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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 Acrobat 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
2019 | ||||
| Jan 21 | 19:30 – 21:30 | South Devon Indoor | A lifetime illustrating birds - Mike Langman | Map |
| Jan 24 | 09:30 – 12:30 | East Devon Field | Powderham Church - Turf. Meet at roadside near church SX971843. am only | Map |
| Jan 28 | 19:30 – 21:45 | Plymouth Indoor | A ten year field study on Dartmoor's ground nesting birds and cuckoo' - Sara Zonneveld, Research Ecologist at Exeter University | Map |
| Feb 8 | 09:30 – 12:30 | East Devon Field | Countess Weir, Exeter - Matford Ponds/River Exe Country Park etc. Meet at canal car park SX941894 (South West Water turn on Bridge Road). Am only | Map |
| Feb 12 | 19:30 – 21:30 | Taw & Torridge Indoor | Birds, Bugs and Beasts - John Walters | Map |
| Feb 15 | 10:00 – 14:30 | Plymouth Field | West Charleton Marsh. Meet at sewage works Marsh Lane off A379 Kingsbridge to Torcross Road for wildfowl and waders SX752424. Doug Herdson - 01752405155 | Map |
| Feb 17 | 08:00 – 15:30 | Taw & Torridge Field | Darts Farm, Topsham, Bowling Green. Meet at Park & Ride (car share) | Map |
| Feb 18 | 11:45 – 15:00 | Mid Devon Field | Stuart Line River Exe Bird Cruise led by Dave Smallshire. Meet at Stuart Line Cruises in the Marina at Exmouth SX993807. Departure 11.45am. Tickets £12.50 each. Please email Nick Armstrong (armstonick@gmail.com) by 31st January to confirm attendance | Map |
| Feb 18 | 19:30 – 21:30 | South Devon Indoor | The RSPB Cirl Bunting Project - Update - Cath Jeffs, RSPB Cirl Bunting Project Manager. Followed by field meeting at Labrador Bay to view Cirl Buntings on 23rd or 24th February. | Map |
| Feb 19 | 09:30 – 12:30 | East Devon Field | Otter Estuary. Meet on Home Farm Road at Whitebridge SY074830. am only | Map |
| Feb 27 | 09:30 – 16:00 | Mid Devon Field | Crowdy Reservoir and Davidstow Airfield, Cornwall. If there is sufficient interest followed by Brown Willey, highest point in Cornwall and/or Roughtor for the evening Starling murmuration. Meet at car aprk for the dam at Crowdy Reservoir SX138833. Guest leader Charles Travis | Map |
| Mar 5 | 09:30 – 12:30 | Mid Devon Field | Molland Common, near the village of Molland, South Molton. Winter raptors and fine walking country. Meet at London Inn, next to the church in Molland EX36 3NG. We will then drive on and explore the common. Leader Nick Armstrong | Map |
| Mar 6 | 10:00 – 16:30 | Taw & Torridge Field | Skern & Northern Burrows, then on to Isley Marsh. Meet at Tip Road on the Skern SS453309 | Map |
| Mar 12 | 19:30 – 22:00 | East Devon Indoor | Annual General Meeting at Blue Ball Inn, Sidford EX10 9QL | Map |
| Mar 12 | 19:30 – 21:30 | Taw & Torridge Indoor | Patagonia: History, Landscapes & Wildlife - Ian Gasper | Map |
| Mar 14 | 09:00 – 14:00 | Plymouth Field | Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham. Meet at Holman Way car park SX968881 for spring migrants. John O'Connell-Davidson - 01752668448 | Map |
| Mar 18 | 19:30 – 21:30 | South Devon Indoor | Waders around the World - Dave Smallshire | Map |
| Mar 28 | 09:30 – 12:30 | East Devon Field | Dawlish Warren. Meet at end of main car park (pay & display) SX980787. am only | Map |
| Apr 1 | 19:30 – 21:45 | Plymouth Indoor | Walmsley Sanctuary, the Cornish Reserve on the Camel Estuary' - Adrian Langdon, Warden of Walmsley Sanctuary, Cornwall | Map |
| Apr 4 | 09:00 – 12:30 | Mid Devon Field | Steps Bridge. Riverside walk. Meet at car park SX802882 | Map |
