Whitethroat © Roy Churchill

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.

All of us have a role to play in trying to lessen the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The leadership of Devon Birds have therefore recommended that all Indoor Meetings and Field Trips should be postponed for the foreseeable future.

A complete meetings chart for all branches is shown below.

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

2020

Jul 1119:00 – 22:30Mid Devon FieldCookworthy Forest. An evening walk to see and hear Nightjars. Plan on a walk in the general area before settling at the vantage point to view the Nightjars. Meet at the car park at SS416017. The entrance to the forest is situated just north of Halwill Junction on the A3079. Leader John Laws.Map
Jul 1310:00 – 14:30Plymouth FieldAylesbeare Common for heathland species including Dartford Warbler and butterflies. Meet at Joney's Cross car park opposite reserve entrance SY056897. Lead by John O'Connell-Davidson 01752668448Map
Jul 1321:00 – 23:00East Devon FieldMutters Moor, Sidmouth for Nightjar walk. Meet at Peak Hill car park at SY109872. Bring torch.Map
Jul 2019:30 – 21:30South Devon IndoorBirding in Texas. Speakers Peter & Carol LeighMap
Jul 2920:45 – 22:30Plymouth FieldCann Woods. Meet at car park SX547596. A second date for Nightjars, hopefully with juveniles. Bring a torch and a bat detector if you have one. Lead by Chris Marcol 01752341354Map
Jul 3009:30 – 12:30East Devon FieldBlackhole Marsh, Seaton. Meet at Wetland Car Park (Through cemetery) at SY248914. AM onlyMap
Sep 610:00 – 15:30Taw & Torridge FieldTamar Lakes. Meet at Upper Tamar Lake at SS288117 (charge in top car park, free at bottom).Lower Tamar Lake at 2.00pmMap
Sep 709:30 – 12:30East Devon FieldOtter Estuary. Meet at White Bridge, South Farm Road, Budleigh Salterton at SY076830. AM onlyMap
Sep 819:30 – 22:00Taw & Torridge IndoorSecret life of the Long-tailed Tit. Speaker: John WaltersMap
Sep 1009:30 – 13:30Mid Devon FieldBerry Head National Nature Reserve at TQ5 9AP. Meet at the car park for Berry Head National Nature Reserve, Gillard Road, Brixham (pay & display) at SX940562. Leader Nick Armstrong.Map
Sep 1419:30 – 21:45Plymouth IndoorDartmoor's Secret Nature - a 20 year studyMap
Sep 2119:30 – 21:30South Devon IndoorInsight into breeding birds of the Arctic Circle. Speaker Dave ScottMap
Sep 2309:30 – 14:30Plymouth FieldSeaton Wetlands. Car parking through Seaton Cemetery SY248914 nearest post code EX12 2SP. For wetland species. Lead by John O'Connell-Davidson 01752668448. Car share to leave 7.30am at Ivybridge Station Park & Ride PL21 0DHMap
Sep 2409:30 – 12:30East Devon FieldDawlish Warren. Meet at end of main car park (Pay & Display) at SX980787. AM onlyMap
Oct 609:30 – 13:30Mid Devon FieldCrowdy Reservoir and Davidstow Airfield, Cornwall. Meet at the car park for the dam at SX138833. Map
Oct 1110:00 – 16:00Taw & Torridge FieldGreylake & the Somerset Levels. Greylake RSPB Reserve at 10.00am. Then on to Shapwick & Ham Wall (Ashcott Corner). RSPB new car park (charge for non-members). Bring RSPB membership cards.Map
Oct 1210:00 – 14:00Plymouth FieldSoar & Starehole Valley. Meet in NT car park (near airfield) SX713375 for passage migrants. Lead by Jacki & Kev Solman 01752491851Map
Oct 1319:30 – 22:00Taw & Torridge IndoorSouth African Game Parks are not just for Elephants & Lions. Speakers: Philip & Gill MarlowMap
Oct 1910:00 – 14:30East Devon FieldShipley Bridge, Nr South Brent. Meet at car park at SX680628 for walk to Avon Dam. AM/PMMap
Oct 1919:30 – 21:30South Devon IndoorBirding the Silk Roads. Speaker Ian GasperMap
Oct 2009:30 – 13:30Mid Devon FieldDawlish Warren. Meet at the first car park (pay & display) on the right at the mini roundabout before the tunnel entrance. At SX978785. Leader Nick Armstrong.Map
Nov 910:00 – 13:00East Devon FieldEmsworthy Gate Reserve (Nr Saddle Tor, Dartmoor). Meet at small car prk at SX744760 on B3387 (Hay Tor to Widecombe road). AM onlyMap
Nov 919:30 – 21:45Plymouth IndoorBranch AGM. Speaker to be confirmedMap
Nov 1010:00 – 13:30Plymouth FieldSouth Efford Marsh. (possible muddy footpath to hide) Parking near the site is very limited. Nearest car park is by the Timbers roundabout Aveton Gifford SX692472. Lead by John Lloyd 01752338415Map
Nov 1019:30 – 22:00Taw & Torridge IndoorTBA. Speaker: Colin HumphreyMap
Nov 1110:00 – 16:00Taw & Torridge FieldFremington Creek & Isley Marsh. Meet at Muddlebridge lay by at 10.00am. Meet at Power Station Lane at 2.00pm for Isley Marsh.Map
Nov 1619:30 – 21:30South Devon IndoorUnderstanding the ecology and decline of the Wood Warbler. Speaker Malcolm BurgessMap
Nov 1710:00 – 13:30Mid Devon FieldRoadfor Reservoir. Meet at layby near hide at SX435930. Interesting mix of dabbling and diving ducks, waders and gulls. Leader Digby Greenhil.Map
Nov 1909:30 – 12:30East Devon FieldExminster Marshes. Meet at RSPB car park at SX953872. AM onlyMap
Dec 809:00 – 14:30Mid Devon FieldFingle Bridge. A walk along the river followed by Mid Devon Branch Christmas Lunch. Meet outside the Fingle Bridge Inn at EX6 6PW. Return for lunch at 12.30pm. Contact Nick Armstrong for information.Map
Dec 819:30 – 22:00Taw & Torridge IndoorAntarctica & South Atlantic Odyssey: seabirds & marine mammalsMap
Dec 1110:00 – 14:00Plymouth FieldSt Johns Lake and River Lynher for waders (possibly muddy walk along river). Meet at Wacker Quay SX390550. Lead by Doug Herdson 01752405155Map
Dec 1310:00 – 15:00Taw & Torridge FieldBarnstaple Leisure Centre to Ashford Garden Centre. Meet at Leisure Centre Car Park at 10.00am. Take your own lunch or eat at garden centre restaurant.Map
Dec 1410:00 – 13:00East Devon FieldNT. Knighteshayes, Tiverton. Meet at first car park signed 'Cricket pitch/parkland' (Pay & Display) at SS956146. AM only. Lunch optional.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