Events
Due to the Covid pandemic, all our outdoor meetings planned for the first half of 2021 have been cancelled.
If lockdown easing goes to plan, we hope to hold our first outdoor meeting on Sunday 11th July at Samphire Hoe. This will be subject to guidance prevailing at the time, so please check our website for the latest information before attending any meetings.
We hope to resume our indoor meetings in September, but again this will be subect to prevailing guidance at that time.
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 2021
Thursday 14 January from 7.30 pm ZOOM talk
“Kent – the Wildlife Garden of England” by Dr André Farrar
André grew up in the heart of the North Downs. He considers the mix of challenges and opportunities to ensure that the Garden of England remains brimming with its richness of wildlife. Tickets available from Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kent-the-wildlife-garden-of-england-zoom-talk-by-andre-farrar-tickets-133884043779
Friday 29th – Sunday 31st Jan
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
Take part in the world’s largest wildlife survey and do something great for nature. Just choose an hour any time over the three days and enjoy time with nature counting birds.
Submit your results on the RSPB website and be part of the 2021 BGBW!
FEBRUARY 2021
Thursday 11 February 7.30 -8.45p.m. including Q&A ZOOM talk
“African Adventures” by John Buckingham
We welcome John back to present this new talk
MARCH 2021
Thursday 11 March 7.30pm-9.00 pm ZOOM talk
“Wildlife in Winter in Northern Japan” by Paul Hale
From Japanese Cranes and Steller’s Sea Eagles to Japanese Macaques bathing in hot springs, we also look at Japanese culture.
APRIL 2021
Sunday 4 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 8 April 7.30pm-9.00pm Programme change: This will now be a ZOOM talk
“RSPB Reserves and their Birds” by Gary Prescott
Gary Prescott, also known as the Biking Birder 2016, has visited every RSPB and WWT reserve in the UK twice (by bicycle) and will talk about the variety of birds and other wildlife to be enjoyed in these special places.
Sunday 18 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 20 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
MAY 2021
Sunday 2 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 13 May 7.30pm-9.00pm Programme change: This will now be a ZOOM talk
“Wildlife in Finnmark” by Jeff Blincow
Jeff first visited Finnmark in 1980 primarily to see the birdlife and has returned every summer for the last few years to enjoy and study the wildlife. Finnmark is the northern part of Norway with Finland to the south and Russia to the east. Most of the area where Jeff records wildlife is either classic alpine or arctic tundra habitats. These are seriously harsh conditions for plants and animals to survive and the talk will focus on these true survivors of Europe.
Please note, this is a change to our original programme – the original speaker has been rebooked for 2022.
Saturday 15 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 25 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 30 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 website & at meetings.
Organiser: Hazel Cullum
JUNE 2021
June/July Nightjar evening
Details of venue and date will be given on our website or email group leader nearer the time.
Sunday 13 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 22 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 26 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 2021
Sunday 11 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 24 July 10am – 4pm
WARNHAM Nature Reserve, Horsham
Meet in car park RH12 2RA. A new venue with trails, hides, a visitor centre and many different habitats. £3 entry.
Leaders: Hazel & Steve
Tuesday 27 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 2021
Sunday 8 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 20 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 24 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 2021
Saturday 4 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 16th September 7.30pm-9.45pm
**NB this date is a change from original programme**
Northfleet School for Girls
“Mediterranean Birds” by John Buckingham
John has spent 40 years travelling the Mediterranean coast and islands of southern Europe. Tonight, we will enjoy some of the stunning and colourful birds plus flowers and butterflies that he has seen.
Sunday 19 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 28 September 2pm-4pm
Masonic Hall
“Pineapple Peril for Palearctic Migrants and African Woodland Species” by Ann Scott
Join us to find out how money raised by a Memorial Appeal for Ann’s beloved husband, Bob Scott, is being used to save some of the Kenyan coastal forest habitat, for eastern bird migrants.
OCTOBER 2021
Saturday 2 October 10am – 4pm
Elmley nnr (WC)
Meet at the reserve car park ME12 3RW. An excellent location for wintering wildfowl, waders and raptors.
NB (this is a change to the original programme): There is an entry fee of £7 per person – this is a group discounted rate. There is no charge for current “Friends of Elmley”.
If you wish to attend, you must contact one of the Committee members first to book a place. Even though Friends of Elmley don’t have to pay they still have to register via us, rather than book their tickets through Elmley’s website as usual. Committee members can be contacted via the Committee page on this website. Places will be limited and the Reserve has requested that we make a Group booking. More details will be published nearer the date.
Leader: Hazel & Steve
Thursday 14 October 7.30pm-9.45pm
Northfleet School for Girls
“Britain’s Coastal Birds & Their Secret Lives” by Simon Ginnaw
Enjoy a scenic journey around the British coastline discovering the lives of our fascinating coastal birds, from Puffins to Purple Sandpipers, Guillemots to Gulls, Razorbills to Redshanks. Our coastal birds are some of the most specialised & nomadic species on this planet. Each species is adapted to life in some of our wildest habitats.
Saturday 16 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.
Organiser: Hazel Cullum
Tuesday 26 October 2pm-4pm
Masonic Hall
“Extinct Birds of New Zealand” by Victoria Golding
Victoria grew up in New Zealand and shares her passion for conservation and birds of New Zealand, including the fascinating but critically endangered Kakapo.
Sunday 31 October 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
NOVEMBER 2021
Thursday 11 November 7.30pm-9.45pm
Northfleet School for Girls
“Penguin Paradise—the Wildlife of Antarctica” by Bill Coster
Professional photographer Bill Coster recalls a month-long journey to South Georgia and the Antarctic peninsula.
Saturday 13 November 10am—1pm
Volunteer day
Details to be announced on our website & at meetings.
Leader: Paul
Tuesday 23 November 2pm-4pm
Masonic Hall
“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 menace is in the sky or perched in front of you.
Sunday 28 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 2021
Thursday 9 December 7.30pm-9.45pm
Northfleet School for Girls
Social Evening – A chance to meet to review the year, enjoy some festive refreshments and quizzes.
Saturday 11 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