Our field trips and walks are listed below. They’re all given a ‘rating’ which gives an indication of each events degree of difficulty as listed below. Obviously, some visits may involve more than one of these. The rating is given after each trip title. Participants should c0me well prepared, with suitable clothing and footwear. We collect a voluntary £1 per head on each trip which accumulates in a green offset fund. Outings can occasionally be cancelled due to bad weather, either in response to official weather warnings or because the leader has decided it is not viable. Members will be informed by the most effective method at the time.
Ratings: Easy with level paths [1]; Uneven surfaces [2]; Stiles and gates [3]; Some steep slopes, moderately challenging [4]; Quite challenging [5]
Monthly Walks at Kenfig National Nature Reserve (2-3)
These take place on the third Saturday of each month and are listed below and in the trips schedule. Meet at the Reserve Centre at 9.00am and usually last about 3 hrs The leader will normally be David Carrington (07779978738). Pay as you leave car parking charges apply – card only, no cash. Attendees can see the many changes there throughout the seasons. Difficulty levels will vary by season e.g. waterlogged ground etc. A visit to the east shore will involve going over stiles.
2026 Dates : Saturday 18th April, 16th May, 20th June, 18th July, 15th August, 19th September, 17th October, 21st November, 19th December (Pies in the hide event). 2027 dates: Sat 16th January, 20th February, 20th March
Birding walks for women
Seasonal walks for women birders have been added to the annual Field Trips and Monthly Walks programme, aimed in particular at those who might not feel confident enough in their birding knowledge and experience to go on the club’s mixed company field trips. Binoculars are available to loan. Led by Jenna Clark, Jean Haslam and Strinda Davies they take in well known birding locations within east Glamorgan such as Parc Slip, Cosmeston and Bryngarw Country Parks. Walks are planned with easy access to toilet and refreshment facilities, distance covered, walk duration and pace of walking in mind. If you would like to join us contact Jean Haslam: haslamj@talktalk.net. Dates and venues will be announced as and when they are decided, on here and our social media channels.
2026 programme
Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter Walks for Women are planned, all dates to be confirmed in due course.
Thursday 9th April – Craig Cerrig-gleisiad & Youth Hostel Wood (3-4) – The most southerly cwm in the UK. The main target will be Ring Ouzel. Raptors may feature too. Last year we took a short detour to see the Tal-y-Bont Osprey pair. They may be back.
Sat 18th April – Kenfig NNR monthly walk (2-3)
Saturday 25th April – Penderyn (3) Leader, Ceri Jones – An area adjacent to Cwm Cadlan NNR. Ceri Jones will lead, looking for upland species, such as Cuckoo, Redstart, Grasshopper Warbler and there is a chance of Pied Flycatcher.
Sunday May 10th – Castell Nos (3) Leader, Ceri Jones – A lovely upland site above Maerdy. Once again Ceri Jones has agreed to lead. An alternative route is in prospect, to see different parts of the site. This is probably the best site for Whinchat in our area. Cuckoos have featured on previous trips.
Saturday 16th May – Kenfig NNR monthly walk (2-3)
Saturday 23rd May – Pontneddfechan (3) – A beautiful walk in waterfall country, hoping to encounter Wood Warbler. Expect Dipper, Grey Wagtail and with luck, Spotted Flycatcher.
Tuesday 9th June – Llanwonno (2-3) – Our annual trip to the forestry above Pontypridd to try and see Nightjars. Tree Pipit, Redpoll, Siskin and Grasshopper Warbler are also possible.
Sunday 14th June – Ham Wall RSPB (1) – A really great reserve. With luck we should see Hobby, Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Great White Egret and much more. There should be plenty of dragonflies on the wing too.
Saturday 20th June – Kenfig NNR monthly walk (2-3)
Thursday 25th June – Old Castle Down (3) – This is a great site for butterflies, notably the very scarce High Brown Fritillary. We have encountered downland birds in the past, notably Yellowhammer, Skylark etc.
Saturday 18th July – Kenfig NNR monthly walk (2-3)
Tuesday 21st July – Sluice Farm & Peterstone Gout (2-3) – (HT 12:00) – We haven’t visited for a while. Expect waders and ducks on the shoreline with warblers etc. in the hedgerows. With luck Yellow Wagtails may be passing through.
Thursday 3rd September – The Lawns to the Salmon Leaps, Michaelston-le-Pit (2-3) – Leader Tim Adcock. Tim will show us around his local patch. It is a diverse area with a mix of habitats. He has encountered some good birds, especially at migration time.
Saturday 19th September – Kenfig NNR monthly walk (2-3)
Sunday 20th September – Pembrey & Kidwelly Quay – (1-2) (HT 13:33). This has become a staple in the calendar. Pembrey offers one the few local opportunities to see terns. Kidwelly can host some interesting waders and raptors.
