Coach trip: Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory

October sees us visiting a new site for our Group, the Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory on the Kent coast. We were introduced to the work of the Observatory through an illustrated talk by John Buckingham in December last year. If you missed the talk, you can watch it on our YouTube channel.

John along with a number of other dedicated volunteers are due to be bird ringing on the morning of our visit (weather conditions, etc. permitting). There will be an opportunity for those who are interested to watch the team ringing and to learn more about this important monitoring tool. John has also kindly offered to provide a brief overview of the site so that we can get the most out of our visit.

The Observatory sits on a major flyway for migrant bird species and the recording area includes an internationally important National Nature Reserve and SSSI, a huge new wetland RSPB reserve, three links golf courses including Royal St George's, and botanically rich dune grassland and wetlands.

As well as birds, staff and volunteers monitor most taxa including botany, mammals, lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) and odonata (dragonflies and damselflies).

The Observatory manages several of its own reserves around the Sandwich Bay estate, including a scrape with two hides, and the impressive bird list stands at almost 350 species, including many local and national rarities.

Further details about the Observatory are available on the Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust's website.

Entry fees:

• £1 (Sandwich Bay Estate access fee). Please bring correct money as we will collect this on the coach.
• Donations to support the Trust's work are welcome.

Facilities: field centre, shop, refreshments and toilets.

Things to note:

• Coaches will depart from Stop 40B on Victoria Embankment at 8am sharp.
• Aim to be at the Embankment by 7.50 am to allow time to board the coach and stow your gear.
• Bring clothes for all weathers.
• Don’t forget your binoculars (and scope if you have one)!
• Bring a packed lunch if you wish to bird with the trip leaders as we will aim to take lunch in one of the hides.
• There are toilets, and a shop in the field centre.
• We will aim to leave the reserve by 4pm.

Please note that if we do not receive sufficient bookings by 20/09/2024 we may have to cancel the event. Full refunds will be offered in the unfortunate event that we are forced to cancel the trip. So do not delay, book now, if you would like to join us on this trip to this amazing place.

Image © Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity in England and Wales no. 207076 and in Scotland no. SC037654.

Host or Publisher RSPB Central London Local Group