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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.

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 2026

Saturday 16th May: Dungeness Observatory and RSPB Reserve – FULLY BOOKED

Meet 0830 | All day trip | wear sturdy shoes | cafe and WCs open at 1000 | free car parking | bring scope if possible for sea-watching | bring packed lunch and RSPB membership – may need to pay to park if not £6.00 | WCs at the Reserve open to 1600

Probably one of the most well-known bird migration locations in the UK where literally anything can turn-up around the Observatory, Trapping Area and from the shingle spit beside the power station. Black Redstart is a breeding bird, but also chance of Nightingale, Yellow Wagtail, Cuckoo, warblers and hirundines, together with the potential of divers, skuas, terns and rarer gulls through the English Channel.

In addition, the RSPB Reserve offers a unique environment of gravel pits, shingle, willow and reedbed, supplemented by the ARC pits opposite the Reserve, where a good variety of birds can be located including Bittern, Bearded Tit, Sedge and Reed Warblers along with the likes of Glossy Ibis, Hobby, and Little Ringed Plover.

This is a car sharing opportunity, which we should try and coordinate. Suggesting we meet at the “End of the Line” restaurant car park opposite the white lighthouse (TN29 9HB; What3Words///jugs.interval.deluded). Once parked up head straight for the sea (path by the power station) where some of the group will be seawatching by the hide.

Meet time is 0830, although suspect some will aim to get there earlier for some early seawatching.

Morning will be spent around the Observatory area with lunch in the RSPB car park (Boulderwell Farm, Dungeness Road, Romsey Marsh (TN29 9PN; What3Words///each.northward.motored).

After a walk round the Reserve we will finish “across the road” at the ARC pits where there is a hide and chance of birds coming into roost.

Wednesday 27th May: Nightjar Evening at a South-West Surrey Heath

Final details to be determined in next coming days but will be a meet time of 1900hrs to finish at dusk (likely 2130hrs).

Details to follow shortly

Full Field Meeting Itinerary 2026

*please note the dates for the Global Bird Fair is for information only. There is no Group outing planned for this event, but is well recommended with tickets available from early 2026 from www.globalbirdfair.org.

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Here is some feedback from 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”

“Thoroughly enjoyed today…never seen so many lapwing in my life!!!Great company too😊Thankyou Andy and all you helpful experts🤗“

For all enquiries email Andy Harding at