RSPB Hemel Hempstead Local Group

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RSPB Hemel Hempstead Local Group We are a friendly group united by our hobby of birdwatching and nature. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a seasoned birdwatcher.

You don’t have to be an RSPB member to join our group and you’re welcome to come along and see what it’s all about.

For our November meeting we have a timely talk on Bird Migration in North America by Bill Coster
09/10/2026

For our November meeting we have a timely talk on Bird Migration in North America by Bill Coster

09/10/2026

We have 3 outings coming up covering October and November

First up is Amwell Nature Reserve & RSPB Rye Meads on Friday 16 October

Both these locations are familiar to many of us - both are on the River Lea and are interesting wetlands. Amwell has several hides and walks, but no other facilities. Rye Meads has a visitor centre and is an established reserve from which the RSPB is withdrawing. Its future is uncertain, although there is a commitment by the owner to reopen.

Then we have the Millennium Country Park Forest Centre, nr Bedford, and Floodplain Forest, Milton Keynes on Saturday 14 November

This shared car trip will be leaving Gadebridge Park car park at 9 am. It's about ¾ hour to the Forest Centre; up the M1 and A421, through Marston Moretaine (follow the signs). There's a cafe, toilets, shop and a (pay for) car park.
If time allows, we'll move on to Floodplain Forest on the northern edge of Milton Keynes. Apart from car parking, there are no facilities here, but the MK coach station has toilets and a shop. This reserve is not widely used but is worth a visit. It acts as a "wash", holding flood water from the adjacent River Ouse and providing wetland and wet woodland habitats.

For shared car trips we meet at Gadebridge Park car park on the Leighton Buzzard Road, or you can travel to the reserve yourselves and meet up with the rest of the group there.

All are welcome but if you’re planning to join us; so that we know how many to expect and whether you need a lift, will be driving yourselves, or will be meeting us at the reserve, please email Axel Kirby with your name and phone number and Axel will get back to you (please see programme on FB or website for email address).

Finally we have a Coach trip to RSPB Frampton Marsh on Saturday 21 November
Coach trips are popular; we can go further and none of us have to drive
We have jointly organised this coach trip with Watford RSPB Group, leaving Watford and Hemel Hempstead collection points, times to be advised. Frampton Marsh is an exceptional reserve, with a wide variety of managed habitats. There are toilets, a café, hides and level surfaced walking routes. The fee is £35 per person plus an entrance fee for non-members. Places remain, but we ask for payment up front to secure your reservation. If you are interested in joining this fantastic trip, contact Axel for more details.

26/09/2026

Our next outing is a car share trip on Friday 16 October to Amwell and RSPB Rye Meads. More info will be provided later on.

This will be our last visit to RSPB Rye Meads before it is handed back to the landowner. It will be closed from Monday 2 November to allow transition to new management.

Trip details can be found on our website, or please contact Axel.

Anyone is welcome to attend the monthly meetings and outings, whether experienced, or new to birding, RSPB members and non-members.

After the success of our September talk on fungi, we return to birds for our October talk from Richard Bashford.Richard ...
23/09/2026

After the success of our September talk on fungi, we return to birds for our October talk from Richard Bashford.

Richard was born in Sandy, which played no small part in his early interest in birds. After leaving school, he began working for the RSPB on a variety of contracts until undertaking an environmental degree. In 1995 he worked for the British Trust for Ornithology, running the Breeding Bird Survey, but returned to the RSPB in Sandy from 2001 to 2025, running projects such as the world's biggest wildlife survey - Big Garden Birdwatch and other awareness raising roles. In 2025, Richard joined Barefoot - one of the UK’s leading ecological survey companies.

Richard has travelled widely in search of wildlife and has taken part in ornithological projects in Kenya, Botswana, Jordan and Albania and China (the latter searching for Spoon-billed Sandpipers). He has been leading tours since the 1980s and has led Naturetrek holidays throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Middle East, North and Central America, the Arctic and Antarctica. He is very active in his home county of Bedfordshire, supporting survey work and spending much of his free time searching for birds, butterflies and moths.

