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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 travel queries, trip updates, car shares etc. Please message Andy, if you are a member, on the above number to join the WhatsApp Group.

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

Saturday 6th December: Battersea Park and River Thames (leader Dave Kiddell)

A walk of approx. 2 miles over Vauxhall Bridge and along the north bank of the Thames to Battersea Park and return.

Flat, easy walking along pavements where we hope to see a surprising number of birds this close to central London. The tide will be low so hopefully, plenty of Gulls and other waterfowl along the river and in Battersea Park with an outside chance of something rarer such as a Black Redstart heard singing there earlier in the year.

Meet at the south side of Vauxhall Bridge at 09:30. Toilets and local cafes at various places along the route. Vauxhall mainline and underground stations plus connections to many bus routes are very near to the bridge.

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

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 heard 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 Field Meeting Itinerary 2026

Date	Timing	Venue
January
Sunday 11th	AM	Papercourt Marshes
Friday 23rd	All day	Titchwell Haven
February
Sunday 8th	All day	Elmley Marshes / RSPB Raptor Viewpoint
Wednesday 18th	All day	Abberton Reservoir / Copt Hall Marshes
March
Friday 13th	Morning	Tice’s Meadow
Saturday 21st	All day	Oare Marshes / North Kent Coast
April
Thursday 2nd	Morning	Beddington Farmlands
Monday 20th	All day	Pulborough Brooks
May
Friday 8th	Morning	Newlands Corner
Saturday 16th	Morning	Tide Mills & Splash Point
Wednesday 27th	Evening	Nightjar Evening TBA
June
Friday 12th	Morning	Knepp
Saturday 27th	Morning	Hoe Valley
July
Wednesday 8th	Owling Evening	Bushy Park
Friday 10th – Sunday 12th	Global Birdfair	Lyndon Top, Rutland
Wednesday 22nd	Owling Evening	Bushy Park
August
Saturday 22nd	Morning	Hersham Ringing Group
Friday 28th	Morning	Seawatching TBA
September
Saturday 5th	Morning	RSPB Wallasea Island
Thursday 17th – Sunday 20th	Club Away trip	TBA
October
Saturday 3rd	Morning	Beddington Farmlands
Thursday 15th	All day	Pagham Harbour
November
Sunday 1st	Morning	Holmethorpe
Wednesday 11th	Morning	Leith Hill
Sunday 29th	All day	Farlington Marshes / Hayling Island
December
Saturday 12th	Morning	Staines Moor
Wednesday 16th	Morning	WWT London

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