General Information about our Field Meetings
All the walks are FREE (except for travel costs, car park or entrance fees) and where trips are stated as morning only, sometimes we may run over a little so it is always a good idea to bring something to eat and drink. Unless otherwise stated, all trips will be led by Andy Harding (contactable on 07884 063589 or ).
Please let the trip leader or Andy know if you are coming to a meeting so we have an idea of numbers and we can then let you know if the trip has to be cancelled at short notice e.g. because of a severe weather warning. We have a Surrey Bird Club Field Trips’ Whatsapp Group and members are encouraged to join this group to help with travelling queries, trip updates, car shares etc. Please message Andy, if you are a member, on the above number to join it.
Dave Kiddell is leading some field trips aimed at people who are new birdwatchers and may have been put off joining one of our walks because of their lack of knowledge or identification skills. As well as hopefully seeing some less common birds Dave will help you identify some of the more common species such as separating Crows from Jackdaws and both from Wood Pigeon in flight. Another example is helping you tell your Coots from your Moorhens. Because of this, each walk will be a little slower than our usual walks and last approx. 2 hours. These walks are called “Field Trips for New Birders” and are shown in italics to distinguish them. Two trips have been arranged to date. If these field trips are popular more will be arranged.
Surrey Bird Club is committed to sustainable birding and encourages people to car share and use public transport where practical. Please let Andy know if you want to arrange a lift or use the Whatsapp group to arrange with others.
Children are welcome on trips but must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Non-members are welcome to attend but priority will be given to members if spaces are limited. Also, if a non-member attends 2 or more meetings, they will be strongly encouraged to join the club if they want to attend any more meetings.
Please note dogs are not permitted on these trips.
Field Meetings 2025
Sunday 2nd November: Field Trip for New Birders (leaders Dave Kiddell & Gordon Hay) Holmethorpe
Meet at Aqua Sports Centre (accessed via a track off Nutfield Marsh Road) at 9am (Not in the Mercers Country Park car park). Park either in the Country Park car park (RH1 4EU / https://what3words.com/trip.solved.serves / Grid Ref TQ300519) or, if the gates are locked, park in Holmesdale Avenue opposite the west end of Mercers Lake (https://what3words.com/resist.wiped.exchanges) then walk the 10 minutes around the lake to get to the Aqua Sports Centre. Morning only.
Please let Dave Kiddell know that you will be coming. 07881 645322 (please note that this is not a smartphone so Dave cannot answer by text) or email him on
Thursday 16th October: Beddington Farmlands, Hackbridge (Sorry fully booked): morning walk of 3.0 miles on mostly made up paths but with some short inclines – appropriate walking footwear recommended. Please note no facilities on site including no WCs.
There is a maximum of 20 permitted on site at anyone time and there is a reserve list of 11 members who missed out earlier this year, so they have a reserved place should they be able to come. Therefore, at this stage we currently have a 9 further places available to others.
Meet at the Mile Road Gate at 08.30am (postcode SM6 7NN; what3words///these.parade.lunch). Parking is either at Hackbridge Railway station (pay at meter) or in some of the side roads – suggest Wandle Road (permitted from 1pm) and is 10 minute walk from the meet point, enter Beddington Park and then immediately following the path to the left which takes you to the meeting point, passing the South Lake Bird Hide. Hackbridge station is a 5 minute walk to the meeting point.
An excellent time to visit this famous Surrey birding hotspot where, despite it’s location within the heart of urban inner Surrey, has yielded an enormous number of rarities over the years. Expectation of circa 50 species to include a good selection of raptors, increasing wildfowl and the chance of a passing wader. This time last year a pair of Bearded Tits were found!
Sunday 26th October: RSPB Cliffe Pools, Salt Lane, Rochester, Kent, ME3 7SU (what3words///fluid.staple.reveal).
This will be a morning’s visit meeting at the Salt Lane car park at 09.00am.
This is a well-managed reserve with a combination of pools and lagoons with the River Thames beyond and is well-known for excellent numbers of waders, gulls, wildfowl and returning wintering thrushes.
[Wrong time of year but excellent for Nightingales in May].More details will be posted here following a visit by Andy over next month or so to establish a route for the morning.
Sunday 2nd November Field Trip for New Birders (leader Dave Kiddell) Holmethorpe (near Redhill). Dave will be assisted by Gordon Hey (and if available Ian Kehl). Time and precise meeting point to be confirmed nearer the time. Please let Dave Kiddell know that you will be coming.for an idea on numbers 07881 645322 (please note that this is not a smartphone so Dave cannot answer by text) or email him on . Closer to the time Dave can then let you have the location and time details (once confirmed) too
Sunday 16th November: RSPB Pagham Harbour & Medmerry Reserves (morning walk 4.5 miles flat, uneven in places / WCs open at 09.00 / bring own refreshments | afternoon walk at Medmerry 3.0 miles flat on good paths / no WCs).
The RSPB Visitor Centre has ample parking and is off the Chichester – Selsey B2145 Road (PO20 7NE; what3words///familiar.protected.approve). Plan is to meet at the Centre at 08.30.
