RSPB Walsall Local Group: Field Trips

Members usually travel to the venue by car; car sharing is encouraged, and a lift may be available — please ask for details; or let us know if you intend to meet us at the venue.

**Field trips for 2008 are:**
Date	Venue (plus OS grid ref. and link to maps)	Details
13 January	Ellesmere, Shropshire (SJ405345)	Close to the town of the same name, Ellesmere is the largest of a number of meres in this area. With a small heronry on the island, visible from the visitor centre. In winter it is particularly good for gulls with a large roost often containing some of the rarer species, and usually has a range of wintering ducks including Goosander, Smew. Wintering Cormorants have a roost here — and keep an eye open for the occasional diver.
10 February	Brandon Marsh, Warwickshire (SP3875)	The Warwickshire Wildlife Trust's premier reserve. We have a talk on Brandon Marsh on 19 March.
9 March	RSPB Conwy, Clwyd, Wales (SH797773) and local woodlands.	Coastal lagoons and grassland alongside the Conwy estuary with spectacular views of Snowdonia. Waders and wildfowl are the main interest but well over 200 species have been recorded at this exciting reserve.
6 April	World's End, Llangollen, Denbighshire, Wales (SJ227520)	We're hoping that this walk on the moors will lead us to Black Grouse!
4 May	RSPB Ynis Hir, Ceredigion, Wales (SN682961)	Set on the south side of the Dyfi estuary, this reserve mixes the delights of a Welsh oak woodland with the wet grassland and saltmarshes of the estuary. Spring is a wonderful time to visit the woodland when it is full of bird song and spring flowers.
4 June	Paxton Pits, Little Paxton, Cambridgeshire (TL196629)	Birds have been quick to take advantage of the new wetland habitats created by gravel extraction at Paxton, which is part of the Ouse floodplain. As scrub and woodland develops around the Pits, other birds move in. Around 70 species breed regularly. To date, 234 species have been recorded, though the 'star' birds are undoubtedly Nightingales.
18 June N.B. Wednesday evening 7:30–9:30pm	Venue to be confirmed	Local Walk: Our outdoor summer meeting — a gentle stroll. Please wear stout shoes.
6 July	Rutland Water (SK879071)	We should see nesting Ospreys, and waders on passage.
3 August	Peak District and Buxton (SK059736), Derbyshire	The Peak District offers a wide variety of landscapes, from moorland, to grassy hills, craggy rocks, stone walls, lakes, streams and innumerable public footpaths.
14 September	Youlgrave (SK214637) and Carsington Water (SK253533), Derbyshire	Carsington is a large reservoir; Youlgrave offers woodland and farm birds. (Youlgrave is sometimes spelled "Youlgreave")
12 October	Bridgwater Bay, Somerset (ST104472)	Bridgwater Bay NNR is a large reserve on the north Somerset coast. The site is just north of the town of Bridgwater and comprises the lower reaches of the River Parrett and its estuary, where it flows into the Bristol Channel. Along the coast the site extends north to the town of Burnham-on-Sea and as far west as the village of Lilstock. The NNR is a Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site. Part of the area is a possible Special Area of Conservation (pSAC).
2 November	RSPB Blacktoft Sands, East Yorkshire (SE843232)	Blacktoft Sands is part of the exciting complex of habitats around the Humber estuary. The tidal reedbed is the largest in England and is important for its breeding Bearded Tits and Marsh Harriers. The reserve has saline lagoons, which are rare in Europe and are an ideal habitat for a variety of breeding and migrant waders, including Avocets. To help you enjoy your visit, there are six hides and a reception centre.
30 November	Pennington Flash, Lancashire (SJ640990)	A country park with diverse habitats including a large flooded lake and over 230 species recorded. Small car park fee. In winter large numbers of waterfowl including the rarer Grebes and Smew, also Long-eared Owl, Water Rail, and Willow Tit can be seen daily.

Neither the Group nor the RSPB can accept responsibility for the content of web sites to which we link.