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The Maidstone Local RSPB Group have outdoor trips throughout the year. For most walks, waterproof footwear and clothing is recommended. We normally stop for some lunch, so bring your sandwiches and flask. The telephone number for lifts or directions can be found in your newsletter. For work parties, please wear old clothing and bring garden gloves.

Though normally there is no charge for outdoor meetings, some venues may make a small charge, by way of an entrance fee or for car parking.  If you share cars on longer trips you may be asked to contribute towards the cost of fuel.

Please remember to bring your membership card with you when visiting RSPB reserves. Non-members will have to pay the normal entrance fee. All are welcome on these trips no matter whether you are a beginner or expert.  Help will always be given in identifying birds.

We endeavour to seek out new venues and provide interesting coach outings and would welcome your suggestions and ideas for future trips.

Remember to book Coach Trips early to avoid disappointment.

Calendar of events:

• Sunday 20^th September 2009 - Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve

Meet at RSPB car park, Salt Lane - Map ref: TQ 722757 - Duration 10:00am to 3:00pm.
Wader migration, Butterflies and Dragonflies.

• Friday 25^th September 2009 - Work Party at Dungeness RSPB Reserve

Duration 9:00am to 2:00pm
Details to be advised.
Please come and help the warden on this 'hands on' conservation day.

• Saturday 26^th September 2009 - Vinters Valley Nature Reserve

Meet in Lodge Road - Map ref: TQ 778562 - Duration 9:30am to 1:00pm.
Enjoy a seasonal walk around this local nature reserve looking at the local history, special trees and autumn colours. We should get a good selection of woodland and wetland birds, plus this reserve is one of the best sites in Kent for Bullfinch.

• Saturday 17^th October 2009 - St. Margaret's

Meet at the Monument car park - Map ref: TR 373452 - Duration 9:00am to 3:00pm.
Autumn migration at its best when anything can turn up.

• Sunday 25^th October 2009 - Saxon Shore Way

Meet at the West Hythe Picnic Site car park, West Hythe Road - Map ref: TR 124343 - Duration 9:30am to 1:00pm.
A walk along the Saxon Shore Way and Royal Military Canal. Anything can turn up with the right conditions, should see farmland birds, Kingfisher, and maybe a few autumn migrants.

• Friday 20^th November 2009 - Work Party at Dungeness RSPB Reserve

Duration 9:00am to 2:00pm
Meet at the Hanson ARC Car Park (Opposite reserve entrance).
Please come and help the warden on this 'hands on' conservation day.

• Sunday 22^nd November 2009 - Lee Valley Country Park & Rye Meads RSPB Reserve (Coach Outing)

Meet at coach pick up points - First pick up 8:00am, leave reserve 4:00pm.
Wintering birds including ducks, geese and, hopefully, bittern and kingfisher.
See booking form for further details.

• Thursday 26^th November 2009 - Sunset on the North Kent Marshes

Meet at the Bromhey Farm RSPB Northward Hill car park - Map ref: TQ 767763 - Duration 3:00pm to around 5:00pm.
Chance to witness around 4000 Rooks and Jackdaws return to roost. With luck may also see Buzzard, Barn and Long-eared Owls, and Woodcock. Please bring extra layers and a torch.

• Sunday 13^th December 2009 - New Hythe Lakes

Meet at Brooklands Lake car park, Snodland - Map ref: TQ 707614 - Duration 9:30am to 1:00pm.
Winter birds including grebes, ducks, thrushes and, perhaps, water rail and bittern.

• Sunday 24^th January 2010 - North Foreland & Pegwell Bay

Meet in Palm Bay Avenue - Map ref: TR 371713 - Duration 9:30am to 3:00pm.
Coastal birds including purple sandpiper.

• Saturday 30^th January 2010 - Winter Birds

Meet along the causeway south of Bough Beech KWT reserve entrance - Map ref: TQ 496491 - Duration 9:30am to 12:30pm.
Spend a morning at this Kent Wildlife Trust Reserve looking for some of our wintering species of bird. Possible species include winter thrushes, Brambling, and wildfowl.

• Sunday 7^th February 2010 - Work Party at Tudley Woods RSPB Reserve

Duration 9:00am to 3:00pm
Meet in the reserve main car park, signposted from the A21.
Come and help the warden on this 'hands on' conservation day.

• Sunday 21^st February 2010 - Dungeness RSPB Reserve and surrounding locality

Meet at the Old Lighthouse car park - Map ref: TR 088169 - Duration 9:00am to 3:00pm.
Grebes, raptors, wintering duck, including smew and, perhaps, bittern.

