WILDLIFE TALK THURSDAY 13th SEPTEMBER @ 19.30 'WHY SWIFTS ARE ENDANGERED & HOW WE CAN HELP THEM' - An illustrated talk by CHRIS KEELING of the SOS Swifts Project. Rushmere St Andrew Church Hall, The Street, Rushmere. Postcode: IP5 1DH Price: Non-members £4.00. Juniors £1.00.

Would you like one of our exclusive desk calendars for 2019? A bargain at £8. Photos are courtesy of our leader Tim Kenny, polyglot 🇬🇧 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇩🇪 🇺🇦 🇪🇺 and any profits go towards the Ipswich local group. Please DM him if you would like one.

Welcome to 2019 followers! We have our first meeting of the year tomorrow, a talk featuring Darren Tansley of the Essex Wildlife Trust. Subject "Wildlife In Dedham Vale and the Issues It Faces". 7.30pm start, non-members £5, U16s FREE! Drink and biscuit included.

Our first field meeting of the year is a midweek walk on Tuesday 15th January at the stable block, Holywells Park at 10am. Free of charge to all.

Sunday 20th January outdoor meeting at Manningtree Maltings. meet 10am. A walk along the River Stour, which at this time of year is great for waders and wildfowl. Bonus, if the weather is bad, we can do our birding from our cars. 2-3 miles, 2-3 hours

Have we got a treat for you tomorrow night! 'Birds, their Hidden World' A illustrated talk by Peter Holden MBE, Writer and Lecturer who worked for the RSPB for more than 40 years' . 7.30pm start. Rushmere St Andrew Church Hall, The Street, Rushmere, Ipswich IP5 1DH

Price: Group Members £2.50. Concessions apply. Non-members £5.00. Under 16s Free. (Includes refreshments) Read more at ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/ipswich…

Looking forward to welcoming Peter Holden MBE to our group tomorrow night, who (if I recall correctly) ran the YOC and invented the Big Garden Birdwatch.

If you like your birding a bit more outdoorsy... Meet 9.30am this Saturday (16th March) at Lemons Hill Bridge south car park for a look around Alton Water for woodland and aquatic birds. Courting great crested grebes a distinct possibility.

Midweek walk around Bourne Park, Tuesday March 19th at 10am. Meet at the Bourne Bridge car park. All welcome and like all of our outdoor meetings, free to all to attend.

Then on Thursday 11th April back at Rushmere, Group AGM plus 'The All Year Garden Birdwatch Survey and its Importance' An illustrated talk by Claire Boothby, BTO Garden Birdwatch Development Manager. Kindly sponsored by Mid-Suffolk Fencing Needham Market. Time: 7.30pm

Please note that in line with Government and RSPB guidelines we have regrettably been forced to suspend all activities until September 1st. In the meantime please stay indoors and stay safe.

There is still some birding to be had on your daily walk. Group Leader Tim Kenny, polyglot 🇬🇧 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇩🇪 🇺🇦 🇪🇺 photographed this lovely goldfinch whilst out on Sunday. Take your binoculars out with you, you never know what you might see.

Here's why you should take your bins out with you, although lucky Ellie didn't even need to leave her garden! Has anyone else seen this white-tailed eagle today? NW Ipswich heading south around lunchtime.

Following guidance from HQ we have decided not to undertake any indoor or outdoor meetings for the remainder of 2020. Hopefully we'll be back in business in January 2021 as normal. In the meantime, stay safe everyone.

2020 really has been a swine of a year, hasn't it? I hope during lockdown the natural world has given you some degree of solace at this very tough time.

Tuesday 17th May, Midweek walk at Bridge Wood Country Park car park, TM188408. 1000 start. For further information, contact Kathy Reynolds on 01473 714839

After work birding anyone? Wednesday 25th April, at 1830, Upper Hollesley Common for heathland birds. Meet car park TM335471, walking can be tough. 2-3 hours 2-3 miles. No promises obviously but Dartford warbler and woodlark possible.

Then we're in to May, stay tuned here for updates. Kiln Meadow, Newbourne Springs and Bromeswell SWT on the schedule. And good luck to anyone trying for the American bittern at Carlton Marshes.

Come and see us at Spring Wood Day tomorrow, 11am-4pm down at Kiln Meadow, Ipswich. Weather looks good and we'll be doing some guided bird walks.