RSPB St Aidan’s and RSPB Fairburn Ings
From 10:00 am to 12:00 pm- Tel: 07778 768719 Call
- info@startbirding.co.uk Email
Friday birdwatching club: St Aidan’s and Fairburn After optional breakfast from Rivers Meet Cafe at 9am we’ll start our day at St Aidan’s from Methley. We’ll spend a couple of hours birding around the reedbeds (2 hour option £15) looking and listening for booming bittern, bearded tit, sand martin and black-necked grebe. There will be refreshments back at the bus before heading off to RSPB Fairburn Ings to have lunch while watching the bird feeders. We’ll look for willow tit and tree sparrow here and focus on some bird song in the woodland before looking for kingfisher, green woodpecker and little ringed plover (4 hour option £25). We’ll then move to the Lin Dike end of the reserve to look for more early migrants (full day £45). Booking essential. Refreshments available after the 2 hour and full day options. Transport available For the full day option, meet me at 08:00 at the Moor Allerton Centre on the Leeds ring road if you’d like transport to the venue. For 2 hour and 4 hour options you’ll need to provide your own transport. What to expect Mostly easy walking on flat ground with a hill to part of the Fairburn Ings option. There are no hides or facilities at St Aidan’s but toilets are available at Rivers Meet Cafe and Fairburn Ings. Note for beginners If you’re struggling to see birds through your binoculars, you’ll learn quickly how to use them with speed and accuracy and discover some useful techniques for watching birds in the field. You’ll also learn how to identify birds by their songs and calls.Please don’t buy binoculars especially for the trip as these can be provided on request. You’ll be able to get advice about binoculars, what to buy and the best places to make a purchase. What to wear The trick to adjusting your temperature in the spring is by wearing plenty of layers and ensuring you’re waterproof. Wear base layers (thermal vests and leggings), fleeces and walking trousers. Please don’t wear jeans as they will wick moisture from low growing vegetation and it is impossible to dry them out. Bring a waterproof coat, over-trousers and sturdy, waterproof boots. Scarf, gloves and hat are essential and it’s a good idea to carry spare socks and gloves. You may need sunscreen and insect repellent. Join me on more trips and learn about each bird’s story whether it migrates or stays in the UK the time of year when it can be seen the types of habitats preferred by different species how birds adapt to their environment.
Meet at Rivers Meet Cafe, 102 Leeds Road Methley Leeds LS26 9EP linda@startbirding.co.ukFriday birdwatching club: St Aidan’s and Fairburn
Friday, 7 April full and part day available
After optional breakfast from Rivers Meet Cafe at 9am we’ll start our day at St Aidan’s from Methley. We’ll spend a couple of hours birding around the reedbeds (2 hour option £15) looking and listening for booming bittern, bearded tit, sand martin and black-necked grebe. There will be refreshments back at the bus before heading off to RSPB Fairburn Ings to have lunch while watching the bird feeders. We’ll look for willow tit and tree sparrow here and focus on some bird song in the woodland before looking for kingfisher, green woodpecker and little ringed plover (4 hour option £25). We’ll then move to the Lin Dike end of the reserve to look for more early migrants (full day £45). Booking essential. Refreshments available after the 2 hour and full day options.
Transport available
For the full day option, meet me at 08:00 at the Moor Allerton Centre on the Leeds ring road if you’d like transport to the venue. For 2 hour and 4 hour options you’ll need to provide your own transport.
What to expect
Mostly easy walking on flat ground with a hill to part of the Fairburn Ings option. There are no hides or facilities at St Aidan’s but toilets are available at Rivers Meet Cafe and Fairburn Ings.
Note for beginners
If you’re struggling to see birds through your binoculars, you’ll learn quickly how to use them with speed and accuracy and discover some useful techniques for watching birds in the field. You’ll also learn how to identify birds by their songs and calls.Please don’t buy binoculars especially for the trip as these can be provided on request. You’ll be able to get advice about binoculars, what to buy and the best places to make a purchase.
What to wear
The trick to adjusting your temperature in the spring is by wearing plenty of layers and ensuring you’re waterproof. Wear base layers (thermal vests and leggings), fleeces and walking trousers. Please don’t wear jeans as they will wick moisture from low growing vegetation and it is impossible to dry them out. Bring a waterproof coat, over-trousers and sturdy, waterproof boots. Scarf, gloves and hat are essential and it’s a good idea to carry spare socks and gloves. You may need sunscreen and insect repellent.
Join me on more trips and learn about each bird’s story
- whether it migrates or stays in the UK
- the time of year when it can be seen
- the types of habitats preferred by different species
- how birds adapt to their environment.