| Apr 9 | 19:30 – 21:30 | Taw & Torridge Indoor | Natural history of butterflies & moths including their defence strategies - Barry Henwood | Map |
| Apr 14 | 08:00 – 15:30 | Taw & Torridge Field | Yarner Wood, near Bovey tracey. Meet at Park & Ride (car share) | Map |
| Apr 15 | 19:30 – 21:30 | South Devon Indoor | The Exeter Peregrines - including their unique territorial aggression towards Buzzards - Nick Dixon | Map |
| Apr 25 | 10:00 – 14:00 | Plymouth Field | Yarner Wood. Meet at Trendlebere Down 0.5 miles past entrance to Yarner WoodSX782792 for woodland migrants. Phil & Jill Stevens - 01822613545 | Map |
| Apr 27 | 09:30 – 12:30 | East Devon Field | Trendlebere Down - Yarner Reserve. Meet at middle car park on Downs SX781796. am only | Map |
| May 4 | 04:45 – 08:00 | Plymouth Field | Dawn chorus (can be cool!). Meet at car park at Bedford Bridge (Magpie Bridge) A386 Plymouth to Tavistock road SX503703 for woodland species. Then breakfast at Drakes Café, Grenofen. Phil & Jill Stevens - 01822613545 | Map |
| May 7 | 10:00 – 15:30 | East Devon Field | Ham Wall, Somerset. Meet at large car park (pay & display) ST449396. am - pm | Map |
| May 9 | 09:30 – 14:30 | Mid Devon Field | Witheridge Moor, SS869157, a private estate with interesting breeding migrants and butterflies in undisturbed moorland and woodland. Guest leader - Roger Crouch. This trip is limited to no more than 10 people. Please contact Nick Armstrong (armstronick@gmail.com) to confirm your attendance. | Map |
| May 12 | 10:00 – 14:30 | Taw & Torridge Field | Cloutsham, Exmoor. Meet at Watersplash SS897431 | Map |
| May 15 | 09:00 – 14:30 | Mid Devon Field | Challacombe via Headland Warren and Golden Dagger. Meet at Bennett's Cross SX681817. Guest leader Ian Gasper | Map |
| May 15 | 09:00 – 14:00 | Plymouth Field | Venford Reservoir for woodland migrants SX685712. Car park west of dam. (Please note - very steep walk in and out of valley). Liz Harris - 01752789594 | Map |
| May 20 | 19:30 – 21:30 | South Devon Indoor | The Birds and Wildlife of the Devon Wildlife Trust Reserves - Matt Boydell, Land Manager DWT | Map |
| May 23 | 10:00 – 15:30 | East Devon Field | Postbridge (am). Challacombe Farm (pm). Meet at Postbridge visitor centre car park (pay & display) SX646788. pm meet again at roadside at Challacombe Farm entrance | Map |
| May 24 | 09:30 – 14:30 | Mid Devon Field | Fernworthy Reservoir. Initially meet at car park (pay & display) SX669839 prior to continuing on to park in layby near hide. Leader Roger Jewell | Map |
| May 24 | 09:30 – 15:00 | Plymouth Field | Challacombe Farm, Dartmoor. Meet at Bennett's Cross car park SX679815 for cuckoo and moorland species. John O'Connell-Davidson - 01752668448. | Map |
| May 30 | 09:30 – 14:30 | Mid Devon Field | Meeth Quarry and Ash Moor. Interesting site for birds and butterflies. Meet in the DWT car park at Meeth Quarry SS539084. Leader Digby Greenhill | Map |
| Jun 2 | 09:00 – 16:00 | Plymouth Field | Ham Wall Reserve, Somerset. Meet at Ham Wall car park BA6 9SX Ashcott Road. Car share to leave at 7.00am at Ivybridge Station Park and Ride PL210DH. For wetland species. Doug Herdson - 01752405155 | Map |
| Jun 4 | 09:30 – 15:30 | East Devon Field | Venford Reservoir, Holne. Meet at car park north of dam SX685712. am - pm | Map |
