TQ807684 - 9.00 am - 1 Mile - Leader Carole Nixon - Click here for a map

Easy bird watching with a cafeteria to warm us up afterwards! We hope to see ducks, geese and waders. Water rail are regularly seen and we’ll also be looking out for winter thrushes and maybe a brambling on the feeders.

Park in the car park signposted on the northern side of the B2007 Lower Rainham Road between Gillingham and Rainham. Toilets are available in the visitor centre.

TR227587 - 9.00 am - 1.5 Miles - Leader Robin Smith - Click here for a map

A lovely spot tucked away behind a picturesque Kent village. We’ll hope to see wintering duck, including smew, plus harriers, grey wagtail and kingfisher.

From Canterbury take the A257 Sandwich Road. In Littlebourne turn left (north) towards Wickhambreaux. At the church take the right-hand fork towards Seaton. Either park by the pub and walk along the lane, or take the small road to the right of the pub as you face it, then turn sharp right again and park sensibly near the right-hand bend. No facilities here.

TQ939679 - 9.00 am - 3 Miles - Leaders Rob and Marie Tilley - Click here for a map

This area never fails to deliver and is probably the best place in Kent, if not the Country, to see wintering wildfowl and birds of prey. If time and weather permit we’ll later go on to the Raptor Viewpoint at Capel Fleet.

Follow the A249 towards Sheerness but turn off immediately before the new crossing and take the old road over the King’s Ferry Bridge. The reserve is signposted on the right and the car park is reached two miles along the rough track. Toilets in car park only. Please wrap up warmly and bring a hot drink and food.

 There will be stalls, games, guided walks and viewing positions manned by volunteers to show the birds of the Medway estuary.

TQ707614 - 9.00 am - 1 to 2 Miles - Leader Peter Saville - Click here for a map

The lakes are home to various ducks, kingfishers, Cetti’s warblers and bearded tits. Bittern is also a possibility and a careful search of the scrub can reveal roosting long-eared owls. At this time of year there’s also the chance of a rarer grebe.

Go south on the A228 and turn left off the Snodland By-pass to the post office depot. Park in Brooklands car park. The toilets here are not always open!

TQ551790 - 9.00 am - 1 to 2 Miles - Guided Walk

Come and see the unique visitor centre with its café and shop and learn what has been achieved over the past few years. Or simply enjoy the great wildlife and spectacular views of the River Thames.

Take the Dartford Crossing and follow the first exit after the tunnel. Access is via the A1090 New Tank Road, Purfleet.

TR356575/TR342623 - 9.00 am - 1.5 Miles - Leader Sue Carter - Click here for a map

We’ll start off at the Observatory to find out if there is anything of interest in the area, such as twite or snow bunting. Later we’ll drive the short distance to Pegwell Bay and hope to time our visit so that the rising tide forces waders closer to the shore. This is one of the best places in the county for Kentish plover. Maybe we’ll see an early Sandwich tern or red-throated divers and dark-bellied brent geese.

From the bridge in Sandwich head east along Upper Strand Street. Turn right at the road junction, then follow the road, turning sharp left, for one and a quarter miles to the Toll Gate. Explain that you are only visiting the Observatory and you should be charged the nominal sum of £1. After a quarter of a mile turn right into Guildford Road and the Observatory is on the right. Visitor centre and full facilities here. The picnic site car park for Pegwell Bay is found on the east side of the A256 between Ramsgate and Sandwich, just south of Cliffs End village. There are toilets here and a small parking charge.

TQ519567 - 9.00 am - 2 Miles - Leader Sue Carter

It is many years since the Group visited this superb site formerly known as the Jeffery Harrison reserve. During the test visit last spring we had good views of lesser-spotted woodpeckers at a nest hole.

There are numerous hides, a cafeteria, shop, information centre and toilets. What more could you want for a lovely day out?

Take the A25 towards Sevenoaks. At the traffic lights past Seal continue straight on towards Riverhead. Continue across the next set of lights and the reserve is signposted on the right-hand side after the school (the turning for stables).

