More... |
 | Thursday, 2 May 2019 A pleasant spring walk in north Kent woodland, with birds, butterflies, flora and fungi. More... |
 | Wednesday, 24 April 2019 Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, Kent RSPB Bromley member Lesley Angel gives a report on a rewarding visit to one of the Kent Wildlife Trust's most varied and accessible reserves. More... |
 | Sunday, 14 April 2019 Catherine Varley reflects on her very rewarding first visit to RSPB Minsmere with the Bromley Local Group. More... |
 | Saturday, 23 March 2019 Identifying birds by song in the Blean Woods, Kent, led by Tony Swandale A varied and exciting visit to Blean Woods, Bossenden, Kent under the guidance of Tony Swandale, with highlights including a penduline tit and a lesser spotted woodpecker, as well as indications of the presence of beaver. More... |
 | Tuesday, 5 March 2019 A pleasant and well attended walk through the Kent countryside with a rich mixture of birds and other wildlife on show, and a passing homage to one of the group's founders and past recorders. More... |
 | Sunday, 17 February 2019 Essex Wildlife Trust Fingringhoe Wick and Abberton Reservoir, Essex Wonderful write ups from two first time coach trippers More... |
 | Saturday, 9 February 2019 A woodland gem on the edge of Orpington More... |
 | Sunday, 27 January 2019 Bedgebury Pinetum and Forest, Kent Fantastic midwinter birding amongst the country's finest collection of conifers More... |
 | Saturday, 19 January 2019 Spotting winter visitors in Beckenham's green lung More... |
 | Sunday, 9 December 2018 New members Indra and Jim reflect on our coach trip to Dungeness - one of the RSPB's flagship reserves. It's a unique place and a haven for winter birds. More... |
 | Saturday, 1 December 2018 Come rain or shine, Hawkwood is surprisingly rural, despite being only a few minutes walk from Chislehurst train station, and is rich in wildlife. More... |
 | Sunday, 25 November 2018 Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park and Oare Marshes, Kent A double bill in Kent's last great wilderness - the North Kent Marshes More... |
 | Thursday, 1 November 2018 Wet but wonderful. Winter waterbirds galore in one of Bromley's biodiversity hotspots. More... |
 | Sunday, 21 October 2018 RSPB Pulborough Brooks, Sussex A red letter day in the sunny Sussex Downs. More... |
 | Wednesday, 3 October 2018 A rainbow of colourful fungi and a host of woodland birds were the stars of the show on our autumn wander through Scadbury Park. More... |
 | Thursday, 6 September 2018 Discover the stunning wildlife in Bromley's autumnal countryside. More... |
 | Saturday, 25 August 2018 Bat walk in Mote Park, Maidstone A superb introduction to Kent's bats by ecologist Simon Ginnaw. More... |
 | Saturday, 28 July 2018 Butterfly walk in White Hill, Kent A delightful stroll through the meadows of White Hill, which abound with butterflies. More... |
 | Sunday, 1 July 2018 Visiting Minsmere for the first time is an unforgettable experience, as one of our wildlife watchers discovers. More... |
 | Saturday, 16 June 2018 Old Lodge, Ashdown Forest, Sussex Searching for mysterious creatures of the twilight in the heart of the Ashdown Forest More... |
 | Sunday, 3 June 2018 We encountered a host of star birds, including spotted flycatcher and tree pipit, along with a dazzling array of dragonflies and damselflies on our Group's first visit to this new heathland reserve. We look forward to returning! More... |
 | Monday, 7 May 2018 Leybourne Lakes Country Park, Kent Our first National Nightingale Festival event of 2018 and what a start! A chorus of these celebrated, but now declining, songbirds accompanied us around the park and we also had fantastic views of hobbies and a garden warbler. More... |
 | Sunday, 6 May 2018 Dawn chorus walk in High Elms Country Park, Orpington Celebrating International Dawn Chorus Day in the lush North Downs woods. More... |
 | Sunday, 29 April 2018 This wetland oasis teems with special wildlife. The stars of the show were cranes, bitterns and cuckoos but there was lots of other wildlife to see as well, including some surprises. More... |
