Cambridgeshire Bird 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 and bulletins. We have links to active bird ringing groups. And have a look at our Facebook and our Twitter sites.
You can see What's About? and we urge you to report interesting, sensitive or confidential sightings to the County Recorder.
We hope you enjoy your visit and come back soon.
Announcements
There are still some places at the Club meeting, Friday 20th May: RSPB Nene Washes, 19.00 start, to be led by Charlie Kitchin, Nene Washes Site Manager. For club members only, you can go without booking. The meeting point is here.
Birds of the Month for March is Bob Steed's Long-tailed Tit, see it here
Ian Ellis has written a marvellous account of birds on the Cottenham Fens. Read it here
Details of our summer outdoor meetings starting on 20 May - RSPB Nene Washes - can be found here. Early booking is recommended.
Events at RSPB Ouse Fen in May and June run by the RSPB can now be booked. Read more below.
Photo of the Year 2021: And the Winner is ..... Simon Stirrup. Seeing juvenile Peregrines in Cambridgeshire is such a joy of our recent times, and Simon captured these in Ely after dropping his son off for cricket practice one evening. Runner-up Ian Dale, third place George Walthew - see here.
The 2019 Annual Report (No. 93) is now available to read on this website - read here
Club eBulletins up to December are now available to all to read. They contain records, photos, articles and event reminders: read here
The CBC recording checklist can be viewed and downloaded here
Club Bulletins back to the first issue in 1951 have now been digitised and added to the website - read them here
Twitter feed: many thanks to Brendon Doe for setting this up.
Summer evening outdoor Club meetings
Friday 20th May: RSPB Nene Washes, 19.00 start
To be led by Charlie Kitchin, Nene Washes Site Manager.
This internationally important wetland site is almost entirely lowland, wet grassland managed primarily for breeding waders, including Black-tailed Godwit.
The final decision on parking site and meeting place will depend on water levels and breeding bird activity. For club members only, you can go without booking. The meeting point is here.
Picture of the month - March
Ed King has made the March selection: my runners-up from this month's selections were 3 wonderful photos of water birds: Simon Stirrup's evocative picture of 3 Spoonbills in flight; Steve Cooper's image capturing a Glossy Ibis's spectacular sheen; and George Walthew's beautifully sharp frame-filling photo of a Water Rail. My winner, based on its vibrant energy, is Bob Steed's flight shot of a Long-Tailed Tit with its wings fully extended and its mantle fluffed up in the breeze.
Events at RSPB Ouse Fen April-June
Shelford’s Road, Earith, PE28 3PS
For more information and to book onto an event please go to https://events.rspb.org.uk/ousefen
Booming Bitterns
Friday 22nd April 4:45am – 7am
Saturday 7th May 4am – 6am
Saturday 28th May 7pm - 9pm
Reedbed Ramble
Saturday 11th June 2pm – 4pm
Wednesday 29th June 2pm – 4pm
Photo of the year: 2021
Congratulations to Simon Stirrup for winning the 2021 Photo of the Year competition with his photo of Peregrines. The runner up was Ian Dale with his Common Tern, and in third place was George Walthew with his Water Rail. Click here to view all three, and 2021 candidates to see all the photos that had been entered.
Spotted Flycatcher project 2021
The project has now morphed into a study of adult survival and return-rates, following the fortunes of individual birds.
Michael Holdsworth continued to work on Flycatcher communities and adult survival in 2021 and we would still like all records to be sent to the bird club.
Michael's 2020 project report is at: http://cambridgeshirebirdringing.org/spofl-finding2/
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 (confirm boundary using the OS map if site very close to boundary).
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 (confirm boundary using the OS map if site very close to boundary).
Avian Flu
AVIAN FLU: The Angling Trust’s Voluntary Bailiff Service reported last winter 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
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.