TQ42/52 & 43/53 - 9.00 am - 2 to 3 Miles - Guided Walk

Another chance to be shown around this special place by local expert Michael Scott-Ham. You are in for a treat and two years ago we saw Dartford warblers, woodlarks, tree pipits, crossbills and common restarts.

Meet at the Ashdown Forest Centre which lies half a mile along the unclassified road running east from Wych Cross to Coleman’s Hatch, off the A22.

TQ782758 - 5.00 am - 1 to 2 Miles - Guided Walk by Warden - Click here for a map

The early bird catches the worm and hopefully your early start will be rewarded with birdsong, the smell of bluebells and the sighting of a nightingale or two!

Leave Strood on the A228 Ratcliffe Highway, taking the left-hand turn to High Halstow from the roundabout (Christmas Lane). At the junction turn right along the street and the car park can be found signposted on the left via Longfield Avenue and Northwood Avenue. As this is an early start please respect the local residents and keep your voices down. Public conveniences can be found at the village hall and toilets are now available at Bromhey Farm.

Contact Glen Peacock to Book

A welcome return to this wonderful reserve on the north Norfolk coast which we last visited in 2001. A varied habitat with full facilities and plenty of hides. Is anyone taking bets on the number of species which we will see?

TQ866529 - 9.00 am - 3 Miles - Leader Sue Carter

A new venue for the Group and one which involves steep climbs. Worth it for the scenery and hopefully sightings of buzzards, yellowhammers, linnets and hirundines. Please note that there are no facilities and if the weather is inclement the walk may not go ahead. Please contact the walk leader on 07745343072 if in doubt.

Park in Harrietsham BR Station car park which is accessed from the minor road north from West Street almost opposite the Roe Buck pub (Just off the A20) .

TR222609/TR235632 - 9.00 am - 4 Miles - Leader Peter Saville - Click here for a map

This is a lovely walk and always well attended. Plenty of hides to shelter in should the weather be either too hot or too wet. We should see hobbies, marsh harriers, terns and bearded tits.

Stodmarsh village is found east of Canterbury. Leaving on the A257 towards Sandwich, turn left into Stodmarsh Road, just past the golf club. Continue straight on until the Red Lion pub. Turn left immediately and follow the rough track to the car park. Toilets are here and at the Grove Ferry end.

Venue To Be Announced Contact Trevor Hatton

There is an option to partake of a meal at a local hostelry, probably the George at Molash, prior to the nightjar watch. You will need to book for the meal and as numbers will be restricted it will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact Sue Carter to book (a deposit will be required).

TR225694 - 9.00 am - 2.5 Miles - Leader Robin Smith - Click here for a map

For a change we’ll head back up the cliffs towards Bishopstone Glen. This can be a quiet time for birds but there should be plenty of butterflies and flowers to interest us. Don’t go too near the cliff edge as the section of cliff between Bishopstone and Reculver is very unstable.

The Country Park is signposted from the A299 Thanet Way, east of Herne Bay. Bear right after the small village of Hillborough, down the narrow Reculver Lane. This leads directly to the car park with the twin towers of Reculver on your right and the toilets and information centre on your left. Please note there is a parking charge here.

TR293391 - 10.00 am - 1 to 2 Miles - Leaders Rob and Marie Tilley - Click here for a map

With easy walking and great scenery this has become one of our favourite venues. A regular haunt of rock pipits, black redstarts and peregrines but good for butterflies and flowers too.

Coming from Folkestone, take the A20 towards Dover. Pass the sign for Samphire Hoe and at the next roundabout go back towards Folkestone. After half a mile take the slip road on the left and wait at the lights until clear to pass through the tunnel. There is a small parking charge but also cafeteria and toilets.

TQ827629 - 9.00 am - 2 Miles - Leader Trevor Hatton

This is another place that we haven’t been to for far too long and it is conveniently local. We can’t promise many birds, but flowers and butterflies will hopefully be in profusion. The reserve has recently been extended.

From the A2 between Rainham and Newington, take the minor road south to Hartlip. Continue through the village and at the T-junction turn right, then immediately first left. As you drive over the M2 Motorway bridge the road narrows and the reserve car park is on the left. No facilities here.