 | Saturday, 21 April 2018 A spring walk in glorious weather around Bromley's best kept wildlife secret More... |
 | Friday, 13 April 2018 Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, Kent This early Spring visit to one of our nearest Kent Trust Reserves produced a splendid, even remarkable morning's birding! A party of black necked grebes, resplendent in full breeding plumage was a wonderful and very rare sighting for the Reserve. How could you possibly top that? Well a singing firecrest comes pretty close! More... |
 | Sunday, 25 March 2018 Cliffe Pools is an RSPB reserve on the Hoo Peninsula and an approximate 40 minute drive from Bromley. It is a large and open landscape with several walking trails and features both saline lagoons and shallow brackish pools which were created by clay extraction for the cement industry. The reserve also has grassland, saltmarsh, mud-flat and scrub habitat so supports a wide variety of birds and other wildlife. More... |
 | Thursday, 8 March 2018 Selsdon Wood Local Nature Reserve, Croydon After a week of snow and Arctic weather caused by the "Beast from the East" the day dawned dry and bright with the weather looking promising for my second visit to Selsdon Wood with Bromley Local Group. The area, saved from development in 1920/30's, is owned by The National Trust and maintained by The Friends of Selsdon Wood working with Croydon Council to ensure that the original aims of the people who purchased the Woods are fulfilled. More... |
 | Sunday, 18 February 2018 Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes, Hampshire This ambitious new coach trip produced an absolute feast of birds, including dream kingfisher views, for those lucky enough to be there. More... |
 | Saturday, 10 February 2018 A visit to this pocket of ancient woodland close to West Wickham, produced a rare sighting of a marsh tit as a major highlight! More... |
 | Sunday, 14 January 2018 Hayes Parks and Commons, Bromley This well supported walk, taking a gentle route through small suburban parks and common land produced a good variety of birds. A brutal fight between two coal tits, fortunately with a happy ending, was a highlight! More... |
 | Sunday, 17 December 2017 This annual coach trip is always rewarding and this year was no exception. The RSPB Dungeness reserve provides a variety of habitats and many water birds, while the scrub around the lighthouse, and the opportunity for sea watching add a possibility of yet more species More... |
 | Thursday, 14 December 2017 Jubilee Country Park, Petts Wood Jubilee Country Park is part of a wildlife corridor linking to open countryside via Petts Wood and Scadbury Park along the London Loop. The area is a 62-acre public park, a Local Nature Reserve and a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation. It was purchased by Bromley Council to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 1977, and opened as a park in 1981 and is now managed by idVerde. More... |
 | Sunday, 19 November 2017 Carol, Lucy and Conner have sent in their reflections on our day's birdwatching at a very sunny Walthamstow Wetlands. For all three this was their first trip with the RSPB Bromley Local Group. Lucy and Conner also sent in a list of the birds we encountered and some fantastic photos. Visit our Facebook page for more photos: www.facebook.com/rspbbromley More... |
 | Thursday, 9 November 2017 The weather was dull, drizzle was threatening and the forecast was poor, so for the Bird Walk in Kelsey Park scheduled for 9th November I thought I would have a small turnout, and that I might even finish early! Clearly, local birdwatchers are not to be put off by a little rain, and in the event there was an excellent turnout, with 27 enthusiastic people turning up, including four from our Kelsey Park Bird Group. More... |
 | Sunday, 15 October 2017 Pagham Harbour is a natural harbour or inlet in West Sussex, England. It is south of the city of Chichester and near the towns of Pagham and Selsey. The Reserve covers 1,500 acres, about half of which is salt marsh and mudflats, while the rest comprises farmland, copses, lagoons, reed beds and shingle beaches.Our coach trip gave us some close views of a good variety of waders as well as an interesting moth, plenty of butterflies and a chance for coffee or ice cream to finish a very pleasant day. More... |
