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Local Outings Programme 2026-27

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In addition to weekly walks on Hampstead Heath which continue throughout the year, we normally, each September to June season,
visit several locations in and around the London area by public transport.
MBS Membership covers the September - June programme each year.
The Sept 2026 - June 2027 programme has been posted on the relevant pages of the website.

Hampstead Heath walks

Most Tuesday mornings throughout the year, weather permitting. (weather has to be quite extreme for nobody to turn up!)
Several of our members meet for an informal and friendly stroll on Hampstead Heath to see what birds are around.
Although these walks are primarily for MBS members, newcomers and occasional visitors are welcome.
For further information contact Marion birdsmbs@yahoo.com or 07495760694
Please note these are not guided walks. There is no official leader. People attend at their own risk. That said, there will always be Heath regulars who may suggest variations on our route and we all pool our knowledge and expertise in terms of birds and other wildlife.
Walks last around two hours, usually finishing at Kenwood House for coffee/lunch at the Cafe though some people may follow a circular route back to Parliament Hill and some may choose to end up at South End Green.
Bring binoculars if you have them.
Meet - 10am, Parliament Hill Staff Yard, NW5 1QR.
The Google directions to that postcode are a bit misleading. Aim for the Parliament Hill Cafe on the map. Or follow directions below. If you enter the Heath from Highgate Road, follow the path past the tennis courts. Or there's a diagonal path just beyond the William Ellis School bus stop which by-passes the tennis courts and bowling green.
We meet at the junction of paths near the toilets, noticeboards, cafe and drinking fountain - or nearest bench
and we usually take a look at the cricket pitch opposite the Cafe so may be hidden from the path.
(If it's raining and there's no one at the meeting place/time, it may be worth trying the cafe.)
Also possible to come on to the Heath from Gospel Oak Overground Station. Turn left along Gordon House Road, then left onto the Heath by the Lido. Continue uphill (past the Lido on your left) and turn right on the main path to walk past band stand and cafe on your left and meet at the junction of paths.

Saturday Local Outings

Saturday 19 September 2026
Rainham Marshes RSPB, Essex
Habitat: RSPB nature reserve adjacent to the Thames estuary. Large area of wetland, a woodland walk, ditches and scrub.
Species: September brings a mix of resident and migratory species - waders, wildfowl and birds of prey. Possible Golden and Grey Plovers, Ruff, Dunlin, Teal, Wigeon, Marsh Harrier and Peregrine.
Facilities: Hides, open viewing areas and nature trails. No longer cafe/shop but toilets on ground floor of their Visitor Centre. Welcome to eat picnic inside or at picnic tables outside.
Travel: Fenchurch Street to Purfleet Station. 15-20 minute walk to the reserve along the riverside path, following the brown pedestrian signs. Meet at the Centre 10.30am.
Reserve information

Saturday 17 October 2026
Two Tree Island, Essex
Habitat: 640 acre Island of grassland, scrub, reedbed and lagoons.
Species: October bird sightings are dominated by wintering waders, wildfowl and birds of prey. Key ones are Brent Geese, Black Tailed Godwit, Avocet, Dunlin, Curlew and Redshank.
Facilities: Toilets and Cafe at the station. Hides/viewing areas.
Travel: London Fenchurch Street (or Liverpool St) to Leigh on Sea. Meet 10.30 Leigh on Sea station. 5 minute walk to the reserve.
Reserve information

Saturday 21 November 2026
Stockers Lake, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust
Habitat: A large former gravel pit in the Colne valley, with scrub marshland, the Grand Union Canal, two other lakes, river and reed bed.
Species: Wintering ducks, Gadwall, Wigeon, Shoveler, possible Goosander and Goldeneye. Resident birds include Kingfisher, Water Rail and gulls.
Facilities: Refreshments and toilets at station. Cafe with toilets at Bury Lake.
Travel: Metropolitan Line to Rickmansworth (about 47mins from Baker St). Meet at Rickmansworth station 10.30 then walk to the Trust.
(There is also a Chiltern Railways train from Marylebone Station via Harrow on the Hill).
Reserve information

Saturday 19 December 2026
Regents Park pre-Christmas walk
Woodland and water birds.
Meet near number 2 Park Road, NW1 4SH, by the Santander bikes or the bench on the corner near traffic lights closest to Clarence Gate entrance to the Park.
Nearest tube station Baker Street. 10.30 departure.
Morning only. Traditional informal bird walk usually ending in the cafe.
Reserve information

