Events
Unless otherwise specified, you do not need to be a member of the RSPB (or the local group) to join us on our events, and birdwatching experience is not necessary.Use this table to jump to the events for that month
January Events February Events March Events April Events
May Events June Events July Events August Events
September Events October Events November Events December Events
JANUARY 2020
Sunday 5 January 10am – 4pm
Shellness & Capel Fleet
Meet at the sea wall at Leysdown to walk to Shellness to see the wader roost ME12 4RJ. Afterwards to Capel Fleet raptor watchpoint ME12 4BA
Leaders: Paul & Maria
Thursday 9 January 7:30pm – 9:45pm
Northfleet School for Girls
“Birdwatching in Yunnan (China)” by Jeff Blincow. Our programme starts with Jeff’s winter trip to Yunnan, featuring birds, fungi, dragonflies & dinosaurs!
Saturday 25 January 10am – 4pm
Elmley nnr (WC)
Meet at reserve car park ME12 3RW. An entry fee of £5 per car applies. Wintering wildfowl, waders, raptors, and hares on the drive in. Leaders: Irene & Terry
Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 Jan 1 hour
Big Garden Birdwatch
Record the wildlife you see in your garden for 1 hour. Submit your results on the RSPB website and be part of the 2020 BGBW!
Tuesday 28 January 2pm – 4pm
Masonic Halls
“101 things you never knew about garden birds” by Chris Ward. How well do we really know our garden birds? Join us to find out more.
FEBRUARY 2020
Sunday 9 February 10am – 4pm
Dungeness Lighthouse and RSPB reserve (WC)
Park in the Old Lighthouse car park Gulls, grebes & gannets on the sea, TN29 9NA. Later to the RSPB reserve for wintering waterbirds, TN29 9PN
Leaders: Sue & Cliff
Thursday 13 February 7:30pm – 9:45pm
Northfleet School for Girls
“The Gambia” by Howard Vaughan. Howard has worked at RSPB Rainham Marshes for 15 years & is the Visitor Experience Officer. He is an excellent all-round naturalist.
Saturday 22 February 10am – 4pm
Sevenoaks KWT reserve (WC)
Meet in the car park TN13 3DH. Geese and grebes on the lakes. Redpolls and siskins in the alder trees. Refreshments available.
Leaders: Claire & Jim
Tuesday 25 February 2pm – 4pm
Masonic Halls
“Seabirds of the British Isles” by Brian Gallop. With miles of coast around Britain, sea birds are found everywhere, attracted to our cliffs and islands to breed & feed.
MARCH 2020
Sunday 8 March 10am – 4pm
Rainham marshes rspb (wc)
Meet in the reserve car park RM19 1SZ. Marsh Harrier and Short-eared Owl, stonechats and bearded tits.
Leaders: Norman & Sandra
Thursday 12 March 7:30pm – 9:45pm
Northfleet School for Girls
“Orangutans in Borneo and Sumatra” by Alison Bristo. Alison shares stories & experiences gained in voluntary work with Orangutans for the Sumatran Orangutan Society, also describing the personal ‘journey’ that led her to Borneo.
Saturday 21 March 10am—4pm
Blean Woods KWT (no wc) & Reculver (WC)
Meet at the reserve car park, north side of Hicks Forstal Rd. Woodpeckers and woodland birds, CT3 4JS. Later to Reculver for wintering Brent geese & snow buntings, CT6 6SS
Leaders: Hazel & Steve
Tuesday 24 March 2pm – 4pm
Masonic Halls
“Wildlife in winter in northern Japan” by Paul Hale. From Japanese Cranes & Stellars Sea Eagles to Japanese Macaques bathing in hot springs, we also look at Japanese culture.
APRIL 2020
Sunday 5 April 10am – 4pm
Oare Marshes KWT reserve
Meet at the car park ME13 0QA. Waders on the scrape and small birds in the reed beds.
Leaders: Irene & Terry
Thursday 9 April 7:30pm – 9:45pm
Northfleet School for Girls
“Britain’s coastal birds & their secret lives” by Simon Ginnaw. A scenic journey around the coast discovering the lives of our fascinating sea birds, from Puffins to Purple Sandpipers, Guillemots to Gulls, Razorbills to Redshanks.
