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Welcome to the Club
Welcome to the Club
The Cambridgeshire Bird Club promotes the study, recording and conservation of birds in Cambridgeshire and encourages a wider interest in natural history and the protection of county wildlife habitats.
We record the County's birds in our Annual Report, so we need your records. We have a stunning Gallery, so we want your photos. We have field projects, we have indoor meetings and trips, and we keep you informed with our monthly emailed bulletins. We have links to active bird ringing groups. And have a look at our Facebook and our Twitter (X) sites.
You can see What's About? and we urge you to report interesting, sensitive or confidential sightings to the County Recorder.
We email Club members with many announcements but we also use our website to provide information. We hope you enjoy your visit and come back soon.
Announcements
Announcements
Next Club field trip: Friday 25th July 2025, RSPB Hope Farm, Knapwell. An evening visit to this 181ha working farm purchased in 2000 by the RSPB to test and develop innovations that work both for wildlife and profitable farming. This year celebrates 25 years of Hope Farm. More here
Picture of the Month for May Alan Fersht's Great Crested Grebe - see it here
Do read Bob Jarman's Centenary Lecture presented at the Club's Centenary Dinner 16 April. Read here Also to be found under 'Publications'
Date for your diary: Club field trip, Friday
Photo of the Year for 2024 was voted by members to be Chris Kenyon's Hobby. Congratulations to Chris. Runner-up was Jan Michalec's Marsh Harriers and in third place was Rachel Lennard's Bearded Tit. See them here
Urgent request by the RSPB for volunteer birder for farm surveying - see below
Club e-Bulletins up to November are now available to all to read. They contain records, photos, articles and event reminders: read the recent ones here
The 2023 Annual Report (No. 97) is now available to purchase. Look here for details.
Less urgent announcements
Less urgent announcements
Some news from our recent AGM: A big thank you to our outgoing membership secretary Clive Sinclair, and a warm welcome to Andy Merryweather who has taken over the role.
The CBC recording checklist can be viewed and downloaded here
Club Bulletins back to the first issue in 1951 have now been digitised and were added to the website in 2021- read them here
The 2019 Annual Report (No. 93) is now available to read on this website - read here 2020 and 2021 Annual Report scoming shortly.
X (fomerly Twitter)
X (fomerly Twitter)
We are attempting to reset the X (Twitter) feed. Meanwhile, birders can view the latest tweets by clicking on @Cambs Bird Club
The Club is exploring BlueSky as an alternative platform.
Dates for your diary
Dates for your diary
Further details and booking via Erica Towner: fieldtrips@cambridgebirdclub.org.uk
Friday 25th July 2025 RSPB Hope Farm, Knapwell
18.30 start
Friday 8th August 2025 Magog Down, South Cambs
18.30 start
Looking ahead
During this Centenary year there is also the possibility of an autumn Saturday or Sunday trip to Wild Ken Hill on the Wash in West Norfolk. Please let Erica know via fieldtrips@cambridgebirdclub.org.uk if you would be interested in such a trip. Many thanks to members who have already shown an interest.
Picture of the Month - May
Picture of the Month - May
Great Crested Grebe © Alan Hersht, 28 May 2025, Hobson's Park
Rachel Lennard choose May's Picture of the Month
“A very strong selection of photos this month featuring some top quality Cambs birds. Richard Johnson’s Red-footed Falcon capture and Simon Stirrups Spotted Sandpiper image in particular were both excellent. The photo that really shone out though was of a much more familiar species – a Great Crested Grebe with young, taken by Alan Fersht. As well as being a sharp image with all three birds looking to camera, it was really the emotive quality of the shot that held my attention. There is a real sense of tenderness in the image and Alan has beautifully captured the essence of the moment, as well as delivering a technically strong photo.”
Centenary Lecture presented by Bob Jarman on 16 April 2025 at the Club's Centenary Dinner
Centenary Lecture presented by Bob Jarman on 16 April 2025 at the Club's Centenary Dinner
Photo of the year 2024
Photo of the year 2024
Congratulations to Chris Kenyon for his winning photo of a Hobby. Second place goes to Jan Michalac with his Marsh Harriers and Rachel Lennard's Bearded Tit takes third place. Click here to view all three photos. and click 2024 candidates to see all the candidates.
The Cambridgeshire Bird Report 2022, No. 96 is now available to buy at £15.00 including postage and packing. Go to Annual Reports
The Cambridgeshire Bird Report 2022, No. 96 is now available to buy at £15.00 including postage and packing. Go to Annual Reports
Where's that site?
Where's that site?
If you are unsure of the location of the less well-known birding sites, check our Gazetteer, which also provides standardised names to include in recording checklists for the Club's database and Birdtrack. Check the Grabagrid map which provides precise site grid references, and also shows pop-up vice-county boundaries
Avian Flu
Avian Flu
AVIAN FLU: The Angling Trust’s Voluntary Bailiff Service reported in 2023 that avian (bird) flu was confirmed in fenland swans. They advised, "Please be aware that you may see dead swans on the Nene or Drains. Dead swans may be found elsewhere too. Please under no circumstances go near or touch them. Phone Defra: 0345 933 5577, option 7: 'all other enquiries'. They will direct you to the correct local swan rescue (recovery ) people as all dead swans must now be collected for investigation". Email: defra.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk and provide details. More info at Avian influenza (bird flu) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
For sick swans, the RSPCA is the first place to contact and they will give help as to who should be informed.
Request by the RSPB for bird volunteers to help in farm surveys - respond asap
Request by the RSPB for bird volunteers to help in farm surveys - respond asap
Jenny Atkins of the RSPB is asking for birding volunteers to help in farm surveys.
She says “I’m posting on behalf of the RSPB for a non-member of this group [Cambirds}.
Dear Cambs Birders,
I’m looking for your help this breeding season. I’m an Agricultural Project Manager for the RSPB and manage the Volunteer Monitoring of Farm Wildlife. It is designed to:
• Give farmers an understanding of what birds are on their farm and how abundant they are.
• Help farmers and volunteers understand more about wildlife within the farmed landscape.
• Connect farmers with advice and case studies to assist them plan conservation.
• Provide opportunities for volunteers to gain new skills and experience through an enjoyable and rewarding activity.
The survey season runs from 1st April to 30th June. Within this time period, we require an initial visit to a farm to be carried out and then two survey visits.
We will endeavour to pair volunteers with a farm which should be no further than approximately 25 miles from their home (and pay travelling expenses) and in Cambs. at least, currently need a volunteer in each of the following areas: Feltwell, Littleport, Ely, Soham (x 2 farms), Welney, Southery
Please feel free to drop me an email at jenny.atkins@rspb.org.uk (jenny DOT atkins @rspb DOT org DOT uk) as soon as possible because already we’re in the process of matching volunteers to farms and need to wrap it up in the next few days.
Thank you.
Jenny Atkins”
Lists and facts
Lists and facts
County birders life lists, individual record year lists / record day lists, garden lists and other records - view them here
County birders life lists, individual record year lists / record day lists, garden lists and other records - view them here
Found and injured bird? Contact a rehabilitator. Baby birds? Read here and also here
Local bird news from Cambirds.
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