| Jun 9 – Jun 11 | 12:30 13:00 | Mid Devon Field | 3 day trip to Dorset. Day 1 - meet at car park, RSPB Radipole, SY674804 for the afternoon. Overnight at Premier Inn, Mercury Road, Weymouth DT3 5HJ (to be booked individually). Day 2 - meet at car park RSPB Arne 9.00am for the day. Overnight at Premier Inn as before. Day 3 - meet at car park Chesil Beach 9.00am, for the Little Tern colony, with 1 hour boat trip on "Fleet Explorer". Travel home pm. Booking essential as maximum of 20 places. Please advise Annabelle Strickland (email: jfajstrickland@outlook.com or tel: 01392439685) to confirm your attendance for Day1 and/or Days 2 & 3. You are welcome to just attend one day if you prefer. | Map |
| Jun 12 | 21:00 – 22:30 | Plymouth Field | Cann Woods. Meet at car park SX547596 for nightjars. Bring a torch. Chris Marcol - 01752341354 | Map |
| Jun 17 | 19:30 – 21:30 | South Devon Indoor | The Birds of Extremadura - Peter & Carol Leigh | Map |
| Jun 18 | 09:30 – 14:30 | Mid Devon Field | Hollocombe nr Winkleigh EX18 7QE. Woodland and streamside walk. Meet in the latby opposite the former Chapel or Manse at the higher end of the village SS631111. Leader Helen Allin (01837810163) | Map |
| Jun 22 | 09:30 – 15:30 | East Devon Field | Fernworthy Reservoir, Chagford. Meet at clearing near large shed at west end of reservoir (near bird hide) SX660837. am - pm | Map |
| Jun 23 | 21:00 – 22:30 | Taw & Torridge Field | Hartland Forest. Meet at Welsford Moor Forest Track 1 mile south of Baxworthy Cross on A39 SS278208. Leader Roger Doble | Map |
| Jul 2 | 21:00 – 22:30 | East Devon Field | Bicton Common for Nightjar evening. Meet at Four Firs car park SY031863. Bring a torch | Map |
| Jul 3 | 09:30 – 14:30 | Mid Devon Field | Throwleigh Common - to include moorland edge, quiet lanes, fields & woodland. Meet in layby SX659914. Leader Mary Wallis | Map |
| Jul 15 | 19:30 – 21:30 | South Devon Indoor | The Birds of Coto Donana - Peter & Carol Leigh | Map |
| Jul 16 | 09:30 – 15:30 | East Devon Field | Hay Tor. Meet at 2nd (middle) car park SX763769. am - pm | Map |
| Jul 27 | 09:30 – 14:30 | Mid Devon Field | Belstone - 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 village. Distance about 6km. Meet at Belstone village hall car park SX621938, postcode EX20 1RB. Leader Chris Walpole. | Map |
| Aug 19 | 19:30 – 21:30 | South Devon Indoor | Ups and downs of a Parish bird survey - Brent Birders | Map |
| Aug 31 | 08:30 – 15:30 | Plymouth Field | Boat trip to the Eddystone. Leave from Lockyear Quay, Plymouth at 8.30am. Cost per person £34.00. To book contact Liz Harris - 01752789594 | Map |
| Sep 3 | 09:30 – 12:30 | East Devon Field | Dawlish Warren. Meet at end of main car park (pay & display) SX980787. am only | Map |
| Sep 5 | 09:30 – 14:30 | Plymouth Field | Seaton Wetlands - car parking through Seaton Cemetery SY248914. For wetland species. Car share to leave 7.30am at Ivybridge Park & Ride PL21 0DH. John O'Connell-Davidson - 01752668448 | Map |
| Sep 8 | 10:00 – 16:30 | Taw & Torridge Field | Tamar Lakes. Meet at Upper Tamar Lake (parking charge) SS288117. Lower Tamar lake at 2.00pm | Map |
| Sep 10 | 09:00 – 14:30 | Mid Devon Field | Hembury Woods. Mature, deciduous woodland. Meet at layby at the edge of the road SX730680. The layby provides access to a track with "P" and picnic area on the map. Leader Annabelle Strickland | Map |
| Sep 10 | 19:30 – 21:30 | Taw & Torridge Indoor | How to be a Bird Detective - Martin Unwin | Map |
| Sep 16 | 19:30 – 21:45 | Plymouth Indoor | The Colour of Birds' - Roger Avery, Previous Senior Lecturer in Zoology at Bristol University | Map |
| Sep 16 | 19:30 – 21:30 | South Devon Indoor | The RSPB's work to help breeding Curlew in lowland Somerset - Richard Archer, Senior Conservation Officer, RSPB SW England | Map |