 | Thursday, 12 October 2017 The countryside around Cudham is some of the best in the borough for declining farmland birds like skylark and yellowhammer. Both of these birds plus a variety of other birds and Autumn fungi were seen on this productive walk. The sighting of a stonechat is noteworthy as this is a bird that is now very hard to find in the borough and the Mace farm area of Cudham is a traditional Wintering site. More... |
 | Wednesday, 27 September 2017 On a mild, autumnal morning 10 people assembled in the car park at Footscray Meadows, ready to explore the land which once belonged to North Cray Place and where Capability Brown was employed in the late 18th Century to design the grounds, where he reshaped the River Cray to create a ribbon like lake and the Five Arch Bridge. More... |
 | Sunday, 24 September 2017 We were very lucky with the weather for our car trip to Rainham Marshes this month, as there was plenty of warm sunshine and we had blue skies for the whole visit. It was a particularly good day for birds of prey. We got a good sighting of a sparrowhawk, several hovering kestrels during the day, a close look at a juvenile marsh harrier with the yellow facial marking showing well, a couple of hobbies and spectacular views of a peregrine disturbing a flock of lapwing. There were also some buzzards wheeling overhead at times. More... |
 | Sunday, 2 July 2017 Sun, scrapes and some stupendous seldom-seen shorebirds (try saying that quickly)! More... |
 | Saturday, 17 June 2017 This was a very enjoyable walk which provided a total of 21 bird species and 8 butterfly species. The most noticeable thing about the walk on this warm day was the absence of the tits, woodpeckers, nuthatch, blackbird and other common birds. Perhaps they were busy raising chicks or it was too hot to fly around! More... |
 | Sunday, 14 May 2017 Spring is surely the best time of year and there is no better place to enjoy the natural wonders of the season than at the Essex Wildlife Trust's Fingringhoe Wick reserve. More... |
 | Thursday, 11 May 2017 One of the joys of local walks is the chance to discover hidden pockets of scenic beauty and biodiversity within the Borough - Birthday Wood certainly lived up to this expectation. The venue was a strip of woodland along a chalk ridge capped with clay running parallel with Rushmore Hill, Pratts Bottom. More... |
 | Sunday, 7 May 2017 Dawn chorus walk in Chelsfield Green, Orpington You had to be up with the larks (quite literally) to join this walk! A group of us met at Chelsfield Green at 6am to take part in the worldwide celebration of birdsong that is International Dawn Chorus Day. More... |
 | Sunday, 30 April 2017 RSPB Pulborough Brooks, Sussex The star of ta brilliant day's birding was undoubtedly a singing nightingale that performed its extraordinary repertoire to us at close quarters. No other bird has been so celebrated in literature and it's easy to see why. The song is incredibly powerful and once heard is instantly recognisable. More... |
 | Tuesday, 18 April 2017 South Norwood Country Park, Croydon An unusually dry visit to this typically rather muddy venue, produced some nice birds including at last the oh so elusive bullfinch! More... |
 | Sunday, 12 March 2017 An enjoyable visit to this reserve North of London produced a good range of birds, with kingfisher and bittern living up to their reputation of elusiveness. More... |
 | Thursday, 9 March 2017 An early Spring day produced a fine variety of birds and insect life on this attractive and varied walk. More... |
 | Sunday, 12 February 2017 This reservoir in Essex is renowned for its exceptional Winter duck variety and numbers, and so it proved for our lucky group. More... |
 | Thursday, 9 February 2017 A cold day produced some handsome ducks, as well as goldcrests and redwings in this well kept suburban park. More... |