Saturday 3rd October – Steart Point reserve (2-3) (HT 11:45). This reserve run by Natural England is improving year on year. As well as waders, we hope to encounter birds of prey such as Peregrine, Merlin and we have seen Short-eared Owls in the past.
Friday 16th – Sunday 18th October – Portland Obs w/e (2-3) – Our annual w/e in Dorset. We operate a ‘first come first served’ system. Booking will be via email only. Contact John Wilson to secure your place. Please do not text, WhatsApp, FB Messenger, phone, pm etc etc. Thank you. Our focus will be migratory birds.
Saturday 17th October – Kenfig NNR monthly walk (2-3)
Tuesday 3rd November – Rumney Great Wharf (2-3) (HT approx 13:00) – Hoping for plenty of waders on the Wharf. With luck, a few raptors may be present.
Sunday 15th November – Penclacwydd or Slimbridge WWT (1-2) – As in 2025-6 we’ll make a decision nearer the date, after seeing what’s about.
Saturday 21st November – Kenfig NNR monthly walk (2-3)
Monday 7th December – Llanishen & Lisvane Reservoirs (1) – Leader Nick McNeil-Watson. Nick will show us around his local reservoir. The winter ducks will still be inresidence and there should other species to see on the reservoir banks and in the local hedgerows and woodlands.
Saturday 19th December – Newton Point (2) (HRT 14:00 approx) – Newton can hold good numbers of waders and gulls. Expect Sanderling, Oystercatcher and Dunlin. There is a chance of larger waders such as Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit.
Saturday 19th December – KNNR monthly walk (2-3) – the ‘pies in the hide’ walk. Clash again – sorry!
2027 schedule:
Thursday 14th January – Cosmeston CP & Cardiff Bay (1-2). With a broad mix of habitats from lakes, reed beds, woodland and open fields, we hope for a good species list in Cosmeston. The bay may have Goosander and Black Redstart.
Saturday 16th or Sunday 17th January – Whiteford Point & Llanrhidian (4) (HT 11:46 or 12:46) Leader – Tim Adcock – One of the best sites in Glamorgan. Following recent cancellations, we’ve decided to set aside two dates for this one and will keep an eye on the weather forecast. Expect waders, geese, ducks, grebes, raptors etc. In the afternoon we’ll go on to Llanrhidian, hoping to see the harriers coming to roost. Apologies if it turns out to be the Saturday, for the clash with KNNR montly walk. Tides meant it had to be this weekend.
Saturday 16th January – KNNR Monthly walk (2-3) – once again we apologise for the clash – high tide times again.
Tuesday 2nd February – Wentwood Forest – Gwent (2) – It’s been a while. We’ll seek out woodland birds on this visit.
Sunday 14th February – Goldcliff & Newport Wetlands (2) – (HT 11 a.m).- Waders, ducks, grebes and gulls will be the main focus. However Goldcliff has had geese and raptors in recent winters.
Saturday 20th February – KNNR Monthly walk (2-3)
Thursday 18th March – Forest of Dean (2-3) – Another regular. Let’s hope for Goshawk, Hawfinch, Mandarin and Marsh Tit. We always tease the chance of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker- fingers well and truly crossed.
Bring a packed lunch and suitable clothing and footwear. Car sharing is encouraged where possible. If people are happy to car share, the meeting place is St Margaret’s Road in Whitchurch, Cardiff (see map below). We meet at the A4054 end. In line with our Climate Emergency Policy we ask participants in field trips to consider making a voluntary £1 per head ‘green offset’ donation for each trip they attend. Funds accumulated will be used for tree planting etc. An example of a recent donation was of £250 to the Lost Peatlands Project in South Wales. The policy document can be seen here.
Trips run roughly in parallel with our financial year which is from 1st April to 31st March. Full details of each field trip are emailed out to the GBC email news group and are also posted on this website in the ‘News’ blog, on our Facebook page, on our BlueSky feed, and if not too lengthy, added to the relevant listing in the above schedule. There is no formal booking procedure, but it is useful if the leader can be informed in advance if you intend to participate. Some locations [such as Portland Bird Observatory], may call for a limit on numbers and if this is the case it will be made clear that in that instance prior booking is essential and it will be first come first served. John Wilson is more often than not, the leader, but if it is to be someone else, their email address will be given. The email news group referred to above is an option that members can choose to be included in, when joining the Club, or if you are already a member and not on it, you can ask to be added by John Wilson or Alan Rosney.
We have health & safety guidelines for walks and field trips:
Glamorgan Bird Club 