| Sep 17 | 09:30 – 12:30 | East Devon Field | Beer Head. Meet at end of lane SY224886. am only | Map |
| Oct 4 | 09:30 – 14:30 | East Devon Field | Exminster Marshes. Meet at RSPB car park SX953872 | Map |
| Oct 8 | 09:30 – 14:30 | Mid Devon Field | Emsworthy Mire. Meet at the DWT Reserve car park, off the B3387 on road from Bovey Tracey to Widecombe-in-the-moor SX743774 (TQ13 7TT). Leader Nick Armstrong | Map |
| Oct 8 | 19:30 – 21:30 | Taw & Torridge Indoor | Birding the Inca Trail - Andy Smith | Map |
| Oct 12 | 10:00 – 14:00 | Plymouth Field | Soar and Starehole Valley. Meet in NT car park (near airfield)SX713375 for passgae migranys. John Lloyd - 01752338415 | Map |
| Oct 17 | 09:30 – 12:30 | East Devon Field | Emsworthy Gate Reserve (Nr Saddle Tor, Dartmoor). Meet at small car park SX744760 on B3387 (Hay Tor to Widecombe road). Am only | Map |
| Oct 20 | 10:00 – 16:00 | Taw & Torridge Field | Greylake & Somerset Levels. Meet at Greylake RSPB ST398347. Moving on to Shapwick/Ham Wall (Ashcott Corner) RSPB new car park ST449397. Charge for non members of RSPB. Bring RSPB membership card | Map |
| Oct 21 | 19:30 – 21:30 | South Devon Indoor | A Guianian Adventure - Birds of Guyana - Ian Gasper | Map |
| Oct 22 | 09:30 – 14:30 | Mid Devon Field | Shipley Bridge/Avon Dam. Meet at car park SX680628. Leader Roger Jewell | Map |
| Nov 9 | 09:30 – 13:30 | East Devon Field | Blackhole Marsh, Seaton. Meet at Wetland car park (through cemetery) SY248914. | Map |
| Nov 11 | 19:30 – 21:45 | Plymouth Indoor | AGM followed by 'Conserving Cranes and Curlew on the Somerset Levels' - Richard Archer, Senior Conservation Officer RSPB South West England | Map |
| Nov 12 | 19:30 – 21:30 | Taw & Torridge Indoor | Bird Ringing on Lundy. History and aims of bird ringing, with some examples of how it is being used in specific studies on Lundy - Chris Dee | Map |
| Nov 13 | 10:00 – 16:00 | Taw & Torridge Field | Fremington Creek & Isley Marsh. Meet at lay by at Muddlebridge SS508324. Followed by Isley Marsh, meet at Power Station lane at 2.00pm | Map |
| Nov 18 | 10:00 – 15:30 | East Devon Field | Ham Wall, Somerset. Meet at large car park (pay & display) ST449396. am - pm. Option to visit RSPB Grey Lake on A361 at ST399346 in afternoon | Map |
| Nov 18 | 19:30 – 21:30 | South Devon Indoor | The Wildlife of Madagascar - a trip to another world - Roger Duggleby | Map |
| Nov 19 | 09:30 – 14:30 | Mid Devon Field | Roadford Reservoir. Meet at layby near hide SX435930. Leader Digby Greenhill | Map |
| Nov 22 | 10:30 – 13:30 | Plymouth Field | South Efford Marsh (possible muddy footpath to hide). Parking near the hide is very limited, the nearest car park is by the Timbers roundabout Aveton Gifford SX692472. John Lloyd - 01752338415 | Map |
| Dec 7 | 10:00 – 14:00 | Plymouth Field | St John's Lake and River Lynher for waders (possible muddy walk along river). Meet at Wacker Quay SX390550. Doug Herdson - 01752405155 | Map |
| Dec 12 | 09:30 – 14:30 | East Devon Field | Woodbury Castle. Meet at car park SY032872. am only. Followed by indoor meeting - details to be arranged. | Map |
| Dec 12 | 09:30 – 15:30 | Mid Devon Field | Chudleigh Knighton Heath and possibly Hennock. Heathland, woodland and farmland. Meet at Chudleigh Knighton car park SX842775. Followed by Mid Devon Branch Christmas lunch - location to be confirmed. Leader Nick Armstrong | Map |
| Dec 15 | 10:00 – 15:00 | Taw & Torridge Field | Leisure Centre to Ashford. Meet at Leisure Centre car park EX31 2AP. Take own lunch or eat in the Garden Centre. | 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