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Devon Birds
Branch Events▸Programme & Instructions
Devon Birds and its branches hold a number of meetings throughout the year. These include indoor and outdoor Society and branch events, as well as meetings and events held in association with other groups and organisations.
A complete meetings chart for all branches is shown at the bottom of this page, and soon you will also be able to download it in PDF format here. If you do not have a PDF reader you can download a free copy of Adobe Reader.
All Devon members are welcome at any meeting organised by the Society or its branches. Many meetings are free or require only a nominal charge to cover hire costs and refreshments. Non-members are also welcome. Other meetings, such as Council meetings, may be restricted, while some, mostly those held in association with other organisations, may charge an admission fee. Every attempt has been made to make this clear in each entry. If in doubt, please contact the event organiser. Contact details are available in the Programme or in The Harrier. An email to info@devonbirds.org will normally bring a quick response from the appropriate officer.
Field meetings may be cancelled in bad weather; if in doubt, please contact the appropriate organiser.
Organisers and leaders of field meetings will take all possible precautions to ensure that the area to be visited is safe and that there are no hazards that could possibly lead to accidents. Where possible, organisers will have walked the route beforehand and will have reported any problems to the appropriate authority.
Members should have a degree of fitness as the terrain may sometimes be rough and any member with any medical condition which might affect them during the field trip is asked to mention this in confidence to the fieldtrip leader. For your own comfort and safety if you are joining a walk please make sure that you wear walking boots or stout shoes and check whether a drink and packed lunch is required and don't forget your waterproofs.
Full Programme
2018 | ||||
| Jul 28 | 09:30–14:30 | Mid Devon Field | Belstone - meet at Belstone village hall car park SX621938. Woodland trails to Priestacott and on to the moor at West Cleave/East Okement valley, over Watchet Hill to the River Taw valley and back to Belstone, about 6km. Packed lunch advisable. Leader Chris Walpole | Map |
| Aug 20 | 19:30–21:30 | South Devon Indoor | WeBs wonders and a Goosander gander - Peter Reay | Map |
| Sep 5 | 09:30–13:00 | East Devon Field | Axmouth Harbour, Seaton. Meet at layby at SY253901 near Axmouth Harbour Bridge (RO) | Map |
| Sep 9 | 10:00–15:30 | Taw & Torridge Field | Tamar Lakes. Meet at Upper Lake car park SS288117 (charge). Lower lake at 2:00pm. Leader: Norman Briden | Map |
| Sep 10 | 19:30–21:45 | Plymouth Indoor | Dartmoor Moorland Bird Project' - Fiona Freshney, RSPB advisor | Map |
| Sep 11 | 09:30–14:00 | Mid Devon Field | Knightshayes Court, Bolham, Tiverton EX16 7RQ (National Trust)- meet outside the entrance to the National Trust shop. Parking free for NT members otherwise pay & display. Park and woodland birds. Leader Nick Armstrong | Map |
| Sep 11 | 19:30–21:30 | Taw & Torridge Indoor | Colour of Birds - Roger Avery | Map |
| Sep 16 | 09:00–14:00 | Plymouth Field | Dawlish Warren - meet at far end of car park (SX980787) for waders and gulls. Lesley Goonesekera 01548 856011 | Map |
| Sep 17 | 19:30–21:30 | South Devon Indoor | Birds of the Inca trail - Andy Smith | Map |
| Sep 20 | 09:30–13:00 | East Devon Field | Orcombe Point, Exmouth. Meet at east end of sea front at SY018797 (pay and display fee) (JR) | Map |