Saturday 16 January 2027
Walthamstow Wetland, London Wildlife Trust
Habitat: Europe's largest urban wetland includes open water reservoirs, reed beds, wildflower meadows and willow scrub.
Species: Overwintering wildfowl, winter thrushes, alongside year-round residents like Grey Heron, Kingfisher, Little Egret, Peregrine.
Facilities: Hides. Cafe, toilets and shop in the Engine House.
Travel: Meet 10.30am at Tottenham Hale station on the Victoria line. The Wetland is a short walk from there.
Reserve information

Saturday 20 February 2027
Oare Marshes, Kent Wildlife Trust
Habitat: Sea, saltmarsh, grazing marsh, scrub.
Species: Over wintering wildfowl include Brent Geese, Pintail, Wigeon plus waders including Avocet, Curlew, Dunlin.
Facilities: Toilets and refreshments at Faversham Station. 3 hides on site.
Travel: Train from Victoria or St Pancras. Catch first train after 9am from Victoria to Faversham (toilets at station), share taxis to and from reserve.
Attendees need to book in advance (email birdsmbs@yahoo.com) to make travel arrangements from the station.
Reserve information.

Saturday 20 March 2027
College Lake, Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust
Habitat: College Lake is a 65 hectare former chalk quarry transformed into a diverse wetland and upland nature reserve. There are nesting islands on the Lake, marshland and chalk grassland. It's a premier destination for water birds and occasionally rare breeding waders.
Species: In March there will be an overlap between wintering wildfowl and early spring migrants. We expect Lapwing, Oyster Catcher, Common Sandpiper plus possible lingering winter water birds such as Teal, Wigeon and Pintail.
Facilities: Hides, Visitor Centre with a cafe and toilets.
Travel: Euston to Tring railway station. Meet there at 10.30. Share taxis to and from reserve.
Attendees need to book in advance (email birdsmbs@yahoo.com) to make travel arrangements from the station.
Reserve information.

Saturday 17 April 2027
Panshanger Park, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust
Habitat: Panshanger Park is a 1000 acre park around the Mimram valley near Hertford. Formerly owned by the Cowper family and landscaped by Capability Brown and Humphrey Repton. Now it is a mosaic of habitats including woodlands, wetlands, grasslands and reedbeds. It is joint managed by a private estate management company and Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust.
Species: Returning summer migrants and lingering winter visitors. April 2026 sightings included Little Ringed Plover, Snipe, Lapwing, Whitethroat, Wheatear, Cuckoo and Raven.
Facilities: Toilets and a small shop with coffee at North Herts railway station. Nothing inside the park without walking an extra 2 miles to the new West Car Park (SG14 2TS)
Travel: Train from Finsbury Park to North Herts railway station. A Freedom Pass will take you as far as Cuffley. Then 0.8ml and appros 20 min walk to the Park. The likely route around Panshanger is 4 miles. Meet at N Herts station at 10.30.
Reserve information.

Saturday 15 May 2027
Cheshunt, Fishers Green, Lee Valley, Herts
Habitat: Wetland, rivers and streams, open water, floodplain grassland, fen, wet woodland, some arable land.
Species: Cuckoo, Common Tern, spring warblers inc Garden Warbler and possible Nightingale and Hobby.
Facilities: Cafe in YHA, Cafes and pubs other side of station, toilet at station, public toilets at Fishers Green. Hot drinks at the Wildlife Discovery Centre.
Travel: Liverpool St to Cheshunt or longer London Overground jny which is covered by Freedom Pass. NB Check whether the Freedom Pass can be now used on both.
Meet 10.30 at Cheshunt Station and short walk across railway line to reserve.
Reserve information

Saturday 12 June 2027
Amwell Nature Reserve, Herts
Habitat: A Site of Special Scientific Interest. The reserve includes two waterbodies, Great Hardmead Lake and Hollycross Lake, which were excavated between 1973 and 1990, and a variety of associated wetland, grassland and woodland habitats.
Species: In June there is usually a colony of of breeding common tern. Some waders and the site supports 9 breeding warbler species plus cuckoos. Possible Raven and Hobby.
Facilities: No facilities on site but the Jolly Fisherman is en route, opens at 10.00, where toilets are available for the price of a coffee. The Village Cafe is a 9min walk from station so 4/5 mins onward from where we usually turn off onto the canal path.
Travel: Liverpool Street to St Margarets (Herts). Meet 10.30 at the station. Ten minute walk to reserve.
Reserve information

Earlier this season