TR014648 - 9.00 am - 1 Mile - Leader Sue Carter - Click here for a map

No programme would be complete without a visit to this lovely reserve. Best on a rising tide, but there is always something to see whatever time you come. This time last year a sharp-tailed sandpiper dropped in!

Go along the A2 towards Faversham and at the roundabout before Ospringe turn left (north) towards Oare. At the T-junction turn left, go uphill, then turn first right by the pub into Church Road. Follow this narrow lane and park in the car park at the end. No facilities here.

A great day out for the whole family with Arts and Craft stalls, Refreshments and BBQ, Pond Dipping, Sheep Shearing, Guided Walks, Clog Dancers and much more. Last year a spoonbill and a red-backed shrike were seen on the reserve during the guided walks.

If you would like to volunteer to help at a Public Event please contact Des or Carol Felix.

TR068185 - 10.00 am - 2.5 Miles - Leader Sue Carter - Click here for a map

With migration in mind this is a good time to return to the RSPB’s oldest reserve. Will we be lucky to find a wryneck or ring ouzel on the trail or little gulls and shearwaters off the Patch? If we have time we’ll also check the bushes around the lighthouse and Observatory.

From Lydd, take the minor Dungeness Road south, signposted to Greatstone and the Power Station. The entrance to the RSPB reserve is on the right immediately before the ARC pits. Toilet facilities, shop and refreshments are all available here.

TQ9421871 - 10.00 am - 3 Miles - Leader Robin Smith - Click here for a map

Autumn migration is more pronounced here than in the spring, so we should be in for a treat. Migrant passerines, waders and raptors could put in an appearance.

Leave Rye Town westwards on the A259 and after crossing the River Rother, turn left following the signs for Rye Harbour. Just after the shops the road meets a junction. Turn right and park in the car park. Toilets are available.

TR374453/TR358437 - 9.00 am - 2 Miles - Leader Sue Carter

With the English Channel only 22 miles wide at this point, this area is a noted migration hotspot. At this time of year there’s a possibility of Pallas’s or yellow-browed warbler. Ravens have also been seen in the vicinity.

Take the A2 towards Dover turning left onto the A258 towards Deal, then first right onto the B2058. Turn right at the T-junction and proceed through St. Margaret’s (toilets are on the right). At the top of the hill turn left into Granville Road and continue to the end. Park by the Monument. No facilities here other than at the excellent tea room in the old coastguard building.

TR225694 - 9.30 am - 2.5 Miles - Leaders Rob and Marie Tilley - Click here for a map

This time we’ll be heading east from the twin towers along the sea wall in search of scoters, shore lark, snow bunting, brent geese, merlin and hen harriers. A north-easterly gale would bring the possibility of little auks and divers close inshore but take heart, there’s always a warm soup waiting at the pub on our return!

Direction as for Saturday 12 July but remember that for most of the walk we will be on the coastal path and as such, open to the elements.

TQ939679/TQ023682 - 9.00 am - 3 Miles - Leader Sue Carter - Click here for a map

No excuses for our second visit this year. Wrap up warmly and bring a hot drink. Hopefully this will be a good winter for short-eared owls and rough-legged buzzard, but if not, the usual display of wildfowl, harriers and owls, plus merlin and peregrine should not disappoint.

Directions as for Sunday 10 February

TQ770554 - 9.00 am - 2 Miles - Leader Robin Smith - Click here for a map

A pleasant stroll to round off our walks programme and take your mind off the Christmas shopping! We’ll hope to see woodpeckers, nuthatches, siskin, redpoll and grey wagtail.

The park lies to the east of Maidstone town centre and is best reached via the A249. Travelling south follow the signs for Ashford onto the A20, turning right down Square Hill Road at the first set of traffic lights. At the top of Square Hill Road turn left into Mote Avenue at a mini roundabout. The gates of Mote Park will be in front of you. Drive through and continue straight on and follow the signposts to the car park. There are toilets here.

Individual (One year) £ 4.00 

Family (One Year) £ 6.00

Individual (Five Years) £ 20.00 

Family (Five Years) £ 30.00