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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
Picture of the Month for April is Jan Michalec's Grey Heron - 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 16th May, Castor Hanglands NNR, 4 miles west of Peterborough. Meet on-site for a 19.00 start. The trip will be led by Zoe Wilson, Reserve Manager and organiser of the annual nightingale survey. Further details and booking via Erica Towner: fieldtrips@cambridgebirdclub.org.uk
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.
Twitter feed: many thanks to Brendon Doe for setting this up on our website, and maintaining our Twitter account.
Picture of the Month - April
Picture of the Month - April
Grey Heron © Jan Michalec 4 April 2025, Fowlmere RSPB
April's Picture of the Month was chosen by Andy Merryweather.
We have become accustomed to a fantastic range of great pictures from our many talented photographers, and this month proved no different. As might be expected in April, the arrival of migrants and summer visitors was reflected in the many unusual species photographed. But apart from the species itself, I was attracted to the pictures that somehow captured the essence of the bird, whether as an action shot, or as a brief moment of typical behaviour.
With this in mind, I was drawn to Chris Kenyon’s beautiful capture of the moment just before a Little Gull takes a fly. Many of us enjoyed seeing and photographing these birds at Dernford, and this photograph particularly stood out for me. Similarly, Steve Moore-Vale’s Wryneck seems to capture the secretive nature of this species, the bird itself being beautifully framed within the branches, and Alan Fersht’s Grey Wagtail carrying a bulging bill of insects also beautifully depicting a brief moment in the daily life of this bird.
However, my choice for photo of the month goes to Jan Michalec’s brilliant photograph of a Grey Heron with Pike. Quite apart from the fantastically sharp focus on both subjects, the composition of this photograph is fabulous, with the wing feathers closing around the subject and framing the bird’s eye, which itself is eyeing up the hapless fish. This is great storytelling and a wonderful photograph.
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.
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”
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.
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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