Pagham Harbour is a superb reserve at any time of the year, but visiting in November is an excellent time to showcase the full compliment of winter visitors with large numbers of wildfowl and waders to be expected including Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Pintail, Wigeon and Teal together with chance of sea ducks such as Red-breasted Merganser, Eider, Slavonian Grebe and Common Scoter from the beach; Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Curlew and Knot also in close quarters (dependent on the tide) together with the chance of over-wintering Spotted Redshank and Whimbrel.
Raptors such as Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel are regular.
Expectation of seeing 60+ species in the day.
Plan is to spend some time at the Ferry Pool hide (subject to conservation works being completed) and then a flat walk along the southern path up to Church Norton, the beach and the reedbeds at the Severals and then return to the car park for 13.00.
For those that feel energetic, the afternoon will be at RSPB Medmerry (car park on Drove Lane, PO20 7NX; what3words///serve.coffee.banquets) which comprises extensive farmland with gorse and scrub areas towards the sea, which transitions into extensive wetlands and productive pools before reaching the beach. A much newer reserve it is becoming an exciting location for rarer birds, particularly Spoonbill, Great White, Cattle Egret, Merlin and Dartford Warbler whilst also being a good site for Barn Owl, Yellowhammer and Kingfisher. Expecting to be back at the car park at dusk.
Wednesday 26th November: Pen Ponds, Richmond Park (3 miles | relatively flat walk on mostly made paths, but bring sturdy footwear).
A morning’s walk around the Pen Ponds and surrounding woodland. A new venue for SBC so will be interesting to see what we unearth.
Meet at the Pen Ponds car park at 09.00am where there is a cafe for breakfast and drinks (Sat Nav: TW10 5HX; what3words///chose.gravel.tiles). No WCs but there are some by Robin Hood Gate, off the A3 (SW15 3RS; what3words///chemistry.along.indeed).
The 85 and K3 buses stop nearby on Kingston Hill and the 265 and K3 buses stop nearby on the A3. Can arrange pick-ups from there.
Sunday 6th December: Battersea Park and River Thames – details to follow
Sunday 14th December: London Wetland Centre, Barnes (am only, max walk 1.5 miles | easy walking | number of hides, WCs, shop and cafe). Address: WWT London, Queen Elizabeth Walk, Barnes, London, SW13 9WT. More centre info at www.wwt.org.uk/london
Sat Nav: SW13 9WT; what3words///change.united.flag)
Expect to see a good array of wildfowl, gulls, small passerines with the chance of some raptors. Recent SBC visits have yielded Bearded Tit, Bittern, Cetti’s Warbler, Siskin, Stonechat and Peregrine.
Meet by the bridge at the entrance to the Visitor Centre at 10.00am (when it opens). If you are a member please bring your WWT membership card otherwise their is an admission charge of £17.95 for adults (dependent on Gift Aid contribution), with juniors (4-17) £11.65 and 65+ £16.30. If you book online head there are some discounts.
Please remember to register your car when checking in at the Centre as there are penalty payments if you don’t.
Full 2025 itinerary
| Month /date | Venue |
| Jan: Sun 12th am | Dukes Warren, Leith Hill |
| Sun 26th am (led by Penny Williams) | London Wetland Centre |
| Feb: Sun 9th all day | Isle of Sheppey |
| Tues 18th all day | Abberton Reservoir |
| Mar: Sun 16th am | Hayling Island (subject to pathway repairs completed) |
| Wed 26th all day | RSPB Dungeness |
| Apr: Sat 12th all day | Lymington – Keyhaven |
| Wed 30th am (max 15 members) | Beddington Farmlands |
| May: Sat 10th all day (led by Dave Smith) | RSPB Stodmarsh |
| Sun 18th morning | Ashtead Common (Field Trip for New Birders) |
| Fri 23rd evening | Thursley Common |
| June: Sun 8th morning | RSPB Pulborough Brooks |
| Wed 18th evening | RSPB Farnham Heath |
| July: Sun 13th morning (cancelled now 31/08/25) | Guildford and R. Wey (Field Trip for New Birders) |
| Wed 16th evening | Langley Vale |
| Aug: Sat 23rd am | Ringing Demo, Queen Mary Reservoir |
| Aug: Sun 31st am | Guildford and R. Wey (Field Trip for New Birders) |
| Sept: Sun 14th am | Farlington Marshes |
| Oct: Thurs 16th am | Beddington Farmlands |
| Sun 26th am | RSPB Cliffe Pools |
| Nov: Sun 2nd | Holmethorpe Field Trip for New Birders |
| Sun 16th am / pm | Pagham Harbour / Medmerry |
| Wed 26th am | Richmond Park |
| Dec: Sun 6th am | Battersea Park and Vauxhall |
| Sun 14th am | London Wetland Centre |
The Surrey Bird Club hereby gives notice that all arrangements made by the Club for any person taking part in any meeting, visit or other activity are made by the Club as agents for that person and that consequently the Club accepts no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience arising from his or her participation in Club activities. Passengers accept lifts in private cars at their own risk.
Here is some feedback from one of our trips “we learnt such a lot but also everyone was so friendly & we had some lovely chats, sharing suggestions of places to visit, stories of bird related holidays & even book recommendations. We would love to join the Club”
For all enquiries email Andy Harding at