Programme

Indoor meetings are held at the Anglian Water Fishing Lodge, Pitsford Reservoir, Holcot at 19:30.  Details of the site can be found here:

http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/_assets/media/pitsford-water-nature-reserve.pdf

Barn Owl courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Programme for 2026

Wednesday 7th January sees the return of Jacob Spinks detailing the work at Dungeness Bird Observatory during 2025 and the migratory findings.

Wednesday 4th February is the eagerly awaited annual club photographic competition - an evening enjoying the images created by Bird Club members both locally and abroad.

Wednesday 4th March will be the club's AGM plus a presentation by county birding guru Bob Bullock 'The Top 10 Northants Birding Sites' with pictures of birds from over the years from these areas which have helped define birding locally.

Wednesday 1st April and a return visit and presentation from David James, the county butterfly recorder, on 'Northants Butterflies through the Year'. David will be providing details on what can be seen during the calendar year and providing an insight as to where butterflies go to in the winter.

Wednesday 6th May is planned as an outdoor meeting and guided tour at Rectory Farm, Great Easton the home of Eyebrook Wildbird Foods meeting at 10am. Find out how this farm has won national awards for farming and the environment with a tour by Fay Smith-Johnson or one of the family. The tour is free and also includes an opportunity of seeing some of the wildlife using the farm, an insight into the wild bird food aspect of the farm and a traditional afternoon tea and cake/scone! Great Easton is just inside Leicestershire off the Welland Valley and easily reached via Rockingham village - this visit could include a visit to Eyebrook Reservoir which is adjacent to the farm. Numbers are not limited but prospective attendees are asked to email neil.mcmahonoriole@btinternet.com and more details can be provided/car sharing opportunities can be explored.

Wednesday 3rd June and our annual BBQ and social evening at The Lodge, Pitsford Reservoir.

Wednesday 1st July and a presentation by Chris Hubbard on 'My Patch Birding Year at Stanford Reservoir'. Chris is an active birder locally and in Leicestershire and endeavors to see as many species as possible whilst birding at Stanford Reservoir. He maintains a blog of the daily sightings from everyone and helps out with conservation work and supports the Stanford Ringing Group.

Wednesday 5th August and John Fuller will present on his exploits in the wildlife-rich country of Brazil - The Highs and Lows of Birding Brazil's Atlantic Rainforest.

As the largest country in South America, Brazil's huge size means this incredible country encompasses a range of habitat types. On it's east coast, the Atlantic Rainforest hosts an incredible array of birds, including bright and beautiful species and local endemics. Surprisingly, most of them can be seen in a relatively short space of time - as little as a week! That's just what John Fuller did, embarking on a trip to explore this landscape on an organised group tour. He recounts this exploration from low-lying wetland to altitude forest and back, illustrating the birds and wildlife along the way.

Wednesday 2nd September and an evening of three planned short presentations, yet to be confirmed but likely to be:-

1. The Pitsford Vision - plans for the reserve at Pitsford Reservoir by Mischa Cross or Kev Rowley;

2. Birds of Fuerteventura - by our chair Bob Gill;

3. Birds of St Lucia - by committee member Dave Jackson.

Wednesday 7th October - Birdwatching in the Andaman Islands by club member Jeff Blincow. It wouldn't be the same without an annual input from our all-round wildlife guru Jeff who will be presenting on his visit this year to these islands in the Indian Ocean somewhere between Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

Wednesday 4th November and an update by a staff member of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire on the exciting Strawberry Hill reserve in neighbouring Bedfordshire. This follows on from an initial presentation at the club in 2024 when the trust were successfully raising funds for the purchase of the reserve which both members and the club contributed towards.

Wednesday 2nd December and Naturetrek tour leader Richard Bashford returns to the club to present his 'Georgia in Spring' talk. Georgia's location on the eastern side of Europe and just north of Turkey means much of its wildlife is a vibrant mix of both European and Middle Eastern with a bit of Asia too! The magnificent Caucasian mountains in particular are home to some very special birds. Richard's talk will showcase this superb region with such show-stoppers at Guldenstadt's Redstart and Great Rosefinch alongside more familiar species such as Bearded Vulture and Wallcreeper. Other habitat provides Green Warbler, Armenian Gull, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Black Francolin and many others...all set amongst spectacular scenery.

Programme for 2027

Wednesday 6th January sees the return of Jacob Spinks and this time presenting on the virtues of winter birding in north-east Spain.

Wednesday 3rd February - the annual club Photograph Competition.

Wednesday 3rd March and the club AGM plus a speaker to be announced.

Wednesday 2nd June - the club BBQ and Social Evening (7pm start).

Wednesday 7th July - an outdoor meeting with a 7pm start, the venue yet to be announced.

Wednesday 1st September - members evening with a You Tube video - Primate research in Borneo 2008 to 2012 by David Smith and presented by his father Frank Smith - covering the ecology of the country and it's wildlife.  Bob Bullock will also be providing a photographic presentation on a recent trip to Taiwan.

Wednesday 3rd November - a presentation by Drew Lyness from the British Trust for Ornithology on Migration Stations.

Drew Lyness is the Development and Engagement Coordinator for BTO (focusing on England), as well as a freelance bird tour guide and a volunteer for the RSPB at Strumpshaw Fen reserve in Norfolk - a county in which he lives and also sits on the county rarities committee. He is an experienced speaker with a passion for science communication and birding.

Talk info: Get ready to discover the spectacular journeys and unimaginable surprises that science has so far revealed about the lives of some of our most treasured species. Expect Cuckoos, Swifts and more! You'll see how current research into migration is impacting the world of conservation, and learn more about an upcoming project, Bird Atlas 2027-31 (begins in November 2027!), which will be game changing and what you can do to get involved. 

Stonechat courtesy
of Robin Gossage.