 | Sunday, 22 January 2017 Hayes Common and Parks, Bromley A cold but fine day produced some ice skating moorhens and a good selection of local birds. An excellent turnout for an enjoyable walk. More... |
 | Sunday, 15 January 2017 A chilly, and slightly damp visit to Cliffe Pools produced some good Winter ducks, a variety of waders and on the way home, thanks to a tip off, a bonus flock of waxwings! More... |
 | Sunday, 18 December 2016 The usual pre-Christmas Dungeness coach extravaganza was blessed with good, mild weather. Perhaps too good and too mild to get the best spectrum of Winter visitors. Nonetheless a good variety of ducks and other birds were seen. The highlight for most was a roosting Long Eared Owl, uncharacteristically in an easily visible location! More... |
 | Thursday, 15 December 2016 Selsdon Wood Local Nature Reserve, Croydon On an unseasonably mild December morning a party of twelve set off to explore Selsdon Wood Local Nature Reserve. The Wood, also known as "The Bird Sanctuary", has been owned by The National Trust since 1936 and managed by Croydon Council with The Friends of Selsdon Wood volunteers ensuring the Wood is maintained for the benefit of the flora and fauna and enjoyment of the public. More... |
 | Thursday, 1 December 2016 Members car trip --- RSPB Rainham Marshes -- Sunday 13th November Good weather, birthday celebrations and a good variety of birds all contributed to a brilliant day's birding! More... |
 | Tuesday, 25 October 2016 Members car trip --- Oare Marshes -- Sunday 16th October A brilliant day's birding at Oare Marshes produced a feast of eleven species of wader and bonus spoonbill. More... |
 | Monday, 26 September 2016 Members car trip --- Rye Harbour -- Sept. 18th 2016 A pleasant sunny day produced migrant wheatears and a variety of Autumn waders. More... |
 | Sunday, 26 June 2016 Members car trip --- Thursley Common --- 12th June 2016 Despite a pessimistic weather forecast, an excellent day was had at this beautiful reserve with a family of Dartford warblers amongst the highlights. More... |
 | Friday, 22 April 2016 Members Local Walk -- Tuesday 19th April 2016 -- Footscay Meadows This local walk along the river Cray and surrounding woodland produced Spring Warblers in plenty including confiding blackcaps, a kestrel and a flyby kingfisher. More... |
 | Friday, 22 April 2016 Members Car Trip -- Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve - 17/04/16 This fine new RSPB reserve produced some exciting Spring birds, including the song of the grasshopper warbler and Dartford warble, as well as numerous whitethroats and sedge warblers. More... |
 | Monday, 11 April 2016 Report on Kelsey Park Heron Watch 3rd April 2016 Report on this year's successful heron watch. More... |
 | Friday, 5 February 2016 Members Car Trip -- Cliffe Pools RSPB - 17/01/16 A day that started with a flurry of snow ended with some fine Winter birding. Highlights included a hunting barn owl, displaying goldeneye and corn buntings. More... |
 | Wednesday, 16 December 2015 Members Car Trip -- Dungeness -- 13-12-2015 An unusually calm and mild day for this annual trip produced a bittern and plenty of duck, a frustrating long eared owl and an excellent lunch! More... |
 | Saturday, 28 November 2015 Members Car Trip -- Sevenoaks and Bough Beech -- 15-11-15 A dry , if rather cold and windy day at Sevenoaks Kent Trust Reserve and Bough Beech Reservoir produced a good variety of birds including snipe and the first fieldfares of the season. More... |
 | Saturday, 31 October 2015 Members Car Trip -- Ruxley Gravel Pits -- 15-10-2015 A visit to this former gravel pit Kent Trust reserve give lucky members who attended some great views of the normally elusive kingfishers. More... |
 | Saturday, 31 October 2015 Members Car Trip -- Riverside Country Park -- 13-09-2015 Despite a warning of rain. Those members who made this trip enjoyed some good views of waders, some still moulting from their summer plumage, and departing swallows. More... |
 | Friday, 23 October 2015 Members Car Trip -- Oare Marshes --18th October 2015 A misty start at this polular reserve turned into a sunny day with no wind. Perfect for bearded reedlings to be showing off! More... |