Keeping to a theme this week, after our excellent talk on The World of Fungi on Tuesday, the CWAG survey group found thi...
10/09/2026

Keeping to a theme this week, after our excellent talk on The World of Fungi on Tuesday, the CWAG survey group found this aptly named Hoof Fungus on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Diane Wilson

07/09/2026

Here is more info on our car outing to Farmoor reservoirs and RSPB Otmoor, both near Oxford, on Thursday 10 September. We'll set off from Gadebridge carnpark at 8:30 am and the outward drive to Farmoor should take about 1¾ hours.

These locations both have good reputations for bird sightings (although nothing can be guaranteed), but differ greatly in their character. Farmoor is a large water supply establishment with two large basins, redundant ponds and nature reserves. There's no shops but toilets are regularly located around the site. All paths are surfaced, but some slopes will need to be negotiated. There's ample car parking, £2 per day, if they've got their machines working.

Otmoor is far better known as a birding location. Car parking is limited but we've always managed to get in. Paths are generally unsurfaced but level, with a few short slopes. In previous years, it's been muddy, but this year it's not so likely. This is one of the prime birding locations in our region and, at this time of year, could be good for butterflies too. Please note, there are neither toilets nor shops but there is a pub in the nearby village.

This is a long day's trip, with 4 miles or so walking (with resting places), but good sightings are possible.

Bring lunch and water (food available at various petrol stations and shops en route), dress appropriately and maybe bring a butterfly guide.

For shared car trips we meet at Gadebridge Park car park on the Leighton Buzzard Road, or you can travel to the reserve yourselves and meet up with the rest of the group there. Please gather early at the car park, so we can sort out car sharing for a prompt departure at 8:30 am

All are welcome but if you’re planning to join us; so that we know how many to expect and whether you need a lift, will be driving yourselves, or will be meeting us at the reserve, please email or phone Axel (please see programme on FB or website for contact details).

Currently it look like the weather will be pleasant and dry.

02/09/2026

Our next outing is a car share trip on Thursday 10 September to Farmoor Reservoir and RSPB Otmoor, both near Oxford.
Farmoor Reservoir is a large man-made water storage site and is a premier spot for wildfowl, gulls, and rare migratory birds. It is also close to a number of nearby wetland habitats including Pinkmill, Shrike and Buckthorn meadows. Whereas, RSPB Otmoor provides a habitat for Lapwings, Redshanks, Snipe, and Curlew. A visitor trail around the large grazing marsh is home to wading birds and wildfowl all year round, but the facilities are limited to two viewing screens and a lookout tower.
Details can be found on our website, or please contact Axel.
Anyone is welcome to attend the monthly meetings and outings, whether experienced or a novice to birding, RSPB members or not.
More details to follow

Just to remind you of our first talk of the season
02/09/2026

Just to remind you of our first talk of the season

We'd have liked to show you photos of the clouded yellow butterflies we saw on our CWAG Survey of the Roughdowns this we...
29/08/2026

We'd have liked to show you photos of the clouded yellow butterflies we saw on our CWAG Survey of the Roughdowns this week but they flitted around too much. However we have one interesting photo and one quirky photo to share with you.
A Robin's Pin Cushion (Mossy Rose Gall Wasp), which is an harmless growth on a wild rose caused by a gall wasp. The adult wasp lays eggs in the buds during mid-summer. The eggs hatch into small white larvae that secrete chemicals that cause the abnormal growth.
The goat is waiting for a cool bath 😂 in the chalk pit in Lower Roughdown.
Photos courtesy of Jill Griffin

This week on the CWAG survey of Sheethanger Common & Bury Wood, Jill Griffin managed to take a couple of photos of birds...
22/08/2026

This week on the CWAG survey of Sheethanger Common & Bury Wood, Jill Griffin managed to take a couple of photos of birds. A Mistle Thrush, one of several seen, and a Greater Spotted Woodpecker, one of a pair seen.

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