| Sep 29 | 09:00–13:00 | Mid Devon Field | Pelagic Bird Cruise from Brixham Harbour. Meet at quayside in front of the Optimist(New Fish Quay, Brixham TQ5 8AJ). Use pay & display parking. A 4 hour boat trip led by Nigel Smallbones on board the Optimist. Only 3 seats remaining on the trip. Tickets £28. Email Nick Armstrong to book. | Map |
| Oct 7 | 10:00–16:00 | Taw & Torridge Field | Somerset Levels. Meet at RSPB Greylake Reserve ST398347. Then on to Shapwick/Ham Wall - Ashcott Corner RSPB new car park ST449397. Leader: Norman Briden | Map |
| Oct 9 | 19:30–21:30 | Taw & Torridge Indoor | Forests & Conservation - Rod Lawrence | Map |
| Oct 13 | 09:30–14:00 | Plymouth Field | Soar and Starehole Valley - meet in NT car park (near airfield) SX7133375 for passage migrants. Lesley Goonesekera 01548 856011 | Map |
| Oct 15 | 19:30–21:30 | South Devon Indoor | Barry Henwood - Natural History of butterflies & moths including their defence strategies | Map |
| Oct 16 | 09:30–14:00 | Mid Devon Field | Shipley Bridge/Avon Dam - meet at car park SX680628. Packed lunch advisable. Leader Roger Jewell | Map |
| Oct 17 | 10:00–14:00 | East Devon Field | Shipley Bridge, Nr South Brent. Meet at car park at SX680628 for walk to Avon Dam (JR) | Map |
| Oct 30 | 09:30–14:00 | Mid Devon Field | Dawlish Warren - meet at far end of car park SX980787. Leader Nick Armstrong | Map |
| Nov 2 | 10:00–14:00 | East Devon Field | Steart Wetland Reserve, Bridgewater. Meet at car park (toilets) at ST274458 (Post code TA5 2PU) (RS) | Map |
| Nov 12 | 19:30–21:45 | Plymouth Indoor | AGM followed by 'Woodpeckers, Wood Warblers and other recent wildlife highlights' - John Walters, naturalist and photographer | Map |
| Nov 13 | 09:30–14:00 | Mid Devon Field | Roadford Reservoir - meet at layby near hide SX435930. Leader Digby Greenhill | Map |
| Nov 13 | 19:30–21:30 | Taw & Torridge Indoor | Scotland - the more remote WeBs counts - Keith Cowieson | Map |
| Nov 14 | 09:30–13:00 | East Devon Field | Haldon Forest. Meet at layby at Haldon Gate at SX875859 (nr Haldon Belvedere) (JR) | Map |
| Nov 15 | 09:00–13:00 | Plymouth Field | Saltram Marsh and Plym Estuary - meet at car park near recycling centre SX505545 for winter waders and woodland birds. John Lloyd 01752 338415 | Map |
| Nov 19 | 19:30–21:30 | South Devon Indoor | A talk by John Walters | Map |
| Nov 21 | 10:00–15:30 | Taw & Torridge Field | Fremington Creek & Isley Marsh. Meet in lay by on Barnstaple - Bideford road. Followed by Isley Marsh at 2.00pm. Leader: Norman Briden | Map |
| Nov 29 | 09:30–13:00 | East Devon Field | Dawlish Warren. Meet at far end of main car park at SX980787 (pay and display fee) (TC) | Map |
| Nov 29 | 19:30–21:30 | Mid Devon Indoor | Photographic Workshop at the Lamb Inn, Sandford, Nr Crediton EX17 4LW, with Tom Wallis. Learn the techniques to better bird photography | Map |
| Dec 11 | 19:30–21:30 | Taw & Torridge Indoor | Various. Members evening | Map |
| Dec 13 | 09:30–15:00 | Mid Devon Field | Exminster Marshes followed by Christmas lunch. Park at rear of Swan's Nest Inn, Station Road EX6 8DZ. Leader Nick Armstrong. Followed by Christmas Lunch at the Swan's Nest. | Map |
| Dec 16 | 10:00–14:00 | Taw & Torridge Field | Barnstaple to Ashford Garden Centre. Meet at Barnstaple Leisure Centre car park SS559325. Carry lunch or visit Garden Centre Café where hot food is available. Leader: Norman Briden | Map |
| Dec 17 | 10:30–13:00 | Plymouth Field | China Fleet Club - meet at far right car park SX429604 for waders. Liz Harris 01752 789594 | Map |
Add these events to your calendar — Devon Birds | East Devon Field | East Devon Indoor | Mid Devon Field | Mid Devon Indoor | Plymouth Field | Plymouth Indoor | South Devon Field | South Devon Indoor | Taw & Torridge Field | Taw & Torridge Indoor