Events

'Moths Home and Away' (Andy and Melissa Banthorpe)

Location: 'The Settlement', Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City.
Postcode: SG6 4UB (Google map)

Andy & Melissa are the moth recorders for Bedfordshire. Their talk covers some of the moths in our area and how to find them, as well as some special species to be found in North Wales.

Time: 7.30 pm

Price: Visitors £3.00. Local Group members free.

Telephone: 01763249459

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

Coach Trip to RSPB Pagham Harbour (Joint Trip with RSPB Stevenage Local Group).

Location: RSPB Pagham Harbour reserve, East Sussex.

This exceptional Sussex coastal reserve acts as a residence or re-fuelling stop for the many species of returning summer visitors that arrive during April.

Time: Coach Pick Up Times: Letchworth: 7.30am. Hitchin: 7.45am. Stevenage: 7.55am.

Price: Coach Fares: £15.50 (adults); £7.75 (juniors under 18). Extra Fee at RSPB Reserve for non-members.

Booking essential

Telephone: 01462 451320

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

'The Search for the Bengal Tiger (Martin Johnson)

Location: 'The Settlement', Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City
Postcode: SG6 4UB (Google map)

Martin will be describing how he fulfilled a life-long ambition to visit 'Jungle Book' country and see big, stripy cats (and much more) in the wild.

Time: 7.30 pm

Price: Visitors £3.00. Local Group members free.

Telephone: 01763249459

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

Spring Walk in the Pegsdon Hills

Location: Near Pegsdon Village, Bedfordshire (O/S 166: TL 118 302)
Postcode: SG8 9ET (Google map)

We will go for a walk in the Pegsdon Hills. Last visited by us in 2010 (!), this is a most attractive region of chalk downland on the Hertfordshire-Bedfordshire border, where we will be looking for buzzards and other raptors, woodpeckers and owls. This is an excellent area for spring passage migrants, such as wheatears and ring ouzels, which may still be passing through in early May. We will walk footpaths to the south of Pegsdon: boots are recommended. Park in the cul-de-sac west of the "Live and Let Live" pub (O/S 166: TL 118 302) (walk starts from here) or, considerately, elsewhere in the village.

Time: 7.15 pm

Price: Free

Telephone: 01763249459

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

Spring Walk around Broom Gravel Pits

Location: Broom Gravel Pits, near Broom Village, Bedfordshire (O/S 153; TL 174 432)
Postcode: SG8 9ET (Google map)

We will make an evening visit to Broom Gravel Pits. Situated just off the A1 near Biggleswade in Bedfordshire, this small area of old and recent gravel workings has attracted several rare birds (in particular waders) on passage in the last few years. We will visit at a time of year when these passage migrants are still coming through on their northerly journeys whilst many woodland birds and waders, such as little ringed plover (no guarantees!), will already be nesting here. Meet in Broom village at the junction of Kings Road and High Road (O/S 153: TL 174 432).

Time: 7.15 pm

Price: Free

Telephone: 01763249459

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

Coach Trip to Frensham Common and Ponds

Location: Frensham Common, Surrey

The beautiful heathland, lakes and woodland of this area of deepest Surrey host some special birds, including woodlark, tree pipit and Dartford warbler.

Time: Coach Pick Up Times: Letchworth: 7.30am. Hitchin: 7.45am. Stevenage: 7.55am.

Price: Coach Fares: £15.50 (adults); £7.75 (juniors under 18)

Booking essential

Telephone: 01462 451320

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

Spring Walk on Oughtonhead Common LNR

Location: Oughtonhead Common, Hitchin (O/S 166; TL 178 308)
Postcode: SG8 9ET (Google map)

We will have a pleasant evening stroll around what for some is our local reserve, Oughtonhead Common LNR. This is a great place to see summer visitors, in particular reed and sedge warblers, which use the reed-beds and bushes adjacent to the River Oughton. Lesser whitethroats and garden warblers can sometimes be heard here and both little and tawny owls are possible. Meet at the junction of Bedford Road (A600) and Burford Way (parking) in Hitchin (O/S 166: TL 178 308).

Time: 7.15 pm

Price: Free

Telephone: 01763249459

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

Spring Walk over Therfield Heath

Location: Therfield Heath, near Royston (O/S 154; TL 337 403)
Postcode: SG8 9ET (Google map)

We will make a return visit to Martin's local patch, Therfield Heath, near Royston. We will look for orchids, which should be flowering at this time of year, but we will concentrate on the special birds of The Heath, which will include several species of warbler as well as skylarks and meadow pipits by the bucketful! We saw spotted flycatcher on our last visit, a rare species that is still clinging on here. Tawny and barn owls breed locally and there is a chance that we might see one. If time permits we will also take a look at Greys Farm, which is managed as a conservation farm with wildlife in mind and hosts many species of breeding bird, including lapwings. Meet at the car park off the Therfield Road (O/S 154: TL 337 403).

Time: 7.15 pm

Price: Free

Telephone: 01763249459

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

Coach Trip to RSPB Minsmere (Joint Trip with RSPB Stevenage Local Group).

Location: RSPB Minsmere nature reserve, Suffolk.

Around 100 species of bird nest in Minsmere's amazing variety of habitats and we'll be looking for these and all the other wonderful wildlife that the RSPB's flagship reserve hosts.

Time: Coach Pick Up Times: Stevenage: 7.05am. Hitchin: 7.15am. Letchworth: 7.30am. Royston: 7.50am.

Price: Coach Fares: £15.50 (adults); £7.75 (juniors under 18). Extra Fee at RSPB Reserve for non-members.

Booking essential

Telephone: 01462 451320

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com