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. 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.
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.
Field Meetings 2025
Sunday January 12th: Hedgecourt Lake & Wire Mill Lake, Felbridge, East Grinstead (morning)
A new venue for the Club, heading to the east of the County, with Hedgecourt Lake being the largest body of water in East Surrey at 17ha.
Expecting to see a good number of waterfowl including Pochard, Tufted Duck and Mandarin with potentially some rarer species such as Goosander. Water Rail, Kingfisher and a regularly over-wintering Bittern might be seen.
Meet at 08.30 at the car park at the junction of Mill Lane and Stubpond Lane, postcode: RH19 2PQ; What3Words ///marked.sooner.remote. Please note that there are no WCs or cafe facilities on site.
After a walk round Hedgecourt, the plan is to head over to the car park at Wire Mill Lake (postcode: RH7 6HJ; What3Words ///photo.zebra.bucked).
Sunday January 26th: WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes (morning)
A regular venue for the Club with an excellent tally of birds last January with Bearded Tit, Bittern, Cetti’s Warbler, Siskin, Stonechat and Peregrine. Expect to see a good array of waterfowl, gulls, small passerines with the chance of some raptors.
Easy walking with a number of hides, WCs, shop and cafe.
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 there is an admission charge of £16.54-18.20 for adults (dependent on Gift Aid contribution), with juniors (4-17) £10.72-11.80 and 65+ £14.90-16.40.
Please remember to register your car when checking in at the Centre as there are penalty payments if you don’t.
Address: WWT London, Queen Elizabeth Walk, Barnes, London, SW13 9WT. More centre info at www.wwt.org.uk/london
Leader: Penny Williams (07771 804357 / )
Sunday February 9th: Isle of Sheppey, North Kent (all day)
A 3 centre visit at this excellent winter birding venue with the focus on ducks, rarer geese, gulls, waders and with the possibility of upto 9 raptor species.
Meeting at 08.30am, we plan to start at the east of the Isle near Shellness, where we will take in the shoreline and the sea from Shell Beach (there is parking either along the road to Shellness or at the entrance to the Swale National Nature Reserve, Shellness Road. (Postcode: ME12 4RP; What3Words ///conga.functions.cabin).
We can then walk onto the Reserve via a flat sturdy path towards the mid-way hide (good for White-fronted Geese and both Marsh and Hen Harrier).
2nd stop will be to park by St Thomas the Apostle church on Harty Ferry Road (and have lunch) and then walk towards the River Swale through some arable fields (buntings, finches, winter thrushes, potential Barn and Short-eared Owls), getting back to the cars for 2pm (Postcode: ME12 4BQ; What3Words ///barn.incurs.rolled).
Final stop will be the RSPB Capel Fleet Raptor Viewpoint where we can scan the fields and open country at all points of the compass whilst watching the Marsh Harriers coming into roost, with the occasional Hen Harrier. Previous visits have yielded Merlin, Peregrine, Great Egret, Common Crane, Whooper Swan, Green Sandpiper, Ruff and Barn Owl and is an excellent spot to watch the resident flock of Corn Buntings. (Postcode: ME12 4BG; What3Words ///stencil.suits.sway).
There will be WC facilities en route between stops. Please bring a packed lunch, sturdy shoes and very warm clothes as can get very chilly at the Raptor Viewpoint.
Wednesday February 19th Abberton Reservoir, Essex (all day)
Full information as to timings and meet points will be provided shortly, but we will be encouraging car sharing as it is a good drive through the Dartford Tunnel and into Essex.
A first class Reserve managed by Essex Wildlife Trust (bring any Wildlife Trust membership cards for free entry) with a huge expanse of water viewed from a number of vantage points and excellent hides. WCs and cafe onsite.
Expect huge numbers of wildfowl but with the chance of rare grebes, swans and sea ducks such as Scaup, Common Scoter and Long-tailed Duck. With luck the currently wintering Canvasback might still be there!
Full itinerary
| Month /date | Venue |
| Jan: Sun 12th am | Hedgecourt Lake |
| Sun 26th am (led by Penny Williams) | London Wetland Centre |
| Feb: Sun 9th all day | Isle of Sheppey |
| Wed 19th all day | Abberton Reservoir |
| Mar: Sun 16th am | Hayling Island |
| Wed 26th all day | RSPB Dungeness |
| Apr: Sat 12th all day | Lymington – Keyhaven |
| Wed 30th am | Beddington Farmlands |
| May: Sat 10th all day (led by Dave Smith) | RSPB Stodmarsh |
| Fri 23rd evening | Thursley Common |
| June: Sun 8th all day | RSPB Pulborough Brooks |
| Wed 18th evening | Chobham Common |
| July: Wed 16th evening | Langley Vale |
| Aug: Sat 23rd am | Ringing Demo, Queen Mary Reservoir |
| Sept: Sun 14th all day | Pagham Harbour / Medmerry |
| Oct: Sun 26th am | Cliffe Pools |
| Wed 8th am | Leith Hill |
| Nov: Sun 16th am | Farlington Marshes |
| Wed 26th am | Richmond Park |
| Dec: Sun 14th am | London Wetlands 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