Tuesday 29 December 2015

Our next meeting on Wednesday January 13th : Sri Lanka

Our next meeting will be Gill Hollamby's talk on Sri Lanka:



Sri Lanka, the Serendib Island. An account of a visit through the important nature areas and reserves featuring the special birds and mammals of this lovely island.






Venue: Kennington WI Hall, Faversham Road, Ashford
Time: 19:30

Entrance fee includes coffee/tea and biscuits.

New members very welcome.

Monday 30 November 2015

WEDNESDAY 9 DECEMBER 7.30PM

Our next meeting is our Christmas evening of quizzes, nibbles, soft drinks and raffles.

We hope you will come along and enjoy your fellow birdwatchers' company, and have a go in one of our light-hearted quizzes (not all on birdy themes).



We will have our usual raffle, so it will be good if you can bring along and donate a prize as well as some cash for your raffle tickets.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Season's greetings
from 
Andrew & All the Committee

Sunday 1 November 2015

WEDNESDAY 11 NOVEMBER : ON THE TRAIL OF THE CRANE

Our next meeting has Ralph and Brenda Todd talking about Cranes:

On the Trail of the Crane – part 1 - A journey through Europe

"For many years this is a family of birds we have found to be most interesting and enigmatic. That they live in some wonderful areas of the world is an added bonus. Of the 15 species in the world we have seen and photographed 11 but what experiences they have given us. In this first part we take a brief look at the crane family and some of the conservation issues that surround them. For the most part however we shall take an in depth look at the Eurasian (common) Crane which breeds in Northern Scandinavia. We have followed its fortunes on its migration route from Extremadura in Spain, through Northern France into Sweden where they congregate to fulfil their courtship ritual and dances and finally into Finland where its success depends on the vast wilderness areas to be found there.

We shall also touch on the history and future of Cranes in England.

We hope to show that by following the fortunes of just one species we can enjoy a whole range of other wildlife, particularly birds, and some rather pleasant places to stay on route".

Venue: Kennington WI Hall, Faversham Road, Ashford
Time: 19:30

Entrance fee includes coffee/tea and biscuits.

New members very welcome.

Andrew

Monday 26 October 2015

OARE MARSHES THURSDAY 29TH OCTOBER 10.00

To confirm our next field meeting will be at Oare Marshes meeting at 10.00 in the CP on Thursday 29th October.

High tide is around 13.30 so with luck we can see the waders coming into the reserve.

Stout shoes, scopes and sandwiches adviseable!

Andrew

Tuesday 6 October 2015

OUR NEXT MEETING WEDNESDAY 14TH OCTOBER: Crossing Boundaries

Crossing Boundaries. Rolf Williams
A unique story of birds and people on the high seas of Iraq.                                                

Rolf Williams served in the Royal Navy. Join him in a dramatic story of unfolding human and wildlife drama in the dangerous waters of the North Arabian Gulf. 
When the flagship’s deck fills with migrating birds Rolf is ‘ordered’ to an Iraqi oil platform ten miles out at sea to witness an avian spectacle - thousands of birds are on the move. With no plants at all, and not a song to be heard, will you be able to identify the dizzying variety of species he has photographed for you? Find out where the birds are coming from and going to and what happens when they drop into this politically charged environment.


VENUE: WI Hall, Faversham Road, Ashford
TIME: 7.30PM

Wednesday 14th October 2015

Sunday 20 September 2015

FIELD MEETING RECULVER TUESDAY 29TH SEPT

Our first field meeting in the new programme will be along the coast at Reculver, meeting in the CP by Reculver towers.   Meet at 10.00; bring packed lunch. It's fairly exposed there so dress appropriately! We'll be looking for waders, raptors and migrants.



Future dates for your diary: Thursday 29th October  (likely to be Oare but tbc) and Tuesday 10th November (Likely to be Dungeness but tbc).

Andrew

Monday 7 September 2015

ALONG THE TEES

Our first indoor meeting of the new programme is Club Chairman Andrew Lapworth's talk: Along the Tees.

Andrew's talk will feature some of the famous birds and flowers (and a little geology) of this great northern river.



VENUE: WI Hall, Faversham Road, Ashford
TIME: 7.30PM
Wednesday 9 September 2015

Friday 26 June 2015

Our new programme of Indoor meetings for 2015-2016

Our new programme of indoor meetings is now listed. The meetings start in September 2015 and run through to April 2016. Click on the Tab to see the programme.

All meetings start at 19:30hrs at the Kennington WI Hall, Faversham Road, Ashford, TN24 9AN.

There is usually a £3.00 admission fee and the meeting includes tea/coffee and biscuits.

We will be announcing our new programme of Outdoor field meetings during the summer.

Andrew


Saturday 30 May 2015

OUR NEXT FIELD MEETING ON WEDNESDAY 24 JUNE 2015

A little later in the month this year in the hope of a warmer evening. We will meet at 20.30 hrs at the CP at Challock to see if we can hear and see Nightjars.

We often have quite a wait for the birds to perform and it's usually getting dark before we see or hear much, so remember to bring warm clothes, a torch and insect repellent just in case.

Meet at the main forest car park off White Hill Road, Challock.

