September 2008

Tuesday 2nd Evening meeting. Blenheim Centre, School Way, Blenheim Chase, Leigh on Sea SS9 4HX. Doors open at 19.30 for a 20.00 start
AGM followed by a talk “Keas, Kakas and Kiwis – New Zealand” by Chris Ward.

Sunday 14th Coach trip - RSPB Minsmere
Toilets, hides, visitor centre, shop & restaurant. Cost £12.00. Coach leaves Civic Centre at 07.30.

Sunday 28th Field meeting - Wat Tyler CP/Vange Marsh.
Meet at 10am in Wat Tyler CP Pitsea behind the Visitor Centre. Turn off the A13 at Pitsea and follow the Country Park signs.

October 2008

Tuesday 7th Evening meeting. Blenheim Centre, School Way, Blenheim Chase, Leigh on Sea SS9 4HX. Doors open at 19.30 for a 20.00 start
- “Wild West Birding” in California and the Grand Canyon by David Cromack.

Sunday 12th Field meeting - Foulness Island.
Numbers limited to 18 people. Cost £10 per head. Please telephone Steve Sanford on 01702 544614 to book your place.

Tuesday 14th Coffee Morning & Sale – WI Hall, Rochford Square. 9 – 12 noon.
Stalls include cakes, preserves, plants, crafts, books, RSPB goods.

Sunday 19th Field meeting – RSPB Rainham Marshes.
Meet in the car park at 10.00.

November 2008

Tuesday 4th Evening meeting. Blenheim Centre, School Way, Blenheim Chase, Leigh on Sea SS9 4HX. Doors open at 19.30 for a 20.00 start
“Deserts, Geese and Cranes” by Bill Coster, one of the world’s top bird photographers.

Sunday 23rd Coach trip - RSPB Elmley & Capel Fleet Raptor Watch Point
Hides & toilets at Elmley. Cost £12.00. Coach leaves Civic Centre at 07.30.

Sunday 30th Field meeting – Thorndon Country Park South.
Exit A127 onto Brentwood road A128. The entrance is almost immediately on the left. Meet at 1000 in car park.

December 2008

Tuesday 2nd Evening meeting. Blenheim Centre, School Way, Blenheim Chase, Leigh on Sea SS9 4HX. Doors open at 19.30 for a 20.00 start
“How Birds Work” by John Buckingham.

Sunday 7th Field meeting - Stambridge/ Barton Hall Creek.
Meet at 1000 in the layby opposite the trout fishery at Great Stambridge.

January 2009

Tuesday 6th Evening meeting. Blenheim Centre, School Way, Blenheim Chase, Leigh on Sea SS9 4HX. Doors open at 19.30 for a 20.00 start
Ann & Phil Farrer with a mixed programme entitled “Red Kites in the Chilterns and Humming Birds”.

Sunday 25th Field meeting - Southend Pier.
Meet at 10.00 at the top level entrance.

February 2009

Sunday 1st Field meeting – Two Tree Island.
Meet at 1000 in the car park. Follow the road behind Leigh railway station. Cross narrow bridge over the creek and park on the left.

Tuesday 3rd Evening meeting. Blenheim Centre, School Way, Blenheim Chase, Leigh on Sea SS9 4HX. Doors open at 19.30 for a 20.00 start
Brian Cleary (RSPB) will update us on RSPB planning matters.

Sunday 15th Coach trip – London Wetland Centre. Barnes.
Toilets, hides, visitor centre, shop & restaurant. Cost £12.00. Entrance – WWT free (bring membership card), Adult £7.50, Conc £5.50, Child £4.20 payable on coach. Coach leaves Civic Centre at 0830.

March 2009

Tuesday 3rd Evening meeting. Blenheim Centre, School Way, Blenheim Chase, Leigh on Sea SS9 4HX. Doors open at 19.30 for a 20.00 start
“Identification of large & small gulls” by David Darrell-Lambert.

Sunday 29th Field meeting – Blue House Farm, North Fambridge.
Take the B1012 road towards Burnham. Make a right turn at the junction with B1010 to North Fambridge. Cross railway and follow road to Blue House Farm. Meet at 10.00.

April 2009

Tuesday 7th Evening meeting. Blenheim Centre, School Way, Blenheim Chase, Leigh on Sea SS9 4HX. Doors open at 19.30 for a 20.00 start
"Camouflage & Mimicry” by Dr Tim Seller.

Sunday 12th Field meeting – Bradwell Bird Observatory.
Follow B1021 to Bradwell and then follow signs to St Peters Chapel. Meet at 10.00.

Sunday 26th Coach trip - RSPB Top Lodge & Rutalnd Water.
Hides, toilets, visitor centre, shop & refreshments available at both. Cost £12.00. Entrance to Rutland Water £2.50 payable on coach. Coach leaves Civic Centre at 7.30.am.

May 2009

Sunday 3rd Field meeting - Holehaven Creek, Canvey Island.
From Benfleet railway station go over the bridge onto the island. At the 1st roundabout take 1st exit. At the next roundabout take 2nd exit onto A130. Stay on A130 until the King Canute Public House which is on the left. At this point turn right into Haven Road and park in the public car park in front of the Lobster Smack PH. Meet at 08.00.

Tuesday 5th Evening meeting. Blenheim Centre, School Way, Blenheim Chase, Leigh on Sea SS9 4HX. Doors open at 19.30 for a 20.00 start
“Birding the Silk Route through Uzbekistan” by Ann & Bob Scott.

Sunday 10th Field meeting - Foulness Island.
Numbers limited to 18 people. Cost £10 per head. Please telephone Steve Sanford on 01702 544614 to book your place.

Sunday 17th Coach trip – Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve.
Toilets, hides & Public House at each end of the reserve. Cost £12.00. Coach leaves Civic Centre at 7.30.am.

June 2009

Sunday 14th Field meeting – RSPB Strumpshaw Fen.
Please meet in the reserve at 10.00. Anyone wanting to car share or who needs a lift, please ring Steve Sanford on 01702 544614.

I had our RSPB stand at the Hockley Woods 'Wiildwoods' event today talking to members of the public. The ususal main topics of these events are either Magpies, Sparrowhawks, Herons or cats. Today the most popular topic by a long way was Jackdaws. We know from our latest sightings pages that we suddenly seem to have a lot of Jackdaws in Southend but it would seem that they are everywhere, From the lady in Hockley that has them nesting in her chimney to another couple in Southend who have Jackdaws on their bird table on a regular basis.

I wonder just how many there are?

Web Author.

Watch the live video of the Loch Garten Ospreys at: http://www.rspb.org.uk/webcams/birdsofprey/lochgar...

Steve Arlow from the Southend Ornithological Group who you will all be familiar with as he has provided some stunning photographs in our photo album pages, has now launched his own website. On Steve's website you will find many local photographs as well as national rarity shots and trip reports from his many foreign expeditions.

The address of Steve's website is http://www.birdersplayground.co.uk/

We wish him all the best for the future of the site.