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. 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.
2025 Dates : Saturday 19th April, 17th May, 21st June, 19th July, 16th August, 20th September, 18th October, 15th November, 20th December (Pies in the hide event).
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.
2025 programme
Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter Walks for Women are planned, all dates to be confirmed in due course.
Sat 19th April – Kenfig NNR monthly walk (2-3)
Sunday 27th April – Craig Cerrig-gleisiad & Youth Hostel Wood (3) – Hoping for views of Ring Ouzel, Redstart and Pied Flycatcher.
Dinas – We hoped to put RSPB Dinas into the programme. However parts of the reserve are closed due to storm damage. It could be open by May. If so, it might be added as an ad hoc trip.
Saturday 17th May – Kenfig NNR monthly walk (2-3)
Sunday May 18th – Castell Nos (2-3) – A lovely upland site – we’ll be looking for Cuckoo, Tree Pipit and Whinchat in particular.
Tuesday 3rd June – Llanwonno (2-3) – An evening visit hoping for Nightjars. We may also see Tree Pipit and Grasshopper Warbler.
Sunday 8th June – Ham Wall RSPB (1) – Over the border to this cracking reedbed reserve. Bittern, Hobby and Marsh Harrier are undoubtedly the stars of the show but there is plenty more on offer.
Saturday 21st June – Kenfig NNR monthly walk (2-3)
Wednesday 16th July – Llanilid (2-3) – July is ofen difficult for birding. Llanilid offers the chance of Little Ringed Plover. Also you may be able to brush up on your dragonfly and butterfly ID.
Saturday 19th July – Kenfig NNR monthly walk (2-3)
Sunday 27th July – Nash Point (2-3) – Let’s hope for Choughs. There is the possibility of seeing Fulmars which nest on the cliffs, and maybe some passerine migrants. NB CHANGE OF VENUE this was origijnally to be Rhossili & Worms Heae but access is doubtful due to the hotel fire there recently [Jul}.
Thursday 7th August – Bryngarw CP (2) – A good area for woodland species. We’ll be hoping for views of Spotted Flycatcher and possibly Dipper on the river.
Saturday 16th August – Kenfig NNR monthly walk (2-3)
Sunday 24th August – Peterston-super-Ely (2-3) – NB due to problems with terrain and accessibility at this site, we have decided to cancel this trip. We are thinking about an alternative for the same date. Watch this space or for email alerts.
Thursday 11th September – Goldcliff & Uskmouth High tide approx 10 a.m. (2) – Return wader passage should be underway. There’s the possibility of both Wood- and Curlew Sandpipers plus Little Stint.
Saturday 20th September – Kenfig NNR monthly walk (2-3)
Sunday 28th September – Kidwelly Quay & Burry Port (1) (HT 10 a.m.) – Looking for terns. Last year we saw Common, Sandwich, Arctic and Roseate. Meet at Kidwelly Quay car park at 9 a.m.
Friday 10th – Sunday 12th October – Portland Obs w/e (2-3) – Our ever popular weekend trip to the Portland Bird Observatory. The last two years have provided some cracking rarities. Who knows what might turn up this year? The Club operates a first come, first served system, so book early, as there are limited spaces available. You MUST book by email to Alan Rosney [alan.rosney@glamorganbirds.org.uk] so that a fair first come, first served system can be observed. Please do not text, WhatsApp, FB Messenger, phone, pm etc etc. Thank you.
Saturday 18th October – Kenfig NNR monthly walk (2-3)
Thursday 23rd October – Nash Point & Cwm Nash (2-3) – Late migrants should be passing through. e.g. Yellow-browed Warbler. Please note this trip has. been cancelled. due to a yellow weather warning.
Sunday 9th November – Rest Bay to Sker Point (HT 9 a.m.) (2) –
A walk along the coast for waders such as Purple Sandpiper, Golden Plover etc.
Saturday 16th November – Kenfig NNR monthly walk (2-3)
Wednesday 19th November – Cosmesotn & Cardiff Bay (2) – There’s always plenty of wildfowl and gulls to see at Cosmeston and in Cardiff Bay. Ands there’s a chance of Marsh Tit.
Sunday 7th December – Penclacwydd or Slimbridge WWT (1) – We’ll decide about the destnation depending on what has been reported, weather etc
Wednesday 17th December – Gileston to E. Aberthaw (2) – A coastal walk, to hopefully see Black Redstart, Brent Geese, Wigeon etc.
Saturday 20th December – KNNR monthly walk (2-3) – the ‘pies in the hide’ walk.
2026 schedule:
Sunday 11th January – Whiteford Point & Llanrhidian (3-4) (HT 12 midday) – Our New Year bash – a walk out to the point should produce plenty of waders and ducks. We shall go on to Llanrhidian in the afternoon, hoping to see harriers
Saturday 17th January – KNNR Monthly walk (2-3)
Tuesday 27th January – Ogmore (HT 12:30) (2) – Goldeneye should be on the river and there’s a chance of Purple Sandpiper and Chough too.
Sunday 8th February – Parc Tredelrch & Rumney Great Wharf (2-3) – (HT 10 a.m).- Ducks and waders to the fore. We might encounter Short-eared Owls.
Saturday 21st February – KNNR Monthly walk (2-3)
Thursday 26th February – Garwnant & Llwyn-on (2-3) – Crossbill, Siskin, Redpoll and Willow Tit are all possible.
Sunday 15th March – Forest of Dean (2-3) – Let’s hope we get to see Goshawk, Hawfinch, Mandarin and Marsh Tit.
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 