If you are intending to come please let me know up to a day or so beforehand or contact me for further details   andrew_lapworth@hotmail.com

Andrew

Wednesday 6 May 2015

OUR NEXT OUTDOOR MEETING WEDNESDAY 27TH MAY AT 19.30

Our next field meeting will be to listen to the evening chorus, including we hope, Nightingales.
This year Gill Hollamby is leading our meeting at Faggs Wood (near Hamstreet) at 19.30 on Wednesday 27 May.

The Grid Ref for Faggs Wood Car Park is TQ 986347.

Stout shoes, insect repellent and a torch might be useful!


Andrew

Thursday 16 April 2015

MONDAY 27 April



Field Meeting starting at 10.am at Singleton Environment Centre, Ashford TN23 5LW.  We will be here for an hour approximately then will be going to Hothfield Heathlands  for the remainder of the morning. There should be summer migrants at both venues. If you are planning to attend, please email  heather.silk2@calluna50.plus.com.

Sunday 5 April 2015

THIS WEEK'S MEETINGS: AGM, NEW PHOTOS & RYE HARBOUR

Following our Indoor meeting this Wednesday (8th April) evening we have an outdoor meeting the following day (Thursday 9th) looking for Spring migrants at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. We will walk out along the main paths into the reserve towards the hides. Quite a long walk but on hard surfaces. Worth bringing scopes if you have one.

Meet at the main CP by the Martello Tower at 10.00. Also bring lunch and warm clothing.

Rye Harbour website

Andrew

Tuesday 24 March 2015

OUR MEETING APRIL 8th

Our Indoor meeting on April 8th is the AGM, Raffle and Members' Evening. Our AGM is always brief and informal. If anyone would like to bring along photos and/or images on memory sticks, please contact Andrew at andrew_lapworth@hotmail.com in advance. Raffle prizes are always welcome! HS

Wednesday 4 March 2015

OUR 11th MARCH MEETING

Our March 11th meeting starting at 19.30 features Simon Ginnaw giving  an illustrated talk about his local birdwatching patch, Mote Park, Maidstone.

His talk is called A year on my local patch.

All welcome. Do come along. £3 entry includes tea/coffee and biscuits.

HS




 

Saturday 28 February 2015

THURSDAY 5 MARCH OUTDOOR MEETING

Thursday 5th March 10.00am

Weather permitting, our field meeting will now be at Reculver as Oare Marshes is not currently suitable for a club visit.

So we will meet at 10.00am in the CP below the Reculver Tower. Bring packed lunch, appropriate outdoor clothes and suitable footwear!
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/reculver-towers-and-roman-fort/directions

NB there is a small charge in the CP

Please let me know if you intend to come.
thanks

Andrew



Wednesday 25 February 2015

OARE VISIT CANCELLED. The road and reserve is still like a building site and not really suitable for a group visit. Instead we will meet at the CP at Reculver Tower at 10.00am
Andrew


Our next field meeting........


Will be at Oare Marshes on Thursday 5th March meeting at 10.00am.

High tide is at 12.25 so we will hopefully see lots of waders on the floods. Bring packed lunch and appropriate clothing.




Wednesday 4 February 2015

Five of us had a successful meeting at Stodmarsh on Monday afternoon. Bitterly cold but still. We had great views of a ringtail (poss Juv male) Hen Harrier and a close female Stonechat at Grove Ferry end. At Stodmarsh later at dusk we watched 12-14 Harriers coming into the roost after seeing close views of a flock of feeding Bearded Tits (and a very tame Robin feeding from my hand). 
Andrew






Reminder: Our next indoor meeting is on Wednesday 11th February at 7.30pm and sees the return of popular Kent lecturer and photographer John Buckingham. Many will know John has become a keen and active bird ringer over the last few years. 

His brand new talk is called My first four years bird ringing (at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory) 

"During my first years of ringing I have been able to extend my lifetime interest in birds, build up my knowledge of migration, populations, longevity and survival and have enjoyed a thoroughly fascinating, stimulating and absorbing time".  JB. 




Thursday 29 January 2015

STODMARSH MONDAY 2 FEBRUARY

To confirm our next outdoor meeting is at Stodmarsh NNR. Meet at 13.00hrs (1pm) in the CP at Grove Ferry (fee to be paid) for winter birds. Later in the afternoon we will then drive round to the Stodmarsh end to walk out along the Lampen Wall (hopefully) to see the harriers coming into roost as it gets dark. So we will be there until it is virtually dark. Wellies and torch useful (but you might get away with boots as the Stodmarsh end is now gravelly). 

In the event of severe weather we may have to cancel this meeting at short notice. Please check back on this website for info. 

Monday 19 January 2015

Our next indoor meeting is on Wednesday 11th February at 7.30pm and sees the
return of popular Kent lecturer and photographer John Buckingham.

His talk is called My first four years bird ringing (at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory) 

"During my first years of ringing I have been able to extend my lifetime interest in birds, build up my knowledge of migration, populations, longevity and survival and have enjoyed a thoroughly fascinating, stimulating and absorbing time".



Sunday 4 January 2015

Let's Go North in January



Our first meeting in 2015 coming up on Wednesday 14th January is going to be given by ABWC member Gill Hollamby and is called "Let's Go North: visiting Scandinavia & Iceland". Do come along and enjoy one of Gill's excellent and entertaining talks.



7.30 pm at the WI Hall, Faversham Road, Kennington, Ashford.