islington
 The
group makes trips to look at birds, with occasional
meetings to learn and discuss.Group Coordinator: Derek Harwood (click to contact) |
| When Two visits a month. One will be
more of a local visit, the other may be further
afield. So one should be shorter in duration, the
other longer, generally.
|
| Where Good places to look at birds and
enjoy nature in or near London and slightly
further afield.
|
The iU3A Birdwatching group was established
in December 2014, and we now have over fifty signed up
members, ranging from complete beginners to a few with
several years' experience of birdwatching. However,
generally there are no more than about six on each visit.
New members are welcome, whatever their level of
expertise. We also welcome anyone with a broad interest in
nature, wildlife or other aspects of the countryside which
they would like to share or extend. Group members share
ideas they have for outings, and we do our best to follow
up all of them.
The emphasis is very much on getting out and
enjoying nature and birds in particular. We may also have
a few indoor meetings from time to time to share
experiences and perhaps also to hear expert speakers. It
depends entirely on what the group would like.
If you want to join the group and you are
already a iU3A member then you can sign up through Beacon
here. If you are not a member of
Islington U3A then you need to join that firstly. Go to
the Join Us web page and
download the Membership form.
2017-18 look here
2018-19 look here
2019-20 look here.
To help plan your own trips, or to inspire suggestions for our visits, you might want to look at the London Bird Club Wiki here. To enjoy our bird visits to the maximum you will need decent binoculars (8×25 or 8×42 or 10 x 42 or 10 x 50 are good). The first number tells you the magnification (ie 8 or 10 times bigger), the second number is the size of the 'objective' (larger) lens which determines the amount of light (sharpness) of the image. Bigger numbers also mean bigger weight. There are also two forms — porro prism (offset lenses) or roof prism (in-line lenses). Porro type are generally cheaper but larger/heavier.
Appropriate footwear and rain gear if the weather threatens. Each of our visits will have a maximum of 10 participants (but normally we are a lot less than that).
Birds on the Edge — see here for information of birds at risk. To read the quarterly magazine from WWT, click here.
Also see the following link here to the local RSPB web page regarding their recent visits (to be updated).
To follow what the London Wildlife Trust are up to have a look here.
If you want to hear some particular bird song or call try using this site: here.
And to end, just a bit of humour, have a look at this video clip here. And another one: here.
What can you see in your back garden? See some goldfinches here.
Blogs
This sections provides some learning material in bite-size easy format. They are in no particular order.
- Seeing Red (redwings, redstarts & redshanks) here
- Preying (identifying between birds of prey) here
- Gulling About (or more about gulls) here
We will head for home and a Thameslink train back (they leave at 5.44, 5.58, 6.09) taking about an hour to London Bridge. Those who want to return to Victoria then change at East Croydon.
Friday 24 February(DH): details to follow.
Provisional dates for 2023:
March: 13 Monday(JD) & 24 Friday(DH).
April: 3 Monday(both) & 28 Friday(both).
Wanstead Park: a brave two souls ventured out but enjoyed it nevertheless.
Walthamstow Wetlands: this was one of our regular 'local' half day visits. It was a cold day, which probably explained our low numbers. However, for the three that did brave the weather they were rewarded by good sightings. There wasn't anything out of the ordinary but it was the quantity that made things special. For example 10 little grebe, or 15 shovelers. In all 30 species was the final count. But the hot drinks were appreciated also at the end in the Engine Room.
Two Tree Island, Leigh on Sea, November: another successful trip to this Essex reserve. 37 species spotted. Not our highest count here but not bad. Not as many in quantity either, possibly due to bird flu. We were lucky with the weather, a nice clear mild day for late November. Highlights were probably the plovers — little ringed and grey.
Rye Meads, November: on a very mild day six of us had a pleasant stroll around this RSPB reserve. There were many mute swans and one whooper we were told, but we couldn't pick it out. Not the best time of year for the kingfishers so no sightings at that hide but we had a great display from lapwings and an overall count of 30. All were happy with that.
Epping Forest, October: another successful visit to this spot.
Walthamstow Wetlands, October: one of our regular local venues.
For a record of our other visits you can see the reports by the following links:
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