Meetings are normally held at 7.30pm on the second Monday of each month, from September to May, at the Friends Meeting House, Bakewell, DE45 1EL. Parking is only for disabled people and those needing to load and unload equipment etc.
The meetings usually start with a report of recent bird sightings in our recording area and announcements concerning forthcoming events before we hand over to our guest speaker. There is normally a refreshment break around 8.30pm and we usually finish soon after 9.30pm.
Guests are always welcome to our talks (£4), where they can also discover more about our outdoor meetings to local birding hot spots.
Please click on the meeting title to see further information.
- Professor Tim Birkhead – ‘The Great Auk’ on 9th Nov 2026 7:30:pm, at Friends Meeting House
Tim Birkhead makes an eagerly anticipated return visit. We look forward to hearing his captivating story of the flightless goose-sized seabird the Great Auk, which was living an idyllic life prior to the appearance of humans. His talk will doubtless reveal to us just why there’s been a lasting fascination with this iconic long-gone bird.
- Member’s Christmas Party on 14th Dec 2026 7:30:pm, at Friends Meeting House
With our ever-popular Photographic competition, quiz and buffet supper.
- Rhodri Thomas – ‘Farmland Wader Conservation in the Peak District’ on 11th Jan 2027 7:30:pm, at Friends Meeting House
Rhodri is the former ecologist for the Peak District National Park. His talk relates to the conservation work being done in the national park in partnership with other organisations, focusing on the conservation of key species, like the Snipe, Curlew and Lapwing; working with farmers and landowners to address and try to reverse their declines.
- ‘Celebrating 80 Years of Spurn’ on 8th Feb 2027 7:30:pm, at Friends Meeting House
This presentation will explore migration, research, observatory life and the Observatory’s evolution on Britain’s eastern edge; we’ll also hear where they are now and why it was set up all those years ago.
- AGM and Brian Shaw – ‘Colonsay’ on 8th Mar 2027 7:30:pm, at Friends Meeting House
A 2025 holiday on the little known Hebridean island of Colonsay. The talk will be preceded by a short AGM.
- Keith Offord – ‘What’s That Raptor’ on 12th Apr 2027 7:30:pm, at Friends Meeting House
Keith has been actively involved in the monitoring of breeding raptors in Wales for 50 years. They’re amongst the most exciting but elusive of our bird groups, yet due to their unpredictable behaviour, keen eyesight and fear of humans, pose some of the greatest challenges for identification. Taking a closer look at all the main...
Our past events can be found in the events archive.