Indoor meetings are held at the Wilkinson Room, St. John’s Church, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 8RN. Doors open 7.00pm and the talk starts at 7.30pm. http://streetmap.co.uk/map?X=546359&Y=256294&A=Y&Z=110
A few talks this year will use the Zoom platform. The Zoom link will be sent to members before the day of the meeting.
There is a £2.00 charge for non-members at in-person indoor meetings. If the Zoom platform is used, a link is available on request to guests (non-members). Check the details for each talk and if Zoom is an option, please email webmaster 'at'Cambridgebirdclub.org.uk . Apparently the link for the January meeting did not work for some members. We are looking into this.
There is a break for coffee, tea and biscuits with ample time to talk to friends and colleagues. A raffle is held with several prizes, many kindly donated by members.
Field trips are organised by Erica Towner - The Club has four field trips planned for this Summer. Contact / booking via Erica Towner: fieldtrips@cambridgebirdclub.org.uk when the trips have been announced.
Friday 10 January - Paul Alistair Collins. European Wildlife Roadshow. By Zoom platform
Paul is an award-winning professional wildlife photographer, filmmaker and tour guide based in London, UK. With 20 years specialising in wildlife and low-light photography, his photos have been honoured in major awards including the Scottish Nature Photography Awards, International Wild Bird Photography Awards, and British Wildlife Photography Awards.
Friday 14 February - Jeff Blincow. Wildlife in Finnmark. In person at St John's.
Jeff worked as a teacher of Information Technology and has been lecturing about wildlife since 1980 on such topics as Ecuador, Australia, Beetles, Fungi, Mammals, Bird Families and Bird Flight. He has travelled widely and his concentration on South America in the 90's led to him being one of the founder committee members of the Neotropical Bird Club.
The Cambridgeshire Bird Club Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday 14 March. 7.30 pm start, doors open 7.00pm, at the Wilkinson Room, St. John’s Church, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 8RN.
Andrew Dobson will present an illustrated talk on the endemic birds of the West Indies.
The Caribbean is home to over 700 species of bird, including 180 species that are endemic to the region and found nowhere else in the world. In fact, there are over 110 bird species in the Caribbean that only live on one island. The abundance of endemic species is one reason why the region is considered a biodiversity hotspot. Andrew lived in Bermuda for nearly 30 years and for many of those, served on the board of BirdsCaribbean including two terms as President. He had the opportunity to visit many of the islands and photograph their special birds. He has also been compiling West Indies and Bermuda seasonal bird reports for the journal 'North American Birds' for over 25 years.
Friday 11 April - by Dusty Gedge: Black Redstarts and Green Roofs. By Zoom platform.
Dusty has been a birdwatcher all his life and has broad interest in nature whether it be wild bees, butterflies or wildflowers. Birds led to his career in green infrastructure. Currently the President of the European Federation of Green Roof Associations (EFB) and founder of Livingroofs.org, Dusty Gedge is a recognised authority, designer and consultant on green roofs and green infrastructure.
Next Club FIELD meeting - Friday 9 May, 6.00-7.30pm: Iain Webb, "Wildlife of Byron's Pool and Trumpington Meadows." Meet at Byron's Pool car park, Trumpington (off Granchester Road)
Iain has been working with the Wildlife Trust in South Cambridgeshire, as both volunteer and employee, for over 25 years. He enjoys nothing more than sharing his love of local wildlife.
CBC 2025 Summer Field Trips
Contact and booking via Erica Towner: fieldtrips@cambridgebirdclub.org.uk
Friday 16th May 2025, Castor Hanglands NNR 4 miles west of Peterborough
Meeting on site for a 19.00 start
The trip will be led by Zoe Wilson, Reserve Manager and organiser of the annual nightingale survey.
Very few places left as parking is restricted. Please car share where possible. Final details including parking and meeting place will be sent in early May.
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.
Meeting on site for a 18.30 start
Friday 8th August 2025, Magog Down, south Cambridgeshire
An evening visit to the chalk “mountains” south of Cambridge led by Nick and Clare Beale, Conservation Rangers.
The original 164 acre site of arable cropland was purchased by the Magog Trust in1989. It has recently been awarded County Wildlife Status following extensive restoration of chalk grassland and ongoing conservation work.
Meeting on site for a 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 where land is being returned to nature alongside farming sustainably. If dates allow this could be combined with a high tide visit to Snettisham.
Further details to be announced including costs but please let me know via fieldtrips@cambridgebirdclub.org.uk if you would be interested in such a trip.
Friday 12 September - Jeff Ollerton. Birds and Flowers. In person at St John's.
During a career spanning more than 30 years, Professor Jeff Ollerton has established himself as one of the world’s leading experts on pollinators and pollination. Author of more than 170 articles and book chapters, his highly-cited, ground-breaking research has been used by national and international agencies to support efforts to conserve pollinators and their pollination services.
Friday 10 October - Ed Drewitt. Urban Peregrines. By Zoom Platform
Ed has been a naturalist for over 30 years with a special interest in birds and marine mammals. He lives in the Forest of Dean alongside Wild Boar, Fallow Deer and Goshawks. He studied Zoology at the University of Bristol and worked for seven years as a Museum Learning Officer at Bristol's Museums, Galleries and Archives, and then four years on the Bristol Dinosaur Project at the University of Bristol, enabling people to learn more about the city's own dinosaur! Ed is now a full-time freelance naturalist, learning consultant and wildlife detective.
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.
Friday 12 December - Christmas Social. In person at St John's
An evening of mince pies, seasonal fare and members own presentations. Please contact Stuart stuartelsom@btinternet.com if you have your own idea for a short talk.