Sunday 19 April 5am—9am DAWN CHORUS
Cliffe pools RSPB Reserve (WC)
Meet in Cliffe village car park near the church ME3 7QJ. Nightingales, blackcaps, whitethroat, song thrush, cuckoo and turtle dove. Leader: Paul Yetman
Tuesday 21 April 10am – 1pm
COBHAM MAUSOLEUM (no WC)
Meet in the car park at the end of Lodge Lane, Cobham DA12 3BS. A walk through Cobham Woods to hear Spring bird song & see woodland flowers.
Leaders: Malcolm & Sally
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MAY 2020
Sunday 3 May 10am – 4pm
Stodmarsh nnr (WC)
Meet in the reserve car park CT3 4BE. Warblers in the reed beds, hobbies & marsh harriers overhead.
Leaders: Paul & Maria
Thursday 14 May 7:30pm – 9:45pm
Northfleet School for Girls
AGM followed by “Mediterranean birds” by John Buckingham. John has spent 40 years travelling the Mediterranean coast & islands of southern Europe. Tonight he describes the stunning birds, flowers & butterflies he has seen.
Saturday 16 May 10am – 4pm
Northward Hill RSPB (WC)
Meet at Bromhey Farm car park ME3 8DS. Join us to see & hear Spring birds; nightingales, whitethroats, blackcaps.
Leaders: John & Pauline
Tuesday 26 May 10.15am – 1pm
Knole Park NT
Meet in the National Trust car park, TN13 1HX – NB. Slightly later start time. Entry charges apply for non NT members. This open parkland has green woodpeckers, thrushes, pipits, yellowhammer and redstart.
Leaders: Malcolm & Sally
Sunday 31 May 8am departure COACH TRIP
RSPB MINSMERE (WC)
A lovely reserve with woodland, heathland, coast & pools full of wildlife. Visitor centre, café & hides. Details on our Coach Trips page & at meetings.
Organiser: Hazel Cullum
JUNE 2020
Nightjar evening
We hope to visit an area of Kent in June/July where Nightjars can be seen. Details of venue and date will be announced on our website or email group leader nearer the time.
Sunday 14 June 10am—4pm
Ashdown Forest
Meet car park opposite Old Lodge reserve on the B2026 (TQ470305) TN22 3JD. Common redstart, woodlark, tree pipit, hobby & spotted flycatcher! More details at www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk
Leaders: Paul & Maria
Tuesday 23 June 10am – 1pm
Northward Hill RSPB (WC)
Meet at Bromhey Farm car park ME3 8DS. Whitethroats, blackcaps & a visit to the heronry to look for herons & egrets.
Leaders: Malcolm & Sally
Saturday 27 June 10am – 4pm
Sevenoaks KWT reserve (WC)
Meet in the car park TN13 3DH. Flowers, butterflies, dragonflies, and ducks & geese with their young.
Leaders: Jeff & Wendy
JULY 2020
Sunday 12 July 10am – 4pm
Samphire Hoe (WC)
Meet in the car park CT17 9FL. Black redstart & house martin on the cliffs with fulmars, ravens & peregrines.
Leaders: Neville & Louise
Saturday 25 July 10am – 4pm
Warnham Nature Reserve, Horsham
Meet in car park RH12 2RA. A new venue with trails, hides & visitor centre. £2 entry. Warnham Millpond has many different habitats attracting water & woodland birds & supporting a variety of plants, fungi and insects.
Leaders: Hazel & Steve
Tuesday 28 July 10am – 1pm
Allhallows-on-sea
Meet by the ’British Pilot’ pub ME3 9QW. A walk to Yantlett Creek & along the Thames river wall. The muddy shore attracts gulls, oystercatchers & waders.
Leaders: Malcolm & Sally
AUGUST 2020
Sunday 9 August 10am – 4pm
Oare Marshes KWT reserve
Meet in car park ME13 0QA. Reed buntings, bearded tits & warblers in the reed beds. Early returning waders on the scrape.
Leader: Sue
Friday 21 August 6.30pm – approx. 9pm DUSK VISIT
Mote Park
Meet in the car park off Mote Ave. ME15 7SU. An evening walk to see bats hunting moths in the warm evening air—bring a bat detector if you have one & insect repellent. There will be a small fee.