• Saturday 27^th February 2010 - The Len Valley Walk

Meet at St. Nicholas Church car park in Leeds village - Map ref: TQ 825533 - Duration 8:30am to 2:00pm.
Enjoy a morning in the Kentish countryside along the valley of the River Len. We shall walk through mixed countryside around the small villages of Otham, Leeds, and Broomfield, including Leeds Castle. Look for woodland, farmland, and wetland birds. (Please note this walk requires crossing several stiles).

• Saturday 20^th March 2010 - Linton Park and the Greensand Way

Meet at the Linton Church car park - Map ref: TQ 754501 - Duration 8:00am to 1:00pm.
Wintering thrushes, woodpeckers and farmland birds.

• Saturday 27^th March 2010 - Amphibian Evening

Meet at the BTCV's Singleton Environment Centre car park, Ashford - Map ref: TQ 988410 - Duration 4:30pm to 8:30pm.
Spend an evening looking at and learning about our native amphibians. There will be time for a bite to eat if anyone wishes to bring something along. Please let Simon Ginnaw know as soon as possible as there are only 20 places available. A torch and Wellingtons could be useful There will be a donation of £2.

• Sunday 18^th April 2010 - Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

Meet at Rye Harbour car park - Map ref: TQ 941189 - Duration 9:00am to 3:00pm.
Waders, terns & spring migrants.

• Saturday 24^th April 2010 - Holly Hill

Meet at the Holly Hill Public Open Space car park, signposted from Whitehorse Road - Map ref: TQ 669629 - Duration 9:30am to 1:00pm.
A spring walk on the North Downs looking for spring flowers, butterflies, birds, and maybe a few reptiles.

• Sunday 9^th May 2010 - Tudeley Woods RSPB Reserve

Meet at reserve car park - Map ref: TQ 617433 - Duration 5:30am to 11:30am.
Experience the dawn chorus and look for summer migrants including tree pipit and woodlark. Well worth the early start.

• Friday 21^st May 2010 - Dungeness RSPB - Walk with the Warden

Time and car park to be arranged.

• Sunday 23^rd May 2010 - Stodmarsh and Grove Ferry

Meet at reserve car park - Map ref: TR 221609 - Duration 7:00am to 1:00pm.
Enjoy the song and sights of our spring migrants, cetti's warbler, kingfisher and much more.

• Saturday 5^th June 2010 - Nightjar evening

Meeting in the car park at King's Wood, Challock - Map ref: TR 023500 - 8:30pm
We should hopefully see/hear birds like Nightjar, Tree Pipit, Woodcock, and we may be able to find some bats too.

• Sunday 6^th June 2010 - Farmland Special Great Prawls Farm

Meet at map ref. TQ 928268 - 9.45am.

• Sunday 13^th June 2010 - Lakenheath Fen RSPB Reserve and Weeting Heath WT Reserve (Coach Outing)

Meet at coach pick up points - First pick up 7:00am, leave centre 4:00pm.
Hobbies, Golden Oriole, Stone Curlew and, if we are very lucky, Common Crane.

• Sunday 11^th July 2010 - Work Party at Dungeness RSPB Reserve - Cancelled

After talking to the warden at Dungeness it has been agreed to cancel the work party.
This is due to the current highwater levels and past problems with an irritant caused by cutting willow scrub at this time.
It is intended to re-organise later in the year - details to be advised.

• Saturday 17^th July 2010 - Folkestone Warren and Lydden Down

Meet at East Cliff Pavilion car park, Wear Bay Road Folkestone, CT19 6BL - Duration 9:30am to 3:00pm.
Coastal birds, butterflies & flowers.

• Wednesday 28^th July 2010 - Yalding Fen SSSI

Meet by The Anchor Inn, along Hampstead Lane - Map ref: TQ 689498 - Duration 7:00pm to about 9:00pm.
Spend a summer's evening at this special reserve on the edge of the River Medway, famed for its varied habitats including fenland and ancient orchard. Look out for dragonflies, woodpeckers, Owls, and if extremely lucky, an Otter.

• Sunday 15^th August 2010 - Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory

Meet at Observatory car park (£1.00 non-members at toll) - Map ref: TR 355574 - Duration 9:30am to 3:00pm.
Migrants and just about anything.

• Wednesday 18^th August 2010 - Mote Park Bat Evening

Meet in main car park - Map ref: TQ 772552 - Duration 7:30pm to 10:30pm.
Spend dusk looking for nocturnal life in Mote Park. A chance to see around 6 species of bat, plus keep eyes and ears open for owls and mammals.