Cambridgeshire Bird Club
Welcome to the Club
The Cambridgeshire Bird Club promotes the study, recording and conservation of birds in Cambridgeshire and encourages a wider interest in natural history and the protection of county wildlife habitats.
We record the County's birds in our Annual Report, so we need your records. We have a stunning Gallery, so we want your photos. We have field projects, we have indoor meetings and trips, and we keep you informed with our monthly emailed bulletins. We have links to active bird ringing groups. And have a look at our Facebook and our Twitter sites.
You can see What's About? and we urge you to report interesting, sensitive or confidential sightings to the County Recorder.
We hope you enjoy your visit and come back soon.
Announcements
Next Club indoor talk, Friday 10 January by Paul Alistair Collins. "European Wildlife Roadshow." This will presented on the Zoom platform only.
The Club is now in its centenary year. Special events are being planned to celebrate it. The Club is to hold a centenary Dinner at St Catherine's College, for any Club members, on Wednesday 16TH APRIL. Why not pop the date in your calendar now?
After many years of being Club Treasurer, Roger Swain retired from the post at the end of 2024. Thanks, Roger for all your hard work. And following on seamlessly we welcome Ed King, who takes up the reins.
Pictures of the Month for November are Roger Cresswell's Common Buzzard see it here; and for December a Kingfisher, also by Roger Creswell - see it here
Club e-Bulletins up to October are now available to all to read. They contain records, photos, articles and event reminders: read the recent ones here
The 2022 Annual Report (No 96) is available to purchase. Look here for details.
Congratulations to Garth Peacock for winning the 2023 Photo of the Year competition. View the winner and runners-up here
The 2019 Annual Report (No. 93) is now available to read on this website - read here 2020 Annual Report coming shortly.
The CBC recording checklist can be viewed and downloaded here
Club Bulletins back to the first issue in 1951 have now been digitised and were added to the website in 2021- read them here
Dates of tweets on our Twitter feed are now erratic - more than one browser is affected - apologies but it seems to be out of our control. Others report the same issue. For now, it's also messing with our Twitter site -Twitter .
Twitter feed: many thanks to Brendon Doe for setting this up on our website, and maintaining our Twitter account.
Next Club indoor talk, Friday 10 January by Paul Alistair Collins. "European Wildlife Roadshow." This will presented on the Zoom platform only.
Paul is an award-winning professional wildlife photographer, filmmaker and tour guide based in London, UK. With 20 years specialising in wildlife and low-light photography, his photos have been honoured in major awards including the Scottish Nature Photography Awards, International Wild Bird Photography Awards, and British Wildlife Photography Awards.
Picture of the Month - November
Common Buzzard © Roger Cresswell, 21 November 2424, Wicken Fen
November's Photo of the Month was chosen by Richard Thomas.
"There are many photographs that could easily have made 'Photo of the Month' this November. I particularly liked Cookie Shorten's 'action shots' of a number of species, in particular the preening Bar-tailed Godwit. I also liked Simon Stirrup's flying cranes and George Walthew's stunning Water Rail portrait. However, the one that just pipped these to the post for me was Roger Cresswell's superb image of a Common Buzzard perched on a fencepost at Wicken Fen. The perfect light on the face means the beady eye grabs the attention of the viewer in this wonderful portrait of such an underrated raptor."
Picture of the Month - December
Kingfisher © Roger Cresswell, 4 December 2024, Wicken Fen
December's Photo of the Month was chosen by Andrew Dobson
"As the winter weather arrives, getting out into the field with a camera in hand can be an increasing challenge. However, there was no shortage of photos and some impressive compositions. Garth Peacock’s Stonechat portrait was amongst my favourites, as were the contributions by Cookie Shorten,
especially her Kestrel. My choice for this month comes from the stunning set of Kingfisher photos taken by Roger Cresswell.
As well as the expected ‘fish in bill’ there are also two photos of the bird with an aquatic bug being tossed in its bill. So sharp is the focus that your eye is drawn towards the prey which appears to be a Common Backswimmer. Well done Roger!"
Photo of the year: 2023
Congratulations to Garth Peacock for his winning photo of a Peregrine Falcon. Second place goes to Ian Dale with his Black Redstart, and Jon Heath's Coot takes third place. Click here to view all three photos. and click 2023 candidates to see all the photos that were entered.
The Cambridgeshire Bird Report 2022, No. 96 is now available to buy at £15.00 including postage and packing. Go to Annual Reports
Where's that site?
If you are unsure of the location of the less well-known birding sites, check our Gazetteer, which also provides standardised names to include in recording checklists for the Club's database and Birdtrack. Check the Grabagrid map which provides precise site grid references, and also shows pop-up vice-county boundaries
Cambridgeshire Bird Club 2025 Bird Calendar
We still have a few calendars. Produced to celebrate the CBC’s 100th anniversary, it features bird species with a connection to our county, with all photos taken by club members. You will also enjoy the background information on each species. Everyone needs a wall calendar, and they make great gifts. Calendars are available at £10 to include postage & packing.
Please pay either by bank transfer to:
Cambridgeshire Bird Club
Account Number 08205116
Sort Code 60-04-23
Please add your name to the bank transfer details and then send an email to notify us. Please confirm your mailing address in your email to: chairman@cambridgebirdclub.org.uk
If you prefer to pay by check, please ask in your email to us for the Treasurer's address.
Avian Flu
AVIAN FLU: The Angling Trust’s Voluntary Bailiff Service reported last winter that avian (bird) flu was confirmed in fenland swans. They advised, "Please be aware that you may see dead swans on the Nene or Drains. Dead swans may be found elsewhere too. Please under no circumstances go near or touch them. Phone Defra: 0345 933 5577, option 7: 'all other enquiries'. They will direct you to the correct local swan rescue (recovery ) people as all dead swans must now be collected for investigation". Email: defra.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk and provide details. More info at Avian influenza (bird flu) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
For sick swans, the RSPCA is the first place to contact and they will give help as to who should be informed.
Lists and facts
County birders life lists, individual record year lists / record day lists, garden lists and other records - view them here
Found and injured bird? Contact a rehabilitator. Baby birds? Read here and also here
Local bird news from Cambirds.