Leaders: Paul & Simon
Tuesday 25 August 10am – 1pm
Sevenoaks KWT reserve (WC)
Meet in the car park, TN13 3DH for a Summer visit to see flowers, butterflies & dragonflies and ducks & geese with their young.
Leaders: Sally & Malcolm
SEPTEMBER 2020
Saturday 5 September 10am – 4pm
Rainham Marshes RSPB (WC)
Meet in the reserve car park RM19 1SZ. Dragonflies, butterflies, frogs, ducks, geese & migrant birds.
Leader: Sue
Thursday 10 September 7:30pm – 9:45pm
Northfleet School for Girls
“RSPB reserves & their birds” by Gary Prescott. Gary, the Biking Birder 2016, has twice visited every RSPB & WWT reserve in the UK. He will talk about the birds & other wildlife to be enjoyed in these special places.
Sunday 20 September 10am—4pm
Dungeness Lighthouse and RSPB reserve (WC)
Meet in Old Lighthouse car park, TN29 9NA. Wheatears, redstarts and goldcrests. Later at RSPB reserve TN29 9PN for waterbirds of all kinds.
Leaders: Sue & Cliff
Tuesday 22 September 2pm – 4pm
Masonic Halls
“Pineapple peril for palearctic migrants & African woodland species” by Ann Scott. Hear how money raised in a memorial appeal for Anne’s husband Bob, is used to save Kenyan coastal habitat for eastern bird migrants.
OCTOBER 2020
Saturday 3 October 10am – 4pm
Elmley NNR (WC)
Meet at the reserve car park ME12 3RW. An entry fee of £5 per car applies. Excellent location for wintering wildfowl, waders and raptors. Leader: Hazel & Steve
Thursday 8 October 7:30pm – 9:45pm
Northfleet School for Girls
“Penguin paradise—the wildlife of Antarctica” by Bill Coster. Professional photographer Bill recalls a month-long journey to South Georgia & the Antarctic peninsula.
Saturday 17 October 8:30am departure COACH TRIP
Pulborough Brooks RSPB reserve
The Arun Valley is a refuge for wildfowl in winter. Fieldfares & redwings in the hedges, siskins & redpolls in the woodland. Visitor centre & café. Details on our Coach Trips page & at meetings.
Organiser: Hazel Cullum
Tuesday 27 October 2pm – 4pm
Masonic Halls
“Extinct birds of New Zealand” by Victoria Golding. Victoria, who grew up in New Zealand, shares her passion for the conservation of it’s birds, including the critically endangered Kakapo.
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NOVEMBER 2020
Sunday 1 November 10am – 4pm
Grain (no WC) & Northward Hill RSPB (WC)
Meet in Grain car park ME3 0BS. The muddy shore attracts gulls, oystercatchers & waders. Later to Bromhey Farm, Northward Hill ME3 8DS to see & hear the corvids come to roost.
Leaders: Peter & Karen
Thursday 12 November 7:30pm – 9:45pm
Northfleet School for Girls
“Kent – the wildlife garden of England” by Dr André Farrar. Andre grew up near the North Downs. He considers the challenges & opportunities of ensuring that the ‘Garden of England’ remains rich in wildlife.
Saturday 14 November 10am—1pm
Volunteer day
Details to be announced later on our website & at meetings.
Leaders: Paul & Sue
Tuesday 24 November 2pm – 4pm
Masonic Halls
“Unwrapping raptors – an id guide” by David Darrell-Lambert. David’s interactive guide cuts out all the chaff (not finch) to help you work out what winged hunter is in the sky above or perched in front of you.
Sunday 29 November 10am – 4pm
Stodmarsh NNR (WC)
Meet in car park CT3 4BE. Redpoll and Siskins in the woodland. Marsh harriers over the reed beds.
Leaders: Irene & Terry
DECEMBER 2020
Thursday 10 December 7:30pm – 9:45pm
Northfleet School for Girls
A social evening – A meeting to review the year and enjoy some festive refreshments and quizzes.
Saturday 12 December 10am-4pm
Cliffe Pools RSPB
Meet in the car park off Salt Lane ME3 7SX. Cliffe attracts all kinds of waders, wildfowl & small birds in winter, and raptors such as marsh harrier & peregrine.
Leaders: Norman & Sandra