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.
Picture of the Month for September is Jan Michalec's Water Rail - see it here
The Club's next indoor meeting is on Friday 14 November, a talk by James Lowen. "Much ado about mothing" By Zoom Platform
We are now offering FREE membership to anyone aged 25 or younger.
Save this date - 22 November! It is the CBC Anniversary Conference Day – Saturday 22 November, a day of activities hosted by CBC and the University Bird Club:
Morning – Fieldtrip
Afternoon – Bird symposium at Christ’s College, Cambridge
Evening – visit to see the bird collection at the Zoological Museum.
Watch out for further details.
Next field trip, Saturday 25th October 2025, 10.00am - 12.30pm. Wild Ken Hill, West Norfolk - see Meetings page.
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
Club e-Bulletins up to July 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.
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 Reports to be added as soon as possible.
Do read Bob Jarman's Centenary Lecture presented at the Club's Centenary Dinner 16 April. Read here Also to be found under 'Publications'
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.
Next Club talk - Friday 14 November - James Lowen. Much ado about mothing. By Zoom Platform
An award-winning writer, James Lowen has been immersed in all aspects of natural history since he was able to walk, encouraging him to moult into a fully-fledged nature writer, editor, guide, lecturer, consultant and photographer. Upon his return to Britain from several years of leading wildlife tours in South America and Antarctica (which resulted in his books Pantanal wildlife and Antarctic wildlife), James had an irrepressible desire to renew his relationship with British nature.
Saturday 25th October 2025, 10.00am - 12.30pm Wild Ken Hill, West Norfolk.
The Club has booked a bespoke guided walking tour to the Wild Ken Hill estate on the Wash led by Carl Chapman. Prompt booking is highly recommended as places are limited with a group maximum of 15 club members per tour. In the event of reaching the maximum group size, a follow- up visit can be arranged, subject to demand. More details on the Meetings page
Water Rail, © Jan Michalec, Fowlmere RSPB, 19th September 2025
September's Photo of the Month was chosen by Colin Kirtland
"Judging such a fine selection of photos was not easy and I could have chosen many others which deserved to be included. Who could fail to like James Hanlon's young Kingfishers awaiting their next meal or Simon Stirrup's Red Kite eyeing the observer? However, I have chosen Jan Michalec's Water Rail in first position. To obtain any close-up photo of this retiring species is difficult as it usually stays in or near cover and is more often heard than seen. The breast feathers are very sharp and I like the rather malevolent eye, seemingly focused on the next prey item, which could even be a small bird!
In second place is Garth Peacock's Common Tern which is close enough to see several features separating it from an Arctic Tern. The longer, black tipped bill is obvious but other criteria are needed when identifying more distant birds. The dark tips to the primaries are more diffuse and continue along the inner webs but in an Arctic they are darker and more restricted to the tips, contrasting with the translucent primaries which are usually apparent in good light. The tail streamers of the Common are also appreciably shorter. One feature often mentioned is the darker underparts and contrasting pale cheek of the Arctic but this depends on the light and is not particularly reliable, as the pictured bird shows.
Third is Cookie Shorten's Whinchat with prey, a bright, sharp image of a typical autumn bird."
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.
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: 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.
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”
Found and injured bird? Contact a rehabilitator. Baby birds? Read here and also here
Local bird news from Cambirds.